Ferry here, & ferry there...ferry ferry everywhere!

Oct 28, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

edit/delete) Make sure you check the B.C. Ferries schedule online, as it's not the same number of sailings, necessarily, in the off season. It's the perfect time, though, to do some inter-island travels. Although all of the Southern Gulf Islands enjoy the temperate micro-climate known as "cool Mediterranean", they all have their unique footprint. Definitely worth exploring them all, regardless of which one you have chosen to live on! Pender Island splits into two...a bridge over a narrow "cut" which joins Bedwell Harbour to Browning Harbour links North and South Pender. A rural pastoral island....most beaches on Penders are public. Mayne Island has a very inspiring Japanese Memorial Garden, at Dinner Bay...don't miss this! Galiano...make sure you drop into Montague Harbour...check out Spanish Hills...amazing Dionisio Marine Park (a WOW!). Thetis Island...like dropping back in time....check out Telegraph Harbour! More suggestions? Call me.... It's the season to pack a picnic and go explore!

New LRE Member Benefit: Feeder Market Networking

Oct 27, 2011

Courtesy of Michael Edlund, Director of Technology at Luxury Real Estate Here at Luxury Real Estate, we are constantly updating our website to make it more useful for you, our members. We like to hear what features you like and could use, so due to popular member feedback, we recently added new functionality in the Luxury Lounge.

Park City Mountain Resort Goes Green

Oct 27, 2011 — Dennis Hanlon, Summit Sotheby's International Realty

With all the talk over the last several years of global warming (or more correctly, climate change) and the concern that we have of ever-rising snow levels, the three Park City resorts have been taking steps to reduce and hopefully eliminate their carbon footprint. Several years ago both the Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort purchased wind power electricity and converted their fleets of snow groomers to bio diesel. This year Park City has gone a step further and installed a wind turbine at the top of the mountain along with solar panels with the goal of becoming completely independent from conventional electricity and using only renewable sources. This is a great move and I believe we'll see more and more resorts going this direction. Last week I talked about my Hero Tree in the backyard that stays green well after the other trees have turned golden. This last weekend it finally gave up and started to turn. I guess this means the end of fall has arrived. While there's still a few splotches of gold in the mountains the leaves are coming off pretty quickly and we're entering the brown season. The brown season is when all the leaves are gone but snow has not yet arrived. It looks like we're going to get another small shot of snow this week and with very cold temperatures. I was just in Deer Valley purchasing my season pass for the year and saw that they had the snowmaking guns out. This is a good opportunity to remind everyone that on November 1 season pass and coupon book rates increase at our local resorts.

My Hero

Oct 27, 2011 — Dennis Hanlon, Summit Sotheby's International Realty

I know every week I talk about just how beautiful it is and how it can't get any prettier...but it does! This weekend was the peak of the colors and it's absolutely spectacular. The hills were awash in color, the temperature was near 70 and then we had a little snow last night. My hero this week is an aspen tree in my backyard. While all the other aspens have turned bright gold and are starting to lose their leaves there is one that holds on and is still bright green. Way to go, aspen. Don't give up!

Statistics...a measure for future investment?

Oct 25, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Today's news from the U.S. mentions the Case-Schiller report...it's a report based on a 3 month period, ending in August. The main description: housing market was flat in this 3 month segment. This reporting is the issue with the media: they are always 90 to 120 days behind, as they have to rely on statistics gathered at an earlier time. Such reports are certainly guidelines, and it's very important to be able to refer to immediate past graphs...the danger is that one may be making decisions based on the past. Investing is about the future, too. Important to understand background, but also essential to pay attention to any whispers of shift, in the "now", whether these minute changes are in an up or down direction. Investing is based on a best thought about a future change/direction. We appear to be in a chaotic transition period...all things are on the table, at such times. This is when we need our editing function to switch on. A transition time is when future calls can be made.... At the moment, a property purchase may have a preservation of capital component to it, & not just be about a future appreciation opportunity. So...what to do/what to think/what to decide? Read it all, be informed, listen to your own inner voice, remember that statistics are only indicators and are based on past events, statistics may be skewed by only using information from specific regions/categories. We are a secondary home/discretionary marketplace...thus, city/primary residence markets don't forecast outcomes for discretionary regions. Seek advice of a professional, ask about the regionality of real estate, seek information of deals in process/not necessarily completed, ask about the "now" of a market...the past is no longer relevant. No one has a roadmap right now. That means you need to take charge for yourself, to think about your needs...your future...and who better to know what your requirements are than you? Hmmm...not always easy, carries challenges, but a great learning experience, and you are the individual to discover your investment pathway forward. Is it time to sell your discretionary property holding? Time to "hold"? Call me...look forward to helping you to clarify your thoughts, by sharing information.

