CANADIAN HOME PRICES POST MODEST GAIN: INDEX

Canadian existing home prices made their smallest gain in 16 months during August, according to the Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index.

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Canadian existing home prices made their smallest gain in 16 months during August, according to the Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index.

In a report released Oct. 27, Teranet-National Bank found that prices rose just 0.2% in August from July.

The index measures the prices of homes that have sold at least two times to track real estate activity in six major metropolitan areas, but provides no actual prices.

The index also found that for the second straight month prices did not rise in all six markets. The Calgary index fell 0.5% during August, while Vancouver slipped for a second straight month, down 0.4%.

Those declines, however, were offset by gains of 1.4%in Ottawa, 0.9%in Halifax, 0.5% in Montreal and 0.4% in Toronto, which was the smallest increase the city has had in five months.

Prices did rise 10.4% from last year, but the gain was the smallest 12-month increase in six months.

Just Listed in Mississauga !!!

GTA Realtors report on mid-month real estate market.

Greater Toronto Realtors reported 3,012 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) during the first two weeks of October 2010. This represented a 17 per cent decrease compared to the 3,631 sales recorded during the same period in 2009. Year-to-date sales amounted to 71,988, representing a three per cent increase compared to 2009.

“The GTA resale market is balancing out from the record level of sales experienced in the second half of 2009 and first few months of 2010. This is why sales figures have been lower than 2009 levels in recent months. With this said, it should be noted that the annual rate of decline slowed somewhat through the first two weeks of October,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston.

The average price for October mid-month transactions was $444,644 – up seven per cent compared to the average of $414,479 recorded during the first 14 days of October 2009.

“We are seeing enough buyers relative to sellers to promote continued price growth year-over-year. People are buying because home ownership remains affordable in the GTA. A household earning the average income can comfortably afford a mortgage on the average priced resale home,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING UP IN Q3: STATSCAN

Investment in non-residential building rose nearly three per cent in the third quarter of 2010, making it the third consecutive quarterly gain, according to Statistics Canada.

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Investment in non-residential building rose nearly three per cent in the third quarter of 2010, making it the third consecutive quarterly gain, according to Statistics Canada.

Total investment reached $10.4 billion primarily because of higher spending on commercial and industrial buildings.

More than 20 of the 34 census metropolitan areas recorded gains, with the largest increase in Toronto, where investment rose 7.5 per cent to $1.8 billion, driven mainly by increased spending in the commercial building sector.

As for the provinces, Ontario had the largest increase caused by rising spending on commercial and industrial building.

Investment did fall, however, in two provinces. Diminishing levels of investment in Saskatchewan resulted mainly from lower spending on industrial and institutional building, while the decline in Alberta resulted from falling spending on institutional building.

Come See My Open House This Weekend. 2-5pm at 1625 Truscott Dr

MLS® # W1923665

Area:                          West TREB Districts

Major Intersection:                    Truscott East Of Clarkson Rd.

 List Price:                                   $699,500.00 - JUST REDUCED

 Property Type:                          Detached

 Number of:                

bedrooms:                                  3+1

bathrooms:                                 4

Description:                                Outstanding 3 + 1 bedroom renovated bungalow with income/inlaw suite on a 80' x 125' fenced pool size lot in sought after Lorne Park! Separate entrance to renovated basement apartment! Hardwood floors! crown moulding! 2 fireplaces! Sunroom! Double car garage! 2 tier deck! Steps to highly ranked Lorne Park schools, parks, transit! 20 minutes to downtown Toronto!

Possession date:                      30-60 Days Tba

Home style:                                Bungalow

Garage size:                              2

Parking spaces:                        4

Lot size / Acreage:                    80.00 x 125.00 FT

Exterior finish:                           Brick

Annual property tax:                                   $5,661.90

Home features:                         

Patio/Deck                 Fenced Yard

Front Porch               Garden Shed

Full Basement          Dishwasher

Washer    Dryer

Fridge       Stove

Central Vac              

Hardwood Floors

Central Air                

Wood Fireplace

Multiple Fireplace   

Gas Heat

Disclosure Statement:                                Although the Information displayed is believed to be accurate, no warranties or representations are made of any kind.

Brokered & Advertised by:                         Re/Max Realty Enterprises Inc., Brokerage

THE CHANGING FACE OF MILTON

While many Milton businesses have experienced Milton’s phenomenal growth over the past ten years, a lot of the new businesses and residents may not realize where we have come from, in such a short time. So here’s a look back and a peak into what the next decade holds in store for us.

