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Banu Foroutan Real Estate Vancouver


BE YOUR OWN DENTIST! PDF Print E-mail

Be Your Own DentistBE YOUR OWN DENTIST! Yes, you read that correctly...you too can be your own dentist! Simply join this network and we will teach you all of the ins and outs of personal dentistry! Tooth extraction made easy! Root canals done cheap! Cavities filled for pennies!

OK, so I have your attention and with good reason to make my point. The next time you decide to sell your home yourself or perhaps build your home yourself, you need to make sure that you really know what you are doing. I for one would never want to be my own dentist and am amazed at the number of people who think selling a home is so simple that anyone can do it.

Before you decide to sell on your own, think about these points:

* Do you have the correct market data in order to correctly price your home?
* Have you had training to know how to negotiate through a contract?
* Are you aware of the importance of the Seller's Disclosures and the legal implications of that form?
* Most buyers of FSBO's expect to pay much less and the Seller can typically expect to get 15% less for their home because of this.
* Are you willing to allow just anyone into your home? Have they been pre-qualified? Do you know anything about them? Could they be just checking your home out to come back and possibly rob you?
* Do you have the time that it takes to market your home, show your home and deal with all of the little details to get to a closing?

These are just a few things to consider when thinking about being your own Realtor. Realtors are not the enemy. We are here because we love what we do and our client's best interests are always at the top of our priorities. Realtors have also spent a great deal of time and money to become licensed and to remain at the top of their field just as any other professional does.

Thank you to Paula L. Hamilton for sharing these wonderful insights into the realty business. Visit her blog by clicking here.

 
May market offers buyers greater selection PDF Print E-mail

The number of properties listed for sale in Greater Vancouver continued to rise in May, while the number of sales showed a year-over-year decrease.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,156 in May 2010, a decline of 10.4 per cent compared to the 3,524 sales in May 2009; 5.1 per cent more than the 3,002 sales in May 2008; and 27.1 per cent less than the 4,331 sales in May 2007. May 2010 sales also represent a 10.1 per cent decline compared to last month’s sales.

In terms of number of property listings, last month marked the third consecutive month during which more than 7,000 homes were listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in Greater Vancouver.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties totalled 7,014 in May 2010, a 48.2 per cent increase compared to May 2009 when 4,733 new units were listed, and an 8.3 per cent decline compared to April 2010 when 7,648 properties were added to the MLS®.

At 17,492, the total number of property listings on the MLS® increased 10 per cent in May compared to last month, and is up 28.2 per cent compared to this time last year.

“Prospective home buyers in today’s market have a broad selection to choose from in every property type. REALTORS® are telling us they’re working with buyers who are not feeling as rushed to make a decision as they did late last year and earlier in the year,” Jake Moldowan, REBGV president said.

Over the last 12 months, the overall MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver increased 16.7 per cent to $590,662 from $506,201 in May 2009.

“It’s important for those looking to buy or sell a home to remember that real estate is local and wise real estate decisions are made by those who understand current market conditions at the neighbourhood level,” Moldowan said.

Sales of detached properties in May 2010 reached 1,256, a decrease of 10.4 per cent from the 1,402 detached sales recorded in May 2009 and a 4.4 per cent increase from the 1,203 units sold in May 2008. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 19.1 per cent from May 2009 to $810,175.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,354 in May 2010, a decline of 7.1 per cent compared to the 1,458 sales in May 2009 and an increase of 8.8 per cent compared to the 1,244 sales in May 2008.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 13.9 per cent from May 2009 to $398,783. Attached property sales in May 2010 totalled 546, a decline of 17.8 per cent compared to the 664 sales in May 2009 and a 1.6 per cent decline from the 555 attached properties sold in May 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 14.8 per cent between May 2009 and 2010 to $500,339.

Download the complete stats package by clicking here.

Listen to REBGV president Jake Moldowan's May 2010 Market Summary by clicking here.

For more information please contact:
Craig Munn, Assistant Manager of Communications
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
Phone: (604) 730-3146
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
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FEATURED LISTINGS

1557 W KING EDWARD AV Vancouver, BC
Price: $4,800,000.00
1 Exterior Front
bwd  Set 1/3  fwd
1 Exterior Front
2 Foyer
3 Living Room
4 Dining Room
Large & luxurious park like setting. Desirable circular driveway. Gracious living room & dining room for entertainment. Generous & well planned kitchen with family room off the kitchen and full view to private backyard. 4 bedrooms up & great space down. Custom built by Karl Gildemeister of Kama Construction in 1987 & occupied by present owner for almost 22 years. No sign on the property. Pride of ownership shows well in this home & it is a pleasure to show.
MLS®: V846871 Finished Floor Area: 5081.0 sqft.
Property Type: House Lot Frontage: 70
Basement: Full Lot Depth: 200
Bedrooms: 7 Age: 23
Bathrooms: (Total:5, Half:)
Features:
  • Shopping nearby
  • Fireplace
  • Security system
  • Underground Sprinkler
  • Pool Equipment
  • Trash compactor
  • Sprinkler System-Fire
  • Drapes/Window coverings
  • Appliances Included

3262 West 51st Avenue, Southlands, Vancouver West
Price: $4,900,000.00
mini-01
bwd  Set 1/4  fwd
mini-01
mini-02
mini-03
mini-04
Hidden in the peaceful Southlands area of Vancouver. Offered for sale, a one of a kind architecturally designed home. The indoors flow to the outdoors, with terraces off every room on the main floor. Sumptuous mature gardens create the privacy required in a busy city. Hardwood floors throughout the main floor, the kitchen boasts Italian granite countertops as well as quality European appliances. Family room off kitchen, great home for young family. Open concept plan, perfect for entertaining indoors and out. Plenty of space for a pool or to build a horse stable.
MLS®: V824959 Finished Floor Area: 3748.0 sqft.
Property Type: House Lot Frontage: 113' 6"
Basement: Crawl Lot Depth: 330
Bedrooms: 4 Age: 13
Bathrooms: (Total:4, Half:)
Features:
  • Golf course nearby
  • Private setting
  • Recreation nearby
  • Rural setting
  • Treed
  • Fireplace
  • Security System
  • Embedded oven
  • Drapes/Window coverings
  • Appliances Included
  • Fireplace - Insert