Welcome to the second edition of our real estate newsletter
Our Intent
To publish this newsletter four times a year. This will coincide with the changing seasons, keep you informed and up-to-date with what is happening on the local real estate market. Real estate is an ever-changing scene with fluctuating prices, styles and trends in design and décor, along with investment opportunities.
We Are Here To Help
We understand that buying or selling can be a stressful situation with so many details to think about and we would like to make that experience a more relaxed and enjoyable one. We will accomplish this by providing four or five short stories on topical aspects of the real estate business that we believe will be useful to anyone interested in buying or selling.
General Topics
– upcoming events or real estate projects;
– style and décor tips from Jenn;
– home maintenance for the coming season;
– how to prepare your home for sale;
– how to put together an offer to purchase;
– market trends in real estate by Robert;
– highlighting a local business;
If there is a topic of interest to you and you want additional information, please contact us at any time to discuss it.
Brockville Housing Market Outlook (2020)
Canadians on the move: Not an exodus, but the re-location trend across Canadian housing market is real!
– RE/MAX Canada expects average residential prices to rise 4% to 6% in 2021
– 35% of RE/MAX brokers indicate that “move-over” buyers from other cities and provinces will continue to spark market activity in 2021
– 45% of RE/MAX brokers indicate that move-up buyers will likely be a primary driver of the housing market demand in 2021
– Half of Canadians (53%) are confident that Canada’s housing markets will remain steady in 2021
– 52% of Canadians believe real estate will remain one of the best investment options in 2021
RE/MAX Canada is anticipating healthy housing price growth in 2021, with move-up and move-over buyers continuing to drive activity in many regions across the Canadian housing market. An ongoing housing supply shortage is likely to continue, presenting challenges for homebuyers and putting upward pressure on prices.
Ontario
According to the RE/MAX broker network in Ontario, market activity across the province is estimated to remain very steady in 2021, with the potential for average sale price increases of between seven and 12 per cent in regions like London (10 per cent), Kitchener-Waterloo (7 per cent), Hamilton-Burlington (seven per cent), Niagara (12 per cent), and Kingston (10 per cent), Cornwall (10 per cent) and Ottawa (7 per cent). This is being attributed to high demand and low supply, coupled with shifting home-buying trends toward local livability factors such as more space, larger yards and closer proximity to amenities like parks.
Move-up and move-over buyers are also impacting luxury segments in the province. Cities such as Ottawa and Hamilton-Burlington have seen a massive spike in demand for luxury homes since the start of the pandemic. This is expected to continue in 2021.
Brockville
The Brockville real estate market has been experiencing a lot of “move-over” Buyers. Move-over Buyers are expected to continue to drive the market forward in 2021, commonly seeking a bungalow or two storey detached homes which is the prominent building type in the area.
Move-up buyers in Brockville, typically families, are showing hesitation due to lack of inventory and the risk of not finding a home to move into once their existing home has sold. Limited supply and rising prices will continue to be an obstacle for move-up buyers in 2021.
Due to inventory shortage, many homebuyers in Brockville have adjusted their expectation and are willing to accept minor defects if it means securing a home.
Summary
The pandemic has prompted many Canadians to reassess their living situations. According to a survey by leger on behalf of Re/Max Canada, 32% of Canadians no longer want to live in large urban centers, and instead would opt for rural or suburban communities. This trend is stronger among Canadians under the age of 55. Not only are Canadians more motivated to leave cities, but changes in work and life dynamics have also shifted their needs and wants for their homes. According to the survey, 44% of Canadians would like a home with more space for personal amenities, such as a pool, balcony or a large yard.
The above information, stats and survey quotes were obtained from the Re/Max website.
Tips in a seller’s market
A seller’s market is when there are more people buying homes than houses for sale. If you’re buying in a seller’s market, you’ll encounter higher prices and increased competition, and be expected to make quick decisions. If you’re looking to buy right now, it may be hard to get that dream property at what you believe to be a fair market value.
1 – Start the house hunting now. When homes do hit the market, they typically don’t remain on the market for very long and you need to be informed on what is happening with prices. You won’t know if a property is a good deal or not unless you are actively out there hunting.
2 – Realtor. Work with a realtor that has the time to listen, investigate and wants to understand what your needs are and more importantly works within your budget. A good realtor will provide honest feedback on a property such as location, condition and price point.
3 – Get pre-approved. When all else is equal, a seller will prefer an offer from someone who is pre-approved to minimize their risk.
