North Shore Property Update: West Vancouver Secondary Suites Issue, West Van Limits Size on Monster Homes, Problems with North Van Coach Houses

City of North Vancouver Cancels Coach House Installation

In the latest twist to the ever slowdown of results and progress for affordable housing in North Vancouver, city councillors narrowly voted down a proposal on Monday that would have installed a prototype coach house for display on unused city land according to North Shore News, Benjamin. Home show demo home offered at cost, but North Vancouver councillors balks at the $150,000 required to complete a demo Coach House in North Van real estate to showcase the benefits of affordable housing initiatives that could alleviate the shortage of affordable rental units on the North Shore. The motion called on the City of North Vancouver to spend up to $150k out of a reserve fund for the purchase of roughly six hundred square foot home. The intent was to display the North Vancouver coach house to the public at 204 East First Street for an unspecified period before selling and moving it ot the buyer’s lot. The proceeds of the sale of the coach home in North Vancouver would have been returned to the reserve fund when all said and done. Keating emphasized the energy efficient features of the Smallworks coach house prototype. However, Coun. Bookham opposed the motion because she thought it was highly inappropriate for the city of North Vancouver to promote the services and products of a third party builder. She also couldn’t fathom how the city could justify spending up to $150,000 on a coah house model at this time. Bookham and the City of North Vancouver could produce a list of xisting privately owned North Vancouver coah houses in the city for interested buyers to inspect. Mussatto told city council that the had visited a homeless shelter over the weekend that had turned away 70 people. “There are still camps out there, people looking for shelter. There are people one paycheque away from losing their home, losing their mortgage. And they’ll be looking for somewhere to go. This is one option we could consider,” as he talked about the City of North Vancouver plans to go ahead with coach houses rental suites. But council was not swayed by the mayor’s appeal, and defeated the motion marginally by four to three. Mussatto immediately tabled another motion directing staff to request competing proposals for a similar North Vancouver coach house project in hopes this will addres some of the Councillors objections. This was also voted down, so there is not much anything is being done about the affordable housing problems in North Vancouver. The interior of the Laneway Loft House built by Smallworks Studios/Laneway Housing coach house is at the B.C. Home and Garden Show until Sunday.

West Vancouver Secondary Suites Recommended

Report calls for more housing options in the form of West Vancouver secondary housing suites for the city. This according to Daniel Pi for the North Shore Outlook newspaper. A report presented to West Vancouver Council Monday night recommends allowing secondary suites in the West Vancouver community to raise housing stock in the expensive North Shore community. On Monday, West Vancouver councilors sent the report, penned by the Community Dialogue on Neighbourhood Character and Housing Working Group, to district staff for further research. According to Stephen Mikicich, senior community planner for the district, staff will be reporting back to council in the fall with ideas to implement the 20 recommendations listed in the report, including the West Vancouver secondary suites housing issue. Besides allowing secondary suites in West Van, the recommendations include: considering “infill” housing, exploring new West Vancouver housing types with pilot programs, utilizing surplus district owned lands “to address identified housing gaps in the community, protecting and defining neighbourhood character, and finding ways to reduce residents’ reliance on cars. The report also recommends amending the West Vancouver Official Community Plan’s Housing Policies “to enable consideration of new housing types to meet the current and future needs of West Vancouver residents.” The working group developed its recommendations through public input that included community forums, workshops, and presentation, and an online form. The group also sent out a questionnaire and two newsletters to residents.

West Vancouver Home Sales Drop by Half

According to the North Shore News: Metro figures similar but economist says U.S.=style collapse in the West Vancouver real esate market housing prices unlikely. Written by James W. West Vancouver home sales are down more than 50 per cent from last summer, according to figures released by the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board, and it’s possible there is more to come. Just 101 detached homes were sold in the West Vancouver / Howe Sound area between June and August this year, according to the September 3rd release. That’s down from 230 West Vancouver homes sold during the same period in 2007, a drop of 56 per cent. Other West Vancouver real estate resident types have seen similar declines. With just 13 per cent sales, attached homes in West Vancouver real estate property are down close to 19 per cent; and with 29 sales, condos are down almost 53 per cent. The slide is part of a wider trend across the Greater Vancouver region, according to the board. Lower Mainland homes ales of all kinds dropped 53.7 per cnet last month compared to August last year. North Vancouver is among the communities caught in the fall, although declines there have not been quite as pronounced as its neighbour’s in West Vancouver real estate market update. Summer sales of North Vancouver detached homes are off by more than 33 per cent, and other home types by more than 46 per cent. In a nutshell, says one expert, the good times are coming to a close. “It’s the end of the boom,” says Tsur Somerville, director of the Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate at UBC”s Sauder School of Business. He identified three factors behind the change in West Vancouver and North Vancouver real estate property markets in summer of 2008. The first is a simple truth inherent to all housing booms: they just can’t last forever. Eventually it gets to a point that people can’t pay any more. “You can’t continually have growing number of sales and rising prices unless the economy is growing faster and faster and population is growing more and more,” said Somerville. “since we don’t have those conditions, we have a boom and it tires itself out.” This is what is happening in the new West Vancouver real estate market housing values are dropping. This works in conjunction with a second, psychological component: Canadians are looking at what happened to the housing market in the United States and wondering if the same might happen here. But when asked what thi means for the future, Somerville’s answer was very simple, “I don’t know.” The real estate market in West Vancouver is a difficult thing to rpedict, he said, and any forecasting on his part would likely come back to bit hime. “That’s an invitation for me to be wrong and have everybody remember it,” said Somerville. That said, he made certain observations that might shed some light on the future. For one thing, a crash on the scale of the American housing crisis seems unlikely. That’s because the conditions were different in Canada and West Vancouver real estate market when our neighbour was building its bubble.

