Real Estate Blog

Welcome to 460 Realty, Andrea MacRae!

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 21:22:21 GMT

Here we GROW again!

Please join us in welcoming Andrea MacRae to the 460 Realty family in Nanaimo, BC.

A local Vancouver Islander for the past 32+ years, Andrea always knew being a REALTOR® was the right career path for her. After joining the 460 Family working as an unlicensed assistant for 5 years, (2.5 of those years were spent working alongside 460 agent Matt Scheibel), she finally felt the timing was right to dive in and start her career right here with 460 Realty.

With her support from her family & friends including her mom, fellow 460 REALTOR® Lorraine Jensen, Andrea completed her education from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and has hit the ground running. Her gained confidence through her years in the industry, along with her life and natural leadership skills, are a great benefit to her clients. She is hardworking, thoughtful, honest, a calm communicator and loves to help others. She is also very passionate about real estate and knowledgeable about the local Nanaimo area.

Andrea loves everything about Vancouver Island and the lifestyle we have here. She enjoys exploring all the remote areas and is always up for a new adventure! A busy mom to two amazing girls, she loves to spend her down time boating with her family on Sproat Lake, walking the beaches of the West Coast, cooking a meal for her family, tending to her garden or practicing her new hobby – fishing.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Dean Macdonald!

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 17:20:17 GMT

Here we GROW again!

Please join us in welcoming Dean Macdonald to the 460 Realty family in Powell River, BC.

A relative newcomer to the Powell River area, Dean has called Texada Island home for over a year now. Having been in the real estate business since 1989, Dean comes to us as a proud REALTOR® previously from Dexter Realty in Vancouver, BC. He works hard for his clients, is empathetic, experienced and knowledgable.

In his spare time, Dean is a full-time grandfather, keeps busy with carpentry and spends time skiing, canoeing and playing all racquet sports. Please join us in welcoming Dean to the 460 Family!

A Fresh, New Look for 460realty.com!

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 21:47:14 GMT

A Fresh, New Look for Our Website

It’s been an exciting few months, and we are proud to announce we have now launched a brand new look for 460Realty.com!

The new site design is much more visual, featuring user-friendly listing searches which are perfect for showcasing our homes & businesses for sale, along with our ever-expanding agent team.

A big thank you to 460 Communications for all of their hard work designing this new site, along with the incredible team at MyRealPage. Take a peek around at www.460realty.com and let us know what you think!

Welcome to 460 Realty, Max Pagani!

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 20:03:00 GMT

Here we GROW again!

Please join us in welcoming Max Pagani to the 460 Realty family in Powell River, BC.

“A lifelong Powell River resident with Italian ancestry and a zest for la vive!”, is how some folks might describe Max Pagani. With now nearly 20 years in the real estate industry, Max has found his perfect career fit. Following a vibrant career as a chef, restauranteur, and caterer, his strong background in business served Max well to support his transition into the foray of representing and supporting clients buying and selling real estate of all kinds.

Max has been working within the business sector in the community of Powell River since 1985 and is proud to be able to offer his clients achieve all their real estate goals. He is a respected REALTOR® and prides himself on having helped many families achieve their goals of home ownership. His education has prepared him to handle all types of residential property transactions. No home is too big or too small to get his fullest attention. Max strives to go above and beyond his clients’ expectations in service and insists on being straight-forward with everyone he meets. He treats his clients the way he would like to be treated.

Supporting his clients through their real estate transactions, Max makes no assumptions about people’s circumstances, personal stories, or about their real estate ambitions. He instead works in partnership with his clients, demonstrating resourcefulness and creativity in ways that help him, help others. His lifelong commitment to volunteering in the community keeps him busy in his down time and includes organizations such as the Powell River Food Bank, Children Living in Poverty, United Way, PRTRA, Powell River Minor Hockey Association, and many more.

When he isn’t helping clients, Max runs a busy household raising growing teenagers with his wife Monica. They love to hit the local walking and hiking trails, and spend time camping, or head ‘up the lake’ for some cabin time on Powell Lake. He can also be found making music as the mandolin player in the local bluegrass band “Scout Mountain”.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Dustin Villeneuve!

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 20:02:00 GMT

Here we GROW again!

Please join us in welcoming Dustin Villeneuve to the 460 Realty family in Powell River, BC.

Dustin fell in love with the natural beauty of British Columbia at an early age. Born and raised on the Prairies, he was enchanted by his first encounters with the mountainous landscapes, lush rain forests, and endless ocean. He vowed to one day return. After completing a Business Administration diploma in Winnipeg and working several years in construction project management, he decided to make the move out West. Living in Vancouver for nearly a decade, he worked as a Project Coordinator for an environmental and engineering firm before deciding to make the transition to the Sunshine Coast with his wife, Brigitte, and dog, Cedar.

Moving to Powell River provided Dustin & Brigitte with the opportunity to purchase their first home and pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions. Upon settling in the community, Dustin was immediately inspired by the historical, cultural, and recreational abundance of the area. With a strong desire to pursue his passions, Dustin became involved with the Powell River Parks & Wilderness Society (PRPAWS) and also began utilizing his photography and media skills as the Marketing Coordinator for the Josh Statham Home Team. He completed the UBC Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course in 2019 and was previously a licensed REALTOR® at Royal LePage, Powell River.

