A Moment with Marianne...

Ottawa resale housing market posts record sales in November

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,020 residential properties in November through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 940 in November 2010, an increase of 8.5 per cent. The five-year average for November sales is 881.

Of those 1,020 sales, 244 were in the condominium property class, while 776 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“Last month was the best November on record for resale home sales in Ottawa. The last time we saw sales numbers anywhere close to that number was in 2001. It speaks well for the stability of our market that even in the quieter months of the year, our market is still thriving,” said Board Past President Joanne Tibbles. “The number of properties available for sale is higher than at this time last year, indicating that homeowners are confident that it’s a good time to put their home on the market, and based on these great sales numbers, buyers are also confident, especially as interest rates remain stable,” she added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in November in the Ottawa area was $347,795, an increase of 7.3 per cent over November 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $265,800, nearly unchanged from November 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $373,577, an increase of 9.2 per cent over November 2010.

FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS, PLEASE CALL MARIANNE BAIRD ANDERSON AT 613-786-2447 or Marianne@kwottawa.ca.

Source Ottawa Real Estate Board December 2011

A Moment With Marianne....

The Informed Home Buyer/Seller
Helpful Advise to Making the Right Move...
Please check it out....

http://www.morrisontheweb.com/informedhomebuyer/Informed%20Home%20Buyer%20Dec%2011.pdf

A Moment with Marianne...

Condo sales drive resale market in October

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,062 residential properties in October through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,038 in October 2010, an increase of 2.3 per cent. The five-year average for October sales is 1,071.

Of those sales, 253 were in the condominium property class, while 809 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“Condos were the main driver of resale home sales in October, with condo sales up 14.5 per cent from the same month in 2010, whereas residential property sales numbers were near-identical to last year’s,” said Board President Joanne Tibbles. “We’ve been hearing a lot about the rising popularity of condos in Ottawa and these numbers certainly support that, but it’s just one piece of our steady resale market, with sales very near the five-year average for October. Also, listing inventory and days on market are both up slightly as we move towards the end of the year,” she added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in October in the Ottawa area was $337,797, an increase of 2 per cent over October 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $259,316, a decrease of 1.5 per cent over October 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $362,341, an increase of 3.7 per cent over October 2010.


Source Ottawa Real Estate Board October 2011

A Moment with Marianne....

Smooth sailing for home sales in September

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,202 residential properties in September through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,071 in September 2010, an increase of 12.2 per cent. The five-year average for September sales is 1,160.

Of those sales, 280 were in the condominium property class, while 922 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

"Not much has changed in the Ottawa resale housing market since last month. Sales remain slightly above average, prices continue to appreciate at a moderate rate, and homes are taking about the same amount of time to sell," said Board President Joanne Tibbles. "The stability and affordability of our housing market, coupled with low interest rates, is still appealing for investors and for home buyers who want to make Ottawa the best place to call home," she added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in September in the Ottawa area was $335,765, an increase of 3.4 per cent over September 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $254,864, an increase of 5.9 per cent over September 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $360,334, an increase of 3.2 per cent over September 2010.


YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT MAKING A MOVE IN THE FUTURE; PLEASE CALL MARIANNE TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS!!
613-786-2447 or email Marianne@kwottawa.ca

Source Ottawa Real Estate Board October 2011

A Moment With Marianne

The Informed Buyer/Seller "Helpful Advise for Making the Right Move...

http://www.morrisontheweb.com/informedhomebuyer/Informed%20Home%20Buyer%20Aug%2011.pdf

A Moment With Marianne....

EcoENERGY HOME RETROFIT PROGRAM

The Federal Government recently announced the re-introduction of the ecoENERGY home retrofit program that provides grants of up to $5,000 to help homeowners make energy-efficient home upgrades.

The program will be offered until March 31, 2012; however, it could be cut off “without notice” if it reaches the $400 million allocated to it.

The reintroduced program has two new requirements. First, those wanting to participate in it must register first. After filling out a form, they will receive a registration number and instructions for the next steps in the process. To qualify, homeowners must hire a company licensed by natural Resources Canada to perform home energy audits. An evaluator will perform the inspection, and the government says within about two weeks, homeowners will get a report with a list of eligible energy efficient upgrades.

Once the upgrades are completed, a post-retrofit audit must be done before homeowners can send off their application for a cheque from Ottawa. The second new requirement is that all receipts must be kept and show to the energy auditor when the post-retrofit evaluation is done.

A Moment with Marianne....

Solid June for Ottawa home sales

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,712 residential properties in June through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,543 in June 2010, an increase of 11 per cent. The five-year average for June sales is 1,695.

Of those sales, 378 were in the condominium property class, while 1,334 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

"It's obvious that the dream of home ownership is alive and well in Ottawa, with solid sales numbers like these. First-time buyers are out in the market in a big way, due to continued low interest rates, and after last year's HST-affected spring, we're seeing a return to what the June resale market usually looks like in Ottawa," said Board President Joanne Tibbles. The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in June in the Ottawa area was $353,560, an increase of 8 per cent over June 2010.

