In celebration of the best guy around, we’ve rounded up our favourite boys’ day out activities to make Sunday, June 19th unforgettable this year.

Our Top Five Things To Do This Father’s Day Weekend

1. Kick off the weekend with a BC Lions football game versus the Calgary Stampeders Friday, June 17th. Get your tickets here! More of a European football fan? The Vancouver Whitecaps are playing New England Revolution Saturday, June 18th, tickets available here.
 
2. More the adventurous type? Have lunch 2,000 feet above sea level. About an hour’s drive from Vancouver, the 11km adventure hike that is the renowned Stawamus Chief overlooks the town of Squamish with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and water. Choose from old-growth forest trail or one with views of Shannon Falls. Feeling particularly daring? The front face of the Chief is popular for experienced rock climbers.
 
3. If chilling’s more the order of the day, stop by The Liberty Distillery’s Cocktail Lounge on Granville Island. Sip one of the Distillery’s artisanal premium spirits, handcrafted on site “from grain to glass” at the 110-year-old antique bar. Service starts at 11am; meaning on boys’ day, any time is a good time to try the good stuff.
 
4. Get cultural and take in a play at the annual Bard on the Beach festival. There are two preview performances of award-winning The Merry Wives of Windsor on Sunday, June 19th. This classic tale of mischief and sweet revenge is set against the beautiful back-drop of mountains and water at the Bard tents in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park. For more performances, check the official schedule here.
 
5. A short, thirty-minute drive out of the city will have you on the Redwoods Golf Course doorstep. This lush, 18 hole Ted Locke Championship course offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains beyond the tree-lined green. Redwoods also offers a Driving Range, the Grill, and flexible bookings from a one-time tee time to seasons’ passes.
 

No matter how you choose to spend your guys’ day, we wish you and all the dads out there a Happy Father’s Day!

Photo credit: Juan Gomez

January 2016 is the second highest start to the year on record with sales 46% above the 10-year average for the month. Low supply and record-breaking buyer demand is still the driving force in the real estate market.

The total number of residential sales in the Greater Vancouver area totalled 2,519 for the month; a 31.7% increase from the 1,913 sales in January 2015. It was only a slight, 10.9% decline from the 2,827 sales in December 2015.

Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s president Darcy McLeod touts the importance of listing your home with MLS® to ensure maximum exposure. For home buyers, MLS®  is the second greatest tool next to an excellent realtor. With so much competition out there, keeping a constant eye on MLS®  gives buyers the best chance to snapping up the home of their dreams.

2016 Opening Numbers:

New Listings (detached, attached, and apartment) in January: 4,442
6.2% decline from January 2015

119.8% increase from December 2015

Total Active listings on MLS®: 6,635
38.6% decline from January 2015
10.1% increase from December 2015

Sales-to-Active-Listings ratio: 38%

Benchmark price for a detached property is $1,293,700
27.9% increase from January 2015

Detached property sales totaled 1,047
34.1% increase from January 2015

Benchmark price for an apartment property is $456,600
19.4% increase from January 2015

Apartment property sales totaled 1,096
35.5% increase from January 2015

Benchmark price for an attached unit is $563,700
16.4% increase from January 2015

Attached property sales totaled 376
16.4% increase from January 2015

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.

(Photo: explore604)

Your home is your sanctuary, the very essence of you. After all of the time and money spent acquiring it, you want someone who embraces your vision of what that home means, and what you want it to express to others. We’ve rounded up ten of Canada’s top interior designers, each with their own unique approach ready to style your home to perfection.

1. 1. The award-winning Elizabeth Metcalf Interiors pairs understated elegance with modern luxury. Their fresh take on a classic feel has been serving clients in the Greater Toronto Area for over fifteen years. Helmed by Elizabeth Metcalf, the EM team is guided by the belief that a cohesive design philosophy between style and function can transform the home to enhance their clients’ well-being.

1. 2. English import Alan John Marsh got his start in the Montreal offices of internationally acclaimed Design International, designing shopping centres, offices, and commercial spaces across North America. Turning his attention to residential properties in Toronto, Marsh’s signature minimalist aesthetic utilizes modern technology with recycled materials. The unifying thread is his acute attention to the details that make minimalism comfortable, beautiful, and personal.

1. 3. Hailing from the prestigious Parsons School of Design in Paris and Italy’s University of Ferrara for Architecture, Vancouverite Patricia Gray is a multi-talented designer. Her own original artwork and custom furnishings add another dimension to the services she offers. Heading up Patricia Gray Interiors Inc., Gray’s name has become synonymous with exceptional design for functionality and contemporary luxury; it’s no wonder she has a celebrity client list to her credit as well.