THE YEAR WAS 2000…

• Milton’s population was 31,400. The previous census had shown the community to be the only one in the Greater Toronto Area that had actually DECREASED in population.

• Milton District Hospital had an active search on to recruit an obstetrician so they could RE-OPEN the Obstetrics Ward. The hospital is now averaging 1200 births per year!

• The urban boundaries were Steeles, Derry, Thompson and Bronte Roads, with pockets of industrial construction north of Steeles in the east and north of Highway 401 at Highway 25.

• The only four-lane roads in town were Steeles Avenue and Ontario Street. Local residents and businesses knew Milton was about to start growing. After a decade of zero growth due to water/waste water limitations, “the big pipe” had been approved and built.

Residential developers were starting to build sales offices on Main Street near James Snow Parkway and “way out” on Derry Road east of Fourth Line. The Town’s new Economic Development literature for the year 2000 welcomed the arrival of six new residential builders, “as part of Milton’s 5000+ new homes in Phase 1A of a 15-year growth plan”.  That same literature forecast a rise in population to 84,000 residents by the year 2016. Milton passed that number in 2009!

• Building permits had been issued in 1999 for over $100 million dollars in industrial and commercial projects including:

• Mohawk Slots to bring 750 slot machines, entertainment… and Ontario Lottery Corp. revenues to the Town

• Expansions to Meritor Suspension Systems, Toronto Auto Auction and Ontario Tree Fruits

• New buildings to accommodate the arrival of Upwardor, Axis Logistics, Blue Line Trucking and Harrow Truck Lines

• Maplehurst Correctional Centre for a 312,000 sq. ft., $50 million provincial facility.

THE DECADE 2000 TO 2009

Here we grow!

• Residential building permits really kicked into high gear by 2002. From then to the end of 2009, an average of 1887 new single family homes, semi-detached and townhomes was built EVERY YEAR.

• Over that eight-year period, the value of residential construction totaled more than $2.4 BILLION in Milton.

• Our population rose from 31,400 in 2000 to 53,900 at the time of 2006 census, when Milton was designated as the fastest growing community IN CANADA. Our current population is estimated at in excess of 86,000. (2011 is the next national census year.)

• Industrial/commercial growth (new and additional) has exceeded 10.3 million square feet with a construction value of more than $813 million.

• Major new businesses/employers that chose to build in Milton included: Modatek, Parker Hannifin, Reckitt Benckiser, Princess Auto, Assured Logistics, Coremark, Sysco, AMB, Mercury Marine … and the biggest project of the decade, Whirlpool with 755,000 square feet in a $25 million warehousing complex.

• On the retail/commercial side, Milton grew from one major retail mall (Milton Mall) and a couple of strip malls to include major retail shopping centres at Steeles and James Snow Parkway; Maple Avenue east of Thompson; Thompson and Louis St. Laurent; Thompson and Main; James Snow Parkway and Main; and Derry Road at Bronte.

• The car dealers ‘discovered’ Milton too – adding Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and now Mazda to the mix while others expanded, rebuilt or moved dealerships to new locations.

• Milton Chamber of Commerce membership also grew… nearly doubling to 800+ businesses.

• Roads have been built at a furious pace trying to keep up with the demand. Major expansions of Town and Regional roads have seen Derry Road, Trafalgar Road, Thompson Road and Main Street all expanded to four lanes. The railway underpass at Thompson Road was the biggest single roads' project for Milton in the past decade.

2010 AND BEYOND

Growth continues unabated in the face of last year’s recession and this year’s economic recovery.

• The Town of Milton’s 2010 capital budget is its largest ever at $78 million including over $26 million for roads projects. The Town has benefited from federal/provincial infrastructure funding incentive and other programs and now has underway:

• New Arts & Entertainment Centre and Central Library at the southeast corner of Main and Thompson

• Expanded Milton Sports Centre with two new rinks and a swimming pool

• Retrofit and update of Tonelli Arena

• Rebuilding of Campbellville Community Centre

• Development of Fire Station #3 and new Central Fire Station Population projections for the Town of Milton now forecast a community of 147,400 residents by the year 2021 and 238,000 by the year 2031. Secondary plans for the third phase of the residential growth plan, known as the Boyne Survey, were approved by Milton Council in June 2010, as was the 2000- acre Derry Green business park to the east of James Snow Parkway.  The Town is predicting a total of 119,000 jobs by 2031 to maintain the existing ratio of one job for every two residents of Milton.  The urban boundaries of Milton will extend to James Snow Parkway on the east, Tremaine Road on the west and Britannia Road to the south.  Milton is looking to the provincial government for funding and support of expansion of Milton District Hospital (which was built to serve the needs of a population of 35,000) and also to finance construction of the proposed university campus of Wilfrid Laurier University in the future Milton Education Village south and west of Tremaine and Derry Roads.  Infrastructure costs to service the forecast growth is pegged at $1/2 billion to 2021 and $2.5 billion to 2031.

