Canada’s economic outlook downgraded

The OECD has cut Canadian growth forecasts and now predict growth of less than 1 percent for the year:

Canada’s economy will expand by just 0.8 per cent in 2008, down from the 1.2 per cent forecast last spring, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development projected in a revised economic outlook Tuesday. That’s also less than the 1.1 per cent now projected by the Finance Department.

The U.S. economy, however, will expand by 1.8 per cent, up from the 1.2 per cent projected in the spring, and the G7 countries will grow on average by 1.4 per cent, unchanged from the spring projection.

The only G7 country that will post weaker growth than Canada is Italy, now projected to expand by 0.1 per cent.

RSS 2.0 comments feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

75 Responses to “Canada’s economic outlook downgraded”

  1. 1
  2. dorker Says:

    So if the US economy is expanding again, how is it that we think they are in recession? Even Canada is predicted to still grow, albeit at one of the slowest rates. I’m not suggesting that housing prices won’t slump as they have in the US during the growthtimes, but we don’t seem destined for the economic peril that others have suggested, at least not according to this article.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  3. 2
  4. patriotz Says:

    Depends on what you mean be “we”.

    Canada as a whole does not have a -8% savings rate and a housing bubble as severe as any US state, or a #1 industry directly tied to US housing.

    BC does.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  5. 3
  6. exx Says:

    Decline in home sales hits economic growth

    Slowing British Columbia real estate sales are shaving a slice off a sizable chunk of the provincial economy.

    The B.C. Real Estate Association released a report on Tuesday estimating that the 102,000 homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service in 2007 accounted for almost $2 billion in value for the provincial economy, and supported some 28,000 jobs.

    Each sale transaction, the report estimated, triggered $27,751 in spending from real-estate commissions, renovations, legal fees, moving costs and taxes.

    However, with 2008 real estate sales 24 per cent below 2007 levels, logic suggests the drop in activity is denting that economic impact.

    The B.C. Real Estate Association for 2007 estimated that every 100 MLS home sales generated $2 million for the economy and supported 28 full-time jobs.

    Below figures posted by Inventory on Chipman’s site – we didn’t even crack 1 billion, let alone 2. yikes.

    August 2008 REBGV SFH+TH+APT
    Gross Sales 897,510,715 (-56%)

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  7. 4
  8. Macronomics Says:

    There are lies, damn lies, and then there are statistics (from BCREA).

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  9. 5
  10. Vansanity Says:

    Don’t forget that the US basically avoided the classification of a recession through their ingenious political tactic of rebating 1% GDP back to all Americans which then gave a slight “bump up” in the numbers. The recession clock starts all over and will take 6 straight months of negative output before being declared a recession. Not a bad short-term strategy by the Administration, strictly a political move though.

    BOC held interest rates the same today, dollar has shot up as a result. I guess combating inflation isn’t a priority right now, I even heard talk of a rate cut later this year. If that happens it will not make much of a difference to the housing market locally because of afordability, consumer confidence and the removal of 40 year 0 down mortgages which will have more of an impact than any rate cut, IMO.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  11. 6
  12. YLTNBoomerang Says:

    Question about assessed value for new units:

    I understand that the assessed value for a brand new apartment is initially set at the purchased price of the unit (this is what happened to me on my last two pre-sales I bought). With this in mind, I found the following twho units that are now listed under appraised value. Even more interesting is that the second one has never been lived in on good ol’ Regiment Square meaning that the assessed value is probably what the flipper paid – can you say negative equity???

    v724211 assessed:603000, list 599000
    v724337 assessed:581000, list 568000

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  13. 7
  14. jesse Says:

    Are you sure assessed equals purchase price? If you underpay or overpay it doesn’t reduce your property tax compared to like units. Regardless, I wouldn’t use assessed value to determine a fair purchase price. It’s there to tell you what prices probably were over a year ago and even then many assessments are disputed anyways because the owners know better; often it’s disputed to decrease the assessed value. No irony there.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  15. 8
  16. Gadwin Says:

    REBGV stats released. Buh bye specuvestors:

    May detached benchmark: $771,250
    June detached benchmark: $765,654
    July detached benchmark: $753,165
    August detached benchmark: $737, 985

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  17. 9
  18. Macronomics Says:

    At $737K, you’d still make money if you bought today and rent it out for $30K during the Olympics…

    NOT!

