prov. dollars flow to quesnel PAGE A3
dental health month PAGE A11
duddy makes all star PAGE A14
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 63
www.quesnelobserver.com
1
$ 30
PM 40005365
includes GST
Values up, sales down AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
Spring beauty Tulips are one of the first flowers to show their colours in spring and this bouquet was a welcome addition to a Quesnel household. Annie Gallant photo
Quesnel the Beautiful
gordperryphoto@shaw.ca
“your town in pictures” Available at Big Country Printers and from Gord Perry 250-992-8578
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber Lora Hender! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
The Gold Pan City’s real estate market is seeing a decline in sales, but an increase in worth. The BC Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB) reported 900 sales with a value of $212,173,760 through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in the first quarter of 2013. This compares with 1,002 sales worth $220,464,326 to the end of March, 2012. As of March 31 there were 3815 properties of all types available for purchase through the MLS® compared to 3842 at this time last year. “The housing markets in the communities throughout the BC Northern Real Estate Board continued to perform at a modest pace throughout the first quarter of 2013,” president Gisela Janzen said. “Continuing low mortgage interest rates combined with lower prices have improved affordability in some areas. Potential buyers that have stayed on the sidelines will likely enter the market place in a typical spring and summer market throughout the North.” Below is list of property sales for the first three months of 2013, 2012 numbers are in brackets. In the Gold Pan area realtors reported 46 (50) sales worth $12.1 million ($8.6 million) in the first three months of 2013. In addition to the 15 single family homes that sold, nine parcels of vacant land and three homes on acreage have sold this year. There were 243 (271) properties of all types available for purchase through MLS as of the end of March. In Williams Lake 65 (63) properties have sold so far, totalling $14.1 million ($13.3). In addition to the 25 single family homes sold, 18 homes on acreage, six manufactured homes in parks and four manufactured homes on land have changed hands in the first quarter. As of March 31 there were 379 (414) properties listed. Heading north, Prince George saw 239 (256) properties of all types, worth $53.5 million ($58.6 million) changing hands in the first three months of 2013. In the west part of the city the median price of the 63 single family homes that have sold on MLS was $210,500 ($223,500). In the area east of the By-pass, the 36 single family homes that sold had a median value of $182,750 ($170,000). In the northern part of the city, 30 single family homes sold with a median price of $259,000 ($242,000). In the southwestern section of the city, 40 homes have sold since January with a median price of $295,500 ($286,000). At the end of March there were 660 (602) properties of all types available.
Hardeep Bhangu Optometrist 15 years of experience as an Optometrist and has now returned to his hometown. Call and book your appointment today.
QUESNEL FAMILY OPTOMETRIC CENTER 455 McLean St. 250-992-5417