Uxbridge, Ontario and Durham Region Real Estate Market Statistics - September 2017

Durham’s real estate market continues to remain strong

Durham Region Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) President Roger Bouma reported 835 residential transactions in September 2017, down 23 per cent compared to September 2016. However, this was a slight increase over the previous month.

September also saw an increase in the number of new listings in Durham (1,914), compared to the 1,556 new listings reported in September 2016.

The average housing price for September in Durham Region was $578,666, a slight decrease over the previous month, however an increase of 4.25% over the same period last year.

Homes listed on the market continue to sell in an average of 23 days.

Uxbridge’s Real Estate Market

There were 21 residential transactions reported in Uxbridge through the Toronto Real Estate Board in September 2017, down 36% from September 2016 but up 10.5% from August 2017.

New listings increased in Uxbridge, 73 in September 2017 compared to 48 in September 2016.  An increase of 23 from August. 

The average housing price for September in Uxbridge was $802,238, an increase of 10.61% over the previous month, and an increase of 14.85% over the same period last year.

Homes that sold took an average of 31 days to sell.

After Sales Prices having a slight downturn from record numbers in the beginning of 2017, September 

saw a small increase.

August Real Estate Sales Durham Region and Uxbridge

Durham Region Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) President Roger Bouma reported 822 residential transactions in August 2017, a 9.75% increase over the previous month.

August also saw a 16.2% increase in the number of new listings in Durham (1,497), compared to the 1,288 new listings reported in August 2016.

“We continue to experience a healthy balanced market,” said Bouma. “The average house price in August in Durham is $587,172, which is down 16.5% from the highs reached in April, but slightly higher (3%) than the previous month of $569,748 and an 8.3% increase over the same period last year.

“Home ownership continues to be a good investment,” said Bouma. “It remains the only investment that you can live in, raise your family and make memories, while ensuring a nice return over time.” He added, “Durham Region continues to be a great place to buy, offering some of the best real estate value in the GTA.”

UXBRIDGE August 2017

In August the Average Sale Price in Uxbridge for the month was $725,316, down 4.72% from the same month a year ago, and down 6.14% from July 2017, but still an increase of 17.02% over the same period last year.

19 homes changed hands in August down 15 from August 2016.  

Active listing where up however to 86 from 50 a year ago.   Of those 86, 50 where new listings.

Uxbridge Real Estate Stats - July 2017

What's In Store For The Market in 2017?

Decorating Tips From The Pros

Prevent Your Renovation From Going Over Budget

Real Estate Stats: Durham Region, Uxbridge and Scugog

January 2017

Durham Ends 2016 Leadings

GTA in Average Selling Price

Growth

Durham Region Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) President Roger

Bouma reported 528 residential transactions in December 2016, a 4 per cent

decrease from the same time last year. “Real estate transactions tend to slow

down around the holidays,” stated Bouma. There were 411 new listings in

December 2016 compared to 512 in December 2015. The average selling price

in Durham reached $570,957 last month. In comparison, the average selling

price was $451,671 during the same period last year; a 26 per cent increase.

From the Toronto Real Estate Board Market Watch, January 2017

Uxbridge had the highest

increase in year-to-date average selling price growth with a 31 per cent

increase from 2015. The second highest increase was Oshawa at 27 per cent,

and third highest was Brock and Clarington at 21 per cent. Durham Region is

also selling the quickest in the GTA with a year-to-date average of 12 days-on-

market, 3 days quicker than Peel Region and 4 days quicker than York Region.

Ajax, Oshawa, and Whitby sold the quickest in Durham Region with an average

of 10 days-on-market.

Real Estate Stats GTA/Uxbridge

October 2016 Home Sales Up Year-Over-Year
GTA is setting a Record Pace!

TORONTO, November 3, 2016 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported a record 9,768 sales through TREB's MLS® System in October 2016 – up by 11.5 per cent compared to October 2015. For the TREB market area as a whole, the largest annual rate of sales growth was in the condominium apartment market segment. Detached home sales were up by 10 per cent year-over-year, driven predominantly by transactions in the regions surrounding Toronto.

