Bank of Canada commits to hold current policy rate until the end of the second quarter of 2010. The Bank of Canada today announced that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of a percentage point to 1/4 per cent, which the Bank judges to be the effective lower bound for that rate. The Bank Rate is correspondingly lowered to 1/2 per cent. The deposit rate - the rate paid on deposits held by financial institutions at the Bank of Canada - is left unchanged at 1/4 per cent ... Full Article...

Affordability Drives Home Sales Higher  British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 35 per cent to $2.3 billion in March, compared to the same month last year. Residential unit sales declined 25 per cent to 5,464 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $424,122 in March, down 12 per cent from March 2008.  “While fewer MLS® residential sales wer ... Full Article...

New Survey on Affordability and Green Housing Reveals BC Trends Vancouver, BC – April 7, 2009. A survey of homeowners and renters across British Columbia suggests that, when it comes to housing, affordability concerns and making smart green choices are top of mind for most BC residents. Sponsored by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), the January 2009 Mustel Group survey examines the top affordability barriers in the province and how provincial taxes and homeowner assist ... Full Article...

Just sold this listing: "Absolutely superb value in South Granville! Listed at below assessed value this bright one bedroom s..."

Just added this listing: "A stylish boutique town home in Fairview! This 2 bedroom offers a superb one level floor plan with fantastic indoor & outdoor living. Loads of large arched windows and 9 foot ceilings flood this space with light from north and south. Alarge open plan kitchen with a spacious bar for entertaining, Fisher Paykel 2 drawer stainless d/w, FP fridge, Bosch gas range and additional eating area. For more formal occasions there's a separate dining room with balcony. Spacious, co ... Full Article...

The Metro Vancouver housing market experienced a movement away from volatility and toward stability to start the spring season. Home sales in March 2009 returned to levels witnessed at the beginning of the decade, with 2,265 sales recorded across Metro Vancouver for the month, a 53 per cent increase over February but a 24.4 per cent decrease over March 2008, when 2,997 sales were recorded. Since 1999, March sales have increased 31 per cent, on average, over the month of February. March 2009 m ... Full Article...

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - Spring is in the Air! The snow and cold weather are beginnng to leave us. We’ve endured a long, cold winter and we have experienced 6 months of doom & gloom and negativity. It now not only looks like Spring is on it’s way, but it feels like the Spring Market has begun. There is definitely activity everywhere. Buyers who’ve been waiting for months to buy have returned to Open Houses and are making offers. The snow and very cold weather has delayed alo ... Full Article...