The Walls

Springtime On Salt Spring Island

2009-05-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and a time for new life, new ideas & spring cleaning! If you are considering a move there are several tips to prepare your home and property for the sale.

Here are some General Tips:

1/ Imagine you are the Buyer

2/ "Curb appeal" - be sure to clean up any areas that will detract from the appealing first glance.

3/ De-Clutter ouside and all inside areas of the home, including closets and cupboards.

4/ De-personalize - box up photographs and family heirlooms so as not to distract the Buyer. They need to visualize their belongings and their life in your home.

5/ Do Minor Repairs - fix cracks in drywall, counters, leaky faucets, patch holes in walls, and touch up paint if required. Paint should be neutral colours.

6/ Be sure the house is sparkling clean inside and out, and remove any unpleasant odours.

7/ For the showings: turn on all lights, open the window coverings, put on some soft music. Fresh baked bread is always a nice touch! Be sure the house is warm and cosy if being shown during cooler temperatures, and cool and airy on hot days.

Once you have your home in selling condition you will need to come up with a list price. Coming up with a realistic and competitve price is the key to success. I would suggest that you may have an appraisal done by a Licensed Appraiser and a Market Evaluation prepared by a Licensed Realtor.

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION for your home and property contact Fiona Walls today!

Rising Consumer Confidence may equate to more homes sold on Salt Spring Island

2009-03-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Consumer Confidence Rises in March reads the headlines in the Vancouver Sun March 23/09 edition.

The article suggests that confidence improved throughout the country with the exception of Ontario where levels were unchanged. Confidence levels rose the most in Atlantic Canada up 7 points to 80.7. B.C. continues to be most optomistic up 1.4 points to 82.6. Praries rose 5.1 points to 76.1 and Quebec rose 4.5 points to 68.8. Ontario remained unchanged at 66.3 per cent.

The telephone survey results are from early March to 2,000 plus participants. It is suggested that the margin of error is plus or minus 2.19 per cent, 19 out of 20.

Salt Spring Island Farm With A View

2009-03-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

A FARM WITH A VIEW…. the following photos were taken from our farm, Sweetwater Farm, in the Cranberry Valley Salt Spring Island over the past few months.

Believe it or not things are warming up all over. We are seeing a THAW! The weather and the real estate market have been pretty much hand in hand these past few months. In December 2008 and January 2009 the Salt Spring real estate market was experiencing the chilling weather conditions. Real estate sales in February have increased substantially over January. 403 homes and properties sold in February as was reported through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s MLS®. Although down from the 619 sales in February last year, this is in increase from the 247 sales in January, which translates to a significant 63% increase.

This dramatic increase in sales is a very positive sign. Last month’s sales, as quoted by Chris Markham president of the Victoria Real Estate Market, reflect a return to the typical February numbers that were evident in the late 1990’s, which was considered to be a stable market. MLS sales for February 2009 in the region of the Victoria Real Estate Board® (which includes Salt Spring Island), reported the sales of 223 single family homes, 109 condominiums, 47 townhomes and 7 manufactured homes.

Things are looking up, and warming up! If you are considering selling your home or property this year, now is the time. I offer Free Market Evaluations. I can help you with the marketing of your home, as well as offer advice and tips on preparing your home or property for sale.

It won’t be long and it will be time to plant! Our dog Bailey as seen here …. is an enthusiastic gardener……are you?

2009-02-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

2009 Housing Market Off to a Slow Start

February 2, 2009

Property sales throughout Greater Victoria in the first month of the year got off to a modest start amid continuing concern by buyers and sellers over the economy.

A total of 247 homes and other properties sold in January through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) up slightly from the 239 sales in December. There were 464 sales in January of last year. Last month’s sales were the lowest January sales in over 18 years. There were 3,678 properties available for sale at the end of January. That represents a 22 per cent increase compared to January of last year but a further decline from the 3,824 properties available for sale at the end of December.

Victoria Real Estate Board President, Chris Markham, says the uncertain economic climate continues to have an impact on the local housing market. “It’s clear that many people are holding off on the decision to buy or sell unless they have to and are waiting until they have more confidence both in terms of their personal financial situations and in the market as a whole.” Markham cites the decline in the number of active listings over the past three months as further evidence of a “wait and see” approach among sellers.

The slowing market has also had an impact on prices, especially for single family homes and condominiums. The average price for single family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $526,148, down from $548,025 in December. The six-month average was $545,984 and the median price in January was $475,000, down from $507,500 in December. Markham noted that the softening in prices has led to improved affordability, “Forty-two per cent of single family homes last month sold for under $450,000.”

The overall average price for condominiums was $259,742 last month compared to $280,487 in December. The average for the last six months was $297,649. The median price for condominiums in January was $255,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $393,982 up from $389,371 in December. The six month average was $405,718 while the median price in January was substantially lower at $382,500.

MLS® sales last month included 141 single family homes, 62 condominiums, 32 townhomes and five manufactured homes.

This information is from www.vreb.ca