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Michele Talks New Development and Upcoming Web Seminar
August 2, 2022 | Posted by: Michele Cummins
Curtis Pope:
Here we are. It's time for another edition of the Cummins Real Estate Group show with myself Curtis Pope and of course, our star of the show. Michelle Cummins. Good morning, Michelle.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Good morning, Curtis. How are you this nice, hot Saturday,
Curtis Pope:
I am doing really well, but not as well as you because I understand you finally took some vacation time.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, I finally did. And I'm recording this from a hotel room. But I'm on my way home. And we'll be home today actually. And yeah, I finally did. I am. I got away to see my sister's housewarming, she is this her first detached home. And she was so excited. And it was prized. So she didn't know I was coming. And so I had a great time got to visit family first time and yeah, three years or longer.
Curtis Pope:
It's been a while. I mean, as long as we've been doing the show, I can't really remember you taking a vacation. But maybe I just have a short memory. I
Michele Cummins - PREC:
don't know. Well, because you and I are workaholics.
Curtis Pope:
I've been accused of that before. But thankfully my wife makes me take some vacation time.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah, well, you know what you some people don't need as much vacations, others. And thank goodness for our spouses and your wife for making that happen. Because you know what? Loved ones need. We need to just sometimes work aside and focus on them.
Curtis Pope:
This is very true. And that's something that I'm very fortunate because you are right, I would probably just, you know, keep working. Keep working. Keep working. I was you know, notorious. When I was younger, working in radio, to just you know, I'm taking a vacation time this year. I haven't and it's December.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Well, don't get me wrong. It is really good to work hard. I mean, get get it done. And that makes success, right? You got to put the hours in but and that's why you're so successful. And it but you do. Yeah, you do have to take some time off. So it's been fantastic. And I'm so excited. I'm so energetic to come home. And that's the other thing vacations Do they really energize you to really focus and renew your energy? I get to celebrate my birthday this weekend.
Unknown:
Oh, right. It's your 29 against birthday. That's right.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
I had a golf cart and number 29 That's why I chose the golf cart. And 29 forever. Yep, I'm happy with that.
Curtis Pope:
I like that. Yeah, there we go. Well, that's good. You know, I knew your birthday was coming up. I just remember the exact date but okay, there we go.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
And Richard and I are celebrating our catch this 24th wedding anniversary,
Curtis Pope:
man next year is the big one. Next year, next year is the silver anniversary.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Is that what it is? I was wondering you thinking about yesterday?
Curtis Pope:
Isn't 25 is silver I think although for you putting up with Richard it should be a lot higher like titanium or something.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh, I like that. That's so funny. 24 years goes by really fast.
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, me and Kelly war. We just hit 22 We're just a couple years behind you.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh, man. Remember when we were 22 and 24? Like then you think of 24 years and 20 years married? And then we did get married young though.
