Archived blog posts for : 2010

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

I have sold a property at 3 108 West 14th AVE W in vancouver

by Amalia Liapis on Thu, Jul, 29, 2010 03:12 PM

Categories:Mount Pleasant VW, Vancouver West Real Estate

Property Photo: 3 108 West 14th AVE W in vancouver

I have sold a property at 3 108 West 14th AVE W in vancouver.

See details here

Gorgeous garden suite has it all! The well designed floorplan offers an open kitchen with island, separate dining area, generous living room, all overlooking the sunny south facing patio. Enjoy new stainless steel appliances, laminate H/W floors, gas fireplace, new lighting, and finished in warm designer hues. The generous master has a walk-in closet, and ensuite. The Power Smart triplex with a coach house is located between the trendy Main SOMA district and the Cambie Village and Canada Line. A new daycare and park is underway a block away next to Simon Fraser Elementary. Great well maintained building. Easy to show.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

I have sold a property at 3955 West 33rd AVE W in vancouver

by Amalia Liapis on Thu, Jul, 29, 2010 03:04 PM

Categories:Dunbar, Vancouver West Real Estate

Property Photo: 3955 West 33rd AVE W in vancouver

I have sold a property at 3955 West 33rd AVE W in vancouver.

See details here

A great move up home on a 50' lot on the QUIET part of W.33rd Avenue. Just a short walk to the park and Community Centre. Perfect for the family looking to be on a larger lot, but don't want a fixer upper. This home was renovated with high end finishes including: DCS commercial stove, 2 thermador dishwashers, Cherry lonetree cabinets, halogen lighting, all new electrical and plumbing, newer 2 car garage, raised slate covered deck, french doors across the back of the house, hardwood floors, restoration hardware-type baths with marble counters and high quality fixtures, and more... This house is great for entertaining and will not disappoint.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Mortgage Rate Forecast

by Amalia Liapis on Thu, Jul, 29, 2010 12:00 PM

Categories:banking,Canada,financing,forecast,mortgage

The Canadian economy grew at the exceptional pace of 6.1% in the first quarter of 2010, propelled by a booming housing market, strong consumer spending and the rebuilding of private sector inventories. Moreover, growth in the second quarter of 2010, while not expected to register the sizzling pace of the previous six months, should be a robust 3%-4%.

However there are signs that the economy, if not stalling out, may be slowing down. April’s monthly GDP print was disappointingly flat as consumers moved to the sidelines, sending retail sales lower by almost 2%.

Even if Canadian consumers are beginning to tire out, economic growth should be supported in coming months by projects initiated under the federal government’s infrastructure stimulus plan. This stimulus will provide a needed boost to the economy through the remainder of 2010, with projected impacts peaking in the third quarter, but will create a drag on growth in 2011 as the stimulus is withdrawn from government expenditure.

The strength of the Canadian economic recovery over the past six months is evidenced by the over 300,000 jobs created in the Canadian economy since the beginning of the year. While this exceptional rate of job creation stands in stark contrast to the gloomy employment situation of our southern neighbour, it also re-affirms the need for the Bank of Canada to begin withdrawing its emergency level of monetary stimulus by raising interest rates, particularly given the proximity of core inflation to its 2% target rate.

The withdrawal of monetary and fiscal stimulus from the Canadian economy in coming months will result in slower growth in both the second half of 2010 and into 2011. This growth slowdown may be further exacerbated by weaker than currently anticipated US and global economic growth as well as a higher Canadian dollar resulting from a rise in Canadian interest rates relative to the United States.

In all, slower economic growth and inflation that is within the Bank of Canada’s comfort zone should mean that, while interest rates are certain to rise, the pace of interest rate increases should be orderly and the level of interest rates will remain near historic lows through the remainder of the year.

By Cameron Muir, Chief Economist and Brendon Ogmundson, Economist, British Columbia Real Estate Association

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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Negotiation: The Closing Stage

by Amalia Liapis on Tue, Jul, 13, 2010 12:00 PM

Price is an issue in most negotiations. Salespeople need to deal with the price issue confidently, but with an understanding of the needs of the other side. Here are some notes to help you:

• Be specific. State the exact price rather than ....well, it will be about….
• Maintain eye contact. It makes you look confident.
• Ensure the tone of your voice is confident and your body language is also confident and relaxed.
• Use silence. Once you have stated your price, stop talking and wait for the other side to speak.
• Give them time to think.
• Deal with price objections and defend your price, but don’t over argue your case.
• Close down your body language.
• Focus on price and benefit differences.
• Begin the bargaining phase.

The Closing Stages
The closing stages of any negotiation are vital to the overall success of the final deal. There will come a time when both parties can sense an outcome is possible, and each negotiator needs to be careful not to be too eager to close or else the other party will be tempted to hold back for further concessions.

Once a likely outcome is seen, either party may define outstanding issues, compare arguments and objections, review the position to date and agree a deadline for agreement. If one side avoids making these decisions, the other must probe to find out the reason and deal with it effectively. Negotiators must be careful at this stage to identify tactical delay which deliberately attempts to force further concessions.

The best solution to aim for always, is one where both parties feel they have done well despite having to concede on certain issues. This is called a “win-win” solution. Once either side feels they have arrived at the final deal, it is important to signal this to the other party.

Body language can say as much about what you are thinking as speech. If you have made your final offer, look as if it is your final offer. Simply gathering up your papers, looking at the other side directly in the eye and saying “That is my final offer”, will accomplish this, and silence can be a powerful tool in convincing them you mean what you say.

Be wary of "splitting the difference": If you offer to split the difference, you have, in effect, given the other side a concession that is one-sided. You have said you are prepared to move without asking for commitment in return.

The final consideration is when you have done the deal and both parties are in agreement. Record the details and agree with the other parties involved that your interpretation of events matches theirs. That way there will be no unexpected comeback in the inevitable post-negotiation period when either side reviews how well or badly it has done. Again, this will be minimized if the solution you have arrived at benefits both parties.

A Final Word Of Caution
The closing stages need to be approached with caution. It has been shown that the majority of concessions are given or traded in the last 5% of the time allocated for negotiation. That means if you negotiate for one hour, the last three minutes are when you are most vulnerable.

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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Price Comparison 2010

by Amalia Liapis on Tue, Jul, 13, 2010 12:00 PM

Categories:price index,real estate,vancouver

The following graph offers a comparative look at the 2010 Vancouver housing market price index against the same period in 2009.

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