The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $275,996, an increase of 9.6 per cent over June 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $375,539, an increase of 7.3 per cent over June 2010.

IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT MAKING A MOVE IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE CALL MARIANNE TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS!!

Source Ottawa Real Estate Board July 2011

A Moment with Marianne....

FLAHERTY SAYS NO MORE MORTGAGE CHANGES – FOR NOW

Although there have been several reports of late indicating that debt in this country is on the rise, Jim Flaherty does not believe that the answer lies in more mortgage and lending restrictions.

Flaherty cites the health of the Real Estate market in this country as the main reason that there is no immediate need to further impose lending restrictions.


Property Wire Canada

A Moment with Marianne...

HOME PROJECTS FOR JUNE

Summer has just arrived. Put these home projects on the Must-do list for June & get the house ready for the dog days of summer.

AIR CONDITIONER CHECKUP
Don’t wait until it dies to have the a/c serviced. Make sure it’s ready for the hottest months of the year. Properly maintained, the cooling system runs more efficiently & has a longer life expectancy.

PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
Traditional thermostats can waste both money & energy. Consider installing a programmable thermostat.

TURN ON CEILING FANS
When used properly, fans can greatly improve comfort levels. Ceiling fans make people feel cooler by circulating air across the skin and creating a wind chill effect.

REPAIR SCREENS
If damaged, screens can allow insects, leaves & other debris to get into the home. Check all windows and doors and repair any damaged screens.

Clint Briscoe
McClatchy-Tribune News

COMING SOON SENIORS' REAL ESTATE SEMINAR

This Seminar is especially directed to Seniors who are thinking of selling their current home sometime in the future.

There are so many considerations and decisions that must be made when this time arrives. Marianne has an ASA degree (Accredited Seniors’ Agent) and, although she deals with the broad perspective, she specializes in working with Seniors. She has designed this Seminar to assist with their future planning. There will be talks by a professional Stager, a Real Estate Lawyer and a Realtor. In addition other related service people will be available to consult with participants.

The Seminar is scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, September 28th – if you or anyone you know is interested, please call Sharon Carson at 613-788-7490 for further details.

Ottawa resale housing market remains in balance

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,659 residential properties in May through the Board’s Multiple ListingService® system compared with 1,686 in May 2010, a decrease of 1.6 per cent.
Of those sales, 369 were in the condominium property class, while 1,290 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in their Spring 2011 Ottawa Housing Market Outlook, the Ottawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) transitioned from a seller’s market to a balanced market in 2010 and will remain in that territory in 2011. CMHC analysts define Ottawa’s resale housing market as balanced when between 35 and 55 per cent of the number of homes listed for sale (new listings) in a given month are sold.

“Sales numbers for May were virtually unchanged from 2010, but prices continued to rise at about the same rate as we have seen for the past few months, demonstrating solid demand for resale housing in our area,” said Board President Joanne Tibbles. “A balanced market offers no distinct advantage to either buyers or sellers, so I’d advise anyone thinking of buying or selling to work with a local REALTOR® to help them achieve their goals. There are different strategies for marketing a home or making an offer to purchase in a balanced market versus a buyer’s or seller’s market. An Ottawa REALTOR® can help make the process easier for consumers,” Tibbles added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in May in the Ottawa area was $352,347, an increase of 5.6 per cent over May 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $261,871, an increase of 6.4 per cent over May 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $378,228, an increase of 6 per cent over May 2010.

source Ottawa Real Estate Board June 2011

A Message From Marianne...

April sales return to pre-HST levels [2011]

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,536 residential properties in April through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,814 in April 2010, a decrease of 15.3 per cent. The five-year average for home sales in April is 1,612.
Of those sales, 316 were in the condominium property class, while 1,220 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.
“Sales in April 2010 soared well above average in advance of the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax in Ontario last July. Normally in Ottawa, we see a brisker sales period beginning at the end of April or early May, but last year’s spring market started earlier by about three months due to the HST. That surge in sales pushed April’s five-year average up significantly; it’s not out of the ordinary for about 1,500 homes to be sold in April in our market,” said Board President Joanne Tibbles.
“Home prices still continued to rise at the usual moderate rate last month, demonstrating a solid demand for resale homes in Ottawa. Re-sale housing inventory is up 17.2 per cent from this time last year, indicating that Ottawa is clearly in a healthy, balanced market,” Tibbles added.
The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in April in the Ottawa area was $351,226, an increase of 5.4 per cent over April 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $255,232, an increase of 2.1 per cent over April 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $376,090, an increase of 5.4 per cent over April 2010.
FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS, PLEASE CALL MARIANNE BAIRD ANDERSON AT 613-786-2447 or Marianne@kwottawa.ca.
Source Ottawa Real Estate Board May 2011

Marianne's role as Your Realtor...

Have you ever notice how some TV shows stereotype lawyer, doctors and even REALTORS Like me?

