Real Estate and Other Interests

Real Estate

2012-02-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Real Estate Advisor-Thinking of Selling?

I think we can all agree that it is essential to list your property at a competitive market value right from the start. This means doing your homework especially if You are deciding on the listing price.

A good Realtor will provide you with all the stats and recent sold prices in your area to determine the best overall price to sell, however you may want to get the facts for yourself beforehand. The best way is to physically look at homes in your area that are similar to yours. You may visit open houses or browse the internet for listings near you. Don’t forget to factor in the many differences such as lot size, age , location and the condition of the house. Unseen reasons such as debt, death, and divorce can also be a factor on homes priced too low or too high, so you will want to compare the asking and sold prices of several properties in order to help better determine the best price for your home in your area .

The competitive nature of the market means that over-pricing by a few thousand dollars could make the difference between your home selling quickly or not selling at all which could potentially yield the following results: minimized offers, fewer showings, fewer agent responses, limited financing, limited buyers qualified for your type of home, or a smaller net price.You can avoid these outcomes by setting the price of your home at its market value when you first list.

Here are the latest stats from the Real Estate Board of Vancouver.
http://www.rebgv.org/sites/default/files/Jan%202012%20REBGV%20Stats%20Package.pdf
One way to see if your home is listed too high is to evaluate the number of showings within the first two weeks. If there are little or no showings and/or if you have a staggering amount of showings with no offers, this should be a good indicator for you to re-think your price.

When I list your property, your home will be up on several websites besides my personal one, have a virtual tour , professional floor plan, professional photos, be featured on my blogging platforms and marketed to the best of the best Realtors in my database. Please text info89 to 57000 for a preview of the text for info, which I also use to market your home. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yvonne Connor

Committed To Your Success!

www.connorproperties.ca
yconnor@sutton.com
Direct:778-997-7096
SUTTON CENTRE REALTY
Office: 604-435-9477
Fax: 604-435-9412

Paint remover

2012-01-28T08:54:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you were defeated, only to find a solution right under your nose! Last week my Mom and I were going to a concert. We parked the car in the underground parkade of a hotel. As we came to the doorway entrance to the elevators I opened the door for my Mom and the strong smell of paint hit me. I realized at that moment that this paint ( bright blue ), was wet and now deposited on my leather glove and new coat! No warning notes outside, but a big one in the elevator...gee thanks I thought. In a small panic I thought only of how I could remedy this and quickly.
We got to the venue and my Mom went in ahead to find our seats while I went to the ladies room to see what I might find. Luckily for me, there was a basket of goodies on the counter for anyone to use. Who would've expected a Church washroom to have all the amenities of a beauty parlour! Creams, lotions, soaps, deodorant, and HAIRSPRAY! 3 different kinds! As my former career was in the film and beauty industry, and knowing that oil and water do not mix, I went straight for the high lacquer hairspray. Final Net to be exact. I sprayed this liberally on a paper towel and carefully went to work on the blue paint that was all over the cuff and glove of my left arm. I am amazed to say that all of the paint came off of the coat and leather glove without damage to the fabric! Was it a miracle? Kind of... to me anyway...
I happily went back upstairs to see that my Mom and a friend who was joining us were seated. Everyone was amazed and my girlfriend quickly remarked, no wonder her hair colour never stays for long! She uses hairspray all the time! Just saying...What are You using as a styling product, and what the heck is in it!
The good thing is that this beauty product saved the evening for me.

Here is the latest forecast for Real estate....Have a great day!

http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/docs/economics-forecasts-and-presentations/housingforecast_.pdf

Happy New Year!

2012-01-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

It's 2012 and I'm excited to get this year going.
There's so much I am thankful for and I hope that you feel good about the past year whatever it presented for you too. We can now move forward with a fresh sense of hope, good cheer and a get down to business with an attitude of gratitude throughout the coming year.

Here are the December stats for 2011
http://www.rebgv.org/sites/default/files/REBGVStatsPackage_Dec2011.pdf

It will be interesting to see how the next few months play out in the real estate market. Most of us are watching the European economy to see how it could affect us in the long or short run.
Mortgage rates here continue to be low which is great if you are planning to buy property this year.

Check out these rates from Karen Boies

Phone: 604-726-9550 Toll Free: 800-774-8818
Facsimile: 877-271-6584
Email: karen@mortgagecentrebc.com

If you are thinking of selling, lets sit down and talk about your ideas and expectations. I am at your service with pleasure!

Til next time, have a great day and take care.

-Committed to your success!
Yvonne Connor
Sutton Centre Realty
778-997-7096
http://www.connorproperties.ca/
yconnor@sutton.com

Home Sweet Home

2011-12-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Are you still looking for a sweet place to live at an affordable price?

