Merry Christmas!

Drew and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers for the support, ideas, comments, and of course for the business you have sent our way this year. We are grateful for all of you.


There are plenty of activities to take part in at this part of the year. Band concerts, church nativity plays, carolling, theatre productions and office parties, to name a few. Here are a few photos that I have taken over the past couple of weeks.

The nativity presentation at Christmas on Baker St.

Also from Christmas on Baker, the animals are always a popular attraction.

The acapella voices of Glacier Harmonies choral group.

As students complete their fall term, many are in the midst of writing exams before the Christmas break. I thought this bit of humour was appropriate for this time of year:

Philosophy Chair*

An eccentric philosophy professor gave a one question final exam after a semester dealing with a broad array of topics.
The class was already seated and ready to go when the professor picked up his chair, plopped it on his desk and wrote on the board:
"Using everything we have learned this semester, prove that this chair does not exist."
Fingers flew, erasers erased, notebooks were filled in furious fashion. Some students wrote over 30 pages in one hour attempting to refute the existence of the chair. One member of the class however, was up and finished in less than a minute.
Weeks later when the grades were posted, the rest of the group wondered how he could have gotten an A when he had barely written anything at all.
His answer consisted of two words: "What chair?"
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*

Some parts of our region get minimal amounts of sunlight at this time of the year. A couple of weeks ago I was driving along Lakeside Drive, across from the Nelson airport. The sun had set in the city, but I caught a glimpse of sunlight out on the North Shore. My camera was in the back seat, so I snapped this photo. Within a minute, the sun was gone.

Subject: POLAR BEAR ATTACK!

These pictures are of an actual polar bear attack in Churchill, Manitoba. They were taken while people watched seemingly humored, and did absolutely nothing to ward off or stop the attack!Reports from the local newspaper however say ; the victim is expected to make a full recovery.

This is certainly not for the squeamish......

Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?

Located in the Uphill area of Nelson, a convenient walk to downtown on a quiet corner lot, this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home is priced to move in this market. Check out further details at: RED Full Public (K) Acres then call us for a viewing. $349,000.

We've been hearing a lot of negative news about our economic situation, which has certainly impacted the stock market and many real estate markets around the world, including Nelson's. However, we need to know that there is much positive happening around us, too. The Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association put out this information and it was passed on to me by a local mortgage broker (thanks, Warren):

Nine reasons Canadian banks will come out ahead

- By law, shares of large, publicly traded banks and insurance companies must be “widely held” which in effect prevents domestic mergers or foreign take-over’s unless supported by the federal finance minster;
- Canadian banks were the 1st in the world to adopt new risk-management rules under Base1 and 11 capital framework
- Canadian Bank Act requires mortgage default insurance on loans there equity is less than 20%
- Canadian mortgage payments in arrears in July 2008 were running at historic lows…less than 1/3 of 1%....about 1/6 of what the US experienced in the depths of its 1990’s housing slump
- Canadian banks approvals of “non prime” mortgages runs at about 5% v the US at 23% inn 2008
- In Canada the Office of Superintendant of Financial Institutions oversees both commercial and investment banking, in the US only commercial banking has been regulated to the same degree
- No US bank has branches in all 50 states v all 5 major Canadian banks have branches in all 10 provinces thereby diversifying the risk geographically
- Canadian Office of Superintendant of Financial Institutions requires chartered banks maintain a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 7%, in the US the minimum is 6%;
- In the latest quarter, the actual rate Tier 1 capital ratio for Canadian banks was 9.8%...63% above the required minimum

