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Mission, BC Real Estate News

By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
  WAKY NEWS is a weekly feature from THE BLOGGING GUY. The normally staid Brits are at it again, coming off as being all reserved and stuffy, and then coming up with the "sex calculator". (The purpose of this exercise was to bring awareness to the British public about STD's and exposure to same). A British pharmacy chain has launched an "on-line" calculator to work out how many partners you have had- directly or indirectly. The "Sex Degrees of Separation" calculator  adds up the numbers based on your number of partners, your partners previous partners and so on , for six generations of partners. Turns out, those normally reticent Anglos have slept with 2.8 million people on average, albeit, indirectly. To find out your score, click on the link below.  http://calculators.lloydspharmacy.c...
Comments 6
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Blogging to me comes easy. (At last count, I just passed 400+ posts) I see a story everywhere and I carry my trusty notebook around with me so when an idea presents itself, I can make a quick scribble. While I'm driving, working and doing the mundane, I'm formulating the post and in my mind, I'm picking the clip art I'll need for that particular post. Then it's just a matter of putting fingers to keyboard, downloading the pictures and I'm done. (Usually 5 minutes). Some of the more serious posts obviously take more time. Since starting this journey, (seven months ago), I have developed my own style which people tell me is easy on the eyes. (Double spacing, interspersed with graphics). I avoid the "wall of words". Most people don't like that. I lean towards satire and humour, but occasi...
Comments 12
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Michael J. Fox, Canadian actor and all around decent guy, now has a foundation with charitable status in Canada. Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 30 and he has the money to form his own research foundation. The team has the mandate to share results and tools quickly, encourages them to take risks and gets money quickly into the hands of researchers who come up with new ideas. Michael insists this isn't about finding a cure for him, although, that would be nice and welcome. I have three daughters, he said, and I'd like to dance at their weddings. For those of you you that can't quite place this guy, think... "Back To The Future" movies. The Rush Limbaugh thing... I won't even get into.
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By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Recently, I did a post about this guy. He's a wood carver, and everything you see in this picture, he carved. He's quite a talent.  Here are a few more of his creations. A suit of clothes with perhaps a little too much starch. Books and plates and cutlery. Tables and chairs and lamps. How's this for a horse? How's this for FOUR horses and a pumpkin?
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By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
WAKY NEWS is a weekly feature from THE BLOGGING GUY. Maritime fishermen got a surprising lift the other day when the Federal government announced a toll-free phone line that was supposed to detail a "stimulus" package for the beleagured industry. When they phoned, they got a throaty, sexy voice that said, "Hey there hot stuff, I been waiting for you". Turns out, the Feds had transposed two of the digits in the number and had published a sex talk line instead. I don't know, it's still a stimulus package is it not?   This is a true story from THE BLOGGING GUY.
Comments 26
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
     Six months ago, our market was way out of balance. There were about seven listings for every sale and selling those properties was like pulling teeth. The last two months have seen record sales; even better than the peak back in 2007. First time buyers coupled with record low interest rates is responsible.   Now the stats are showing an almost a balanced market, with about 1.25 listings for every sale. It is approaching a seller's market here. Bob and I can't keep inventory.  
Comments 6
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
WAKY NEWS is a weekly feature from THE BLOGGING GUY.  A ten year old in New York City was recently busted for selling lemonade and cookies in the park. Over-zealous park officials deemed it appropriate to slap a $50 fine on the kid even though several bystanders protested.             Their boss saw how nuts this was and rescinded the ticket and re-assigned the would-be ticketers to other tasks- out of the public eye. They are expected to enrol in some "common sense" training in the meantime.   This is a true strory fron THE BLOGGING GUY.
Comments 4
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
In previous posts I've admitted I'm a bit of a dinosaur with this internet thingme. I was, (am), an engineer, so programs don't bother me; it's all the new jargon. It's foreign to me. My partner bought me a poster the other day called "Text Message Glossary". (TMG) Funny, the BIG omission from this list is a term I can't stand. The over-used LOL. Not on the list; go figure. Anyway, I thought I'd have some fun with this. People without a sense of humour from Florida or other places, need not apply. For those of you wondering, there is no point to this exercise. it is not necessary and I am not bored, in case you're curious. This is a contest: 1st prize is an all expenses paid trip to Spuzzum, B.C. for one week. Second prize is the same trip-only for two weeks. Here's the deal. Identify e...
Comments 23
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Recently, I did a post about an over-priced listing I took. The only priviso was that we would play the vendor's game for 3 weeks, then we were going to MY price. He agreed, and gave it to me in writing. Today was open house day and I said, "Times up, now we talk". He said "Yes". This man is very soft spoken and answers everything with "yes". We had an agreement? "Yes". We are reducing the price? "Yes". Will you sign here? "Yes". Are you comfortable? "Yes" Am I comfortable? No! I want want one more price reduction to get it where I want it. That's next week. At least this guy listens to me.
Comments 12
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
When Princess Diana and Michael Jackson died, we were inundated with a tsunami of news stories 24/7. On September 12, 2009, Norman Borlaug died at age 95. It has been reported that his life's work saved as many as a billion lives around the world, mostly in third world countries. Born in Cresco, Iowa in 1914, Norman Borlaug devoted his life to developing semi-dwarf, disease resistant wheat varieties. Countries such as Mexico, India and Pakistan who constantly faced drought or rain and crop failures and starvation were suddenly producing bumper crops of hardy grains. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Price, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. When he died, he went quietly, as he lived.
