Since the BC government has reopened all our public spaces and various businesses, we have seen a real increase in the number of people listing their homes, and as a result more sales.

We have now had almost 4 months of learning how to do real estate in a safe and productive way, with our masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and social distancing ( which is a bit tough in some of those small 1970's elevators!).

The busiest market is the condo market which is where home purchasing is still most affordable especially under $1,000,000. Because of the pause in the market during the shut down, we had more buyers than sellers and actually had many multiple offers on properties. That is continuing now into June.

It does put pressure on Buyers to be ready - with their financing, the diligent reading of documents, potential pre- home inspections and more.

However, more home owners feel comfortable opening their homes up to potential buyers and there are more homes available to see. We are continuing to keep our buyers and sellers safe, as we always have, but now in a more attentive way.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Be the first to know! Read our monthly housing market reports to get the most up-to-date statistics and to hear our perspective on what the latest buying and selling trends mean for you.

https://www.rebgv.org/market-watch/monthly-market-report/may-2020.html

Renovating your home?

Start small with one of the smaller rooms in your home - the bathroom!

Here are the top 10 trends for bathrooms this year. Which style do you like?

#3 EXPOSED SHOWER PLUMBING

“In bathrooms, we’re incorporating more exposed shower plumbing. The industrial look pairs beautifully with a white, modern marble.”

See the other 9 great ideas:

https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/trends/g23694206/bathroom-trends-2019/

In the City of Vancouver, as well as our North shore communities, you can buy beautiful, brand new modern homes. However, we have had a long history of this building aesthetic for the past 80 years.

A modern home is a style of design that embraces the idea of minimalism and the use of unconventional house materials such as glass, steel and concrete.

If you are a fan of the modern home (as we are!), you may find it interesting to note that the first house in the modern style was built in West Hollywood by Rudolf Schindler, who worked under Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1910’s. It was rightly named The Schindler House and it ultimately inspired some of the mid-century modern homes we see today.

In the lower mainland, it was the West Coast Modern (1930-1965) style that was most prominent. They are defined as simple, undecorated houses with flat or low pitched roofs, interiors often with open ceilings and post and beam structures. They often have a seamless transition between the interior space and the garden.

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, these homes first appeared in Vancouver in the 1930’s. Design elements were blended with the terrain and the vegetation.

If you dream of owning a modern home and love the simple beauty of the original designs, which here in Vancouver most often come with an interesting location – perched on a cliff or surrounded by lush vegetation – then you can usually find one for sale.

To view properties currently on the market:

For an appointment to view, contact Bridget Ross at 604-805-6820 or bridget@zwickchimes.com

Tax Rates for Speculation and Vacancy Tax

The cost of housing is hitting seniors hard as the rate of those using property tax deferral has skyrocketed, while the reliance on rent subsidies for seniors is growing too fast.

That’s according to a new report by B.C.’s Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie.

Learn more....

https://www.vancourier.com/real-estate/rate-of-b-c-seniors-deferring-property-taxes-skyrockets-1.23587110

Vancouver the least affordable

In Canada's most expensive market — Vancouver — house prices are expected to fall another 2.5 per cent this year, while sales remain flat. On Thursday, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver said the benchmark price for a home, which is a composite of detached properties, townhomes and condominiums,  fell by 2.7 per cent in December 2018 compared to the previous year. 

Read on....

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/house-prices-affordability-income-1.4966211

In unaffordable Vancouver, we need to start thinking small.

Tiny houses, lock-off suites, laneway suites, houseplexes are necessary housing options.This was the theme of a recent conference organized by Small Housing BC (SHBC), a non-profit organization created to promote smaller homes throughout the province.

Read what Michael Geller has to say about small spaces:

https://www.vancourier.com/opinion/in-unaffordable-vancouver-we-need-to-start-thinking-small-1.23505368?utm_source=Vancouver+Courier+Headline+News&utm_campaign=25d7834aaa-Vancouver_Courier_Headline_News6_26_2015_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3dc23cf6d7-25d7834aaa-96569025

At Vancouver City Hall, new councillor Colleen Hardwick was attempting to get council’s support to send the bylaw passed Sept. 19 to another public hearing with the aim of rescinding it.

Hardwick pointed out her NPA colleague Melissa De Genova and Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr rejected Vision’s duplex plan for single-family neighbourhoods in the previous sitting of council.

Learn more...

https://www.vancourier.com/real-estate/npa-councillor-blasts-colleagues-for-failing-to-rescind-duplex-vote-1.23500120

VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver says it has collected $18 million from the first year of its empty homes tax and another $12 million could still flow into its coffers.

The city says in a news release that it expects to generate a total of $30 million from the first year of the tax which is applied to vacant residential properties in a bid to ease Vancouver's near-zero vacancy rate.

Learn more...

https://www.vancourier.com/real-estate/vancouver-expects-30-million-in-first-year-of-empty-homes-tax-1.23490742

Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr drafting motion to rescind vote of previous Vision Vancouver-led council.

• Generally, a new council is free to reconsider previous bylaws and resolutions of its predecessors.
   
• If the new council wanted to take steps to reverse some or all of these [duplex zoning] amendments, council would need to hold a public hearing prior to approving an amendment to reverse the amendments that are currently proposed.
• If (as is the case here) the matter being reconsidered is a zoning bylaw amendment, then a key issue is what to do with the applicants who have sought to develop their properties in accordance with the impugned amendments.
• Section 570 of the Vancouver Charter authorizes a method of preventing or withholding such applications.
• The new council could also be amenable to have the city issue permits for duplexes until it revises the bylaws to forbid them. No resolution would be needed under section 570 if council was not concerned about the approval of some duplexes.

 Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.

The real estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2017, 35,993 homes changed ownership in the Board’s area, generating $2.4 billion in economic spin-off activity and an estimated 17,600 jobs. The total dollar value of residential sales transacted through the MLS® system in Greater Vancouver totalled $37 billion in 2017.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 14,000 REALTORS® and their companies.