Raise the Bar Hi Everyone! Here's a slice of what I do when I'm not wearing my Real Estate Hat. Please take the time to visit my Raise the Bar Facebook Page. I am working hard to raise money for our Nanaimo Regional General Hospitals' Emergency Ward and would love to create as much awareness as possible. On March 11th I will deadlift 350 lbs as an exhibition lift to launch this officially (North Town Centre, March 11th at 5:30 pm). This will be just 18 days before I compete at the Canadian Powerlifting Championships. Not only do I plan to raise a good amount of cash for our hospitals' new emergency ward, currently under construction, but I want people to understand that REALTORS® care and want to help the community that we serve. Please visit and "become friends" with "Raise the Bar". T... 02/28/2011

Nanaimo neighbourhoods When people relocate to Nanaimo or just make a move within the city they often want to know which Nanaimo neighbourhoodsare best for their needs.  To determine the best Nanaimo neighbourhood for your family it is important to determine your requirements. For young families it may be that you are looking at neighbourhoods that offer affordability yet have good schools, parks and are close to recreational facilities. For empty nesters or the 55+ group you may be looking for a specific location that offers you convenience to restaurants, theater and offers housing with low maintenance yards etc. There are many factors that will affect your choice of neighbourhoods. Over the next few weeks I will be compiling information on the different Nanaimo neighbourhoods to assi... 02/27/2011

British Columbia Housing Starts Beginning to Trend Higher According to CMHC ( Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation), we can expect an upward trend in housing starts for 2011 and 2012. Quoting Carol Frketich, CMHC's B.C. regional economist: "A stable existing home market, combined with positive economic factors, support the conclusion that the residential construction outlook will continue to be balanced, providing opportunities for both developers and home buyers....Mortgage loan interest rates which will remain low by historic standards, together with stable employment and strong population growth, will support the resale and new home markets in 2011 and 2012." CMHC's Market Housing Outlook further states that the sales to new listings ratio, which is an indicator of resale home p... 02/25/2011

Nanaimo homes for sale with pools There are currently several Nanaimo homes for sale with pools on the market.  I thought it would be helpful to Nanaimo home buyers to review what is available for sale.  I have had a look at homes that are currently listed with a pool and decided to do a review by price range.  We will have a look at Nanaimo homes for sale with pools in the following price ranges:  Under $350,000, under $500,000 and under $800,000. Nanaimo homes for sale with pools Under $350,000 51 South Street in South Nanaimo - $339,900 buys you: 2300 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, wood burning fireplace, private setting, mountain view, southern exposed on a 7788 sq. foot lot.  The house was built in 1950 and offers a legal suite. Under $500,000  5949 Tasha Place, North Nanaim... 02/24/2011

I am finally getting around to posting January's sales numbers released from VIREB...YES i HAVE BEEN THAT BUSY. February stats will be out soon. The market in general is still slow but the number of inquiries is up dramatically. I have picked up several new buyers and 3 new listings just this week. My first sale of the year went into muliple offers. My listing on Morden Road (an fixer upper on an acre) is getting 2-3 showings a day in it's first and second week of the listing. I suspect we'll have a busy spring but it's too early to tell how busy the rest of the year is. Homes under $300,000 seem to be selling off quick but condos and high end listings are still moving slowly. Here is a link to my real estate statistics page. Nanaimo Real Estate and MLS Statistics 02/23/2011

109 - 2560 Departure Bay Road This home feels like a suite at a resort in Maui. A large ocean view condo in Departure Bay. There are amazing ocean views from the living room, dining room and both bedrooms. There is a laundry room and a storage room in the suite. The living room has a wood burning fireplace with mantel. The complex has a swimming pool. It's larger than your typical condo with 1294 square feet. Outside the unit is a wrap around patio. It's located on the left wing of the complex which maximizes both privacy and the great ocean vistas. There sunrises are breathtaking. Imagine the lazy weekends spent pool side! The building allows 1 cat and dogs are currently being discussed. Just steps to the beach, don't miss out...call today.   Nanaimo Real Estate 02/23/2011

