In 1775 Admiral Quadra sailed from Mexico to Alaska and claimed the Pacific Coast for Spain.

In 1778 Captain Cook sails up the coast.

In 1792 Captain George Vancouver arrives, charts and names Point Grey, the Strait of Georgia, Point Atkinson, English Bay and Burrard Channel.

In 1793 Alexander Mackenzie becomes the first European to reach the west coast of Canada by land at what is now Bella Coola.

In 1808 Simon Fraser becomes the first European to reach the area now known as Vancouver by land. In 1827 Hudson Bay Company trading post Fort Langley on the Fraser River is established.

In 1846 The 49th parallel as the border with the US is extented west of the Rockies and  Vancouver Island is made a Crown Colony with Fort victoria as its capital.

In 1858 Gold Rush on the Fraser River. 1867 Canada is born. Read the rest of this interesting article

In 1862, a District Lot – number 185 – was bought for $550.75 by a John Morton, potter, plus two mates – Samuel Brighouse and William Hailstone. The lot comprised of what is now the entire West End – 540 acres. 

His speculation was in the hope that they could farm, mine and make bricks on the land but he was not successful.  However, their investment in this remote piece of rainforest was considered a frivolous one and earned them the nickname, “Three Greenhorns”.  Then they tried to sell the land as lots, claiming “New Liverpool” would soon be a major city. Once again they had no success.

In 1886, they were persuaded to donate 1/3 of the property to Canadian Pacific Rail (CPR) as an incentive for them to build their railway through to Coal Harbour, hoping that this may bring people to the area to buy the lots. By the time CPR had made it to Gastown however, the “Three Greenhorns” had parted ways, feeling that they had been cheated.

In 1887, the lots began to sell, with prices from $350 to 1000, as people realised the potential of the area. With CPR building rail lines, a hotel was going up, roads were being laid through the area plus the establishment of Stanley Park, lots began to move quickly. By 1888, the area was gaining respectability and had swiftly become an attractive investment to wealthy and elite buyers with fine views across Burrard Inlet and a reasonable distance from the smelly warehouses of Gastown.

For a brief couple of decades the West End catered to the rich. Tram lines were built along Robson, Denman and Davie and shops were established along the lines. With the Klondike gold rush at the turn of the century, tens of thousands of people were enticed to Vancouver and the West End really began to fill up.

The most famous West End Mansion, still standing and “probably the most lavish private home ever constructed in B.C.” was ‘Gabriola’, on the corner of Davie and Nicola. Gabriola was built in 1900 for Benjamin Tingley Rogers, a sugar refiner from New York City. Rogers came to Vancouver at age 24, and in 1892 opened the ‘B.C Sugar Refinery,’ quickly becoming one of Vancouver’s most important businessmen, known by all as the ‘Sugar King’.  The mansion for the Rogers family was designed by Samuel Maclure, a well known residential architect at the time and was built from stone brought from Gabriola Island – hence its original name. The mansion was sold in 1918 after Benjamin died and his widow moved into Shannon, a new mansion in Shaughnessy, the now fashionable area for the rich. Gabriola was then converted into apartments with over 50 suites, eventually turning into a series of restaurants, as it stands today.

The name ‘English Bay’ commemorates the meeting of the British Captain Vancouver and Spanish captains Valdes and Galiano, in 1792. This is the event that also resulted in Spanish Banks’ name.

Denman Street: named after Admiral Denman, the hero of the bloodiest naval scene ever fought on the coast of B.C. A rebellious Vancouver Island tribe suffered a bombardment of 9 villages and 64 canoes lost.   Davie Street: Vancouver’s Premier of B.C. in 1887, Honourable A.E.B. Davie was Vancouver’s first openly homosexual politician. A group of friends of Davie’s formed the seed of what is now Canada’s largest gay community. Robson Street: named after Honourable John Robson, Provincial Secretary in 1883 and Premier of B.C. from 1889-92. Morton Street: the West End’s original founder, John Morton
courtesy www.englishbay.com
The West End boasts some of Vancouver’s most beautiful waterfront views.
 
