samantha

Como Taperia – I have only been one tapas restaurant once a few years back in Downtown – The Sardine Can which permanently closed down. It was a pretty unique experience since I had no idea on what to expect. The ambiance was dimly lit with multiple candles all over gave the sauce a European flair that evokes you to think having a glass wine to slowly slip on while you enjoy chatting with friends and sharing some small eats. As for Como Taperia – the vibe was modern clean Mediterranean feel with earthy tones to complement the dishes. We ordered a few items which the server recommended since it was my first time there, and I didn’t know what to expect from. So, this is what we ordered. Eggplant – a sweet honey glazed eggplant sliced and fried with some herbs; I felt like it tasted more like sweet potato than eggplant. I wasn’t impressed with it since I was expecting the flavor of the eggplant to come out. Pate w/bread – the pate spread was a little too rich for my liking and on the sweet side and it was too smooth that it felt odd on my palate since I’m use to tasting a slightly textured pate style The 140z t bone anchovy sauce and deep-fried peppers – the steak was nice rare but it didn’t have that beefy juicy taste that I expected and enjoyed. The taste was muted by the anchovy sauce which was more prominent as you bit into the steak. As for the fried peppers – it looked tantalizing but there wasn’t much flavour in it. Surprisingly, the dish I enjoyed the most is the canned sardines imported from Italy with chips on the side. Placing a good chunk of Sardine and oil on top of the chip created a crunch texture with aromatic flavour that didn’t have the typical fishy after taste. Lastly, Charred Pork Neck, Pimenton Butter, Cabbage, Mojo Picon – this was also one of the better dishes to taste for that evening. The pork neck is always a fave for me. It’s qq texture with the perfect fat to meat ratio is a flattering type of meat to work with many seasonings from different ethics cuisine. How Como prepared the dish highlighted the neck so deliciously. Overall, I think I had romanticized my first tapa experience that como didn’t meet those same expectations. Also, I didn’t have any wine which would have made the experience a lot better since tapas are meant to pair it with wine. So overall, I think I didn’t enjoy como as much because my expectations were too high. I think I would give it a try again with wine and see if that will change my view of it.

December 9 2021

Lucky Gate Chinese Restaurant

Lucky Gate – This place was a spur of the moment dinner choice. My cousin and I had made plans to head to another restaurant but things didn’t go according to plan. As a result, we completely changed our destination, and started craving for some skewers. Since we weren’t familiar or aware whether Coquitlam had any skewers to offer, we decided to use good old Google Maps to see what would pop up. What came up was Lucky Gate Chinese Restaurant. Northern Asian Cuisine. Reviews looked a little low, but from the photos, the place looked legit and the portions looked fairly generous. Upon entering the place, it was very quiet and it had only one booth occupied with patrons. I was starting to regret coming in since it was so quiet. However, once we were seat, we noticed the phone was ringing non stop. It appears takeout was keeping this place busy due to the covid. After looking through the menu, we decided the typical staple dishes that we both enjoy and will help distinguish whether the restaurant passed our approval of Northern Cuisine. We had ordered the garlic and chili pork slices / chilli refried green beans / Shanghai Pork Dumplings / Lamb Skewers / Beef Noodle / Seasonal Veggies with Garlic – Honestly, for two people, we ordered a lot! But since we rarely explore this area to eat, we decided let’s just go a little over the top and try out as much as we can.

One of the things we clearly noticed was the fact that the portions were fairly generous. Everything was fresh and made to order. The pork dumplings were packed with tasty soup but I felt the skin was a little too chewy and thick. As for the lamb skewers – each piece was very large and tasty with the aromatics of the cumin, a little fennel and chilli garlic peppers and infused with the charred taste. The beef noodles had the inhouse hand pulled noodles which was nice. But I felt the beef was a little dry and wasn’t tender enough for my liking. The seasonal veggies – ie. Chilli beans were overly seasoned that I needed to sip my tea for every mouthful of beans I ate. The same goes for the veggies – was way to seasoned. I felt a sodium overload! I was surprised by the garlic and chili pork slices because it was sliced so thin yet it was very tender and moist. The sauce itself was a nice balance that didn’t over power the pork. I would come back and try out a few more other dishes to see if I would be a regular patron to the place.

samanthaReal Estate Market Stats

December 9 2021

Highlights From the Real Estate Board November 2021

As we near the end of 2021, home buyer demand remains well in excess of long-term averages and the supply of homes for sale continues to decline across Metro Vancouver’s* housing market. Last month’s sales were 33.6 per cent above the 10-year November sales average.

“We expect home sale totals to end the year at or near an all-time record in our region. We’ve had elevated home sale activity throughout 2021 despite persistently low levels of homes available for sale. With a new year around the corner, it’s critical that this supply crunch remains the focus for addressing the housing affordability challenges in our region.”

Keith Stewart, REBGV economist

“The imbalance between supply and demand, coupled with some buyers wanting to use rate holds on lower rate fixed-term mortgages, is keeping upward pressure on home prices in this traditionally quieter time of year for the market,” Stewart said.

Sales of detached homes in November 2021 reached 987, a seven per cent decrease from the 1,061 detached sales recorded in November 2020. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,870,000. This represents a 20.8 per cent increase from November 2020 and a 1.1 per cent increase compared to October 2021.

