Bowen Island Real Estate STATS

August 19th, 2011

Bowen Island Market Report 

Overall the market on Bowen Island is slightly behind 2010 in home sales with 23 homes sold in 2011 vrs 25 YTD in 2011. Land Sales are up from last year with 6 sales in 2011 vrs 4 sales YTD in 2011. Homes are taking an average of 118 days to sell and are selling with 95% of asking price and 1.08 % of assessed value. Land is taking an average 66 days to sell and are selling at an average of 93% of asking price, and 92% of assessed value.

 

Inventory levels continue to climb as new listings exceed sales. In July we had 12 new listings and only 2 sales with inventory levels climbing to 93 homes on the market similar to last summer. Currently we have a .5 year supply of homes in the 400-700K range and 3.44 year supply of homes in the over 1million range. Lot listings also continue to out pace sales with 4 new lots on the market and 1 sale in the month of July with inventory peaking at 43 lots.

 

The average sale price of homes is $763,000 YTD, down 6% from last year if one includes the record 5.2 million dollar home sale in 2010 in the average.

In short the market continues to favour buyers as inventory levels rise.

While this information is interesting it is important to note that statistically Bowen Island has too small a sample for accurate statistical analysis. Discretion should be taken in interpreting the data.

Bowen Island Market Report Aug 2011

Greater Vancouver Real Estate Stats- JUNE 2011

July 6th, 2011

July 5, 2011

Summer housing market trends toward balance after an active spring season

Home sellers outpaced buyers on Greater Vancouver’s Multiple Listings Service® (MLS®) in June, drawing the market back toward balance this summer.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales of detached, attached and apartment properties reached 3,262 in June, a 9.8 per cent increase compared to the 2,972 sales in June 2010 and a 3.4 per cent decline compared to the 3,377 sales in May 2011.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,793 in June. This represents a 4.5 per cent increase compared to June 2010 when 5,544 properties were listed for sale on the MLS® and a 2.3 per cent decline compared to the 5,931 new listings reported in May 2011.

Last month’s new listing total was 9.8 per cent higher than the 10-year average for June, while residential sales were 7.3 per cent below the ten-year average for sales in June.

“With sales below the 10-year average and home listings above what’s typical for the month, activity in June brought closer alignment between supply and demand in our marketplace,” Rosario Setticasi, REBGV president said. “With a sales-to-active-listings ratio of nearly 22 per cent, it looks like we’re in the upper end of a balanced market.”

At 15,106, the total number of residential property listings on the MLS® increased 3.1 per cent in June compared to last month and declined 14 per cent from this time last year.

The MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver over the last 12 months has increased 8.7 per cent to $630,921 in June 2011 from $580,237 in June 2010.

“The largest price increases continue to be in the detached home market on the westside of Vancouver and in West Vancouver,” Setticasi said. “Since the end of May, the benchmark price of a detached home rose more than $147,000 on the westside of Vancouver and over $80,000 in West Vancouver. Detached home prices in Richmond, however, levelled off slightly, declining $25,000 in June.”

Sales of detached properties on the MLS® in June 2011 reached 1,471, an increase of 29.1 per cent from the 1,139 detached sales recorded in June 2010, and an 11.8 per cent decrease from the 1,667 units sold in June 2009. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 13.4 per cent from June 2010 to $901,680.

Sales of apartment properties reached 1,266 in June 2011, a 0.6 per cent increase compared to the 1,258 sales in June 2010, and a decrease of 29.3 per cent compared to the 1,790 sales in June 2009. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 3.5 per cent from June 2010 to $405,200.

Attached property sales in June 2011 totalled 525, an 8.7 per cent decrease compared to the 575 sales in June 2010, and a 34.5 per cent decrease from the 802 attached properties sold in June 2009. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 6 per cent between June 2010 and 2011 to $522,424.Download the complete stats package by clicking here

Where did you spend your long weekend? In traffic?

