DREAM COMBINATION!  For the fussiest buyer!  Immaculate, custom built and lovingly cared for 1765 sq.ft rancher, situated on a cul-de-sac and surrounded by grand mountain views! Bonus is the  DETACHED GARAGE/WORKSHOP 27'x24' heated & insulated,perfect for the car enthusiast or for the boat or RV, choose indoor or outdoor RV parking. 

Beautiful, landscaped, PRIVATE 10,106 sq.ft lot!This lovely home features a foyer with hardwood flooring, enjoy heating your main floor with 2 top grade gas fireplaces, one in the livingroom and other in the family room. quality oak kitchen cabinets, island, pantry, pull-outs & gas stove.

Master bedroom with a walk in closet & 4pc.ensuite and a 5pce.main bath. Another bonus upstairs is a large games room (or a 3rd bedroom) with closet. Enjoy the back patio deck with a natural gas BBQ hook up. Security system & intercom, air conditioning and built in vacuum. Loads of covered & outdoor parking available. Only 10 minutes to golf course & Harrison Hot Springs!

https://helengambling.com/mylistings.html/listing.r2336880-7444-arbutus-drive-agassiz-v0m-1a2.82984718

Housing Market Conditions Continue To Favour Home Buyers

VANCOUVER, BC – March 4, 2019 – The Metro Vancouver* housing market saw increased
supply from home sellers and below average demand from home buyers in February.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the
region totalled 1,484 in February 2019, a 32.8 per cent decrease from the 2,207 sales recorded in
February 2018, and a 34.5 per cent increase from the 1,103 homes sold in January 2019.

Last month’s sales were 42.5 per cent below the 10-year February sales average.

“For much of the past four years, we’ve been in a sellers’ market. Conditions have shifted over
the last 12 months to favour buyers, particularly in the detached home market,” Phil Moore,
REBGV president said. “This means that home buyers face less competition today, have more
selection to choose from and more time to make their decisions.”

There were 3,892 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the
Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in February 2019. This represents a 7.8
per cent decrease compared to the 4,223 homes listed in February 2018 and a 19.7 per cent
decrease compared to the 4,848 homes listed in January 2019.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is
11,590, a 48.2 per cent increase compared to February 2018 (7,822) and a 7.2 per cent increase
compared to January 2019 (10,808).

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for February 2019 is 12.8 per cent.
Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below
the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure
when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“Homes priced well for today’s market are attracting interest, however, buyers are choosing to
take a wait-and-see approach for the time being,” Moore said. “REALTORS® continue to
experience more traffic at open houses. We’ll see if this trend leads to increased sales activity
during the spring market.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro
Vancouver is currently $1,016,600. This represents a 6.1 per cent decrease over February 2018, a
6.2 per cent decrease over the past six months, and a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to January
2019.

Sales of detached homes in February 2019 reached 448, a 27.9 per decrease cent from the 621
detached sales recorded in February 2018. The benchmark price for detached properties is
$1,443,100. This represents a 9.7 per cent decrease from February 2018, a 7.6 per cent decrease
over the past six months, and a 0.7 per cent decrease compared to January 2019.

Sales of apartment homes reached 759 in February 2019, a 35.9 per cent decrease compared to

the 1,185 sales in February 2018. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $660,300.
This represents a four per cent decrease from February 2018, a 5.1 per cent decrease over the
past six months, and a 0.3 per cent increase compared to January 2019.

Attached home sales in February 2019 totalled 277, a 30.9 per cent decrease compared to the 401
sales in February 2018. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $789,300. This represents a
3.3 per cent decrease from February 2018, a 6.7 per cent decrease over the past six months, and a
1.4 per cent decrease compared to January 2019.

To download the PDF click the link: 

https://www.rebgv.org/content/dam/REBGV/Documents/Statistics/Residential/Media%20Stats%20Package/2019/REBGV-Stats-Pkg-February-2019.pdf

A Fresh Clean Perspective on Décor Decisions

Before you launch into the latest home fashion trend, start by getting rid of the clutter that contributes to the tired look you’re hoping to replace. By beginning with a healthy purge, you’ll have a clearer appreciation of how the room could best serve your household’s needs, and you’ll be able to determine whether new furnishings are required.

Next, search online for décor planning tools to help you envision the room’s sightlines from different angles. Some retailers provide free programs that give you a blank canvas on which to consider their products, try various colour combinations, imagine layout changes, and estimate costs. For example, you can examine how a consistent colour palette can make a layout appear larger.

