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Nanaimo, BC Real Estate News

By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Tour of Pacifica Waterfront Condos- 38 Front Street Nanaimo   I spent the lunch hour yesterday touring the Pacifica Waterfront condos and townhouses at 38 Front Street in downtown Nanaimo. When we arrived for the tour we were given a map of the tower.  We began at the 13th floor and toured our way down to the 3rd floor where we had a lovely lunch on the deck overlooking the waterfront. Wow!  I have never had a proper tour of the building and this tour gave me a really good feel for the property.  The units are very modern and very light.  I could definitely see myself living there in style.     The sales have been a little slow so the developer has lowered the prices.  You can now get a 2 bedroom condo from $330,000. And Townhomes start at $435,000!  The square footage ranges from 1074 ...
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By RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
(RE/MAX of Nanaimo)
Shopping Online For A New Home The internet: A wonderful tool to help find a new home, ora frustrating time-waster? That depends on how youuse it. Here's the upside of  homeshopping online. You can: • See photos of homes available, often evenindividual rooms and other property features.• Access details: Like lot size, number of bedrooms,square footage, and other features.• Access information on the neighbourhood, surrounding area,location of schools, parks and public transit, etc.• View “virtual tours” (when available), taking you on a virtual walk-through. Online previews can be a real time saver, quickly giving you a sense for whether or not a property meetsyour basic criteria before taking the time to visit it. Now here's the downside:   Pictures and descriptions on the internet don’...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
South Nanaimo homes between $250,000 and $350,000 What type of home can you buy in South Nanaimo for between $250,000 and $350,000? According to VIREB sales statistics South Nanaimo homes between $250,000 and $350,000 are selling more than any other price range in this area. Here are a few samples of homes currently available in South Nanaimo: 479 Deering Street - $274,900 Updated Rancher on .20 AC Property.  Approx. 1070 sq. of living space with 3 Bds, 1 Bth.   A well maintained and updated rancher in a wonderful family oriented neighbourhood.  Updates that include laminate wood flooring, newer lino in the Kitchen and Baths, new Kitchen counter tops and tiled backsplashes, updated light fixtures, newer main Bathroom, newer trim details, vinyl thermo pane windows, 10 yr. roof, newer hot...
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By RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
(RE/MAX of Nanaimo)
“We are what we repeatedly do.Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”Aristotle These are words to live by today as well. I take them to heart as a wife, mother, athlete, and REALTOR® While I may not yet be in the top producers category, what I do offer as an agent is the very best of me. I am always working to improve my market knowledge, my marketing skills, my online presence, and, above all, my client service. If it is not what I would want for myself or any member of my family, were we the recipients, then it is not good enough for my clients either. My clients deserve the best of me and nothing less. They are, after all, trusting me to help them through what is likely the largest financial transaction they will ever make in their lifetimes. That ranks right up there in lifes' ...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
First time home buyers in Nanaimo- top 7 reasons to buy now!   As a real estate agent, I often get asked by first time home buyers in Nanaimo "When is the best time to buy our first home?"  It is my opinion that because interest rates are still at historical lows; it's time to take the dive and buy now.   Here are the top 7 reasons it makes sense for first time home buyers to buy now.  1.  Pride of ownership cannot be found in renting.  2   Owning a home is the first step in building your personal wealth.  3.   Mortgage rates are still cheap.  There are no guarantees that rates will not rise  over the next year.  4.   Your home will be your own.  If you want to move a wall, add a bathroom etc. it is your call to do so.  5.  I don't think home prices will come down by a significant amoun...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Central Nanaimo homes for sale  Every Tuesday our office does a tour of new listings.  Yesterday's tour was Central Nanaimo homes for sale.  I viewed a number of central Nanaimo homes priced between $250,000 and $350,000. After a long tour of new listings I decided that it would be fun to do a "Best of Show" blog post each week.  In this "Best of Show" post I will choose a home that I feel was the best home for value on the tour for that area.  This week's winner of "Best of Show" in central Nanaimo homes is:  1647 Fuller Ave. A new strata development on the Millstone River.  There are nine, new, beautifully constructed half duplexes and freestanding single family homes.  Views of the Millstone River, surrounding green space, and the Pryde Vista golf course .  The development is close t...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Nanaimo real estate- What's selling?  This spring the Nanaimo real estate market is fairly balanced.  However, with all the current inventory available there are certain areas and price ranges that are selling better than others. I had a look at VIREB statistics for Nanaimo real estate sales for the month of March 2011. The following homes are selling faster and more frequently than others: Single Family Homes - North Nanaimo - Of the 63 homes sold in North Nanaimo in March- 32 of them (or 51%) were priced in the $350,000 to $450,000 price range South Nanaimo -   Of the 34 homes sold in South Nanaimo in March- 17 of them (or 50%) were priced in the $250,000 to $350,000 price range. Departure Bay - Of the 29 homes sold in Departure Bay in March- 15 of them (or 52%) were priced in the $30...