May 24th, 2011

It took me 8 hours to get home from the Cabin yesterday. 1 hour by boat 1 hour of driving and 6 hours of ferry waits. We live on Bowen Island but we are building a summer cabin on Hardy Island. One might ask why one would need a 2nd island property and after yesterday I wonder the same thing. The truth is I live and work on Bowen Island so every so often it is nice to get away from computers and the constant reminders of work (in the form of For Sale signs the line the roads of Bowen Island). The other truth is that in a month - in the height of the summer- we have devised a way to bypass the Langdale ferry by leaving a car on the sunshine coast and taking a water taxi from the back side of Bowen Island to Gibsons. Complicated yes- but it takes 6 hours less and all the agrivation off the commute. The final truth is that on Hardy Island I can afford 15 acres of waterfront - something that would cost me roughly 8 times more on Bowen Island.

 The other realization I had while waiting 4 hours for the Langdale ferry is what an easy commute Bowen Island is. I’m off island once or twice a week and yes occasionally I miss a ferry or come across an oversold ferry and a quietly curse to myself. It forces me to slow down, read the paper, take a trip over to Starbucks for an hour tops. I have never had to wait 4 hours for the ferry. Occasionally I might get aggravated about having rush for a boat but on the whole I am thankful every day that I get to live in a wonderful community surrounded by nature and without stoplights. The trade-off is easy in my mind.

This brings me to the point I really want to make which is- where can one find a cabin by the sea without the commuting by BC Ferries?

I suppose one could always opt for a boat. I was raised with the boat being my summer cottage. Every weekend we would drive downtown and take the boat out on Lake Ontario and in the summer we would spend a month cruising down to the Thousand Islands. Boats make great cottages but as we all know they make lousy investments. I’d love to hear from people who have made money in boat ownership. If this is the route you want to go- I have just the boat for you http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/boa/2370065185.html

The second option would be to find a cabin in the Howe Sound area. For as little as $99,000 you can buy a lot on Gambier Island and start building your Gulf Island Get-a-way. You can take a scheduled water taxi to walk on BC Ferries and be there in an hour or less from Horseshoe Bay. Waterfront lots can be found for as little as $259,000 on Passage Island- only 5 mins by water taxi from Eagle Harbour in West Vancouver or 20 minutes from Granville Island by water taxi. Are you not ready to build it from scratch? You can buy a turn-key waterfront/water access cabin with dock on Bowen Island for $490,000 or a beachfront property on Keats Island for $499,000- just 40 minutes by scheduled water taxi from Horseshoe Bay. For more information on these or any other listings feel free to visit my website at www.bccoastalliving.com

Most of us are resigned to BC Ferries and their preference for parking cars rather than moving them as the price we pay to escape to the wonderful coast. My point is simply that there are options and sometimes you just need to think outside the box.

 

 

May 10th, 2011

May 10, 2011

The Greater Vancouver market stabilized last month after 2 months of record sales. Bowen Island had moderate activity in April resulting in 14 sales YTD compared to11 sales YTD in 2010. This indicates a 27% increase year over year but it is still down over 50% from the peak year in 2007. 3 Lots have sold this year compared to 2 at this time last year.

The average sale price of homes is $788,535 YTD, down 3% from last year, with homes selling at an average of 95% of the listed sales price. Lots are selling at an average of 90% of asking price.

The average number of “Days on Market” (DOM) for home sales YTD is 161 days and 127 for lot sales. This number only looks at the most recent listing and does not take into consideration properties that have been re listed- some homes have been re-listed multiple times.

The number of active listings hovered between 67 and 72 listings in the month of April  maintaining an even inventory and roughly a 2 year supply of homes based on the 2010 sales of 35 homes.

The 2011 YTD Factor Analysis (sale price/assessed tax value) is an average of 1.13% for homes and .93 for lots, compared to 1.04% in 2010 and .91 for lots.