Dustin has always prided himself in putting people first. He is committed to providing a personalized and honest approach to both buyers and sellers alike. From start to finish, he looks forward to helping his clients with all of their real estate needs. When he isn’t helping his clients find their dream homes, Dustin can be found spending time with his wife and their daughter Avaya, as well as exploring Powell River’s backcountry. He has a passion for photography, music, interior design and home renovations.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Bill Bailey!

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 20:02:00 GMT

Here we GROW again!

Please join us in welcoming Bill Bailey to the 460 Realty family in Powell River, BC.

Bill has lived, worked and raised a family in Powell River, BC during the past almost 40 years. During this time, Bill has developed a network of friends and contacts through his previous work as a school teacher and principal in School District #47, and as well through interests in Search and Rescue, Chor Musica Mens’ Choir, Westview Baptist Church and a variety of outdoor recreational pursuits. Through these activities, Bill developed a reputation for a strong work ethic supported by honesty and sincerity.

After a successful career in education, he was excited to take on the new challenge of building a business selling real estate. At this stage in Bill’s life, it has become his work, his hobby and his passion. He is now able to devote 100% of his time to serving you, his clients. Bill’s business plan is creating “clients for life” by putting you first in every decision in the process of buying or selling a home.

Bill is a high-energy person, always looking for ways to add value to the services he offers. He likes to keep current with all the nuances of the real estate market, and the many details involved with writing a contract to your best advantage. This also includes negotiating the deal and following up to ensure that you are well-informed from beginning to end. His commitment is top notch; with in-house media and marketing skills, along with the broadest array of resources to help you realize the full potential of your biggest asset, Bill offers the best value for your money.

When he isn’t working hard, you can find Bill visiting with his blended family, (6 children and 4 grandchildren), hiking, swimming, biking, gardening, or exploring all of the incredible nature that can be found in Powell River and on the Sunshine Coast.

You can connect with Bill at bbailey@460realty.com

Welcome to 460 Realty, Josh Statham!

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 20:01:00 GMT

Here we GROW again!

Please join us in welcoming Josh Statham, Personal Real Estate Corporation to the 460 Realty family in Powell River, BC.

A decade into his real estate career Josh’s philosophy of providing the very-best in real estate marketing tools and techniques has helped him to achieve a reputation as the go-to listing agent in Powell River. Whether you are getting into the market, investing, upsizing, downsizing, or just looking for a perfect get-a-way on the coast, Josh enjoys helping people find the right property too.A local guy with deep roots in Powell River, Josh knows community involvement is part of what makes PR such a popular destination. He has enjoyed supporting and volunteering in Minor Hockey, the Kings, Minor Baseball, Special Olympics, Myrtle Point Golf Course, The Powell River Salmon Society, as well as PR’s many festivals and events. If you enjoy golf and fishing, he would love to see you at his annual Fins n’ Skins Tournament in 2021!Selling real estate in his home-town is just another way Josh lives the Coastal by Nature mantra, but when he’s not working he can be found exploring the oceans, lakes and forests of Powell River with his wife and two daughters.You can contact Josh at jstatham@460realty.com

Guest Blog: Catherine McCull

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 20:01:00 GMT

REFLECTING BACK ON THE HOLIDAYS

Submitted by Catherine McCull, 460 Realty

Our family is fortunate enough to have a little space to set up camp on the West Coast in beautiful Mussel Beach for the summer weekends and we were grateful to be able to get away there during the summer.

Once the cooler weather sets in, we normally pack up camp and start planning a tropical vacation for December or January. With travel restrictions this past year, and the holidays looking different, I decided to change up our holiday décor and bring the beach home.

I took the opportunity of having a bit more time at home with my trusty sidekick Jenkins to work on a few craft projects that would transform our traditional holiday spread into a West Coast, beach inspired holiday home.

Our biggest project and feature is our Driftwood Christmas Tree, constructed out of salvaged wood from the west coast, and put on a base of a tree that friends of ours had taken down in 2020. To top it off, we dressed it with lights that we normally have hung up at our beach site. Culminating into a simple, but very local centerpiece in our home.

In keeping with the theme, I also had time to put together some driftwood ornaments as gifts for friends and family. The ornaments featured Christmas trees crafted out of beach glass found along the shores of our West Coast getaway over the years that we’ve had opportunity to go there.

While 2020 was a different year, these projects gave me the opportunity to remember and focus on how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy our home and our island on the beautiful West Coast. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, however it looked for you and your family.

Learn more about Catherine in the links below, and don’t forget to follow her on social media!

Agent Bio Page: Catherine McCull

Facebook Page: Catherine McCull, Realtor

Instagram Page: Catherine McCull

Welcome to 460 Realty, Taylor Simon!

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:58:00 GMT

Here we GROW again! Please join us in welcoming Taylor Simon to the 460 Realty family.

Born in Las Vegas, NV, Taylor later attended high school in Arizona and is proud to hold dual citizenship. She now calls Nanaimo home, and has for the past 11+ years.

Taylor has always loved connecting and building relationships with people. Previously having worked as an assistant for one of the top real estate teams, as well as within the hospitality industry for 10 years, she now appreciates the real estate process, and the ability to really listen to her clients and their unique needs.

Her love for real estate is evident with how she gives each one of her clients’ consistency and professionalism. Taylor enjoys getting to know personalities and finding the home that best suits each client. She truly enjoys helping them through the entire process, and being there every step of the way through what is one of the biggest purchases of one’s life.

When she isn’t working, you can find Taylor spending time with her fiancé their charcoal lab Blue, friends and family or out on beautiful Sproat Lake.

Welcome to the 460 team, Taylor! You can contact her HERE.

Welcome to 460, Dustin Layzell!

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:58:00 GMT

Here we GROW again! Please join us in welcoming Dustin Layzell to the 460 Family.

An Islander since he was 4 years old, and with strong family roots based in the real estate industry, it was easy for Dustin Layzell to choose his career path. With both parents selling and teaching for over 30 years, Dustin joined the ‘family business’ when he was 20 and has now been selling real estate for over 15 years.

Dustin quickly picked up speed early in his career, and was the 2nd youngest ever to receive the Re/Max Lifetime Achievement Award with VIREB. He’s also proud to have been named the #1 team in BC and #3 in Western Canada for 2017 with his previous brokerage. His professional, helpful approach and strong work ethic have created long-standing client relationships, resulting in a successful referral-based business for him. He is proud to be well connected within the community, and contributes annually to Children’s Miracle Network, KidSport as well as volunteering with coat drives, Secret Santa & Nanaimo Loaves & Fishes.

His love for real estate translates into helping first time buyers purchase, helping buyers find revenue generating properties as well as foreclosures. Whether this is your first home or 10th, Dustin feels it’s always important that you have all of the information up front and are provided with the facts to make an informed decision. When he’s not working, Dustin can be found spending time with his wife Jenna and their two children, Airlie & Jayce. They love hanging with friends, taking the kids to the park, boating in the summer, and quadding in the fall. He also likes to snowboard and trap shoot at the Nanaimo Fish & Game Club.

Welcome to the 460 team, Dustin! You can contact him HERE.

Welcome to 460, Cody Dreger!

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:58:00 GMT

Here we GROW again! Please join us in welcoming Cody Dreger to the 460 Family.

Born & raised in the Harbour City, Cody Dreger has been involved in the real estate industry for the past 16+ years. He is proud to serve the Central Vancouver Island Region.

Cody has been involved in the community his whole life, and because of that it’s become his lifestyle. He has volunteered and worked alongside several community initiatives and organizations in Nanaimo, such as the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, Garret Paquette Fund for Families, Tom Harris Foundation, and Nanaimo Loaves & Fishes to name a few. Cody received the REALTORS ® CARE Award from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board in 2017, as well as was named a past winner in the Top 20 Under 40 in 2013.

Cody has been successful because of his work, knowledge of the marketplace and his sincere dedication to his clients. He specializes in new developments, as well as some industrial & commercial properties, but would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your any of your real estate needs.

When he isn’t working, you’ll find him teeing off on a golf course, skiing or snowboarding down a mountain, or spending time with his 3 daughters + stepdaughter right here in Nanaimo.

Welcome to the 460 team, Cody! Get in touch with him HERE.

Welcome to 460, Wayne Woyciehouski!

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:57:00 GMT

Welcome to the 460 family, Wayne!

After growing up in Prince George, Wayne moved to Nanaimo on a volleyball scholarship with Vancouver Island University. His love for the Island has grown over the past nine years, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Wayne knew he wanted to become a REALTOR® when he realized how much he loved working with people. His goal has always been to create an organic relationship with his clients built on trust, and in turn help them make a very important and difficult decision easily. Having previously worked for BC Wildfire Service, and studied Sport, Health and Physical Education and Recreation Management at VIU, Wayne has also spent over five years coaching volleyball in the community. These experiences have taught him that every person is different, and therefore need to be catered to in different ways. He is proud to say that when you choose him as a REALTOR®, he is working in your best interest.

He specializes in working with first time home buyers, because he wants to help people become educated with the home buying process. Wayne understands that buying a home might be the single biggest investment in someone’s life, and he wants to make that as stress-free as possible by thoroughly helping them every step of the way.

When he’s not working, you can find Wayne camping, hiking, snowboarding or playing beach volleyball. He also loves to spend quality time with friends & loved ones.

Get in touch with Wayne here: https://www.460realty.com/agent/wayne-woyciehouski/

Welcome to 460, Armando Conejos!

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:57:00 GMT

Welcome to the 460 family, Armando!

A true Nanaimo-ite, Armando was born and raised right here in the Harbour City; graduating high school at NDSS and later purchasing his first home at the age of 22, he has been proud to call Nanaimo and Vancouver Island home.

Armando has always valued relationships and making connections with people. He loves how every day is something new and enjoys helping people find solutions for obstacles. With over 15+ years direct experience in sales & negotiations, having previously worked at Future Shop & Sleep Country Canada, Armando has been blessed with creating meaningful relationships with thousands of clients, and prides himself on being someone people can trust, and refer their friends & family to. He held the Elite Status at Future Shop (Top 10% of the entire company), as well as the Sleep Expert of the Year designation at Sleep Country Canada on Vancouver Island.

His love for real estate started when he purchased his first home, and he feels he’s a great fit for this industry based on having knowledge on a bit of everything and a keen interest in what’s going on with the market. When he isn’t working, Armando enjoys spending time with his family & friends here in ‘paradise’ on Vancouver Island, including his wife Carly and dog Piper. You can also find him trying to play golf or watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play.

Get in touch with Armando here: https://www.460realty.com/agent/armando-conejos/

Guest Blog: Robyn Hewer

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 19:56:00 GMT

COVID CLICHÉS

Submitted by Robyn Hewer, 460 Realty

Due to poor timing, the Hewer Family found itself living out many of what have now become “COVID Cliches” over the last 7 months. We bought our Great Big Project Home last summer and moved in at the beginning of September 2019. We had big plans for the house and the yard, but I was also 7 months pregnant at the time that we moved so we knew a lot of our renovation and gardening plans would be on hold until at least the Spring.