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  19. 10
  20. Potato Hat Says:

    A 2% drop in a month? This market turned around scary-fast.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  21. 11
  22. DaveD Says:

    One of the places I monitor house rental prices is here: http://classified.van.net/clas......nsf/index where I track North Van (via the House Rentals section of the North Shore News).

    Typically for the past couple of years there have been between 10 and 25 houses for rent at any given time.

    I ran the search today for the first time in a few weeks and found 75 houses for rent. Rather a substantial bump up.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  23. 12
  24. chip Says:

    “Don’t forget that the US basically avoided the classification of a recession through their ingenious political tactic of rebating 1% GDP back to all Americans which then gave a slight “bump up” in the numbers.”

    Except, as Friedman once noted, consumers tend to save most of these short-term rebates, not spend them. That would explain the small bump in consumer spending during the period.

    The US didn’t get 3+% GDP growth in the last quarter from rebate checks. It came from surging exports, as the data clearly shows. As I’ve been saying since the beginning of the year, the data is not bearing out the predictions of recession, especially a severe one. Take the factory orders today. Not only did they beat expectations, but months of inventory fell and capital goods spending — an indicator of future investment — jumped over 6%.

    The US isn’t out of the woods but it’s doing pretty good. Thankfully I didn’t listen to conventional wisdom and bought US dollars with my GBP earlier this year. That’s a more than 10% gain on a currency that everyone wrote off as toast.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  25. 13
  26. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    really big money going down!

    http://tinyurl.com/682exw

    Anderson confirmed on Tuesday what had been rumored in the $2 trillion industry for days — the Ospraie Fund lost 27 percent in August, forcing him to close it with a crippling 39 percent loss for the year.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  27. 14
  28. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    #
    120
    Michael Randallbard Says:
    March 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
    Drachen

    Gold is going to $1,650 within the next 12 months. Buy some today or lose out on easy money. BTW, what would YOU invest in now? This should be interesting to hear.

    Oh yes most investors are just like me, making about 5 to 10 grand
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .PER DAY

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  29. 15
  30. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    7
    bdk Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
    Laguna Parkside (1925 Alberni) has reduced the asking prices by about 10% and there is an extra $5,000 commission in it for realtor who brings in a sale, they have been sitting on the market for 364 days and no takers.
    There are also vacant units for rent in there for $3k-4k that no world class renters want to pay for either.

    Now why would all these wisemans choose not to “buy our own place what we need is a monthly payment and some money for food and entertainment”

    Does this mean no one wants to spend over $6,000 a month to own a 1050 sq ft unit on a busy street in the west end? Where are these manual labourers who’re making $240,000 like Krissh and Tom Vu who want to be world class and ” Desire:when we know we have to live our life in this city forever”
    Forever or until the warehouse that Krissh works in lays him off and he ends up standing in line at Labour Ready, hoping to make $10 an hour to shovel dirt in the rain.

    Go Krissh go!
    Please stick around as the market runs out of buyers and the onslaught of new units hit the market.

    Bill Eden figured 95% of the Sophia buyers were speculators.
    A wiseman told me that 75% of downtown units were purchased by speculators.

    This means krissh and dosh better hurry up and start buying because no one else is.

    “When we reach up to here no more fuss just beautiful life is above to begun rest is a history start of the new day.”

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  31. 16
  32. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    Dosh Says:
    February 19th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
    Nobody wants to live in the US, thats why their prices are down. Its all about demand, and demand for canadian property, Vancouver in specific is what people want.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  33. 17
  34. anne.w. Says:

    I was just talking with a man who has a house in Guildford and he’s having a heck of a time selling it. Had one offer through a private sale and the buyer walked. He kept the deposit, but he’s still not too happy. The next offer was from someone offering the same price he’d paid for the property 2 years ago. He was really upset and turned that right down, as he felt it was ridiculous.

