GTA REALTORS® RELEASE MID-MONTH RESALE HOUSING FIGURES

 TORONTO, February 19, 2013 – Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 2,823 sales through the TorontoMLS system during the first 14 days of February. This result represented a decline of 8.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2012.

 The number of transactions was lower for most home types in comparison to last year, but so too was the number of new listings. This means that market conditions remained quite tight, especially for low-rise home types. The result was continued price growth over last year,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah.

 The average selling price for Toronto MLS transactions in the first half of February was $509,061 – up by four per cent in comparison to the same time last year. 

“The annual rate of price growth so far in February has been in line with expectations for 2013. The average selling price in the GTA will continue to grow this year but at a slower pace compared to 2012. The basis of this price growth will be the low-rise segment of the market, for which months of inventory and therefore choice for buyers remains very low,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. 

                                                2013                                                              2012

Weekly Sales Report - December 15, 2011

Region Area Sales Average Price

NOTE: Please note these are preliminary figures. Minor adjustments may be required at month's end.

treb mls sales sales monthly with three years Comparison

 

Sales Comparison for previous three years.

TREB MLS New listings Monthly with three Previous Years for Comparison.

Trem MLS Sales to new Listing ration Monthly with Three Previous Years Comparison

Mississauga Homes for Sale
Brampton Homes for Sale

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,092 residential transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in November – up 11 per cent in comparison to November 2010. At the same time, the number of new listings was up by 14 per cent in comparison to last year.
“We have seen strong annual sales growth through the 2011 fall market. The increase in transactions has been broad-based, with strong growth across low-rise and high-rise home types throughout the Greater Toronto Area,” said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Richard Silver. “The market has also become better supplied, with annual new listings growth outstripping that of sales. As this trend continues into 2012, we will see more balanced market conditions.”
The average price for November transactions was $480,421, representing an increase of almost 10 per cent in comparison to $437,494 in November 2010.
"Despite strong price growth this year, the housing market remains affordable in the GTA," said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "The correct method of assessing affordability is to consider the share of the average household’s
income that is dedicated to mortgage principal and interest, property taxes and utilities. Currently, this share remains in line with generally accepted lending guidelines. Given this positive affordability picture, average price growth is forecast to continue in 2012, albeit at a more moderate pace."

These following simple steps can help you to enjoy the winter without fear of damage to your home

As the cold weather approaches it is important to ensure your home is winter ready. There are plenty of simple ways to winterize your home without breaking the bank, with a positive effect on lowering your heating bills.

 Interior:

Inspect your furnace and replace the filter. Stock up on furnace filters and be sure to change them every month. Next, have your fire place cleaned so it will be ready for use. Screen the top of your chimney to keep out rodents and birds and store fire wood in a dry place away from the outside of your home. Inspect the mortar between bricks to make sure that your fires remain contained within the hearth. Insure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors had the battery replaced.

 Exterior:

Examine the exterior of your home for cracks and crevices that could allow cold air to seep inside. Apply weather stripping around doors and chalk windows. Homes with basements and attics are prone to cold drafts. In basements consider covering window wells with plastic wraps. When the warm weather returns you can remove the wrap.  Warm air rises so adding extra insulation to your attic will insure that warmth stays where it’s needed. These small what important steps can make a huge difference on your heating bills.

 Garden:

Prune trees and shrubs to minimize potential for damage by snow, particularly those hanging close to the home. Clear and store planter for spring, dust plant bulbs with bone meal. Drain all garden hoses and shut off outside water. Seal the driveway and deck.

Why You Need A Brampton Real Estate Lawyer

Purchasing Brampton real estate is one of the biggest investments you can make. It is essential to have a real estate lawyer look over all the paperwork to make sure that everything is has been done according to the law. Considering the cost, it really is a very small price to pay to make sure that everything has been put into place properly and nothing has been left outstanding.

Liens:

A real estate lawyer will perform a title search to make sure that the property is completely free of any judgments or liens. This will show that the seller does indeed have the right to legally sell the property.A real estate attorney can accomplish this service very quickly since he will have relationships working with companies that do title searches.

Contracts:

The lawyer will also go over the contract to ensure that all laws have been adhered to and to make sure that all specific issues have been properly addressed.

