vancouver

Video Interview With Vancouver Licensed Home Inspector (part one)

This is an video interview by Vancouver Realtor Angel Wang with the licensed home inspector Chris Yang. Home inspection is critical for first time or second time home buyers. You shouldn’t skip it only because it’s a new house you are going to purchase.

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Great Vancouver 2010 Olympics Free Events

There will be tons of free events during Vancouver 2010 Olympics from Feb 12-28. Whether you are a sports fan or not, you don’t want to miss any of them. However, most of them will be hold in downtown Vancouver. You will have to pay attention to the latest traffic information during Winter Olympics because there will be special traffic arrangement especially in Downtown.

I listed below some of the events which are great for family fun.

British Columbia Pavilion

location: Vancouver Art Gallery

Live concert performances are taking place at Robson Square which will feature several BC musical artists. This downtown hub also features the International Media Centre where several live broadcasts are taking place, the Ziptrek line over Robson Square, and the GE Plaza skating rink.

A series of displays highlighting BC industry & tourism will also be on-site. Visitors will get full access to the VAG for free during the Games and the venue is anticipated to be open between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily (no evening hours, private events only). A special Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit is available for public viewing.

Live shows at Robson Square

location: Vancouver Downtown, Robson Square

During Games, there will be Aboriginal Showcase, First Nations Carving Exhibit, BC Kids, BC Live, BC Spirit Showcase! BC Street Jam, Meet The Mascots On Ice, Ignite the Dream. Details please visit yougottabehere.

GE Plaza Outdoor Skating

location: Robson Plaza

GE Plaza at Robson Square features a popular outdoor skating rink, and is the location for the International Media Centre and BC Pavilion during the Games and centrally located at Robson & Howe Streets. Thanks to the generous contribution from General Electric in partnership with the Province of BC, the skating is free and skate rentals are only $3. The rink is open daily from noon to 9 pm.

Laser Waterworks Show

location: David Lam Park

Join friends or family at False Creek to see the nightly laser light shows which will take place at the LiveCity Yaletown location. A large pipe in False Creek will stream water high into the air providing the backdrop for what will become a vivid backdrop to all the excitement. Across False Creek you will be able to see the Olympic Athlete’s Village. The City of Vancouver says the fireworks and water show will start in the late evening, but they don’t provide a start time.

There are way more events during Vancouver 2010 Olympics season. Check out more details here.

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Have Fun In Vancouver

Great tourism information for Vancouver new immigrants. Great Vancouver Area includes Vancouver, Richmond, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, and many other cities.

vancouver

Top 10 Fun Events This Christmas Season In Vancouver

Most busiest and most beautiful holiday season is coming around the corner. This Christmas Vancouver’s families are going to have lots of fun. Here are some of the events overview:

Event #1: 12th Annual Bright Nights

Location: Stanley Park, Vancouver

Time: Daily from 3 to 10 p.m. until Jan. 2, except Dec. 25.

Fees: Admission is free to view displays but it costs $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and children to ride the train through the decorated landscape.

Details: More than two million lights will light up the section of Stanley Park around the children’s train and farmyard area. The show also includes various animated seasonal displays. (For more information call 604-257-8531.)

Event #2: The Carol Ship Parade of Lights Festival

Time: Dec. 4 to 23 with extra sailing on Dec 27.

Details: The Carol Ships Parade began about 50 years ago with one boat decorated with Christmas lights in Coal Harbour off the Bayshore Inn (now the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina).

This holiday tradition has grown to more than 50 decorated boats, with 100,000 lights. About 30,000 people go on the boats over the 20-night festival. More than an estimated 200,000 people turn out each year to view the passage of the ships from the shoreline. (For more information visit Vancouvercruises.com)

Event #3: Sixth Annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade

Location: Downtown Vancouver

Time: 1 p.m. on Dec. 6. starts at Broughton and Georgia and ends at the corner of Howe and Davie.

Details: The parade lasts about an hour. After the parade there will be a meet-and-greet with Santa at the GE Plaza at Robson Square. The parade is also one of the largest single food raising events for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Event #4: Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festivals

Location: At a number of locations such as Granville Island, Yaletown, Commercial Drive, Coal Harbour, Chinatown and Strathcona

Time: From 6 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 21

Details: For full details about lantern processions and various entertainment planned, including Vancouver Morris Men at Granville Island, go to www.secretlantern.org.

Event #5: Gingerbread Lane

Location: Hyatt

Time: Until Dec. 27 in the main lobby

Details: Pop into the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 655 Burrard St., Vancouver, to walk Gingerbread Lane, experiencing the hundreds of gingerbread houses on display.

Event #6: Christmas Festival of Lights

Location: Park and Tilford Garden, 440-333 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver.

Time: Dec. 7 to 31, lights coming on 4:30.

Details: More than 100,000 lights will be put up to turn this 40-year-old three-acre garden into a Christmas wonderland. The lights will be turned on at a special ceremony at 7 p.m. on Dec. 4. There will be free live entertainment, cookies and candy canes as well as Santa Claus in attendance. Admission is free. (For more information call 604-984-8200)

Event #7: Sail Light Show

Location: Canada Place

Time: Dec. 6 to 31 from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Details: Watch the city skyline come to life as Canada Place’s 90-foot sails light up in stunning colour during the Sail Light Show. Viewable from locations on the west side of the sails including Stanley Park, West Vancouver, North Vancouver and from the water.

