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Mission, BC Real Estate News

By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 A "heads up" for men who may be regular Home Depot customers. This one caught me by surprise! Over the past month I became the victim of a clever scam while out shopping. Simply going out to get supplies turned out to quite traumatic! Don't be naive and think it couldn't happen to you. Here's how the scam works: While I was loading the supplies in my car, two seriously good looking young women started cleaning my windshield. They were wearing skimpy outfits and I couldn't take my eyes off them. When they were finished, I offered to pay them. They refused money, but asked if I could drop them off at McDonalds. I agreed and they got in the back seat. On the trip, they start undressing, then one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling of over me, and while that        ...
Comments 32
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 It would seem that the folks at AIG don't read the news, or just don't care that hundreds of thousands of their countrymen are out-of-work, starving and losing their homes. AIG announced that is "forced" to pay out another  $165 million in bonuses to second tier management. Not only is this not good optics, it's patently wrong and immoral to expect bonuses when everything is going to  hell in a handbasket! (Top management have agreed to suspend any bonuses). While AIG claims they are "disgusted" and find these bonuses "distasteful", they have to pay them or face law suits and maybe even lose these "valuable" employees. It seems to me, that with all the other large financial institutions that have gone by the wayside, there's a lot of talent floating around out there. I say, don't pay t...
Comments 14
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Ever notice how some dogs resemble their owners? Or is it the other way around? Here's a few winners from a "Look-Alike" contest:                             There's one breed of dog, I've never understood, or, why people are attracted to them.  I know, I know. Everyone's going to want to say, "He's so cute", and "He's just adorable". Eventually, once they get out of the puppy                                                 stage, they end looking like this. In the area where I live, there have been several kids and adults who have been mauled by these things. Some jurisdictions in Canada have banned the breed altogether. Lately, I've been seeing quite a few of these dogs,                                            usually in the company of       some pretty unsavory characters.
Comments 7
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
If we could reduce the worlds population to a village of precisely 100 people, with existing ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look like this. 60 Asians 12 Europeans 5 Americans & Canadians 9 Latin Americans 14 Africans 49 would be females & 51 would be male. 18 would be caucasian and the other 82 not. 89 would be heterosexual and the other 11 not. 5 would control 32% of the entire worlds' wealth, and they would all be US citizens. 80 would live in sub-standard housing. 24 would not have electricity. 67 would not be able to read. 50 would be malnourished 1 would be dying of starvation. 33 would have access to a safe water supply. 1 would have HIV 1 would be near death 2 near birth   7 would have access to the internet. Only 1 would have a college education. If you have ...
Comments 15
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 The 11th annual "Teddies"  was held in  Ottawa recently to honor excellence in government waste. "Teddy" awards was named after Ted Weatherhill, a former senior government official who was terminated for his lavish expenses.  Among the winners: (There were lots-these are the highlights). Canada Council for the Arts. It spent $40,000 on a giant inflatable banana that it hopes to fly over the State of Texas. (I didn't make that up). All Nations Co-ordinated Response Network. This organization had a government-paid "spa day" which included make-up lessons and manicures. (They got caught and now have to repay the money). The City of Vancouver's new Olympic Village. What started out being a "risk free" venture for the city, now is a $875 MILLION tax burden around their necks. (The city now ...
Comments 2
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
What does a trillion dollars look like? All this talk about stimulous packages and bailouts a billion here, a hundred billion there, eight hundred billion over there, one trillion... What exactly does it look like? I mean, these numbers are being tossed around like doggy treats, so I thought I'd take a stab at trying to get a sense of what it looks like. We'll start with a $100 dollar bill. Currenty, the largest denomination in general circulation. Almost everyone's seen them, slightly fewer have owned one. A packet of one hundred $100 dollar bills is less than 1/2" thick and contains $10,000. Easily fits into your pocket and is more than enough for a week or two of shamefully decadent fun! Believe it or not, the next little pile is one million dollars. (one hundred packets of $10,000)....
