OPEN HOUSE THIS SATURDAY MAY 12TH 2-4 PM AT
2283 SPRINGFIELD COURT, MISSISSAUGA , ONTARIO
Condominium Market in March: More Sales and Fewer Listings
(April 5, 2012 – Hamilton, Ontario) The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1365 property sales through the RAHB Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) for the month of March. RAHB also reported a 6.9 per cent increase in average sale price for the month compared to March of last year.First quarter sales of all property types were 2.4 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2011 and average sale price was 7.1 per cent higher than the same period last year. The end-of-period listing inventory was 14.5 per cent lower than last year. First quarter residential sales were 2.9 per cent higher than 2011.Seasonally adjusted* sales of residential properties were 2.5 per cent higher than the same month last year, with the average sale price increasing 8 per cent for the month. Seasonally adjusted numbers of new listings, however, were 8.7 per cent lower than the same month last year.Click here for the full media release including the charts for Seasonally Adjusted Residential Only, All property types, Residential only-Actual, Freehold only-Actual, Condominium only-Actual and Commercial - Actual.Click here for the Residential Real Estate Market Activity chart for the City of Hamilton.Click here for the Residential Real Estate Market Activity chart for Burlington.
source;
REALTORS® Associationof Hamilton-Burlington
http://www.2283springfieldcourtmississauga.com/
2 Storey 5 Bedroom home located at the end of the court in desirable Erin Mills. Features include updated 4 piece ensuite (2012) and Main Bath (2011), main floor family room with wood fireplace, Updated eatin kitchen with refaced kitchen doors, new counter top, backsplash , sink and laminate flooring (2011). Refinished hardwood floors in 5 bedrooms and hardwood staircase (2012),C/Air (2007), Shingled roof (2011),freshly painted and more
FILMWORKS LOFT, DOWNTOWN LIVING IN THIS 893 SQFT UNIT WITH HIGH CEILINGS. FEATURES INCLUDE: LAMINATE AND CERAMIC FLOORING, 1.5 BATHROOMS, INSUITE LAUNDRY, STACKABLE WASHER/DRYER, STAINLESS STEEL FRIDGE/STOVE, DISHWASHER AND MICROWAVE. STEPS TO LIBRARY, GO STATION, SHOPPING, YMCA, FARMERS MARKET, RESTAURANTS, ETC. ROOM SIZES APPROX. SQUARE FOOTAGE APPROX. ||
(March 6, 2012 – Hamilton, Ontario) The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1126 property sales through the RAHB Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) for the month of February, a 4.9 per cent increase in sales over the same month last year. RAHB also reported a 9.2 per cent increase in average sale price and an 8.3 per cent increase in the number of new listings in the month of February this year compared to February of last year.Seasonally adjusted* sales of all property types were virtually the same as February 2011, with the average sale price increasing 7.9 per cent for the month. Seasonally adjusted numbers of new listings, however, were 14.5 per cent lower from the same month last year.“The residential market is performing well, and the average sale price continues to increase,” said RAHB President Cameron Nolan. “Both actual average sale price and seasonally adjusted average sale price show a steady climb over last year.”Residential freehold properties showed a 9.7 per cent increase in actual sales, with a 7.6 per cent increase in average sale price over last year.The condominium market was the only category which saw a drop in actual sales for the month of February when compared to last year. The average days on market for condominium units also decreased from February of last year.
The number of Canadian homes sold this year will outpace 2011 while prices will hold steady in most parts of the country, the country’s largest real estate association said Monday in a rosy revision to its 2012 outlook.
The Canadian Real Estate Association said the number of home sales will grow by 0.3 per cent this year to 458,800 from 457,305 units in 2011, largely due to the continuation of low borrowing rates.
The national average price is forecast to dip by 1.1 per cent in 2012 to $359,100 but that’s due to a drop-off in multimillion-dollar sales activity in Vancouver — Canada’s most expensive real estate market.
Prices are expected to remain around current levels in most parts of the country, CREA said.
The most recent forecasts reversed those CREA gave in November, when it expected home sales to fall by 0.5 per cent this year, and the national average home price to hold steady at $362,700.
The revisions come at a time when central banks in Canada and the United States are keeping their key lending rates low to counter the economic drag caused by the European debt crisis.
