Here’s why!

- WE OFFER A HOME SELLING GUARANTEE!

- EXCLUSIVE TOP NOTCH MARKETING PLAN, BOTH WEB & PRINT

- 24/7 MARKET EXPOSURE

- OPTIMIZED INTERNET STRATEGY

- LOWEST MORTGAGE RATES

- Sales of detached, townhouse and condo properties have increased 44.8% in the last year!

- Greater Vancouver average property prices have increased 16.2% in the last year!

- Interest rates are the lowest they’ve been in years!

- Sales of apartment properties in December 2009 increased 176.7% compared to sales in 2008!

Call James Today! 604.315.3300 or james@jamesgarbutt.com

We have just sold two more properties in Cade Crossing. 1108 & 1110 Cawthra Ct were sold because of their exquisite finishings, prime location and great price! Only 3 fabulous homes remaining, if you’d like to see any of theses outstanding properties, call James Garbutt @ 604-315-3300. Our show home at 2753 Dewdney Trunk Rd, has an open house most weekends 2-4pm!

After the recent sale of 2755 Dewdney Trunk Road, only 3 stunning Cade Crossing homes are left to buy!

Prices Reduced 20% Off Original Pricing!!
- ONLY 3 Homes Remaining!!
- Range from 3730 – 3782 sq.ft.
- Priced from $699,900 - $749,900
- 2 Bedroom Legal Basement Suites Available

Outstanding Value!! Cade Crossing a collection of 8 New Homes inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. These homes are the best Value for new construction in Coquitlam. Starting at $699,900 these homes have outstanding value with premium finishing options included.  All homes can include a 2 bedroom legal basement suite, which is a great mortgage helper! Centrally located close to Coquitlam Center, Westcoast Express and major transportation routes.  These homes are Built Green & Power Smart. Completed showhome available for viewing.

Come and have a look for yourself! Open house most weekends, 2-4pm, call James for more info @ 604-315-3300

A contemporary, art deco inspired, concrete tower coming soon to Victoria Hill, New Westminster’s renowned master-planned community. Discover the expansive views, oversized balconies and high-end finishings of this landmark residence - the latest edition to this growing neighbourhood.

Architecture:

• Inspired by modern Art Deco style
• 27 floors of solid, reinforced concrete with glass exterior walls using the latest principles of envelope design
• Oversized fresh air balconies with breathtaking river and park views allow for true outdoor living
• Designed to respect the natural, sloping topography and preserve all the heritage landscaping

Interiors:

• Two tastefully designed colour schemes – Dusk or Dawn
• Premium bevel-edge, single plank laminate flooring in Italian Chestnut or African Walnut
• Berber-style, trackless carpeting in bedrooms
• Over height 8′8″ ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glazed windows
• Horizontal 1″ venetian blinds on all exterior windows
• Whirlpool front loading, high efficiency stacking washer and dryer
• State-of-the-art, energy efficient electric fireplace with contemporary wood mantel top
• Contemporary flat paneled swing doors on all closets
• Convenient wire shelving in all closets
• Decorative baseboards and coordinated door mouldings
• Contemporary ceiling lights installed in bedrooms
• Multiple connections for cable, telephone and high speed internet

Kitchens:

• Chocolate Hazelnut or Cherry coloured natural grained laminate cabinetry with brushed stainless pulls
• Over height upper cabinets with convenient pantry-style shelving (in most homes)
• Solid imported granite slab countertops, some with breakfast bar overhang
• Undermounted, extra deep double bowl stainless steel sink with in-sink waste disposal
• Contemporary single-lever faucet with pull down spray
• Full height contemporary matte white ceramic tile backsplash
• High-end, stainless steel Whirlpool appliance package including:
  • 22 cu. ft. Energy Star Whirlpool Gold bottom-freezer refrigerator with electronic controls and an ice maker
  • 5-level Energy Star tall tub dishwasher
  • Slide-in gas range with 4 sealed gas burners and self cleaning oven
  • 1.7 cu. ft. microwave with built-in 3-speed hood fan
• Matte finish, oversized imported 12″ x 24″ ceramic floor tile
• Warm track lighting and ambient pendant lighting

Bathrooms:

• Chocolate Hazelnut or Cherry natural grained laminate cabinetry with roll out storage and brushed stainless pulls
• Soaker tub and/or glass enclosed shower with single lever, pressure balanced shower control
• Granite countertops with undermounted sink and modern chrome faucet
• Over height 12″ x 18″ tub and shower tile surround
• Hand set 12″ x 24″ floor tile
• Coordinated polished chrome accessories
• Polished vanity edge mirrors in all bathrooms
• Contemporary bathroom vanity lighting

