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8 Questions to Ask Every Real Estate Agent

Selling your house or condo can be a daunting experience.  Thankfully for a real estate agent, they can help make the process a lot easier.  But like any industry, there are going to be a lot of duds floating around out there.  To help you find the best real estate agent out there, it’s so important that you interview anyone that you come in contact with. View home for sale in Richmond.

With that being said, when interviewing a real estate agent, these are eight questions that you should always ask?

How long have you been a real estate agent?

Like any other profession out there, the more seasoned you are, the better you probably are.  While this isn’t always the case, a good real estate agent won’t last in the industry for 25 years.

Do you do this full-time?

Real estate agency has its own share of part-timers and it will affect how the agent can monitor the volatile real estate market for you. If you deal with a part-timer, think about the time the agent will give you or the needed attention to have your property sale it needs.

How many have you sold?

Sales record is a good metric to size up an agent’s ability to win buyers over. After all, it is the reason why we are in the business of selling, right? Ask for sales numbers spread out from the last six months to fully gauge how he/she manages his numbers.

Can you provide references?

References are important because they possess something that you don’t have - experience working with the agent. If they are able to give a good word to the agent then you have some basis to give your trust.

What is your advantage over other real estate agents?

This could appear as tricky question and some real estate agents would end up bragging, but it would give you an idea how much he/she knows their stuff. Listen to what they say and meticulously separate the bragging and the legitimate qualities that make the agent a good one.

How many “days on the market” properties usually sit on your listings?

Top-notch real estate agents know their clients and market like the back of their hands, thus sell properties faster than others. Compare the record of your real estate agent against other agents to see how fast you can expect the property to be sold.

How will you market the property?

Another tricky question to ask a real estate agent is how would be the marketing for the property goes. Real estate agents who have been on the game for quite some time would rely on old school marketing techniques. Aggressive agents, on the other hand, would use other means or tools to drive awareness that produce leads and eventually drive sales. Ask your agent what marketing strategy they will use and why and gauge it against their sales record.

Can you take care of things if it goes wrong?

By all means a real estate agent is no trouble shooter; but it doesn’t hurt if he can remedy troublesome situations. Added bonus if you think of it.

By asking these questions and others, you’re bound to find someone that can work hard for you.  Remember, it may take you a few interviews before you find one that you like.  With that being said, be sure to be patient, do your homework and hopefully, you will find the best in your neighborhood!

Kathy Cady works for How Much Is It?  Be sure to visit the website to see what many things in life such as cars, surgeries and services cost.

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Richmond real estate review for 2011

We are almost done with 2011 and with another one week to go, the year 2011 will draw to a close. Looking back, Richmond single family detached homes has another great year of price gain. Single family home owners experienced incredible run up in their home values over the past 10 years. View Richmond detached homes for sale.

For those who are trying to trade-up, and those who have not bought their homes the past few years, they are left furher behind. 

A year in review

The year 2011 started off with a very tight market - the number fo homes available for sale in early January 2011 was under 350 homes. 

The average price for single detached homes in Richmond was hovering just over $800,000. Home prices experienced a  frantic demand from home buyers pushing up the average home price to above $1,000,000. View Richmond detached homes for sale.

Many home sellers saw the rare opportunity to capitalize on the strong market and the supply of homes grew rapidly to over 700 units in March, and exceeded 900 units by May. The median home price hovered around $1.0 million, while the average price stayed above $1.0 million.

Projection for 2012

With many homes expiring unsold over the past 2 months, the market is now in a balance state, with prices easing a little. Many economists had predicted 2012 and 2013 will continue to see home prices easing and declining slightly. No major price drop was predicted. CMHC and the real estate boards were predicting home sales for 2012 and 2013 will remain around the sale level as 2011.

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Are you looking for a vinyard to buy in Okanagan BC?

