Sooke Community and Real Estate Blog 642Blog.ca

Welcome to a new series on the 642Blog, Life in Sooke. The idea for the series came to me as I was out for a run the other day – I thought it would be fun to carry my video camera a little more often and shoot video of Sooke and the surrounding area to give visitors and potential new residents an idea of what it’s like to live here.

This month has been one of the wettest, stormiest Novembers I can remember. It seems there has been non-stop stormy weather, with one system after another pounding the coast with strong winds and heavy rain. Today it looked like we were having a break in the weather, so Marg and I decided to take the dog and head up West Coast Road (Hwy 14) for a little adventuring. We’d hoped to do some beachcombing and I had hoped to capture some nice images on my camera.

We had planned to stop in at Point-no-Point Resort for lunch – something we’d been meaning to do for a long time – Jason from DiscoverSooke.com and Inktvis Creative has been raving about it. Along the way it became apparent that this morning’s calm was only the eye of the storm, as we could feel the wind buffeting the car as we cruised along the road. By the time we got to Point-no-Point, the rain had resumed and was flying sideways.

We had an amazing lunch in the restaurant – overlooking the beach below, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and – if we could see them – the Olympic Mountains. The food was great, service friendly, and prices very reasonable. Because the weather had turned even worse, we just decided to hike for a half hour or so along the trails that run about the resort property (available to cottage and restaurant guests). Below is a video I shot of the waves and wind pounding the shores as we watched in amazement. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a stormy winter day, Point-no-Point is a great destination for lunch and a hike. If you’re looking for an overnight romantic getaway, the resort or one of the many other oceanside B&B’s and inns would love to have you!

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or subscribe to this blog for free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tagged: BC | beach | hike | Life In Sooke | point-no-point | resort | sea | Sooke | storms | Vancouver island | watching | waves | weather | wind

Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina - photo by Jason van der Valk

Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina is a beautiful oceanside resort development located in the heart of Sooke, British Columbia. Sooke is a small seaside community on the southwest tip of Vancouver Island, about a 45-minute drive away from Victoria.

The development was completed in 2006, and since then, 70% of the project has been sold. The developers recently engaged the team at Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty in Sooke to market the remaining units. They felt that our local representation and the strength of the MLS® would be the key to getting the rest of the project sold.

The Resort is unique in Sooke in that you can own a whole unit, or choose a fractional ownership option of one quarter or one eighth share, depending on your budget and your needs. I currently hold the listing for unit 145, which is for sale at an amazing price of $399,900. I can also sell quarter shares at $125,000, or eighth shares at $64,000. Fractional ownership is whole ownership of a part of the property. It is not the same as timeshare. With timeshare, you do not own anything and are not registered on the title to the property. With fractional ownership, you are the registered owner of the property, along with the other owners. An agreement is put in place for use of the property, and there is a rotation ensuring that each owner gets his or her share of prime time in the unit.

All the units at Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina come fully furnished and equipped, and have an on-site management team who will take care of all maintenance, interior and exterior. You simply show up to your vacation getaway, and it is exactly as you left it before. If you wish, you can also place your townhouse in the rental pool, and earn income when you’re not using the property!

Unit 145 has stunning panoramic views of Sooke Harbour and Basin, the Strait of Juan De Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains. It has about 1140 square feet of luxury living space, two balconies, two bedrooms and two full baths. The floor plan is well thought out and functional.

Sooke Harbour, looking towards Whiffen Spit and East Sooke

Salmon and halibut fishing is outstanding in Sooke, and this year has so far been the best in recent memory. Sooke fishing charters can be arranged right from the comfort of your vacation getaway home, or launch your own boat from the ramp. Book a scenic and exciting tour with a local Sooke whale watching company, right on site. Kayak rentals are also available, to explore the placid waters of the Harbour and Basin. Be sure to check out the new photo art gallery by local photographer and graphic designer, Jason van der Valk of Discover Sooke.

This is truly a great opportunity for an easy, accessible, and affordable vacation home or investment property. This is the only such development in Sooke, which is fast becoming the place to be on southern Vancouver Island.