This article is courtesy of Milton Chambers of Commerce.

http://www.miltonchamber.ca/Newsletters/Newsletter-July-2010.pdf

Protect Your Investment – Get In the Gutter!

Nobody likes cleaning the gutters, but at this time of the year falling leaves and debris gather in the gutters and need to be cleaned out.  Clogged gutters can cause a lot of damage to your house. They have one very important task – controlling the water around your home and if debris keeps them from doing their job, serious problems can result.  Rain flowing over windows, doors, and siding can rot fascia as well as door and window framing.   It can also erode the soil around your home and damage its foundation, and also cause a wet basement, mold, and mildew.  Keeping gutters clean is the best way to avoid these kinds of major and expensive repairs.

 Try these tips to help keep gutters operating properly and to protect your home.

1.    Be Safe.  Always use a solid, quality ladder to reach the gutters.

2.    Use the right tools.  To make the job easier, there are scoops on the market that are flexible and shaped to fit gutters. 

3.    Don’t over-reach.  This can destabilize your ladder and cause you to fall.

4.    While you’re at it, check the downspouts.  If the spout is clogged, a coat hanger can help get the debris out.  Then, use a garden hose to flush out any remaining debris.   To prevent future clogging, cover the downspout with a strainer.

5.    Clean gutters anytime they need it.   Now you know the importance of clean gutters, you’ll know why it’s vital to clean them out anytime they get full.  

BMO AND TD REDUCE MORTGAGE RATES

The Bank of Montreal reduced its posted five-year fixed mortgage rate by 0.10 per cent to 3.89 per cent. BMO is also offering a “special” low-rate five-year fixed mortgage at 3.49 per cent.

The Bank of Montreal reduced its posted five-year fixed mortgage rate by 0.10 per cent to 3.89 per cent. BMO is also offering a “special” low-rate five-year fixed mortgage at 3.49 per cent.

TD Canada Trust also cut its benchmark mortgage rates by a tenth of a point on Tuesday October 12. TD’s standard five-year fixed rate stands at 5.29 per cent and with certain promotional offers can go as low as 3.89 per cent.

Banks typically fund their fixed-rate mortgage lending from instruments tied to bond yields. The ongoing rally in the fixed-income market has meant they can to continue to offer lower rates, even though the Bank of Canada has raised its prime rate twice since June.

Low Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home Exterior

Make your home more appealing for yourself and potential buyers with these quick and easy tips: 


1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows or architectural details.

2. Mow your lawn, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing to make the lawn sparkle.

3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.

4. Install new doorknobs on your front door.
5. Repair any cracks in the driveway.
6. Edge the grass around walkways and trees.
7. Keep your garden tools and hoses out of sight.

8. Clear toys from the lawn.
9. Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade your outside lighting.

11. Buy a new doormat for the outside of your front door.
12. Clean your windows, inside and outside.
13. Polish or replace your house numbers.
14. Place a seasonal wreath on your door.

Buyers...Make sure you’re ready to buy

If you’re thinking of buying a home, you’ve come to the right place. This website can turn you into a house-hunting master. But before we jump in, make sure three things are ready: you, your bank account, and the real estate market.
Are you ready? Be sureFew joys can match the pride of owning the roof over your head. But you will have to make some sacrifices. There’s the obvious financial responsibility, but your home will also require constant care. That’s what real pride of ownership is all about.
Is your bank account ready? Check it twiceYour first home will be the biggest financial obligation you’ve ever faced. You should ideally have saved up some money for a down payment and are managing any debts like student loans or credit cards. The next step helps you determine how much you can afford.
Is now a good time to buy? Here’s the hottest market tip you’ll ever getMarkets go up, markets go down and even the smartest experts can’t accurately predict when a market will peak or bottom out. If you’re buying a home as a long-term investment (and for long-term enjoyment), you should be protected from short-term changes in the market. Pick a home that meets the needs of you and your family. Then you’ll enjoy living in your investment as it grows in value.