Sitting perched above the main thoroughfare in the quaint City of Port Moody is a lovely residence called the Nakiska.
If you are looking for a quiet residence that has a tranquil outlook, this may be the sweet home you've been hoping to find.
The suite has all the conveniences you will need with a spacious layout. The den could be converted to another bedroom easily.
This home would suite a couple with one child using the den as a bedroom. Please follow the link below for full details on this lovely home.

http://vanwestsiderealty.com/mylistings.html/details-21098038

Presented by with pleasure
Yvonne Connor- 778-997-7096- direct
Sutton-Centre Realty
604-435-9477- office

Shopping at Costco

2011-11-24T20:00:00.001-08:00

Well... today I went to Costco. Do you ever wonder after leaving the register, that you could've got everything somewhere else for much less? I think we are somewhat brainwashed into the idea that big savings can be had in this store. Perhaps shopping for a family is more economical but somehow shopping for one just isn't doing it for me. I know I could have done much better for my 300 dollars elsewhere for sure. Just saying....

Thinking of Selling?

2011-11-17T21:15:00.001-08:00

To Buy or To Sell First?

This is the question.....

If you are considering looking for a new house, and are a current home-owner, then chances are you're wondering what your strategy should be:
Do you wait to find the perfect new home before you put your current home on the market, or do you sell first and then look around?
There are several benefits to selling your current house before searching for your next home. First of all, once you have sold your house, you will know precisely how much money you have to work with. With a concrete price range, you'll be able to narrow down the choice of homes before you begin looking, and negotiate accordingly. This will allow you to immediately make a firm offer on a house that you are serious about. You can be first in line with an unconditional offer if appropriate, as in the case of a multiple offer situation for example.
Sellers tend to take unconditional offers more seriously. When they counter or turn down an offer that's conditional on the sale of a home, they usually think the Buyer will come back with a better more firm offer, once they have sold their current home. If you make an unconditional offer, the Seller will usually give you more consideration, as they realize you're probably looking at other properties and will move on if your offer is rejected. Also, if you have already sold your house, you probably do have a wider opportunity to look around, negotiate, and find the best price and fit for you and your family.

The flip side of this scenario, however, is that if you don't find the right property before the closing date of the house you've already sold, you may have to look for temporary housing until you do find what you're looking for. Plan for this.
If you are fortunate enough to Buy first and Sell later, this will afford you all the time you need in waiting for the right Buyer to purchase your house. You will be able to move in at your leisure to the new Home while decluttering and styling the old home without the trappings of your personal "stuff".

If you have any enquiries about your neighbourhood, please send me an email or call.
Check out my facebook page or website for the latest listings

Please remember, I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Yvonne Connor
Sutton centre Realty
778-997-7096
http://www.connorproperties.ca/
yconnor@sutton.com

All opinions and statements from this person may change at any time. Vancouver real estate news taken from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, or the Canadian Real Estate Association

Expired Listing?

2011-11-10T23:58:00.000-08:00

Expired Listing?

You're home did not sell and it’s been 5 months….What is the first thing that comes to your mind here?
The market is soft-but other homes are still selling. Why not ours? It’s wasn’t marketed enough. Our location is better so we should have been priced higher. Maybe we need to renovate? I know our price was right even though our Realtor suggested we reduce.

Have you looked at all the similar homes that sold recently? This is a key indicator that sometimes Location does not win over Price to Value. There are many reasons Dear Seller, but in most cases, even the worst homes will sell if the price is right.

It’s never a good feeling to lose money on an investment and I never feel good about it when the market tells me we have to reduce your home. Sometimes it’s just bad timing and if you absolutely have to sell, then it’s better to cut your losses now rather than later when the damage could be worse.

The important thing is to list your house sharply according to the current market.

Here are the latest stats for October 2011

http://www.realtorlink.ca/portal/server.pt/document/3351356/rebgv_stats_package%2C_october_2011_%283%29
Please visit me at http://www.vanwestsiderealty.com/
You can access the mls though my website when you sign up!

