Balance Group Vancouver Real Estate : Blog : Latest Blog Posts

Lest we forget

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:16:16 GMT

On November 11, 2025 Remembrance Day, we honour the brave men and women who sacrificed for our country.

July 2025 - Photos

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:14:13 GMT

Captions from left to right: (1) Jenny celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary with a kid-free weekend in Whistler (2,3) Cécile, also having a kid-free 6-day trip in Ireland: Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway (4) Cécile in Tofino with the cousins (5) Cécile at a possession for a new home by Bosa Properties, the day before hopping on a plane to Ireland, and running into the same client at the airport the next day! (6) Allyson enjoyed the beautiful gardens during a walk along Comox Street (7) Spotted some giant beautiful Magnolias outside of our listing in Kitsilano.

June 2025 - Photos

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:03:54 GMT

Captions from left to right: (1) Allyson meeting Marj and Brenda for??? (2) Jenny's daughter Maya's grad picture (3) Jenny's two daughters' last day together attending Churchill (4-7) Cécile's girls trip in Barcelona

April 2025 - Photos

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:54:56 GMT

Photos from left to right: (1) Viewing a brand new 3-unit complex in Douglas Park that actually has full size bedrooms!! (2) Our happy Buyers getting keys to their new townhouse (3) Jenny and her family on the Road to Hana (4) catching the Lunar eclipse "blood moon" (5) Cécile "helping" with making paella for 50 people (6) what a treat to see this heritage freight elevator while we got new team photos taken in Yaletown.

Happy Holidays and Recap of 2024 for the Team

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:49:47 GMT

Our team would like to sincerely thank every single one of you for your continuous support. Balance Group would like to wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday and a happy 2025!

Allyson, Cécile and Jenny

Macdonald Realty’s Corporate Holiday Party Ice Bucket Challenge 2024

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 01:45:31 GMT

Today is Giving Tuesday - the world’s largest generosity movement. Everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts.

This holiday season, Macdonald Realty Vancouver is taking the plunge into the icy waters of the Ice Bucket Challenge to show our support for individuals affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease/motor neuron disease) - a condition with no cure and few treatment options. This challenge aims to raise awareness and vital funds for the Programs & Services offered by the ALS Society of BC.

Cécile Yuen from Balance Group, along with other colleagues at Macdonald Realty, will be taking part in this meaningful Holiday Party Ice Bucket Challenge 2024.

Support us here: https://www.alsbc.ca/macdonald-realtys-corporate-holiday-party-ice-bucket-challenge-2024/

2024 October Market Stats

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:44:47 GMT

Check out the real estate market statistics for Greater Vancouver on listings and sales in October 2024.

If you’re looking for more information, send us an email at team@balancegroup.biz .

Inflation rate drops to 1.6% in September 2024

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 20:02:40 GMT

With Canada's inflation rate falling to 1.6% in September (after hitting the Bank of Canada's 2% goal in August), it increases the chance of a Bank of Canada rate cut by 50 basis points on the coming up rate announcement next week on October 23, 2024.

2024 September Market Stats

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 19:56:33 GMT

2024 September Greater Vancouver area Real Estate Market Stats! - Balance Group - Allyson Brooke, Cecile Yuen, Jenny Stephanson

Reminder: BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax Declaration is Due March 31, 2023

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 21:26:15 GMT

A friendly reminder that your annual BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax Declaration is due on March 31, 2023. Each residential owner is required to submit their own declaration. For example, if there are two owners on the title, both owners have to submit their personal declarations.

You can declare online at the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax website here. You will need the "Letter ID" and "Declaration Code" on the declaration letter that you received from the government in February.

Here's the Speculation and Vacancy Tax branch contact information if you need to reach them.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 21:13:34 GMT

Happy Lunar New Year! Wishing everyone lots of love, happiness and good health in the Year of Tiger!

Monthly Market Update - September 2021

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 21:20:33 GMT

The latest real estate news in Vancouver!

Monthly Market Update - February 2021

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 06:06:00 GMT

February 2021 Market Update

So much news to share ...

The Year of the Ox begins February 12th. Chinese New Year or Spring Festival celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20 every year. The Chinese New Year is associated with several customs. The evening preceding New Year's Day is frequently regarded as an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. Another custom is the decoration of windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets that represent good fortune or happiness, wealth, and longevity. We are coming into the Year of the Ox, those born in the Year of the Ox are known for honesty, dependability, strength, and determination. May your year be filled with good health, happiness, and great prosperity.

Valentine's Day is this week! February is the month of love. We wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! It's a good time to send love to your family and friends. Support local business - Treat yourself to a lovely dinner of take-out!