Positive News & Information

- The loony’s recent tumble serves up a 20% (+/-) advantage for Americans buying Canadian real estate.
- Average home sale prices in 2002 were $250,000 and $453,000 in 2008, a mere 81% increase. Even with a BCREA forecast of $413,000 in 2009, the appreciation since 2002 would be just 65% over 7 years.
- Oct 7 2008 IMF predicts Canada will lead the G7 countries in growth at 1.2% in 2009.
- Canada has 18 domestic banks, the US has 8000.
- Oct 9 2008 Prestigious World Economic Forum declares Canada has the soundest banking system in the world out of 134 countries, US ranked 44th.
- There are an estimated 2 million lakes in Canada covering approximately 7.6% of Canada's land area. Canada has more fresh water lake area than any other country in the world.
- 30-9-08 BC’s Employment rate is 95.4%, text book perfect!
- 30-9-08 BC’s Consumer Price Index is 1.9%
- Residential building permits in BC for 2002 were $2.8 billion, and finished 2007 at $8.6 billion, a 271% increase, and 2002 was a great year!
- BC Commercial building permits in 2002 were $1.1 billion and for 2007 $2.6 billion.
- YVR Airport Authority generated a profit of 21% in 2007 and its airport is ranked as one of the best airports in the world.
- YVR Airport Services now provides services in airports in 7 countries handling over 49 million passengers annually, and generates a double digit profit.
- GE costs will drop 28% in 2009, yielding its most significant competitive pricing advantage ever.
- OPEC decided to cut production by 2%, the largest single decline in over 8 years, 8 years ago was when the healthy economic conditions began.
- Thursday November 20, the price of oil is approximately 34% of its peak price of $147/bbl in June, 2008.
- BC now has the lowest provincial personal tax rate of any province in Canada. Provincial corporate tax rates are 1/3 less today than in 2001.
- Provincial government investment in education has grown 30% in the past 7 years, and investment in health care has risen 60% in the same period.
- Today BC has 33000 more university seats than in 2001.
- Out of all Canadian provinces, BC is least dependant on the US market.
- Mining drilling rights sold in BC this year in the first 6 months of 2008 doubled the previous ANNUAL record.
- Technology employment in BC is growing faster than in any other sector in the province.
- 2010 - The largest television audience in history! Three billion people will watch the Vancouver Whistler Winter Olympics in 2010.
- A new RBC study conducted during the market turmoil in October finds Canadians overall have intentions to purchase a home in the next two years remain steady at 22 per cent and have not changed since January 2008. As well, renovation intentions are slightly higher than last year – up four percentage points as
70 per cent of respondents are planning to renovate or make home improvements in the next two years.

“Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful”….Warren Buffet’s principal investment strategy.

Threat of global recession to hinder home sales
in major Canadian housing markets in 2008 and 2009, says RE/MAX

Recovery linked to economic stability next year

Global economic uncertainty weighed heavily on residential real estate activity in most major Canadian centres during the latter half of 2008. Although the forecast for 2009 promises more of the same, most markets are expected to weather the storm, says RE/MAX.

Housing market performance will clearly be contingent on economic performance at a local, provincial, and national level in 2009. Issues affecting the overall economy are impacting housing markets across the country and the situation is not expected to be remedied until consumer confidence is restored. If inventory levels remain stable, pent-up demand kicks into gear, and lower interest rates stimulate home-buying activity, we could see a bounce back as early as spring.

The RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook for 2009 examined residential real estate trends in 22 markets across the country and found that average price held up remarkably well in 2008, despite 13 centres reporting double-digit declines in home sales. Solid gains earlier in the year likely served to prop-up housing values at year-end. The prognosis for housing activity in the first six to nine months of 2009 is somewhat static, given continued volatility in financial markets and the threat of recession, but as stability returns, housing markets are expected to recover.

Nationally, 440,000 homes are expected to change hands in 2008, down 15 per cent from record 2007 levels. Canadian housing values are expected to hover at $300,000, a nominal three per cent decline from last year’s historic peak. By year-end 2009, unit sales should match 2008 levels, while average price is forecast to fall another two per cent to $293,000.

Major markets are evenly split in terms of housing performance in 2009, with 11 centres forecast to match or exceed 2008 home sales and 11 expected to slide from 2008 levels. The highest percentage increase in unit sales is anticipated in Saskatoon, where the number of homes sold is forecast to climb three per cent in 2009. Housing values are expected to hold the line in 2009, with St. John’s, Montreal, Kingston, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Regina posting modest gains in average price in 2009.

Canada’s real estate environment is considerably more complex than it has been in recent years. The landscape is definitely changing -- with most markets shifting into either balanced or buyer’s territory. The shut out is over. Sellers no longer rule the roost. Opportunities exist for purchasers like never before, including lower interest rates, greater inventory levels, the luxury of time to make decisions, and the upper-hand at the negotiating table. Motivated vendors will need to take note of the new mindset and set their prices accordingly.

Canadian sellers are slowly adjusting to new realities. For most markets, 2008 started in balanced territory and moved into buyer’s market conditions during the latter half of 2008. The year ahead will prove challenging, especially for vendors.

While the economy will dictate real estate performance next year, it’s important to remember that demand still exists in the marketplace. In the midst of stock market turmoil, sold signs continue to appear on lawns across the country. With affordable lending rates and increased selection, first-time and move-up buyers with good credit may choose to play their investment strategy safe and purchase a home. The comfort of a tangible investment like real estate goes a long way in tough times.

###

RE/MAX of Western Canada (1998) Inc. Housing Market Outlook 2009 Report, issued December 3, 2008.

*You're No Longer A Kid When...* You're No Longer A Kid When...

- Driving a car doesn't always sound like fun.

- You have friends who have kids.

- You are taller than the slide at the McDonald's playland.

- Your parents' jokes are now funny.

- Naps are good.

- When things go wrong, you can't just yell, "Do-over!"

- You WANT clothes for Christmas.

- You look in the surveillance camera monitor at the convenience store, wonder who that guy is standing at the counter with the bald spot, and then realize it is a shot of you from behind.

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh .

That wraps things up for another month, and indeed, another year! Thanks for reading and, once again, best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Lorne & Drew

Lorne & Drew Have News For You - November '08

Have you noticed this logo attached to our yard signs? Do you know what it means?

In Canada, RE/MAX continues to be a strong corporate contributor to the Children's Miracle Network - $3.5 million in 2006. With funds contributed by national sponsors like RE/MAX, the affiliated hospitals are able to provide needed medical care and equipment for more than two million Canadian children every year.
RE/MAX of Western Canada affiliates raise funds through community involvement such as the annual Children's Miracle Network broadcast, pancake breakfasts, golf tournaments, ride-a-thons, walk-a-thons and a myriad of other events. But the cornerstone of our involvement is the Miracle Home® Program whereby the sales associate pledges a contribution derived from each transaction involving a RE/MAX Miracle Home®. 100% of their contribution helps sick children from their community.
RE/MAX chose the Children's Miracle Network as its international charity because ...
The Mission Statement of the Children's Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization, is to "Generate funds and awareness programs for the benefit of children served by its associated hospitals". An outstanding cause!
RE/MAX lists and sells homes with the very families whose children have been served, or may one day be served, by a Children's Miracle Network hospital. One out of ten children will be treated at a Children's Miracle Network hospital by the age of 18.

Lorne takes a break beside one of the support vehicles on the annual Okanagan "Spokes for Kids" ride held in June. This year we raised over $40,000. for the B. C. Children's Hospital.

Last month I mentioned that we were in the middle of a bunch of elections, here in our country and south of the border. Well, as of last Saturday, the current batch of elections is now over, though here in British Columbia we will have a provincial election next May. The most recent vote was for our municipal government and school board.

In the city, Mayor John Dooley was returned for a second term with just over 50% of the votes cast. He was running against 3 aspirants for the position, 1 of whom had been a city councillor for the past 9 years.

6 city councillors were elected from the 7 candidates who placed their hats in the ring. 2 newcomers were elected and 4 are returning council members. The 4 women who were running topped the polls, with Deb Kozak, Margaret Stacey, Donna Macdonald and Kim Charlesworth, followed by Robin Cherbo and Bob Adams.

At the school board level, incumbents Bill Maschlesko and Rob Wright were returned to office, turning aside the challenge from 2 new contenders.

I think it is important to recognize the commitment of these people who serve our community and to thank all those who ran for their community spirit and dedication. This can often be a very thankless task, so I admire all who are willing to take it on.

You have to think that winter can't be far off when you see gorgeous photos like this. Drew and I were on our way to Kaslo last week and this is taken from the viewpoint just south of Mirror Lake.

Last Tuesday was Remembrance Day in Nelson. Dorothy and I attended the services at the Nelson cenotaph. It was a rainy morning, yet about 900 people turned out to pay their respects and to remember those who have served our country, and those who are still serving, particularly in Afghanistan.

I should have taken a photo of the event, although it probably would only have shown a sea of umbrellas! Nevertheless, to see and hear the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band marching, along with the veterans, legion members, police, firefighters, sea and air cadets, scouts, guides, cubs and brownies is a fine sight.

The poppy symbol of Remembrance Day is apparently distinctly Canadian. A few years ago we traveled to Spokane on this day and everyone commented that we "must be Canadians, because we were wearing poppies". Also, we were in Australia on this date 3 years ago, and they do not have a holiday on Nov. 11th. They do have a separate date for remembrance, known as ANZAC Day, commemorating the sacrifice of service-people from Australia and New Zealand.

This link is to another Realtor's web-site in the Victoria area. She sent it out to me around Remembrance Day, regarding the legacy of John McRae, who wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields". http://www.cherylyoung.ca/rememberance_day_2008.html

You know that I have mentioned that my eldest grand-daughter started kindergarten this year. With that in mind, I thought this was an appropriate piece:

Subject: Fwd: Fw: Shirley and Marcy

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.He didn't want his mother to walk with him.She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.So she had an idea of how to handle it.She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in themornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week. As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following usto school all week? Do you know her?' Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.' The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'' That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.' 'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? ''Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you,and give you peace. May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.

The above piece also came to me from another Realtor -- Thanks, Ferne!

Did you know that Prince Charles turned 60 last week? He'll be beyond retirement age before he gets the job he's been training for! For some reason, I remember quite well the celebration when he turned 21 -- and it doesn't seem like it was nearly 40 years ago! That was the summer (1969) that I spent 5 weeks in England and Scotland. I should see if I can find a photo of myself from back then -- on second thought, maybe that's not a good idea. I was kind of a geeky looking teen. (Please, no comments from any who are reading this who have known me that long.) Also, belated birthday greetings to my good friend Dave who is just 5 years younger than Prince Charles.

Comments Made in the Year 1955! That's only 53 years ago!

'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00.'

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000. 00 will only buy a used one.'

