Clarice Coty's Blog » Parksville

Parksville Real Estate Assessments Hold Steady

Clarice — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:35:56 +0000

Property values were typically stable or down slightly in Parksville, according to this year’s BC Assessment roll.
The estimated average assessed value of a single family home in Parksville was $317,900, up $900 or 0.3 per cent over the same time last year, according to BC Assessment. The average strata condominium assessment is down $5,000 or 2.2 percent to $222,800.
Vancouver Island Regional Assessor Bill MacGougan said most residential property changes in Parksville are in the minus 10 to plus five per cent range, with commercial property changing slightly less.
The combined value of all taxable residential property in Parksville and Qualicum Beach is $3.8 billion, up $43 million from last year. Commercial property has increased by $3 million to $322 million.

Enjoy a Full Selection of Window Coverings at Wild About Blinds

Clarice — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:23:36 +0000

What’s so wild about blinds?
Window coverings specialist Wild About Blinds is a local company that prides itself on quality service, products and installation with accuracy. They provide on-site consultations for residential and commercial needs.
Wild About Blinds supplies wood and wood composite blinds; aluminum blinds; vertical blinds; cellular shades and roller shades. They service Courtenay, Comox, Qualicum, Parksville, Cumberland and Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
Owner/operator Chris Wild is all about providing clients with total satisfaction on all products, warranty, installation and service. Go wild with blinds from WILD ABOUT BLINDS – The Ultimate in Window Fashions.
For more information, call 250.338.3877 or email WildAboutBlinds@telus.net.

Bonnington Ridge Lots at Fairwinds Offer Ocean Views and Golf Course Living

Clarice — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:46:51 +0000

The residential lots for sale at Bonnington Ridge at Fairwinds on Vancouver Island offer a fabulous choice to build your dream home with stunning views of the ocean, golf course, and surrounding nature. This real estate project in the Faiswinds Community on central Vancouver Island, is set on a quiet cul-de-sac and has lots starting at $209,000. Four of the eight lots in Bonnington Ridge have sold.
In addition to being surrounded by the best of Vancouver Island nature, and located in one of the driest spots in the country, Fairwinds Community and Resort also offers a 360-slip marina, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, 20 kilometres of hiking trails and an indoor swimming pool.
This master-planned community is located on a peninsula that juts into the Strait of Georgia between Nanaimo and Parksville.
Fairwinds has developed a real estate community of 720 single-family homes, town houses and lots for new home

Comox Valley Design-Build Team Capstone Dwellings Offers Custom Details on Budget

Clarice — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:23:54 +0000

IT’S IN THE DETAILS – Comox Valley Custom Builder injects creativity into modern home projects to get the most “bang for the buck” when working with responsible budgeting.
For Capstone Dwellings Design-Build, working with a responsible budget doesn’t mean leaving out custom detailing on new Vancouver Island Homes. For their latest custom home project, Capstone Dwellings used their creative abilities and broad scope of product knowledge to give modern touches to the project within the budget.
This hand-made custom exterior light fixture hangs in the front entry of the home. With the main colour scheme of the homes exterior being inspired by hues naturally found in our west-coast landscape, the copper details give just the right amount of whimsy and fun.
The custom kitchen millwork and countertops were completed within budget.
The new 180fx series by Formica, available though Colonial Countertops, was just the right solution for this home owner.
With the look for natural stone but a price point within budget, it was love at first sight. Paired with modern kitchen cabinets and contemporary scalloped tile, this practical work surface also becomes an attractive feature.

As with most of their projects, Capstone Dwellings incorporated the use of wallpaper into this custom home. As requested by the home owner, modern details were added to enhance the home without the need to decorate after moving in.
Capstone Dwellings’ designer, Bethany Pearce, was in agreement and worked to make sure the homes minimalist design wouldn’t be too cold or stark. An added feature of this wall is the hidden built-in speakers behind the wallpaper – a minimalists’ dream.

1stView Presents Outlook 2012 – Economic Forecasting Event

Clarice — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:44:19 +0000

1stView.ca presents Outlook 2012, the 6th annual economic forecasting forum on Nov. 24, 2011. Outlook 2012 will take a look at expected trends in the Vancouver Island construction and real estate markets, with a focus on the North Island.
The perennial sell out event will once again be held at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay, and will feature presentations by four industry experts.
“We are excited to bring together business leaders, developers, trades people and others to network and hear industry insights from our panel of speakers,” said Clarice Coty of 1stView.ca. “We’ve moved the event from January to November, to give attendees the opportunity to use the information presented to guide their business planning for 2012.”
Keynote speaker Larry Pollock, President and CEO of Canadian Western Bank will address the “Local Perspective to Global Banking.”
Pollock was a guest speaker at this event in 2009. Described by the Globe and Mail as “gregarious, and outspoken,” the national paper says “Larry Pollock adds a dash of colour to the grey tones of the Canadian banking industry.”
Additional featured speakers include: Travis Archibald, Senior Market Analyst for Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, who will present a Vancouver Island Housing Market Update; as well as Greg Baynton, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association and Shirley de Silva, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport.
Outlook 2012 is sponsored by Presley & Partners and Jackson & Associates. Tickets are $75, and include a networking session from 4-6 p.m., including a small trade show, dinner, and presentations.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.1stView.ca, email tickets@1stView.ca or call 250.338.5466.

