Donna Bacher, Broker, Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage

Open House in Westdale on Sunday

Donna Bacher — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:42:00 GMT

Westdale, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 40 Edgevale Road on January 8 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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Another Year Has Come & Gone...Bon Voyage 2011

Donna Bacher — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:21:00 GMT

2011. It's hard to believe how fast these years are starting to go by. Back in 1975, I was 21, the same age as my youngest child is right now. Life didn't seem to go by so fast back then. I lived in a little apartment, attended classes at McMaster University and just landed a plum job at the CIBC. We lived in a world where technology was starting to emerge, but none of us had a clue what our lives in 2011 would look like. We really couldn't see past our coloured TV's or expensive Texas Instruments calculators. Schools still taught us how to use slide rules. We were the tail end of the baby boomers, the group that fought for social justice, peace and love. The world was full of poverty that we couldn't understand and the world was full of wars..and rumours of wars that we couldn't understand.

So, here I am, 36 years later, and I'm typing away on the latest MacBook, sending a message deep into cyberspace, to anyone who cares to read it. I carry a phone around with me everywhere I go, and I'm doing things that I could never have even imagined ever doing when I was 21.

I can take a picture, edit it, insert it in an e-card, attach a gift card, pay for it and send it...all within a span of 10 minutes and never get out of my chair. I am connected with everything and anything my heart desires. My mind stays active because I have to learn something new everyday. But aside for all of this technological advancement that our society has made, I've began to question our abilities as a society to ever address the main concerns I had back in 1975. Poverty, Peace & Love.

My wish for 2012 is the same as way back when I was 21. It's not for more technology. It's not for more money. It's not for more trinkets. It's for a world without war. It's a world that no longer sees anything right about "killing in the name of war" or in the "name of God". For 36 years, I've been hearing that we need to stop world hunger...so my wish for 2012, again, is to finally put an end to World Hunger. In a world where I can send a customized e-card from Canada to Australia in a minute...where I can view satellite images of our galaxy on my computer screen...it just doesn't make sense that we can't have a world free of poverty and war. Peace, love & prosperity to all in 2012!

Just Listed 12 Randall Avenue in Old Stoney Creek

Donna Bacher — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:48:00 GMT

Old Stoney Creek - Fantastic new listing at 12 Randall Avenue, a 1 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story. Just listed MLS® $289,900 - Spectacular Family Home!.

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Open House in Hamilton West on Sunday

Donna Bacher — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:31:00 GMT

Hamilton West, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 29 Railway Street on December 11 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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Canadian Realtors® Pay for the Banks Legal Costs

Donna Bacher — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:17:00 GMT

Ever experience one of those "light bulb" moments?

It's the moment that you get the perfect storm happening in your head, creating a surge of electricity, ultimately resulting in the "Wait a minute" verbiage pulsating between your ears. "Wait a Minute" is right!

Lenders, Lawyers and Foreclosures

I just experienced a light bulb moment. There was a time, when the Banks had their own foreclosure departments and their own legal professionals. Upon default, the file would be transferred to the Banks collection department and the whole process would start. If it was a High Ratio Mortgage, insured by CMHC, the bank would be paid out and CMHC would put the property on the market through their own Real Estate division, and pay the Selling Agent a healthy "6" percent to sell it. Needless to say, there was always a line up of Agents ready to sell these listings.

CMHC Gets Smart

Then, CMHC (Canada Mortgage & Housing), which was the main default insurance player, got smart to the Banks, because the Banks weren't really taking on too much responsibility in the matter, so they told the Banks that they would be responsible for selling the default properties before they could collect on the default insurance.

Banks get Smart

So, the Banks set up special departments, specifically for foreclosures and start dealing with Realtors directly. But, they didn't want to pay 6% anymore, they wanted to reduce costs a bit, so they offer Realtors® 5.5%. This still wasn't a lot of fun for the Banks and certainly was a costly venture. CMHC actually thought that it would tighten up the Banks underwriting department. That perhaps they would start to be more careful in lending once they had to take some financial responsibility in the sale of defaults. But, the Banks aligned with a couple major Law firms and figured it all out. The Banks would immediately assign the defaulted property to the Lawyers, thereby not having to have their own "Foreclosure" personnel, and instead of paying their lawyers out of their pocket, they would pay the Lawyers out of the Real Estate Commission they would normally be paying. It was a win/win for the Banks and selected Law Firms.

