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Welcome to the Fall Real Estate Market in the Niagara Region!
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Niagara is beautiful when the leaves change. Nothing beats that colourful drive along Highway 8 at the base of the Niagara Escarpment - stunning! With the cooler weather, we are excited to see that we still have a hot real estate market. The average sale price of a home in St. Catharines was up to $237,792 in August this year. 159 Residential Homes sold in St. Catharines through the MLS system in August this year which is 13 more than the same month last year. Give me a call if you are looking to buy or sell this Fall!
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Location, Location, Location - SOLD!!!!
SOLD in less than a week. This 3+ Bedroom home sold in its 1st week on the market. The Sellers took the time to go through the home with me & listen to my advice, did several things to get the home ready for its new buyer. Decluttering, some fresh paint, a few minor repairs, some new flooring etc.. It made all the difference and when the buyers went through on Day 2 of the listing & offered right away. Let me help you sell too!
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Price Surges in Canada's Biggest Cities Mask an Otherwise Temperate National Market
With the harsh winter now a fading memory, the average price of a home in Canada increased between 3.9 and 5.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2014. Prices are expected to increase steadily for the balance of the year, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast released in July.
According to the survey, price increases were posted across housing types, with detached bungalows seeing the highest year-over-year gains, rising 5.2 per cent to an average price of $406,454. Meanwhile, standard two-storey homes rose 5.1 per cent year-over-year to $440,972, while standard condominiums posted gains of 3.9 per cent to $258,501.
"Chronic supply shortages are driving price spikes in Canada's major cities, masking otherwise moderate home price appreciation nationally," said Phil Soper, president and chief executive of Royal LePage. "While a widening affordability gap in Canada's largest urban centres is characterizing the national market Canadians read about daily, year-over-year house price increases in most regions of the country are presently tracking below the historical average."
Looking ahead at the remainder of 2014, Royal LePage is projecting that the national average house price will increase at 5.1% per cent for the full-year.
"Compared to other major forecasts, our year-beginning national outlook predicted a higher level of 2014 average price appreciation, yet supply constraints in a handful of our largest cities necessitate a revision upwards," noted Soper. "Looking ahead to 2015, we expect house prices to track more closely to the rate of general economic growth. That is, we see price increases in Canada's largest cities moderating, just as our smaller city markets should see a lift.
For more information, please view Royal LePage Survey of Canadian House Prices.
Wondering what your home is worth? Please contact me.
Survey of Canadian Average House Prices in the Second Quarter of 2014
Average house prices are based on an average of all sub-markets examined in the area, except for the smaller markets of Charlottetown, Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John and Victoria.
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 Top Tips for Closing the Cabin, Chalet or Cottage
The autumn season in Canada is characterized by falling leaves and vibrant jewel-toned colours across the landscape. The season also brings a distinct change in temperature, prompting many Canadians to start closing up their summer getaways and preparing for winter. Here are some practical tips to help protect your investment from water damage, pests and the elements and ensure your return in the spring is a pleasant one.
1. Drain the plumbing.
Turn off your water system and drain your hot water tank, toilet, sink traps and appliances. If excess water remains, siphon it into a bucket. In areas where water cannot be siphoned, use a non-toxic anti-freeze.
2. Place mothballs in strategic locations.
Mothballs can help prevent animal and insect infestations. Place them with linens, bedding and under seat cushions.
3. Cover your windows with shutters and apply weather stripping.
Shutters deter intruders and protect your upholstery from fading by blocking out sunlight. Add weather stripping on the inside of windows and door frames to protect against moisture and the outside elements.
4. Pack up all food and bring it home.
Canned and packaged goods can break open under freezing temperatures and attract pests. It's best not to leave things to chance. Like your perishables, all canned and packaged food items should ideally be packed up and brought home.
5. Turn off and unplug electrical appliances.
Unplug all fixtures and appliances to avoid damage from power surges. This includes your baseboard heaters, which are responsible for many fires when summer homes are unattended during the winter.
Add these tips to your closing checklist and rest assured your summer getaway will be in top shape for your return.
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 Are You Ready for an Emergency?
Unexpected emergencies caused by natural events, technological or environmental accidents and human-caused incidents occur time and again in communities across the country. These events have the potential to put you and your home at risk. With awareness and proper preparation, you can mitigate your risks before and after such events. Here are 4 key considerations:
Check your insurance. Adequate insurance coverage can help you replace what's lost, and cover your expenses if you are forced to leave your home during an emergency. Discuss your needs with a qualified insurance representative.
Prepare your home emergency kit. Your emergency kit should include enough food, water and supplies to meet your needs for at least three days. In addition, it should include copies of important documents related to your home insurance, financial/banking information and medical prescriptions. Also, be sure to include clothing and supplies in your kit, should you and your pets be evacuated from your home.
Following an emergency, check your home for damaged utilities. If you smell natural gas -although odourless in its raw form, a smell like rotten eggs is added for your safety - vacate the premises and call your natural gas provider immediately. If you see damaged or frayed electrical wires, or detect a water leak, contact your utility provider immediately as well. Turn off the main fuse box/breaker panel or water at the main valve where the water pipe enters your home.
Be sure to use home generators with caution and only outdoors in well-ventilated areas. Do not use charcoal or gas barbecues or camping equipment indoors.
While facing an emergency in your community comes with challenges, preparing for such an event can help you and your family to cope with the situation more effectively and to ward off additional setbacks.
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| Need help getting your home sold? Does it need any work or upgrades? I have a great new way to get your home sold... Canadian Home Customization Plan. Buyers will love it! Let me show them how they can get upgrades done without the initial outlay of cash! Give me a call! |
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