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.

'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?'

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.'

'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.'

'Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls.'

'I'm a fraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL of DAMN in it.'

'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas ..'

'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.'

'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.'

'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.'

'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.'

'Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.'

'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.'

'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.'

'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.'

'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.'

'No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day in the hospital it's too rich for my blood.'

'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.'

If you know any friends who would get a kick out of these, pass this on! Be sure and send it to your kids and grandkids too...

Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?

3 bedroom, 2 storey + unfinished basement on large lot, fenced with parking area. Freshly painted and carpeted, this home is in a convenient location, within walking distance of most city amenities. For further details, please check out: Full Public (K) - Acres Priced at $299,000.

*Garage Wow* There was a knock at the door. It was a small boy, about six years old. Something of his had found its way into my garage, he said, and he wanted it back. Upon opening the garage door, I noticed two additions: a baseball and a broken window sporting a baseball-sized hole. "How do you suppose this ball got in here?" I asked the boy. Taking one look at the ball, one look at the window, and one look at me, the boy exclaimed, "Wow! I must have thrown it right through that hole!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

I notice that the price of gasoline is back under $1.00 (That's for a litre, not a gallon). It seems to me that Nelson is one of the last places to lower prices -- even Kaslo and Salmo see price reductions before we do. Does anyone have an explanation for this? Why are we paying 7 cents a litre more than the Okanagan? While this bothers me, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. It costs much less to fill up today than it did back in the summer.

*Bank Enunciation* Fresh from a visit to the dentist, I decided to stop at my bank. Barely able to enunciate, I told the teller, "I'm sorry about not speaking more clearly. I've had Novocaine." "You should have used the drive-through," she said. "Why?" "Everyone who goes through sounds like you," she explained.

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

'IN CASE OF EMERGENCY .... ICE'

Lorne's note: I asked a paramedic about this, and he said that it is not yet happening in Canada, but he thought it was a good idea. I have updated my cell directory to include this.

We carry our cell phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but few people know which numbers belong to closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our cell phone but not know who to call. Yes, there are many numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency.

Hence, this In Case of Emergency "ICE" Campaign .

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are now carried by so many people, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name of "ICE" (In Case of Emergency). The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always cell phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel & Hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply entering ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc. A great idea that will make a difference. Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our cell phones today; it could really save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

Well, it's getting near winter. Next month is Christmas, and I keep wondering where the time goes. I got my Christmas lights up on my home last weekend. I like to get this job done before there is snow on the ground, though I don't usually turn them on until December 1st. This year, like most year's something goes wrong during the process. This year I couldn't find all my extension cords for the lawn ornaments. I'm beginning to think that they grow legs during the year and walk away! We'll get that solved within the next week or so, and I will probably have a photo for next month's newsletter.

That's it for now. Thank you for reading. As always your comments, suggestions and interesting articles or links are always welcome.

Lorne & Drew

October

This shot was taken out at Rosebud Lake, between Salmo and the U.S. border.

You Just Can't Beat the Fall Colours!

Naturally, this year some of the colours we've been seeing are elections signs. That is all over as of last night. There is no change in our local riding, and no new tenant moving into 24 Sussex Drive, but we are hopeful that the new mandate that the Conservative Party received yesterday will add some stability to our financial markets and more confidence into the economy in general.

Well, I guess I should clarify about the election being "all over". While we're done with the federal election, there are municipal elections happening in one month's time. Locally, we have 4 people running for the mayor's chair and 7 people running for 6 city council seats. There are 2 new people seeking a seat at the council table, but one of the current councillors is vying for the mayor's position. Finally, there are 4 people running for 2 school board positions in the city.

Of course, many of us up here in Canada are keeping an eye on the U.S. election race as well. That one has less than 3 weeks to go.

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs


There was a man who lived by the side of the road and he sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he read no newspapers.

But he sold good hot dogs.

He put signs on the highway telling how good they were. He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog, mister!”

And people bought.

He increased his meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out.

But then something happened.

His son said, “Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio? Haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The domestic situation is in terrible shape. The economic situation is worse.”

Whereupon the father thought, “Well, my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and listens to the radio, he ought to know”

So the father cut down on his meat and buns orders, took down the advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand on the highway to sell his hot dogs.

And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight. “You are right son,” the father said to the boy. “We sure are in the middle of a great depression.”

Author Unknown
Food for thought!

Anecdotally, it seems that the Realtors in our office are busier now than they have been for much of this year. That's certainly true for Drew and I. I used the term anecdotally, because it is too early to be reflected in any statistics yet.

However, as is my practice, I will bring you some statistical information this month, as I do each quarter.

In Nelson last month there were 6 sales of residential homes. In September, 2007 there were exactly double that number. Year to date there have been 68 sales, with an average sale price of $361,029. A year ago there had been 122 sales with an average price of $325,729.