Realtors® take the Hit

Fast forward to 2011. The Power of Sales continue. The majority are horrific. Remnants of illegal multi-residential units that you wouldn't want your dog to live in, busted grow-ops, dilapidated rentals and properties that are so full of patent defects that it's hard to believe that anyone would ever have bought it in the first place. A clear indication that the Banks are still having an issue with underwriting. They get distributed to hungry Agents at a net commission of 5.5% with the condition that the Real Estate Agent pays the Law firm a 1% referral fee for the listing.

Light Bulb Moment

"Wait a Minute!!!".....Canadian Realtors® are now paying for the banks legal fee's. Smart Banks...time to buy some Bank stock!

Open House in Hamilton West on Sunday

Donna Bacher — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:48:00 GMT

Hamilton West, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 160 Locke Street North on December 4 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Property information

2 Storey For Sale in Hamilton West

Donna Bacher — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:37:00 GMT

Trendy living...Steps to Everything!

• 2 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story "Semi Detached " - MLS® $179,900 - Incredible Value!

Hamilton West, Hamilton - Incredible downtown solid brick semi- steps to everything! James St N Art district, Farmers Market, Copp's plus minutes away from 403! This century home features high ceilings, exposed brick wall in entry way, updated trendy kitchen with ceramic floors, plus beautiful maple hardwood in living room and dining room.

Extremely affordable taxes plus reduced energy costs with a high efficiency "on demand" hot water boiler system- Heating & Hot water costs approx $60.00 a month!

Property features a new roof, improved insulation, neutral decor, 4 appliances plus much more!

Property information

Homes For Sale on Hamilton Mountain: Market update

Donna Bacher — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:02:00 GMT

Selection is Great for Home Buyers on Hamilton Mountain

A search of the homes for sale on Hamilton Mountain today, November 29th, 2011, shows a very healthy inventory of homes and combined with exciting 5 year mortgage specials, it may be the perfect time to make a move!

330 single detached homes for sale
174 three bedroom homes for sale
10 three bedroom homes under $200,000
Cheapest 3 bedroom home $179,900
Most expensive 3 bedroom home without an investment component $529,900
Price range for the majority of 3 bedroom detached homes- 106 Three bedroom homes priced between $200,000 and $300,000
Number of 3 bedroom detached homes sold in November- 81
Price range of homes sold in November- $137,500 to $429,000
8 three bedroom detached homes sold under $200,000
Price range for greatest number of sales- $200,000 to $300,000 with 53 homes selling in this price range.

Condominiums, both town homes and apartment units are not quite as plentiful on Hamilton Mountain today.

46 units available
Price range $64,900 to $259,900
35 town house units and 11 apartment units
3 Bedrooms available- 32 town home units- 0 apartment units
November sales: 1 apartment unit & 22 town home units

Hamilton Home Mortgage deal of the day?

Bank of Montreal
5 year fixed rate special
3.39%

Hamilton Homes Market Evaluation

Real Estate: Welcome to the Danger Zone

Donna Bacher — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:36:00 GMT

It Doesn't Matter

You may be a Realtor showing homes or a person selling their home privately. Statistics show that selling Real Estate is one of the most dangerous jobs in North America. The key word here is "selling" Real Estate. It doesn't matter if you're a professional Realtor or a homeowner. The problem starts when there is a desire and need for someone to interact with complete strangers in a confined and private setting combined with the need for someone to commit a crime.

Realty Safety & Security

It's not difficult to become a target.

Deciding to sell a home privately with the assistance of a Virtual Real Estate office or Realtor, simply charging a fee to list the property on the MLS system produces an online marketing campaign that could attract more into your life than a Buyer. There are no statistics on the subject, but crimes against property owners selling their own homes is just as rampant as crimes against the Realtors who sell them.

Did you know

As soon as a Private For Sale gets listed on the local MLS system , the owner has authorized the "legal" distribution of their name and phone number, complete with numerous pictures of the inside of their home to the entire world. Words that are targeted at Buyers are also prime for crime and are indexed as soon as your listing goes "live". "Luxury, vacant, must sell, open to offers" A Realtor representing your property doesn't disclose your information. They disclose their own.