Curtis Pope:
Well, we were we were that young. We were young ish. But yeah, the scary thing if you really want to get down to it, you want to feel old. I have a kid that's turning 20 next month.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh, wow. Really? Yeah. Adam when you were two
Curtis Pope:
Exactly. Yeah, no, Dylan is good. I don't know how but Dylan somehow is now going to be 20 And that's just weird. I won't be able to say I have three teenagers in the house. It'd be two teenagers and a Dylan
Michele Cummins - PREC:
it goes by so quick you blink and boom like life so that's why to it's important to go on vacations right back to that
Curtis Pope:
like the Kenny Chesney song says don't blink
Michele Cummins - PREC:
oh and Yeah, exactly. Just don't you know be one of the like eyes wide open kind of people
Curtis Pope:
and of course that kind of leads into our one of our some of our topics here this this weekend because you know things do happen in a hurry and progress happens and there's a whole lot of of building apparently gonna be going on here in the Fraser Valley in the coming months and years, all getting like approvals and stuff in the last few days.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, I know. You would actually mention this that you go. Michelle, let's talk about this proposal that's been filed at the in Abbotsford for the tallest building at 31. storeys. And I think, yeah, we need to talk about it. There's a lot of development happening in our area. And so the bit One of the ones is the tallest building in Abbotsford has been proposed. And it's located on Garden Street across from Canadian Tire at you know that location very well Curtis,
Curtis Pope:
I do I know, well, it's just down the road and, and I know that there's a bunch of buildings there, there's the, there's the car lot there and stuff like that in that little area, I don't know the exact footprint to where they want to put the building. But it's interesting that Yeah, cuz they do want to do all this development around, you know, Seven Oaks shopping center as well in the coming years for more urban density and things like that. And this is just not too far from all that. So kind of showing what our community could look like in the next 510 years.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
There is the 200k plan for around the mall and such and the site actually for this proposed 31 story mixed use building. So commercial and residential is actually on the former location of where Otto mind collision repair was. So that's, that's where they're proposing to put it, where That's where they want to put it. And the project, actually Jos it does require rezoning from the service, commercial zone to a new comprehensive development zone. So all that has to go in but it has been proposed and I know a lot of people are pro development and density. And we are going to see a huge population growth. So it is important to to bring more homes in and so that's a good thing. So according to the application from David Eaton architect who's done it is the development would have 262 living units. So that's how many more homes we get. I would 859 square feet of commercial space and it's 473 square foot daycare. And I know we all use more daycare in the areas too. So yeah, so we'll see what that happens. Abbotsford. Its current tallest buildings, though, in case you don't know is a 26 storey mahogany tower on Gladwin road near mill Lake. You probably would have guessed that.
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, that is the tall you can see that one from all over Abbotsford. There's the mahogany building. Like, you know, you don't want to mill Lake is that because you can see the building?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Exactly. Yeah, I have a few clients in there. And that was completed in 2018. So it's pretty much one of the newest ones too. So if this next one is approved at 31 stories, I just wonder, you know, how much higher can they and will they go? Will we be the next Vancouver city where we are, you know, Abbotsford countries to the country in the city city in the country.
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, well, I mean, you know, we know we only have so much land and we're gonna have to start building up and you know, affordability people even though we you know, prices are coming down a smidge. It's still you know, it's still a lot of money to live in Vancouver was something in the news the other day that to buy a house in Vancouver right now you out you're making like 200k a year.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Wow. Yeah. And that's a lot. That's not a couple pennies worth, right? No,
Curtis Pope:
that's a good job.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
The project actually was approved by a five to four council vote. So it looks pretty, pretty promising. So applications can take months, though, and sometimes the years. So we'll see how it goes. And we'll watch the progress of it. Another development, we wanted to talk about it and then is one that you brought up to correct is the Cooper farmer development. Well,
Curtis Pope:
that wasn't such a big part of you know, the Cooper farm has been such a big part of the community in that big red barn for so long. And I know that the the people are very passionate about this one. You know, a lot of people don't want to see this developed, and I understand their concerns. But at the same time again, I mean, it's a big chunk of farmland in the middle of the community. And How sustainable is
Michele Cummins - PREC:
that? You know what, though, it it was approved unanimously by Abbotsford Council.