“The record pace of GTA home sales continued in October, with strong growth observed throughout the month. As we move through November and December, we will be watching the sales and listings trends closely, in light of the recent policy changes announced by the Federal Minister of Finance. TREB will once again be conducting consumer survey work, in order to report on home buying intentions for 2017,” said Mr. Cerqua.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 19.7 per cent on a year- over-year basis in October 2016. Similarly, the average selling price for all home types combined was $762,975 – up 21.1 per cent over the same time period. Double-digit increases were experienced for all major home types for the TREB Market Area as a whole.

“New listings were up slightly in October compared to last year, but not nearly enough to offset the strong sales growth. This meant that seller’s market conditions continued to prevail as buyers of all home types experienced intense competition in the marketplace. Until we experience sustained relief in the supply of listings, the potential for strong annual rates of price growth will persist, especially in the low-rise market segments,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis. 



UXBRIDGE, November 3, 2016  - The average selling price for all home types for the Township of Uxbridge combined was $745,988 - up 22.7% year-to-date.   There were 31 sales reported in October compared to 36 in October 2015 down 14%.  New listing for the month were 42 compared to 40 in October 2015 and increase of 5%.  However there were 82 active listings in Uxbridge for October 2015 well over the 53 listings on the market in 2016.   With the tight supply prices are still increasing and homes are selling quickly (the average days on market October 2016 are 17 days, 10 days shorted that in 2015)

From the Toronto Real Estate Board Market Watch, October 2016

Keep Your Heating Bills in Check This Winter

In the middle of January or February, your gas or electric bill can be pretty shocking. You don’t have to turn the heat down to 60 degrees and pile on the blankets to keep your heating bill under control. Stay warm with these tips.

AMY FREEMANTODAY

Winter is coming, and with it sky-high heating bills. If your Philly gas or electric bill spikes every year from December through March, it’s time to do something about it. There’s no reason why you need to pay an arm and a leg to keep you Philadelphia home comfortably warm all winter long.

Fix Up Your Furnace

If your furnace is working harder than it needs to, you’re likely to see higher heating bills throughout the winter. Before the temperatures fall too much, have a repair company come out and tune up your furnace for the winter. During a tune up, a heating contractor will fully inspect the machine, replace the filters, and perform any maintenance needed. The tune up helps your furnace run more efficiently throughout the winter.

Use Your Fans

Ceiling fans don’t just help keep your home cool in the summer. They can also help warm it up in the winter, as long as the blades are spinning the right direction. In the winter, adjust your fan so that the blades turn slowly clockwise, this creates an updraft, helping distribute the warm air in your home.

Seal Up Any Leaks

Your heating costs will increase if the warm air is able to sneak out of your home and if cold air is allowed to seep in. To keep things toasty, caulk around windows and doors to keep warm air in. Look at where your outlet boxes are too, as cold air can often seep in through them. If your home has a fireplace, make sure the dampers are closed (when not in use) so that air doesn’t leak up and out through the chimney.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

You know that lowering your thermostat a degree or two can cut the cost of heating your home. But it can be difficult to remember to raise or lower the temperature as needed. If you want to lower your bills, it can be helpful to purchase a smart thermostat. There are a number of brands available, but the basic concept is that they learn to automatically adjust the temperature in your home based on your habits and preferences and based on the time of year. Some smart thermostats let you know when to tune up your furnace or change the filter for maximum efficiency.

Work with Your Utility Company

You want to reduce your bills, and your utility company wants you to pay your bills on time. It should be no surprise that both PGW and Peco have programs designed to help you with your heating costs. One option offered by both companies is budget billing. With budget billing, you pay the same amount each month, based on your past use and averaged out over the year. You don’t save money with the budget bill plan, but it can help you avoid a bit of a shock or having to scramble to come up with money to cover a higher than usual bill in the winter.

PGW also offers a program called CARES, which provides payment help if you’ve had an unusual circumstance that’s keeping you from paying your bill. Job loss and a medical emergency are two examples of situations that might qualify you for the CARES program.

Pennsylvania offers LIHEAP for households that meet certain income limits. The program usually starts taking applications in November.

Don’t let high heating bills leave you cold this winter. You have lots of options for reducing your bills, without sacrificing comfort.

