I hope you and your family have been doing well and enjoying the wonderful weather we have been having over the past month despite all the rain.
It was another incredible record setting month for home sales as 766 residential transactions were recorded through MLS® of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS®. That’s an increase of 14.3 percent compared to April 2016.
Residential sales in April included 492 detached homes (up 14.7 percent compared to April 2016), 161 condominium units (down 1.2 percent). Sales also included 52 semi-detached homes (up 30 percent) and 53 freehold townhouses (up 60.6 percent). What that says is that Home buyers are out in full force!
One very encouraging sign was that we saw more listings coming onto the market last month than we’ve seen in quite a while. There were 985 residential properties listed in K-W and area last month, a 17.8 percent increase compared to April of 2016, and the first time the number of new listings put on the market in a single month has come so close to the 1,000 unit mark in two years.
However, with inventory continuing to sit at or below one month of inventory for the ninth consecutive month, there continues to be a lot of pressure on prices. By the end of April, there were only 652 residential listings still active, that’s 48.8 percent fewer than the 1,274 available listings that were on the market at the end of April 2016.
The average sales price of all residential sales increased 39.7 percent to $512,656 compared to April 2016. Detached homes sold for an average price of $594,453 an increase of 40.1 percent, while the average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $267,455, an increase of 18.3 percent. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $377,531 (up 39.3 percent) and $415,709 (up 47.7 percent) respectively.
Vigorous demand for homes in Waterloo region meant homes were snapped up quickly. The average days on market in April were 10, compared to 33 days a year ago. On a month to month basis, it took four fewer days from list to sale date in April compared to March.
To address the growing concern around housing affordability, the province recently announced 16 measures for home buyers and renters, called Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan. It’s still too soon to say what kind of impact these change will have on the market, but i think its a good first step to help get more supply of homes to the market.
If you are thinking of selling or buying in this market, it is a great idea to have a strategy and plan in place. If you would like to sit down and discuss options just give me a call at 519-497-4646 or email to kevinbakerrealestate@gmail.com
It is another fantastic month for Real Estate here in the Waterloo Region. The Region had another record setting month with 740 properties sold in Kitchener-Waterloo and area in the month of June. This represents a 13.1% increase compared to the June of 2015, and ranks as the most active June on record. Honestly in my 15 years as a Realtor I have not seen a market like this one.
During the first half of 2016, there were 3,519 home sales, 18.0% above last year’s total for the same period and 22.8% above the 5-year year-to-date average. That would make the highest number of home sales we have ever recorded in the first half of the year.
On a monthly basis, home sales were 29.7% above the 5-year average for the month of June. As sales continue their upward trend, active residential listings continue to remain depressed in comparison to the same time last year. Currently, the number of active residential listings on the KWAR’s MLS® System to the end of June sat at 1,199, which is 33.9% lower compared to same period last year. This translates to 51.4% fewer available listings on the market today than the same time last year. That means the market needs more sellers to keep up with the high demand of buyers that are looking in the area. With some of the prices that homes have been selling for, now is a great time to get your home up on the market.
June’s sales included 485 single detached homes (up 13.6%) and 145 condominium type units (up 2.1%) which include any property regardless of style (ie. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc). Sales also included 46 Semi-detached homes (up 9.5%) and 54 freehold townhouses (up 42.1%).
The average sale price of all residential sales in June increased 11.2% to $390,144 compared to June 2015. With fewer listings on the market combined with an increased interest in people wanting to live in the Region, we’re seeing upward pressure on home prices.
Single detached style homes sold for an average price of $451,289 an increase of 10.7% compared to last year. The average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $232,999, an increase of 8.0%. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $277,672 (up 14.5%) and $296,572 (up 10.6%) respectively.
If you have been tossing around the idea of selling your home, give me a call and we can sit down and look at the best options for you and your family.
All I have to say is WOW!!!! What an incredible month for the Kitchener Waterloo and Cambridge Real Estate Markets. The market is on fire with many homes selling over list price in multiple offer situations. The buyers seemed to be lined up out the door if you have a property under the 430k mark in certain neighborhoods of town.