On-site Amenities:

• Two fully furnished designer guest suites
• Impressive outdoor cascading water feature inspired by Art Deco style
• McBride Boulevard pedestrian overpass connecting Carlyle residents directly with Queens Park
• Private elevated terrace with expansive lawn
• Games room and lounge with kitchen, perfect for entertaining
• Professionally-equipped fitness studio with outdoor terrace
• Fully-equipped media room
• Strata meeting room
• Picturesque landscaping including more than 40 acres of dedicated green space at Victoria Hill as well as numerous species of old-growth trees connected by an extensive pedestrian trail network

Peace of Mind:

• On-site building manager
• Convenient and secure wireless building entry access
• Lobby entrance enterphone with surveillance cameras
• Secure mail room with key-fob entrance
• Well-lit underground parking with controlled access gate and ample visitor parking
• 2 high speed elevators with floor specific access
• Solid wood suite entry doors complete with secure, satin nickel anodized lock set and peephole
• Homes pre-wired for in-suite security system
• Fire protection sprinkler systems in all homes and common areas
• All homes backed by a 2-5-10 year home warranty. Offering 2 year in home coverage, 5 year water penetration coverage and 10 year structural coverage all for your peace of mind

If you are interested in the Carlyle or have any other real estate buying or selling questions, don’t hesitate to contact James Garbutt, 604-315-3300 or james@jamesgarbutt.com

Savour modern luxury with a heritage twist at the Whittaker, the newest member of the Victoria Hill community in New Westminster, BC. Capturing the old-world craftsmanship and quality of its heritage neighbour the Boiler House, the Whittaker offers luxurious low-rise living in a tranquil park-like setting.

Exteriors:

• Unique architectural elements complementing the Art Deco features of the Boiler House
• Innovative & durable fiber cement siding with board-and-batten and stylish brick accents
• Protective Rainscreen technology and umbrella architecture featuring oversized roof lines
• Drop off area and outdoor plaza with decorative paving stones and landscaping
• Oversized windows that permit an abundance of natural light into the homes
• Weather-engineered windows that incorporate a concealed air barrier technology contributing to superior Rainscreen performance
• Oversized balconies or patios in all homes, some with river or park views

Interiors:

• Two traditionally-styled colour schemes including Wenge “Columbia” and Light Cherry “Royal”
• Overheight 9 foot ceilings, with vaulted ceilings in areas of some 4th floor homes
• 12 x 24 inch hand set tile in the entry, kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and closet
• Premium bevel-edged single plank laminate flooring in Burmese Teak or African Walnut in the living and dining areas
• Premium trackless, stain resistant berber-styled carpeting in all bedrooms
• Mirrored closet doors in some bedrooms
• Convenient wire shelving in all closets
• Contemporary ceiling lights installed in all bedrooms
• Decorative baseboards & coordinated door mouldings
• Horizontal Venetian blinds on all exterior windows
• Energy efficient electric fireplace with realistic flame image, log set and ember bed
• Slender and elegant wood veneer mantle-top
• Whirlpool front-loading Energy Star washer and dryer

Kitchens:

• Granite countertops with convenient extended breakfast bar (in most homes)
• Four stainless steel Whirlpool appliances including;
  • 22 cu.ft. Energy Star bottom-freezer refrigerator with stainless steel handles
  • Electric slide-in range with ceramic glass Clean Top system
  • Energy Star tall tub dishwasher with sound reduction system
  • Built-in microwave/hood combo
• Rich Wenge or Light Cherry coloured natural grain laminate cabinetry with brushed stainless pulls
• 39 inch upper cabinets with at least 1 lazy susan per kitchen
• Undermount double bowl stainless steel sink with in-sink garburator
• Polished chrome faucet with convenient integrated pulldown sprayhead
• Full height matte or gloss white brick laid ceramic tile backsplash
• Warm track lighting in kitchen with ambient pendant fixtures above breakfast bar

Lavish Bathrooms:

• Soaker tub and/or glass enclosed shower with single lever, pressure balanced shower control
• Full height tile surround in all shower and shower/tub combos
• Granite countertops with sleek undermount sink an classic polished chrome faucet
• Elegant polished chrome accessories
• Polished edge vanity mirror in all bathrooms
• Matching designer cabinetry with convenient storage space

Your Peace of Mind:

• Convenient and secure wireless entry access
• Lobby and garage entrance enterphone with security camera and floor specific access
• Brightly painted and well-lit underground parking with controlled access security gate
• Protected underground guest parking
• Homes pre-wired for in-suite security system
• Secure satin nickel anodized lockset and peephole on all suite entry doors
• Fire protection sprinkler systems in all homes and common areas
• Private mail room with wireless entry access
• All homes backed by 2-5-10 National Home Warranty. Offering 2 year in-home coverage for workmanship and materials, 5 year water penetration coverage and 10 year structural coverage all for your peace of mind

