Upgrading is underway for the interchange at McCallum Road and Highway 1. The upgrade plans include more lanes over Highway 1, longer deceleration on both sides of the highway and changes to the traffic pattern to ensure that peak volume traffic does not back up onto the highway. Bike lanes and sidewalks are also included in the plans, along with a new park-and-ride lot to encourage car pooling. Total project cost is estimated at $25 million shared by Government of Canada ($8.3 million), Government of British Columbia ($8.3 million), City of Abbotsford ($8.3 million). Construction is expected to be running from Spring 2010 – Spring 2011.

Existing interchange was built in 1960 as part of Highway 1 freeway project. Current traffic volume exceeds the capacity of this 50 year old bridge.

Similar plans were announced for improvements to the Clearbrook Road Interchange but that project seems to be on the back burner for now.

Yesterday (or was it day before) Google finally launched the "street view" feature in Google Maps in Major cities across Canada including Abbotsford. This is really going to be a cool tool for REALTORS® & people searching for homes. You can check out the neighborhood on your computer screen before deciding whether you want to see homes in the area. I have already added this feature to my website. When you click on Map, you have the option the see the street view.

So go ahead and virtually drive around in the neighborhood before you call to book the showing


Here is the Landmark Realty Office.

View Larger Map .

Corner / End Unit in desirable "Beacon Downs" townhomes complex. 25+ age restricted complex offers a great locations close to all amenities. 2Bed / 2Bath ground floor units has private backyard.

Visit http://41BeaconDowns.TheCondoSeller.Com for more pics and details or click an image below.

Rancher with basement, updated corner unit townhome in SouthPoint Ridge on Townline Rd. Visit my Abbotsford real estate website for listing details and more photos.

House for sale at the corner of Clearbrook rd and Balofour Dr. Legal Suite. Lots of parking.

Visit my website for more details and photos. What a deal at this price...

August 2009 home sales in Abbotsford were higher than August 2008.

view more details on my blog.

Gmail is giving me server error for the last 5-7 minutes. Anyone else having trouble using google services?
I need to check my sent listing notifications.

Last month when BC govt. announced the plans to implement new tax system HST (harmonized sales tax) in 2010, I wrote a blog post about how it would affect the real estate industry and new home buyers.

Starting July 2010 consumers will have to pay a higher tax on new houses, renovations, REALTORS®' fees and other real estate transaction fees such as notary services, home inspections and appraisals. All of those are currently exempt from the PST and are only subject to the GST.

Just like me most other REALTORS® are concerned that home buyers and sellers, particularly buyers of new homes, will bear most of the burden associated with the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax.

The BC Real Estate Association has launched a new website to provide REALTORS® and members of the public with a >> Read MOre >>

Hey Abbotsford REALTORS®, this post is for those of you who email their new (and old) listings to others REALTORS® on regular basis. Email can be great marketing tool if you are using is properly. I use Google apps for my email and recently I have noticed that most of your "listings blasts" are landing in the junk mail folder. Google has some of the smartest junk mail filters available and if Google is starting to filter your emails as junk you can imagine whats happening at other mail exchange servers like 1and1, GoDaddy, Shaw & Telus etc.

Now I'll move your e-mail addresses to my safe list because I don't want to loose your emails if we are doing a deal together or if there is any other important e-mail coming from you guys. But is everyone else out there going to do the same thing for you?

Once your domain name or email address is "blacklisted" at major ISPs you'll have tough time delivering emails to other REALTORS® or even clients. So be careful how many mass e-mails you send from your e-mail address. If you are using email based on your domain name (IE: listings@MyAbbotsfordListings.Com) your domain name will be seen as the culprit by the junk mail filters. Changing email address to something like NewMail@MyAbbotsfordListings.Com will not work.

I usually delete your listing promoting e-mail without opening it if I am receiving 1-2 emails a day from your office, because I know there is nothing special about this email (you know who you are). If you are one of those who send out listing emails once in a while because there is something special to announce about your listing, there is better chance that I'll open it and there is minimal chance of getting blacklisted at internet service providers.

You should also track you emails to see if they are being opened by the recipients. Point2, MLXjet and other software allow you to do that. By using these easy to use programs you can easily tell if your email campaign is working or you are wasting your time.

Here is a screen shot of my junk mail folder: