Scott Leaf Real Estate Marketing & Associates

Market activity offers awaited relief for homebuyers

VANCOUVER, B.C. - July 3, 2008 -Increased property listings and moderating home prices have eased the Greater Vancouver housing market into a buyer's phase. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 42.9 per cent in June 2008 to 2,425 from the 4,244 sales recorded in June 2007.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 18.3 per cent to 6,546 in June 2008 compared to June 2007, when 5,533 new units were listed.

"Although housing prices, on a year-over-year comparison, continue to show single-digit percentage increases, we are beginning to see more price reductions in properties listed on the market today," said REBGV president, Dave Watt. "Homes priced at a competitive level continue to sell quickly, but it is important for people to accurately identify their home's value when putting it on the market."

Sales of detached properties in June 2008 declined 43.4 per cent to 918 from the 1,623 units sold during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties rose 7 per cent from June 2007 to $765,654.

Sales of apartment properties declined 42.7 per cent last month to 1,057, compared to 1,846 sales in June 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 7.8 per cent from June 2007 to $388,722.

Attached property sales in June 2008 decreased 41.9 per cent to 450, compared with the 775 sales in June 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 7.6 per cent between June 2007 and 2008 to $476,585.

Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in June 2008 compared to June 2007:

Apartments:

New Westminster up 46.2 per cent (19 units sold from 13)

The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2007, 38,050 homes changed hands in the Board's area generating $1.065 billion in spin-offs. Total dollar volume of residential sales set a new record at $22.25 billion and total dollar volume of all sales set a record at $22.77 billion. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,600 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For more information on real estate, statistics, and buying or selling a home, contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.realtylink.org.

VANCOUVER, B.C. June 17, 2008 - Greater Vancouver REALTORS® and their companies donated more than $1.2 million to 60 local charitable organizations last year, according to a recent examination of the charitable activity within the profession.

This revelation is the result of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver's (REBGV) efforts to aggregate the annual monetary contributions its members give to charity each year. This is the first time a real estate board in the country has embarked on such a program.

"This initiative is a by-product of the work organized real estate is doing nation-wide, with the REALTORS® Care Foundation, to help administer and acknowledge the vast contributions REALTORS® make to their communities each year," said REBGV president, Dave Watt.

"We know this figure likely only touches the surface, since many REALTORS® we contacted wanted their giving practices to remain quietly low-key and anonymous," Watt says. "As well, our members give a tremendous amount of time volunteering in their communities, doing everything from coordinating the annual REALTORS® Care Blanket Drive to coaching kids' sports."

The Canadian REALTORS Care® Foundation was established in October 2007 by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) to streamline the collection, administration and disbursement of charitable donations and receipts across the country on behalf of real estate boards, associations and companies.

The Foundation does not engage in fundraising activities itself, but provides a singular framework for people involved in the real estate profession to utilize.

To collate these contributions, Greater Vancouver real estate offices were asked to share information about their charitable donations in 2007. REBGV staff identified $1,215,685.54 donated by 70 offices to 60 different charities during 2007.

Get off the computer this morning, gather up the kids and head over to Pitt Meadows Day!

Parade starts at 11am, lots of family events scattered across the entire day culminating in Fireworks tonight at dark.

Come on Down, I'll be on the Keller Williams Parade Float!

See you there!

Scott Leaf

Keller Williams Results Realty

604-839-8239

www.scottleaf.com

Deodorizing Homes with Ozonation & UV Treatment

The process of deodorizing homes, which for one reason or another stink, has been a timeless hassle for owners and agents trying to sell Homes. In todays era we can add a new reason for deodorizing to the classics like Animal odors or Smoking.

A new phenomenon has emerged called the Grow-Op, if you dont know what this means your lucky. Homes used for the growth of Marijuana, really small scale greenhouses, haves erupted in the Metro Vancouver area and the consequence of growing any plant in a heated environment is excess moisture, mold and bacterial growth. Of course many unpleasant and potentially dangerous odours emerge in homes used for this illegal venture. One of the major reasons qualified buyers resist purchasing these homes is the potential resale issues associated with the moisture related conditions that arise.

It was first suggested to me a few months back to emply the services of a company that uses Ozone & UV Treatment to sanitize these and other 'smelly' homes. Over the next few months other Realtors advised me of their positive experience using this service. As luck would have it I listed a home last month which had a severe aroma issue which arose from the combined use of the home to rear large dogs and birds. The avian fecal smell combinded with the canine fecal smell really made for a nose wrencing experience, one I thought would make this house un-sellable now and for years to come at a price anywhere near what the owners had paid for it.

After the combined Ozonation and UV treatment and just a few hours later, I entered the home expecting a mild improvement but what I encountered was incredible given the orginal condition. I let my nose lead me around the home and I could not smell ANY residual offensive odours, it smelled fresh and clean. Before the first impression entering the home was aweful, now it was enjoyable and your other senses took over instead of having one sense overwhelmed. This for the low cost of $350 for a 3000 sq ft home.

All in all I can not recommend enough the use of Ozonation and UV treatment to remove undesirable smells from Homes, this quick inexpensive process could save Owners thousands and help Agents sell otherwise unsellable homes.

Scott Leaf

Keller Williams Results Realty

www.scottleaf.com

604-839-8239

FOR REFERENECE PLEASE SEE: http://www.medallioncanada.com/

Many other providers offer this service throughout North America

VANCOUVER, B.C. - June 3, 2008 - The Greater Vancouver housing market continued its re-balance between sales and listings last month. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential property sales in Greater Vancouver declined 30.7 per cent in May 2008 to 3,002 from the 4,331 sales recorded in May 2007.

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties increased 20.2 per cent to 7,390 in May 2008 compared to May 2007, when 6,149 new units were listed.

"With more property listings and a decline in the number of sales, prices are not increasing as rapidly, now down to single digits overall, which is good news from an affordability standpoint," said REBGV president, Dave Watt. "The housing market is at a balanced state, sellers have more competition and buyers have more selection to choose from."

Sales of detached properties in May 2008 declined 33.4 per cent to 1,203 from the 1,805 sales recorded during the same period in 2007. The benchmark price, as calculated by the MLSLink Housing Price Index®, for detached properties rose 8.4 per cent from May 2007 to $771,250.

Sales of apartment properties declined 30.5 per cent last month to 1,244, compared to 1,789 sales in May 2007. The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 8.7 per cent from May 2007 to $389,668.

Attached property sales in May 2008 decreased 24.7 per cent to 555, compared with the 737 sales in May 2007. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 9 per cent between May 2007 and 2008 to $478,931.

Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in May 2008 compared to May 2007:

Attached:

Coquitlam up 45.2 per cent (45 units sold from 31)

Apartments:

New Westminster up 13.6 per cent (100 units sold from 88)

The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2007, 38,050 homes changed hands in the Board's area generating $1.065 billion in spin-offs. Total dollar volume of residential sales set a new record at $22.25 billion and total dollar volume of all sales set a record at $22.77 billion. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,500 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®.