“Eppich House II. The residence Arthur Erickson called his “Most Complete Work”. A stunning iconic Canadian masterpiece .

Click the link below to watch the video on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DM4MyxMG-A&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3OPxzMVZxk4SqKwW_qHjOHBAs0gG1zjwT2cFJhfv6TK6I43oH8Nm3hD2s

Savvy Negotiation Helps Win the Deal

Purchasing a condo is not the same as buying a product off the shelf. You don’t simply pay the price on the tag and know it’s yours. You can’t just see a condo for sale and say, “I’ll take it!”, especially if the market is competitive. You need to make an enticing offer.

That offer, of course, would include the price you propose to pay. That price may or may not be the “price tag” or the asking price. In order for your offer to be successful, it needs other ingredients too. For example, winning offers often include evidence that appropriate financing has been arranged. This gives the seller confidence that you can afford the condo and that the deal won’t fall through due to an issue with the mortgage.

NEW LISTING ! LOOKING OUT IN THE VALLEY? AN IMMACULATE, LARGE RANCHER WITH DETACHED SHOP in beautiful, quiet Agassiz ! 7444 ARBUTUS Drive , Agassiz

Click below for the listing on my website here:

https://helengambling.com/mylistings.html/listing.r2336880-7444-arbutus-drive-agassiz-v0m-1a2.82984718

Click below for a slide show for the listing on my Facebook for this property here:

https://www.facebook.com/HelenGamblingRealEstateAgent/videos/225982105022796/?t=0

February 4, 2019

Home listings increase while buyers remain in holding pattern

Home listings continue to increase across all housing categories in the Metro Vancouver housing market while home buyer activity remains below historical averages.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 1,103 in January 2019, a 39.3 per cent decrease from the 1,818 sales recorded in January 2018, and a 2.9 per cent increase from the 1,072 homes sold in December 2018.

Last month’s sales were 36.3 per cent below the 10-year January sales average and were the lowest January-sales total since 2009.

“REALTORS® are seeing more traffic at open houses compared to recent months, however, buyers are choosing to remain in a holding pattern for the time being,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said.

There were 4,848 detached, attached and apartment homes newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in January 2019. This represents a 27.7 per cent increase compared to the 3,796 homes listed in January 2018 and a 244.6 per cent increase compared to the 1,407 homes listed in December 2018.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 10,808, a 55.6 per cent increase compared to January 2018 (6,947) and a 5.2 per cent increase compared to December 2018 (10,275).

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for January 2019 is 10.2 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 6.8 per cent for detached homes, 11.9 per cent for townhomes, and 13.6 per cent for condominiums.

Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“Home prices have edged down across all home types in the region over the last seven months,” Moore said.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential homes in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,019,600. This represents a 4.5 per cent decrease over January 2018, and a 7.2 per cent decrease over the past six months.

“Economic fundamentals underpinning our market for home buyers and sellers remain strong. Today’s market conditions are largely the result of the mortgage stress test that the federal government imposed at the beginning of last year,” Moore said. “This measure, coupled with an increase in mortgage rates, took away as much as 25 per cent of purchasing power from many home buyers trying to enter the market.”

Sales of detached homes in January 2019 reached 339, a 30.4 per cent decrease from the 487 detached sales recorded in January 2018. The benchmark price for detached homes is $1,453,400. This represents a 9.1 per cent decrease from January 2018, and an 8.3 per cent decrease over the past six months.

Sales of apartment homes reached 559 in January 2019, a 44.8 per cent decrease compared to the 1,012 sales in January 2018. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $658,600. This represents a 1.7 per cent decrease from January 2018, and a 6.6 per cent decrease over the past six months.

Attached home sales in January 2019 totalled 205, a 35.7 per cent decrease compared to the 319 sales in January 2018. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $800,600. This represents a 0.5 per cent decrease from January 2018, and a 6.2 per cent decrease over the past six months.

Source: REBGV

What makes a house, a home?

We reached out to our RE/MAX Influencers – a panel consisting of RE/MAX Sales Associates throughout Canada – to put together some of the things that make their homes sweet.

Neighbourhood, Community & Location

“A house we love, in a neighbourhood we love, in a city we love…  Comfort for us is represented in all these factors adding up.” – Justus Edmundson, RE/MAX of Nanaimo, Nanaimo, BC

Location, location, location! For many this is incredibly important. Some want to be close to the beach and enjoy the view from their windows of beautiful gardens and luscious trees. Some want to be in the hustle and bustle of the city, close to amenities and restaurants. Whatever their preference, location is one of the most important pieces on what makes their home sweet.

