By being up front with your Realtor you can avoid headaches or even worse losing the opportunity to purchase your new home due to last minute financing issues. If you haven't gone through the financing process your Realtor may be able to refer you to some great mortgage professionals. Sure they may receive a referral fee for this, in my case I get points to put towards merchandise from one and nothing at all from another. This by no means influences my decision to recommend this person anymore than collecting grocery store points influence my eating choices. The points rewards do not compare to the reward of extremely satisfied clients. 08/25/2008

First I will start off by saying I am not a Realtor who is defensive about house prices reducing. That would be like being offended by the sun rising each day. History has shown that the sun comes up, the sun goes down. House prices go up, house prices go down. The difference is one is fairly predictable. To not accept the rise and fall of real estate prices would be unproductive if not irrational. Am I the only one who finds articles discussing the Canadian housing market seeing price reductions somewhat useless to home buyers? Am I buying or selling houses in Canada? Well yes...well sort of...well no. I was thinking about narrowing it down to a province or even maybe a city. Heck I may even be so brazen as to narrow it down to a particular neighbourhood. Now I realize that the media c... 08/22/2008

Do you have a room in your home that you spend very little time in?  When you walk in do you think, "Something is not right in here"?  If so, perhaps you need to redesign your space.  I am teaching a Saturday morning course through the Vancouver School Board Continuing Education program where you can:  "Learn how to give your home a new look and feel using your own existing furniture and accessories."  I will provide guidelines, tips and suggestions on how to give your home a One Day Makeover using your own belongings.   For more information on this and other courses, or if this is something you would be interested in, you can register on-line at www.vsb.bc.ca.  Good luck! 08/13/2008

Do you have a room in your home that you spend very little time in?  When you walk in do you think, "Something is not right in here"?  If so, perhaps you need to redesign your space.  I am teaching a Saturday morning course through the Vancouver School Board Continuing Education program where you can:  "Learn how to give your home a new look and feel using your own existing furniture and accessories."  I will provide guidelines, tips and suggestions on how to give your home a One Day Makeover using your own belongings.   For more information on this and other courses, or if this is something you would be interested in, you can register on-line at www.vsb.bc.ca.  Good luck!       08/13/2008

Newsletter The Harris Real Estate Group  SUTTON GROUP WESTCOAST REALTY August 8th, 2008 This message is going out to 3,093  real estate investors... Welcome to the 54 new subscribers!  Your Real Estate Listings: Your Foreclosure properties: Houses and Condos  Lofts Other Listings   Featured Listings:   Downtown Loft Living: 16 ft. ceilings, new kitchen and bath...OPEN HOUSE Sat. 2-4 pm   1/2 Duplex Luxury : In one of the best areas, over 2600 sq.ft. Luxury, style and value. Perfect for empty nesters and downsizers...    Wall Center Original loft style:  In the famous Wall Center. 30 ft of floor to ceiling windows.  No walls to hold you back, just open space...  Our Listings   Our Services: VancouverRealEstateInfo.ca   What'... 08/11/2008

The REBGV reports that Greater Vancouver prices have drawn back, the last two months, from the record highs experienced in early 2008. Since May 2008 housing prices have declined. Detached properties in the GVA declined 2.1% since the end of May 2008 from $568,411 to $556,605 in July. We're seeing more price reductions in properties listed on the market, which is having a levelling impact on the housing price increases experienced at the end of last year and into the first quarter of 2008. Residential property sales in GVA declined 43.9% in July to 2,174 from the 3,873 sales recorded a year prior. The decline is equal to June 2008 versus June 2007. Read the rest of this post 08/10/2008

This popular Vancouver event has been happening since 1962 when the recently formed Abbotsford Flying Club decided an airshow would be an effective way to promote flying from Abbotsford Airport, which was inactive at the time. The Flying Club approached W.J. (Bud) Lloyd of the Abbotsford Rotary Club for their support. The Rotary Club put up the $700 to cover the budget of the show and the Flying Club provided the manpower.  The show is on from August 8-10th. The first show attracted 15,000 people and was an unqualified success. Included in the flying demonstrations that first year were Mark Hoskins in his Ryan STA, a Fleet 2 - the oldest registered aircraft in Canada - flypast on floats and a demonstration by a RCAF twin rotor H-21 "Flying Banana", among others. Read the rest of this post 08/10/2008

Vancouver's Coal Harbour statistics for July show listings up from 192 in June.  Sales down. Days on market flat and average price up substantially. Listings 220 - 42 under $500,000. 75 listed between $500,00 and $1 million. 67 listed between $1 and $2 million. 13 listed between $2 and $3 million. 10 listed between $3 and $4 million. 3 between $4 and $5 million and 10 listed over $5 million. The most expensive is the Shaw Tower Penthouse at $16,800,000 for 7473 sq.ft. Contact me if you wish to sell your Coal Harbour condo. 2008 Listings  - Jan 128,Feb 149, Mar 179, Apr 176, May 175, June 192, July 220 Solds 11. 3 sold under $500,000. 1 sold between $500,000 and $1 million.  5 between $1 and $2 million. 1 sold between $2 and 3 million and 1 over $4 million. Contact me if you're buying in... 08/10/2008

