Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
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Broker
RE/MAX Clearview Inc. Brokerage
202 Montreal St, Stayner L0M 1S0
705 428 4500 - office
705 441 6839 - direct
705 428 5951 - fax
877 441 6839 - free
www.jonjknight.com
looking for real estate?
www.letmeknow.ca
Want the latest news? 
Monday, August 20, 2012
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HERE we go again!
Housing market crash not in cards for Canada - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is forecasting a moderate slowdown in new-home construction starts as well as sales of existing housing. The Ottawa-based federal agency isn’t calling for a major decline, but its latest forecast suggests next year will be somewhat softer than estimates CMHC issued in June while 2012 may be somewhat stronger than previously expected. National Post Tue Aug 14 2012 - Globe and Mail - Toronto Star |
Canadian home prices falling steadily - Canadian Real Estate Association Home prices continued to decline across the country in July, according to Canadian Real Estate Association data. The Ottawa-based group said the average price of a home sold last month was $353,147, a decline of 2 per cent from a year earlier. The year-over-year decline in June was 0.8 per cent. 'Prices are off their recent peaks in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto, but remain above year-ago levels... National Post Wed Aug 15 2012 - CBC - The Province - Edmonton Journal |
Jonathan J. Knight
Broker - Re/Max Clearview
O - 705 428 4500
P - 705 441 6839
F - 705 428 5951
post
Safety, perceived value and a location close to shopping or
transportation are the most important factors Ontarians consider when buying a home. New
research commissioned by the Ontario Real Estate Association and hosted on the Angus Reid
Forum shows that 93 per cent of Ontario residents surveyed say safety (e.g. low crime area,
building security) is important when considering properties, 85 per cent list perceived value of
the home (i.e. considered a good buy based on market and amenities) as a top consideration
and 80 per cent want the home to be close to amenities (e.g. shopping, transportation, etc.).
Part one of the OREA State of the Market survey released today is a snapshot of what’s on the
minds of homebuyers in the province. Part two will be released later this summer and will focus
more on the concerns of sellers.
“Security, both physical and financial, is top of mind for Ontarians,” says Ron Abraham,
president of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA). “Homebuyers may not know which
neighbourhoods offer the best potential to grow their investment or which condo building
provides maximum security features. A Realtor can help buyers find the right home in an area
that meets all their top needs.”
Other findings from the survey:
· 65 per cent of respondents age 18-34 ranked quality of local schools as an important
factor when buying a home, while less than half (48 per cent) of people ages 35-54 said
it was important.
· 80 per cent of younger Ontarians (ages 18-34) say a property close to work is an
important factor when buying a new home, dropping to 65 per cent for those in the 35–
54 age group.
· Men and women had similar responses to the questions. One noted difference was that
62 per cent of men said a coveted neighbourhood was an important factor to them, while
53 per cent of women said it was important.
Of those who specifically plan to buy a home in the next year, safety and perceived value are
top factors but 85 per cent also indicate that ongoing home maintenance required for a property
(amount of yard work, fees for condo management, etc.) is an important consideration.
Move-in ready homes preferred most
When asked which type of home they’d prefer to buy (new build, resale home that’s move in
ready, one that requires minor renovations, a fixer-upper that needs major renovations, or a
buy, tear down and rebuild), more than a third said they’d prefer a resale home that’s move-in
ready (39 per cent).
· 26 per cent said they’d like a home that only needs minor renovations and only 5 per
cent said they would want a home that needs a major renovation.
· Across Ontario, 19 per cent said they would want a newly built home; this number rose
to 24 per cent for people in the GTA. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows
66 per cent of Ontario’s new housing starts in the first quarter of 2012 are in Toronto.
“If you have a number of must-haves when looking at homes it will inevitably increase the price
of your purchase,” says Abraham. “Homebuyers should have a frank conversation with their
Realtor about what is vital and what would be nice to have. It is then our job to find them a
property that meets their needs and helps them maximize their investment.”
More information on working with a Realtor and resources for homebuyers are available at
www.howrealtorshelp.ca. Homebuyers can also get ideas on finding their right neighbourhood
through “Choose your own adventure: Realtor style” http://bit.ly/neighbourhoodOREA.
Methodology
From June 19 to June 20, 2012, an online survey was conducted among 800 randomly selected
Canadian adults who live in Ontario and who are Angus Reid Forum panel members. The
margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.5%, 19 times out of 20. The
results have been statistically weighted according to the most current census data on age,
gender, region and education to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult
population of Ontario. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
Jonathan J. Knight
Broker - Re/Max Clearview
O - 705 428 4500
P - 705 441 6839
F - 705 428 5951
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
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FW: CREA Media Release - July Statistics
NB – Beginning in July, the Canadian Real Estate Association will produce only one monthly statistics release. This release combines data from the national averages and the MLS® HPI releases.
Canadian home sales hold steady in July
Ottawa, ON, August 15, 2012 - According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national resale housing activity remained stable from June to July 2012. Prices are off their recent peaks in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto, but remain above year-ago levels in most markets.
Highlights:
• Home sales activity little changed (-0.01%) from June to July.
• Actual (not seasonally adjusted) sales up 3.3% over levels in July 2011.
• The number of newly listed homes fell 3.3% from June to July.
