The Associated Press reported September 3, 2008 that the Bank of Canada has held its key interest rate unchanged at 3 percent and gave no indication of future interest rate move. That’s good news for first time home buyers or buyers looking to finance and upgrade to a new home or investment property. Combined with the current market conditions here in the lower mainland, your first home or your dream home is more attainable than it has been in a long time. With the Olympics fast approaching, this window of opportunity may not last long so be sure to take advantage today! If you’ve been waiting for the craziness to pass to buy, now is a great time to start looking! You can browse the MLS listings right from our website and use our mortgage calculator to determine affordability or contact us to receive up to the minute listings for properties that match your desires. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have – give us a call or drop us an email today!

The sky is falling! Well, not exactly. While local media would have us believe that the Vancouver real estate market is spiraling into the abyss, the reality is that an over inflated market is coming into balance, creating ideal circumstances for those looking to buy, or upgrade their lifestyle. Buyers now have more flexibility and buying power, and can find better values in their price range. All is not lost for sellers, either. A well priced home will still sell in a reasonable amount of time. Remember, real estate markets are cyclical and while some value may be lost in the short term for those who bought at the height of the market, there is still great value in real estate as an investment.

We'd love to help you find your dream home! Give us a call today to start your search.

Join us at 1402-1723 Alberni "The Park" for our open house Saturday August 9th from 12-2pm. Dramatic VIEWS of Stanley Park, Lost Lagoon and glorious sunsets, all add up to sophisticated, cool, chic city living. S/W corner suite has its own private garage with oversized secure in-garage storage. Come see for yourself how fabulous downtown living can be!

Summer has finally arrived in Vancouver! With the Real Food movement gaining momentum, more and more people are looking to grow at least some of their own food. The good news is you don’t need a yard to grow vegetables. Container gardening has been a popular choice for urban gardeners for some time now, but it’s not just for flowers anymore! A sunny window or balcony will suffice for many summer vegetables. Grow tomatoes in that hanging basket, zucchini on a trellis, or plant an herb garden on a sunny window sill. Don’t have the right exposure? You can still grow a salad garden using certain herbs and lettuce varieties on a balcony that gets limited sun.

We’ve got some great properties right now that are sure to delight the gardener in you! 1108-175 W. 1st St. in North Vancouver not only has spectacular views, but also has a big south west exposed balcony for year round gardening! 2105 W. 19th Ave. in Vancouver has a huge yard with mature fruit trees sure to satisfy your gardening desires. Check out our listings page or contact Matt or Darlyne to help you find the perfect gardener’s paradise, whether you’re looking a house with a sunny yard, or an urban oasis with a rooftop deck.

Enjoy the summer!

The upcoming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver are creating quite a buzz with regard to real estate in the region. The games will expose British Columbia to an international audience similar to the way Expo 86 did. According to the Trilogy Group, the economic impacts of 2010 Olympics on the region include $600 million direct spending in projected infrastructure projects, 67,000 direct and indirect jobs across BC, and in tandem with the new Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center Expansion project, is expected to drive demand for Vancouver real estate and Whistler real estate to 2010 and beyond.

While housing in Vancouver is moving towards a more balanced market, Vancouver still has strong drivers of housing demand including: Low Mortgage Rates, A Strong Economy, Good Job Creation & Low Unemployment, and Strong Migration – making now a great time to buy or sell your house or condo.

Check out our current listings or contact us today for a free, no obligation market evaluation of your real estate property.