If you are looking for an exceptional Mortgage Broker please visit Karen Boies at boies.k@mortgagecentre.com

Yvonne Connor
Sutton-Centre Realty
direct: 778-997-7096
office: 604-435-9477

2011-07-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to July/Aug 2011

Summer weather has been a wee bit disappointing, but sales in real estate have been pretty good.
The West Side continues to be the hot spot as far as property values go.
Please see the stats below. I will be posting July's stats on the 6th of August here on this month's posting.
I wish you all a safe and sweet summer!
On my website you can search for property. If you sign up, you get 3 times more info on the properties than the usual searches and get instant email alerts before the general public when something new comes up for you.
I look forward to helping you with any real estate inquiries you may have. Feel free to contact me at your leisure with the contact info below. Mortgage rates are still low and you can ask my colleagues Karen Boies or Sherwin Ho for a free pre-approval on the new home you are looking to buy.
You can reach Karen at boies.k@mortgagecentre.com for more information
Sherwin Ho at sherwin.ho@td.com tel: 604-338-3297 Fax: 604-430-1230
It's a good time to think about an investment in real estate!

Here at Sutton Centre Realty, where I work, we also have a very low mortgage rate with the Sutton Member Program. http://www.suttonmember.com/

You must go through a sutton real estate professional to obtain these great rates. I invite you to call me for more information on the rates and how to access them.
I can also help you if you are planning to sell your home. Please call me for any real estate questions you may have.

I'd be happy to help you in any way that I can.

Direct @ 778-997-7096. I look forward to working with you soon!

Great expectations are met with exceptional service!
http://www.connorproperties.ca/
yconnor@sutton.com
Sutton-Centre Realty
3010 Boundary Rd Burnaby BC
ph:604-435-9477
fax:604-435-94

MISSION STATEMENT

I will always strive to provide the highest quality of service to my clients with honesty and integrity to enable a positive outcome in the sale or purchase of their home.

A Day In The Life Of This Realtor.....

2011-05-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome again and thank you for stopping by.....

I was prompted to write this blog about what we as Realtors might do in a day when not doing an open house, touring clients or dealing with listings because of what my colleague reported happened to her while at the bank yesterday. Here is a typical idea of a Realtor, from a bank teller's view, whilst cashing my colleague's check for $9000.00, she casually says, "was that for one hour's work"? My colleague replied with an explanation that failed comprehension. Honestly.... we work harder for our paycheques than most people. I know this, because in my last career in the Film Industry, I thought I was working hard. Little did I know that Real Estate was going to be much harder.

Today I got up around 6:30 and made some tea. I start off as usual with a call from a colleague at 7:30. Every morning we go over yesterday's efforts and discuss what is on our agenda for the day ahead. I then put the phone on silent, and log on to the computer to check on my Seller's listings and follow up with any emails that came in overnight. I check on my areas of interest and see what action is going on; sold, expired, and new listings. I have a few buyers and if there is anything decent in those searches, I forward them on. From about 9:30 to Noon I start phoning people and basically spend a couple of hours prospecting for myself and my clients. Keeping on the top of everyone's mind that I know, is essential for my business.

From about 12 noon to 1:00 pm I stop for Lunch. After lunch I turn on the phone, catch up on any missed calls, then for the next couple of hours I work on my websites where my listings are, all the sites need constant updating and I can check for any leads coming through these avenues. I then prepare all the letters for clients that I am pursuing and get those off in the mail before 5 pm.

Today I am writing this blog for the month of May. It's 9:30 pm, but I had to go to the printers this afternoon and pick up 2000 postcards for my target area and deliver them to the post office to be mailed out this week. I then stopped at my favourite French cafe to catch up with the owner, who prominently displays my business cards in his shop...lucky me. I can always depend on making contacts there; meeting people in the cafe and enjoying my latte whilst chatting about the market and other topics of the day prove to be my forte. There, an hour easily goes by. I then made time for me and went to yoga and had an infrared sauna to follow. Back home for dinner and back at the computer to finish what I had planned out for my day.

Mostly my mornings are spent on prospecting and the afternoons meeting with clients, catching up with past clients and/or administration. Some days are about 9 hrs, but mostly I put in a few more at night as well. Fridays are the day I relax...TGIF mostly, unless there is something I need to take care of.

Wonder how I get other things done? Just like everyone else, I make time for the usual events of the day like housecleaning etc.

All said and done however, I love my career and I care deeply about doing the very best that I can for my clients in every way. Never a dull moment, that I can tell you for sure.

Now....take a moment in your busy day to stop and notice how beautiful the trees and flowers are, even in this grey rainy weather. I'm in Vancouver BC and I love it rain or shine!

Spring is finally here!

A Typical Day In This Realtor's Life....

2011-05-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome again and thank you for stopping by....

I was prompted to write this blog about what we as Realtors might do in a day when not doing an open house, touring clients or dealing with listings because of what my colleague reported happened to her while at the bank yesterday. Here is a typical idea of a Realtor, from a bank teller's view, whilst cashing my colleague's check for $9000.00, she casually says, “was that for one hour's work"? My colleague replied with an explanation that failed comprehension. Honestly.... we work harder for our paycheques than most people. I know this, because in my last career I thought I was working hard. Little did I know that Real Estate was going to be much harder.

