How to begin a springtime newsletter - new signs of life all around us in the plants and trees, in the attitude of people you meet on the street and even in the real estate market. A little later on, I'll have some statistical information on the first quarter of 2009 (and it is not encouraging), but since the snow has gone the phone has been ringing steadily, and we are anticipating an increase in sales activity.

I say "anticipating" because, in this business, you can only truly see the changes in hindsight. I regularly tell people that before we get "productive" we have to get "busy" and we are in a busy period. This is good!

Before I forget, I need to ask you to do something. At least, if you are a member of Nelson & District Credit Union, this applies to you. Next week the credit union members have an opportunity to participate in the process of electing a director to the Credit Union board. I am one of the candidates. The other party contesting this seat is also a current director and well qualified for the position. Unfortunately, there is only one seat available. All adult members of the Nelson & District Credit Union may vote at any of the three branches, next Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday during office hours. Obviously, I am running to win this election, but the important thing is that members make a choice. Too often the turnout for these elections is very low, so I would encourage you to take the time to participate by voting for the candidate of your choice. You can see the candidate profiles in the credit union's newsletter at: http://www.nelsoncu.com/newsletters/newsletter_2009-03-02.pdf Thank you!

Besides, it will get you back into the mood for voting, since there is a provincial election coming up next month!


Golf courses throughout our area are now open. In my opinion, one of the most spectacular courses (both for challenging play and for scenery) is the Kokanee Springs Golf Course at Crawford Bay (across the Kootenay Lake ferry). Drew and I were on the East Shore yesterday looking at properties, and we found this view, which I had to share with you:

Do you know what is common with both the Easter

Eggs you buy at the grocery store this time of

year and the "nest eggs" that many have set aside

for vacations, retirement, and college funds?

They are both much, much smaller than they were

at this time last year!

I regularly receive information from various lending sources on the changing conditions for obtaining a mortgage. Here is a comparison between "cash back" and "zero down payment" options:

Differences between Cash Back and Free Down Payment

a) Common to both types are fixed rate, medium term mortgages, usually 5 and 7 year terms

b) Common also are both types are offered at regular bank posted rates, no discounted rates, buyers must qualify at these posted rates.

c) Common to both types is a claw back provision that if the buyer sells or refinances during the term, a pro rated portion of the down payment or cash back is required to be paid back.

d) Free down payment mortgages have the down payment sent directly to buyer's notary or solicitor by the bank, by the completion date.

e) Cash Back mortgages have the cash back proceeds sent to the buyer within a short time AFTER completion date, therefore cannot be used for the down payment. Buyer(s) can use the cash back for any purpose, moving etc.

f) Free down payment mortgages are only available for owner-occupied buyers, whereas Cash Back mortgages can be for a 2nd. home, rentals, etc.

*Flower Oil*

When I go to a local discount store to get oil and filters for my car, I buy my wife a bouquet of flowers on display near the checkout counter.

During one trip, some women in line behind me were oohing and aahing about a husband getting flowers for his wife. "How often do you do that?" one asked.

Before I could answer, the cashier, more than familiar with my routine, said, "Every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first."

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

Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?

This "castle" is brand new and sits on 18.5 private acres above Slocan Lake, near Silverton. Ideal as a hobby farm, or for a horse ranch, it is a truly unique property. We are pleased to offer it at $1,500,000.
See further details on our web-site at: http://nelsonrealestate.com/mylistings.html#8751-HIGHWAY-6-Highway-New-Denver-Area-mylistings-8018877.property

As many of you know, one of my passions in life in bicycling. It's not only great exercise, it is a form of relaxation for me. I have, in the past, done an annual ride as a fund-raiser for a significant cause. This year is no exception. On the 20th and 21st of June I will be riding 250 km. from Vancouver to Seattle. This is to raise funds for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. I am riding in memory of my daughter-in-law, Melissa, who passed away from this dreadful disease last August. She was 32 years old. If you are able and willing, you can support me with a pledge to the B.C. Cancer Foundation through their web-site at: http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2009?px=1868339&pg=personal&fr_id=1281 If you prefer not to donate on-line, there is a pledge form on that site that you may print off and send in along with your contribution. I thank you in advance for your support!

This photo was taken last year at the conclusion of our Okanagan ride.

*Kid Wisdom*

When your dad is mad and asks you, 'Do I look stupid?' Don't answer.

Never tell your Mom her diet's not working.

Stay away from prunes.

Don't pull Dad's finger when he tells you to.

Never let your three-year-old brother in the same room as your school assignment.

If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.

Felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.

Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat.

When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your Mom when she's on the phone.

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

Statistics for Sales Volume in Nelson:

For the first 3 months of 2009, sales have been slow, but they typically are in the first quarter of a year. In 2009 the Kootenay Real Estate board shows 14 sales of single family homes, at an average price of just over $392,500. Last year, for the same period there were 19 sales, with an average price of $340,000. Although the average price is higher, with a small number of sales, this is a mis-leading figure, as one or two large dollar sales can skew the averages. In my opinion, the prices have dropped by 10 - 12% in the city.

Rural Nelson area:

In the surrounding area, combining single family homes and homes on acreage, there have been 15 sales thus far in 2009 (25 sales in the first quarter of 2008) with an average price of $400,000 ($322,888 in 2008). Again, the average price is mis-leading, and as I look a little more closely, it seems that rural single family homes last year showed that the least expensive homes offered were the ones that were selling, whereas this year it is a more balanced area of the market, although fewer homes are selling, they are spread over a wider price range.

If you would like more detailed statistical information, or data on other areas within the Kootenay region, please don't hesitate to ask me.

Lovers of the English language might enjoy this. It is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language. Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. (But then, that's probably true of many languages.)

There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.

At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this up is confusing:
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UPabout UP !

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now ........my time is UP , so time to shut UP!

Oh...one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U P

Now I'll shut up

Seriously, it's time to go, and I thank you for reading to the end. If we can help with any of your real estate needs, please don't hesitate to ask us. When you are discussing real estate with your family, friends or colleagues, we always appreciate if our names are mentioned.

Thank you!

Lorne & Drew