After five years of blockbuster activity and double-digit price growth here in BC, real estate market conditions have slowed, and now favour buyers in many areas of the province.

Across the province, residential sales have declined 22 per cent in the first six months of this year, while available resale inventory has grown by 54 per cent to 57,000 active listings in June. In the Greater Vancouver area, inventory is at the highest level since 1998.

The price gains observed from 2004 to 2007 are less attainable in today’s market, and sellers should temper their expectations for such gains. Over-optimistic pricing by sellers will only inhibit the timely sale of properties, adding to inventory levels.

Buyers have more homes to choose from now than in previous years, resulting in greater freedom to compare similar properties before making purchase decisions.

Despite current buyers' market conditions, the economic and demographic backdrop in support of housing demand remains strong in BC -- the unemployment rate remains near record lows, while the labour force participation rate hovers near historical highs. Meanwhile, the province remains a favoured destination for new migrants, reflected in the third-highest population growth among provinces during the first quarter of 2008.

If you have been considering buying a home or investing in property in BC, now is the time to take advantage of the buyer's climate -- it won't last forever...

Check out all of my BC Listings. I have a network of realtor colleagues ready to work for you!

On my website, you will also find my Pender Island listings. For more information contact me anytime. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Howard Sanders

It's here -- one of the busiest summer weekends here on Pender. The ferry lineups are long, it's hard to find a parking space down at the Driftwood Centre, and the grocery store will run out of bread by Sunday afternoon. But, all is well...most residents are happy to share Pender's wealth with our summertime visitors. After all, the quiet winter months are not far away, and there will be lots of time for winter walks in the woods with no one else around, and long evenings spent around the woodstove reading and playing cards.

But enough about winter. You're here because you want to find out what's happening this Canada Day Looong Weekend. So I'll stop my ramblings and get on with it:

Friday, June 27

10:00 - 4:00 - Nu-To-Yu (Pender's thrift store) is having their famous stuff-a-bag day. All the clothes and linens you can fit in a paper bag for $5.00. Also on Saturday.

Saturday, June 28

9:30 - 1:00 - Farmer's Market at the Community Hall. Local produce, baked goods, preserves and crafts.

10:00 - 1:00 - Library's Book and Bake Sale. All proceeds to the Health Clinic Fund.

1:00 - Pender Island Museums 100th Anniversary Celebration. At Roe House.

Tuesday, July 1 CANADA DAY

Festivities are sponsored by the Legion -- multiple venues:

Driftwood Centre

10:00 Children's Face Painting. Free flags, badges and Maple Leaf Tattoos.

11:00 Canada Day Parade.

11:20 Singing of "O Canada" and address from Islands Trustee Gary Steeves

12:00 Cake and entertainment by the PI Quartet and PI Jazz Band

Hope Bay Bible Camp (Hooson Road)

12:30 - 3:00 Childrens' games and races. Free watermelon, ice cream and pop. Hot dogs also available.

Legion

3:00 Beer Garden opens at the Legion

6:00 BBQ Steak Dinner. $10.00 -- Come and celebrate!

Within the Pender Island Guide on my website, you will find a link to the CRD Natural Area Atlas, an interactive map that you can use to get more details about property boundaries, vegetation, water sources, elevation anywhere in the Capital Regional District, including Pender Island and the other Southern Gulf Islands, as well as Victoria and surrounding area.

Use it to create satellite-type photos of specific properties, which you can use to view building locations on surrounding properties, community infrastructure, and other features.

For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ www.HomesOnPender.com

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com

• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)

• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

Best Regards,

Howard on Pender

As of this month, I have been selling real estate on Pender Island, BC for one year. I've had a very successful 12 months, with a total of 11 closed or pending transactions. Please visit my Sales & Testimonials page for more information and photos.

