carrington: Homes that used to start at $669,900 are now on for $569,900

Kate Webb
Province

If drastic times call for drastic measures, then the giant red sign advertising a $100,000 discount on a collection of new Vancouver townhomes must mean it’s recession o’clock.

“I think it’s really big — my phone doesn’t stop ringing from when I get up in the morning,” said Carrington sales manager Carla Zivot, referring to developer Listraor’s decision to slash the $669,900 starting price-tag three weeks ago. “I think $100,000 makes a lot of difference in terms of qualifying for a mortgage.”

Traffic at the presentation centre has quadrupled since the discount was introduced, she said, and the development is 35 per cent sold. The realtor added that the buyer’s market that has firmly taken grip of the city has changed the way people are shopping, and that those who eventually buy at Carrington typically come in three or four times before signing on the dotted line.

“I used to be able to sell a home without any advertising, without any display home, just meet them at a coffee shop with a few tile samples,” she said. “Now, we’re finding that people want to see a finished home . . . I’m kind of happy in one way that they’re finally asking the right questions.”

Set on the corner of Oak St. and West 45th Ave., the Carrington community has a village vibe and instant access to one of the city’s most vital corridors. Downtown, the airport, and Highway 99 are all very easy drives.

The package of interior amenities is also an attraction to many home hunters. “People are really impressed with the quality that’s in here,” said Zivot. “Things like solid wood closet doors, they love the rooftop decks, and we do have some really cool plans with a loft space that’s almost like a fourth bedroom, so they like all those little features.”

The cedar rooftop deck offered in some homes is one of the project’s most enticing features, as it offers maximum privacy on a third storey, a view of sky, treetops and a glass door that doubles as a skylight.

The washroom finishings were yet another solid choice. The master bedroom ensuite is small but efficiently laid out, with a beautiful marble or limestone countertop with undermounted sink, and a high-end frameless glass shower door.

The master bedroom has side-by-side his-and-hers closets, and is comparable in size to the two other upstairs bedrooms in the three-bedroom display.

The main floor features hardwood flooring in the living and dining areas, nine-foot ceilings, an electric fireplace with wood mantel and a choice of two colour schemes: one lighter and warmer and one darker and more contemporary.

The layout is open concept and linear, so the eye is immediately drawn to the luxury kitchen at the far end. Standout features include stone slab countertops, designer stainless steel appliances, custom wood cabinets and a ceramic tile backsplash.

Just off the kitchen is a small room that could be either for storage or a home office, a laundry closet with full size stacking washer and dryer, and a door to the rear patio.

Zivot said most of the people who have bought at Carrington are residents coming from downtown Vancouver, the West Side, and Richmond, each group for very different reasons. Those who live downtown tend to be looking for more square footage for their money, she said, while many of the West Side residents grew up in the area and are interested in the central location.

“The people coming from Richmond are really excited that because of the $100,000 discount they can live in Vancouver,” she said.

All the homes at Carrington come with secure storage lockers, two parking spaces, and individual hot water tanks. Developer Listraor’s previous developments are almost all in Burnaby, with the exception of Silver, which is at 1250 West Sixth Ave. in Vancouver.

Completion of Carrington is expected by the end of May.

The facts

What: Carrington, a collection of 30 two- and three-storey townhomes.

Where: Oak St. and West 45th Ave., Vancouver.

Developer: Listraor

Sizes: Two bedrooms up to three-bedrooms-plus-den, from 1,034 sq. ft. to 1,602 sq. ft.

Prices: $569,900 to $699,900 after promotional discount. There is one $1- million unit.

Open: Presentation centre and display home open at 6101 Oak St. from 12 to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and from 12 to 5 p.m. weekends.

More info: www.carringtonliving.com

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