Comments 6
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
According to research done at Cambridge University, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcauseae the haumn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can raed tihs. Wreid!
Comments 27
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
1. If your home doesn't show that well, don't worry about it. Most buyers will overlook small imperfections such as peeling wallpaper and broken sinks and leaky faucets. Besides, it's a pain in the ass fixing these things. The new owner will gladly do these trivial tasks. 2. Don't worry about checking to see if there are pre-payment            penalties on your existing mortgage. Most banks are pretty                         understanding about these things and will waive penalties                               if you ask them nicely and you appear to be a nice person. 3. When someone makes you a "low-ball" offer, a good            response is to stand by your price and say "take it or leave it"!                        This is a good negotiating tool. 4. If there are problems in your h...
Comments 20
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
In a previous post, I commented on a "cash cow" listing where we got 7 spin-off ends on open houses. The 7th end was supposed to be the sale of the original house. It wasn't going to happen. When we listed this property, we asked all the right questions. She had inherited from her father, bought a property, (at the peak of the market), as an investment, rented it, (without a property manager), to a person (who turned it into a grow-op). She evicted him and paid for the clean-up on the grow-op, then listed with a friend, (a realtor in another town). He did nothing constructive for a year, so she subsidised the payments during that time.  We picked up the expired, listed it properly and sold it. All the subjects were off, and the new owners are ready to move in, then the bank told her th...
Comments 8
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Even in a hot market, 52% of listings end up as expired listings. ANYTHING will sell if it's priced properly. Unfortuanately, too many agents, either because of expedience or lack of tools, take over-priced listings, hoping someone, somewhere, will sell it. Sorry. In a not-so-hot market, pricing is critical. Oh yeh, and praying isn't going to help. Me? I love expireds. The customer is already "softened up". The listing didn't sell...because...it was too much money! They know it now and that makes my job easier. So, for all you listers out there that insist on buying listings, THANK YOU! I'll pick it up, list it properly and sell it.
Comments 4
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I watched a documentary the other night. The focus of this piece was the closing of the plant in Moraine, Ohio where they produced pick-up trucks. What made this documentary different was that the producers did the story through the eyes of the workers and interviewed that actual people building these vehicles. What made it especially sad was that the plant was closing December 23rd, two days before Christmas. 2500 workers and 200 managers gone; plus 1000's of spin-off jobs. At the end of the story, the workers who had attached "their" bit to the last truck, followed it down the line, and the line grew and grew after each station. At the end, of the line they posed for photos and they signed the truck with felt markers. It was a loss of the American middle class. Very sad story.
Comments 8
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Now, here's a guy with way too much time on his hands. Talented hands, mind you. He carves all this stuff out of wood! Every year he has a booth at the Arts Festival in Laguna Beach. Every single item on this car is carved from wood. Ah, the Beach Boys would be proud.               The maestro himself! Very talented indeed.
Comments 26
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Bob and I were driving around the other day working expired listings. It was hot, hot, hot. We drove up on a little girl selling lemonade in front of her father's house. So we stopped and bought some. The father came out and we engaged in chit-chat. I'm not sure how it happened, but the subject of real estate came up (in about 8 seconds). Funny how that happens.  Surprise, surprise! We toured the house and will probably get this listing. He's divorced, and wants to buy a big RV and travel. He has a friend in Arizona, and likes it down there. (I explained what he can buy in Phoenix for under a $100,000, so now he's interested). I phoned my guy in Phoenix and he now has him on a drip campaign. 2 glasses of lemonade=1 listing and 1 referral
Comments 17
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
WAKY NEWS is a weekly feature from THE BLOGGING GUY Environmentalists in Brazil are encouraging residents to pee in the shower while bathing to conserve water. Television ads being aired in the country claim that by doing so, the nation could save over 1,000 gallons a year per household. They're tried the same thing in Britain also with some success. Hell, I've been doing my bit for the environment for years! This is nothing new.          This is a true story from THE BLOGGING GUY.
Comments 22
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I live in British Columbia, the radio talk-show capital. The focus of one recent program was police speed traps and whether there were "quotas" for the police to meet each month. They interviewed several politicians and police brass and of course, they denied that sort of thing ever happened. All was going well and they were sounding very convincing until a retired cop phoned in during his donut break and dispelled that theory. He said, "Absolutely there were quotas in place". He also went on to describe the "best" places to be to fill their quotas in short order. So while muggers, rapists, drug dealers, gangsters and politicians are doing there thing with impunity, our finest are out there upholding the law on speeding. Can you say MONEY GRAB?  
Comments 8
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
"Plain English Campaign" recently released their list of the best examples of mangled English.  High on the list was former body builder            Arnold Schwarzenegger with his quote: "I think that                       gay marriage should be between a man and a woman".  Also, right up there was, Donald Rumsfeld with this bit of gibberish: "Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because we know, there are knowns; there are things we do not know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns: the ones we don't know we don't know". (I have absolutely no idea what that means). That's nothing. Topping the list, was former President         George W. Bush, with t...
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