Please see the listing page on my website for more information and pictures. Call me any time at 250-885-0512, email Tim@TimAyres.ca or fill in my contact form to ask questions or book your personal tour.

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or subscribe to this blog for free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Tagged: Condo | fractional ownership | harbor | harbour | investment | marina | property | rental | resort | Sooke | timeshare | Townhouse | vacation | Vancouver island | Victoria

A large patio is one reason ground level condos are more expensive

In my continuing series about strata property, Strata Mondays, I answer a different question about condos, townhouses and other strata property in Victoria, Sooke, and British Columbia. Make sure you subscribe via RSS or E-mail to get each new post!

Q. I was looking at a new condominium project and I noticed that the same floor plan was available on all four floors, but the top and ground level were more expensive. Top floor I understand, but why would somebody pay more for a ground level suite?

A. This is very common – all other things equal, the top and ground floors of a condominium building will typically see higher sale prices per square foot. Most people can understand why somebody would pay more for a top-floor condo. A better view, and no noisy neighbours from above are a couple of reasons. Top-floor condos also often have extra-high ceilings or even lofts, skylights, and so on.

But when many people think of ground-level suites, the immediate concern is always security. Being ground level, an undesirable doesn’t have to break in the front door or scale the outside of the building to break in. Some ground level suites are also somewhat below grade, so lack of light can be a concern.

However, there are also significant advantages to a ground level suite. You may see the term garden-level suite, which as the name suggests, emphasizes one of theses advantages. Ground or garden-level suites often come with extra large patios and sometimes even a fenced courtyard. Lack of outdoor space is one of the biggest drawbacks to condo living. It’s possible to have a thriving, lush, beautiful garden with a large patio perfect for entertaining with a ground-level suite. This also enables you to walk up to your home and enter through the patio door if you desire.

Another advantage is that being on the ground level, you won’t have any neighbours below you to disturb, so you can probably install hard surface flooring such as wood or tile. It’s not uncommon for strata councils to have by-laws in place to prohibit units above the ground floor from having hard surface floors, since noise is more easily transmitted to the unit below.

So, it’s for all these reasons that ground-level suites are often more expensive than similar-sized ones on the between floors in low-rise buildings. High-rise buildings would be a different story – with prices increasing as you go higher in the building.

If you have a question about strata property, or any other real estate matter, please e-mail me at Tim@TimAyres.ca. I can also be reached by phone at 250-885-0512

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or subscribe to this blog for free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 10% [?]

Tagged: condos | expensive | garden level | ground level | more | prices | Sooke | Strata | townhouses | Vancouver island | Victoria

What the hell? I leave the Island for 10 days and it falls apart on me?

I got back on late Sunday night from a week in Mexico to attend my cousin’s wedding and generally unplug from the world for awhile. On that note, an all-inclusive resort with 40 friends and family and really expensive internet connections is a great stress reliever. Before that I spent a couple days on the mainland with (different) friends and (same) family to ring in the new year (kinda lame) and go skating at Richmond’s fabulous new Olympic Speedskating Oval (totally sweet).

So, being unplugged for a week (well, that and not being geographically co-located with the weather system) caused me to miss most of the weather chaos. It would suck to live in Port Renfrew about now, what with the main highway being washed out and all. Sooke Road (aka Provincial Highway 14), for those not in the know, is a complete disaster all the way along. Sooke Potholes no longer refers to the swimming hole on the Sooke River, but I bet there are some on the road big enough to swim in. I managed to ruin a perfectly good rim and tire on my car by hitting a huge one on Tuesday evening. Mainroad Contracting is going to get a nice letter.

Tonight, the kind folks from the Provincial Emergency Program were at the Sooke Council Chambers to offer information and applications to residents who suffered uninsured damage to their homes during 6-8 January, 2009.

Can somebody please explain to me why gas prices have increased by $0.15 while oil prices have decreased to below $40/bbl again? Somebody is gouging, I don’t care what they say.

Last night I attended, with the other directors of the Victoria Real Estate Board, the Canadian Home Builders Association Crystal Ball event, which featured several economists and our Board President, Chris Markham, giving their outlook on the economy and the housing markets for 2009. It was a good event, but obviously a heavy topic. I can’t imagine too many home builders that are thrilled about the recent slowdown in real estate sales.

