Deborah LeBlanc

Summer is Around the Corner!

Spring break is over and the kids are back in school! Thinking of making a move before the new school year begins - this is the perfect time to list your home - sell it and buy a new one!

We have been very busy with both buyers and sellers and thank you for your continued referrals and repeat business throughout the years. We always appreciate the opportunity to help you and your friends with any real estate questions or needs.

Real Estate facts for March 2012 from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver:

• Total number of properties for sale in Greater Vancouver has increased each month since December, which means there is more selection to choose from as we enter what's traditionally the busiest season of the year in our market.

• MLS Benchmark price for all properties in Greater Vancouver sits at $679,000 - up 5.3% compared to March 2011 and an increase of 1.1% compared to February 2012.

• MLS Benchmark price for all residential properties in the Lower Mainland is $607,700, an increase of 4.8% compared to March 2011.

March Sales Stats:

• Detached Properties: Benchmark price increased 9.2% from March 2011 to $1,056,400. The number of sales declined by 34.1% from the 1,795 sales recorded in March 2011.

• Town Home Properties: Benchmark price increased .9% between March 2011 & March 2012 t $480,000. The number of sales declined 26.6% compared to March 2011.

• Apartment/Condo Properties: Benchmark price increased 2.2% from March 2011 to $375,100. However, the number of sales declined 26.6% compared to March 2011.

Ever find you need a holiday - hopefully this months Item of Value will be inspiring and offer some great information to make that trip possible!

• Check out websites offering deals on travel, including last minute holiday packages.

• Check out the 5 Canadian Festivals, not to miss this summer - one here in Vancouver!

• Check out Twitter - favourite airlines, hotels and cruise lines are tweeting deals everyday.

Oh and by the way.....if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service we provide, please give us a call wit their name and number. We will be happy to follow up and take great care of them. Don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral!

Spring is around the corner and the market is heating up!

Thank you all for your referrals and your repeat business. This is proving to be a very active year so far. Please remember we are here to answer any of your questions concerning your real estate investment. Also, we would like to remind you that we have a list of professionals that we highly recommend on our website under "Business Directory." If you are thinking of remortgaging, painting, putting on a new roof or renovating we have people that will take care of you in the same way that we do.

The real estate board has improved the statistic program. It is much more detailed by area and covers the last 5 years. Just give us a call and we would be happy to discuss the variations with you over the last 5 years in your area.

February Stats from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver:

• The sales-to-active listing ratio of over 18% means we are seeing fairly balanced conditions in our market place as we move into the traditionally busy spring season.
• Last months listing count was the 2nd highest February total in Greater Vancouver since 1996.
• There are 14,050 residential properties listed on the MLS which is a 12% increase over January 2012
• Pricing can vary considerably depending on the neighbourhood and the property type.
• Benchmark price for all residential properties in REBGV sits at $670,900 - up 6% from February 2011
• Benchmark price for all residential in the Lower Mainland is $601,300 an increase of 6.5% from February 2011
• Benchmark price for Detached: $1,042,900 - 10.5% increase from February 2011
• Benchmark price for Attached Properites: $472,800 - 0.7% increase between February 2011 & 2012
• Benchmark price for Condo Properties: $373,300 - increased 2.8% from February 2011

What you may find interesting about Canada's Housing Market!

This information is very interesting as we know that we live in somewhat of a bubble in British Columbia wiht home prices. These figures represent Canada's Housing Market - worth a read! Download a copy HERE!

• more than 90% of Canadians see real estate as a good investment
• Buyers 25-34 make up 60% of first time buyers / 35-49 make up 25% of the first time buyers market
• 31% of Canadian first time buyers will look at 10 homes before purchasing
• $150,000 is the average outstanding principal on a mortgage
• 72% of Canadians with mortgages aspire to be mortgage free by 65 years of age.

Oh and by the way,.......if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service we provide, please give us a call with their name and number. We will be happy to follow up and take great care of them. Don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral!

