304 - 710 Lampson Street

MLS #394124

Listed at $320,000

OPEN HOUSE SAT JUNE 16TH & SUN JUNE 17TH, 2-4PM!

Wow! What a beautiful suite! This West facing condo, located on the quiet side of the bldg, has been lovingly and professionally transformed into a gorgeous, modern and finely finished wonderful place to live!

The suite itself compares to a new build without the higher costs or GST! Attention to detail! The list is expansive, but includes: beautiful new kitchen w/ SS appliances, Shaker cupboards & soft close drawers, double sink, subway tile, quartz countertops & kitchen bar: high end laminate flrs; electric fireplace; all new light fixtures; freshly painted, crown moulding, coved corners on walls, solid new room doors, high end Asian style sliding closet doors, updated electrical & more!

Bonus: Large enclosed balcony w/ screens gives the suite almost 1,000 sq. ft. of living space! Parking & extra storage! Free laundry in bldg.! Steps to Rockheight Park, bus routes and 10 minute walk to amenities! Just move in enjoy!

301-1485 Garnet Road

MLS #393873

Listed at $239,000

This bright, One Bedroom, top floor suite, with west-facing sunset views, offers a 2nd bedroom/study, as well as a skylight, full kitchen, & balcony overlooking the landscaped courtyard!

301 also features an open concept living/dining/kitchen area, large master, walk-in shower with seats & grab bars, & in-suite storage. This 55+ Strata offers a shared lounge/dining room, guest suite, 24 hour staffing/security, free laundry (next door to 301!); activity room, & First Alert Service. The monthly strata & service fees provide for a daily, professionally cooked and served 4 course dinner, weekly housekeeping, 24 hour staffing, and all building amenities & maintenance.

Service fee (additional to strata fee) is $340/month. for singles & $555/month for couples. Rose Bank Gardens is tucked into a quiet, beautifully landscaped urban oasis only a short walk to Nellie McClung Library, grocery stores, medical offices, and University Heights Mall.

Price Pressure Continues on Lower-Priced Housing in the Capital Regional District

June 1, 2018  A total of 755 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this May, 25 per cent fewer than the 1,006   properties sold in May of last year, and a 2.5 per cent decrease from April 2018. The sales of condominiums were down 17.4 per cent from last year in May with 237 units sold. Sales of single family homes were down 23 per cent from 2017 with 406 sold this May.

"It's no surprise that our current market is very different than it was last year," says Victoria Real Estate Board President Kyle Kerr. "Due to recent changes in mortgage qualification rules, many buyers' purchasing power has been reduced. Unfortunately, in our area we have one third fewer single family homes for sale under $750,000 when compared to last year, so we're seeing pressure from increased competition on a smaller number of homes, which is really pushing the under million dollar market. We have a much larger inventory of higher value homes this year. For listings priced at $1.5 million and above, the number of active listings is almost 50% higher than last year at this time.  Arguably, many of these properties may be listed due to new and incoming taxes from the provincial government. The Foreign Buyer Property Transfer Tax, the Speculation Tax, and the increased School Tax are putting pressure on those high value home owners. Unfortunately, these taxes are not resulting in what the government said it intends - to increase the availability of affordable housing."

There were a total of 2,394 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service® at the end of May 2018, an increase of 19.6 per cent compared to the month of April and 26.3 per cent more than the 1,896 active listings for sale at the end of May 2017.

"We're in an interesting time here - we are seeing different levels of price pressure and price relief in micro-climates of our area," adds President Kerr. "You may find more flexibility if you are shopping for a multi-million dollar estate in certain areas. You may be in for a competition if you're shopping for a lower priced home or condominium. If you're thinking of buying or selling, it's a good idea to meet with a local REALTOR® to understand how the current environment will affect you."

The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in May 2017 was $820,800, while the benchmark value for the same home in May 2018 increased by 7 per cent to $878,100, higher than April's value of $866,700. The MLS® HPI benchmark value for a condominium in the Victoria Core area in May 2017 was $426,900, while the benchmark value for the same condominium in May 2018 increased by 15.7 per cent to $493,900, slightly lower than April's value of $495,100.

About the Victoria Real Estate Board - Founded in 1921, the Victoria Real Estate Board is a key player in the development of standards and innovative programs to enhance the professionalism of REALTORS®. The Victoria Real Estate Board represents 1,362 local Realtors. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, connect with your local Realtor for detailed information on the Victoria and area housing market.