    What are those 5 stages of grief again? Starts with denial, then anger…. next comes bargaining, depression… acceptance.

    I think the sellers have been in denial, but are moving through anger now. :-)

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  35. 18
  36. blueskies Says:

    Vancouver in specific is what people want.

    except they don’t given current sales figures of -70+%
    YOY Aug 07-08….
    kinda blows your argument outta the water no?

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  37. 19
  38. No surprise Says:

    If there were never to be another recession, and if interest rates stayed at zero, and unemployment went to zero, the bubble would eventually blow up, just the same.

    It so happens that the economy is souring, inventory is at an all time low, demand is exhausted, and borrowed demand from the future has been sucked up as well, sales are down by50% affordability has hit the wall, and things are unraveling a little quicker, that all.

    More intense pain, for longer than usual up ahead.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  39. 20
  40. No surprise Says:

    should have read “inventory at record high”

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  41. 21
  42. condohype Says:

    Breaking news! Tsur Somerville admits sales have fallen off a cliff. Don’t believe me? Look under the headline.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  43. 22
  44. arit Says:

    No surprise

    No surprise,

    here as well,

    except

    the velocity of the unfolding

    Regards

    arit

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  45. 23
  46. Scamcouver Says:

    Take a look at this listing:

    http://tinyurl.com/6prfto

    I was walking through the area in early May and was curious how these multi-level one bedrooms looked. I believe it was the owner and his mother hanging around showing the place. List price then was 629K; now 498K. The owner gave me the following line, in the context of me owning it: “You could probably sell it in a year and make money.”
    I discretely gave my girlfriend, who was with me at the time, an elbow nudge. Nothing more needed to be said between us about the audacity of this specuvestor. Guess his “prediction” is not going to pan out.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  47. 24
  48. jesse Says:

    “sales have fallen off a cliff”
    That confirms it. Tsur is an idiot. I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he was spinning under orders from his bosses but no way would they let him say that. On the plus side, I’m glad to see academic freedom is alive and well. On the minus side it puts into question Sauder’s other teachers, some of which are actually good.

    Is that really the quality of academic thought at Sauder? I’d really like to know.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  49. 25
  50. patriotz Says:

    I wouldn’t use assessed value to determine a fair purchase price.

    Nor would I. The assessed value is just an estimate of market price, in other words what the latest greater fool has paid for a similar property, on the assessment date. A fair purchase price is based on fundamentals – what the property would rent for.

    Assessed value is useful, however, to see trends in market price. Individual assessments may be off the mark, but if you see asking prices below assessment across the board, you know the market is in trouble.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  51. 26
  52. Thums up2 Says:

    BUY WHILE TECHNICIAN TO SET UP NEXT LEG IS BUSY

    *Total inventory of 17,950 is down 6.2 per cent from July.
    *$3600 / 3br – 1450sf 2 Levels 3 Bedroom Penthouse PostingID: 826376447

    *“Buyers are SMART and Sellers are FOOL”-.Admit Lorne Goldman and Tsur Somerville.

    Current score: 0

    Reply to this comment
  53. 27
  54. Suggestion for the pimps Says:

    The only thing left to do now is to schedule a Bill Good show.

    Have a panel of impartial “experts” tell us about how we are land locked, and have an acute shortage of land which is coveted by billionaires world over and how Vancouver is a world class city.

    Then have some realtors stack the phone lines and phone in from the Heartland to tell Vancouverites not to panic because the rich Albertans are buying everything in sight.

    And if anyone brings up the affordability issue, just tell them to stop having lattes, to save money.

