Sales drop, prices stable

Maria Rantanen

MRANTANEN@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

Home sales in Richmond dropped almost 50 per cent early this year, but this didn’t translate into lower prices across the city.

A typical single-family home in Richmond sold for $2.1 million in the first quarter of this year down negligibly from last year and townhouses on average sold for $1 1 million, virtually the same as last year.

Only condo prices seemed to go down, with a City of Richmond report showing a 12 3-per-cent decrease compared to last year They seemed, however, to rebound slightly in April, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

The Bank of Canada raised its interest rates several times last year in an effort to cool the housing market, going from 0 25 per cent in January 2022 to 4 5 per cent this January

All types of homes in Richmond single-family, condos and townhouses saw a significant drop in sales during this time period

Homes for sale were also on the market much longer than a year ago For example, condos were listed on average 43 days in the first quarter of 2023, which is twice the length of time compared to a year prior with files from Daisy Xiong

Vikki Hui

VHUI@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

The bird baths and birdseed feeders at Richmond Nature Park were temporarily taken down after sick finches were spotted in the area

The decision was apparently prompted by the discovery of two sick birds, according to local bird photographer Anabelle Wee She spotted a distressed purple finch last week and informed nature park staff of its condition. The bird was then captured for further investigation

“Sadly, (staff) said the sick finch died last night,” Wee told the Richmond News last week

She added staff told her they suspected the bird, and another finch that was found dead earlier in the week, had died from Trichomonosis, a disease caused by parasites

According to the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative, Trichomonosis doesn’t pose a threat to humans or other mammals

Although they have yet to determine how the birds got sick, as a safety precaution, staff have removed feeders that contain seed

A sign was put up on Thursday to inform nature park visitors saying this decision was made “to protect our birds from avian flu ”

However, Richmond city spokesperson Clay Adams said nothing suggests an avian flu outbreak in the community

He added many bird species are at “constant risk of disease” because of contaminated feeders and water

“That is why anyone with feeders should ensure they are kept clean and removed if directed by wildlife experts,” Adams said

Pursuant to the BC Self Storage Lien Act, the owner of Lucky Box Storage (formally Mitchell Storage) DBA Canstore Rentals Ltd. has a lien upon all personal property located at the self-service storage facility for rent or other charges incurred for the storage of the personal property Due to the failure to pay the rent, the owner is enforcing its lien and intends to sell or otherwise dispose of the personal property located in the container listed in this notice

The people liable as debtor’s for whom the lien exists are Jacqueline Yang, Dolores Fisher, and Jie Cong Xu. The contents will be sold by private or public sale on (June 9, 2023) or thereafter online at www.ibid4storage.com.This notice is being provided pursuant to BC Provincial law before the sale The tenants listed may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien and the reasonable expenses incurred to redeem the personal property.

Auction start: June 9, 2023

Unit #: CISU1024807, A74, and B060B

If you operate a residential indoor wood burning appliance in Metro Vancouver, Residential Indoor Wood Burning Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1303 applies to you.

What you need to know:

• Users of residential indoor wood burning appliances (fireplaces, wood stoves, etc.) must use best burning practices

• Residential indoor wood burning appliances cannot be used between May 15 and September 15, every year, unless:

¡ The wood burning appliance is operated within an off-grid residence located outside the Urban Containment Boundary

¡ The wood burning appliance is the only source of heat in a residence

¡ There is an emergency (such as a gas or electrical outage lasting more than 3 hours)

Bylaw 1303 aims to reduce the impact on public health and the environment due to smoke from residential indoor wood burning

As of September 2022, if you burn, you must declare your use of best burning practices and, in urban areas, register eligible wood burning appliances

For more information, scan the QR code, go to metrovancouver org and search ‘Residential Wood Burning’, call 604-451-6677 or email riwb@metrovancouver.org

Metro Vancouver offers rebates to reduce emissions from wood burning appliances For more information, go to metrovancouver.org and search ‘Community Wood Smoke Reduction’

• Auction end: TBD

• Auction location: Online www.ibid4storage.com

Auction items: Various items