Here are some of the stats from the past month. There were 752 properties sold in KW and area which represents a 19.6% increase compared to May of 2015, and a 27.7% increase compared to the 5-year average for the month of May.
This is the first time since 2007 that residential sales in May exceeded seven hundred units. Year-to-date sales for 2016 also hit an all-time high with 2,776 homes sold in the first five months of the year, 19.2% above last year’s total for the same period and 21.0% above the 5-year average.
Active listings however are down in comparison from last year. Currently, the number of active residential listings on the KWAR’s MLS® System to the end of May is at 1,283 which are 26.1% lower compared to same period last year. This translates to 35.2% fewer available listings on the market today than the same time last year.
So what does that mean? If you are thinking of selling your home now is a great time to do it. Unfortunately you may also wish to buy and that could prove challenging with the lower than usual inventory buyers often find themselves competing with other buyers, for the same property.
With steady interest rates expected into the later part of 2016 and early 2017, and steady employment growth, the region is poised to continue the demand for housing and we should see balanced market conditions return for the foreseeable future in Waterloo Region.
May’s sales included 474 single detached homes (up 15.6%) and 166 condominium type units (up 37.2%) which include any property regardless of style (ie. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc). Sales also included 47 Semi-detached homes (down 11.3%) and 56 freehold townhouses (up 27.3%). The average sale price of all residential sales increased 7.3% to $378,248 compared to May 2015. Single detached style homes sold for an average price of $438,708 an increase of 9.8% compared to last year. The average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $221,073, a decrease of 1.2%. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $277,355 (up 1.1%) and $296,751 (up 10.2%) respectively.
If you have any questions on the stats or are thinking of making a move in the near future, please give me a call and we can sit down, grab a coffee and look at your options.
It was another Fantastic Month for Home Sales here in Waterloo Region with 584 properties sold in the Kitchener Waterloo area.
This represents a 16.3% increase compared to the March of 2015, and ranks as the highest March on record since 2010. That is just incredible.
During the first quarter of 2016, there were 1,350 home sales, 23.9% above last year’s total for the same period and 17.8% above the 5-year quarterly average and the highest quarter on record since 2010. On a monthly basis, home sales were 16.6% above the 5-year average for the month of March. The mild weather has brought the buyers out in droves and the spring market is well underway!
March’s sales included 383 single detached homes (up 11.2 %) and 110 condominium type units (up 26.4%) which include any property regardless of style (ie. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc). Sales also included 38 Semi-detached homes (down 2.6%) and 42 freehold townhouses (up 50.0%).
The average sale price of all residential sales increased 5.8% to $371,733 compared to March 2015. Single detached style homes sold for an average price of $428,495 an increase of 9.2% compared to last year. The average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $211,117, a decrease of 11.9%. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $284,226 (up 9.7%) and $276,562 (up 0.6%) respectively.
Sales activity in the $350,000 – $399,999 range increased significantly in the month of March with 98 homes sold in that range, a 78.2% increase from the same time last year. Yes I said 78.2%!! That is clearly evident with all the multiple offers that we have been involved in over the past month.
Year-to-date residential sales in the $300,000-$399,999 remain most popular with 490 sales to date accounting for 36.3% of all residential sales. Pushing the average sales price up for the month were increased sales in the $500,000 – $749,999 range, which posted a 31.6% increase in units sold, compared to March 2015
All in all, Kitchener Waterloo is still showing that we have a vibrant economy and home values are continuing to show strength.
If you have any questions on the information above or are interested in buying or selling in the coming months feel free to give me a call at 519-497-4646 or email to kevinbaker@kwhometeam.ca
All I have to say is WOW, what a month! The housing market is on fire with multiple offers and low inventory it seems that the spring market has started. Here are some of the highlights from the past month.