“Risks to the Canadian economic outlook remain elevated owing to the European sovereign debt quagmire, but the continuation of low interest rates is the silver lining,” CREA chief economist Gregory Klump said.
“So long as the European debt crisis is contained and a global economic recession avoided, low interest rates will support Canadian home sales and prices.”
CIBC economist Benjamin Tal said the new CREA forecast is much more in line with what he is projecting, and if anything it is “a best-case scenario” forecast, with his bias being toward an expectation of more significant price declines.
“This is basically a stagnating housing market,” Tal said.
“This is not a housing market that is going to be on fire. This is a housing market that you’ll see activity moderating and prices actually going down.”
CREA expects Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia will drive the sales growth this year, offsetting weakness in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
In Vancouver, prices are already falling from sky high levels a year ago, especially in the once bustling condominium market, and prices elsewhere in country are not rising significantly to offset those big declines, Tal noted.
By contrast, sales and prices are still moving higher in Toronto, with sales up 16 per cent from last February and prices up 11 per cent.
However, a stagnating market is “exactly what we need to see” over the next few years to avoid a housing bubble that could burst, Tal noted.
“I think even real estate agents will tell you that another year of crazy activity with house prices rising by 10 per cent would not be good for their business from a long-term perspective.”
Sales are now expected to pull back by 0.3 per cent to 457,200 units in 2013, with prices rising 0.9 per cent to a national average of $362,300, CREA said.
Ontario is expected to weigh down the national results, as it is the only province not expected to make “modest gains,” CREA said.
The outlook would put national sales activity on par with the 10-year average for annual activity, the agency noted.
The Canadian Press
Most kids love to dig in the dirt and play with water. Why not foster this natural curiosity to create a beautiful – and potentially edible - children’s garden. Creating a children’s garden is a great way for kids to build self-confidence, feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments, and practice patience, while enhancing your home’s value and curb appeal at the same time. Here are a few ways you can get your kids involved:
Choose a Plot or a PotStake out an area of your garden for your child and encourage a sense of ownership. A couple of large pots or an old sandbox on a balcony or patio can create the same impact. Provide your child with tools of the trade. A plastic garden spade, a small watering can, gardening gloves, and plant markers are a must.
Plan for Plantin’Take your child to the nursery garden to choose seeds. Fast-growing plants will hold their interest: zinnias and “mammoth” sunflowers add dramatic colours and grow to over 3 metres in height. Black-eyed Susans are a great flower choice as they are relatively self-sufficient and have bright yellow flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and birds, which will surely indulge your little gardener’s curiosity. Plant vegetables such as cucumbers, radishes, potatoes, carrots, spinach, and zucchini, which all sprout fairly quickly, are relatively easy to grow, and add greenery to your garden. Bright red cherry tomatoes are a particularly good option for planting in pots on a balcony or patio. Growing vegetables together should encourage the little ones to eat healthy too.
Nurture NatureWhen the seeds are planted and marked it’s time to water and indulge your child’s interest in worms, bugs and the nature of things. A terrific way of keeping plants insect-free is to attract frogs or toads to the garden. Providing a water source is a good start. If you don’t have a garden pond, a shallow bowl with a large stone or log is a good alternative.
Add a Child’s TouchA boulder rock with the child’s name marked on it is a great way to make the small space feel special. A tiny well-placed gnome or fairy that peeks behind flowers and vegetables adds a sense of enchantment. When interest wanes, construct a funny scarecrow or set out a birdbath and enjoy the spectacle and sound of our feathered friends.
Relax & Enjoy
An essential part of a painting project happens before you ever lay a brush or roller on the wall. The key is preparation. Put in a little time and effort beforehand, and you’ll be rewarded with a professional looking finish afterwards. Here are a few steps to ensure proper painting prep:
Patch & RepairFill small holes and hairline cracks with patching compound and sand when dry. For larger holes, apply the compound in layers, making sure each layer is dry before applying the next. For badly damaged plaster walls, apply a thin coat of plaster on top of the existing one by skimming, to achieve a nice, smooth finish. Skimming is a bit of an art form, so don’t hesitate to get help from a professional plasterer.
