Comox Valley Homes

Are You a Comox Valley Realty Customer or Client?

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Are you a Comox Valley Realty customer or client? What is the difference? Why is this important? Comox Valley real estate agents in British Columbia are licensed to be able to provide real estate services to people in exchange for remuneration.The Real Estate Services Act (Part 1) defines such services as advising on an appropriate price for the real estate, making representations about the real estate, finding the real estate for a party to acquire, finding the party to acquire the real estate, showing the real estate, negotiating the price of the real estate or the terms of the trade in real estate, presenting offers to dispose of or acquire the real estate, and receiving deposit money paid in respect of the real estate. Before providing such services, however, All of our Comox Valley properties and homes listedby agents are required to disclose a number of things to consumers to include the nature of the relationship that the licensed agent will provide to the consumer. The relationship that is created may be an agency relationship, a limited dual agency relationship, or no agency relationship. The required disclosure must be done at the first reasonable opportunity.

Why is this important? It is important for two main reasons. First, Comox Valley real estate agents, by law, have legal obligations to fulfill before they start providing real estate services to consumers. Second, consumers need to understand that these legal obligations exist, and they need to understand what general and fiduciary duties they are owed, the limitations that may be placed on these duties, and the types of services that they should expect to receive. Comox Valley home buyers and home sellers rely on their advice and services to make some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Often misunderstood is the notion that real estate agents are merely salespeople. By law, real estate agents are held to a higher professional standard. They are obligated to follow written professional standards while they discharge their duties to real estate clients under the Real Estate Services Act. As well, REALTORS ® who belong to the Canadian Real Estate Association also have obligations that are established in the REALTOR ® Code.

Also often misunderstood is the difference between the consumer as a customer, and the consumer as a client. When you walk into a store or onto a car lot looking to purchase something, you are a customer. The business does not represent you, and they will often try to get you to purchase something on terms and at a price favorable to their business. When you enter into a professional relationship with a doctor, lawyer or real estate agent (unless you have no agency relationship with the real estate agent) you are a client. As a client, your professional has a duty to represent, and to protect your interests as specified by applicable laws and regulations.

In a perfect world, all Comox Valley real estate agents would discharge their duties fully, and to the highest standards possible. However, this is not a perfect world. The character and motivation of the individual real estate agent will often play a role in how fully and well these obligations are discharged. As a real estate client, your real estate agent has general and fiduciary duties to you, and it is important that you understand what they are. In British Columbia, real estate agents have obligations established in the Real Estate Services Act, the Real Estate Council of British Columbia Professional Standards Manual, and the real estate board, such as the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, to which they belong. Most real estate agents also have obligations established by the REALTOR ® Code of Ethics (either because they are REALTORS ® or because an organization such as the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board has adopted the REALTOR ® Code of Ethics) to their real estate clients.

What does this mean in practice? Consider the following hypothetical examples: First, a real estate agent is primarily motivated by making money and only provides services required by law. They focus on high end waterfront homes that include high bank and walk on. Second, a real estate agent actively seeks listings while ignoring solicitation limitations placed on them by a local real estate board that they consider unenforceable. Third, a real estate agent seeks out and accepts listings even when they know the owner’s asking price is way above market value so that they can get their sign (and name) on a property with the intention of talking the seller down in price after they sign a listing contact. Fourth, a real estate agent tells a buyer or seller what they think they want to hear to make a sale instead of what they need to hear, and in doing so, risk losing a sale. Do you think any of these hypothetical examples are acceptable behavior (legally and/or morally) in the eyes of the organizations that regulate the conduct of real estate agents?

As consumers and clients we all, at some time or another, rely on and depend on a variety of different professionals to provide us needed services. Laws and codes are written to guide, regulate, and enforce the conduct of professionals. We can better protect ourselves as consumers if we get to know what is expected of our professionals. As a real estate professional, I am happy to discuss any or all of these issues with my Comox Valley real estate clients. People who are better informed are generally more comfortable with the decisions that they make in life, and in turn, they will be subject to fewer unwanted surprises. Contact Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty if you need information on the Comox Valley Real Estate market or are planning to buy or sell a Comox Valley home.

Comox Valley Real Estate – How important is Integrity?

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When you think of Comox Valley real estate agents does integrity come to mind right away? When I ask clients what qualities are important to them in a real estate agent, the word “integrity” is often voiced. But what is it ? Ask 10 different people to provide you with a precise definition. You may be very surprised with the results.

