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This neighborhood highlights luxury living, privacy, views of Coquitlam, and a golf course. Many from Vancouver were attracted to Coquitlam by the large luxury homes in this neighborhood. 


Now that Coquitlam city center has urbanized, this area has gained popularity due to its proximity to all the amenities in the Town center. 

Located on Eagle Mountain in the northern part of Coquitlam bordering the City of Port Moody and Village of Anmore to the west, Westwood Plateau is a master-planned residential neighborhood and is home to around 20,000 people. From the time its development began in the late 1980s until 2011, this quiet, upper-scale subarea had been the main area of residential growth in Coquitlam. The Plateau consists of condo’s, townhomes, and detached homes, the majority of which have at least a mild slope or incline. 


Median age is around: 40 yo

Average Household Size consists of 3 to 4 people

Average Household Income: around $100,000

About 80% of Households are with Children

Based on 2016 statistics.


The distance between Westwood Plateau and Downtown Vancouver is about 40 min drive or 40 min from the nearby Coquitlam Skytrain STATIONS. As it is a fairly large subarea, the accessibility varies greatly. If you are commuting to Vancouver there are several ways and transportation options you can use.


A Number of busses will take you down Pinetree Way, which aligns with the LAFARGE LAKE STATION BY Douglas College, which will take you to New Westminster, Burnaby, Richmond, Vancouver, and other CITIES. However, as you get higher and higher up the mountain, the area becomes more car-dependent. 


In the wintertime mainly between Dec and March, Anything north of David always gets more snow than the rest of Coquitlam, Westwood Plateau, in particular, gets more and more snow up the mountain with higher elevations, and the views are stunning.


Westwood Plateau is also home to a number of hiking trails, from easy to difficult. 


The Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club are considered one of the top 100 golf courses in Canada. Many of its 18 holes offer spectacular views of the Fraser Valley to the east and of the surrounding mountains to the north and west. The club also features an executive 12-hole course, a driving range, a golf academy as well as a clubhouse, and a restaurant.


If you are looking for entertainment, Coquitlam Centre for shopping, restaurants, and grocery is the closest and just about 5-7 minutes away.  THERE ARE MANY CHOICES TO DINE AROUND THE CITY CENTRE: restaurants range from Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food, Boston Pizza, Red Robins, Cora’s, White Spot and so much more.

Your closest movie theatre is Silvercity Coquitlam near Maillardville, about 15 minutes away. 

For everyday shopping, area residents use Westwood Plateau Village. Centrally located at the intersection of Parkway Boulevard and Johnson Street. The large plaza includes the IGA food market, a local liquor store, Starbucks, sushi, and pizza restaurants, banks, and other services. 



Avinash- show trail pictures and vies named HIKING AND TRAILS.


Coquitlam enjoys relatively low crime rates as reported in Stats - Canada’s crime rate reports. 


Public Schools ON WESTWOOD PLATEAU ARE ALL VERY GOOD CHOICES.


Panorama Heights Elementary  - is a great ranking school and offers early French immersion options. Located on the bottom of the mountain and is very accessible. Right by the awesome Panorama Park which offers Waterpark, tennis, soccer, swings, picnic areas, baseball field.

/Hampton Park Elementary- is located at the top of the mountain and offers early Montessori program which delivers education following the Montessori philosophy of learning. It is a program of choice that allowed cross catchment in Coquitlam

Pinetree Way Elementary located near the Robson park which has swings, soccer, baseball, and hiking options.


 Heritage Woods Secondary / Pinetree Secondary School are known for having great extra-curricular clubs and activities! There’s something for anyone and everyone, THEY OFFER a number of specialty courses designed to meet the specific needs and goals of the students. 

I attached a link below in the description if you are interested in more about the different programs offered in Coquitlam.


And to my favorite topic real estate around Westwood plateau:


There is a great selection of homes offered here. Real estate prices depend on the size and product offered, as anywhere else:

Most of the homes in the area are ranging between 3000- 4000 sqft. Some are smaller and some are larger. Many of them have a secondary suite that can be used for extended family, a nanny or be rented out to help generate more income. Detached homes sales as of June 2020, show the cheapest detached house was sold for over 1.1 ml to AND THE highest at 2.5ml FOR THIS YEAR. 