Comments 5
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
  Lloyd's of London is a British underwriter                        which has been around since 1871. Made up almost exclusively of individual members known as "Names", they pool their resources to spread the risk. During the 1980's and early 1990's Lloyd's went through the most traumatic period in its history with large legal awards in US courts for claims on APH (asbestos) that went back as far as the 1940's. As a result of these awards, 1,500 of the 34,000 "Names", were declared bankrupt. Lloyd's will underwrite almost anything; Some noteable policies include: Ben Turpin's eyes (Insured against uncrossing). Betty Grables, Marlene Dietrich, Brookes Shields & Tina Turner's legs. Jimmy Durante's nose. Keith Richard's fingers. Celine Dion's vocal chords. America Ferrera's smile. Dolly Pa...
Comments 2
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I really enjoy sharp cheese and very strong cheese, and one of my favorites is Balderson Premium Aged.  One of the few places I can find this is at the "big-box" store that sells everything! This is one of those stores that requires you to show a special I.D. when  you enter their premises. You know the one I mean. The problem is this: I can never go in there and just buy the cheese. Something else, that "I just have to have", always catches my eye. On the premise of going in there to buy cheese, I've walked out of there, at various times with: an upright freezer, a big-screen T.V.,  and various tools. Another thing that bothers me about this store: You can't buy just one of anything! Everything is shrink-wrapped in packs of several! So if you need catsup for example, you go home with 3...
Comments 12
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
The legendary editor of The New Republic, Michael Kinsley, once held a "Boring Headline" contest, and the winner was... Worthwhile Canadian Initiative! (He was referring to Canadian banking).                                          Canada's "Big Five" have always been conservative and cautious, but when they have had an inkling to foray into the realm of "risk", government and regulators held them in check. IT SEEMS TO HAVE PAID OFF! The combined worth of the "Big 5" is in the area of 2.6 trillion dollars. Since the credit crunch of 2007, the "Big 5" have booked $18.9 billion in profits. In the same period the five biggest banks in the States have lost $37 billion. Citigroup, long, the world's biggest bank, may have to be nationalized, and this week became a penny stock. Britain fares ...
Comments 6
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 Icon Brickell, (pictured), is a new condominium complex in downtown Miami. (Population 400,000).  It has 1,646 condos, a 28,000 S.F. fitness area and a 2 acre pool deck. One hundred 22 foot tall sculpted columns that mark the entrance, were inspired by the giant statues on Easter Island and alone, cost $15 million.  Icon Brickell has become a symbol of excess. Since 2003, 83 towers with nearly 23,000 condos have sprung up, causing a massive over-supply of condominium units. Units in Icon Brickell are listed as high as $800,000, and at the end of 2008, only 30 sales had actually closed, and some buyers are trying to get out of their contracts. The condo market in Miami has turned:  Money is tight and property values are in decline. Final cost for this mostly empty development: $1.25 Bil...
Comments 0
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Well, the Madoff saga is over. Or is it? Personally, I think it's just started! Bernard Madoff pulled off the largest fraud scheme  in the history of the world, spanning many years! Now investigators are scrutinizing everyone; his C.F.O., his sons, his employees and his wife. To believe that one individual could manipulate all that paperwork (tens of thousands of documents), over that time period, alone, is just inconceivable! Personally, I think, because of his age, (70), he's taking the fall and protecting his family and everyone else who was involved. And talk about a sense of entitlement! Up to the day before he was indicted, she withdrew $15.5 million and squirreled it away somewhere. They mailed millions in jewellary to friends and relatives-anything to protect themselves! She al...
Comments 6
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Growing numbers of Beverly Hills elite are turning  to pawn shops during the credit crunch. One high-end pawn shop has many pieces of art by Warhol and Kandinsky, and display cases filled with Rolex and       Patek-Philippe watches. This is not your typical pawn shop though; he lends big. Some of his clients need a half million or two hundred thousand, usually for a short time.  One client tried to hock an Oscar, but the Academy doesn't allow that;                                                        he did however take the                                                    Golden Globe award. Some of the more expensive items are not on view. A grand piano worth over $400,000 is in the back tucked between 2 Harley Davidsons. Many in Beverly Hills are finding they have no option but to...
Comments 0
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
In a previous blog, I commented that I have frequent telephone conversations with a couple of friends of mine in the States. We talk about a myriad of topics including world news and current events. They would quite often make comments such as, "I didn't hear that!", or, "I did not know that!" When I asked them where they got their news, the answer was always the same-CNN. Lately in the news, there has been a story about a couple of young celebraties who have been entangled in a domestic abuse case. The story is not the focus of this blog: The handling of it by the media is. On the Canadian and British television networks, the story is a footnote. On CNN, it's THE story. For the past week now, I been subjected to panel discussions on this item, quasi-celebrities weighing in with their o...
