You turn on the television and watch a news story about housing prices going down. Then you receive a flyer in the mail about a property around the corner that sold for a decent price. Next you read a newspaper article about the housing market on the upswing again.

It’s a little like being on a roller-coaster ride! 

Unfortunately the ride isn’t much fun if you’re thinking of buying or selling a home. In fact, it can be very confusing and frustrating. You just don’t know if “now” is the right time to make a move.

In reality, the housing market has been fluctuating for decades.  Yet, people sell their homes every day for good prices, and just as many people get into their next dream homes affordably. 

When you hear news of market fluctuations, there are two important things to consider.

First of all, a lot of media information about the housing market is national, or at least regional. But if the housing market is trending down or up nationally, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your LOCAL market is doing the same.

In fact, it’s entirely possible for housing prices to be rising in your neighborhood while they are falling nationally, and vice versa. 

Secondly, if you’re selling a current property while buying another home, then the net affect of market fluctuations may cancel out. 

Say, for example, that the local market is on the upswing. You’ll probably be able to sell your current home for a good price.  However, the home you purchase will likely also be priced to reflect the upswing.

The same holds true when the market is down. 

All that being said, there are some circumstances in which you need to consider market fluctuations when deciding whether or not to make a move. A good REALTOR® will help. 

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call the Dion-Ivans Group today.

• Buyers looking in winter months are serious.

• No need to worry about your yard work. Snow makes it look fresh and white.

• Less listing inventory on the market, means less competition. Higher selling price.

• Easier time of year for closing transactions. Lenders, inspectors, lawyers not as busy. Less errors and higher level of service.

• Buyers begin the search and purchase for spring moves in January, February. Busy move times are March spring break, April Easter, May long weekend.

• Less choice for buyers means less sellers to play pricing against each other. Buyers willing to make more concessions in their buying decision.

• Property shows well, almost staged with holiday décor adding to the ambience.

• Little chance of quick showings and not being prepared to show your home. Easier time of year to make appointments and give sellers advance notice.

• Everyone lists their home in the spring. Go ahead and beat the rush!

• Good time of year for school, work switches and transfer corporate moves.

• People are in the spending and buying mood in the winter, holiday seasons.

• You might miss that right buyer, right place, right time being off and timing the market.

Call the Dion-Ivans Group today and get your home on the market!!!

The Bank of Canada once again opted to hold its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent this morning. Interest rates have been held constant for over two years, the longest such period since the 1950s.  The Bank somewhat tempered its bias for higher future interest rates, including a softer statement regarding the appropriateness of a gradual withdrawal of monetary stimulus as excess supply in the economy is absorbed. In a bit of a surprise, the Bank actually raised its forecast for the growth in the Canadian economy this year to 2.2 per cent, but kept its 2013 forecast at 2.3 per cent growth. The Bank judges that at that pace of growth, the Canadian economy will return to full capacity by the end of 2013.

It is our view that monetary policy at the Bank of Canada will continue to be constrained by external events in the global economy and household debt growth at home. While the Bank's preference for tighter policy is clear, it is difficult to make a case for higher interest rates when core inflation is below the Bank's 2 per cent target and already slow economic growth is threatened by global uncertainty. Therefore, we are forecasting that the Bank of Canada will hold its target overnight rate at 1 per cent until mid-to-late 2013 when, conditioned on an improved global economic outlook,  it may test the water with a 25 basis point rate increase.

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca

Property Type:
27.6% of purchases were by Move-Up Buyers (maintaining - 26.6% in August)
21.2% by First Time Buyers (up from 16.2% in August)*
15.4% purchasing Recreation Property (maintaining - 15.3% in August)
10.3% moving from Single Family Home to Strata Unit (up from 8.6% in August)*
7.1% buying Revenue/Investment Property 
3.2% moving into Retirement Home/Seniors Community 
2.6% moving from Strata property to Single Family Home(maintaining - 2.7% in August)

* During the month of September, there was a noticeable jump in sales to First Time Buyers and to Purchasers of Strata Units (moving from Single Family Homes) compared to August – as noted above. Other types maintained similar numbers from the previous month.

