If you prefer to watch the stats instead of reading them...here you go...

For the detailed stats report for September 2012, click here...

Stay in touch with what's happening in the Greater Vancouver Real Estate market by checking out my monthly e-newsletter.

September 2012 Summer is officially over and it seems fall really is upon us!  Well, I guess we can't complain...we've had gorgeous weather this month.  With summer holidays over, is it time for a renovation?  Want to do it on a budget to increase your resale value?  Watch this video for quick tips & suggestions.  Do you have an investment property, or thinking of purchasing one?  Watch this video for quick tips on making the most of your cash flow.  With Canada's housing market ranked one of the best in world, according to the Global Property Guide, now is the time to stop renting and start thinking about making the move to home equity.  When you are ready to start the process of buying, or if you are not sure if the timing is right, CMHC has a great website with a lot of good information on helping you decide if the time is right, and what the next step is during the buying process.  With the Bank of Canada's announcement earlier in the month to keep it's rate steady at 1%, rates remain at an all time low, so the good news continues for buyers wanting to capitalize on locking in a low rate.  If you are already an owner and are locked in to a mortgage over 4%, I hear from mortgage brokers that you may be better off breaking your mortgage and securing a lower rate.  Call your mortgage broker for details if you think this may benefit you.    New Listing! Are you an avid golfer and always dreamed of living where you golf?  Imagine the 11th green at your back door!  Daily golf games with your fave fairway pals!  A beer on the sunny patio while you brag about your mulligan-free game and near hole-in-one!  Let your dreams come true with this 1/3 acre lot on the gorgeous Crown Isle golf course in Courtenay, BC.  One of the largest lots in Crown Isle, the possibilities are endless as you design your dream home.  A two year couples golf membership will get you started living the life you've always imagined!  View more details here...  Market Statistics Home sales in Greater Vancouver this summer have been lower than we've seen for most of the last 10 years, however prices have remained fairly stable.  Remember though, it's your local area statistics that are important because Greater Vancouver stretches from Maple Ridge, to Delta, to Whistler, to the Gulf Islands.  In August we saw listings & sales drop, but prices increase Downtown, Westside Condos, Eastside Houses, N Van Houses, W Van Houses & Condos, & Richmond Condos.  We saw listings, sales, & prices drop in Westside Houses, Eastside Condos, & N Van Condos.  Richmond Houses saw fewer listings, an increase in sales, & a drop in prices over July 2012.  To view the detailed stats,  Read More... Vancouver Home & Design Show The Vancouver Home & Design Show returns to BC Place October 11-14, 2012.  If you have an upcoming renovation and need some supplier names, contractors, trades, appliances, flooring ideas, etc, then this is the show for you!   Vancouver Home & Design Show  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2011 Krista Freeborn Our mailing address is: 1428 W. 7th Ave, Vancouver BC V6H 1C1 This communication is not intended to induce a breach of an extisting agency relationship.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Prefer to see the stats by video?  Click here...

Looking for an update on what's happening in the real estate market now?  My monthly newsletter provides you with stats, updates, new changes in the industry, and something fun to do in Vancouver.  Enjoy!

August 2012 You have heard the rumors and they are true...the summer slow down is upon us!  Hey, who wants to be at an open house when it's hot and sunny outside and you could be at the beach, or camping, or vacationing in one of BC's fabulous getaway spots?  I don't blame you!  Let's enjoy this fabulous weather while we have it.  It seems the weather man is making up for last summer's super short season.  That being said, the perfect time to buy is when no one else is, forcing some sellers to drop their price in an effort to entice the masses to view their home.  The market typically picks up again mid-September when kids are back in school, and everyone is settling back into their routines, so if you want to buy this fall, contact me in the next few weeks and we'll put a plan in place to get the process started.  Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone!  See you in September!   New Listing! Have you always wanted to build your dream home on a beautiful 18-hole golf course?  Imagine daily golf games right out your back door, afternoon cocktails watching the golfers on the 11th green, dazzling sunsets, and snow capped mountain views!  This 1/3 acre, 14,249 sq ft corner lot, is one of the largest in this community, and is on the 11th green at the Crown Isle Golf Course in Courtenay BC.  Design and build your West Coast/Craftsman style dream home in this prestigious neighbourhood.  Live the life you've always imagined!   View more details here...  Market Statistics It's a buyers market downtown and the Westside, and a balanced market on the Eastside.  Prices fell downtown and the Eastside, and increased on the Westside.  Inventory is stabilizing, and sales dropped in all segments except for houses on the Eastside where we saw a small increase.   Read More... What's happening in Gastown? The city's oldest neighbourhood, Gastown, is exploding with new talent...restaurants, delis, retail shops, art, design, and more!  The community has a great website showcasing what's new and happening in Gastown.  Judas Goat now has a patio, Boneta has a fabulous patio in the coolest courtyard in the city.  I just bought a Chocolate Chip, Bacon, Cashew Oatmeal cookie at Save-On-Meats and went back instantly for 6 more...and they didn't last long!  You simply cannot beat the diversity and character of Gastown!  If you haven't made the trip to Gastown in a while, come on down...you won't be disappointed!  Gastown.org

Wahoo!  Way to go Vancouver!  Vienna and Melbourne were 1st and 2nd.  Toronto and Calgary were 4th and 5th.  