1. 4. The imaginative team of George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg lead the renowned Yabu Pushelberg, which oversees projects in sixteen countries from its East Coast base. Ranging from retail and hospitality to private residences, the experienced team and their partners create designs that evoke youth, adventure, and have a polished approach that comes through in every detail.

1. 5. Vancouver-based Trish Knight’s namesake design studio aims to “create a home that reflects the values, lifestyle, and sensibilities of the people who inhabit it.” Her approachable style that combines sophistication with livability and that undeniably West Coast aesthetic is sought after from San Diego to Singapore.

1. 6. Douglas Design Studio’s aesthetic is creating a space that is uniquely you. The self-named “lifestyle interpreters”, led by Jeffrey Douglas, have been transforming interiors since 1995 from what they were to what they could be. The firm prides itself on client relations and offers a passion for organization and a smooth process to take you from your current state, to your ultimate home.

1. 7. Lisa Canning’s energetic approach that’s at once strategic and passionate will transform your home into an effortless sanctuary. The beauty is in the details, and making sure that every single one of those details works for you, so that you don’t have to. Her design savvy has caught the eye of Toronto’s well-heeled and media alike, her beautiful results are all that matter to her clients.

1. 8. Toronto’s Laura Stein Interiors is an award-winning firm whose bespoke designs are brought to life by a team of skilled contractors and artisans. The woman behind the name, herself a picture of understated luxury with a contemporary edge, underscores every design created with the client’s personality and lifestyle in mind for ultimate livability and comfort.

1. 9. Since 1982 Elaine Cecconi and Anna Simone have been transforming interiors across the world, all the while giving back to the community through their knowledge and experience, such as on HGTV’s Design Interns. Cecconi Simone adheres to the “whole design” philosophy, basing their interiors around the people who inhabit them and the lifestyle that arises from that relationship: functional, striking, unique.

1. 10. Western Living’s Designers of the Year 2015 finalist Enviable Designs offers more than just interior design. Helping clients right from the planning stage through remodels, the ED’s team is there for whatever your home requires. With a distinctly elegant, West Coast aesthetic, the modern luxe result is nothing short of beautiful.

Anyone who should’ve made the list? Share with us!

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)

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!

The gloriously lazy days of summer are slowly drawing to an end, which means if you’re still thinking of putting your house up for sale in 2015, now’s the time to prepare. From choosing the right time to put up that For Sale sign to staging, hiring an agent, and all the other important details involved in ensuring a successful sale; it’s best to organize your “To Do” list as early as possible. Things happen, not always good; so if there’s plenty of time to meet them head-on you’ll come out on top.

To get you started, we’ve got the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s Summer Stats. Knowing where the market stands and how your home compares is the first step in preparing to sell. Next step? Call us to make an appointment so we can help you on your journey.

Recently a client approached me to sell their condo in Kerrisdale. The suite was a well laid out, 2 bdrm plus den, offering over 1500 square feet of living overlooking Elm Park. The building was a beautifully built and well maintained concrete low rise. My first impression was that this would be a fairly straight forward sale as the condo was located in a sought after building in a great location.

The suite was in immaculate well maintained condition. The only issue I could see that buyers might have would be the ability to look beyond the poorly appointed furniture relative to the layout. The dining room area had no dining table and was made small looking by a large oversized wood hutch. The master bedroom had no bed in it. The living room was arranged so that it looked very narrow and difficult to furnish.

We decided to go to market without making any changes to the furniture. After 2 weeks on the market and 15 showings, we finally attracted just 1 offer which was on the very low end of where I suggested it might sell. This offer was accepted with a subject period of 2 weeks. On the 14th day the buyer backed out and the sale did not go through. At this point the seller was feeling a little frustrated.

It was my suggestion that staging the home would solve all the buyer concerns about the lack of dining area, the narrow living room, and the uninviting master bedroom. I felt that if the condo was correctly staged, we could attract a buyer quickly, and at a much better price than the previously accepted offer.

The seller was concerned that paying $4,500 for staging might not pay off. I felt otherwise.

The Outcome:

3 days after the staging went in, we sold the condo at a price $50,000 above the previously accepted offer. The staging cost the homeowner $4,500 so the net result was a gain of $ 44,500.00! Staging your home does work.

If you have any questions about home staging or would like a consultation, please call Andrew at 604-657-7936.

(Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Andwhatsnext)

The June 2015 numbers from The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver are record-setting. It was the highest selling June on record.