Peace and quiet. They want somewhere they can move at a slower pace. High walkability. No long commutes. A view. Privacy.

“My community is the number one thing. Coming into my neighborhood to see smiling faces of likeminded neighbours. It’s the place I should be.” – Taylor Hack, RE/MAX River City, Edmonton, AB

Friends & Family… Including the Dog

Coming home to the family members who meet them at the door every day with a wagging tail makes their space home.

Without family, love, the smell of home cooking, and laughter – their home would just be a house.

“A place where I can relax. A place of gathering of friends and family. A place that I can create in, think, pray, and laugh.” – Julie Wilson, RE/MAX RHC Realty, Nelson, BC

A home is where memories are made and kept.

“My personal possessions and the memories they hold, the friendly neighbourhood and how safe and secure I feel there, my husband.” – Susan McGougan, RE/MAX of Nanaimo, Nanaimo, BC

Comfy, Cozy & Warm

For many, what makes a home that much sweeter, is that it’s somewhere they can relax.

“Reading a good book by the fire in the living room.” – Zachary Mills, RE/MAX City Centre Realty, Prince George, BC

Others find that a sweet home is somewhere that has luxury items that help you decompress, like a hot tub, swim spa, or a massage chair.

To relax, it is necessary to have safety, security, and privacy. It needs to feel like your safe zone.

Personalization & Pride of Ownership

For a lot of people, it is the personal modifications and renovations that take a house to a sweet home. It’s ownership. It’s living somewhere that represents who you are.

It all comes down to personalizing it with their own décor and colors.

“It’s those spots that become special, like in the morning I warm my feet on that one spot in the kitchen that the sun shines in while I’m drinking my coffee.” – Shauna Thompson, RE/MAX Fort McMurray, Fort McMurray, AB

Sentiment, warm blankets, family photos, a perfect spot to enjoy a good meal, quiet but loud when entertaining, a place to feel calm. That is what makes a home sweet home.

2018 has experienced the up and the down side of real estate! With 25 years of experience in the real estate cycles, and before you start the process of either buying or selling, you may want to understand more of the market and what's happening in your area and neighbourhood, please feel free to contact Helen.

REBGV Stats:

Metro Vancouver home sales decline below historical averages in 2018

Metro Vancouver home sales in 2018 were the lowest annual total in the region since 2000.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that sales of detached, attached and apartment properties reached 24,619 on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in 2018, a 31.6 per cent decrease from the 35,993 sales recorded in 2017, and a 38.4 per cent decrease compared to the 39,943 residential sales in 2016.

Last year’s sales total was 25 per cent below the region’s 10-year sales average.

“This past year has been a transition period for the Metro Vancouver housing market away from the sellers’ market conditions we experienced in previous years,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “High home prices, rising interest rates and new mortgage requirements and taxes all contributed to the market conditions we saw in 2018.”

Home listings in Metro Vancouver reached 53,614 in 2018. This is a 1.9 per cent decrease compared to 54,655 homes listed in 2017 and a 6.9 per cent decrease compared to the 57,596 homes listed in 2016.

“The supply of homes for sale will be an important indicator to follow in 2019. We’ve had record building activity in recent years and many projects will complete soon. This will provide additional housing options for home buyers across the region,” Moore said.

The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price for all residential homes in Metro Vancouver ends the year at $1,032,400. This is a 2.7 per cent decrease compared to December 2017.

“As the total supply of homes for sale began to accumulate in the spring, we began to see downward pressure on prices across all home types throughout the latter half of the year,” Moore said.

The benchmark price of detached homes in the region declined 7.8 per cent over the last 12 months and 7.3 per cent since June 2018. Apartment homes increased 0.6 per cent over the last 12 months and have declined 6.4 per cent since June 2018. The benchmark price for townhomes in Metro Vancouver have increased 1.3 per cent since December 2017 and have decreased 5.3 per cent over the last six months.

December summary

REBGV reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 1,072 in December 2018, a 46.8 per cent decrease from the 2,016 sales recorded in December 2017, and a 33.3 per cent decrease from November 2018 when 1,608 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 43.3 per cent below the 10-year December sales average.

There were 1,407 detached, attached and apartment homes newly listed for sale on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in December 2018. This represents a 25.6 per cent decrease compared to the 1,891 homes listed in December 2017 and a 59.3 per cent decrease compared to November 2018 when 3,461 homes were listed.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 10,275, a 47.7 per cent increase compared to December 2017 (6,958) and a 16.5 per cent decrease compared to November 2018 (12,307).

