Vancouver Island Real Estate News from Rudi & Trish Widdershoven-May 2014
Posted on
May 16, 2014
by
Rudi Widdershoven
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Vancouver Island Real Estate News from Rudi Widdershoven |
May 2014 |
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 Spring is here and flowers are blooming, rhodos are out and the azalea blossoms are almost done. The weather in our area has been quite enjoyable and gardners are getting ready to plant. We have had the opportunity to enjoy the patio & outdoor fireplace on several occassions this year with friends & family. The weeds are calling & growing like crazy!
Trish has now been relicensed for 3+ months and is enjoying her time back in the business, and for the most part is not over doing it.
Our son and family in Comox are on the move as he has accepted a transfer to the training centre in Chilliwack where he will instruct - he is quite looking forward to the new experience. Andrea will enjoy being closer to her family and Kelser will have more opportuities to play with cousin Sam & his other 3 older cousins. However we will miss their frequent visits to our home.
Thanks so much for checking out this month's newsletter. Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments regarding the articles, or real estate in general -- it'd be great to hear from you!
Warmest Regards, Your Friends in real estate,
Rudi & Trish W. |
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Balance Market Conditions Good News for Buyers and Sellers
A Few Tips that Spring to Mind
Don't Get Hooked on the Latest Email Scams
Tune Your Bike Up for Spring
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| Balance Market Conditions Good News for Buyers and Sellers |
 Home sales across the Vancouver Island region have remained relatively steady over the past four months, indicating stability and renewed confidence in the residential housing market.
A total of 360 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) system in the VIREB coverage area in April 2014.
This represents a 1.1 per cent increase over unit sales recorded last month, and a 12 per cent decrease in unit sales over April of last year.
According to VIREB president, Blair Herbert, although unit sales have edged down slightly from this time last year, when looking at the 12 month-to-date comparative figures, the Board is actually reporting a 15 per cent increase.
Interestingly enough in the greater Parksville - Qualicum Beach region overall single family sales were up 18% for April versus April 2013. And for the 1st 4 months sales are up 31% over the same time in 2013.
“Low interest rates continue to under pin demand in the spring market,” noted BCREA’s chief economist, Cameron Muir. “We anticipate a seasonal influx of listing activity, and anticipate the second half of the year will be stronger in terms of sales activity as the economy begins to pick up.”
If you wish to see more details visit http://rudiw.com/blog.html or for an indepth look at sub-areas or other styles of real estate contact Rudi or Trish to discuss. |
A Few Tips that Spring to Mind
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 The birds are chirping and gardens are blooming!
Home sales surge during spring as the nice weather encourages people to fix up their homes and check out what else is on the market. Here are a few ways to take advantage of spring fever, whether you are moving or wanting to enjoy your current home:
- Flower Power - Place a few vases of fresh cut flowers throughout your home.
- Spring Fling - Freshen up your home with a thorough spring clean and de-clutter.
- Curb Appeal - Prune and trim shrubs and trees, rake the grass and add flowerpots around the front door.
- Outdoor Living - Families are entertaining and relaxing more at home so extend your inside space outdoors with comfortable seating and great lighting.
- Wide Open - Clean and open your windows so the sun shines in and fresh spring air flows throughout your home.
- Refresh Your Nest - Inject vitality to your space by swapping out couch cushions and throws for shades and fabrics that reflect spring.
If you plan on putting your home on the market this spring, use the season to highlight its best features so it stands out from the competition. You only have one chance to make a great first impression so take advantage by clearing out the cobwebs and making your home spring fresh! |
Don't Get Hooked on the Latest Email Scams
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 Cyber scammers are always looking for ways to trick you.
If you stay one step ahead of the latest email frauds, you’ll be less likely to be taken in by them. Here are a few current scams that are circulating:
- Heartbleed Heartache - Scammers are capitalizing on the recent “Heartbleed” bug by directing users to fake websites where they’re instructed to change their passwords.
- Fifa Fever - Emails that purport to come from Fifa regarding the upcoming World Cup say you’ve won tickets and need to hand over personal information to claim them.
- Fake Funerals - Fraudsters notify recipients about a funeral for a “friend” but when the link is clicked, a virus or spyware is uploaded and installed.
- Tax Time Trouble - Emails which appear to come from a government office request your personal details so that your tax return can be completed.
Always be suspicious of emails that claim you’ve won something or need you to verify personal information and passwords. Fraudulent emails are often riddled with spelling and grammatical errors but sometimes they appear very credible so if in doubt, just hit the delete button! |
Tune Your Bike Up for Spring
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 It’s time to dust off your bike and haul it out of storage!
Whether you’re biking to work or hitting the trails, you’ll want to make sure your bike’s safe and reliable. Here are a few points to keep in mind:
- Gears - Make sure your gears shift smoothly.
- Chain - Inspect, clean and dry the chain before applying oil.
- Tires - Check the tire pressure and make sure the wheels are secure.
- Brakes - Adjust brake cables and check brake pads for excessive wear.
If you don’t feel comfortable tuning up your bike, take it to a local bike shop. It’s well worth it as regular maintenance will extend the life of your bike and will ensure you’re always ready to ride! |
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Oh by the way, we are never too busy for any of your introductions. If you know of anyone that may benefit from our help please contact us with their name and number and let them know that we will be in touch. We would be privileged to assist them!
If you would like to keep up on the market and would like automatic email notifications of new listings, sales, etc. Click here or drop us an email or give us a call: 250-468-1498 / 250-248-1071 - team@teamw.ca
For the latest real estate updates, including new listings, price changes and upcoming open houses follow me on Twitter and "LIKE" us on Facebook |
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| Not meant to solicit clients already under contract. |
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