Real Estate Blog for Buyers & Sellers

Your Lower Mainland and BC REALTOR® for home, investment & life!

Michele has Stats, Assessments and a Tribute to a Great Man

January 10, 2023 | Posted by: Michele Cummins

Warning! This is an automated transcript so there will be spelling mistakes throughout! Including the spelling of Michele's name!

 

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Saturday morning, which

Curtis Pope: 

means it's time for the Cummins Real Estate Group show with Michelle Cummins and myself Curtis Pope. Good morning, Michelle. It's been a while since we've done this thing live

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

has been actually it's been since last year.

Curtis Pope: 

Because we did a kind of a best of Christmas episode and a replay of a of a New Year's episode we did. So yeah, it's been a few weeks, so it's good to be back.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

How's your year been? So far?

Curtis Pope: 

You know, so far 2023 has been pretty good.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

2023. Okay, what is one thing that you if you could change your life? What would it be?

Curtis Pope: 

One thing I would change, like a change in my life? Like, are we talking realism here or like,

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yeah, but you know, this is your life, you can do anything. So what would that be?

Curtis Pope: 

I'd love to be six feet tall. But I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Okay, well, there's probably some growth pills you could probably take, but let's not go that route. Yeah,

Curtis Pope: 

they do that thing where they extend your leg bones, but it's apparently really painful. And I'm okay being five,

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

eight, you can wear thick boots, nobody would know their heels heels in the boots,

Curtis Pope: 

I might one thing I would change, I can't really think of anything, life's pretty good. I guess it wouldn't mind having just a little more time just to get through the days, there's always so much going on between work and family and coaching, hockey and things like that there's not always enough time to, you know, do things like one of the things I'm trying to construct this year is, is taking a little bit better care of myself, you know, a little more self care, because my wife is even like, You got to start taking care of yourself and not worry so much about us. So it'd be nice to have little more time to exercise and things like that. I mean, I play softball and things like that. But it'd be nice to do something steady year round and be you know, a little healthier overall. So I would say that I'm going to try to be healthier this year. So that's what I'm working on.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Time Time is priceless. Yes. Is that precious thing. And that is that was your first kind of go to is more time and then self care that is so important. Because it's it is like taking a mask on a plane and putting it on yourself. So you're strong to help other people. Yeah, because some if you could be the calm one in situations, right, and you could be the self control self discipline and do that self care, it really does make a difference to everyone around you. And then gives you a healthier, happier, joyful, longer life, which then is, is ensure and helping your loved ones.

Curtis Pope: 

And my kids are now 1618 and 20. So I probably don't need to hold their hand through everything anymore.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

What is your word for this year? Like I love having a word for the next year that year coming up that that I focus on? What was your word for the

Curtis Pope: 

year? I well, I probably can't see it on the radio. No. No, that'd be my my for last year. No. Gee, I've never never been asked that question before my word be for 2023 I'd have to think about that for a while. What's your word for 2023? Because now you've got me interested

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

2023 is

Curtis Pope: 

delegate delegate Yes,

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

last year and that really is to be able to enjoy more time right? So living more wisely delegate which is helping other people. And that's my focus is is Yes, so, but last year, it was relationships really building stronger relationships really concentrate on relationships. And then I had a word of the year that was intentional. So being really intentional with your moments with your days with your time with your decisions with everything because sometimes you just roll through life and just you can't just let it go because then a year or two or five or 20 past buys.

Curtis Pope: 

Go I'm gonna go vacation. That's my word for because I have three vacation days right now bank between my vacation time and rollover days, and I really have to get better at using my vacation time.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Oh, that's beautiful. Curtis. Okay, put it on a sticky note on your computer there.

Curtis Pope: 

Yeah, there we go. Vacation will be my word of the year vacation and time goes together. I do need to learn. That's one thing I've always been bad at, is using my full vacation allotment. I got people cursing at me right now that are listening to us going. You don't use your full vacation allotment. I don't think I've used all my vacation days in 1012 years, or you're sick days. I've never used a sick day in my entire radio career. You are

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

dedicated and you're workaholic and you definitely do need self care too. So time self care and vacation and how those three go really well together is interesting.