Buyer Type (Family Dynamic):
22.6% Two Parent Family/Children 
23.3% Empty Nesters/Retired  (maintaining - 24.6% in August)
23.3% Couple without Children (up from 20.5% in August)**
18.2% Single Male (up from 11.6% in August)**
12.6% Single Female (up from 6.3% in August)**
1.9% Single Parent with Children

** In September, there was a significant increase in purchases by Couples without Children, Single Males and Single Females (12.6% from 6.3%) compared to August – as noted above. 

Moving From: 
50.9% from Within OMREB Board Area 
21.4% from Alberta (up from 19.1% in August)***
10.7% from Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island (up from 9.8% in August)***
6.9% from Other Areas in BC (up from 4.9% in August)***
6.3% from Saskatchewan/Manitoba (up from 2.7% in August)***
1.9% from Outside Canada  
1.3% from Eastern Canada/Maritimes 
0.6% from NWT/Yukon (13th month reported)

*** Compared to August, there was more migration from Alberta, the Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island, other areas of BC and Saskatchewan/Manitoba – as noted above.

Information provided by www.omreb.com 

It’s great when you have lots of time to prepare for something important. But life doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes you have to move quickly, and do the best you can with the time you have.

Say, for example, you had to get your home ready for sale, and you only had a week to do so. What could you do in those few days to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers?

Here are some ideas:

• Clean the home from top to bottom. Make it look “guest ready”.
• Get rid of as much clutter as possible. If necessary, put some things in storage. Try to make every room look organized and spacious.
• Get all minor repairs done.
• Replace worn mats in the foyer and at other entrances.
• Paint. It’s the fastest and cheapest way to dramatically improve the look of any room.
• Don’t forget the outdoors. Prune the hedges, sweep the walkways, and deal with any potential eye sores—such as a rusted old bike stowed in the side yard.
• Place some fresh flowers in the dining room and outside next to the front door.
• Depersonalize your home as much as possible. For example, stow away family pictures. You want buyers to imagine themselves living there, not you.
• Check lighting in all the rooms. You want all areas of your home to be bright (but not blinding), especially the basement.  This is just a partial list of ideas. A good REALTOR® can help you with more tips on preparing your home so that it sells quickly and for the right price.

Want help? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

Canadian housing starts remained robust in September at 220,215 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), down slightly from August's 225,328 (SAAR).  New home construction in BC urban centres was essentially flat in September at 27,199 units (SAAR) compared to 28,233 in August.  On a year-over-year basis, multiple units starts in BC were 4 per cent higher while single family starts were 16 per cent lower. Overall,  BC housing starts were 2 per cent lower than September 2011. Year-to-date, BC starts are 9 per cent higher than 2011.

Looking at major metropolitan areas in BC, Vancouver starts fell 4 per cent year over year in September, lead by a 15 per cent decline in single family starts, while multi-family starts fell 1 per cent. Total Vancouver housing starts are 12 per cent higher through the third quarter compared to last year. New home construction in Abbotsford was off 10 per cent compared to September 2011, and 16 per cent year-to-date, with broad weakness in both single and multiple starts. Housing starts in Kelowna jumped 105 per cent year over year due to a rise in new multi-family starts and a particularly weak September 2011 in that sector. Total starts are 16 per cent lower year-to-date than in 2011.   Housing starts in Victoria were up again in September, rising 7 per cent on continued strength in multiple starts.  As of the third quarter of 2012, total starts in Victoria are 1 per cent higher than last year.

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca 

If you're shopping for a new home, you're probably aware that there will be some costs over and above the purchase price. It makes sense to budget for these costs so you're not surprised – and unprepared – when you get the bill.

Most of these costs fall into a category that the real estate industry calls "closing costs." The most common types include land transfer tax, lawyer’s fees and disbursements, sales taxes, and for newly-built homes, utility hook-ups.

You should also consider other expenses you will incur, such as home insurance and moving expenses.

Of course, if your new home is a condominium, you’ll also have to account for the monthly condo fees.

Closing costs can vary depending on the type and location of your new home. A good REALTOR® can help you determine the costs you will incur.