Understanding the contract:

You need to completely read through the real estate contract you are signing. Many people have the tendency to skip over parts that they do not fully understand, and when this much money is on the line, it is your responsibility to make sure that you understand everything.Your Brampton real estate lawyer can go over the contract and answer any questions you may have. This is the time to make sure that everything is understood because once the papers have been signed it may be too late.

Transferring property:

It can get very complicated when property is being transferred. To complicate things even more, there may be a transfer from one partnership, trust or a corporation to another. In these cases a real estate attorney will be needed to prepare the contract and make sure that everything is consistent according to the law.

Real estate has its share of complexities and the bottom line is that you can spare yourself some grief by hiring a real estate lawyer. You'll have the peace of mind of knowing that nothing can go wrong because you will better understand the contract you are signing and know that it corresponds to the law.

Take the Stress Out Of Your Brampton Real Estate Purchase

Buying real estate can be a very stressful time in your life, but it really doesn't need to be that way. Buying a new home is an adventure and should really be a fun and exciting time for you. There are a few things you can do to keep the stress out of a Brampton real estate purchase so that you can relax and enjoy the process.

Be prepared

A lot of stress is caused by the unknown. If you have anything that is worrying you about a Brampton real estate purchase, let your agent know right away. There is usually something that is not completely understood that is causing the stress. The more you can find out about a home purchase the more prepared you will be. You'll find yourself less stressed when you arm yourself with the proper information you need.

Work with a great agent

A great Brampton real estate agent will keep the house hunting a positive experience while at the same time answering any questions you may have. Most agents absolutely love their job and have the ability to match homes with potential homeowners quite easily. Stay in communication with your agent and let him know if anything is troubling you so it can get handled quickly. This is a journey that you will experience with your agent together, so it is important to keep in close contact and talk about both the positive and negative aspects of it.

Stay positive

The more positive that you remain about the outlook, the more likely that you will be able to find the right house in the right area at the right price. Negativity will just add a strain to your Brampton house hunting that can adversely affect the outcome. While looking for a house is serious business, it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the process. By keeping a positive attitude you'll be able to find a house easier and have fun looking.

Getting a new Brampton real estate property may be the biggest decision that you will ever make in your lifetime, but it will also end up being the best. Stay calm, cool and collected and have fun looking for your house by remaining informed and in good communication with your agent.

As a first time (Brampton) homebuyer you may not know exactly what to expect in house prices and types of homes. It may come as quite a shock to find out exactly what you can afford and what is out of your price range when you first start looking at the (Brampton) homes available. 

A lot of first time (Brampton) homebuyers have a palace in mind when they can really only afford a small home. This is something that every agent must address at some point in his career, and it must be handled early enough so that the buyer can learn what to expect and not get his hopes up. 

Setting a price

If you are searching for your first home you must first have a price in mind and your budget will determine the type of house you can afford. You'll need to find out what is available by scheduling a meeting with an agent. 

There are typical features you can expect to find in a (Brampton) house that fits into your price range. You can find out what type of square footage you can expect in the home, the location and the kinds of amenities available in the areas of town you can afford. Your agent can explain these to you so that you understand the type of house you should be looking for and why. 

Rural areas 

If you are willing to commute into town, you can explore your real estate options on the outskirts of (Brampton). You can find more houses for less money the further you travel away from the city and sometimes you can get a house that is almost double the size for the same price. If you don't mind traveling, this is a good way to start with a home purchase. 

Listing Priorities 

By listing out your priorities you will have a much better idea of what to look for as a first time (Brampton) homebuyer. Talk these over with your agent to narrow down your goals for a house with a new viewpoint. You may figure out that it is worth your time to make the commute if you feel more comfortable living in a spacious house. On the other hand, a smaller home may seem cozier if it is in the city and closer to the amenities you need. 

As a first time (Brampton) homebuyer you will have some important decisions to make. You will probably own this home for many years to come so don’t rush into a buying decision without total clarity. You can use the guidance of your agent to help with this decision and to answer any questions you may have.

There are a few reasons why a Brampton home won't sell as fast as anticipated, and if you know about them before putting your house up for sale, you'll be much better off. You'll be able to put things in place properly to get a faster sale by avoiding the following. 

