Halifax Real Estate Blog

5 tips to stage your home like a pro

The gap between well prepared and poorly prepared listings is widening in metro. The better prepared listings are selling on average faster and for more money. Take advantage of the opportunities to distance yourself from the competition with tips like these, with the advice of your REALTOR, or the advice of a professional stager. Yahoo News has tips and tricks to staging.

When the housing inventory is bursting at the seams, it is tougher than ever for sellers to entice homebuyers. That doesn't mean home sellers should just give up.

Instead, they should take proactive steps to stage their homes so potential buyers can envision themselves living there as soon as they walk through the doors. Professional home stagers set up furniture, decor and accessories to present homes in their best light.

Using the tricks of professional home stagers, you too can stage your home to sell.

Highlighting and downplaying - The key element to staging your home like a professional is to highlight the strengths and draw attention away from weaknesses.

"Organize all of the cabinets," says Melinda Massie, owner of Organizing with a Side of Fabulous, a professional organizing and home-staging company in Fort Worth, Texas. "Messy cabinets make it look like you don't have enough storage. Storage sells."

If the weakness in the family room is the old brick fireplace, then decorate the room to distract attention from it. For example, embellish the two built-in bookcases that flank the fireplace.

 

Float your furniture - When arranging furniture, make the rooms look spacious. Control the flow of the room. Home sellers tend to push furniture against walls to create space, but "floating" the furniture -- creating furniture groupings away from walls -- adds space to the room.

For example, group a love seat, coffee table and two wingback chairs across from the sofa, all in the middle of the living room on a decorative rug. Dawn Ohnstad, an agent with Coldwell Banker Burnet in Wayzata, Minn., says rooms should almost be bare of furniture (but the furniture should be in good condition).

 

Repurpose rooms - Melissa Riche, president of Great Place LLC, an interior styling and home-staging company in Los Angeles, advises sellers to give each room a purpose. If you have a spare bedroom that can be used as a storage room, start by decluttering the room. Instead of a junk room, create a craft room, sewing room, reading room, office or game room.

When each room has a purpose, you show how the space can be used -- without clutter.

Lighting is everything - Lighting makes a home appear welcoming and inviting. Unfortunately, many homes do not have the proper lighting to create this ambience.

Replace low-wattage light bulbs with higher wattages. Have 100 watts of light for every 50 square feet of the room. Each room should have three types of lighting: general (overhead), task (pendant or reading lighting), and accent (lamps or wall sconces).

If you are fortunate enough to have natural lighting, then use this to your advantage when showing your home. Open all the shades halfway so light streams in. "Remove heavy drapes -- they block light and make rooms appear smaller," Riche says.

Give bathrooms the spa treatment - Add accessories to your bathroom that transform it from a regular bathroom into a spa. When you visit a spa, you often find large and small towels rolled up and displayed inside of a basket or arranged on a decorative tray. Adding candles (lit or unlit) is another way to create a peaceful and calming atmosphere in your bathrooms, says Chantay Bridges, an agent with Clear Choice Realty & Associates in Los Angeles. It's all about creating a welcoming space.

No matter what the situation is in the housing market, you want to make your home as appealing as possible to potential buyers. Presentation is everything and can mean the difference between offers rolling in and your house languishing on the market.

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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

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Buying or Renovating Your House with the Planet in Mind

Where "Going Green" is everything in most aspects of Today's market, whether it be the products we buy, the organic foods we eat, or the supplies we use while building or renovating our homes, The Bagogloo Team would like to share some interesting tips on how to keep the planet in mind when buying or renovating your home written by Deborah Birkett from HGTV.ca.

Builders and developers of new houses are beginning to respond to the growing desire for homes that are healthier for their occupants and the Earth, too. In Ontario, Aspen Ridge is offering a "Dwellness" package to buyers of its Macleod's Landing homes. Among the various standard and optional features:

· steel framing (safer, healthier and more structurally sound than wood)

· energy-efficient low-emissivity windows

· whole-house HEPA air filtration systems

· kitchen sinks with water filters installed

· floors are all hardwood or ceramic (much healthier for sufferers of respiratory ailments-asthma, allergies, chemical sensitivities-than carpeting or standard vinyl floors)

· heat recovery ventilators

In British Columbia, a similar project is planned by Nadeau & Associates. If you are in the market for a new home, whether you're buying from a developer or custom-building, be sure to ask the builders, contractors and architects involved about incorporating "healthy house" features. It may cost extra up front, but the long-term benefits are well worth it.