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By RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
(RE/MAX of Nanaimo)
Think about the last time you were at a really well stocked buffet table. So many wonderful dishes...where to start? Yet you had to make quick decisions because the line was moving so fast.   That’s a bit like today’s real estate market. You may not be thinking of moving right now, but when the time comes, you’re going to find that you have a lot of options available; Likely a lot more than you thought. So making the right decisions will take a little doing.   This is where I can help.   In fact, I recommend that you know – and understand – all your home selling options now, even if you have no plans to move in the near future. Knowing where you stand in the marketplace with the largest investment you own.. your home... is of vital importance.   Asking your agent for regular market anal...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
 Closing Costs in Nanaimo  One of my jobs as a real estate professional is to encourage my clients to take the time to familiarize themselves with all the costs involved with buying a home.  One of these added costs that people often either overlook or just don't know about are the closing costs. When you work with me we will have reviewed all the closing costs and responsibilities prior to viewing homes.  However, with all the commotion of buying a home it can be easy to forget budgeting for closing costs. In order for your sale to complete there are fees owed on, or by, closing day.  Most of these fees are in addition to, and separate from, your mortgage loan.  I have listed most of these expenses below.  Please note: These expenses are approximations only - they may vary depending on...
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By RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
(RE/MAX of Nanaimo)
Hi Everyone! I just flew home from the Nationals last night and with me came 8 new National Records: 4 in Masters 1, 4 in Masters 2 for my weight class, 63 kgs. (Multiply by 2.205 for pounds.) I'm waiting for the official word on this and should have it within about a week. I weighed in at 61.4 kilos, squatted 145 kgs, benched 85 kgs, and deadlifted 160 kgs for a record total of 390 kgs. To top it off, I also won the Best Lifter Over All in Masters 2. To own this you must outlift pound for pound all the other golds in your age category in all weight classes...Icing on the already incredible cake! I made the World Team and will be lifting at the World Masters Championships this October! DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE...and all can be possible! I want to thank all of you for your support, especi...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Nanaimo real estate statistics- March 2011 VIREB recently released the Nanaimo real estate statistics from March 2011. The market appears to be more of a balanced market in comparison to the fall market. The Cumulative Residential Average Single Family Sale Price is slightly higher than March 2009 and equal to March 2010.  The following are the single family market changes for March 2011 compared with March 2010 - There were 4% fewer units listed this March than March 2010. -  3% fewer units were sold this March compared to March 2010 -  The average sale price per unit for March 2011 was equal to March 2010 -  The average days to sell in March 2011 were 55 days compared with March 2010 which was 41 days. For additional information regarding the Nanaimo Real Estate Market please contact me.
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By Douglas Belcher, RE/MAX, Nanaimo ABR ePRO SRES
(Chateau Realty)
Brand new 5 bedroom 3 bath home with legal suite on .18 acre corner lot. This beautiful new home has a large open concept kitchen with an island. The master bedroom has a large closet and ensuite. There is a deck on the back of the home as well as a covered patio off the suite. There is a two car garage and the lot has dual frontage. This home is on a 2/5/10 new home warranty. Build a shop or a sand box for the kids in the large back yard.   Nanaimo New Home Listings    
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Condos for sale in Nanaimo Now is the time to buy a condo in Nanaimo!  I did a search on MLS to see what the inventory was like for condos/strata in Nanaimo.  Currently, as of today, there are 457 condos for sale in Nanaimo (figures from VIREB).  This number includes condos and townhouses.  According to an article on Canada.com  "Nanaimo's condo market is flat lining.  Fewer units are selling and of those that are selling, many are going for less than a year ago." Adrienne Warren, Senior Economist and real estate specialist at Scotiabank says" The condominium market is likely to become more affordable, with buyers enjoying a greater selection.  While there has been a slowdown in single-unit construction in the country, there is a corresponding increase in multi-unit housing, and the inv...