Townhouses can come in 3 or 4 bedrooms plus rec room. Ranging between 1,00sqf to 2,300sqf and for 2020 the sold data shows 717,000 for the cheapest and 987,000 for the largest and most expensive.a


Condos or apartments are more common at the bottom of the mountain. supply is very limited at the top of the mountain. 1 bedroom condo prices are ranging between 400 to 475,000.

2 bedroom apartments are ranging between 480,000 all the way to 800,000




Send me Westwood plateau listings: https://bit.ly/36OPIe0


Create your own insider’s report for any Neighbourhood: https://bit.ly/3eDubrn


To locate school catchment for an exact address in Coquitlam, click: https://mybaragar.com/index.cfm?event=page.SchoolLocatorPublic&DistrictCode=BC43

 Programs of choice in Coquitlam . http://www.sd43.bc.ca/Programs/Documents/Program%20Registration%20Information%20-%202020%20-%202021.pdf

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The city of Coquitlam in British Columbia has been growing very rapidly. Today we are going to be talking about the FIVE reasons people are moving to Coquitlam BC.

The distance between Vancouver and Coquitlam is 27 km. It takes approximately 30 min to drive from Coquitlam to Downtown Eastside. The snowy period of the year lasts from December to around mid-March, and gets more then 3 months of warm weather above 20 degrees Celsius between mid-June to mid-September.


REASON NUMBER ONE - MANY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUTE OPTIONS


Transportation- For those working in Burnaby or Vancouver, in recent years Coquitlam has significantly improved its bus routes and transportation to make effective ways for commuting into Vancouver City. Coquitlam offers a variety of options when it comes to transit such as West Coast Express, the Skytrain, and regular busses.

The West Coast Express is an express bus with limited stops. It stops at Coquitlam Central Station runs about 40 to DT Vancouver, or east all the way to Mission.

The Skytrain system is also very efficient. The Evergreen Skytrain Line runs from the Coquitlam Town Centre through Port Moody, and joins with the existing SkyTrain system at Lougheed Town Centre. For residents on the Southern side of Coquitlam - Lougheed Skytrain station or Braid station are ideal SkyTrain options. For drivers, Coquitlam is centrally located and provides access to the surrounding cities such as Burnaby, Vancouver, Surrey, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge. Lougheed Highway & Barnet Highway also run through Coquitlam. The Port Mann Bridge and the Golden Ears Bridge are also very easy to access.


NUMBER TWO - COQUITLAM ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT


1. Coquitlam's Hard Rock Casino is a popular choice of entertainment out here as well as the SilverCity, Coquitlam's movie complex with 20 screens and VIP options.


2. The Evergreen Cultural Centre is near Town Centre Park and is a venue for arts and culture, in which they host a wide variety of community events. There is a 264 seat black box theatre, rehearsal hall, art studio, and art gallery. There are also several choirs and theatre societies that practice at the Evergreen Cultural Centre.


3. The arts center has been around since 1972 in Coquitlam and plays a big part in the community. Place des Arts is a non-profit teaching arts center in Maillardville that offers a variety of programs in the visual arts, music, acting, and dance. It is a fantastic place for young kids and adults to learn and expand their love for the arts, whether it be pottery, yoga, ballet, piano, violin, painting, drawing, or more. Place des Arts offer faculty concerts throughout the year and participate competitively in some areas as well.


4. Place Maillardville is a community center providing leisure activities for all age groups, with programs on the French language, culture, as well as physical activities. Heritage Square offers visitors a wealth of historic sites, gardens, a bike path, and an outdoor amphitheater;



REASON NUMBER 3 - COQUITLAM'S MALLS & SHOPPING


Coquitlam Centre shopping mall is the biggest mall in the Tri-Cities and is located in North Coquitlam. It is the hub of City Centre, and a popular spot for a quick bit to eat, grocery shopping, entertainment, or just good old fashioned shopping! Meanwhile, a master planning process for the entire site will look at developing a downtown core with employment, housing, parks, and transportation with distinct innovative architecture.


