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Property Photo: 377 VENTURA CR  in North_Vancouver
I have listed a new property at 377 VENTURA CR in North_Vancouver.
Big,unobstructed (no wires) view S+W from this Upper Delbrook executive home. Main flr has 3 bdrms,w/master ensuite, separate DR,spacious LR w/vaulted, wood ceilings, H/W flooring,2-sided F/P & patio access. Priced just over assessed value.Downstairs could easily be suited, huge rec room with level access to backyard, plus 2 bdrms and full bath. Updates are needed, but the views alone are worth the price! Floorplan...
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Property Photo: 1765 COWICHAN BAY RD  in No_City_Value
I have listed a new property at 1765 COWICHAN BAY RD in No_City_Value.
Let the gentle ocean waves relax you in your ultra modern, state-of-the-art floating home. Situated within the Bluenose Marina, The ultimate in floating luxury. The Blue Heron is an open concept Loft Style float home recently completely renovated, it boards brand new hardwood floors, rich carpets, lots of ceramic tile & slate & all new appliances. The master bdrm features a 2 person Jacuzzi bathtub. Enjoy time...
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Property Photo: LT4 FENWICK RD in No_City_Value
I have sold a property at LT4 FENWICK RD in No_City_Value.
Build your dream home on this 3/4 acre ocean view lot in the heart of Cowichan Bay. This prime lot is front & centre overlooking the ocean, marinas, shops & restaurants of Cowichan Bay. The lot can be sold with the adjacent .75 of an acre ppty to the West. The 2 lots total 1.1 acres, enabling up to 15,300 sf of bldg structure that can be built, with the current R-3B zoning. Enjoy your view of Cowichan Bay, while looking out...
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Property Photo: 804, 151, West 2nd Street  in North Vancouver
I have sold a property at 804, 151, West 2nd Street in North Vancouver.
Fabulous One Bedroom and Den in the Sky Tower. Featuring Insuite Laundry, Floor to Ceiling Windows, Built in Microwave, Soaker Tub, 71 Sq. Ft. Deck, Fireplace, Granite Counter Tops, Includes One Parking Stall and Storage Locker, Walking Distance to Seabus, Restaurants, Rec Center, Shopping...Everything! Priced to Sell. Quick Possession
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Property Photo: 14 1923 Purcell Way  in North Vancouver
I have sold a property at 14 1923 Purcell Way in North Vancouver.
It's a delight to show this spacious & renovated 2 bdrm plus storage/den. Includes new kitchen cabinets & granite counters, almost new bathroom, hardwood in dining room, newer carpets, new paint & insuite laundry. The building has newer roof & boiler, plus clubhouse and outdoor pool.
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Property Photo: 1986 Estevan Road  in Nanaimo
I have sold a property at 1986 Estevan Road in Nanaimo.
This cozy character home has a fenced backyard & circular driveway. W/2 bdrms, 1 bath, famrm, lge sunroom up. Original redone hardwood floors & window mouldings upstairs & lge laundry/storage room, rec room & addt'l bdrm/office space down. This home will be perfect for any buyer. This home has a detached garage & shrubbery to provide privacy.
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Property Photo: 303, 2288 West 12th Ave  in Vancouver
I have sold a property at 303, 2288 West 12th Ave in Vancouver.
CONNAUGHT POINT. Very private Southwest corner 2-bedroom suite with large balcony overlooking the quiet residential neighbourhood and park of Upper Kitsilano (this is special). Floor plan features open spacious rooms that will accommodate house size furniture, gas fireplace, master bedroom with large ensuite and soaker tub. Rare offerings in today's market.
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Property Photo: # 512 345 LONSDALE AV  in North_Vancouver
I have sold a property at # 512 345 LONSDALE AV in North_Vancouver.
Welcome to "The Met" [Metropolitan], a building well known for its quality of construction. This super clean, well maintained 1 bdrm unit is located on the quiet NW corner of the building and has lots of windows to let in the morning light. Its features include a gas fireplace, granite countertops, stainless Whirlpool appliances, a private balcony, and a very functional floor plan with no wasted space. In this trendy...
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Property Photo: # 403 1477 FOUNTAIN WY  in Vancouver
I have sold a property at # 403 1477 FOUNTAIN WY in Vancouver.
This City of Vancouver leasehold unit is priced to move! A sunny open floor plan 2 bdrm home across the path from Granville Island, featuring H/W floors, skylig hts & a sun drenched deck accessible from both bdrms & the living room. This beautiful updated unit overlooks a treed courtyard area, literally paces to Granville Island, the 200 sf sun-deck comes complete w/a corner garden area & sliding glass doors to let the...
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Property Photo: Blueridge NV, North Vancouver
I have sold a property at Blueridge NV, North Vancouver.
This one is a '10'. Great family home just wating for you! Features include 3 bedrooms up, gleaming solid oak hardwood floors in living room, dining room, & all 3 bedrooms up. Newer white kitchen, new bathroom with deluxe soaker tub plus stand alone shower. Huge deck off kitchen, lower level has authorized 1 bedroom plus den suite, living room with fireplace, nice large kitchen, the walk out basement is great for your summer...
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Property Photo: 208, 214 East 5th Street  in North Vancouver
I have sold a property at 208, 214 East 5th Street in North Vancouver.
The Hacienda: Sunny south-east corner unit with a wrap-around balcony.  Freshly painted & updated kitchen, bthrm, flooring, baseboards & circuit breaker panel box.  Well-managed & maintained problem-free small complex with new roof,  piping & boilers.  Large 1 bdrm with excellent floor-plan, secure parking, tons of closet space plus a storage locker.  Convenient location...
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Market update!!

