Nanaimo Real Estate as of November 30, 2011 - What’s selling and for how much?   The Nanaimo real estate sales numbers are in for the month of November, 2011.  How do you analyze the Nanaimo real estate market?  This is a very important question for both buyers and sellers.  For buyers looking at real estate in Nanaimo the main concerns are price, selection and timing.  For people selling their Nanaimo home the important factors are timing, level of inventory (competition) on the market and how much they can ask for their home. I hope the following figures, stats and graphs may assist both buyers and sellers.   Here’s the type of real estate sold in Nanaimo in November (source VIREB):     Property Type    Number of unit’s        Average price Single Family            79 units           ... 12/05/2011

Gablecraft The Village at Summerville in Nanaimo – A Review I had the pleasure of attending a Realtor Open House for the new condo complex by Gablecraft Homes called Gablecraft - The Village at Summerville in Nanaimo.  I was hugely impressed with this complex and am delighted to see such a nice looking development being built in Central Nanaimo.  The Village at Summerville is so new that I thought it would be helpful to prospective buyers to read a review on this new development. There are three designs available in two bedroom units, which range in price from $239,900 -$253,900 plus HST and are approximately 1014 sq. feet.  In addition, there are three designs available in three bedroom units ranging in price from$264,900 -$276,900 plus HST and are approximately 1264 sq. feet.  Both th... 12/01/2011

Nanaimo patio homes – The Terraces Patio homes Information   In the North Nanaimo area, one of the largest patio home complexes is the Terraces patio homes. The Terraces were built between 1986-1992 and incorporate 8 phases with a total of 89 units.   If you are looking for a Nanaimo patio home that is in the North Nanaimo area and is central to the beach, Woodgrove Mall, public transit look no further. The Terraces patio homes are located off of Applecross near Dover. There are two entrances one on Applecross and one on McRobb.   The complex offers a very active clubhouse, a guest suite and is within walking distance to Woodgrove Mall, Costco, banks, movie theatres and lots of great shops and restaurants.   The Terraces are adult oriented and allows pets and has a no rentals clause. Th... 11/25/2011

Nanaimo patio homes – Parkwood Village Patio homes Information The North Nanaimo area offers a number of lovely patio homes for sale.  Ones you don’t want to miss, when searching for a Patio home, are the Parkwood Village, Patio homes. The Parkwood Village patio homes were built between 1997- 2002 and incorporate 63 units. If you are looking for a Nanaimo patio home that is in the North Nanaimo area and is central to Woodgrove Mall, Longwood Station, the movie Theatres and many different restaurants, look no further. The Parkwood Village patio homes are located off of Parkwood Drive which runs off of Uplands.  The Village is made up of two streets called Rosecroft Place and Bellflower Way. Parkwood Village is an Adult only complex and pets are allowed. The homes are mostly available wit... 11/20/2011

Sugarloaf Mountain in Nanaimo   One of the greatest delights of living in Nanaimo, are the views!  I am awestruck regularly by the panoramic views I encounter, as I move around the city.   Today I took a small hike up Sugarloaf Mountain.    When you reach the top of the mountain you have the option of viewing almost every part of the city as you rotate yourself around.  From one angle you can view the lovely Departure Bay homes which dot the surrounding hills.  From another you can look down the narrow inlet between Newcastle Island and the marine area of Nanaimo toward the downtown high rises.  These views are all stunning!  However, the view that impresses me the most is looking out the exit of Departure Bay at Gabriola Island and beyond.   If you want to get a feel for Nanaimo and on... 11/15/2011

Nanaimo patio homes – The Highlands Patio homes Information The Nanaimo area offers a number of lovely patio homes for sale.  The Highlands patio homes were built between 1992-1996 and incorporate 82 units. If you are looking for a Nanaimo patio home that is in the uplands area and is central to the Nanaimo North Town Centre and the Oliver Woods Community Centre, look no further. The Highlands patio homes are located off of Kenwill which is just off of Rutherford Road. The complex offers a clubhouse and is within walking distance to the "Boardwalk on Rutherford", a charming village of shops & restaurants.  In addition there are a number of nice walking trails around the complex. The Highlands has an age restriction of 40+, a 2 pet limit, and a no rentals clause. The homes are available ... 11/13/2011