Situated on 57 acres of land in the heart of the Tri-Cities, Coquitlam Centre features over 910,000 square feet of retail on two spacious levels. Coquitlam Centre is the only shopping center in Metro Vancouver offering almost all the major brands and department stores all in one convenient location.


In the Coquitlam West area, there is also Lougheed Mall. While technically located in North Burnaby, it is on the exact borderline of Coquitlam and Burnaby so it is still a popular area to shop. This particular mall is a part of the Lougheed Town Centre Expansion which now includes a revitalized shopping mall, new businesses, a brand new food court, and several high-rise residential towers.

Coquitlam also offers a great number of large grocery stores to shop in, ranging from Superstore, Save on Foods, Safeway, and smaller local shops, to the nearby Costco in Port Coquitlam.


REASON NUMBER 4- THE AMAZING TRAIL SYSTEM


The City of Coquitlam Master Trail Plan is a comprehensive flexible guide for the provision of a citywide, off-road network of trails connecting people, places, public amenities, to other municipalities and regional trail systems. I have attached a guide below if you are interested to fully explore it. GUIDE

https://www.coquitlam.ca/docs/default-source/recreation-parks-culture-documents/Parks_-_Master_Trail_Plan.pdf?sfvrsn=4

Coquitlam offers an amazing trail system, here are a few that I recommend:

Town center park and Hoy Creek trail. All these trails are a hard surface except for the nature trail at the south end of Lafarge Lake providing access to the fishing pier. Trails are generally flat with a slight elevation. https://www.coquitlam.ca/docs/default-source/recreation-parks-culture-documents/Park_-_Town_Centre_Park_Routes.pdf?sfvrsn=4


Como lake park:


Woodlands Trail is a great hike for you and if you have a dog. This is up Burke Mountain right near the Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club. As you go along the trail, there are a couple of different waterfalls to go check out which are great in the summertime to get into and cool down. It is a popular spot for mountain biking so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

Mundy Park trail is a great trail that also has a small off-leash trail system. this is a great spot to go for an early morning walk or run with your dog.

Crystal Falls is a great place to go exploring with friends. Along the Coquitlam River you get to the end you will get to a great waterfall. There are several great spots in summer as you can go down to hang out by the water.

Coquitlam Crunch is a good workout for those looking for one. It's like a mini little Grouse Grind and many times you'll see water bottles and sweaters left at the bottom. A lot of people will use this as their daily workout routine as they go up and down the crunch. https://www.coquitlam.ca/docs/default-source/recreation-parks-culture-documents/Parks_-_Crunch_Trail.pdf?sfvrsn=4


REASON NUMBER 5 - SCHOOL DISTRICT & SCHOOLING OPTIONS


Coquitlam is served by THE EXCELLENT School District 43 and has elementary, middle & high schools.

Coquitlam also has a very strong french-immersion school presence, with many schools offering early french immersion, and Montgomery middle offering late french immersion.

The City of Coquitlam offers four public secondary schools, seven middle schools, and dozens of elementary schools. There are also 2 local colleges (Douglas & Coquitlam College), and a nearby university within a 10-20 minute transit (SFU).

Connect with me to get a comprehensive list of all the elementary, middle, secondary, post-secondary, and french immersion schools in Coquitlam!


Coquitlam BC offers a unique lifestyle, and truly offers everything a family would need. I hope you learned what it is like to live in Coquitlam. Feel free to connect with me if you consider moving to the area.

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Posted in #MaketherightMovewithAnnaLitvak #bcprimerealestategroup #liveincoquitlambc


If you are looking for a fantastic family oriented community, stop right here. This community might be the one you are looking for. There are several neighborhoods here to choose from; estate residences, large single-family, small single-family, row homes and townhouses. There is something suitable for all stages of life.

On the southern slope of Burke Mountain, new suburbs are being created and expanded. The area is supposed to house over 30,000 people when it is completed. 