Photo used under Creative Commons from southernfoodwaysalliance
Available for sale is Basque Vineyard at Thompson Valley near Ashcroft. This 12.2 acres (additional 31 adjacent acres can be rented or purchased to expand the production) once thriving Basque Vineyard was farmed from late 1970 to mid 1985 by Bill Drinkwater's family. The vineyard was planted with:

4 acres of Gewurztraminer, a shite German grape
3 acres of chardonnay, a white French Grape
6 acres of Riesling, a German white
8 acres of Chancellor, a red habrid
5 acres of Patricia's, a red grape sold for preserves
1/2 dozen acres of de Chaunac, a French hybrid

It was a flourishing vineyard and the crops that was produced in 1982 to 1985 enjoyed wide press coverage.

An un-expected frost in 1985 - one of Okanagan's colder's winters devasted the grapevines. It was brutal! At the begining of November, the temperature fell to as low as minus 28 and it stayed cod for 5 weeks. The grapevines didn't have a chance to survive this extream cold.

Limiting frost damage

There are several things that can be done to control or limit frost damage in the vineyard. Good site selection is, of course, the first priority. Basque Vineyard has a gentle south-facing inclination which provides good air drainage, a protection from frost damage in the early spring and late fall.

There are now more grape varieties that are more frost resistant and the selection of those that thrive well here will enhance the success of this vineyard. Other measures like wind machines, sprinklers, and heaters are available to limit frost damage.

For more info about Basque Vineyard, kindly call James Wong at 604-721-4817 or email James.

Attractive rental returns from laneway housing

You can benefit greatly from your laneway house. The rental return is very attractive... generally, you can get a net positive cash-flow from your laneway house. You can follow this link to view photos of some laneway houses posted on the City of Vancouver website .

Below are 2 scenarios; costs and rental rates for a 750 sq ft and a 500 sq ft laneway house:

750 sq ft laneway house:

* At *$200 per sq ft, cost of construction is $150,000
* A mortgage interest rate of 4.50%, 25 yr amortization makes for a monthly P&I mortgage payment of $830 (interest cost is $557 a month)
* A 50/50 mortgage interest rate of 2.85% and 25 yr amortization makes for a monthly P&I mortgage payment of $698 (interest cost is $354 a month)
* Monthly rental income is $1,800+

500 sq ft laneway house:

* At *$200 per sq ft, cost of construction is $100,000
* A mortgage interest rate of 4.50% and 25 yr amortization makes for a monthly P&I mortgage payment of $553 (interest cost is $371 a month)
* A 50/50 mortgage interest rate of 2.85% and 25 yr amortization makes for a monthly P&I mortgage payment of $466 (interest cost is $236 a month)
* Monthly rental income is $1,000+

Both the above examples produce a healthy net income after mortgage payment. There are other costs besides one time design and construction, increase in property tax, etc, but these are small relative to the income from rent.

*Some home builders are confident that they can build more affordable laneway houses at between $150 to $175 a sq ft.

Follow this link for details on the City of Vancouver’s laneway house regulations.

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A spectacular Richmond waterfront location – Riverport condos for sale

The condos are mere meters away from the Fraser River! The 3 buildings were designed to allow for optimum balance of space inside and  maximum exterior views of the large landscaped courtyard spaces.

Some of units have spectacular views of the the river and Mt. Baker view. A public waterfront walkway at Waterston Pier is integrated into Richmond’s public trail system. View condos listed for sale at Waterstone Pier – 14100 Riverport, 14200 and 14300 Riverport Way, Richmond.

Waterstone Pier at Riverport is a little resort oasis on the water, with a high level of quality and a nautical feel. Waterstone Pier residency is a unique water-front life-style, and once home, you don’t have to go out again for rest and relaxation. A river walk and the Riverport Sports and Entertainment Complex are just steps away from your new home.

Condos for sale at Waterstone Pier

You can find out more information about this Richmond Riverport premier waterfront condo strata by following this link.

View condos listed for sale at Waterstone Pier – 14100 Riverport, 14200 and 14300 Riverport Way, Richmond.