Please voice your opinion. We have mixed feelings regarding the City of Vancouver's decision to require permits to park on all Vancouver streets. We have included the link to the City of Vancouver's permit parking survey here (https://shapeyourcity.ca/parking). We urge everyone to click on the link and participate in this important survey by February 28. The outcome will definitely impact your life.

The real estate market has quickly become a fast-paced spring market even though it is still winter. All market areas are experiencing balanced or sellers' market conditions. If you are thinking of selling, now is a good time! When selling in a sellers' market, most experienced realtors are able to get you a good selling price. When 'bidding wars' or competing offers are the norm, it is extremely important to have realtors who are experienced, honest, detail-oriented and calm in a fast-paced market to protect your best interests. Keeping clear communication with the client should be the top priority. These are skills Balance Group has honed well. If you are thinking of buying to take advantage of the low interest rates, please consult with us to ensure we can help you get organized to make your best offer. There is an art to drafting and presenting a winning offer in a competitive sellers' market and Balance Group has the experience to help you.

Lastly, a huge thank you to all our lovely clients and friends for helping us achieve the Award of Excellence for 2020! We truly feel very grateful!

Stay safe,

Allyson, Cécile and Jenny

BCREA: Housing market likely to enjoy an exceptional 2021

With Canada's economic recovery and COVID-19 vaccinations each proceeding at a healthy pace, British Columbia's housing market can look forward to an exceptional 2021, according to the BC Real Estate Association.

In its latest Housing Forecast Update covering the first quarter of this year, the BCREA said that the province's residential sales will likely grow by 15.6% to 108,680 units in 2021, before a 9% decline to 98,850 units in 2022.

Click the link below to view the monthly market statistics for your area in an easy to understand infographic. Listings, sales and prices are summarized for condos, townhomes and single-family homes in cities across BC.

South Surrey/
White Rock

B.C. real estate defies pandemic with sales, price growth in 2020

British Columbia's real estate proved remarkably resistant to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from the B.C. Real Estate Association.

The organization released data on the 2020 market Wednesday showing significant growth in both sales and in prices.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 22:16:31 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are all becoming creative as we determine how to celebrate Thanksgiving 'COVID -style'. Jenny and her family are having a potluck gathering in her sister's backyard. A rain canopy is standing nearby in case it is needed! Allyson’s family is splitting up into several groups as their usual crowd of 15 – 20 people is not possible this year. Cécile is supporting a local restaurant by ordering a “takeout” Thanksgiving dinner.

Whether you're having a small gathering with a few loved ones or a distanced gathering via zoom, we hope you are able to find a moment to focus on what is important this weekend … gratitude for your good health, family, friends and all the other blessings in your life.

Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.

Allyson, Cécile and Jenny

Happy Earth Day Week and Earthrise

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 22:35:34 GMT

In 1968, Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to reach the Moon, orbit it and return. Its three-astronaut crew - Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders - were the first humans to see the whole, round Earth from space, to witness and photograph an Earthrise. Earthrise is a photograph of Earth and some of the Moon's surface. Earthrise helped people to see our world for what it is: a planet without borders, a home to all people, a life-sustaining wanderer through space. That new vision of our world was so powerful that it inspired the first Earth Day in 1970.

Yesterday definitely was a different kind of Earth Day with most of us isolating at home and so few cars on the road! The lack of Earth Day art projects or in-class celebrations for our kids, made it feel very different. In years past, we've become accustomed to our children coming home from their school's Earth Day commenting upon how they had all the lights off in their classrooms and other sustainable ways of living in order to take care of Mother Earth.

It is apparent that humans are very adaptable beings. COVID-19 is not stopping the real estate market from moving along. Accordingly, we have been very busy this week. The market is more active with buyers who had been waiting on the sidelines now taking this opportunity to look for properties. Please let us know if you need our help or have questions.

We hope you are all doing well. We always love to hear from you. If you have time, feel free to send us an email or give us a call and let us know you are doing.

The Earthrise message was clear: Earth "really is one world". The world response to COVID-19 confirms this message as well. One world, one people.

Be safe. Be kind. Be well.

Allyson, Cécile and Jenny

Staying Positive

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 22:39:18 GMT

Staying Positive

We hope you are all staying healthy and are adjusting to the lifestyle changes we have been adopting this past month. Unless you relish “your alone time”, it can be a difficult transition for most people. We found starting our day with gratitude, goals, and self-care (meditation and exercise) helps us to focus and remain positive in the current environment. While practising social distancing, we are staying connected with our friends and families via phone calls, emails or video.

We feel fortunate to be part of the Macdonald Realty team. We are benefiting from our ongoing virtual Monday morning meetings. The meeting allows us virtual connection with the other 200 Macdonald Realtors and to stay on top of the market activities as we share and exchange ideas and experiences. Market activity has slowed down for obvious reasons, but we are still seeing sales due to pent-up demand. There are still sellers who must sell and buyers who must buy. We are staying on top of the market and the listing inventory as we know that our buyers may be able to negotiate a favourable contract in this market.