Why would I want to relocate to Nanaimo? "Why would I want to relocate to Nanaimo?" you ask?    I love being asked that question.  In fact talking about living in Nanaimo is one of my favourite topics!  Of course, I am a Nanaimo REALTOR and talking about the Nanaimo real estate market is what I do.   However, there is more to it than that for me.  Buying a home and relocating to Nanaimo is exactly what my husband and I chose to do three years ago.  We left the busy lower mainland and chose to move here to live.  Yes, for us, it was a choice to relocate to Nanaimo.  It was a choice we have never regretted. We love living here for many reasons but particularly because of the lifestyle. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to be at a number of lovely beaches in minutes.  The biggest treat ... 02/22/2011

New Canadian Mortgage rules - Pros and Cons The new Canadian mortgage rules, beginning March 18th, force homeowners, or those looking to purchase a home, to focus on the future and long-term stability.  What does this mean to you as a Nanaimo area homeowner? Canada has been conservative with its lending requirements.   The benefit of conservative lending policies is that it forces Canadians to slow the pace of their household debt Beginning March 18, the new Canadian mortgage rules state the maximum amortization period for government-backed insured mortgages is 30 years, down from 35 years, and the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their mortgages is 85 per cent, down from 90 per cent. Let's have a look at how the new Canadian mortgage rules affect you as the home buyer... 02/18/2011

Life in Paradise What's it like to live in Nanaimo? Like living in a slice of Paradise. Each day I drive down my hill and take in beautiful Departure Bay on my way to the office or to meet clients...or just to escape for a while. The sun glints off the water as the ferries elegantly coast in or out of the terminal. A scenic hour and 35 minutes away by this ship is beautiful Vancouver. If you prefer a 20 minute trip, then enjoy the panoramic and idyllic views from the seat of your float plane. There is so much to see and do here, that rather than go on and on I am connecting you to a great video snapshot of life here in the mid-island city of Nanaimo. This precious jewel is the gem of the mid-island area and surprisingly affordable as well. If you want to know more about mid-island prope... 02/11/2011

02/08/2011

Why Have a Home Inspection? Offers of purchase and sale on a home areoften contingent on a satisfactory homeinspection. This allows the buyers to have aperiod of time to hire a qualified homeinspector to do just that: inspect the property top to bottom and insideand out. This is a practice I highly recommend as the inspector is working for the buyer, not the seller, or the agents. Upon reviewing the results, the buyers caneither confirm their intention to complete thepurchase, negotiate repairs or compensationfor identified deficiencies, or, in some instances, walk away. Now you might ask,"How do you select a home inspector?" YourREALTOR® can give you some recommendations. I will strongly suggest that you seek out someone who is certifiedwith a recognized professional association,such a... 02/07/2011

1751 Morden Road - Cedar, Nanaimo - $259,000 MLS # TBA1300 s.f. home on a 1.02 acre lot. If you are looking for an affordable home on a full acre of land, this may be the one. There is also a barn on the property. Fix this home up and add a garden / garage / workshop there is plenty of room here. This home has seen better days but for the right person it has loads of potential. The property has a driiled well and septic. The home is avaiable for quick possession. Ask for Doug Belcher (if I am not in, request to have me paged). You can also reach me on cellular phone 250-619-6012. Doug BelcherRE/MAX of Nanaimo 02/01/2011

Curb Appeal on the Cheap Are you selling your home and you                                                                                                                           don’t have the time or budget for a complete landscaping project? Well, guess what? You don’t necessarily need to. There are lots of affordable ways to improve curb appeal,consequentially attracting those buyers who drive up toyour home. You can: 1) Create a more welcoming entrance.                                                                                                                Paint the front door and frame,and place potted plants on either side. 2) Mow the lawn, prune trees and shrubs. This can and will significantly improve the look of your home. 3) Clean the walkways and driveway. Rent a pow... 01/28/2011

