Michael Peterson's Blog: Nanaimo MLS

The mortgage meltdown that's so drastically hitting the American Real Estate marketplace is going to have only a slight impact on the Canadian market - according to our resident mortgage authority Moira Steele.

In a nutshell, the mortgage collapse south of the border is going to have only a slight effect on its Canadian counterparts - due mainly to the type of mortgages involved. The so-called "Sub Prime Mortgages" at the heart of the American crises are essentially mortgages lent with little or no actual collateral, given to individuals with sketchy at best financial backgrounds. The end result of all this has been massive numbers of default mortgages, with the result that some 90 American financial institutions have been forced out of business. In the…

Fresh House: Smells Sell

A smell can either make or break a home. Yes, it's true. Even a Realtor will tell you to make a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies before holding an open house or to air the home out and make it smell good.

But let's face it, sometimes there are circumstances that hold this possibility at bay. In other words: kids, dirty clothes, pets, preparing fish for dinner or even cutting up an onion can all stink up the house for weeks on end. So, what's a homeowner to do? Relax.

Here are few tried and true options in getting your home back on track so you can enjoy a home that smells clean and wonderful rather than old and stinky.

Charming rancher with tons of updates! This 956 sqft, 2 bedroom, 1 bath home offers new electrical, brand new fully renovated bathroom, new thermal windows, new baseboard heaters and a 2 year old roof. Plus a detached studio/workshop/office which is fully wired with storage on one side, and a bedroom on the other! Not to mention the big 8712 sqft lot that is completely private with fruit trees. This home is close to shopping, amenities and on the bus route.

Priced Below Appraisal! This cute and cozy 1 bedroom, 1 bath rancher has been remodeled with new bathroom fixtures, an updated kitchen and new hot water tank. This easy care home also has a large enclosed sundeck which could be converted into more living space if needed. Outside on this 7436 sqft lot you will find a wired workshop/garage for extra storage, alley access and RV parking. This homes is close to all levels of schools, shopping, recreation and on the bus route.

Fabulous "Waterdown Quay" condominiums on Long Lake! Just steps to Rutherford Mall, restaurants, recreation and Long Lake's beaches & parks. This 1060 sqft condo has all new carpet and a fresh coat of paint throughout with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms a lake view from the patio and living room

Centrally located large one and two bedroom units. The area offers recreation, parks nearby and is conveniently located on the bus route. Excellent investment opportunity or a great way to enter into the market for a first time home buyer. All measurements are approximate and to be verified if important.

Currently there is an MLS service for Nanaimo, however there has been a lot of talk between the major listings brokers about having some sort of Broker reciprocity so that team members could display listings on their websites similar to the MLS

Up to this time there has been discussion in regards to broker reciprocity in the Nanaimo and Central Vancouver Island area. This would take the listing brokers and management brokers to have an agreement to share all MLS listings on their own personal websites. This system  would show up as each office and or individual realtor having all MLS listings on their concecutive web domains. In turn the offices that do agree to this would be allowed to provide this service and the offices that do not agree will not be…