Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures

* This represents the total of the Vancouver - East area, not the sum of the areas above

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures.

* This represents the total of the Vancouver - East area, not the sum of the areas above.

* This represents the total of the Vancouver - East area, not the sum of the areas above

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures

Note: $0 means that there is no sales activity, not $0 as an MLS® HPI Benchmark Price.

Note: $0 means that there is no sales activity, not $0 as an Average Price Per Square Foot.

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures.

* This represents the total of the Vancouver - West area, not the sum of the areas above.

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures

* This represents the total of the Vancouver - West area, not the sum of the areas above.

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures.

* This represents the total of the Vancouver - West area, not the sum of the areas above.

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures

Note: $0 means that there is no sales activity, not $0 as an MLS® HPI Benchmark Price.

Note: $0 means that there is no sales activity, not $0 as an Average Price Per Square Foot.

Current as of June 02, 2016. All data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Powered by ShowingTime 10K. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures.

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

The last Monday before May 25th is officially cause for celebration since 1845, when the public holiday originally fell on Queen Victoria’s actual birthday, May 24th. Today, the May long weekend is used to observe the current reigning Canadian sovereign’s birthday, as well as give the country a leisurely three days to kick off the summer season.

For those of us in the Lower Mainland, we are fortunate to have an abundance of surrounding beauty to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Why not take the opportunity this coming weekend to explore it? From day trips to overnight getaways, here’s our list of the best ways to get the most of your weekend.

1. Visit Victoria! BC Ferries’ multiple sailing times will have you on Vancouver Island in little over an hour and a half, where you’ll find laid-back island charm in BC’s capital city. Named after the Queen herself, Victoria offers outdoor adventures and a burgeoning culinary and craft beer scene, as well as traditions like afternoon tea and heritage architecture reminiscent of its British roots. Formal gardens, ocean-side trails, shopping, and the majestic Parliament Buildings are just a few of the experiences that await you.

2. An hour’s drive from downtown Vancouver, Golden Ears Park is a recreational jackpot for outdoors’ lovers. One of the largest parks in BC, Golden Ears’ extensive trails are perfect for both hiking and horseback riding. Alouette Lake also offers swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, canoeing, boating and fishing. Canoes, kayaks and pedal boats are available for rent at Alouette’s day-use area starting May long weekend. Don’t fancy the drive back to soon? The park also has three large campgrounds.

3. Explore the spectacular beauty of Indian Arm with Harbour Cruise’s 4-hour luncheon cruise. Starting in the inner harbour at 501 Denman St., the luxurious M.V. Harbour Princess will meander through the Burrard Inlet and then North along the Coast Mountain range. Once glaciated, the 18km fjord is now lush green forest and populated with private islands, spectacular waterfront homes, wildlife, and Silver Falls. Bring your camera!

4. Hop the ferry or jet over on Harbour Air to Salt Spring Island for their famous “Make it, Bake it, Grow it!” Saturday market! An artisan’s haven, Salt Spring also offers a flourishing agricultural scene, beautiful beaches and outdoor adventures. For a truly relaxing retreat, the Stowel Lake Organic Farm Wellness Centre runs Yoga on the Farm for the May long weekend. Immerse yourself in yoga practice, fresh food, and natural beauty.

5. Have a staycation! Play tourist in your own town and indulge in the Vancouver you might not always take the opportunity to see. For the Best of Vancouver on Foot, from art walks to adventurous geocaching and serene nature walks in the city’s best parks, there’s something for every mood.

What are you favourite BC getaways? Share to our Facebook Page!

Residential property sales continue to exceed record averages. 4,781 homes sold last month; that’s a 14.4% increase from the 4,179 sales recorded in April 2015, and only a marginal 7.6% decrease from March 2016. Overall, April 2016 sales were 41.7% above the 10-year sales average for the month, while the total number of properties currently listed on MLS® is a mere 7,550. That’s a 39.3% decline from April 2015, and an incremental 2.6% increase from March 2016.

“While  we’re seeing more homes listed for sale in recent months, supply is still chasing this unprecedented  surge of demand in our marketplace,” said Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s new president, Dan Morrison. He cautions that buyer competition is still high across the lower mainland, and that working with a realtor is more important now than ever to navigate this intense market. Either as the home buyer or seller, ensuring you have the proper information to strategize a successful sale or negotiate the purchase of your dream home is where a licensed realtor can make all the difference.