What if you're not in the market to buy or build a new home? There are still many ways you can incorporate Earth-friendly choices into your renovations and home improvements. Whenever you are replacing something old, or adding something to make your home more comfortable, you have an opportunity to make your home healthier at the same time as you reduce the impact of your choices on the planet. It's also an opportunity to support environmentally-friendly businesses and initiatives. Making these kinds of improvements will reduce your operating costs and add to the resale value of your home, while decreasing waste and dependency on fossil fuels.

Consider the following suggestions:

· If you are insulating, look into cotton insulation: it's as effective as fibreglass insulation, and it's safer and more earth-friendly.

· Buying pressure-treated lumber for an outdoor project? Remember that it has been injected with powerful pesticides to prevent rot and infestation-and those pesticides contain large amounts of arsenic and smaller amounts of chromium. You can now buy lumber that has been pressure-treated without such hazardous chemicals (ask for CA-B pressure-treated lumber). Another option for decking and outdoor improvements is a sustainably harvested Brazilian wood called ipe. It's an attractive, long-lasting, rot-resistant wood that looks like teak and is an alternative to cedar and redwood.

· If natural wood shingles appeal to you, consider reclaimed-redwood shingles, made from the stumps of old-growth trees.

· Adding or replacing smoke detectors? Look for ones without the standard small amount of radioactive material (its presence is indicated by the words Americium-241 or AM-241 on the labels). While these typically cause no problems to a home's inhabitants, it is necessary to dispose of them as radioactive waste. Why not opt for the more earth-friendly product?

· For better air quality, consider replacing your furnace and air conditioner filters with true HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters. These filters can screen much finer particles than standard filters, which are designed more to protect the heating and cooling equipment than your health.

· Can you imagine looking at your hydro meter and seeing the indicators spinning backward? Wouldn't you love to get a cheque from your hydro company instead of a bill? It's possible to generate enough of your own electricity that you can sell the surplus back to your local utility; some Canadian homeowners are already doing it. Even if you're not attempting to get "off the grid" completely, photovoltaic panels can help you reduce your utility bills and make the most of a free source of energy: the sun. Photovoltaic panels are still quite expensive, so it's an investment mostly for those who plan to stay in their homes long enough to reap the financial benefits of installing them.

· Has that old stove finally burnt its last mac and cheese? When buying new appliances, be sure to look for the easy-to-understand EnerGuide label and compare all the models you're considering. The cheapest (or flashiest) appliance isn't necessarily the most energy-efficient, especially when you factor in operating costs over many years.

· And when you are removing old fixtures or materials, consider whether they can be reused. If so, donate them to a reuse centre like those run by Habitat for Humanity. The charity operates centres that sell gently used building materials and fixtures; the proceeds are used to pay for building modest, environmentally responsible new homes for needy families. You'll be doing the earth several favours at once!

If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

Further Reference:

Bower, John. Healthy House Building for the New Millennium (Healthy House Inst.), 1999.

Bower, John. The Healthy House: How to Buy One, How to Build One, How to Cure a Sick One (Healthy House Inst.), 2000.

Chiras, Dan. The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling (Chelsea Green), 2002.

Dadd, Debra Lynn. Home Safe Home: Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Everyday Toxics and Harmful Household Products in the Home (Tarcher), 1997.

Imhoff, Dan. Building with Vision: Optimizing and Finding Alternatives to Wood (Watershed Media), 2001.

Kennedy, Joseph F., Michael Smith, and Catherine Wanek, editors. The Art of Natural Building (New Society), 2002.

May, Jeffrey C. My House Is Killing Me! The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma (Johns Hopkins University Press), 2001.

Pearson, David. The New Natural House Book: Creating a Healthy, Harmonious and Ecologically Sound Home (Fireside), 1998.