Families, professionals and empty nesters looking for a walkable neighbourhood, village setting, nature on their doorstep and access to transit can stop their search on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain.


On a typical day for a Burke Mountain resident, waking up to stunning views is very much likely. Shop for groceriec in the future Burke Mountain Village, mountain biking at Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, or just have a beer on a patio as the sun goes down.

Professionals may find themselves biking to SkyTrain in the morning, taking a classes at the nearby community centres work, and having a farm-to-table meal in the village. 

Many families choose to walk or a bike to get to nearby schools, parks and amenities via the extensive trail network.


Burke Mountain feaures several community parkes including Pioneer Park and Harper Park.


Pioneer Park is located at 3000 Highland Drive is a 4.4 acre intended to help create a sense of community in Burke Mountain and provide a focal point for socializing, as well as children’s play and recreation. 

The park elements include activities for all ages and accessibility levels. Features include:

  • game tables,
  • open lawn area for picnicking and informal play activities,
  • community garden,
  • full-sized sport court including basketball and hockey nets,
  • neighbourhood grass sports field,
  • art play installation with rubberized surface to serve as a climbing play element,
  • approximately 47 new parking spots,
  • 25 shade trees to grow with the park, and
  • connections to new and existing trails 


Harper community park is located in Smiling Creek and is a part of 4.4-hectare (10.8-acre) Harper Park expansion, located off Harper Road.

The project will retain much of the existing forest while adding features that allow for the passive enjoyment of the space, including:

  • 620 metres of trails
  • a wooden pedestrian bridge over Smiling Creek
  • seating
  • rest areas
  • picnic tables
  • interpretive signs and other elements throughout the site will recognize Burke Mountain’s logging history, glacial influences and forest features

Access will be provided from trailheads at Highland Drive to the south, and along the Harper Road multi-use pathway to the north and northeast.


Burke Mountain features several awesome Neighbourhood Parks including Galloway Park, Queenston Park, Riley Park and Victoria Park. There are many other smaller parks whithin walking distance of every neighbourhood. Which is just great for families with kids, if you’re an outdoorsy person this area is great for you!


Another area nearby is the Park Ridge Estates. It was built in the 90' and cut into the side of Burke Mountain, North of River Springs. It enjoys many of the same perks as Burke Mountain, including forest and hiking trails. The whole neighbourhood is being close enough to amenities such as Coquitlam Centre Mall, 7-11, Shopper Drug Mart, and restaurants.

From Park Ridge, you are a walking distance or just a short drive to Coquitlam’s town centre park, which has a small man-made lake, walking trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, a large playground, football & soccer fields, and it is also the centre of Coquitlam's main events.


If you need to commute by public transportation, Coquitlam station will take you anywhere and everywhere you need, including throughout Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Burnaby. The Lafarge Lake-Douglas station to the new Evergreen extension of SkyTrain that can take commuters to most of Metro Vancouver. It is located just a short drive away by the Town Centre Park.


If you are thinking of moving to Burke mountain Area or simply want an insider’s report about what’s happening with the local real estate, click here and customize your own report for his area and for any other around vancouver!


Download your relocation guide here


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It's Tempting, but Don't Do It: The Perils of Moving in Prior to Closing
 
 
It is not a given that every sale will close on the contracted closing date. With this in mind, it is important to have contingency plans to cover any delays that will hinder moving plans for both buyer and seller. The buyer who wants to move in prior to a delayed closing and the seller who accommodates such a request may find themselves in a predicament if things don't go according to plan. Keep in mind that even if there is a written agreement to allow an early move-in, a legal dispute can still evolve from the unforeseen.

Early occupancy by a buyer means that the seller will have to maintain insurance on the property until closing, but there will be a potentially costly change to that policy. The new coverage would be landlord insurance to cover the now "tenant-occupied" home. Part of the closing process is the funding of the buyer's loan and a final check of clear title. If a final verification of employment is not in order for the underwriter, funding will not occur and may cause the lender to withdraw the loan commitment. If the final title check reveals a last-minute recorded encumbrance against the property, the sale closing could be indefinitely delayed. These are all good reasons for early occupancy to be avoided.