Nanaimo Clippers schedule  November 2011   We are well into the 2011-2012 hockey season.  This year the Nanaimo Clippers have a full schedule.  Here is the November schedule, from the Clippers website for your convenience.  May they have a great season!   Nanaimo ClippersNovember Schedule Fri, Nov. 11 7:30P Nanaimo   Powell River   Hap Parker Arena Sat, Nov. 12 7:30P Nanaimo   Powell River   Hap Parker Arena Wed, Nov. 16 7:00P Powell River   Nanaimo   Frank Crane Arena Fri, Nov. 18 7:00P Cowichan Valley   Nanaimo   Frank Crane Arena Sun, Nov. 20 3:00P Coquitlam   Nanaimo   Frank Crane Arena Wed, Nov. 23 7:00P Nanaimo   Cowichan Valley   Island Savings Centre Fri, Nov. 25 7:00P Alberni Valley   Nanaimo   Frank Crane Arena Sat, Nov. 26 7:00P Nanaimo             11/10/2011

What's selling in Nanaimo Real Estate as of October 31, 2011   How do you analyze the Nanaimo real estate market?  This is a very important question for both buyers and sellers.  For buyers looking at real estate in Nanaimo the main concerns are price, selection and timing.  For people selling their Nanaimo home the important factors are timing, level of inventory (competition) on the market and how much they can ask for their home. I hope the following figures, stats and graphs may assist both buyers and sellers.   Here’s the type of real estate sold in Nanaimo in October (source VIREB):   Property Type    Number of unit’s        Average price Single Family            96 units                  $356,453 Condo (Apt)               10                             $199,308                   ... 11/09/2011

Housing prices in Nanaimo - October 2011 Are you considering purchasing a home in Nanaimo?  Are you wondering what housing prices in Nanaimo are?  If so, it is important to know the state of the real estate market in Nanaimo before beginning your search. The best indicator of housing price trends is reviewing current home sales.  VIREB prepares monthly reports to assist REALTORS®, who in turn assist their clients, in making pricing decisions. Based on the information I have received from VIREB I have prepared a chart. The following chart is broken down by Nanaimo neighbourhood and lists the average selling price of homes sold in the past month.   11/08/2011

To Use A Disclosure Statement Or To Not Use A Disclosure Statement: That Is The Question I know I am opening up a real can of worms here, but how often in our careers as real estate agents has this question arisen? This article and news clip was on CBC last night and really nails the issue. I believe the rule is, "Disclose, disclose, disclose....and if in doubt: DISCLOSE". This real estate agent and seller may have gotten away with it, but I personally think the agent should be reprimanded for a breach of ethics....Do we not have a code of ethics? I recall that we do, as I had to learn it when I took my licensing course. This kind of thing makes the rest of us look bad; untrustworthy. Personally, I would have let the seller go as a client, rather than have my name tied to the result. Th... 11/08/2011

I have been reviewing the Nanaimo real estate statistics for October 2011.  I spent some time with my calculator calculating the real estate in Nanaimo absorption rates as of the end of October 2011.  My numbers came from the latest real estate stats published by VIREB (Vancouver Island Real Estate Board).  Based on the information they have supplied I have calculated the absorption rates for real estate here in Nanaimo. This information 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. Happily, it appears that the increased market activity we experienced over the past two months continued in October.. I thought... 11/08/2011

Nanaimo real estate statistics- October 2011 The numbers are in! Here is a review of real estate in Nanaimo for the month of October, 2011.  Let’s have a look at some Nanaimo real estate statistics for last month. According to the stats it appears that the improvement that we have seen in the local market over the last few months is continuing. The Cumulative Residential Average Single Family Sale Price is up by 5% over October 2010.  The average sale price was $356,453 in October 2011 compared to $338,374 in October 2010. The following are the single family market changes for October 2011 compared with October 2010 -  There were 175 units listed this October compared to 144 units in October 2010.  There were 22% more homes listed this October compared to October 2010. -  28% more units... 11/07/2011

Do You Understand Market Value? Let's say it's time to sell the car. What steps would you take? It probably would go something like this: Check the classifieds section of your newspaper, checking out prices on cars similar to yours.      2.  Advertise priced within that range. Though you may not realize it yet, you've just determined the market value of your car.Simply stated, market value is what buyers are willing to pay for that car. What if you want to put your house on the market, though? It should go something like this:   You and your REALTOR® will determine the market value of your property. It's critical you get this right. If it's priced too much above its' market value, you probably won’t get any offers. Alternatively, if it's priced too low, it likely will sell quickly but y... 11/03/2011

