He LISTED with me. He SOLD his house. A family emergency took him out of town 2 days before COMPLETION.  "Would I be there for him?", he asked.  Would I supervise the movers, making sure all of his possessions were removed?  Then he said, "Be sure to dig up Joe." Huh? OK...fess up. Who out there has done this?  More importantly, does it work?  I did not know to believe him, so he sent me to http://www.fisheaters.com/stjoestatue.html .  Asking around my office, some knew about Joe; most did not.  Have we found a way out of the current real estate mess?    12/16/2008

203 - 1989 Dunbar Street, Kitsilano, Vancouver West, 1 Bedroom Condo at Sonesta Welcome home to the Stylish Sonesta in Kitsilano! Ultra Picky Buyer alert! This apartment is immaculate and in perfect condition. Cozy and comfortable with a gas fireplace opening onto the living room and bedroom, this suite is ready to move into. An open plan living/dining/kitchen area is great for chefs and entertainers alike. The bright southern exposure with a south facing balcony is perfect for BBQing and works well with an active outdoorsy Kits lifestyle. Located at West 4th Avenue and Dunbar Street this solid rainscreened building is blocks to Jericho Beach , shopping, the beach, and everything great Kits has to offer. Includes secured parking and a locker. Buyer to verify measurements if important. C... 12/16/2008

Vancouver real estate analysis for False Creek North saw listings down a tad to 246.   Days on the market drop from 62 to 58. The average selling price drop a bit to $816,605    The average supply of condos in this waterfront hood increased from 25 months in October to 41 months. Best selling price range is under $500,000.  No sales over $1.6M. By far the worst November in the history of this waterfront neighbourhood. Listings - 246 2008 Listings - Feb 153, Mar 174, May 202, Jun 210,  Jul 237, Aug 256, Sept 257, Oct 250, Nov 246 Sales - 6 - three sold under $500,000. One sold in the high$800K, one over a million and one at $1.6 million. read the rest of the post 12/06/2008

Vancouver real estate market in November saw sales down, listings down, prices down in Greater Vancouver. In its most recent statistics release, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 69.7 per cent in November 2008 to 874 from the 2,883 sales recorded in November 2007. Residential benchmark prices, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, declined 12.8 per cent between May and November 2008, amounting to an 8.3 per cent year-to-date price reduction for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver between November 2007 and 2008. In May 2008, the overall residential benchmark price was $568,411, compared to $495,704 in November 2008. read the rest of this post 12/04/2008

Vancouver real estate in the West End saw November listings  up  from October to 281 and is a record high for the year.  Sales were down from 16 to 15 and is a record low for the year.  The days on the market for condos that sold dropped 65 to 45.   The average selling price increased from $370,468 to $375,433 and is a 35% drop since January.  9 of the sales were under $400,00 and the highest price was $732,000.   The West End has over 18 months of  inventory on the market. The average $ pr sq ft for those West End condos that sold dropped under $500 for the first time this year. Listings - 281 2008 Listings - Jan  168, Feb 172 ,  Apr 232 , May  241 , June 235, July 235, Aug 246, Sept 257, Oct 268, Nov 281 Sales - 15 read the rest of my post 12/04/2008

December 2008 sees the opening of North America's first Shangri-la hotel/condo, which also has the distinction of being Vancouver's tallest building with over 60 storeys and 293 suites, mostly 1 and 2 bedrooms. Located at 1128 West Georgia Street, on the corner of Thurlow this is Vancouver's most exotic and sophisticated architecture. The hotel occupies the first 15 floors. Architect - James KM Cheng Architects and featuring LEED silver sustainable development Developer - Peterson Development Group and Westbank Projects Landscape - bamboo grove, galleria and waterfalls. Extensive greening on the tower facade. Inspired by the imaginary land in James Hilton's legendary novel Lost Horizon Quality - high performance, commercial curtainwall, ultra high ceilings, geothermal heating/air condit... 12/01/2008

