Saugeen Shores Real Estate Buzz

_First I will say that I have more than buckets full of admiration for school teachers;  it isnot a job that I could do and they deserve much appreciation.  However, I do have a hard time dealing with the amount of homework that is put on the children. Whether it is something that is mandated by the school board or by the school, I feel that it sometimes get a little out of hand. In this day and age when the children have part time jobs (we want to teach them financial responsibility) and life is so busy with after school activities, it is my thinking that we need to give these guys a break and give them a chance to enjoy life outside of school work. Leading up to Christmas, it was non stop homework and projects night after night, then the the break and now we are back at it again. Here it is another Sunday, the child has worked a 6 hour shift and now has to go and do a group project at a fellow student’s house after a very quick bite to eat.  My daughter is tired!  She is, as far as I know, a good student as I have not heard any different from anyone and she comes home with good marks.  Her nights are spent either working or doing schoolwork!  I think that this needs to be addressed.  I realize that these students need to be prepared for college or univeristy but I also think that they need a bit of a break when it comes to homework and projects!!  To see another article relating to this go to http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28624181/?GT1=43001

Bottom line; home prices were too high and fewer people could afford them. A correction is needed to bring prices back within the affordability range of most people.  It’s called a property ladder for a reason. If no-one can get on to the bottom rung (which has been the recent situation) then no-one else can move up the ladder. Property prices coming down to levels that allow first-time buyers into the market is a good thing for all of us (apart from people who bought at the peak and need to sell soon, but even they will be able to buy a replacement place for less).

In looking at your house price; a good analogy would be an investment of, say $1.00. Over the years and in the good times, that increases to $20.00. Life is good, investments are good, the jobs are there, salaries are good; let’s spend (that’s what makes the world turn). However, this cannot continue; historically these ups and downs occur and now there is a blip on the horizon; the investment of $1.00 which went to $20.00 has now decreased to $15.00 and perhaps even $10.00. But, hey, you are still above your initial investment! It may not be what you would’ve realized in the last couple of years but you are still ahead.

Unfortunately, if you did purchase property in the last year or so, I hope that it was for long term use and not for a step up the ladder.  In this case, you will need to sit tight and see where things are going to go.  There are all kinds of predictions floating around but until we know where everything falls in relation to job losses, consumer confidence, government bailouts, etc. a fairly recent homebuyer  just needs to take a step back (or take a loss)!

On the bright side for some people, the house prices are lower, the interest rates are lower and we do have the benefit of having Bruce Power here in our corner of the world.

How low can they go; I do not know but hopefully when we do see that plateau, the Buyers will start the process and get the market moving a little.