Betsy Carstairs (www.betsycarstairs.com) : Blog

New Zealand, North Island

Betsy Carstairs — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:47:10 -0800

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 Reinga. What a fabulous trip!! I went horse back riding on 90 mile Beach, sailing in Paihia, & boogie boarding & kayaking in Waipu. As well the food is amazing. It is fresh from the garden & the taste explodes in one's mouth. Avacados as large as my fist are under 20 cents each!!!! So gald I made the treck up to explore this area & next year hope to have more time up in northern New Zealand riding the horses through the surf & up on the sand dunes. New Zealand, yes is a long way from Vancouver(13hour flight) but definately well worth the extra time to get there.

building Inspections, why

Betsy Carstairs — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:37:57 -0800

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, buyers on occassion will also waive their right for a inspection & rely on the property condition disclosuer statement. In my experience a building inspection is useful information on what one needs to budget for but on a used home buyers need to put aside $ for ongoing maintenance issues whether it be a new roof or electrical upgrades. It is difficult if not impossible for even the best inspector to nail all the issues in a house. That happens when the key turns in the door for the new buyer's 1st time & she/he starts learning how the place functions & what needs to be tweeked. A little extra money in the bank to attend to any necessary items of concern that pop up is always good strategy.

Selling houses, timing

Betsy Carstairs — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:10:30 -0800

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 competition AND the buyers are usually targeting moving in for Christmas so a quick close. This conversation highlighted, for me the importance of hiring a agent that will help the seller make good decisions that are based on facts rather than speculative misinformation.

Vancouver real estate prices

Betsy Carstairs — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:31:57 -0800

Market Update

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 reflecting this increase.

Vancouver is still in a recovery phase from the drop in price in the lower end of the market which occurred during the financial crisis of 2008. The increase in price seen "on average price" is greatly affected by the higher end of the market, which has seen significant gains over the past year. These gains are reflected in the increase of purchasers from Asia, particularly China.

This influx of buyers, not seen on this scale since the 1990s, has created a market which is a "top down" market. Most real estate markets are supported by the bottom of the market. This means the first time buyers buy an apartment from someone who is moving up to a townhouse who is buying from someone moving from the townhouse to a house.

In a top down market, offshore buyers purchase more expensive homes from existing owners who may be downsizing or making a sideways move. When prices hit a certain point, these offshore buyers have to look at smaller houses as they can no longer afford what they may have purchased a year ago. Thus the market is now supported from the top down.

This article from the MLS news bulletin & helps explain the drop in apartments under $500,000

Whistler BC, Cornucopia

Betsy Carstairs — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:21:13 -0800

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 few runs & get a jump start on the ski season...Looks like it will be a good one. If you have never been to Cornucopia it is well worth the trip up to Whistler

107 315 TENTH Street, New Westminster, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:13:46 -0800

I just sold this Condo at 107 315 TENTH Street, New Westminster, British Columbia Uptown NW.

View this recently sold Condo or see all my home sales

18 BRIGHTON BEACH, North Vancouver, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:13:17 -0800

I just sold this House at 18 BRIGHTON BEACH, North Vancouver, British Columbia Indian Arm.

View this recently sold House or see all my home sales

Halloween, Costumes

Betsy Carstairs — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:33:29 -0700

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 similar to what she is talking about below....... hope this helps you to as the time for dress up is so close at hand.

Dolly

Costuming Philosophy 101... Just In Time for Halloween
This article is adapted from my original article of 2009: Preparing for Burning Man

If you are starting to get into costuming, be it for a performance or for a party, here are some of my philosophies on "wearable art" which I hope will inspire you! My own history with costuming started in childhood - when I would rummage through the house to see what I could create with found materials. Be it imitating Madonna's "Like A Virgin" look, creating gelatin-based zombie scars or making a Snow White outfit - these childhood efforts were omens of my future explorations. I guess I never wanted to stop playing Dress-Up because it's now incorporated into my daily life.

1) Follow your fetishes and tickle your own aesthetic:  If you are excited to express through some costuming, then consider what tickles your fancy currently. Think about themes you enjoy, archetypes that mean something to you and even favorite physical aspects in texture and color to determine your costume repertoire. Choose something that really appeals to your personal aesthetic, not just because it's trendy.

e.g. I was wearing fun fur jackets, tutus and costumes in 2002 purely for my own enjoyment and my love of dressing up. I didn't see people wearing these items at that time and it would be many years before I knew about Burning Man "style".