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
2-5-10 Home Warranty As a Nanaimo Realtor I often do open houses at strata, new construction projects.  One of the questions I often get is what is the 2-5-10 Home Warranty programme and what does it cover? The 2-5-10 Home Warranty is run through the Homeowner Protection office.  As this is a question that I often get I thought it would be a good idea to share some information with you through a blog post.  I checked the HPO website and this is what they have regarding the 2-5-10 Home Warranty as it pertains to strata new construction. Home warranty insurance on new homes includes a Minimum of 2 years on labour and materials, 5 years on the building envelope, including water penetration, and 10 years on structure. The 2-year labour and materials Coverage is broken down as follows:   Any...
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By Douglas Belcher, RE/MAX, Nanaimo ABR ePRO SRES
(Chateau Realty)
This is a funny video from RE/MAX. If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in the Nanaimo area give me a call. If you are an agent I am never to busy to take your referrals. ThIs videos and others are available on RE/MAX mainstreet (RE/MAX AGENTS ONLY). Doug BelcherRE/MAX of Nanaimo
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Free home evaluations in Nanaimo  Are you thinking about selling your Nanaimo home?  If so, before you do, you may wish to take advantage of my FREE home evaluation service. There are two options available to home owners when trying to determine the market value of their home.  One is to hire a professional Appraiser who will appraise your home for a fee.  Often it makes sense to hire an appraiser if you have a very unique home and or property.  In a situation like this it would be difficult to compare your home to other similar homes that have sold or are listed simply because there are no comparables.  Only an Appraiser can offer a home appraisal.  However, if your home does not fall into the above category you can determine the market value of your home by requesting a comparative Ma...
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By RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
(RE/MAX of Nanaimo)
Hi Everyone, Although I lift at the Nationals tomorrow, I still feel the need to blog today. Perhaps it's to get some of the jitters out of me and "on paper"....Therapy if you will. I weigh in tomorrow at 11 am eastern standard time and my flight of lifters starts competition at 1 pm. Here's the schedule where you'll find me in Session 2. If you want to watch any of it you'll find live streaming video here. Tomorrow is my first foray back into National level competition since January 1995 and I am excited, nervous, and a bit terrified all at once. It feels a bit like the first time all over again. However, I have 8 Canadian Championships under my belt and 7 Worlds as well...and I do feel rested and strong today. I keep visualizing the two things I want to get out of the way successfully...
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By Douglas Belcher, RE/MAX, Nanaimo ABR ePRO SRES
(Chateau Realty)
Brand new 3 bedroom 2 bath 1460 s.f.home with garage / landscaping / fencing and 5 appliances. It's all ready to move in. Ladies this home even has a large walk-in closet! It close to Southgate shopping mall and Rona. The home is located on a corner lot and has extra parking beside the garage. One of the last homes left in Riverside Estate, don't miss this opportunity to own a new home in this price range. Nanaimo real estate    
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By Lynn Donn, Homes for Sale in Nanaimo BC
(Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty)
Real Estate in Nanaimo - Absorption rates One of my jobs as a Realtor is to be aware of trends in real estate in Nanaimo.  Tracking absorption rates on a month-to-month basis helps me understand the real estate market in Nanaimo and where it is headed. The definition of absorption rates is the number of weeks it takes to sell the current real estate inventory in Nanaimo at the present rate of sales.  I do enjoy math I have to admit. Every month VIREB (Vancouver Island Real Estate Board) supplies members with statistics on the past months activity in real estate in Nanaimo. The absorption rate of single family homes in Nanaimo in Feb.2011 in comparison to Feb. 2010: Feb.2010- 25.94 weeks to sell the amount of inventory that was on hand at that time Feb. 2011 - 22.57 weeks to sell the inv...
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By RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
(RE/MAX of Nanaimo)
Well, the count down is on. Tomorrow morning at 7:20 am my plane leaves the west coast, Vancouver Island, for the east coast, Prince Edward Island. I arrive at midnight. Then, time to rest, meditate and prepare. I lift at the first Canadian Powerlifting Championships I have done in 16 years on Wednesday, at the ripe young age of 52....crazy old girl that I am. I am looking for National records again...and some of that sweet Canadian Gold. Friends and clients alike have been emailing me, Facebooking and Tweeting their well wishes, and I love them all the more for doing it! It all seems a bit surreal right now, but the nerves and the butterflies sure are real. I keep going over in my mind all the events, how the weight will feel, how I will handle the lifts, and forbidding any negative th...
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