Comments 3
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
I came across this letter, (a rant actually), directed at Troy Clarke of General Motors. Clarke had written to Knox Machinery, basically telling him to phone his elected official and tell him/her to support the bailout of G.M. Gregory Knox, owner of Knox Machinery, went ballistic! (I contacted Gregory Knox and have his permission to use this). It's a pretty good read, and I agree with him.                       This is Troy Clarke This was his response: (I abbreviated parts that were repetitive, but the context remains intact, and I added some of my own stuff). He starts out by saying... "You are infected with the same entitlement mentality that has bred like cancerous germs in UAW halls for generations, and whose plague is now sweeping the nation waiting for our new "messiah" to wave h...
Comments 4
The other weekend we made a trip to Mission, more particularly Hatzik. As we were driving by I have noticed this mailbox. For non-Canadians, this is a regular Canada Post mail box where your mail is delivered. Yes, we have that in Canada. What grabbed my attention though was the plastic bucket with newspapers in it and "Abbotsford News" label on it. Coming from a 4 million population city this is something new to me. I guess that's how newspapers are being delivered in rural areas. Am I wrong?:)
Comments 1
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
   No; this is not the outskirts of Delhi, this is Sacremento, U.S.A. And this is, tent city! 150 years ago in the gold rush, people were camped on the river; they were hopeful of finding gold. Today, they are camped on the river, and they certainly aren't looking for gold! They are trying to survive! As many as 50 people a week are turning up each week and estimates are, this the home for more than 1200 people. This is California, home of glitz, hollywood stars and billionaires! And this is happening-HERE? There is no water supply, no sanitation-we're talking primitive existance. This is tent city during the depression The mayor of Sacremento is talking about setting up a "permanent" tent city in Sacremento for these people... I'll let that sink in for a bit... I mean, give me a break....
Comments 8
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 Anybody whose been to the famous Silk Street market in Beijing, knows you can pretty much buy anything there; including, a lot of knock-offs.  The Chinese government has been under pressure for years to crack down on those guilty of trademark infringement. The U.S. movie, music and software industries alone estimate that Chinese pirated goods cost them, each year, more than 2 Billion dollars! IntellecPro, a Beijing firm specializing in property rights, finally took some vendors to task and had 29 stalls shut down for selling counterfeit goods. The reaction to all this? Weekly protests in the streets, as if it is their God-given right to sell this stuff! Unbelievable!
Comments 2
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
Seven Canadians have been short-listed from nearly 35,000 applicants, from 200 countries to do a job most of us can only dream about. The job is caretaker on Hamilton Island, Australia. The final nominee will be expected to collect the mail, feed the fish and clean the pool. For this, they get to stay in the 3 bedroom mansion, overlooking the ocean. For this rigorous six month chore, the winner gets $100,000 in pay! The only other requirement is they have to do a daily blog of their adventures.                                                     Jeez, I like blogging a lot; I should have applied! (I just noticed! This is blog #100!)
Comments 4
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
 This morning on my way to the office, I glanced over to my left, and there was this woman in a Cadillac  doing about 75 mph, with her face up next to the rear view mirror, putting on lipstick! I looked away for a couple of seconds, and when I looked back she was half way into my lane, and STILL working on her lipstick! Now I don't spook very easily, but she scared me so much, I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the donut out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my cell phone away from my ear which fell into the coffee on the console. It spilled, ruining my phone and soaking my trousers. Women drivers! Jeez!
Comments 10
By Terry Chenier
(Homelife Glenayre Realty)
My wife's daughter and her husband returned the other day from a southern holiday. (This is a place where citizens in the States can't legally go).... And, they brought me back some cigars. Not your normal cigars mind you. These are really, really good cigars! Some came packaged in individual metal tubes, some didn't, but they all came in boxes, adorned with Spanish stickers.   I treat myself to one a night. (Must maintain the supply!) I go down to my office, close the door and put my feet up on the desk and carefully light up. I can make a good cigar last about 2 hours and these are good right to the end.  To those of you who have never experienced one, there's nothing quite like a Cuban.
Comments 2
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