I just sold this House at 5160 HUMMINGBIRD DRIVE, Westwind, Richmond, BC Westwind.

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I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, B110 1331 Homer Street, Yaletown, Vancouver, BC

Rarely available!

FULLY UPGRADED (2015) 3 bdrm, 2 full bath PLUS den overlooking the water at Pacific Point I – perfect for a growing family! Extensive renos done with permit. Beautiful open floor plan make entertaining a breeze! BRAND NEW full-sized kitchen features exceptional Caesarstone quartz counters, premium 36” Bosch induction cooktop & Fisher Paykel appl. Outdoor entrance off quiet courtyard makes for your own backyard. Includes 1 parking + more avail & oversized storage locker. Solid rainscreened building w/ warranty. Amenities include guest suite, billiards room, sauna, fitness center, courtyard & solarium! Rentals & pets welcome. Quiet part of Yaletown, steps to seawall, David Lam Park, Canada Line, Elementary school & Yaletown's boutique shops & restaurants.  Don't miss this!

As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 604.644.1044 for more information!

Alisa Sakamoto, Personal Real Estate Corporation
REALTOR® RE/MAX WESTCOAST

How the Wrong Pricing Strategy Can Cost You Thousands

 

As you’re probably aware, the list price you set for your property has an impact on how quickly it sells — and how much you earn on the sale.

What you may not realize is just how significant an impact it has. Consider the following examples.

Example 1:

You price your property well above its current market value. As a result, many buyers don’t bother to see it because it’s outside of their price range. Those who do see it are confused by the high price tag, (and may even be suspicious.) They may wonder, “What’s going on?”

In this scenario, the home will likely languish on the market for weeks or even months. You might even have to lower the price dramatically to reignite interest.

Example 2:

You price your property just a couple of percentage points lower than what is necessary to gain the interest of qualified buyers. That might not seem like much of a problem. How much can a couple of percentage points matter?

Those points matter a lot.

On a $400,000 property, pricing your home just 2% lower than necessary could cost you $8,000 on the sale. That’s a serious amount of money!
 

So, as you can see, pricing your home right is serious business. Fortunately, a good REALTOR knows how to set the right price.

Looking for a good REALTOR? Call me today --604.644.1044 Alisa Sakamoto

         Home Buyer Competition Keeps Home Sellers in the Driver’s Seat 

I just sold this Condo at 315 5500 Andrews Road, Steveston South, Richmond, BC Steveston South.

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I just sold this Condo at 703 8180 LANSDOWNE Road, Brighouse, Richmond, British Columbia Brighouse.

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I just sold this House at 3206 RICHMOND Street, Steveston Village, Richmond, British Columbia Steveston Village.

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I just sold this Condo at PH8 13040 NO. 2 ROAD, Steveston South, Richmond, BC Steveston South.

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I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, 216 5700 Andrews Road, Steveston South, Richmond

RIVERS REACH - Award-winning complex by Adera – built with rainscreen technology in popular Steveston! Spacious 1 bed & den with an open floor plan. Beautifully renovated featuring kitchen cabinetry from Pentco, Quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, stacking washer/dryer, high quality carpet in bedroom, engineered hardwood floors, new baseboards, new blinds, cozy gas fireplace with upgraded river rock surround, high-end dining & bathroom lighting & fresh paint. Show home condition! This private east facing unit has one of the largest covered balconies overlooking the ponds & marina – perfect for BBQs & entertaining with friends! This peaceful location offers everything! Steps to the river, trails & boardwalk. Short stroll to the Village with its many shops & restaurants. Call today!

Should You “High Ball” Your Listing Price?

One of the most important decisions you make when selling your home is setting the listing price. That can be tricky. After all, if you price your property too low, you leave money on the table — perhaps thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you price your home too high, many buyers won’t even bother to see it, believing it is too expensive.

Even with that reality, there are some sellers who contemplate setting a high listing price in the hopes of a windfall. They want some unsuspecting buyer to fall in love with the home and buy it — even though it’s overpriced.

That rarely, if ever, happens.

Instead, the listing often languishes on the market because its listing price is conspicuously much higher than its market value.

Think about it. If two similar homes, side-by-side, are for sale, and one is priced $40,000 higher than the other, wouldn’t you wonder what was going on? That’s exactly what the market thinks. “Why is that home priced so high?”

Of course, many buyers, who might otherwise be interested in the property, won’t even consider seeing it, simply because it’s outside their price range.