"Happy New Year"

We arrived back from Maui January 9th and the month just slipped away from us. All of a sudden it is February and time to say "Happy Valentine's Day" as well. The market was very active throughout December and continued through January. We are expecting a banner year as the economy is strong and the interest reates are amazingly low! If you are coming up for renewal on your mortgage please give us a call to talk about your options.

• REBGV President Rosario Setticasi commented, "we're seeing trends emerge in our market that favor buyers, such as increased selection and more stability in pricing compared to this time last year." "Last month's activity tells us that competition amongst home buyers was reduced in January, which means individuals looking to purchase a home had more time to do their homework, consult with their Realtor, and make a decision."
• January's new listing count was the highest total in Greater Vancouver since 1995.

Benchmark Price Stats for January 2012 - Greater Vancouver

• Detached, town homes & condos' - $660,000 - Benchmark price increased 5.7% compared to January 2011 (for all lower mainland the benchmark price is $593,300)
• Detached - Benchmark price increased 11.3% from January 2011 to $1,034,700 (16.9% less sales than recorded in January 2011)
• Attached - Benchmark price decreased .5% between January 2011 and 2012 to $468,000 (16.6% less sales compared to January 2011)
• Condo's - Benchmark price increased 2.4% from January 2011 to $371,500 (7.9% less sales compared to January 2011)

Item of Value Included - Organize Your Space

72% of Canadians consider themselves disorganized at home, with 27% saying they are interested in working with a professional organizer. This year, let's change our habits and cut through the clutter to free up space and improve our home environments.

Page 1 - Guidelines to help create a practical system for nipping clutter in the bud.

Page 2 - Offers specific tips and tricks for organzing each room of your home.

Please feel free to share this information with your family and friends!!

Oh, by the way......we are never too busy for your REFERRALS!
Don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral!

At this time of year we reflect on how blessed our lives are. You are all an integral part of our world and we want you to know how fortunate we feel to be a part of your life.

We are priviledged to be livining in British Columbia and doing what we love for our work. We treasure the joy of finding you, your friends and loved ones the perfect home!

We want to thank each and every one of you for your business, referrals, friendship and support. We appreciate each occasion we have had to share a story or a memory. You have enriched our lives.

We look forward to experiencing new beginnings and creating more stories in the years to come.

We wish you and your loved ones a 2012 filled with love, health, laughter and prosperity.

We raise a glass and toast you and your families - may all your hopes and dreams be fulfilled!

Enthusiastically,

Deborah & Leo

October proved to be an interesting month! We are so tied into the global economy that daily news of what is happening in the rest of the world affects us on a personal level whether it is our investments, job security or for many worry about relatives living abroad. It isn't all doom and gloom, we are so lucky to be living in Canada at a time with record low interest rates holding strong.

Please make sure to follow the business we endorse each month on the reverse side of our letter. If you need a lawyer for a power of attorney, haven't done your wills or need to update them, if would be a great idea to contact Bill Cadman. Many of you have used Bill's services for you real estate transactions. Bill has had his law practice in Coquitlam since 1985 and will take very good care of you.

REBGV Stats for October:

• Stats for October showed a 3.2% increase over September 2011 for total property sales, however ranked as the second lowest number of sales for October over the last 10 years.
• New listings for properties in Greater Vancouver were on par with the 10 year average.
• Total number of properties listed for sale represents an 18.3% increase compared to October 2010, and a 23% decrease compared to September 2011.
• MLS Housing Price Index benchmark price for all residential properties in GV over the last 12 months has increased 7.5% to $622,955 in October 2011 from $579,349 in October 2010. However, since reaching its peak in June of $630,921 the benchmark price for all residential properties in the region has declined 1.3%.

Detached Properties:
Benchmark price increased 11% from Oct 2010 to $884,778 but decreased 1.3% compared to last month.

Attached Properties:
Benchmark price increased 6.5% between Oct 2010 & Oct 2011 to $519,455 & increased 1/2% compared to last month.