Curtis Pope: 

Yes, that's very true.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

It's funny I this I mean I haven't seen you in a while and I was away for the holidays. Actually it was an emergency that brought me down to Oregon a family Emergency and I've been away and sad to say, unfortunately, I lost my father who I gosh, I look up to him so much. And he passed away on the 19th of December. And what's funny is he was such a fighter. He fought through everything. And he had the best mindset ever. And he double pneumonia is what ended up taking him. And he's gone through dialysis, losing both kidneys, living without kidneys for quite a few months, getting a live donor from my brother in law. And that was 12 plus years ago, he went through all sorts of cancer, so cancer and skin cancer and a couple other cancers. And every time he beat he went, he got through it, and he beat it and he beat it. And he always such a positive attitude. He worked he loved so much. He had eight kids, I didn't know but he actually went to law school. And yeah, and he dropped out to support his children because they were just popping out kids, right. So he was the greatest dad I could have ever asked for. And I called them pops all the time. He made this vanilla that I gave to my clients in their gift baskets to go with, you know, my cousin's real estate mug and I love the smoking gun coffee and they make a label it for me. And so that was really special. That's one thing he made. And then he made this fruitcake, which is to die for, really. It's my favorite food favorite I've ever had. And my family just laughed at me. Nobody else liked it loved me.

Curtis Pope: 

But I think anybody really liked fruitcake. So now I know at least there's one person

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

I didn't either really, but I'm telling you, my dad's fruitcake, and his vanilla is the best. I got the recipe. Oh, my goodness, I got the recipe like two weeks prior, I said to how can you email me your recipes? But no, he, he was an amazing man. The best. The best person I've actually ever known. He never judged. He always had a joyful, positive outlook. He had humor. He was just so funny. And even like on even the last day, one of the last things he said was to US aid kids all around him was You're stalling me like, it's like a joke. Like he was ready to go to heaven. And he's like, why am I still here. I remember, he was sleeping for a long time. very restful, peaceful. And he woke up and he goes, Oh, I thought I was dead. And he was disappointed. Because he woke up. And then he told us, You're stalling me. But what was really amazing is, when all of us ended up resting our heads, you know, hours and hours and days, of course. And then just just that slight last, I was actually the last person to kind of put my head down on his bed. And, and within seconds that I remember, one of my sisters had woken up and it happens. And it was just the most amazing he held on until we were all restful. And then he finally was able to go but this time of family and time and vacation. His last words to all of us was live life. That's what he said. His last words to all of us as a family was live life. And that means so much and so I encourage you to definitely vacation definitely take time. And when we were at, you know, family home, that brings me to family home, you know, my all my whole family came and we have been together for 20 years, like all of us in one space. And now there's all eight siblings or you know, in laws except for Richard's not us so he couldn't unfortunately go down to be there. I not allowed down if you're you know, not us and so he he had to miss it, but everyone else was there and it was amazing. It was amazing time of healing our relationships because some had been broken. And like my sisters were you know, there's seven girls one boy and we're like, we haven't had a family home since California like since we were all kids and we haven't really had a family home and so this vacation home is now like our family home or safe place and so I just encourage if you know that that having that it just teaches me even more so how much home home sweet home it means so much having a home to go to home for your children at home for your family. And yeah, it was really special. So yeah, I just he was also builder construct. He went into construction instead of law school. And you know, doing construction at MGM Studios for seven years and and we're football with Elvis, throwing the football. That's what I whispered in his ear. I said go you can go and throw the football again, dad. It's okay. Go throw the football and fish and all the things that he loved to do. And yeah, he had a lot of fun doing that. No, of course he couldn't for a while at the end. So and, and he's he did a lot of build outs in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. And what's interesting is he had this folder what marked Michelle and I had my vanilla bean extract that he made for me that was called my father's job. are named after the movie that was filmed at my house and mission. And then he had the plans for my beach house because you were going to renovate it and he was helping me out with that. And then he had all all these old plans of his builds that he did in Oregon and Palm Springs in Palm Desert and he did some developed like big developments. And so it's really neat seeing all the old plans and all his old tools all his old rulers and little met roller measures and just really, really, really neat so anyways, that's my tribute to my dad is he was the best person I've ever known. And, and, and yeah, I feel for everyone who's lost a loved one and Curtis I know you lost your mom and that anniversary was recent.