Security Tips for Selling Your Home

Why Realtors are targeted

They're targeted because they're visible and are very easy to contact. They also portray an element of success which makes them prime candidates for robbery. They are use to dealing with strangers and make themselves available at all hours of the day to show properties. They can't let paranoia about the dangers that haunt the business hurt the chance of making their next sale and the strangers that a Realtor deals with everyday, are the same strangers a person selling their home privately, greets at their front door with open arms.

AgBeat "2011 Realtor Safety Report" Examining a year of attacks on Realtors

Crimes against Realtors

They're senseless, they're heinous and they're unpredictable. According to AbBeat's "2011 Realtor Safety Report; Examining a Year of Attacks on Realtors", there is very little rhyme or reason behind these attacks and murders.

· November 2011: Respected,friendly and,successful Toronto Realtor murdered in upscale Caledon subdivision. The victim knows one of the murderers.

· January 2011: Prominant Toronto Realtor dies from heart attack after being kidnapped

· 48 year old Realtor found dead in his home. Murder suspects met victim on Craigslist and killed him during a botched robbery attempt.

· 27 year old BC Realtor found dead in vacant home; was last seen leaving to show property to a couple, after receiving a showing request from a female. (still unsolved)

· 51 year old Realtor found shot to death in vacant home.

· 57 year old Realtor found stabbed to death by potential buyer, after she questions his ability to buy house.

· Two real-estate agents were killed in vacant homes for sale and another was robbed, all within a week, prompting frightened agents in northeastern Ohio to cancel open houses and avoid meeting prospective buyers alone.

· 71-year-old was robbed, strangled and beaten with a fireplace poker in 2008 while showing a home to a man she believed was a prospective home buyer.

· 40 year old Sara Walker was hosting an open house at a model home in McKinney, Texas, when she was stabbed 27 times by a felon out on parole. Her alleged killer was later arrested

Realtor robbed: Realtor attacked: It doesn't always end in murder

· Toronto police are looking for two suspects after a Century 21 real estate agent was robbed in a house he was showing.

· February 2011: Iowa-- An Ottumwa realtor got the scare of her life Friday when police said she was brutally beaten, tied up and robbed while showing a home.

· Police said 53-year-old Kathy Sorak was lured to 1120 North Court Street by two men who pretended to be interested in buying the home.

· Mid-South Realtor Attacked While Showing HouseJACKSON, TN--Jackson investigators are searching for a man they say attacked a local realtor while she was showing a house Wednesday afternoon.

· San Antonio - A real estate agent says she owes her life to five students who helped her escape a client who brutally attacked her.

· Janice Tisdale says she had just finished showing the man the upscale northwest side home and was reaching for the front door's lock when he struck her head with a pole from inside the house.

.· An Orange County real estate agent was raped and bludgeoned by a man masquerading as a prospective home buyer. The man raped the agent after finding her photo online. The agent was able to survive the brutal attack by alleged assailant after pretending to be dead.

The internet has made Real Estate marketing vibrant and fast, but it has also made things easy for a segment of the population that are looking to seek revenge, rob, rape, murder or fulfil some sick psychological disorder. Be alert, use your intuition and stay safe when you're selling Real Estate, Realtor and Private Seller alike.

Open House in Hamilton East on Sunday

Donna Bacher — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:30:00 GMT

Hamilton East, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 158 Garside Avenue North on November 20 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Property information

Excellent Starter at 158 Garside Avenue North in Hamilton East

Donna Bacher — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:06:00 GMT

Hamilton East, Hamilton - Announcing a great price on 158 Garside Avenue North, a 1 bath, 2 bdrm 1 1/2 story. Three 2 year old appliances included!!Now MLS® $154,900 - Fantastic Kitchen!.

Property information

Top Do-It Yourself Renovations with Best Return on Investment

Donna Bacher — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:50:00 GMT

RENOVATION PROJECT	APPROXIMATE COST*	APPROXIMATE ROI**
Paint the interior	$1,000	50-100%
Replace carpeting with affordable laminate	$2,000 (for 1,000 square-foot space)	50-75%
Install new light fixtures	$2,000	60-70%
Groom the exterior landscape	$2,000	25-50%
Replace knobs and hardware	$2,000	75-100%
Update the entryway	$3,000	50-75%
Replace carpeting and laminate floors with hardwood	$5,000 (for 1,000 square-foot space)	50-75%
Build a fence/deck	$5,000	50-75%

Source: Estimating & Budgeting Guide: Typical Costs of Residential Construction and Home Remodeling. The CanadianBuilding Consulting Group Inc., 2007.