Apartment Properties:
Benchmark price increased 3.2% from Oct 2010 to Oct 2011 to $402,702 but decreased .7% compared to last month.

This Month's Item of Value - Get the Most out of Holiday Retail Deals!

This month's information helps you prepare for the holiday shopping season. The first page offers tips and tricks to help you score deals on gifts for everyone on your list and the second page provides valuable information about how to avoid scams and protect your credit and debit card information both in store and online. Feel free to share this useful information with your family and friends.

Oh & by the way.....we are never too busy for our referrals! Send us the name and phone number of your contact and we will totally take care of them from beginning to end! Please don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for your successful referral!

We are heading into the last quarter of the year! All news is extremly encouraging in regards to the housing market. Interest rates are very low - if you are renewing your mortgage or would like advice on how to lower your payments please give us a call.

We are always appreciative of your referrals and appreciate the opportunity to support you and your friend in anyway that we can.

This month's business partner is our favourite kitchenware & gourmet food store; Cooks'n Corks! It is a perfect time with the holidays upon us to pick up house warming presents or sign up for some cooking classes which are always a lot of fun. Please check it out HERE, which incldues some upcoming discounts from October 22-30th!

REBGV Stats for September:

• The summer months had fewer sales and more listings which helped moved the REBGV into the upper end of a buyer's market.
• The number of properties listed for sale has increased each month since the beginning of the year.
• "The sales-to-active-listing ratio currently sits at 14% which is the lowest it's been this year. Generally analysts say that a buyer's market takes shape when the ratio dips to about 12 to 14%, or lower, for a sustained period of time." Setticasi said, REGBV President.

Detached Properties: Benchmark price increased 13.4% from Sept 2010-2011 to $896,707. 14.7% of homes listed in September sold (one in 7 detached properties sold).

Attached Properties: Benchmark price increased 5.4% between Sept 2010-2011 to $516,697. 15.1% of homes listed in September sold (one in 6 attached properties listed sold).

Apartments: Benchmark price increased 4.4% from Sept 2010-2011 to $405,569. 14.3% of homes listed in September sold (one in 7 apartments listed sold).

This Month's Item of Value - How to Achieve Financial Freedom!

We have tips to help you achieve financial freedom that outlines steps you can take to create a budget and save money! Including a detailed plan to eliminate debt from credit cards and loans in a fraciton of the time it would traditionally take.

Feel free to share this information with your family & friends who would like to improve their financial security!

Oh by the way......We are never too busy for your referrals! Please don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral!

Summer finally came and was glorious! Now it is back to school for those of you with children, conferences and last quarter goals for those with careers and for the lucky retired clients - well you are so lucky to wake up everyday and have a million option of what to do!

The market has been very steady throughout the summer and we are gearing up for a terrific fall season! By mid September those clients wanting to be in a new home for the Holidays are out there looking! Whatever your plans - we are here to help you get there.

This month's business partner we are promoting is Blaine St. Arnault - a financial planner who we have personally worked with for over 20 years! If you have been thinking of sitting down with a financial planner please give Blaine a call. We are sure you will feel comfortable speaking with him. Please check out the services Blaine provides on this attached document.

REBGV Stats for August 2011:

• The MLSLink Housing Price Index (HP) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver over the last 12 months has increased 8.5% to $625,578 in August 2011 from $576,597 in August 2010.
• Last month there were 2.378 sales in total and 15,437 listings - therefore 15% of the listings are selling.
• Greater Vancouver home sales trended towards a buyers' market over the summer - New listings in August were up 24.9% compared to August 2010.
• Last month's new listings total was the highest volume recorded for August in 16 years.

Detached Properties: Benchmark price increased 11.7% from August 2010 to $888,243 (Down from July's $898,886)

Attached Properties: Benchmark price increased 4.5% from August 2010 to $511,433 (Down from July's $524,909)

Apartments: Benchmark price increased 5.6% from August 2010 to $407,457 (Up from July's $405,306)

This month's "Item of Value" coincides perfectly with a financial service professional! It speaks to the new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) that were initiated by the government in 2008. Many people have opened these savings accounts as a way to save for retirement, a down payment on a first home or university-related expenses.