Smart Home Technologies that Matter Most to Home Buyers

25 Smart Home Technologies that Matter Most to Home Buyers

Nearly 60 percent of the real estate agents polled said they are seeing more smart home features in listing descriptions than they did two to five years ago.

LINDSAY LISTANSKIMAR 11, 2015

Everyone is talking about the connected home. Smart home technology is becoming the new norm and now according to a survey of more than 500 Coldwell Banker sale associates it’s taking off in real estate as well. Nearly 60 percent of sales associates surveyed said they are seeing more smart home features in listing descriptions than they did two to five years ago, and one in three sales associates noted that properties with smart home features and technologies sell faster than homes without them.

The relevance of the smart home was also apparent at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas earlier this year. Members of the Coldwell Banker Real Estate marketing team attended CES. The team couldn’t walk more than a few feet without encountering a new piece of smart home technology. From security systems with advanced motion sensors to innovative systems that allow for lighting control from mobile devices, the connected home was ubiquitous.

Inspired by CES, Coldwell Banker compiled a list of the top 25 smart home products and technologies that matter most to buyers, based on the Coldwell Banker survey and CES favorites. The list is grouped into seven categories: security, temperature, safety, lighting, entertainment, appliances and overall connectivity.

Check them out below, and follow along all week as we continue to highlight smart home technology on the Blue Matter blog and through social media with #smarthomeweek.

Smart Security

1. Kwikset Kevo Smart Lock – With Kevo the smartphone is now the key. Home sellers can allow their realtors, or anyone else such as a neighbor or a housecleaner, to have access to specified doors for a designated time. Eventually when the new buyer moves in all they have to do is download the app and they’re ready to go.

2. iSmartAlarm –Meet one of the DIY smart home security leaders, with no monthly fees and no contracts. This easy-to-install wireless DIY system is great for apartments or small homes. The iSmartAlarm system is almost infinitely expandable via door and window motion sensors, smart switches, and iCamera and iCamera KEEP models with streaming video and video storage. Packages start at $199.

3. Oplink Connected– Oplink Connected is great for a slightly larger home, and provides a premier service for a low monthly fee. The DIY alarm package includes door and window sensors as well as video cameras which are controlled through its mobile app. 

4. SAGE Security & Home Automation– Coming soon — SAGE allows for management of the entire connected home through mobile devices and televisions. The television-centric SAGE system enables consumers to check on children in another room via a video feed, see who rang the doorbell or lower the room temperature — all from the comfort of the TV room couch.

Smart Temperature 

5. Nest Learning Thermostat – Tell a buyer that the home has a Nest thermostat and their ears will perk-up. The Nest Learning Thermostat absorbs its owner’s daily routine and adjusts the temperature accordingly. The Nest thermostat can be controlled through a phone, its built-in sensors detect an empty home allowing Nest to set itself to an energy-efficient temperature. Oh, and it also saves customers about 10 – 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills per year — a huge win.

6. Honeywell Lyric Thermostat – Honeywell is known for temperature control and their new smart thermostat, the Lyric, is a solid entry into the smart home market. The most talked about advantages of Lyric are its geofencing feature and humidity sensor for more accurate comfort, control and savings. All of these qualities are definitely pluses for families.

7. Canary – This sleek-looking product is mostly about security, but it made this smart temperature list for its ability to monitor air quality, temperature and humidity. It’s cool enough to make an impression with potential buyers, at only $249. The Canary system is available in white, black or silver.

8. Big Ass Fans’ Haiku with SenseME – The world’s most advanced ceiling fan knows exactly when to speed up and when to slow down. Not to mention, it is a gorgeous and luxurious addition to any room. Starting at $1,045 it’s a better fit for luxury homes, but it will certainly set any listing apart.

Smart Safety

9. Iris Safe & Secure Kit – With Iris, Lowe’s is making it simple for just about anyone to make their home smarter. Feel more confident that families, homes and pets are safe and secure with the DIY, self-monitored home security system. Receive notifications directly to a smartphone, tablet or computer whenever an alarm event is triggered.

10. First Alert Onelink – This suite of smart home safety products is fresh to the market. Included in this offering (and available for presale on Amazon.com) are a Wi-Fi combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm as well as a watch, both of which send phone notifications if something is amiss. The First Alert Onlink safety products, including the already available Wi-Fi thermostat, will be compatible with Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem.

