Pristine white powder, world-class dining, shopping, and a host of other activities make these ski hills tower above the rest in amenities and customer service.

1. Mont Tremblant is consistently touted by SKI Magazine as their favorite Eastern Seaboard ski village. Voted #1 by resort vacationers, the colourful and charming pedestrian village stocked with shops, luxurious lodging, and unmatched gastronomy is nestled in the heart of the Laurentians of Quebec, Canada, and offers a unique experience of tranquility and award-winning skiing. A year-round getaway, Tremblant also features sprawling golf courses in summer.

2.No surprise to Vancouverites is Whistler Blackcomb’s reign as the the West’s best ski hill. Reminiscent of the Alps with its majestic peaks and huge bowls, the hill offers options for every level of skier and a village that rivals Tremblant; delicious restaurants, spa resorts, nightlife and shopping. Easy to navigate and seeming unlimited adventures makes for world-class skiing right at our doorstep.

3. California offers more than just a phenomenal coast: the twin mountains of Alpine Meadows and legendary Squaw Valley are known as an “extreme skier’s paradise”. Made famous by the 1960 Winter Olympics, the ski culture here in the heart of Tahoe is only rivaled by its hospitality. Squaw is a favourite of the pros, while the quieter Alpine is perfect for families.

4. Home to the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup, Beaver Creek Colorado offers up exceptional skiing worthy of the pros and tailored to your dream vacation. At once intimate for a unique getaway and yet bustling with shopping and gourmet options, Beaver Creek is made for families and thrill-seekers alike. The mountain’s new White Carpet Club gives guests the VIP treatment as part of its White Glove Services. Got tots? 3pm every day is cookie time: their chefs bake over 495,000 cookies each year!

5. Telluride Colorado lives up to its motto: The Most Beautiful Place You’ll Ever Ski. Condé Nast Traveler readers have ranked it the #1 Ski Resort in North America for the third year in a row. If it’s amazing trails and runs, well-maintained lifts and lines, and luxurious accommodations with breathtaking natural scenery you’re after, this is the place. The town’s National Historic District status lends unmatched character, and the après-ski scene isn’t too shabby either.

Bon voyage! We’d love to hear if you visit any of these amazing destinations, and let us know if you can’t rave enough about others we haven’t included in the list.

You’ve been thinking about it, you’ve scoured MLS for other options out there, you may have even chatted with a real estate agent. Selling your home is a big deal, and you want to do it the right way, the first time, and that can mean something different for everyone depending on your goals. However, there are some things all homeowners have in common when trying to sell:

1. We all want to receive the highest possible price,

2. We want the process to minimize inconvenience, and

3. We want a realtor that is professional and treats us with the utmost respect

For any homeowner, pre-listing preparation can minimize the chances of failure and heartache when selling your home. Laying this groundwork will ensure the best possible experience and outcome.

Your first step to success is to suss out a few great agents that work in and are familiar with your neighbourhood. Recommendations from friends and neighbors is a great place to get names. The key point is to ensure the REALTOR® works and has a good track record in your neighbourhood. Don't hire an out of area realtor. You want someone who has the experience you need and can provide you with realistic market value estimates to best achieve the sale.

Second is the preparation of your home. Depending on your home’s overall condition, this is the step that requires the most time and attention. A home full of clutter, obvious wear and tear, and in disrepair can cost you big time when it comes to your asking price, so don't ignore this critical step.

During this “staging” step, I recommend being ruthless and getting rid of stuff you don't need. Call in Junk Removal or your charity of choice to take possessions you no longer require. Even closets and storage areas should be reduced of stuff you no longer need; serious buyers do tend to check out every nook and cranny of their potential buy.

Next, walk through your home and identify any wear and tear issues that need repair. Damaged walls, peeling paint, old water stains on ceilings, lose knobs, leaky faucets, dirty grout or mouldy shower enclosures are just a few common areas. We always suggest homeowners have their own pre-listing Home Inspection Report obtained. This will allow you to identify problem areas.

If your home was built prior to 1965 and you have no evidence that an oil tank was ever removed, then obtain a scan for a buried oil tank. This costs $100 - $150 and is worth every penny. Hire an oil tank removal specialist to do this.

