Meet Karen Guinan.. Trades Person Extraordinaire of the Week! Karen has been doing my taxes the last few 

years and is personable, efficient and saves me $$$$ ! I highly recommed her. Her firm has just merged with MNP, one of the largest national accounting and business consulting firms in Canada, effective February 1, 2017. She can still be found downtown Courtenay at 535 6th Street. Check out her webstite at thorburnguinan.ca

Karen loves being a partner at Thorburn Guinan. Having watched her parents manage a successful gravel and excavating business while she grew up, coupled with her keen interest in working with numbers, Karen always knew her career would take her to the financial management field.

Now, with over 20 years’ experience working in public practice and 6 years as a chartered professional accountant, Karen helps her customers make sense of their finances by building strong personal relationships, providing quality advice, and ultimately building trust, which leads to long term business and personal relationships. For Karen, it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about getting to know her clients and their families, and helping them succeed.

A strong believer in actively supporting the community, Karen currently serves on the boards of the Dawn to Dawn Homelessness Society, as well as the Comox Valley United Soccer Club.

Karen also recognizes the need for balance and has many interests that keep her active and healthy. Her and Roger have two boys that are very busy with hockey in the winter and golf in the summer. Karen is also an avid soccer player, mountain biker and gym enthusiast, so when not active at work, in the community, or at the arena, she and can be found up in the trails in Cumberland or on the soccer field.

Join Me at Open House this Sunday February 19 10:30-Noon at #8 2010 20th Street in Courtenay. 

Lovely 2 bedroom, 1 bath patio home in immaculate condition in coveted "Stratford Gate" a gated 55+ community in the City of Courtenay. Close to downtown shopping & walking trails. Bright cheery kitchen & breakfast nook w/attractive white cabinets, lots of counter space, new stainless appliances. Spacious living/dining room with gas fireplace & picture window - lots of natural light! Newly painted in tasteful colours, radiant heated laminate flooring. Master bedroom overlooking rear gardens with ample closet space. There is a walk in shower & large soaker tub with skylight. Second bedroom is at the front of the home to take advantage of the morning sun. Peaceful rear patio area off the family room with sliding gas doors / privacy hedge, BBQ patio area. There is an attached single car garage & room for parking in front or the home for guests + additional guest parking available. Bring your 4 legged member of the family (under 25lbs) as your pet is welcome.

Meet this weeks Trades person... Dominic Wales, Plumber Extraordinaire... Are you building a new house? Do you want to install a new fireplace or hot water system? Or are you thinking about a complete renovation for your kitchen or bathroom? Whatever your project is, Dominic is the man to call.  I have known Dominic for over 10 years and will personally vouch for his professionalism and skill. 

Snapshot of the Vancouver Island Real estate Market; January 2017

Sales of single-family homes in December were lower than the previous month, reflecting seasonal market conditions and inventory challenges, but annual sales volume rose 24 per cent over 2015. A total of 6,063 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in 2016, an increase of 24 per cent over the 4,885 sales recorded the previous year. VIREB’s housing market hit its peak in May, which saw 771 sales. The average sale price of a single-family home board wide increased by 13 per cent in 2016 to reach $404,695. Inventory of single-family homes dipped to 859 in December, a historic low, down 17 per cent from November and 37 per cent from one year ago. This figure is the lowest recorded in the VIREB area since the board began tracking inventory in 1999.

What is Projected for 2017?

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) notes that housing demand throughout 2016 was driven by a provincial economy that outperformed the rest of the country. However, BCREA does expect the housing market to weaken somewhat this year.“Although BCREA anticipates that less robust economic conditions combined with government policy constraints will slow housing demand by more than 15 per cent in 2017, unit sales should remain well above the 10-year average of 85,000,” says Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Sales in the VIREB area this year will likely trend lower than in 2016, but this is merely the market returning to more normal levels from last year’s unprecedented sales activity.”As she has stated in previous media releases, Margo Hoffman, 2016 VIREB President, reaffirms that housing sales in the VIREB area would be higher if there were more homes available.

Seasonal market conditions can account for some of December’s decreased sales, but there are still plenty of buyers, and multiple offers are the norm when listings hit the market. “We’ve been in a sellers’ market for several months now, and buyers are snapping up available properties,” says Hoffman. “But homeowners need to realize these market conditions won’t last forever, so if you’ve been thinking of selling, it’s a perfect time to do so.” Hoffman adds that connecting with a local REALTOR® is especially crucial in a competitive housing market. REALTORS® have specialized knowledge of their communities and are equipped with sales tools, such as custom analytics, to help you develop a winning strategy for buying or selling a home.