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Mission, BC Real Estate News

By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 I was out on an appojntment today and had a little time to kill, so dropped into this little coffee shop for a Cappucino. In addtion to all the standard fare, Espresso and Lattes, etc., they have a really nice selection of pastries and sandwiches. Neat little place. I spoke to the owner, Kimberly Arthurs and promised to do a post on her place. She was there toiling away with her daughter. Now here's the kicker. Not only is it a coffee bar. It doubles as an antique store. The have trivits and trinkets, tables and tiles. Trivial pieces and whimsical pieces.  Old lamps and tables and chairs, and all manner of treasures.  They also have art by local artists, some very well done.  Old Singers, Tiffany lamps badges and baubles and beads.     For all of you under 40, that "thing" on the desk ...
Comments 8
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Let me be very clear on this point. I enjoyed my stay at Keller Williams. No sour grapes; the visit was pleasurable, but, alas it was time to move on. This was strictly a business decision, based on bottom line. I will miss Dave Boughton, who brought me into the fold, and I hope to continue golfing with him from time to time. It was a sad parting on my part as well as Bob's I think, but, it had to be done for a myriad of reasons. Officially now, Bob and I are part of the team at I will continue blogging in the same manner with a hope that I occasionally entertain and inform and, I hope you continue to stick with me. The next couple of days will be spent re-branding and getting our ducks in a straight line. I look forward to this new venture.
Comments 16
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
WAKY news is a new feature from the "THE BLOGGING GUY". A retired couple from New York decided to buy a property abroad in order to stretch their savings. They ended up buying an acreage in Portugal that was being sold for taxes. (The previous owners had died). On this particular property, was a very large, windowless barn, with steel doors that were welded shut. Nobody, it seems wanted to go to the expense of opening this up, but it was driving the new owners nuts, wondering, what, if anything, was inside. They rented a generator and some grinders and after much work, gained access. What was in the barn?                         THE "BARN". THE STEEL DOORS-WELDED SHUT. THE CONTENTS. Inside were cars. Many, many cars. There were: Fiat Cabriolet S, Cortinas, Mercedes Benz, Aston Martins,...
Comments 16
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
We just took a listing the other day; nice house, well-priced and we were over there doing some cleaning. The place is vacant and needed a little sprucing up. (Yes, we do cleaning, It's called "value-added"-part of our service). An elderly fellow delivering papers dropped by and starting chatting. He inquired about the house, but it was a tad out of his price range. Of course, I asked him what he was looking for and he told me. I also asked if he was working with anyone else. He said no, and I had him sign a buyer's agreement. A few more conversations with him and it turns out his daughter-in-law is a realtor. I do not know what that's all about, but I bet it will make for some interesting family get-togethers!
Comments 20
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
For anyone who reads my blog regularly, I predicted that taxes will absolutely have to increase to pay for all this insane spending. The government says, "N0, it will never happen". (You know a politician is lying when you see his lips move). Right now, we in Canada have a tax called the GST, (Goods and Services Tax), similar to the VAT in Britain. (Value Added Tax). We also have a PST. (Provincial Sales Tax). They are now joining them together and calling it the HST. (Harmonized Sales Tax). It almost sounds kind of angelic doesn't it? You can almost hear the choir. HARMONIZED! Ah, perfect! So what does this really mean? Here's what it means: In the past, certain items were EXCEMPT from the PST, others were liable for GST. Now that it's blended, everything is taxed, (with a few exceptio...
Comments 20
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I swear to God, my neighbor is losing his marbles. He's an older guy, in his seventies with way too much time on his hands. For weeks on end now, we have been plagued with a mole. Every morning we awake to several new mounds that have been dug during the night. He's placed traps, tried pumping smoke down the tunnels-everything short of explosives. AND, he's absolutely convinced it's MY mole. According to him, the mole started on my property and tunneled over to his. So, somehow, I'm responsible for this mole. The other day, during a violent thunder storm, I peek out and here's my neighbor, soaking wet, covered in mud digging trenches all over his lawn.  He then proceeds to place live electrical wires in these trenches and he covers them all up again. The plan is of course, he's going to...
