I spent part of my day today on a tour hosted by www.bcwhaletours.  Thank you to our captain Harold, and Brandon May of Pemberton Holmes, for inviting a number of real estate agents and their guests.  It was part of a draw held for REALTORS who showed Brandon’s listing at 810 Lampson Street.

<Begin Sales Pitch> It’s a 2008 custom built home with over 2200+ square feet for only $588,800.  Call me today for a showing!  More details here. </End Sales Pitch>

Harold was a great host, and though we saw no whales we saw many other great sights and had an exhilarating adventure on his extremely fast and seaworthy zodiak.  On our way back, Harold was nice enough to swing past the causeway so I could say “Hi” to my my father and his wife Pat where they sell her art.  My father was a real estate agent in Victoria in the 1970′s.

I’d like to share some of the photos from the day.  We have so much life and beauty at our doorstep, literally within minutes of the city.  And we have an amazing inner harbour.  Victoria from the water is breathtaking.  If you’ve never seen Victoria this way, I encourage you to make the trip.

Andrew

As your agent, I feel it’s my job to help you succeed, and in order to do that, I make myself available at odd times, and spend a lot of time travelling from location to location, showing properties, researching properties, meeting prospective clients, and organizing sales.  As such, it’s difficult to maintain a regular schedule, especially this time of year when more people are typically considering a move.  I often work 7 days a week, and often late into the night and at odd hours. 

I love my job, and find some of the chaos and imbalance invigorating and exciting, but too much will wear anyone out.  A few things that feed me include taking time for… reading, hiking, running, camping, fishing, boating, and volleyball.  Family too, though that’s also a balancing act at times!  What feeds you?  Are you getting enough? 

Here’s the thing.  I’m very good at what I do, which is protecting and promoting my clients interests in real estate.  I’m good at organizing a sale, marketing listings, and negotiating with other agents.  I can recognize value, and see potential pitfalls in a property.  My clients appreciate my advice.  However, in my business, I don’t get paid anything for showing properties, or marketing properties.  I can spend thousands of dollars and months of my time assisting clients, but I get paid only when and IF a sale happens.  As such, it’s important that that time and energy I spend on client’s behalf remains efficient and focused, and that there is clear commitment between us. 

Having clarity in our working relationship ensures you receive 100% from me, because I’m not scattered helping too many prospects based on an assumption or hope of eventually being compensated.  To that end, I’m asking my buyer clients to confirm their commitment to me, as I confirm my commitment to them.  This is done through an agreement called “Buyer Agency”.  Buyer Agency ensures I don’t spread myself too thin.  It focuses my energies to those who I have a solid working relationship and understanding with, so that they have even more of my time and attention.  I still only am reimbursed when and IF a sale a sale happens, but it ensures that we have a mutual understanding of how I get paid, and what I get paid for, and ensures we’ve had the discussion in advance.  

Victoria is host to many secrets and legends.  I’m not here to regale you with stories, I’ll let folks like Danda Humphreys and John Adams share their Victoria with you, they are much better storytellers than I and I suggest you check them out. 

For now, let’s get to the point.  While generally known as the “City of Gardens” to the general populace, it has also been named “Techtoria” due to its burgeoning tech sector and “Victory City” by the superheroes living in our midst (The supervillians have dubbed it “Viktem City”, but that’s another story).  The point is, many of us have lived with Victoria for years, yet really don’t know her at all, and perhaps take her for granted at times.  She’s no longer the home of “The newly wed and nearly dead” (“and recently shed”).  Although rich with history and legend (did I mention “Caddy”?), Victoria has been quietly growing and evolving into a very fun and interesting place to live, offering something for people of many different walks of life and cultures. 

VICTORIA, BC-The story continues from last month when the Victoria Real Estate Board reported a relatively stable market when compared to the same time in 2011, but REALTORS® report they are optimistic that new provincial HST transition rules and a New Home First-time Buyers Bonus will stimulate sales of new properties.

February’s sale volume was virtually identical to that of February 2011, but the average price softened by 5% for single family homes  over February 2011. The average sales price for a single family home in Greater Victoria was $579,985, with a six-month average of $594,027, showing a corresponding decrease of 4.7% over February 2011.

“REALTORS® are reporting increased showings, especially since the Provincial budget announcements,” says Carol Crabb, President of the Victoria Real Estate Board. “Our Members tell me the HST transition rules, increased HST rebates and New Home First-time Buyers Bonus are stimulating traffic for both new houses and condos.

“I think the BC budget also instilled consumer confidence. Potential buyers can see that our economy is stable and mortgage rates are incredibly low”, Crabb says. “Not only are prices remaining stable, there are enough listings to allow buyers to perform their due diligence without making rash decisions. We encourage buyers to work with REALTORS® to ensure they are educated about current market conditions and recently announced government incentives.”

With 3,977 active listings at the end of February, Crabb notes increased supply levels and sales are expected in keeping with the normal historical trend of spring activity.

Total non-waterfront Single Family Dwellings sold: 258, up 4 sales over February 2011
Total waterfront Single Family Dwellings sold: 7, down 3 sales over February 2011
Single Family Dwellings sold over $1 million: 14 (1 over $2 million)

Summary Report and Graphs

Monthly Sales Summary
Average Selling Price Graphs
Active Listings, New Listings and Sales Graphs

When Interpreting Our Statistics

To ensure sales are not over-reported, we report net sales: that is, the number of sales less the number of collapsed sales, if any.  Average Price is the total dollar volume of sales  for the month divided by the number of sales in the month.  Six Month Average is the total dollar volume of sales  for the last six months divided the total number of sales in the last six  months.  Median Price is the mid-point price between the least  expensive sale and the most expensive sale in the month.

Jump off the hamster wheel and come see what’s possible!

Join us March 1st at 1:30pm at Elkington Forest!  This visionary community consists of 3 village style hamlets, agricultural areas for food production, a commerce area for local artisans, and a common equestrian area.   All this on hundreds of acres of sustainably managed forest for all to share.  Join us this Friday March 1st for a tour of this amazing development.  It will take about 2 hours and may involve some hiking, fresh air, panoramic views, and natural wonder.  What fun!  www.elkingtonforest.com

A Community Style of Living

Have you ever wondered why we love the European villages and hamlets so much, yet rarely design subdivisions in those more clustered patterns?  There is an emerging movement within architecture and urban design calling for a return to the scale, proportion and feel of these traditional communities.  It is called Traditional Neighbourhood Design or New Urbanism. Increasingly, new towns are being designed according to principles of walkability, mixes of uses, and buildings fronting onto central pedestrian areas or community green spaces. Not only do these communities look great, but studies show that physical proximity of homes, shops, and businesses creates more face-to-face interaction within a community, and face-to-face interaction is directly correlated to higher levels of social and mental health. Privacy is still provided in the backyards and overlooking large areas of private wild forest, but community exists for all who wish, right out the front door.  In the Midland areas, there will also be larger acreages for those who want to spread out a bit.  But all residents whether in the hamlets or the Midlands area will have access to additional garden plots for food production.

(Please RSVP, park and ride may be available from Langford at 1pm).

Directions, as follows. Also see map.

From Victoria go north on the Trans-Canada Highway

Turn left on South Shawnigan Lake Road, go 1.7 km

Turn left on Stebbings Road, go 1.7 km

Turn left on Goldstream Heights Drive, go 4.2
km

Turn right on Trailway, and park at the Elkington
Forest sign.