tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-293085522008-01-04T12:03:36.598-08:00the popeBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-44474080451167270912008-01-04T01:00:00.000-08:002008-01-03T23:55:48.084-08:00

Its friday and that means open-topic time for a brand new year. Here are a few stories I've noticed this week: -We're the 11th happiest town in Canada -A Million dollars aint what it used to be -Maybe don't buy the 2nd home just now -Macleans: Is it a bubble? What are you seeing out there? What are your predictions for the new year? Post your news, links and anecdotes here!

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-85830578974497169492007-12-31T13:05:00.000-08:002007-12-31T13:09:55.756-08:00

This article from the November 2007 issue of MoneySense Magazine looks at prices across Canada and asks the question Are home prices peaking? Even banks are admitting that after a decade of unthrottled expansion, Canada’s real estate boom may finally be losing steam. The average price of a home in Canada recently topped $310,000, a gain of 60% in real terms in just nine years. Canadians haven’

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-6731620542231579312007-12-28T10:55:00.000-08:002007-12-28T11:11:50.763-08:00

Its Friday in rainytown, lets do the open topic thing: -Buy only what you can afford -Emotional rollercoaster of leveraging -Loonie at five week high -US home price decline sets record -UK Mortgage approvals down 44% -New Home sales at 12 year low -Tips on surviving a recession What are you seeing out there? Post your news, links and anecdotes here!

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-269488341083597532007-12-24T23:45:00.000-08:002007-12-25T12:09:55.887-08:00

Paul has given us a gift that keeps on giving with his new web site. If you haven't seen it yet do yourself a favor and check it out - there's an incredible treasure trove of information he's made available including up to date statistics on details like average selling prices and days on market. He's also sharing inventory charts for all sub-areas of Greater Vancouver going back 3 years. This

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-64732931056542298732007-12-20T14:47:00.000-08:002007-12-21T10:47:27.445-08:00

Its Friday free-for-all time here at Vancouver Condo Info, but this time its only a semi-free-for-all. Let's see if we can stay away from Hitler and religion on this thread and focus on economics and real estate. Here's a few stories I've noticed recently: - Interest rates going down - Mortgage rates going up - Coventree outlook not good - Inflation lowest in BC - PM: Economic slowdown likely -

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-16231853121730509242007-12-19T12:21:00.000-08:002007-12-19T12:35:46.961-08:00

Here's a feel-good story for the holiday season. People that bought at the peak of the market in Santa Cruz California are finding that slumping property values have reduced the amount of property tax they pay! The single father, 41, bought his two-bedroom, two-bath condo on Everson Drive near Neary Lagoon Park at the beginning of 2006. He paid $575,000. Because his purchase date came at the

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-44345544801276114622007-12-18T10:03:00.000-08:002007-12-18T10:19:36.450-08:00

Lock up your condo and hide your car! Just in case this dark wet winter climate isn't dismal enough, Vancouver is now the property crime capital of North America. According to a recent report break-ins happen here at a per-capita rate FOUR TIMES that of New York City. Last year, Vancouver recorded more than 1,100 break-ins per 100,000 residents while New York City had just over 300. The numbers

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-5120765797806677672007-12-14T01:04:00.000-08:002007-12-13T22:51:56.270-08:00

It Friday free-for-all time, Local Edition! -BC Real Estate Council: complaints surge -Expectations reduced for BC economy -New home price inflation slows -CIBC's secret [insurers] identity? -Canada's most attractive city: Calgary -TD: significantly slower economic growth What are you seeing out there? New 400 year mortgage terms? Condo-mushroom farms? Elegant lifestyle advertising? Post your

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-67044474271409516262007-12-13T15:10:00.000-08:002007-12-13T15:23:32.383-08:00

From the Vancouver Sun: "..the rate at which people are buying their own property is growing faster than the population. However, particularly in B.C.'s high-priced markets, the buyers aren't getting exactly the property they want where they want to live. Century 21 Canada president Don Lawby, in an interview, said buying habits are changing because "that's just the reality of the marketplace

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-39783915764343395702007-12-13T09:35:00.000-08:002007-12-13T10:00:55.519-08:00

Foreclosures are running so thick in Stockton California that a real estate broker has started a tour bus service to bring prospective buyers to view foreclosed homes. If you're interested in touring the foreclosed homes of Stockton you can sign up at RepoHomeTour.com

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-61584141753170861582007-12-11T11:36:00.000-08:002007-12-11T11:44:47.584-08:00

As expected the Fed just cut interest rates to try to stem problems in the US housing market: Faced with a widening mortgage crisis, the Federal Reserve Tuesday cut a key interest rate for the third time in three months."Incoming information suggests that economic growth is slowing, reflecting the intensification of the housing correction and some softening in business and consumer spending.

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-89194920765998484652007-12-07T09:46:00.000-08:002007-12-07T10:08:06.303-08:00

Here's your open-topic post for Friday Dec. 7th: -Vancouver residents should brace for major tax increase. -Whistler proposes 6% tax hike. -Fraser Valley house prices at 8 month low. -Erosion risk in BC's economic foundation. -US foreclosures hit a record high. -An imperfect solution to prolong the pain. What are you seeing out there? Post your news, links and anecdotes here!