Event #8: 18th Annual Dundarave Festival of Lights

Time: To Jan. 6

Location: Dundarave Beach

Details: This festival will feature 100 decorated and lit Christmas trees placed on the beach at Dundarave as well as in the village as a fund-raiser for the Lookout Emergency Aid Society’s North Shore Shelter.

Other highlights include a bonfire and lively music on the beach from 7 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 20 as the carol ships sail by and the unveiling by master carver Bill Seminoff of the restored Dundarave Nativity at Dundarave Beach from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 5. (For more information, go to www.dundaravefestival.com.)

Event #9: 6th Annual Spectacle of Lights

Location and Time: Steveston Village 2 to 6:30 p.m., Dec. 5

Details: Santa arrives at Fisherman’s Wharf at 2 p.m. and will walk over to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery where parents can take a photo of their child with him. There will also be old-fashioned horse drawn carriage rides and carollers will be roaming the streets. At 5 p.m., there will be the lighting of a Christmas tree.

Event #10: Canyon Lights

Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge, North Vancouver

Fee and Time: Dec. 4 to Jan. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. daily, except on Dec. 25. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children (6-12) or $35 for a family of four. For more information go to www.capbridge.comor call 604-985-7474.

Details: The suspension bridge and adjacent forest area will be illuminated with 250,000 Christmas lights. There will be a demonstration by artist Malcolm McFadyen of how to make blown-glass ornaments as well as decorate fresh-baked gingerbread characters.

(resource: Vancouver Sun)

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HST’s Impact On BC House Price Explanation

From July 1st, 2010 HST (Harmonized Sales Tax，12%) will be officially implemented in BC. The biggest and direct impact on the house price in Vancouver BC is that it is definitely going to increase your investment cost of purchasing new home (because before only 5% GST will applied on sales of brand new property). Other than that, it will also cost you more on purchasing all other type of real estates. Angel Wang explained the reasons for that impact on Vancouver real estate market in this video (Sorry, only Chinese in this video.)

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Compare Vancouver Real Estate Market 2008 and 2009

Vancouver real estate market continues growing in 2009. Although the average price for single family home is 5% lower than which of last year, the real estate buying and selling transactions and volume is growing by over 100%.

In this video I review Vancouver real estate market and its stats. Sorry I only speak Chinese in this video.

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4183 W 11th Ave, Vancouver (Sold)

new Point Grey house Sold @ 1,695,000 — Feb, 2009

Point Grey, brand new home crafted and designed by European builder. Fully landscaped yard featuring brick & stone walkways. Large open foyer leads to living room with warm stone feature fireplace & formal dining room. Dream kitchen is a Chef’s delight with Viking stainless steel, gas stove, large center island & fantastic size eating area. Entertaining size family room with second warm stone feature fireplace with French door level to brick patio and backyard. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms. Upper loft (office or 4th bedroom) with private rooftop deck with dramatic views of the water, city & mountains.

(2414 SQF house on 4026SQF lot. Double Garage)

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3206-1189 Melville St. Vancouver (Sold)

Water view, 32nd floor, 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown Vancouver Coal Harbour, Sold @ 525,000 – Summer 2008

This is a wonderful 1 bedroom suite at the Melville with an outlook to Stanley park aand some water view. This city home features a solarium large enough for an office/study. The 9ft ceilings in this unit add a spacious feeling to the 710SQF of open living space. The Melville offers a spectacular roof top sky garden with a panoramic view of the water, mountains and city.

vancouver

Shopping at Downtown Vancouver – Robson Street

You must walk Robson Street if you got time during your visit in Downtown Vancouver British Columbia. The Canadian equivalent of the American Rodeo Drive, simply known as Robson, allows one to shop some of Canada’s most premier retailers all in one strip.

This major thoroughfare in downtown Vancouver was named in honor of John Robson, one of the provinces previous Premiers. Robson stretches from B.C. Place stadium all the way to False Creek. The Vancouver Library Square, Vancouver Art Gallery and Robson Square are all adjacent to Robson Street. It is tied with Toronto’s Bloor Street West as being Canada most expensive street for rental space.

Robson is a very popular street among locals and visitors. It is not unusual to run into people on this street at all hours of the day as there are numerous brand new condominium complexes all around Robson Street and downtown Vancouver. Robson Street is accessible by car, by public transit and by Sky Train. Most Robson visitors enjoy walking the strip as it is a very busy pedestrian route.

Some of the more notable brands offered on Robson are: Salvatore Ferragamo, Coach, Lacoste, Tiffany & Co. Chanel, Cartier, Betsey Johnson, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermes, French Connection United Kingdom and many more.

It is also not unusual to see many exotic, rare cars and motorcycles on Robson as many locals like to cruise down the strip. Your Vancouver trip would not be complete without a shopping trip Robson Street.

vancouver

October 1st Vancouver Real Estate Market Surge

Many home sellers believe that October surge will come to push the Vancouver real estate price up to a higher level. Since October 1st is one of the biggest public holidays in China, and it will last for 7 days, they believe many Chinese home buyers will come to Vancouver. Is it a reliable or just the rumours? Just listen to what Angel Wang has to say. (sorry only speak Chinese in the video.)

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