Vancouver Real Estate

Why Vancouver’s Real Estate Prices Are So Crazy

It has been a somewhat rocky road for the real estate industry in Canada since the real estate market crash a few years ago, but how rocky that road depends on where you live. The Vancouver Real Estate market has actually done quite well to bounce back, taking just about two years to recover to the all-time highs that were experienced just before the crash, and median home prices are now hovering around that level. Therefore, what is the current view of the Vancouver Real Estate market?

Vancouver Real Estate Market

Demand and Supply whether you are discussing the real estate market or any other market, demand, and supply is often the driving issue behind the economy. When there are too many houses for sale and not adequate buyers, the market stagnates and therefore prices will go down.

On the other hand, if there are too many buyers and not adequate houses to sell, prices can inflate for the reason that we turn out with bidding wars when numerous buyers want similar houses. This scenario sounds good to those individuals who are selling; however, it generally drives prices well above average and can finally have a bad effect on the industry.

West Vancouver Real Estate Market

This is actually what has been happening in the West Vancouver Real Estate market during the spring of 2011. Houses have been selling well above the list price (up to $350k higher sometimes) as many buyers wanted to purchase the same house. This pushes the median property price even higher in this already exclusive Vancouver borough. However, this kind of market is not sustainable and should level out soon. Know more here!

North Vancouver Real Estate Market

Although the North Vancouver neighboring municipality is not seeing similar highly inflated sales prices, certain houses are attracting a lot of buyers and are selling above the asking price. However, the North Vancouver real estate market is much more stable, and the average prices remain closer to the all-time highs.

Vancouver Real Estate Market Outlook

The Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board publishes monthly statistics based on data delivered by its approximately 10,500 members. Factors such as the number of homes sold, the number of listings, as well as the prices of homes sold are considered, allowing the Real Estate Board to compare data month-to-month and year-to-year. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver then publishes those statistics so we can find out what the Vancouver Real Estate market is doing.

Figures released show that the overall market is generally balancing. This is just because in recent months there have been more sellers than buyers, so prices even out as demand and supply level off.

Therefore, what does this mean for anybody looking to sell or buy a house at the moment? Unless you want to buy in West Vancouver or on the west side of Vancouver – where prices are rising well above the Vancouver average, a balanced Real Estate Market should indicate a good time to sell or buy. More details in site: http://www.demopoliscreditunion.com/top-12-tips-for-selling-your-downtown-vancouver-condo/

Top 12 Tips for Selling Your Downtown Vancouver Condo

People invest in Vancouver real estate all the time and it can be a fantastic idea. Real estate is always a hot ticket and being a homeowner has many advantages. However, some haven’t intentionally invested, they just bought a home for their family, others want to maximise their money. Selling a condo – or indeed any home – in Vancouver isn’t without its difficulties. While there are many buyers, there are also many homes, and most buyers are looking for perfection. So, what tips could help you sell your condo?

Move-In Ready

Just because people are looking to buy Vancouver real estate, it doesn’t mean they want to take on a project. Sometimes, homeowners are buying for the first time and don’t have an endless pot of money. You must be smart and make your condo the one that sends out the right signals. Most buyers want to see a home that is liveable – move-in ready. That means there isn’t any serious work that needs done, such as repainting walls or recarpeting rooms. A clean and liveable home is what buyers want.

Keep It Clean

Out and indoors must be welcoming because a buyer wants to be wowed. They don’t want to see a beautiful home with awful exteriors. You must try to keep the home as clean as possible. This mean maintaining the little things as much as the big things. If you can do this, it’ll be easier to sell because people will want to invest in Vancouver property.

You Must Be Prepared to Leave for Good

If you aren’t mentally prepared to leave the home, selling won’t be easy. Everyone develops a bond with their home, but if you aren’t ready or prepared to leave it for good, it’s going to be difficult. Saying goodbye to your piece of Vancouver real estate takes time, that’s why it’s important to prepare yourself mentally – before – you put the property up for sale.

