IN THIS ISSUE         January Newsletter 2014                   

Hello & Happy New Year;

According to the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, in our area (Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Errington & Qualicum Beach) there were 1171 single family homes listed and there were 605 SFD sales in 2013 (an 18% increase over 2012). The average price was $377,817, 1% less than the average 2012 sale. As for building lots, there were 132 lots listed and 53 sold last year, the average price was $160,353, also 1% less than 2012. As for apartment/condominiums, there were 221 listed and 67 condo sales in 2013, the average sale price was $221,159, also 1% less than the 2012 average sale price. As for patio homes & townhouses, there were 317 listed and 157 sold, the average price was $297,876, down approximately 7% from 2012 average sale price.

Though the number of sales is encouraging, the actual list/sell ratio for single family homes is only 52%, (though an improvement from the average list/sell 39% ratio in 2012). This still means that there is a large amount of inventory and only 1 out of every 2 homes listed will sell; you want to be sure that your listing is handled professionally and priced correctly. Royal Lepage is the largest and most successful real estate company in our area and I have been a top producer within the company & community for over 23 years. This makes for a strong combination of exposure & experience, 2 key ingredients to not only get your property sold, but to get you the most money possible.

If you would like to sell, please call me @ 1-877-248-4348, locally @ 250-248-7612 or e-mail me at sold@shaw.ca

Karen

Great as an appetizer or as a vegetable side-dish

Yam Stacks

2 medium (orange), preferably long, yams (sweet potatoes)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
3 tbsp. butter
salt and peper to taste
125 grams goat cheese or substitute with boursin cheese

Preheat the oven 300.  Prick yams several times with a fork.  Place on a baking sheet and bake until just tender about 45-60 mins.  Meanwhile, melt 2 tbsp. of the butter in a small pot over medium-low heat.  Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring about 7-10 mins, until golden and sticky, then remove from heat and set aside.  When cooked, cool the yams until safe enough to handle and then carefully remove the skin with a small knife.  Slice each yam into 9 even rounds.

Season each round with salt and pepper. Spread goat cheese on one side of 12 of the yam rounds.  Place 6 of the goat cheese topped yams in a parchment-lined baking dish.  Top with half the onion/garlic mixture.  Set the remaining goat cheese topped yams on the onions, gently pressing them down.  Top with remaining onions and then set on the 6 remaining yam slices.  Drizzle with remaining butter. (Can be made to this point several hours in advance and kept in fridge).  Bake 300 for 15 mins or until heated through.