REALTORS, for example, are often seen hammering in lawn signs, hosting open houses and making deals.

But of course you know there’s more to the story that that.

Sure, I do a lot of work for my clients during a transaction – helping them find and buy the home of their dreams and, in many cases, helping them sell their current properties quickly and for the best price.

But my role doesn’t end there.

I’m in it for the long term, helping clients maximize the enjoyment of their homes. I do that by staying in touch regularly, being available when they have questions or need recommendations, and in many other ways as well.

The many less-than dramatic things I do for clients may not make it to a TV show, but they are still important to you!

A Moment with Marianne...

Please click on the link to "Understand the Home Buying Process" http://tinyurl.com/4arfyqy

A Moment With Marianne....

Nothing unusual about January resale home sales

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 675 residential properties in January through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 719 in January 2010, a decrease of 6.1 per cent.

Of those sales, 135 were in the condominium property class, while 540 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“These are normal sales numbers for January in Ottawa – the average number of sales for the previous five Januaries was 662, so we’re even a little ahead of that, and prices continued to rise incrementally. Winter is usually a quieter time of year in the resale market and 2011 appears to be no exception,” said Board President Joanne Tibbles. “Our market remains balanced, with no significant advantage towards either buyers or sellers, so it’s fair game for everyone,” she added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in January in the Ottawa area was $329,657, an increase of 3 per cent over January 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $236,065, a decrease of 8.7 per cent over January 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $353,055, an increase of 4.7 per cent over January 2010.

IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT MAKING A MOVE IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE CALL MARIANNE TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS!!


Source Ottawa Real Estate Board February 2011

A Moment with Marianne....

The Informed Home Buyer / Seller Helpful Advice for Making the Right Move... please check it out... http://tinyurl.com/49robvu

A Moment with Marianne......

On the Move

A new year presents a fresh start and for many that means moving. But there are many costs to moving that people overlook.

Don’t buy Boxes.

It’s tempting to go to the nearest Staples and pick up a pre-packaged set of boxes, but those can be pricey and that won’t likely go a long way. Why spend all that cash when you’re like to break the boxes down and recycle them? Ask managers at the neighbourhood grocery store or department store if they have any used boxes they can donate.

Shop Around.

Always get a price quote from a few different moving companies. If you are going to move a long distance, insist on a home visit to determine the true amount of space you will need. Some movers will give you a fixed price guaranteed not to go over. In the world of moving scams – when movers hold your valuables “hostage” if you don’t pay an extra hidden fee – this guarantee is invaluable.

Enlist friends.

Don’t pay for full-service moving and packing, which can add several hundred dollars to your bill. Have a moving party, order pizza and play music while a few of your most reliable friends come by and wrap every knick-knack you own. Thank them by returning the favour next time they move.

Buy cheap supplies.

The dollar store is a great source for packing supplies such as packing tape and rope. Prices are much cheaper than at big-box stores.

Use what you have.

Don’t buy Styrofoam peanuts to fill your boxes of fragile items. Instead wrap them in towels, sheets, pillowcases and clothing (like socks) to shield from breakage. If you have a ton of old bills or flyers, put them through the shredder and use a box stuffing. As they say, you’ll kill two birds with one stone.

Source Ottawa Citizen By Patti Romano

A Moment with Marianne....

The Harper Government Takes Prudent Action to Support the Long-Term Stability of Canada's Housing Market

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced prudent adjustments to the rules for government-backed insured mortgages to support the long-term stability of Canada's housing market and support hard-working Canadian families saving through home ownership.

"Canada's well-regulated housing sector has been an important strength that allowed us to avoid the mistakes of other countries and helped protect us from the worst of the recent global recession," said Minister Flaherty. "The prudent measures announced today build on that advantage by encouraging hard-working Canadian families to save by investing in their homes and future."

"The economy continues to be our Government's top priority," continued Minister Paradis. "Our Government will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure stability and economic certainty in Canada's housing market."

The new measures:

Reduce the maximum amortization period to 30 years from 35 years for new government-backed insured mortgages with loan-to-value ratios of more than 80 per cent. This will significantly reduce the total interest payments Canadian families make on their mortgages, allow Canadian families to build up equity in their homes more quickly, and help Canadians pay off their mortgages before they retire.

Lower the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their mortgages to 85 per cent from 90 per cent of the value of their homes. This will promote saving through home ownership and limit the repackaging of consumer debt into mortgages guaranteed by taxpayers.

Withdraw government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes, such as home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. This will ensure that risks associated with consumer debt products used to borrow funds unrelated to house purchases are managed by the financial institutions and not borne by taxpayers.

Our Government's ongoing monitoring and sound underlying supervisory regime, along with the traditionally cautious approach taken by Canadian financial institutions to mortgage lending, have allowed Canada to maintain strong and secure housing and mortgage markets.

The adjustments to the mortgage insurance guarantee framework will come into force on March 18, 2011. The withdrawal of government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes will come into force on April 18, 2011.

source Mortgage Brokers Ottawa -Jan 17/11