Sunny Sunday holiday weekend thoughts....

Jul 31, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Sunday...a pool of calm on a busy holiday weekend.    Sometimes, in the hurly burly of thinking of others...whether family or friends or clients...and in the midst of a lot of "shout news", it's a good idea to take five for oneself.    Read a good book lately?   Watched a film that makes you laugh (try Cold Comfort Farm)?    Feeling that you've been sitting too long, in that computer mode, or in the car while driving clients, or sitting to create presentations to bring more clients...you know how it is...we forget to remember to walk about.     This is a time to reflect in a garden, perhaps.    Flowers have a language and when one ponders them, really "sees" them, it is extremely calming.   Sometimes, just doing a slow meditative stroll, or watching a sunset, or simply breathing in the evocative fragrances of a garden (what about Spanish broom?), we come to ourselves. We can let our minds drift, simply be...remember what it was like to go to the beach, and to simply lie there, soaking the rays?    Where did our minds go to, eyes shut, distant voices of others acting like white noise? Give yourself the Sunday gift of time for "you", this holiday weekend.

Whistler racks up string of awards-Recreational property market gains

Jul 30, 2011 — Ursula Morel, RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate

Whistler racks up unprecedented string of awards:Recognized for accommodation, dining, meetings space, events, activities and amenities Tourism Whistler media release                                                                                                                For immediate release – July 26, 2011

Year six, of a seven year cycle?

Jul 29, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Markets are cyclical in nature...we're used to recognizing the boom and bust rhythms in the stock market side of investment, but we often ignore the equivalent nature of housing markets. There does seem, too, a seven year pattern for ups and downs...if things appear at equilibrium, it's a transitory moment, between two options: going up or going down. A transition moment, between two market cycles, is often marked by "everything on the table": price reductions along with price stability or even small testing increases; tales of further corrections & doom scenarios combined with reports of strong sales, even in upper tier priced options and in discretionary/resort based areas; an "end of the world" fear mindset that insists on deflation & a need for cash coupled with sudden decisions to return to hard asset investment options as a way to ride out currency instability fears/to preserve capital. What's the average person to think, viewing the "shout news", full of disaster & gloom, while struggling to make the right decisions for a family's future? Let's remember that seven year cycle, that underpins all the surface news. It is now noted that the slowdown in real estate, in all secondary home/discretionary and resort based areas, and globally so, really occurred in early 2006. The economic meltdowns of Fall, 2008, were just the solidifying of events already underway, and prudent "fore-runner people" were stating this as early as January, 2006. The slow climb out of inaction in real estate sales began first in the city/primary residence markets, in 2009, mainly in entry level priced residential options, and mainly fueled by first time buyers. This didn't appear in secondary home regions until late 2010/early 2011. Since early July, it appears that all residential opportunities, regardless of price point, are receiving strong inquiries, improving viewings, and slow but steady offers, and in all discretionary markets...real estate is both global and regional, now. Good news for all sellers in these secondary areas, though. Remember the seven year cycle theory? Well, this is year six...characterized by slow improvement, to begin with, and then escalating activity by year end. Hmmm.... Locally, it is busier in residential sales, in all price ranges. Undeveloped land and commercial options remain quiet, for the moment. When I say busier, it's in comparison with the non-action of the past three years...things have not returned to the heady days of 2002 to 2005! Is a fear of currency instability and the seeking of a safe haven the reason for this resurgence of interest in hard asset investment? Could be.... Let's hold the thought of year six in a seven year cycle...if that's the case, then the market is already on its way back up. Try not to be engulfed by the "shout news" empire. They want you to have tunnel vision, to remain focused on the channel prepared for you. Remember that periphery vision? Out there, on the edges, imperfectly seen, lives the next thing....so, year six, eh? And your thoughts are? Always welcome!

Technological Wood: Spain’s Alternative to High-Maintenance Tropical Wood

Jul 29, 2011

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF The Visendum technological wood, manufactured in Spain, is an intelligent and sustainable alternative to the tropical wood and the chemically treated wood for outdoor use. Visendum contributes in this way, towards the prevention of climate change, because the material derives from recycled wood, no more tree felling! Luxury Homes by VAPF has been using this innovative material for many years now and is a regular feature on the pool terraces and bar-b-q areas of its luxury homes, such as the villa model Llorença at the Sol Luxury Reserve on the North Costa Blanca in Spain.

