Once in a while you get a view that takes your breath away in a place you least expect. This is the view from 1603 - 805 West Broadway in opthalmologist Doctor Paul Dubord's waiting room. Last week I was the driver for a friend having eye surgery. After the operation we ended up here. What an appropriate view for the doctor who founded Eyesight International, an organization dedicated to eliminating ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on June 2, 2010
On May 28, 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported that 49 homes sold for $2 million or more in San Francisco and 402 homes sold for $2 million or more in Manhattan in the first quarter of this year. The research was part of a study for The Journal by MDA DataQuick which reported that these sales were actually on par with sales for 2005 which was the peak year for volume of sales in the ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on June 1, 2010
This small 34- unit complex is all about views...farmland, mountains, sky, marina. Built in 2003 by London Warehouses Ltd, the project consists of two buildings. 13020 No 2 Road features a row of streetfront commercial with 2-level townhouses on top. 13028 No 2 Road is tucked behind the first building and is built to maximize the farmland/mountain views. Its 15 units are all 3-level townhouses. ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on April 28, 2010
Just got back from showing my townhouse at 6 - 9111 No 3 Road. They remembered...tonight is Earth Hour. It is always fun when you can use your decor to advertise how you feel about things! Earth Hour is celebrated at 8:30pm local time around the world. It initially began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when an estimated 2 million homes turned off their lights for an hour. The global campaign was created ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on March 27, 2010
It's costing more and more to buy luxury real estate in Richmond, BC. Since January 1, 2010 159 detached properties have sold in Richmond and of these 48 sold for more than a million dollars. Luxury real estate is defined as the top ten per cent of the market. If you wanted to be a member of this elite category of homes today, your house must be priced for a minimum of $1.46 million. ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on February 15, 2010
Polygon launched its newest community of condos at a realtor luncheon today. The 118 units of phase one of Cambridge Park will be released for sale on February 6th with a good selection of homes priced under $350,000 and a wide selection available under $375,000. Cambridge Park is one of six communities being built by Polygon in Richmond's planned community, Alexandra Gardens, which is a redevelopment ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on January 29, 2010
To qualify to be a CENTURY 21 Fine Homes and Estates listing, a property must fit into the price range for the top 10% of sales in its market and be a minimum of $500,000. In Richmond, BC being a minimum of $500,000 is not difficult since starter homes hover near there. So where is the top of the market? Since December 1, 2009, 117 homes have sold in Richmond. The top 10% of ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on January 20, 2010
It's not too late to renovate and get a credit on your 2009 taxes. Home owners have until February 1, 2010 to make eligible expenses for improvements to their house, condo or cottage. Full details of the program can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency website (www.cra.gc.ca) under "Highlights" on the home page. I also found details in the Canada Revenue Agency General Income Tax ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on January 19, 2010
BC residents have until February 1, 2010 to file a complaint about the tax assessments for their properties. Most complaints are usually that the new assessed value doesn't accurately reflect the value of the property as of July 1, 2009. Most people worry that their assessment is too high or doesn't take into account leaky condo repairs. However, I know a few people who complained it was too low. The ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on January 14, 2010
A pile of books I had lent to my sister over the holidays came back with one of hers: "365 Ways to Simplify Your Work Life" by Odette Pollar (Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc. 1996). Number four jumped right out at me the first time I flipped through the book: "Streamline but do not sterilize. Some of those UFOs -- unidentified funny objects -- should remain in your life. They make you smile." ...
Posted by Michele Joller
on January 13, 2010