In the Nelson Rural area (combining single family homes and homes on acreages) there were 10 sales in September, 2008 compared with 12 in 2007. The average price for those homes in 2008 was $351,890 ($384,400 average in 2007). I don't think we can say there has been a decrease in price in the rural area this year -- it's just that last year there were more sales of homes with acreages than there have been this year, and homes on acreages tend to sell for more money than homes on a standard lot size. This year to date there have been 92 sales in the rural area, compared to 125 up to September 30, 2007.

So, while prices are holding up fairly well, the number of sales is definitely off.

If you are interested in further details on property statistics (e.g. vacant land, manufactured homes, recreational property), just send me an e-mail and I'll get the figures out to you.

Subject: Fw: Five Lessons

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.'Absolutely,' said the professor. 'In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.'I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the RainOne night, at 11:3 0 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. Aspecial note was attached...It read:'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away.. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.'Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.The little boy again counted his coins.'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down thetable. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed theKing for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticeda purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. Thepeasant learned what many of us never understand!Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...Many years ago , when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.He looked up at the doctor and asked with atrembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away'.Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her but he had chosen to save her anyway.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

*Free Will* A young couple came into the church office to fill out a pre-marriage questionnaire form. The young man, who had never talked to a pastor before, was quite nervous and the pastor tried to put him at ease. When they came to the question, "Are you entering this marriage of your own free will?" there was a long pause. Finally, the girl looked over at the apprehensive young man and said, "Put down yes."

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.crosswalkmail.com/xwsczzsa_npohphdzbh.html

Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?

This delightful 4 bedroom, 2 bath home is located in the Uphill area of Nelson on a view lot, with an incredibly private and beautifully landscaped rear yard. Convenient location that is within walking distance to downtown, all levels of schooling, hospital and recreational trail. $465,000. For further details and photos, check out: RED Full Public (K) Acres

Daylight Savings Time

For quite a few years we changed our clocks back one hour before the end of October. Last year it was decided to move that date into November. So, remember that when you go to bed on Saturday, November 1st to move your clocks back. You'll enjoy an extra hour's sleep that night and it will be lighter in the morning, although the darkness will, of course, come an hour earlier in the evening. Also, please remember to change the batteries in your smoke detector at that time.

Inner Strength

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy
to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never
correct her/him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then You Are Probably The Family Dog....

So, that's it for another month. Your feedback is always welcome. If at any time, or for any reason, you would prefer not to receive this monthly link, just send me an e-mail and I will remove your name from the recipient list. Of course, we are always too happy to assist with any real estate needs you or your friends & acquaintances may have.

Lorne & Drew

September, 2008 - Lorne & Drew Have News For You!

What is traditionally referred to as "Indian Summer" is turning out to be the best time of the year!

Technically, Indian Summer is not supposed to be here until we have had a frost. So far, in Nelson at least, there has been no frost. I was traveling further north last week, and some of the fall colours there were looking very spectacular. It gave me a preview of what to expect here in a few more weeks.

While there, we had the opportunity to visit an old fashioned threshing bee at a nearby farm. Here you see the horse-drawn trailer full of grain, being off-loaded onto a conveyor that will separate the seed grain from the straw. The grain goes into the white bin, while the straw is blown onto the large pile at the right. The whole thing is driven by a series of pulleys, driven by the old tractor on the left side of the photo, while Dorothy and I and are son, Dave (in the hat) look on.

Of course, a ride on the hay wagon would be in order!

Now, moving south and across the border into Alberta at the Crowsnest Pass, my eldest granddaughter has started kindergarten. The reports we are getting tell us that the best part of the day is the ride on the School Bus!

We will be going to the polls in another month, to elect a new federal government. The month after that is the municipal elections. I will tell you that I am not convinced of the need for a federal election. I'm also not impressed with the level of campaign mud-slinging that has begun. It seems to me that we would have a better system of government if we had some sort of proportional voting system, such as was proposed and very narrowly defeated in the last provincial election. However, we need to realize that we live in one of the best countries in the world and the stability that we enjoy should not be taken for granted. We have a variety of candidates to choose from and we need to exercise our right to choose when we have that opportunity. So, get out and vote when the time comes. (Vote early and vote often?!?!?)

Isn't it amazing what you can see in downtown Nelson? This was taken about 6:30 a.m. about 10 days ago. I was about to set off on a 2 day ride (more on that later) when they were setting up for the "Show & Shine" portion of the Queen City Cruise.

There was a lot going on that weekend in Nelson. Aside from the "Cruise", there was the annual motorcycle toy run, the Hill Garlic Festival (now held in New Denver because it has outgrown the available space at Hills) and the bicycle ride that I have been involved with called P.A.G.E. (Pedal Around a Glacier, Eh). This was the 14th year that our church has sponsored this event.