1. House is dirty or cluttered 

You may have a very hectic lifestyle and may not be able to keep up with the housework as much as you'd like. It is critical to have your house spic and span as well as tidy when it is being sold. If you are planning on putting your house up on the Brampton market in the near future, you should hire a housecleaning service and a company that can help you organize your clutter. This is a small price to pay to make your house better prepared for a sale. 

While you may be thinking that buyers should be able to see through the clutter and dirt and view the house on its own merits, it really doesn't work that way. First impressions are lasting and even if they love your Brampton home, they may withdraw simply because of the home's messy appearance. 

2. Maintenance not kept up 

There are little things that will get the attention of buyers when they are walking through your home that will irritate them enough to back off from putting in an offer. Simple things like a crack in the wall, broken flooring, doors that open properly and cupboards that are hard to maneuver should be fixed before any viewings. There are handymen in Brampton that are available to help you with these little things at very affordable prices. You can find their names in classified ads in your local newspaper or on the Internet. If you have a list of things that need to get done and hire a handyman for a full day, it really won't cost much at all. 

3. Bad atmosphere 

Every Brampton home emits its own atmosphere and there can either be a positive or negative flow in the house. Things that will contribute to negativity include bad odors, an empty appearance with little furniture and nothing on the walls, low lighting and curtains drawn, loud pounding music etc. Anything you can do to make your home appear happy and peaceful instead of drawn and droopy will help sell your home in the fastest way possible. 

If you have received a call from your agent and need to get ready for a viewing, do a quick tidy up and make the home as positive as you can by setting the mood yourself. If you have had a bad day at the office, set it aside and have a positive approach when the doorbell rings. The better the mood in your Brampton home, the more likely the house will sell fast. 

If you need more information about the prices in you Brampton Area homes or want to sell or buy a house in Brampton call or email me.

Many first time homebuyers will rush into a Brampton real estate agreement without thinking things through and this can end up being disastrous. Without properly assessing the residence or property first you could lose a significant amount of money. It is very common to see homebuyers simply fall in love with a house and purchase it without getting it properly inspected. In some cases the new homeowner may end up being stuck with a house that is beautiful on the outside but failing apart behind the walls. 

Here are some of the other common mistakes that many buyers make when purchasing a new Brampton home. 

Not finding the right mortgage 

Having the right financial institution to back you up financially can save you thousands of dollars over the course of years of payments. Most Brampton homebuyers do not have the means to make a purchase on their own, which means that they will have to obtain a mortgage and pay it off over a certain number of years with interest. Never take the first mortgage offer you encounter. Always compare mortgages and consider using a mortgage broker. He will do the comparison shopping for you and in many cases find a deal you may have missed otherwise. 

Failure to get the home inspected 

This can be a very big mistake for first time and experienced homebuyers alike. Home inspections will reveal the good and the bad aspects of the house. You have to know the state of the Brampton home before putting any money down. There is always the chance that there is underlying structural damage. 

Property taxes

You need to learn about the property taxes you are going to have to pay once you own the home. There are a lot of costs involved in owning and maintaining a home and Brampton property tax is one of them. You’ll need to make sure that your budget can accommodate these extras.

These are the common mistakes many people make when searching for Brampton real estate. Take the time to learn about your taxes, get a home inspection done and shop around for the best mortgage. All of these things can end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Brampton Houses trends Prices Mississauga Homes Mortgage Power of sale

Sales and Price Increase in May

June 3, 2011 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,046 sales in May 2011 – up six per cent compared to May 2010. This result was the second best on record for May under the current Toronto Real Estate Board service area. The number of new listings in May, at 16,076, was down 15 per cent compared to last year.

"Positive economic news and low borrowing costs led to strong sales through the first five months of the year, including the increase in May," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston. "At the same time, the market has become much tighter compared to last year, due to a substantial dip in new listings."

Homes were on the market for an average of 23 days and sold for an average price of $485,520– up nine per cent compared to $446,593 in May 2010. The strongest rate of price growth was experienced for single-detached homes sold in the City of Toronto.

"We have seen clear-cut seller's market conditions emerge over the past two to three months," explained Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "The robust price appreciation that we have seen will hopefully prompt more households to list, resulting in a more balanced market later this year," continued Mercer.

Median Price
In May, the median price was $400,000, from the $376,750 recorded during May of 2010.