Very best buy oceanfront, on Salt Spring Island!

Sep 16, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Here's a "summer dream" that can be yours "year round"...and, it's on special Salt Spring Island!   A point of land, with a mid-90s "west coast contemporary" style gem, just needing cosmetic upgrades to sing the 2010 song!    Sole exclusive use of an adjacent 2 acre pasture, with heirloom orchard -- keep sheep or a horse, here!    Also, a 1/9th share in a 30+ acre inner heritage farm, with more heirloom orchard offerings.    Only 9 oceanfront parcels, all small acreages, in this exclusive Bayridge strata development (created in the 1960s).    

How to tell an Islander? Ferry schedules!

Sep 14, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

When you live on an island, you carry different kinds of schedules around in your head....ferry schedules (on Salt Spring, there are three different ferries, going to three different places, and they all have different schedule times), plus floatplane schedules (again, three different companies, serving different routes, and all with different schedules), and yes, there's a summer and a winter schedule, too! After awhile, though, you just get used to it, and sitting on the ferry, waiting for the short trips to be "done", it's great to just sit and watch the beauty of the world go by (pretty exciting, too, when there's an Orca pod sighted!), or maybe you're in the middle of a good book, or catching up on a portable craft project, or finishing a document for work or maybe a college paper? The ferries are considered part of the highways system, in B.C., but it's a pleasure on this kind of a commute to just "be", and not be in a traffic jam in a city environment. On the homeward journey, all islanders breathe a sigh of relief....you can hear a great communal "ahhhhh", as the regular commuters near the island terminus, and "home".....

Denman Island oceanfront acreage....ready to develop your dream!

Sep 14, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Truly looking for a rural/pastoral oceanfront acreage? Here's a gem on tranquil Denman Island. A ferry from Buckley Bay to Denman Island is approximately a ten minute ride -- excellent schedule, for commuting to nearby Vancouver Island venues. Courtenay is the main town for this entire area, and it's a quick 15 minutes from Buckley Bay. Courtenay offers all services/amenities, and adjacent Comox offers hospital and airport. This property is so rare today! Forest, pasture, beach (warm ocean swimming), old style beachside cottage and home -- use now, as your rural summer/weekender, and enjoy all over again when you design and build your dream home! 9 + acres, sunny (s/sw/w exposures - sunsets here!), peaceful ambiance, a yesteryear allure with all amenities of today on your doorstep -- it doesn't get any better! Looking for "safe haven" investment? This is it! Denman Island is also under the jurisdiction of the Islands Trust. Created in 1974, the Trust is a Provincial Government body, brought into being with a "preserve and protect" mandate, for the benefit of all B.C. residents. To protect the environmental beauties of all the Gulf islands, strict zoning/density bylaws were brought into being, in 1974, and growth was "capped" on all the Gulf Islands, at that time. This has the effect of limiting growth, due to this cap on development, regardless of market trend in play, at any given time -- over time, due to this government control over inventory, prices will appreciate on any Gulf Island: interest + lack of inventory equals price escalation, over time. Beauty, pastoral charm, ability to be self-sufficient, micro-climate called "cool Mediterranean", lack of inventory "forever"....and this is 9 acres of oceanfront? Call me! Let's view today...bring your architect, too. Lucky you!

Very best Pacific Northwest Coast views!

Sep 14, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Looking for the very best oceanview property on Salt Spring Island? Here it is, and it has a terrific architect designed home to take advantage of that wrap around panorama of ocean, islands, mountain vistas! Two master bed-sitting rooms, one with a sunrise and the other with a sunset viewscape, both with spacious decking off, and both with exquisite ensuite baths, dressing areas, private laundry....and gas fireplaces for cosy "off season" evenings! Guest bed and bath, pantry, storage, plus dramatic living room, feature gas fireplace, ocean viewscapes dining (easy access to sunny decking), with sitting area, plus cook's dream kitchen (perfect for entertaining). Garden level storage/workshop area, with private entry. The plus? Aside from the breathtaking views (enjoy both the Southern Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands, plus the Lower Mainland mountains, Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, the drama of Vancouver (those night lights are something to behold!), there is also a lap pool that will delight you! Zoned for separate guest cottage plus separate studio, this gem awaits your pleasure. Close to all services and amenities, and yet in its own private and sunny world. Enjoy!

Vancouver Island equestrian property awaits your pleasure!

