On Saturday March 6, 2010 I made it into the West Coast Home section of the Vancouver Sun, here is the article :)

Price beats Drummond Drive property's assessed value by more than $900,000

Vancouver

4818 Fannin

Type: 4-bed, 6-bath detached, 4,800 sq. ft.

B.C. Assessment, July 2009: $5.205 million

Listed for: $6.28 million

Sold for: $6.128 million

Sold on: Jan. 26

Days on market: 11

Listing agent: Bryan Yan at Regent Park Realty Inc.

Buyers agent: Manuel (Manny) Riebeling at Royal Pacific Realty Corp. (now with Sutton West Coast)

The big sell: A resort in itself. This exclusive .85-acre estate sits on a coveted corner lot at Drummond Drive and Fannin Avenue in west Point Grey and features enviable highlights: a tennis court, a putting green, a detached indoor pool, hot tub and sauna. The residence boasts a designer interior with the full bells and whistles and there's a separate coach house (perhaps less for a mortgage-helper, and more for the nanny?).

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/million+buys+Point+Grey+estate/2649606/story.html

March 1, 2010

Dear David Lam Park Neighbours,

I wanted to write to thank you for your enthusiasm and patience as the City hosted LiveCity Yaletown at David Lam Park during the recent 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Clearly the LiceCity site was a huge hit with residents and visitors alike. Marked as “the place to be” during the games, LiveCity Yaletown drew record audiences over the 17 days of the Games. Since the evening of February 11^th when the torch arrived at the site to the Closing Ceremony, more than half a million people visited the two sites including 9,516 students who attended our LiveCity Education Program.

We were also able to welcome business leaders from around the world to Vancouver House at LiveCity Yaletown where we showcased our “Green Capital” economic development strategy. Many of our international guests also commented on the dynamism and liveability of the Yaletown neighbourhood.

The process to return the site to parkland began immediately after the Closing Ceremony February 28^th. Over the coming days., the pavilions and stage will be dissembled and the tents and trailers will move off site. Over the coming weeks, the ground covering and will be removed and repurposed, repairs completed and the field re-sodded and protected with fencing so that it can grow once again to a green park. You will continue to see some fencing so that it can grow once again to a green park. You will continue to see some fencing in the park after the summer as B.C. Transmission Corporation (BCTC) continues the underground work they started last summer.

As part of the City’s remediation work there will be a number of infrastructure legacies left in the park that will improve the health of the playing field grass and the park’s capability to host events in the future.

We recognize that there have been impacts on our neighbours and on behalf of city Council, please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for your support and patience. This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our city. Your generosity has allowed our city to shine.

With thanks,

Thank you Yaletown!

MAYOR

Sincerely,

Greg Robertson

Now more than ever, your success in buying or selling a luxury home depends upon choosing a real estate professional with the right skills. The institute for Luxury Home Marketing is a membership organization for real estate agents who specialize in the luxury home market. As an active member, your agent has access to valuable training and special resources that other real estate agents do not have.

RIEBELING ATTENDS SPECIAL TRAINING,BUILDS EXPERTISE IN LUXURY HOME MARKET

March 4, 2010 -- Manny Riebeling with Sutton Group West Coast Realty recently completed a luxury home marketing training course offered by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.

The course -- which covered such topics as demographics of the affluent, lifestyle segmentation, trends and amenities in today’s luxury homes, and creating a marketing plan for the multimillion dollar property – was developed by Laurie Moore-Moore, Founder of the Dallas-based Institute and author of the book, Rich Buyer, Rich Seller! The Real Estate Agents’ Guide to Marketing Luxury Homes.

“The course is a step towards earning the prestigious Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) designation which the Institute awards internationally to sales professionals who meet performance standards in the upper-tier residential market,” said Moore-Moore. Manny Riebeling is an example of a sales associate who works to hone the special skills and competencies necessary to provide exceptional service in the fine homes and estates marketplace.”

Riebeling specializes in Condos for the neighborhoods of Yaletown/False Creek North/Marinaside in Downtown Vancouver.

“The training provided new insight about the upper-tier market, helped me polish my skills, and provided valuable networking contacts with other agents across the country who specialize in luxury properties,” said Riebeling. “In addition, I discovered new and creative tools for promoting luxury homes and estates and new resources for finding buyer prospects. Home buyers and sellers will benefit from my new knowledge.”

“Riebeling is now a member of The Institute and will be awarded the designation once performance standards have been submitted and reviewed,” said Moore-Moore. We look forward to having HIM on our prestigious list of Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialists.”

For current information on the luxury market, contact Manny at Sutton West Coast Realty 604-728-9510 or email info@propertiesbymanny.com .

1. All borrowers must meet the standard for a five-year fixed rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term; 2. The maximum loan to value will be reduced to 90% from the current 95% on refinances of existing owner occupied homes; 3. Non-owner occupied properties will require a minimum down payment of 20%.

There were no changes announced to the down payment requirement or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.  We expect full implementation of the changes by April 19^th, 2010 and will also communicate the transitional rules once they are finalized.

Back in August of 2008 Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov put the French mansion Villa Leopolda under contract for a record $750 million.  In March of last year he tried to back out of the deal and wanted his $50 million (€40 million) deposit back. 

Yesterday the courts ruled in favour of the owner Lilly Safra, who can not only keep the €40 million but was also awarded damages of €1.5 million.

So the Olympic Games are over, sure I’m going to miss them. Yaletown looks very empty after the 17 days of the games. If you didn’t have time to go to the pavilions and attractions during the games, you’ll be able to go to some of them during the Paralympics Games, for sure there will be shorter line-ups. Some of the attractions that will re-open for part of the Paralympics are:

1-Zip line at Robson square (which saw up to eight hour waits)

2-Canada Pavilion at Live City Downtown, located at the corner of Georgia and Cambie.