Kindly contact me if you like to set up and appointment to view some of these beautiful homes listed for sale.

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Richmond Condos - The Palms

Located at 8460 Granville Avenue, this concrete high-rise was built by Bosa Development. The Palm is within walking distance to Richmond City Center and close to schools, transit, Richmond Center Mall, Minoru Parks, restaurants, library, swimming pool, ice rink and the Canada Line.

Great amenities

The amenities at The Palms include a clubhouse, gym, sauna room, guest suite and swirl pool.

This Bosa development is consisted of 346 homes. The 7800 St. Albans address is consisted of 113 condoss and 3 townhouses. There are 10 townhouses at 7088 St Albans and 19 townhouses at 8433 Bennett Rd.

The 8460 Granville address is consisted of 99 condos, while the 8480 Granville address has 97 condos. There are 6 commercial strata units at The Palms.

Below are the current condos listed at The Palms: 7080 St. Albans Rd, 8460 Granville Ave and 8480 Granville Ave.

Richmond Real Estate: Choose Your Realtor Carefully

With the fast changing real estate market, choosing a knowledgeable and experienced realtor to work with is critical in buying or selling your home. With more than 8,000 realtors in Greater Vancouver, you will have no problems in getting a good realtor to work with you.

How do you find a good realtor?

Finding an experienced realtor takes time. The best way to find a realtor is through recommendations through friends and family members. Ask for references from past clients and most importantly, interview the realtor to ensure he/she knows the prevailing local real estate market well.

Realtors that specialize in a geographical location and housing types, or condominium buildings are more knowledgable in the homes they sell. Always ensure the realtor you choose has the specialty you need.

You can also find your local realtors via the Internet and the local real estate websites i.e. REaltyLink Online and MLS.ca. A good realtor should be one that you can contact easily.

As a home seller

Besides making sure the realtor knows the local market, you should also find out what commission structure the agent charges and the marketing plan on how he/she sells your home. Interview a few local realtors and select the one you are most comfortable to work with.  If you are not satisfied on the progress of  the realtor you chooses, you can always cancel the listing contract.  Just make sure before you list your home, you get the assurance (in writing) that you can cancel the listing without conditions. This can be costly and stressful when you are not getting the dedication and commitment you expect from your realtor.

As a home buyer

You are faced with a major challenge to find a good realtor who can dedicate the time to find you the right home. The reason is a good Buyer Agent actively screens the buyers they work with. They do not want to wast time on buyers who are not "qualified" or "ready". A good Buyer Agent is actively engaged in the business, answer his calls promptly and notify you as soon as a good listing appears on the MLS system.

Trusting a realtor is the key in finding the home that's right for you. When good homes are selling within days of listing on the market, you cannot afford to work with someone else who is not constantly "on the ball".

Here are some common sense appraoch to pick a realtor to represent you:

•   find a realtor who is working full time on the real estate business
•   make sure your realtor is a local realtor who knows the market very well
•   spend your time discussing your needs and have your mortgage pre-approved
•   listen to your realtor's advice
•   ask questions until you are satisfied the home you pick is the right home for you

Happy House Hunting!!

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Richmond Real Estate Weekly Online

This Weekly Online is brought to you by James Wong at Sutton Group West Coast. You can view homes listed for sale in Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley in the comfort of your home. My website is designed with you in mind to provide an up-do-date, fast and convenient search for homes in your targetted areas.

Richmond Home Search Online

Home buyers can view homes up-dated daily via my Homepage at RealEstatesRichmond.com.  This provides you a one-click search for detached homes, townhouses and condos/apartments. If you are looking for homes for sale in a neighborhood, you can scroll to the bottom of the search page, a look for the neighborhoods that interest you.

Vancouver Westside Home Search Online

My Vancouver westside detached homes and Downtown condos search sites can be accessed using the search link here. The search by neighborhoods follow the same search criteria as set up for Richmond Real Estate Weekly online.

