Unique Real Estate Around the World

With the official start of autumn shortly upon us, home fall shows are showing up everywhere and these annual events draw huge crowds. Some things about fall home shows always stay the same. You are bound to see warm touches and shades of pumpkin. Yet every fall season brings a new and bountiful crop of home décor trends. Surprisingly, some fall home shows even emphasize spring designs.

Spring in Fall

People who look at home furnishings in fall might be preparing to build a home in the coming spring. Therefore, it is not that unusual to see fall home shows include some spring-like styles. Maybe a few pale pastels might find themselves in the company of autumn orange.

Autumn Green

Yes, green is the color of renewal and rebirth, but fall home shows are going 'green' in more ways than one. Of course, shades of green remind those future home owners about the joys of spring. As well, autumn shows are becoming friendlier to the environment.

More stores like "ReStore' in Vancouver have booths at these events. 'ReStore' sells high-quality used (and new) building supplies such as kitchen and bathroom counters, lighting, and appliances. Home owners can find similar 'green' outlets at home shows all across Canada and the US. You will always find the latest green cleaning supplies like AspenClean - the first cleaning product in Canada to be certified by Ecocert (the European regulator of organic cosmetics and food).

Prices at home shows can be more than 50% lower than department store prices. Yet the merchandise can include top quality materials. Shoppers might pick up a cool and classic black granite countertop because someone preferred a lighter shade of granite.

If 'used product' stores did not exist, these building supplies would end up in the landfill. Since more and more people are adopting a green lifestyle, these outlets can now take their rightful place at the fanciest fall home show. 'Used' outlets are becoming the new 'cool' shopping experience with the 'green' crowd.

Design Books

Design books are now the darling of home shows. The design book booths cater to those who 'want' to learn more about design as well as those who 'need' to learn more about design. If you can't afford the designer pillows, you can buy a good interior design book that tells you how to make your own autumn pillows.

Designer books offer support and ideas to home owners. These books are an invaluable resource especially for people on a limited budget. A good quality design book is worth the investment because they offer tons of ideas for every season. Sometimes using the latest trendy colors or fabric can do wonders in recreating a designer look.

Customized Design

Home shows shine the spotlight on local artisans who produce one-of-a-kind products. Custom orders are part of the thrill of home shows. Shoppers can choose from a wide selection of unique items. Customize your home for fall and show off your harvest colors.

What Did You Fall For At Your Local Autumn Home Show?

Image courtesy of hbafm.com

"A 15 per cent to 40 per cent crash in prices, depending on the market -- with Vancouver and the Lower Mainland most at risk - is now a certainty," Turner told ctvbc.ca."

Conflicting reports came out recently about the Canadian housing market. Is a real estate bubble about to burst or is there even a bubble in the first place? The answer varies depending on the source. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) believes in the bubble but the University of B.C. business professor, Tsur Somerville, who specializes in real estate, does not agree with that theory.

"I would have thought maybe two and a half years ago this was more of the story," says Somerville.

Somerville suggests that the bubble scenario was more suited to two years ago at a peak in pricing. Actually, Somerville is not alone in his opinion. Cameron Muir, chief economist for the B.C. Real Estate Association, also questions the CCPA report. All major Canadian centres (Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and Ottawa) are quoted in the report. Vancouver is said to be headed for the worst situation with an expected loss of $200,000.

The numbers in the report (15%-40% crash in prices) are making real estate experts take notice and offer some opposition to the CCPA conclusions. Of course, booms are generally followed by busts and house prices have been high in Canadian cities. The report referred to the model of the 2006 US housing crisis. Yet experts who oppose the CCPA report point out the differences between the Canadian and US real estate markets.

It does not necessarily follow that Canadian real estate will experience the same crisis as its American counterpart. Some experts do not envision the meltdown predicted in the recent report. They can accept the possibility of 'levelling out' in the future or 'correction' in the market. Yet an all-out 'crash and burn' is not in the cards for Canadian real estate – at least not according to some knowledgeable experts.

House prices in Canada are, however, way above median incomes. During the last decade, housing prices were three or four times the median income. Yet in 2010, prices are in the range of 4.7-11.3 times the same amount. The CCPA believes that if there is a rise in mortgage rates then affordability will go out the window. The report indicates that Canadian housing has not been such a state in the last 30 years.