Anyone who wants to become a Comox Valley real estate agent in British Columbia must first take and pass a real estate trading services course. The licensing course manual mentions the word integrity once within the context of a brief discussion of the REALTOR ® Code produced by the Canadian Real Estate Association as follows “As REALTORS ® , we are committed to absolute honesty and integrity in business dealings” . However, the word is not mentioned in the index, nor is it defined in the glossary or anywhere else in the manual.

The Residential real estate Trading Services Applied Practice Course is taken shortly after one obtains a real estate license in BC. The word integrity appears once in the course manual second chapter in a section entitled ethical, legal and privacy issues when it states “licensees must use this information with integrity”. The word also appear twice in connection with a discussion of honesty in the chapter on legal and ethical issues . No mention is made of this aspect of character in the glossary or index.

Unless I missed it, this e word is not defined, and in fact, not even mentioned in the Real Estate Council of BC Professional Standards Manual. Nor is there any mention of the word in The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board regulations under Professional Conduct. As mentioned in the second paragraph above, the REALTOR ® Code makes mention of the word once.

If integrity is important in listing and presenting Comox Valley real estate, and why is it given so little attention by the real estate organizations that govern real estate agents and real estate transactions? Moreover, why is the word not even defined by them?

Why is it important to define the terms that we use? Words and the meaning that they convey are important to facilitate effective communication, and to convey complete and accurate understanding. For me, communication is a three part process: message sent; message received; and message understood as intended.

When the word integrity is applied to people, the reference is to their general character. The character of a person is important because it embodies who they are, and what they believe. Character also affects how they act. Attributes, morality, and values are ingredients of character. Is this an important attribute of the person you will trust to sell your Comox Valley home?

Attributes are the foundation upon which character is built since they represent who a person is mentally, physically, and emotionally. We are borne with attributes and we develop them through the education, training and experience of life.

Morality should be considered the framework around which character is built since it concerns the ethical principles that can be used to choose and/or judge between right and wrong (legally and morally). Some professions establish moral codes of conduct that are expressed through ethical principles and obligations. Integrity is an often cited ethical principle.

Values should be considered the glue that holds character together since they provide the basis for judgements, and they are the beliefs about conduct that guide actions. People develop basic values of their own through experience, and they develop values from a variety of other sources during their lifetime. Organizations may espouse values that they believe are of core importance to who they are and how they act. Integrity can also be a value.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines integrity as wholeness; soundness; uprightness; and honesty. Dictionary.com defines integrity as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; and honesty. Based on more than 35 years of education, training and experience related to the practice of integrity, I believe that these lexical definitions are too general and limiting.

Consider the following definition and discussion of integrity from the book Duty with Honour. To have integrity is to have unconditional and steadfast commitment to a principled approach to meeting your obligations while being responsible and accountable for your actions. Accordingly, a person of integrity calls for honesty, the avoidance of deception, and adherence to high ethical standards. Integrity insists that your actions be consistent with established codes of conduct and institutional values. It specifically requires transparency in actions, speaking and acting with honesty and candor, the pursuit of truth regardless of personal consequences, and a dedication to fairness and justice.

Why is integrity important to me in real estate? When I buy and sell a home for myself as a Comox Valley real estate agent, I will use the services of a real estate agent just like anybody else. If a real estate agent is going to be entrusted to represent my interests in a real estate transaction that involves my most expensive investment, I have to know that I can trust them.

My trust in a professional relationship is affected by the character and competence of the professional. My trust develops over time based on what I discover about their integrity, motivation, values, words, and actions.

I believe that integrity is absolutely fundamental to success in life, business, and to real estate. To me, success stems from who we are in life, and how we treat other people. We will often be remembered more for the type of person that we were, and how we treated and helped other people, and less for what we did and accomplished in life.

Over the years, I have witnessed people placing their own interests ahead of others, and then using those other people merely to get ahead in “what” they do in life – often for position, power, or wealth. How will these types of people be remembered? I know how I remember them. Will they be remembered for their integrity?

Confucius had this to say:
“Meet the virtuous and think about how to be their match, meet those not virtuous and examine yourself.”
“I know not what a man without trustworthiness may accomplish.”
“I used to take a man at his word and trusted that he would act accordingly. But now I listen to his words and note his actions.” and
“Conduct guided by profit is cause for much complaint.”