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for December 2018 is 10.4 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 7.1 per cent for detached homes, 12 per cent for townhomes, and 14.2 per cent for apartments.

Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

Sales of detached homes in December 2018 reached 348, a 43.6 per cent decrease from the 617 detached sales recorded in December 2017. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,479,000. This represents a 7.8 per cent decrease from December 2017 and a 1.4 per cent decrease compared to November 2018.

Sales of apartment homes reached 535 in December 2018, a 34 per cent decrease compared to the 1,028 sales in December 2017. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $664,100. This represents a 0.6 per cent increase from December 2017 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to November 2018.

Attached home sales in December 2018 totalled 189, a 49.1 per cent decrease compared to the 371 sales in December 2017. The benchmark price of an attached home is $809,700. This represents a 1.3 per cent increase from December 2017 and a 1.1 per cent decrease compared to November 2018.

Source: REBGV

‍ I would like to thank all my clients, and the many colleagues and affiliated services that I had the opportunity to work with in 2018, making it a very successful year for my business and highlight of my 25th year in a profession I love and enjoy.

The opportunity to work and help clients and ‍‍‍ families achieve their goals in real estate is what I strive for! It's all about you!

I appreciate the loyalty and continued confidence in my services by so many of you. Once again THANK YOU!

Hope you reach your goals in 2019!

Tuesday, April 03, 2018

Home buyers and sellers were less active in Metro Vancouver* throughout the first quarter of 2018. 

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,517 in March 2018, a 29.7 per cent decrease from the 3,579 sales recorded in March 2017, and a 14 per cent increase compared to February 2018 when 2,207 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 23 per cent below the 10-year March sales average.

There were 6,542 home sales on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver during the first quarter of 2018, a 13.1 per cent decrease from the 7,527 sales over the same period last year. This represents the region’s lowest first-quarter sales total since 2013.

“We saw less demand from buyers and fewer homes listed for sale in our region in the first quarter of the year,” Phil Moore, REBGV president said. “High prices, new tax announcements, rising interest rates, and stricter mortgage requirements are among the factors affecting home buyer and seller activity today.” 

There were 4,450 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale in Metro Vancouver in March 2018. This represents a 6.6 per cent decrease compared to the 4,762 homes listed in March 2017 and a 5.4 per cent increase compared to February 2018 when 4,223 homes were listed.

There were 12,469 homes listed for sale in Metro Vancouver during the first quarter of 2018, a 0.8 per cent decrease from the 12,568 sales over the same period last year. This represents the region’s lowest first-quarter new listings total since 2013.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,380, a 10.5 per cent increase compared to March 2017 (7,586) and a 7.1 per cent increase compared to February 2018 (7,822).

“Even with lower demand, upward pressure on prices will continue as long as the supply of homes for sale remains low,” Moore said. “Last month was the quietest March for new home listings since 2009 and the total inventory, particularly in the condo and townhome segments, of homes for sale remains well below historical norms.”

For all property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for March 2018 is 30 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 14.2 per cent for detached homes, 39.9 per cent for townhomes, and 61.6 per cent for condominiums.

Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,084,000. This represents a 16.1 per cent increase over March 2017 and a 1.1 per cent increase compared to February 2018.

Sales of detached properties in March 2018 reached 722, a decrease of 37 per cent from the 1,150 detached sales recorded in March 2017. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,608,500. This represents a 7.4 per cent increase from March 2017 and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to February 2018.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,349 in March 2018, a decrease of 26.7 per cent compared to the 1,841 sales in March 2017. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $693,500. This represents a 26.2 per cent increase from March 2017 and a 1.6 per cent increase compared to February 2018.

Attached property sales in March 2018 totalled 446, a decrease of 24.1 per cent compared to the 588 sales in March 2017. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $835,300. This represents a 17.7 per cent increase from March 2017 and a two per cent increase compared to February 2018.

Click link to download the full stat package: https://www.rebgv.org/sites/default/files/REBGV-Stats-Pkg-March-2018.pdf

I would like to express a HEARTFELT THANKS to all of my clients! My success continues because of the opportunities you have given me this past year to work with you. Your continued support, confidence and loyalty are so genuinely appreciated. It is a privilege to work with you and offer you my best in the journey of selling or buying real estate.

I'm celebrating my 25th year in real estate, working as a full time real estate professional! It is a career that I love! Over the years I have been fortunate to work with and provide services to multi-generations of families! Such a great experience!