It gets worse. When an overpriced home sits on the market with no offers for several weeks, the price will often need to be adjusted down. That helps the situation a little. However, you’ve lost the excitement created by a “new listing.” Yours is now an old listing struggling to get attention.

There’s a better way…

Setting your list price at or near the market value is much more likely to generate interest from qualified buyers and maximize how much you make on your home.

That market value may even be higher than you think!

Interested in finding out how much? Call me today - 604.644.1044 Alisa Sakamoto

January 5, 2016

Metro Vancouver home sales set an all-time record in 2015

In a year when the number of homes listed for sale was below historical averages, actual home sales in Metro Vancouver set a new record.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that 2015 home sales were the highest annual total in REBGV history. This was powered early in the year by four straight months with more than 4,000 sales a month from March to June, another first for REBGV.

Sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in 2015 reached 42,326, a 27.8 per cent increase from the 33,116 sales recorded in 2014, and a 48.4 per cent increase over the 28,524 residential sales in 2013.

The total number of homes listed for sale on the MLS® in 2015 ranked fifth in the last ten years, while the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) saw double-digit year-over-year price increases.

The number of residential properties listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in 2015 reached 57,249. This is an increase of 2.1 per cent compared to the 56,066 properties listed in 2014 and an increase of 4.6 per cent compared to the 54,742 properties listed in 2013.

With sales-to-active-listings ratios above 25 per cent for 11 months in 2015, the Metro Vancouver market experienced seller’s market conditions for much of the year.

"Home buyers were active and motivated throughout 2015 despite the pressure on supply of homes on the market," Darcy McLeod, REBGV president said. "Housing markets typically experience quieter periods within a calendar year, but that wasn't the case in Metro Vancouver last year."

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver ends the year at $760,900. This represents an 18.9 per cent increase compared to December 2014.

“We often hear economists say that seller’s market conditions put upward pressure on home prices,” McLeod said. “That was certainly the case in 2015, with price increases ranging from 14 to 24 per cent depending on property type.”

December summary
Residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,827 in December 2015, an increase of 33.6 per cent from the 2,116 sales recorded in December 2014 and a 19.8 per cent decline compared to November 2015 when 3,524 home sales occurred.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 2,021 in December 2015. This represents a 7 per cent increase compared to the 1,888 units listed in December 2014 and a 40.4 per cent decline compared to November 2015 when 3,392 properties were listed.

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 6,024, a 41.6 per cent decline compared to December 2014 and a 25.6 per cent decrease compared to November 2015.

Sales of detached properties in December 2015 reached 1,136, an increase of 36.4 per cent from the 833 detached sales recorded in December 2014. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 24.3 per cent from December 2014 to $1,248,600.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,225 in December 2015, an increase of 34.3 per cent compared to the 912 sales in December 2014.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 14 per cent from December 2014 to $436,200.

Attached property sales in December 2015 totalled 466, an increase of 25.6 per cent compared to the 371 sales in December 2014. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 13.6 per cent from December 2014 to $543,700.

Download the complete stats package by clicking here.

What Home Inspectors See that You Can’t

When you make an offer on a home, it’s a smart idea to have a professional
home inspector check it out from top to bottom. This inspection will ensure
that the property doesn’t have any unexpected “issues”. After all, you don’t
want to buy a home only to discover that the roof needs to be replaced,
immediately, for thousands of dollars.

That being said, you might question whether you really need to invest the
few hundred dollars it costs for a professional home inspection. “The home
we want to buy looks like it’s in very good shape,” you might be thinking. “I
can’t see anything wrong with it.”

However, a professional home inspector can see things you can’t. When
you view a property that’s on the market, you might be able to notice
obvious issues, like a crack in the foundation or a dripping faucet. If you’re
experienced with home maintenance, you might even notice roofing tiles
that look like they’re overdue for replacement.

But you won’t pick up all the issues a home inspector can.
A home inspector will, for example, use a special device to check for
moisture build-up in the washrooms – which can be an indication of mould.
He or she will also inspect wiring to make sure everything is safe and
compliant with the building code.
That’s not all.

Like a determined detective, a home inspector will investigate the property’s
structure, electrical and plumbing systems, insulation, and other
components — and then report the findings to you.

In the end, a professional home inspection gives you peace-of-mind and
protects your investment. So getting one is highly recommended — even for
recently built homes.

If you need some recommendations for a trusted home inspector, please
visit the "Professional Services" section found on my home page. 
Looking for more ideas on making smart decisions when buying a home?  
Call me today 604-644-1044 Alisa Sakamoto