Comments 40
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 Montreal investment advisor Earl Jones, has apparently Madodoff made off with somewhere in the region of 50 to 100 million dollars in investors money. There are striking similarities between Jones and Madoff. Both had humble beginnings but aspired for greatness, both married their childhood sweethearts and both were thought of as kindly "uncle" types. Both knew their biggest asset was instilling trust. Once again, greed was the major factor. When banks were paying 2%, Jones was promising 10%. According to him, he had access to a "special" account at the Royal Bank of Canada. It amazes me how seemingly rational people buy these stories and invest everything they own and in many cases, even re-mortgaged their houses to cash in on this sure-fire deal. Apparently, he even took his brother ...
Comments 12
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Sunday was busy; Bob & I did an open house on a new listing we took. Bob was a little late so I didn't put the final car topper sign out as I didn't have the feature sheets-he did. That didn't stop them. The first came in 10 minutes before the open house was supposed to start. They were neighborhood "lookie-loos". Then a realtor came in looking for her buyer. Bob finally got there and I left for a listing appointment. (I'll be getting that listing next week). If you read my previous post, that was the one where the kid had a lemonade stand and we stopped to buy one and spoke to the father. Then another couple, (also neighbors), came in and spent a long time there. They're looking for investment property, and she's interested. Another couple came through but they need to sell their house...
Comments 10
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Last week we listed a nice house, and yesterday we walked about 40 pamphlets to neighbours. While door-knocking and talking to one couple, my partner noticed a saddle in the garage. Turns out they are into horses and they pay big money to board these animals AND they are renting the house they are in now. After a little conversation, they are very interested in a "pocket listing" we have. 5 acres with fantastic view and a horse barn. Did I mention it was hot? As we were driving around checking out "expired" listings, Bob sees a kid with a lemonade stand. We stopped and bought a lemonade and of course began a conversation with the father. To make a long story short, I'm doing a listing presentation today, while Bob holds the open house on the other listing. The very next call was another...
Comments 8
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 This is a painting of a B-17 and a German ME-109 fighter. Look closely at the bomber; the nose is shot up, the tail is almost gone, one engine dead and the stabilizer is gone. Charlie Brown, the pilot of the bomber had just finished a bombing run and was hit by flak and fighters. Their compass was damaged and they did not know they were flying deeper into enemy territory.                                                                  Charlie Brown                                                                                 Franz Stigler The German fighter had been dispatched to finish it off. Stigler, seeing the state of the bomber, pulled up along side and signalled for him to turn 180 degrees. He then escorted them to the English Channel, saluted the bomber and took off for home...
Comments 22
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
"APRONS" I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few and it was easier to wash an apron than a dress. And they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion for cleaning dirty ears. From the chicken coop the apron was used for carrying eggs and fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched chicks to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over a hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were...
Comments 22
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 This year is the 150th anniversary of London's most famous landmark "Big Ben". The great bell housed in St. Stephen's Tower first struck the hour in 1859, and has done so uninterrupted only by occasional maintenance. To mark the anniversary, "Happy Birthday Big Ben, 150 years" will be projected on the tower. The nickname "Big Ben" was originally given to the bell alone, and the name is thought to have come from Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of works and public buildings. Most mornings, my alarm clock has a similar sound., except, I don't call it Ben.
Comments 4
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
   Bob and I were driving around the other day and found this old timer standing in front of this other old timer.       This place dates back to about 1910, in immaculate shape. The landscaping was intricate and really well done. You can see some of the pieces on my other post called "Interesting Gardens Pieces" We found this neat little enclave of really old houses.             We're banging on doors tomorrow to get inside shots.   All these places have been restored.                   Look at the dentil and the windows.    All these places are over a hundred and still standing-amazing!