Are you a golfer and always dreamed of building a home on the green of a magnificent golf course?  This lot is one of the largest at Crown Isle at 14,249 sq ft.  This prestigious neighbourhood of Crown Isle is in Courtenay, BC and offers the best that laid back golf course living has to offer.  With great restaurants, fitness centre, car museum, and shopping amenities currently under construction, this is easy living.  Check out more details here...

Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver remained at a 10-year low in July, while the number of properties being listed for sale slowed, with prices remaining relatively stable.  Vancouver West detached prices edged higher over June with lower sales and less listings.  Condos saw prices. sales, and listings fall.  East Vancouver houses saw little change in prices and sales, with a drop in listings.  Condos in East Van saw a drop in all 3 segments, price, inventory, and sales.  For more details, click here...

Pee-wee's Playhouse for sale in Vancouver!

Pee-wee's Playhouse for sale in Vancouver!  Did you love watching Pee-wee and the Jetsons as a kid?  Do you have a taste for mid-century modern and 50’s & 60’s collectables and furniture?  Do you love vintage & retro?  Do you want to live in the #1 rated city in the world, Vancouver, BC?  If your answer is yes to all of the above, then I have the perfect home for you!  This fabulous top floor fully furnished one bedroom condo is for sale in the trendy Main St & 7^th Ave neighbourhood in popular East Vancouver.  The seller is from the fashion world and has an incredible sense of design and style.  He loves mid-century modern, vintage, retro, and Pee-wee!  This home is like nothing you have ever seen before!  I could spend hours looking around at all of his 50’s & 60’s collectables, including his many Sputnik chandeliers, his surfboard shaped Eames coffee table, his hundreds of design books & artifacts, and his cowboy bathroom complete with bathroom art & antique pistol faucets.  Yup, you read that right!  The bathroom faucets are guns!  Not loaded, of course!  His TV is straight out of the Jetsons!   He has spent his life collecting amazing mid-century modern, retro, vintage, 50's & 60's collectables, furnishings and art, but the time has come for someone else to take over and enjoy his jaw dropping condo.  This top floor 7^th & Main St condo has vaulted ceilings and large windows that really open up the space.  The extra large 4x18 balcony is south facing with a gorgeous private, green outlook.  Gas fireplace, parking, a locker, and many cedar lined closets complete this home.  Don’t close this page without watching this video of his home.  Believe me, it’s worth the 3 minutes!  Buy it today and you can live in Pee-wee's Playhouse!  I look forward to reading your comments on this truly amazing condo.

This place is incredible!  It's like nothing I have ever seen before, and I've seen a lot of homes over the years.  Do you like mid-century modern, 50's & 60's collectables?  Did you love the Jetsons when you were young?  The furnishings in this condo are an incredible collection of years and years of one man's passion for the 50's & 60's.  Artists, designers, fashionistas wanted!  If this home isn't your style, do you know anyone who would appreciate this eclectic collection?   Want to live in Pee-wee's Playhouse?

Do you live in a condo and wish you could have your own private pool?  Well, if you are willing to move to Mumbai, India, you can do just that.  Amazing!

The housing stats are out and the Greater Vancouver housing market favoured Buyers in June 2012.  The number of residential property sales hit a 10-year low in Greater Vancouver in June, while prices remained relatively stable.  

Residential property sales of detached houses, condos and townhouses decreased 17.2% over May 2012, and decreased 27.6% over June 2011.

June sales were the lowest total for the month in the region since 2000 and 32.2% below the 10-year June sales average.  

Keep in mind the activity varies depending on the city, neighbourhood, type of housing you are interested in, etc, so to view the detailed stats click here...

If you are a buyer and are planning on keeping your payments lower with a 30 year amortization, you need to buy fast.  Starting next month, the maximum amortization period you can take on your CMHC insured mortgage will be 25 years.  What does this mean?  It means your payback period for your mortgage is shorter, meaning you pay less in interest over the life of your mortgage, but it means your payments will be higher per month.  For every $100,000 in mortgage you have, your payments will increase $53/mth based on a 5 year rate of 3.19%, but it will save you $10,246 of the lifetime of your mortgage.  Read more here...