Residential sales were up 28.2% compared to the same month last year with 452 homes being sold. That is 18.6 percent above the 5 year average for the month. Those sales included 280 single detached homes which is up 40.7% over last February, 33 semi- detached(down 17.5%), 31 townhomes (up 6.9%) and 103 Condo units (up 25.6%). That makes this past February the most active February since 2008! With interest rates still holding steady, Waterloo region remains an attractive place to live and invest.
Single detached homes sold for an average price of $419,480 which is an increase of 7.7% compared to last year. The average sale price for a Condo unit was $242,272 up 8.3% while townhomes and semis sold for an average of $328,569 (up 10.0%) and $291,770 ( up 12.0) respectively.
The average sale price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS® System increased 10.3% to $361,889 compared to February 2015 with 42.0% of home sales in February occurring in the $250,000-$350,000 range. With all the cold temperatures that we experienced last year that helped contribute to a 5-year low in home sales for the month. Things have been quite a bit warmer these past few weeks in comparison, and it goes to show how much of a role weather can play when it comes to buying or selling and kicking off the spring market!
If you are thinking of buying or selling now is a great time to start the process. Give me a call at 519-497-4646 or email to kevinbaker@kwhometeam.ca and I can provide all the information you need to make the right decision.
Happy New Year! I hope you are enjoying the winter weather that has finally arrived.
It was another strong finish for the Residential Real Estate market here in Waterloo Region in 2015.
A total of 5,563 sales were processed through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) which was an increase of 4.9% percent compared to sales in 2014 . Unlike 2014, which remained slow almost half the year, 2015 only lagged behind in home sales for the first two months of the year. With relatively normal winter weather and no ice storm or polar vortexes, the spring market did not experience the same delay seen in 2014.
Residential sales finished this year with 293 home sales in December compared 262 the same time last year in Kitchener-Waterloo and area. This equates to an 11.8% increase in the number of sales for the month. This month there were 168 detached homes (down 4.5%), 80 condominiums (up 53.8%), 20 townhomes (up 33.3%) and 23 semi-detached (up 21.0%) sold, with the average price of all homes sold this month coming in at $367,121 (up 8.2%).
Overall It’s been a fantastic year for home sales in the Region, which speaks volumes about the economy, the opportunities and innovation taking place in Waterloo Region.
Total residential sales in 2015 included 3,576 single detached homes (up 4.9% from 2014), 409 semi-detached (up 4.6%), 398 townhomes (up 2.3%) and 1,180 condominium units (up 5.9%). The average sale price of all residential sales in 2015 increased 3.9 percent to $348,888 in comparison to 2014. Single detached homes sold for an average price of $400,456 (up 3.5%), semi-detached for $268,400 (up 3.4%), townhomes for $301,005 (up to 4.1%) and condominiums sold for an average of $237,735 (up 7.3%).
Locally, Waterloo Region remains a strong and stable housing market. The excitement around the area from the ION, the burgeoning tech sector, the rural and urban blend position Waterloo Region as a highly desirable place to live and invest.
If you have any questions regarding the local Real Estate market, thinking of buying or selling this spring or know of someone that is, please let me know. I am always happy to help and provide advice where ever I can.
Realtors and Home owners here in Waterloo Region and across Ontario have spoken and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has heard our outrage. The Minister confirmed this week that the government will not give the municipalities the ability to charge the Municipal Land Transfer Tax.
This is fantastic news for everyone in the region!!!
Now that this bullet is dodged, here in Waterloo Region it was another good month of home sales with a total of 413 residential properties sold last month compared to 376 in November last year. This number included 254 single detached homes (up 10.0% from last November), 22 semi-detached (down 45%), 33 townhomes (down 15.4%) and 99 condominium units (up 37.5%).
Average prices also increased 8.2% to an average price of $412,581 for single detached homes. Condo’s were up 7.3% with an average of $225,341, while townhomes and semis sold for an average of $313,015 (up 13.8%) and $257,995 (down 1.9%) respectively. Average sale price of all residential sales through the Kitchener Waterloo MLS system increased to $350,703 up 6.7%
With 2015 drawing to a close shortly we have had another outstanding year for homes sales in Waterloo Region. CMHC is forecasting steady mortgage rates and stronger employment in the Region for 2016 and that means continued demand for housing. Comparing our prices here against our neighbors in the GTA, Waterloo Region still remains very affordable.