Whether you're selling in January or July, make sure your gardens are groomed. A nicely groomed garden shows pride of ownership. Grass should be repaired if there are bare patches, and bushes and trees pruned. Having some winter flowers go a long way and don’t forget to clean out the gutters.

The research and staging of your home for sale can be overwhelming. This is where having a good REALTOR® familiar with your area is invaluable. They can help with your pre-listing checklist and assist in coordinating all the work that needs to be done.

So, when is best to take that final step and put the For Sale sign up? This is a more personal matter. The best time is when it's best for you, the homeowner. It's tough trying to time markets. If you live in Vancouver and you're looking to sell in 2016, here is what we do know:

1. Housing prices are at all-time highs and overall market sentiment is very positive.
2. The supply of homes on the market is very low.

Chinese New Year is quickly approaching and has proven to be a great time to sell in our market.

Low supply, strong demand, positive sentiment and Chinese New Year are ideal reasons to be on the market for sale by January 25th. If you need any help, advice or a professional opinion, contact us any time. We are always here to help your next real estate transaction be a big success! Make 2016 your year.

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

Andrew Hasman

What a year it’s been for Vancouver’s real estate market. High demand, low inventory, and escalating prices made for a busy 2015 that kept everyone on their toes in the fast-paced market. The drastic increases blindsided homeowners and professionals alike, including the experts and economists who would’ve predicted a safe 3% to 5% increase. A year ago, no one would ever have dreamed that housing prices would skyrocket by 26% on Vancouver’s Eastside and 23% on the West. Just when you thought a Westside 33 ft lot in Dunbar worth $1.8 million back in January was crazy, that same lot is pushing $2.5 million today.

Vancouver’s Westside market continues to be fueled by immigration, low interest rates, and a sagging Canadian dollar. Of the 45 homes we personally sold in 2015, a whopping 80% of those involved multiple-offer scenarios with the sold price being above the asking price.

It may be a seller’s market out there right now, but if 2015 proves anything, no one really knows what’s in store for the New Year. What is certain, is wealthy immigrants from China see Vancouver as a safe haven to park their money. With the Canadian dollar falling about 30% against the Yuan in the past year, our real estate prices are even more desirable. Our dollar is likely to remain depressed as long as oil, energy and commodity prices remain depressed. Interest rates in Canada aren’t likely to rise any significant amount, if at all, over the next year while our economy remains sluggish. Our low interest rates, combined with potentially higher interest rates in the US, will keep our dollar low thus continuing to incite demand for Canadian real estate.

Vancouver’s Eastside market, on the other hand, isn’t driven so much by immigration as a more diversified demographics of buyers. There, more local influence is the driving force. Many Eastside buyers are young families and local buyers who once would have purchased on the Westside, but are now out-priced. New demand for lower-cost living on the Eastside is to account for the 30% increase in some neighbourhoods there.

Vancouver’s suburban neighborhoods also saw strong demand and rising prices. In the past couple of months I have assisted a couple of buyers house-hunting in Tsawwassen. Every property we’ve offered on is also in multiple offer scenarios which is driving prices up there as well.

I am predicting another strong year for real estate in 2016. I cannot see how we can sustain 20% price increases, but only time will tell. If you’re thinking of selling your home, I can’t imagine a better time than around the upcoming Lunar New Year. Low inventory in most markets coupled with demand as high as it’s ever been ensures we’re in store for many more bidding wars to come. And that means prices will only continue to rise.

We pride ourselves on providing you with sound advice and breaking market data. Contact us anytime if you’d like to know what’s happening in your local market, and all the very best for a happy, healthy, real estate-rich New Year!

(Photo: Kenny Louie)

Demand keeps rising for the diminishing supply of homes on the Vancouver market. Despite being a historically slower month, November’s numbers only dipped by 3.3% since October and closed at the highest they’ve been for residential property sales in 9 years, as well as the second highest on record (46.2% above the 10-year sales average). According to MLS®, there were 3,524 sales in Metro Vancouver; a 40.1% increase compared to the 2,516 sales in November 2014.

