Fifty Shades of Grey has turned the UBC campus into Washington State University for a few days to shoot the graduation scene for the movie.  WSU banners are up all along Crescent Road and Main Mall area by the Frederic Wood Theatre.

Photos from yvrshoots.com 

For November 2013, a total of 15 units of strata properties, i.e. condos and townhouses, were sold in UBC.  This is an increase from the 12 units that sold in October.

Of the 15 units that sold last month, 1 was a 1-bedroom home, 8 were 2-bedroom homes, and 6 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

Saturday December 14, 2013 from 12 noon - 3 pm

Two new Translink Community Shuttle routes in UBC will begin their scheduled service on December 16, 2013.  The new service, to replace the existing C20 and C22 routes, offers an improved schedule and increased coverage of campus, creating stronger connections between amenities and attractions, neighbourhoods, and student residences. 

The new routes:

• C18 - running counterclockwise from the UBC Bus Loop to West Mall, close to student residences (C18 schedule).
• C20 - running clockwise from the UBC Bus Loop to Marine Drive, maintaining service to the UBC Botanical Gardens and St. John Hospice (C20 schedule).

Both routes will:

• Run every 30 minutes
• Provide service through South Campus to UBC Farm and Wesbrook Village
• Be marked with bus stop signs

Please note that there will be an interim detour of the C18 route from West Mall to Lower Mall during Ponderosa Phase II construction.

For detailed information, scheduling and maps on these route changes, please visit the TransLink website.

You're walking on Main Mall and find something odd.  The Martha Piper Plaza fountain is not running. You come up closer and find this...

What do you do?

Hockey! How many people can say they've skated the Martha Piper? - as of today 2

One of the many benefits of living on campus, listening to a few top notch UBC professors talk science at the annual Faraday Science Show.  The free event is designed for children of all ages and presented by the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and the Department of Chemistry. This year's theme was the Physics & Chemistry of the Human Body!

If you and your kids enjoy the Science World hourly live shows, you will have fun here too, and these are lectured by UBC faculty professors.

Check out photos from this year's show, held today, December 8 at the UBC Point Grey Campus in Hebb Theatre (2045 East Mall).

For October 2013, a total of 12 units of strata homes, i.e. condos and townhomes, were sold in UBC.  This is a decrease from the 23 units that sold in September.

Of the 12 units that sold last month, 2 were 1-bedroom homes, 5 were 2-bedroom homes, and 5 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

For September 2013, a total of 23 units of strata properties, i.e. condos and townhouses, were sold in UBC.  This is a decrease from the 26 units that sold in August.

Of the 23 units that sold last month, 7 were 1-bedroom homes, 8 were 2-bedroom homes, and 8 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

On September 28th and 29th, 2:00 - 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at Pariz on Dunbar at 3611 W 18th Ave unit #307 in the Dunbar VW neighborhood, Vancouver. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent 2 Bedroom and 2 Bathroom Condo for sale in beautiful Dunbar VW, conveniently located near the UBC campus.

Please do not hesitate to give me a call at if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Len Diaz
Royal Pacific Realty

For August 2013, a total of 26 units of strata homes, i.e. condos and townhomes, were sold in UBC.  This is an increase from the 20 units that sold in July.

Of the 26 units that sold last month, 5 were 1-bedroom homes, 16 were 2-bedroom homes, and 5 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

Improved confidence in the global economy renews focus on growth in real estate sector

Eighty-five percent of real estate industry executives say the global economy is improving or stable, and Canada is poised to benefit from that optimistic outlook, according to EY's Global Capital Confidence Barometer: Real Estate, Hospitality and Construction.

Emerging markets, including India, China, Qatar and Chile, led the pack of countries poised for real estate investment in the next 12 months, with Canada following closely in fifth.

“Confidence is returning to the sector as credit availability and strong industry fundamentals create a more stable foundation for deal-making," says Krista Blaikie, EY’s National Real Estate leader. “Companies that were focused on maintaining stability and operational efficiency are now shifting gears and looking ahead at new investment opportunities.”

Overall, respondents’ optimism is up considerably from 53% one year ago.

“Investors are looking beyond the developed world — with the exception of Canada — and focusing their investment strategies in emerging markets with immense growth potential,” says Blaikie. “Canada, on the other hand, continues to attract the attention of investors searching for a stable political and economic environment not found in the Eurozone.”

Those ready to transact in the year ahead are focused on smaller deals, with 64% of companies expecting the majority of deals to fall between US$51m and US$500m.

“Making the most of transaction opportunities, whether small or large, depends on a thorough understanding of the local market, regulatory environment and culture. Those that perform thorough due diligence and select the right partners will be best positioned for sustainable growth,” says Blaikie.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.