    And oh yeah the Olympics are coming.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  55. 28
  56. JR Says:

    Tsur Sommerville’s counterpart in California is Chris Thornberg. They both follow RE, they are both economists, they are (or were until recently) both attached to academia; however, there the similarity ends. I read where Chris recently stated “forget sub-prime, ALT-A etc. as the cause of falling prices; prices are falling because they got too freaking high”.

    Hey Tsur, Pastrick, Cameron et al. Is there a lesson here?

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  57. 29
  58. patriotz Says:

    Hey rich New Yorkers! Wanna condo in Montreal? Only $1,995,000!

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09.....ref=slogin

    I mean, it’s so much more exciting than a mansion in Westmount for the same price:

    http://www.mls.ca/redirect.asp.....=MT1462113

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  59. 30
  60. patriotz Says:

    Hey Tsur, Pastrick, Cameron et al. Is there a lesson here?

    For sure. If you don’t want to lose your job like Thornberg did (UCLA Anderson Forecast), just keep on saying what your bosses want to hear.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  61. 31
  62. Thums up2 Says:

    “prices are falling because they got too freaking high”

    no!no!you are absolutely wrong,Actually bats are on break and “fool sellers” are joining them to tell the idiots that prices are falling but “smart buyers”are doing the real math that’s why they are SMART BUYERS.

    Current score: 0

    Reply to this comment
  63. 32
  64. beatstreet Says:

    Regarding the breaking news posted by Condohype:

    “Somerville added that prices reflect more than just the balance of supply and demand, in which buyers currently have the advantage: They also reflect the expectations of buyers”

    This is not a buyers market! If a transaction takes place now its advantage seller. Buyers market is down the road.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  65. 33
  66. JR Says:

    Point taken Patrioz. We’ll have to hope for either Tsur’s or Pastrick’s dismissal, so either one or both of them can say what they really think, a la Thornberg. Mind you, a reversal of fortune in their respective jobs would no doubt significantly heighten their candor and objectivity. This in turn would disqualify them from the list of usual suspects; those solicited for their opinions by our local media.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  67. 34
  68. SC Says:

    I doubt there will be buyers at $450,000. Monthly maintenance is $368! and on top of that, the 2 bedroom has NO PARKING!

    “23Scamcouver Says:

    September 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
    Take a look at this listing:

    http://tinyurl.com/6prfto

    I was walking through the area in early May and was curious how these multi-level one bedrooms looked. I believe it was the owner and his mother hanging around showing the place. List price then was 629K; now 498K. The owner gave me the following line, in the context of me owning it: “You could probably sell it in a year and make money.” ”

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  69. 35
  70. JR Says:

    Addendum to my previous post. I just watched a clip of this evening’s CTV news. The erstwhile spokesperson from CMHC acknowledged that prices are cooling (who knew?. Don’t panic, however; she opined “we’re not expecting further price declines, just more moderate price increases in the three to four percent per year range” (or words to this effect). The really sad thing is that most people will believe her. I can envision her in a past life as the deck chair attendant on the Titanic.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  71. 36
  72. Vansanity Says:

    Those buildings are absolute shit. Don’t take my word for it, go check them out yourself. Like many buildings downtown nowadays, cheap materials on top of more cheap construction, like non-square, cracked, porous slabs.

    I have been inside so many of these buildings through work and more and more I keep finding units where nothing is square, I mean nothing! These guys are building these crap shacks as fast as possible, standards? Pffft, no time for standards or quality.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  73. 37
  74. Patiently Waiting Says:

    Earlier on the news (forget which one) a Sauder Prof by the name of Hamilton said prices might drop 10% over two years, some condos maybe more.

    I think Sommerville has been replaced by a new liar.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  75. 38
  76. patriotz Says:

    We’ll have to hope for either Tsur’s or Pastrick’s dismissal, so either one or both of them can say what they really think, a la Thornberg.

    If Somerville is tenured, he has no excuse for not speaking his mind right now. That’s why we have tenure. If he isn’t, the blame ultimately lies with his employers, i.e. UBC and the provincial government, which is using our tax money to pay for this nonsense.