Working with a realtor has never been so important as it is in the current state of the market. To compete with the high demand and fewer housing choices, fully understanding the options out there is where your realtor is an invaluable resource. “Demand remains strong and there are housing options at different price points throughout the region,” affirms the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s president Darcy McLeod.

To give you an idea of how this record-breaking month came to pass, here’s November by the numbers:

New Listings (detached, attached, and apartment) for November: 3,392
12.5% increase from November 2014

Total Active listings on MLS®: 8,096
35% decline from November 2014

Sales-to-Active-Listings ratio: 43.5%

Benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is $752,500
17.8% increase from November 2014

Benchmark price for a detached property is $1,226,300
22.6% increase from November 2014

Detached property sales totaled 1,335
31.9% since November 2014 and 44.2% since November 2013

Benchmark price for an apartment property is $435,000
14% increase from November 2014

Apartment property sales totaled 1,553
47.6% increase from November 2014

Benchmark price for an attached unit is $536,600
11.3% increase from November 2014

Attached property sales totaled 636
40.7% increase from November 2014

For a complete comparison, visit rebgv.org. Want to sell, buy, or require a consultation? Contact me today.

*REBGV Editor’s Note:  Areas covered by Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.

Whether it’s catching some waves, rays, or whatever adventure is around the next bend, there’s  a beach getaway for every taste.

1. Barbados boasts 60 beaches to choose from. Surf’s up on the east coast whereas true R & R seekers will prefer calmer waters on the west coast. Besides being one of the most sophisticated tropical islands in the Caribbean--dressing up for dinner is an honoured tradition--Barbados offers spelunking and reef diving for thrill-seekers and rum plantation tours for history enthusiasts. There’s also a Food, Wine & Rum Festival mid-November for the foodies. 

2. Tried and true, Hawaii has something new to offer on Oahu’s North Shore. A Courtyard by Marriott has set up shop for easy-access to some of the best stretch of beach on the island. Historically a world-class surfing mecca, the North Shore hosts the world’s premier surfing competitions during peak, winter months. Too much sun (if there’s such a thing), surf, and sand? The Polynesian Cultural Center is close by.  

3. Avoid the bustle of more frequented European beaches for Lanzarote, easternmost of the Spanish Canary Islands, this jewel is steeped in art-based history and known as the Island of Eternal Spring. Host to Europe’s first underwater museum, a perfect homage to artist and architect Cesar Manrique’s birthplace, Lanzarote also features El Diablo; a restaurant atop an active volcano. In case the beach wasn’t hot enough.  

4. Arguably one of Canada’s most famous spots, Long Beach, Vancouver Island is host to pristine beaches, ancient rainforests, abundant wildlife, and indulgent spas. A UNESCO biosphere reserve, Long Beach is also best for storm watching during the winter months; the perfect cozy activity from inside one of the island’s premier resorts, the Wickaninnish Inn.     

5. We’re just heading into peak season at Ngapali Beach, Myanmar. Lasting through March, the “winter” here offers idyllic palm-lined white sand and clear blue water beaches. Off the Bay of Bengal, Myanmar’s premier beach getaway is the get-away-from-it-all spot. Caught between fishing village charm and world-renowned accommodations, Ngapali appeals to sunbathers, peace-seekers, and watersport aficionados alike.

Where’s your best beach getaway spot? Share with us!

Curb appeal is one of those real estate catch phrases that does, in fact, have some substance to it. Appearance may be the first step in getting potential buyers through your front door. With crisp air and rainier days descending on Vancouver, keeping up those appearances can be difficult.

The first and most important step in winterizing your lawn is knowing if you have cool-season grass or warm-season grass. Cool season grasses will need a winterizing fertilizer that’s higher in potassium to fortify roots in time for cooler temperatures while warm season grasses go dormant in the winter and therefore would have required an earlier dose of fertilizer. Your best bet in deciding how to proceed is taking a soil test for acidity levels as well as checking with your local greenhouse as to what type of lawn you have.