Über-pessimist economist David Hobden of Central 1 Credit Union gave a grim forecast for 2009 (and 2010 somewhat), stating that the Island and Coast region are already in recession, and will remain so. He forecasts housing value to drop by 10 per cent in 2009. Hobden appeared to want to be anywhere but in that room last night, and his body language screamed doom, gloom, and defeat – it was painful to watch.

Jock Finlayson, BC Business Council executive vice president of policy was slightly more optimistic, and a much better speaker. He delivered his not-exactly-rosy forecast with levity and looked as if he enjoyed informing the room, which he had laughing on many occasions – and his visuals were way easier to read and understand. Finlayson explained that 2009 will be a difficult year, but by mid-year, credit conditions that are slowing the business cycle should improve, along with the U.S. economy, and 2010 should be a much better year. He forecasts housing starts (new construction) to be down by 40 or 50 per cent. Finlayson did a great job of explaining where all this mess came from and how Canada is better positioned to spend its way out of this recession via deficit budgets. Another positive point came in the fact that job losses will not likely be as sharp as in previous recessions because the demographics of recent years (families having fewer children and later in life, and people nearing retirement) will keep heavy losses in check – I’m sure you realize how tight labour markets have been up until a few months ago.

Victoria Real Estate Board 2009 President Chris Markham explained that while sales are slowing, it’s hard to compare 2008 to 2007 because it was an exceptionally strong year. This was emphasized by CMHC market analyst Travis Archibald showing that 2008 sales were actually very close to the 15-year average. The same goes for housing starts. They fell by a large percentage in 2008 over 2007, but are in-line with the historical averages. CMHC will be releasing its full outlook next month.

I think that Vancouver Island, and in particular, Victoria will fare better than the rest of the province, as we have a diversified economy, and stable major employers such as government and military. As for housing, it’s opportunity time out there. Buyers have their choice of many properties, and many would-be first-time buyers from the last few years, priced out by the rapidly increasing prices, will be looking at re-entering the hunt.

So, all in all, maybe the Island isn’t falling apart exactly, and I’m glad to be back. I’m optimistic about 2009, and we’re all in this together, so you might as well be optimistic too.

It’s all you can do.

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or subscribe to this blog for free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 17% [?]

Tagged: 2008 | 2009 | BC | chba | crystal ball | economic outlook | economy | flooding | Forecast | gas prices | housing | Market | Real Estate | recession | Sooke Potholes | Vancouver island | VREB

Last night, as I was lying in bed, the wind came up and buffeted the coast all night. It’s a sure sign that fall is upon us and winter is on the way. Having always lived in coastal areas, I thought I knew what wind storms were all about.

I was wrong.

Photo Credit: Zero-X on Flickr

Since moving to Sooke 3 and a half years ago from the mainland, I’ve come to realize how much the mainland is protected from the Pacific storms that rock the Island, and particularly, its west coast.

That’s not to say that Vancouver and area don’t get their share of wind off the Strait of Georgia; look what happened in late 2006 and early 2007 in Stanley Park – they’re still cleaning it up.

But I remember that night in December 2006 in Sooke. I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, especially after the power went out and the only sound I could hear was the wild wind (which topped 140 km/h in some areas of Sooke) blowing down trees and ripping shingles off my roof. I was lucky, I lost a few shingles. Others weren’t so fortunate; at least 3 families lost their homes after huge fir trees blew on top of them. The Glenidle By The Sea condo complex lost part of its roof. I awoke to what looked like a disaster zone. Trees down everywhere. Power, phone, cable, you name it – if it came to Sooke via wire, it was down.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a windy winter in Sooke or other coastal areas:

- Get a generator. You will probably lose your power at some point this winter. Usually it’s not long, but some areas of Sooke were without power (and for many on wells with an electric pump, water) for over a week in that storm. I have several clients that have an integrated natural gas-fired generator that will power the whole house. Expensive? yes, but a simple gas generator that will enable you to see at night won’t break the bank.

