Very crowed open house today in the 1000 block Bank Street. While we were looking, I overheard an Asian buyer who had cornered the realtor. I couldn't quite make out what the prospective buyer was saying, but the realtor was saying, "Um, that's not really legal here . . . No you can't really do that." Ten minutes after I'd gone through the house, the buyer continued to pressure the realtor, until the realtor said something like, "Well, I'd have to talk to the owner, but we don't really do that here. . . it's not really legal... "
Perhaps it may have been a cash offer, probably one that doesn't pass thru the banks. Hang on to your hats folks it's the Vancouverization of Victoria, where money talks and all else goes out the window. I'm sad to see it, because it's why I left the mainland. As the steamroller begins, there is resistance from some principled, honest sellers and realtors, then all-out greed breaks out and nothing but money talks. Then follows the rapid flipping of homes, the emptying out of neighbourhoods, and the bulldozing of houses. . . Minor fines are no deterrent to wealthy Asians. We need the foreign buyer tax NOW in Victoria. It's all well and good to be open minded, and generously spirited, but after a while you may find yourself the last (tax-paying) person left standing on your block.