For further information, please contact us

Rosemarie Colterman PREC*
Homeward Bound Real Estate Team
250-592-4422
info@homeward.team

2723 Gibson Place

MLS #392036

Listed at $394,900

Own this beautifully situated & affordable home in the heart of Shawnigan Lake!

Only a block from the community beach and steps to the village! A comparable commute to the Western Communities on the widened Hwy 1 and it's NOT strata! Enjoy lake views from the expansive, recently renewed, deck.

Love the new counters, cabinets, skylights, & cedar ceilings in the kitchen/dining room. Relax to lake views from the large living room. Appreciate the completely renovated bathroom; heat pump; 200 amp service; redone wiring and plumbing; two car garage; separate work shed; and extra-capacity septic system.

A perfect first home and/or summer getaway! And, as lovely as this home is, this lot & septic system will accommodate a much larger house!

4416 Torquay Drive

MLS#391351

Listed at $749,900

Gordon Head Family Home! First time on the market since 1979, this home has lovingly raised a family in it and now is ready for a new one! This 1972 Westcoast Style home has 3 bedrooms up & 1+ down.

The gorgeous west facing views of Mt Doug and surrounding yards are great to look at from many rooms in the home, including in front of the kitchen sink and from the upper BBQ deck. So wonderful! Spacious Living room with wood fireplace and a rare equally spacious dining room with glass sliding door onto the BBQ deck!

New thermal windows & glass sliding door on main level. Downstairs another living room/family room with gas fireplace & kitchen, bedroom, hobby room, workshop & 3 piece bath room. There is a separate entrance to basement from the greenhouse area. Gas furnace! Huge west facing landscaped backyard!

Located in the sought after upper Torquay Drive area, across from the school this home is close to recreation, parks, schools including UVIC & amenities!

756 Middleton Street

MLS#391260

Listed at $849,000

This premier home, with gorgeous features & updates, boasts a rare 2 car garage in the neighborhood!

Sitting on a 10,000+ sq. ft. lot, this beauty should not be overlooked! Modern open concept living on main with cedar vaulted ceilings & natural light from the several skylights & bay windows throughout home. Kitchen offers new gas range/oven, maple cupboards, custom maple eating bar & adjoining private deck for year round BBQing!

Upscale renovation in 1996 gives the home a large Master with walk in closet & sumptuous ensuite with 2-person soaker tub & walk-in shower; 2nd bed with bonus walk in closet & ensuite; & the double garage. Recent updates include: new gas furnace, new hot water tank & new Leveler blinds! New cedar fence encloses large private patio and landscaped backyard.

Stroll this quiet, tucked-away street to parks, Gorge waterway, wooded paths, & Tillicum Mall; just a 10 minute drive to town!

Yesterday evening I, along with three wonderful women from the WWBN, (Westshore Women’s Business Networking Group), Linda Ferguson, Claudia Fitzsimmons & Juhli Selby attended the 2018 Victoria Community Leadership Awards.

This award gala event was held at “Government House”. Twenty worthy people in our Victoria community received awards for their leadership efforts in a variety of important ways. I was touched by the work & commitment of these recipients.

The newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, Janet Austin gave a wonderful address to the recipients. The four of us attended this event because our dear friend and leader of the WWBN, Deb Alcadinho, was receiving one of these awards and we wanted to be there to support her.

Yay to Deb, who is so deserving of this award! Deb’s tireless work with the WWBN and business coaching has positively affected the lives of many women. Her leadership brings out the best in all of us!

#307-1485 Garnet Road

MLS#390459

Listed at $269,000

This home-feeling 1023 sqft, bright, beautiful suite on the South West corner of the top floor offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a skylight, south & east facing windows, & a south side balcony overlooking gardens and trees! 307 also features an open concept living/dining/kitchen area, full kitchen, master with ensuite & walk-in closet, in-suite storage, and a 2nd bedroom\study with cathedral window. This 55+ Strata offers a shared lounge/dining room, guest suite, 24 hour staffing/security, free laundry (just across the hall from 307!); activity room & First Alert Service. The monthly strata & service fees provide for a daily, professionally cooked and served 4 course dinner, weekly housekeeping, 24 hour staffing, and all building amenities & maintenance. (Services are $340/month for singles & $555/month for couples) Rose Bank Gardens is tucked into a quiet, beautifully landscaped urban oasis only a short walk to Nellie McClung Library, grocery stores, medical offices, and University Heights Mall.