If you are looking to make a move in the spring and would like to have a better idea of what your home is worth click here now. Whether buying or selling give me a call and let’s sit down for a coffee and discuss how we can help make the move to a new home a smooth one for you and your family. I can be reached at 519-497-4646 or email to kevinbaker@kwhometeam.ca
It was another fantastic month for the local real estate market here in Waterloo Region .There were 553 home sales in Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding area through the Mls system.
This represents an 8.4% increase compared to May of 2014, and 9.6% above the 5 year average for the month May. With a total of 2,926 home sales occurring through the Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Board, year-to-date sales are 3.3% above the five year average.
Although sales numbers in Kitchener-Waterloo are higher in comparison to May of last year, they are on par with the month of April, at 1.7% above last month’s residential sales numbers, a difference of nine home sales. It’s been a very busy but typical spring market. Low mortgage interest rates and a diverse local economy continue to support home buying in Waterloo region.
Much like the month of April, sales activity in the $300,000 – $349,999 posted a healthy increase in the month of May with 126 homes sold in that range, a 24.8% increase from the same time last year. Sales in the $400,000 – $499,999 also increased with 81 sold in this price range, a 28.6% increase.
Sales in KW included 355 single detached homes (up 4.7 %), 113 condominium units (up 28.4%), 44 semi-detached (up 2.3%) and 40 freehold townhouses (up 8.1%). The average sale price of all residential sales through the Mls, increased 1.6 percent to $343,750 compared to May 2014. Single detached homes sold for an average price of $390,704 an increase of 1.1% compared to last year. Condominium market prices were up 7.1%, with the average condo unit selling for $237,649.
If you have any questions or are thinking of buying or selling in the coming months feel free to give me a call.
It was another solid month of home sales in March here in Waterloo Region. Residential property sales through the MLS system continued to climb month over month with 619 properties sold. This represents a 15.1 percent increase compared to the March of 2014 which was the second lowest March on record since 2006.
During the first quarter of 2015, there were a total of 1,343 home sales, 3.6 percent above last year’s total for the same period and 8.4 percent below the 5 year quarterly average, which is again great news and shows continued strength of our local housing market.
Sales activity in the $300,000 – $349,999 increased significantly in the month of March with 151 homes sold in that range, a 49.5% increase from the same time last year. Pushing the average sales price up for the month were increased sales in the $500,000 – $749,999 range which posted a 61.5% increase equating to 63 sales compared to 39 in March 2014.
March’s sales included 436 single detached homes (up 25.3 %), 95 condominium units (down 2.1 %), 41 semi-detached (down 8.9) and 41 freehold townhouses (down 6.8%).The average sale price of all residential sales increased 7.4 percent to $347,722 compared with March 2014. Single detached homes sold for an average price of $384,635 an increase of 4.0 percent compared to last year. In the condominium market prices were up 12.1%, with the average condo unit selling for $238,846.
Overall the market is still moving forward and prices remain stable. We are expecting another busy spring market which seems to be well underway at this point.
If you have any questions about the local market or would like more information on home prices for your neighborhood, please feel free to give me a call or email direct at kevinbaker@kwhometeam.ca
With the summer over and September and the school season upon us the real estate market is back in full swing. The summer showed very good sales vs previous years with a total of 567 homes sold. The month of august posted a 9.2% increase in the home sales compared to the same month last year. Homes sales in the month of August were also 9.3% above the 5 year average for the month and were second highest on record compared to August sales in the last 5 years.
Kitchener Waterloo and the entire region continues to be strong. Higher than average sales activity in August and year-to-date speaks volumes about the confidence consumers have in our local economy and home ownership as an investment.
The breakdown of residential sales included 367 single detached homes ( up 4.9% from last year), 42 semi-detached (up 13.5%) 39 townhomes (up 77.3%) and 115 condominium units (up 11.7%). The year to date numbers are up 2.7 percent compared to the five year average with 4648 homes being sold.