This month's info shows how this TFSA can complement an established Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or other savings account and can help you save for both short and long term goals. Since many people are interested in ways to save money for retirement, feel free to pass this information on to your family and friends.

Oh & by the way.......We are never too busy for your referrals! Please don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral!

July proved to be our busiest month this year - we apologize for no July newsletter! The real estate market continues to be strong, especially on the Westside of Vancouver, Richmond and West Vancouver.

For those of you that like to check out properties on line, there is a very easy way to look for properties on our webpage, just click on the Properties tab and go from there.

Please feel free to call us with any home or real estate questions. We have a great contact list of professionals that we can refer you to for anything from renewing your mortgage, painting & renovating or setting up your will. We truly appreciate those referral calls and enjoy helping all your connections.

REBGV Stats for July 2011:
Comments from Rosario Setticasi - REBGV President;

"It is taking on average 41 days to sell a property in the region, which is unchanged from June of this year."

"The number of homes listed for sale in the region has increased each month since the start of they year, which is giving buyers more selection to choose from and more time to make decisions."

• Detached properties - benchmark price increased 13.3% from July 2010 to $898,886
  % of detached listings that sold in July = 17.2%
• Attached properties - benchmark price increased by 6.9% between July 2010 to 2011 to $524,909
  % of attached listings that sold in July = 18.2%
• Apartment properties - benchamrk price increased 4.5% from July 2010 to $405,306
  % of apartment listings that sold in July = 16.2%
• Homes priced competively continue to sell at a swift pace.

This month's Item of Value shows ways to Improve the Value to Your Home in different cost efficient ways; As Canadians we spent $25.8 billion on home renovations in 2009 and the kitchen remains the most popular room in the house to remodel. Although it's tempting to spend thousands on the latest trends and brands, it is possible to revamp the kitchen without breaking the bank.

Please check out the valuable info on cost-effective kitchen remodeling, attached. The 1st page outlines cost saving alternatives of the most common elements of a kitchen remodel. Page 2 offers valuable tips for a pre-sale kitchen renovation. Please share this info with your family and friends who may be interested in remodeling their kitchens.

Oh, by the way............We are never too busy for your Referrals! Don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral.

Thank you so much for al your phone calls and referrals! Spring has been a very active market for us and we appreciate you passing our names along to your friends and family.

This month's business partner we are promoting is Peter Pasula whom we have worked with for years. Many of you have found great rates on mortgages through Peter's services. If you are thinking of buying, renewing your mortgage, or shifting finances around give Peter a call to discuss your options. Information attached here!

REBGV Stats for May 2011:

• "with a sales to active listing ratio of 23%, conditions continue to favour sellers in the Greater Vancouver housing market, but activity has eased away from the near record setting pace we saw in March." Rosario Setticasi, REBGV President said. (1 out of 4 total properties listed are selling)
• The MLSLink Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver over the last 12 months increased 6.2% to $627,568 in May 2011 from $590,662 in May 2010.
• Of all the residential properties sold on the MLS in Greater Vancouver in 2011 to date - 21% sold for $1 million or higher, 20% sold for $350,000 or lower. 77% of the properties that sold for over $1 million were located in West Vancouver, the Westside of Vancouver or Richmond, the propertiers that sold for $350.000 or lower were located throughout the entire Broad Area.
• Detached Properties - (1 out of 4 sold) benchmark price increased 10% from May 2010 to $890,830
• Attached Properties - (1 out of 4 sold) benchmark price increased 3.5% between May 2010 to 2011 to $517,787
• Apartments - (1 out of 5 sold) benchmark price of an apartment increased 2.2% from May 2010 to $407,419

This Month's Item of Value - Did you know you have Hazardous Materials in Your Home?

• How to properly dispose of common household hazardous materials to keep your family and community safe.
• Goods we use every day, including CFL light bulbs and computers, contain harmful chemicals that when released can pollute the air, soil and water.
• Page 2 provides a helpful list of items containing hazardous materials that you have may have in your household.
• Download the file, here!