For the 28th year the Vancouver Bach Choir, the audience and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will bring down the house with the choruses Handel's beloved oratorio. Directed by Vancouver Bach Choir Music Director Bruce Pullun Orpheum Theatre December 14th 2.30pm, Seymour at Smithe 11/30/2008

I can just here people going yikes clutter! I have so much, well your not alone.  As I was sitting in my living room this evening I was pondering about how I was going to decorate my home for  Christmas and what opportunities that might bring!!   Well before I put my Christmas decorations out for Full display I have to remove some items so I'v decided to remove all my day to day memorabillia and bits n pieces like  my vases, ornaments candles etc and set up two boxes box no. 1 will have my ornaments / vases and pictures etc that make me feel good when I see them in my home. These posseesions will once again be displayed once the festive Season is over. box no. 2 I will put away all the items that are "Time expired" and deemed for a new home, these could be items I bought on a whim, thin... 11/29/2008

For those of you who enjoy the festive Season its worth taking  a stroll down Burrard street , Vancouver and pop into the Vancouver Sutton Place Hotel.   You will come across some wonderful local Vancouverites Home Stagers and Redesigner creative work  all in a beaufiful Christmas Tree.   Family & Friends can enter into a draw for some wonderful prizes. The Sutton place hotel designs this initiative to raise funds for Canuck Place Childrens Hospice with a theme "Home for the Holidays" Pair Home Design has decorated a tree with our Theme being A Partridge in a Pair tree! Merry Christmas Everyone     11/29/2008

An extraordinary shopping experience for all.  Holiday shop for exceptional gifts from more than 200 North American artisans. Meet the artists and learn about their creative inspirations. Buy directly from the artisans and buy someone's story and passion. November 20-25 at BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver 11/25/2008

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants  provided the below information relating to Tax Benefits of Losses. Taxpayers may use losses to reduce their tax liability in the same, earlier or later taxation years, subject to certain limits and conditions. The limits and conditions largely depend on the character of the particular loss, with different rules applying to the particular type of loss. This article discusses some considerations in the tax treatment of: allowable capital losses, allowable business investment losses and non-capital losses. Allowable Capital Losses you have an allowable capital loss when you sell, or are considered to have sold, a non-depreciable capital asset (say an investment or real estate) for less than its adjusted cost base plus the outlays and expense... 11/25/2008

Take a look at what's happening in the Canada real estate market.  The big cities of Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary are down but Montreal bucks the trend, as does  Halifax, and St. Johns Newfoundland. The number of homes sold through the Canadian multiple listing service plunged 14 per cent last month to the weakest level since July 2002. It was the steepest month-to-month decline since June 1994, the Canadian Real Estate Association said today. The association added that the impact was heaviest in big cities - notably Toronto, which accounted for one-third of the national decline. Total major-market sales were down 15.1 per cent from September, and overall national sales were down 27 per cent from October of last year. Vancouver - prices down according to Vancouverreflections Victoria/Soo... 11/24/2008

  Statistics Canada shows Vancouver's population continues to increase. Vancouver real estate is hugely impacted by inmigration, from other provinces and international. British Columbia and Canada's population is growing. Canada's population posted its highest quarterly growth since 1991 in the second quarter of 2008, with an increase of 125,800. The advance was mainly due to a rise in net international migration which, at 91,600, reached its highest level since the end of the 1980s. As of July 1, 2008, Canada's population was estimated at 33,311,400. From April to June, Canada's population grew by 0.38%. The increase in net international migration over the second quarter of 2008 is mainly explained by an increase in both the number of immigrants and non-permanent residents. Between Apr... 11/24/2008

Vancouver elects an ex NDP MLA, Gregor Robertson as its new Mayor, in a very controversial race against incumbent City Councillor Peter Ladner.. The turnout was low. The left of centre parties joined forces a month ago and took all but one seat in Vancouver City Hall. Robertson promises to make Vancouver "the world's greenest city" and to convert one of the Burrard Street lanes for cyclists. In an economic downturn Where will be find the funds? Robertson is the founder and ex-joint owner of Happy Planet juices. He left the company to run for MLA in Fairview. Read the Province's review 11/20/2008