    Anyone know?

    As for Pastrick, he’s just a professional corporate flack, so I wouldn’t expect him to be objective either now or in the future. The real issue is that his employers, the credit unions, are not acting in the best interests of their membership. But that’s an issue for them to resolve really.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  77. 39
  78. Patiently Waiting Says:

    http://cuer.sauder.ubc.ca/faculty_hamilton.html

    Sommerville’s replacement.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  79. 40
  80. Patiently Waiting Says:

    I drove around Coquitlam Centre today. The number of condo buildings in various stages of construction is truly mind blowing.

    A friend of mine had to leave her job for health problems. She has drained all her savings including RRSPs, but she is still trying to keep her Coquitlam condo. I don’t have the heart to point out the obvious to her. :(

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  81. 41
  82. patriotz Says:

    That’s just heartbreaking. RRSP’s are now protected against creditors in bankruptcy. She should have just walked away.

    http://www.bankruptcycanada.co.....ptions.htm

    The same thing has been going on in the US with IRA’s.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  83. 42
  84. jesse Says:

    “RRSP’s are now protected against creditors in bankruptcy.”

    They already were in some provinces. RRSPs could be judgement proof anyways if set up properly. On the other side, do you think banks are ignoring this? Guess what is longer going to be assumed as potential collateral when making a home loan. This could put even further downward pressure on house prices.

    The other funny part is many raided their RRSPs to buy property. Always be optimistic about these things!

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  85. 43
  86. Dave Says:

    As for Pastrick, he’s just a professional corporate flack, so I wouldn’t expect him to be objective either now or in the future. The real issue is that his employers, the credit unions, are not acting in the best interests of their membership. But that’s an issue for them to resolve really.

    Pastrick is a genuine individual. He is far from being a professional corporate flack. He states what he sees and he backs it up with good solid data. Not only that, he hasn’t wavered on the source of his data or methods for years. He is as consistent as they come. Further, he has been pretty accurate in the last decade on predicting prices.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  87. 44
  88. Batch #44 Says:

    JR,

    I was one of the witness in elimentary school when all students were checking their results those who passed they were presenting flowers to their teachers and those who were failed some of them did show some guts to throw dust in teachers head.

    Moral of the story is that your comment tells me you are one of those loser who missed the boat you fucking idiot.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  89. 45
  90. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    Hmm, the only person with the name Dave reserved is also Dave @ Revnyou

    Thanks for the unbiased, untrue, wanna be realtor/mortgage broker speak.
    I’m sure your wife is proud of you for being so productive.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  91. 46
  92. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    The typical Metro Vancouver detached home sold for $737,985 in August, down 4.3 per cent from May. The typical apartment, at $374,366, was down 3.9 per cent. The typical townhouse, at $463,433, was down 3.2 per cent.

    Sales in the Fraser Valley market dropped 48 per cent in August to 910 units, compared with 1,763 units in the same month a year ago.

    Attention hairstylist/warehouse workers and all wanna be donald trump who’ve leveraged themselves into bankruptcy.
    Stop being so bitter you made your bed and if all goes well you’ll be discharged from bankruptcy in seven years.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  93. 47
  94. betamax Says:

    “Pastrick is a genuine individual.”

    Gosh, that sounds impressive but means nothing.

    “he has been pretty accurate in the last decade on predicting prices”

    LOL. So were the other bulls, predicting “up” consistently, but that’s changing now.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  95. 48
  96. Brittanny Says:

    Comment #44- Now at the “anger” stage.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  97. 49
  98. jesse Says:

    “the only person with the name Dave reserved is also Dave @ Revnyou”

    I’m pretty sure they’re different personalities and almost definitely different people altogether.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  99. 50
  100. Drachen Says:

    Brittanny

    I think, ‘Bitch #44′ is Satv/thumbsup/Krrish. Finally he’s picked a name that suits his personality.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  101. 51
  102. Batch #55 Says:

    One of the adminstrator was Lhao where store volume was down a bit however compare to 2007,Prices are up compare to 1991.Dear sir Tsur Somerville could you please join the blogs and show the bloggers way of thunder.

