Saugeen Shores Real Estate Buzz

We are finally hearing some good news in the real estate world, and not just here in our own little area, but all over Canada.  It has been reported as you will read in the following link that home sales, as well as home prices, are likely to rise in the first half of 2010.  I also just received an email today from a mortgage broker (see rate card here http://www.mymortgageplace.ca/ratechart.pdf) saying that the rates have dropped a touch.  So what are you waiting for; this may be the time for you to get into the market!  To read more about this positive news, here you go; Good Real Estate News

I found myself in the position the other day whereby I had to visit our local hospital; Saugeen Memorial in Southampton.  Now, I am sure that I am not alone when I say that I do not look forward to these visits but because I was not able to see my own Doctor, this was what was going to happen.

This post it just to give a to this hospital and it’s staff.  It was a middle of the afternoon visit and I, to my surprise, was the only patient.  The staff was just in the process of changing shifts but it was no time before I was whisked into an office, my info was recorded and I saw the Doctor.  In and out in less than 30 minutes!!

Everyone that I was in contact with was very nice and professional.  I guess I just wanted to tip my hat to these people.

I have often seen groups of these shipping containers when I have been in a port while on a cruise.  The one thing that I never thought of was to use them for housing purposes.  An interesting article caught my eye the other day whereas these containers have been used for just such a purpose, and more, in Mexico.  With that in mind, I wonder if they would be of any benefit to the tragedy that has struck Haiti!  Take a look here and see what you think!  innovative housing ideas

I am a little puzzled at some of the different things that I see being offered by some real estate websites.

One in particular is obtaining, via a form that one fills out on the internet, a current value of one’s home.  Now, I am not sure how this is done because, like this little plant that is trying to grow in the sand, it is almost impossible to determine a value unless you have actually viewed the property.

At the very least, there should be at least one visit to a prospective Seller’s home, if not two.

In obtaining info via the internet without a home visit could surely distort the true value, thus giving the potential Seller either an inflated value or one that is under the true value;  either of these could pose problems for a home seller.

So, if you are considering the sale of your property, make sure that the Real Estate Representative makes at least one visit to your home; you are owed some due diligence whether the opinion is offered free of charge or not!

Well, I guess we are going to have another six weeks of winter; that is not what I was hoping for.  However, having said that, we do know that Spring is on the way and before we know it, the grass will be green and the flowers will be sprouting.  You would never know it was the middle of winter on the real estate front.  It has been quite busy in the month of January and things are still hopping.  The problem is finding properties for our Buyers.  I know that it is common thinking that Spring is the time to put your house on the market if you are considering to sell, but why not rethink that.  If everyone waits until Spring, then there will be lots of competition for the Sellers while if you put your property on the market now, you may have a better chance at a quick sale.  So, if you are going to be making a move and you would like to get an opinion of your present property, give me a call; beat the rush and get your home sold before the others even hit the market.

Average Sale Price sets New Record in November

(Dec 9, 2009) The MLS® residential average price for homes sold in the area served by the REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound rose to the highest level on record in November 2009. Sales activity was also strong in November, though activity edged back from October’s record levels.

According to statistics provided by the Association, the average price for MLS® home sales in November 2009 was $217,463 – the highest average value ever reported. This is an increase of 14 per cent from November 2008. The large year-over-year gain not only reflects current strength, but also a weak showing last year.

MLS® home sales numbered 146 units in November 2009. This is up 32 per cent from the same month last year, when news of the global financial crisis hammered consumer confidence.

“The strong and sustained rebound in demand has stabilized the marketplace, and we’re seeing that reflected in prices,” said Neil Devlin, President of the REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound.

The total dollar value of MLS® home sales in November 2009 was $31.7 million, 50 per cent above year-ago levels.

Total MLS® sales numbered 210 units, an increase of 39 per cent from November 2008. The total value of all MLS® properties sold in November 2009 was $45.6 million, rising 62 per cent from one year earlier.

New listings were up 18 per cent from a year earlier to 264 units in November 2009. In contrast, active residential listings on the Association’s MLS® system dropped 11 per cent from year-ago levels to 1,220 units at the end of November 2009.

The number of months of inventory stood at 8.4 months in November 2009, down from 12.3 months in the same month last year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound represents approximately 350 REALTORS® registered with its member offices. The geographical area served by the Association is in southwestern Ontario, bordered by Lake Huron and Georgian Bay including Bruce and Grey Counties, and part of Wellington County.

Total Residential Units Sold in the RAGBOS area:

Average Residential Sale Prices from 2002 to 2009:

"REALTOR® is a registered trademark of REALTOR® Canada Inc., a company partly owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association". Trademark use under license from The Canadian Real Estate Association.

Information provided by the REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound, Copyright 2009. E&OE.

This is what I saw when I looked at my back window this morning.  What a pretty picture to greet me on a late November morning.

….a little bit of good news on the real estate market in our area.  Check it out;  http://www.radioowensound.com/news_item.php?NewsID=19175

It is so nice to deal with nice people. I had clients that closed on a property this past Friday and they were just so ecstatic. They had been looking for a summer place for awhile and each year the prices were getting steeper and steeper. So, they finally took the plunge. I have to say that when I went to see them on Saturday, they had the place looking cute as a button and I can see that they are going to enjoy their new ‘cottage’. This is what makes my job worthwhile; just seeing people so happy with their decision.