Fast forward to March of 2020; our beautiful daughter had been born, we had spent Christmas enjoying our time with family, my husband started a new job and now we were ready to get going on some of our ideas!

First up – the chicken coop! We retrofitted an old lean-to attached to the shop and Jackson (Mr. Hewer) built the birds a run that was predator proof and had a viewing window so the kids could sit and watch the chickens do their thing. But alas, here we hit COVID CLICHÉ #1 – backyard chicken tending was trendy now that everyone was spending more time at home with their families, and no birds were to be found. It was a sellers market for chickens for sure, and I saw bidding wars on Facebook groups, people jacking up the prices, starting side hustles of selling chicks and fertilized eggs – oh boy! We finally were able to track some layers down and now are the proud owners of 17 hens.

Having worked out of town for most of our adult lives, and then living on a very busy road in Nanaimo when we first moved back home, we knew that one of the first priorities would be getting a family dog when we moved into our forever home. We looked at rescues across the province with the hopes of getting a socialized young adult dog who was good with chickens, feral cats and young kids…… Turns out that dog doesn’t exist and that is how we ended up with COVID CLICHÉ #2 – our pandemic puppy Kevin, who joined our family when he was 8 weeks old, at the end of April.

If you’ve been keeping count, you would now realize that I am at home with a four year old and a baby, a coop full of chickens, two feral cats, a new puppy. Oh and working from home! Weekly Zoom meetings to try to keep up with the real estate market and the industry changes, virtual showings for clients, and even re-marketing properties that were listed right before the pandemic hit. The weather was warming and I was ready to get started on my sanctuary – the vegetable garden. I pruned back the overgrown area where the previous owners had their garden, pleaded and begged family and friends to help us build a garden fence to keep critters (both ours and wild) out, and was ready to get planting. AHA! COVID CLICHÉ #3 – everyone else at home was also starting new vegetable gardens, or expanding theirs, even starting container gardens on the decks of their condos and townhomes. Stores were selling out of seeds, couldn’t get stock fast enough, or just weren’t open, and later in the season the canning sections of all stores were empty – no jars, no lids, no canners! Thankfully my parents and I had some seeds from the year before and lots of neighbours planted too much of this and that so I was able to get some starts from people and have a fairly successful garden, with some variety of vegetables from my usual plantings. (Does anyone need Leeks? I have a surplus!)

It was a wonderful Spring and Summer at our home, even if we did run in to some unexpected roadblocks caused by COVID. I am grateful that our family and friends are healthy and that I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my kids (and the rest of the funny farm) during those first few months of the unknown. We’ve embraced being stereotypical COVID homesteaders but hope that our efforts continue way beyond the pandemic and that we can soon safely invite others over to check out The Hewer Homestead!

Learn more about Robyn in the links below, and don’t forget to follow her on social media!

Website: Robyn Hewer

Facebook Page: Robyn Hewer – Realtor

Instagram Page: Robyn Hewer

Guest Blog: Jordan Becker

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:54:00 GMT

Vancouver Island: Mixing Business with Pleasure

Submitted by Jordan Becker, 460 Realty

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough” – Mae West (1893-1980)

I used to have a tradition of committing to a new activity every January. I’d give it the year to see if I liked it enough to incorporate it into my life. I was in my early 20’s, living in Vancouver, I had just put that tiny, Saskatchewan farming town in my rearview and the world was my oyster. The options for adventure seemed endless.

As a flatlander, it was only natural that it started with hiking. There were plenty of local mountains to explore, and plenty of viewpoints from which to snap a grainy, almost unrecognizable, 1.3 megapixel photo.

As I started to meet more like-minded people, each subsequent January brought new activities; kayaking, then martial arts, then downhill mountain biking, then indoor rock climbing and so on. Some of these new hobbies evolved throughout the years; casual ocean kayaking (well, let’s be honest – floating in the ocean while sitting in a kayak and sipping a cider) turned into rolling lessons and weekend trips to Hope to brave the turbulent white waters in the Vedder and the Skagit. Downhill mountain biking brought back a familiar feeling of speed and balance, but the stretched out acres of farmland where I used to ride my dirtbike were now 2,000 kilometers away, so a street bike was the obvious choice. Some of the hobbies gave me just a taste of something new and exciting, and would have me searching for the whole pie. The half second of freefall found in rock climbing led me to a dropzone then called Pacific Skydivers, where I would do my first of many skydives from 12,000 feet.

I’m not sure how many January’s had come and gone, but at some point I looked back and realized that I hadn’t put a single activity back on the shelf. I had kept them all. Thinking about it now, it’s clear that it had become an obsession; I had subconsciously tasked myself with trying everything I could; everything that wasn’t available to me as a teenager in a prairie town of 1,400 people. I was gathering up experiences, and I had amassed quite a collection.

Fast forward a few years, one wedding and two pink lines. It was obvious to my little family that we didn’t want to stay in Vancouver, and while Vancouver Island offered some attractive qualities, I just couldn’t picture my life without the 6am motorcycle rides on the Sea To Sky highway, or my home dropzone where I learned to pack parachutes, or those spur of the moment – “I’ve got a free morning” hikes up Shannon Falls or The Lions.

