Vancouver Sun September 25, 2010

Richmond
3120 Bowen Drive

Type: 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom detached
Size: 1,837 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $591,500
Listed for: $699,900
Sold for: $695,000
Sold on: July 19
Days on market: 87
Listing agent: Liz Chapman at One Percent Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: Linda Robins at One Percent Realty Ltd.

The big sell: This split-level in Richmond’s Quilchena neighbourhood had great curb appeal with flowering trees and shrubs in the front garden. Anyone who stopped in would have discovered the house had a new roof, leaded-glass windows, fresh interior paint, a new high-efficiency furnace, hot water tank and alarm system, and a private southfacing back yard with a patio, deck and additional landscaping. The interior consists of three levels: all three bedrooms upstairs; separate reception rooms leading off a 13-by-five-square-foot entrance hall on the main floor; and a family room, laundry and mud room on the lower level. It is opposite Quilchena Golf Course and close to schools, dike and bike trails and parks and transit.

Vancouver
750 East 38th

Type: 5-bedroom, 2-bathroom detached
Size: 2,063 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $560,500
Listed for: $649,000
Sold for: $658,000
Sold on: July 3
Days on market: 25
Listing agent: Lorne Goldman at Macdonald Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: J. Paul Toffoli at TRG – The Residential Group Realty

The big sell: Situated just off Fraser, this 1957 rancher sold for $9,000 over the asking price, perhaps in part because of a rare commodity: a basement that is larger than the main floor and which contains an updated three-bedroom suite, a feature that provides an opportunity for the owner to significantly reduce mortgage payments. The home is on a 33-by-122-square-foot lot. The main level has two bedrooms, a spacious living room and electric fireplace, an open kitchen with granite countertops and separate eating area, and hardwood floors throughout. A resurfaced sun-drenched southfacing deck overlooks the rear garden. This is a quiet stretch of Fraser Street, opposite Mountain View Cemetery, and close to a host of shops just south of 41st Avenue.

Vancouver
208 – 350 East 5th Avenue

Type: 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment
Size: 488 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $167,600
Listed for: $228,000
Sold for: $218,000
Sold on: July 8
Days on market: 3
Listing agent: Karin Morris at Royal LePage Northshore
Buyers agent: Connie Buna at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

The big sell: This studio apartment proves that small can be beautiful. Over the course of a nine-year ownership, the seller transformed this unit by removing kitchen and bedroom walls, and creating an efficient open-plan concept with custom cabinetry, new appliances, a corner gas fireplace and wool carpeting. Further attributes include a southfacing balcony with a quiet, treed and landscaped outlook, same-floor laundry facilities, a bike room, storage, parking, and low monthly maintenance fees. It is in the sought-after neighbourhood of SOMA (South Main), with the new Mount Pleasant Community Centre, coffee shops, restaurants, shopping and transportation on its doorstep.

Silverton
318 Lake Avenue

Type: 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom detached
Size: 1,357 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $188,700
Listed for: $225,000
Sold for: $220,000
Sold on: Sept 10
Days on market: 121
Listing agent: Bill Lander at Coldwell Banker Rosling Real Estate Ltd.
Buyers agent: Cheryl Black at Coldwell Banker Rosling Real Estate Ltd.

The big sell: According to listing agent Bill Lander, the Silverton/New Denver real estate market continues to defy the West Kootenay area pricing slide, as demonstrated by this historic Silverton home with Valhalla Mountain views: it sold for 98 per cent of its listed price. Built around 1920 on a 75-by-105-square-foot lot, the property oozes charm. A 408-square-foot separate studio provides a space for artistic endeavours or it could be used as a guest cabin.

Read more: Real estate sales in Richmond, Vancouver and Silverton

Vancouver Sun September 18, 2010

BURNABY
9236 University Crescent

Type: 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom townhouse
Size: 970 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $321,900
Listed for: $319,900
Sold for: $310,000
Sold on: June 29
Days on market: 22
Listing agent: Robert Crowe at RE/MAX Real Estate Services
Buyers agent: Keith Volz at Royal LePage — Coronation Park

The big sell: According to listing realtor Robert Crowe, this is a good example of how staging can help a property by optimizing the available space. Having previously been on the market for 351 days with another agent, this townhouse in the Novo 2 development was re-listed and the main floor staged, resulting in a sale in just 22 days. It is a two-level suite with a large private patio that provides space for container gardening and entertaining. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, with another bathroom on the main floor. The complex is part of the residential development at Simon Fraser University and provides recreational facilities inside with a gym, billiards room and lounge, as well as outside with myriad walking, hiking and mountain bike trails around Burnaby Mountain.

Vancouver
4 — 1945 West 12th

Type: 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom townhouse
Size: 1,132 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $444,200
Listed for: $669,000
Sold for: $675,000
Sold on: July 6
Days on market: 6
Listing agent: Lailey Wallace at One Percent Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: Patricia Lok at RE/MAX Select Properties

The big sell: This two-level townhouse had a complete renovation within a converted heritage-style building, resulting in a sale $6,000 over the asking price. It has soaring ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, wooden banisters and an abundance of skylights, as well as stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, custom-made European cabinets, hardwood floors, and two spa-style bathrooms. A loft area overlooking the living room would be a perfect spot for an artist’s studio or guest bedroom, and an upper deck provides ample space for patio furniture and relaxing mountain views. The piece de resistance? A large 13-by-14-square-foot master bedroom housed in a turret.