What are some of your fetishes?
Favorite characters from books, films, history etc
Favorite archetypes (human or non-human)
Favorite topics or themes
Favorite eras
Favorite art forms or art pieces
Favorite moods
Favorite colors, textures, materials
Favorite fashions and design styles
Favorite stories

2) It's helpful to think in stages for your costuming. Consider creating a few favored costumes that you can build upon each year. Start with a few basic items and each year, you can add more intricacy and detail. You don't have to perfect it right away - take time to enjoy the creation process.

E.g. I have an 18th century outfit that I started to build in 2006. Each year, I've added new layers or pieces to it. The first year, I began with the skirt and a simple bodice. Then in 2008, I added layers to the skirt and built a matching "powdered" wig in 2009. In 2010, I built a more elaborate wig, added a bustle, transformed shoes to match and sewed more details on the bodice.

3) Less is More:  Look at Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Joker... What did they have in common? They only had 1 outfit that they wore as their signature costume! You too can have your own signature outfit! If you really love it and it represents your personal style, you can wear it repeatedly and not get tired of it. In fact, most people tend to have a few favoured outfits that they wear all the time.

4) Mix and Match: Sometimes, it's helpful if you have items of clothing that can be part of more than 1 costume. For example: a silver scarf can serve as a halter top or a skirt. A linen sheet can become a toga-style dress, a shawl or a headdress. A favorite hat may go with several outfits and your warm coat hopefully fits over all your nighttime outfits! By exploring the creative possibilities, you can do a lot with just a few versatile items.

5) Get ideas from the materials at hand:  If you already have some items at home (like fabrics, accessories, wigs or hats etc), see what ideas arise from contemplating them in a new light. It's fun to look at an item beyond its normal form and function to see what else it can do or how else it can be used! It's so wonderful to recycle an unused or ubiquitous object and turn it into a piece of wearable art!

e.g. A fork could be the inspiration for a spaghetti/meatballs hat (with the fork sticking out of some yarn that is mimicking pasta)

A set of playing cards could be glued onto an old suit jacket...
An old pair of boots can be decorated with sequins...
A colorful bedspread could be turned into a super hero cape...

You can also get ideas by perusing the materials at a store like Dressew (337 West Hastings). It's the most popular place in town for gathering your basic sewing supplies (diverse fabric, thread, sewing tools, etc) and it also carries a wide range of costuming accessories (masks, wigs, hats). I like to look at even the little items like buttons, special crafting tools, ribbons/lace, metal fasteners to explore what is possible.

Tip:  Go to the basement of Dressew and check out their bargain fabrics section! Many types of fun fabrics at hugely discounted prices! As of 2011, most were only $3 to $4 per metre... a superb deal! You can experiment with these inexpensive fabrics and base your costuming on what you find there. It's a huge selection (even has a lovely selection of organza) so you should be able to find what you need without going upstairs to Dressew's regularly priced fabric area.

6) Complete the basics first and then elaborate if you have time and energy:
If dealing with a deadline, take care of the key items first. Sometimes, people get frazzled as they try to cover too many ideas but end up with very little actually completed or with a costume that was too hastily assembled.

7) Incorporate Wearable Art Into Your Lifestyle: If you love to express yourself this way, find a way to be creative with your clothing or accessories on a daily basis! There's no need wait for a special occasion to dress up (like a party or Halloween) if you enjoy this type of play and whimsy! Instead of having just 1 or 2 days a year to get into costume, you can make it part of your personal style. Even just a touch of aesthetic expression can be a fun way to start the day! (It doesn't require a lot of time)

Some people may question your taste or sanity, but you are not doing this for anyone but yourself. Those who have like-minds or aesthetic appreciation will celebrate your flair and energy. Often, it's people who aren't in costume who will come up to me and thank me for brightening up their day with my aesthetics. The more comfortable you are in your own skin, the more it allows others to be comfortable around you.

There are even ways to bring some of your style to the workplace - just ensure that your safety is not compromised by the items you wear if your profession requires some special measures or protocol. Like I said, even the smallest gesture of style or playfulness makes a difference. Above all, have fun with costuming whether you only want to do it for special occasions or if you wish to do it every day!