 

As most of you have heard, sales in the Vancouver real estate market have been down this year, the numbers vary from area to area. The strata market has been soft, while single family homes and building lots have been significantly better, again depending on the area.

The media types have been talking about a so called bubble, and a correction in the real estate market, as if there will be some dramatic shift in prices one day. I believe this is a misnomer. To the contrary, we’ve seen small corrections happening every day over the last few months to compensate for the smaller number of sales, as opposed to a sudden price drop. So in effect, the correction has already and is already happening on a daily basis. This doesn’t mean that it could not correct more, or less as time goes on. Some buyers believe that because of the slow market, they should automatically submit low ball offers assuming that home sellers should be desperately trying to sell and escape the market before this correction, however again this is wrong thinking, as there is a good chance that new home sellers entering the market have priced their home correctly, given the current circumstances.

 

 I believe that because the interest rates have been so low for so long now, a lot of the new home buyers that could buy, did buy in the last couple of years, leaving a lack of new home buyers to drive the entry level market. There are however still a small number of new home buyers entering the market all of the time, and of course folks upsizing and downsizing, to continually add some buoyancy to our market.

     

Despite the market sales being lower this year, I’ve been very fortunate, so thank you friends, family, and valued clients!!   

 

 

All the Best!

 

Garth   

 
Who's Doing  High Fives Now?    SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2007
 

If you think lenders make too much money, you are not alone........ However, it's very likely that you, the borrower, are an eager participant in all those profits. Billions of dollars are literally given away to the banks each year because of consumer  pathy. Lenders know this and in fact they "bank" on it. What do we mean?
Well, a recent survey conducted by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reveals that despite all the new mortgage products on the market, people looking to renew their mortgage will more often than not, revert back to their current lender. In fact, according to the report, 81% of them did. Does this make sense when the competition could be offering lower interest rates and better terms? It doesn't. There is some good news though. This same survey indicates that consumers are shopping around slightly more than they were in the past. People that were renewing their mortgage were faithful to their financial institution to the tune of 88% in 2000. By 2006 this dropped 7 percentage points.
This decline in lender loyalty was also very evident in repeat home buyers and people that refinanced their mortgage because of wanting extra cash to make home  enovations or consolidate debt. In 2006 only 65% of these consumers went back to their current provider – well down from what it was in previous years. The only category that remained relatively stable was first-time home buyers.

57% of these buyers financed through their banking institution in 2000 and this remained almost constant - 58% in 2006. It would appear that first-time buyers are savvy and cautious when it comes to mortgage debt. Initially, they do their

research diligently when it comes to comparing lenders and what they can offer. However, these very same buyers that were so careful at the start, oon join the ranks of those that are "too busy" at mortgage renewal time to check out and compare lenders. Most people know that banking is a business. However, not all acknowledge that bank

employees are paid to look after the bank's best interests – not yours. In fact these employees have quotas to fill – big quotas! It is amazing that people will go to seminars sponsored by Lenders and expect to be told how to negotiate the best mortgage deal for themselves.  Puh-leeze! That's like inviting a fox to the chicken coop to tell the chickens how to avoid getting eaten by him. It makes no sense whatsoever, yet that is exactly what people do. Even more remarkable is the fact that these potential customers believe they are getting sound and unbiased information and actually act on the

advice given by the fox. This can be a very costly mistake. 

 
However, let us explore mortgage renewal in greater detail.
 
Mortgage funding is extremely competitive. Lenders spend an enormous amount of money just to get mortgage business in the first place and they certainly don't want to lose customers now or at any time in the future.
If homeowners would just take a few hours and shop around for several proposals from different lending institutions when their mortgage term is up, they might be pleasantly surprised about their findings. The chances are that they would quite possibly receive an offer from another Lender that is better in both interest rates and/or terms provided.
Lenders may even pay for all the set-up, transfer and legal fees when the mortgage business is transferred to them. Once a homeowner has different options in hand, the power to choose becomes theirs. They can accept this new favorable proposal or have their current lender match or better it. Odds are, your lender isn't going to be
willing to give up your business without a fight.
How much actual cash could be saved by keeping Lenders honest? Well, let's figure it out. A $300,000 mortgage calculated at 6% over a 25 year amortization period works out to monthly payments of $1,919.42. Conversely, at 5.5% and using the same criteria, the payments are $1,831.18. The difference is $88.24 per month. Now multiply that by 60 (five years of monthly payments) and you will see that by negotiating a better rate, rather than blindly accepting the first offer, you have saved $5,294.40. Really, with a little investigative effort, you could have put a stash of cash in your jeans or made a handsome contribution towards paying off your mortgage. Instead of the Lenders' CEO's counting profits and doing high fives around the boardroom table because of consumer apathy, you could be going on vacation. You may be trained to be loyal but hopefully, not tamed! Next time . . . shop around!
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