Sep 14, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Here's an amazing equestrian property for your pleasure, in charming Yellowpoint area of Vancouver Island. Yellowpoint has all the allure of a Gulf Island, including the lovely temperate microclimate and rural ambiance, but without that "double ferry"! This almost 20 acres enjoys great all day/year round sun exposure, has a boundary line adjacent to a very large park reserve, ensuring calm and privacy, and gets distant vistas of the Lower Mainland mountains (including The Lions, behind Vancouver). A seasonal creek, pasture, great horse facility (barn, tack, riding ring), "as new" home, with double garage and workshop, plus outbuildings...it doesn't get any better! A very short drive takes you to Ladysmith Harbour, and boat moorage for ocean adventuring. All amenities are nearby, including the Nanaimo Airport, and yet it is sited in a quiet area of fine homes, hidden from the rush of everyday life, yet close to everything! Ready to just move into and to enjoy....your home awaits!

Vail Valley real estate 83% ahead of 2009 through July

Sep 14, 2010

Courtesy of Slifer Smith and Frampton The Eagle County real estate market continues to show signs of improvement as both sales volume and number of deals are exceeding 2009 numbers. As of July 2010, sales volume for the Vail Valley was over $800 million which is 83% ahead of July 2009. It looks as though the market will exceed $1 billion in sales, the first time since 2008. 

September 11th "thoughts".....

Sep 11, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

September 11, 2010. This is the 9th anniversary of what is now known as 9/11. The events of that day are larger than just a U.S. experience. Yes, it took place in New York, but the offices in the twin towers held global head offices, and the people within, trapped, and who lost their lives due to this accident of geographic location, were from many different places/countries. So many acts of courage that day...the police and firemen, responding to emergency, without a clear idea of what it is they were rushing into..... Cell phone calls to loved ones, from those trapped inside..... I think the t.v. channels should play, without commercial interruption, the video shot by that French news team: they just happened to be in the U.S., to shoot footage/follow them through their work lives, to showcase a fire department in New York City. It was just accidental, then, that they were present when the call came into that particular fire station. Their documentary, played as shot, was gripping...confusion, fear, courage, life, death...it's all there, just as it happened. Perhaps 9/11 marked the divide between the 20th and 21st centuries. It is a day to remember, as we pay homage to the memory of those lost in those very few moments, on that sunny morning that started just like any other early Fall day.... I always think that day was a reminder to us all of the fragility of life, and the fact that we only have the "now". Remember to always let your nearest and dearest know that you love and appreciate them. Remember to dare and to do and to "go for it" while we have the chance to do so. Spare a thought today for those gone on 9/11.

Hurricane Katrina: Rock star Realtor Katrina Campins is a true force of nature.

Sep 08, 2010

Inspiring buyers to purchase blue-chip condos and houses requires perseverance and creativity, according to Katrina Campins, the bombshell reality-TV celebrity and principal of The Campins Company, a top real estate firm well-known for its high-profile clientele. Since she opened TCC in 2004—after being “fired” from The Apprentice—Campins has showcased her luxury listings in a variety of national media forums.

Canada-BC-Vancouver/Whistler-Buyer’s market conditions continue - Whistler Chalet sale $4,6 million!

Sep 07, 2010 — Ursula Morel, RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate

Canada-BC-Vancouver/Whistler-Buyer’s market conditions continue Thursday, September 2, 2010 VANCOUVER, BC - Conditions in the Greater Vancouver housing market continued to favour buyers in August. Since April, prices have edged down slightly as the number of sales and the number of properties coming on to the market have been declining.

Terry Fox Run on September 12th, on Salt Spring Island....if you're around, take part!

Sep 07, 2010 — Liane ("Li") Read, Sea to Sky Real Estate

Mark your calendars, and turn out to support the annual Terry Fox Run. Salt Spring's run is held this year on Sunday, September 12th...walk, run, help organize, step forward however you're able.   This is one of Canada's major fundraisers for Cancer Research. I was very lucky to have seen Terry Fox during his historic run across Canada, east to west, and in an evocative moment, shortly before it was reported that his cancer had returned, and so the run ended.... I was driving across Canada, west to east, and on a lonely stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway, in northern Ontario, a long undulating ribbon of road, those "all the same size" racing green trees found in Ontario edging the highway, few cars, and there, alone (he had apparently insisted that his support vehicle remain well behind him), with that lurching gait, came Terry Fox, heading west.... He was totally focused, within two days the run was called off...he must have been in pain...we gave all the cash we had with us to the support vehicle, a few minutes farther along...none of us spoke...tears were near.   To see that run, at the side of the road, alone in the wilderness, no cameras, no crowds, just perseverence and committment...how lucky to have really seen him and to have been inspired.... This Sunday, do what you can and give what you can, for the memory of a great Canadian, the courageous Terry Fox. Continue his run....
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