Interested in seeing what Whittaker has to offer? Or if you have any other real estate buying or selling questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. James Garbutt, 604-315-3300, james@jamesgarbutt.com

In the past, many immigrants to Canada came by sea–often landing at Pier 21 in Halifax. Nowadays, as a new Canadian, you are more than likely to touch down at Vancouver International Airport after a journey of several hours rather than days or weeks. Either way, once on the ground, making a financial start has always been a tough route. Thankfully, today’s evolution of technology makes it easier to prove your creditworthiness in Canada, and to qualify for a mortgage in order to buy your first home here.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. has also produced The Newcomer’s Guide to Canadian Housing, which includes a section on what to consider when buying a home in Canada.
“One of the key things … is credit. You have to find some sort of credit history,” says Jim Rawson, regional manager of Invis mortgage brokerage firm in Toronto. “With the Internet, with easy access to information, we can now check credit from just about anywhere, so we can get credit histories much easier than we could in the past.”
As with any financial agreement, your credit status will determine how much you can borrow.
“There are different kinds of qualifications, depending on how long you’ve been here and depending on whether you have a job or not, whether you’re landed immigrants or here on work permits,” Mr. Rawson says. “But there are several lenders that have new-immigrant policies.”
Every country has its own customs and laws when it comes to home purchasing, and Canada is no different. Colleagues and friends can be a good source of recommendations for trusted accredited real estate agents, lawyers and mortgage brokers to guide you through the process. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. has also produced The Newcomer’s Guide to Canadian Housing, which includes a section on what to consider when buying a home in Canada — right from scoping out a location, to the documents required, to budgeting for the many expenses involved, and the process of making an offer.

If you’re looking for a home in Burnaby, New Westminter or Vancouver, please call or email me. I’m an expert in apartments, townhomes and apartments in the above areas. Let me help you with your real estate needs.

It is now time to pull out those favourite sweaters from the back of the closet and dust off those wool blankets, because cool, wintry days are just about upon us.

The autumn is also the right time to prepare your home for Old Man Winter.
With advice from some Lower Mainland experts, The Sun has compiled a number of fall “to do list” chores. Their advice will ensure you get your home ready for the cold weather ahead, avoid costly heating bills and even worse — possible expensive repair bills.
Roof and gutters:
The changing colours of the leaves are beautiful but once they die off, they can make a mess of your roof and gutters.
“As the leaves fall, you need to keep them off the roof because as they decay, they will break down your cedar shingles,” says Richard Kalnins, service and maintenance manager at Cambie Roofing and Drainage. “Your roof needs regular maintenance. However, no one should get up there unless they know what they are doing, otherwise, it can be dangerous.”
The roof should be swept or gently blown off to remove any loose debris.
“Also, try to get as much of the rooted moss off your roof, and to avoid that problem in the future, buy some zinc strips,” says Kalnins, adding most Lower Mainland roofs are made of cedar shakes or asphalt. “You place them under the ridge caps and the peak of your roof.”
Then, flush out your gutters with a garden hose or vacuum.
“Once the roof and gutters are cleaned properly, inspect for leaks and misaligned pipes,” Kalnins adds. “Then, check your roof for curled, warped, cracked or buckled shingles, as they will need to be replaced.”
Furnace:
A smooth-running furnace can save a lot of headaches later on, so the first order is make sure to change your filters often, every six weeks or so, says Mark Cooper, president and CEO of Shakespeare Homes & Renovations.
“Do a furnace inspection and stock up on furnace filters . . . if your filter is clogged, your furnace won’t run as efficiently, which costs you more money to heat your house,” says Cooper. “Have a furnace inspection and cleaning done yearly to keep it in good working order.”
Draftproofing:
Wait for a windy day, then, with a lit incense stick placed close to windows, door frames, electrical outlets and recessed lighting, slowly move it across and see if there’s movement, says Simi Heer, media relations for BC Hydro, Power Smart.
“If it moves, that’s a clear indicator that there’s a draft or leak,” Heer says, adding drafts are expensive and a waste of energy. “They can be easily fix it with caulking or weather stripping . . . super-easy fix and not expensive.”
Another simple way to save on your heating bill is to keep your southerly window covering open during the winter, to allow the sun to heat your home, says Heer.
Meanwhile, years of wear and tear can cause doors to allow heat escape.
“An easy solution is to seal any gaps or cracks by installing weather stripping and caulking at the bottom of the door and on the sides to block off air,” says Heer. “Heat can also escape through your wood-burning fireplace.
“A slab of Styrofoam, covered with cloth and pushed into the rectangular front of your fireplace can correct heat loss.”
To keep cool air out, keep your chimney damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.
“You can also purchase a protective cap with a screen for your chimney, keeping foreign object, like birds, out,” she says.
According to Heer, thermal insulation, when correctly installed, slows heat from escaping your home in winter and from entering your home in summer, making your home more comfortable and saving money on energy bills.
Cooper echoes Heer and adds: “Check your attic and basement’s insulation to make sure it’s properly in place … then, update to a more energy-efficient insulation or increase the amount of insulation you have, because you can be losing lots of heat.”
Outside pipes:
Wrap those pipes — a burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a costly nightmare.
“Before the first frost, you must unplug your garden hoses, drain them and shut off your turnoff valve inside your house,” says Heer. “In our B.C. weather, you can install Styrofoam cups with a screw attachment to help insulate spigots.”

