The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver has just released their latest findings for June that reported sales of detached, attached and apartment properties reached 3,262 – a 9.8-per-cent increase compared to the 2,972 sales in June 2010 – but a 3.4-per-cent decline compared to the 3,377 sales in the previous month of May 2011.

New listings totalled 5,793 in June, a 4.5-per-cent increase compared to June 2010 and 9.8 per cent higher than the 10-year average for June, while residential sales were 7.3 per cent below the ten-year average for sales in June.

The benchmark price for all residential properties (the price of a typical home) in Metro Vancouver increased 8.7 per cent to $630,921 in June 2011 from $580,237 in June 2010, with the largest price increases on the west side of Vancouver and West Vancouver.

“Since the end of May, the benchmark price of a detached home rose more than $147,000 on the west side of Vancouver and over $80,000 in West Vancouver,” Setticasi said. “Detached home prices in Richmond, however, levelled off slightly, declining $25,000 in June.”

Sales of detached homes in June 2011 reached 1,471, an increase of 29.1 per cent from the 1,139 detached sales recorded in June 2010, while the benchmark price for detached properties increased 13.4 per cent from June 2010 to $901,680.

The benchmark price for a detached home on the west side of Vancouver was $2,068,000 in June and in West Vancouver, $1,793,000.

The Fraser Valley board said it received 2,762 new listings in June, a decrease of 12 per cent compared to the 3,153 new listings in June 2010. Total sales declined about one per cent since May, and 12.5 per cent since June 2010.

In June, the benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes was $528,060, an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to $518,355 in June 2010 and a slight drop from May.

Meanwhile, detached single family home sales on Vancouver Island north of Victoria are holding steady, with a one-per-cent decline in June compared to June 2010 and a 1.45 per cent decrease from May.

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board said in a survey that the average price of a detached home was $343,422 in June, down one per cent from $345,269 in June 2010 and down 3.6 per cent from $356,403 in May.

In Victoria, a total of 618 homes were sold in June, up from 572 sales in May and close to the 625 sales in June of last year.

The average price for single-family homes sold in Greater Victoria in June was $629,292, with 23 single family home sales of over $1 million. The average price in June 2010 was $649,280.

Source: Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun

Vancouver Sun June 25, 2011

4763 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver

Type: 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom detached
Size: 5,043 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, 2011: $6.078 million
Listed for: $7.68 million
Sold for: $7.16 million
Sold on: May 17
Days on market: 267
Listing agent: Bryan Yan at Regent Park Realty Inc.
Buyers agent: Bryan Yan at Regent Park Realty Inc.

The big sell: This Point Grey house was totally remodelled in 1992 with an understated elegance. It is on an estate measuring more than 32,000 square feet in an enclave north of Fourth Avenue and close to UBC’s Endowment Lands. Its new design boasts three levels that take advantage of the city and water views. The Italian-style garden has an outdoor, stone swimming pool, hot tub, tennis court and patios. The interior showcases a modern chef’s kitchen with granite countertops, Sub-Zero and Kohler appliances, dark oak wood flooring, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and a sundeck of almost 500 square feet. Tall, mature trees surround the property and provide complete privacy.

4230 196th Street, Langley

Type: 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom detached
Size: 2,519 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, 2011: $505,000
Listed for: $549,900
Sold for: $548,000
Sold on: May 6
Days on market: 6
Listing agent: Jeremy Sutton at RE/MAX Treeland Realty
Buyers agent: Will Rempel at RE/MAX Treeland Realty

The big sell: This Brookswood home is on a 81-by-135-foot lot on a no-through street with designated parkland opposite.The property was built in 1975 and expanded with family conveniences in mind, resulting in a larger kitchen and family room on the main floor, both with sundeck access to the front and rear of the house. Oak is a central theme throughout, and has been incorporated into the staircase design, the crown mouldings, the living area floors and the kitchen cabinets. Noteworthy details include the stained-glass window in the dining area, gas fireplaces on both levels, a double garage with workshop extension and side access for RV parking, and new appliances, windows, furnace and hot water tank, as well as a large, fenced rear garden.