This is part 2 of 2 of a streetscape video for 821 Cambie Street, Raffles on Robson by Mike Stewart, Downtown Vancouver Realtor. If you have any questions on this building or Downtown Vancouver Real Estate please contact Mike at 604-763-3136 or email him at details@rafflesonrobson.ca 07/31/2008

This is a streetscape video for Raffles on Robson at 821 Cambie Street in Downtown Vancouver by Mike Stewart, Downtown Vancouver Realtor. If you have any questions about this video please call Mike Stewart at 604-763-3136 or email Mike at details@rafflesonrobson.ca 07/31/2008

This is the indoor/outfdoor pool and sauna/hot tub for 501 Pacific Street in Yaletown by Mike Stewart, Downtown Vancouver Realtor 07/31/2008

B.C.'s economy continues to trend above the national average, although further weakness in its exports is expected to restrain growth to 2.2% in 2008 and 2.9% in 2009, according to a provincial economic outlook released this month by RBC. "The current decade has proven to be very prosperous for BC as 2007 marks the sixth consecutive year of economic growth above of the national average and we expect this trend to continue right through to 2010," said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC. However, the challenges facing the province's exporters are many and do not appear to be letting up, particularly with respect to the rout in the US housing construction sector." According to the report, wood products are leading five of the top six export categories showing decl... 07/30/2008

Investor confidence remains strong across British Columbia for 19th straight quarter, as major projects continue to break record and show an ongoing high level of investor confidence. This article was recently published in Business in Vancouver. The total number of major projects has increased for the 19th consecutive year, as of the end of the first quarter of 2008. The Provincial Governments Major Projects Inventory, which tracks the growth in the number of large scale construction projects in BC, shows the number of total major projects in the province has increased with record breaking numbers again. For example, activity in the number of projects planned or underway in the Thompson/Okanagan region has increased by 95% since March 2005. 858 major capital projects worth an estimated ... 07/30/2008

predicting average Canadian home prices will be up 3.5% in 2008, including the Vancouver market. In Vancouver, a spike in inventory during the second quarter simmered the heat in the long-standing hot market, resulting in single-digit average house prices increases for most areas examined, when compared to this time past year. Despite the increase in listing volumes, buyer's interest remained strong and it is anticipated that much of the inventory will be absorbed over the next few quarters, leading to low single digit price appreciations through to the year's end. Read the rest of this post 07/30/2008

You don't need to be all that old to remember when the Marine Building and Hotel Vancouver nominated the Vancouver city skyline. Now you need sharp eyes to find them as they're buried behnd the sea of hirise towers that have gone up in the Vancouver Downtown core The largest and tallest of them all is nearing completion. Ledcor Construction managers will oversee the completion touches on the Shangri-la Vancouver this October. Read the rest of this post 07/26/2008

Royal LePage's just released House Price Survey is predicting average Canadian home prices will be up 3.5% in 2008, including the Vancouver market. In Vancouver, a spike in inventory during the second quarter simmered the heat in the long-standing hot market, resulting in single-digit average house prices increases for most areas examined, when compared to this time past year. Despite the increase in listing volumes, buyer's interest remained strong and it is anticipated that much of the inventory will be absorbed over the next few quarters, leading to low single digit price appreciations through to the year's end. Read the rest of this post 07/26/2008

The following graphs for Vancouver are the statistics for June 2008. The show the individual graphs for homes, townhomes and condos. The sales are down, average price is down and listings are up.  The graphs go back one year. The overall graph goes back to 1980 and shows the steep price increase from then. It also shows the monthly listings and sales for each type of property. Read the rest of this post 07/26/2008

Investor confidence remains strong across British Columbia for 19th straight quarter, as major projects continue to break record and show an ongoing high level of investor confidence. This article was recently published in Business in Vancouver. The total number of major projects has increased for the 19th consecutive year, as of the end of the first quarter of 2008. The Provincial Governments Major Projects Inventory, which tracks the growth in the number of large scale construction projects in BC, shows the number of total major projects in the province has increased with record breaking numbers again. Read the rest of this post 07/26/2008

B.C.'s economy continues to trend above the national average, although further weakness in its exports is expected to restrain growth to 2.2% in 2008 and 2.9% in 2009, according to a provincial economic outlook released this month by RBC. "The current decade has proven to be very prosperous for BC as 2007 marks the sixth consecutive year of economic growth above of the national average and we expect this trend to continue right through to 2010," said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC. However, the challenges facing the province's exporters are many and do not appear to be letting up, particularly with respect to the rout in the US housing construction sector." Read the rest of this post 07/26/2008

It's one of my favourite Vancouver entertainment venues - the River Rock Theatre - and I've enjoyed seeing many stars in this small and personal theatre, mostly the oldie goldies Every seat is a good seat at Riverrock. Some of the artists let you boogie on the dance floor. Coming soon - Chris Isaak (always a sell out, haven't been able to get tickets yet) Donna Summer...the queen of disco, Stevie Windwood (remember him in the Spencer Davis Group) Boz Scaggs (saw him years ago in The Cave), the Gypsy Kings, Al Green,  Petula Clark, Melissa Manchester and many others. Read the rest of this post 07/26/2008