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Realtor Life
May 12, 2019
Realtor® life
This week has brought about some crazy days. My daughter turned 6, three homes completed, we said good bye to our Jensen home & welcomed a new family, I met 2 new clients, and have spent over 12 hours on the phone with Microsoft support. To top this off, Macdonald Realty kindly put us in a two-day training course. Did I mention my lawn is not mowed, the laundry is piled up, and we have yet to be able to sit down to a family meal?
Between blowing up balloons on the weekend and decorating cupcakes, I was negotiating an offer and trying to calm down an older client who was moving out of one home into another, this week, while his wife is hugging surfers (at my request) in Australia. I think she got the better end of the deal. This lovely couple sold their lovely townhome in Nanaimo to settle in a brand-new Windward Construction rancher on a quiet street in Parksville. I welcomed him to his on Wednesday, and even though the keys for the home were missing, he was smiles all around.
Speaking of client stories, one client had bought a new home and was concerned he wouldn’t receive his landscaping credit. I assured him he would. When James (hubby) went to take down a sign for me, my client again told James of his concern. James said, “not to worry. Shannon will get your money for you. No one wants her after them.” Haha true. But then he also said, “well if she does not get your money I will send her over with a rake and shovel.”
On Monday I had the privilege of meeting my newest client. Thank you to my friend who referred her to me! She is a lovely lady and local grandma. She was looking to list her home for sale in the coming month. After a serious conversation today and a few tears, I hugged her goodbye. When I went to leave we found that my necklace was caught on her shirt. She pulled me along through her home until we could cut ourselves free. Talk about a first impression.
I also want to say a big thank you to J, J, and C for three new referrals! Yes, I know. Referrals are my bread and butter baby! When someone trusts me enough to refer their family or friend to me, then I know I am doing something right. Keep them coming. Refer someone to me. I will pay you a referral fee. Yes, I will. Except to Dale, who refuses to take my money. So I tried to send him and his wife to dinner while I babysat. He said no. When she found out that he refused my offer she flipped. Haha…
Being a Realtor® is seriously crazy, fun, hectic and interesting. #realtor #lovemyjob
Shannon Cutler
PS I will be announcing a draw this week… stay tuned
Real Estate Market Statistics - Vancouver Island
6100 Garside Road New single family home 4 sale
Our March 2019 statistics show that sales of single-family homes board-wide dipped by 23 per cent year over year. The good news is that March delivered a 36 per cent increase in home sales over February.
Last month, 309 single-family homes sold on the MLS® System compared to 399 in March 2018 and 227 in February. In the apartment and townhouse categories, sales dropped by 10 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively.
Housing sales have weakened throughout most of the province, which BCREA largely attributes to the mortgage stress test (Guideline B-20). In the VIREB area, the stress test is helping reduce demand for higher-priced properties and pushing buyers towards less expensive homes. In turn, this is compressing the lower end of the market.
THE NUMBERS: MARCH 2019
Active Listings Year Over Year
Single-Family - up by 20 per cent (976 to 1,172)
Apartments - up by 20 per cent (237 to 284)
Townhouses - up by 24 per cent (148 to 183)
Benchmark Prices: Board-Wide
Single-Family - $510,800 (6 per cent increase)
Apartment - $319,800 (8 per cent increase)
Townhouse - $414,700 (8 per cent increase)
Benchmark Prices: By Zone
Campbell River - $417,200 (8 per cent increase)
Comox Valley - $507,100 (8 per cent increase)
Duncan - $471,500 (5 per cent increase)
Nanaimo - $554,300 (4 per cent increase)
Parksville-Qualicum - $577,300 (4 per cent increase)
Port Alberni/West Coast - $299,400 (8 per cent increase)
Month over month, Campbell River, Parksville-Qualicum, and Port Alberni saw modest reductions in their benchmark prices while Comox Valley, Duncan, and Nanaimo recorded small increases.
Trend-wise, VIREB’s housing market has transitioned from one favouring sellers to one that is balanced or near balanced.
Source of Info: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, April 2019 (http://www.vireb.com)
LOFT SPACES - HOUSE FLIP PROJECT STILL ON THE MARKET
Loft space - bright, open, warm and room for your ideas.
Well the house flip project, 355 Jensen Ave W, Parksville, has been listed for over a month. I wish I had news that the house had sold; or that we have even had any offers. We have not. Many Realtor® s have shown the home, some have even come twice. Still no offers. Thankfully, most of the Realtor® that have come through are professional enough to provide valuable showing feedback. Showing feedback has been as follows: “great renovations, but not sure about the loft space upstairs;” “concerned about what is going to be built in the lot behind.”
No offense taken to any of the feedback! I actually appreciate the time and effort a Realtor® and their client goes to, to send the house showing feedback.
I would like to encourage those shopping in the real estate market, especially those in the Parskville / Qualicum Beach area, to think of the loft space as a blank slate. Over the years the loft space has had many different functions: been a spare bed room with a futon or murphy bed, a children play room, a man cave, a yoga space, a computer / TV room, a women’s cave, and a teenager’s cave. Your imagination for this room is the limit for the use.
During the renovation we actually considered a major renovation, by taking the rear wall out and turning it into a closed in bedroom. This too, is possible. Don’t let this room deter you from finding a home in this gorgeous house.
As for the property behind the home, on Hirst Ave, it has been vacant and for sale for 10 years intermittently. Zoning on that street is for multi-family. The last known plan for the lot was for a 3-level condo building, not a 10 story apartment building. The backyard of 355 Jensen Ave is large and private. There are well established trees in the yard and room to plant more.
Do not let these two issues stop you! This home is under $550 000, is newly renovated, and has tons of extras to suit many lifestyles. Have you seen what is out there for $550 000? This is a fantastic option.
The real estate market in the Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum (N Qualicum) areas are moving! T’is the season to find the home you deserve. Good luck in your search!
