David Stevens

The Royal couple, Charles and Camilla are visiting our beautiful city - they arrived late afternoon yesterday, and although Camilla admitted to being a bit jet-lagged they were "on show" for a few hours on the lawns of the Legislature. The crowds welcomed them and even though a lot of people couldn't care less about the Royal family, the people of Victoria always turn out to see and cheer them.

It won't be long before they will be back again for the Winter Olypics in February 2010, in nearby Vancouver and Whistler. But for now, I'm sure they will enjoy our city which is now splendid in Autumn colours, with the golden leaves falling on the ground.

Photo Victoria Times Colonist

Sept. 2009 Property Sales Highest in 17 Years for Month of September!

The Victoria area real estate market showed signs of growing strength last month as property sales rose to their highest level for the month of September since 1992 accompanied by modest price increases for single family homes and condominiums.

A total of 776 homes and other properties sold in September through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), up from the 764 sales in August and up nearly 50 per cent compared to the 512 sales in September of last year.

Victoria Real Estate Board President, Chris Markham, says the market has clearly recovered and now appears to be very stable, "The last seven months have shown a steady improvement in sales and price stability. It’s very encouraging when we look back over the past several years and see sales now exceeding typical levels for this time of year."

There were 3,419 properties available for sale at the end of September, down 28 per cent from the 4,754 properties available in the same month a year ago. "We are now seeing some renewed upward pressure on prices as a result of the declining inventory," noted Markham.

The average price for single family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $619,936, up from $596,498 in August. Markham noted that the average price was affected by 24 sales of over $1 million. "These included five sales of over $2 million, three in Saanich East, one in Victoria and one on the Gulf Islands which had a significant impact on the overall average price," he stated. The median price increased $10,000 to $550,000. The six-month average was $581,498.

The overall average price for condominiums was $325,106 last month, up from $317,312 in August. The average for the last six months was $311,546. The median price for condominiums in September was $295,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $441,966 down from $455,430 in August. The median price dropped slightly to $415,000. The six month average was $426,521.

MLS® sales last month included 437 single family homes, 197 condominiums, 79 townhomes and 15 manufactured homes.

Taken from the Victoria Real Estate Board website.

Join us as we walk to support Canadian Autism research, by joining the British Columbia Walk/Run Now for Autism.

My wife, our son and other members of my family have been fundraising and will be walking on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 from the Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, BC. The Walk/Run starts at 10 a.m. and finishes at 12 noon. The Walk is 3 - 4 km and the run is 5 km.

About Autism (from the Walk Now For Autism website)

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.

Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.

To learn more about Autism please click the Autism Speaks website.

Hope to see you there!

Property Sales in August Follow Usual Summer Trend September 1, 2009

The number of property sales in the Greater Victoria area slowed during August but sales were again significantly higher than a year ago. Prices, meantime, remained stable with some increase for single family homes. A total of 764 homes and other properties sold in August through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), down from the 933 sales in July but up 48 per cent compared to the 517 sales in August of last year.

Victoria Real Estate Board President, Chris Markham, says it is usual for sales to slow in August, "Many people take holidays in August so it is not surprising to see sales soften somewhat. We are very pleased, however, to note the significant increase in sales last month compared to August of a year ago which gives further evidence of the strengthening of the market."

There were 3,509 properties available for sale at the end of August, down 25 per cent from the 4,657 properties available in the same month a year ago. "The decline in the number of properties available for sale will continue to place some upward pressure on prices," said Markham. Sales so far this year are running over six per cent higher than in the first eight months of last year.

The average price for single family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $596,498, up from $565,469 in July. Markham noted that the average price was affected by 17 sales of over $1 million. "These included two sales of over $4 million, one in Saanich East and one in Central Saanich, and these had a significant impact on the overall average price," he stated. The median price increased $20,000 to $540,000. The six-month average was $569,546. The overall average price for condominiums was $317,312 last month, down from $328,441 in July. The average for the last six months was $307,347. The median price for condominiums in August remained unchanged at $290,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $455,430 up from $443,109 in July. The median price dropped slightly to $419,000. The six month average was $421,565.

MLS® sales last month included 403 single family homes, 218 condominiums, 91 townhomes and 11 manufactured homes.

Courtesy of the Victoria Real Estate Board

Please contact me to learn about my Referral Program:

http://www.david-stevens.ca or

http://victoriahomesbc.ca

Click the Logo to Follow me on Twitter:

Our 85 year old Blue Bridge is causing heated discussion! At least it goes up and it goes down, which is more than most bridges do these days!

It's a dilemma and one that should only be resolved by a referendum. For more information see the following website:

http://johnsonstreetbridge.org/?tag=referendum

and Benjamin Madison's great photos show some wonderful views of the Blue Bridge:

http://victoriadailyphoto.blogspot.com/search?q=blue+bridge