Introducing Kaleigh… to the team of SquamishRealtor.com!

Kaleigh Salmon

Sales Representative for Denise Salmon, Associate Broker

Kaleigh was born and raised in the Sea to Sky Corridor, having lived in West & North Vancouver, Whistler and Squamish.

She graduated from Howe Sound Secondary school with 1st class honours in June of 2004. For her 2002/2003 school year, she lived and studied in Fribourg, Switzerland on the Rotary Student Exchange program. Kaleigh returned home speaking German and Swiss German.

Through her high school years Kaleigh worked at the local Tim Hortons and then in the position of weekend receptionist at the REMAX office while studying for her real estate license. Passing her licensing exam with flying colours, she was off on a month-long trip to Australia. Upon her return she has become part of Squamish’s 1st mother/daughter real estate team. Young and enthusiastic, Kaleigh has grown up in the real estate business. She truly loves it, lives it and now she sells it!

The SquamishRealtor.com Team:
Victoria, Kaleigh & Denise

Client Testimonial

Denise’s real estate expertise, knowledge and service is unparalleled. She was able to successfully market and sell our house for the price we wanted in one week. We will definitely use Denise for all of our future real estate transactions and highly recommend her to everyone else. Thank you Denise for making this transaction so easy for us!

—Suzanne & Doug Gordon

Can the Strong Housing Market Last?

“Yes, it can,” according to CMHC Market Analyst Robyn Adamache. “Not the hot, hot market we’ve been seeing, with bidding wars, but a more sustainable market.”

Adamache says demand in both new and resale markets continues to be strong. “The market can sustain all of the new construction out there. We’re seeing strong demand for new homes and inventory is still relatively low.”

The B.C. Real Estate Association reported a 17% increase in the number of homes sold over the previous July with sales dollars 38% higher than July 2004. Commenting on these sales increases, David Barclay, president of the BCREA, said in August that “the market is being driven by low mortgage rates and employment growth.”

Homebuyer groups that are driving the market are investors and first-time buyers, trade-up and move-down buyers, adult lifestyle and recreation buyers, and seniors. With Squamish attractive and advantageous to all these buyers, home sales remain strong despite changes in price.

Demand is sustained by many factors, including affluent baby boomers purchasing second homes as they approach retirement. The National Association of Realtors’ “Profile of Second-Home Buyers” reports that second homes accounted for 38% of the existing housing stock and 36% of all homes purchased in 2004.

Do higher-than-before values put homeowners in peril? Not if they’ve taken a prudent buy-and-hold approach and kept their homes for any length of time. Even if the local market softens, most homeowners still benefit greatly from their home purchase. Beata Caranci, an economist with TD Bank Financial Group said in August, “B.C. homeowners needn’t be concerned [about a U.S. real estate bubble] if they plan to stay in their homes for several years. So long as they are making purchases based on their own financial considerations, they shouldn’t be so concerned about what is happening in other markets.”

Current conditions simply underscore that fact that buying a home remains one of the smartest, surest things a family can do to enhance its present and secure its future.

Denise Salmon

Thinking of renovating your home?

1. Tip 1 – Call me! Having just finished another reno in our house, I’m well versed in the pros & cons of launching into that arena. I’ve also had the pleasure of being the “real estate consultant” (or family/marriage counselor) for several clients looking to maximize the investment in their home, as well as create something they will enjoy for many years.
2. Tip 2 – Send as many members of your family on vacation as you can. With Kaleigh off to Australia, I sent Scott to England and my husband on two fishing trips. “Have fun dears!”
3. Tip 3 – Hire a contractor you trust implicitly. Our contractor and his subcontractors come and go freely—to the point that my dogs don’t even wake up when they come through the door! Well except for that time the border collie tried to “herd” two plumbers into the bathroom. And that other time both dogs decided to leave home via the front seats of the plumber’s truck!
4. Tip 4 – Expect the unexpected. That is a whole other story and would take up far too much space here…

So, reno finished, I now have everyone home. Scott has grown about a foot this year. He’s taller than I, his feet are bigger than his Dad’s and he talks with a much deeper voice. Hardly recognize him some days! Entering the world of high school, he’s threatening to join his sister in the “biz” when he is done. As you now know, Kaleigh is embarking on her new career with Victoria and me. Her energy and enthusiasm—and caustic sense of humour—bring a whole new dimension to SquamishRealtor.com.

Victoria Doyle

Licensed Assistant

Squamish has taken great strides in becoming ‘Bear Smart’, and I’m sure enjoying being one of the volunteers. The BC Conservation Foundation has funded “Bear Aware”, the first program of its kind in Squamish, in turn hiring local Kris Hopping as coordinator. The municipality has adopted the ‘Wildlife Attractant” bylaw enabling Kris and volunteers like myself to take baby bear steps to educate the community of Squamish about garbage, picking fruit trees, bear proof garbage receptacles and much more.

Upcoming Events

Link to the events calendar through SquamishRealtor.com. You’ll find fun, interesting and great events, all year ’round.