Confucius was revered by many as a person of wisdom. Perhaps we should listen to what he had to say. Which type of real estate agent would you prefer to have help you with your real estate needs – one guided by integrity, or one guided by profit? Contact Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty and let him help you buy or sell your home.

Comox Valley Real Estate Authority and Accountability

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What does homes and real estate authority and accountability mean? Today I thought that I would blog on something a bit different. How many times have you encountered people who declared they had rights but did not believe that their rights came with responsibilities? Have you dealt with people in positions of authority who did not understand that their authority also came with accountability?

Why do I bring this up? While I was swimming today in a Comox Valley pool, I noticed a young lifeguard sitting in observation chair reading a book – seemingly disinterested and unaware of what was going on around her. Perhaps nobody had discussed the responsibilities of the position with her. A few nights before a young lifeguard was sitting in a chair fixated to her smartphone. How aware was she and how much immediate help would she be able to offer if a swimmer suddenly had a heart attack and started to go down to the bottom of the pool?

Perhaps laws such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are partially to blame? The Charter establishes democratic, mobility, legal and equality rights for Canadians. For example, this document states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person. But what about our responsibilities as Citizens of the Comox Valley? If I have the right to not be harmed (security of the person), then others must be responsible not to harm me. If they do not have this responsibility, then how can I be assured of this right? Then there are the issues of individual rights and collective rights. Since most of us do not live alone on an island, we must co-exist with other people around us. Is there a point at which my right to do something is extinguished by my societal responsibilities?

So what exactly are rights? According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy rights dominate what actions are permissible and which institutions are just. Rights structure the form of governments, the content of laws, and the shape of morality as it is currently perceived. To accept a set of rights is to approve a distribution of freedom and authority, and so to endorse a certain view of what may, must, and must not be done. Clearly, rights, then, have boundaries. These boundaries involve obligations that could also be called responsibilities. With rights come responsibilities.

What is authority? By most contemporary definitions, authority is the legitimate power granted by some form of governance structure that is exercised by people over other people. This power is given with an expectation of good results while avoiding bad circumstances. In practice, the exercise of this power will often result in some limitation imposed on the freedom of the other person. Consequently,whenever someone exercises power over someone else in our society there is an expectation that the person given the power will be answerable for their decisions, direction, and actions to someone else. When we are given authority we should expect to be accountable for the exercise of that authority.

The same is true in most positions of authority. Many of us will have been selected for, licensed for, or appointed to some position of authority. As a licensed Comox Valley real estate agent I have been given the authority to write contracts that are used to transfer property rights. Yes I did say rights in accordance with established real estate laws and regulations. In Canada, when we talk about owning land, “ownership” involves control of the right to use land (in terms of who and how) and control of the decision to transfer all or a portion of these rights to others. The only real “owner” of the real estate is the Crown (the government). The authority given to me under license as a real estate agent involves the most expensive investment of most people – their homes. Given the importance of the authority given to me, I must be accountable to someone for my actions. I am. I am accountable to my Vancouver Island Real Estate Board and to the Real Estate Council of British Columbia. More importantly, I am accountable to my Comox Valley real estate clients

As a professional for more than 35 years I understand the necessary linkage between rights and responsibilities, and the corresponding linkage between authority and accountability. Unfortunately, just as common sense is not all that common, this understanding is not always commonly understood.

So back to the lifeguard example. A lifeguard is given some limited authority over me as a user of the pool. For example, according to the pool rules I am supposed to do what the lifeguard says in specific situations. Clear the pool when I hear three whistles, etc. While I do not extinguish any of my individual rights when I agree to abide by the pool rules and swim in the pool, there could be some minor limitations placed on my freedoms when I have to follow the directions of the lifeguard. However, the lifeguard also has some limitations established by the responsibilities assigned to her by her employer. When she fails to discharge those responsibilities, there is an expectation that she will be accountable to someone for her actions. Any thoughts on just how much of this those young lifeguards understand? How many similar situations have you observed in the past year? Who should be reminding us all of the linkages between rights, responsibilities, authority, and accountability? Contact Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty to discuss your rights and expectations as a real estate client and let Brett be accountable to you to meet your real estate needs.

What are Comox Valley Strata Properties?

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Comox Valley strata properties are fairly common in the Town of Comox and the City of Courtenay. The word condominium is used synonymously with strata property in British Columbia. Strata properties are very common in British Columbia and in the Comox Valley real estate market. But what exactly are they, and why are they different?

