Blog by Betsy Carstairs

Vancouver Aquarium Visit

October 23rd, 2008
I am fortunate to have a friend who works at the Aquarium in Stanley Park. Majanne invited me for a visit AND a personal  guided tour. It was so much fun!! The orca art water sculpture at the entrance was amazing. Inside there was so much to see BUT the highlights were the beluga mommy whale nursing her baby calf, the jelly fish AND the verrrrrrrrrry slooooooow moving sloth. I L ...
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Buyer's market But there is a hook

October 23rd, 2008
I read this article in the Globe & Mail & thought it was good information explaining how the banks tighter lending strategies are playing out with real time purchasersREAL ESTATEIt's buyer beware of the paperworkROB CARRICKrcarrick@globeandmail.com E-mail Rob Carrick  | Read Bio  | Latest ColumnsOctober 21, 2008It's a buyer's market in housing right now, but with complications.Blame the g ...
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Over or Under Assessment

October 16th, 2008
I recently worked with a seller who had downsized and moved to smaller more manageable accommodation. This left the family home sitting vacant. The situation became one of not 'if' we sell but a 'need' to sell, not an option but a mandate. This client had worked with another agent over the summer listing the property 'over' the assessed value and it did not sell. I was called in to inject a s ...
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house pricing

October 15th, 2008
Just read this article & thought how in sync it is in this market. I presently have a few listings that are not selling & although the sellers are not willing to see the reality of this downward spyralling market & reduce the price... that is the only thing that will get these places sold. It is a buyers market & these buyers are price driven. The Price is Wrong By: Paul Pastore ...
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Financial World Tightens Lending Rules

October 10th, 2008
I had some purchasers out last weekend who qualified under the minimum downpayment rules. We found the perfect place for them and made an offer only to find out that this program had just been cancelled at the beginning of the weekend ... 2 weeks earlier than originally stated. Canadian lending firms are shifting to an ultra conservative stance. I can see that credit/mortgag ...
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BOLD 2008

October 9th, 2008
Went to a conference in August for women over 50 ... I definitely qualified! Met many interesting participants who come from all over Canada and the United States. We went for walks, had lectures and even went Dragon boating on False Creek at Granville Island. THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!    
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