The Numbers at a Glance:

Total new listings: 6,127
3.9% increase from April 2015 & 2.4% decline from March 2016

Sales-to-Active Listings Ratio: 63.3%

Benchmark price for all residential properties: $844,800
25.3% increase from April 2015

Benchmark price for a detached property is $1,403,200
30.1% increase from April 2015

Detached property sales totaled 1,979
9% increase from April 2015

Benchmark price for an apartment property is $475,000
20.6% increase from April 2015

Apartment property sales totaled 2,107
33.4% increase from April 2015

Benchmark price for an attached unit is $608,600
22.1% increase from April 2015

Attached property sales totaled 695
11.5% decrease from April 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.

Lush, rolling lawns. Beautiful estate homes, winding boulevards, esteemed neighbours and good private schools. Vancouver’s geographic heart lies between Queen Elizabeth Park and Arbutus in the pristine residential neighbourhood of Shaughnessy.

Created as a premier residential subdivision in 1907 as competition for the West End, Shaughnessy has retained its significant heritage value and distinctive allure for over a century. Originally developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway when the provincial government gifted the CPR 6,000 acres of prime land in 1885, of which they chose Shaughnessy Heights as the best location for their high class subdivision. Stately homes, well-manicured grounds and generous lot sizes are neighbourhood trademarks. As is the absence of a real commercial presence. If it’s a true suburban feel in the middle of it all you’re searching for, then Shaughnessy offers the privacy you’re after among its elite neighbours. Bordered by the Arbutus shopping district, VanDusen Botanical Garden and bustling Cambie Village on the North East side, desirable amenities are never far, however.

Shaughnessy remains one of Vancouver’s best examples of a planned community. As it should be: the CPR spent over $1 million developing the site, which was above average for the day. Named for the CPR president Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, who in turn named several main streets in the area after CPR Directors (Angus, Marpole, Homer, Osler and Nanton), Shaughnessy is also home to two of the city’s most well-known properties: Hycroft Manor and Glen Brae. Hycroft was the largest and most expensive mansion in the city when it was constructed in 1909 and its owner, industrialist A.D. McRae hosted Shaughnessy’s annual social event of the year: the New Year’s Eve costume ball. Glen Brae is now known as Canuck Place, one of the world’s leading hospices for children.

The unanimous vote by city council last fall to designate Shaughnessy Vancouver’s first-ever heritage conservation area is an effort to preserve the area’s rich architectural history that ranges from Tudor Revival to Craftsman and Colonial Revival. Truly one of Vancouver’s gems, Shaughnessy’s rich history adds to the charm of living in one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland.

Keep an eye out for our listings in prestigious Shaughnessy! You can always contact us for a consultation, as well.

Floral artistry is more than simply arranging a few blooms in a vase. Consider: colour, texture, variety, size… the perfect arrangement is the culmination of nature’s most beautiful gifts through one person’s artful interpretation: the florist. From freshly gathered garden blooms to classic bouquets and modern arrangements, the design is meant to give a visual narrative. In this case: one of love and gratitude for the most beautiful woman in your life: Mom.

We’ve sourced some of the best florists in Vancouver so you can gift her with something as unique, lovely, and authentic as she is. Order soon, we’re sure these artists will be busy come Sunday, May 8th!

1. Bird On A Wire Creations has joined with Bouquets by Mary for a special Mother’s Day pop-up shop Saturday, May 8th from noon-4pm. You can also pre-order these Mason Jar Bouquets online. These cheerful, rustic creations are the perfect ‘thank you’ to mom for $25.

2. Interior Flori offers exquisitely designed bouquets and arrangements by award-winning Stephen Kuo. The unassuming W. Broadway shop is packed with stunning blooms for your choosing, and Kuo, who recently designed centerpieces for Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son, Prince Edward, is as happy to perfectly finish your bouquet with wrapping as he is to offer up knowledge on his passion.

3. Georgia Straight “Best Of” winner, The Flower Factory was voted by Vancouverites as the Florist in town. Their retail location on Main St. has served up beautiful blooms for nearly twenty years, their dedication to creating unique, client-centric arrangements part of their success.

4. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, Choice Flowers is another of the city’s long-serving florists that delivers perfection every time. Their variety of local and imported flowers ensures there’s something for everyone.

5. Personal service and attention to detail are paramount at Blumen Floral & Gift Boutique. A Cambie
neighbourhood staple, Blumen even offers a weekly delivery program, so Mom can have fresh flowers all year long!

What’s your favourite flower shop in Vancouver? Share with us and post your best Mother’s Day bouquets to our Facebook page.