A Clean “Canvas” is CriticalJust as you wouldn’t paint a picture on a dirty canvas, you don’t want to paint a room with dirty walls. Remove dirt and marks by washing with mild detergent and water; grease marks with Trisodium phosphate (TSP); and floor wax build-up on baseboards with wax remover. Mildew in damp areas such as bathrooms should be addressed and removed entirely. Many find a solution of one part household bleach to three parts water works well. Vacuum textured walls and ceilings to get rid of dust and cobwebs.
Prime the WallsPaint primers help to ensure a professional-looking paint job. It increases the bond between the paint and the surface and it is particularly helpful to cover surfaces painted with semi-gloss or high gloss paints or bare surfaces such as wood, plaster or drywall. If you are painting with a deep colour, ask your local paint store to tint your primer with your paint colour. This technique will enable you to cover your walls quicker and with less paint.
Don’t Forget about the Outside!Our outside walls don’t usually undergo the same scrutiny as our inside walls do, but spring is a great time to think outside the house! Start by removing loose, peeling paint or dirt with a wire brush or power washer and repair and sand as needed. Good quality surface preparation provides maximum durability, a must for outside paintwork.
A fresh coat of paint can really improve the curb appeal of your home, and proper preparation will ensure the best return on your investment.
Your roof has a tough life. Just when it’s survived another long, cold Canadian winter, it faces the heat and humidity of the summer months ahead. That’s why spring is the perfect time to assess the state of your roof, and to decide whether you need to take steps to improve its condition. Here is a general guideline of where to begin:
Look for Proof of a Faulty RoofNo matter how old or new your roof is, it’s always a good idea to conduct quarterly inspections of its condition. Start with the interior walls of your home that touch the roof and look for things like flaking paint, ceiling stains, and peeling wallpaper. All of these may be an indication that your roof has a leak.
On your roof itself, symptoms of deterioration can include missing shingles, visible fiberglass threads, raised shingles with nails protruding, or any areas that look darker or a different shade. Check the roof deck in your attic as well, noting any water stains, rotting, and pinholes of light. If you are uncertain, you can always hire a roofing professional to do an assessment for you.
Two Options: Repair or ReplaceIf you’ve discovered signs that your roof may be damaged or leaking, first determine if it’s repairable. A roofing professional may be best able to determine this. If it’s less than ten years old and only has a few minor issues, the remedy may simply require a little patchwork.
Sometimes a simple repair won’t suffice, and you need to consider replacing your roof altogether. A professional roofer can determine the state and age of your roof to help you decide if you want to replace it. As a general rule, if your roof is older than 15 years or showing significant signs of decay they’ll likely recommend that you replace it. A moderately sized, professionally-installed roofing job will usually take about three to five days to complete. Select a roofing system design and colour that is in keeping with the neighbourhood standard and the colour scheme of your home.
Reap the ROIIf it’s time to replace your roof, you should consider what the return on investment will be.The most common type of roofing system is the asphalt shingle, where you’ll pay on average between $2.50- $3.50 per square foot*. If and when you sell your home down the road, you can expect to recoup an estimated 25-75% of your roofing investment*.
Replacing your roof can also add a lot of curb appeal to your home. A new roof gives your home a mini-makeover, making it look more modern and up-to-date – not to mention safer and more energy efficient. To make the most of your investment, be sure to maintain and inspect it on a regular basis.
*The Appraisal Institute of Canada, 2011: http://aicanada.ca
OTTAWA – February 15, 2012 – According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national resale housing activity retreated in January 2012 from the strong finish reported for December 2011.
Highlights:
Sales activity recorded through the MLS® Systems of real estate Boards and Associations in Canada fell 4.5 per cent from December 2011 to January 2012. This marks the first monthly decline in national activity since August 2011 and the biggest monthly decline since July 2010. The monthly decline reversed a string of monthly increases over the closing months of last year, and returned national activity to where it stood at the end of the third quarter of 2011.
“The national housing market is stabilizing and remains well balanced,” said Gary Morse, CREA’s President. “That said, forecasts for economic and job growth going forward vary widely for different parts of the country, suggesting a possible continuation of a softening trend in some markets, as well as the potential that demand will pick up based on strong fundamentals in others. All real estate is local, so talk to your local REALTOR® to understand how price trends in your neighbourhood are shaping up.”
Activity was down in over half of all local markets in January from the previous month. Led by declines in Greater Toronto and Montréal, demand also softened in a number of other major urban centres including the Fraser Valley, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Greater Vancouver.