I am pleased to share this information taken from the MLS, but please keep in mind that while this information is interesting Bowen Island has too small a sample for accurate statistical analysis. Discretion should be taken in interpreting the data.  Please see the link below for a full report.

Bowen Island Market Report- May 6 2011

Taking advantage of a little sunshine.

May 4th, 2011

When the skies opened up and let a little sunshine in on Sunday- my fabulous photographer (Deb Stringfellow) and I took the opportunity to re-shoot a couple of great homes. Look how it sparkles. 895 Windjammer, Bowen Island. $639,000.

895 Windjammer Rd $639,000

941 FORECASTLE WY- stunning waterfront setting

May 4th, 2011

Our Realtor tour today took us to this treasure. The custom coach house is complete with plans for a post and beam home. Outdoor living room with rock fireplace is nestled against the cliff with a stunning view over Keats Island and the Sunshine Coast AND the possibility of subdividing off a waterfront lot. Worth exploring!

941 Forecastle, Bowen Island 941-forecastle-b.JPG

Listing provided by :Macdonald Realty Ltd.

Rain Harvesting Promotion

July 13th, 2009

In an effort to start a dialog regarding the advantages of Rain Harvesting on an Island we are offering our clients a FREE leaf eater leaf catchment system and a FREE consultation with McTaggart Water Systems. See our Flyer.

Energy Saving Seminar Series – Bowen Island Feb 28th and March 7th

February 18th, 2009

The First Seminar: Saturday Feb. 28th , BICS Multipurpose,10 to 12am.The aim will be to educate the public about household electricity consumption and saving opportunities and introduce rebate and incentive programs that residents and small businesses can in participate in.. There will be other topics contributing to “Greening our lives” that be of interest in our desire towards solutions to actively making a difference in our homes and community. (Mini trade show) .

The Second Seminar: Sat. March 7th, Bowen Island Municipal Hall, 10 to 12 am

The aim is to introduce new and innovative technologies and Net Zero Housing – includes what’s new in lighting, building envelope and systems, smart appliances. Samples of commercially available technologies will be brought in for display.

Both seminars are geared for for the sincere and discerning audience wanting to tackle the steps to better energy saving techniques and life styles.
Everyone welcome, Resource saving entrance gifts and door prize

Specifics to each set to follow.
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Registration isn’t necessary but a tally would be great to have an idea of space needed and refreshments required For further information call or email Morganne Keplar 947 9297, mkeplar@telus.net

New Passanger Ferry Service from Bowen to Vancouver and Granville Island

November 12th, 2008

There is nothing like CHOICE to improve the quality of life on Bowen. Recently two new ferry services started up  linking Bowen Island to downtown Vancouver and Granville Island.

This Sunday I took a trip on the Granville Island Water Taxi. It offers hourly service from Bowen Island to Granville Island. I hopped on the 12 seater water taxi at the Government Dock and 30 minutes later unloaded in the heart of Granville Island. After a couple of hours of busy market activity I was ready to escape back to the peace and quiet of Bowen with fresh food and a handful of ideas for Christmas.  Take a peek at www.giwt.ca .

I am also hearing rave reviews about the Coastal Link Ferry that runs between Bowen and the bottom of Bute Street. There are a handful of very happy daily commuters that have cut almost 2 hours off their daily travel. www.coastallinkferries.com

Life on Bowen just got better!

Water access property for less

July 19th, 2008

An interesting article in the Globe and Mail today addresses the cheaper cost of water access property. While the stats address the Ontario market- the same can be said in BC. Last summer a water access waterfront lot on Bowen was listed at $389,000 while road access/power waterfront properties are priced over 1 million. The long and short of it - its an affordable alternative for people looking for a waterfront cabin. Of course water taxis or boat maintenance along with the additional cost to barging building materials has to be considered.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080718.reIslandCottages0718/REStory/RealEstate/?cid=al_gam_nletter_realest