Tom's Blog

I've run into burning buildings. Selling your house is easy.But here's a question I get asked a lot, usually from clients who are surprised by the answer: what does it actually take to become a licensed real estate agent in the first place?I'm Tom Ikonomou, licensed since 2008. I've watched the s...

Today marks 100 years of gathering at Victory Square to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served. This Remembrance Day, as Vancouverites gather to pay tribute, we stand on the grounds of a deeply historic site—once the bustling heart of the city, now a solemn place of reflection.A Bri...

 #10.  You enjoy calling agent after agent playing the old "Let's Swap Names" game.#9.    You think I'm going to bite.#8.    You just came from one of those "Real Estate Financial Seminars" and the guru         told you that you needed to listen to all his tapes before you called anybody.#7.    Y...

Every home has 5 different values. Assessed Value, Appraised Value (Insurance & bank), Market Value & Owner Value. These values are separate entities and can often be mistaken for one or another.1. Assessed value is for tax purposes and is re-active. In other words, sales have to happen first and...

Vancouver has seen a variety of home styles since the in-ground mud huts of the 19th Century many of these styles still exist today. Some have claimed heritage status while many others unfortunately... have not.   The Milestones for home design in Vancouver were;  - 1886 [Victorian] [pioneer]- 18...

One of the main things that holds couples back from moving…...Is each other 😳It’s hard to get on the same page… especially when the decision is life altering!Sometimes, the reality is that one person wants to move, & the other doesn’t.One spouse might see that there’s financial gain, more space, ...

Hows The Market? Here's a comprehensive look at all areas in British Columbia. In General, Analysts indicate that prices decrease when the Sales-to-Active-Listings Ratio dips below 12% for several months and conversely increase when it surpasses 20% for several months. A Buyer's Market is one in ...

A father ‍before he died said to his son: “this is a watch your grandfather gave and this is more than 200 years old, but before I give it to you go to the watch shop on the first street, and tell him I want to sell it, and see how much it is”. He went and then came back to his father, and said, ...

 Vancouver West - Detached         Vancouver East - Detached Market Type:  7.6% Buyers Market Type:  9.5% Buyers # Active Listings  654 # Active Listings  634 # Listings Sold 50 # Listings Sold  60 Median List Price $2,998,000 Median List Price $1,490,000 Median Sale Price $2,824,000 Median Sale ...

A real life example of the power of positive thinking.I took my car in to have the fuel filter replaced. The mechanic was having a heck of a time trying to remove the bracket. Finally he got it off and swapped the filter for a new one.It would not start. He tried again and again and again. It was...