Deedrie Ballard : RE/MAX Camosun : Archived blog posts for : January 2018

JANUARY UPDATE!

Posted on January 14, 2018 by Deedrie Ballard

While 2017 was rewarding in so many ways, there’s nothing like a brand new year to mark a fresh start.

Many of you know that the charities I have supported over the years have raised more than ten million dollars for people in need, and my work as a REALTOR and PHILANTHROPIST has ‘OPENED DOORS’ in ways I could not have imagined.

One of my fresh starts in 2018 was being selected by Boulevard Magazine to appear in their upcoming “Influencers” issue. They asked what I believe it takes to be a visionary. A leader. An influencer.

Steve Jobs said, “The people who are crazy enough to change the world are the ones who often do.” While I think being a little crazy helps, I also believe it requires: kindness, passion, determination, and being open to the opportunities that are often right in front of us but are sometimes difficult to see. Most important of all, it’s being aware of the great responsibility in the choices you make.

May all your fresh starts take you to places you’ve never dreamed of before. All the best for 2018.

Are you looking to sell? I have clients looking for properties in most areas of Victoria, and when they find them, expect to see five new executive listings come to market. We’re looking for:

– Condo in Bayview One – Up to 1.25 M

– Waterfront or Water View Townhouse Cordova Bay

– End Unit Condo in Sayward Hill with large patio – Not yet listed

– Rancher in Matticks Wood under 1.2

– Townhouse in Wedgewood Estates with Master on the Main

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Victoria Real Estate Market Strong to the End of 2017

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Deedrie Ballard

A total of 462 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this December, 1.9 per cent fewer than the 471 properties sold in December last year.

A grand total of 8,944 properties sold over the course of 2017, 15.8 percent fewer than the record breaking 10,622 that sold in 2016. 2017 sales came in at 21.7 per cent over the ten year average of 7,349 properties sold.

“Early in 2017 we discussed how the Victoria area housing market would be different than the record breaking year we had in 2016 and that over the course of the year we’d probably see a gradual return to a more balanced market. We did see evidence of this change come early in the year, as multiple offers and rapid price increases leveled out,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Ara Balabanian. “However, the ongoing low inventory of properties for sale meant that buyers continued to experience competitive situations in high demand areas, and multiple offers were still a common occurrence as buyers negotiated in a tighter market. What we couldn’t anticipate were outside factors such as changes to mortgage qualifying rules that may have pushed people into the market early. The pending mortgage stress test in particular is likely to have caused much of the increased activity we’ve seen in November and December.”

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