Home Staging Tip: Transforming A Room With Paint     If you are planning to get your Nanaimo home ready to sell; here are a few staging tips on using paint to transform a room.       1.    Avoid bright colors, fluorescent and neon shades, or colors that are very dark.  Try paint colors in soft creams, taupes, and pale buttery yellow tones.   2.    Neutral colors have a universal appeal-both men and women give them favorable ratings.   3.    Don't be tempted to keep the wallpaper.  Generally, buyers are put off by it.  They view the removal process as another chore if they buy your home.   4.    A room will appear larger when you paint it the same color as the room adjacent to it.  It can give the illusion of one big open space.   5.    Another favorite designer tip, to give the illusion... 10/24/2011

Five quick tips to get your Nanaimo home ready for winter   The winter months are quickly approaching, and I'm hoping that you'll have a warm, cozy season in your home!  Below you will find some quick tips for making sure that you and your Nanaimo home are ready for the winter months ahead!    Roof repairs: If you can safely get onto your roof to inspect for missing shingles or other factors that may lead to a leaky roof, now's the time to do it!  If not, call in a professional organization and have them take care of the rooftop work for you.   Seal it off: Inspect doors and windows to ensure that the weather-stripping is in good condition.  This will keep your house warmer and cozier in the winter months.   Hot stuff: Make sure that your heater and ventilation systems are in good worki... 10/24/2011

Selling your Nanaimo home in a buyer's market   The Nanaimo real estate market has been experiencing a buyer’s market for most of 2011.  The market has improved over the last few months, but we are not in a balanced market yet.   There are a number of reasons why you may need to sell your home in a buyer's market, and though getting the most for your home in that situation may seem impossible, there are several strategies you can use to get the best offer for your home.  Here are a few tips to getting the most for your house in a buyer's market!   Know Your Local Real Estate Market   While the national housing market may be booming, your local market may be very different.  A real estate agent can give you the information you need to determine how your local housing market is doing, and... 10/22/2011

 Halloween activities in Nanaimo  Halloween is just around the corner.  I thought it would be fun to see what Halloween activities are planned in Nanaimo.  I have compiled a list of some of the fun things available this year.  Haunted Houses in Nanaimo: For the Halloween season, Island Haunt Productions has increased the intensity level and are excited to present their 2011 attraction, "Forsaken". "Forsaken” is located at 2300 Bowen Road in Nanaimo, which is at Beban Park on the Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEx) fairgrounds  The terror continues Friday, October 21st and on Saturday, October 22nd. After that, every night from October 25th through October 31st.  Hours of operation in October are from 7:00pm to 11:00pm.   Family Halloween Costume Party   Saturday, October 29th, 2011 6:00 ... 10/21/2011

Halloween costumes in Nanaimo   There are always many parties over the Halloween week.  In some cases you and your family may have more than one event to attend, so, where does one go to find unique Halloween costumes in Nanaimo?    Here are a few places to go to find a special, original, Halloween costume in Nanaimo.   1.    The Dollar Stores - It has been my observation that the selection at the Dollar Stores for Halloween has improved every year.  They start getting costumes, props, and decorations for Halloween early in the fall.  Sometimes a good costume can be made from things you have around the house along with one or two props and accessories you can pick up at the Dollar Stores.   2.    In Character Costume & Novelties- They have set up a temporary location at Woodgrove Mall n... 10/18/2011

I have made price reductions on several of my listings. The market is making some adjustments with the global economy however the market is still moving and interest rates are still very low. Reduced to $239,900 from $259,900, This is a great deal! The asking price is $32,000 below what he paid for it. Reduced to $229,000 from $237,000. This unit is one of the largest in Deerwood and has tiled floors, 3 bedrooms and air conditioning.   Doug Belcher RE/MAX Nanaimo real estate 10/16/2011

Pumpkin Patch in and around Nanaimo It is the month of Halloween.  Perhaps you are looking for some family activities to celebrate the season.  This month in and around Nanaimo you will find Pumpkin patches, Hayrides and corn mazes.  The list below offers more details. Yawning Acres 1949 Cedar Road, Nanaimo – (250) 713-6304 A spooktacular display of pumpkins are the highlight of this acreage featuring hay rides, a pumpkin patch and steaming hot chocolate.   McNab’s Corn Maze 4613 Yellow Point Road, Ladysmith – (250) 245-0666Extensive pumpkin patch and corn maze with hay rides and pick-your-own pumpkins.   I hope you and your family enjoy a fun Halloween. 10/15/2011