SOLD New Listing - Great Starter Unit! SOLD

Looking to get into the market? Look no further! Unique 2 story condo located on a bus route and only minutes to downtown Victoria! Offering 2 bedroom PLUS open den, 1.5 bath & in-suite laundry. This unit has newer laminate floors, fresh paint plus new tub, surround pedestal sink & toilet in main bathroom. Sliders off the dining room onto the patio, perfect for summer BBQ's. ....not a lot in this price range so call today!! Easy to show. Call Lorne Tuplin 250-217-4600 at RE/MAX Camosun.

Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Canadian banks are typically leveraged at 18 to 1--compared with U.S. banks at 26 to 1.
Published Feb 7, 2009

Read it here

http://www.newsweek.com/id/183670

Big Time Gas Gouging Hits Victoria! (again, still)

Your gas prices are 21.8¢ per litre above the normalized cost of 77.1¢ per litre in Victoria.

With today's crude oil price of $33.77 USD per barrel and the US dollar at $1.24 CAD, the price of regular unleaded gasoline in Victoria should be 77.1¢ per litre at normal profit margins.

At a price of 99.9¢ per litre, you are paying 21.8¢ per litre in pure excess profit. Across Canada, an extra margin of 21.8¢ per litre generates an additional profit of 21.8 million dollars per day.

Calculations based on Hugh Mackenzie's Gas price gouge: The sequel.
From http://www.gasgouge.ca/

If you would like to make your thoughts known where they count, contact
Honourable Blair Lekstrom Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
Contact Information
Phone:250 387-5896
Fax:250 356-2965
PO Box 9060 STN PROV GOVT Victoria BC V8W 9E2
E-mail the minister EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Honourable Blair LekstromMinister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
Contact Information
Phone:250 387-5896Fax:250 356-2965PO Box 9060STN PROV GOVTVictoria BCV8W 9E2

SOLD Excellent retirement or get away condo! SOLD

"The Beaufort on Fifth". One of Sidney's finest condominiums one block off Beacon Ave. Walk to shopping or just take a stroll along the ocean front - it's all available in picturesque Sidney by the Sea! This is a corner unit with lots of light. Open plan with living, dining & kitchen all open to each other. Immaculate unit, rentable & priced to sell! Call Lorne Tuplin at RE/MAX 250-217-4600 to view.

SOLD Secluded 1/2 Acre on the Park SOLD

Tired of looking at homes that are boxed in... too close to neighbors? Check out this immaculate 3-level split on a 21,780 sq foot totally private lot backing right onto Mill Hill Park! Front valley & distant mountain views. Total recent reno including shingles, Kit cabinets refinished, counter tops, new siding on front, total int & ext paint, all flooring, gas stove in family room, 660 sq ft cedar deck, rock walls, raised flower bed with rock walls and interlocking stone patio & walk ways leading to the park, new front landscaping by landscape architect, U/g sprinks F&B, Stainless steel appliances, Maytag Neptune washer/dryer. Owner licensed. Call Lorne Tuplin - RE/MAX Camosun 250-217-4600

2009 Housing Market Off to a Slow Start

Property sales throughout Greater Victoria in the first month of the year got off to a modest start amid continuing concern by buyers and sellers over the economy.

A total of 247 homes and other properties sold in January through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) up slightly from the 239 sales in December. There were 464 sales in January of last year. Last month’s sales were the lowest January sales in over 18 years. There were 3,678 properties available for sale at the end of January. That represents a 22 per cent increase compared to January of last year but a further decline from the 3,824 properties available for sale at the end of December.

Victoria Real Estate Board President, Chris Markham, says the uncertain economic climate continues to have an impact on the local housing market. “It’s clear that many people are holding off on the decision to buy or sell unless they have to and are waiting until they have more confidence both in terms of their personal financial situations and in the market as a whole.” Markham cites the decline in the number of active listings over the past three months as further evidence of a “wait and see” approach among sellers.

The slowing market has also had an impact on prices, especially for single family homes and condominiums. The average price for single family homes sold in Greater Victoria last month was $526,148, down from $548,025 in December. The six-month average was $545,984 and the median price in January was $475,000, down from $507,500 in December. Markham noted that the softening in prices has led to improved affordability, “Forty-two per cent of single family homes last month sold for under $450,000.”

The overall average price for condominiums was $259,742 last month compared to $280,487 in December. The average for the last six months was $297,649. The median price for condominiums in January was $255,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $393,982 up from $389,371 in December. The six month average was $405,718 while the median price in January was substantially lower at $382,500.

MLS® sales last month included 141 single family homes, 62 condominiums, 32 townhomes and five manufactured homes.