If we look at average sale price of all residential homes sold through the Multiple listing service system, there was an increase of 3.9 percent last month to $329,892 compared to August 2013. Single detached homes sold for an average price of $378,251 and increase of 5.4 percent compared to last year. The average sale price for a condo unit was $225,167 an increase of 1.5 percent and the average sale price for a freehold townhome was $287,369, a decrease of 1.9 percent from the same time last year.
Overall a fantastic month in the Kitchener Waterloo Housing market. We expect the trend to continue in to the fall selling season as well.
If you have any questions or would like more specific pricing on your home or something that you are looking at purchasing please feel free to give me a call at 519-579-4110 or email direct to kevinbaker@kwhometeam.ca
With the cold weather still keeping its grip on us here in Kitchener Waterloo, the Residential Real Estate market is starting to show signs of life. Even though the volume of sales are down about 4% the prices are still rising steadily. Condos are leading the way for another month in a row up 6.3%.
Have a look at the entire Media release from the Kitchener waterloo real estate board and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to give me a call.
HOMES SALES STEADY IN FEBRUARY
KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (March 5, 2014) –– Residential sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the
Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) were down 4.0 percent in February compared to the
same month last year and up 34 percent compared to January’s results which were hampered by extreme
cold and snow.
A total of 431 residential properties were sold compared to 449 the same time last year. Residential sales in
February included 274 single detached homes (down 8.7% from last February), 33 semi-detached (down
13.2%), 28 townhomes (down 3.4%) and 93 condominium units (up 16.3%).
“February sales showed a healthy increase compared to January,” stated Lynn Bebenek, President of the
KWAR. “Low interest rates and a diverse and vibrant regional economy will continue to support a stable market
for the Kitchener-Waterloo area.”
Single detached homes sold for an average price of $387,288 an increase of 5.1 percent compared to last
year. The average sale price for a condominium was $233,657 an increase of 6.8 percent while townhomes and
semis sold for an average of $281,636 (down 0.7%) and $246,171 (down 3.0%) respectively. The average sale
price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS® System increased 3.0 percent to $335,217 compared to
February 2013.
“Following up on what has been one of the coldest winters on record I expect we will see home buyers and
sellers out in full force come the spring time,” said Bebenek.
For many first-time homebuyers, saving the 5 per cent downpayment is one of the big obstacles to home ownership, especially if you’re paying rent, paying down student loans, and trying to live a life. Here are some programs and tips that can give your downpayment a boost – to get you into your home faster:
The federal Home Buyers’ Program (HBP) lets first-time homebuyers withdraw up to $25,000 each (or $50,000 for a couple) tax-free from their RRSPs. You’ll need to pay those funds back, of course, on a repayment plan.
A financial gift from a parent or blood relative can be used as a downpayment. You’ll need to document in writing that the funds are a gift and that you are not required to pay the money back at any time.
A parent or grandparent could also provide a loan with a modest interest rate and reasonable expectations for loan repayment. Or you could look at borrowing the downpayment through a loan or unsecured line of credit.
If your dream home is out of reach, look for a starter home. Use today’s low interest rates to start hammering down your mortgage, then watch for the opportunity to get the home of your dreams – using the equity and credit rating you’ve been building!
If you have any questions regarding down payments or Mortgages in general feel free to give us a call. We are happy to help
JANUARY’S DEEP FREEZE SLOWS OVERALL HOME SALES
CONDO SALES UP IN JANUARY
With most of the country still locked in the DEEP FREEZE, Kitchener waterloo still remains strong on pricing even though sales are slipping a little. The warm weather approaching soon(i hope), I would expect that the market will kick into high gear with strong sales.
If you have any questions on the market in general or specific pricing of your home please don’t hesitate to give me a call.
See below to read the excerpt from the Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Boards stats.
KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (February 5, 2014) –– Homes sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the
Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) in January were down 5.3 percent compared to January
of last year.
