Brendan Connolly

Vancouver Real Estate: Westside, Eastside & Downtown

Residential Real Estate Consultant
RE/MAX Select Properties  604-833-8793

Brendan Connolly's posts

Westside, Downtown & East Vancouver real estate updates and tips for buyers, sellers & owners of residential property.

quote

Metro Vancouver property assessments

By

Property owners received their 2017 assessment notices the first week of January. In Metro Vancouver, increases of 30 to 50 per cent are typical for detached homes in Vancouver, the North Shore, Squamish, Burnaby, Tri-Cities, Richmond, and Surrey. Property owners with a significant increase received a warning assessment in early December 2016. Commercial and industrial properties will likely see increases in the 15-40% range, according to Jason Grant, regional assessor, … [Read more...] about Metro Vancouver property assessments

post

Why moving in the winter is actually awesome

By

It might seem counter-intuitive, but moving in the winter—from house-hunting to getting all your worldly belongings from point A to point B—can actually be easier, cheaper and more convenient than any other time of the year. Here’s why it pays to move during the colder months. It’s a buyer’s market Spring has always been considered the best time to put a house on the market; warmer weather inspires buyers to get out and hit the open house circuit, while gardens and outdoor areas tend to show … [Read more...] about Why moving in the winter is actually awesome

quote

A heated year for Metro Vancouver real estate draws to a close

By

VANCOUVER, BC – January 4, 2017 – The Metro Vancouver housing market had its third highest selling year on record in 2016, behind only 2015 and 2005. Sales of detached, attached and apartment properties in the region reached 39,943 in 2016, a 5.6 per cent decrease from the 42,326 sales recorded in 2015, and a 20.6 per cent increase over the 33,116 residential sales in 2014. [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njfK2hYuL8c[/embedyt] “It was an eventful year for real estate in Metro … [Read more...] about A heated year for Metro Vancouver real estate draws to a close

post

Features that date your home

By

Raise your hand if features in the interior of your home are a tribute to the 80s or 90s. Whether we care to admit it or not, many houses are dated with features and accessories that were popular 20 years ago. But when you put your home on the market, you want to put your best foot forward. If you are thinking about selling, there are some features of your home that can date it and make it less appealing to buyers. Learn what they are so you can ensure they are fixed before … [Read more...] about Features that date your home

post

Finding a family doctor in Vancouver

By

One of the great challenges people encounter when moving to Vancouver is finding a family doctor. You will probably find that your preferred GP is not accepting new patients because they are already so busy. This is a well known dilemma, which the province is taking steps to remedy. A GP For Me is a joint effort of the Government of BC and Doctors of BC as part of an integrated approach to provide primary health care services for all British Columbians. Meanwhile, here are a few … [Read more...] about Finding a family doctor in Vancouver

post

Fail-proof tips to sell your home

By

We’ve all heard the fresh baked cookies trick, but the truth of the matter is, potential buyers really are paying attention to things like the smell of your home. A few days before your open house, you should literally open your house. To really air out your home, you’ll need to do this for at least a couple of hours for a few days leading up to the open house. Burning a candle can be potentially off putting, depending on the scent you choose, but sprigs of fresh herbs, like lavender, basil or … [Read more...] about Fail-proof tips to sell your home

quote

Home sales and listings just below 10-year average

By

VANCOUVER, BC - December 2, 2016 - Home buyer and seller activity remains near historical averages in the Metro Vancouver housing market. Residential home sales in the region totalled 2,214 in November 2016, a decrease of 0.9 per cent from the 2,233 sales recorded in October 2016 and a decrease of 37.2 per cent compared to November 2015 when 3,524 homes sold. Last month’s sales were 7.6 per cent below the 10-year sales average for the month. “While 2016 has been anything but a normal year … [Read more...] about Home sales and listings just below 10-year average

post

7 ways to deter burglars while you’re on vacation

By

The airline tickets are booked, bags are packed and your family is finally about to head out on a much-anticipated vacation, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about home sweet home just yet. Take a bit of time to follow these tips to deter a potential break-in and avoid home heartbreak. Lighting Deterring a potential intruder can be as simple as flicking on a switch. Mimic your daily routine by putting the interior house lights on a timer, that way from the outside it looks like business as … [Read more...] about 7 ways to deter burglars while you’re on vacation

post

Crime stats in your ‘hood

By

Did you know that the Vancouver Police Department has an online, interactive GeoDASH Crime Map? Users can zone in on their neighbourhood and filter by offence including: Break and Enter Commercial Break and Enter Residential / Other Homicide Mischief (e.g. graffiti) Offence Against a Person Other Theft (e.g. personal item, bicycle) Theft from a Vehicle Theft of a Vehicle Choose the date range, including up to 4 weeks of data with a maximum of 1000 data points, and … [Read more...] about Crime stats in your ‘hood