Curtis Pope: 

Yeah, I lost my mom 20 years ago in November on her 64th birthday. So a lot of what you said there you know hits home because it's true. It's like they you know that that generation too is made of tougher stronger stuff. Because my mom went through a lot too. And and mom funny enough he said she had his her sense of humor right to the end to me, my my aunt told me a story of one of my mom's last get near the end. And so my aunt goes look for you to I want to make sure you have you know, is there anything you need me to get your affairs in order? You need me to do anything for you? Is there anything you feel you may have missed? Or people you want to talk to? or anything like that my mom looks up and goes, Oh, no, I've never done this before. I just like stopped in your tracks for a second. And then they both laughed. You know, but just I don't know. I've never done this before.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

That's where you get your humor from my bad.

Curtis Pope: 

Both my parents actually yes, I have. My my dad's mostly my dad's humor. But my mom was pretty quick witted, too. But, ya know, it's just tough when you lose a parent, for sure. And you know, I feel for you, I know exactly what you're going through. And it's not fun. But at the same time, you always get to celebrate the memories, right? You keep them keep them alive through memories. That's right.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

And love and live life because that's what they'd want us to do and keep on cracking those jokes.

Curtis Pope: 

Absolutely. You know, me and my mom. Our big thing was watching the old Carol Burnett Show reruns.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Oh my gosh, that is so fun. And we used to laugh our

Curtis Pope: 

heads off at some of these old clips of Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman and Tim Conway and so if I'm having a bad day, I go back and watch those clips on YouTube. Some good stuff. Yeah. Well, we should probably take a break right now. And when we come back, we actually have real estate to talk about because there's been a lot of developments.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yes, we got the new stats just came out and there's all those new rules and BC assessments. That's

Curtis Pope: 

right. So we'll get to that right after this. So people want information about your listings and open houses things like that. Where can they go

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Michelle commons.ca

Curtis Pope: 

We're back with more right after this. Signal Number Two of the company's Real Estate Group show with local Rockstar realtor Michelle Cummings and myself Curtis Pope Now Michelle, I know a lot of people have gotten a little bit of mail this week with their assessments and surprisingly a lot of them still went up

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yes Actually everyone so far that I've seen has gone up but very in drastic ways. So different areas different percentages, they're kind of it's all over the place. So and and even though they've gone up it was of July of last year so July of last year was of course up from the July of the previous year. But as today's market is not so much so if and using the year Prior's most places lately have been selling for at assessed value or under in some times way under like by 150,000 or percentage wise

Curtis Pope: 

where you are you know in the valley or in the Lower Mainland I mean I'm sure that if you're in Richmond you're probably going for over your value still as opposed to if you're in

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

very good point very good point Curtis because our market in the valley is different than Greater Vancouver which Richmond is part of right so as you go east the markets a little more of a lower of a balance closer to a buyers market it's just slower maybe it's gone down more we've been affected more as you go east then Richmond or even Surrey or even Langley really like all those areas Coquitlam Maple Ridge so as you go east it's it gets a little tougher. And but yeah, so they're all over the place. But so yeah, when you look at your PC assessment, it's not today's market value and just keep that in mind. And like mine came up way higher like 160,000 Plus more than the year prior. You know I plan on living in my property for a very long time. So maybe I'll want to a test that like, say, Hey, I don't want to be paying taxes on a value. That's, that's not real. But if you're thinking about selling soon, I would just kind of leave your assessment as it is. A lot of clients call and asked me that, you know, should I be changing this? What should I do? So it all depends on how long you plan on being in the property I would say. And as far as the values and the percentages changing, I mean, we should have another BC assessment specialist come on our show. We

Curtis Pope: 

should but they moved out of the building. Now we're gonna have to get a little work to get somebody to come in. If anybody's listening

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

to this now. Give us a call. We'll have you on our show.

Curtis Pope: 

Sounds good plan are opening a new office in Langley, I believe.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yes, Langley is a good spot. They've got the toy traders. That's right. Yeah. Oh, that's such a great strop and been in there lately.

