About Nanaimo Area, BC

I was with my kids at Gymnastics in Nanaimo tonight and there was a buzz going around about which schools were selected for full day kindergarten beginning in Fall 2010. I checked the School District 68 site when I got home and found a link to Full Day Kindergarten in the news. This sheet also contains answers to frequently asked questions and lists the schools selected.
For parents with children attending kindergarten in Sept. 2010, you should enroll your child soon as registration opened on Jan 4. (Submitted by: Tina Lynch)

The old folklore suggests that if the Groundhog sees his shadow today, we're in for 6 more weeks of winter, apparently it's a 39% chance of correctly predicting the weather. Well, I guess it's great news for the Winter Olympics that the groundhog saw his shadow today, although I was trying to dodge my shadow this morning in hopes that Spring would be here. Oh well, just more time to plan a low maintenance, draught tolerant garden on Gabriola.

A friend of mine just let me know about a new tax credit that the Federal Government has brought in for use of public transportation. The BC Ferries website has information about qualifying your ferry trips for a tax credit and it looks like you will need to have 16 round trips in a 31 day period, which will effect residents on Gabriola that commute to Nanaimo for work. These will need to be paid for using an electronic payment card. You will need to register your BC Ferries experience card online or by phoning the Customer Service Center (1 888 223 3779). Once a card is registered you will be able to obtain a travel history report, this can be printed and will show all the trips taken on the card. For more information about the federal income tax credit for public transit, visit the Canada Revenue Agency Website and talk with your accountant. You may also want to read the full article on the BC Ferry website.

Built in 2004 and located in Crest II one of North Nanaimo's most desirable parks this home is one of the largest ever listed in the area. This home is 1961 sq feet and features a large open concept kitchen and dining area, 2 bedrooms, 2- 4 pc bathrooms, an over sized living room and family room. The park is 55+ and is conveniently located close to Superstore, COSTCO and Woodgrove Mall. There is a massive 5' x 4' walk-in shower in the en-suite. Storage is plentiful; 5' x 6' walk-in closet, crawl space, insulated wired workshop, garden shed and lots of closets. The kitchen has oak cabinets a pantry and lots of counter space. There were $15,000 in extras built into this home including sunken living room and bedroom, skylight in the kitchen, furnace a/c ready, R/I vacuum, pantry, upgraded vinyl siding and extra windows in the living room and much more. Taxes are $1384 with basic grant.

Nanaimo real estate MLS listings

Oceanview Resort and Spa, formerly known as Cable Bay is one step closer to receiving approval to proceed from the City of Nanaimo. The third step of a process to include a proposed 190 hectare development master plan into the Nanaimo Official Community Plan is set for a public hearing. The first two readings were passed by the Nanaimo city council in mid-December clearing the way for the next step in the development process. With development land for Nanaimo Real Estate becoming more scare the south-end of town is where the future of development for Nanaimo Real Estate is heading.

Oceanview's master plan was unveiled in November, and if approved as part of the OCP, will include 2,677 housing units, a golf course, spa and retail centre in Nanaimo's south end. Originally the plan included a 600-slip marina, but that is no longer part of the Plan.

It is expected that the city would receive more than $7 million in property taxes annually, $19 million in development cost charges and the creation of almost 500 jobs over several years

The next hearing will be a public hearing to ensure the master plan meets all bylaw requirements, which according to the project manager it does. Thus far, it has gone through city staff and the plan has been recommended by the Plan Committee.

Should the third and final reading pass there will be phase development agreements as well as subdivision and rezoning applications to be completed as well as future public hearings before construction can begin.

Currently the golf course has received proper zoning and it is hoped that ground will be broken on that aspect of the development sometime in 2010 with an anticipated completion 12-18 months later.

For further information a copy of the Oceanview Golf Resort & Spa master plan can be found at the city's website www.nanaimo.ca. Enter "Oceanview master plan", in the Search box for the City of Nanaimo's web-site for a detailed copy of the plan.

For more information about the local real estate market go to: www.kimbihari.com

Kim Bihari, Personal Real Estate Corporation

Top 100 RE/MAX Realtor for all of Canada*
Top 50 RE/MAX Realtor for Western Canada*
#1 RE/MAX Realtor - Vancouver Island*
#1 Realtor - RE/MAX of Nanaimo*
Hall of Fame Award
Platinum Award - 2007, 2008 & 2009

*1st Quarter 2009

Office: 250-751-1223
Fax: 250-751-1300
Cell: 250-616-1031

E-mail: Kim@NanaimoRealEstateTeam.com
Web-sites: www.kimbihari.com & www.NanaimoRealEstateTeam.com