Brampton Real Estate Talk

TORONTO, JUNE 3, 2010 ‐ Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,470 sales through the
Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, representing a one per cent dip from May 2009. In
comparison to previous years, this was the third highest May sales result on record.
“The pace of transactions slowed in May following record‐setting sales in February, March and
April,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “Buyers who otherwise would
have been purchasing a home in May moved more quickly this year, likely to get ahead of
mortgage rate hikes.”

New listings were up 38 per cent annually to 18,940. The average price for May transactions
was $446,593 – up 13 per cent compared to the average of $395,609 recorded in May 2009.
“The gap between listings and sales has widened, which means there is more choice for
buyers,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “The annual rate of
price growth will slow in the second half of 2010, from the current double digit pace into the
single digits.”

The latest version of our HomeMarketWatch Insider newsletter
is now available on our website at:
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Each month, we publish a series of articles of interest to
homeowners — money-saving tips, household safety checklists,
home improvement advice, real estate insider secrets, etc.
Whether you are currently in the market for a new home, or not,
we hope that this information is of value to you. Please feel
free to pass these articles on to your family and friends.

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This month’s features…

FEATURE REPORT:
- Is Your Home Healthy and Safe For Children?

ALSO THIS MONTH:
- 27 Tips You Should Know To Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar
- Summer Health Dangers

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*** THERE’S MORE ON THE WEB… ruthballantyne.com ***

Hire My Entire Team For LESS Than the Price of One Agent:
http://ruthballantyne.com/redir.asp?page=team.asp&t=sicNews

FREE Quick Over-the-Net Evaluation:
http://ruthballantyne.com/redir.asp?page=homeeval.asp&t=sicNews

Find Out What the Home Down the Street Sold For:
http://ruthballantyne.com/redir.asp?page=gold_findout.asp&t=sicNews

How To Beat Out Other Buyers to Hot New Listings:
http://ruthballantyne.com/redir.asp?page=vip_buyer.asp&t=sicNews

Ask One of Our Experts Your Real Estate Question:
http://ruthballantyne.com/redir.asp?page=gold_askexpert.asp&t=sicNews

Find Out How Much You Can Afford In Your Next Home:
http://ruthballantyne.com/redir.asp?page=silver_mortgagecalc.asp&t=sicNews

Ruth Ballantyne

Sales Representative
RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., Brokerage
295 Queen Street East,
Brampton On
L6W 3R1
Phone: 905-456-1000
Website: www.ruthballantyne.com

Email: ruth@ruthballantyne.com

I am loving this weather! It’s 28°C and the sun is shining! Tomorrow will be even better!

What are you doing today? I hope you are out there enjoying it!

I am just back from a Meeting with Bramalea-Gore-Malton MP Hon. Gurbax Malhi. I was lobbying to have the Home Buyers Plan Indexed to keep pace with inflation so that it never loses its value. Did you know that the average net worth of a household who rents is $11,000 compared to $375,000 for homeowners. We need to help everyone get into a house to increase their net worth. I was also lobbying to Allow the capital gains tax and the recaptured capital cost allowance to be defered when an Income propety is sold and the proceeds are reinvested in another Income property within one year. This program would assist Canadians saving for Retirement, as well as retirees dependant on regular income by making real estate a more viable investment vehicle. He was supportive and said he would speak to his caucus on this recommendation.
Earlier this month I went to Ottawa as part of the Canadian Real Estate Associations Political Action Days to lobby the other MP’s within the Brampton Real Estate Board Jurisdiction. I met with Andrew Kania, Hon. Navdeep Bains, and Ruby Dhalla. Everyone was in support of the programs. Let me know what you think of these programs.

Its Back!!! The Region of Peel is once again offering free money for your downpayment. The program was reintroduced yesterday so if you know someone who might be interested make sure you have them call me (905-456-1000) so that we can get an application in for this $10,000.

For More Information Click here or cut and paste this link into your browser for more details. http://www.peelregion.ca/housing/home-in-peel

The funds are limited so make sure you and your friends get the application in ASAP. Call me today at 905-456-1000 or email me at Ruth@RuthBallantyne.com if you are interested and we will go over the criteria and get your application started.

The latest version of our HomeMarketWatch Insider newsletter
is now available on our website at:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/gold_newsletter.asp

Each month, we publish a series of articles of interest to
homeowners — money-saving tips, household safety checklists,
home improvement advice, real estate insider secrets, etc.
Whether you are currently in the market for a new home, or not,
we hope that this information is of value to you.  Please feel
free to pass these articles on to your family and friends.