While the buyer benefits the most from an early move-in, the seller potentially suffers great loss in the event of any buyer default. The seller will have vacated their home, thinking it was sold. This, coupled with the house possibly having been altered or damaged by the buyer during early occupancy, could create unanticipated financial hardship. The seller still owns the house and remains liable for activities on the property.

In any of these scenarios, it wouldn't be long before buyer and seller would find themselves entangled in a legal battle over monetary damages. The message is loud and clear. Both the buyer and seller need to plan their moves with a flexible timeline and avoid early buyer possession in the event unexpected delays cause a late closing.

If you're considering upsizing or downsizing, let me know what I can do to help make that transition as smooth as possible for you.
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Posted in covid

SPRING 2020


Keeping Out of COVID-19's Harmful Way

REMINDER: SOME OPTIONS OFFERED FOR ONLY A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME

If you’re not staying at home just yet, HERE is a helpful reference guide for preparing to stay home.

Putting Yourself at Risk Isn't Worth it!

Take advantage of what's available to you online.

As we practice social distancing and staying at home to reduce the greater potential impact of COVID-19, we now find ourselves navigating a very different way of being.

To battle the cabin fever for those already at home or to curb some of the ongoing updates, I’ve gathered over 40 online links and ideas not only to entertain the kids, but also to give you access to places that you may have always wanted to experience like museums, oceans, musicals and so much more.

Plus, you'll also find virtual places for fitness and exercise, online courses, and activities so you can explore as much as possible from the safety of your own home.

I’ve tried to include as many free options as possible, but some of them aren’t. Please know that I get no compensation or benefit in any way from these different links - we just want to give you a hub you can turn to or share with others to benefit from.

Theatre and Entertainment

1) Enjoy a museum or art exhibit from the comfort of your own couch. Google Arts & Culture has access to a number of different museum exhibits across the globe. Take a peek at Frida Kahlo’s diary or get up close and personal with Van Gogh. See all options here.

2) Are you a musical theatre or Broadway junkie? Playbill has 15 Broadway plays and musicals you can watch ON STAGE from anywhere right here.

And they some great recommendations for musicals what to watch from home and where to find them in this article.

3) The Louvre in France has 3 virtual tours of their exhibits you can view online right from here.

4) With movie theaters being closed for safety, movie goer subscriptions have been suspended and studios are offering what would have been in-theatre movies online, on demand instead. Learn how you can rent or buy in- theater movies without needing a subscription here.

Take Classes and Courses

1) Harvard University offers a number of free online courses. Check out the options here.

2) Yale’s most popular class The Science of Well-Being with 4.9 stars from over 4,110 ratings is available
free online right here.

3) Ever wish you could take some cooking classes? Well, you can stretch your culinary skills by signing up for this free cooking school (until the end of April).

4) If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to code, you can do it free and online with Ivy League Courses in programming here.

5) You can learn a new skill here on Skillshare.com for the next 2 months – this is a paid service, but they offer 2 free months.

6) You can get a small taste of the inner working of Walt Disney’s Imagineers who created a free online program called Imagineering in a Box. It is a series of interactive lessons in theme park design and engineering, for a behind-the-scenes peek into their development process.

 

Thousands of Health and Wellness Options

For many, heading to the gym or catching work out classes was part of a regular routine. Now, we’re having to get creative if there’s no home gym. Here are ways you can still burn calories at home or work on your mental state of being.

1) The YMCA has launched a free on demand service where you can take group exercise classes for all ages right in your own home at no charge for a limited time here.

2) Take up Yoga With Adriene’s YouTube channel has so many video resources you can watch for free here.

3) The Daily Burn is one membership with access to thousands of different workout videos so you can mix it up every day right from your own home (extended 60 day free trial).

4) Nike’s Nike Training app helps turn staying in into your at-home advantage here.

Escape with

Travels & Tours

Maybe some travel plans were cancelled or you’re dreaming of your next bucket list destination. Well, now you can take a virtual tour through national parks, zoos and beaches near and far.

1) Google Earth lets you discover all parts of the planet here.