The extremely cheap credit that has been available south of the border in recent years encourage speculation in the real estate market. Many Americans, emboldened by super lower interest rates, have been borrowing more money than they can afford, and investing it in houses they hope will make them a quick buck. That in turn inflated housing prices in the U.S. beyond a sustainable level. Canada has not seen credit quite as cheap, however, so speculation here in West Vancouver and North Vancouver real estate markets has been more limited, said Somerville. That doesn’t mean it has been non-existent, however. “We do have potential for bad things to happen in the condo market because we have so many real estate investors there,” he said. “There is definitely is speculation in that market.” And if condos tank as a result, they could drag down other types of West Vancouver property with them, added Somerville. “People wouldn’t be moving up (from condominiums to houses) and people who are… comparing the two might say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to buy a house for this much when I can get a condo for that.” However, guarding against an all-out collapse is the fact that BC’s economy does not appear to be as bad as has been suggested. “I’m not saying it’s all good news. But you look around the Lower Mainland, and where’s the 15 per cent unemployment and the shutting mills and the real problems?” said Sommerville. “A lot of industries are not doing great, but they aren’t abysmal.” Rather than plummeting, housing prices in West Vancouver real estate market may just rise at a slower rate,” he said. And at the end of the day, the Lower Mainland – which ahs been limited supply of homes, is still drawing new people who need a place to live. That has to push up property values in West Vancouver real estate over the long term, said Somerville. So what should homeowners do if they’re thinking of selling? “Be prepared to take a lower price than they think they’re going to get,” he said. “Be prepared to wait longer to sell.” His advise to home buyers in West Vancouver real estate was not far from the same. “If you’re thinking of buying, it’s a time to take your time,” said Somerville. “There’s not reason to feel rushed.

One Size Doesn’t Fit all in West Vancouver Real Estate

According to Jessica B of the North Shore News: District of West Vancouver residents are willing to let go of monster house mania to make way for smaller, more affordable housing, council heart Monday. In addition to smaller houses, West Vancouverites want a greater variety of housing types, but still like the idea of a single family home with a garden or green space. “One or two sizes no longer fit the community that we live in,” said Any, Vice Chairman of the neighbourhood character and West Vancouver housing working group. “We need to change in order to stay the same.” The West Vancouver housing working group, comprised of West Vancouver residents, many with backgrounds in urban planning, engineering and real estate, has been collecting public input through meetings and workshops for more than a year. The Group appeared at Monday’s meeting to president its findings to the West Vancouver Real Estate Council, complete with 20 recommendations based on resident input for preserving community character and shaping neighbourhoods for the future. “This whole dialogue was about people talking to people,” said Christine Banham, group chairwoman. “We heard many personal stories telling of Wets Vancouverites’ struggles and challenges in their neighbourhoods.” Banhm spoke of single retirees coping with the high cost of West Vancouver living, disable adults with accessibility concerns and the so called “sandwish generation” who are at once caring for aging parents and not yet independent children. “Each story is unique, but we heard the same messages over and over again,” Banham said. “West Vancouver residents want to maintain thei homes and neighbourhoods, they wan to remain in community over the long run, even as their needs and abilities change over time. The report’s recommendations for the West Vancouver real estate future include an overwhelming need and public support for West Vancouver secondary suites such as coach houses or infill housing district wide. The West Van working group also suggested leasing district lands for lower-income housing and developing pilot projects in certain neighbourhoods. One thing all the recommendations have in common, Banham said, is that they intended to move council to take action.