Feel free to share this information with family & friends!

Oh, by the way.......We are never too busy for your referrals!

Spring must have skipped by us - let's hope for a long glorious Summer!

We are continually trying to find new ways to service our clients. In addition to our Business Directory that we introduced last month, we are starting to promote a clients business each month, please see the blog post Kidz Fun Day Rental & take advantage of the referral.

This month's referral is perfect for those of you with children preparing for party season! Even if you don't have children you could give this as a gift or pass it on to your friends & family with children!

Also, check out our website, this is a work in progress, however we are sure you will find it easy to manuever in and will love the location finder if you are looking for homes on the market! (much easier than MLS.ca), and don't forget to check out our Business Directory to find a list of our preferred vendors.

Real Estate Stats for the Month of April 2011

• Less active condominium market in April - more detached & townhome sales compared to April 2010.
• % of all residential listings sold in April = 22.7% (Less than 1 out of 4 residential properties listed sold in April)
• % of detached listings that sold in April = 24% (1 out of 4 detached listings sold in April)
• % of attached listings that sold in April = 33% (1 out of 3 attached listings sold in April)
• % of condo listings that sold in April = 20% (1 out of 4 condo's listed sold in April)

There is considerable variation in activity within the communities in our region. This is causing home price trends to differ depending on the area. 

• Benchmark price for a detached home in April = $879,039 - 2.3% increase in # of sales compared to April 2010
• Benchmark price for an attached home in April = $514,670 - 1% increase in # of sales compared to April 2010
• Benchmark price for a condo sold in April = $409,242 - 21.3% decrease in # of sales compared to April 2010

This month's Item of Value introduces helpful solutions & suggestions on Financing your Home!

• Minimum Down Payment
• Cost to borrowing with less than 20% down.
• Suggestions for saving more of your income to afford a home purchase sooner.
• Why it is an ideal time to offer down payment assistance to a relative you care about.

Interest rates are still low and home ownership is Canada has proven to be a good long-term investment. Download the guide HERE! Please call if you would like more information about these topics or if we can help refer you to a mortgage professional.

Oh, by the Way......We are NEVER TOO BUSY for your referrals!

In this ever changing world of social media and upgrades we are building a new website which will be ready next month! Also, we have added a Business Directory which consists of businesses that we support and endorse. We hope it is useful to you when choosing a trades person or professional!

The link to our Business Directory is;

www.MyBusinessDirectoryOnline.com/Home/debleobusinessdirectory

Real Estate Stats for the Month of March continued at a near record pace level!

• "Our market has had a very strong start to the spring season," Rosario Setticasi, REBGV President said. "With home sales above 4,000 and nearly 7,000 home listing added to the MLS in March, it is clear that home buyers and sellers view this as a good time to be active in their local housing market."
• At 13,110; the total number of residential property listings on MLS increased to 9.9% in March compared to last month and declined 3% from this time last year.
• "Conditions favour sellers at the moment. But we're seeing differences in home-price trends and overall activity depending on the region and property type." Setticasi said.
• The benchmark price for detached properties increased 8.3% from March 2010 to $866,806.
• The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 2.1% from March 2010 to $403,885.
• The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 3.6% between March 2010 and 2011 to $511,039.

Get the Most BANG For Your Home Improvement Bucks!

Replacing drafty windows and exterior doors with energy-efficient new technologies often pays off immediatly in the form of lower energy bills. It can also add a dramatic lift to your home's curb appeal.

According to Remodeling Magazine's 2010-2011 Cost vs. Value Report, these projects delivered some of the highest returns of all moderatly-priced home improvements. Included are tips for picking the perfect windows to suit your home, climate and pocket book.

We hope you find this information useful! Please call if you have additional questions or would like to discuss this topic further - we are always happy to help!

OH, by the way......We are never too busy for your referrals!
Please don't forget our appreciation of $500.00 for each successful referral!