MLS notables

[Dylan Leblanc]

I'm starting this thread so we can post interesting properties listed for sale. Anybody else like browsing the MLS? http://www.mls.ca/

[Dylan Leblanc]

Here is a vacent lot in Fernwood right by Vic High. I saw it listed two weeks ago at $399,000, and now it's at $370,000. Interesting location, right beside a park and with a dead end street on either side of the property

http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5289868


Another lot in Vic West for $190,000. It's a very small triangular shape which was the side yard of another house.

http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5387842

[G-Man]

That first one seems a little high for a lot. There are houses in that range in Fernwood already.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Its actually the size of two lots, though it could probably be broken up into even more small lots, or a small strata developnent.

[G-Man]

So the two lots are 5500 sqft or each lot is 5500 sqft? It does not say. If it is 11 000 sqft in Fernwood than that is a good seal if it is just 5500 sqft than that is not a good deal.

[Dylan Leblanc]

It's the width of two lots, but not as deep as a lots usually are. There is no room for a backyard if two houses were built on the lot, but it's about the same size as two of the lots that are across the street from it.

[Holden West]

^Wasn't that the property the subject of some controversy last year regarding tree removal?

[Dylan Leblanc]

As far as I can remember the property has remained virtually the same for over 10 years.

[Urbalist]

Originally Posted by Holden West

^Wasn't that the property the subject of some controversy last year regarding tree removal?

The tree property is on Balmoral, but just east of Cook. To the left of the 'B" in 'Balmoral. I believe a 3 storey walkup. I think the trees still stand.

[Dylan Leblanc]

This is the cheapest condo for sale in the city: http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5289306

445 sqft bachelor on Cloverdale, $118,000. It was first listed late last year at 120,000. I actually went and took a look at it but the place has a lousy floorplan - way too much storage space. There could have been much more living space if it wern't for all the walk in closets. This is the building that had another bachelor listed at $85,000 last summer.

[Holden West]

Wow--I'm sure that building has had the slowest value increase of any building in town. Mortgage payments on that would be about $700 a month. It looks nicely updated inside. In fact, I'd say it's not much worse than a lot of recent sub-500 sq. ft. construction that goes for twice as much.

I recall the 1970s two storey condos just a block over on Alder being about the same price per sq. ft--maybe cheaper.

[Dylan Leblanc]

That building also has the cheapest two bedroom units in town. Its actually a fairly unique building, not just a typical four floor stucco 70s job. The building is O-shaped around a landscaped courtyard which gives walk up access to the homes. Apartments are either bachelors or two level two bedroom condos. The place looks fairly run down though and is not aesthetically pleasing. Some of the units even have views.

[Holden West]

I looked at that place back in '89 when it was selling for around $80,000 I think for a 2 B. I was impressed by the unique layout and the walk-up design but the building was too shabby, even for a poor bachelor like me.

[Galvanized]

This place was a rental when I was in elementary school back in the early 80's.

[Holden West]

So were the Victorian I and II condos just a few doors down.

I think there was a real estate crash in the early 80s when a lot of condos under construction turned rental for a few years until the market heated up and they were turned back into condos in the late 80s.

[Dylan Leblanc]

This building on Hillside has just had a unit listed at $130,000, the cheapest one bedroom in town.

http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5422927



I've also seen the five room doctors office on the ground floor of the building up for sale recently.

Or how about this new building going up by Hillside mall - http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5288752

[Holden West]

That top one used to have units selling for well under $50 grand back in the 90s. I had a stoner acquaintance that used to live there. He sold it to a buddy that cleaned it up and immediately flipped it and doubled his money.

Here's the second condo:

http://www.thepearlonhillside.com/

[aastra]

The setbacks on Hillside seem to increase with every new building. Can't say I like the trend. It's interesting that the very old building kittycorner to Fat Choy Market has no setback at all.

[G-Man]

I agree it seems like hillside is the one road where the condo design sensibilities of the 60 and 70s reign supreme.

[Holden West]

Remember in 1990 when Manley Bing Eng went on an arson spree and set 20 fires in that area? A condo project near The Pearl across the street burned to the ground and was rebuilt.

[G-Man]

No that is before my time in this fair city...

[Holden West]

He was a weird guy--a panty thief; lived in his mom's basement, of course. People were pretty freaked out because they never knew if their house was next. He wrote a poem about it (which didn't help his parole chances):

I like to set a fire

It fills me with desire

But some people, it fills with fear

They consistently worry I might be near

To watch a house go up in flames

It gives me one hell of a high.

[Next two lines were indecipherable]

But now I'm sitting in jail

Wondering if I'll make bail

But if I get time in the [blank]

You can bet my next match won't fail.

[G-Man]

Sounds like an amateur I mean one would think that matches are passe. Perhaps he is an old school arsonist and did not want to move on to more sophisticated devices.

[Holden West]

No, his modus operandi was a gas-filled baggie tied inside a paper bag. The Hillside townhouse was at the tar-paper stage when it went up.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Originally Posted by Dylan Leblanc

Here is a vacent lot in Fernwood right by Vic High. I saw it listed two weeks ago at $399,000, and now it's at $370,000. Interesting location, right beside a park and with a dead end street on either side of the property

http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5289868

This lot is now down to $325,000!


And the new cheapest condo in the city, another bachelor unit in the Cloverdale building for $113,000 - http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx? ... ID=5492141