Anyway, this is a new format (for me) and you are welcome to post your responses or make comments to me.
I've had this idea rolling around for a few months, and knew that I had to make a change. The impetus for that change however, came during a family reunion on the July 1st weekend. Dorothy's family gathered at Oliver (the cherries are ripe!). Some camped, some stayed in a motel and we got together, shared stories, meals, and updated the family tree.
This photo was taken at the family reunion and shows our "branch" of the family tree, consisting of our (Dorothy's) family and her brother's family (the 4 people on the right side of the photo).
During this time I learned that Dorothy's cousin has been posting a blog for some time, about her life on a farm. I checked it out, then talked to her about it. Here is a link to her site, if you are interested in seeing what can be done: http://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/
Evidently, I can improve on my delivery!
Statistical Stuff
There have been 46 sales in the City of Nelson in the first 1/2 of 2008. 10 of these sales were for homes listed above $400,000 and 9 of those 10 sold for over $400,000. The tenth one sold in the high 300's.There were 4 sales between $400,000 and $500,000, 1 between $500 & $600, 2 between $600 & $700, 1 between $700 & $800 and 1 sale above $800,000. None of these are waterfront homes.
If we look at the average price for a home, it has come in at nearly $369,000 for 2008 year to date. This is up from $317,923 last year, a 16% increase. However, it is not accurate to say that our housing market has increased by 16% in the past year. The increase is largely due to the number of sales in the higher end categories that draw the average up to that level.
By the way, in 2007, there were 76 sales in the first 1/2 of the year within the city. This is a decrease of nearly 40% in the number of sales.
For Rural Nelson the statistics are similar. There have been 33 sales in 2008, compared to 52 in the first half of 2007 (a decrease of 34%). The average price however, is showing an increase of 32% (from $355,925 in 2007 to $470,812 this year). In my opinion the reason for this is not increased prices (at least not to that extent), but rather a change in the format of the information I am receiving. Previously waterfront properties were listed as a separate category, but this seems to not be the case any longer, so the waterfront homes are added in to the others, and that is driving up the average price.
Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?
This is an executive quality home located in Nelson with a commanding view, large lot, quality finishing and updates, double garage, outstanding media centre, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, landscaped. This home is a dream to show. 2 fireplaces, sunken living room, double garage, workshop, wrap-around deck & more. For further details check out: http://mlslink.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1526955397&s=BRC&t=BRC
$789,000
TODAY'S CLEAN LAUGH *Pillar Interruption* The Sunday School teacher described how Lot's wife looked back at Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. Suddenly Jimmy interrupted. "My mom looked back once while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
If you need a good laugh, try reading through these children's science exam answers
Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? (brilliant, love this!)
A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.
Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.
Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery
Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? ( e.g., abdomen)
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.
Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.
Q: What does 'varicose' mean? (I do love this one...)
A: Nearby.
Q: Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarian Section.'
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome
Q: What does the word 'benign' mean?'
A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.
As you likely know, most of this information is put together by Lorne, often from e-mails that are sent to us, from the real estate board statistical reports, newspaper articles and various joke sources. However, we wanted to let you know that Drew is an active partner in this venture. Here is Drew with his dad and his 2 sons fishing at Summit Lake (near Nakusp) last week. Yes, despite all the fun we have selling real estate, we do take time to spend with our families!
Kids Are Quick
TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________
TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
________________________________
TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.
________________________________
TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________
TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________
TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with 'I.'
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet. _________________________________
TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand. ______________________________________
TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
_______________________________________
TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________
TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher
(Hmmm . . . . I'm not sure I should have included that last one!)
Ottawa Revamps Mortgage Rules
KEVIN CARMICHAEL
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
OTTAWA — The federal government, fearful of a U.S.-style housing bubble, has pledged steps aimed at keeping riskier borrowers in their rental units and away from homes they probably can't afford.
Canada's housing agency will no longer be allowed to guarantee loans with amortization periods longer than 35 years, a move that likely will end the surge in 40-year mortgages, popular because they allowed borrowers to reduce their monthly payments.