11. Nest Protect – This smart home device is a smoke and carbon monoxide smart alarm that speaks in a human voice, telling the user if there’s smoke or CO, which room it’s in, and if there is immediate danger. Definitely comforting for families!

12. Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight – This genius little nightlight keeps track of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and home climate. If something’s not right, it sends immediate phone notifications.

Smart Lighting 

13. Sengled Pulse Smart Bulb – This combination light and speaker had everyone buzzing at CES 2015. Simply twist the bulb into an existing light socket, download the app and connect to the Pulse bulbs. The Sengled Pulse Smart Bulb can stream music and control lighting at the same time.

14. Lutron Caséta Wireless – This connected home solution allows for lights, battery-powered shades and temperature to be controlled from a mobile device. An easy DIY solution that’s affordable, these products are less than $150. For example, hit “morning,” lights will turn onto a certain level, shades will rise and room temperature is adjusted to the desired level.

15. Philips Hue – Philips Hue delivers more than 16 million colors and all shades of white light to personalize lighting to suit any occasion, mood or moment. With more than 230 apps, Philips Hue can sync lights to music, or even simulate a sunrise effect. Bulbs and lamps are now all controllable via the Hue app or MyHue portal.

16. Belkin WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set – With this simple starter set, turn lights off-and-on from anywhere, create schedules and dim to create the perfect ambiance. The set includes the WeMo link, which allows users to connect up to 50 WeMo Smart bulbs. Can’t get enough of Belkin WeMo products? Get tricked out with complete Belkin home automation.

Smart Appliances

17.LG Studio Collection – LG Studio, LG’s premium line of kitchen appliances, seamlessly blends best-in-class innovation with an uncompromising approach to design. Its full suite of appliances — including refrigerators, cooktops, ranges, ovens and microwaves — delivers integrated and timeless styling, embodying LG’s finest expression of aesthetics and performance.

18. Whirlpool Smart Duet Washer and Dryer – Whirlpool has made it easy to control every load at anytime from anywhere. The Smart Front Washer and Dryer now work with the Nest Learning Technology, helping to keep clothes fresh if the cycle ends while the user is away.

19. LG Mega-Capacity French-Door Refrigerator – LG’s Mega Capacity Refrigerator boasts incredibly impressive size. As the largest in its class, families have room for even the biggest shopping expeditions with space to spare! It also includes the Slim Spaceplus Ice System and the Smart Cooling Plus System, which help keep food fresher, longer. The LG Mega-Capacity Refrigerator includes a 10-year limited warranty.

20. GE ChillHub This first-of-its-kind smart refrigerator has two USB hubs, WiFi and an open-source IOS-compatible app that integrates with the refrigerator by allowing access to sensor data and control of fridge components. The first ChillHub accessory, Milky Weigh, will even tell you how much milk you have left!

Smart Entertainment 

21. N’FINITY PRO HDX Dual Zone Wine Cellars – The N’FINITY PRO is the most advanced wine cellar on the market. Equipped with an energy saving cooling system, telescopic shelving and dual zone cooling, these smart wine cellars will take care of all wine storage needs in the most cost efficient way!

22. Vizio 60″ P-Series Smart TV –This Ultra HD TV is crystal clear and lets users stream popular apps and favorite shows in UHD quality and use UHD playback from next generation cable and satellite receivers, Blu-ray players and more.

23. TCL Roku TV – The TCL Roku TV was released in August 2014 and quickly became a favorite because of its price and comprehensive smart TV features, such as its selection of more than 2,000 streaming channels, easy-to-use interface and simple remote. Recently, Roku announced plans to support 4K UHD streaming in future Roku TV models.

24. DishWorld TV App – The DishWorld app allows viewers to stream live TV on any smart phone, computer or tablet. The app can be used on Roku, Slingbox, Samsung Smart TV, Apple, Windows or Google Play devices.

Connected Home Platform

25. Iris Smart Kit: With so many ways to make a home smart, it can be a lot to digest and manage. Thankfully Lowe’s is making it easy with a single app to manage a Smart Home. Iris offers three starter kits and basic or premium service plans.