Deciding when to sell

In real estate, timing influences your home’s selling price. Working with a REALTOR^® can help make timing work for you. A buyer’s versus a seller’s market?
When lots of people are looking for homes but not many are for sale, it’s a ‘seller’s market’, because the seller has something everybody wants. When there are lots of homes for sale and not many people buying them, it’s called a ‘buyer’s market’ because buyers have more power of choice. How quickly do you need to sell your home?
In a seller’s market, top price and a fast sale can go hand-in-hand. In a buyer’s market, more sellers are competing for your potential buyer. If you have to sell right now, consider lowering your asking price a bit to speed up the sale. A REALTOR^® can help you figure out the right price-to-speed ratio. Seasonality. Do home sales get frostbite?
It’s true. Winter sales tend to be slower, and spring sales are more brisk. Regardless, there are always people looking to buy, and seasonality is only one of many factors to consider. What if you’re also buying a home?
If you sell your existing home for a ‘low’ price, you’re probably also buying at a low price. If you are upgrading to a larger home, this actually works to your advantage. If you’re downsizing from a bigger home to a smaller home or a condo, you need to pay a bit more attention to the market. To buy first or sell first? The eternal question
Many people are able to time their sale and purchase so they happen on the same “closing date”. As a buyer, you can make your offer “conditional” on the sale of your existing home, to make sure you’re not left paying for two homes. As a seller, you can try to extend the “closing period” to give yourself more time to find your next home. A REALTOR^® can provide advice and counsel during these kind of negotiations. What if you find your new dream home before you’ve started to sell your old one?
Talk to your existing mortgage lender about “Bridge Financing”. This is when your lender (the bank) agrees to lend you the down payment for your new dream home, while you still cover the mortgage on your existing property.

Come visit my Open House in Oakville Tomorrow

375 Tamarack Circ, Oakville Ontario L6K2N1

$378,500 (MLS#: W1956939)3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
1100 - 1500 sq ft Detached home.

Condos have become a way of life

Toronto is a place that has long been known as a city of neighbourhoods, one in which the character of a community can dramatically change from one intersection to the next. 

From a housing perspective, our neighbourhoods have been defined by the detached, semi-detached and low-rise structures that have stood for generations.

The condominium apartment boom of the past decade however, may well re-define our idea of what comprises a neighbourhood. 

Affordability and certainly lifestyle are two driving factors in making condominiums so appealing. 

And for today's condo dwellers a simple gym, pool or party room is no longer the standard. Buyers now view amenities as an adjunct to their private living space. As such, you can find yoga studios, in-door basketball courts, spas, bars and even dog washing stations included in today's condominium developments.

Given that residents share similar tastes with respect to amenities, condominiums have in fact, begun to develop their own community identity. You can even find groups dedicated to specific condo communities on social networking sites like Facebook. Anything from a new workout buddy to nearby a dog-walker is just a click away.

In the next decade we're sure to see condominium communities further evolve. With new immigrants entering the GTA each year we will continue to be faced with a choice to build up or out beyond the GTA's furthest reaches. Given the reduced environmental footprint they create, those who choose condo living are setting us all on a greener path. 

Housing Market Charts summarizing key residential statistics for the GTA

September 2010

Five on the Rise: Toronto neighbourhoods home buyers should check out

 FIVE NEIGHBOURHOODS TO WATCH

Lake Shore Village

The Junction

Danforth Mosaic

Brockton Village

Bickford Park

Globe Real Estate’s fall home value survey reveals which Toronto neighbourhoods have raced ahead in the first 9 months of 2010 and those that have lagged.

Sure you can feel smug if you bought in High Park, Beaconsfield or the Annex a decade ago, but more recent upstarts stood out in the first three quarters too. Brock and Dundas, for example, was just a grubby intersection before real estate prices in the laneways began to take off and the revitalization of Brockton Village began.

Welcome to my very first Blog

So here goes nothing.  My very first Blog.  hmmm what should I write about... *still thinking*
Well I'm going to go make some dinner now and maybe it will come to me.  I know it has to do with real estate because that's why I created this creature of a blog.

I guess I just have to sit down and do it just like buying or selling your first home.   It's very scary at first but with the help of the right people and/or tools, it is much easier then it seems.

I follow the real estate market with a keen eye to detail and welcome an opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise in the field.  I receive great pleasure in helping families find the house of their dreams or sell their home.

I am also fluent in Polish
Mowie po Polsku.  Sperzedam Twoj dom za dobra cene! Za nizszy procent! Bez Problemow!


So if you are looking for a hard working, committed agent in the West GTA area please give me a call.  Whether buying or selling or just need a real estate advise, I look forward to working with you.   Lets meet for coffee or tea and discuss your real estate needs!