We had 54 riders register this year, shown here with some of our support crew.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the migration of the kokanee (land-locked sockeye salmon) into the spawning channels at this time of year.

On the 2nd day of the ride, we leave New Denver early in the morning and ride up the Silverton Hill, and then on through the Slocan Valley and back into Nelson. It's a 224 kilometre round trip. This next photo is a spectacular view from the lookout at the top of Silverton Hill.

I just don't get tired of this view.

*Market Conditions* The stockbroker's secretary answered his phone one morning. "I'm sorry," she said, "Mr. Bradford's on another line." "This is Mr. Ingram's office," the caller said. "We'd like to know if he's bullish or bearish right now." "He's talking to his wife," the secretary replied. "Right now I'd say he's sheepish." *Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Did you know that today is National Talk Like A Pirate Today. Honest! I heard it on CBC Radio this morning. Aye, Matey.

With that news I must tell you my favourite pirate joke:

Where do pirates like to go to eat?

ARRRBY's!

If you are looking for some political punch line or jokes about the government, this isn’t it.

Someone is masquerading as the government. Scamming people out of personal information. Go to Canada revenue agency web site below

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/lrts/2008/l080818-eng.html

then click on the ‘PDF version of the letter’ link to see a copy of the letter.

You may not have fallen for it, but I can see how many would have.

Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?

3 bedrooms, 3 baths in an executive condominium development in Uphill Nelson. Double garage, gas fireplace, hard wood floors and a terrific view. Asking price $435,000 For further details, please check out:

REA Full Public

The Washington Post Mensa Invitational asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's winners. Read them carefully. Each is an artificial word with only one letter altered from a real word. Some are terrifically innovative:

1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people, that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The Bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

4. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

5. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

6. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

7. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

8. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

9. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

11. Glibido: All talk and no action

12. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

13. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

14. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out .

15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

And, the pick of the lot... 16. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an @$$hole.

BCREA News Release - Fewer Homes Being Added to the Market

Vancouver, BC – September 12, 2008. British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 49 per cent to $2.2 billion in August, compared to August 2007. Residential unit sales were down 47 per cent to 5,175 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $421,685, down 4.1 per cent from August 2007.

“Fewer home sales and larger inventories have tilted most BC housing markets in favour of homebuyers,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “However, a significant decline in new listings last month may be a signal that potential home sellers are now taking a wait and see approach.”

New MLS® residential listings in August fell 22 per cent from July on a seasonally adjusted basis, the second largest month-over-month decline in 25 years.

Compared to July, nearly 2,000 fewer active MLS® residential listings were available in the province, a decline of 3 per cent. “Home seller fatigue is now a possibility, as slower demand and competition among sellers lessen the chance of a timely sale,” added Muir.

Year-to-date MLS® residential sales dollar volume in the province declined 22 per cent to $25.4 billion compared to the same period last year. Transactions declined 27 per cent to 54,635 units, while the average residential price increased 7 per cent to $465,132 over the same period.

Lorne's comments on the above article: We have not seen large price reductions on our listings. The number of sale transactions is definitely down, however it seems that our sellers are not in a panic situation where they are forced to sell within a short time. This is different from the U.S. where there are a lot of properties under foreclosure, and there is very real selling pressure, forcing homeowners to reduce their prices, sometimes drastically, or risk losing their homes. In Canada the situation is not nearly as serious. We do need to remember, though, that the real estate market is cyclical, and always has been. While we have more properties available on the market today than we have seen in the past 4 or 5 years, this is not an unusual situation when looked at in the long term. More recently we have, in fact, experienced a shortage of available properties being marketed, and this has caused the large price increases that have occurred over that time.

*Late Night Studying* My husband, Cal, grew increasingly displeased as our teenage daughter and her boyfriend studied in her room late one evening. Finally losing patience shortly after midnight, he knocked sharply on her door. Her boyfriend immediately opened it and asked if something was wrong. "I have to ask you to move your car," Cal told him. "Oh, sure. Is it in someone's way?" "No," Cal replied, "it's at the wrong address." *Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh



That will do for another month. Thank you for reading. Your comments are always welcome. Enjoy these last few days of summer.

Lorne & Drew

Lorne & Drew have news for you - August 2008

I hope you’re enjoying a great summer. I must confess that mine has been difficult. This has nothing to do with the slow-down in the real estate market, but rather a personal issue that has impacted me. I have added a tribute to our daughter-in-law who passed away on August 13th after a brief battle with cancer. This has devastated our family, but we are grateful that she did not have to suffer for an extended time, and proud of the courage that she showed and for her testimony which touched so many people. She was a woman of great faith and we will see her again one day.

Last month I mentioned a cousin who had inspired me to go to the blog format for this newsletter, and I gave a link to her site. http://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/ I am doing that again this month, particularly to thank her for the posting she had on her site last week:

"Cancer is so limited

......it cannot cripple love

...it cannot shatter hope

...it cannot corrode faith

...it cannot eat away at peace

...it cannot destroy confidence

...it cannot kill friendship

...it cannot shut out memories

...it cannot reduce eternal life

...it cannot quench the spirit

...it cannot lessen the power of the resurrection!