Today I got up around 6:30 and made some tea. I start off as usual with a call from a colleague at 7:30. Every morning we go over yesterday's efforts and discuss what is on our agenda for the day ahead. I then have a quick breakfast, put the phone on silent, and then I log on to the computer to check on my listings and follow up with any emails that came in overnight. I check on my areas of interest and see what action is going on; sold, expired, and new listings. I have a few buyers and if there is anything decent in those searches, I forward them on. From about 9:30 to Noon I start phoning people and basically spend a couple of hours prospecting for myself and my clients. Keeping on the top of everyone’s mind that I know, is essential for my business.

From about 12 noon to 1:00 pm I stop for Lunch. After lunch I turn on the phone, catch up on any missed calls, then for the next couple of hours I work on my websites where my listings are, all the sites need constant updating and I can check for any leads coming through these avenues. I then prepare all the letters for clients that I am pursuing and get those off in the mail before 5 pm.

Today I am writing this blog for the month of May. It's 9:30 pm, but I had to go to the printers and pick up 2000 postcards for my target area and deliver them to the post office to be mailed out this week. I then stopped at my favourite French cafe in Kitsilano to catch up with the owner, who prominently displays my business cards in his shop...lucky me. I can always depend on making contacts there; meeting people in the cafe and enjoying my latte whilst chatting about the market and other topics of the day prove to be my forte. There, an hour easily goes by. I then made time for me and went to yoga and had an infrared sauna to follow. Back home for dinner and back at the computer to finish what I had planned out for my day.

Mostly my mornings are spent on prospecting and the afternoons meeting with clients, catching up with past clients and/or administration. Some days are about 9 hrs, but mostly I put in a few more at night as well. Fridays are the day I relax...TGIF mostly, unless there is something I need to take care of.

Wonder how I get other things done? Just like everyone else, I make time for the usual events of the day like housecleaning etc.

All said and done however, I love my career and I care deeply about doing the very best that I can for my clients in every way. Never a dull moment, that I can tell you for sure.

Here are the latest stats for you...

http://www.realtorlink.ca/portal/server.pt/document/3332189/rebgv_stats_package%2C_april_2011_%282%29

Now....take a moment to stop and notice how beautiful the trees and flowers are, even in this grey rainy weather.

Spring is finally here!

Buying a Duplex home

2011-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings from your Vancouver Real Estate Advisor- Yvonne Connor

Well... it's still not Spring yet, as I am still wearing a winter coat, despite all the Sakura in bloom.

Last month I promised to talk about the details of buying a Duplex.

Purchasing this type of home is mostly the same as a single detached one as far as doing all your due diligence in searching Title etc. The difference lies in that you are sharing a common roof and/or wall with your neighbour. You will have to share the roof insurance, as insurance companies will not split this policy. You will have to buy a separate policy for your own contents, where your choice of a different insurance company is fine.

A Duplex will have the status of Freehold Strata as the property has been split, but generally will not have fees like a condo, except in the case where there is a 3rd home on the property. Sometimes you will have a Duplex and a Lane House in behind on the property. In this case there could be maintenance fees for everyone. The fees can be structured where everyone pays a share for the roof insurance, gardening etc, or there may be no fees. Keep in mind however that when 3 owners are involved, two can vote in favor of one to having work done on the common grounds for example, which you will possibly end up having to comply with. Everything is usually negotiable in a fair way, but make sure you have the details of what may happen in the future regarding maintenance fees. This is definitely something to check out with your Realtor to make sure you have no unwanted surprises after you buy.

The advantage of buying a Duplex home is that it is usually less expensive than a single family home.

Finally, here are the real estate board stats for March 2011.

http://www.realtorlink.ca/portal/server.pt/document/3328977/rebgv_stats_package%2C_march_2011_%282%29

Next month I'll talk about buying a Townhouse.

For the moment..

To be, or not to be, Happy? It's really your choice....

On my website you can search for property. If you sign up, you get 3 times more info on the properties than the usual searches and get instant email alerts before the general public when something new comes up for you.

Are you ready to BUY a home?

Feel free to contact me at your leisure with the contact info below.

Mortgage rates are still low but rising. You can ask my colleague Karen Boies for a free mortgage pre-approval for the new home you are thinking to buy! Remember...this is the first step in buying a home.

It's a good time for you to invest in real estate!

CALL KAREN

You can reach Karen at boies.k@mortgagecentre.com for more information.