REALTOR.CA is a free app avaialable on ITUNES that allows users to search properties across Canada. It is compatable with the IPad and Iphone. The app is free and takes only a few seconds to download. The built in GPS system in the Iphone should make this app very usefull when on the road. Doug Belcher, REMAX of Nanaimo 01/28/2011

WHAT A HOOT! I just joined Hootsuite and I have to say it's an amazing way to simultaneously connect with multiple social media sites: fantastic tool! Let's face it: It's incredibly easy to have hours of your time eaten up by social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). With Hootsuite I can simultaneously post to all the sites I enter into the program. I found it extremely easy to use...not to mention quick. I'm on the free version and I love it. One post can go to five sites at once. That's one effort producing five results: IMMEDIATELY. I know I sound like a free ad for them, but hey! It's a good thing! They've created a monster....ME. Check it out and see for yourself...It's a real hoot!                                                                                                      01/25/2011

New Listing Spectacular view of the city, ocean, coastal mountains and Gulf Island can be had from the massive deck of this home. The home has a several updates in the last few year including oak floors, new roof, updated kitchen, electrical updates and much more. The is a hot tub on an enormous deck with both a covered and an open section. Downstairs there is a large family room with wet bar and wood burning fireplace. Lots of parking is available with 2 driveways and a 2 car carport. There is a patio just off the family room and the basement has suite potential or room for a shop. This home is available for quick possession.   Nanaimo Real Estate 01/24/2011

Stage Your Kitchen: WOW Your Buyers Straightforward; Staging is conceptually really simple. In a nutshell it's cleaning, organizing and decorating yourhome  to make it look its best for potential buyers.Because the kitchen is one of the most used rooms,                                                                                                                                              it can be a bit of a challenge to properly stage.You can't just set it up for showings and never use it! Yet, an effectively staged kitchen canhelp sell your home because it’s the room that buyers oftenscrutinize and remember most. BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS SELL HOMES. Here is your basic KITCHEN STAGING 101: • BE RELENTLESS WHEN DE-CLUTTERING YOUR KITCHEN.                                                   ... 01/24/2011

LISTING PRESENTATION TIPS MANY REALTORS® FORGETHaving read articles, listened to audio CDs, and attended workshops on howto effectively do a listing presentation,  you most likely know the big basics: ask questions explain your program clearly listen carefully take notes smile, etc. So what is it, then, that makes the difference between walking out the door withouta listing and posting your the FOR SALE sign on the front lawn? THE LITTLE THINGS, THAT'S WHAT. Some of those deceptively minor presentation tips often overlooked by REALTORS®: 1. Get good directions. Tardiness leaves a poor impression ALWAYS,no matter the excuse. You might know the area well, but get directionsfrom the prospect anyway. Online maps arenʼt always accurate, and my GPS has taken                                   ... 01/22/2011

“You’ve got to ask. Asking is, in my opinion, theworld’s most powerful and neglected secret tosuccess and happiness.”Percy Ross Isn't this the truth in real estate? How many of us approach the finish line...and then don't cross it? Ask that excited buyer! "Shall we write the offer, then?" Ask that seller that's so happy with your presentation! "Shall we draw up the listing contract?" Watch and listen for those signals...and then ACT on them. Too many people get to the crossroad and then freeze up. If you want to survive in this business, don't be afraid to ask. They are expecting you to ask and, in many cases, waiting for you to ask. The truth is, if you don't ask, it will go to someone else. Often we are afraid to be perceived as "that pushy sales representative", but if you've been a ... 01/16/2011

"Use Reason To Persuade; Use Emotion To Motivate" Quote by Jonathan Alter This is powerful stuff for real estate agents. After all, it's reason that will help your buyer or seller to make the right decision for themselves. Presenting the facts and then giving them the right reasons to work with you (based on these facts) is one of the most important things you can do to win their business. It's hard to argue with well presented reasoning. For the right reasons, they will list with you. For the right reasons, they will buy with you. Emotion is a powerful tool. Paint the picture, helping them to visualize how great it's going to be when they sell their home and can move on to the next exciting part of their lives. When you're with a buyer: You walk into "the house" and notice a lot of tho... 01/12/2011