Curtis Pope: 

I've been in it a while but I just love the the old they have the GI Joe displays. Yes. And they have a couple of the GI Joe aircraft carriers. And that was one of the goal holy grails when I was a kid, because it was like eight feet long and no parent wanted to buy this thing and have it in their house. So if you were one of the kids who got that thing, you were a special friend to have that. And I had one friend who had it. Oh my gosh, I never got it. But my one friend had once we got to go and play with his gigantic GI Joe aircraft.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

As long as one friend has it, that's all that matters. You when you walk through that place you have you have to look up but the thing is, watch where you're going. Yes, because there's stuff everywhere and there is there's stuff hanging from the ceiling and Spider Man's hanging from the ceiling and they're huge monsters and gigantic giants and oh my gosh, everything Richard wants to bring in his Star Trek share know to put in the behind the cage part that they have. So he's thinking about that he's thinking about it, he mentioned it, it would go to better use like more people would be able to see it and enjoy it if it was there. He wants to put it in his studio and I'm like, Well, you know, you might have to get rid of something like your drum set if you do that. Yeah, no, that's not gonna happen.

Curtis Pope: 

On a bigger studio. Yeah.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Well, it will have to take the second part of the garage up. No more cars or more guitars. Which way Curtis Should we go?

Curtis Pope: 

I think the guitars are cheaper.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yes, you got a good point there. So we have this real estate stats are out actually they came out released January 5. So really good info here. Are you ready?

Curtis Pope: 

I'm ready. Are you rock and roll and I just listened.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Hey, putting your two cents when you're ready. Just throw a pen at me or something. Okay. So I got my glasses on at my shades today, just the shades. Next week. When the sun comes out, there we go. So the headlines is Fraser Valley real estate market 2022 highs lows and a return to balance. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed at the multiple listing service in December. The sales were down 14.7% from the previous month, and the sales were down 60.4% compared to the same time last year, making it the lowest December sales recorded in the last 10 years. The board received 803 new listings in December, and that's a decrease of 52.8% compared to November and 37.2% Fewer than the December of last year so that total active listings for December stood at just over 3900 which was down 26.4% compared to November, but nearly double compared to December 2020 21. So there's these listings, but way less sales. So the year closed out. Just over half of 2020 ones record setting and the ninth lowest annual tally of the past decade Curtis Wow. Yeah, new listings were down 8.9% Compared to 220 21. So sales to active listings ratio of 18%. The overall market closed out the year in balance. The market is considered balanced when the sales to active listings ratio is between 12 and 20%. And of course we're at 18. So this is a message from Sandra Benz or president of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. As the market has adjusted to rate hikes, we're starting to see a resumption of interest among the public. President of the Real Estate Board says for some time buyers and sellers alike have delayed decisions in somewhat of a watch and wait mode. This is Danford sales as well as supply since fewer new listings come onto the market. We expect activity to pick up in the coming months. As this pent up supply and demand starts to emerge. So Ben's also added that under more stable market conditions, there will be strong opportunities for well priced, well positioned properties across all categories across the Fraser Valley. We're going to talk about days on market. So in December the average number of days to sell a single family detached home was 42 days. A townhouse took 39 days to sell and apartment took on average 33 days to sell. A year ago properties were moving on average two to three times more quickly. So be patient when you're listing your property, so single family detached overall in the whole Fraser Valley for benchmark prices currently are at $1,377,000. That's a decrease of 2% compared to November and a decrease of 11.3%. Compare of December of last year, townhouses are benchmark price $787,000. And that's a decrease of 1.5% compared to November and decrease of 1.6% compared to December of last year. Apartments are at 504,800. And that's that benchmark price decrease of 2.6% compared to November and a decrease of point 4% compared to December of last year. So municipality by municipality starting with Abbotsford detached and we're going to do average prices today. I know I'm throwing you for a loop you

Curtis Pope: 

are I wasn't expecting average prices. I know usually I love

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

the benchmark price. But we're going to do averages today. Detached $966,388 That's a decrease of last year of 29.3% and a decrease of 14.1%. From last month, townhouses in Abbotsford 599,000. That's a decrease of 21.7% from last year and a decrease of 8.6% from the month before apartments 369,000, a decrease of 17.4% from last year and a decrease of 1.3% from last month. Mission detached average prices are at 935,500. That's a decrease of 21.6% from last year, and an uptick so that's up 9.4% from last month. Townhouses they're at 515,000, a decrease of 26.7% from last year and a decrease of 12.4% from last month. Apartments admission are 567,500. And there's really no information on what that looks like from last year or last month.