Sales of apartment homes reached 1,828 in November 2021, a 33.3 per cent increase compared to the 1,371 sales in November 2020. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $752,800. This represents an 11.4 per cent increase from November 2020 and a 0.9 per cent increase compared to October 2021.

“NOTE: this representation is based in whole or in part on data generated by the Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board or Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver which assume no responsibility for its accuracy.”

Download The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver’s November statistics Package. Click Here

Download Fraser Valley’s Real Estate Board’s November Package. Click Here

December 9 2021

Food for Thought on Real Estate – November 2021

samanthaFood for Thought on Real Estate

Show Me The Money: What Sellers Need to Know About Cash Offers
Seller’s market – A seller’s market is when there are more people looking to buy then there are homes available. This causes a rise in price above the long-term average rate of inflation. Typically this is indicated by a sales-to-active listings ratio of 20% or higher.
Buyer’s market – In contrast, a buyer’s market is when there are many more homes for sale than there are buyers. As a result, prices increase slower than the long-term average rate of inflation. In extreme circumstances this can cause prices to decline. Typically this is indicated by a sales-to-active listings ratio below 12%.
Balanced market – A balanced market occurs when supply and demand are about the same, with home prices rising in line with long-term average rate of inflation. Typically this is indicated by a sales-to-active listings ratio between 12% and 20%.Summary Over a sustained period of time:
- a seller’s market is represented by a ratio of 20% or higher
- a buyer’s market is represented by a ratio of 11% or lower
- a balanced market rests between 12-19%

December 9 2021

December 2021 Newsletter Introduction

samanthaNews & Announcements

Happy Holidays Real Estatee – We have witnessed the first frost of the season, which means Winter is here! There has been some massive changes in the weather which has caused huge implications on many towns and cities in BC. My thoughts are with the town and cities that have lost their livelihood and homes due to the floods. If you would like to help with the relief, you can donate to the Canadian Red Cross. On a more positive note, the Christmas celebration is upon us, and I hope you’re enjoying the festivities with your loves in the safest possible way. As for the market, it remains similar to last months’ demands. The supply is scarce and the demand is high. It’s a challenge for many sellers since knowingly it’s relatively quick to sell but the challenge is finding the next home when the supply is limited. I have seen the current market pricing doesn’t necessarily help gauge how much a home will be sold for since the demand is high, and buyers are eager to find a place to live. This in itself is huge factor in moving prices up, and this trend would continue until other variable factors intervene to dampen the demand or increase supplies.

#CovidBC update:

Hospitalizations continue to fall as B.C. records 379 new cases of COVID-19 and 6 more deaths. B.C. announced four more cases of the omicron variant on Tuesday, bringing the total number of identified omicron cases in the province to five. The province also announced that booster invitations for those 65 and over will be start going out this week, while invitations for those under 65 will begin in January. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said those who are considered immunocompromised and who received a three-dose primary series of vaccine will be offered a fourth shot, to be administered six months after the third shot. Henry also announced on Tuesday that there would be no additional COVID-19 restrictions over the holidays.

Stay safe and healthy!!!

– Sam

November 8 2021

Earls – Lougheed

Earls Lougheed – Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl – Earls has changed so much since I’ve last visited any of their locations. I heard their menu is significantly much better and tastier than Cactus club. Their décor and renovations transformed the dull and somewhat dated to a trendy and fun vibe ambience.

This time around, I decided to try the ahi tuna poke bowl. At first glance, it looked very fresh and tasty and it looked fairly generous. The colours were vibrant and it definitely satisfied the aesthetic food appeal . I couldn’t wait to dig in. However, once I started mixing all the ingredients together along with the rice. I noticed that there was significantly more rice than toppings. The flavours itself wasn’t bad – the mango added some sweetness, and the soft texture was a nice pairing with the tuna flavouring, the radishes and cucumbers helped with the nice light crunch and freshness that cuts into the deep marinade that’s in the tuna. Overall, the dish itself wasn’t bad and for the price, it’s expected when you go to these types of bar, lounge and dine in establishments. I should have substitute it for vegetables instead of the rice. Since the rice filled me up too much, and I felt bloated. My recommendation, I would substitute the rice for the veggies! The drinks are always nice there so perhaps grab a drink there enjoy their happy hour – they have one of the best happy hour in the lower mainland.

November 8 2021

Cat & Fiddle Sports Bar & Restaurant

Cat & Fiddle Sports Bar & Restaurant – Lunch Special – Soup and Sandwich – BLT & Beef Barley Soup. A nicely tucked in restaurant and pub in the neighbourhood. The lunch special they had caught my attention since the cost of the meal was under $9!!! Being a long-standing establishment, I was curious on whether the food was good. I had my doubts since many pub eatery’s I’ve been to have been somewhat disappointing and underwhelming for that matte; mediocre at best. For that day, I had ordered the BLT (Bacon, lettuce and tomato) with sourdough and a beef barley soup. I was pretty surprised on how generous the size of the sandwich. The bacon was super crispy but wasn’t dry and it totally complimented the bread and the lettuce very well. It was one of the best bacons I’ve had in the longest time! The sourdough was nicely buttered and toasted and wasn’t dry at all – it was the perfect vehicle to hold all the ingredients.. The Beef barley was very filling with the rice mixed into it. The flavour had a deep robust beefy flavour that reminded me of being inside a cozy home during a cold chilly night – it hits the spot for those days in just relaxing at home! I would come back again to try out their other dishes on the menu. Keep you posted my exploration of other dishes here!