Archive for October, 2008
Halloween is a Vancouver Event
October 31st, 2008 Categories: Vancouver
It happens on Friday October 31st. See what’s on in the city for Halloween entertainment.
Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts lived 2000 years ago in what we now know as Ireland, the UK and northern France. October 31st marked the end of summer and the harvest and it was believed that the ghost of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
History.com relates how this Celtic fest evolved into Halloween. Enjoy!
View my other Vancouver Events.
this site is updated regularly, subcribe via RSS or email
| Discussion: No Comments »
Vancouver Real Estate Economic Roundup
October 30th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate
Here are some recent reports about the Canadian economy and Canada and Vancouver’s real estate market.
A new RBC study conducted during the market turmoil in October finds overall intentions to purchase a home in the next two years remain steady at 22 per cent and have not changed since January 2008. As well, renovation intentions are slightly higher than last year – up four percentage points as 70 per cent of respondents are planning to renovate or make home improvements in the next two years.
Bank of Canada dropped rates a quarter of a point on October 21st and reports the Canadian economy will be sluggish til Q2 next year and accelerate to above potential growth in 2010.
BCREA’s chief economist Cameron Muir’s latest report says downward pressure on home prices is expected to ease by the second quarter of 2009, as an increase in affordability and consumer confidence induces a modest growth in sales. The inventory of homes for sale is also expected to decline in the coming months as potential home sellers delay putting their homes on the market until conditions improve.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Wordless Wednesdays
October 29th, 2008 Categories: Wordless Wednesdays
| Discussion: No Comments »
Renters Scramble to Find Homes in Vancouver
October 28th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate
More and more I hear how tight the rental situation is in Vancouver and some of the bottom end of vancouver real estate is being purchased by parents for their student kids or first time buyers who are paying hight rents and by young people moving into the province.
This article recently appeared in the Vancouver Sun.
An “extreme shortage” of studio and one-bedroom apartments in Vancouver is driving parents, students and pet owners out of the rental market and leading to lineups for the city’s few vacant suites.The vacancy rate for bachelor suites has plummeted to 0.3 per cent, compared to the national average of four per cent for major Canadian cities, according to the most recent data from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Vacancy rates for studio and one-bedroom apartments have been below one per cent in Vancouver since 2006.
Amanda Kent (left) and Alexis Twiddy are two potential renters that were out of luck when they attended a viewing of a one bedroom apartment in the 2000-block West Third Avenue in Vancouver.
“The market is astoundingly tight; 30, 40, 50 people are lining up trying to get into one apartment,” said David Goodman, a Vancouver-based rental housing expert. “It’s reached extreme levels of shortages.” Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Don’t Worry Be Happy!
October 27th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate
Vancouver real estate owners have been bombarded over the last two months with negativity by the press. Now everyone’s a real estate guru! And guess what? They have the ability to see into the future and predict it. The stock market plunges, house prices are falling, Canadian economy slowing down and may go into a recession. That’s the daily news.
What goes up must come down and vice versa. This isn’t the first time Vancouver’s real estate market has corrected and it won’t be the last. The world is not coming to an end. It’ll work through this mess. Personally, i’m tired of the press and its negativity and I’m not watching or reading about it any more. There’s nothing I can do about it anyway!
Here’s my Top Ten Don’t Worry Be Happy List! Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Vancouver’s Biggest Events
October 25th, 2008 Categories: Vancouver
Vancouver enjoys many festivals and cultural events throughout the year. Following is a list of the biggest ones, published by Business In Vancouver.
HSBC’s celebration of Light comes in first with 1.5 million people attending. This Vancouver Event held in the summer and started in the ’80s, when it was sponsored by Benson & Hedges, prior to the Government of Canada banning cigarette companies from sponsoring public events. Fireworks extraordinare!
The Fair at the PNEis the runner-up with three quarters of a million attending.
Vancouver’s Pride Parade and TD Canada Trust International Jazz Festival boasts half a million attendees.
CelticFest Vancouver. is the fifth largest event and boasts a quarter of a million attendees. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Featuring Flatiron in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour Waterfront Neighbourhood
October 24th, 2008 Categories: Coal Harbour, Coal Harbour Buildings
Coal Harbour’s Flatiron will be opening soon and is the neighbourhood’s newest development. It is a luxury condo located at 1277 Melville Street, Vancouver. Condos in Coal Harbour are considered the waterfront neighbourhood of choice when it comes to Vancouver real estate.
Triangles where meeting of the West End, Coal Harbour and Stanley Park. The triangular intersection of Melville, Pender and Jervis, and the Flatiron: designed with inspiration from the old triangular Flatiron building in New York City. Described as a “lithe and elegant tower”, the Flatiron makes maximum use of a small triangle of land.
The Building Flatiron will be one of Coal Harbour’s most exclusive residential buildings, with only 52 homes in a sleek 28 story tower. The 01 suites are 1392 sq.ft. and the ‘02 suites are 1272 sq.ft.Taking advantage of the extraordinary views of the water and mountains, the building features only two exclusive homes per floor, each fronting on to incredible waterfront and mountain views.
The Developer the Cathedral Development Group . Constructed by Intertech. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Canada Real Estate Round UP
October 23rd, 2008 Categories: Real Estate
Take a look at what’s happening in the Canada real estate market. The big cities of Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary are down (with the exceptiion of Montreal which is up)and the small ones like Winnipeg, Halifax, St. Johns Newfoundland are up.
Vancouver – prices down according to Vancouverreflections
Edmonton - prices down according to TheEdmontonRealEstateBlog
Calgary- prices down according to TheCalgaryRealEstateBlog
Saskatoon- prices down according to SaskatoonOnLine
Winnipeg -sellers market is changing according to WinnipegRealEstateBlog
Toronto - prices down 15% in October according to MoveSmartly
Mississagua - prices down according to MississaugaRealEstateHomes
Collingwood-BlueMountain - prices up according to CollingwoodBlueMountain RealEstateBlog Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Wordless Wednesdays
October 22nd, 2008 Categories: Wordless Wednesdays
| Discussion: No Comments »
Find Out Which Price Range for Vancouver Real Estate Sells the Best
October 21st, 2008 Categories: Real Estate
In this excellent Vancouver real estate buyer’s market, it’s a good idea for sellers to look at which price ranges are selling and which aren’t, then they can make an informed decision whether they should be listing their Vancouver condo, or making alternate plans.
The Real Estate Board’s stats for the year show there have been 3,051 condo sales in Vancouver (west side) til the end of September.
As Vancouver real estate prices continue to slide The best selling price range is $350,000 to $400,000 (about 17% of the total sales). Closely followed is the $300,000-350,000 (14%) and $400,000 to $450,000 (13%)price range. Concluding that most of the buyers are in the $300,000 to $450,000 range (44%). The sales start to decrease quite a bit after $550,000. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
; ?>/images/MatoChiclet.gif)