Actual (not seasonally adjusted) national sales activity was up four per cent from year-ago levels in January, the smallest year-over-year increase since last May. As was the case in a number of months last year, actual sales in January 2012 stood close to the five and ten year average for the month.
The number of newly listed homes edged down 1.4 per cent on a month-over-month basis in January following a 2.9 per cent increase in December. The monthly decline in new supply reflects a drop in new listings in a number of Canada’s largest urban centres, which offset a jump in new listings in Vancouver.
Sales fell in January shifting the national market back towards the mid-point of balanced territory and reversing the recent trend which had seen the market becoming tighter over the final four months of 2011. The national sales-to-new listings ratio, a measure of market balance, stood at 53.8 per cent in January, down from 55.5 per cent in December and 55.4 per cent in November.
Based on a sales-to-new listings ratio of between 40 to 60 per cent, 60 per cent of local markets were balanced in January. Compared to December, there were fewer buyers’ and sellers’ markets, and a greater number of balanced markets.
The number of months of inventory stood at six months at the end of January on a national basis, up from 5.7 months in December 2011 and returning it to where it stood in October 2011. The number of months of inventory represents the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity, and is another measure of the balance between housing supply and demand.
The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average price for homes sold in January 2012 was $348,178, representing an increase of 1.2 per cent from its year-ago level. This ranks among the smallest increases since late 2010.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the national average home price rose 1.6 per cent on a month-over-month basis, marking a rebound from a decline of similar magnitude in December. This pattern mirrors the one playing out in the newly-launched MLS® Home Price Index (HPI), published on February 6.
“Year-over-year comparisons in the national average price are expected to become volatile and may turn negative, reflecting average price developments in the first half of 2011 in Vancouver,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “At that time, high-end home sales in Vancouver’s priciest neighbourhoods surged to all-time record levels, which skewed the national average price upward considerably. A replay of this phenomenon is not expected this year. As a result, comparisons for national average price to year-ago levels over the coming months will reflect an upwardly skewed base effect. For this reason, year-over-year comparisons should be kept in perspective. Developments in the MLS® HPI will provide important guidance on price trends, since it is not affected by the problem of compositional shifts in the mix of sales activity.”
The MLS® HPI also takes into account the contributions toward the price of a home made by a broad range of quantitative and qualitative housing features, allowing it to track Canadian home price trends better than any other measure.
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this news release combines both major market and national MLS® sales information from the previous month.
CREA cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighbourhoods or account for price differential between geographic areas.
Statistical information contained in this report includes all housing types.
MLS® is a co-operative marketing system used only by Canada’s real estate Boards to ensure maximum exposure of properties listed for sale.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade associations, representing more than 100,000 REALTORS® working through more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations.
Further information can be found athttp://www.crea.ca/public/news_stats/media.htm.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
Buying Tools & Tips
Home Buyers Guide
2012 a good year to buy a home
FebruaryAre you thinking about buying a home in the Greater Hamilton, Burlington or outlying areas? 2012 should be a good year for making a purchase as large as a house. How do we know? Economists tell us that low interest rates, relatively low unemployment, good employment prospects and business growth are good signs for the housing market, and they are all present for our local market. The Hamilton-Burlington real estate market will see modest growth supported by the expectation of continued good economic conditions.First and foremost, interest rates are low. They are expected to remain low for this year and perhaps into the early part of next year. With five-year fixed mortgage rates available at under five per cent and six-month to four-year rates ranging well below that, the time seems right to be taking advantage of those low rates to buy a home.Unemployment figures for the Hamilton and Burlington areas show our rate is about one per cent lower than the national average and compare even better to the Ontario average. Our unemployment rate is down half-a-percentage point from last year. We have seen new employers bringing successful and active business to this area recently and we are seeing local jobs maintained as well. Employment stability will increase consumer confidence in our local economy and more confidence in the housing market.Our area is the only area in Southern Ontario expected to show economic growth through 2012. In their Housing Outlook Conference in November of last year, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) cited strong jobs growth in our area as one of the reasons we could expect to see growth. The Hamilton area also scored well with the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), which named Hamilton as the best place in Ontario and the third best in Canada in which to invest in real estate. By taking into account population growth, major employers, infrastructure and pending major transportation improvements, the REIN found Hamilton to be a good bet.And it is not just our economy that makes 2012 a good time to purchase a home in our area.First time buyers taking advantage of low interest rates will find additional incentives to purchase a home through the land transfer tax rebate for first time buyers and the Home Buyer’s Plan, which allows first-time buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSPs to buy or build a home.Affordability is always an issue, and in the Greater Hamilton, Burlington and outlying areas, we have a wide range of prices, properties and options for home buyers. The average house price in our market area at the end of 2011 was $313,430 – that is just the average. There are homes available for under $100,000 in Hamilton and $1 million homes as well. We have mansions to cottages, historic neighbourhoods to brand new subdivisions, acreages to leaseholds. There really is something for everyone in our area.Our area provides the stability home buyers should be looking for when they are purchasing a home, and a wide range of housing options and opportunities. This could very well be the right year to buy a home in this area.Cameron Nolan President, 2012
http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/662546--why-it-s-a-good-time-to-buy-a-home
Hamilton Randall (Redford Drive )Neighbourhood Blog!
