relocation to vancouver

Wallpaper's version of "Cabin Fever"....works for me.

I could totally enjoy any sort of prolonged cabin fever in this house, featured this month in Wallpaper magazine. It has a sublime simplicity. What do you think?......

Yes, it is really like this...Best of British Columbia

Fantastic article in today's Times Online (here) really helps you get an idea of just why so many people want to come here and live. It reminds me of why we came and we are not disappointed.

A man with sustainable vision

 Now here is a man with a vision and understanding of what the market needs. Why more builders and developers are not thinking like this is beyond me. Simon is a recent arrival here in Canada and seems to be a man on a mission.I totally agree with him, when he says "Just building to code is no longer enough". Houses being built today need to be built with the future in mind. That could mean that in ten years time you could be paying no energy bills to heat your house, just because the right technology was built in today. Whilst people around you are paying 60% more for their energy!
You can read the full article here

Arriving in Vancouver...finally.

I met the Donaldsons from the airport last week. They had arrived on the BA flight from Heathrow at 18.30. Their relief was immediately visible as they came through those glass doors, pushing their baggage trolleys before them. With the last hurdle ,immigration interview behind them it was time to get them into their Rental car and guide them to the hotel for their first night in Vancouver as "officially landed" Canadian immigrants, and time for a drink!

Sustainable Housing, is it worth it?

This article from the Globe & Mail is definitely "Food for thought".... 

Market crosses the green line

Buyers aren't going to give up their creature comforts

A few years ago, developer Peter Goodman spent a small fortune building environmentally-friendly houses on the shores of Georgian Bay. Buyers approved of the green technology, but they weren't willing to pay one added cent for it.... read article

A third of Canadians see lower house prices: survey

An interesting survey from today's Globe & Mail. Frankly, I can't believe that it's only a third. Maybe they only interviewed people who can't read! 

"The number of Canadians who now expect housing prices to fall has more than doubled since last spring, a survey by a mortgage brokers group has found...(read full article here)

Helping you relocate

Whether you are in the early stages of researching a move to Vancouver,  just  about to arrive or already here the range of services I offer should certainly make things a lot easier.

Initial Research

If  you are in the early stages of researching a move to Vancouver then you will probably be looking for pieces of information relating to your potential move. Schools, health care, transport, proximity to potential employment . The list is probably endless at this point. Hopefully the community links on my website should give you a head start on some of those subjects. If you don't find what you are looking for and need to ask more specific questions,  just drop me a line or give me a call and I'll make it my business  to find out for you.

In Depth Research trip.

Coming to Vancouver on a research trip is the best way to find out about your potential new home. There is no substitute for seeing what the city and it's diverse surrounding areas offer in person.

Market update: October sales figures clearly show a buyer's market

Residential housing price decline creates buying opportunities
VANCOUVER, B.C. – November 3, 2008 – Housing price reductions across Greater Vancouver over the last six months have eliminated price gains witnessed in the first quarter of 2008.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential benchmark prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, declined 8.8 per cent between May and October 2008, resulting in a 3.9 per cent year-to-date price reduction for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver between Octobers 2007 and 2008. In May 2008, the overall residential benchmark price was $568,411, compared to $518,668 in October 2008.

“Home sales are not keeping pace with the positive economic conditions in BC,” said REBGV president, Dave Watt. “That’s a direct result of a loss of consumer confidence in the overall market. Accordingly, today’s housing market is characterized by moderating home prices and wide selection. It’s definitely a buyer’s market.”

Is now the right time to buy?

I'm currently driving around with the Donaldson family from the UK who are looking to buy a home here on the North shore. They have already been over twice before to look around and each time we worked together to  narrow down the options and "home in" on their ideal areas and styles of houses within their personal preferred price range.
The price range they are looking in puts them roughly in the medium to high end of the market in North Vancouver but with the current market slowdown it also makes a lot of houses in West Vancouver  realistic possibilities.

I have buyer's but seller's might not like them...

Please excuse my brief hiatus from providing regular comment. Part of it was due to summer, the kids being off school etc., and part because, like most of us I have been watching in amazement at  what has been unfolding with the world economic markets. I must say I have also been watching with great interest the US presidential election contest. I find it highly entertaining, especially that Sarah Palin.... Scary, but nonetheless rare entertainment.
Anyway less politics and more real estate! As someone who tends to work with buyers a lot I get to spend much of my  time driving around looking at homes from a "value" viewpoint. In other words, is that home good value for my client. That may just sound like common sense but I'd like to explain further....