    Brittanny,

    Dummers like Strataman has paid almost $144,000 in rent with in 2year 8 months you would be counting in decades to come.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  103. 52
  104. batch is satv Says:

    Batch/Bitch =

    http://vancouvercondo.info/for.....3&t=48

    No point calling him an idiot he knows.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  105. 53
  106. bdk Says:

    Did anyone else hear that Polygon is their upcoming projects?

    low affordability, job cuts, recession =?

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  107. 54
  108. bdk Says:

    canceling

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  109. 55
  110. Drachen Says:

    BDK

    “canceling”

    I’m glad you added that word, I was puzzling over your post and wondering if you were trying to compete with Krrish for the “Least Comprehensible English of the Year” (LCEY or Leaky) award.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  111. 56
  112. jesse Says:

    “Pastrick is a genuine individual. He is far from being a professional corporate flack.”

    I get that sense as well but I disagree with many of his conclusions. I wonder, should his analysis be proven wrong in due course, will he come clean and admit his mistakes? I genuinely think he will. Hopefully he doesn’t pull the old hoocoodanode line because the room is chalked full with 800 pound gorillas.

    I would love for Pastrick to start a dialogue on one of these blogs outlining his position on the future of the housing market and have a helthy debate.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  113. 57
  114. Clam Chowderhead Says:

    Polygon isn’t cutting any of there future projects, they have reorganized internally.
    In fact Luma located in burnaby will be moving ahead very shortly, followed by a couple of new tower in the Tri-city area.

    Bosa did just cancel the trinity tower project on the site of St Marys, but that was because of issues with the city of New West not due to market conditions.

    Cheers.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  115. 58
  116. pinocchio123 Says:

    Speaking of Luma, there is Luna in Queensborough, Luma in Burnaby (I guess because Luna was already taken…) Bella on Edmonds St… I find all this “italian” naming quite funny, actually.
    Soon they will cal them places names like “Antipasto”, “Gorgonzola” or “Porca Puttana”
    WTF is up with that?
    And what is “LUMA” anyway???

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  117. 59
  118. DEFAULT NAME Says:

    Luma – magic mushroom inspired class of characters in Super Mario Galaxy.

    …at least, that’s the first thing that I associated with it.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  119. 60
  120. jesse Says:

    “Polygon isn’t cutting any of there future projects, they have reorganized internally.”

    To the tune of 25% or whatever it was? Sounds like pretty aggressive productivity improvements to maintain what you are implying is the same level of business as before.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  121. 61
  122. Clam Chowderhead Says:

    You do know that Polygon isn’t a construction company, it’s a development company that has a staff of about 20 people right?

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  123. 62
  124. Bluesman Says:

    I heard a cbc radio interview this morning between Rick Cluff and a local realtor who were discussing the auction of ocean view properties at Pender Harbour that took place yesterday. Well, apparently two of the properties went for 2/3 of list price and one went for less than 1/2 of the list price! Rick Cluff was saying this is unreal (I think he mentioned one time that his wife is a realtor in South Surrey).

    Well, the realtor being interviewed said this IS the regular market — that the past 5 years have been abnormal. Apparently the developer was just happy to be rid of the properties — hasn’t sold anything since March. Wish I could remember the name of the realtor who was interviewed. Did anybody else hear it?

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  125. 63
  126. Bluesman Says:

    From yesterday’s news on cbc.ca:

    http://www.cbc.ca/canada/briti.....-drop.html

    “The summer season is traditionally slow, but both Watt and Eviston said August was the slowest month for real estate since 1998.”

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  127. 64
  128. james Says:

    The specuvestor/flipper I know is still trying to sell. The realtot claims 3 offers are inbound but it must be a sham of some type. Anyway they plan on buying again right away. I tried to warn this person. I really did.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  129. 65
  130. Bluesman Says:

    Woohoo! I found the radio interview. Well, actually it seems like it was a news clip, not an interview at all. Apologies to Rick Cluff. I was a bit sleepy when it came on at 5 a.m.