614 East 11th Avenue, Vancouver

Type: 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom detached
Size: 2,283 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, 2011: $769,000
Listed for: $899,000
Sold for: $1 million
Sold on: May 3
Days on market: 6
Listing agent: Patrick Weeks at RE/MAX Select Properties
Buyers agent: Teresa Comeau at RE/MAX Select Realty

The big sell: This 1911 heritage house in the South Main neighbourhood sold for $1 million in just six days. The property provides an attractive combination of old and new. Original claw foot bath tubs, hardwood floors, and wood-trim windows showcase the history of the home, but there’s a nod to 21st-century design, with an open-concept plan on the main level that allows design opportunities for a growing family.As well, the home has been divided and contains a two-bedroom mortgage-helper on the lower floor. The south-facing position allows plenty of light and there is copious backyard space for children, dogs and barbecues.It is close to the popular shops and restaurants of Soma.

2448 Sutton Road, Williams Lake

Type: 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom detached
Size: 3,300 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, 2011: $523,000
Listed for: $569,900
Sold for: $563,900
Sold on: May 3
Days on market: 2
Listing agent: Tanya Rankin at Tanya Rankin Ltd.
Buyer’s agent: Tanya Rankin at Tanya Rankin Ltd.
The big sell: According to agent Tanya Rankin, lakeshore properties such as this secure some of the highest prices in this area. It is easy to see why, as the home is just feet away from the water, and the lure of water-skiing and beach activities. Set on a gently sloping lot, the rancher has a fully finished basement. The main reception rooms – including the master bedroom – are positioned so that the views pour in, and an oversized deck provides a venue for entertaining and summer gatherings. The sellers lived in the property for the past 30 years and there is evident pride of ownership.

2336 Selkirk Drive, Kelowna

Type: 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom detached
Size: 3,335 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, 2011: $570,000
Listed for: $669,000
Sold for: $650,000
Sold on: May 3
Days on market: 85
Listing agent: Krista Suchar at MacDonald Realty Kelowna
Buyer’s agent: Eric Prehofer at MacDonald Realty Kelowna

The big sell: This was a show home built by Dilworth Homes in 2006 on a private lot backing on to the edge of Dilworth Mountain to the north of downtown Kelowna. The interior has a contemporary design with espressocoloured cabinetry – a theme that reoccurs in many rooms throughout the home. An open-concept kitchen – with pendant and recessed lighting, a breakfast bar and Corian countertops -flows into the dining and family rooms, which have floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the expansive valley views below. There are ceramic tile and hardwood floors, carpeting in the bedrooms, a built-in vacuum, two gas fireplaces and balconies. The property has almost a quarter of an acre and has a double garage and parking for further vehicles.

For the full story, please click on Real estate sales in Vancouver and Langley and Real estate sales in Williams Lake and Kelowna

The British Columbia Real Estate Association forecasts that the average residential price in the province will increase 13 per cent to $571,000 this year, before edging back 2.5 per cent to $557,000 in 2012.

In a news release issued today, the BCREA also predicted a moderate increase in housing this year and next.

“After declining 12 per cent in 2010, residential unit sales through the Multiple Listing Service in B.C. are forecast to rise by five per cent to 78,200 units in 2011 and a further three per cent to 80,700 units in 201,” the release said.

However, the BCREA also said that home sales will remain below their 10-year average of 87,600 units both this year and next.

“Home sales will post some modest gains over the next two years,” Cameron Muir, BCREA chief economist, said in the release. “However, positive housing fundamentals like job growth, rising wages and an expanding population base will be somewhat offset by higher borrowing costs over the next eighteen months.”

Source: Vancouver Sun

Vancouver Sun February 26, 2011

Surrey
64 14655 32nd Avenue

Type: townhouse
Size: 2,727 sq. ft., 4 bed, 4 bath
BC Assessment,: $661,000
Listed for: $789,900
Sold for: $779,000
Sold on: Jan. 8
Days on market: 10
Listing agent: Brian Dopson at Homelife Benchmark Realty Walnut Grove
Buyers agent: Jim Titus at Homelife Benchmark Titus Realty

The big sell: One of the advantages of buying a home during the construction phase is the ability to customize the property. This is exactly what the original owners of this 2006 townhouse did by adding an additional $85,000 in upgrades. The result? A house complete with hardwood and slate flooring, top-of-the-line Viking appliances including a built-in fridge, gas stove and warming drawer, a two-level kitchen island, a custom buffet in the dining room, a media room with a theatre-style 92-inch screen and overhead projection, a built-in credenza, a bar area with wine fridge, a seven-zone NuVo sound system, and a stamped concrete parking area. This unit is in the gated community of Elgin Pointe which includes a clubhouse and has walking trails, shops, services and golf courses close by.