It suggests that the most important factor is not whether or not a bubble exists but what will happen next with Canada's housing. The previous strength of this market served as a type of protection for the banks from financial crisis. The strong housing market contributed to the success of Canadian banks when those around them were in turmoil.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives points to the fact that Canadian households are carrying considerable debt. When home owners are debt-ridden, even the slightest change can cause a calamity. Job losses or higher rates can impact the prices of homes and the borrowers themselves.

Doom and gloom predicted for Vancouver house prices

A housing market that is out of step can affect the whole economy. Yet it would take something drastic to trigger a huge decline such as the CCPA predicted for Vancouver. We need to keep our eye on this one!

Do You Think The Bubble Is About To Burst In Canadian Housing?

Image courtesy of aboutnwrealestate.com

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1. The UFO House (Sanjhih, Taiwan)

Sanzhi UFO houses were constructed in 1978 and intended as a luxury vacation resort marketed primarily to U.S. military officers stationed in Taiwan. Although due to financial losses, the project was abandoned in 1980, Sanzhi UFO houses became a tourist attraction and were featured in film and used as a filming location by MTV. Legend has it that the doomed resort and several deaths during construction are attributed to a Chinese dragon sculpture that was disturbed in order to widen the resort entrance road.

2. The Dancing Building (Prague, Czech Republic)

The Dancing Building is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building in downtown Prague, Czech Republic. The building was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot (where the previous building had been destroyed during the Bombing of Prague in 1945). Resembling a pair of dancers, The Dancing Building stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings in Prague and offers breathtaking views from the rooftop restaurant.

3. The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)

Opened in 2004, Krzywy Domek, translated into English as “The Crooked House,” was built by Polish architects Szotynscy and Zaleski and was inspired by the fairytale illustrations and drawings of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. Arguably the most photographed object in Sopot, The Crooked House is topped with a roof of blue-green enameled shingles designed to give the impression of a dragon.

4. The Stone House (Guimarães, Portugal)

The bizarre stone house in Nas montanhas de Fafe, Portugal, looks surprisingly similar to the home of Fred and Wilma in the 1960s cartoon – the Flintstones.

5. The National Library (Minsk, Belarus)

In 1989, architects Victor Kramarenko and Michael Vinogradov won the international contest for the new national library building in Minsk, Belarus with their cutting edge futuristic design, the “Belarusian Diamond”. The library stands 236 feet tall, spans 22 floors with the main architectural component in the shape of a rhombicuboctahedron and features 4,646 color-changing LED fixtures.

6. Fuji Television Building (Tokyo, Japan)

The futuristic, aluminum-clad building was designed by Japanese Architect, Kenzo Tange. It's fully earthquake proof and took three years to build (completed in 1996). The sphere on top of the building contains an observation gallery and a restaurant and is constructed of titanium to reduce weight. With a diameter of thirty two meters it was first constructed on the roof of the smaller building, then on April 17th 1995, using a special technique it was raised into its current position.

7. The Piano and Violin House (An Hui Province, China)

This unique piano and violin building was built in An Hui Province, China. Inside of the violin is the escalator to the building. The building displays various city plans and development prospects in an effort to draw interest into the recently developed area.

8. The Bank of Asia a.k.a Robot Building (Bangkok, Thailand)

The Robot Building was completed in 1986 and designed for the Bank of Asia by Sumet Jumsai to reflect the computerization of banking. Its architecture is a reaction against neoclassical and high-tech postmodern architecture. The building's features, such as progressively receding walls, antennas, and eyes, contribute to its robotic appearance and to its practical function.

9. Kunsthaus (Graz, Austria)

The Graz Art Museum was constructed in 2003 and features the award winning “communicative display skin” BIX designed by real:United. Using standard industrial fluorescent light tubes BIX transforms the outer biomorphic skin of the building, which is constructed out of translucent blue acrylic glass panels, into a low resolution grey scale computer display.

10. Sutyagin House (Archangelsk, Russia)

Claiming to be the world’s tallest wooden single-family house, the Sutyagin House stood 144 feet tall and spanned 13 floors. Constructed by the Archangelsk entrepreneur, Nikolai Sutyagin over the period of 15 years (starting in 1992), the house deteriorated while its creator spent a few years in prison on racketeering charges.