Curtis Pope:
It was this week. Yes. That because they know there's a need for for more housing in this community.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yep. So they they approved the plan to develop at 63 acres. So 63 acre farm right in the heart of Abbotsford and it was just iconic, everyone knows the red farm, like you said, and those green hills and it was beautiful, but you know, it was the perfect place to develop. So it's, there's a critical shortage of housing, in Abbotsford, and that's what drove Council's decision to approve the developments. And so, we're
Curtis Pope:
gonna think about that one, too, is from my understanding from reading about it is that the the, the woman that owned the property till she was 91 and she passed away. She actually had a say in some of the plans for this development. And if you're helping, you know, carry on that person's wishes then then how can you really you know, go against it?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Exactly. Yeah, exactly. So while she she was living, of course, it was what it was, but it's it This is 63 acres right off McCallum road. And so, Mayor Henry Braun spoke before voting and all said it was the lack of housing, not just in Abbotsford, but the wider region that drove their decisions. So, really, we all need roof over our heads and affordable homes. And so with that, you know, housing shortage and prices, we need more of it. So that's going to be a good thing. But no end of the day
Curtis Pope:
as a real estate expert on how is this gonna affect say, you know, like, the infrastructure in that area, like the roads are gonna need to be widened and worked on. I mean, there's gonna need, or the schools big enough, you know, there's a lot of questions, I guess, that come into play with these kinds of things. And so now, if people start to come to you, you know, once they're starting to build, and they say, I'm interested in these places, do you have to go and kind of do a lot of research on these kinds of things.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Actually, the city development, although city planning department, they do such an amazing job, and they knew they've known for a long time that this was going to come up eventually. So they were already making plans long before this came up to for approval, they have almost 18 acres of the 63 is going to be dedicated to the city as parkland. So that includes an improved discovery, trail alignment, to dog parks, and walking trails, it's going to be really beautiful. So it's just not going to be you know, a bunch of block housing, it's gonna look really nice.
Curtis Pope:
Very cool. Interesting. It'll be it'll be interesting to watch that all play out in the next, you know, I guess, probably three, four years. I guess they'll see how long it takes them to get that all done.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Probably longer than that.
Curtis Pope:
Well, they got to get all the building permits and all that fun stuff. Right.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Exactly. It takes to it takes a while for these things to move forward. But I know that Abbotsford is wanting it to move forward. And so hopefully, it'll come along. There won't be a lot of red tape. They're considering 40 townhomes to be in the vision of the development so a mixed type of development, so it'll be good. All righty.
Curtis Pope:
Well, the big thing I think that they'll have to do when it comes to infrastructure is you're gonna have to probably widen McMillan road.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh, for sure. That one is like you drive slow when you watch your mirrors. Yes.
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, a little even on your motorbike. It's probably a little tight in the
Michele Cummins - PREC:
shot. It's a lot of fun.
Curtis Pope:
All right, we should probably take a quick break here. If people want more information about you and what you do as a realtor, where can they go?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Michelle cummins.ca
Curtis Pope:
We're back with more right after this. She Real Estate Group shows before coming to myself Curtis Pope now, we talked about some upcoming developments that are moving forward in Abbotsford. But I understand there's also another one in Michigan, Michelle?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, the long awaited Silverdale development has been adopted. It's amazing. It's happened. It's not hearsay, it really did happen this last week, so So developers have had their eye on this area for a long, long time, almost as long as I can remember, actually, it's been over six decades. For a long time. The process has changed hands a few times events and plans have stalled and the community and council members have remained very skeptical on whether or not you know is it going to happen? Is it not going to happen? But it has been adopted. So the master plan, big master plan is now in place. So it's the guide development on eight Tene 100 acres. So I thought 63 acres in Abbotsford was a lot. This is 1800 acres and it's estimated to double the population of Michigan over the next 60 years. So we're talking like 60 year plan here, Curtis?