Don’t ditch the rake just yet: giving the lawn a good once-over will remove the last layer of dead turfgrass tissue otherwise known as “thatch”, and allow all-important water and nutrients (and possibly your fertilizer) to reach the grassroots. Raking leaves does this double-duty, while using a leaf-blower may de-clutter your yard, it won’t get down to the nitty-gritty.

Lastly, remove any weeds, cover plant beds with insulating topsoil or burlap, and repot small plants indoors. If you haven’t already, blowing out the irrigation system and removing debris from drains will keep things moving smoothly through the winter, as well as prevent your pipes from freezing.

Gardening may not be your forte, but everyone enjoys a well-groomed one to look at; whether they’re buying or selling. Consult with your local garden center on maintenance crews for hire, or share here if you’ve had a good experience with one.

Selling a home? MLS reported 3,646 sales; a 19.3% increase compared to October 2014 (3,057), and a 9% increase to September sales of this year (3,345). That’s 36.2% above the 10-year sales average for the month of October.

Buying a home? Patience, deep pockets, and the right realtor that knows the market and how to make an acceptable offer will ensure you a spot in the game. Darcy McLeod, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s president, said that “Home sales are more than one-third above what’s typical for this time of year, yet the supply of homes for sale is the lowest we’ve seen in five years.” That also indicates that when you do find the home of your dreams, having your financing lined-up and limited conditions can make all the difference.

The market at a glance:

October 2015 Active listings: 4,126
8% decline from the reported 4,487 active listings in October 2014

Total number of properties for sale: 9,569
30% decline from October 2014, and an 11.4% decline from September 2015

Sales-to-Active-Listings ratio: 38.1%
Benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is $736,000

15.3% increase from October 2014

Benchmark price for a detached property is $1,197,600
20.1% increase from October 2014

Detached property sales totaled 1,437
13.1% increase from October 2014’s 1,271 sales

Benchmark price for an apartment property is $425,800
11.4% increase from October 2014

Apartment property sales totaled 1,543
21.7% increase from October 2014’s 1,268 sales

Benchmark price for an attached unit is $526,700
9.3% increase from October 2014

Attached property sales totaled 666
28.6% increase from October 2014’s 518 sales

The Greater Vancouver Area’s market is in the home seller's favour as residential property sales numbers continue their steady climb. For a complete comparison, visit rebgv.org. Want to sell, buy, or require a consultation? Call us at 604-657-7936 or email Andrew at andrew@andrewhasman.com!

*REBGV Editor’s Note: Areas covered by Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.

(Photo: Jennifer C.)

With raindrops hitting our roofs more and more these days, it’s time to plan for cozy evenings inside, and the best of this city’s cultural events for when we’re looking to get a little more social. From the famed Cirque du Soleil to melody-filled evenings and catching the big games, here’s the fall line-up.

1. If you’ve seen the yellow and blue tents by the Georgia viaduct, then you already know that Cirque du Soleil has returned to Vancouver with Kooza; the story of a melancholy loner “The Innocent” in search of his place in the world through acrobatic performance and bold, slapstick humour. Kooza runs from October 29th - December 27th. Get your tickets for one of the greatest shows on earth!

2. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has a number of upcoming shows to choose from, including a reprise of one of VSO’s most successful Pops concerts: Fifty Years of James Bond.  Enjoy memorable screen-stealers from Dr. No all the way up to the Oscar-winning Skyfall, just in time for 007’s twenty-fourth installment coming to theaters this month.

3. For more intimate evenings, the Friends of Chamber Music present a monthly classical concert series. Featuring world-class musicians playing some of the most timeless and evocative music from the masters, FoCM concerts offer a truly unique experience not to be missed.

4. Love them or hate them, the Vancouver Canucks have a couple of home games this month. Check their calendar and get your tickets for a night indulgent of the city’s spirit through an iconic hockey team.

5. Get a jump on the Holidays with the Canadian premiere of A Christmas Story and the acclaimed It’s a Wonderful Life at The Arts Club. With runs November through December, these tales as told on stage through live theatre is as traditional as the season can get.

Love it or hate it, Halloween arrives each year with the same demand: decorate and hand out candy to neighbourhood children. For people looking to sell their homes, this extra “landscaping” might not be at the top of the To Do list. However, if done right, getting into the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve is a good opportunity to appeal to your target buyers.

