November Market Minutes :)

Hello Website Friends !!!

Well the TREB stats are out.  The market is still moving .. SLOWLY but moving.   Sales prices are about 2% above the sale prices in October 2016 but sales are down 26.7% from the month before.   

I watched this video/link on Global yesterday :  RICHMOND HILL WOMAN CAUGHT IN HOUSE SQUEEZE.

I am sorry, this is getting ridiculous... everyone was warned that the prices were going up too quickly and the bidding wars were getting dangerously high and that buying FIRM with no inspections or conditions was a slippery slope and people still wanted to buy buy buy.  Now when it is not going up leaps and bounds,  they are upset with mortgage brokers and realtors.   I warned people at the beginning of the year.  I was good with people selling that weren't buying in that frenzy to cash in and get out.  I told BUYERS to wait.  Don't buy now.   It didn't help my pay cheque but it was the honest thing to do.  NOW and in the next six months, we are going to see another slight drop in prices and then we will be balanced out. 

I think if you have sold your home and/or are a first time buyer, NOW is the time to get out there.  So many people NEED to sell because they are caught in a mess,  like this woman in the video and will take a lower price than listed just to get out of the mess they are in.    If you are selling right now, you need to make sure you working with a solid agent who knows the market and has great exposure on the web because that is where the buyers are going or my WEBSITE of course, because it is always up to date.. :)

So the new market watch is below for any of you that are interested in looking at it.

Market Report for October 2017 - Residential Resale from Michelle Makos

With the new mortgage lending rules changing January 1st, people are looking to buy now, especially those buying with 20% down who will have to qualify for higher rates.  It is believe it will effect about 20% of their buying power BUT on the flip side, I have heard that you can qualify through Trust Companies and Credit Unions and they are not subject to those qualificaiton rules... so this may be a loophole in the new rules... or they may change it before .. who knows.

All I know is use a professional Realtor who will advise you of the market and help guide you to make informed decisions.   Anyone who has worked with me will testify to that.  I would rather see us walk away, than over pay or get in a mess.  The stress and aggravation are not worth it.  I have been there.   1989/90 and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  So learn from my mistakes.. :)   Have a great November everyone and if you have any questions or know of anyone moving or looking to buy, I am always happy to help.

Cheers !!
Michelle
Your Friend In Real Estate
ROYAL HERITAGE REALTY LTD.
Broker
416-300-3004

It's a Sellers Market Out There !

Well folks, here we are approaching Easter weekend and the market is insane.  Buyers are fighting to win their Dream Home in multiples almost every night of the week.  Many people think that this is only happening in Toronto and I can tell you that is simply not true.  Durham Region real estate is a hot commodity right now.

Recently had on home in Ajax, 21 offers and sold almost 120K over asking.  Is

Welcome to Multiple Offers !

that unusual?   Not right now.  It seems to be becoming the norm.  But how far will it go?   We need inventory to balance this market out.   Yes, interest rates are low.  The demand is high but the supply just doesn't seem to be there.  A minute a home is listed, it seems to sell within a week or less.

Agents are waiving inspections and financing conditions just to WIN.   If you are the listing agent or the Seller, this is great times but if you are on the other side, it can be rather frustrating.   People ask me all the time, "will this continue?" and the trust to the question is, I simply don't know.   I don't see it slowing down any time soon.

We are getting buyers from Overseas, buyers from Toronto who can now sell their house there for $1M and move to Durham and buy for less money but not necessarily buy down in size.  It is driving our house prices through the roof.

I think the important thing to focus on here is know your market.  Buyers should have an agent from the market they are buying in.  It doesn't matter where you buy but make sure you agent knows the area, schools, market values, past sales, etc.

This is important.  Your agent when you are a Buyer is there to PROTECT your

interests.   Please keep this in mind as I see Buyers going to Open Houses now and thinking if they use the Listing Agent, they will get a deal... NEWS FLASH - there are no deals right now !!!   This is a strong market... Highest and Best Offer wins... but at least if you have your own Agent you know they are working in your best interests.

If they tell you, that's high enough - listen !   Don't buy with your emotions.  Listen to reason.   We have been doing this a long time.  

Back in 1989/1990 a similar market happened, interest rates were higher (12 to 14%) and home prices were much more reasonable but it corrected itself in a matter of weeks.   It took years for those homes to rally back to the prices Buyers paid for them.

I am not trying to scare anyone out of buying real estate.  It is your biggest and best investment.  I am just trying to educate both Buyers and Sellers.  If you are thinking of selling and are sitting on the fence, don't wait too long... you never know what can happen and if you are buying now, use an experience agent who knows your market you are buying.  Just because they are your family or a friend, that doesn't necessarily mean they know what works in that particular neighbourhood.

I can honestly say, from what I have seen lately, the offer price needs to be at least 5 to 10K for each offer over asking FIRM to win.   So it depends on how many offers and which neighbourhood and price point you are buying in.

The good news is ... we have a healthy real estate market right now which is good for the economy.   Good luck in your home search and play your poker hand right.  Keep your cards close to your chest.  Share your numbers with your agent so you can strategize together the best way to attack the situation and come out on the winning side.  

Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone and happy house hunting !!! 

Holding Offers - Who is REALLY Benefiting??

Ok here goes !!!  Being a full-time professional Realtor, I can honestly say that I have an equal amount of Buyers and Sellers this year, so this is being written with no pull one way or the other,  BUT in my experience, it has become apparent that holding offers is very prevalent.   My concern is this ... as a Buyer Agent - Is it not hard to keep your client motivated to participate in what I call a "goat rodeo"?????....They see the house, they love it and then you tell them, "Great, we have to wait until Monday night:"   Do they lose interest?  Do they talk themselves out of it?   Are they eager to participate in Multiple Offer situations?   I would have to say NO.

So now you have Buyers who are disengaged with the process.  They think we are holding them hostage and agents are over selling the properties and then saying, you need to go firm to win.   Is this really representing their best interest?

Then you have the flip side.  The Seller who thinks this is the way to do it.  List a bit lower than last sale and let people pay higher than asking and sell it in a weekend.   Sounds like the Listing Agent wins in that case and really would have to wonder if the Seller would not have gotten that price regardless if it was just priced at "market value" and let the offers come in as they are viewed and if a multiple offer situation occurs, so be it but don't force it.

I guess it depends on what side of the fence you are on.  I am not saying I don't hold offers ~ because now, most Sellers want that ... BUT ... even as a Listing Agent, if you get an offer priced way over asking and is firm, are you not a little worried at if it will appraise?   Just me speaking out loud here.  

I have walked away from offers when the prices seemed so inflated ~ I advise my Buyer "let's wait"... because honestly, "this house isn't worth it".... and I guess maybe that comes from having experience and knowing the homes in the Durham Region.   These crazy bidding wars usually are from out of the area agents coming into Durham Region and truly I have to wonder if they even know where the Durham/York Pipeline is or if they know about the Whites Road extension and so on.

So the bottom line, no matter whether you are a Seller or a Buyer, choose an agent you feel comfortable with, who KNOWS your neighbourhood and will REPRESENT YOUR BEST INTERESTS.

Happy House Hunting to  All and to all a Good Night !  :)

November 2013 Real Estate Market Update