Here at Sutton Centre Realty, where I work, we also have a very low mortgage rate with the Sutton Member Program. http://www.suttonmember.com/

You must go through a Sutton real estate professional to obtain these great rates. I invite you to call me for more information on the rates and how to access them.

Are you thinking of SELLING?

You can be most assured that I will take excellent care of you and your real estate holdings.

Call me for any real estate questions you may have.

It would be my pleasure to help you!

MISSION STATEMENT

I will always strive to provide the highest quality of service to my clients with honesty and integrity to enable a positive outcome in the sale or purchase of their home.

Great expectations are met with exceptional service!

WEBSITE: http://connorproperties.ca/

DIRECT: 778-997-7096

Sutton-Centre Realty

ph:604-435-9477

fax:604-435-9412

Buying a House in BC

2011-03-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

Welcome to MARCH!

It's not Spring yet!

HOUSES

If you are buying a house, remember to book an inspection and make sure you go over all building permits, if any, with your inspector. The inspector should be able to give you a good report detailing if the house has any problems present or arising in the near future. Have your Realtor look into the property to make sure all is well. Any problems known, must be declared but sometimes there are hidden problems or the seller has had no idea of what is going on due to having the property as an investment only. There might not be a property disclosure statement.
Check for boundary lines with a site survey.
You will be checking the title to make sure it is clear. Look for easements,covenants, rights of ways and liens. Make sure your Realtor and Lawyer go over all of the following. It is imperative that you understand these terms and what they specify.

Easements: An easement is the right to use another person's land for a stated purpose. It can involve a general or specific portion of the property.

Right-of-Way: A right-of-way is a type of easement that gives someone the right to travel across property owned by another person.

Covenants on title: When you're buying a home, it's important to understand the restrictive covenants and other deed restrictions that are in place for the real estate you want to buy, because they dictate how you can and cannot use the property. Check each and every one. You can easily do this at the Land Titles Office.

Builders liens: A builders lien secures a claim for payment for work done on—or materials supplied to—a construction project or for repairs or renovations made to an existing structure. When a lien is registered in the Land Title Office, it becomes a charge against the title to the land or property involved. If you have bought a house that was newly renovated, make sure the builder has paid his crew.

HST

When purchasing a newly built house, you will most likely have to pay 12% HST on top of the price, unless the seller has included this in the price. This should be noted in a contract of purchase and sale as a condition if advertised.
Purchasers of new homes would be eligible for a rebate of 71.43 percent of the provincial portion of the HST paid on a new home, up to a maximum of $26,250. Homes above $525,000 would receive a flat rate of $26,250.

PTT

Don't forget the property transfer tax as well. 1% on the first 200,000 and 2% on the balance. This can all add up to a rather hefty amount, so it needs to be factored in when financing a property. If you are a first time home buyer you may be eligible for a rebate. Please follow the link.
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/brochures/FirstTimeHomeBuyer_Brochure.pdf

Finally, here are the real estate board stats for February 2011.
http://www.realtorlink.ca/portal/server.pt/document/3292029/rebgv_stats_package%2C_february_2011

Next month I'll talk about buying a Duplex home.

For the moment..
Enjoy your life, it's the only one you have....

On my website you can search for property. If you sign up, you get 3 times more info on the properties than the usual searches and get instant email alerts before the general public when something new comes up for you.

I look forward to helping you with any real estate inquiries you may have. Feel free to contact me at your leisure with the contact info below.
Mortgage rates are still low and you can ask my colleagues Karen Boies or Sherwin Ho for a free pre-approval on the new home you are looking to buy!
You can reach Karen at boies.k@mortgagecentre.com for more information.
Sherwin Ho at sherwin.ho@td.com tel: 604-338-3297 Fax: 604-430-1230
It's a good time to think about an investment in real estate.
Here at Sutton Centre Realty, where I work, we also have a very low mortgage rate with the Sutton Member Program.
http://www.suttonmember.com/
You must go through a sutton real estate professional to obtain these great rates. I invite you to call me for more information on the rates and how to access them.
I can also help you if you are planning to sell your home. Please call me for any real estate questions you may have.
I'd be happy to help you in any way that I can.

Direct @ 778-997-7096. I look forward to working with you soon!

MISSION STATEMENT

I will always strive to provide the highest quality of service to my clients with honesty and integrity to enable a positive outcome in the sale or purchase of their home.

Great expectations are met with exceptional service!

http://www.vanwestsiderealty.com/
Sutton-Centre Realty
3010 Boundary Rd Burnaby BC
ph:604-435-9477
fax:604-435-9412

All opinions and statements from this person may change at any time. Vancouver real estate news taken from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, or the Canadian Real Estate Association