A total of 319 residential properties were sold compared to 337 the same time last year. Residential sales in
January included 207 single detached homes (down 13.4% from last January), 17 semi-detached (down 29.2%),
18 townhomes (down 28%) and 74 condominium units (up 54.2%).
“Coming off a strong 2013, the pace of home sales slowed down somewhat in January,” stated Lynn Bebenek,
President of the KWAR. “The weather didn’t help much either; the extreme cold and heavy snow made
January a less than desirable month to be out looking at houses.”
January’s deep freeze didn’t hamper sale prices however, single detached homes sold for an average price of
$375,009 an increase of 5.7 percent compared to last year. The average sale price for a condominium was
$214,921 an increase of 1.5 percent, while townhomes and semis sold for an average of $263,679 (down 0.9%)
and $254,807 (up 3.5%) respectively. The average sale price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS®
System increased 1.1 percent to $323,533 compared to January 2013.
“The winter months can be hit or miss depending on the weather,” says Bebenek. “Buyers and sellers will be all
the more eager once spring hits, and we are expecting a strong spring market.”
Gas furnaces are relatively easy to operate and maintain, but they do require regular maintenance to stay in good condition. Gas furnaces can be dangerous if they are in need of maintenance and you neglect them; for instance if there is a gas leak it could be very dangerous if not addressed early. This article will take a look at 10 maintenance tips for gas furnaces.
1.Check for gas leaks
Gas leaks on gas furnaces are easy to spot, you can tell from gas build up on the floor or from the smell of gas around the furnace area. Gas leaks require a professional to fix the furnace to ensure the safety of the unit.
2.Thermostat working properly?
Have you noticed the house is either really warm or really cold, but the thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature? When a thermostat is not working properly the furnace will not heat the house properly, which makes the unit very inefficient.
3.Control valve turned open?
Is your furnace producing no heat and you can’t figure out what’s wrong? A common problem when getting a gas furnace to run properly is that the control valve is turned off, if the valve is turned off the furnace will not produce heat.
4.When have you changed the air filter?
Regularly changing the air filter is an important part of gas furnace maintenance that should be addressed regularly. Air filters can be purchased at almost any hardware store, and they are not expensive. A dirty air filter will make the gas furnace produce less heat and make it incredibly inefficient.
5.Does your gas furnace need cleaning?
Cleaning is a regular task for proper gas furnace maintenance. Click here for a step by step guide to properly cleaning a gas furnace.
6.When was the last time you checked the tension belt?
If your gas furnace is running loudly and you can’t seem to figure out why the tension belt may be a possible cause.
7.Have you checked the pilot light?
If the pilot light is out the furnace will not work, therefore make sure the pilot light is lit and working properly. The pilot light should be a deep hot blue, but if it is another color then it is not working properly.
8.When was the last time you oiled the motor?
Oil is necessary for proper maintenance on a gas furnace; all you have to do is add a couple of drops, nothing too much. Oil should be added to the motor every season, and when you think the motor needs it.
9.Check the venting regularly
The venting that is hooked up with the gas furnace should be checked regularly for blockages and debris. If the ventilation is blocked it could pose a variety of health hazards including carbon monoxide poisoning.
10.Shutting the system off post cold season
Gas furnaces do need to be shut off after the winter season, and ideally they should be cleaned and the air filter should be replaced. All the above tips should be applied at the beginning of every season for a proper working gas furnace.
Your home may be the biggest investment you’ll ever make. That means you want to be smart with your mortgage. Although we can’t say for sure what mortgage rates will do – or how the housing market will shift – we have compiled our top tips for the year ahead; sensible strategies for today’s homebuyers and owners.
Variables are back. Several lenders are offering strong “prime minus” rates that could save you thousands in interest. And the Bank of Canada is still holding their key “overnight rate” very steady and very low… making variable-rate mortgages a sensible option right now. Fixed versus variable has always been a challenging mortgage decision. Let us help you decide which financing option best meets your needs.