2444 KING ALBERT Ave, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:48:58 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 2444 KING ALBERT Ave, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Top end of King Albert near Mundy Park. Bright back split on a beautiful flat lot. Whistler style rock faced gas fire place & rich wood flooring in family room, new energy efficient windows, new bathrooms & separate studio in back.

Indian Arm Waterfront, North Vancouver, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:54:54 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 29 OF CROKER Island E, North Vancouver, British Columbia

Amazing fully renovated large family home with modern updates galore. Virtually brand new with 3 beds, 3 baths, gourmet kitchen and large Great Room. Includes space for guests with detached guest cottage/studio! Everything has been thoughtfully and professionally upgraded here- renovated from the studs up! New modern state of the art power supply for simple/clean off the grid living that is easy to operate and maintain w /regular outlets and light fixtures throughout. Fabulous drinking water, SW Exposure and 20 min from Deep Cove by boat. Incredible outdoor space with large decks overlooking the ocean. What an amazing deal for Lower Mainland waterfront that includes a smart, stylish and spacious home!

556 PERTH Ave, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:28:30 -0700

I just sold this House at 556 PERTH Ave, Coquitlam, British Columbia Coquitlam West.

View this recently sold House or see all my home sales

Whistler BC, town home sale

Betsy Carstairs — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:20:52 -0700

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. Only sellers who are willing to work with & accept softer prices are successful in getting their places sold. Right now Whistler is a buyer's market & there are some great buys to be had!!!!

702 615 BELMONT Street, New Westminster, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:43:18 -0700

I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, 702 615 BELMONT Street, New Westminster, British Columbia

"Stylin" New York style open plan penthouse like apt with HUGE roof top patio in Uptown NW. Features reno'd upbeat kitchen with glass backsplash, stainless appliances, open shelving & butcher block counters. Sweeping views of the Fraser River with endless views on to Richmond & YVR. Trendy space + great location + party size deck make this unique space POP.

Shifting Real Estate Markets, Vancouver BC

Betsy Carstairs — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:17:13 -0700

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 anything but continue to go up. Well I am noticing that for some sellers who have adopted this mind set they are being uncessfull in getting their properties sold. Not a problem if one can wait out the market but when owners are retiring & holding onto the old homestead & renovating their new Shangrila they have just shelved their retirement vision & taken on a new job as landlord & contractor. This is time consuming & very labour intensive soooooo the Snow Bird flight to Arizona will need to be shelved til the finances get stabelized & the properties are tenanted & the renovation is finished.
It is interesting to me to see the Whistler owners understand all to well that their property values can & are going down (with the stock market) & they are willing to take a loss to get the property sold. A condo I just sold in the Creekside neighbourhood of Whistler is a good example of a townhome that dropped over $100,000. in the last 4 years!!!!! This has of course taken a few years in a falling market to get sellers to come to grips with reality. Perhpas this is just too foreign a concept for Vancouver owners on the heels of the very fast upswing in values that we experienced last spring. Vancouver is not a bubble insulated from the world economy & I predict that we are in for a dose of reality this winter.

Indian Arm North Vancouver last Days of Summer

Betsy Carstairs — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:23:05 -0700

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 30 cm & the other just under!!!!! Would not want to be stung by either of these big mamas so I was a bit more cautious as to the spot I chose to go for a swim.. After a morning on the water I met with a friend for lunch @ Arms Reach Bistro my favourite restaurant on the North Shore. So a puuuurrrrrrfect summer morning to be remembered as we prepare for the changing of the leaves & the fall cooler temperatures.

Mortgage options

Betsy Carstairs — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:22:19 -0700

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............

Let me introduce you to the frozen or set VRM (variable rate mortgage) payment. Essentially you have a VRM at 2.25% (current closed VRM rate) but your payments are frozen at a fixed rate. This fixed rate can be the same as the current variable but it is not suggested. We generally encourage you match the frozen variable payment to what you would be paying for a fixed rate. Today that rate is 3.39% so you are essentially paying 1.14% each

Book Suggestion

The Smith Manoeuvre

payment directly towards your principle. Using an average mortgage of $330,000 with a 25 year amortization, this equates to the following:

Monthly payment at 3.39% = $1,628.49

Monthly payment at 2.25% = $1,437.52

Difference equals = $190.97

That means that $190.97 is going towards your principle each month. This also means that you have 1.14% of space for Prime to move before you start paying more interest and less principle on the same payment. We never suggest locking your payment in at current VRM rate because it has no where to go but up.