Do It With Doors!

Donna Bacher — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:24:00 GMT

Do it with Doors!

Improve your home’s interior with doors that are fashionable but practical

One of the easiest and relatively inexpensive ways to give your home a makeover is to update it with new interior doors. Doors can provide privacy, control noise, and manage heating and air conditioning flow. Combined with the right hardware, doors can also enhance your home’s décor.

Formulate the Flow
Whether you’re replacing an existing door or adding a new one to create a quiet spot for reading, doing homework, or just sitting with friends, you need to consider how you want the space to work and interact with adjoining rooms. For smaller rooms, consider options that include bi-fold, sliding and pocket doors to minimize the space needed by a regular hinged door. French doors, which can open into or out of a room, let you retain the light and open look, while also adding architectural interest. If you feel doors interfere with the flow of your home, pocket doors which slide into the adjacent wall, preserve flow while also adding the option for privacy.

Select a Source
There are doors to suit every budget and design scheme, from rustic tongue and groove to contemporary panel styles. Materials in wood and MDF are the most common, both of which can be painted to match any colour scheme. Glass and mirrored doors reflect light and space, and the former can be frosted for privacy. If you want to consider an environmentally friendly source of material, bamboo has gained considerable attention in sustainable design because it is a hardy, durable product from a renewable resource.

Pull it Together
No matter what interior doors you choose, ensure they maintain a design consistency with other doors in your home. For example, French doors can be complemented by paneled doors in bedrooms and hallways. Replacement doors should have the same measurements as the old doors and for new doors, measure the width of the doorway at the top, middle and bottom and use the smallest measurement to determine the size of door required. Top it off with hardware that reflects the door’s design and enhances your home’s décor.

If your doors are looking tired or are out of step with your decorating tastes, update them and be amazed at the difference they make. This is a home improvement that will make your living space more enjoyable and appealing.

Open House in Hamilton West on Sunday

Donna Bacher — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:06:00 GMT

Hamilton West, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 80 Oxford Street on November 13 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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Open House in Hamilton West on Sunday

Donna Bacher — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:05:00 GMT

Hamilton West, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 160 Locke Street North on November 13 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Property information

5 Mistakes to Avoid when you Flip or Renew Property.

Donna Bacher — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:35:00 GMT

First of all, I have to say, there's nothing more rewarding than taking a beat up or run down property and transforming it into something that anyone would be proud to call home. I've been involved in a couple of dozen of them over the years and I know first hand the incredible sense of accomplishment I felt on each of them.

As anyone who has done a few renewals or flips will tell you, it's not quite as easy as the snippets on HGTV or Flip this House would lead you to believe. Over the years, I've helped many people make good money doing this type of work. On one hand you have the pro's, who turn out a wonderful product that sells quickly. On the other hand, you have the amateurs, who, without the right guidance could end up with a house that sits on the market forever, and eventually they walk away with little or no profit.

So, here's my list of the top 5 traps to avoid.

1) Avoid overbidding on Power of Sales & Estate Sales: Before you jump on a Power of Sale or an Estate Sale, make sure you look at it's MLS history. With Power of Sales, it's not unusual that the house may have been on the market 6 or 7 months prior to the current Mortgagee in Possession listing. If it was listed for $120,000, and didn't sell, then paying $120,000 for it when you're faced with competing offers may not be the wisest financial decision. Have your Real Estate representative do the research for you...and look it over carefully.

2) Avoid over optimism in certain residential areas. Location, Location...Location. It holds true with flips and renewals. Every location has a ceiling in prices. It's easy to think that you may be able to push it to a new high with a wonderful product, but it's a huge risk. Check with your Realtor to find out what area of the City is experiencing the most sales and what the ceiling is in that area.

3) Avoid the "It's not that big of a deal" syndrome. Viewing a home that needs a lot work can be overwhelming, and many people just look at the obvious. Roof, hydro, plumbing, kitchen,furnace,bathroom and flooring. And these are important elements that can be easily cost out, but its going to be the ones that you don't care about when you originally view the home that may cost you your profit. A good example of this buying a home with a low basement. You are concerned over everything in the basement, except for it's height. It's not that big of a deal because everything in that price range has a low basement, but then you improve the home and all of a sudden you're in a price range where people are expecting a higher basement. The same holds true for the driveway situations. No drives or mutual drives are ok in one price range, but quite a deficiency in another.

