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'THE JAMES BROWN OF REAL ESTATE' Category

Wasaga Beach 2010 Real Estate Sales Figures; August Update

Number Of Sales In Wasaga Beach Down But Average Prices Up

Following on from July the number of homes sold in Wasaga Beach was once again down in August compared to August 2010. Just over 10% less homes sold.

The average price though was up just over 15%.

For 2010 the number of homes sold is still up over 2009 as is the average price year on year. However the market does seem to be slowing down. The higher sales in early 2010 can possibly be attributed to the “fear” of interest rate rises from July on and also the impact of HST; buyers bought sooner rather than later.

Now that people realise that rates are not shooting up and are understanding the actual impact of the new HST when buying a home we may see more buyers taking action. From personal experience and talking to other agents the buyers have just not been willing to commit and have taken a wait and see attitude.

For buyers there is a lot of homes to choose from and as a result realistic pricing by serious sellers.

Average Sale Price August 2009 – August 2010 $266,438.

Average Sale Price August 2008 – August 2009  $247,479.

“Hows the market?” Share this update with friends and family by clicking on the buttons below.

9 Simple Ways To Be Mortgage Free In 10 Years

Imagine Being Mortgage Free!! Here Are 9 Simple Ways To Pay Off Your Mortgage Sooner

Of course the speed with which you pay off the mortgage depends on its size. But every little helps.

1. Pay off weekly or bi-weekly rather than monthly. In effect you make 13 “monthly” payments a year, not 12. The mortgage will be paid off in just under 21 years rather than 25.
2. Increase the mortgage payment by the same percentage that your income goes up. 5% raise? Pay off 5% more each week or month and this directly reduces the principal.
3. Pay off some of the mortgage with any windfalls or bonus. Again this can be as a percentage. If normally 25% of your income goes towards the mortgage then use 25% of a bonus as a prepayment.
4. Even if the mortgage rate lowers keep the payments the same. Again the difference directly pays off principal.
5. Pay off a lump sum with any tax rebates.
6. Simply decide to pay an extra amount each month. Cut out a large Timmies each day and pay an extra $50 a month off the mortgage.
7. Add just a little to each weekly payment by rounding the figure up. $375 instead of $362 for example would equal an extra $676 a year off the principle.
8. Choose a closed mortgage rather than an open one; these generally have better rates and still allow you to pay off an extra 20% or so in prepayments each year.
9. This tip depends on your attitude to risk but choose a variable rate rather than fixed. The interest payment will be much lower.  Studies show that historically home owners with a variable rate pay less interest than those with a fixed rate mortgage. But you may loose some sleep when rates start going up

September 1st 2010 MLS® New Listings Tour Of Homes For Sale In Wasaga Beach

From The West End Of Wasaga Beach All the Way To Tiny On Today’s MLS® New Listings Tour Of Homes For Sale

Cottages, riverfront and family homes from $179,900 to $449,900.

Click on the street name to get the Google Maps “Street View” of the area if available: 47th Street North, 48th Street South, Knox Road West, Knox Road East, Oak Lea Boulevard, Brouwer Crescent, Bush Crescent, Cranberry Heights, Britton Court, Klondike Park Road, Balsam Street, Doan Avenue and River Road East.

Please do contact me if you require further details. As always due to the rules and regulations I can’t print anymore information about other Broker’s listings on this site

OR search for homes here.

Day 144: Century 21 Millenniun Inc Open Houses In Wasaga Beach This Weekend

Day 144 of 365

7 Open Houses This Weekend In Wasaga Beach With Century 21 Millenniun Inc

Real Estate is a bit of a national obsession. The same is true in England. People are always chating with me about homes in England and HGTV has a lot to answer for.

This weekend if you want to get your “fix” of Real Estate or are actively looking to move there is a decent range of Open Houses with Century 21 Millenniun Inc in Wasaga Beach.

I’ll be on Shore Lane enjoying the beach view if you want to pop in and say hello.