Strata properties are properties that enable an owner to own a separate part of a complex (such as a condominiums in the town of Comox/a> building or patio home complex) together with common features of the complex. In an apartment building, common features may include items such as recreational facilities, lobbies, the roof, etc. In a patio home complex, common features may include common property that will be maintained by someone other than the patio home owner in exchange for the payment of strata dues paid on a monthly basis. The advantage is that expenses for the maintenance of common property can be shared. However, there are also some disadvantages to the strata concept. Let’s examine this concept a bit further.

In a strata property, the part that is owned separately by an individual owner or owners is called the strata lot (also common called the strata unit). The remainder of the property is called common property. A strata owner owns the strata lot and a proportionate share of the common property. The Schedule of Unit Entitlement (UE) determines, among other things, what this proportionate share is in terms of strata fees and any special levies. The Schedule of UE is found in the strata plan.

Strata properties are governed by the Strata Property Act in British Columbia. Strata legislation applies to every type of strata. Strata legislation is self-governing, and the Strata Property Act (Section 165) gives every owner the right to apply to the BC Supreme Court to require the Strata Corporation to comply with the legislation.

When developers acquire land to develop a strata project they will either purchase the land or lease it. When purchased, the developer can then in turn sell fee simple title to the buyers of strata lot. The purchaser then becomes the registered owner in fee simple. This is commonly called freehold ownership. When leased (the developer must lease the land for at least 50 years from the public authority from which it leases the land), the developer is then able to offer leasehold ownership of the strata lots being developed.

When purchasing a strata lot, it is important to understand that the owner of a strata lot must pay the property taxes for that lot. For tax purposes, property taxes for each owner are determined from treating the strata lot and the owners’ share in the common property and taxable common assets as a separate parcel of land. Strata owners will also pay strata fees for the maintenance of common property. The Strata Corporation is responsible to repair and maintain common property.

There are two ways that a strata corporation can permit an owner to use common property as if it belonged to that owner. The formal method is to designate the area as limited common property (LCP). Informally the strata corporation can permit the owner short term exclusive use. This process is often used in strata plans where parking stalls and storage lockers are common property and they are “assigned” to individual owners and tenants. This privilege can be granted for up to a year.

In terms of parking and storage, strata plans generally have one or more of the following arrangements: the parking stall or storage area is a separate strata lot; the parking stall or storage area is part of the strata lot; the parking stall or storage area is part of the common property, or the parking lot or storage area is LCP. It is very important, therefore, to confirm the designation of parking and storage when purchasing a strata lot. This information is available in the strata plan.

Since strata owners are responsible to pay strata fees for the repair and maintenance of common property, prospective buyers of strata lots needs to be informed not only of the current strata fees, but the financial health of the strata corporation in case there are things such as planned future repairs, or some levy, fine or judgement against the strata corporation not yet factored in to the strata fees. The Information Certificate produced by the Strata Corporation containing this type of information is called a Form B.

Strata Corporations are governed by an executive body known as a Strata Council, and the owners of the strata lots are members of the strata corporation. Owners are eligible to sit on council. The Strata Property Act contains guidance on how strata corporations are managed. For example, the strata corporation must make annual contributions into a Contingency Reserve Fund (CRF) until the amount in the CRF equals at least 25% of the total amount contributed for operating expenses in the previous fiscal year. A strata corporation is permitted to raise money through special levies against owners. For example, a special levy may be made when there is not enough money in the CRF to pay for a major repair.

The Strata Property Act contains a Schedule of Standard Bylaws that apply to every strata corporation in the province. The strata corporation may amend the standard bylaws or create new ones. It takes a vote of 3/4 (after the first Annual General Meeting) of the members of a strata corporation to amend bylaws. Bylaws serve as the strata corporation’s constitution, and they govern the owner’s obligations, including the use of their strata lots and common property. For example, an bylaw may prohibit a strata unit from being rented (except to family members or under a hardship exemption) by its owner or it may prohibit pets on the complex. Another bylaw may restrict the age of the inhabitants of the strata unit.

Clearly, there are many more things that can be highlighted about strata properties in the Comox Valley real estate market. If you are looking for a strata property in the Comox Valley, there is a minimum amount of strata information that should be acquired and read by prospective buyers. As well, some strata properties such as duplexes have unique considerations associated with them. If you are considering the purchase of strata property, such as condominiums in the City of Courtenay, in the Comox Valley, or the purchase or sale of any other type of property, or you are in need of real estate information, contact Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty to discuss your Comox Valley real estate needs.

