Monday, July 25, 2011

Stage Right!

Staging can instantly increase your home or rental property's value and desirability.

S stand out
T target right buyers/tenants
A avoid extra expenses or carrying costs(mortgage etc..)
G Get top dollar or top rent to increase cash flow
E Eliminate time on market


Effective staging builds:
1. An emotional attachment by creating a warm and inviting place to live.
2. Highlights focal points and features addressed in your advertising
3. Turns negatives into positives.
4. Creates better online pictures.
5. Closes the prospects as they are able to visualize the space better.

Hope this aids you in the sale or rental of your house.

Arran

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

BC Home Sales Steady

Home Sales rise 2.4% to 7904 sales in June throughout the province of B.C.

Price increased 14.4% to $571,837 compared to June 2010.

Low interest rates and job creation will continue to push the market forward.

Arran

Friday, July 15, 2011

Home Sales to Rise This Year!

BCREA 2011 Second Quarter Housing Forecast

Vancouver, BC – June 30, 2011. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2011 Second Quarter Housing Forecast today.
BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales are forecast to increase 5 per cent from 74,640 units in 2010 to 78,200 units this year, before increasing a further 3.1 per cent to 80,700 units in 2012.

"Home sales will post some modest gains over the next two years," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "However, positive housing fundamentals like job growth, rising wages and an expanding population base will be somewhat offset by higher borrowing costs over the next eighteen months."

"Following a decade where unit sales broke all records, consumer demand over the next few years will be relatively moderate," added Muir. The ten-year BC MLS® residential sales average is 87,000 units. A record 106,300 MLS® residential sales were recorded in 2005.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Market update!

A total of 618 homes and other properties sold in June through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), up from 572 sales in May and very close to the 625 sales in June of last year.
Victoria Real Estate Board President, Dennis Fimrite, noted that market activity has returned to comparable levels of a year ago. "Overall sales so far this year are down 21 per cent compared to a year ago. It’s important to note, however, that the first few months of last year were very active compared to this year and we are now seeing a return to similar market conditions of a year ago."
Fimrite added that the number of properties available for sale continued to increase at the end of last month with inventory levels currently seven per cent higher than a year ago. "The available choice for buyers increased further last month with 5,050 properties available for sale at the end of June - the highest monthly level in 15 years." Fimrite add that there were 4,857 properties available for sale at the end of May.

The average price for single-family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $629,292, up from $628,462 in May. The median price also rose to $569,900 while the six-month average declined slightly to $619,568. There were 23 single family home sales of over $1 million in June.

The overall average price for condominiums last month was $320,172, down from $328,345 in May. The average for the last six months rose to $329,402. The median price for condominiums in June also rose to $300,000.

The average price of all townhomes sold last month declined to $444,768 from $466,845 in May. The median price also declined to $399,000 while the six month average rose to $448,159.
MLS® sales last month included 348 single family homes, 177 condominiums, 62 townhomes and nine manufactured homes.

Active Listings, New Listings and Sales Graphs
Average Selling Price Graphs


What this means is that there is a gradual lowering of home prices due to the amount of properties for sale. Supply is greater than demand so that drives the prices down.


The only reason the Single Family home prices are up is due to sales of the higher priced properties - million dollers +


If you are a buyer this is a great time to invest in your future as home prices are down and interest rates are attractive.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Website - New!

I have my new website up and running!

The website is http://www.NewImageHomeSales.com

Please check out the site and feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any questions!

Thanks,

Arran

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Garden DON'TS!

Here are some pitfalls to avoid which will get you on your way to a low maintenance garden.

DON'T be too eager to plant in the middle of renos, wait till all the tradesmen are done so it doesn't get trampled.

DON'T move plants, this will cause them to die if you move too many times, so plant them in the right spot the first time.

DON'T plant too close to the home, roots need space to extend out.

DON'T plant trees under overhead wires, know the height and spread of your plants.

DON'T work soil when wet, especially soil with high clay content. Work it when it is dry.

DON'T water too late at night, the fungus will be attracted to your plants if still wet. Don't water in the heat of the day, it mostly gets evaporated. Water before sunrise, 5am.

DON'T let weeds go to seed as they will stick around for up to 7 years!

DON'T buy plants that don't work with your soil, sun, shade, height etc...

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Potholes, Ponds and Sandy Seashores.

There are a lot of hidden gems to enjoy when Thetis Lake and Elk/Beaver Lake are packed with people.

Lookout Lake, is in a small, little known municipal park tucked amid residential cul-de-sacs on Triangle Mountain in Colwood. Also in the West Shore, there is Langford Lake or Glen Lake.

Continue down Highlands Rd, behind Thetis Lake, you'll find Prior Lake, also further down is Pike or Mackenzie Lakes.

More established swimming spots are Matheson Lake in Metchosin or Durrance Lake in Saanich, these two are not as busy as Sooke potholes.

If you like the saltwater beaches, you have Arbutus Cove in Gordon Head, Willows Beach in Oak Bay or Coles Bay in North Saanich.

There is a ton of places to escape to, grab your gps, a towel, some lunch and try a new swim spots this year!

Enjoy,