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, that's a big plan. And that's a long time to put it all together. And I remember it was gonna be done in stages from what I recall. But yeah, that's an ambitious project.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah, you know what? Mission is ambitious. We're, you know, an ambitious type of people,
Curtis Pope:
and must be from when you were living there.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah, of course I leave ambition everywhere I go. Okay, so Mayor Paul hoard, he said that the passing of central neighborhood plan was like poetry. Isn't that a beautiful way of saying it when you've been long awaiting something? You can't, couldn't say it any better than that. So the whole conversation this overdale urban reserve is the same age as him. 1966 is when the conversation first started, it's like the water plan and the waterfront in Michigan, it they've been talking about that forever and ever, and it still hasn't gone through. But they are much closer to it as well. So yeah, he grew up with this plan. And so he's excited to see that it's finally been approved. So the master plan. Since 2020, it's served as a living document. And where people have had their say, and has been able to look at it, they've been changing it. And it's really, it was a guide for the future land use in the area. So when you had asked about infrastructure in Abbotsford, so same thing with this, they always knew what's going to happen. So they were always preparing for it. And you know, making changes along the way is a certain one off, apply for development and things like that, just to keep making sure it's part of their greater plan that they're planning on. So 37% of the area, but 675 acres will remain in its natural state and another 6% will be dedicated as park space. So that's another 114 acres. Sounds like a lot. But again, 1800 acres in total is is what we're looking at. So
Curtis Pope:
that would be things like green belts and things like that, as well as parks.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, you got it. And this is great news for those who have an area that may or may be thinking of selling, because there's going to be some great development in the area. If you're looking for something long term forever and ever. You're you're wanting forever home and acreage and you don't want any development around you anywhere, then maybe that's not the place to buy unless you actually want to sell to possibly a developer in the future. You know, this is a long term plan again, it'll be it'll be a while. But this one's going to kind of be sporadic, probably in a little bit here a little bit there. It's going to be long term 3% of the area, which is 54 acres will be used for public spaces like elementary schools and fire halls, public works yard community centers, all those things you think about. So there's three elementary schools, and I know you had mentioned that Curtis and we were children. It's something you definitely think about one of the most biggest buying incentives is good schools in the area and for families. So there's three elementary schools, three community parks, two civic centers, and over 10,400 homes are envisioned for the area. So you know, do I want to be a realtor in the Michigan Abbotsford area come in the near future and forever? Yes, I do. I love our area. So and I love bringing people from the outside of this area into our area, because it's so exciting to explain to them our community, where it comes from where it's at. And we're it's going in the future. So yeah, very excited about that plan. And so is the staff at at this at the city. So
Curtis Pope:
absolutely. And now mission is a city right as they got city city designation, what just last year?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, it is. It is now the city of Michigan, Michigan City. You got it? And yeah, so that's very exciting. So that's probably the three biggest developments in our vicinity and area. But further onto that, if you're interested polygon homes, became the largest landowners in Silverdale in 2017, some history there and they bought 710 acres of Genstar development company which decided to end its development plans for the area in 2015. Do you remember that?
Curtis Pope:
I do. Yeah, that
Michele Cummins - PREC:
was big news. Big news. I guess there was some, you know, from Gemstar development down in San Diego and appears anyways that that was huge story, and polygon homes. This is gonna be really good because they're really, really great. And I'm really looking forward to the start of it. And I've got a really beautiful lakefront property there on silver mirror, lake for sale right now if anybody's interested in the lakefront home in that area. So yeah, so that's the stories about the three biggest developments that are happening in the area. I wanted to actually mention that. I have a special seminar coming up next month, August, which is just around the corner, but the reason I'm bringing it up, it's a seller's seminar. It's on August 18 at 7pm and put the market in your calendars And the reason this is so important is because right now with the shift of the market and how it's been, let's say falling or dropping, or adjusting or whatever whatever word you want to use for it, it is then a major shock for sellers and I'm going to share how do you sell in the best for the highest price possible quickest amount of time in this type of market, not only me, but but other professionals are going to join me. And so that's going to be August 18 at 7pm and it is a great market to sell and it really is you just have to be sharp and know exactly what steps you need to take. And me your realtor needs to take in order to make sure you make the most money in this type of market. And on the other side of that coin is being a buyer it is a great time to buy as an investor to invest to buy for your primary residence it is a great time to buy so house it'd be a great time to buy and sell at the same time. Well I will explain that at the seminar. And it is true so now as prices are dropping, you know just like the stock market when it drops isn't a great time to buy the you don't want to be the fearful one that tries to pull out and then and then and then what do you do? It's for longevity unless you need that equity to purchase something else. And and move forward with your life and plans. So, so more about that on August 18. And I wanted to give an attention to realtors out there because I have a listing that has catches Curtis Have you ever heard of this $100,000 bonus for selling one of my listings, certain listing on my $100,000
Curtis Pope:
bonus for selling a listing?