On the July 1st weekend we met with extended family in Oliver for the weekend. A daughter-in-law of our cousin was not able to join us, as she was hospitalized for an infection that weekend. As it turned out, the 'infection' was a rapidly growing cancer. Six weeks later, she has gone on to her eternal home. Tomorrow the Westnedge family will be 'laying to rest' a wonderful lady who was part of their family for such a short time. They are hurting deeply, but know first-hand the limitations of cancer...

Melissa has experienced the power of the resurrection.
Our thought and prayers are with the family!"

Thanks, Judy.

Now, on to other things!

Five years ago, it was the height of the fire season, and the devastation that occurred in the Kelowna and Barriere communities. This year we have had similar conditions, but the results have been far different. While we were in Kelowna there were several "good" thunder and lightning storms, and some fires were sparked. However, the response of the crews was very quick and helicopters were dispatched to douse the affected areas right away. We actually watched this happen from the home we were staying in last week (but I did not have my camera handy when this occurred). We've had some rain the past couple of days, but the forests are still really dry, so be careful if you are out there.

TODAY'S CLEAN LAUGH

*Job Search Jargon*

Whether you are a student looking for that first time or summer job or a long-time veteran looking for a change of pace, this JOB SEARCH JARGON should help you get on your way...

COMPETITIVE SALARY: We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors. FLEXIBLE HOURS: Work 55 hours; get paid for 37.5.

GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Management communicates, you listen and figure out what they want you to do.

ABILITY TO HANDLE A HEAVY WORKLOAD: You whine, you're fired.

CAREER-MINDED: We expect that you will want to flip hamburgers until you are 70.

SELF-MOTIVATED: Management won't answer questions.

SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED: Some time each night and some time each weekend.

DUTIES WILL VARY: Anyone in the office can boss you around.

COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT: We have a lot of turnover.

SALES POSITION REQUIRING MOTIVATED SELF-STARTER: We're not going to supply you with leads; there's no base salary; you'll wait 30 days for your first commission check.

CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE: We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up; well, a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.

SOME PUBLIC RELATIONS REQUIRED: If we're in trouble, you'll go on TV and get us out of it.

SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE: You'll need it to replace three people who just left.

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST: You're walking into a company in perpetual chaos.

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

O.K. - That was a decent funny -- now here's something more serious. The West Kootenay area is not known for earthquakes, although I keep hearing about a fault line along the bottom of Kootenay Lake. However, it may be relevant to you, either where you are living, or while you are traveling:

EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE: 'TRIANGLE OF LIFE'
My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the
American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced
rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.
I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams
from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a
member of many rescue teams from many countries.
I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I
have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for
simultaneous disasters.
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City
during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child
was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by
lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and
I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time
know that the children were told to hide under something.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings
falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a
space or void next to them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'.
The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the
object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that
the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next
time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you
see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see,
in a collapsed building.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE
are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position.
You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive
in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will
compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during
an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake.
If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created.
Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick
buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but
less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply
roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a
much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back
of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom
of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out
the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to
a sofa, or large chair.
6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is
killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the door jamb falls forward or
backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways
you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of
frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the building).
The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each
other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get
on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly
mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the
stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the
stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake , they may collapse later when
overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety,
even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible
- It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than
the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the
building the greater the probability that your escape route will be
blocked.
9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls
in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened
with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of
the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were
all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or
lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had
been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the
crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had
columns fall directly across them.
10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices
and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact.
Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
Spread the word and save someone's life... The entire world is
experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!
'We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly'
In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be
correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul , University of
Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific
test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten
mannequins did 'duck and cover, ' and ten mannequins I used in my
'triangle of life' survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we
crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the
results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under
directly observable, scientific conditions , relevant to building collapse, showed
there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck
and cover.
There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using
my method of the 'triangle of life.'

Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this! Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helpin g you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

If you can read this - thank a teacher!

