Keep you Head on your Shoulders and both Feet on the Ground As we head into a weekend which will no doubt see quite a few bidding wars ensue I wanted to share my thoughts with you. These are taken from the perspective of a Buyers Agent. As a Seller’s Agent I would do everything [...]
Busy out there? You Bet!
Monday, April 27th, 2009Let’s get one thing straight. I was as pessimistic about the market as anyone for many months. What we saw last year starting in late 2007 and really ramping up throughout the whole Spring of 2008 was nothing short of a collapse of the real estate market. This ultimately peaked in total despair in December [...]
27.04.2009 Aside 3 Comments
Good, Cheap, or Fast
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009There’s and old adage about service: GOOD service CHEAP won’t be FAST GOOD service FAST won’t be CHEAP FAST service CHEAP won’t be GOOD How very true. Take almost anything you do, serve, or consume on any day and tell me if you have ever found something that is good, cheap, and fast. My bets [...]
24.03.2009 The Industry 4 Comments
Increased Affordability ain’t just a Buzzword
Monday, March 9th, 2009Why Prices have Stopped Hemorrhaging You’ve seen the monthly releases by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and you’ve heard the term passed without a second thought. “Increased Affordability” has been pointed to as one of the reasons that people are buying. One of the reasons why now is a great time to buy. [...]
09.03.2009 Buying, Mortgage Rates, Selling 8 Comments
Now Onni is Suing Buyers who have Backed out of Presale Agreements
Thursday, February 5th, 2009What? You thought that the big splash 20-40% off sale was the developer’s way of just unloading unsold suites? You thought they were a real deal and the timing was just perfect for an early spring market? Nah. Onni even admitted that many of the units being sold at the “Big Sale” were units buyers [...]
05.02.2009 Buying No Comments
Canadian Budget 2009 and Real Estate
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009There were three major announcements in the Conservative minority government’s 2009 budget proposal: First, as promoted by the Canadian real Estate Association (CREA) the budget is raising the amount that first-time home buyers can withdraw from an RRSP to $25,000 from the previous $20,000. Second, for first-time home buyers there will be a new non-refundable [...]
27.01.2009 Government 2 Comments
Condos fire sale offers up to 40-per-cent discounts
Thursday, January 15th, 2009This is an update to the post I put up last night. I guess the press conference was held as the Vancouver Sun has some more details (only the good stuff posted here, full story at the link below): Condos fire sale offers up to 40-per-cent discounts The one-day sale will take place on March [...]
15.01.2009 Buying, New Condos No Comments
Onni’s Big Sale! Everything Must Go! 20-40% Off!
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009I heard news of this through the real estate grapevine just over a week ago. Onni, the big developer, is going to attempt a blow-out of its unsold stock by deeply discounting their prices 20-40%. From what price that is is another matter altogether and just how good the deals will be are another but [...]
14.01.2009 Buying, New Condos No Comments
Your Building is Your Neighbourhood
Saturday, January 10th, 2009“Who are the people in your neighbourhood?” That’s how the song goes, anyway. A lot of emphasis is put on location when you go to buy a condo but even more importantly, I would say, is the neighbourhood. By neighbourhood I do not mean necessarily “Yaletown” or “Coal Harbour” but more specifically within your building. [...]
10.01.2009 Buying No Comments
Is the housing market performing “as expected”? | Rain City Guide
Friday, November 28th, 2008I read a lot of real estate blogs. Not just in Vancouver (very few I read here but maybe that is because few are putting out anything of substance) but also a lot in the US. One of my favourites comes from Seattle and it is the Rain City Guide. Ardell DellaLoggia, an associate broker [...]
Vancouver, BC 