2) Why not check out the peaceful The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks here?

3) You can even explore Mars here.
4) And, you can enjoy spring flowers with these 5 gardens

across the globe that you can virtually tour right here. 5) Take a peak of the Great Wall of China here.

6) Get an insider view of jelly fish and more with Georgia Aquarium’s live web cam footage here. Or check out Monterey Bay Aquarium’s here.

7) Then, hop on over to San Diego Zoo for some more than 10 live camera adventures with pandas, koalas, giraffes, elephants and more here.

5) Barre Body Studio is a boutique fitness studio with online classes here.

6) Practice pilates anytime with access to 3,400+ streaming Pilates videos in your home and on the go (15 day free trial).

7) Daily PE Sessions Monday through Friday for Kids with Joe Wicks (a fitness trainer in the UK) – I'm hoping they will be available on his YouTube channel here after they are done LIVE via video.

 

38 Activities

For the Kids

You might be looking for creative ways to entertain the kids or grandkids after school closures and thankfully there are some great online resources that may come in handy.

1) Tune in for the daily Lunch Doodle from 1-1:20 PM EST through March 27. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks.

2) Children book author, Mac Barnett, is also reading a different book every day at 3 PM EST via Instagram Live.

3) The Kennedy Space Center has launched science lessons on Facebook Live.

4) In the STEM (stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Activity Clearinghouse, you can find vetted activities that are appropriate for multiple audiences and difficulty level here.

5) iKnowIt.com is a comprehensive, interactive math practice site for students in Kindergarten to fifth grade and can be used for independent practice, remediation, assessment, and more (90 day free access).

5) A teacher gathered links for over 30 Virtual Field Trips including Mars, an animal farm tour, U.S. Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, the Boston Children’s Museum, and more here.

6) Learn more about marine biology with this family’s Virtual Marine Biology Camp.

7) Vooks has an ever-growing streaming library of kid- safe animated storybooks on all your favorite
devices here.

8) Authors are grabbing their favorite books and phone and are recording themselves reading with Operation Story Time.

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Posted in #listing
Why you should consider a Pre- Inspection before you list?
Getting a Pre Listing Inspection Before You List
 
Before your real estate agent places the "For Sale" sign in your front yard, you want to be sure that no stone has been left unturned when preparing your home for marketing. The "To Do" checklist that your agent gives you is created to help protect you from the unknown once you are under contract to sell. It is also a great checklist for taking care of everyday preventative maintenance of your home.

One of the key items on your list will be the recommendation to obtain a professional Pre- Listing inspection prior to listing instead of waiting for an acceptable offer to see if your home is the subject of hidden pest or water damage.

For a fee of about $300, a licensed inspector will prepare a full report on your property. Once the inspection is complete, you will receive a report with suggested remedies and estimated costs of repair.

Having this information before you move ahead with an offer gives you great advantages when selling your home. You will know the repair costs prior to agreeing on a selling price. Your buyer's loan approval may depend on having a clear report so closing delays will be avoided. You can also share the report and explain how everything was fixed. 

We reimburse clients who chose to have a pre- Inspection done upon a firm sale. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the home selling or buying process. I'm here to be your resource.
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We have the power today to use technology to provide you with an amazing consultation ( for both buyer consults and home evaluations) without having to meet us in person! We'll do the entire process virtually for you.

We are here to help and are making adjustments on our end in all aspects of our business to still offer you amazing customer experiences during this time.


We understand that you don't want strangers in your home in these uncertain times. Our team wants to make sure we make all  effort to protect ourselves and follow social distancing protocols.


So we're focusing on shifting our business to the VIRTUAL SIDE of things.


We are now offering VIRTUAL HOME EVALUATIONS!

It's easy! Register below and we'll set up a time for you to have a virtual video call. It will be a 30-minute call that will give you insight into the current value of your home, and give you the opportunity to ask any of your burning market questions. Register Here!


We are now offering VIRTUAL LIVE SHOWINGS!

We will view properties on your behalf, taking you on a live tour of the home via Zoom, Skype, etc. This way, you can practice social distancing.


