Real Estate

West Vancouver BC Tour!

Haven’t posted a video in a while…please excuse the shabby-ness.

West Vancouver is a suburb of Vancouver located just 10 minutes from the Downtown core, across from the Lions Gate Bridge. The city spans from the bridge (which I see as the border of West Vancouver and North Vancouver) all the way to the Coast, and continues for a short while up north.

With very little commercial zoning and zero industrial zoning, West Vancouver is a primarily residential city. As a result the city is very quiet, and there is even a by-law prohibiting business to stay open for 24 hours a day (the 7-Eleven in Ambleside closes up for an hour).

Most of the shopping in West Vancouver is located on Marine Drive, a main thoroughfare which runs just a couple of streets up from the beaches. There are also small restaurants, ice cream shops and retail stores on Bellevue Avenue, just a block south of Marine Drive.

West Vancouver is home to the most popular beach on the North Shore, Ambleside Beach, as well as Dundurave Beach. They are both very family friendly sandy beaches, with children’s playgrounds available as well as fishing at the pier. Ambleside Beach also offers a par 3 golf course and a dog park. The West Vancouver Centennial Seawall runs approximately 3 km between the two beaches, and offers fantastic views of Stanley Park and the Vancouver Westside.

Known as Canada’s most affluent city, West Vancouver, surrounded by mountains and the ocean, is one of the most desirable areas to live around Vancouver. The school district here is the best in the province; class sizes are smaller and the equipment is superior compared to other districts. Sentinel High School is West Vancouver’s French Immersion school.

Real Estate

Icon 2 building in Yaletown

Amy and Laura visit the Icon 2 building in Yaletown.

Icon 2 is definitely one of my favorite buildings in Yaletown so far. Unlike it’s sister building Icon 1, Icon 2 is a low-rise building with only 11 stories. This building is perfect for just about anyone who has a healthy social appetite and loves the outdoors; it’s located right on the Yaletown seawall in front of the northern shores of False Creek, next to the George Wainborn park and very close to David Lam park as well. It’s also only blocks away from Yaletown’s social district; which means, although most units come with parking, you won’t be in need of a car very often, which means you’re officially eco-friendly!

Icon 2 Low-down

Location: 633 Kinghorne Mews, Vancouver (Yaletown)
Year built: 2006
Architect: Peter Busby
Stories: 11
Units: 52

Features & Amenities

• “Club Oasis”
• 80 foot indoor pool
• Whirlpool
• Fully equipped fitness facility
• Shower facilities & steam room
• Lobby & lounge
• 24 hour concierge service
• Massage & spa room
• Hollywood style theatre
• Meeting room
• Billiards room
• Landscaped courtyard garden
• Multi-purpose room with kitchen

The Icon 2 amenities are shared with the Icon 1 building and also the Silver Sea building across Kinghorne.

For more information on units currently available in Icon 2, get in touch! Amy: 778 855 0841 or amy@vancouverpowersearch.com.

Real Estate

Tax Assessed Value vs Fair Market Value?

In just this past month, I’ve had 3 buyers tell me that they aren’t willing to pay much higher above what the tax assessed value of the property is. Reason? They all seem to be under the impression that tax assessed value equals what the price of the property should be.

It’s because of this misconception that some listing agents write things such as “priced under assessed value” etc in their marketing remarks, and in turn, partially because of those marketing remarks properties priced under assessed value have been deemed good deals. This is not necessarily true.

ASSESSED VALUE is a valuation placed on property by a public tax assessor (in BC it’s a provincial crown corporation called BC Assessment) for purposes of taxation. Tax authorities, for example the City of Vancouver, then apply their own tax rates to the assessments provided.

FAIR MARKET VALUE is the price that a knowledgable, willing and unpressured buyer is willing to pay to an owner who is willing and is under no obligation to sell their property. Prior to listing a property, the listing agent typically will pull up comparable properties that sold in the last 3-6 months, depending on what they find. They then guide the seller as to how to price their property. The agreed upon price between a buyer and seller effectively becomes the fair market value of that property. This is also why you should take a look at comparable sold listings prior to making an offer; it’s a great way to determine whether the subject property is priced accurately.

Have any questions? Feel free to reach me or my partner Laura at any time.

Amy Kizaki
Team Leader
Vancouver PowerSearch

778 855 0841 direct
604 209 3674 Laura direct
amy@vancouverpowersearch.com
laura@vancouverpowersearch.com

Real Estate

Coal Harbour Video Tour

Amy and Laura take you on a tour of one of Downtown Vancouver’s waterfront communities, Coal Harbour.

Coal Harbour is located on the southern shores of the Burrard Inlet and is home to one of Vancouver’s more prestigious marinas, Coal Harbour marina (which is also one of the two marinas that will accommodate larger boats with 330′ slips.

The boundaries of Coal Harbour are Georgia Street, Denman Street, Burrard Street, and the waterfront.  Here you will find condominium units in newer highrise buildings, many with fantastic views of the Burrard Inlet, North Shore Mountains, Stanley Park and the marina. Studios start right on the $300,000 mark, one bedrooms in the mid $300,000′s and two bedroom units start in the higher $500,000 range.

The seawall starts in Coal Harbour and trails along the edges of Stanley Park back to the West End community. The Downtown waterfront is home to the new green-built, state of the art convention centre, a close to $900 million dollar project which will be the meeting grounds for the 2010 Olympic staff. Trendy furniture boutiques, yacht sale broekrages and seafood-type restaurants also line the seawall.

Want to know more about Coal Harbour real estate or would like to see some listings? Call or email us. Amy or Laura at 778 855 0841 or 604 209 3674!

amy@vancouverpowersearch.com
laura@vancouverpowersearch.com

Real Estate

West End Video Tour!

The West End is, in my opinion, Vancouver’s in-city suburb. The West End is the only area you will find in Downtown Vancouver where detached residential homes exist on tree-lined streets. Homes in this area are older heritage homes, with many Craftsmen style homes (strating in the lower million dollar range) that have been converted to duplexes and triplexes. The rental rate is some of the highest in this community of the Downtown Vancouver area so for investors looking for small rental investments, the area is ideal.

Just blocks away from the neighborhood is one of the city’s most populous beaches, English Bay. The close-by commercial corridors, Robson, Denman and Davie are also a 5 minute walk from the residential area and thus makes it a great home for those who like a more quiet lifestyle without the hustle and bustle of Downtown Vancouver.

Condos here can be found starting in the higher $200,000′s and lower $300,000′s. Buildings here tend to be older as most of the highrises are developed closer to Coal Harbour, Yaletown and Downtown, and thus provide more space compared to the new construction units with some of them being in the 300 sqft’s.

Several locally owned eateries call the West End home, including several Sushi places, Greek places and Gelato shops. The area is quite ecclectic as well and funky boutiques are seen one after another. My recommendations for eats? Try Stepho’s Greek Taverna on Davie Street (expect a lineup, my trick is to order take-out to avoid them), Tanpopo’s on Denman for all you can eat sushi, or Samurai’s on Davie, a little hole-in-the-wall type place with AMAZING food!

For more information on West End real estate and Vancouver real estate, contact me directly at 778.855.0841 or email me at amy@vancouverpowersearch.com!