The month saw residential property sales exceed 4,300, which is a whopping 28% more than that of June 2014. These numbers surpassed those seen in May. June 2015 also hit another high: four straight months with more than 4,000 sales per month.

These numbers signal a lot of positives for sellers. Many people believe that summer isn’t the best time to sell, but because most people take their property off the market, inventory becomes scarce and sellers can often see multiple offers and a quick sale. we are seeing some great inventory right now.

It’s also the ideal time to prepare for the fall market. We are available to consult with potential sellers and offer suggestions for staging, repairs or other issues a seller might not have considered. We have a list of pros to help get any place into top selling shape.

We also understand the additional pressure buyers struggle with in a competitive market. Many buyers feel the need to make major decisions in a rush, and that can be problematic. The current high demand for housing is further extended by the recent cut in interest rates, along with an expanding population base and a decrease in supply of detached homes.

We’re great at handling such complex scenarios to help potential buyers understand what they need to know in a stressful, often rapid-fire situation. We use our deep insight into the local market, dexterity with MLS listings and expertise in buying strategies to ensure your success.

At Andrew Hasman and Associates, buying or selling your home in Vancouver's Westside doesn't get any better than this. Reach out to us at 604-657-7936 or email andrew@andrewhasman.com.

We are often asked for referrals for REALTORS® located outside our area of expertise, areas like Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix or California, to name a few. As a REALTOR® with over 23 years of experience, I will share my top priorities for locating an area expert.

At first glance, it appears that the choices are infinite, but do you really have that much choice?

There are probably only a handful of top realtors in your specific area, and those are the ones I will target.

First, I will search online  for a list of top performing REALTORS®, review their websites and personally call at least three, but no more than 5 realtors.

Then I look for a personable REALTOR® who I can reach by phone in  a timely manner, and  who shares my old fashioned hands-on values. That realtor will have a minimum of 10 years experience and focuses solely on the identified area; they will be a specialist and not a generalist; they understand up, down and sideways their market because selling in each of these markets requires different tools and strategies.

I want hands-on service, from getting the home ready for sale to completion and possession. That means the REALTOR® I choose will be at all showings with keys in hand. My home will be their top priority.

The REALTOR® will live within a 15-20 minute radius of my home for convenience. Remember, every time that REALTOR® shows your home, there is time travel each way, home set up, and then the showing time. How likely are you going to be a priority on a Tuesday evening at 7pm, or Sunday morning at 11am when travel time is 45 minutes or longer? Sometimes there are no-shows, when the buyer cancels 10 minutes before the showing and the effort has gone to waste.

“I look for hands on, old fashioned personable service because I deserve it”.

Computers, the internet, Twitter, blogs, and cell phones have made the process of buying and selling homes accessible to the public in a fast and efficient way. However, the core of real estate has not changed. The personable relationship you create with a trusted REALTOR® should last a lifetime from generation to generation because those are the values and qualities in a REALTOR® we believe you deserve.

Over the past 2 decades we have spoken with thousands of homeowners only to learn that so many have had a negative experience when dealing with a real estate agent. So many buyers & sellers make the mistake of hiring a REALTOR® based on the wrong selection criteria. Many only interview one agent.

Selling a home is probably one of the most important and biggest dollar value transactions the average person will ever enter into. You’d think it would only make sense to hire a seasoned professional to navigate your sale.

Before selecting your REALTOR® to help you in your next real estate transaction here are a few tips to ensure you make the right decision.

Firstly, it’s always wise to speak with 3 REALTORS® to ensure what you are hearing makes sense. Some questions to ask:

1. How many sales do they have in the immediate neighborhood where you are buying or selling. It always makes sense to select a REALTOR® who works in your neighborhood.

2. How many listings and or how many buyers are they presently working with. A REALTOR® with 20 or more active listing may to be busy to provide you with the service you expect.

3. How many associates does the REALTOR® have working with them? If your agent is part of a team who’s the one will you be dealing with. Who will be showing your home? Is it important for you to have your agent showing up to show the home & be present at open houses? If they cannot commit chances are you are going to have an assistant show your home. Are you ok with that?

4. Ask your agent if they are planning on taking any vacation time during your listing period. While everyone deserves a vacation I think it’s important to know whether their vacation will take place while you are selling your home.

Does your agent live in the neighborhood or in close proximity to where you are buying or selling. Hiring a REALTOR® who is not knowledgeable about property values in your area can cost you big time. Don’t list or buy with a friend who lives 25 miles away. Have them refer you to a local agent.

Asking a few simple questions can ensure you a better outcome when selling or buying your next property.

Happy Selling,

Andrew & Jill Hasman