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-7725267545332403132007-12-06T12:50:00.000-08:002007-12-06T13:15:56.840-08:00

Vancouver city council has released a report detailing plans to use the 'Olympic Legacy Reserve Fund' to cover extra costs related to hosting the winter games. Words like 'legacy' are often used to indicate something long-term and 'reserve' sure sounds like it would be something extra set aside for a rainy day. But opponents say that far from providing long-term legacies, as its name implies,

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-89096567941171550652007-12-03T16:38:00.000-08:002007-12-03T16:43:41.753-08:00

Who wants a brand new house for 40% less than its book value? Welcome to the slumping American housing market. Lenar Corp has agreed to shift 11,000 properties to Morgan Stanley for 40% less than book value to get them off their balance sheets: "The deal was done on the last day of the company's fiscal year, partially in an effort to generate tax-loss carry backs," said Eric Landry, a

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-74637111012072672882007-11-30T01:01:00.000-08:002007-11-29T17:22:11.049-08:00

Its Friday here and that means open-topic time with a cornucopia of links: -Vancouver the most overtaxed place for business -Hydro rates to jump 11% over 3 years -"What is ordinary may change in the future" -Another round of layoffs at Canfor. -Canadian productivity growth at 'depressing levels' -US Economic woes bode ill for Canada -CMHC predicts higher prices in 2008 -US Credit rapidly drying

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-15780914213053839632007-11-29T01:06:00.000-08:002007-11-28T18:26:33.926-08:00

A simple fool-proof debt management plan from SNL:

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-76491159976049908912007-11-27T10:09:00.001-08:002007-11-27T16:09:55.507-08:00

The Eden Group is cancelling two local development projects citing difficulty getting financing and skyrocketing construction costs. The Elyse, a 119-suite condominium complex at 7th and Scotia Street in Vancouver had pre-sold 55 units, but letters are now going out and deposits will be returned. "The industry itself — very difficult to get financing," Eden said on Monday. "Basically, it's

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-20769188663137523422007-11-26T17:55:00.000-08:002007-11-26T18:01:53.838-08:00

The decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average just past the 10% decline mark that denotes a 'Correction'. The swoon comes as investors were unnerved by another series of announcements that pointed to continuing problems in the credit markets, the result of home loan debt going bad under the weight of a faltering housing market.So where are you putting your money? Stocks? Bonds? Vancouver Real

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-19716730528414738662007-11-26T10:08:00.000-08:002007-11-26T10:11:47.898-08:00

Quite a headline ain't it? Don't blame me, blame MSNBC: Mortgage meltdown's nightmare scenario. Some 2 million homeowners hold $600 billion of subprime adjustable-rate mortgage loans, known as ARMs, that are due to reset at higher amounts during the next eight months. Subprime loans are those made to people with poor credit. Not all these mortgages are in trouble, but homeowners who default or

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-74464613000166358642007-11-23T01:19:00.000-08:002007-11-22T20:33:03.047-08:00

Unless you're too busy waiting in line at the border to get some great deals on cheap plastic things in the USA, you may want to take part in our usual open topic Friday discussion here on VancouverCondo.info - Here are a few stories to kick off the discussion: -Bleak friday for Canadian retailers -Vancouver feels the effect of the writers strike -BC Auditor general to review island land deal -

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-32086396318890730632007-11-21T09:33:00.000-08:002007-11-21T10:17:16.939-08:00

If you've seen billboards or newspapers inserts advertising real estate projects in Vancouver you may have noticed the strange disclaimer "This is not an offering for sale". Seems odd to spend a bunch of money advertising something you're not offering for sale doesn't it? Why is this line of text omnipresent in presale advertisements? Its all thanks to the Real Estate Developement Act which

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-48068380890893080142007-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:002007-11-19T10:31:25.827-08:00

Re-diculous posted a link to this story in the Vancouver Sun in the previous thread. Apparently some US owners of BC property are starting to cash out on their gains, particularly in light of the strong Canadian dollar. Is this a temporary adjustment or the start of a bigger trend? Kelly said the activity amounts to only a handful of listings. But for some owners in Whistler - where property

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-990163651113575642007-11-16T01:01:00.000-08:002007-11-15T23:45:20.544-08:00

Friday free for all time! Here's your open topic post for Friday November 16th 2007: -Become a realtor. -Vancouver condo sales slump. -Divorce stokes the condo boom. -Vancouver must heed warning signs. -US slump worst since depression. -US boom markets hit hard by foreclosures. So what are you seeing out there? Post your news, links and anecdotes here!

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-86052424762591270562007-11-14T08:27:00.000-08:002007-11-14T08:31:38.581-08:00

Re/Max just released a survey stating that 'speculation' is now the main driving force behind the condo market in Canada. "The impact of speculation, especially in Canada's largest condominium markets, has yet to be determined but concerns for the future are relevant," said Elton Ash, regional executive vice-president of Re/Max of Western Canada. "This is a major factor that could influence

the popetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29308552.post-27904771064283469852007-11-09T11:23:00.000-08:002007-11-09T11:31:39.689-08:00

Its friday free-for-all time. A few stories I've noticed recently: -How to avert a global downturn? Bailout. -Loonies rise brings increased bankruptcies -CIBC loses a few million on subprime gambles -Want a 2nd mortgage? good luck! -Still booming here though! What are you seeing out there? Post your news, links and anecdotes here!

the pope