Prime Ministers Stephen Harper's Conservative government said Wednesday Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. will also require a minimum down payment of 5 per cent to get government insurance.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney both expressed concern about the surge in 40-year mortgages over the past year, suggesting the loans were feeding a bubble.
The U.S. housing market collapsed last fall amid record defaults by homeowners who got loans during a period of easy credit at the start of the decade. U.S. officials say their housing problems continue to persist, and many economists say the market's woes have driven the world's largest economy into recession.
“Today's announcement marks a responsible and measured approach by the government to ensure Canada's housing market remains strong and to reduce the risk of a U.S.-style housing bubble developing in Canada,” the Finance Department said in a news release.
The government also said borrowers will require a minimum credit score of 620 to qualify for a CMHC insured mortgage, and that it will demand stronger documentary evidence that borrowers can pay their loans.
The changes take effect Oct. 15 with few exceptions, Finance said in the release.
Economists at Scotia Capital in Toronto said the measures would have a limited impact on Canada's economy, which has gotten a boost from record home buying.
“The changes are more about optics, in comparison to a fairly modest impact upon the economy, housing markets or financial markets,” Derek Holt and Karen Cordes wrote in a note to clients.
Currently, home buyers can get a CMHC-backed mortgage – even one with an amortization period of four decades – with no money down. Such “financial innovation” only came to the market toward the end of 2006, and the “marketplace has been quick to adopt these innovations,” Finance said in a background document explaining the changes.
Still, the government sought to play down the impact of its housing measures on home buyers, while emphasizing that the growth in Canada's housing market is more boom than bubble.
By way of example, the Finance Department said reducing the amortization period to 35 years from 40 years on a loan of $200,000 at 6 per cent interest would result in a $41 increase in the borrower's monthly payment. That borrower would save $49,000 in interest payments over the life of the loan, Finance said.
The department took pains to note that the International Monetary Fund concurs with the government that the surge in Canadian house prices and building is explained by low interest rates, rising incomes and a growing population.
The government said it expects construction of new homes to remain at an annual pace of 200,000 new units for a seventh straight year in 2008, and that bank mortgages in arrears are stable at 0.27 per cent, near the lowest levels since 1990.
© The Globe and Mail
One of the big events of Nelson's history has come to an end. For 63 years curlers have come to Nelson at the beginning of July for the mid-summer bonspiel. It was always a great time of celebration, renewal of friendships, and some great curling. In recent years, however, the interest had waned, and a couple of years ago the organizing committee determined that 2008 would be the final year. For the finale 120 rinks were registered, and though it was rather sad, a good time was had by the participants. When I moved to Nelson, over 30 years ago, this was a huge event in the summer schedule, with a huge parade down Baker Street, and campers lined up side by side in the old Civic Centre field.
Another event that is becoming a tradition is the annual bicycle ride around Kokanee Glacier. This ride is known as P.A.G.E. (Pedal Around a Glacier, Eh!) and this September will be the 14th year that this has happened. It is a 2 day ride, of around 220 km. total, riding from Nelson to Kaslo (lunch stop) then over to New Denver, where we spend the night. Day 2 returns to Nelson along Highway 6, through the Slocan Valley. Food and snacks, rest stops and encouragement are all provided. If you would like to be part of this ride, you can download an application form at: http://firstbaptist.kics.bc.ca/PAGE5.html You can also read the accounts of some of the previous rides.
We'll leave you with a final shot from the mid-summer curling bonspiel, taken last Saturday morning. A couple of hard-working sweepers and the sign reading "Thanks for the Memories". Thanks to all the community volunteers who have helped organize this event for so many years.
Thanks, too, to you for reading to the end. Your feedback is always appreciated. You may respond with your comments if you would like to. If, for any reason you would prefer not to receive a link to this blog each month, just send us a quick e-mail and we will remove your e-mail address from our recipient list.
Lorne & Drew