Schaeffer, John, and Doug Pratt, editors. Real Goods Solar Living Source Book: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living (Real Goods), 2001.

 

 

New Round of National Housing Stats

As with all National Stats, it's important to look for local implications.  The article rightly states that local markets don't always follow the national trend and that despite average prices being up slightly, sales activity has declined in some cases - so fewer homes are selling.

Photo credit to Shelley Ellis Photography, used with permission.

Realtors all over Canada are reporting Canadian home sale prices are up in June. An article on CTV.ca shares all of the detail.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Real Estate Association says Canada's home prices continued to rise last month and a majority of the country's local markets showed a balance between supply and demand, including in Toronto.

The national average price for Canadian home resales was $372,700 in June, up 8.7 per cent from the same month last year as the number of sales increased.

The Canadian Real Estate Association said Friday its members sold 10.8 per cent more homes last month compared with June 2010. June's sales activity was also 2.6 per cent higher than in May.

CREA says 60 per cent of local housing markets in Canada were balanced in June -- meaning the number of sales and new listings were about the same.

"Canadian housing demand remains resilient, thanks to low interest rates, job growth, and home buyer confidence in the economy," CREA president Gary Morse said in a statement.

He also noted that trends in local housing markets often differ from the national statistics.

CREA noted that national figures in June showed less of an impact from the sales of high-priced homes in Vancouver, although that city continued to skew the national results.

Activity in Toronto was described as stable in June while it declined slightly in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley area of British Columbia.

Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Ont., and Victoria all saw gains over May.

Nevertheless, national sales activity in the second quarter (April, May and June) was down 4.5 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2011.

CREA attributed the decline from the first quarter to new mortgage rules announced in January and implemented at the end of March and an increase in mortgage rates in April and May.

CREA's monthly report comes ahead of Tuesday's Bank of Canada announcement on its target overnight interest rates. The central bank is widely expected to keep the key rate unchanged at 1.0 per cent, where it has been since September.

Earlier in the year, economists had expected the Bank of Canada would begin raising its short-term rate to quell inflation. However, sentiment has changed amid signs that the U.S. economic growth has been less robust than expected.

In contrast with the United States, Canada's job growth has been stronger, its federal government is making more headway in dealing with budget deficits and its resource exports are relatively strong -- putting home buyers in good shape.

"The Canadian housing sector remains on a solid footing," said Gregory Klump, CREA's chief economist.

"The rise in monthly home sales activity at the end of the second quarter, upbeat business sentiment and hiring intentions, and signs that the Bank of Canada is in no rush to raise interest rates bode well for home sales activity and prices going into the second half of 2011."

Design Tips to Last For First-Time Homeowners

HGTV's Editorial Team is full of helpful hints for all buyers and sellers.

Moving into a new house can be an overwhelming experience, especially if your dream home initially seems more like a nightmare. But take heart! These simple but powerful decorating tips will open up your minds to fresh possibilities which can significantly upgrade the comfort level, home aesthetics and the market potential of your property.

Think focus
The sofa in the living room, the bed in the bedroom, the desk in the office. While choosing home furnishings, the major piece for any room must be considered first. This piece in most cases becomes the focal point of the room. For instance, a long empty wall can be made into a focal point by grouping pictures over a long narrow table. Your focal point can be almost anything - a fireplace, a painting, and an entertainment center. By having a focal point, you can beautify and emphasis on the focal point and give your room a sense of constancy.

Think balance
Large pieces of furniture should be evenly distributed so as not to put the room off balance. Leave room around them for the best affect. In selecting home furnishing pieces, keep the architectural shapes in the room in mind. Try to balance pieces opposite one another.

Think light
Be conscious of the light in the room when selecting and placing your home furnishings. A dark cabinet may disappear in a dimly lighted alcove. Bright pieces may seem garish under a picture window. Break up the horizontal lines of the room by mixing in taller items.

Think practical
Think about the use of the room as you place the home furnishings. If you typically eat or drink there, is there a place to set your cup or plate down? Is there enough storage for books or CDs? Mix hard and soft surfaces by adding rugs or fabric- covered tables to a room otherwise filled with wood, metal and stone.