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, I have a very amazing special one of a kind unique, so much value in this beautiful property, a specific one, and it is giving Realtors $100,000 Bonus now share that how you do with that what you will, how you want to what you want to do with it. But all realtors out there. So now I'm giving 100 as a call me, contact me for more information and I will give you the information of that listing I'm speaking of. So
Curtis Pope:
hold on one second. I'm just trying to get see what I gotta do to get my real estate license.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Oh my goodness, well, I'll help you with that. You know, I'm a I'm a certified mentor. I'd love to mentor you, Curtis while you're while you're hosting while you're doing radio.
Curtis Pope:
Well for 100k You know, I'm like how can I get my license is the question.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yes, you absolutely can. And you know before you get your license, you want at least six months of living expenses ready to go so that you can focus on real estate sales. So
Curtis Pope:
yes, that might be a problem.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Well $100,000 Bonus
Curtis Pope:
that's true. If I can just sell that right out the gate that would be would be fine. Okay.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
So I'm talking about listings. So one of my listings new listings here I'm going to share to I don't have any open houses this weekend everyone so you know stay in and stay cool or go to the Agra fair and see Curtis
Curtis Pope:
Yeah, sure swing by Agra fair this weekend and in the heat and and have some fun. I mean, hey, there's lots of ways to cool down there and there's all kinds of food trucks and animals and concerts and all kinds of fun stuff.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
And I love it. I love the agriaffaires So one of the new listings is a triple garage with a new carriage house on top and this is an oversized, beautiful triple garage. I mean I would do my nails and have a pedicure and that's how nice this this I was going to call it a spa This is triple garage is this property is it 689 to low heat highway out in Agassi and it is a two story plus basement walkout basement home that is very shabby chic home. It was built in 1909 and the carriage home just literally in the last few years at Scott wood staircase. It's chandeliers clawfoot tub this place is so gorgeous. And the yard is so large and it's fully fenced and there's so many bells and whistles to this gorgeous property. It's almost 3000 square feet. The main house is four bedrooms, three bathrooms and is $1.5 million. So that's the new listing. And then my other New Listing is in mission. Austin aka terrace and this one is a stunning 5000 square foot two story with basement at home in a cul de sac. So that one has seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. Yes, of course it has a suite and it's over 5000 square feet. I already said that. So that was priced that though 1,540,000 So those are the two new listings. You'll find that on my website and I wanted to mention too though, I've got to rent I've got two rentals coming up actually right now available in Agassi. So if you're looking for a three bedroom rental with a fully fans Large yard I've got the place for you give me a call contact me and or if you want a two bedroom basement suite with again, a large fenced yard and a good sized shed contact me. I got those two available right now and it's got new paint and flooring. It's nice. Both sets separate laundry. So there we go. Oh quote of the week occurred and
Curtis Pope:
yeah, we gotta get a quarter the weekend here.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Yeah, okay. So, listen to this year's Open. When one door closes, another door opens. But we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the ones which are open for us. And that is true word from Alexander Graham Bell.
Curtis Pope:
Absolutely. Although us it's because I've got like my shirt stuck in the closed door and I can't get away from it. But that's just me and my luck.
Michele Cummins - PREC:
Well keep that horseshoe, the right side up.
Curtis Pope:
Exactly. I like that. All right, well, if people want more information about the listings you've talked about and things like that, where can they go without coming back? And join us again next week when we will talk real estate in order to unlock your real estate potential on the show where real estate is maximized. Thanks for listening
If you missed last week's episode where we replay our episode of Michele going over rental rates for 2021, please go take a listen! It's well worth it!