Saturday

201 Shore Lane (corner of 16th Street) 1pm to 3pm.

112 Zoo Park Road North 1pm to 3pm.

1814 Tiny Beaches Road South 1pm to 3pm.

20 Indiana Avenue 1pm to 3pm.

Sunday

201 Shore Lane (corner of 16th Street) 1pm to 3pm.

60 Rose Valley Way 11am to 2pm.

4 Culham Trail 3pm to 5pm.

Hey, if you know anyone that enjoys Open House in Wasaga Beach please share by clicking on the buttons below

Canadian Housing Market Is Going To Crash!! Or Is It???

“Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force:

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.”

- Mark Twain’s Own Autobiography

In July the numbers of homes sold in Canada dropped by 30% from July 2009. The media stated categorically that the Canadian real estate market was crashing. Nothing like doom and gloom to sell newspapers. Don’t worry about the facts, just have a great headline.

The Globe & Mail managed to contradict themselves in their headline; sales down in bold but in smaller print average price still up.

I recently read that:

“Statistics are usually used like a drunk person uses a lamp post – more for support than for illumination.”

Let me say the “average price” in Canada does NOT matter.

Real estate is a local industry; national issues may impact the market but supply and demand depend on local conditions. Remember that in the housing market national averages are disproportionally “skewed” by figures from Toronto and Vancouver.

The market in Wasaga beach is driven by retirees, recreational home buyers and families looking for value who are prepared to commute to work.

Again the “fact” that nationally sales dropped 30% in July does not matter. Look at what happened in the real estate market in Wasaga Beach in July. I am not saying that the market was good, bad or indifferent, just that these are the relevant figures (and to a lesser extent the surrounding Georgian Triangle.)

As they say “don’t believe the hype” and take any media news good or bad, with a pinch of salt. Reserch what is happening in the relevant area.

As an aside undoubtedly the national figures for July were influenced by the introduction of HST in Ontario and BC plus the expectation that mortgage rates were going to increase.

Open House: 201 Shore Lane Wasaga Beach. Saturday and Sunday August 28th & 29th

Fantastic Year Round Beach House Overlooking Crown Land & Pure Sand Beach! Unobstructed View & Direct Access To The Water

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th August. 1pm to 3pm.

This 3 year old home has just been reduced to $329,900.

Century 21 Millenniun Inc Open Houses In Wasaga Beach This Weekend

Century 21 Millennium Inc Agents Are Hosting 7 Open Houses In Wasaga Beach This Weekend

Saturday August 21st

63 White Sands Way 1pm to 3pm

62 Dyer Drive 1pm to 3pm

Sunday August 22nd

63 White Sands Way 1pm to 3pm

71 Meadow Lane 1pm to 3pm

43 Sunnidale River Road 1pm to 4 pm

26 Britton Court 1pm to 4pm

52 Bush Crescent 2pm to 4pm

This Agent Didn’t Even Visit The Home To Take Photos

Yes This San Diego MLS Listing Photo Is From Google Maps Street View

“Century 21 Agent Dominates Google”

It’s Almost A Cliche But Buyers DO Start Their Search On the Internet

The number may vary from 75% up but he truth is that the vast majority of home buyers start their search for a home on the internet.

To sell your home it is critical to have a focused presence on the web.

I was recently asked to host a webinar for US real estate agents on the importance of Google. Below is a brief summary of the presentation that both buyers and sellers you may find interesting.

August 18th 2010 MLS® New Lisitings Tour Of Homes For Sale In Wasaga Beach

A Whole Range Of Homes For Sale In Wasaga Beach On The Tour Today From Under $200,000 To A Luxury $599,900.

14 homes for sale ranging from $189,000 to $599,900.

Click on the street name to get Google’s “street view” of the area where available:  Mosley Street, Maple Drive, Oriole Crescent, 39th Street South, Innisbrook Drive, Riverdale Drive, Fatima Court, Rosevalley Way, Acorn Crescent, Bush Crescent, Nancy Street, Fairway Crescent, Wasaga Woods Circle and Mamie Avenue.

Please contact me for further details or use the property search facility.