The K-W Real Estate Market Report |
![]() Home sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) totalled 535 last month, an increase of 27.1 percent compared to November of 2015, marking another record breaking month for residential properties sold in Kitchener-Waterloo and area! November’s sales included 352 single detached homes (up 34.4 percent compared to November 2015) and 118 condominium type units (down 22.9%) which include any property regardless of style (i.e. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc.). Sales also included 32 semi-detached homes (up 45.5 percent) and 28 freehold townhouses (down 20 percent). Record breaking sales are also being tallied on a year-to-date basis with 6,352 residential transactions compared to 5,341 during the same period in 2015, representing an increase of 18.9 percent. “Year-to-date sales to the end of November have now exceeded any previous end-of-year totals on record,” says James Craig, president of the KWAR. He points out that in 2007, sales to the end of the year exceeded 6,000 units for the first time, and haven’t hit that high-water mark again, until now, an entire month earlier. Inventory levels on the other hand, remain stubbornly low. In their October release, the Canadian Real Estate Association stated that, “the tight balance between housing supply and demand in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe region is without precedent including the GTA, Hamilton-Burlington, Oakville-Milton, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Brantford, the Niagara Region, Barrie and nearby cottage country.” As of the end of November, the KWAR’ MLS® System only had 565 active residential listings on the market, down 23.1 percent compared to the previous month, and 60.8 percent below the same period last year. The average price of all residential properties sold in November was $411,602 a 15.5 percent increase over 2015. Detached homes sold for an average price of $473,104, an increase of 13.9 percent compared to November 2015. During this same period, the average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $209,360, a decrease of 8 percent. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $310,151 (up 14.8 percent) and $330,534 (up 27.7 percent) respectively. “With a notable shortage of inventory, many properties are selling above list price,” said Craig. “This is because you have many buyers competing for fewer properties, and this is pushing up the average price.” The median price of all residential properties sold in November increased 18 percent to $377,500, and the median price of a detached home during the same period increased 16.4 percent to $425,000. |
New Year's Eve Celebrations in K-W |
![]() Both Kitchener and Waterloo will be hosting family friendly New Year’s Eve parties this December 31st to ring in 2017! The Waterloo Public Square is the venue for the City of Waterloo’s festivities which starts at 6 p.m. with a free, warm beverage and an early countdown at 9 p.m. Enjoy the musical and light stylings of a local DJ while skating on the outdoor rink! The City of Kitchener is hosting an exciting superhero party at City Hall. There’s lots to keep the kids entertained including live music, food, mini-comic con and activities for all ages. Whatever you decide to do this New Year’s Eve, here’s to wishing you a very happy and healthy 2017! |
Sellers Behaving Badly |
![]() Mistakes mean your home will sit on the market longer and eventually sell for less. Try and get it right the first time by avoiding the following:
Your home is most likely your biggest asset so when you decide to sell, it’s important that you do it right. Viewing the sale of your home as a business transaction and putting aside any emotional ties you may have is a great start to ensuring you sell your home quickly, easily and for top dollar! |
Shopping Scams are Coming to Town |
![]() It’s convenient to shop online from the comfort of your home during this busy time of year but the hectic holiday season is also a popular time for cybercriminals. Here are a few scams to be aware of:
Unfortunately, there are many people out there who aren’t thinking about holiday cheer and goodwill to all. Keep yourself safe by updating your antivirus software, visit only trusted, secure sites and never open messages from people you don't know. |
Forgotten Flu Spots |
![]() It’s no fun having the flu, especially during the holidays, so it’s important to clean shared spaces and frequently touched surfaces. Here are a few spots to focus on:
Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to fight germs but regularly sanitizing common germ infested hot spots is also key. Remember to keep the hand sanitizer on hand (pardon the pun :) and hopefully you’ll be able to avoid the flu this year! |