Don’t sleepwalk through your mortgage renewal. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to save thousands on your mortgage. When your lender sends you a letter saying it’s time to renew… then it’s time to get an expert second opinion. We’re independent and we have access to over 50 lenders. If there’s a better deal, we’ll find it.
Pay your phone bill on time! Paying your bills on time has always been the most important credit habit. Equifax recently started to include phone companies on credit bureau reports – so your lender can see if you have any delinquencies with your phone bills. Look like a good borrower.
Keep other good credit habits. Don’t let your credit accounts exceed 30 per cent of your limit. Don’t cancel an old credit card without getting advice. And don’t sign up for store cards: they often have crazy interest rates, and the application triggers a credit inquiry (you don’t want a lot of those).
Mortgage versus total debt. Do you have high-interest debt outside your mortgage that you won’t be able to pay off in the next few months? Then think about rolling that debt into a new low-rate mortgage. This one, smart strategy could save you thousands… and boost your monthly cash flow. We can analyze your situation to see if you qualify.
What’s the prepayment penalty? Don’t let anyone tell you prepayment penalties are “all the same”. They’re not. If you ever need to get out of your mortgage early, the right mortgage could save you thousands. Not all lenders calculate penalties the same way, and the differences can be substantial. It helps to know which lenders have the most fair prepayment penalties. With access to dozens of lenders – we’ve got that information at our fingertips.
If one of you wants to keep the marital home. If you are going through a separation or divorce and one of you wants to keep the marital home, we’ve got some great mortgage options, including a mortgage to 95 per cent. Your home can be the asset that gives you both a fresh start!
A paydown will pay it forward. Take every opportunity to beat down your mortgage principal using any prepayment privileges! Use tax refunds, bonuses, whatever. Or switch to weekly or bi-weekly payments. Every dollar you pay down on principal means every future payment goes further.
Thinking renovation? We see what you see. Your reno will add value to your home. That’s why we have a special “Refinance Plus Improvements” mortgage that lets you refinance up to 80 per cent of the new, post-reno value of your home. Cool deal.
Come in for a checkup. Your mortgage needs an annual checkup. Really. Life doesn’t stand still, which means your needs may have changed. Even a minor tweak can pay big dividends.
Do you find that all those, computer, phone, monitor cords etc are a real pain to look at everyday? Do you wish you had a great idea to hide them from sight?
Well here is a great blog post I found on how just to do that. Have a look and have fun with the project
KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (November 5, 2013) –– Residential property sales through the Multiple Listing System
(MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) in October were down 4.0 percent
compared to October of last year.
A total of 481 residential properties were sold compared to 501 the same time last year. Year-to-date sales are
up 3.3 percent with 5,620 homes trading hands so far this year. That stands 2.2 percent above the 5-year
average and up 3.2 percent from the same time in 2012. Residential sales in September included 313 single
detached homes (down 2.8% from last October), 44 semi-detached (down 8.3%), 36 town homes (up 9.1%) and
85 condominium units (down 7.6%).
“On a monthly basis the number of sales in October was in line with the average of the past 5 years,” says
Dietmar Sommerfeld, President of KWAR. “Looking at year-to-date figures, homes sales are the highest they’ve
been compared to the last five years.”
Sommerfeld says he is confident about the local economy and the region’s housing market, pointing to a
recent Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) report (Fall 2013) that states steady mortgage rates
combined with stable/increasing employment in the Region will continue to keep housing demand strong
moving into early 2014.
Single detached homes sold for an average price of $352,807 an increase of 3.6 percent compared to last
year. The average sale price for a condominium was $214,226 a decrease of 0.7 percent compared to
October of last year. The average sale price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS® System increased
3.3 percent to $312,785 compared to October 2012.
If you ever have any questions on the information provided or specific pricing of your home feel free to give me a call to discuss. I am always happy to help.
Here is a great resource for trying to figure out what is the best mortgage product out there to fit your needs. This article gives you 63 different things too look for when trying to secure the best mortgage possible. As always if you have any questions or need any Real Estate Related advice feel free to give me a call or email.