What happened if my payment is frozen at 2.25% and the rates jump to 4% you ask? The higher the rate goes, the more interest and less principle on each payment you make. Eventually you will go into reverse amortization which is not a good thing.

So what happens with that additional $190.97 a month that goes to my principle? Well if the Prime doesn't fluctuate which is doubtful after a few years, your mortgage balance after 5 years will be $12,177.81 less!

Are you interested in a variable payment but fear the risks? Do you love the security of the fixed rate mortgage but know that historically, the variable rate mortgage out performs the fixed rates? Some consider the 50/50 mortgage where you are part fixed and part variable however why take a mortgage that is historically better 50% of the time? I have a solution for you.
Let me introduce you to the frozen or set VRM (variable rate mortgage) payment. Essentially you have a VRM at 2.25% (current closed VRM rate) but your payments are frozen at a fixed rate. This fixed rate can be the same as the current variable but it is not suggested. We generally encourage you match the frozen variable payment to what you would be paying for a fixed rate. Today that rate is 3.39% so you are essentially paying 1.14% each payment directly towards your principle. Using an average mortgage of $330,000 with a 25 year amortization, this equates to the following:
Monthly payment at 3.39% = $1,628.49
Monthly payment at 2.25% = $1,437.52
Difference equals = $190.97That means that $190.97 is going towards your principle each month. This also means that you have 1.14% of space for Prime to move before you start paying more interest and less principle on the same payment. We never suggest locking your payment in at current VRM rate because it has no where to go but up.
What happened if my payment is frozen at 2.25% and the rates jump to 4% you ask? The higher the rate goes, the more interest and less principle on each payment you make. Eventually you will go into reverse amortization which is not a good thing.
So what happens with that additional $190.97 a month that goes to my principle? Well if the Prime doesn't fluctuate which is doubtful after a few years, your mortgage balance after 5 years will be $12,177.81 less!

3249 MAIN Ave, Port Moody, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:06:50 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 3249 MAIN Ave, Port Moody, British Columbia

Custom designed very private executive home nestled in stately cedars with sweeping water views. Features open plan with over height ceilings, solid wood flooring, skylights, rich granite kitchen counters, amazing garden embracing the natural wooded landscape, & climbing wall in family room. A MOST impressive architecturally designed home for the modern family.

1432 LAMBERT Way, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:27:42 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 1432 LAMBERT Way, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Very well maintained 3 level executive home "to die for" master bedroom & 2 bdrm legal suite. Located on a quiet street near Coquitlam River: Features decadent Master bedroom complete with fireplace, oversized soaker tub, walk in closet & cozy adjoining den. Show home condition with designer colours, California style custom shutters & open plan. Easy to show.

Public Dock @ Deep Cove on Indian Arm

Betsy Carstairs — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:52:32 -0700

Policy change now allows unlimited daily parking @ the public dock in Deep Cove so does that make the public dock a private dock.???? With all the mooring spaces taken up by commuter boats this dock is now very unpublic unless one wishes to buy a parking permit from the city for the tune of $1,000. Last week when I decided to join a friend for coffee I was more than a little annoyed to find that there was no space for me to park my boat for 1 hour as now all the spaces are taken up with the "permitted boats". My view is that this is a public dock & should remain so. Should someone wish to have permeant daily parking there are 2 private marinas that have spaces for those wishing longer stays. North Vancouver's new policy does not work well for those wanting to use the dock as intended.....parking for hour or 2 to shop or have a bite to eat with friends in The Cove. This is not a good policy for those of us up The Indian Arm or for the merchants .

Indian Arm @Twin Islands, British Columbia

Betsy Carstairs — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:58:41 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 17 LOT17 TWIN Other, Port Moody, British Columbia

The perfect oceanfront get away. Set on protected waterfront to the east of Twin Islands, this private retreat has a rare 40' wharf which allows for deep-water moorage at any tide. The property itself, cons tructed entirely of quality cedar, is beautifully nestled in on a 3.48 acre lot and is powered by four different off-grid systems, making it entirely self-sustaining. Beautifully renovated and sparing no expense, this 1 ? story retreat has 2 bedrooms, separate storage and utility sheds, a cedar hot tub & breathtaking views. Enjoy living "off the grid" a short 10 minutes by boat from the Deep Cove wharf