Think colours
Once you have decided on a colour scheme, bring your samples home. Look at them at different times of the day, and in both natural and incandescent light. Keep in mind that darker colours will tend to fade over time more than lighter ones. Be sure to take into consideration any existing home furnishings pieces that will remain in the room as well as the various wood finishes present.

Think coordination
Aim for coordinating elements in the home. Many of today's wall covering sample books feature a whole range of coordinating home-style products, such as borders, fabrics, comforters, pillow shams, place mats, table rounds, and shower curtains. By selecting a specific collection that features these products, you can put together a whole unified interior decorating package for a comparatively low cost.

Happy decorating!

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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

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Ten Home Improvement Projects That Add Value

These helpful tips come from the HGTV.ca's Editorial Team.

Can't stand your scary, cobwebby basement one more minute? Is it past time to replace the pink-and-aqua tiles and porcelain in the master bath? Maybe you're sick of the curling, chipped vinyl floor, the tacky cabinets, and cramped layout of your kitchen.  Perhaps you're trying to convince your partner that the siding is sad and stucco would be stupendous. But your partner wants to build a deck…

What are the best home improvement projects to undertake? It depends on your goals and plans. If you're trying to sell your property soon for the highest possible price, your priorities are likely somewhat different than if you're planning to stay for a few years and want to improve your family's quality of life.

If you're selling, focus on the renovations a buyer would be most likely to undertake, not those you're most itching to do. You might dream of putting French doors and a Juliet balcony in the master bedroom, but if your kitchen is twenty-five years old—or even fifteen—you're better off directing your home improvement dollars there. Buyers generally focus on kitchen and bathroom quality, along with overall living and storage space. Kitchen and bathroom remodelling projects are among the most disruptive undertakings, so buyers especially appreciate upgraded fixtures, appliances and décor in these rooms.

Here are ten worthwhile home improvement projects and the percentage of cost typically recouped at resale (in a seller's market):

1. Painting
If you're only going to do one thing, paint. Interior/exterior painting is one of the very few improvements on which you are likely to realize a profit—as long as you choose tasteful, current, neutral colours and the work is very professional. Payback: As much as 300%

2. Kitchen remodelling
Typically one of the most expensive improvement projects, and you can quickly run up a huge bill. Careful planning and shopping will help minimize costs here. When remodelling the kitchen, remember to keep the project in line with the style and quality of the rest of the house and neighbourhood.  Just as there's no point in putting a pricey granite countertop on dated-looking 1970s cabinets, there's no point in installing a $50,000 kitchen in a $200,000 house.  Payback: 68-120%.

3. Bathroom addition
If your home has only one bathroom and is meant to house more than two people, a bathroom addition should be one of your top priorities. If most homes in your neighbourhood have two, three or more bathrooms, and yours has just one or one-and-a-half, you will definitely increase your property value by adding a bath. Payback: 80-130%.

4. Bathroom remodelling
Upgrading a pokey bathroom will enhance the value of your home and add to your daily comfort and enjoyment. White porcelain is the safe, timeless choice here. Payback: 65-120%.

5. Finishing unfinished space
Whether it's an attic or a basement, by finishing these spaces you add significant value to your home, increasing square footage without having to build. Payback: 50-90%.

6. Window/door replacement
If your windows or doors are wasting energy or simply decrepit-looking, replacements can be an excellent use of your home improvement dollars. Stick to standard styles; odd shapes and highly customized arrangements do little for resale value. Payback: 50-90%.

7. Deck addition/improvement/expansion
Decks are one of the few exterior improvements with any significant return, apart from painting. Payback: 65-90%.

8. Additions of bedrooms, family rooms, sunrooms, conservatories, garages, etc.
Increasing square footage is almost always an excellent use of remodelling dollars, but don't expand your home so much that there's little outdoor space left. Payback: 50-83%.

9. Home office remodelling
This project is becoming increasingly popular. Be sure to plan for plenty of electrical and cable outlets to accommodate all the required machines and gadgets. Payback:  60-73%.

10. Energy efficiency retrofits
If your primary concern is return on investment, proceed with caution. Some retrofits, like better insulation and high-efficiency furnaces, pay for themselves relatively quickly. Others, like solar panels, heat recovery ventilators, and tankless water heaters, may take years to pay for themselves. Payback: Highly variable.

