It is a different “Time” we seem to be living in these days. Our investments in the stock market are going backwards or no where fast, and the Real Estate market isn’t making us instantly rich either. Leaving money in the bank will preserve your capitol but the chances of seeing any real growth there in the next few years is unlikely too. So where are the positives? We recently ran an ad in the local paper and included a graph showing the cost to borrow money right now is at the lowest rate in the almost 40 years that the stats in that graph included. A recent Tax Assessment for a property in the Vancouver area shows a huge increase in value over last year. That disparity in property values between our large neighbour to the East as well as a considerable difference when comparing to Victoria is what adds to the attraction of buying and living here in Nanaimo. We certainly have the retail shopping covered, a thriving University and expanding hospital, a great starting point for any Gulf Island boating adventures, biking & hiking trails to entertain even the most avid enthusiast, and having been voted recently one of the Cultural Capitols of Canada, we have lots of music and theatre to enrich you as well. To recap what we saw in 2011, the average price for a single family home over the year ended up virtually the same as 2010. The number of listings and sales over the year were very close as well. While some might call that unexciting, in the turbulent markets out there in North America right now, being uneventful is a good thing. People need to see buying Real Estate in Nanaimo as a longer term buy if watching your equity grow is important. Stability should be seen as a positive for investors as long as the tenants are paying down your debt and your asset isn’t depreciating. But the best thing of all when buying Real Estate in Nanaimo is the chance to live in one of the “Best Little Cities” anywhere!