What if A Home Inspection Fails?

Home Inspection: What to Do if a House Doesn’t Make the Grade

You’ve found a home that seems perfect, and your offer was accepted. Then you get the bad news: The home inspector found a lot of issues with the property. What should you do when a house doesn’t pass inspection?

AMY FREEMANYESTERDAY

A home inspection is an essential part of the process of buying a home. While you don’t technically need to hire someone to inspect the house you’ve made an offer on, having a professional come in and assess the state of the home can save you a considerable amount of stress and money in the long run. A home inspector can find issues that the average person wouldn’t notice in a home and will outline the process involved in fixing those issues.

So what happens if the home inspection unveils a surprising number of problems with the house, from pest damage to structural concerns? You have a few options if your potential dream home doesn’t put its best foot forward during the inspection.

1. Go forward with the sale and pay for repairs yourself. Even if the inspection turns up a variety of problems with the home, you might be so enamored of the property or might be getting a good enough price on it that you decide to continue with the purchase and will cover the cost of repairs out of your own pocket. Before you decide to take care of any problems with the home on your own, it’s helpful to actually read through the inspection report to get a sense of what needs to be done. Contact several licensed contractors in Philly, and ask them to provide price quotes on the type of repairs that you need. Use that information to determine if going ahead with the sale makes sense for your budget and your peace of mind.

2. Work with the seller. It’s fairly common for buyers and sellers to work together and to negotiate who will pay for what when a home inspection turns up a lot of problems. If there are structural problems with the home, if the furnace or air conditioning are broken, or if the home isn’t up to code, it is usually in your best interest to get the seller to cover at least some costs for repairs. Be careful about expecting a seller to pay for minor problems or cosmetic issues, as most won’t. A seller might cover costs in a variety of ways, such as doing the actual repairs him or herself, issuing you a credit for closing costs, or reducing the price of the home to make up for the cost of repairs.

3. Walk away from the home. Provided that your contract with a seller had an inspection contingency clause, you have the option of going nuclear — abandoning the home and the deal — should the inspection reveal more problems than you want to deal with. Look at the anticipated cost of making repairs to the home versus the value of the home. If the cost of those repairs is more than 2 percent of the home’s value, it’s usually not worth going ahead with the sale.

When it comes to having a home inspection, the value of your inspection is only as good as the person who performs it. Your Real Estate Agent should be able to provide a list of reputable home inspectors.

Fall Yard Care Tips You Should Be Doing Now

Fall Yard Care Tips to Do Now

Fall has finally arrived! As you settle into autumn, and the weather begins to cool, it’s important not to neglect your yard. Keep your DFW backyard looking its best year round with our easy fall yard care tips.

GINNIE LEEMINGYESTERDAY

Fall has finally arrived! As you settle into autumn, and the weather begins to cool, it’s important not to neglect your yard.

Keep your DFW backyard looking its best year round with our easy fall yard care tips.

Take Care of Your Lawn

Lawns can take quite a beating over the course of a hot DFW summer, so managing your lawn is an important part of fall yard care.

As the weather cools, lawn growth will slow. Make sure to continue mowing your lawn (adjust the mower blade as needed) until it becomes dormant. If any pesky weeds sprung up, get rid of them now or risk having them take over your yard by spring.

It’s also time to overseed with rye grass for a green lawn during winter and to fertilize for a healthier lawn come spring.

Did summer heat and lots of backyard activity compact your yard’s soil? Make it a point to aerate your lawn. Doing so will encourage healthy root systems, plus aerating allows water to penetrate deeper, helping to avoid runoff.

Adjust Your Watering

As temperatures dip, plants and grass need less water. Reduce manual watering and make sure to keep an eye on automatic systems, adjusting them as needed.

Fall is also an excellent time to start practicing water conservation techniques. Set up a rain bucket, if you don’t already have one. When you mow the lawn, don’t bag the clippings. Leave them on your grass to conserve water and naturally fertilize your lawn. And make sure you continue to follow the twice-weekly watering schedules for Dallas, Fort Worth, or your community.

Beautify with New Tress, Shrubs, and Annuals

Fall is the perfect time to whip your yard into ship shape!

