THE SETTING

We are in love with this setting.  Living at the park, in the heart of the city with Cambie Park and Langara Golf Course, your neighbours.

• Parkside on Vancouver's Westside - at the centre of everything that makes Cambie great
• Steps to the mobility of Canada Line rapid transit
• Down the street to the classrooms of Langara College
• A short walk to Oakridge Centre
• Close proximity to acclaimed Vancouver schools and parks

A BETTER HOME

• 1 beds, from 540 - 860 ft²
• 2 beds, some with den, from 774 - 1,231 ft²
• 3 beds, some with den, from 1,378 - 1,723 ft2
• Great outdoor spaces and big windows
• All Park Building Homes have 10-foot high ceilings
• Select Boulevard Building Homes have 10-foot high ceilings

Quoted from MOSAIC Avenue Realty Ltd

Sold over asking with no subjects!

Congrats to the sellers and buyers for a fantastic, stress-free transaction that left all parties very happy.  Thanks to everyone who participated in this past weeks contest, I appreciate your support very much!  Shir Lina & Kevin Hui you are this weeks winners!  Thanks for winning, liking and sharing my social media posts.  You guys won a $20 Starbucks gift card each! 

The progression of real estate prices over the last 3 years in Vancouver if you're curious! Apartments, townhouses and detached homes will show up on this live graph that you can scroll on! If you would like to know your area, please feel free to send me a message!

statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/mMxf-wFu#.VtC0EXIRY0Y.facebook

Here's the stats with just the average per sqft:

statscentre.rebgv.org/infoserv/s-v1/m1wU-qSc

Brand new listing!  Southeast-facing 1 bedroom and loft TOP FLOOR corner suite would make a great first home for $299,000.

Located just minutes from SFU, downtown Vancouver, and the North Shore.  Abundant natural light with modern floor plan and vaulted ceiling make for a spacious feel throughout.  In the living area the gas fireplace adds warmth and coziness in the winter months while the stunning southern panoramic view from the glass walled deck can be enjoyed from inside and out throughout the year.  Trendy Vancouver/Willingdon Heights area within walking distance to plenty of shopping and great dining. Great rain-screened building comes with parking & separate storage locker.

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUN, FEB.28 2-4PM.

According to B.C.'s Property Transfer Tax website:

The amount of tax you pay is based on the fair market value of the land and improvements (e.g. buildings) on the date of registration unless you purchase a pre-sold strata unit. The tax is charged at a rate of:

• 1% on the first $200,000,
• 2% on the portion of the fair market value greater than $200,000 and up to and including $2,000,000, and
• 3% on the portion of the fair market value greater than $2,000,000.

The provincial government has projected that by implementing an increase of 3% in property transfer tax on the portion of fair market value over $2 million, it will raise an additional $75 million in taxes each year.

New homes selling up to $750,000 will be fully exempt from the property transfer tax when bought by a Canadian citizen(s) or permanent resident(s) as principal residence and lived-in for one year.  This new exemption could save purchasers up to $13,000!

For more information, please click on the links:  

B.C.'s Property Transfer Tax

Newly Built Home Exemption

Brand new listing!  1 Bedroom + den + 22 ft² balcony for $499,000.

Downtown living at its BEST!  Bright and spacious corner unit at COSMO, built by Concord Pacific.  Enjoy gourmet chef's kitchen with S/S appliances. Great finishings in kitchen and bathroom.  Price includes one parking stall.  This new and modern development has the ULTIMATE ROOFTOP LOUNGE-CLUB COSMO.  Enjoy 24hr Concierge & Security, 2-10 Pin Bowling Alleys, Fitness Centre, Pool and Outdoor Hot Tub and so much more.  Steps to Costco, Robson St. Vancouver's Public Library, Fine Restaurants and all that Downtown has to offer.  A MUST SEE!

OPEN HOUSE SAT/SUN FEB 20/21 from 2-4PM.  Come visit Michael Uy on Saturday and I'll be there on Sunday!

SOLD OVER ASKING - 62 days below the average for the complex with 3 other competitors on the market!  I got my clients a record breaking price per sq ft for homes facing Hastings Street!  Congrats to my sellers K & L for preparing your home so well for the showings.  You are such a delight to work with!

Congrats to Athena Chan and Becky Lee Shin for both sharing and liking my posts on social media - having all those extra ballots really came in handy! You guys are winners of a $20 dollar Starbucks gift card. 

With a striking exterior rising ten storeys over Main Street, Ellsworth reflects the progressive sophistication of its historic and thriving neighbourhood. Featuring 89 spacious homes in a concrete building ranging from studio to three-bedroom suites, Ellsworth offers a boutique, elevated living experience in the heart of Vancouver.

Ellsworth is scheduled for completion in Spring 2018 and homes will starting selling at $300,000.

