Happy Mother's Day to all the awesome mums out there!

Hope everyone enjoyed their day!

Market Conditions Promote Price Growth in April 2013

May 3, 2013 -- Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 9,811 sales through the TorontoMLS system in April 2013, representing a dip of two per cent in comparison to 10,021 transactions in April 2012. Both new listings during the month and active listings at the end of April were up on a year-over-year basis.

“Despite the headwinds we have experienced in the housing market this year, April sales came in quite strong in comparison to last year. As we move through the spring and into the second half of 2013, the demand for home ownership should continue to
firm-up relative to last year,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah.

“It has been almost a year since the federal government enacted stricter mortgage lending guidelines. It is realistic to surmise that some households, who originally put their decision to purchase on hold, are once again looking to buy,” continued Ms.
Hannah.

The average selling price for April 2013 transactions was $526,335 – up by two per cent in comparison to April 2012. The MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark Price was up by 2.9 per cent.

“The condominium apartment segment in the City of Toronto was a key driver of price growth in April, with both the average selling price and the MLS HPI apartment index up on a year-over-year basis. The improved condo sales picture, with Toronto sales down by only one per cent compared to last year, suggests that interest in condo ownership may be improving," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Courtesy of TREB April 2013

383 Sorauren Condos in Roncesvalles Village!

If they build it you will come....laugh if you will but this place will most likley be sold out shortly after the Broker's VIP in April...kinda like the brownies at 7th Sister Bakery on The Ronc.

Here's a link to some of the project's deets  383 Sorauren

TORONTO, March 18, 2013 – Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 3,594 transactions through the TorontoMLS system during the first 14 days of March 2013 – down 11.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. The number of new listings was up by less than two per cent.

“With sales down and listings up slightly, the GTA market was better supplied in the first half of March compared to last year. This fact notwithstanding, there has been enough competition between buyers to promote moderate to strong upward pressure on average selling prices for most home types on an annual basis,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah.
“The average price for condominium apartments in the City of Toronto was up over last year. If this price growth continues, it may indicate that conditions are tightening slightly in this segment,” added Ms. Hannah.

The average selling price for the first two weeks of March was up by almost six per cent year-over-year to $532,102. Average prices were up for all major home type categories.
“Due to tight supply, the average annual rate of price growth for singles, semis and towns continues to far outpace the rate of inflation. The condo apartment segment has been a mitigating factor, which is why our forecast for price growth in 2013 remains at approximately 3.5 per cent or $515,000 for all home types combined,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

NB: will provide a chart soon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March Break...what to do? the zoo? movies? the mall? a family holiday? It's whatever you need it to be. Hey, if you just want to chillax in track pants at home and play video games or stuff your face with cupcakes, that's cool too!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Happy Family Day everyone!

Preparing your home for sale!

Yes, I'm recycling my own article however, sellers underestimate how crucial this process is. OK, not every seller! In addition, pricing your home accordingly is vital in getting qualified and motivated buyers through the door. This topic will be a seperate post! It needs to be!

Endless articles have been written about house prepping online and in newspapers/ magazines for quite some time now (big sigh....)

So this news is nothing new, it's not like I've cracked the Da Vinci code or split an atom however this info will serve as an easy reminder of the basic things a seller should consider to make their home more saleable.

Whether a potential seller is downsizing or upsizing, the opportunity to prepare a home for sale is a worthwhile one. It allows a seller to re-evaluate items that have fulfilled their function and need to be moved to greener pastures. (le:Goodwill, garage sales, content sales) Also editing belongings such as furniture, personal items, clothing, tools and the like can make a person feel less burdened by their "things" and allows them to have a slightly easier move when they actually move out of their home after their home has sold.

This may sound pretty straightforward however it's surprising how attached we are to items that we feel we don't need or use. It's usually helpful to have a third party guide one through the steps to take to unburden a home. We are always glad to help/ suggest which items large or small would benefit or hamper the selling process.The idea is to create a home that a buyer can potentially see themselves living in. The last thing anyone wants to do is to distract buyers with stuff. This defeats the purpose of allowing them to notice the unique and sometimes hidden features in a home.

Removing items such as personal photos, bills, paperwork, jewellery, small curios, piles of magazines, children's toys, excess clothing in closets and the like is a fine start. De-cluttering may involve more work then this as every home is different. In addition, some homes need some basic repair work and we are fortunate to be working with a reliable and skilled handyman that can fix anything! Some homes need a bit more attention then others however all is workable.

Once a home is de-cluttered and minor repairs made (if needed), it's easier to begin the staging process. Not everyone needs full-on staging as most items people already have in their home. From there, a lot of moving, tweaking and primping will go a long way.

If you are thinking of selling, allow us to show you how your home can shine in the most cost-effective way! No gimmicks, snake oil or high pressure anything!

Call us at 416-251-2999

torontowestendrealtor.com

Ok, it's not spring weather wise but the spring real estate market has started rolling along! If you're a Seller, now is the time to put your place up for sale! If you're a Buyer, you best get hustlin' before the market gets too busy. You can listen to the economic grim reapers all you want but facts are facts and the City of Toronto has some solid fundamentals to work with. Oh, and the bit about a "bubble"....that myth is a bit dated, n'est pas?!

Check out this family friendly 4 bedroom home in Mimico that has well proportioned rooms and a good flow. Located on a family friendly street and close to shopping, transportation and even French Immersion schools, why wouldn't you want to live here?

Come check out our Open House this weekend, January 26th and 27th from 2-4pm and see why Mimico is the place to be now for young families!

  Wood Burning Fireplace!!

 Family sized Dining Room

 Spacious Kitchen!

Cosy Master Bedroom!

 Roomy Kids Space!

Let that big pooch of yours have a good play area here...or not:)

A lovingly maintained perennial garden awaits a new owner!

Come and see why Mimico is hands down the family friendly place to be!

Happy Belated New Year Folks!

Believe it or not the Spring Housing Market has just started, if you're thinking of selling, now would be the best time. Let us show you why! No gimmicks!

Call us! 416-251-2999 or email us at: fnhhomes@gmail.com

Cheers!

Note: we have a well priced family home with ample bedrooms in a family friendly neighbourhood coming out really soon!! Stay tuned!