Vancouver
6718 Gladstone Street

Type: detached
Size: 2,400 sq. ft., 5 bed, 2 bath
BC Assessment: $711,600
Listed for: $808,000
Sold for: $852,800
Sold on: Jan 9
Days on market: 13
Listing agent: Alan Mah at Park Georgia Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: Craig Newsholme at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty

The big sell: Once derided for the esthetics of their design, Vancouver Specials have recently seen a resurgence in popularity mainly due to their generous-sized rooms and the ability to easily install a secondary suite on the lower floor. This particular property was built in 1967 and has a large living area with separate dining room, a kitchen with additional eating area, a 19-by-11-square-foot recreation room, and hardwood floors in excellent condition. It attracted more than 70 prospective purchasers in the first hour of the open house. Seven offers ensued who, according to listing agent Mah, were attracted by the choice location near Victoria Street and the potential to update the home from its original condition.

Vancouver
2 – 3838 Cypress Street

Type: half duplex
Size: 7,530 sq. ft., 5 bed, 7 bath
BC Assessment: $ 6.344 million
Listed for: $7.588 million
Sold for: $7.138 million
Sold on: Jan 7
Days on market: 24
Listing agent: Julia Lau at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty
Buyers agent: Amy Lau at Multiple Realty Ltd.

The big sell: This property forms one half of Greencroft, the home of a former lieutenant-governor, Eric Hamber (1879 – 1960). Its history is rich: photographs depict Hamber with the Queen, President Roosevelt and other dignitaries. In 2009, the home was completely restored and while the infrastructure is new, the property is resplendent with period features that include oak flooring, antique stained glass windows, five fireplaces, original plasterwork, and intricately carved walnut panelling. The luxurious property occupies more than 7,500 square feet and consists of formal reception rooms, two wine cellars, an oak panelled elevator and an art deco parkade. The attention to detail continues outside with landscaped grounds, a fountain and Corinthian columns.

Quesnel
2009 Eberg Road

Type: detached
Size: 1,890 sq. ft., 4 bed, 2 bath
BC Assessment: $206,500
Listed for: $249,900
Sold for: $235,000
Sold on: Jan 6
Days on market: 59
Listing agent: Leslie Johnson at RE/MAX Quesnel Realty
Buyers agent: Leslie Johnson at RE/MAX Quesnel Realty

The big sell: Country life beckons for the buyers of this Cariboo family home. The property sits on almost seven acres and is located south of the town of Quesnel in the Red Bluff community. It is all set up for horses with a barn, stalls and watering system specifically for the animals. The house itself has four spacious bedrooms, a four-piece bathroom on each floor, a cosy country kitchen complete with dining area, a new roof, a reverse osmosis water system and a sundeck. The property offers privacy and acreage and comes with covered parking.

Read more: Recent property sales in Surrey, Vancouver, and Quesnel

Vancouver Sun October 30, 2010

Vancouver
34 East 18th Avenue

Type: detached, 6 bed, 2 bath
Size: 2,098 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $783,300
Listed for: $1.038 million
Sold for: $1.055 million
Sold on: Aug 24
Days on market: 10
Listing agent: Mario Felicella at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty
Buyers agent: Clair Rockel at Macdonald Realty Ltd.

The big sell: Buyers can be divided into two camps: those who want a project to renovate and those who simply want to move in. This house in Vancouver’s Riley Park neighbourhood would hold tremendous appeal for the latter. Built in 1927, it has been extensively remodelled without losing original character. Essential updates to the roof, furnace, hot water tank and electrics have been undertaken. The home has a self-contained two-bedroom suite downstairs, a large open-plan layout on the main floor, with fir floors, stained glass windows, custom cabinets and stainless steel appliances including a commercial-style gas stove. The southern-exposed garden is well-established with fruit trees.

Burnaby
413 – 9150 University High Street

Type: attached, 3 bed, 3 bath
Size: 1,221 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $N/A
Listed for: $514,000
Sold for: $514,000
Sold on: Aug 20
Days on market: 1
Listing agent: Howard Steiss at Red Dot Real Estate Marketing Ltd.
Buyers agent: Howard Steiss at Red Dot Real Estate Marketing Ltd.

The big sell: This apartment is located in the Origin new-home project scheduled for completion in March 2012. Origin is located on Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby Mountain campus. This suite has in-floor radiant heating, a mix of laminate flooring, carpet and porcelain tile, polished quartz kitchen countertops, Greenlam cabinetry, deep soaker tubs, a walk-in closet off the master bedroom, and two decks. Meeting the neighbours is easy: there will be a large social suite, a handy workshop and all the fitness facilities of SFU, plus myriad walking, hiking and biking trails.

