Median selling price in March 2008 for a single family home was $674,000 up from $582,500 in March 2007. An attached home(townhome) median selling price in March 2008 was $449,500 down from $455,000 in March 2007. Apartment/Condo median selling price was $271,000 in March 2008 up from $248,000 in March 2007.
Total number of homes selling is down and yet overall selling prices are up.

Port Moody has now opened it's new recreation complex right next to the city hall. Go on down to check out what's new, including: weight room, aerobics, spinning classes, running track, child care center, or go to:

http://www.cityofportmoody.com/NR/exeres/F14FC3B7-49D2-45A3-82E2-D29B3D2E89B2.htm

 

A proposal to redevelop the Heritage Mountain shopping village in Port Moody is attracting intense interest -- even though it's at such an early stage in the approval process that council hasn't formally discussed it yet.

Key Choi owns the site, considered the last undeveloped parcel in NewPort Village. It's located next to the NewPort Village Market Square shopping complex on Ioco Road at Ungless Way, and contains an IGA grocery store.

Choi has applied to the city for an official community plan amendment and rezoning to allow for the construction of two highrise towers and amenities ranging from retail and office space to a daycare and pocket park.

He's also hired Romses Architects to design the proposed development and, as part of the approval process, the firm held an open house last Thursday.

Of those who attended, 224 signed in and 160 filled out feedback forms.

Scott Romses said he knew the proposal would attract a lot of interest.

"We knew it was going to be a very strong turnout because it's obviously a very important part of the community and a very high profile site," he said, adding that he wasn't expecting quite as many people to show up as did.

Staff at the firm has been going through feedback forms during the past few days, and Romses said two key concerns stand out: density and highrise towers.

"I think a lot of people don't want to see more highrise towers and a lot of people would like to see that site remain zoned lowrise," he said, "but our point of view is that it should be of a similar nature to the rest of NewPort Village."

Former Port Moody councillor Ann Hulbert, however, disagrees.

She called The NOW after attending the open house, and said there was a lineup to get inside the meeting room at the Social Recreation Centre.

"I think everybody was honestly saying the same thing, and that is, 'Enough is enough. No more highrises in that area,'" she said, adding that she originally thought the proposal was for a 28-storey tower, and was disappointed to learn that both 19- and 31-storey buildings are planned.

Hulbert said her late husband spent 19 days living at the nearby hospice, and she's concerned the noise of such a large construction project would disturb patients.

She's also worried about the impact the proposed 304 residential units could have on traffic. While she lives on the city's north shore, she already encounters traffic snarls as she drives past the site each day.

She doesn't oppose all highrises -- she was on council when the area's first towers were approved -- but says she'd prefer to see the site rebuilt with lowrise residential on top of commercial.

"The thing that really stood out to me was how angry the people were," she said of last Thursday's meeting.

"I have never, in all my 35 odd years of living in this city, ever, ever been to an open house where there were so many people in a far-too-small room getting very upset."

Whenever major developments are proposed, traffic concerns top the list

Coquitlam-Reshaping Our Economic Future

Share New Ideas- Be Part of the Solution

Join Dr. Roslyn Kunin, Economist and Andrew Ramlo, Urban Futures Institute for an evening of shared learning about the trends, opportunities and challenges facing Coquitlam's economy. Bring your expertise and ideas.

The City of Coquitlam is launching a new Intergrated Economic Development Strategy Initiative and they need your input.

March 11, 2008 7-9 PM Council Chambers at Coquitlam City Hall 3000 Guildford Way

RSVP 604-927-3406

This guide is intended to provide the most common rental requirements across the country. However, landlord-tenant laws change from time to time in every province. This guide is not intended to provide legal advice. If you require specific legal advice, contact your local rental authority or a lawyer.

Rental issues can be similar in any area of the country, but authorities may treat them differently according to provincial or territorial legislation.

For both landlord and tenant, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities. Your rental agreement or lease should cover most rules and terms, but treatment of the rules and terms in your lease may vary depending on the province or territory of the rental property. Knowing the rules for where you rent currently is crucial because the legal statutes may differ from province to province. For example, determining when a landlord can enter residential premises with or without notice differs across the country. The types of dwellings that fall under provincial or territorial tenancy legislation also varies from province to province. For example, in some provinces mobile home park residents are protected under the provincial tenancy legislation, while in others they are excluded. Equipped with the right information, both landlords and tenants will be better prepared to deal with issues that might arise.

For more information from CMHC click here:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/yogureho/index.cfm

 

Newer "tankless" water heaters heat and deliver water on demand, without storing it. Rather than holding water in a tank, they circulate it through a series of burners or electric coils that heat the water as it passes through.

Though tankless units cost more than most conventional water heaters, they're cheaper to operate because energy isn't required to maintain a large tank of hot water 24 hours a day.

Because the water heater doesn't store hot water, it never runs out-- unless, that is, the flow surpasses the unit's ability to heat it. If two people take separate showers at the same time, a tankless unit may not be able to handle the flow. Start the washing machine and they're in for a cool shower.

Although a conventional water heater delivers water at a set temperature, the output water temperature of most tankless units is dependent upon both the flow and the temperature of incoming water, which can vary greatly from one season or region to another. Capacity of a tankless water heater is measured by how many degrees it increases water temperature at a given flow, typically expressed in gallons per minute (gpm).

Because of the heat output and response time required, most (but not all) whole-house tankless heaters are gas-fired (including propane and kerosene). Smaller, single-fixture units, which may store a few gallons of water, are usually electric.

Gas-fired tankless water heaters do require venting--in fact, their flues generally must be larger than those required for conventional gas water heaters.

Like conventional water heaters, some units have power vents that allow you to exhaust gasses out a side wall; these are ideal for replacing electric water heaters where venting out the roof would be costly.

We have some sellers interested in marketing their homes without using MLS. If you would like a list of these homes just send us an email and we'll send you the list.