Remove the Clutter

People want to invest in Vancouver condos. They want to walk into a property and fall in love with it. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home; unfortunately, they might struggle to get past the clutter. Every home has clutter somewhere and it can cause buyers to walk away. You wouldn’t think something as trivial as clutter would cause issues, but it can. If you want to sell your condo, consider removing or storing the clutter elsewhere.

Have A Formal Inspection

Any nasty surprises could be lurking around the corner and it might make your home impossible to sell. If you have a formal inspection carried out, you know any issues that need to be addressed. This may also make the home more sellable. Of course, most buyers have their own survey carried out, but it’s still important to have. Some will look at Vancouver real estate that has had an inspection already done. It shows them you’re a decent seller who cares about their property. Read more!

Get Rid of Unsightly Furniture

Your tastes might be completely different from a buyer’s taste. While you mightn’t turn away every buyer with a 60’s-inspired sofa, some might be put off. It’s strange but people want to invest in Vancouver condos because it’s going to be their new home. They want to imagine themselves living there and some unsightly furniture might just spoil things. Instead, opt for neutral shades and furniture pieces to attract more buyers.

Include Some Furniture Pieces in the Sale

Let’s face it, you’re more likely to draw in first-time buyers when you leave a few pieces of quality furniture behind. For instance, standard kitchen appliances such as stoves, cookers, fridge freezers and washing machines are likely to be included in the sale. However, you could go one step further and leave behind a coffee machine or a toaster. Vancouver real estate sells better when there are items included in the sale. You could do this for items you no longer need or want. Having that option is always welcomed.

Organize Cupboards and Drawers

People will be looking around your condo. Prospective buyers will be going into cupboards, drawers, and other little storage spots. If you organize these areas, you can show a potential buyer the space on offer. This helps to sell a condo and make them more appealing. When buyers invest in Vancouver condos, they want to see something that’s spacious and ideal for them.

Make Upgrades to the Kitchen and Bathroom

Subtle upgrades, such as modern door and drawer handles makes a real difference. So too does modern lighting and other fixtures. This helps to sell Vancouver real estate and something that’ll help impress potential buyers. Far too many people don’t do this and that’s a mistake. If you want to sell your condo, making minor upgrades can help.

Good Photos Help to Market Wider

While most real estate agents handle the photography side, you too can do your part. You can ensure the home is presentable for any photographs. Also, the condition of the home should be the same as in the photos. It’s something to consider, nonetheless. Remember, people want to invest in Vancouver condos, and they want a home that matches the photos they’ve seen online.

Be Friendly During Visits

If you’re there when a potential buyer comes to look at the property, it’s important you’re a friendly and polite host. Don’t take it to heart if someone says a room is slightly on the small side; it could be the room is small for their requirements. A lot of people say things they don’t really mean and aren’t likely to be saying them out of spite or to cause offense. If you want to sell your piece of Vancouver real estate, it’s essential to be a friendly host during the visits.

Be Open to Negotiations

Another important tip to consider is the price. Now, depending on the market, prices can fluctuate considerably and what you want might not be realistic to a buyer. Sometimes, you must negotiate (even just a little) to find a buyer. That doesn’t mean to say you have to take a loss or accept a price you aren’t happy with. Sometimes, people want to invest in Vancouver property and feel the price is slightly high. This is especially true if they plan to make big changes in the home.

Make Your Home Sellable

Selling a home is never easy. You have an emotional attachment to the home, as much as the next owner, so it’s going to be a difficult time. Putting the emotional stuff to one side, you then must find a suitable buyer. That’s not as easy as you think because most people want a condo, they will call home for the next decade. Some buyers are so particular any little thing can dissuade from them buying. Make your piece of Vancouver real estate a sellable property. Find out more at http://www.demopoliscreditunion.com/tips-for-snowbirding-on-vancouver-island/

Tips for Snowbirding on Vancouver Island

A snowbird is actually a person, not a bird. In fact, this term is a nickname for the dark-eyed junk bird, but in terms of people, it is used to describe a group of seasonal travelers (usually retirees) who migrate to areas with warmer climates during the winter months.

