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
No comments:
Post a Comment