It took coming over for a friend’s wedding for me to open my gaze and consider life on the Island. I was chatting with some fellow guests, many of whom had wisened up to this very idea years before me, and moved over from Vancouver. Every point that I had was met with a Van Isle solution. Predictably and eventually, I had to throw out my hail mary – “I just didn’t want to feel so detached, I wanted to be able to get over to the mainland on my own schedule”, which was then met with the truest remark of the evening – “Once you live on the Island for a minute, you won’t care about going back”.

That was in 2016 and it’s as true today as it was then. Everything that I thought used to tie me to Vancouver had far less to do with the actual city, and so much more to do with it’s West Coast placement. All of the activities that I picked up in my 20s, the ones that shaped and molded me, are still available to me here; the biggest difference is that I fight far less traffic on my way to enjoying them. Things are no doubt different now in the way that I split my time between business and pleasure, but finding adventure will always be a defining characteristic in my life, and adventure is something that Vancouver Island has in spades.

Learn more about Jordan in the links below, and don’t forget to follow him on social media!

Website: www.jordanbecker.ca

Facebook Page – Jordan Becker Real Estate

Instagram Page – Jordan Becker

Guest Blog: Sue Tompkins

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 19:51:00 GMT

Living on Vancouver Island during a Pandemic

Submitted by Sue Tompkins, 460 Realty

Finding things to do during the Covid staycation… Vancouver Island is a perfect place to hunker down during the pandemic. There are so many things to do such as hiking, biking, camping, beach-combing, Sunday drives, fishing, boating, but one of my most favourite things to do involves food.

Every aspect from growing vegetables and fruit in the garden, fishing for salmon, graciously accepting neighbours or friends offer to pick excess fruit from their bumper crops. What do I do with all of this food? I like to preserve and can, I love to bake sweet treats and I love to sample John’s cooking through his excellent culinary skills.

A pandemic is not the most ideal situation that we find ourselves in, but I am thankful for all of the small things in life, that are actually very simple things. We are fortunate to live in this beautiful location and we love helping people transition to the island, who love it as much as we do.

Guest Blog: Gerry Thomasen

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 19:49:00 GMT

Immigration to Nanaimo: A Rising Trend

Submitted by Gerry Thomasen, 460 Realty

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Nanaimo was seeing a dramatic immigration trend.

From nearly every other jurisdiction – whether it’s the rest of Canada, other parts of the world, or even nearby Victoria – our little oceanside city is seen as having low real estate prices in proportion to our natural beauty and amenities.

The economy here has been strong, too. Jobs abound at the university and in the tech sector, in tourism, and in all the services for our growing retirement population. And as transportation options open up between Nanaimo and Vancouver, more professionals from the BC mainland are able to commute to their big-city jobs – one guy flying from Nanaimo described arriving to his meetings much quicker than those who drove from the Vancouver suburbs. There also seems to be a trend away from big city living as more jobs are moved online.

There was a time in 2019 where I was able to say that 9 of my 10 most recent transactions were with purchasers from outside of Nanaimo! As one corporate bigwig said to my colleague, “The world has discovered you”.

Enter Covid-19

In mid-March of this year, the pandemic was apparent and most predictions were that the real estate market would suffer badly. As of September 2020, nothing could be farther than the truth.

How could this be? People are making less money overall. Okay, some of the folks receiving the federal CERB benefit are making more, but they aren’t buying houses with it. So why the sudden rush to buy properties in Nanaimo?

One often-cited explanation is that investors are increasingly appreciative of the stability and growth in real estate values. Land is of tangible value, and homes are a place to shelter, or to make reliable income from rents.

Another suggestion is that other places have become less desirable. I have some friends who had been living in San Francisco until this June. They were already considering moving home to BC but their hands were forced by the pandemic and civil unrest in the States. (Now the Bay Area is on fire.) Unsurprisingly, they were able to find a beautiful home with incredible views of Departure Bay, for WAY under budget. You can bet they are talking to their friends abroad.

Will these trends continue? I don’t have a crystal ball, but the factors listed above will be relevant for some time, I think.

Learn more about Gerry on his website:

www.nanaimoinformation.com

Welcome to 460 Realty, Jenna Woods!

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:27:00 GMT

Jenna began her real estate career as a 19 year old in Campbell River working in a partnership with her mother at Coast Realty Group. She found her stride in Fernie, BC ,where she quickly became a top agent serving amazing clients in a small mountain town that thrived on local industry and tourism. She then moved her family “home” to Campbell River and have laid down deep roots in this community.

Jenna’s enthusiasm, infectious positivity and passion for people are what has carried her through all stages of her career. Her passion is people – through and through. She loves to inspire others in discovering their options, their power and in making good decisions. Jenna loves the real estate industry – the community, the endless opportunity, the countless hours spent with other humans needing guidance. Being licensed with 460 Realty was an easy choice and representing the company on the North Island is truly an honour.

Please join us in welcoming Jenna to the 460 Family!

Welcome to 460 Realty, Brooke Haxton!

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 19:26:00 GMT

We are thrilled to welcome our newest agent to the 460 Family – Brooke Haxton!

Originally from White Rock on the Lower Mainland, Brooke has now been living here with her family on beautiful Vancouver Island for the past 6+ years. Prior to moving, each visit to the Island cemented a growing love and need for being here, and an easy decision to finally move to raise their family here.

Brooke has always loved to help people. Being in the hospitality industry for many years gave her the chance to create experiences for people they soon wouldn’t forget. Being in Real Estate now allows her to create similar experiences while buying their homes, which is one of the biggest purchases of someone’s life. She has always loved the real estate process, and that included even just driving around checking out neighbourhoods admiring the changes and styles of development.