4) Avoid putting the wrong grade of product in the home. Divide your local market into 3 parts. Low, Middle and Upper. If the house is in the Low market, don't chew up your profits with high quality hardwood floors and granite counter tops. In the Upper market, don't loose your profits by putting in laminate flooring and lower end light fixtures.

5) Avoid overestimating and underestimating. Overestimating the work that you're going to have to do will hinder you in the bidding process, resulting you being apprehensive about bidding enough. Underestimating will result in you possibly overpaying for a property and not making your desired profit. It's best that you know your prices before you look at properties. You not only have to know the prices for updates such as furnaces, windows and bathroom fixtures, you have to also know how much a tradesman would cost you if you can't do the work yourself.

Making sure you're organized, prepared and educated will go a long way to increasing your profits!

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine!

Donna Bacher — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:41:00 GMT

I don't know who the wise owl was that came up with that saying...but not only does it pertain to those threads hanging from your hem, it also applies to your humble abode!

The clocks fall back, the days all of a sudden get shorter and all of a sudden you're thinking of what kind of Christmas cookies you're going to bake. The only problem is, somewhere between the warm, breezy nights of summer and the sculpting of our first snow man, is a very important time in home maintenance. It's the season to clean things out, seal things up and shut things off!

Take a stroll around the outside of your home and make a detailed list of what needs to be trimmed, picked up, dug out or put away. Also make note of any cracks in your foundation, broken downspouts or eaves and missing or loose shingles.Realize that you only may only have a couple of weeks to complete your winter shutdown!
Start by picking things up and putting them away in your shed, garage or basement. Flower pots that may crack over winter, garden ornaments that may be damaged if covered in snow and garden hoses.
Seal up any cracks in your foundation. If unsure, call in an expert. Moisture and freezing will only worsen the condition by next spring and little 4 legged creatures are anxious to get in out of the cold!
Clean out your eave troughs...and wash out your downspouts (they may be clogged!) and while you're up there, you can put up your Christmas lights!
If you're missing shingles, get them replaced...and if your eaves are loose...get them fastened. Snow and ice are heavy and unless your eaves are tight to your house and your roof is in good shape, you may have an unexpected water feature in your house!
Check all of your windows and doors to make sure that they close tightly.
Trim overgrown plants and rake up those leaves! Put the rake away and bring out the snow shovel!

Last and not least...disconnect and drain your garden hoses, and make sure your outside water taps are turned off inside the house and left open on the outside!

The Benefits of Pre-Listing Home Inspections

Donna Bacher — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:32:00 GMT

There was a time when the most stressful clauses in an offer for a Seller were the ones associated with the Buyer obtaining financing or the Buyer selling their home, but over the last decade, this has changed.

Obtaining a Home Inspection has become the industry norm, and it's been standard for the Buyer to make an offer conditional for a period of time to obtain his/her own inspection report.

"Clause 13" in the Ontario Real Estate Association Standard Agreement of Purchase and Sale addresses requesting a home inspection:

"INSPECTION: Buyer acknowledges having the opportunity to inspect the property and understands that upon acceptance of this Offer there shall be a binding agreement of purchase and sale between the Buyer and Seller. The Buyer acknowledges having the opportunity to include a requirement for a property inspection report in this Agreement and agrees that except as may be specifically provided for in the Agreement, the Buyer will not be obtaining a property inspection or property inspection report regarding the property."

Once the Buyer reviews the report with the Home Inspector, he/she assesses the deficiencies and or repair items for the subject property and then makes an informed decision whether or not they want to continue with the purchase. There is no doubt that these reports have been extremely valuable in helping Buyers make informed decisions along with protecting the Seller from litigation after the transaction closes, often from issues that they didn't even know existed!

Benefits of Having Your Home Pre-Inspected Before Listing

Facilitate a faster sale for more money.
Reduces deal falling apart on inspection condition or 11th hour re-negotiations on deficiencies.
Be aware of existing issues, giving you the chance to address them now with competitive pricing.
Protect yourself from over-inflated buyer procured estimates to remedy deficiencies.
Get advise on the final report if there are items you wish to repair.
Reduce your liability with full disclosure
Provides purchasers the comfort of an unbiased 3rd party opinion.
You can assist the inspector during the inspection, unlike the purchaser's inspection.
The Home Inspector will be able to provide the Buyer with a review or actual secondary inspection to review repairs and deficiencies.