At other times snowbirding is used to escape the heat. For one part or for the other, Vancouver is the perfect destination. You want to know why?

For example, in April, a Canadian city like Vancouver can reach 27ºC on a sunny day thanks to the region’s microclimate. If you are an enthusiast and want to invest in Vancouver as a snowbirding destination you have to know that you will probably see all four seasons in one trip.

This makes it the perfect destination for any occasion. In winter it will not be too cold and in summer the weather will be warm.

Advantages

Nature and urban environment, all in one.

One of the topics of Vancouver, but which is perfectly fulfilled, is that you can go skiing in the morning, go to the beach at noon and go out for drinks at night, all the same day.

Mountain sports, hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, sailing, whale watching, cycling routes… the myriad of sports and outdoor activities that you can practice in Vancouver is endless.

But Vancouver is also the most important city on the west coast of Canada and has a good range of leisure and entertainment (museums, cinemas, shows), as well as countless restaurants, cocktail bars, night clubs…

It’s the package complete: living in the mountains and in the city at the same time. More details!

Tips

  • You can choose to stay in a hotel during your snowbirding time or rent one of Vancouver’s many condos.The hotel will probably give you many facilities but a condo will give you more freedom.
  • Before going, plan your trip carefully: in which area are you going to stay and for how long.
  • If you are going by car or you intend to rent one in the city, you will have to look for parking. There are usually very good offers if you take packages of several weeks or months
  • If the car is not your thing, Vancouver’s public transport network allows you to get to any area without much problem. The system is fast and efficient and on the Translink website you can find any information on how to move around the city.
  • Find out if your pet can go with you. There are many people who do not leave home without their pet. Fortunately, in Vancouver there are many places where you can also stay with you.

And lastly…

If your English is not very good, no problem, people are used to receiving foreigners and they make an effort to understand you. Click here for more information: http://www.demopoliscreditunion.com/do-i-invest-into-vancouver-real-estate-or-buy-into-the-markets/

Do I Invest Into Vancouver Real Estate or Buy Into the Markets?

Thousands want to invest in Vancouver because the area looks good and house prices are fairly strong. Investors, especially, love real estate because it’s easy to move and offers short and long-term potential. It’s easy to see why more investors look to real estate in Vancouver than in the markets but is that the smartest choice? Can real estate provide you with a long-term investment solution or should you consider the markets? Check here!

A Strong Housing Market Doesn’t Guarantee a Return on Your Investments

There’s no doubt that in recent years the real estate in Vancouver has strengthened but it does not guarantee anyone a return on their investment. For instance, investing in Vancouver real estate is about buying a home for a decent price in a good location. You want the home to increase its value over several months or years. And, you have to sell when the prices are high and buyers are chopping at the bit. Unfortunately, people have lost money on their homes, both their residential home and the investment home they rent out. While real estate can be valuable, it doesn’t guarantee any results.

Diversity Is Smarter Than One Basket

Buying into the markets can be a good idea but again, it carries risks. What’s more, putting your investment chips into one basket is a risk because the sector could tank at any moment. To avoid taking huge losses, it might be wise for investors to look at several different investment solutions rather than the one. Of course, you need to do a lot of research to find the most suitable investments for you. It’s a smart idea to invest in Vancouver but you need to do what you’re doing. At the same time, diversity is often slightly better, especially if you’re risking larger sums of money. For more information, visit: http://www.demopoliscreditunion.com/things-to-do-in-st-lucia/

Know Your Options before Investing in Vancouver Real Estate

Whether you want to invest money in the markets or real estate, you need to know what you’re doing. For example, you need to find homes with an affordable price tag and that’s also likely to increase over the years. You need to research up-and-coming areas as well as study the market’s history; the economy is another factor to consider. As said, having a diverse investment portfolio may be slightly better than a solo market. Invest in Vancouver and see results. It is possible but you do need to invest wisely, no matter how much you’re risking.