-Michelle Hopkins, Vancouver Sun

-

Q What can I do to reduce the impact of the gas rates on my gas bill this winter?

If you don’t already have one, consider installing a programmable thermostat.
A Here are some suggestions to help you save energy and money:
1. Every degree that you set your thermostat lower will help you save on your heating costs. For example, set your thermostat to 20 C when you’re home and to 17 C when you go to bed or when you’re away from home.
If you don’t already have one, consider installing a programmable thermostat. Honeywell (1-866-251-2397) carries a full line of very user- friendly models that are simple to install and program.
2. Service and tune your furnace or boiler regularly for safety, efficiency and maximum energy.
Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, which may include annual maintenance. If you have a forced -air system, clean or replace the filter regularly.
3. Add or upgrade weather stripping around exterior doors and replace broken caulking around windows — inexpensive ways to keep drafts out.
4. If you are looking for a new heating system, choose a high-efficiency model with a rated efficiency greater than 90 per cent.
5. Choose an energy-efficient water heater. Consider installing a Tankless Hot Water Heater; also known as Instantaneous or Demand Water Heater.
Tankless heaters heat water on demand, saving the energy used to keep the tank warm.
6. Consider upgrading windows and insulation in your home to increase comfort and save energy.

- Shell Busey, The Province

VANCOUVER, B.C. – August 5, 2009 – The Greater Vancouver housing market gained further momentum in July with record sales levels and a continued strengthening of home prices.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 4,114 in July 2009, becoming the highest volume of sales ever recorded within the REBGV for that month, outpacing the 4,023 sales in July 2003, which is the only other year that July sales exceeded the 4,000 mark.

Since the beginning of the year, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 9.2 per cent to $528,821 from $484,211. However, home prices compared to July 2008 levels are down 5 per cent.

“Home sales this summer are seasonally higher than normal, which is due in large part to the price correction that has taken place in the last year and low interest rates,” Scott Russell, REBGV president said. “Although wellpriced listings and lower-to mid-range priced properties remain in the highest demand across Greater Vancouver, recent activity from first-time buyers is beginning to boost demand in the “move-up” segment of the market.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined in Greater Vancouver, down 17.4 per cent to 5,041 in July 2009 compared to July 2008, when 6,104 new units were listed. At 12,482, the total number of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) declined 5.8 per cent compared to last month and 34 per cent compared to July 2008.

“It is currently taking, on average, 48 days for a home to sell in the region. Today’s market activity differs by area and property type and it’s important to tap into local housing market expertise to understand why some properties are attracting multiple offers, while others are not moving,” Russell said.

July 2009 home sales declined 3.4 per cent compared to June 2009, but are up 89.2 per cent when measured against the 2,174 sales recorded in July 2008.

Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in July 2009 compared to July 2008:

DETACHED:

Burnaby up 121.7 per cent (153 units sold from 69)

North Vancouver up 53.3 per cent (115 units sold from 75)

Vancouver West up 104.5 per cent (180 units sold from 88)

South Delta up 203.1 per cent (97 units sold from 32)

APARTMENTS:

Burnaby up 72.8 per cent (235 units sold from 136)

Vancouver West up 94 per cent (584 units sold from 301)

New Westminster up 70.6 per cent (116 units sold from 68)

Coquitlam up 62.3 per cent (86 units sold from 53)

Port Moody/Belcarra up 138.1 per cent (50 units sold from 21)

- UNDER CONSTRUCTION (PICS OF SHOWHOME)

- 3814 sq.ft. (Includes finished & unfinished floor area)

- 5 Bedrooms

- 3 Bathrooms

- Unfinished Basment