Always Dreamed of Owning Horses in Colorado?

Oct 25, 2011 — Polly Leach-Lychee, Telluride Properties

You Have Always Dreamed Of Living in Colorado 12OCT Written by Polly Leach-Lychee, Broker/Owner You have always dreamed about living in Colorado, and having a horse or 2 in your back yard.  You went to a camp as a kid, or you got to ride some neighbor’s horses in the country.

Golf Digest Rank's Hualalai's Golf Resort #6 in the US!

Oct 24, 2011 — Rob Kildow, Hualalai Realty

We are thrilled at receiving the Ranking of #6 in the Best Golf Resorts in the U.S. To read the entire article and see how other Resort Communities were ranked, Click Here. Enjoy ~ Rob

The Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 Takes Off From Alicante, Spain

Oct 24, 2011

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF For the second consecutive time, the great Volvo Ocean Race will depart from Alicante port this November on the 8 months journey across the World’s waters. The Race Village at the port was inaugurated on the 14th of October and, up to the start of the race, there will be a continuous agenda of activities taking place to amuse adults and children alike. A space of over 40,000 m2 for sports and leisure that will be open to the public for 23 consecutive days, where visitors can enjoy a complete and varied programme of shows, concerts, entertainment, introductory sailing courses and leisure activities for the general public.

5 acre point, in spectacular Pacific Northwest Coast, on Salt Spring Island!

Oct 23, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Superlative 5 acre point, with easy access oceanfront, private coves and bays, warm ocean swimming, dramatic & panoramic views, deep water dock in protected bay, sunrises and sunsets...this truly is the very best waterfront opportunity on special Salt Spring Island! Beautiful home, the best of the country home design ethic, an Osborne & Clark imagining of an authentic country property retreat. Be inspired by the interior charm, by the ocean, islands, & mountain vistas offered from all principal rooms...a lovely blurring of interior and exterior spaces...this appealing home says "welcome", immediately! Dream kitchen, welcoming living with inglenook style feature stone fireplace, country dining, casual lounge with a forever view, cosy den/library (could be a guest bedroom, if desired), and a wonderful private master "suite", in it's own tranquil wing...enjoy shimmering water, wide angle sky, mountain frame...forest & meadow privacy...ahh...breathe in the perfection of a true retreat! Beautifully sited guest cottages, positioned at seaside, splendid panoramic views, sunrise and sunset locations...five guest spaces, self-contained for the privacy & pleasure of visiting family and friends. Games "cabin", studio, separately sited garage, deep water dock (keep your boat at home), private trails through your own forest, patio spaces that follow the sun, adirondack chairs discovered in special places, inviting one to sit & ponder & to experience true relaxation...a lovely winding drive off a very quiet country road introduces you immediately to peace, beauty, ocean delights.... The word retreat is an interesting one...it implies not an escape but rather a restorative and energizing experience...that is what this unique waterfront estate offers you. With the allure of a private island, and yet with the connections of a location on special Salt Spring Island, the largest & best serviced of the Canadian Southern Gulf Islands, this gem enjoys a calm appreciation of our natural world.

Boats are a part of a realtor's kit bag in the Gulf Islands!

Oct 22, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

One of the great things about being a real estate agent in the Gulf Islands is that we get to show properties by boat...rain or shine, it's a pleasure to be casting off from the dock and gliding through pearlescent water, past seal's heads popping up to check who's on the surface, slipping past a log with a line of cormorants on sentry duty...the ripple of the wake, the soft thump of arrival at the property's dock...pewter light with sea and sky meshing...so lovely!
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