Keep your yard looking beautiful by removing wilted summer annuals and replacing them with cool-weather varieties (make sure to fertilize the soil first). You’ll also want to stop fertilizing perennials. This will allow them to rest during winter and be healthier come spring. Replenish mulch around trees and flower beds, as well.

Planning to add trees or shrubs? Fall is a great time to do it. Cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall will help to encourage root growth before it gets too cold. Choose native plants for best results. If you need help deciding what to plant, consult the Earth-Kind Plant Selector.

Clean Up Debris

Of course, a big part of fall yard care is cleaning up debris, including dead plants or leaves.

Did you know that yard trimmings make up 20 percent of the waste generated by Texans each year? Thankfully, it’s easy to reduce your waste with a few easy tips.

First, there’s no need to remove a few straggling leaves from your lawn. Just mow right over them, and they’ll help to fertilize your lawn.

For yards with more trees, consider starting a compost pile. Compost can be used as mulch, and using it in your yard helps save on your water bills, reduces the need to fertilize (which is better for the environment), and saves you time (no bagging leaves). Simply add your yard waste to a compost pile instead of throwing it out.

You don’t need a lot of space to begin a compost pile. Check out this mulching and composting guide for tips on getting started.

Real Estate Trends for Buying or Selling

Surprising Real Estate Trends that Will Shape the Way You Buy and Sell a Home

When buying or selling a house, one of the first questions that come to mind is either “What do I want in a house?” or “What do buyers want in my house?” The answer to either question may have a surprising link to generational real estate trends.

MELINA GILLIESYESTERDAY

When buying or selling a house, one of the first questions that come to mind is either “What do I want in a house?” or “What do buyers want in my house?” Though it can be hard to differentiate between wants and needs in real estate, the answer to either question may have a surprising link to generational real estate trends.

The Data

According to data on home buyer and seller generational trends released by the National Association of Realtors, Millennials (those born between 1982 and 2000) continue to comprise the largest contingent of homebuyers, holding 35 percent of the market. Although Millennials are the largest contingent of homebuyers, they spend less time saving for a down payment and have the largest level of educational debt than their home-buying counterparts. The next largest contingent, at 26 percent of the market, is made up of Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1981). These buyers have had a bit more time to pay down student debt, save for a down payment, or gain some equity in their current home — which can provide clues about home buying trends based on age.

Millennials

Millennials are more likely to look for a bargain, with affordability trumping almost every other housing need, and it is one of the major reasons Millennials are flocking to the suburbs, as opposed to urban areas. When selling, that means appealing to the Millennial set that will be looking for walkability, transport links, and neutral spaces to put their stamp on. If buying, especially for the first time, Millennials are more likely to compromise on the size and age of a home before they compromise on price, which provides ample opportunity to build equity through a renovation before moving on to a larger home in the future.

Generation X

Gen Xers, on the other hand, are more likely to move to obtain a larger home for their growing families. When selling, this means playing up livable space in a home and demonstrating how it can support a growing family. Items to focus on are the main living spaces such as the kitchen, living areas, and bathrooms. Proximity to good schools and transportation routes are also good qualities to play up. Gen Xers are also more likely to stay in their homes for a longer period than the Millennial set — meaning Xers are more likely to compromise on price to get the right neighborhood or location.

Baby Boomers

If you’re wondering where the Baby Boomers fit in, it may surprise you to know that the Millennials have recently surpassed Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation, and this demographic shift is reflected in their share of the real estate market. With many Boomers still in the workforce, the real estate trends for this group have been split in two: younger Boomers (born between 1956 and 1964) and older Boomers (born between 1946 and 1955). They have a market share of 16 percent and 15 percent of the market respectively. What makes this generation unique is that they are the ones most likely to move the furthest, obtaining a smaller home and relocating closer to family and friends, and they are willing to pay for the location they want.

The Bottom Line

Across all buying groups, environmentally friendly features ranked as incredibly important, and nearly all generational groups from 30 to 90 began their real estate search online — something potential home sellers should be aware of when preparing their home for sale. No matter who your target market is when selling your home, presenting a neutral space, playing up the local amenities, and including lots of pictures in an online listing will remain critical in a successful sale.