- Along the same lines: Have a non-electric source of cooking. One thing that sticks in my mind about the morning after that storm is the lack of caffeinated glory that comes from my morning coffee. Without power I was unable to feed the addiction. I could have boiled water on the barbeque, I guess, but what good would that be when my coffee is in bean form and my grinder is electric? I’m not proud to admit it, but I was considering grinding beans by hand hammer and/or eating them. Nowhere in Sooke was open for coffee and the road was blocked by many trees. I now keep a small container of ground coffee in the freezer for emergencies.

- Most homes in Sooke have some sort of fireplace – be it gas or wood-burning, but it will come in handy in the storms. I spent much of the day huddled close to the gas fireplace (it works better with electricity to power the blower) with my freezing dog. Stock up on wood or fill the propane tank if you’re not on natural gas.

- Have basic repair supplies and equipment on hand. I mentioned I lost some shingles. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any replacements and our otherwise extremely well-stocked Home Hardware didn’t carry the type of shingles I needed. Tarps, rope, plywood, plastic sheeting would all be handy for emergency repairs. A chainsaw would been useful too.

- Pitch in and help your neighbours. This is key; We’re all in this together. The strength of a community truly comes out in times of trouble. Got a chainsaw? Go clear the roads and driveways (bonus: free firewood!). Spare room or two? Help somebody whose home has been damaged. Or give a cup of coffee to a caffeine-starved REALTOR/blogger. You get the idea – can’t watch TV or blog, so you might as well get out there and pitch in.

What about you? What are your tips for fellow readers to survive the winter windstorms?

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or subscribe to this blog for free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 12% [?]

Tagged: autumn | coastal | Fall | generator | glenidle | outage | power | storm | tips | Vancouver island | wind | windy | winter

In this morning’s Times Colonist newspaper, there was an article about Island Timberlands‘ plans to log an area

Photo Credit: EverySpoon on Flickr

which borders world-famous Cathedral Grove, home to some of the oldest, largest trees on the Island. Because it is so accessible (Highway 4 goes right through it), Cathedral Grove, in MacMillan Provincial Park, has become the most famous forest in Canada, drawing thousands of visitors from around the world (there’s even a Swedish website about it).

I’m not anti-logging. Logging supported my family a few generations ago, and I know it supports many BC families to this day. Trees are a renewable resource, thankfully.

But seriously. Come on. Near Cathedral Grove?

Island Timberlands says that the viewscape will be unaffected, and plans to remove the timber (some of it old-growth) from its lands by helicopter. Chainsaws and other logging equipment will be audible in the park, which is somewhat unsettling. What would the tourists think?

There are lots of trees on the Island, and plenty of mature second-growth forests for Island Timberlands to log which won’t anger people and endanger one of the true natural wonders of this province. Old-growth trees risk damage to their root systems from erosion, which can cause them to blow down when logging occurs near them.

Stay away from the Grove, please.

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or get free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 14% [?]

Tagged: BC | cathedral grove | forest | Island Timberlands | logging | MacMillan | old growth | trees | Vancouver island

Last Saturday, we took a day trip with another couple up to Port Renfrew. About a 45 minute drive from Sooke, Port Renfrew is a beautiful little spot, and is basically the “last stop” on the highway along this part of the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Well known for halibut and salmon fishing, as well as the southern terminus of the West Coast Trail, Port Renfrew is the West coast in the raw. Wild, rough, and breathtakingly beautiful (knew a girl like that once… )

Our first stop was Botany Bay and Botanical Beach. The tide was dropping, so it was a good time for a hike through the rainforest (it was sunny) to the shoreline. Upon arriving at the rugged, windswept coastline, we were treated to a show by three or four grey whales, which were basking in the water no more than ten metres offshore! I chose the wrong lens to bring along – my wide angle – which makes for some great scenic shots, but not very good shots of the whales. We walked along the coastline of the bay, taking in the warm Fall weather and watching the waves crash against the shore. I snapped a few pictures, and narrowly avoided being soaked by a wave or two.

