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done deal
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Patrick Lui/Patrick Lui

371 Wood Dale Drive, Mayne Island, BC

Asking price: $438,000 (July 12)

Selling price: $418,000 (July 20)

Days on the market: Eight

Taxes: $874.31

Listing agent: Ian Watt, Heller Murch Realty

What they got

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The home was in perfect condition and was easy to show, said listing agent Ian Watt.Patrick Lui/Patrick Lui

Mature trees surround the nearly half-acre meticulously landscaped south-facing lot, on which stands a two-storey, 1,777-square-foot house built in 1974.

The house had updates, including a chef’s kitchen within the open-concept upstairs living area, which has an exposed-wood vaulted ceiling and wood-burning stove. There’s a spacious bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, a formal dining room, and a two-bedroom suite downstairs with a separate entrance.

The home was in perfect condition and was easy to show, said listing agent Ian Watt.

“It was a completely spectacular home,” he said.

The action

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Mature trees surround the nearly half-acre landscaped south-facing lot.Patrick Lui/Patrick Lui

About 12 groups went through the house and some people offered half the listing price, said the agent. The house sold quickly in a slow summer market because it was such great value, said Mr. Watt. Normally it would have sold for at least $200,000 more, but the house is in a rock slide zone because of a cliff above it. Without the necessary insurance for a mortgage, the buyers had to pay in cash.

“It had limited buyers, but if you sold your house or condo for $1-million and wanted to downsize, you’ve got a terrific deal,” said Mr. Watt. “Where else can you buy and then put $600,000 in your pocket?”

The sellers had lived in the house for years but purchased another home on the island. The buyer came from another Gulf Island.

The agent’s take

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The house had updates, including a chef’s kitchen within the open-concept upstairs living area.Patrick Lui/Patrick Lui

When it last sold, it had been assessed at $158,900. The assessed value this year jumped to $445,500.

“It just shows you how all over the map these assessments are,” said Mr. Watt. “I never look at assessed values for an accurate guide for what a buyer is willing to pay in today’s market.”

The sale completed Nov. 29.

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