Curtis Pope: 

They just put a dash line throat so somebody screwed up and went just put a dash I think so.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yeah. Yeah. It didn't have their extra coffee or something.

Curtis Pope: 

I can't find it the computer is not working put a dash

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

that was dashed from last year in dash from the month before. So in White Rock, beautiful white rock, South Surrey, detached average prices are at 1,890,000. That's a decrease of 8.8% from last year, but an uptick so it went up 2.8% from last month, townhouses are at 853,000, a decrease of 14.1% from last year and a decrease of 11.5% from last month, and apartments at 575,000 and decrease of 19.5% of last year and a decrease of 6.6% from last month. Langley where toy traders are and I hop my sister in law's restaurant is average price is 1,462,000. That's a decrease of 16.7%. But an uptick 10.1% higher from last month. Townhouses are at 754,000, a decrease of 15.4% and a decrease of 6.6% from last month. Apartments are at 533,000. Just shy of that a decrease of 5.7% from last year and a decrease of only point 6% from the month before. Delta average prices detached homes are $1,292,000 that is a decrease of 22.5% from last year and a decrease of 8.9%. From last month. Townhouses are at $930,000. That is an uptick of 1.7% from last year and an uptick of 19.1% from last month. So townhouses overall and delta went up from last year and up from the month before apartments though, and delta 504,000 and that decreased 9.1% from last year and decreased a whole 20.9% from the month before. And the last are a beautiful city

Curtis Pope: 

of Surrey. I was gonna say Do you skip Surrey again, because last couple of months, you've forgotten Surrey and then you've had to add it in at the end that you just put it on the end on purpose.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

For surgery. It's the last page in our stats package and don't want to forget surgery. No, we don't want to forget it's a big player very hard to forget. Detached average prices at 1,530,000 and that's down 14.2% from last year but it's up to 2.5% from the month before townhouses at 775,000 Down 11.5% from last year and down 8.4% from last month and apartments at 498,000 down 7.9% from last year and down 4.8% from last month, and that is a balanced Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. Statistics for you.

Curtis Pope: 

Alright, look at that you got to those pretty quick.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

Yeah. And last but not least before we end, our wonderful show here is I've got an estate sale coming up, keep your eyes and ears open for it, we will be hosting a wonderful estate sale slash open house

Curtis Pope: 

because you're multitasking.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

I like multitasking. But sometimes it's not the best thing us humans should be doing. That's where

Curtis Pope: 

the delegation comes in. Yes.

Michele Cummins - PREC: 

And I am so excited because I've never done a malt this this multiple than before. So we're going to it is full of stuff. It has amazing stuff. I was like wow. And there's a lot of good stuff there. So don't miss out. Whether you want to see this beautiful property that honestly the house is a ranch or two bedroom one bathroom. And then it's got great storage in the basement walkout basement separated from the upstairs of the house. It's huge. It's over two acres of land is right in mission. It's lots of trees privacy, or build a new home if you want. But if you're interested in looking at a state items, or you're interested in property, that's going to be two weekends from now and I'm happy to show anyone earlier than that, of course it will hit the market, most likely the end of next week. And yeah, and that. So contact me for details on that. Oh, and the code of the state and we have to have a quote. It's gonna be my dad's quote, live life.

Curtis Pope: 

Live life. I like that. Yes. Powerful words. I like that. Alright, if you want more information about your listings and things like that and keep an eye on this estate sale, come up where they gotta go. Michelle cummins.ca And join us again next week when we will talk real estate in order to unlock your real estate potential on the show real estate is maximized. Thanks for listening

 

If you missed last week's episode on Foreign Buyers ban and New Beginnings, please go take a listen! It's well worth it!

 

Click Here for Previous Episodes!

Back to Main Blog Page