What came first, the orange, or...orange? Did somebody make a random decision to name the fruit after its colour? That's how the blueberry got its name. Or did the colour get its name from the fruit?  In terms of origin stories - this one is right up there with the chicken versus the egg - although much easier to solve.

The answer is neither.  Although one did come before the other, neither was actually the first meaning of the word. The linguistic ancestor to today's word 'orange' was first used to describe the tree that the fruit grows on. The word's  roots can be traced all the way back to Sanskrit. In that language the word naranga meant 'orange tree'. Naranga evolved into the Persian word 'narang' and the Arabic work 'naranj'. If you know Spanish, these words might look very familiar - the modern Spanish word for 'orange' is 'naranja'.

As the word evolved, it eventually came to mean the fruit, not just the orange tree.  Old French adapted the Arabic word naranj as 'pomme d'orenge' - the fruit from the orange tree, or just 'orenge'.

The word didn't become to describe colour until almost 200 years later, making the fruit the clear winner.  

Question: What words can you name that rhyme with orange? Answer: Another fun fact - their aren't any words that rhyme with orange in the english language. 

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

Over the years we have all learned a lot about Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, as the tech company changed the way we live and do business. But there was a third founder of the giant, Ronald Wayne, who at one time owned 10% of the company. Wayne was an Apple founder for just 12 days before deciding to sell his share to Jobs and Wozniak for a mere $800. Unfortunate considering the company is now worth approximately $1 trillion.

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

Fifteen Fifteen, a planned 42-storey building at 1515 Alberni Street, will have a distinctive silhouette with 18 cantilevered units that take advantage of 270 degree views. The increasing popularity of cantilever buildings over the last 10 years has residents literally living on the edge.  The cantilever is an entire 

D structure that defies gravity and provides superior apartment layouts for the world's most luxurious apartment buildings.

The tower will be built on one of the most recognizalbe sites in Vancouver.

The plot includes an architecturally historical building at 1500 Georgia and a pool that has been iconic on the artery in the city. There was space available for another building which was where the concept for Fifteen Fifteen was born.

The architects have taken the time to focus on every detail to bring both the interiors and exteriors of the project to life.  The concept was to try and connect the tower to the elements of Vancouver - the mountains, the ocean, and Stanley Park.

While not everbody can live in the building, the building is intended to bring life to the neighbourhood. In addition to 202 homes, there will be boutique retail at the ground level and public art.

The 18 Observatories introduce a horizontal component with dramatic glass-enclosed cantilevers that project outward from the tower - creating a sensation of floating above the ocean, the city and the mountains.

The Observatories will range from two bedrooms (approx 1,500 squre feet) to three bedroom and den (just under 2,200 square feet), will be available on 18 different storeys, with the lowest on the 17th floor and the highest on the 36th floor.

The amenties at Fifteen Fifteen will include the SkyLounge, spanning the 29th and 30th floors with a 270 degree view of the harbour, mountains and the city where residents will be able to host dinner parties for their guests in a space with some of the best views in the city. There will also be a 24-hour auto valet with an auto lobby just below street level, a concierge service and a state-of-the-art fitness and yoga room with locker and towel service.

Projected prices from $900,000.

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

It's quite amazing how many owners are now seeking homes for their mini-pigs because they didn't research bylaws or anticipate how big they would grow. These animals don't belong in Metro Vancouver backyards, let alone a condo.

'Mini-pig' is a term used to describe any smaller pig, as opposed to a specific breed. They include varieties that have been selectively bred to be smaller in  size, such as KuneKune, Yucatan and pot-bellied. The animals are also marketed as 'micro-pigs', '  pocket-pigs' and 'teacup pigs' and these labels are often where potential buyers get misled.

A standard mini-pig can weigh between 50 and 150 pounds, but any breed of pig under 350  pounds is considered to be a 'miniature-pig.

Breeders charge anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Because a lot of pig breeders and not registered, a lot of buyers are ending up  with a pig that may not be as small as advertised.

People glorify just how cute these little animals are, dressing them up when they're tiny, but they are going to turn into big animals - some up to 150-200 pounds.

Faced with challenges of care and potential fines in municipalities where pet pigs aren't  allowed, some owners are scrambling to find new homes for their pigs, leaving sanctuaries inundated with the animals.