Two projects that are unlikely to pay off at resale: swimming pools (which may even adversely affect your property value) and excessive landscaping (buyers may admire it but few will pay extra tens of thousands even if that's what you spent to improve the grounds). And remember that badly done remodelling/renovation projects will cost you in two ways. You won't pay just for labour and materials; you'll pay when buyers see a project that has to be redone.

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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

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Top 10 Splurges for Summer

By: Chantel Simmons

Create a chic outdoor oasis with these backyard indulgences that you won’t know how you lived without! HGTV's Chantel Simmons will show you how you can heat your summer up.

1. Gazebo
No matter how much – or how little – space you have, a gazebo can create an instant outdoor “room”, ideal for reading, relaxing or dining. If you love to host parties but worry that you can’t accommodate guests inside if it rains, a gazebo erases that problem by sheltering guests (and food!) from a sudden downpour. When purchasing, think about your outdoor theme — is it rustic, Victorian or modern? — then choose the gazebo in a style that matches, such as cedar with shingles or a wrought-iron frame with glass inserts.
Don’t want to shade your entire deck all the time? Opt for a sun tent instead; it won’t save you from torrential rains, but will help with light showers and offer respite from the sun and mosquitos.

2. Patio Storage Bench
Forget stashing those patio furniture cushions in your front hall closet or bathtub. The latest patio storage benches are not just functional, but fashionable too, providing extra seating in a pinch. Look for a bench that resembles a loveseat — but be sure it’s weather resistant poly construction with faux brick, wood finish or pre-stained and treated pine, which will withstand the elements. Storage should be around 50 gallons to hold cushions, lanterns, candles and kids’ toys.

3. Heat Things Up
Extend your outdoor season by warming up your outdoor space with a freestanding or tabletop patio heater. The latest heaters are available in a variety of sizes, heights and finishes. To get the best use from your heater, look for one with copper or stainless steel finish (which will last longer than painted versions), adjustable heat output, safety auto shutoff and a weighted base. Short on space? Look for a wall-mount patio heater instead.

4. Water Feature
Even if you have a small space or condo terrace, a water feature adds interest and instant relaxation to an outdoor space, and can even cover up an area in need of repair. Against fencing, brick or siding, opt for a wall fountain. For the middle of a yard or deck, add a bird bath, low-rise reflection pool or multi-tiered Vienna fountain. If you have kids, consider a small fish pond. Opt for durable resin, which will survive the winter, as opposed to plastic.

5. Cooking Centre
If you’re constantly running in and out of the kitchen when guests are over, it’s time to splurge on full-service cooking centre. The latest outdoor kitchens can include an island (with stools on one side for extra seating and a counter for prep work), cupboards for storing dishes and even a mini-fridge for drinks or salads. Don’t have the space or money? Opt for the latest grills, which include double-access doors (to better contain variances in temperature), warming drawers and side burners. Look for weather-resistant fiberglass or stainless steel.

6. Patio Set
If your patio furniture is chipped, rusted or stained, it’s time to upgrade to a set that you’ll look forward to relaxing on. The latest “wicker-style” sets are made of sturdy resin, so they’ll survive the winter without needing to be stored indoors. Don’t forget to add glass-topped side tables, lounges, sofas and off-side umbrellas (with a sturdy cast-iron stand) to the mix.

7. Deck it Out
Cover up discoloured wood, brick, asphalt, gravel or unsightly concrete with modular wood decking tiles. A “deck in a box,” these tiles are easy to apply and give the appearance of an authentic solid hardwood deck flooring – without the cost or hours of labour. Or, cover any surface with epoxy flooring, a floor coating that blends epoxy with stone aggregate to resemble natural stone in any hue.

8. Outdoor Rug
An outdoor rug instantly turns your deck into a living space. While it may seem impractical, the latest rugs are actually made from polypropylene (to withstand the elements), are reversible and can cover up stains, weathered areas or spots in need of repair.

