Frank Steinhausen, Broker
FSteinhausen@REMAX.net
RE/MAX Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
Phone 905-428-6533
Fax 905-668-1850
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Realosophy - Pickering Schools, Home Prices and Neighbourhood Photos
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Archive for September, 2008
Greater Toronto Area Resale Housing Moderate in September
September 19th, 2008 Categories: Ajax, Buying real estate, Pickering, Pickering Village, Real Estate News, Selling real estate
September 17, 2008 — The Greater Toronto Area’s autumn resale housing market began with moderate activity, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill announced today.
With 2,726 sales during the first half of this month, activity has declined 16 per cent from the 3,236 recorded during same time period a year ago. Compared to the 2,913 transactions recorded during the first half of September 2006, activity has declined six per cent.
In the City of Toronto, 998 sales were recorded, which represents a 23 per cent decline from the 1,297 transactions recorded in the first half of September 2007 and an 11 per cent decline from the 1,118 homes that changed hands in 2006. However, activity increased 16 per cent in the first half of September 2007 from the same period in 2006.
In the 905 Region, there were 1,728 sales, down 11 per cent from the first half of September 2007, when 1,939 transactions were recorded and within four per cent of the 1,795 sales recorded during the same timeframe in 2006. However, activity increased eight per cent during the first two weeks of September 2007 as compared to 2006.
“Although housing activity in the GTA remains moderate, we’re continuing to see a consistent pattern, and this stability is certainly positive news compared to markets in other sectors and in other world cities,” said Ms. O’Neill.
At $366,158 the average price of housing in the GTA has increased marginally from the $364,364 recorded a year ago and is up nine per cent from $335,208 recorded in September 2006.
In the City of Toronto, the average price is $386,524 up marginally from the $384,796 recorded in the first half of September 2007 and up 12 per cent from the $343,561 average from the same period in 2006.
In the 905 Region, the average price is $354,395; an increase of one per cent from $350,698 recorded a year ago and up seven per cent from $330,005 recorded in the first half of September 2006.
“The fact that prices have held firm despite moderate activity shows that consumers regard real estate as a sound investment,” said Ms. O’Neill.
The percentage of asking price that Sellers receive for their homes has also remained consistent. The list to sale price ratio is 98 per cent, as it was a year ago.
The 26,299 properties listed for sale on the TorontoMLS system have increased 26 per cent from a year ago when 20,841 homes were available. The time that homes remain on the market has increased as well, to an average of 37 days compared to 31 days a year ago.
In a few areas though, activity heated up during the first two weeks of the month.
Transactions in Bowmanville (E17) increased 66 per cent from a year ago, as a result of strong detached home sales.
In Streetsville (W20) activity increased seven per cent compared to mid-September 2007 due mainly to semi-detached sales.
Vaughan (N02) saw a 20 per cent increased in transactions from a year ago due to strong sales of all housing types.
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School Report Cards: Judging a Neighbourhood By Its Schools
September 18th, 2008 Categories: Ajax, Durham Region, Pickering, Pickering Village
My daughter is in grade 4 this year. Last May, she did some extra studying and wrote her EQAO tests for grade 3. I choose not to make a big deal about the tests because how she does on the tests are not going to matter when she comes to deciding on a university.
When I am showing clients around neighbourhoods, “what are the schools like?” often comes up. I use the EQAO results to give a general gauge on how each school is doing.
Those results are available to you at wow.realosophy.com. I have the links at the left hand side for Durham Region information for you to check out.
You can check out Pickering schools and neighbourhoods here and Ajax schools here.
For the record, my daughter’s school has an A- and B+ score. Want to know where it is, give me a call. I love to talk about neighbourhoods.
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Timely Reminder To Respect Propane
September 16th, 2008 Categories: Ajax, Area interest, Pickering, Pickering Village
The explosion in Toronto is a vivid reminder of high school science. Some gases are volatile. Of course, for propane, that is what we use it for.
It doesn’t hurt to be reminded that propane is dangerous and needs to be respected. Here are some safety tips for you:
- Never use or store cylinders indoors.
- Check hoses for cracks.
- Always position cylinders so that the value/hose connection do not cause sharp bends in the hose.
- Keep the cylinders upright.
- Test the connections by brushing on soapy water and turning on the gas. If bubbles appear—or you smell rotten eggs—turn off the gas and tighten the connections. Do the test again—if bubbles and /or the smell continue, shut off the valve and have it serviced by a qualified dealer.
- Don’t overfill. Space must be left for the propane to expand when temperature rise. To determine how full your cylinder is, pour hot water down the side, wait a second, then slide your hand up and down the tank. Where the tank changes from hot to cold marks the liquid level.
- Every 10 years propane cylinders must be inspected and re-qualified.