Comments 2
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Can someone please tell me what the point is of the little box at the bottom of the post that says "What does the graphic say?" When I'm at my computer late at night responding to comments on my posts and I see "zxeron-phondia" of "hindun-appaloinia", and I'm into the chablis while blogging, this isn't an easy task to replicate these words. I've been blogging for enough time that sometimes I see the word from previous posts and it's easy. I type the first letter and it's done. I guess it doesn't matter. I was just curious, but jeez, can they come up with easier words? One syllable, maybe 3 letters long, no hyphens?
Comments 32
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I posted a comment about the passing of Walter Leland Cronkite, the most respected man in journalism, and one comment to that post prompted this response. The question was asked; "What would Walter Cronkite think of journalism today?" My answer-not much! I watch Larry King, occasionally; in his day, a decent interviewer, now reduced to head-line grabbing at every opportunity.  Case in point; for the past few weeks, every time I tune into Larry King, the "suspendered one" has been blathering on and on about Michael Jackson. I've watched the Infamous Pepsi commercial where M.J. sets his hair on fire-not just once; it's an endless loop. Then there's the "interviews" with family members and panel discussions on Debbie Rowe and visits "inside the Neverland Ranch". I suppose at the end of th...
Comments 12
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I turned down a listing today, and lost another to an uber-lister, and sold an $800,000 house-busy day! In reverse order: I buyer I was working with for a long time finally got his dream home. Over an acre, very private with a salt water pool. The owner is a contractor and spared no expense. I brought in a full price offer as there was a back-up in place with subjects. Good offer-nice and clean. Also did a market analysis on another property. Older, crappy little house on 2 acres. Comps are telling me $460,000-tops! Owner wants $500,000 AND he wants to sell. (Really motivated, but insistant on price). Uber-lister comes in and lists this property for $499,999. Uber-lister also has another acreage listed just down the street.  Way nicer and bigger house on 4 acres listed at $499,000. Whic...
Comments 148
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Walter Cronkite, the most trusted man in journalism,  joined Edward R. Morrow in another big news room. Americans were once polled, and most agreed, that if there was bad news, they preferred to hear if from "Uncle Walter". Below, is some classic Walter Cronkite.                                                             Cronkite covered every thing major from the moon landing, to the assasination of JFK, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. He extensively covered the Viet Nam war, and when he pronounced the war "un-winnable", President Johnson made the comment, "If we've lost Cronkite, we've lost middle America". He was married to Betsy Maxwell in 1940, and that union lasted 65 years. WALTER LELAND CRONKITE-Dead at 92 Nov.4, 1916-July 17, 2009 And, that's the way it is...
Comments 12
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Has anyone been watching the Supreme Court nomination hearings in the U.S. Senate? Pathetic, partisan and predictable! These hearings don't even make good political theatre. Sonia Sotomayer has handled herself well during these hearings. The Republicans have not been able to whip up any kind of outrage despite their best efforts. She comes across as humble and very intelligent, and she is clearly the smartest person in the room.   The Republicans have been sniffing around for anything controversial. All they've been able to come up with is the phrase "wise Latina woman" which they've beaten to death.  Orrin Hatch, (R-Utah), seized on the word "empathy", that Sotomayer had once used. He interpreted that to mean that the President should select judges based on their personal preferences a...
Comments 10
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 The other day Bob & I found this old area of Mission, and when we turned the corner, there were several heritage houses, most nicely restored. These oldtimers date back to about 1912. One in particular had some interesting items.                      A head for gardening....                                                                         Post Box-Circa 1900                 Read any good books lately?                                                                          Flower Box I closed it-didn't have any money on me.
Comments 48
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Today, my partner and I were driving around an older area of Mission, and we found this neat little area with heritage homes from about circa 1912, and thought you might enjoy a few pictures.   This place has been here since 1922. Detail of cast-iron mail box. There is a bunch of these old homes in this area. I'll do a series on them.
Comments 4
Mission, BC Real Estate Professionals