9. Throw Cushions
Seemingly decadent, throw cushions are the perfect splurge when you can’t afford to update your patio furniture or want to pull together your new outdoor space. Choose polyester with quick-drying foam or polyfilling and they’ll hold up against spills, showers and sun (though you should store them in a bin overnight) and will instantly make even the shoddiest and outdated plastic lawn chairs look pretty and comfy.

10. Accessorize
Just like a great pair of shoes can take your outfit from average to amazing, the right outdoor accessories can make your space an oasis. Instead of paper napkins and plates, opt for linen and china – stock up on inexpensive white place settings that look clean and classic yet if they break can be replaced easily. Bamboo placemats will stay in place despite wind and give an upscale appearance to even a picnic table. A copper party tub replaces tacky plastic coolers for drinks and mini solar or battery-operated lanterns staked in gardens and planter boxes will add tranquil mood lighting to your space.

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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

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Happy Hour with The Bagogloo Team - Friday June 24, 2011 at The Halifax Club

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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

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The Canadian Real Estate Association Releases Realtor.ca Mobile Application for Apple iPhone®

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released its REALTOR.ca app for the Apple® iPhone® on December 21. REALTOR.ca is the most visited real estate website in Canada, listing on average some 350,000 properties at any time.

“This free application brings Apple iPhone® users the features and functionality of the REALTOR.ca website, as well as some interesting device-specific features” said CREA president Georges Pahud. “Consumers today expect portable information and REALTORS® across Canada are happy to be providing this service.”

The free REALTOR.ca app is provided at no cost to consumers by Canada’s 100,000 REALTORS® and more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations.

For more information please visit CREA online.

For more information about the Halifax or Dartmouth real estate market - contact local REALTOR® Thomas Bagogloo.

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The Winter Months - To Sell or Not to Sell? That is the Question

By Terry Campbell
Team Partner, The Bagogloo Team

Over the winter months, Realtors® are often asked, "Is this a good time to list my home?" This can be answered by having a Realtor® complete a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for you and by looking at the current mortgage rates.  

With a CMA, The Bagogloo Team can quickly assess whether or not this is the right time for you to sell your home. A bonus of listing your home in the winter is that there are fewer homes on the market. This is in part due to some Sellers preferring not to leave their home in winter conditions to accommodate ongoing showings. This is a great opportunity for people wanting to sell their home now! The lack of inventory and an influx of Buyers, ready to make 2011 their home buying year, can make for a viable deal in the colder months.

Current mortgage rates are attracting Buyers as they are at historical lows - these great rates will not last forever. This will not only inspire more Buyers to look at your home but save you a lot of money when repurchasing after your sale!

If you are planning to relocate after the sale of your home, our Team can help you find your New Dream Home! If you decide to sell your home in the winter months, and have a typical 60-90 day closing time frame, you can be enjoying your new surroundings in our beautiful spring and summer months. This is the best of both worlds! 

The Bagogloo Team can answer any real estate questions you may have. Our Team can guide you on whether or not the colder months can be a hotter market than you expected!

If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.

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Terry Campbell

Phone: 902-830-2267      Terry@HalifaxMetroHomes.com

Terry Campbell is passionate about service, and helping his clients find the right home in the right neighbourhood. For over eleven years, Terry has been a valuable member of The Bagogloo Team – RE/MAX nova, and he has helped hundreds of families take the exciting plunge into home ownership. Read More

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CREA Video: National Resale Housing Market Further Stabilizes

CREA, The Canadian Real Estate Association recently released the following video this past Friday, October 15th: "National Resale Housing Market Further Stabilizes"

"National resale housing activity edged higher for a second consecutive month in September 2010, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Combined with a falling supply of homes on the market, the number of months of inventory also declined for the second consecutive month.

Seasonally adjusted national home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate Boards was up three per cent month-over-month in September 2010. Building on a monthly increase in sales activity in August, sales in September reached their highest level since last May. Two-thirds of local markets posted monthly increases in seasonally adjusted activity, led by Winnipeg, Calgary, and Montreal."

 

Back in September, CREA released the video below, "Existing home sales edge up in August": 

For more information about the Halifax or Dartmouth real estate market - contact local REALTOR® Thomas Bagogloo.

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