Condo Builings on Beach Avenue: 2015 Beach, 1995 Beach “The Huntington”, 1919 beach “Eugenia”, 1861 Beach “Sylvia Tower”, 1575 Beach “Plaza del Mar”,1483 Beach “Cinque Terra”, 1385 Nicola The Kensington, 1419 Beach, 1311 Beach “Tudor Manor”, 1233 Beach, 1005 Beach, 1000 Beach, 990 Beach, 888 Beach, 1625 Hornby, 1600 Howe.
 
Bordering Stanley Park, 2055 Pendrell “Panorama Place”, 2088 Barclay “El Presidio”, 845 and 815 Chilco.

West End History is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

I have a beautiful listing at 1403 Beach Avenue, West End, Vancouver, so I’ve been spending much time in what I call Vancouver’s forgotten neighbourhood. I’ve been meeting new clients who call on this listing and was out last weekend viewing Beach Avenue condos and thought it’d make an interesting post. Beach Avenue was the first street in the city where you could buy a condo and live on the waterfront – it boasts unobstructed views to UBC and West Vancouver.

Most of us have lived in the West End at one time or another. I did when I was a renter, back when there were few condos in the neighbourhood.

Beach Avenue ends at Stanley Park (2000 block) and used to start at 1000 block which is just west of Burrard Street Bridge.  In 1989 they built the 1000 Beach complex, on the waterfront and in the early millennium they developed the area east of Granville Street bridge called the Beach Crescent neighbourhood (400-600 block).

I’m focusing on the old Beach Avenue!  Here’s a rundown of the available condo buildings from the 1000-2000 block Beach. 1005 (Alvar) is the second newest and built in 2004. 1233 Beach was converted from a rental building in 1994.  1311 beach is Tudor Manor, built in 1989 and was the beginning of larger condos, targeting Hong Kong immigration at that time. 1386 Nicola (and beach) is the Kensington which was built in the 1920s and converted to a condo.  1403 Beach used to be a co-op and was built in 1992 ( 1800 sq.ft. and 2 suites per floor) and the one next to it 1483 (Cinque Terra) boasting one suite per floor and only 5 floors, featuring wonderful masonry work.  Plaza del Mar is at 1575 Beach. built in 1968 and was for many years the only strata condo on Beach Avenue, the front suites are 2 bedrooms and there’s a one bedroom at the back of the building.

Then we move to Beach Avenue West of Denman (3 blocks only) 1919 Beach (Eugina) was built in 1991 and has one suite per floor (2670 sqft). 1851 Beach (Sylvia Tower) has one suite per floor 2400 sq.ft.  1995 Beach which was also a conversion from a rental building and was built in the later 1970s, it is one of two (Alvar being the other one) that offer one bedrooms on Beach Avenue. 2015 Beach was built in 1983 and is 2 suites per floor 1900 sq.ft. each.

Then there’s the co-ops – 2095 Beach which is right on the Park, 1949 Beach (built in that year) and 1835 Morton Avenue.

Currently there are 12 listings available in the aforementioned buildings.

Currently, one bedrooms with good water views will be start at $450,000 (about $700 pr sq ft) and two bedrooms with good water view will start at $800 pr sq ft (834 sqft 2 bedroom at 1005 Beach on a high floor just sold for$610,000. No sales on Beach Avenue this year over $1,250,000.

When you’re ready to buy or sell your Beach Avenue condo or Vancouver real estate, contact Maggie, an experienced agent marketing Vancouver real estate since 1981. subscribe via RSS or email as this site is updated regularly

Analysing Vancouver Real Estate on Beach Avenue is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

How’s the market in Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhood of the West End? Are prices up or down? What’s the average days on market? What’s the average sale price? Are listings rising or falling? Are the prices higher than a year ago?

December saw listings flat and sales dropped by half

Majority of the condos that sold were still under $500,000, favouring lower end sellers. In general, Sellers need to be priced no more than 4% above market value in order to attract an offer.

How is the Market Compared to a Year Ago?

-0.2%.. Benchmark Price $497,213

The Stats (vs previous month)

• listings (165)
• sales 21 (40)
• average days on market for solds 62 (61)
• sellers moved  an average of 5 % off their list price (4%)
• average sale price $533,676 ($518,712)
• average $psf $533 ($518)
• best selling price range is under $500,000
• Supply is 7.8  months (4.1)

How is the Market Compared to 90 Days Ago?

listings and salesare now lower and

What does it Cost Me to Buy in the West End?

