Vancouver Island Real Estate News from TeamW - March 2014
Posted on
March 24, 2014
by
Rudi Widdershoven
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Vancouver Island Real Estate News from TeamW |
March 2014 |
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 My how time flies, spring is here! March is almost over & Easter is only 3 weeks away! We have been busy with work - the market is very active - and yet have made time to spend with family and enjoy some of this great weather. Over the last couple of weeks we have been blessed to have all of our granchildren stay overnight - what a joy!
The Big News, if you haven't heard yet, is that Trish is feeling better - well enough to come back into the business. Trish reactivated her license at the end of January and put her 1st deal together about 2 weeks ago and it closes this month - go Trish go! She will be trying to pace herself so she does not over do it!
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 would be great to hear from you!
Warmest Regards,
Rudi & Trish W. |
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Balanced Vancouver Island Market Conditions Moving Into Spring
Don’t Kid Around with Facebook!
Is It a Good Buy or Goodbye?
Food for Thought!
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Balanced Vancouver Island Market Conditions Moving Into Spring
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 Sales activity across the Vancouver Island housing market area continued its gradual upward climb this February with reports of healthy sales activity across the Board. Single family home sales in greater Parksville Qualicum Beach region saw a 17% increase Year To Date. Active listing inventory for single family homes is basically the same as this time last year.
If you would like to view a summary of the statistics visit: http://rudiw.com/blog.html/parksville-qualicum-real-estate-market-stats-feb-2014-3047014
“Over the past few months, we have witnessed strong year-over-year percentage gains in terms of unit sales; however, it is important to note that last year marked a cyclical low in sales activity, so our numbers are not trending as high as they may appear,” stated Blair Herbert, VIREB President.
“That being said, when looking at our sales figures over a longer period of time, our activity is close to reaching the ten-year average, so things are definitely moving in the right direction in terms of achieving balanced market conditions.”
“Although pricing has remained relatively flat over the last couple of months, we anticipate that this slow and steady market growth could produce a bit of upward pressure on pricing moving forward,” said Jason Finlayson, VIREB President-Elect. “While we haven’t experienced significant gains thus far, the market is still quite price sensitive, so it is important to contact a local REALTOR® in your area to ensure your property is priced correctly.”
Activity varies in our various sub areas and if you would like more details for particular areas, or property styles, contact TeamW and we would be pleased to discuss. |
Don’t Kid Around with Facebook!
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 Are your kids pleading with you to go on Facebook?
Facebook’s current policy (which could soon be changing) is that you have to be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account.
There’s no real way to police this so as with anything, education is key. Here are a few points you should be aware of if you’re thinking of opening an account for your child:
- Fake Friends - Predators prey on unsuspecting children by creating fake profiles to befriend them. Children want to boost their friends list and sometimes accept questionable requests.
- It’s Not Nice to Share - Children don’t always understand the concept of privacy. They often share passwords and release private information that reveals their identity.
- Endorsement Errors - If your child “Likes” a company that’s on Facebook, their image may appear next to an ad for that business when random strangers view their news feeds.
- Assess Access - If your child creates a fake birthdate to sign up, Facebook will think your child is 18 when they’re actually much younger. They’ll then be subjected to ads that are geared towards adults.
- Itchy Fingers - An impulsive rant could easily come back to haunt your child with devastating consequences. Make sure they understand that their posts aren’t owned by them and can never be taken back.
- Monitoring - Our gandson is on Facebook and the rules are that he has to allow his Mom & Oma to be his Facebook Friend and therefore anything he posts he has to be willng us us to see it.
It’s important that parents proactively educate their children in today’s ever changing online world. If your kids are on Facebook, make sure to check their privacy and location settings and teach them about the new age “facts of life”. |
Is It a Good Buy or Goodbye?
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 Is the housing market going to cool down, level out or gain steam?
No one can say for sure what’s around the corner. If you're currently considering home ownership, here are a few points to consider:
- Do Your Homework - It's important to plan ahead so research local amenities and public transportation. Consider features like parks and schools if you’re planning to start a family.
- Financial Accountability - Ensure you're financially ready to buy a home. There are many other costs in addition to mortgage payments so know what you're getting yourself into.
- Go Pro - Have a real estate agent guide you through the process. Get a market analysis of the homes recently sold in the area you're interested in as well as an idea of community trends.
- Stick to Your Budget - Be sure to examine your individual needs and never overextend yourself financially. Make a list of the features that fit your family's lifestyle before looking at homes and stick to it.
- Think Straight - It’s normal for home buyers to experience a full range of emotions during the complex, real estate rollercoaster ride. House hunting should be fun so don’t take things personally or let your emotions rule every decision.
- Inspect the Unexpected - Just because you've checked over the house thoroughly doesn't mean all’s well behind the scenes. Making an offer conditional on a home inspection means there won't be any nasty, expensive surprises.
An uncertain real estate market can make it difficult to know whether you should hold off purchasing a home in case prices fall or jump right in before prices skyrocket. The time to buy is when your budget matches your needs so always consider your personal circumstances carefully before making decisions. |
Food for Thought!
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 "I live by this credo: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough." - Red Skelton |
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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 I 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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