Quarterly Newsletter, March 2007

Real Estate Activity for Past Quarter

There have been 27 sales and 2 conditional sales since January 1st, 2007 as compared to 30 total sales for this time last year. The median price for the first quarter of 2007 is $248,500 as compared to the first quarter of 2006 at $239,500. Total number of properties currently on the market is 81. Of these 30 are bare land and the rest are residential. In addition there are 5 commercial properties for sale.

Market activity and values are stable at this time. Values of small bare lots remain strong and activity is high on these properties.

Interim health clinic to open at Twin Beaches Center within two months. The Gabriola Health Care Society fund raised $75,000 within the community mostly in the past three months. The clinic will have an emergency treatment room, offices for two doctors and space for other health care services.

The Roxy Lounge and Culture Club opens on Gabriola, this small theater with a 13 foot screen, excellent speakers and LCD projector is a little jewel with vintage red velvet theater seats and art deco interior, the owner considers this a cartoon version of a fine old theater. There will be regular movies and matinées plus this venue can be booked for private parties.

Statistics Canada data puts the population of Gabriola Island officially at 4050 for 2006, up from the 2001 count of 3522.

New Ground Water Protection Regulation for BC covers construction standards, pump installation and owner's responsibilities including deactivating a well that is no longer in use and, if the well does not have a cap, ensuring that a secure and vermin-proof cap is installed by October 31, 2007. Ground Water Protection Regulation can be found at
www.env.gov.bc.ca

Islands Trust has a new publication titled 'A Place in the Islands - how private land owners shape the future fo the San Juan and Gulf Islands'. This is a gorgeous full color publication on high grade paper. It has been produced to provide information to people who are new to living in the Islands Trust area and to generate awareness of the benefits and challenges of living in this special part of the world. For information on how to receive a copy go to the web site at
www.islandstrust.bc.ca

Living by Water: information for shoreline residents to protect their property, prevent problems like erosion, and protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, see website at www.livingbywater.ca

For information on mortgage financing options go to www.rightmortgage.ca

*Community Events
http://www.gabriolalife.com/

We hope you have enjoyed this Quarter's newsletter!

Sincerely,
Lesley, Robyn & Carly McMahon