Home sales activity strong through Olympic period

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 1:19pm. 136 Views, 0 Comments.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Greater Vancouver housing market continued to experience strong demand from homebuyers and an increase in total property listings in a month where the eyes of the world were focused on the region.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled
2,473 in February 2010, an increase of 67.1 per cent compared to February 2009 when 1,480 sales were recorded and a 28.6 per cent increase compared to the 1,923 sales recorded in January 2010.

More broadly, last month’s sales totals marked a 7.6 per cent decline compared to the 2,676 sales recorded in February
2008 and were 13.5 per cent behind February 2007 when 2,859 residential sales were recorded on the Multiple Listing…

Finding your dream home in Montreal

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 1:53pm. 225 Views, 0 Comments.

That dream home you've been conjuring up in your mind need not be on a tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific. Scale down your dreams a bit, and here on our own island - though admittedly not that tropical - there are numerous options available. Whether it's a resale home that turns your head, a custom-made unit, pre-engineered (formerly known as pre-fab) or the venerable pioneer log cabin, 21st- century-style, the real-estate market for Montreal and its outlying areas is alive.

Bertrand Recher, senior analyst for Central Mortgage and Housing Corp. in Quebec, said the market has recovered after an early 2009 slump.

"There was a very short stall in the first quarter of '09," Recher said. "But now sales of 'plexes, houses, row houses and condos have…

Adult Living: Nature as neighbour

Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 4:02pm. 207 Views, 0 Comments.

Owning a ski chalet is a family tradition for Irene Christie.

Ms. Christie has such fond childhood memories of winter weekends at her parents' ski chalet in the Beaver Valley that she wants her eight-year-old son, William Blair, to have the same opportunities.

"We wanted a place for family weekend ski getaways," says Ms. Christie, a corporate lawyer who lives in Moore Park in Toronto.

Ms. Christie and her husband, Rodney Blair, also enjoy visiting their family cottage in Muskoka in the summer. They wanted a worry-free ski chalet close to the slopes in the Blue Mountain area. They found their dream home at Woodlands by the Sierra Building Group.

Although the economic slowdown had sent chills through the recreation property market earlier in 2009, things were…

Jump in Condominium Sales in the Montréal Area in January 2010

Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 3:33pm. 224 Views, 0 Comments.

Île-des-Sœurs, February 10, 2010 – Condominium sales in the Montréal Metropolitan Area increased by 98 per cent in January 2010 compared to January 2009 which was the worst month of the recession. In fact, condominium sales rebounded so well from the economic downturn that they exceeded the January 2007 sales peak by 20 per cent, according to the Greater Montréal Real Estate Board's MLS® statistics.

In terms of overall sales, 2,784 transactions took place in the Montréal area in January 2010, a 70 per cent increase compared to January 2009 and a 7 per cent increase compared to January 2008.

“The market was very active in January 2010 with condominiums leading the way and setting new sales records in Montréal’s five main areas,” said Michel…

Vancouver Real Estate Sales Surge Ahead Of Winter Olympics

Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 2:50pm. 152 Views, 0 Comments.

Canadian real estate sales have picked up in Vancouver, British Columbia, with the help of strong demand from international buyers from Asia. Local experts say the upcoming Olympics has little to do with the surge, but world wide television coverage of the region's spectacular views should pique the interest of many investors. See the following article from International Property Journal for more on this.

When the Olympic flame enters BC Place Stadium on Feb. 12, the world’s spotlight will fall on one of North America’s hottest property markets.

In November more than 7,721 properties were sold in British Columbia, the highest volume for the month since 2005, according to the British Columbia Real Estate Association. And it wasn’t spurred by foreclosures and…

Montréal Real Estate Market: Sales Reach Record-Breaking 2007 Levels

Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 12:47pm. 741 Views, 0 Comments.

Île-des-Sœurs, November 10, 2009 – October 2009 sales in Montréal Metropolitan Area hit the same level as sales in October 2007, the year that broke all records. According to the Greater Montréal Real Estate Board’s MLS® statistics, there were 3,543 sales transactions in the Montréal area in October 2009, a 23 per cent increase compared to October 2008 and a 3 per cent increase compared to October 2007.

“It’s important to remember that the official beginning of the recession was in October 2008, and sales in the Montréal area at that time were down 17 per cent compared to October 2007,” said Michel Beauséjour, FCA, Chief Executive Officer of the GMREB. “We should then approach the October2009 data cautiously, because obviously the increase in sales…

York Region Luxury Market Continues Rally

Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 3:44pm. 556 Views, 0 Comments.

The luxury real estate market in York Region continued it's rally through Q309.  Quarterly sales volume reached 213 properties, up a staggering 72% in volume over the same period in 2008.  Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and King posted top sales of greater than $3 million, while the highest sales in Thornhill and Aurora reached over $2 million.

More information on York Region's luxury real estate market can be found in the "Living North of the City" quarterly market report, available through Sales Representatives Lisa Clark (www.lisaclark.ca) and Allison Parent (www.allisonparent.com).

Montréal Real Estate Market: Best September on Record

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 2:30pm. 1173 Views, 0 Comments.

Île-des-Soeurs, October 7, 2009 – Sales in the Montréal Metropolitan Area increased by 5 per cent in September 2009 compared to September 2008, according to the Greater Montréal Real Estate Board's MLS® statistics. Property prices also continued to climb, with a 7 per cent increase in median price for single-family homes.

"September 2009 was the best September on record for the Montréal market. We're seeing a balanced market now, so both buyers and sellers are benefiting," said Michel Beauséjour, FCA, Chief Executive Officer of the GMREB.

In terms of sales, single-family homes led the way with an 8 per cent increase in September 2009 compared to the same month last year, while condominium and plex sales increased by 1 and 3 per cent, respectively.

As for…

A 19th-Century Farmhouse Surrounded By Private Gardens In Eastern Townships

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 4:55pm. 622 Views, 0 Comments.

This four-bedroom two-and-a-half-bath farmhouse was built in 1882 on an old stagecoach road that once carried travelers and mail to Canada from New England. The estate’s 66 acres have been turned into a private arboretum; formal gardens take up several acres. The mature trees have created a sheltered microclimate, allowing the current resident to grow nonnative plants like azaleas and rhododendrons. There is a lily garden surrounded by linden trees, and a fall garden with trees chosen for their vibrant autumn colors.

An entryway with leaded glass windows flanking the front door separates the original farmhouse from a two-story addition built in 1973. The living room, part of the original structure, has pine floors and one of three working fireplaces. Across…