You can select the area, price, bedroom and bathroom to search for homes meeting your requirements. By pressing the "Search" button after selecting your criteria, my MLS search software will display all the homes currently listed for sale.  

Goolge Map Search
 
You can easily and conveniently search for home using my Google map search:

The homes listed for sales include North Shore, West and East Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Langley, White Rock, Richmond, Tsawwassen, Ladner, Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack. Every home listed for sale in the metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley cities are available to you 24/7 and all the listings are shown as soon as they are posted on the MLS System.

If you have any questions or like me to help you with your buying or selling needs, kindly contact me at 604-721-4817 or email me.

Richmond Boyd Park and Seafair neighborhoods

Boyd Park in Richmond is a neighborhood bounds by Blundell Road to the north, No. 1 Rd to the west, No. 2 Road to the east and Williams Road to the south.

The neighborhood shopping plaza is Seafair Village Mall located at the junction of No. 1 Road and Francis Rd.

You can find the homes listed for sale at Boyd Park below:

Single Family Homes, Townhomes and Apartments.

There is a Community Center adjacent to the Huge Boyd Seconday School. The soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and indoor racket courts are popular with residents living around the Boyd Park neighborhood.

Seafair neighborhood

Bound by Blundell Road to the north, Williams Rd to the south, and west of No. 1 Road, Seafair area is commonly referred to as the "monds" and the "mores" as the streets are named ending with "mond" or "more"

The Seafair sub-division, adjacent to Boyd Park is slowly transformed, with older homes being replaced by newer and larger homes. You can view here, detached homes and townhomes listed for sale in the Seafair sub-division. There are no apartments in the seafair neighborhood.

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Richmond Acqua Condos

Construction: Concrete     Units in Strata: 183
Building Type: Highrise     Year Built: 2007

Amenities:

The amenities include an outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, Gym/exercise room, lounge, media room, park or garden, bike storage.

Features:

Acqua at 5811 No 3 Road was another Richmond concrete high-rise development by Bosa. Conveniently located, Acqua is just near to Richmond's Lansdowne skytrain station, Richmond Centre Mall, Landsdown Centre Mall, banks, Save-On Foods supermarket and scores of restaurants. Higher units at Acqua enjoy panoramic views of Richmond City, North Shore mountains and Mt. Bakers.

Click Here To View All Acqua Condos Listed For Sale.

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Market outlook for Richmond million dollar homes

In view of the softer market and reduce sales activities, new home builders and sellers are bracing for lower selling prices for their million dollar homes. When the sales data of million dollar homes (under 5 years) sold in the first quater of 2009 were analysed, the drop in average market value for these homes was found to be just around 5% below similar homes sold at the peak in late 2007.

Very similar new homes that previously sold for $1.5 or more in late 2007 and early 2008 are now being priced lower. New homes with around 3,600 to 3,800 sq ft living areas are now selling at $1.2 to 1.4 million price range.

Market Price and City Value

Homes sold in the first quarter were found to average around 11% above their city values. The rate of price decline for these newer homes were relatively small compared with older homes that were found to be selling at 4% to 7% below city values.

Market Outlook over the next few months

The decline in home builders’ demand for building lots has a major impact on the selling prices for prime building lots. Building lots that used to sell in the $700,000 to $800,000 range are now adjusting to much lower prices below $650,000.

Prime building lots with older homes are selling well at prices around $550,000 to just over $600,000. Reent market activities help to prop up home builders' interest to enter the market to buy older homes in prime west Richmond locations.

You can view Richmond's million dollar homes listed for sale on the MLS System by following this link.

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Are you looking for a Richmond Chinese Realtor?

I can offer you the language advantage of being a Richmond Chinese Realtor - proficient in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. I work with Chinese home buyers and sellers and maintain good contacts with the local and overseas Chinese home owners.