Re-homing pigs is difficult and when a sanctuary accepts pigs, almost all of them stay until they die.

A forever home is essential to restore the animals trust and give them stability because they are highly intelligent, emotional and family-focused animals. 

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

It is no surprise that Vancouver homeowners lead major cities in Canada with a total average debt load of $629,803, with $595,100 coming from mortgage debt and $34,703 from non-mortgage debt.

Surrey comes in second in the country, averaging at a total of $609,104, including $574,324 from mortgage debt and $34,780 from non-mortgage debt.

This is followed by Toronto with an average mortgage balance of $574,246. Combined with a non-mortgage debt of $34,703, the average debt for Torontonians reaches $608,296.

Homeowners in Burnaby come behind in fourth, with an average total debt load of $559,293, with $523,180 sourcred to their mortgage obligations and $36,113 to non-mortgage debt.

What is interesting, despite having the largest mortgage balances, homeowners in Vancouver, Surrey and Toronto are the least likely to have missed billed payments compared to homeowners in other cities.

Homeowners in Regina ($261,325 average mortgage debt), Winnipeg ($263,857) and Saskatoon (280,842) are over three times more likely to have missed bill payments than homeowners in Vancouver, Surrey and Toronto.

The national average is $359,597 for mortgage debt and $34,290 for no-mortgaage debt.

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

The two-storey Vancouver penthouse unit at The Ritz in Coal Harbour has just sold for $7,350,000 after more than a year on the market.

The pool is a spectacular feature, which is for the exclusive use of the residents of the penthouse only - they don't have to share the pool with anybody else. An especially nice feature during COVID-19.

Only a select few penthouse properties in Vancouver have their own swimming pools.

The two-bedroom, four bath downtown condo was reported sold on September 9th after spending 371 days of the market.

The original asking price was $8,980,000, which was later reduced to $7,880,000.

The property has a 2021 asssessment of $6,357,000.

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

Based on a 2016 federal census, the City of Vancouver drew up an official profile of social indicators for 2020. The city profile notes that the median personal income in the city is $39,000.

The standard measure of affordability is 30% of  income for housing costs.

Using this standard, someone earning $39,000 should only pay $975 for a 1 bedroom unit or studio in Vancouver.

A proposed development in Vancouver highlighted measures of what it calls 'for-profit affordable rental housing'. Every year the city updates a bulletin setting the initial maximum rents that can be charged on these projects.

In exchange, developers get a number of incentives, including a waiver on paying development cost levies.

For 2021, the starting rents for new eastside rentals are as follows: $1,653 for a studio, $2,022 for a 1 bedroom, $2,647 for 2 bedroom and $3,722 for a 3 bedroom.

Earnings would have to be more than $80,000 for a person to affordably rent a 1 bedroom unit on the eastside and more than $148,000 yearly to affordably rent a 3 bedroom unit.

On the more expensive westside of the city, the intial maximum rents are: $1,818 for a studio, $2,224 for a 1 bedroom. $2,912 for a 2 bedroom and $4,094 for a 3 bedroom.

Earnings would have to be almost $90,000 for a person to affordably rent a 1 bedroom unit on the westside and almost $164,000 yearly to affordably rent a 3 bedroom unit.

How are our affordability guidelines working? You decide.

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

There are many obvious good investment items - real estate of course being one of the best.

But is celebrity memorabilia a good investment or really just a fun hobby? With some of these prices these items go for - it's hard to figure.

Would you spend more than $10,000 for one of your favourite celebrity's fake nails or $5,000 for a used tissue?

Here are a few celebrity memorabilia items that sold for astounding amounts of money:

A pair of Nike Air Jordan 1s, game-worn by Michael Jordan in 1985 and signed by the player, sold for $560,000 in a Sotheby's auction.

According to Guinness World Records, this pair of sneakers is the most expensive ever sold at an auction.

Darth Vaders's helmet worn by actor David Prowse in "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back: sold to an anonymous bidder for $898,420.

It was estimated to tap out at $400,000 at an auction in September 2019 - but sold for more than double.

A General Lee 1969 Charger from "The Dukes of Hazzard" owned by actor John Schneider, sold for a whopping $9,900,500 on eBay in 2007.

Used in both the TV series and in the 2000 TV movie. The design on the car's roof - a giant confederate flag - became a source of controversy in 2015. TV land ended up pulling scheduled reruns of the show.

Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr President" dress, which was covered in 2,500 rhinestone, sold for $1,267,500 at a Christie's auction in 1999.

The gown was said to be so tight-fitting that Monroe had to be sewn into it.

An iconic dress that Kate Winslet wore in "Titanic" sold for a whopping $330,000 in 2012.

The dress was worn during the scene in which Kate Winslet's character, Rose, meets Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Jack, for the first time.

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

I honestly try to eat well. Maybe not hard enough, but I start most days with what I think is on the right track. Every morning after a good brisk walk or a light workout I crack, whip and cook up 3 eggs and chase it down with a delicious fruit smoothie with nothing but frozen and fresh fruit combined with pure fruit juice.  The recipe changes daily. And from there I do my best to make smart food choices for lunch and dinner (most days). My weakness - quantity!

However I do like to indulge periodically and one of my favourite treats is ice cream.

Now if I am going to have an ice cream - it might as well be fantastic. Here are some of my favourite hideouts.

La Casa Gelato

If you are looking for options, look no further. La Casa Gelato offers a whopping 238 different varieties of gelato - actually winning a world record for most gelato flavours on site. You can find it at 1033 Venables St., Vancouver

Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery

One of Metro Vancouver's staple stops for ice cream. You'll find sundaes and classic sodo fountain treats throughout the menu. The seasonal sundaes always give you something to go back for. Located at 4090 Hastings St., Burnaby

Popina Canteen

Offering the world's first soft-serve cream puff from it Granville Island location. This treat comes in a variety of different flavours and features drool-worthy toppings and sauces. Watch out for the seagulls!

Soft Peaks

Specializing in soft serve that is all-natural and lower in calories and fat than traditional ice cream recipes because it is made with Avalon organic milk. You can also add an assortment of fun toppings. Found at 25 Alexander St., Vancouver and 4603 Kingsway, Burnaby

Innocent Ice Cream

Not your average ice cream sandwiches, Innocent's sandos are gluten free and massive in size. They've got a dozen different flavours to choose from at 4865 Main Street, Vancouver

Uno Gelato

You'll find a dozen different flavours of orginal gelato at each of their locations. Each flavour is made with fresh, local organic ingredients so you know you're getting the best. Located at 601 Stamps Landing, 1055 Canada Place #36 and 2579 West Broadway, Vancouver 

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits

For the past 18 months the pandemic and policies that were influenced by the economic uncertainty have pushed home prices up significantly, as demand continues to outpace supply.

Most of those market drivers remain in place today and though the summer months have been quiet compared to the beginning of 2021, the fall housing market could be considerably more brisk.

B.C.'s pre-construction market will likely remain busy as buyers lock-in low interest rates with a relatively small initial deposit. 

Much of the talk of the last few months has been about the cooling or our market, but a lack of supply has been one of the main drivers of the declining month-over-month sales numbers.  The shortage of new listings has left many buyers with limited options. According the CMHC the demand for housing  will likely continue to outpace the supply for the coming months.

The Bank of Canada has indicated that a hike in interest rates is not coming in 2021. As long as the cost of borrowing remains low, activity will remain high.  As we head into the fall and winter months, low interest rates should continue to drive buyers to search for homes in B.C.

With Hong Kong ranked as the most expensive residential market in the world and the third most expensive city for renters, Vancouver will be one of the top desinations of choice for the roughly 300,000 Canadian passport holders living there. This could cause prices  in B.C.  to go even higher in the months to come.

Things have changed since the beginning of 2021, and we are no longer seeing the frenzy where detach homes for sale are receiving offers numbering in double-digits, in many cases with no subjects, but we can still expect to see competition from other quality offers.

50% of Canadians view real estate as a top investment option. That optimism should continue across B.C., regardless of a 4th Covid-19 wave. If interest rates remain low, as expected we should see steady prices and sales throughout the end of the year.

Those hoping for a change of pace may have to wait a bit longer as our housing market continues to push to new heights in 2021. 

At Keith Vines and Associates, we offer good old fashion service, working with our home buyers and sellers in a relaxed, friendly manner, applying every available tool available to achieve the best possible outcome. Please take a moment to sign up for Keith’s Grapevine – a periodic eletter full of interesting market news, advice and tidbits