Happy Holidays and Welcome to our December Newsletter!
Can you believe the most wonderful time of the year is upon us once again?
Congratulations to those of you who are spending Christmas in your new home for the first time. During the holidays, may it be filled with the scents of pine and baking and be a place to create new memories for many years to come.
Will your home be ready to sell when the busy spring season comes along? Be sure to check out the great advice in the blog below, “Tips to Get You From Overwhelm to Sold!”
And if you’ve decided you don’t want to wait until spring to list your home – great decision! Serious buyers have fewer homes to choose from during the first several months of the New Year. This means less competition for you!
We are eternally grateful for another year to celebrate the season with friends and family. As we say goodbye to 2019, it’s our wish is that the new DECADE finds you happy, prosperous, and filled with joy!
Best wishes, once again. Thank you for your continued trust.
ally and dennis.
A total of 577 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this November, 15.9 percent more than the 498 properties sold in November 2018 and a 6.8 percent decrease from October 2019. Sales of condominiums were up 5.9 percent from November 2018 with 161 units sold.
Sales of single-family homes increased 15.4 percent from November 2018 with 308 sold.”We continue to see low inventory and strong demand for low to mid-priced properties in our area, which is pushing pricing up on condos and single-family homes that fall within that segment,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Cheryl Woolley. “It is a challenging time for those shopping for properties in that price range as they can often find themselves in a competing offer situation.”
There were 2,397 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® at the end of November 2019, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared to the month of October, but a 2.3 percent increase from the 2,343 active listings for sale at the end of November 2018.
“The market this year is behaving as we’d expected, in the wake of tighter mortgage requirements and after the rapid pace of price increases we saw two years ago,” adds Woolley. “Appropriate pricing and awareness of market trends are essential right now if you want to buy or sell a home in our area. That is why it is important to have a Realtor guide you through the process. It’s worth getting this professional help, for what likely will be the biggest purchase or sale of your lifetime.”
FOR SALE! 10986 Madrona Drive, North Saanich- $1,095,000
Welcome to your own slice of Waterfront heaven tucked into a quiet bay in Deep Cove! This modern and updated home with spectacular views is compact, bright and functional. It feels like a cozy beach cottage and has the modern finishing’s for today’s buyer; granite counters, generous work surface, refinished hardwood flooring, loads of storage, skylights to take advantage of the natural light and French doors opening to a private deck overlooking the ocean. The lower level has laundry and rec room with simple kitchenette and more storage. There is a separate studio with private full bath for your guests. Plan to drop your kayak into the easy waters of this special ocean inlet from your private beach access and where your neighbor is a small Marina. Enjoy the smell of the sweet salt air! A foreshore lease is in place with a deep-water moorage buoy and a boathouse. Currently tenanted – do not approach property without appointment. 3rd bedrm has no closet. Year built unknown.
PENDING!400 Latoria Road, Royal Bay- $842,000
Welcome to 400 Latoria Rd in Lovely Royal Bay – An excellent example of a 4 BED/4BATH West Coast custom home on a LARGE LOT with high-quality features throughout. Over 3470 sq ft this airy & bright home offers many space solutions for today’s busy family including sunny living rm, den/office, formal and casual, indoor/outdoor dining spaces & bonus media room. A terrific home for large gatherings with easy access to flat, private yard and patio & great outlook from the front deck. Watch the kids and pets in the back garden from the window from open-plan kitchen! Special feat include 5” distressed plank flooring, heat pump, natural gas stove & fireplace, tankless hot water & skylight. Upper floor is private master suite w/spa-like ensuite & walk-in closet. No shortage of storage solutions & dbl garage. Lower level offers SUPER EASY SUITE CONVERSION with priv access without compromising family space. Close to amenities; enjoy the beach down the road & neighbourhood walkways.
SOLD! 7 515 Mount View Avenue, Victoria – $381,500
Welcome to 7- 515 Mount View Ave.: a well maintained 2 bed/2 bath, one level end unit townhome conveniently located and surrounded by green space. Bright, open design with large bay window overlooking your private pet friendly patio and garden. Well designed kitchen with eating area and pass-thru to the formal dining area. This sweet home has super in unit storage space, laundry room & a single car garage with driveway parking. The main bedroom has an ensuite with a brand new walk-in tub! The second bedroom, without closet, can be a den or office. This quiet adult complex is pet friendly and is centrally located close to shopping, transit, Royal Roads, the Galloping Goose & recreation facilities. Quick possession available. A great spot to call home!
Tips to Get You From Overwhelm to Sold!
It’s hard to believe a new decade is only weeks away, which also means that the busiest time for real estate is just around the corner. Will your home be ready to sell when spring comes along? Be sure to try some of these tips that let you go from overwhelmed to sold!
Once you’ve UN-decorated Christmas but have yet to return your knick-knacks to their pre-Christmas locales, do a thorough walk around your entire home. Take an honest look. Do you really need the dried flower arrangement your kids made for you in 2005? Has the paint seen better days? Have gadgets and kitchenware taken over your countertops?
The old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” is never more real than when you decide to put your home on the market. Did you know a cluttered home makes your house look smaller? Not only does that leave a negative effect on buyers, but it will probably have a negative impact on OFFERS, too!
Don’t try to do it all at once. Take it step-by-step and room-by-room. The upside is in knowing you won’t have to pack, store, or move things that don’t fit in with the space and style of your new home.
Let your digital camera be your friend—take a picture of the things you can’t seem to let go of. The photos will keep the memories alive, can be archived forever, and most assuredly, take less space.
Rent a storage locker. Label bins with, “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe.” Place the items you absolutely need to keep into the “Yes” bin. For things that “gotta go,” place them into the “No” bin. Consider selling “no” items through Varage (a much easier alternative to the traditional garage sale) or donating them to your local thrift store before taking them to the local dump. “Maybes” are allowed in the storage locker, but if they haven’t been missed after one year, change the label to “No,” and repeat as previously mentioned.
Still can’t let go of those “seen better days” mementos? There are experts who can help you, and I know where to find them!