How is Comox Valley Real Estate affected by the Law?

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Comox Valley real estate is a highly regulated industry in British Columbia. There are a significant number of laws that have the potential to come into play when buying or selling a home in the Comox Valley Real Estate market.

As I have also mentioned on many occasions, real estate agents do not give legal advice. Seek such advice from a lawyer. Having said this, competent Comox Valley real estate agents should keep up-to-date on the laws that have the potential to affect the purchase or sale of a home so that they know when to recommend that a buyer or seller seek legal and/or other professional advice. Let’s take a very brief look at some of the laws that a Comox Valley home buyer or seller may encounter. If you are interested in getting a sense of some of the additional laws that may affect a real estate transaction, visit the Real Estate Laws and Regulations section of my website.

The Real Estate Services Act governs the sale of real estate in British Columbia. It aims to ensure that people who offer real estate services meet minimum established competency requirements to obtain a license. This act also establishes standards of conduct for those who become licensed. The Real Estate Council of British Columbia is established by this act to administer the act.

The Law of Agency concerns the relationship between a person who acts on behalf of another person and that person. In real estate, a real estate brokerage, through their real estate agents, acts on behalf of their client. While the working day-to-day relationship is between the real estate agent and the client, BC Law recognizes the brokerage as the agent of the client. This agency relationship is described in detail in the British Columbia Real Estate Association in its pamphlet “Working with a REALTOR ®”

The Law and Equity Act is a BC Act that establishes the principle that the rules of equity (fairness) prevail when conflicting with common law (court-based, judge-made law). Section 59 of this law discusses the enforceability of a contact respecting land (or a disposition of land). This section says that, in most cases, contracts dealing with real estate must be in writing to be enforceable.

The Law of Contract comprises those general legal principles that apply to the formation and enforcement of all contracts. Real estate agents are expected to write valid, enforceable contracts that contain an offer, acceptance, consideration, legal intention, capacity, legal object, and genuine consent. When contacts are ineffectual, they fall into the categories of being void, illegal, voidable, and unenforceable. It is important to understand the law of contract because it establishes requirements such as the need for vendors to disclose defects, contaminated property and defects in title.

The federal Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, among other things, establishes record keeping and client identification requirements for financial services providers and other persons engaged in businesses, or professions. There are specific elements of this act that apply to real estate. For example, real estate agents are required to identify and document the identity of people before these people engage in real estate transactions. For those that have purchased or sold a home in BC recently you will likely remember having to show your real estate agent some form of identification such as your drivers license, and seeing the agent copy down this information onto a form called “Individual Identification Information Record” produced by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

The Personal Information Protection Act regulates the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by private organizations. The British Columbia Real Estate Association pamphlet “Working With a REALTOR ® ” discusses the collection and use of personal information. This act recognizes the right of individuals to protect their personal information and the need of organizations such as real estate agencies to collect this type of information for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate. The Property Law Act requires that the vendor of land must deliver a registered title to the purchaser. Knowledge of this law is important because of some of the assumptions that it makes. For example, it assumes that land sold to two or more people will be to them as tenants in common unless their is information to the contrary. What does this mean? Under tenancy in common, if you own property with another person and you die, your interest in the property becomes part of your estate to be passed on according to your will. If this is not your preference, then you need to ensure that the land is sold to you as “joint tenants” so that when you die, your interest passes to the remaining joint tenant. This law also establishes rules on the transfer of ownership to oneself, the transfer of the responsibilities under and existing mortgage from a buyer to a seller, the requirement for mortgagees (banks, etc.) to provide financial statements to the mortgagor (free of charge) on the status of the mortgage, and much more.

The above acts are merely some of the many that have the potential to affect Courtenay property listings of homes for sale transactions in British Columbia. Knowledge of these acts is important. If you are planning to buy or sell a home or property in the Comox Valley without the services of a real estate agent, you may wish to become more familiar with the law as it applies to real estate. Consult your lawyer on issues related to real estate law, and ensure that you know how to write a legally enforceable contract that contains all of the provisions you need to protect your interests. If you would like to discuss the potential purchase or sale of property in the Comox Valley, contact Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty.

What is the Value of Comox Valley?

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As someone who travels a lot locally, I had the opportunity to travel to the southern US in early January. In doing so, the trip south reinforced for me the value of Comox Valley real estate and living in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island.