The West End offers 2 bedroom towhomes from $550,000,  studio condos from low $200,000 ,one bedroom condos from $280,000 and 2 bedrooms from $450,000.

What’s the Best Selling Price Range?

• Under $500,000 – 66%
• $500,000- $750,000 – 34%

Buying or Selling?

in one of Vancouver’s oldest and most historic  neighbourhoods bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and DowntownVancouver? . Keep up to date with Vancouver’s real estate news,search for homes. Review the entire Buying and Selling Process.

• I arrive armed with stats and facts
• Hyper local info
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Service that exceeds your high expectations
• I educate you about the process and the market
• All coupled with decades of experience

Please Leave a comment on Facebook, at the bottom of this post!

How is the Vancouver Real Estate Market in the West End? is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

How’s the market in Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhood of the West End? Are prices up or down? What’s the average days on market? What’s the average sale price? Are listings rising or falling? Are the prices higher than a year ago?

November saw a decrease listings and sales

resulting in a well balanced market.  70% of the sales were under $500,000, favouring lower end sellers. In general, Sellers need to be priced no more than 4% above market value in order to attract an offer.

HPI Price over the last year

+4.9%. Benchmark Price $495,550

The Stats (vs previous month)

• listings 165  (216 )
• sales 40 (47)
• average days on market for solds 61  (40)
• sellers moved  an average of 4 % off their list price (4%)
• average sale price $518,712 ($614,038 )
• average $518psf ($604)
• best selling price range is under $500,000
• Supply is 4.1  months (4.5)

How is the Market Compared to 90 Days Ago?

listings are now lower and sales flat

What does it Cost Me to Buy in the West End?

The West End offers 2 bedroom towhomes from $550,000,  studio condos from low $200,000 ,one bedroom condos from $280,000 and 2 bedrooms from $450,000.

What’s the Best Selling Price Range?

• Under $500,000 – 70%
• $500,000-$1M – 20%
• Over $1M – 10%

Buying or Selling?

in one of Vancouver’s oldest and most historic  neighbourhoods bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and DowntownVancouver?

• I arrive armed with stats and facts
• Hyper local info
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Service that exceeds your high expectations
• I educate you about the process and the market
• All coupled with decades of experience

Leave a comment on Facebook, at the bottom of this post

How is the Vancouver Real Estate Market in the West End? is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

How’s the market in Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhood of the West End? Are prices up or down? What’s the average days on market? What’s the average sale price? Are listings rising or falling? Are the prices higher than a year ago?

October saw a decrease  listings and sales

resulting in a well balanced market.  60% of the sales were under $500,000, favouring lower end sellers. In general, Sellers need to be priced no more than 4% above market value in order to attract an offer.

HPI Price over the last year

+  5.5 %

The Stats (vs previous month)

• listings – 216  (down)
• sales – 47 (down)
• average days on market for solds – 40
• sellers moved  an average of 4% off their list price
• average sale price  $614,038 – up
• average $psf  $604 – flat
• best selling price range  – under $500,000
• Supply is 4.5  months (down)

What does it Cost Me to Buy in the West End?

The West End offers 2 bedroom towhomes from $550,000,  studio condos from low $200,000 ,one bedroom condos from $280,000 and 2 bedrooms from $450,000.

What’s the Best Selling Price Range?

• Under $500,000 – 60%
• $500,000-$1M – 30%
• Over $1M – 5%

Buying or selling?

in one of Vancouver’s oldest and most historic  neighbourhoods bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and DowntownVancouver?

• I arrive armed with stats and facts
• Hyper local info
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Service that exceeds your high expectations
• I educate you about the process and the market
• All coupled with decades of experience

Leave a comment on Facebook, at the bottom of this post

How is the Vancouver Real estate Market in the West End? is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

How’s the market in Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhood of the West End? Are prices up or down? What’s the average days on market? What’s the average sale price? Are listings rising or falling?

September saw an uptick in listings and flat sales

resulting in a well balanced market, slightly tilted toward buyers in this Vancouver West End neighbourhood.