Vancouver
104 – 2137 West 10th Avenue

Type: attached, 1 bed, 1 bath
Size: 669 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $425,000
Listed for: $439,000
Sold for: $429,000
Sold on: Aug 10
Days on market: 49
Listing agent: Lailey Wallace at One Percent Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: Lailey Wallace at One Percent Realty Ltd.

The big sell: This townhouse is a bright address with a southfacing courtyard. The interior is impressive and benefits from some striking upgrades: African Sepeli hardwood floors that flow throughout the property, a central kitchen island with an oak butcher block and granite countertops, an electric fireplace and double sinks in both the kitchen and bathroom. It comes with parking and storage and rentals and pets are allowed. Adera built the building in 2004 so some of the 2-5-10 warranty is still in place.

Powell River
105 – 4580 Joyce Avenue

Type: attached, 2 bed, 1 bath
Size: 1,130 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $172,000
Listed for: $179,900
Sold for: $172,000
Sold on: Aug 31
Days on market: 91
Listing agent: Paige Anderson at Coast Realty Group (Powell River) Ltd.
Buyers agent: Dawn Adaszynksi at Coast Realty Group (Powell River) Ltd.

The big sell: Listing agent Anderson represented this apartment as “the perfect home for people who love to get out of town — no lawn to mow or weeds to pull!” It is in Powell River’s downtown, with conveniences on its doorstep. The home is a ground-level, wheelchair-friendly home, which has been freshly painted, with a new kitchen countertop and sink. Recent laminate flooring adds to the appeal, as does the roomy closet off the master bedroom, a spacious bathroom with a separate tub and shower, extra storage in the ensuite laundry room, and outdoor parking with space for RVs.

Vancouver Sun October 23, 2010

Vancouver
4539 Angus Drive

Type: 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom detached
Size: 4,803 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $2.491 million
Listed for: $3.38 million
Sold for: $3.28 million
Sold on: Aug 12
Days on market: 38
Listing agent: Greg Carros at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
Buyer’s agent: Carole Yang at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

The big sell: Size counts in real estate: This substantial home fits seamlessly into its 80-by-140-foot lot on Angus Drive, one of Vancouver’s premier residential roads. It was completely rebuilt 25 years ago in keeping with the original design, and with sensitivity to the neighbourhood. The home comprises three levels with a floor plan that takes advantage of natural light from the westerly exposure. All the principal reception rooms are spacious, including an entertainment-sized kitchen, living and dining rooms, and a garden level with a walk-in closet, laundry room and a 17-by-26-foot recreation room, perfect for further development. The landscaped garden features plenty of deck areas and a three-car garage.

Vancouver
703 – 1263 Barclay

Type: 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment
Size: 930 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $561,000
Listed for: $549,000
Sold for: $532,000
Sold on: Aug 6
Days on market: 22
Listing agent: Aki Li Foster at Macdonald Realty Ltd.
Buyer’s agent: Lesley Hick at Dexter Associates Realty

The big sell: According to listing agent Aki Foster, one of the main draws of this two-bedroom top-floor unit in the rainscreened Westport Terrace building was the 400-square-foot balcony, which could serve as an outdoor dining area or provide a place for plants. The apartment is in its original 1989 condition, but prospective purchasers were not deterred by the renovations that need to be done, as the attractive layout features high ceilings and plenty of light-filled rooms. The home is in the heart of the West End, and is blocks to shopping and transit and a 10-minute walk to downtown, Stanley Park and English Bay.

BURNABY
313 – 6893 Prenter

Type: 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment
Size: 795 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $274,000
Listed for: $304,900 Sold for: $294,000
Sold on: Aug 14
Days on market: 23
Listing agent: Tom Everitt at ThinkTom.com Realty
Buyer’s agent: Brian Vidas at Sutton Centre Realty

The big sell: This two-bedroom apartment in South Burnaby had several key features that set it apart from other units. The outlook from the covered balcony faces a serene greenbelt area, and the two bedrooms are on opposing sides of the property. The kitchen and living areas are painted in contemporary colours. The home also has an in-suite laundry room and a natural gas fireplace. The unit was unoccupied for the showings, which often can be a disadvantage as prospective buyers struggle to see how furniture can be arranged, but in this case, it enhanced the sleek lines and flow of the property.