I left the Comox Valley on a partly cloudy day and drove down highway 19 to the ferry in Nanaimo, enjoying the scenic ocean and mountain views along the way. There were very few cars on the highway and the weather was good. I took the ferry to Tsawwassen and had breakfast on the ferry while sitting at the front so that I could enjoy the Vancouver Island scenery along the way. This part of the trip was mostly sunny and tranquil. A couple of seaplanes flew by in front of the ferry, and there were a few boats of various types enjoying the flat calm water. This was a great way to start the day. We left the Comox Valley real estate market behind us on our way down south.

Shortly after arriving at Tsawwassen, I was on highway 99 driving south. About 10 minutes later approaching Surrey I was in heavy rain and traffic. Each time I drive into or near Vancouver I remember just how much I dislike heavy traffic and the impatient drivers that form part of it. A short while later, the border crossing was seamless and soon thereafter I was on highway 5 heading south. The traffic along highway 5 to Seattle was steady, and it rained on and off. By early afternoon I had passed through Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia. While not rush hour, the highway traffic was busy enough that the drive was not relaxing. Wouldn’t it be nice if all city drivers were courteous? Some drivers bordered on reckless – driving while texting or with a phone stuck to the side of their head and speeding, changing lanes rapidly with no signal, and leaving little room for the car they just cut off.

Approaching Oregon it started to rain fairly heavily and the rain continued throughout most of the state. The scenery was varied – farmland and flat for a while and then hilly for a period of time before arriving at Grants Pass. By evening I was in northern California. After a few hours of hilly terrain through mountain passes I was driving through Sacramento. Not much to see at night but the lights of the city. A short while later, I stopped for the night. This area is nothing like Courtenay or Comox. There is no Comox Glacier or Comox Bay to see.

The next day the weather was clear and the sun was out. Unfortunately, there was not much to see but very boring scenery along I5. Everything was dry, brown, and dead looking. I stopped for gas a few hours north of Los Angeles and discovered that gas stations in California required you to enter your zip code after entering your credit card to pay for gas. As a Canadian I did not have a zip code so I had to go into the station to put a deposit on my card, go out to pump the gas, and then go back in to get my change. So much for service. Speaking of service, when I went back in to get my change at this gas station I waited at the counter while the cashier checked here lottery tickets. She completely ignored the fact that I was standing there and I had to announce myself to get here attention. Service was non existent at this gas station. To make matters worse the bathrooms were disgustingly dirty. It makes one appreciate being a Comox Valley realtor and being able to live in the Comox Valley.

A few hours later I was in Los Angeles. Soon I was on I10 heading east and in 14 lanes of heavy traffic. “Crazies” is the only apt term for many of the drivers. Speeding, swerving in and out of traffic, cutting other drivers off, tailgating, and distracted drivers were all common sights on this highway. Defensive driving took on a significantly increased importance on this highway. Several miles along the highway there was a huge cloud of white smoke on the other side of the highway where an 18-wheeler had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a sports car that had cut him off and then braked to avoid hitting the cars in front. There was more action that in most amusement parks. The difference was that this action was dangerous.

Soon I was headed out into the desert and driving past Palm Springs and Desert Springs. Not much to see but desert, scrub brush, and sand for miles. The scenery remained pretty much the same until I arrived at Phoenix several hours later.

Driving through Phoenix, Tucson, Las Cruces and El Paso was fairly unremarkable. Phoenix gave me the impression of a newer, well maintained, and inviting city sort of like the impression one gets looking at Crown Isle real estate, but the other three cities gave me the impression of ones that were a bit run down. Entering Texas, I passed through a couple of towns where cattle farms were located and the smell was terrible. The scenery was not much better.

On the return trip I crossed the desert via I40 further to the north. There, the scenery was a bit different with snow still visible in the areas that surrounded the highway. Snow had fallen the day before. Yes, there was snow in the desert.

On the trip home I managed to avoid rush hour in most cities except Olympia. There I got stuck in afternoon rush hour – bumper to bumper traffic for what seemed like an eternity. Having completed this trip, I returned home to once again fully appreciate where I live – the Comox Valley. We are truly blessed to live here in this temperate climate that is surrounded by beautiful scenery, and populated by good people.

While some may like the hustle and bustle of city life, I much prefer the more laid back lifestyle of our valley. Besides, there is nothing comparable to some of the waterfront homes in the Comox Valley. Contact Brett Cairns of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific when you come out to see this wonderful part of Canada.