Being a community-driven individual, Brooke is thrilled to be a part of life in Nanaimo now. She is an active mom of 3 kids: Isabella, Emra and Landen, and with her husband being a full-time restaurant manager and volunteer fire fighter, they lead a fast-paced moving household. When she isn’t busy helping clients buy and sell their dream homes, you can usually find Brooke balancing her busy lifestyle tasting delicious food & wine somewhere, playing sports with her kids or hanging out on a beach. She is excited to call 460 Realty ‘home’.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Loralee Burns!

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 19:26:00 GMT

We are super excited to welcome our newest agent to the 460 family inside the Ladysmith office: Loralee Burns!

Originally from the Lower Mainland, Loralee lived in Calgary and New Zealand before settling on Vancouver Island to be closer to family and pursue her career in Real Estate. Before obtaining her real estate license, Loralee enjoyed her previous professions as a social worker and an insurance agent. The combination of Loralee’s social work and successful sales background results in excellent communication and negotiation abilities, allowing her to achieve solutions for her clients’ unique needs and goals. Her clients can always depend on her high level of integrity and creative problem solving, combined with a caring and client-first approach. Loralee’s passion for all things real estate includes buying, renovating and selling her own properties and she uses her skills and up to date market knowledge to benefit her clients. These things and more are what set Loralee apart from other REALTORS® and gives her clients an edge in a competitive market.

When she’s not working hard in the industry she loves, you can find Loralee spending time with her husband and 3 kids enjoying the outdoors, hiking, horseback riding or renovating and designing her own homes. Loralee is also an active community member and volunteers with her church, youth group and kids’ schools.

Welcome to 460 Realty!

Welcome to 460 Realty, Lorraine Jensen!

Wed, 08 May 2019 19:25:00 GMT

We are pleased to welcome our newest 460 Agent….Lorraine Jensen!

Lorraine loves people, and she loves her community. Being in service and influencing the growth of people’s dreams, has been a driving force in Lorraine’s career. And for many, there’s no greater dream than the perfect home, a place to foster the love and growth and security for individuals and their families. She is a mother, a daughter, sister, friend, mother, and a very proud, “Glamma”.

Diversity is a word that could top Lorraine’s resume. Always a top leader in any sales positions she has embraced, was recognized as International Rookie of the Year, representing a product she fell in love with. She has worked in a detox centre in the downtown East side of Vancouver, and has inspired thousands of people from international stages.

Lorraine is an author and has spent many years as a leadership and self-development program facilitator, is a certified personal and professional coach.

Influencing human potential has been instrumental through her community contributions. Developing and leading leadership and goal setting workshops, women’s weekends, fund raising events. Marrying people and running a project, ‘Love it Forward’ have been close to her heart.

Bringing her history of a successful sales career and her love for people and community together, her choice to become a Realtor was a perfect fit. Born in London, England and emigrated at the age of 12 to Nova Scotia and later to the lower mainland with her parents and siblings, she moved to Nanaimo in 1989 and wherever she has travelled in the world, has always been an ambassador for the blessings of being a Nanaimoite.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Krista Prior!

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:24:00 GMT

It’s just something we do – we GROW with people we LOVE. Please join us in welcoming our newest licensee…Krista Prior!

Krista has been living in Ucluelet for over a decade. She migrated west from Saskatchewan, spending time in the mountains along the way, and eventually landed on the beaches of the west coast of the Island. She has been proud to work and help manage a small, successful restaurant in Ucluelet for over 10 years. She believes transitioning from the service industry to becoming a REALTOR® will allow her to continue to enjoy her west coast lifestyle while enabling her to establish a career that is well suited to the highly attractive developing area.

Krista is entering into an evolving industry. She is excited for the opportunity to represent clients and ensure that their individual needs are her priority. She feels confident in the current requirements expected of a REALTOR®. Krista takes pride in being approachable, adaptable and open-minded to unique situations as they arise. She pays attention to detail and values consistency, but believes that creativity and collaboration is the key to innovative solutions.

Krista admits she will forever be studying wine and searching for delicious cuisine. She is thankful to be able to go walking on beautiful beaches and the Wild Pacific Trail. To relive her childhood, she straps on the old figure skates or waterski and accepts she will continuously be paddling around trying to catch a good wave. Krista appreciates art, architecture, efficient home designs and travelling when possible.

Welcome to the 460 family, Krista!

Welcome to 460 Realty, Ashton Deibert!

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 19:23:00 GMT

It’s been a busy month at 460, welcoming 3 new agents to our family. We are excited to introduce you to Ashton Deibert!

Originally from Red Deer, Ashton & her husband recently chose to move their family west to Vancouver Island for the lifestyle it offers. After living comfortably in their home town, they realized the strong need to push themselves out of their comfort zone and live life to the fullest was calling – so they made the jump to Nanaimo.

With over 5 years in the real estate industry, Ashton comes to 460 Realty from CIR Realty, another independent brokerage. She puts a lot of energy into getting to know her clients’ wants & needs, and loves being able to help them find not just a house, but a home. Recognizing that a home sale or purchase is a big decision and change for someone, she prides herself on working hard to add value, and be well-versed in marketing changes & updates. Ashton displays integrity to their clients so they feel confident that their transaction is in the best hands; with an agent who has their best interests at heart. Real Estate isn’t ‘work’ for her – it’s a passion that she genuinely is excited for, something that she loves to work in every day.

