I have a brand new grandson - baby Owen was born on December 7th, 2013.  What a wonderful early Christmas gift for our family.   Savanna and Kenny are very proud to show off their new brother (8 days old) to Santa.  And my daughter Karli and son in law, Ken Maude are looking forward to a fun filled Holiday (and perhaps a few sleepless nights!)

The highlight for me was to see the excitement when Daddy showed Savanna and Kenny their new brother for the very first time (45 minutes old)!  A wonderful memory for Grammy Dale with many more to come.

Wishing all of you a wonderful Holiday with many magical memories and a 2014 filled with Joy, Health & Prosperity!

I am reminded by my four year old daughter every day that Santa is coming.  The holidays often signal a slowing in the real estate market as buyers and sellers focus on time off and family gathering instead of buying or selling homes.  It is not uncommon for the market to see this “seasonal slowdown” as early as late October.  Each year is a bit different depending on supply and demand, interest rates and consumer confidence.    For the first time in my seven year real estate career, I find myself wondering when I will be able to do my Christmas shopping.

The market has naturally slowed after a fantastic fall but I am seeing more activity than I have ever seen in the month of December.  It is often a struggle to book buyer’s tours this time of year as sellers begin to remove their properties from the market with the intention to re-list in the New Year.   However, this year the struggle is in finding properties that have not yet sold.  Merry buyers that are used to taking their time to shop during the historically sluggish December market are seeing multiple offers and properties being swept up before they have a chance to view them.

Dale and I have already written four deals in month of December and we are only mid-month.  We both are busy evaluating properties for the New Year and showing properties to motivated clients who would like to purchase this month if at all possible, but with inventory on the decline due to the many sales and sellers waiting for 2014, many buyers feel as if time is running out.

As my daughter whispers, “Daddy, Santa is coming!”, many sellers are screaming from their roof tops that Santa has come early this year because of their timely sales.  

Join Dan and the Jazz Connexion for an evening of Big Band music Friday December 6th at 7:30pm at the Legion in North Vancouver (123 W 15th Street).  The Jazz Connexion is a community big band that rehearses weekly on the North Shore (http://northshorebands.com/jazzband.php).  They are excited to be joined by the Milleraires, another North Shore big band.

Donations will be taken at the door with all proceeds going to the Legion's Veteran's Fund.  These moneys are used to honour and support Veterans that have served our fine country throughout the years.  Hoep to see you there!

“Steady trends continue in the Greater Vancouver housing market! "

That is the headline for the Real Estate Board stats for November 2013. This year’s activity has resulted in gradual and modest increases in home prices of approximately one per cent over the last 12 months in the region.  However, you might want to check out the SnapStats for your specific area. We have seen several “Seller’s” markets including Burnaby, Downtown, the East Side and North Vancouver.  Please click below to view the complete REBGV News Release with Stats pack.

http://www.rebgv.org/sites/default/files/REBGV%20Stats%20Package%2C%20November%202013.pdf

Do you like reading stats and following the market?  We send SnapStats to all of our client.  These stats are a more detailed and more user friendly package that allows you to look at the stats and sales totals in your specific neighbourhood.  Please contact us today if you are interested in receiving these.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent.

The global economy is expanding at a modest rate, as the Bank expected. Although growth in several emerging markets has continued to ease, growth in the United States during the third quarter of 2013 was stronger than forecast.  Third quarter growth in GDP of 2.70% was higher than expected.  The housing sector has been stronger than expected but is consistent with the favourable financing conditions. The Bank continues to expect a soft landing in the housing market.  Inflation has moved further below the Bank’s 2 per cent target.

On balance and weighing the factors currently prevalent in the Canadian economy, the Bank judges that the substantial monetary policy stimulus currently in place remains appropriate and therefore has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent.

The next schedule date for announcing the overnight rate target is January 22, 2014.