Kelowna
2142 Breckenridge Court

Type: 3-bedroom, 5-bathroom detached
Size: 6,073 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment, July 2010: $1.817 million
Listed for: $1.795 million
Sold for: $1.735 million
Sold on: Aug 30
Days on market: 53
Listing agent: Krista Suchar at MacDonald Realty Kelowna
Buyer’s agent: Hermann Riepl at Century 21 Executives Realty Ltd.

The big sell: This property is at the top of its game. Built by SanMarc Custom Homes on over half an acre, it provides panoramic city, lake and mountain views from expansive windows and decks, and offers meticulous attention to detail. The master bedroom suite is far from typical, featuring a fireplace, wet bar, six-piece spa-style ensuite, dressing room, gym, and hot tub on the adjoining deck. The professional kitchen has Sub-Zero, Miele and Dacor appliances. In addition, the home has bespoke cabinetry, five fireplaces, surround sound, sensor awnings, a seven-car garage, and a 4,000-bottle wine cellar.

Read more: Recent real estate sales in Vancouver, Burnaby and Kelowna

Vancouver Sun October 16, 2010

Vancouver
196 West 23rd Avenue

Type: 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, detached
Size: 2,494 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $1.1349 million
Listed for: $1.39 million
Sold for: $1.35 million
Sold on: July 31
Days on market: 6
Listing agent: Linda Hale and Elizabeth Campbell Wride at Dexter Associates Realty
Buyers agent: Ryan Taylor at RE/MAX Real Estate Services

The big sell: This character house received multiple offers and sold in just six days, circumstances that suggest reports of a slowdown in sales recently have to be circulated and heard cautiously. It is not hard to see why this home’s time on market was so short: This 1929 home has an expansive 46-by-148-foot corner lot, large principal rooms, oak hardwood floors, top floor bedrooms with walk-in closets, a basement with a recreation room and a southfacing back porch overlooking a vegetable patch and garage. Situated in the popular, family-oriented Riley Park neighbourhood, this property will be a prime candidate for a renovation or a new-build.

Burnaby
4192 Price Crescent

Type: 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, detached
Size: 2,353 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $602,900
Listed for: $680,000
Sold for: $710,000
Sold on: July 27
Days on market: 8
Listing agent: Tony Eng at Park Georgia Realty Ltd.
Buyers agent: Tony Eng at Park Georgia Realty Ltd.

The big sell: Another home that’s defying trends, this bungalow in South Burnaby Garden Village in original condition sold for $30,000 over the asking price in eight days. It benefits from being on the higher side of the street, and has mountain views. The property has a large lot, with a 60-foot frontage, and a southfacing private rear garden with fencing and lane access to an open double carport with a storage room. The basement has high ceilings and is partly finished with a bedroom, utility room and recreational space, and has a convenient separate entrance. Burnaby’s ratio of park and to residents is one of the highest in North America, and Garden Village carries on this tradition with the newly constructed George McLean Park.

Vancouver
1502 – 1199 Marinaside Crescent

Type: 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment
Size: 1,310 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $863,000
Listed for: $1.12 million
Sold for: $1.075 million
Sold on: July 24
Days on market: 75
Listing agent: Artem August at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty
Buyers agent: Ryan Hawk at TRG — The Residential Group Realty

The big sell: This is an apartment worthy of its unobstructed southfacing views overlooking Quayside Marina. Situated in one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in downtown Vancouver, Concord Pacific’s Aquarius One building boasts a state-of-the-art fitness facility, an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. It is just steps from the seawall, Urban Fare, and the cafes and restaurants that line Marinaside Crescent. The suite is an end unit with hardwood flooring, a kitchen with dark granite countertops and designer cabinetry, two good-sized bedrooms, a den, a solarium and a balcony large enough to accommodate a table and chairs.

Kelowna
607 – 3000 Pandosy Street

Type: 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment
Size: 767 sq. ft.
Listed for: $481,000
Sold for: $481,000
Sold on: Aug. 5
Days on market: 247
Listing agent: Michele Wangler at SOPA Square Discovery Centre
Buyers agent: Michele Wangler at SOPA Square Discovery Centre

The big sell: With an anticipated completion date of spring 2013, construction on Kelowna’s SOPA Square development is underway. Situated in the South Pandosy area and overlooking Lake Okanagan, the project is targeting a gold rating through its LEED certification and its heavy emphasis on sustainability. The development will house retail stores, restaurants and cafes on the street level, with townhouses and tower residences above. The demographic of the buyers so far? According to SOPA Square, baby boomers are snapping up the larger homes, with single professionals and retirees taking the smaller one-bedroom units.

Read more: Recent real estate sales in Vancouver, Burnaby and Kelowna