Monthly Archives: March 2009

A Cool Animation That Visualizes the Credit Crisis of 2008-2009 by Jonathan Jarvis

Posted on March 30, 2009 by mike
The Currency Crisis Explained in Animation! By Mike Stewart
View in HD  Download 720p HD Version  Visit Mike Stewart’s ExposureRoom Videos Page

I saw this great animation about the Credit Crisis and I thought I’d share it. Its by Jonathan Jarvis as part of his thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

What do you think?

Posted in: For Buyers, For Sellers
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

When will Vancouver Real Estate Prices Hit Bottom? Beware of Those Telling you its Happening as its Happening!

Posted on March 26, 2009 by mike

Hi All,

Pretty much everyday someone asks me when prices in the Vancouver real estate market will hit bottom and everyday I say I don’t know.

I say I don’t know, because I don’t have a crystal ball and can’t see the future and as I licensed Realtor I can be liable if people take a hit relying on my predictions.

There are people out there who are saying they KNOW when the prices will hit bottom and they can tell when prices are bottoming as they are hitting bottom. Don’t trust these people!

What happens if prices stabilise and a bottom is called and then prices fall again? Nobody can accurately predict a market bottom and don’t trust those who say they can.

The market bottom can only accurately ascertained with 100% certainty AFTER it has been hit.

In making your decisions about buying or selling real estate and timing your transactions, do your own research. Read widely and speak to a variety of people with different viewpoints. Don’t rely on those who have simple answers that are too easy.

If something is too good to be true, more than likely it isn’t true.

Please leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Posted in: For Buyers, For Sellers
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
23 Comments

Homelessness in Vancouver and Real Estate

Posted on March 24, 2009 by mike
Vancouver Real Estate and Homelessness by Mike Stewart By Mike Stewart
View in HD Download 720p Version Visit Mike Stewart’s ExposureRoom Videos Page

Homelessness is huge in Downtown Vancouver and is caused by a lack of funding for social housing and facilities/treatment for the addicted and the mentally ill. Changes in building codes and slum clearance have also reduced the stock of affordable housing in Vancouver over the last 40 years.

It is possible to make homelessness disappear in Vancouver.

To do this we need to spend money. We need to increase funding for the mentally ill and addicted and create or rehabilitate facilities house and treat these people.

People are not homeless choice. Most of the hardcore homeless have serious addiction and mental illness issues and would have been institutionalised in years gone by.

These people cannot look after themselves let alone properly house or feed themselves. Governments along with NGO’s and charitable bodies should be given resources to house and treat these people. This would be a great way to spend some of the stimulus money supposedly coming out of Ottawa and Victoria

Homelessness isn’t cheap either. Hard core addicts need to feed their habit which can cost hundreds of dollars a day. Vancouver has recently been ranked the break-in capital of North America with per capita break ins higher than New York or Detroit.

Reduced policing costs, insurance costs, and security costs can go a long way to offset the increased costs of housing and treating the homeless.

Wikipedia has a great article on homelessness in Canada that will provide great context to this post.

Please leave a comment and have your say!

Posted in: For Buyers, For Sellers
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
7 Comments

Always get a Home Inspection by A Qualified Registered Home Inspector when you buy Real Estate in Vancouver

Posted on March 18, 2009 by mike
Building Inspections by Mike Stewart Vancouver Realtor By Mike Stewart
View in HD  Download 720p HD Version  Visit Mike Stewart’s ExposureRoom Videos Page

Hi All,

If you’re going to buy property in Vancouver ALWAYS GET A BUILDING INSPECTION BY A REGISTERED AND QUALIFIED BUILDING INSPECTOR!

Don’t use you Dad’s buddy who used to be a plumber in the 70′s, don’t use your brother-in-law who’s into tools! Hire a professional, its the best cheapest insurance you can get when buying property in Vancouver.

Important Facts about Home Inspectors:

- All Home Inspectors in BC have to be licensed and insured as of March 31 2009. Make sure the person you are working with is licensed and insured by calling the BPCPA Inquiry Centre Toll Free: 1-888-564-9963

- A Home Inspection should cost you between $350-500 and should take about 2-4 hours to complete.

- For condos a Home Inspector should check the suite and the entire building. Within the suite, the Inspector should check the plumbing, the electrical system, the walls, the windows, the flooring, and pretty much everything that is not furniture and personal belongings. Many inspectors DO NOT check appliances. The Home Inspector should check the roof, the building envelope, the parking garage, the lobby, the amenities, the mechanical rooms and any other areas they have access to.

- For houses a Home Inspector should check the roof, the attic, the exterior cladding, the plumbing, the electrical system, the walls, the windows, the flooring, and pretty much everything that is not furniture and personal belongings. Many inspectors DO NOT check appliances.

- Check out the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors site to learn more about Home Inspectors and what they do.

If you have any questions about Home Inspectors feel free to drop me a line!

Here are some Home Inspectors I like:

Charlie Perkins with Cornerstone Building Inspections 6046186870

Douville Building Inspections 6046264887

James Dobney 6049428272

Posted in: For Buyers
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
6 Comments