• Stable sales combined with fewer new listings firmed the national housing market, keeping it in balanced market territory.
• The national average home price declined 2.0% on a year-over-year basis in July.
• The Composite Aggregate Benchmark home price was up 4.5% in July, its smallest gain in over a year.
Sales over MLS® Systems of Canadian real estate Boards and Associations held steady in July 2012 from the previous month, edging back by less than one-tenth of a percentage point.
For more information, please contact:
Pierre Leduc
Media Relations / Relations auprès des médias
pleduc@crea.ca
The Canadian Real Estate Association / L'Association canadienne de l'immeuble
200 Catherine Street, 6th Floor / 200, rue Catherine, 6e étage Ottawa, ON K2P 2K9
Tel/Tél: +1 (613) 237-7111 Fax/Téléc: +1 (613) 234-2567
Patricia West
Executive Assistant
Georgian Triangle Association of REALTORS®
(705) 445-7295 (phone)
(705) 445-7253 (fax)
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I didn’t write this!
Jonathan J. Knight
Broker - Re/Max Clearview
O - 705 428 4500
P - 705 441 6839
F - 705 428 5951
www.CollingwoodAreaRealEstate.ca
Get Your Home Ready to Sell in 30 Days!
If you are like me, you are busy, busy, busy! There are many chores that I "ignore" when time is short, but if I were planning to sell my home, I'd need to tackle them and make my house sparkle!
If you are considering selling your home, go ahead and start working on the list below. In just 30 days, your home will SHINE! Don't forget to continue with your everyday chores too! You will want your home to be "Show Ready" 24/7!
1. Clean the ceiling fan blades (all of them).
2. Use a damp cloth and wipe down all baseboards. I have heard that following with a fabric softener helps reduce dust build up in the future, but have never tried it myself.
3. Clean out the refrigerator! Be brutal and throw away all those condiments that you can't even remember buying or using! Don't forget to wipe down the outside too, dust the top and if you don't have it on your regular maintenance list.... Vacuum the coils!
4. Clean out the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. Follow by wiping down the doors and pulls.
5. Pressure Wash the drive and walkways. Clean the siding if necessary, being careful with wood or painted surfaces to avoid chipping or splintering.
6. Pull weeds from gardens, and plant a few colorful flowers
7. Repair any nail holes or damage to walls and touch up the paint.
8. Wipe down all door knobs and other hardware and polish if necessary.
9. Clean every window.... Inside & out!
10. Clean and organize bathroom cabinets and drawers.
11. Purge the pantry and clean, organize and show potential buyers just how much space is there!
12. Tackle the "honey do" list and fix all those small repairs. You know the ones, the loose door pull, the leaning mailbox, the creaky door hinge, etc.
13. Replace burnt out light bulbs and clean the fixtures while you're at it.
14. As annoying as it is..... clean the grout of your tile floors (and any other tiled surface).
15. Clean the microwave and the oven!
16. Take down curtains and drapes, clean them, and decide whether or not they should be re-hung! Natural light can be a BIG selling point!
17. Purge and de-clutter! If you just can't bring yourself to dispose of ANYTHING.... box it up and store it!
18. Clean and organize your closets! If you haven't worn it in 2 years, chances are, you will never wear it! Get rid of it by donating to a great cause in your area. Then, organize by length and color and it will look amazing! Box up your out of season shoes and clothing and show those buyers just how "roomy" that closet is!
19. Dust! And I mean EVERYTHING! The lamps, the picture frames, the ugly artificial plants & flowers.... EVERYTHING!
20. Vacuum every inch of every room. Under the beds, the sofas, behind the bookshelves, the corners of the ceiling, the air vents (and change the air filters)..... EVERY INCH!
21. Clean the garage. Take everything out (I know it's a big job), sweep, pressure wash the floors, repaint the floor if needed & possible, and then organize as you put the items back. Again, I want you to purge! Do you really need that broken leaf blower or those empty paint cans? Just do it.... It will feel Great!
22. If you store things in the attic or basement, you will need to clean and purge those areas too! Yep, buyers will look in your attic and if they choose to buy the home, a home inspector will appreciate clean and easy access!
23. Clean every sink, tub and toilet and re-caulk if needed.
24. Sweep and clean the patio or deck! If needed, clean any outdoor furniture. Add a couple of new cushions to the outdoor living area or maybe a few potted plants.
26. Wash all of your throw rugs, bedding, pillow covers, blankets, etc. It will help the home smell and look "fresh".
27. Clean the yard! Remove any fallen limbs or trash. Trim shrubs and branches from walkways and keep a clean path around the home. Keep the lawn mowed and raked and looking fabulous. Remember, first impressions are important!
28. I know you live in the home, but try to make it a little less "personal". If you have hundreds of family photos hanging around (I have them too), pack some up. The doll collection that has taken over the guest room, box that up too. By de-personalizing the home, buyers find it easier to imagine the house with their "stuff" in it.
29. Buy a laundry basket or bin for each family member and place in the laundry room or a closet for everyday pickup. When your REALTOR® calls you to schedule a showing, each family member grabs their basket/bin and runs around filling it with items that need to be put away. Then deliver the items to where they belong.
30. On this day, I want you to rest! Call your REALTOR®, let them know you want to sell your home and schedule a meeting. Tell them to go ahead and bring their camera, because the house is READY!