Do You Know A Buyer For Any Of These Properties:

O.K., so maybe this is cheating a little bit. However, Drew and I have quite a number of listings in all price ranges, so we thought we'd give you a peak at all of them this month. Just click on the following link for our homes:

RED Full Public (K) Acres

or this link for condominiums:

REA Full Public w/o Heading

finally, you can check out our land listings here:

LND Full Public

*Lobster Pets** After a day fishing in the ocean a fisherman is walking from the pier carrying two lobsters in a bucket. He is approached by the Game Warden who asks him for his fishing license. The fisherman says to the warden, "I did not catch these lobsters, they are my pets. Everyday I come down to the water and whistle and these lobster jump out and I take them for a walk only to return them at the end of the day." The warden, not believing him, reminds him that it is illegal to fish without a license. The fisherman turns to the warden and says, "If you don't believe me then watch," as he throws the lobsters back into the water. The warden says, "Now whistle to your lobsters and show me that they will come out of the water." The fisherman turns to the warden and says, "What lobsters?"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.crosswalkmail.com/idckckax_sbcobohdxo.html

KREB MEDIA REALEASE

2008 Mid Year numbers resemble “Buyers Market”.

Nelson, BC July 11, 2008 – Midway through 2008, the year in real estate resembles a “buyers market”. A buyers market can be categorized as a real estate market where the inventory of available properties for sale surpasses the needs of the number of available buyers. Signs of a buyers market include an increase in the number of days it takes it takes to sell a property, a decrease in the average home price of real estate, and an increase in the overall inventory of available properties.

Kootenay Real Estate President Andrew Smith says “The real estate market in the Kootenay’s are generally in a “buyers market” state with inventories of active listings on the MLS® increasing 71% over active MLS® listings to the end of June 2007. The market situation that is out of sync with a “buyers market” is the total general average price per unit increase of 16%. Some markets are seeing a decline in average price per unit, but generally, values are holding and statistically are increasing in spite of high inventory levels and a decline in MLS® unit sales.”

MLS® Dollar Volume of all sales processed through the Kootenay Real Estate Board Year to Date to the end of June 2008 are sitting at $439,081,617, a decline of 24% over the same reporting period last year.

Kootenay Real Estate Board President Andrew Smith further says: “REALTORS® in the Kootenay’s expected that the real estate markets would slow in 2008 given the records set in 2007. 2008 is shaping up to be the year the markets take a rest from the unprecedented price gains of the last few years and in general, it’s healthy for markets to pause and cycle. The statistics are showing that even with the declines, values are staying strong. That should give consumers confidence we aren’t experiencing the same type of a decline as the US real estate market and that the value of their real estate is still strong.”

MLS® Unit Sales in June 2008 declined 37% from amounts reported in June 2007. MLS® Sales year to date to the end of June 2008 show a decline of 34% over MLS® sales to the end of June 2007.

The price of the average residential detached house sold on the Multiple Listing Service® in June 2008 rose by 7% to $334,303 compared to June of 2007. Year to Date comparisons to the end of June 2008 saw values increase to $321,419, an average increase of 15% over the same reporting period last year.

Kootenay Real Estate Board MLS® statistics for 2008 year to date show residential detached housing listings up 21% over the same period in 2007 with MLS® unit sales for detached residential housing showing a decline of 37% over amounts reported last year.

Overall, the number of MLS® listings in 2008 year to date to the end of June increased 27% over the same period in 2007, with overall MLS® unit sales down 34% over the same period in 2007.
When asked to comment on what residents of the Kootenays should expect for their real estate markets in for the remainder of 2008 President Andrew Smith had this to say:

“From an MLS® unit sales perspective we are seeing performance at about 2004 levels. The unexpected factor this year so far are the average price per MLS® unit sale increases. Not all ends of the market are seeing increases, but the common trend is that real estate continues to be an appreciating asset.”

Lorne's added note to the above information: People are commenting to me that they are seeing a lot of "For Sale" signs around the area. While it is true that the number of available properties is up, we are getting back to what used to be "normal" market, before the huge increase in number of sales and sale prices that we have experienced in the past 3 years. This seems to be happening in many parts of our province, and indeed in other parts of Canada as well. While the principles of supply and demand will have an impact on our market, we are not seeing a lot of decreases in prices and sales are still occurring, so the market has not gone "flat".

Are you interested in going bike riding with our group in two weeks? September 6 & 7 is our annual P.A.G.E. (Pedal Around a Glacier, Eh?) ride from Nelson to Kaslo, then over to New Denver where we spend the night. Day 2 brings us back to Nelson through the Slocan Valley, along Highway 6. If you are interested, send me a quick e-mail and I'll make sure you get a registration form. Next month I will expect to have a photo or two to add to this newsletter.

A couple more photos from my garden in the past month:

Sorry, I can't tell you what kind of flower this is.

But this is an Easter Lilly (Yes, I know it's August!)

*Zoo Trip* Little Johnny wanted to go to the zoo and pestered his parents for days. Finally his mother talked his reluctant father into taking him. "So how was it?" his mother asked when they returned home. "Great," Little Johnny replied. "Did you and your father have a good time?" asked his mother. "Yeah, Daddy especially liked it," exclaimed Little Johnny excitedly, "especially when one of the animals came home at 30 to 1!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Enough of this fun! Thanks for reading. As always, your comments are more than welcome. If you, or any of the wonderful people you come into contact with, are looking to buy or sell real estate, we hope you will recommend us.

Lorne & Drew