Be the Smart Investor

Investing is about having a calm head and a wise mind. You cannot run into this without first knowing the risks and rewards. It’s also important to understand investing as a whole and what happens after the initial investment is made. For instance, you purchased a piece of real estate; will you rent it or sell it on? These are the things you have to consider before you step into the investing world. Vancouver real estate can be a smart investment field to look into but the markets have potential too; think carefully before you invest.

Tips for Apartment Hunting In Vancouver

On the main one hand, its super exciting since it means a fresh new location and somewhere you could make a home. On the other hand, apartment looking in Downtown Vancouver Condos specially could be very arduous also it can take some time to get that perfect spot.

It also really helps to be really organised and on the ball, because the Vancouver rental marketplace may be competitive and when you find a location you love, you must act fast. I am hoping you find this post useful and all the best finding a new place to phone home!!

CONSIDER WHAT YOU WANT

Before you perhaps start to take a look at places, the initial most important step is to format what you would like in an apartment. There are hundreds of apartments listed each day in Downtown Vancouver Condos, so it helps to have a good idea of what you’re looking for to simplify the process and ensure it is easier to locate what you want.

  • Would you like a studio, a 1-room or something larger?
  • Would you like furnished or unfurnished?
  • Do you want somewhere pet-friendly?
  • Do you want to rent a complete place or simply a room?
  • Do you want a newer developing with amenities such as a gym or pool, or can you not mind?
  • And very importantly, what’s the utmost you intend to pay per month?

Knowing what you want and what’s important to you will enable you to filter through all of the listings and it’ll make apartment hunting a lot easier. More details!

#2 CONSIDER WHERE YOU INTEND TO LIVE

Another important account is to think about where you intend to live. Vancouver has got so many fantastic areas to select from and the leases are very diverse in each. In the most central Downtown Vancouver Condos place, your key areas are Downtown, Yaletown, Western Ending, Gastown and Coal Harbour. Rentals in Yaletown tend to be newer and more modern, you can find quite a few lofts and several buildings include gyms and features. I love Yaletown as it’s near to the seawall, it includes many park spots and it’s close to Downtown yet it nonetheless has a network look. Coal Harbour apartments tend to be the most expensive in the city, the majority of buildings are fresh and many possess incredible views of this North Shore.

#3 START THE HUNT!

Now with the exciting part….actually starting the house hunt! The key sites to check out happen to be Craigslist, Kijiji, Rent It Furnished and PadMapper.  I’d state about 90% of places are shown on Craigslist so that ought to be your first stage of call up. PadMapper is a great site, since it collects all the apartment entries from lots of different websites and puts them all on a map in order to filter through them. In the Western world End, many structures likewise have vacancies posted on the door or just beyond your building, so if you’d like to live there then I suggest developing a walk around the area and preserving an eye out for vacancy signs and Invest in Vancouver.

#4 FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED?

This is one more thing to take into account when you’re looking for a place. If you already live in Vancouver and have a house filled with furniture, chances are you’ll likely wish something unfurnished.

However, if you’re new to letting or not used to the city after that there are a lot of furnished options available. In fact, the market appears to have shifted a lot – whenever we first migrated 4 years ago it was difficult to find furnished, but today 70-80% of listings appear to be furnished, specifically in more key areas.

#5 WHAT ABOUT ADDITIONAL COSTS?

One thing to element in is additional costs for things like Hydro (electricity + warming), Web and TV. Most Downtown Vancouver Condos buildings possess hot water included, but this might vary with regards to the building. TV and Net aren’t low-cost (it could be around $100 a month based on your package). In a very 1-bed residence, we used to spend $30-$50 monthly on Hydro with regards to the season.

STAY OPTIMISTIC!

