and I am so excited that we are all part of Vancouver 2010 & beyond - an amazing Olympic city in which to Learn, Love & Pray & to Live, Work & Play!!! WE BELIEVE!...Keep browsing this site & you will see why...

Vancouver, among the best cities in the world, (& eversince the Winter Olympic Games, quite literally a City of Gold ;-)) is growing robustly and my web site, as well as my real estate consultative business with Royal LePage Westside, are strong evidence of this phenonmena.

Those privileged enough to live in homes in UBC enjoy a sustainable live-work-learn campus community. Each neighbourhood is designed to support the University’s vibrant academic core, while providing all the amenities and services required to support a truly compact, transit-oriented, pedestrian friendly community.

The University Neighbourhood Association (UNA) was established in 2002 to promote the creation of a vibrant and sustainable community for the residents of UBC's residential neighbourhoods. Today, approximately 6,000 residents live in five UNA neighbourhoods including:

1) Hampton Place
2) Hawthorn Place
3) Chancellor Place
4) East Campus
5) Wesbrook Place

More on these Five Residential Neighbourhoods:

1) Hampton Place
Hampton Place was the first UNA neighbourhood. This lovely neighbourhood is nestled amongst the trees adjacent to Pacific Spirit Park at the northeast corner of 16th Avenue and Wesbrook Mall. The first residents began moving into Hampton Place in the early 1990s and today it is home to approximately 2,000 residents in 11 buildings that range in size from high rises to townhouses. Although many original Hampton Place residents were retirees or older adults, today Hampton Place is home to a growing number of families with children.

2) Hawthorn Place/Mid Campus Neighbourhood
Hawthorn Place provides a variety of housing options, including faculty and staff rental housing, faculty and staff co-development housing and family housing. The public realm design incorporates a greenway and parks. Pedestrian paths and cycling routes replace parking areas and assist in traffic calming.

Hawthorn Place, the second UNA neighbourhood to be occupied, began construction in 2001 and was completed in 2007. Located south of Thunderbird Boulevard between East Mall and West Mall, Hawthorn Place is home to the Old Barn Community Centre, the Salt Spring Island Coffee Shop, and is blessed with generous green space. Jim Taylor Park is located next to the Old Barn and pocket parks are scattered throughout the neighbourhood. The UNA's Pilot Community Garden is located along Main Mall, at the edge of the Hawthorn Place neighbourhood.

Hawthorn Place is home to faculty and staff co-developments, faculty and staff rental housing, and a range of market housing from condos to single-family homes. The neighbourhood is home to approximately 1500 people, many of whom have children.

3) Chancellor Place/Theological Neighbourhood
Located north of the Gage Residences, Chancellor Place is bound by Wesbrook Mall on its eastern border. Restored to its original grandeur, the granite Iona Building stands at the head of this neighbourhood. Duplex townhomes along Chancellor Boulevard are complemented by apartment condominiums in the interior of the neighbourhood.

4) East Campus Neighbourhood
This neighbourhood is the UNA's smallest neighbourhood. Located along Wesbrook Mall near both the Thunderbird Winter Sports Arena and the University Hospital, East Campus is a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly neighbourhood with a high proportion of rental housing. Students, UBC faculty or staff, or people who want to live on campus but may prefer not to buy a home, enjoy living in this small but centrally-located neighbourhood.

5) Wesbrook Place/South Campus Neighbourhood
UBC's latest family housing initiative stretches across 100 acres of South Campus. Wesbrook Place is the largest neighbourhood on UBC's Vancouver campus. Over 5,000 students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and members of the general public will live here in a mix of townhouses and apartments.

Wesbrook Place, the UNA's newest neighbourhood, is located south of 16th Avenue, nestled between Pacific Spirit Park and Southwest Marine Drive. Wesbrook Place currently has two parks - the Michael Smith Park and the Khorana Park.

Wesbrook Place will have both market and rental housing, a commercial area, including a large grocery store, a community centre, schools, play fields and generous green spaces.

Whether you are a Seller or Buyer, these are Three Essential Stages in the selling or buying cycle where you'll need to:

1) Appraise
2) Position
3) Showcase Or Preview

1) Appraise: This means you decide what value your property has. Of course you may pay for a professional appraiser. Better still, engage the services of at least three well-respected realtors to give you estimates of the market value.

In the case of the Buyer, decide what value you want to invest. A competent realtor should recommend you to a lending institution or mortgage broker to advise you what your Gross Debt Service Ratio is and pre-qualify you to help you buy that home you've fallen in love with.

2) Position: To get the most value, you must price your product sharply or make an optimum offer to secure that dream home. Sharp prices sell your property at optimum prices, unlike inflated prices that leave your property sitting on the market. The definition of "optimum" is the "most favourable to you", because no vendor or purchaser wants to buy at prices at more or less than what it would take to seal the deal.

The Buyer will benefit from the knowledge and advice of a realtor who should direct you to the homes that match your needs and budget so that you are looking in the best neighbourhood your precious dollars can buy.

3) Showcase or Preview: Once you have ascertained the fair market value of your property, your Realtor must position and market it to give it maximum exposure in the Multiple Listings Service and other publications. As well, the effective realtor creates impressive online advertising on the Internet and distributes attractive flyers and newsletters to potential buyers.

For the Buyer, your Realtor should increase your chances of making a successful offer on sought-after and well-priced properties by informing you via daily email notifications. A well-informed, experienced realtor should also offer his or her expert opinion to you by previewing potential properties and fixing appointments to show you those that suit your needs. It is most wise to work closely with your carefully chosen realtor who will protect your best interests rather than simply write an all-important sale and purchase contract at the Open House with the very first realtor you meet.

Visit HomesUBC.com often for the latest property listings suitable for your recreational, investment or retirement needs.

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