    Go to this link and when you see
    Complete shows from the past week (in real audio): click on Thursday. It’s the first news item.

    http://www.cbc.ca/earlyedition/

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  131. 66
  132. jesse Says:

    “You do know that Polygon isn’t a construction company, it’s a development company that has a staff of about 20 people right?”

    Yes and it sounds like they are doing less with less or the same with less. Not sure which one.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  133. 67
  134. Bluesman Says:

    I don’t know what happened to my third post of the day, but what I was saying is that I found the cbc radio news story of the Pender Harbour auction yesterday. It is at

    http://www.cbc.ca/earlyedition/

    After you see:
    Complete shows from the past week (in real audio):
    click on Thursday.

    It’s the first news story. Turns out it wasn’t an interview with Rick Cluff after all (sorry Rick if you’re reading this). It also turns out the realtor who said we are entering a normal market is Todd Allen.

    Cheers to Todd for telling it like it is!
    http://www.homesalesvanbc.com/

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  135. 68
  136. bdk Says:

    So if Polygon laying off “25%” of their staff isn’t a sign that the market has tanked then what does it mean?
    Reorganization isn’t something you hear about when the market is going well plus Polygon has deep pockets.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  137. 69
  138. DonkeyXote Says:

    Clam Chowderhead/#44

    How did you get this job??

    I tried to get a gig like yours (applied to a craigslist add – some real estate company looking for a blogger) but no luck with that. Suppose I’ll just stick with the construction work for now.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  139. 70
  140. JB Says:

    Scramble for cash as central banks dry up

    http://business.timesonline.co.....656321.ece

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  141. 71
  142. Clam Chowderhead Says:

    A gig like mine is hard to get, Grouse mountain already has someone to feed the bears, maybe the Aldergrove zoo is hiring?

    Besides I haven’t heard that Polygon laid off 25% of it’s workers. Pretty sure that’s another internet rumour like the one about a month ago stating Concord was in trouble and had stopped work on Coopers Point. Which turned out to be false.
    There’s enough real news out there for the bears no need to make up stuff.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  143. 72
  144. DonkeyXote Says:

    Lol – fair enough Clam. But as construction is as cyclical as forestry, mining, or any industry that is strongly affected by markets, it will turn in the opposite direction in time (months; years; whatever). Probably people here would say that it has already.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  145. 73
  146. krisssh3 Says:

    BUY YOUR TICKETS/WATCH THE SHOW

    well all not that bad there are lots of projects,lots of new things bringing new era,like concrete construction with 2/5/10 its like money matter more money more show with millions you can steal the show.
    Floors
    choice’s are laminate floor,bamboo laminate floor,hardwood floor,polished concrete floor.

    Bath rooms
    Soaker bath tub etc.and proclain tiles.
    Kitchen
    stainless steel appliances

    Exterior
    expensive glass to maximize and clear views.and awesome envelope’s

    that’s all money matter

    A condo unit sold for 7.5 million last year in coal harbour.

    some condo are being sold for $2k per sqft.

    best above all affordable was smart living its kind of cheap price and lots to save through life time as this building design to cut maintenance and save lots of utility and save lots and lots

    all units are facing court yard

    all resident walk through terace on the back of units to enter in units.

    elevaters are nicely placed along the back lane.
    these architects will earn lots of praise.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  147. 74
  148. bdk Says:

    The Polygon rumour came from a reliable source give it a few weeks and we’ll see.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
  149. 75
  150. Clam Chowderhead Says:

    It doesn’t take a few weeks if 25% of the company was let go, it would be known across the city in a couple of days if not less. You underestimate how long people would wait until they would start calling old friends that work for other companies asking for a job. That isn’t happening.

    Current score: 0
    Reply to this comment
Customize your Avatar by registering your account email at gravatar.com