Mortgage rates on the rise? No need to panic; what you need is some smart strategies to prepare. Here are our top 5 tips:
1.Don’t take the money. If you’re buying a new home, don’t be tempted to borrow the maximum amount your lender will allow.
2.Do more than the minimum.If you have a variable-rate mortgage, build in some wiggle room by setting your payments higher than required.
3.Plan to pre-pay. Find out what your pre-payment privileges are and pay whatever you can.
4.Conduct a reality check.Find out what your mortgage balance will be at renewal and use our online mortgage calculator to project what your payments could be if you renewed at a higher rate. Start to ease up to your new payment level so at renewal, it’s like a merge lane!
5. Watch your bad debt. Be cautious about any credit card or other high-interest debt.
Getting prepared for higher rates is not about panicking, it’s about being prudent.Give me a call if you have any questions.
Given the large financial commitment of a mortgage, it’s surprising that 44 per cent of Canadian homeowners either just accept whatever their lender offers at renewal, or don’t even remember how they renewed!
It’s tempting to just sleepwalk through the mortgage renewal process. But if you’re not doing even the slightest comparison shopping or negotiating, then you’re missing out on an opportunity to save thousands on your mortgage. When your lender sends you a letter saying it’s time to renew… what that really means is that it’s time to get advice. Professional, independent advice.
Get an expert second opinion on what you’re being offered. We’ll take a look, and compare it to what we can find out there as an alternative among the 50 or more lenders we have access to.
Got a mortgage renewal coming up in the next six months? Give me a call and I will connect you with someone that can help.
Hey Everyone, Here are the stats for the Waterloo Region and it looks like another great month. With a solid July we are now in positive territory for the year on Sales Volume, while prices remain up from last year which is great news for home sellers. If you have any questions or need any advice on buying or selling please feel free to give me a call at 519-579-4110 or email to kevinbaker@kwhometeam.ca
HOME SALES CONTINUE UPWARD TREND
KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (July 4, 2013) –– Residential property sales through the Multiple Listing
System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) half way through
the year are up 1.4 per cent compared the same time last year. Residential sales totaled 3,511, 2.2
per cent ahead of the previous 5-year average of residential sales year-to-date.
In the month of June 648 residential properties were sold compared to 607 in June of last year,
representing a 6.8 per cent increase in sales volume.
“Residential sales in Kitchener-Waterloo continue to perform well” says Dietmar Sommerfeld,
President of KWAR. “We’re seeing a slow and steady upward trend in sales which is exactly what we
like to see, stable and steady growth.”
June’s sales included 422 single detached homes (up 9.9 % from last year) 122 condominium units
(down 7.6 %), 58 semi-detached (up 9.4 %) and 35 freehold townhouses (up 6.1 %). Year-to-date
residential sales display a similar distribution with 2,367 single detached homes (up 3.6 %) 605
condominium units (down 9.4 %), 283 semi-detached (up 6.0 %) and 218 freehold townhouses (up 0.5
%).
On a year-to-date basis, the average sale price of all residential sales increased 4.6 per cent to
$327,569 compared to 2012. Single detached homes sold for an average price of $371,898 an
increase of 4.2 per cent compared to last year. The average sale price for a condominium units sold
in the first half of the year was $215,219, an increase of 2.7 per cent over 2012.
With availability of information, mobile phones and websites it is even more important to hire a Realtor based on what they can do for you to get the home sold quickly, efficiently and for the most amount of money. Have a look at this video to hear my thoughts on what you should be looking for when interviewing your Realtor.
One of the questions I get asked a lot is….”is now a good time to sell my home? With Christmas and winter just around the corner the answer might be different than you think. Have a look at the video to hear my thoughts.
Are you in the market for your next Condo or Loft space? Make sure if you are making an offer on a unit that you make it conditional on getting a status certificate reviewed by your lawyer. To hear how you can save yourself thousands of dollars by doing this one step, have a quick look at this video.
KITCHENER WATERLOO HOMES ONLINE.com 