New study shows prices luring families away from Richmond A NOTICEABLE switch in buying trends has been hap- pening over the past few months, which is reflected in a recent analysis conducted by North Shore Royal LePage realtors Susan Hilton and Sue Daniel. ‘April, May and June sales figures in the residen- tial housing market show a decided shift in favor of North Vancouver as the neighborhood of choice for many families presently liv- ing in areas of Vancouver and Richmond,’’ said Daniel, sales representative for Royal LePage. “My colleague Susan Hilton and I decided to take a closer look, when we saw the way things were chang- ing, and did some com- parisons on all aspects of the housing market in- cluding detached homes, lot sizes, prices and community amenities, ‘‘We were pleasantly sur- prised by the answers we found: prospective buyers ‘told us they were impressed with the lifestyle of the -North Shore which included lower density, larger lots, a greener, community, ex- cellent schools, friendly and _safe ‘neighborhoods. In short, all this plus more accommodation for less money.” According to residential sales statistics compiled through the Real Estate Board's computer system, VANDAT, as of June 30, a aS ES eT CITES pageetinnn Beant ry ge Figures from April through June support a changing trend in residential buying in resale figures: AREA Richmond April North Vancouver April Richmond May North Vancouver May Richmond June North Vancouver June family living in an average home in Richmond could sell for $374,105 and buy up in North Vancouver for $347,720. This would have them in an older home with a large garden, in a family neigh- borhood and in proximity to all community amenities. I 1992, it would have cost a family more to sell in Richmond and buy a bigger home on the North Shore. In 1993 it is possible to buy up for less — based on the prices in this table peo- ple could have had a home for $34,227 less than the resale of the Richmond home in April; $54,069 in May or $26,385 in June. “It will be interesting to see what the next months MONTH YEAR AVERAGE RESALE PRICE $277,599 $356,3°3 $294,362 $322,145 $279,374 $391,858 $291,581 $337,789 $284,266 $374,105 $294,680 $347,720 92 '93 92, ‘93 "92 '93 "92 "93 "92 °93 *92 *93 a bring,’’ added Daniel and Hilton. ‘Currently the mar- ket is brisk in the $300,000 to $500,000 range, people seem to want to afford good old-fashioned family neigh- borhoods that are safe, friendly and green.” For those people raising children in the urban areas of the city of Vancouver, Similar trends are becoming evident. “For them, safety is of primary concern along with a garden bigger than the 33-foot city !ot,’’ stated Hilton. -‘‘Families are look- ing for a quality of life that they see in North Vancouver and which simply does not exist in the crowded neigh- borhoods of a large city like Vancouver.” ANSON REALTY LTD. 3396 Cambie Street, Vancouver Tel: (604)876-9222 VESTMENT* % sea fs Testy hi #2001-120 WEST 2ND ST LOWER LONSDALE Prestige at a bargain only in the Observatory. Luxury, spacious, secured. Superb view of the mountains, city & water. Walk to the market, seabus & theatre. Asking $308,000. For appointment call Karimen Lee at 87&-9222 or 656-1400 (24 hrs.) Quality built 3 odrm. home with marble OPEN HOUSE SUN. 2-4 PM corns se BS * 698 E. 26TH & TEMPE HEIGHTS wearer eM Coca entrance, 3 F/Ps, sunken family rm., custom-made curtains and prof. landscapad. Close to schools, Lynn Valley shopping centre. Tennis court, playground and daycare nearby. Not many properties available for sale in this popular and desirable neigh- | vourood Asking $438,800. JOHNNY KWOK 676-9222 OR 657-8902 "| [" | i a) 4 Congratulations to our residents ... the first 100 satisfied buyers who have made The WestRoyal the premier highrise residence in West Van. With the first tower 75% sold, _and the second tower now avail- able for sale, we invite others to experience the WestRoyal lifestyle. Visit our new display suite, created by three prominant interior designers, and see why one hundred people have already made The WestRoyal their address of choice. a Two Bedrooms with Solarium, ali with two baths, two parking