50% of the sales were under $500,000,  30% between $500,000 & $1M and 20% over $1M (up from Aug)

In general, Sellers need to be priced no more than 3% above market value in order to attract an offer

The Stats (previous month in brackets)

• listings – 246  (up from 235)
• sales – 43 (down from  42)
• average days on market for solds – 33 (up from 43)
• sellers moved  an average of 3% off their list price (unchanged)
• average sale price   $631,459 ($577,052)
• average $psf  $611
• best selling price range  – under $500,000
• Supply is 5.5  months (flat)

What does it Cost Me to Buy West End Real Estate?

The West End offers 2 bedroom towhomes from $550,000,  studio condos from low $200,000 ,one bedroom condos from $280,000 and 2 bedrooms from $450,000.

How is the Market over the Last Year?

HPI up 3.5%

How is the Market over the Last 90 Days?

Steady as she goes! This Vancouver neighbourhood is doing very well.

Buying or selling?

• In one of Vancouver’s oldest and most historic  neighbourhoods bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and DowntownVancouver?
• I arrive armed with stats and facts, coupled with 30 years of  knowledge from working in the West End!
• I educate you so that your real estate experience is fun!
• Contact me by BB, email or tex 604-328-0077

Vancouver Real Estate Update for West End – Sept 2011 is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

How’s the market in Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhood of the West End? Are prices up or down? What’s the average days on market? What’s the average sale price? Are listings rising or falling?

August saw an uptick in listings and a drop in sales

resulting in a good market for buyers in this Vancouver West End neighbourhood.  A whopping 80% of the sales were under $500,000, favouring lower end sellers. In general, Sellers need to be priced no more than 3% above market value in order to attract an offer.

HPI Price over the last year

increased a whopping 10.2 % for West End condos – highest of all vancouver condos neighbourhoods

The Stats

• listings – 235  (up from 224)
• sales – 42 (down from  47)
• average days on market for solds – 43 (up from 36)
• sellers moved  an average of 3% off their list price
• average sale price  $577,052 – up
• average $psf  $606 – up
• best selling price range  – under $500,000
• Supply is 5.5  months (up from 4.7)

What does it Cost Me to Buy West End Real Estate?

The West End offers 2 bedroom towhomes from $550,000,  studio condos from low $200,000 ,one bedroom condos from $280,000 and 2 bedrooms from $450,000.

Buying or selling?

in one of Vancouver’s oldest and most historic  neighbourhoods bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and DowntownVancouver?  I arrive armed with stats and facts, coupled with 30 years of  knowledge from working in the West End! I educate you so that your real estate experience is fun! Contact me!

Vancouver Real Estate Update for West End – August 2011 is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

How’s the market in Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhood of the West End? Are prices up or down? What’s the average days on market? What’s the average sale price? Are listings rising or falling?

July saw a small drop in listings and a small uptick  in sales

resulting in a good market for buyers in this Vancouver West End neighbourhood. 60% of the sales were under $500,000, favouring lower end sellers. In general, Sellers need to be priced no more than 3% above market value in order to attract an offer.

HPI Price over the last year

increased a whopping 10.9 % for West End condos – highest of all vancouver condos neighbourhoods

The Stats

• listings down – 224
• sales up –  47
• average days on market for solds – 36
• sellers moved  an average of 3% off their list price
• average sale price  $557,172 – up
• average $psf  $603 – up
• best selling price range  – under $500,000
• Supply is 4.7 months

What does it Cost Me to Buy West End Real Estate?

The West End offers2 bedroom towhomes from $500,000,  studio condos under $300,000 ,one bedroom condos from $300,000 and 2 bedrooms from $400,000.

Buying or selling in one of Vancouver’s oldest and most historic  neighbourhoods, bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and Downtown Vancouver?  I arrive armed with stats and facts, coupled with 30 years of  knowledge from working in the West End!

Vancouver Real Estate Market Update for West End – July 2011 is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

888 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, BC is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale

Just Listed! 511-1889 Alberni, Vancouver, BC

Just steps to Stanley Park this is the best exposure in the building – faces north west with beautiful mountain and park views. Perfect rental or vacation home.

486sqft one bedroom, den and solarium. Fully furnished. $359,000

First showing July 9th 10.30-12.30

JUST LISTED! 511-1889 Alberni, Vancouver, BC is a post from: Vancouver Real Estate-Vancouver Homes For Sale