Aaaaand for a bonus point…stay optimistic! Remember, apartment hunting in Downtown Vancouver Condos can take time, so remain optimistic and also have beliefs that something will come up! Click here for more information: https://medium.com/@macdonaldrealty/tips-for-apartment-hunting-in-vancouver-582f914fb0ac

Simple Tips to Get Downtown Vancouver Condos at A Fraction of Uptown Prices

Have you thought about investing in Vancouver real estate? Right now, everyone is looking for real estate in and around Vancouver as it’s a very popular area to reside in and condos seem to be the most favourable option. However, there are issues over costs especially for those who want to live in the downtown area. Downtown costs can be really difficult and for most people they struggle to be able to afford to rent, never mind buy, in the downtown area. There may be ways to get uptown prices in the downtown area. Yes, you did hear that right! Why don’t you read on and find a few tips that might make the difference today.

Talk To a Realtor

Real estate agents are some of the best people to speak to today. They know the market better than anyone and you can tell them what you want in a home and your budget and they will do the rest. Realtors really try their best to find the right home for their clients simply because they know that’s how they get paid! They also know the tricks of the trade too and might be able to help find a bargain in the mix! That’s why when searching for downtown Vancouver condos you look to a realtor for help.

Look At Dozens of Condos and Compare Notes

Vancouver real estate is popular, there’s no doubt about it but you can’t wait for the right home to come to you, you have to go to it! You have to take the time to look at a lot of condos whether you necessarily want to spend big or little. If you want uptown prices you have to know what you’re getting for your money. You have to know what good value is and what isn’t! It’s important to look at a wide variety of condos so that you see what they have to offer and which one might be right. What is more, if you see one you love but there are a few issues with them, you might be able to knock the price down somewhat!

Wait For the Right One to Come Along

Don’t rush into a sale just because you think it’s the best bargain you’ll find. You want to be happy with the costs and the home so you have to ensure it’s really the right one for you and your money. If you don’t like the price or the home, wait for the right one to come along. It will happen and in the meantime you can keep on looking and saving your money. It’s something which can be very smart to do and may help in the long-term too. Downtown Vancouver condos can be pricy so you have to wait for the right one to come along in order to get a home you love and a good price.

Find the Perfect Home

Getting uptown prices for downtown Vancouver is hard, although, not impossible. You are going to have to try your very best and get a home that suits your needs but also has the right price. It’s important to look at a wide variety of homes in order to find the right one and the price will fall into place hopefully too. Dip your toes into Vancouver real estate and hopefully you’ll find the best home possible.

Real Estate Web Design Mistakes Not To Make With Your Site

A misconception that many people have with their website is that more traffic is better; however with many types of sites this is not fully accurate.  As a real estate agent or broker, you are trying to squeeze every lead out of your website that you possibly can.  As a real estate professional your job is to sell and the first thing that you think of is “I need to have a killer website”.

Looks That Can Kill You

All Flash Websites or Splash Pages – Flash was the ‘it-thing’ in the late 90′s and early 2000′s as it added that visual appeal and made a website stand out from the rest.  It has more down sides though in today’s market as search engines cannot fully read and follow all of the content and links that are embedded in that .swf file.  Keep in mind that many mobile and tablet devices cannot show flash content, so you have limited your viewers experience greatly and potentially lost a lead as they cannot view your real estate site fully.

All javascript menus

Search engines can read javascript to a certain extent though and having a full blown javascript menu may look high tech, it is actually hurting the ability for your website to be crawled fully by the search engine.  Users of smart phones and tablets can have a hard time navigating the site depending on how large your menu is.  They may just leave the site because they cannot find what they were looking for fast enough.

There are also the javascript menu’s that entirely utilize images, some look really nice but once again you are throwing usability out of the window.  The page load time will be increased greatly as it has to load each image into the navigation.  CSS is very flexible and can create just as good of looking, if not better menu’s then javascript.  CSS will load faster, be search engine friendly and can work on all devices.

