Hoodsurf

A roundup of Vancouver real estate stories hand picked by hoodsurf for interest and convenience.

• RE/MAX thinks that Vancouver’s housing sales will rise 10% and prices will rise 5% in 2011. “Vancouver to lead 2011 housing sales activity” – Business in Vancouver.

• Some Vancouver stagers find a cool use for excess furniture. “Home stagers reach out to troubled women” – Vancouver Courier.

• Vancouver Heritage Foundation is having a laneway house tour on Saturday. Laneway House Tour – Vancouver Heritage Foundation.

• The Bank of Canada held off on raising interest rates this week, which is likely good news for mortgage holders and home sellers. “Carney holds rates, cites export slowdown” – Globe and Mail.

• A feature on the minimalist marketing campaign by Westbank/Peterson Group for 700 West 8th (pictured above). “Some developers showing less, telling more” – Vancouver Sun.

photo credits:
700 West 8th website

A roundup of Vancouver real estate stories hand picked by hoodsurf for interest and convenience.

• Confirming our superstitions – the numbers 4,8 and 13 used in addresses have at least some effect on property prices in Vancouver. “Lucky number eight helps boost real-estate prices” – the Province.

• A seriously flawed list of Canada’s wealthiest neighbourhoods – West Van is the only Greater Vancouver ‘hood to make the list. We’re pretty sure a properly defined Shaughnessy or Point Grey blows most of these out of the water. “Canada’s richest neighbourhoods” – finance.yahoo.ca

• Some aren’t pleased with developers using temporary community gardens to lower their taxes and bank land. “Some landowners using community gardens to get a tax break” – Vancouver Sun.

• Sales have stopped at Evelyn Living (interior rendering pictured above), the Millennium-owned West Vancouver development that could be pushed into receivership. “Evelyn Living sales suspended” – North Shore News.

photo credits:
BC Place website

A roundup of Vancouver real estate stories hand picked by hoodsurf for interest and convenience.

• Bosa’s Bluesky Properties just broke ground on 1142 Granville, the rental only building with tiny units that we profiled in July (pictured above). “Construction begins on Vancouver rental housing project” – Vancouver Sun.

• PwC’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report has Vancouver dropping behind Toronto as the most favored investment spot in Canada. “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2011: Canadian Summary” – PwC

• Gawker.com lists a $2850/month Yaletown two bedroom as sample real estate for Vancouver in a guide for Americans looking to move away from Tea Party rule. “Five Foreign Cities to Move to When the Tea Party Takes Over America” – Gawker

• Wall Financial argues against closing Sir Guy Carleton Elementary school because it is planning to build on 32 single family residential lots nearby. “Vancouver developer joins fight to save Sir Guy Carleton Elementary.” – the Province.

photo credits:
City of Vancouver rezoning application for 1142 Granville

A roundup of Vancouver real estate stories hand picked by hoodsurf for interest and convenience. Happy Halloween to all of our readers!

• Maclean’s looks at renting vs. buying, and recent issues at Millennium Water (we did a Rent or Buy on a unit at Millennium Water here). “Should buyers beware?” – Macleans.ca

• Speaking of Millennium Water – they’re getting an 8,600 sq. ft. private liquor store in November. Perhaps an ingenious Rennie sales incentive? Legacyliquorstore.com

• A TD study finds that only 24% of Baby Boomers in B.C. have paid off their mortgage, while nearly a third of them have more than 60% left to pay off. Whoa. “Only one quarter of B.C. Baby Boomers own their home mortgage-free” – TD Canada Trust press release.

• The CREA agreed this week to allow a la carte pricing for MLS and Realtor services. But one National Post writer isn’t satisfied. “CREA cartel not broken yet” – the National Post.

• A feature on the geometrical West Vancouver home of former UBC School of Architecture professor, Bud Wood (bedroom pictured above). “A home embraced by an architecture of delight” – the Globe and Mail.

photo credits: Colin Perry via the Globe and Mail