West Vancouver Plans New Limits on Large Homes

First steps to a rewrite of zoning in the City of West Vancouver real estate according to Jessica B for the North Shore News. Zoning bylaws in the District of West Vancouver are in for an overhal that will make it more difficult for developers and homeowners to build bulky houses. A series of zoning amendments designed to close loopholes in current legislation that allow real estate developers to skirt the existing bylaws were introduced to council on Monday night for first reading. According to director of planning Bob Sokol, the proposed amendments are the first part of a comprehensive rewrite of bylaws that will overlap with concerns by residents, brought up last week in the neighbourhood character and housing dialogue. The floor area ratio is the amount of floor area that is allowed in relation to the size of the lot. Most West Vancouver housing neighbourhoods allow houses that are 35 per cent of the lot. For example, a 10,000 square foot lot would allow up to 3,500 square foot house. In Ambleside, Dundarave and Horseshoe Bay, however, houses may take up to 50 per cent because the lots tend to be smaller. But Sokol said exceptionas to floor area ratio are contributing to West Vancouver’s bulky monster house epidemic. The biggest culprits, Sokol said, are covered decks on second floors and attached accessory buildings that don’t count toward the floor space ratio. “Over the past few years, there’s been kind of an explosion of people putting covered decks on their houses,” Sokol said, “They add substantially to the bulk of the West Vancouver house, particularly when theyr’ on the second storey.” Sokol added that people routinely add accessory buildings as extensions to their West Vancouver houses too. The accessory buildings are supposed to be separated from the house by a dividing wall. However, Sokol said the walls frequently come down after real estate developers and homeowners receive their last building inspection Under the proposed bylaw amendments, second storey covered decks will still be allowed but would be included in the floor area ratio. The proposed West Vancouver real estate amendments also reduce attached accessory building exemptions from 240 sf to 50 sf. Bylaws limiting changes to grades and retaining wall heights were also introduced along with a proposal to reduce rock and soil removal from 600 cubic metres to 200 cubic metres. More aspects of the neighbourhood character and West Vancouver housing working group report will likely be seen as Sokol proceeds with the zoning and policy rewrites. For instance, Sokol said he did not want to limit basement sizes right now because they may play a role if council decides to allow West Vancouver secondary suites in some neighbourhoods. The interim amendment are “baby steps” on the way to the comprehensive rewrite, Sokol added, which could take up to a year to complete. The zoning bylaws of West Vancouver real estate will also undergo a technical rewrite to bring the 1968 document up to 2008 standards. Council voted unanimously to refer the amendements to the deign review committee for comment. A public hearing on the proposed West Vancouver real estate amendments is scheduled for October 20th and Sokol is expected to return to council on October 27th with a technical review and a list of other policy issues his team will be addressing.

North Shore Real Estate Update by Alan Skinner, the Most Trusted Source of Property Information – October 2008

The Supply/Demand Dictatorship. WE know we live in a democracy, but not everybody realizes that there is a tyrant – depends on which side you’re on – that dictates our lives. Obviously, my old hobby horse, embodie in the term willing seller/willing buyer, is that of which I speak. Say, for a minute, the Supply side represented by potential sellers, got together, and said… buyers (Demand side) are not appearing confident to make the decision to buy a home. Therefore, it makes sense to take our homes off the market (or not add them to the supply pool). But, I hear you sya, that is not realistic as so many of us really want to (need to) sell. Precisely my point! Now, and this is not meant to be facetious; Sellers, realize that it is your collective wants and needs that will cause prices to drop. Supply must decrease or the confidence of home buyers must be restored. We do know that a very large part of that “damage” can only be repaired by the actions of our neighours to the south. Just how long will it take?