Benefits to Buying a Pre-Inspected Home

Saves a lot of time- upon reviewing a current Home Inspection report, you'll be able to see what the deficiencies are in advance of putting in an offer!
Allows you to focus on the deficiencies in a rational fashion and gives you time to get quotes and professional advise during your conditional period.
Allows you the ability to make a much more informed decision.

It doesn't matter if you're a Buyer or a Seller, the need for disclosure and discovery is paramount! The most successful and stress free property sales involve a Seller who knows exactly what he/she is selling and a Buyer who knows exactly what they are buying!

The Home Inspection Industry is far from perfect and there was a time when everyone and their brother were hanging up "Home Inspection" signs, but that has gradually changed. Real Estate Professionals and Consumers alike are looking for Inspectors who are both insured and knowledgeable. The demand is on for Home Inspectors that tell it as it is and don't feel pressure to candy coat anything. A good Home Inspector will not over exaggerate minor deficiencies or to be biased against certain area's of a City or type of house. At the end of the day, it's the Home Inspection Report that a Buyer may be very well depending on when making the decision of buying a home.

Fantastic & Affordable in Downtown West Hamilton!

Donna Bacher — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:06:00 GMT

• 2 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story "Solid Brick..Updates Galore!" - MLS® $209,900 - Hot Hot Hot Location!!!

Hamilton West, Hamilton - This solid 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, Brick home is in one of Hamilton's most affordable yet trendy areas. Steps to James Street North Art District, Farmers Market, Locke Street, Hess Village, Copps Colosseum, Hamilton Place, Bayfront Park, 403 Access plus so much more!

Updates include Kitchen, Bathrooms, Flooring and a 2 year old furnace & air conditioner. Wonderful finished rec room with pot lighting and 2 piece bath! This property is priced to sell & is definitely a must see!!!

Property information

Residential Condominium Market Shines in October!

Donna Bacher — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:31:00 GMT

Check out the latest Press Release from the Realtors Association of Hamilton Burlington...Residential Condo market was great in October 2011!

MEDIA RELEASE

Residential condominium market shines in October

(November 4, 2011 – Hamilton, Ontario) The real estate market in the Greater Hamilton, Burlington and outlying areas* continued to show increases in listings, sales and average sale price when compared to the same month last year, according to Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) statistics released today by the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB).

The residential condominium market saw the largest gain with an 11.8 per cent increase in the number of sales when compared to October of last year. The same market also saw a 5.9 per cent increase in average sale price over the same month last year. The 199 condominium sales were better than the ten-year average of 194 sales for the month.

In the residential freehold market, sales were up less than one per cent over the same month last year and average sale price was up 5.1 per cent.

Listings were up over both last year and the 10-year average in all sectors.

“October was certainly a good month for condominium sales,” said RAHB President Ann Forbes Arndt. “It was the sector where we saw significantly higher sales over last year at the same time. Freehold sales were pretty much on par with sales last year at this time, but fell short of the average for this time of year.”

Year to date, listings of residential properties are down 3.4 per cent while sales are down 0.4 per cent for the same ten-month period last year. Average sale price, however, is four per cent higher year to date than last year at the same time. Total dollar volume of $3.195B in residential sales is 3.6 per cent higher than last year for the same period.

The numbers for the month of October:

All Property Types 2010 2011 % change 10-year average

Listings	1252	1380	10.2%	1339
Sales	928	951	2.5%	999
Average Sale Price	$297,144	$323,124	8.8%	N/A

Residential Only

Listings	1139	1264	11%	1217
Sales	896	918	2.5%	957
Average Sale Price	$297,562	$311,591	4.7%	N/A

Freehold Only

Sales	718	719	0.1%	762
Average Sale Price	$312,547	$328,357	5.1%	N/A

Condominium Only

Sales	178	199	11.8%	194
Average Sale Price	$237,119	$251,012	5.9%	N/A

Commercial Properties (includes industrial, farm, vacant land and business)

Sales

-3%

“Every community in our marketing area has their own localized residential market with larger swings than we see in the overall numbers,” said Arndt. Waterdown, Flamborough, Glanbook and Hamilton Mountain all saw significant increases in numbers of sales, while Caledonia and Hamilton West showed the largest drops in sales compared to October of last year.

Dundas and Caledonia saw the greatest decrease in average sale price compared to last year while Grimsby, Flamborough and Waterdown had the greatest increases in average sale price.