October and sales down.  Days on the market increased from 40 in September to 62 and the average selling price increased to $864,980 from  $631,944 in September.    The average supply of condos in this waterfront hood increased from  16 months to 25 months. Best selling price range is between $700,000 and $1,000,000.  No sales over $1.7M. By far the worst October in the history of this waterfront neighbourhood. Listings - 250 (down from 257 in September) 13 listings under $400,000. 27 between $400,000 and $500,000. 94 listed between $700K and $1M. 51 listings between $1 and $2 million. 20 listings over $2 million. Least expensive$318,000 for 529 sqft l bedroom. Most expensive is the Penthouse at 1000 Beach, now down to $14,800,000 2008 Listings - Feb 153, Mar 174, May 202, Jun 210,  Jul... 11/20/2008

Vancouver's Downtown condo market saw listings flat in October and sales slightly lower. Average days on the market for condos that sold was down slightly from 50 to 48.  The average price for Downtown condos that sold increased from  $379,000 to $411,768. The average $ pr sq ft for condos that sold is flat at $562.  Again a whopping 89% of the sales were under $500,000.  Best selling price range is under $400,000. Vancouver's Downtown inventory increased to 16 months. This October was the lowest for sales for the millennium - given the increase in population in Vancouver from 2000, that is an amazing statistic. Listings - 744 vs 742 in September 57 listings in False Creek North under $300,000. 229 between $300,000 and $400,000. 198  between $400,000 and $500,000.  216 listings between ... 11/20/2008

Coopers Lookout at 33 Smithe Street, Vancouver, is the second of five waterfront buildings that make up Coopers Landing, situated east of the Cambie Street Bridge and across the water from the 2010 Olympic Village. The Building 33 storeys with suites ranging from 550 sq ft one bedroom to 2866 sq ft villa residences, consisting of 3 adjoining buildings - the tower, the townhomes and the villas The Amenities Coopers Quay Esprit Club is 14,000 sq.ft. recreation centre providing storage for a fleet of kayaks, a 2 lane 10 pin bowling alley, 60 ft lap pool, fitness centre, yoga facility and a video theatre. 24 hour concierge. The Developer Concord Pacific Read the rest of this post 11/20/2008

Here's a video of my new listing in Mount Pleasant at 502-328 East 11th Avenue in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant area. 502 - 328 East 11th Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Vancouver East, The Uno Condo By Mike StewartView in HD  Download 480p Version  Visit Mike Stewart's ExposureRoom Videos Page 11/18/2008

  November 22nd-23rd (Saturday & Sunday) 12.00pm - 4.00pm!!! Warehouse Clearance offers display suite quality furniture & accessories at discounted sale prices. What's on offer? Sofas, Beds, Dining Tables & Chairs, Area Rugs and more...... Location: 8836 Selkirk Street, Vancouver (Lane Entry to Warehouse) Saturday: Nov 15th 2008 (Time: 12.00PM - 4.00PM)  No Credit Card Facilities. Bring a van or truck! 11/16/2008

Sale prices usually increase, often by as much as five per cent.       Attention to the appearance of a home and highlighting it's best
features, is imperative.

In a 2007 Home Gain Survey of over 2000 realtors, it was discovered that sellers who spent on staging services for their home recovered over 343% of the cost in the sale of their home.   Attaining the goal of a quick and profitable sale frequently requires a professional outside eye. The biggest mistake of most homeowners is : clutter.

 You have to think strategically. At Revamp Home Staging we walk into a house and identify its strongest, most marketable features, then figure out how to play them up, how to draw attention to the positives.  You have to remove the hurdles to broad appeal, eliminate the visual distractions.
 As... 11/16/2008