North Vancouver Home Rentals

Beware the pitfalls of renting your home to vacationers according to the North Shore Outlook Contributor Jennifer R. If you’re looking to earn a little extra cash this summer, a short term vacation rental may sound like a sweet deal. A quick and easy way to help lighten your mortgage load over the holiday months right? But, according to the Better Business Bureau, many North Vancouver home owners are unaware of the pitfalls of renting their homes to vacationers. “What can look like an easy way to make profits is really not so easy,” says Lynda Pasacreta, Better Business Bureau president and CEO. “Being successful with vacation rentals requires extensive planning and knowledge on how to market your property effectively.” But with some experts saying a homeowner could double or even make up to 10 times the amount with a short term vacation rental than a traditional month to month home rental, the potential pitfalls show no signs of slowing down eager North Shore residents. And with the 2010 Olympics around the corner, many North Vancouver homeowners are taking the time to prepare for winter visitors by renovating their residences. Capitalizing on vacationers often means taking loans to update homes and installing self-contained suites. But before you jump start a renovation project, the BBB urges homeowners to protect themselves by taking a few simple precautions. All you have to do is a little homework. If you are adding a suite to your home, you may need to install a bathroom or a kitchen, which often requires a building permit. It’s a good idea to check with the BBB before you hire a contractor to start the renovation. Next, make sure to get the right type of insurance. To help avoid future headaches consider fire insurance, liability insurance and burglary protection. Ask other North Vancouver homeowners in your neighbourhood what policies they have to cover their homes. Also, check your municipal laws and taxes before you move ahead with a home rental. Familiarize yourself with both provincial and local restrictions and contact your local tax office or chamber for up to date information including B.C. rental tax laws. A hotel room tax coule apply to your short term accommodation if you have four units for rent or more or if you rent to one person for longer than one month. Visit the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue website for more information (www.gov.bc.ca/sbr/). Licensing may also be required. If you are planning on providing services outside your own home rental, you may require additional licensing for areas such as property management and acting as a travel agent. Lastly, be careful when you advertise. The Internet can be a powerful tool for attracting vacation renters through online listings, but some sites are scams. Take your time, do your research and when possible ask for a referral. For more information and consumer tips visit www.bbb.org.

Home Construction Down in North Vancouver Real Estate Market

This article taken from the North Shore Outlook newspaper and written by Jeff N for Black Press. Home builders say they see few signs so far of imminent collapse in the construction industry. Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association president Peter Simpson is pointing to the latest statistics showing Metro Vancouver housing starts are so far up 11 per cent from 2007 housing starts. “If we continue on this pace, we’re looking at the best year since 1993,” he said. Simpson was responding to predictions that the decline in Vancouver real estate prices in the region will soon trigger a building construction decline that could create a drag on Metro Vancouver’s economy. He did not rule out the possibility that will happen in the months ahead. “There are some clouds out there, but the sky is not falling,” Simpson said. “We warned our builders some time ago to be risk averse. Don’t plan out too far in advance.” He said there may be “ abit of shakeout” with smaller industry players, particularly newer entrants. “We’re looking ahead with cautious optimism.” Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) analyst Robin Admanche said 2008 should be the fifth straight year in which housing starts have topped 18,000 units in the Greater Vancouver real estate region. She said the demand for new homes remains healthy, but the inventory of unsold new homes is beginning to rise. Surrey leads the region so far in new home construction, CMHC reported, with 4,000 units started – three quarters of them are multi family units. That’s a 66 per cent increase from the same period in 2007. Vancouver is up 74 per cent with 3,568 starts. Delta has twice as many new starts (171) this year. Langley, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver and Maple Ridge have all experienced significant declines of at least 20 per cent however. Real estate prices in Metro Vancouver peaked in March, the latest realtor statistics show, and are down about 4.5 per cent so far. Many more homes are now available for sale and buyers have become much more selective.

Community Update for Park & Tilford Shops & Gardens on the North Shore

Park & Tilford gets pedestrian friendly makeover according to the North Shore News magazine. New design of Park & Tilford makes a strong connection with the Gardens. One of the North Shore real estate’s favourite shopping, dining and entertainment destinations will soon be sporting an attractive new look. Park & Tilford Shops and Gardens is nearing the end of the first major renovation in its 20 year history. The $6 million makeover will include new fabric canopies, improved signage and a red brick façade designed to match the architectural style of the gardens at Park & Tilfod. “I think it’s going to be much more inviting, much more friendly,” says greg Richardson of Omicron, the project architect. “When you put canopies on a building you tend to lower the scale and make it more pedestrian friendly. It gives it a small town look and makes for a more comfortable shopping experience.” Richardson says the design of the new Park & Tilford North Vancouver shopping and gardens makes a much stronger connection between the shops and the gardens. “This will unify the whole centre. This is much more than a quick paint job,” says Tony Segaric, Vice President of Operations and Construction, Bentall’s Retail Property Management Division. “We are updating and upgrading the entire shopping centre.” Segaric says the North Vancouver Park & Tilford shopping centre experienced general wear and tear over the years and the exterior had suffered some damage from the elements. “The need for repairs gave us an opportunity to include an aesthetic upgrade to give Park & Tilford a warmer, more modern appearance and improved functionality.” Environmental considerations at the new North Vancouver Park & Tilford were also included in the renovation, and in day-to-day operations, with the use of building components that include recycled material as well as upgrades to improve energy efficiency. The improvements have earned Park & Tilford North Vancouver a “Go Green” designation from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada, which recognizes leadership in environmental stewardship. Segaric says the approach to the upgrades is consistent with Bentall’s long term view of retail property development such as Park & Tilford in North Vancouver. “We’re extending the lifespan of Park & Tilford to help our retail tenants deliver service and value to the community for many more years to come.”