Jagged Coastline around Botany Bay

Ultra-green seaweed in the tidepools

I love rocks, and the geology of Port Renfrew’s beaches is amazing. Lots of igneous (volcanic) rock around the shoreline, combined with sedimentary rock scattered about. The tidepools at Botanical Beach and Botany Bay are famous for having lots of life in them. Unlike many tidepools, which are only refreshed when the tide comes in, the tidepools here are flushed regularly by the strong waves and currents, even when the tide is out in some cases. This keeps the water fresh and their inhabitants alive.

Life in the tidepools

Amazing rock formations

Tidepools and rock formations

After leaving the beaches and the park, we took the new road from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan. The last time I drove this road, it was nearly all gravel and was quite rough on my car. It’s nearly all paved now, and it was a quick 25-30 minute drive to Cowichan from Renfrew. Along the way we stopped to marvel at the Harris Creek Spruce, a giant old-growth spruce tree that is simply amazing. It’s apparently one of the largest trees on the Island.

You can't tell how big it is from this picture!

Our day completed with an awesome dinner and a beer in Duncan, at Craig Street Brew Pub. If there are any entrepreneurs in Sooke reading, we need a brew pub!

A quick drive down the Malahat and back to Sooke completed our circle tour. I highly reccomend you try out the new road. I think the next time I go camping up around Lake Cowichan, I’ll take the road from Renfrew. It’s got to be just as quick if not faster, and there would be less traffic.

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or get free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 10% [?]

Tagged: BC | botanical beach | botany bay | circle drive | cowichan | day trips | duncan | harris creek | photos | pictures | Port Renfrew | Vancouver island | waves | whales

Well? What do you? Use the comments box/link below! You don’t have to be from Sooke to voice your opinion.

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or get free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Tagged: BC | name | Sooke | Vancouver island

One of the most highly anticipated events of the year in Sooke is the Sooke Fine Arts show. The premier juried art exhibition on Vancouver Island runs this year starting July 26th at 10:00am until August 4th. The event attracts many local Sooke artists, as well as other talented creators from around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Painting, sculpture, pottery, mixed media and more will be represented.

There is a special purchaser’s preview night on Thursday, July 24th for those who don’t want to miss out on special, unique pieces.

The 10-day event will feature over 350 pieces, and will have events for seniors such as afternoon tea, events for kids such as the “art for kids” art scavenger hunt, and even an evening of ballroom dancing. There will be musical entertainment throughout the festival, too.

New this year is the Artist in Attendance program, where one or more of the exhibited artists will be on hand demonstrating their skills and technique.

A raffle and a silent auction will also be held.

Tickets are $7 for adults (one day), $5 for seniors (one day) or $10 for the week. Kids under 12 are free. The special purchaser’s preview night costs $25 and you must reserve in advance. Call 250-642-7256.

The SEAPARC recreation centre is located on Philips road. Take Hwy 14 to Sooke, go over the bridge and turn right at the red and white lighthouse (the first traffic lights). SEAPARC will be on your left as you pass the museum. See the Google Map below:

View Larger Map

-Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged!
Just use the form or link below this post.

You can bookmark this post using the button below,
or get free updates using the big buttons on the sidebar!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Tagged: 2008 | arts | crafts | fine | local art | paintings | pottery | sculpture | show | Sooke | Vancouver island

Like This:

This past Sunday, some friends and I got together for a hike up Mount Finlayson, in Goldstream Provincial Park. In what seemed like the first sunny day in months, all were anxious to get outside and enjoy one of the best reasons to live in this part of the country. The temperature was a mild 10°C – I was in a short-sleeved T-shirt, the sun was shining, and everyone we met along the path seemed to have a big smile on his or her face.

At last check, it was -13 in Toronto, and -28 in Winnipeg. [Warning: Obligatory smug British Columbian remark to follow:] But not to worry Manitobans, it’s predicted to “warm up” to -3 in the next couple of days.

Having grown up on the coast, I can’t fathom how cold a “real” Canadian winter is. I feel lucky to live in this wonderful part of the country where it’s never too cold in the winter or hot in the summer. Two of the members of our group on Sunday came from Winnipeg a few years ago, and are likely to be posted to another military base this year. Understandably, they’d rather not.

-Tim Ayres

Popularity: 9% [?]

Tagged: BC | hiking. | Mount Finlayson | Vancouver island | Victoria | winter