Quoted from Chard Development Ltd and Rennie Marketing Systems

My fantastic clients didn't have the highest offer in a multiple situation, but persistence and flexibility with completion dates landed my clients this fabulous home in Vancouver's competitive Dunbar area.  Congrats M&S!

Happy Chinese New Year!  Wishing you good health, happiness, peace, and prosperity!  

恭喜發財、猴年大吉！祝您身体健康、萬事如意、歲歲平安、財源廣進！

Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that last month's sale were 46% above the 10-year sales average for the month and rank as the second highest January on record.

For more in-depth information on January's market, please click:

Greater Vancouver:  REBGV January Stats Package

Fraser Valley:  FVREB January Stats Package

Sold!!!  25 offers later, we got my seller $500,000 over the asking price, $350,000 more than the last sale (and that lot was 1,500 sqft bigger!)  Congrats to Karen Lee & Sheila Ang Lau for liking and sharing my social media posts - I appreciate all your support.   Both are winners of a $20 dollar gift card to Starbucks! :)

You're seeing it here first before it hits the public!

Link to listing:  #42-6995 Hastings Street

Friday Sneak Peak 5-7pm - Jan 29, 2016

Zero down has been tentatively approved according to their sales associates. If you would like to know more about this process, please give me a shout and I would be happy to explain it.

www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/01/vancouver-developer-townline-no-down-payment/

Possession day! My fantastic clients beat out 9 other parties to get this lovely, fully renovated Vancouver special. Our offer wasn't even the highest! (PTL!) If you're looking for an experienced Realtor who knows how to win hectic multiple offer situations in this crazy Vancouver market, please give me a shout today!

Epic at WEST is offering 120 new homes and unrivaled collection of Jr. 1, Jr. 2, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms starting at $349,000.  This will be one of the last buildings to have unobstructed waterfront views in Olympic Village!

I have VIP access to units before other realtors and the public, because of our extensive dealings with Executive Group.  Secure a unit(s) by contacting me if you are interested!

A 25,000 ft² house was sold for over $51 million making it the most expensive house sold in Greater Vancouver.

In May, a Shaughnessy house was sold in 12 days for $2 million over asking - sold price was over $8 million.

In June, a West Vancouver house listed under $3 million was sold in 2 hours over $4.1 million.

I hope you had a fantastic holiday season and your year has been off to a great start!  

Bank of Canada's prime rate is 2.7% and its key interest (benchmark) rate is 0.5%.  Unfortunately, interest rates have risen a few points over the past few weeks.  If you are thinking of purchasing a property soon, it is best to secure a rate as soon as possible.

Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that 2015 home sales were the highest annual total in REBGV history.  This was powered early in the year by four consecutive months with over 4,000 sales per month from March to June, another first for REBGV.

For more in-depth information on December's market, please click

Greater Vancouver:  REBGV December Stats Package

Fraser Valley:  FVREB December Stats Package

Thank you for the Canucks tickets, Eric! 

If you are looking for someone to help you secure a mortgage, Eric Sit from Verico Paragon Mortgage could help you.  He is one of the top mortgage specialists in the Lower Mainland.  Feel free to contact him at (604) 889-6176 or eric.sit@verico.ca.

Paul, thank you for always coming to my rescue with last minute inspections, even if you have one or two booked for that day. Appreciate the wine, brother! :)  Happy holidays to you and your family!

If you are looking for a knowledgeable and energetic inspector, Paul Friesen, with ifinditinspections, is your guy!

Fantastic December day for an inspection!  Beautiful reno in a nice Vancouver neighbourhood.  Let's do this!

The federal government is boosting the minimum down payment for higher-priced homes in Canada effective in the new year.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced that homebuyers are currently required to put down a minimum of 5% for the portion up to $500,000 to qualify for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) insurance — protection that lenders insist on when providing a mortgage worth more than 80 per cent of the home's value.

As of February 15, 2016, CMHC will require a 10% downpayment on the portion of any mortgage it insures over $500,000.  For instance, if someone is looking to buy a $750,000 home would need to have a minimum down payment of $50,000, which is what you get when you add five per cent of $500,000 and 10 per cent of the remaining $250,000.

Banks are forbidden to provide "high-ratio" mortgages — when the amount being borrowed is more than 80 per cent of the home's purchase price — without taking out insurance for it

The new rule doesn’t affect properties over $1 million because they don’t qualify for high-ratio mortgage insurance.

This post is directly copied from  CBC and Canadian Mortgage Trends

Great value at $1,999,999. Open House 2-4:30pm on Sat, Nov. 21 and 12-2pm on Nov. 22nd. 

Deep 50' x130'  lot, 3328 ft² home in the Arbutus area, walking distance to Trafalgar Elementary and Prince of Wales Secondary.  

Link to listing:  2863 West King Edward Avenue