Vancouver
4448 West Sixth

Type: 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom detached
Size: 2,931 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $1.318 million
Listed for: $1.689 million
Sold for: $1.65 million
Sold on: June 23
Days on market: 14
Listing agent: Sue Johnson and Sarah Thompson at Dexter Associates Realty
Buyers agent: Jennifer Sanderson at Century 21 In Town Realty

The big sell: On the market for just two weeks, this character family home is in a sought-after neighbourhood in one of Point Grey’s most coveted blocks, just steps from Trimble Park and Queen Mary school. Over the years, the property has received some upgrades, but still retains elements of its 1925 origins with solid oak flooring, walnut inlay, and leaded glass built-ins. The open-plan country kitchen has a centre island that overlooks the 20-by-11-square-foot family room and beyond to the south-facing rear garden accessed through french doors. The lower level has a bedroom, bathroom, 24-by-14-square-foot recreation room and laundry facilities, plus a separate entrance.

Read more: Real estate sales in Burnaby and Vancouver

Vancouver Sun September 11, 2010

WEST VANCOUVER
1390 Ottawa Ave

Type: 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, detached
Size: 3,068 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $1.356 million
Listed for: $1.798 million
Sold for: $1.73 million
Sold on: June 24
Days on market: 67
Listing agent: John Jennings at Prudential Sussex Realty
Buyers agent: Julie Miller at Prudential Sussex Realty

The big sell: Five offers were received for this West Vancouver home with attractions that included a remodelled interior and a substantial 80-by-297-square-foot lot. The property’s open-plan layout showcases hardwood floors, designer paint colours, crown mouldings, a new CaesarStone kitchen island, new bathrooms, a Lennox two-zone heating and air filtration system, and a media room with a built-in speaker system and surround sound. Complementing the features of the house is the south-facing back garden, which has been beautifully landscaped and contains sandblasted concrete stairs that lead to a level lawn complete with enviable practice facilities for the sports enthusiast: a putting green, a pitcher’s mound and a lighted sports court.

SURREY
14124 78th Avenue

Type: 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom, detached
Size: 2,310 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $405,400
Listed for: $489,900
Sold for: $474,000
Sold on: June 21
Days on market: 7
Listing agent: Jerry Heed at Valley Pacific Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: Sandeep Grewal and Sukh Sangha at Homelife Select Realty

The big sell: With the assistance of two open houses, this East Newton property sold the first weekend it was available. Built in 1977, it has undergone a series of updates including a new kitchen with new appliances, a hot water tank, laminate flooring, a new sundeck, easy care vinyl siding, and new garage doors. The generous-sized reception rooms on the upper main floor make for comfortable living and include an 18-by-15-square-foot living room and a 16-by-12-square-foot kitchen. A large, wraparound covered sundeck with mountain views ensures year-round enjoyment, as does the south-facing, newly-fenced back yard. In addition, there is a spacious 960-square-foot two-bedroom, above-ground mortgage-helper suite.

VANCOUVER
401 – 988 Richards

Type: 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom apartment
Size: 1,769 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $934,000
Listed for: $1.085 million
Sold for: $1.08 million
Sold on: July 3
Days on market: 39
Listing agent: Lester Soo and Henry Fung of Sutton Group — West Coast Realty
Buyers agent: Su-Marie Baird at Dexter Associates Realty

The big sell: Yaletown’s Tribeca Lofts were built in 2006 and were inspired by Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood loft designs. This unit boasts soaring 19-foot ceilings with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, and two bedrooms with walk-in closets on the mezzanine level. The open design — a signature of most lofts — is a perfect vehicle to display the custom gourmet chef’s kitchen with appliances by Sub-Zero, Gaggenau and ASKO. It also includes a wine cooler, built-in coffee/cappuccino maker, steam and convection ovens, a nine-foot long kitchen island that seats seven people, and quartz stone countertops that are framed by sleek white glass cabinet fronts and a glass backsplash. Engineered exotic Brazilian lyptus hardwood floors flow through the entire loft.

TERRACE
4808 Straume

Type: 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, detached
Size: 2,236 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $159,100
Listed for: $179,900
Sold for: $175,000
Sold on: Aug 17
Days on market: 12
Listing agent: John Evans and Kelly Bulleid at RE/MAX of Terrace
Buyers agent: Dave Materi at RE/MAX of Terrace

The big sell: According to listing agent John Evans, the selling points for this Terrace home included its choice location near schools and downtown, a quick possession date, a competitive price, some recent renovations that included new flooring, a four-piece family bathroom, a new furnace and fresh paint. The property is in the heart of the Horseshoe area of town, with a lot that measures 65 by 132 square feet, providing the buyers the opportunity to construct a shop in the back yard. Evans says that house prices have stabilized since dropping approximately 10 per cent from last year’s prices, with the majority of interest for Terrace real estate coming from local buyers or those who have transferred to the area for job opportunities.

Read more: Real estate sales in West Vancouver, Surrey, Vancouver, Terrace