Are you considering making a move to, on, or from Pender? Please consider allowing me to help with your real estate transaction. I enjoy showing potential new residents around our beautiful island, and introducing them to our unique, vibrant community. I also find it gratifying to help residents sell their homes so that they can move on to the next stage of their life, whether that is on-island or off.

To find out more about me and my unique blend of traditional and online real estate strategies, browse through my Pender Island Real Estate website, then contact me. I look forward to speaking with you about your Pender Island real estate needs.

PS. I also want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues at Dockside Realty for helping to make my first year so enjoyable and successful. They are great people who make going to work every day a pleasure.

A quick invitation to visit my site and take my Virtual Tour of Pender Island. It gives you an idea of where we're located, what the island looks like, the wildlife that live here, and our unique and vibrant community.

Hooked? Want a piece of Pender Island to call your own? Come, bring some friends, and kick back on the beach!

For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ www.HomesOnPender.com

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com

• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)

• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

Best Regards,

Howard on Pender

Well, the weatherman says that the sun is coming...it's still a bit gray over here on Pender, but it's definitely warmer than yesterday. Yesterday, we actually had a fire in our woodstove. A fire in May! That's the first time I've been able to say that in the five years since we moved here.

Hardly a big deal given the weather related events in other parts of the world, but my wife is getting a bit impatient for the warmer weather -- she has tomatoes and sunflowers bursting out of their seedling pots and ready to go into the garden. Get it together weather!

We have been promised a hot sunny weekend, along with the rest of southern BC, though, so you may want to gather the family together for a weekend of springtime camping here on Pender. As always, there's lots of stuff to do. Walks in the woods, a paddle on the lake or coastline, and of course, events planned by our very active community groups. There's something for everyone.

Thursday, May 15:

• 7:30pm - Film Night at the Hall presents December Boys - Four orphan boys who have grown to be the closest of friends find themselves competing for the attention of the same family. (Australian)

Friday, May 16:

• Long weekend ferry schedule in effect. Please check BC Ferries website for details.
• 7:00pm - Co-ed Music Night at the Community Hall

Saturday, May 17:

• 9:30am - Farmer's Market at the Community Hall until 1:00
• 10:00am - Beach Clean-up Day. Meet at the Driftwood Centre. Meet up again at 12:00pm for wind-up party with music and a roundtable discussion: Local Solutions to Climate Change (previously planned for Earth Day weekend, but cancelled due to bad weather)

Sunday, May 18:

• 12:00pm - Silk Road Firbre Studio Tour & Sale - Tour 4 studios in Magic Lake Estates (watch for the red balloons). Knitting, quilting, embroidery, wearable art. One of a kind items from 7 creative women.

For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ www.HomesOnPender.com

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com
• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)
• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

Best Regards,

Howard on Pender

If the last 2 days are any indication, it appears as though "normal" spring weather patterns are reasserting themselves here on Pender. Our mediterranean climate pretty much abandoned us for the past 2 weeks, but we're tough! We can handle snow in April! (As long as there's some promise of sun on the horizon...)

If you are planning to make your way over to Pender this weekend, you may be interested in what's on over the next few days. Here's the schedule:

Thursday, April 24

7:30pm - Film Night at the Hall presents Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney & Marisa Tomei. When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelery store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother's wife hurtling towards a shattering climax.

Friday, April 25

10:00am - Nu-To-Yu's world-famous Stuff-A-Bag Days. Get a paper bag from the front counter, then dive into our fabulous thrift store's inventory of clothing, fabric, yarn and more. As much as you can fit into a bag for only $5.00. Get there early for the best selection! Also on Saturday. 10am to 4pm on both days.

7:30pm - presents Missa Gaia - A Celebration of the Earth. Featuring the Pender Island Choral Society, Lester Quitzau, Mae Moore and Mark Miller. Also on Saturday, April 26 (same time) and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $20 for Adults and $10 for Children under 10. See you there!

