Blog by Betsy Carstairs

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New Zealand, North Island

January 25th, 2012
New Zealand is one of my favourite places to get some sun in to my system during our  cold, wet Canadian winters. This year I returned to Auckland on a house exchange. I am staying in a lovely home in Point Chevalier ( a suburb in Auckland) & using it as a base camp to jump off from to explore the island. Last week I went up to the north of the island & visited Paihia, Waipu, Ahipara & Cape R ...
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building Inspections, why

December 25th, 2011



Building Inspections are not always necessary...or are they???? I take the position that the buyer has the option (in most cases) to do a inspection. It is usual to insert a clause into a offer that the buyer will have the opportunity to pay the $ & hire a inspector. Often in strata properties buyers read the strata minutes & decide not to pay the money for a inspection. For detached homes, ...

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Selling houses, timing

November 17th, 2011
Timing is everything when it comes to selling your real estate investment. I had a conversation with someone looking to sell her property & I was surprised that she thought that the fall is a down time in being successful in selling homes. My experience over the 25 years I have been selling is that heading into Christmas is the BEST time to market property. Inventory is down soooooo less comp ...
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Vancouver real estate prices

November 15th, 2011



Market Update 

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As we approach the end of 2011 real estate prices in most urban areas of British Columbia continue to rise. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is showing gains in average price of over 10% from 2010.Yet many clients, especially those in the under $500,000 price point in Greater Vancouver, are wondering why their properties are not reflect ...
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Whistler BC, Cornucopia

November 8th, 2011

Cornucopia in Whistler is a fun way to spend a weekend. As it is my birthday @ this time I always schedule in a few Cornucopia events to make the weekend extra special. This year I will start off with the Fairmont's wine tasting Thursday night then be spontaneous for the next few days. Who knows with the amount of snow we have had so far I might even be able to head on up the mountain for a f ...

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Halloween, Costumes

October 22nd, 2011
I love Halloween & thought I would share this e-mail from my highschool chum & professional Clown Gumboat Lollipop or as I know her Dolly Hopkins

Hello I have something to share....my friend Little Woo has put this information together that I thought would interest you about costumes....I have worked along the same lines in creating my look for costumes or personal statements simi ...
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Whistler BC, town home sale

September 28th, 2011
I just sold a very cute 2 level town home in the Creekside area of Whistler @#4-2101 Whistler Rd. This is a 1 bedroom & den completely reno'd unit with great access to the gondola. This unit sold for $280,000. & is completely turn key. The Highpointe Complex is a small building of 22 units & has great vistas. This sale demonstrates the reverse market in Whistler as compared with Vancouver. On ...
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Shifting Real Estate Markets, Vancouver BC

September 26th, 2011
As we head into the fall there is a definate change in the market.  It is usual for our fall market to kick in mid September BUT this year  I am noticing  a shift in the wind...so to speak. Many properties are not selling & the new listings are not flying of the shelf. Vancouver sellers are so conditioned to a rising market they can not seem to fathom that their piece of dirt's value would do ...
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Indian Arm North Vancouver last Days of Summer

September 8th, 2011
What better way to spend the last few days of summer but out on the water kayaking up The Indian Arm. We finally have our summer so yesterday off I went up The Arm 1st thing in the morning. The waters were like glass & the fingerlings were jumping & the seals were feasting. I did see lots of jelly fish mostly little white ones however I did also see 2 big red/orange jelly fish. One was over 3 ...
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Mortgage options

September 1st, 2011
Always a quandry what choice does one pick to renew their mortgage??

After lunch with some friends of mine discussing what to do with their mortgage I thought this article from mortgage broker Jessi Johnson was interesting. Here is what he says............

 

Are you interested in a variable payment but fear the risks? Do you love the security of the fixed rate mortgage but know that histor ...
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