Did you know that the City of Hamilton offers 8 different financial incentive programs to businesses within the downtown core? Full details, and online applications, are available at the link below.http://www.investinhamilton.ca/downtownbia/financial-incentive-programs/ Video brought to you by Hamilton Economic Development - online at www.investinhamilton.ca.
Custom built elegance on picturesque 3.75 Acres. Walk the natural stone path to the inviting double door entry & slate tiled foyer. Enjoy the WOW factor as you take in the open concept view of hardwood flrs, gorgeous crown molding & rounded corners. Large rooms with ceilings ranging from 10 12 feet including the open yet formal dining-room. Massive Great room with pillars, majestic stone fireplace & spectacular views from numerous oak trimmed windows. Garden doors to multi tiered decks & patio. Gourmet kitchen featuring large centre island with sink. Stunning Black granite counters contrasting the lovely Maple cabinets & porcelain tile floors. Loads of cupboards incl. pot drawers, slide out shelves, appliance garage & glass fronted cabinets. Stainless steel appliances complete the look. 4 large bedrms including Master suite with 5 pc ensuite and 2nd bedrm with 3 pc ensuite. 4th bedrm with 3 skylights would make great office or study. Bright fully finished walk out basement would make excellent in-law suite or provide fabulous entertaining space. Garage with 3 bay doors and 14 ft ceilings is a Mechanics Dream!
TORONTO,ON, November 2, 2011 – Royal LePage Real Estate Services today launched an innovative new mobile website, developed for Android, iPhone and BlackBerry mobile devices. With a user-friendly, app-like feel, the site will provide information on Royal LePage listings across Canada, as well as a wide range of neighbourhood information. Most notably, the site will include comments from those who know the listings and neighbourhoods best – the homes’ current owners and real estate agents.
“Buying a home is often the largest financial decision Canadians will make in their lifetime,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “To help prospective buyers make informed decisions, our new mobile site allows users to gain extra insights from the seller about their home and comments from the agent about the neighbourhood.”
“While it will take some time to get the seller and agent comments populated, we have many advanced features to serve as the backbone for the mobile site,” added Soper.
In what Royal LePage has coined “Neighbourhood Navigator,” seller and agent comments will combine with neighbourhood “walkability scores” and consumer rankings of nearby businesses to provide valuable insights for users. In addition to cross-Canada property searching, the mobile website takes advantage of a user’s GPS location to locate nearby open houses and neighbourhood amenities including schools, banks, grocery stores, restaurants and cafes. The site also offers users the ability to contact the listing agent or find a nearby Royal LePage office.
Two examples of cities that have been pre-populating or piloting the seller and agent comments are Kelowna, BC and Gatineau, QC. Listings that feature seller or agent comments appear as “Info Plus” listings.
“The future is mobile and we’re pleased to offer homebuyers and sellers the ability to access valuable real estate information right from their mobile devices,” added Soper.
Serving Canadians since 1913, Royal LePage is the country’s leading provider of services to real estate brokerages, with a network of 14,000 real estate professionals in over 600 locations nationwide. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, dedicated to supporting women's & children’s shelters and educational programs aimed at ending domestic violence. Royal LePage is a Brookfield Real Estate Services Inc. company, a TSX-listed corporation trading under the symbol TSX:BRE.
For more information, visit www.royallepage.ca.
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