The other day I wrote about the most expensive streets for residential property per sq footage in the White Rock South Surrey area, and promised to write about Vancouver's streets.

Well, what I found was this:

The most expensive street in Vancouver, according to the MLS listings, was Point Grey Rd., with 3 sales and an average of $2409.31 per sq ft.  Second on the list was Newton Wynd with 4 sales at $1915.52 per sq ft.  Laurier was 3rd with 3 sales averaging $1325.80, and Osler St., was fourth with 2 sales.

What you may find interesting is  Osler had the most expensive home sold - after 366 days on market.  It sold for $17,500,000.--October 2010.  

There were 25 sales in Greater Vancouver over the last 12months over $5m. with an average of $1497.59 and an average of 120 days on market.  

So, if you're an international buyer for residential properties Vancouver is still a bargain compared to the rest of the most expensive streets in the world.

Yesterday the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing put out a blog naming the priciest streets in the world for residential real estate, according to a post on the Overseas Property Mall Blog.

Here are the top 3.

1. Severn St., Hong Kong, China    a whopping $78,200.  PER SQUARE FOOT!

2. Kensington Palace Gardens, London, England  $76,600. sq ft

3. Avenue Princess Grace, Monte-Carlo, Monaco  $69,700. sq ft.

Now, compare that to our bargain basement price average per square foot here in sunny South Surrey for the past 12 months of sales.

1. Crescent Drive, Surrey, BC  at $599.41 sq ft

2. Marine Drive, White Rock/Surrey, BC  at  $563.95 sq ft

3. Crescent Road, Surrey, BC  at $436.17 sq ft

Now, Terry Rd., and Woodcrest came between Marine Drive and Crescent Rd., but they only had 1 sale per street over $1m  in the last 12 months and I didn't think that that was a fair comparison.  The other streets had a minimum of 6 sales over the past 12 months, a better indicator of price per square foot.

In relation to the most expensive streets in the world, our prices are at absolute give-aways.  Not saying that they're not expensive, don't get me wrong, but it's always good to have a global perspective when we're talking real estate and why people like to buy here.  

Watch for another blog for Vancouver prices per square foot later this week.

Thanks for reading!

Paint is the simplest and most economical way to make a small space appear larger.  So a can of paint and a little imagination will go a long way to making the most of your living area.

Hints:

Draw the line-paint a horizontal stripe around a small room to make it look deeper and wider. If the room is narrow, try thin vertical stripes in monochromatic tones.

Cool colours, such as soft blues, creams purples and greens will make any area feel open and airy.

Don't forget about lighting.  Good lighting makes a colour appear lighter, so rooms that have a lot of natural light could handle a warmer colour.

The secret to painting a small area, is to eliminate visual distractions.  Try painting the trim in the room a different shade of the main colour by adding black or white to the base.

Low ceiings? No problem.  Paint a one foot border around the edge of the ceiling in the same colour as the walls.  Or, paint the bottom half of a wall in a darker colour than the top.  Glossy paint will also make a ceiling look higher and rooms appear larger due to the reflection of light.

Above all, have fun, be brave and you'll be amazed at how quickly you can transform your home. You'll wonder why you took so long.

If you've been to Las Vegas, you'll understand, at least I think you'll understand the following personal observations.  This city is built around the premise of losing.  Losing at the gaming tables, losing your sleep, losing your shirt, losing all track of time, losing your sense of control, and losing your visual perspective.  In every hotel you are directed from the front door into the glitz and glamour and promise of wealth beyond measure, thanks in no small part to the larger than life photos of winners of millions of dollars.  Yet, for every sign of a winner, I saw probably thousands of non-winners hoping for that every elusive 'BIG WIN".  And that was just over the course of 6 days in Vegas.  Not saying that money can't be won, don't get me wrong, as I know of people who regularly go there to gamble and "win" their trip, or are lured by the comps of the hotels and feel that their trip is "free".  

Yet, every day in our hotel, I saw people checking in in droves, and I assume, bringing their gambling money in hopes of fulfilling their dream of winning.  Now, not being a gambler( which by definition is: gambler - someone who risks loss or injury in the hope of gain or excitement) - as I'm sure you've discovered by now - why would anyone go to Vegas, you ask.   

Well, the obvious answer would be just to say you've been there.  It truly is a place that has to be seen and experienced in person, as it is nearly impossible to describe the enormity of the hotels, the amount of people on the streets and in the casinos, and the sense of hope and excitement of the tourists amongst the desperation of the residents  who are sitting on the skywalks silently asking for money to live with cardboard signs.  One sign I saw said, and I quote: "At least I'm not shaking a f%$#*^g cup".  Now why on earth would I put change in his hat? Who wants to be sworn at while being charitable?

 But by the amount of people spending their earnings there, you wouldn't know that the US was suffering a depressed economy. 

Now of course, the other reason people love Vegas are the shows and entertainers that play in the theatres.  We did see "Love" by Cirque de Soleil.  Fantastic production, no doubt.  Apparently Terry Fador the ventriloquist, a previous winner on America's Got Talent, is doing extremely well and by all accounts from those we spoke with who saw the show, I would put it on my list of  not only "to do" but "must do".  Elton John in the Colisseum at Ceasar's, I was told, was fantastic as well.  

But, my main reason to go back would be the shopping! Surprise!  It is a shopping MECA, with everything from Walgreens to Graffe Diamonds, all within walking distance (albeit a long walk), but walking distance it was.  Graffe Diamonds in the Wynn Hotel have the most spectacular stones (if you like that sort of thing).  However, what grabbed my attention was the Manolo Blahnik Store - OH MY GOD!  I love love love shoes, most girls do, and these are the epitome of craftsmanship, style, uniqueness and, compared to the other high end designer shoes, the prices were similar.  My favorites were a pair of patent denim blue classic pumps.  Jimmy Choo had a couple of pair that I was coveting as well - blush suede peep toes with a ribbon of gold around the the top edge and crossed in front.  Of course, the multicoloured peep-toe, mesh booties were delicious too.  Christian Loubiton has one or two lovelies, but the ones that stand out in my mind were baby blue swarovski crystal studded pumps for approx $3600.00 US. The stones are hand set by master craftsmen so that they don't just fall off (I had to ask).  

So, will I go back to Las Vegas? You bet.  Will I gamble at the casinos? Not likely.  Will I save my spending money and buy designer shoes. ABSOLUTELY.  Las Vegas, you win.