Untimely mentioned at a time of increased global uncertainty, the Great Sweatered One Bob Rennie has unleashed a new salvo in his Millennium Water Village at False Creek marketing campaign:
We’re kicking off a brand new promotion tomorrow—an amazing move-in package of essentials for every buyer—it’s everything you’ll need for life at The Village!* The package includes:
A hybrid bicycle – for your 5KM ride along the seawall to Stanley Park
A portable BBQ – for Saturday’s BBQ with the in-law’s, on your balcony or at Hinge Park
A one-year Aquabus ferry pass – for a last minute trip to Granville Island or Yaletown
A single person kayak – get to know the neighbourhood sea life
A year’s worth of one-zone Translink FareCards – the skytrain is only 5 minutes away
A coffee per day for a year at Terra Breads Café – just downstairs
A pair of running shoes – run the seawall in style
A year’s worth of groceries from Urban Fare – an elevator ride away
A year’s membership to Modo Car Co-op – for your day trip to Seattle
A set of All-Clad cookware – for your Miele kitchen
Village at False Creek Incentives Picture August 2011
Come and visit us at the sales centre for your pricing, floorplans, and full details on our new promotion! We’re open daily 12-5PM, closed Fridays or by appointment at 1693 Manitoba Street at 1st Avenue.
*Homeowner may choose this package OR cash value of $5,000. Photos are representational only, actual prizes may not be exactly as shown. Ernst & Young Inc. reserves the right to end this promotionat any time without notice. For more details please speak with a sales representative from The Village on False Creek.
Untimely, too, since more uncertainty surrounding the removal of the maligned HST won’t help matters on higher-priced properties. This blogger is also a taxpayer and wishes Mr. Rennie all the best in recouping my money, but man we ain’t making it easy for the poor fellow, are we!
$5,000 sounds nice but seeing all the great stuff $5,000 buys, it kind of puts spending $750,000 $745,000 into perspective. As a bit of inspiration when you’re feeling down, I offer Mr. Rennie a quote from a Realtor operating in Southern California: “It’s nothing a lower price can’t fix.”
[…] “I was at the grocery store and ran into someone I hadn’t seen in several years. We caught up for about 90 seconds about work and kids and what neighbourhood she was living in and then (totally unsolicited) the person started going into defense mode why she was renting. I told her that I was also renting and that I thought it was going to be the correct solution in the medium term. What struck me was how quickly the emotions as well as the topic of home ownership came up in the conversation. Real estate is top of mind for everyone in this town ALL the time, whether you’re a bull or a bear.” – buffates at vancouvercondo.info 1 Sept 2011 6:46am […]
[…] “Several bears I know that were sitting on the sidelines have finally thrown in the towel and bought in the past couple of months. Perhaps a contrarian indicator that a top is near?” – Troll at vancouvercondo.info, 31 Aug 2011 11:25am […]
4SlicesofCheese
11 years ago
@Anonymouse Says:
"Probably the same as it did last year?"
Well yeah sure, but you have to take into account rising food and gas costs, continuing negative savings rate, and of course higher housing costs 🙂 All with stagnant wages.
I digress, before you all jump on me on the rent vs buy argument. ;p I should say, nobody can afford to buy a house in these cities, which of course, is a completely different matter altogether than just "living".
Silly surveys. "Livable" apparently means "unaffordable". It's strangely ironic that no average person can afford to live in these "livable" cities.
painted turtle
11 years ago
"We are obsessed, as a city. "
I agree, especially when I remember my previous life, in European cities: the topic was never ever mentioned, or just a brief sentence like: "I just bought a HOME."
"Real estate is top of mind for everyone in this town ALL the time, whether you’re a bull or a bear"
We are obsessed, as a city. I can't remember the last time I went out with friends and real estate didn't come up in some way, in the conversation. Odd, isn't it? Don't we have anything else to talk about?
buffates
11 years ago
Little anecdote for everyone from yesterday…I was at the grocery store and ran into someone I hadn't seen in several years. We caught up for about 90 seconds about work and kids and what neighbourhood she was living in and then (totally unsolicited) the person started going into defense mode why she was renting. I told her that I was also renting and that I thought it was going to be the correct solution in the medium term. What struck me was how quickly the emotions as well as the topic of home ownership came up in the conversation. Real estate is top of mind for everyone in this town ALL the time, whether you're a bull or a bear.
Van MD
11 years ago
54 "court-ordered sales" and 27 "foreclosure" in MLS listings sounds like a significant number for lower mainland?
Some examples
V889006 – $969,900 @ Hampton Place (UBC)
F1119982 – $2.75M mansion in Langley
F2913662 – $9.9M 165 acre "future development site" in Abbotsford
@paradox: Because the 5 year bond is now at 1.6%. I guess that's the "risk premium". Of course, Vancouver properties have consistently returned 10-20%, even in crappy years. It puts Bernie Madoff to shame.
Why on earth would someone invest at 2.2% on an apartment building with overly optimistic assumptions (a more conservative approach to vacancy and expenses would give a cap rate below 2%) instead of just buying a 5 year government bond?
@Best place on meth: "Sell/list was 51% this August and 59% last August"
Listings were strong, up about 26% YOY. Maybe it has something to do with the crazy-a$$ prices. Just a hunch.
chip
11 years ago
Fun fact of the day:
The provincial govt "collected $4.4 million from B.C.'s 60 school districts, to compensate for (carbon) emissions that mostly come from school buildings."
No mention of how many bureaucrats were required to shuffle taxpayers' money from one branch of govt to another.
@Patiently Waiting: Yeah, I was wondering about that year's worth of groceries. I have two active boys and they already eat like maniacs – I can only imagine that during their teenage years, a year's worth of groceries at a place like Urban Fare would be some serious coin.
Strataman
11 years ago
A pair of running shoes!!!! Then we will know why we get running shoes with human remains in False Creek……they bought at the village! 🙂 Make sure the running shoes are labelled "buyer at the village"
"Lets see how the local economy copes with no tourists and everyone maxed out."
Probably the same as it did last year?
Li Kai Shing
11 years ago
Kayak in false creek?
Maybe have open season on floating turds.
Sneak up on them in Mr Floatie costume during mating season.
When winter come, maybe turds freeze together into a large iceturd and sink Jim Pattisons yacht. May have to surrender Save On points depending how mad Jimmy is. Should have bought Fast Ferry while current lackey Glen Clark still Premier
Li Kai Shing
11 years ago
Dear Bob:
VCI troglodytes not interested unless it is a basement suite or equivalent.
Maybe add mold smell and backed – up toilet, then the golden shower of Malek karma dribble your way.
PS maybe throw in free nachos and bar fridge full of Canadian
teddy bear(formerly
11 years ago
Will change name as the guy named ted doesn't post here anymore.
Anyways everytime I hear the village I think of the 1960's tv show the prisoner. I think its fitting the few people living there will feel like prisoners. Also the giant bubble that captures the prisoner everytime he tries to escape was a perfect metaphor for the real estate bubble. You can run but it will suck you in.