3-Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion at a new location to be announced.

4-Manitoba House, located at the corner of Georgia and Cambie.

5-Northern House at 602 West Hastings, currently open.

6-Olympic flame area at Jack Poole Plaza will open after the flame is re-lit March 12. It will stay open until March 21.

7-Whistler Live is also slated to re-open, including the medal plaza, village square and skiers’ plaza, where shows will run throughout the day during the Paralympics.

8-Bombardier Streetcar will be operating until March 21^st.

9-BC Pavilion located at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

10- BC Hydro Power Smart Village, still open until March 21^st. Located at 333 Dunsmuir St.

Located on 1560 Homer St. about three blocks from the heart of Yaletown and just beside David Lam Park, The Erickson is the newest luxury tower that just opened up about a week ago, it is the latest building by Concord Pacific and one of the last buildings designed by famous architect Arthur Ericskon. The Erickson is a luxury condominium tower,that has 20 floors, with three units per floor and each one will have balconies or terraces.Tower suites have elevator doors that open into a grand foyer with floor-to-ceiling windows. The Erickson also has fiber-optic technology, security and amenities including a 24-hour concierge and a fitness facility including a pool and underwater sound system. Currently there are 2 units for sale unit 1502 that consist of 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 3 parking spaces and 2050 sqft, asking $3,888,000. Unit 603 has 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 parking spaces and 2218 sqft, asking $5,380,000.

The coke parade will be held every night during the Olympic games. It starts at 7 pm at the corner of Hamilton and Nelson, then it goes straight thorough Hamilton and finishing at the corner of Hamilton and Drake.

During the parade Coke is giving away the limited edition aluminum cans and glowing bottles that change colors.

Have you been noticing the spot lights at night in Vancouver, it is a project called Vectorial Elevation is an interactive artwork that allows participants to transform the sky over our city. Using a three-dimensional interface, this web site lets you design huge light sculptures by directing 20 robotic searchlights located around English Bay. A web page is made for each participant with photos of their design from four cameras located around the city. Check it out its very cool:http://vectorialvancouver.net

Today is the new year according to the Chinese Calendar, and its the beginning of the Year of the Tiger.

Gung Hay Fat Choy means "Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year."

Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.  It is a time for family reunions, for honouring ancestors and for thanking the gods for their blessings.

If you live in Vancouver, you’ll find lots of good restaurants to celebrate the Chinese new year. If you are in Yaletown you can go to Chinatown and celebrate at Floata Seafood Restaurant 400-180 Keefer Street, 604-602-0368 www.floata.com

or you can also take the sky train to Richmond and go to Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant3711 No. 3 Road, 604-232-0816  www.seaharbour.com

Following is a list of the top 10 most liveable cities as ranked by The Economist:

---- 1. Vancouver, Canada

---- 2. Vienna, Austria

---- 3. Melbourne, Australia

---- 4. Toronto, Canada

---- 5. Calgary, Canada

---- 6. Helsinki, Finland

---- 7. Sydney, Australia

---- 8. Perth, Australia

---- 9. Adelaide, Australia

---- 10. Auckland, New Zealand

Finally, after years of planning and waiting.

It was amazing to see how many people can fit in the corner of Mainland and Helmcken.

The Yaletown Business Improvement Association has created this festival with I Heart VanART to showcase all that the Yaletown community has to offer and to support local arts as well.

The event which will happen from Feb. 13-27, 2010 will include three live entertainment stages one of which will be a Jazz stage outside Capones Restaurant, a fashion stage at Avant Garde Hair, hundreds of different performers and the After Dark Parade presented by Coca-Cola.

  The new AquaBus terminal is ready an operating, it is located at the end of Beach Crescent, just between The Ericson building and Livecity Yaletown. It will take you every 5 minutes to Granville Island Terminal and every 7 minutes to Stamp’s & Spyglass Terminal. The cost is $3 one way. For more info you can log into:  http://www.theaquabus.com/

I just showed this condo yesterday and I just have to share the view with you, sorry about the quality, but I used the iPhone to take the pictures.

Hi all,

We set up a volunteer recruitment page for the Made in Vancouver Festival on our website.

Direct link: http://bit.ly/bGHW8c

Just in case you might want to share it with your employees and friends.

We are looking for site ambassadors (block captains) among others to basically walk around and keep an eye on things, help out vendors (if needed), give directions, answer questions, etc.

If you know someone who would be interested, kindly forward my email and make sure they sign up before February 10^th.

Thanks!

Cheers,

Jillian Ong

Yaletown BIA
#003 - 1290 Homer Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 2Y5
Ph: 604 683-7473
Fx: 604 683-7483

http://www.yaletowninfo.com

A new statue has been installed outside of the Yaletown CandaLine Station. The title is Equestrian Monument and it was done by sculptor David Robinson, you can check out his web page at www.robinsonstudio.com

The Torch will arrive sometime around noon, at David Lam Park on Feb 12^th via dragon boat (torch bearer is summer Olympian Kamini Jain, a kayaker) to the new ferry dock at David Lam. then it will come up Drake to Hamilton, turn north onto Hamilton, run to Helmcken, zigzag to Mainland and then continue to the Stadium by 1:45 in the afternoon. This means that Hamilton will be shut by police at some point around 11:30 am before the relay arrives.

the relay involves quite a few vehicles including the Coke parade Happy 1 and Happy 2.

So bring your red mitts and Cdn Flags and your kids and friends and lets line up along the route and cheer! you can also watch it streamed live, or put this link onto your website LINK to WATCH:
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/follow-torch/index.html