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记者的观察
The realities of real estate z) F+ L! t, s$ K
# B3 H$ Y0 p, I+ v$ ]% V, Q' SPublished: Friday, October 06, 2006 + q. a* \/ o# A& D! y+ V
EDMONTON - With her toolbox in hand and overalls on, newcomer Lisa Laas feels she can conquer the plumbing world in Edmonton.
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The 29-year-old plumber from Vancouver had no problem finding work in Edmonton with trades people high in demand in Alberta.
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! F9 r: Z( i7 A8 U- q9 q$ WShe moved here in December with dreams of being a homeowner, something she could never afford in Vancouver despite four years of saving her money for a down payment.2 X/ ?7 Z% p- e4 ^; T" Y7 Y, z
& U' I" n6 q6 d9 v9 J. {: kBut she didn't expect Edmonton's world of hot housing where the law of successful buying seems to consist of three elements: speed, cash and no conditions.5 f2 u0 y' a' N( V" [
9 i: K# ^4 ^: X* O% u5 e! R9 I"It absolutely scared me," she says. "I moved here for a house, and all of a sudden a townhouse went from $105,000 to $155,000 and I'm going, 'Oh my gosh. I have to buy really quick.' I've seen it in Vancouver and now I'm starting to see it here and it's frustrating."
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Laas started looking in February. She had hoped to buy a house for $160,000, but soon realized she had to change her plans. A townhouse would have to do.* @: s- V) b& [6 x
' r ~* D* q/ K) ^But she has lost out on four places since beginning her search for a house.
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She's been outbidded, "out-offered" and "outconditioned."
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One house, the one she really wanted in the northwest neighbourhood of Calder, went on the market at 4 p.m. and had multiple offers by 6 p.m. so Laas walked away. In two other instances, other buyers had fewer conditions on their bid to purchase a townhouse, so her offer was dismissed. I& H9 A; a0 d5 Z: b
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Laas says she was in tears because of the experience. She has given up working with a real estate agent to look for a home. She says she's backed off the whole thing, but she keeps her eye open every now and then.
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Forty-five-year-old Cheryl Daly is also having a tough time finding an affordable home for her 12-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.
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; O2 R9 E0 R) fShe left a 23-marriage and a 1,700-square-foot home last year. She works as an administrator and now rents a three-bedroom townhouse.
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0 {: z+ p/ F i/ L2 oBack in April, she started looking for a home, something in the $170,000 range. "I would like to have a half duplex even, but with the prices and with my status, I know that's not realistic," she says.: ? o. w- F s' v* B6 T
* K8 p" m; O2 r/ m! RSo Daly has been checking out townhouses, but even that has been difficult for her.
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# O( r: U/ ^4 @; l! W$ i"The places, when they come up, if they're at a decent price, they're gone really quickly," she says, "so it's a matter of timing."
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Time has not been her friend. Every month the prices of homes in Edmonton climb higher.
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6 G% e) P4 G' Z. rAn average single dwelling unit in Edmonton sold for $316, 480 in August this year. An average townhouse, which includes the price of duplexes, sold for $262,327 in the same month. Last year in August an average townhouse sold for $175,922./ i/ V$ h. I/ y
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The president of the Edmonton Real Estate Board, Madeline Sarafinchan, says the hot market is tough for first-time homeowners and single people.! k+ [3 E% K# W% m
& b0 w/ l( \ x- [6 w' q! w"It's definitely making people think about what their options are," Sarafinchan says. "They're having to look at things that maybe are not as what they would have termed as desirable."$ u8 `9 ?. b) w( Z, m! u
t7 S/ i. H; R8 cThat may mean sellers are not as open to "conditions" on offers as they used to be -- such as a house inspection before the deal is finalized. |
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