—————————————————————–
If another person has forwarded this issue to you, and
you would like to subscribe yourself, go to the following link:
http://stayincontact.com/sub.asp?Param=aKvpXSpq5q3BB5q
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This month’s features…

FEATURE REPORT:
- Cooling Your Home Naturally

ALSO THIS MONTH:
- The 9 Step System To Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar
- Tips on Selecting a Contractor For Home Improvement

—————————————————————–
*** THERE’S MORE ON THE WEB… http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com ***

Hire My Entire Team For LESS Than the Price of One Agent:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/team.asp

FREE Quick Over-the-Net Evaluation:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/homeeval.asp

Find Out What the Home Down the Street Sold For:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/gold_findout.asp

How To Beat Out Other Buyers to Hot New Listings:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/vip_buyer.asp

Ask One of Our Experts Your Real Estate Question:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/gold_askexpert.asp

Find Out How Much You Can Afford In Your Next Home:
http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com/silver_mortgagecalc.asp

Ruth Ballantyne is a sales representative with:
Re/Max Realty Services
295 Queen Street East,
Brampton On
L6W 3R1
Phone:  905-456-1000
Fax:    905-456-1924
Website: http://www.bramptonhomeinfo.com
EMail:  ruth@bramptonhomeinfo.com

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Happy Mother’s Day

Thought this was really cute.

A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

“Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.”

God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”

Again the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?”

God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“Who will protect me?”

God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it’s life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

“You will simply call her, ‘Mum.’”

Happy Mother’s Day!

OTTAWA – April 15th, 2010 – Homebuyers have more choice heading into the busy spring buying season, with new
supply in Canada’s resale housing market setting a record for the month of March. While resale housing demand
remains strong, rising numbers of new listings are resulting in a more balanced national resale housing market.
According to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), some 97,663 residential properties
were listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards in March 2010.
This is an increase of 20 per cent from the previous March record set in 2008. A total of 233,402 new listings have
come on stream since the beginning of the year, more than in any other first quarter period on record.
“Negotiations still favour sellers during the home buying process in a number of major Canadian housing markets,”
said CREA President Georges Pahud. “The rise in new listings means that buyers may shop around more before
making an offer.”
Demand remains very strong, but has edged lower compared to the record levels posted at the end of 2009.
Seasonally adjusted national home sales totalled 130,072 units in the first three months of 2010. This represents
the fourth highest quarterly level on record, down 3.4 per cent from the quarterly peak in the fourth quarter of last
year. Sales activity in Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador rose to new records in the first quarter.
Higher activity in these provinces was offset by a decline in activity in British Columbia (-17.8 per cent) and Alberta
(-9.7 per cent).
Actual (not seasonally adjusted) sales numbered 111,110 units in the first quarter of 2010. This is the third highest
level ever for the first quarter period.
A total of 43,621 homes traded hands through Boards’ MLS® Systems on a seasonally adjusted basis in March
2010. This is an increase of 1.4 per cent from February, as further gains in Toronto more than offset a decline in
activity in Vancouver. Seasonally adjusted sales scaled new heights in Toronto and Ottawa in March.
Unadjusted national sales activity numbered 49,256 units in March. This marks the second highest level on record
for the month of March. On a year-over-year basis, sales were up 40.8 per cent, smaller than those of the previous
five months. Since a year will soon have elapsed following the recessionary decline and subsequent rebound for
the Canadian resale market, year-over-year comparisons are expected to continue shrinking in the months ahead.
The national average price of homes sold via Canadian MLS® Systems in March was $340,920. This is the
second highest national average price on record, just $300 below the peak reached last October. Compared to
March 2009, the national average home price was up 17.6 per cent. As with sales activity, the increase was smaller
than those recorded over the past five months, and year-over-year gains are expected to become further subdued
as the year progresses.
The price trend is similar but less dramatic for the national weighted average price, which compensates for changes
in provincial sales activity by taking into account provincial proportions of privately owned housing stock. It climbed
16 per cent on a year-over-year basis in March 2010.
The residential average price in Canada’s major markets climbed 19 per cent year-over-year to $373,835 in March.
As with the national counterpart, the price trend is similar but less dramatic for the major market weighted average
price, which rose 17 per cent from levels reported in March 2009.
There were 214,312 homes listed for sale on Boards’ MLS® Systems in Canada at the end of March 2010, a decline of
nine per cent compared to the elevated levels of one year ago. This is the smallest year-over-year decline in active
listings since June 2009.
The actual (not seasonally adjusted) number of months of inventory in March 2010 stood at 4.4 months. While
well below where it stood one year ago (6.7 months), and down slightly from March 2008 (five months), months of
inventory are higher compared to March from 2004 through 2007. The number of months of inventory is the number
of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, months of inventory stood at 4.6 months in March. This was little changed from
February, but stands above levels reported in the previous four months.
“The erosion of housing affordability is crimping activity in some of Canada’s priciest markets in the lower mainland
of British Columbia,” said CREA Chief Economist Gregory Klump. “Higher mortgage interest rates and the rise in
new listings may also soon reduce some of the urgency to purchase in Toronto. Sales activity in British Columbia
and Ontario is expected to ease over the second half of 2010 once the HST comes into effect, pulling national
activity lower. Rising supply and lower activity will take the steam out of the pricing environment following upbeat
home sales this spring.”
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this news release combines both major market and national
MLS® sales information from the previous month. The Canadian Real Estate Association has previously
released these separately.
CREA cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not
indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighborhoods or account for price differential
between geographic areas. Statistical information contained in this report includes all housing types.
MLS® is a co-operative marketing system used only by Canada’s real estate Boards to ensure maximum
exposure of properties listed for sale.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade associations,
representing more than 96,000 REALTORS® working through more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations.
Further information can be found at www.crea.ca.