We are now offering VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSES!

Our goal is to limit the number the people who are walking through your home while you are selling. One of the ways we will exercise will be by streaming a tour of your home "open house style" on weekends, instead of letting people physically inside the home.


We are transmitting to ONLINE OFFERS!

Weather you are a buyer or a seller, We will use the power of e-signatures, video conferencing, and emailing to handle your offers electronically and securely.


WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND MAKE IT SMOOTH!

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Don't move yet! 5 most important tips for a smooth move.

Moving is never our favourite time of the year. Well, at least not packing and unpacking.. living with boxes and have mess around for long time. Vancouver in the box has shared some awesome tips with us to make your move more smooth:



1. It is a good idea to get rid of unwanted items – make room for new things in your life. Call Recycling BC hot line 604-732-9253  (rcbc.bc.ca ) to learn where to recycle & donate!


2. Arranging parking for your truck- make sure to reserve a parking spot or designated area for the truck/ movers. In Vancouver, you can apply to reserve meter spaces at least 3 days prior to your move: 604-8716730.   


3. Elevator- Make sure to reserve the elevator on both sides of your move in advance.


4. Pack important documents, passports, new keys, money and MSP cards and place in your car before movers arrive.


5. Finally, leave all the keys to your old house (storage, garage, shed...) and all appliances manuals in one spot for the new owner. 


Vancouver In The Box, provides fast & efficient packing services for your move. Email to arrange a free in home estimate: vancouverintehbox.com or Call 778-228-6976.


Moving expenses can also be tax deductible! if you need more information on this topic, please visit:

http://news.mediaedge.ca/assets/CAM_DeductingMovingExpenses.pdf


Happy moving!

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WHAT MAKES YOUR HOME SELL?

It all begins with Marketing 

 

Marketing your home is easier said than done, but there are a series of steps you can take to give your home the best chances of selling. Good marketing will attract more buyers and yield higher sales prices for your home. 

 

Internet: With more and more buyers looking to the internet for their new home, having an online presence and a variety of high-quality pictures, professional video packages, 3D interactive floor plan & virtual staging are just some of the tools can be used, and are now more important than ever. Buyers are very visual; make sure to get the best marketing tools available for photographs of the front of your house, its exterior and interior. 

 

Virtual tours: This is an awesome new way to market your home. And no, they’re not just for showcasing million-dollar mansions. Every home should take advantage of a virtual tour, giving potential buyers a more detailed walkthrough of your home. 

 

Signage: An old marketing tool that will never go out of style. Signs are a free form of advertising and will encourage potential buyers to pick up the phone and call today. A good “For Sale” sign will produce more calls and generate more leads. 

 

Print: As buyers transition to the internet for home buying, tradition print advertising is still considered a valuable marketing tool. Many buyers will come from just listed postcards or direct printed marketing and it’s important that your home is advertised to as many buyers as possible. 

 

Circle Prospect: As the market is shifting into a buyer’s market and the prices are still high, bringing qualified buyers to your doorstep is harder than ever. Good Real Estate agents will make personal phone calls to fellow realtors in the area, and to potential buyers in the brokerage's data base. Many buyers are found from direct prospecting in the right place. 

 

Pricing your home right 


If you want your home to sell fast and for the best price, make sure to price it right. Determining the “right” value of your home may sound like a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be.  

 

Often, an agent will recommend a selling price and the seller will disagree – thinking their home is worth more. It’s important to work with an agent you can trust and to follow their advice with confidence. If they’re experience, then they probably know what they’re doing. 

 

Struggling to price your home? Here are a couple pricing strategies to consider 

 

Comparative Market Analysis: Ask your BC Prime Realty agent for a free comparative market analysis. With this strategy, an agent will gather date on the recently sold homes in your area and price range. They will use this data to give you an accurate price for your home. 

 

Pricing it just below: Buyers are drawn to houses that are priced just below a rounded number. For instance, if you think your price should be listed at 300,000 then you should price it at 299,000. Sellers who engage in this strategy will sell their house for 2.5% to 3% more. 

