FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2006
NANAIMO - The President of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) is thrilled with news that top travel magazine Conde Nast has recognized Vancouver Island yet again.
"For the 7th year in a row, Vancouver Island was rated number one in the North American Island category. This is great news for everyone, including REALTORS," explains Darrell Paysen.
"The magazine is known throughout the travel world, with a circulation of 750,000," Paysen outlines. "For REALTORS this means new people are discovering and coming to Vancouver Island all of the time."
Paysen says those same travelers frequently decide to invest and return as residents down the road.
"This says a lot about the continuing strength of the real estate industry. The favorable view of Vancouver Island by the travel industry is also supported by how many buyers we're seeing coming from outside of the region."
VIREB's latest annual Buyer Profile of 2,100 purchasers (released in July 2006) showed almost 54 per cent were moving to Vancouver Island from outside of the area.
"11 per cent originated from Alberta, 8.9 per cent from Ontario, 9 per cent from Vancouver, 7.2 per cent from Victoria and 4.1 per cent from the Fraser Valley," Paysen explains. "10 per cent came from the rest of BC, 4.5 per cent originated from the rest of the world, 3.4 per cent from Saskatchewan/Manitoba and 2.3 per cent from the rest of Canada."
39 per cent were buying a retirement home.
The Conde Nast survey also named Vancouver as the top city in the Americas category. The poll divides cities into six geographical divisions including the Americas, which covers Canada, Central America and South America. Cities are scored on ambience, friendliness, culture and sites, restaurants, lodging, and shopping.
VIREB represents approximately 1,084 licensed REALTOR members in more than 80 member offices on Vancouver Island (north of Victoria).
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REALTOR is a trademark identifying real estate professionals who are members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). REALTORS subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practices as set out by CREA. MLS is a cooperative marketing system used by Canada's real estate boards.
For more information, please contact:
Darrell Paysen, President, 250-74
# posted by VIREB @ 11:52 AM