The #1 thing to remember for decorating: Keep It Simple. Use decorations that go up easily and don’t leave traces behind. That means no extra nails, paint, etc. that could prove difficult to remove. If a quick closing date is on the table, you don’t want to be spending precious time taking down everything that just went up.

The second thing to keep in mind is: Keep It Tasteful. You might love haunted houses, gore and spiders galore, but your potential buyers might not. The last thing you want to do is give the wrong impression or turn off viewers before they’ve even stepped in your home. Traditional pumpkins, tasteful door wreaths (you’ll find an abundance of beautifully pre-made ones at Michaels), and ghostly ghouls out of cheesecloth are always seasonal favourites.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, these easy-to-whip-up decorating ideas for your porch and front lawn from Martha Stewart will enchant trick-or-treaters and visitors alike.

Got any Halloween decorating tips that you’ve discovered do the trick? Share with us!

Whether we admit it or not, we love looking into everyone else's beautiful homes. So, here for your viewing pleasure is a list of some of Canada’s most spectacular mansions from Coast to Coast!

1. The highest priced mansion on the list is in Vancouver’s own Point Grey neighbourhood. This 25,000 sq.-ft. property is so beautiful, we almost understand the price tag. On three lots with a movie theatre, tennis courts, and a 10 car garage, it sold for more than $51 million in December 2014.

2. We’d brave the Calgary cold for Kettle Lake Ranch, which went on the market for $38 million in February of 2014. The house itself is a modest 5,000 square feet with a beautiful rustic-chic appeal. The real value is the 240 acres of land on which it sits and includes two private lakes and a number of creeks. The property was once owned by the Ford Motor Family, and only adds to its historic charm.

3 Saskatchewan may not be the first place that comes to mind when imagining where one might find the most expensive homes in Canada, but this incredible 35,000 square foot home is most notable for its movie theatre and grand architecture. Owner Jeffrey Smith, CEO of First Impressions Theme Theatres, Inc., had it designed in the most opulent style available; reminiscent of grand Opera Houses and Ballrooms from colonial era Europe.

4. Compared to its fellow mansions in Vancouver and Toronto markets, a Manitoba listing this year went for a mere $11 million dollars. The 27,000 square foot estate is comprised of 28 rooms and promises impressive luxury (just look at that indoor pool) in modern minimalism.

5. Listed at $25 million dollars, 68 The Bridle Path is simply palatial. Not every home purchase also affords you a golf cart included in the price to transport owners and guests around the vast property. Along with a forty car garage, this classic mansion reminiscent of its European forebearers is impressive to say the least. The gardens alone make us feel like we’re in high society.

6. It is no great surprise that Quebec would not only have dozens of magnificent mansions, but castles indulgent of its French heritage. Sitting on 12.36 acres of waterfront property just outside Montreal and listed at $11.4 million, this exquisite 20,000 square foot mansion lives up to exactly what one would expect from one of Canada’s oldest cities.

As a key economic driver in BC, the real estate market is happily humming along in our fair city. There was a 14.5% increase in residential property sales this September; 3,345 compared to the 2,922 sales reported in September 2014. This is only a slight 0.5% decrease to August 2015 sales.

Let’s review the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s September Stats as a big picture. Knowing where your homes stands in the grand scheme of Vancouver’s market will help you prepare to sell it, or know what’s a good buy and what isn’t. 

September sales were 32.9% above the 10-year average, even though the total number of properties for sale listed on MLS® was 27% less than September 2014, and .8% less than August 2015.

Sales-to-Active-Listings ratio: 31%

Benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is $722,300

A 13.7% increase from September 2014

Detached property sales totaled 1,272; a 0.2% increase from September 2014
Benchmark price for a detached property is $1,179,700

Apartment property sales totaled 1,529; a 28.7% increase from September 2014
Benchmark price for an apartment property is $415,100

Attached property sales totaled 544; a 17.2% increase from September 2014
Benchmark price for an attached unit is $518,600

(Photo: Alex Costin)