vancouver

All posts tagged vancouver

Finding the Right Greater Vancouver Neighborhood

by Bevony on 19 June 2019 Comments Off on Finding the Right Greater Vancouver Neighborhood

Homebuyers are now looking beyond the value of the housing structure itself and looking into the quality of life as they consider which neighborhood they want to call their home.

Greater Vancouver has the highest prices in real estate when it comes to Canada. As such homebuyers are looking or more than the value that is within their house. A good neighborhood can be just the edge needed when sellers are looking to attract potential buyers. So what are the features that can cause a neighborhood to stand out more than any other for potential homeowners?

What HomeBuyers Want

According to a report from RE/MAX in 2019 Canadians rank easy access to dining, shopping and green spaces at the top of their criteria for what makes a neighborhood more livable. Other important factors are proximity to preferred schools, work, public transit, community centers, and cultural centers. The report shows that Canadians spend in excess of two-thirds of their time within their very own neighborhood. This rate is a lot higher for baby boomers who want to stay in their neighborhood and have direct access to all or most of their needs there.

Kerrisdale, West End, and Main are the top three neighborhoods as ranked by RE/MAX in Vancouver when it comes to access to parks, green spaces, retail and restaurants, ease of getting around, walkability and access to public transit.

When it comes down to affordability and a good available housing inventory the neighborhoods mentioned include Renfrew-Collingwood, Downtown-Vancouver and Mount Pleasant. As a matter of fact, if you are considering the Renfrew-Collingwood area, we’re here at SilverBeam Homes have houses for you.

It is important to note that these livability factors are often the ones that cannot be changed whereas price and value can change over time either up or down. The livability factors are what makes a home a great place to live.

Top 10 Vancouver Neighborhoods

A fourth-quarter analysis of Greater Vancouver in 2018 showed the top 10 neighborhoods of the time were:

  • Marpole
  • Vancouver West
  • Saunders
  • Lackner in Richmond
  • West Cambie
  • Steveston North
  • Hastings East
  • Collingwood
  • Queensborough
  • Fort Langley

Queensborough has been rated the best neighborhoods for condo and townhouses on a list with other neighborhoods such as Renfrew, South Cambie, Saunders, Pemberton, and Central.

What are your must-haves for a neighborhood before choosing to purchase a home there? Let us help you find the right home, in the right neighborhood. Contact us today and let us start working towards getting you the keys to your dream home.

read more
BevonyFinding the Right Greater Vancouver Neighborhood

Vancouver House and Condo Price Trends

by Bevony on 24 April 2019 Comments Off on Vancouver House and Condo Price Trends

Are you wondering where house and condo prices in Vancouver are heading? If you are looking to find a new home, then you will be happy to know that these prices are mostly going down. If you are looking to sell your home then this may not be the best news for you. the truth is that house prices have doubled in the last 10 years which equates to price increases of an average of 7% per year while our incomes have only increased on average around 1.5%.

House prices dropped in the summer of 2016 after the foreign buyer tax was introduced but the prices later recovered. The drop back then was a shallow drop and when you think of you, you really wonder just how volatile the market is. The truth is that prices in the Metro Vancouver area have already dropped by 12% which works out to approximately $192,000. While this drop may seem very significant just by looking at the numbers the truth of the matter is that this drop still leaves house prices out of reach for a lot of residents of Vancouver. Residents of the Westside and West Vancouver have been the hardest hit but there have been significant declines in East Vancouver and Richmond as well.

What About Condo Prices?

Within the same timeframe of 10 years, there has been a decline in the prices of Condos as well. This downturn had continued on the downward trend until last summer. While there was a decline in Condo prices it was not as notable as the decline in prices of houses.

What does this Mean for the Market?

With a market like this, buyers have a better chance of getting more house for their money. Sellers, on the other hand, will have to lower their prices to remain competitive and to increase their chances of closing a sale. First-time buyers who have been saving up for buying a home will be happy about the current market statistics but those who don’t have a sizeable amount saved up could still be second guessing buying a home at these prices.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to how much money you make and how much you have saved to help get your home. There are many people who remain in a good position no matter which way the market goes and there are those can just hope and pray that the market continues to show a decline in the price of homes.

read more
BevonyVancouver House and Condo Price Trends