Although well versed in all areas of Real Estate, Ashton really enjoys helping growing families find their perfect home, along with assisting clients looking for investment properties to renovate. She likes seeing the potential in a property, and watching her clients diversify/improve their financial position based on a purchase.

When she isn’t working, you can find Ashton spending quality family time with her husband and 4 kids, probably playing a board game or at a sunny beach somewhere on the Island. She also has a keen interior design eye, and spends a lot of time decorating her home or helping friends & family with their décor choices.

Welcome to the 460 family, Ashton!

Welcome to 460 Realty, Brendan Wilkinson!

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 19:22:00 GMT

The family of 460 Realty is growing — again. Please join us in welcoming Brenda Wilkinson!

A life-long resident of Vancouver Island, Brendan was motivated to become a REALTOR® for the lifestyle it enables him to have. After graduating with honours and as both the Valedictorian and Vice President of his grad class at Ladysmith Secondary, Brendan’s entrepreneurial spirit really kicked into high gear. After high school, he continued down his innovative business path by incorporating his first company, dormGO, at the age of 18. Brendan also spent time with Swell Social, a social media marketing agency in Victoria that’s on the cutting edge of the new generation of digital marketing. He recently also worked towards a BComm degree at UVIC, but took a leave of absence to pursue things he felt were more rewarding: Real Estate. Brendan got his Real Estate licence at the age of 19, and officially is 460 Realty’s youngest agent. He hopes to become part of the growth, excitement and prosperity of our forward-thinking brokerage, and is proud to be working alongside his mom Elaine, one of 460’s founding agents.

Brendan loves the idea of helping clients find a place that is right for them. He believes there is something magical about walking them through a house for the first time as they imagine themselves living there and making it their home. He provides premium, innovative real estate services that set him apart from the crowd. As a new generation REALTOR®, Brendan brings a fresh, young and marketing based viewpoint to the landscape, efficiently utilizing digital marketing & much more.

Growing up, Brendan previously played and coached both baseball and hockey in the positions of catcher and goalie. When he’s not working hard for his clients, you can find Brendan his home community of Ladysmith spending time with friends and family, or exploring the beauty of Vancouver Island.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Jay Deleskie!

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 19:21:00 GMT

n early February, 460 Realty welcomed a new agent: Jay Deleskie.

Jay Deleskie, Personal Real Estate Corporation, has a solid background in real estate here on Vancouver Island. After moving here from Nova Scotia 15 years ago, Jay has set het himself up as an approachable, hard-working REALTOR® in the mid-Island region. With 10+ years’ experience in the industry both in residential and commercial with training from the CCIM Institute, he has always enjoyed creating business relationships and working hard for his residential and commercial clients. Specializing in development marketing, new home construction sales & investment properties, Jay can offer a full range of services assuring a professional and competent experience. Previously from Engel & Volkers, Jay is looking forward to being a part of the 460 family. When he’s not working, he can be found spending time in the Harbour City & Nanoose Bay with his wife Nicole & children Orchid & Max. He loves to spend his down time boating, travelling & snowmobiling.

To contact Jay, call 250-591-4601 or email jay@460realty.com

Catching Up with 460 Realty

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 19:20:00 GMT

Welcome 2018!

We’ve been a bit busy over the last year (always a good thing!), but are happy to be back and blogging on everything that is 460 Realty. A lot has happened since we last blogged, so we thought a 460 re-cap would be a fun idea.

2017 started strong last year with some new faces joining our team here at 460. If you missed their announcements on our Facebook page, you can click on their bios in the links below.

In early 2017, we welcomed Charlotte Kersting, Deborah Nicol & Carolyn Watts to our Parksville office, and Gerry Thomasen & Cory McNabb to our Nanaimo office. Shortly followed by another new face in our Parksville office, Brian Weise and two more faces in Nanaimo: Josh Wynia & Jordan Becker. 460 Realty was becoming bigger each day!

Early 2017 (January) also saw the commercial real estate company NAI Commercial Central Vancouver Island join the 460 Group of Companies. NAI Commercial Central Vancouver Island is a full service commercial real estate brokerage providing personalized service to central Vancouver Island since 1993. Their team of dedicated professionals provide clients with market knowledge and insight for the region stretching from the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo to Campbell River and Tofino. We were so excited to bring them into the 460 Group of Companies.

In the spring, 460 opened up two NEW locations! One in Parksville offering Realty & Property Management services, and one in Port Hardy offering Realty services. It was a very exciting time for all our agents, expanding north and showcasing more of the 460kms we represent on Vancouver Island (which our name represents – did you know?) We then welcomed Lynne Wilson to our North Island office and Feron Walker to our Nanaimo office.

Parksville Office

North Island Office

In the fall, we opened up another location in beautiful Ucluelet, and welcomed new agents Mieke Dusseldorp and Sandy Rantz to the team. We are growing and excited to be representing so many amazing communities now on Vancouver Island.

Find us in Ucluelet

2017 rounded out with a fundraiser put on by our 460 Group of Companies for two charities in Nanaimo: The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive and Vancouver Island Crisis Society. Together with members of the public, 460 was able to donate $1,321 to the Crisis Society and over 200 new toys. Exciting! We look forward to doing the event again this December and increasing our donation totals.

Stay tuned for more blog posts…coming soon! Thanks for reading.

Make sure to follow us on all our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn

460 Acts of Kindness

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 19:17:00 GMT

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460 Realty has a brand new look!