 

Staging your home 


This is one of the most commonly overlooked steps in selling a house. When you stage your home, you must detach yourself from it emotionally and physically. Here are a few ways to stage your home so it entices the most buyers. 

 

De-personalize: Put away all your family photos and heirlooms. Buyers will only be distracted by your personal artifacts. After all, you want them to imagine themselves living inside the home. 

 

De-clutter: It’s amazing how much unneeded “junk” can accrue inside seller’s homes. Remove books from bookcases, clean off the kitchen counters, and stow away all unnecessary clutter. 

 

Bedroom closets and kitchen cabinets: For some reason, buyers will often peek inside closets and cabinet doors. Make sure all items inside these spaces are neatly organized and in great condition.  

 

Curb Appeal: This is a buyers first real impression of your house before they step inside. Make sure your house looks clean and welcoming from the outside. If a buyer doesn’t like what they see from the curb, chances are they won’t take a step inside. 

 

 

BC Prime Realty offers a FREE STAGING PACKAGE for home sellers.  Check it out here to learn how you can better stage your home and get the most out of your listing. 

“I’D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN USE THESE AND OTHER MARKETING SYSTEMS TO EFFECTIVELY SELL YOUR HOME FOR MORE MONEY AND IN LESS TIME.”

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Cell:604-442-9422
Email:anna@bcPrimeRealty.com

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Metro Vancouver continues to experience above-average demand and below-average supply

VANCOUVER, BC – December 4, 2017 – Metro Vancouver* saw modest home listing changes and steady demand in November.


The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,795 in November 2017, a 26.2 per cent increase from the 2,214 sales recorded in November 2016, and a 7.5 per cent decrease compared to October 2017 when 3,022 homes sold.


Last month’s sales were 17 per cent above the 10-year November sales average.


“We’re seeing steady demand in today’s market. Home buyer activity is operating above our long-term averages, particularly in our townhome and condominium markets,” Jill Oudil, REBGV president said.


There were 4,109 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in November 2017. This represents a 30.6 per cent increase compared to the 3,147 homes listed in November 2016 and a 9.5 per cent decrease compared to October 2017 when 4,539 homes were listed.


The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,747, a 4.3 per cent increase compared to November 2016 (8,385) and a 4.3 per cent decrease compared to October 2017 (9,137).


“While we’re seeing more listings enter the market today than we saw at this time last year, we have a long way to go before our home listing inventory rises back to more historically typical levels,” Oudil said.


The sales-to-active listings ratio for November 2017 is 32 per cent, which is up three per cent since September 2017. By property type, the ratio is 15.9 per cent for detached homes (up one per cent since September 2017), 36.4 per cent for townhomes (down six per cent since September 2017), and 67.8 per cent for condominiums (up seven per cent since September 2017).


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 $1,046,900. This represents a 14 per cent increase over November 2016 and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to October 2017.


Sales of detached properties in November 2017 reached 841, a 31.8 per cent increase from the 638 detached sales recorded in November 2016. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,608,000. This represents a 6.1 per cent increase from November 2016 and a 0.1 per cent decrease compared to October 2017.


Sales of apartment properties reached 1,508 in November 2017, a 25.7 per cent increase compared to the 1,200 sales in November 2016. The benchmark price of an apartment property is $648,200. This represents a 23.9 per cent increase from November 2016 and a one per cent increase compared to October 2017.


Attached property sales in November 2017 totalled 446, an 18.6 per cent increase compared to the 376 sales in November 2016. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $805,200. This represents a 17.9 per cent increase from November 2016 and a 0.3 per cent increase compared to October 2017.


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*Editor’s Note: Areas covered by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.


The real estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2016, 39,943 homes changed ownership in the Board’s area, generating $2.5 billion in economic spin-off activity and an estimated 17,600 jobs. The total dollar value of residential sales transacted through the MLS® system in Greater Vancouver totalled $40 billion in 2016.


The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 14,000 REALTORS® and their companies. The Board provides a variety of member services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For more information on real estate, statistics, and buying or selling a home, contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.rebgv.org.


For more info and graphs:


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