“These results should not be taken as trends; they are merely snapshots of the market at a particular time,” added Arndt.

Please refer to the accompanying chart for residential market activities in other parts of RAHB’s jurisdiction.

Figures quoted are for sales and average sale prices of units located in the jurisdiction* of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington and processed through RAHB’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). Unit sales reflect “all property types” including residential, condominium, commercial property, farm, vacant land and business, unless otherwise specified.

*RAHB’s jurisdiction includes Burlington, Waterdown, Flamborough and Dundas in the north; Hamilton, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, and Grimsby along Lake Ontario; and extends down to the shores of Lake Erie, including Glanbrook, West Lincoln, Smithville, Dunnville, Cayuga, Caledonia, and Hagersville.

Established in 1921, the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) represents more than 2,500 real estate brokers and sales representatives from Hamilton, Burlington, and outlying areas. Members of the association may use the REALTOR® trademark, which identifies them as real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics. The association operates the local Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) and provides ongoing professional education courses for its members. In addition, RAHB is an active participant in the Home Ownership Affordability Partnership (HOAP) and holds an annual auction in support of local charities. Advertisements of local MLS® property listings and information about the services provided by a REALTOR® can be found at www.REALTOR.ca. More information about RAHB is available at www.rahb.ca.

-30-

For further information, contact:

Ann Forbes Arndt Valerie Webster

President, RAHB Communications Coordinator

Ph: 905-574-3038 Ph: 905-529-8101 Ext. 294

E: president@rahb.ca E: valeriew@rahb.ca

Tree House Theatre is Coming to Hamilton!

Donna Bacher — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:03:00 GMT

"Roll Play Live Animal Party presents an all-new family stage show coming across Canada this Fall. Featuring live musical performances by Splash 'n Boots, these fun and active Animal Party concerts will have kids up and dancing along to the incredible music of Roll Play at a theatre near you."

November 8
6:30pm Hamilton
The Great Hall at Hamilton Place

Buy your tickets here

Social Media...A Relationship Revolution

Donna Bacher — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:41:00 GMT

The Social Media Revolution is upon us! Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube & Flicker are more than places on the Net...they're places where we go to match up with our Family, Friends, Colleagues and Clients. Social Media is connecting the world.

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Networked Society Shaping Ideas

Donna Bacher — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:54:00 GMT

The Social Media Revolution explained by the experts

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Simple Energy Saving Tips to Save Money Today!

Donna Bacher — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:28:00 GMT

Hot, Not Bothered: Inexpensive Home Heating Tips

The dramatically rising cost of home heating is a bothersome concern for most Canadians. Heating your home efficiently this winter will be the key to keeping your energy costs under control. Here are some quick, easy and, most importantly, inexpensive ways to maximize warmth and minimize impact to your pocketbook:

Adjust Your Personal Thermostat: Wear a sweater and dress warmly around the house. When you're stationary, watching television or reading, you're most susceptible to a chill, so toss a throw around you. Since hot air rises, resist the icy influence of cooler floors with thick socks or slippers.

Adjust Your Home Thermostat: It goes without saying that the less energy you use, the lower your heating bills will be. Set your thermostat at 21°C when you're home awake, 18°C when you're sleeping and 15°C when you're out of the house. Purchase a programmable thermostat to reduce you heating bill by as much as 20 per cent.

Let the Sun Shine In: While up to 25 per cent of your home's heat is lost through its windows, they are also a source of solar warmth. During daylight hours, keep your drapes open and let the sun help heat your home. Insulate your windows with plastic film to reduce heat loss by 50 per cent. Insulating curtains are expensive, but pay for themselves within 7 years.

Seal the Leaks: Caulk, seal and weather strip around windows and door frames, baseboards, ducting and electrical outlets to save up to 20 per cent on your heating bill. Remember to close your fireplace flue when you're not enjoying a fire. Install a door sweep to resist against under-the-door drafts. Turn off the heat supply and close the door to unused rooms, such as a guest bedroom. Close interior doors leading to hallways or stairways to keep the heat where it's needed most.

Hamilton Mountain Townhouse! 35-1300 Upper Ottawa Street

Donna Bacher — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:52:00 GMT

East Mountain, Hamilton Mountain - Very well kept 3 Bedroom town home- Fantastic East Mountain location, close to shopping, schools and transportation! MLS® $154,900

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