Improved Communication Tools

Connecting with us is now easier than ever! If you are interested in a particular listing, simply select one of four options in the left column of the listing profile and you are a click away from setting up a meeting, taking a guided tour, receiving more information, or even making an offer to purchase! We’ve also added a form for General Inquiries at the footer of every page on our website – see ‘Contact Us’.

New Neighbourhood Profiles & Maps

Our brand new and completely custom Vancouver neighbourhood maps and profiles are now matched to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s distinct MLS® sub-areas. We are launching with exclusive profiles for all 23 Westside neighbourhoods, including those on the downtown peninsula. And don’t worry, we will soon be adding 16 additional neighbourhood profiles for Vancouver’s Eastside. Simply select a neighbourhood from the map, or from the navigation bar, and you will be provided with a comprehensive overview of the neighbourhood, including beautiful photos, detailed descriptions and even our favourite neighbourhood highlights! You will also be able to instantly find all active MLS® listings in a snap with our new Neighbourhood MLS® Search!

Our Exclusive Room Planner

So you’ve found that perfect listing… but before you put in the offer, you are curious about whether or not your furniture will fit in the new space. This is no longer a problem with our exclusive space planning software, Room Planner. Simply select a listing profile from the All Our Listings Page, click on the Room Planner button located in the right column and start planning the space right away. With a massive library of living elements, including everything from gym equipment to computer desks and even the kitchen sink, you’ll have no problem figuring out exactly how your new space will look and feel.

Enhanced Design & Navigation

When it comes to ensuring the best user experience for our visitors, we are truly committed to the latest and greatest. That’s why we have worked with a talented team of designers and programmers to ensure our website doesn’t just meet the highest standards in the industry, but actually surpasses them.

We hope that you enjoy all of the new features and content. If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you!

Best Regards,

Faith Wilson

By rebranding the area, a margin is hoped to be created between this long-forgotten neighbourhood and the Downtown Eastside.

In attempt to paint a positive image for the newly named community, the neighbourhood is already undergoing commercial-residential development. In particular, the stretch between Refrew and Commercial Drive already includes services such as bakery and supermarket.

For more information and details, please click the link below:

The Province – March 22 2012

(available for purchases, switches and Homeline switch/refinance – 120 day rate guarantee)

3 Year Fixed Closed Special       3.29%

(available for purchases, switches and Homeline switch/refinance – 120 day rate guarantee)

5 Year Fixed Closed Special       3.49%

(available for purchases, switches and Homeline switch/refinance – 120 day rate guarantee)

1 Year Fixed Closed          3.20%

2 Year Fixed Closed          3.55%

3 Year Fixed Closed          3.65%

4 Year Fixed Closed          3.29%

5 Year Fixed Closed (under $600000)         3.94%

5 Year Fixed Closed (over $600000)            3.89%

5 Year Variable Closed                   Call to discuss

Home Equity Line of Credit           Prime* plus .50%

(Available for new purchases, refinances and switches – 120 day rate guarantee)

*RBC Prime is currently 3.00%

We want your business. If you’ve received a better rate elsewhere, let us know! We’re prepared to make every effort to match it.

Lorraine Gingras I Mortgage Specialist I Vancouver B.C.

RBC Royal Bank I T: 604-315-6216 I F: 604-266-9916

http://mortgages.rbcroyalbank.com/lorraine.gingras

The Faith Wilson Group is pleased to support SFU’s Philosphers’ Café.

We would like to recommend two of the upcoming public discussions for all of our fellow art lovers!

How important is authenticity in art?

 
What changes when we discover that a beloved Vermeer is actually a skillfully painted Van Meegeren? Does the restoration of a sculpture change the work? When Rauschenberg, as an emerging artist, erased a drawing by de Kooning, an established artist, did he destroy a work or create a new one?

Co-sponsored by Byng Arts Mini-School and Artists in our Midst.

Date(s): Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 7:30–9 pm

Location: Byng Arts Mini-School , 3939 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver. Enter on Crown Street. Free parking in rear of building.

Admission: Free

Moderator: Jon Hartley Folz has been an art therapist, art teacher, and artist. He is currently the program coordinator of Vancouver’s Byng Arts Mini-School.

Do artists communicate with the public?

 
How does the general public relate to art in general and post-contemporary art in particular? Are some people intimidated by formal gallery spaces? Should art be easily accessible, or do we need to educate the public for a better understanding?