Looking for another good excuse to hang out in Vancouver's oldest, coolest, hipest, most historic neighbourhood in Vancouver?  Gastown celebrates the longest day of the year this Thursday June 21 from 5-10pm with live music on the streets.  After 10pm the party continues indoors at the many great pubs and restaurants around Gastown.  The event is totally free, so come out and enjoy the start of summer.  And Mr. Weather man is calling for 19 degrees and sunshine!  Wahoo!  Make Music Vancouver 2012

The Gastown Grand Prix is back!  The best cyclists in North America will put on a great show while they speed through Gastown's gorgeous cobble stone streets in the heart of Vancouver's most historic neighbourhood.  The women will lap 30 times for a total of 36 kms, and the men will lap 50 times totalling 60 kms.  Opening ceremonies start at 5:45pm and the awards will be presented at 9:15pm.  Wow, that's a lot of laps in a short amont of time!  Gastown Grand Prix

The May 2012 stats are out for the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board and I've included them in my June 2012 E-Newsletter.  Although it certainly doesn't feel like it, summer officially arrives next week....Enjoy!

June 2012 Well, it certainly feels like Juneuary again this year, doesn't it?  Where is the sunshine we all so desperately crave?  I know, it will come, just be patient.  Even though our weather doesn't feel like summer is here, it certainly feels like summer in the real estate market.  People keep asking me if this slowdown is the bubble that the media has spoke of in the past.  In case you have been asking yourself the same question, here's my answer....we are just in a normal, balanced market, like the old days, before the frenzy hit eight years ago.  We just don't know what a normal market is anymore because the craziness of the last eight years is embeded in our minds.  So don't panic people, we are good.  Buyers have more listings to choose from, and they have the time to visit the homes that interest them a couple of times before making an offer.  Wow, isn't that a nice way to buy?  Follow my blog page to keep up to date on information affecting the real estate market.  Enjoy these last few days of spring...summer is officially around the corner!   New Listings! I have two great new listings!  One is a gorgeous two bedroom, two bathroom condo in a 2 year old building downtown Vancouver with custom designed features that extend the living space, and feature spa inspired bathrooms.  Looking for a fixer-upper?  I have a large one bedroom listing that is perfectly situated in the trendy Main St. & 7th Ave area, on a quiet residential street lined with Cherry Blossom trees.  This top floor unit has vaulted ceilings and lots of windows, with a large 4x18' south facing balcony looking out on to the mature trees we love in the Eastside.  Renovate it, live in it, or flip it!  View my active listings here...  While you are viewing my listings you will notice price adjustments on both of my listings with the massive decks and great views.  Just in time for summer!  Market Statistics Home listings continue to rise in the Greater Vancouver housing market. We are seeing a Balanced market Downtown & in the Westside attached market, a Buyers market for Westside houses, and the Sellers market continues on the Eastside.  Generally speaking we are seeing inventory up, sales consistent, and prices steady or falling slightly.  For the detailed stats  read more here... The Vancouver Art Gallery Here's a good way to spend a rainy day in the city.    Neon Vancouver/Ugly Vancouver.   Sounds strange but intriguing, doesn't it?  The Art Gallery is featuring a glimpse into Vancouver's big city lights of the 1950's , 60's, and 70's with their display of some of Vancouver's oldest neon signs, some rescued from junk yards.   Running until August 12, 2012.  Neon Vancouver/Ugly Vancouver   follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2011 Krista Freeborn Our mailing address is: 1428 W. 7th Ave, Vancouver BC V6H 1C1 This communication is not intended to induce a breach of an extisting agency relationship.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Looking for a great Vancouver condo, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, corner unit, open, bright, sunny, with an expansive view that won't change?  My new listing in Dolce just might be the one you are looking for!  This is the best floor plan in the building, and the large balcony is a great extension of the living space.  Wish custom made upgrades, this condo feels luxurious without the luxurious price tag.  The bathrooms will make you feel like you are at the spa.  Ahhhh, your urban oasis in the heart of downtown!  

Check it out here...

The 5 year rate just dropped from 3.19% to 3.09%.  If you are a buyer and haven't locked in a rate hold yet, you might want to do that now.  Great rate!  

News for buyers wanting to buy with a Home Equity Line of Credit...It looks like the loan to value will drop from 80% to 65% by the end of the year so this means if you want to buy with a line of credit, you will have to put down 35% instead of the 20% you can do now.  Again, if this is your desired mortgage, then you may want to look at buying now so you can take advantage of the current 20% down payment.  

The prime rate is still 3%, so those of you on a variable rate will not see any changes.

RE/MAX rated #1 for the third year in a row!  RE/MAX agents closed 59% of the 475,000 transaction ends and had 52% of the total $172 billion in sales volume.  Read more...

Prefer to watch a short video for the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board stats for May 2012?  Click here to view this and other videos on my YouTube channel.