One of the many benefits of living on campus, listening to a few top notch UBC professors talk science at the annual Faraday Science Show.  The free event is designed for children of all ages and presented by the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and the Department of Chemistry. This year's theme was the Physics & Chemistry of the Human Body!

If you and your kids enjoy the Science World hourly live shows, you will have fun here too, and these are lectured by UBC faculty professors.

Check out photos from this year's show, held today, December 8 at the UBC Point Grey Campus in Hebb Theatre (2045 East Mall).

For October 2013, a total of 12 units of strata homes, i.e. condos and townhomes, were sold in UBC.  This is a decrease from the 23 units that sold in September.

Of the 12 units that sold last month, 2 were 1-bedroom homes, 5 were 2-bedroom homes, and 5 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

For September 2013, a total of 23 units of strata properties, i.e. condos and townhouses, were sold in UBC.  This is a decrease from the 26 units that sold in August.

Of the 23 units that sold last month, 7 were 1-bedroom homes, 8 were 2-bedroom homes, and 8 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

On September 28th and 29th, 2:00 - 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at Pariz on Dunbar at 3611 W 18th Ave unit #307 in the Dunbar VW neighborhood, Vancouver. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent 2 Bedroom and 2 Bathroom Condo for sale in beautiful Dunbar VW, conveniently located near the UBC campus.

Please do not hesitate to give me a call at if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Len Diaz
Royal Pacific Realty

For August 2013, a total of 26 units of strata homes, i.e. condos and townhomes, were sold in UBC.  This is an increase from the 20 units that sold in July.

Of the 26 units that sold last month, 5 were 1-bedroom homes, 16 were 2-bedroom homes, and 5 units were 3-or-more bedroom homes.

For a free private consultation to sell your home, please call me, Len Diaz, at 604-551-1323.

Sold units does not include single detached homes, pre-sale, under construction, and private (FSBO) sales.  All figures are taken from MLS.

Improved confidence in the global economy renews focus on growth in real estate sector

Eighty-five percent of real estate industry executives say the global economy is improving or stable, and Canada is poised to benefit from that optimistic outlook, according to EY's Global Capital Confidence Barometer: Real Estate, Hospitality and Construction.

Emerging markets, including India, China, Qatar and Chile, led the pack of countries poised for real estate investment in the next 12 months, with Canada following closely in fifth.

“Confidence is returning to the sector as credit availability and strong industry fundamentals create a more stable foundation for deal-making," says Krista Blaikie, EY’s National Real Estate leader. “Companies that were focused on maintaining stability and operational efficiency are now shifting gears and looking ahead at new investment opportunities.”

Overall, respondents’ optimism is up considerably from 53% one year ago.

“Investors are looking beyond the developed world — with the exception of Canada — and focusing their investment strategies in emerging markets with immense growth potential,” says Blaikie. “Canada, on the other hand, continues to attract the attention of investors searching for a stable political and economic environment not found in the Eurozone.”

Those ready to transact in the year ahead are focused on smaller deals, with 64% of companies expecting the majority of deals to fall between US$51m and US$500m.

“Making the most of transaction opportunities, whether small or large, depends on a thorough understanding of the local market, regulatory environment and culture. Those that perform thorough due diligence and select the right partners will be best positioned for sustainable growth,” says Blaikie.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

The Wall Group is set to build a 22-storey highrise condominium building and

townhouses on Binning Avenue (Lot 6)  in UBC's Wesbrook Place, across from

the Pacific Spirit Park. Designed by IBI/HB Architects, the planned development

will aim for REAP Gold sustainability designation.  And according to their

website prices will start at $499,900.

The Sales Centre will be located at 5898 Gray Avenue UBC (Corner of

Wesbrook Mall & Gray Avenue, the former YU Modern Presentation Centre)

VIDEO: New home rush puts crunch on UBC student rentals

Demographic shift on Vancouver's west side means income-helping rental suites are harder to find

The University of British Columbia has added hundreds of residence spots this year, but the new living spaces aren't doing much to offset the losses in nearby off-campus rentals on Vancouver's west side.

Suites, rooms, and houses for rent are getting harder to come by in the closest off-campus neighbourhoods, such as Dunbar and Point Grey, as older homes sitting on million-dollar plots are being torn down when the properties are sold.

The owners of the new homes don't seem to be as interested in renting to students, the CBC's Theresa Lalonde reports.

video

Strange structure recently discovered in the UBC campus.

Is it the shield generator bunker of Endor?

This is a shot of the back of the structure.  It is totally camouflaged from behind.

It's actually the Carillon equipment building that houses the master clock

mechanism that controls the Ladner Clock Tower beside it.

Once again, Vancouver comes in at #3 in Economist Intelligence Unit's World Liveability Ranking, with Toronto and Calgary coming in at #4 and #5 respectively, to give Canada 3 of the top 5 spots.  

Melbourne is the most liveable for the third year running, followed by Vienna and Vancouver

• The past five years have seen global liveability slip by 0.6%, led by a 1.3% fall in the score for stability and safety
• The Arab Spring has been most influential in pushing down global liveability, but unrest in Europe and China have also contributed
• Ongoing civil war in Syria has made Damascus the least liveable city in the ranking

A variety of events, from the Arab Spring to austerity protests and unrest in China, have all contributed to making the world a less liveable place over the past five years, according to the latest findings of The Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Ranking. The ranking, which provides scores for lifestyle challenges in 140 cities worldwide, shows that since 2008 liveability across the world has fallen by 0.6%, led by a 1.3% fall in the score for stability and safety. 

Melbourne tops the ranking for the third year running, followed by Vienna and Vancouver. However, this apparent stability hides longer-term trends that become apparent when taking a five-year view. Only 28 cities of the 140 surveyed have registered changes in the last 12 months, but 86 cities have experienced a change in liveability over the past five years. Of these, just 30 have seen an improvement in scores, while 56 have seen liveability levels declining. 

Jon Copestake, editor of the survey, comments, "Liveability often seems static on a year-to-year basis. But looking at movement over a longer period we can see some significant trends emerging. While the threat of terror had a defining influence on liveability in the last decade, we can clearly see that civil unrest has already had a significant impact on liveability in this decade" 

The past five years have seen civil unrest becoming a globally destabilising factor, with a number of different reasons for discontent. The most significant of these has been the Arab Spring, which has affected a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa, notably the ongoing protests in Egypt and the civil wars in Syria and Libya. This means that Damascus, Tripoli and Cairo have seen the sharpest declines over the past five years, with the Syrian capital in particular seeing a 20% decline in liveability and moving to the very bottom of the ranking. 

But austerity and feelings of disenfranchisement have led to rioting and protests in western Europe as well, notably in Greece, but also in the UK and most recently in Spain. In China, which has seen improving liveability levels over the past five years due to investment in infrastructure and higher living standards, there has been heightened unrest triggered by a range of social problems, most notably anti-Japanese rioting during August and September last year. 

Yet it has not all been doom and gloom; there have been some positive changes in liveability over the past five years. Bogota in Colombia has seen the sharpest rise in liveability as the threat from terrorism, violence and kidnappings related to guerrilla activity has declined. Equally, while current elections are disputed, a more stable situation has prompted a rise in liveability for Harare, although the Zimbabwean capital remains in the bottom five cities of the ranking. 

•          A summary of the full report can be downloaded here. 

UBC ranks 40 in the world according to Shanghai Jiao Tong University-based Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).  A drop of 1 place from the same study last year, the UBC remains second overall Canadian University behind the University of Toronto and ahead of McGill in Montreal.  The study is highly scientific and takes into account the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes, published studies, highly cited researchers and more.

See the list here.