Co-sponsored by Byng Arts Mini-School and Artists in our Midst.

Date(s): Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:30–9 pm

Location: Byng Arts Mini-School , 3939 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver. Enter on Crown Street. Free parking in rear of building.

Admission: Free

Moderator: Pnina Granirer is an artist and co-founder of Artists in our Midst Open Studios, the first open studio event in Vancouver.

The Philosophers’ Cafe will be running through August 2012. Please click here for the complete schedule of public discussions.

Thinking the unthinkable, imagining the impossible, and discussing the improbable.

SFU’s Philosophers’ Café is a series of informal public discussions in the heart of our communities. Since 1998, this award-winning program has engaged the interests of scholars, seniors, students, philosophers, and non-philosophers through stimulating dialogue.

Even though Vancouver sales are cooling down compared to last year and the rest of the country, the city’s average home prices still doubles the national average at $806 094. However, Toronto is catching up with its growth rate 12.2% and prices up 10.6%.

The Canadian Real Estate Association notes that regardless, the market in the country remains balanced as both home sales and the number of newly listed homes are both on the rise.

For more details and information, please click the link below:

The Record – March 16 2012

Between April 1 2012 and April 1 2013, the transition rules will apply in that although both GST and PST will be charged, new housing rebate will also be available for claim for homes valued up to $850 000.

With the transitional rules and the elimination of HST, buyers in B.C. will be more at ease when purchasing homes.

For more details and information, please click the link below:

Vancouver Courier – February 24 2012

With the spring approaching, the real estate market is about to reach one of its busier seasons.

As February sales already exceeding January by more than 60%, Metro Vancouver’s housing market has already shown signs of a pre-Spring hike in sales.

Even though the benchmark price for properties has also increased with the market pick up, board president Scott Olson assures that the market is still beneficial to buyers.

For more information and details, click here to see the full article:

Vancouver Sun – March 2 2012

Beginning  April 1st, 2012, home buyers may be eligible for New Housing Rebates when purchasing both primary or recreational homes priced up to $850,000.

In addition, when purchasing new homes, buyers may also be qualified for rebate of the provincial portion of H.S.T valued up to $42,500.

For more details on specific situations amd other infromation, click here to see the full article:

Spagnuolo & Company Real Estate Lawyers – February 17 2012

This temporary bonus for first-time homebuyers will be effective until March 31st, 2013 and is a one-time refundable personal tax credit that is equivalent to five per cent of the purchase price, up to $10,000.

The incentive includes detached homes, duplexes, townhouses, condos, mobile homes, floating homes, and cooperative housing units, is based on properties where the HST is now applicable.

With down payment being the biggest obstacle for buyers to enter the market these days, an amount of possibly $10,000 is a significant contribution.

Click here for the  full article:

The Vancouver Sun – February 21st, 2012

Also, click on the link below for The First-time Homebuyers Fact Sheet from the B.C. Government:

The B.C. First-Time Homebuyers’ Bonus

Download your free copy of our 2011 real estate summary!

Hello!

Another year has come and gone, as we turn the page to a bright New Year. We are fortunate to be part of a truly multi-cultural society here in Vancouver, as we have the privilege of getting to know and enjoy numerous and varied celebrations. So, having just celebrated a New Year on December 31st, 2011, we can now look forward to another auspicious New Year on January 23^rd 2012 – Chinese New Year!

2011 was an interesting year with respect to real estate on Vancouver’s Westside. The market started picking up steam in mid-January, followed by Chinese New Year (February 3rd), which initiated a buying spree for folks from Mainland China. That, coupled with local market activity, really enhanced the overall activity on the Westside. The market was frothy through the spring and into early summer, before losing momentum. That led us into a steadier, more balanced market for the remainder of the year.

Now to the year-end facts:

• Year-over-year benchmark prices for a typical Detached Home on the Westside increased by 20.7% to reach $1,990,958.

• Attached Home prices grew by 8.6%, with a typical attached home on the Westside now selling for $833,361.

• The Apartment/Condo market faired least well of the three categories, with the benchmark price of a typical apartment ending the year at $519,474, up 4.6% from December 2010.

Vancouver’s Westside is comprised of many unique neighbourhoods, each with their own distinct buying and selling patterns, so be sure to check the statistics for the specific neighbourhood that interests you. And I’d love to hear from you, so please call me if you would like to chat or have a coffee!

I wish you all a Healthy, Joyous and Prosperous New Year.

All the Best,

Faith Wilson