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 19:16:00 GMT

It’s an exciting day at office, because today we are launching a brand new look at 460 Realty. The new site design is much more visual, which is perfect for showcasing our Vancouver Island listings and our expanding team.

A big thank you to 460 Communications for all of their hard work designing this new site. Take a peek around at www.460realty.com and let us know what you think!

Welcome to 460 Realty, Danielle Armet

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:15:00 GMT

The 460 Realty team is on the grow again. We are excited to announce one of the newest additions to our team, Danielle Armet!

Danielle has called Nanaimo home for over 18 years. Previously living in a variety of cities in British Columbia reinforced her desire to remain an Island girl. Danielle brings her extensive knowledge of Nanaimo and surrounding areas, her compassionate nature, and positive energy to every client she serves.

Danielle has a passion for customer service. While employed as an unlicensed assistant with a thriving Qualicum Beach Real Estate team she cemented her personal commitment to becoming the best Real Estate professional possible. Today, Danielle assists people with their unique Real Estate needs and appreciates the healthy relationships she forms with everyone she meets.

Danielle values personal and professional integrity. She is loyal and enjoys new challenges. Danielle blends her strong work ethic with warmth and humour. When she is not in the office or working with her clients, Danielle loves to spend time outdoors hiking and camping or creating gourmet meals in her kitchen.

Welcome to the 460 family, Danielle!

460 Realty Makes History as First Canadian Brokerage to Hand Out Profit Shares to REALTORS®

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:15:00 GMT

460 Realty achieved a historical milestone on Thursday, as we became the first Canadian real estate company to hand out profit-sharing cheques to 18 of our agents.

At 460 Realty, we operate under an innovative profit sharing model that is unique to the Canadian real estate industry. While there are a few brokerages that engage in profit sharing back east, they are franchisees of the U.S. real estate company, Keller-Williams. To date, 460 Realty is believed to be the only Canadian brokerage that follows this structure.

“We directly attribute the success of our company to our employees, so Thursday was a very proud day for us,” said Randy Forbes, director of operations. “We are thrilled to be able to share the success of our operation with the people who helped us get there.”

460 Realty is a part of the larger 460 Group of companies, which also includes 460 Property Management, 460 Mortgage Investment Corporation and 460 Communications. This integrated model has provided lateral growth for the company, and has allowed clients to leverage services in a number of areas.

This unique business model is just another example of the out-of-box thinking that helped catapult the 460 Group onto the Vancouver Island real estate scene. In just two short years, the company has overtaken the number two spot for market share and sales in Nanaimo.

The company is co-owned by the licensees and employees, which creates a true, collective team effort. This fosters an environment where agents go the distance for each other, for their clients and creates a powerful culture that everyone benefits from.

“At the 460 Group, we truly believe that people, values and culture drive our success,” said Forbes. “I think the fact that we were able to hand out profit shares in year two confirms that.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Thompson, 460 Communications Photography

Back Row Left to Right: – Peter Gallacher, Alex Penner, Matt Schiebel, Chris Crump and Phil Gonyer

Front Row Left to Right: Catherine McCull, Shannon Frith, Amber Tanti, Angela Espey and Angela West

Welcome to 460 Realty, Kristina Fedorak

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:12:00 GMT

The 460 Realty team has a new face joining our family in the North Island!

Kristina Fedorak has called Port Hardy home for the past 26 years. Her family relocated to the North Island a year after she was born and they have never looked back. Growing up she was very active, playing both league volleyball and soccer in school.

Kristina has always been a real estate enthusiast, purchasing her first home in 2005, before she graduated high school. Within eight short months, she managed to flip her first property, and from there went on to purchase a larger home, followed shortly by a rental property.

In 2008, Kristina switched gears and started her own surf, skate and snowboarding clothing store; however, it wasn’t long before her passion for property led Kristina to obtain her real estate license.

Kristina looks forward to helping first-time homebuyers, or an out-of-town buyer find their first home on Northern Vancouver Island, and is keen to share her vision and passion for design with her clients.

In her spare time, Kristina likes to take advantage of all the outdoor activities the North Island has to offer, including: hiking, fishing, surfing and kayaking.

Welcome to 460 Realty, Merrilee Tognela!

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:11:00 GMT

Did you know that Vancouver Island is 460 km long from tip to tip? This week, the 460 Group expanded our reach into a few new markets on the island by bringing on a new addition to our team!

We are thrilled to announce that Merrilee Tognela has officially joined the 460 family. Merrilee specializes in real estate on Northern Vancouver Island, and has brought a whopping 71 listings with her to 460 Realty!!

This week, ten of our agents embarked on a #‎460roadtrip to Port Hardy to help welcome Merrilee, and assist her with the transition to the 460 team. Despite the wind and rain, we had a fabulous trip exploring this part of the Island.

Welcome, Merrilee – we are so happy that you decided to join us and look forward to working with you!

#‎460realty #‎agentsgoingthedistance

Welcome to 460 Tom Munro

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:10:00 GMT

Tom Munro is one of a new breed of professionals in real estate. Uncompromisingly passionate, focused and diligent it’s not hard to see why Tom is on his way to the top of his field. His commitment to providing the finest service on behalf of his clients is his number one philosophy and it shows during every transaction from his initial meeting until after closing.

We are in our new office as of March 31st!

Mon, 07 Apr 2014 19:09:00 GMT

We are very excited to move into our new office and are looking forward to many great years here!
Our new location is 202 – 1551 Estevan Road, Nanaimo, BC