Almost every offer I write for my Buyers these days, there are othe Buyers who want the same property at the same time! Especially for condos.

This really changes how I approach writing their offer. With the Buyer in agreement, there are steps you can take to prepare to win. prior to the offer presentation time.

1. For Condos, read all the documents you receive from the listing realtor. There are a lot of them! But if you read everything, as I will too, ask lots of questions, get professional opinions if needed, you can approve all the documents in your offer and not make them conditional for 5 to 10 business days

2. You can give your mortgage specialist all the property information and all your personal information prior to submitting your offer and get your financing pre-approved in writing.This lets you know how high your offer can go and still be within your approved range. VERY IMPORTANT.

3. If the condo documents show that the building is in good shape and that the owners are maintaining it properly, you may feel comfortable not having a Home Inspection condition. Even better, you can have an inspection done prior to submitting your offer

4. You can have your deposit check already in hand and a photocopy of it can accompany your offer to show you are a serious buyer!

5.You can find out what moving dates the seller wants and try to accommodate them

And there a few more tricks of the trade to make your offer more appealing. I was happy to help my client win against two other buyers with all of the above preparation in the purchase of the above condo in Kitsilano. We were so happy for her!

When you scroll through the myriad of real estate websites, there are always properties that really catch your eye. It could be the velvety green sofa or the mid-century modern teak dining room table or funky art on the wall.

It most certainly is NOT the close up of the toilet seat up or the pile of dishes next to the kitchen sink! Yes, first impressions are critical, and for real estate websites selling your home, all photographs posted online are first impressions.

That is why, before the photograher comes to your home, decluttering and staging are crucial, unless it already looks like a page from Candian House and Home magazine!

Fortunately for me, I am lucky to have a very gifted sister, Carrie McCarthy, from Carrie McCarthy Studios, who helps me with the decluttering (mostly me lifting heavy boxes!) and the exquisite staging done by her. 

We do things a little differently - we stage with the items you already have in your home, by rearranging furniture, rehanging art, changing up the books and keepsakes in your book shelves and more. All to create a peaceful elegant interior to help Buyers fall in love with your home. 

Go to my listings to see our most recent effort at 1948 Sasamat Place. The service is complimentary.

Recently, a client of mine, a lovely young lady and first time BUYER, purchased a one bedroom and one bathroom condo at 989 Nelson Street in downtown Vancouver. Prior to the late 1990's, this was the BC Hydro Building - an office tower.

I had never been in the building before and was really impressed with the successful conversion to condos. This unit faces the Wall Center and has an extra city view in its reflection! At only 496 square feet, the great layout made it feel more spacious.

This building allows all owners to rent out their units, with short term rentals allowed as well.

It is a big building, with 446 commercial and residential units, originally built in 1957. Much of the exterior has been beautifully maintained with its vintage aquamarine tiling. It is also a great location, central to so much.

It is always great to add one more building to my list of "Vancouver buildings I have gotten to know". Especially after living here for more than 50 years!

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