Please remember we are just a phone call away if you feel bored at home or if you need help with your groceries!

We found a lovely, positive video about Covid-19 and felt it was a great one to share with you all.

Link here: https://www.facebook.com/BalanceGroupVancouverRealtor/videos/250688496322239/

Stay healthy and safe,

Allyson, Cécile, Jenny

Property Insurance Premiums - Water Damage Prevention

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 06:03:00 GMT

Property insurance premiums for stratas and condos continue to rise.

Do you know what the ten most common water-related damages are?

What can Councils and Owners do to prevent water damage?

Why do unit owners need personal insurance?

Find out more here: below useful information from BFL Canada

Send us an email if you want a PDF copy of the information.

Thank you to our clients

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:45:19 GMT

We want to sincerely thank our clients for trusting us with one of their biggest decisions. Last year, we helped our amazing clients purchase their first homes, upsize to bigger townhouses and houses, downsize to single level living, find homes closer to work and investments. We appreciated the opportunity to help all of you, and we look forward to assisting our friends and new clients this year.

We also want to thank our supporting staffs at Macdonald Realty. Thank you to our creative marketing team to help us create listing brochure with professional photos and floor plan for our sellers. Thank you to our conveyancer in preparing the closing files for our buyers and sellers’ lawyer to ensure the Completion process goes as smoothly as possible.

We would also like to thank Joyce Tsang with Mortgage Architects to help our clients arranging financing. Thank you to Flow Staging & Interior Design, Fluff Design, and our qualified home inspectors for helping our clients.

Snow-shovelling Beware and How to be a Snow Angel

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:29:00 GMT

Happy Snow Day!

Hope everyone is staying safe on the roads this week. Just a friend reminder that City of Vancouver requires all property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks around their property by 10:00am every day.

If you have limited mobility or if you are senior, and are unable to clear the snow, ask a neighbour for help or request a Snow Angel. Failure to remove snow and ice may result in fines.

Want to learn more about volunteering as Snow Angel and help a neighbour, visit City of Vancouver website here.

Pictures from City of Vancouver website

2020 January Market Update

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 04:46:00 GMT

2019 November Market Update

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 06:57:00 GMT

Asbestos: What You Need To Know

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 21:44:00 GMT

INSPECTION INSIGHTS from Pillar-to-Post Home Inspectors!

Asbestos: What You Need To Know

Maybe you’ve been told your home has asbestos. Do you need to worry? We’re here to educate and inform!

For years, asbestos was widely used in wall and ceiling insulation, vinyl flooring, insulation for heating ducts, pipe wrap for water heating systems, roof tiles, acoustic ceiling tiles and much more. Many of these materials are still present in thousands of homes. Breathing asbestos fibers over a long period of time can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Is it always a problem? Asbestos poses a health risk when the fibers become airborne, which can happen if materials are crumbling or damaged. If there is minor localized damage, it can be professionally repaired by encapsulating the asbestos fibers with a specialized sealant. If the asbestos-containing material is in good condition, the best course of action may be to simply leave it alone.

The biggest risk is when homeowners and other non-professionals attempt asbestos removal themselves. Disturbing asbestos usually makes it dangerous. If it must be removed, it’s a job for an expert who will also properly dispose of it. In some cases, such as a home renovation, asbestos removal is the only option.

Balance Group Vancouver Real Estate : Blog : Latest Blog Posts

Lest we forget

July 2025 - Photos

June 2025 - Photos

April 2025 - Photos

Happy Holidays and Recap of 2024 for the Team

Macdonald Realty’s Corporate Holiday Party Ice Bucket Challenge 2024

2024 October Market Stats

Inflation rate drops to 1.6% in September 2024

2024 September Market Stats

Reminder: BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax Declaration is Due March 31, 2023

Happy Lunar New Year!

Monthly Market Update - September 2021

Monthly Market Update - February 2021

February 2021 Market Update

BCREA: Housing market likely to enjoy an exceptional 2021

B.C. real estate defies pandemic with sales, price growth in 2020

B.C. Real Estate News

BRITISH COLUMBIA

LOWER MAINLAND

WHISTLER & SQUAMISH

VICTORIA & VANCOUVER ISLAND

OKANAGAN

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Earth Day Week and Earthrise

Staying Positive

Staying Positive

Property Insurance Premiums - Water Damage Prevention

Thank you to our clients

Snow-shovelling Beware and How to be a Snow Angel

Happy Snow Day!

2020 January Market Update

2019 November Market Update

Asbestos: What You Need To Know

INSPECTION INSIGHTS from Pillar-to-Post Home Inspectors!

Asbestos: What You Need To Know