All graphic website

These are the sites that were beautifully made in Photoshop or other design software and simply cut into pieces and a websites was created.  Problem with a lot of these types of real estate websites is they really only have one real purpose and that is to look good.  The property listings are either not there or are framed inside of a small box that makes usability difficult.  Load times are extremely high, so you are not making your viewers wait for all of those pretty graphics to load…oh wait they already closed your site and went to the next because they were tired of waiting.  Search engines need content in order to properly place your website within their algorithm, problem is your content are all in images that the search engines cannot read.

iFrames

I am still amazed that real estate web design companies and IDX providers still think that framing the content in a website is the best solution.  It is by far one of the worst things you can do.  In the picture below you will see a simple website layout; the large box in the middle would be where the property listing information would go in the iframe.  To most it looks normal, like many other websites.  What lies beneath the code is another story and one that will get you nowhere with the search engines.

Not Mobile Friendly (Responsive)

Some people may argue that their website does not need to be mobile friendly, or as it is called in the industry responsive. We live in a NOW society where people want results NOW and not later, even if that later is a few minutes of having to go to a computer.  You have about 15 seconds to capture that viewer’s attention before they leave and look elsewhere.  If your website is hard or even impossible to navigate on a mobile device you are losing out not only on potential leads but sales as well.  Remember with a cell phone they can simply click on your telephone number to call you, they do not have to type in anything once they are on your website.

Having property listing information easily available to mobile users is just another sales tool you have to be better than the other real estate brokers and agents in your area.  If you have the knowledge of knowing what marketing tactics are better for your real estate business, why not go after those tactics and utilize them to the fullest? More details here: http://www.demopoliscreditunion.com/save-money-when-buying-and-selling-real-estate-with-a-realtor-2/

In Conclusion

I am not against any “non professional” web designer or graphic artist building your real estate website, just keep some of these points in mind when laying out your website ideas on paper first.

You want your website to give you the best possible advantage it can in helping your real estate business get to and stay on top of the local market.  If you are using some of the design flaws I have laid out above, please consider getting them fixed as at the end of the day it can only benefit your business more.

Save Money When Buying and Selling Real Estate with a Realtor

Investing in Vancouver Real Estate has become highly popular over the course of the last few decades and there’s no sign of it slowing down. Even when the market hasn’t been at its best, people have always wanted to snap up a bargain and get a way to invest in a seemingly solid adventure. Of course, with real estate there are always risks involved and if you don’t buy and sell at the right time, you could lose a lot of money. However, it is possible to save on properties when you use services such as realtors. Not convinced? Read on to find out more.

They Find the Best Tenants and Homes for You

When you are renting a home out or buying one, it can be very difficult to know which way to turn but with a real estate agent or realtor they can make things far easier. Remember, estate agents know the markets really well and have the tools at their disposal to find the right homes for you as well as tenants. For buyers who want to rent their properties, they can find the agents help to find a suitable rental property that suits their budget and might not need a lot of work. Even if you already have the home, they can still help with finding suitable tenants and taking care of everything. That’s really going to prove useful for most buyers and sellers today.

They Know the Market

Realtors know the market. It doesn’t matter if you are the renter or person renting the home, they will be able to help. Having a real estate agent and a realtor on your side can really help no matter if you are buying or selling. People often think realtors only help those who are buying but not always, they can also help those selling properties too. Having a professional who knows all about the latest changes to the housing market and the demand for certain houses will help you in many ways. It will make a big difference to have these individuals on your hands when the time comes for buying or selling. More details.

Realtors Can Be Useful Tools

When you are looking to find new accommodation it can be very difficult to know which way to turn and it’s problematic. However, going to a realtor and enquiring over the homes available can be useful. You tell them what you want and need and they go out and find it for you; that means you don’t have to do anything but look at the property. That’s really going to be useful to say the least and it’s going to help speed up the process as well. Real estate in Vancouver isn’t always easy to find but with the use of a realtor it can prove simple.

Save Today

Whether you buy, sell or rent a property it can be a very costly process and one which far too many struggle with. However, having help on your side could prove crucial at the end of the day and might make things far easier for everyone involved. Maybe it’s time to look into getting help from a professional who knows the market well. Choosing the services of Invest in Vancouvea real estate agent or realtor to Invest in Vancouver can really be useful and something you should think about also. Learn more details at: https://placerealestate.ca/downtown-vancouver-condos/coal-harbour-condos/