Vancouver Island a Popular Destination For Canadian Retirees

Clarice — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:32:37 +0000

The majority of Canadians will plan to stay at home, rather than seeking out retirement destinations in the sun, according to a new study on retirement trends.
About 85% of Canadians aged 45 and over indicate they plan to stay in the country when they retire, with only 5% planning to relocate to the U.S. and 2% to Europe, according to a report from the BMO Retirement Institute.
Of those considering a move within the country, Victoria, on Vancouver Island remains the retirement capital, with 15% of boomers saying they would like to live there. That was followed by 14% citing smaller towns in Ontario, 11% in Montreal or the Eastern Townships and 11% saying the Greater Toronto Area.
The biggest factor prompting boomers to consider a move once they stop working is the weather, with almost 60% saying they would prefer milder climes, the study found. Many Vancouver Island communities including Fairwinds, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Courtenay are seeing an influx of retirees seeking a mild climate. Many new real estate developments catering to active retirees are appearing on Vancouver Island, including Shades of Green Estates in Campbell River, and Qualicum Landing in Qualicum Beach.
When it comes to mobility, Canadians living in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the most likely to consider relocating, with almost two-thirds of Albertans planning to move.
Residents of Atlantic Canada were least likely to move, with only 37% saying they would relocate. They cited being close to family as the reason for staying put.
Of those are planning to retire to the U.S., Florida was by far the preferred destination, with almost half of boomers choosing the state. Arizona came in second with 16%.

Vancouver Island Homes Prices and Sales Up in September

Clarice — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:45:43 +0000

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, which shows sales of single family homes on Vancouver Island were up 19 per cent in September 2011 compared to September 2010. September ended with 318 sales, compared with 267 a year earlier, the Island board said.
The average price of a single family home sold in September was $344,454, an increase of six per cent from the $325,336 posted in September 2010, and on par with August’s average price of $345,464.
“We are seeing stability with the market just treading water,” said board president Jim Stewart.
The greatest price increases were in Campbell River, up 14% to $289,794, while in the Cowichan Valley, the average sale price of a home last month rose by 14 percent over September 2010. The average house price in the Cowichan Valley is now $357, 200.
The Nanaimo area saw a modest 3% gain in average house prices over the past year, while Parksville-Qualicum slipped by one percent.
Real estate sales volumes however increased 23% in Nanaimo last month and average prices paid were 3% higher than a year ago, even as the number of listings grows on Vancouver Island.
In Nanaimo the selling price rose 3% from 2010, to $359,821.
Prices fell 1% to $388,952 in Parksville-Qualicum and 18% in Port Alberni, to $203,486.
Sales prices average out across the Island at $344,454, versus $539,953 in B.C. Nationally prices averaged at $349,916 in August, the most recent data available.
VIREB had 2,960 listings in September, up 3% from a year ago.

Make Packing and Moving Easy on Vancouver Island with the Help Of Delaney Relocation Services

Clarice — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:19:04 +0000

Delaney Relocation Services makes packing, moving and settling into a new Vancouver Island home easy. They have been in the business of helping people pack, move and relocate for the past 10 years. Located in the Comox Valley – and serving Campbell River, Powell River, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum - Delaney Relocation Services has a team of caring and experienced professionals to help with packing, moving and setting up your new home – from kitchen cupboards to home electronics.
The company is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers and of Professional Organizers in Canada. Working on Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Nanaimo, providing top quality care throughout a move is always their top priority.
Call 250.334.9922 or toll free at 1.866.210.2064 today for a free one-hour consultation and written estimate. Compare Delaney’s rates to traditional movers and see how much you can save. Discover how easy packing and moving can be!

Comox Valley Homes Sales Slow, But Sale Prices Are UP

Clarice — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:34:13 +0000

The number of single family homes sold this August in the Comox Valley was among the lowest seen in the past 10 years.
56 homes sold last month in the Comox Valley according to the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board – just two more than in August 2010 – which represented the second worst result for an August in ten years.
According VIREB stats, the peak years for August sales in the Valley over the last decade were 2007, when 118 single-family homes changed hands, and 2005 with 107 sales.
However, while sales were flat this August, the average price paid for Comox Valley homes jumped seven per cent compared to 12 months ago.
Last month’s average sales price was $347,000, an increase of $22,000 over August 2010. That was the biggest percentage increase recorded in any of the six regions of the real estate board north of the Malahat. And in three of the others – Campbell River and the north Island, Port Alberni and the west coast, and the Cowichan Valley average prices fell by between 2 and 8 per cent.
The area showing the biggest increase in sales for the high summer was the Parksville/Qualicum region, where they almost doubled compared to 12 months earlier. Average prices in that area also rose, by two per cent compared to a year earlier.

Capstone Dwellings: Design-Build New Home Builders on Vancouver Island

Clarice — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:42:44 +0000

Capstone Dwellings is a Design-Build construction firm based in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, specializing in integrated management of the home building process from design to construction, including careful budgeting and planning.
The Design-Build process allows clients to participate in the project as a member of the team. All projects are designed and built to budget, with modern home plans custom made for each property and the client’s individual needs.
Capstone Dwellings’ Design-Build process allows the firm’s team to take a budget and work with in the available dollars to attain the best possible results. Clients benefit from open financial reporting through each step of the Design-Build process, and all work is done based on the starting budget. This allows quality homes to be built faster, with less conflict and stress.
Capstone Dwellings is focusing on smarter, sustainable modern homes for families with a special interest in contemporary or modern home design.
They are also focused on delivering commercial projects that are profit-generating for their clients. Projects are welcome from all over Vancouver Island, including Campbell River and the Comox Valley (including Royston and Fanny Bay) and south to Qualicum Beach.
Capstone Dwellings Design-Build is a licensed home builder with the Home Owners Protection Office. To learn more, follow Capstone Dwellings on Facebook or visit their website.