4 – Lowball offer is a no-go. Coming in low will be a waste of time. When homes are selling in a few days with multiple offers, the chances of a low offer working are slim to none.
5 – Offer above the asking price. If you want the house in a seller’s market you may have to offer over the asking price. Don’t allow the thought of offering over the asking price to overwhelm you.
6 – Cash. Sellers prefer cash offers and it can be more attractive than a conditional offer that is dependent on the buyer getting financing. Offers could close faster and eliminate the risk of having to sell the property again.
7 – Put down a stronger deposit. If you put down a larger amount, it may show that you are a serious buyer and that your intentions are genuine.
8 – Make your offer as clean as possible. You are taking on risk without the inspection reports (home, septic, and/or water) but in a seller’s market sometimes these risks are necessary evil in order to achieve strength of offer. Only remove a condition after being informed about the consequences of such a discussion.
9 – Tailor the offer to meet the ‘needs’ of the seller. Sometimes it is all about the price point but other times it could be the closing date or the seller needs a short rental period of the house before their new home is ready for them to move.
10 – Avoid asking for personal property. Your offer could be very similar in price to another offer that isn’t asking for items that belong to the seller. Asking for these personal items could weaken your offer. You are buying a property and these items can be obtained in another fashion at a later time.
Summary
In this market your goal is to purchase a property. Therefore do your homework, be prepared to act when that property hits the market and be prepared to offer what you believe is a fair price at the first opportunity.
Inside, repairs will be necessary for anything that is broken, and replacing any missing items is also a must. Neat and tidy is always a positive selling point. Neutral colors will allow your home to feature itself as more presentable to a potential buyer. A fresh coat of paint will pay off for the investment. Make those countertops shine and sparkle and clean the appliances. Clean all the lighting fixtures, trim, and windows. Clutter must be cleaned up and removed. It’s also important to depersonalize your home, which means removing family photos and knickknacks. Buyers need to be able to visualize themselves in the house and not see it as another person’s home.
Picking paint colours is a stressful topic for many. Picking a colour scheme is something of a personal decision. Think of a beautiful pillow that gives you that warm feeling of comfort or something that has an emotional connection for you. Take the object with you to the paint store and select a wall colour that complements that pillow. If you feel that colours are too bold, pick a more neutral shade from the object and use on walls, then accessorize with pillows to add that ‘pop’ of colour. There is no right or wrong when it comes to paint colour. It is very individualized, and it should make you feel content and comfortable when in the room. If you are painting an open concept area try to break it up by painting some rooms or walls a few shades lighter or darker on the same colour strip.
Paint colour sheen is also important.
Flat – no shine at all – perfect for bedrooms and low traffic areas.
Flat enamel – almost no shine but a bit easier to clean – low traffic.
Eggshell – small amount of shine a perfect choice for living rooms or moderate traffic areas.
Satin – a bit more shine and works best in high traffic area like kitchen and bathroom. Super easy to wipe clean.
Semi-gloss – has shine but not glossy – use on cabinets and trim/moulding.
High gross enamel – shiny – it has a glass-like finish but works well on railings or furniture.
As any homeowner knows, choosing paint colours can be overwhelming.
Analyze the room for ideas such as hardwood floors, countertops, fireplace surround, area rugs and furniture. The colours in these items will help determine which paint colour families will work best in your room and help narrow your options. The colour should reflect the mood you want to create as well and complement its architecture and style.
There are only seven colours in the paint spectrum. They are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Tip: If you find yourself paralyzed, unable to choose your colour sample cards, look at the darkest colour at the bottom of the strip. If you can live with the one at the bottom, you know you’ll like the middle and the top. If you choose by looking at the top, lightest colours, all the cards in that category start to look the same. The darkest colour on the strip is the true colour and once you understand this it will save you from having your wall painted that is too pink or blue, etc.
Colours evoke an emotional response. In general, cool colours (blue, greens, and clean whites) are perceived as restful and soothing while colours (like red, orange, and yellow) create a sense of drama and energy. Cool colours are generally used in bathrooms and warm colours are a good way to liven up social spaces.
For a smooth transition between spaces, try choosing a colour for one room and paint the adjacent space two shades away, lighter or darker, using tones from the same colour chip.
It doesn’t take much color to punch up a space. Create a feature wall with a contrasting or complementary colour. A nook, window bay or the wall behind your headboard can be great candidates for feature walls.
It is much easier to choose a paint colour that goes with your furniture and décor than it is to choose décor to go with a paint colour. 