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Get Your House In Order
September 6th, 2008 Categories: Ajax, Area interest, Pickering, Pickering Village
Now is a good as time as any to organize. I find that I am starting to put summer things away and trying to keep kid’s backpacks, shoes and coloured pencils (where did they all come from) with back-to-school. I want everything to have a place. Maybe, someday…
Well, my home wasn’t cluttered in a day, so I guess I shouldn’t expect an overnight transformation (Anyone have a house elf they are not using?)
Here are a few tips to inspire your clutter clearing days:
- Get rid of anything that is in the someday-I-might-need-this pile. If you haven’t used it in 6 months. You don’t need it.
- Sign up for “”FlyLady,” a cleaner after my own heart. She sends me small daily tasks to keep the piles at bay.
- Consider one sane, organized, matching storage system. I find if it looks good, I tend to use it more. It makes me feel better.
- Delegate. You probably didn’t make all the mess. Ask for help cleaning and offer a family reward when it is done.
- Your junk might be someone else’s treasure. Ebay, craigslist, kijiji or
even an old fashioned garage sale gets things out of your house and into someone else’s. - Get someone else to do it. Google professional organizer and you can see the proliferation of this profession (maybe a new career path for you—now that you are an expert). They will even clean your cupboards and organize your junk drawer.
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GTA Resale Housing Remains Steady Throughout Summer Months
September 6th, 2008 Categories: Ajax, Area interest, Pickering, Pickering Village, Real Estate News
September 4, 2008 –The Greater Toronto resale housing market closed out the last full month of summer at a steady pace, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill reported today.
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) average price increased one per cent, to $364,886 when compared to last August’s figure of $361,890. Compared to the $338,192 figure recorded two years ago though, the average GTA has increased eight per cent.
In the City of Toronto the average price declined one per cent to $377,990 from last August’s $381,681. Compared to the August 2006 figure of $344,419 however, the average price in the City of Toronto has increased 10 per cent.
In the 905 Region the average price increased two per cent to $356,657 from last August’s $348,563. Compared to the August 2006 figure of $334,245 the average price in the 905 Region has increased seven per cent.
“These healthy figures substantiate that when undertaken as a long term investment, buying a home is one of the smartest financial moves you can make,” said Ms. O’Neill.
With 6,318 transactions recorded last month, sales in the GTA declined 22 per cent compared to the record August 2007 figure of 8,059. Volumes were off just nine per cent however, from the 6,976 sales recorded in August 2006.
In the City of Toronto, there were 2,437 sales in August, a 25 per cent decline from the 3,243 transactions recorded a year ago. Compared to the 2,706 sales recorded in August 2006 though, this represents a 10 per cent decline. Sales increased 20 per cent between August 2006 and August 2007.
The 905 Region’s 3,881 sales last month were 19 per cent off the August 2007 figure of 4,816 but declined nine per cent from two years ago, when 4,270 sales were recorded.
“Despite August’s moderate sales, the 57,364 transactions that have occurred this year are within 14 per cent of the 67,146 figure recorded a year ago,” said Ms. O’Neill. “In light of the fact that 2007 was a record year, our current market can certainly be characterized as stable.”
There are currently 25,076, properties available for sale in the GTA, which represents a 31 per cent increase from the 19,145 active listings a year ago. Increased choice has resulted in properties remaining on the market for an average of 36 days compared to 33 days a year ago.
Several neighbourhoods throughout the GTA experienced increased sales activity last month compared to August 2007.
In Pickering (E13) transactions rose six per cent based primarily on strong semi-detached home sales. In Halton Hills (W27) strong attached/row house sales activity lead to a three per cent increase in transactions overall.
Condominium apartment and detached home transactions drove Rosedale (C09) to an 81 per cent increase in overall sales. Detached home transactions also contributed to an 11 per cent overall increase in sales in Aurora (N06).
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board. Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.
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Are You Afraid to Walk in Your Neighbourhood After Dark?
September 3rd, 2008 Categories: Ajax, Area interest, Pickering, Pickering Village
Statistics Canada says that 18% of people who live in urban areas are. Women and seniors top the list of fearful groups. Although they were less likely to be fearful once they got in their home, than those ages 25 – 44.
In a study, Fear of Crime and the Neighbourhood Context in Canadian Cities, Robin Fitzgerald found that there were three neighbourhood statistics that intimidated people the most: “higher proportions of low income families, visible minority residents, or lone-parent families.”
Given the top-of-the-hour media coverage crime gets, it is no wonder that most people think that crime is getting worse.
Statistics Canada reported in July that the crime rate has decreased for the third year in a row. The crime rate has actually being declining since 1991.
In case you want to get back on the streets, you should know that Toronto is actually the safest big city in Canada with the lowest per capita crime rate in cities over 500,000. It also ranks the lowest break-and-enter crime rate in the country.
Curiously, Regina has the highest rate of violent crime and break-and-enter. So, that fact that house prices in Regina have risen 39% this year. You might want to check out the neighbourhood first.
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