--

For more about Pender Island and PI real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ www.HomesOnPender.com

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com

• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)

• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

Best Regards,

Howard on Pender

27 properties sold on Pender Island from January to March 2008. Of those, the Dockside Realty team sold 16, making us the top selling office on Pender to date this year. I was involved in 4 of those sales, putting me near the top of all agents on Pender Island in terms of sales.
(Source: Victoria Real Estate Board)

Residential home sales are stronger than bare lot sales so far this year, however, the 2 bare lots that sold went for close to, or at, list price.

Looking to buy on Pender Island? Please view my listings, as well as those listed by my office, Dockside Realty. Then call or email me to book an appointment to view or for more information. I love showing our beautiful island off to prospective new residents or investors!

If you are considering selling your Pender Island property, please contact me, or request a FREE, no obligation Current Market Evaluation of your home or lot. I will tell you how much your property is worth in today's market, and about my unique and effective real estate marketing strategies, which include traditional printed advertising and extensive internet exposure for your Pender Island real estate.

More than 80% of people looking to buy property now start their search on the internet. List with me and make sure they see your home first! My website consistently ranks at or near the top of the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and AOL.

For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ http://www.homesonpender.com/

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com

• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)

• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

As you may know it is Earth Day this Saturday, so why not make a plan for a weekend getaway to Pender Island? While you are here you can take some time to enjoy a walk on one of our many forest trails, or public access beaches. For a map and some local tips, please drop by my office at Dockside Realty in Hope Bay. While you're there, you can also visit the Artist Gallery, have some lunch at Hope Bay Cafe, and do some souvenir shopping!

Here's the rundown on the events scheduled for Earth Day:

Saturday, April 19

9:30am - Pender Island Farmers' Market - The market continues with locally grown/made food and crafts every Saturday until 1pm.

10:00am - Beach Cleanup - Join the Beach Buddy group and help with the BC Coastal Cleanup's 20th year. Meet at 10am at the Driftwood overflow parking lot. Dress for the weather and bring gloves. Bags are provided.

12:00pm - Earth Day Celebration - Return to the Driftwood to dispose of the garbage you collected, then gather under the tents to celebrate Earth Day with displays, prizes and live music.

7:30pm - Film Night at the Hall presents Earth Day film Garbage Warrior - The story of renegade architect Michael Reynolds who uses beer cans, water bottles and other assorted garbage to produce thermal mass and energy-independent housing. New Mexico-based Reynolds have devoted the last 30 years to advancing the art of "Earthship Biotecture" by building self-sufficient, off-the-grid communities where design and function converge in eco-harmony. Garbage Warrior is a timely portrait of a determined visionary, a hero of the 21st century.

Come see us here on Pender! If you've never been, now's the time! Check the ferry schedules, find a place to stay, and you're golden!

For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ http://www.homesonpender.com/

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com

• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)

• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

Best Regards,

Howard on Pender

I just put the finishing touches on a few new pages on my website.

Collectively called the "Pender Island Guide," these new pages give everyone considering a permanent move to Pender, as well as those just coming for a weekend visit, a one-stop-shop for Pender information.

You'll find general information such as climate and history, road maps, natural area maps, community information and links to accomodations, restaurants, weather info and community activities here on Pender - the gem of the Southern Gulf Islands!

I have also linked my photos and virtual tour to the Pender Guide -- and of course this blog...but since you're reading it, you've already found it -- no need to point you here!

A calendar of events is listed in the guide, but is still in the works. When it is done, you will be able to check in from time to time to see what is coming up on Pender!

The last component of the Guide I'll mention here is a Pender Island Information Kit that is available by email. This kit is intended for potential Pender Island property purchasers, and includes details about Pender amenities, schools, real estate listings and local maps.

For more about Pender Island real estate, visit Howard Sanders online @ www.HomesOnPender.com

Contact info:

• Email: Howard@HomesOnPender.com

• Cell: (250) 222-HOME (4663)

• Toll-free: (866) 629-3166

Best Regards,

Howard on Pender