Proximity of Private Education: A Top Requisite When Searching for the Ideal Home

Jul 28, 2011

Courtesy of Kirsty Bryson of Luxury Homes by VAPF One of the most frequent questions asked by our customers when viewing our property portfolio at the Cumbre del Sol residential estate on the Costa Blanca in Spain is: “How far is it to the nearest private school?” Well, this is a really easy question for us to answer as, situated within the residential estate is the The Lady Elizabeth International Junior School, belonging to the Laude Education Group. Colegios LAUDE, is a network of private and independent schools in Spain and England in which the learning experience goes beyond the walls of the classroom and the limits of the teaching programmes, with multilingual education at all school levels.

Zen/Scandanavian flair, on Salt Spring Island!

Jul 27, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

You know when to leave for the ferry, when you catch this view! This gem of a home, architect designed & custom built, "as new", a step-in ready beauty, lives at the special "south end" of Salt Spring!   With a beautiful panoramic ocean, islands, and mountain viewscape (including dramatic Mt Baker), this private and easy care property offers oceanfront, plus sunny privacy.    Live with style!

What’s For Dinner?

Jul 25, 2011

Courtesy of Judy Sweetland of Private Trade Winds That seems to be the nagging question 365 days a year, and there’s no reprieve while on vacation. In fact, it can be even more challenging when you have children of varying ages with specific likes and dislikes to deal with – and let’s face it, they all have likes and dislikes! While you and your spouse might be dying to try that fine dining Hawaiian Fusion restaurant that everyone has been raving about, you know that little Johnny will have no part of seafood, and keeping Sally entertained in the highchair will require nothing short of a live appearance from Elmo himself. This poses the ultimate vacation challenge, because it’s not a mere question of “What’s for Dinner tonight?” you need to know what’s for breakfast and lunch, too – times 7! So, on your typical week vacation this question will beg to be answered 21 times!

Canada-$40 M Vancouver mansion up for sale -Savour the Long Weekend in Whistler

Jul 23, 2011 — Ursula Morel, RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate

Canada-$40 M Vancouver mansion up for sale -Savour the Long Weekend in Whistler VANCOUVER — Canada's most expensive residential real estate listing is on the market in West Vancouver and it can be yours — if you've got $39.9 million to spare. The hillside property at 2190 Camelot Ave. offers stunning views of downtown Vancouver and the Burrard Inlet, not to mention privacy and seclusion.

Park City, Luxury Real Estate and Summer Fun

Jul 22, 2011 — Tisha Digman, Summit Sotheby's International Realty

Park City, Utah offers “A Mountain Range of Possibilites” not only for winter but summer as well.  All the skiers were excited about this year’s July 4th opening of Snowbird.  Mountain biking and road biking are a great way to enjoy the warm weather and with 325+ miles of trails there is lots to see. Don’t have a bike, or don’t feel like hauling it to Utah? Cole Sports and Jan’s Sports feature a “Giant Bicycles Concept Store” with a large and diverse rental and demo fleet.  There is no better way to enjoy the high desert climate and beautiful scenery of Utah than Hiking. Park City offers plenty of options and just a short car ride away there is the mountain getaway of Sundance. Tucked away in the Wasatch’s Provo Canyon at the base of Mount Timpanagos, Sundance offers hiking rock climbing and lift access for mountaineering. Deer Valley concerts every Wednesday with performers like Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge and many more brought to park city by Mountain Town Music. Also there are many other outdoor concerts and some of the biggest names in the industry at the annual Park City Jazz Festival.  Park Silly Market Old Town and the Farmers Market located at the Canyons are the best way to support local artists, craftsman and growers. Park City Mountain Resort offers an Alpine Coaster, Alpine Slide, ZipRider,® climbing wall, lift-served mountain human maze, miniature golf, horseback riding, Legacy Launcher, Little Miners Park and lift access to Main Street for all the adventurers.  Don’t forget to visit the Olympic Park to see the history of skiing in Park City and the professional ski jumpers that do an exhibition into the pool! Come and stay in Park City and see for yourself all of the real estate options! It is a fantastic place for a second home! The skiing is great and the summer activities are endless!

A dock for your yacht? Here are some choices!

Jul 21, 2011 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Looking for a waterfront retreat, with a dock for your yacht? Here are some opportunities, for your perusal & consideration: Call me, & let's go view.... Thank you!
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