My service area includes Richmond, Vancouver and Burnaby. As a dual-licensed Realtor and Mortgage Advisor homebuyers benefit with a one-stop service with their home purchase and mortgage financing. 

Richmond real estate market is changing fast!

When buying or selling, you need up-to-date information on the housing market. I am available 24/7 to provide you the service you need, and you can view homes for sale using my easy to use website. 

Richmond Real Estate Market

Real estate is local. As a local Richmond Chinese Realtor, there are some competitive marketing advantages I can offer you as a buyer or seller. Buying a home in a good neighborhood enhances the future appreciation of your home.

If you are buying and selling at the same time, there are many issues you need to look into. Should you sell first before your buy? Or, buy and sell at the same time? These are questions that can best be answered by an experienced Realtor. You situation may require certain appraoch best tailored to your needs.

You can start your reearch online to learn more about the homes available for sale in your market. Whether you are planning to buy in Richmond, Vancouver or Burnaby, you are welcome to contact me for a discussion. 

“I want to give you the kind of experience I would look for if I were to buy or sell a home”

You can contact me at 604-721-4817 for a discussion on your real estate or home financing needs; or Email Me.

Looking for a Terra Nova Townhouse in Richmond?

Home owners are attracted to this Terra Nova Townhouse neighborhood as this is one of Richmond’s largest planned subdivision. The proximity to Richmond City Center and easy access to Vancouver makes this Richmond sub-division a very desirable and sought after location for home owners.

The neighborhood Terra Nova Village Shopping plaza, anchored by super-market Save-On Foods provides convenient shopping for the daily esentials for the residents around the area.The neighborhood is also well served by public transit, schools, public playground, Richmond Nature Park and the West Richmond Trail along the dyke.

Terra Nova Townhouses 

There are some good selections of townhomes in Terra Nova varying in prices from $380,000 to over $750,000. The smaller 2 bedroom starter townhomes size has living area around 1,107 sq ft. The larger 4 bedroom townhomes have much larger living spaces up to around 2,200 sq ft.

For your convenience, the links here will show you all the Terra Nova townhouses and single family homes listed for sale.

For information on past sales and availability, you can contact James Wong 604... or  email me to request for more information.

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Working with a Sutton Realtor should be your top choice when buying or selling your home?

"The Sutton Advantage"

As a home seller, you are listing your home with the market leader. We list and sell more homes than other real estate companies in Greater Vancouver..

Whether you are a home seller or buyer, you benefit from getting the lowest rates mortgage from us. You can compare Sutton's Mortgage rates with any other mortgage lenders in Canada. 

Working with your Sutton Realtor

There are aspects of real estate sales that seem pretty simple. A smooth transaction requires good co-ordination on many elements of a real estate deal. However, there are many complicated and daunting issues an experienced local Sutton Realtor can help resolved successfully. As a Sutton Realtor, I am dedicated to help you sell your home or find the the home that is just right for you.

Why James Wong at Sutton Group?

I enjoy working with my clients and I am passionate to be the best possible Realtor. You have my assurance that I am  committed to work for your best interest.

You can count on Sutton's performance and my personal service.

Start your research online to view homes available for sale on the MLS System..

Let me help you with all your real estate needs. Call me at 604-721-4817 or email me. 

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Richmond Condos For Sale

The Internet can give you a broad picture on the prices and types of Richmond condos available for sale. The Internet is a highly efficient tool to help you collect information. It is not the end-all and be-all in the home-buying or selling process.

Real estate is about location

Other home buyers prefer to identify and look for condos for sale in a particular neighborhood. Most home buyers are concerned about the schools, crime statistics around the neighborhood, access to public transits and future resale values of their homes.

Getting help from a Realtor

The help of a good, dedicated local Realtor specializing in the market is necessary in locating the right home for your family. There are critical information like neighborhood, schools and preferences by long time residents in the area you should know.

For home buyers who prefer to live near the sky-train stations in Richmond, you can view Richmond Condos for sale around the city center.

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