You have probably heard Realtors(R)  say that the best time to sell a home is “Now“. You have probably also thought, “That’s what ALL Realtors say, because they want my listing!”

While humorous (and partially correct), there are also some pretty compelling reasons for Listing a home in February as opposed to waiting for the winter snow to melt. I personally will be listing my home in February, and here’s why:

1.) The timing is right. You’ve found a great property, interest rates are favorable, so why not?

2.) Less Competition. If you are Selling, there are fewer Sellers to compete with. If you are Buying, the same is also true. This adds to a quicker sale and less pressure when choosing the house you want.

3.) More time to enjoy the warmer months. Let’s face it – Winters in Canada are pretty long. Moving earlier in the year means you can get settled in your new home and enjoy the longer, warmer days ahead. I don’t know about you, but I would rather be packing and unpacking boxes when the weather outside is frightful, than when it is delightful!

4.) Ability to Observe the Home in Winter. Speaking of Winter, its nice to know that the basement is cozy and warm when it is minus 20 outside, and that there are no ice dams on the roof. These things are difficult to discover when it is warm outside.

5.) Less Busy Time – Lawyers, Bankers, Movers, and yes, Realtors(R) are all less busy during the Winter months. Anything from getting a survey done to finding a reputable mover, just may be a little bit easier when the Market isn’t as busy.

Buying and Selling a Home is a tough job ANY time of the year, but in any event, you want the process to go as smoothly as possible. Thinking of putting your house on the market before the Spring rush occurs? Great! Give me a call – and while you’re at it, help me pack! 🙂

Forecasting what will happen in the Housing Market in Edmonton and Sherwood Park is a bit like trying to predict the weather.  There are so many variables to consider that affect real estate values.  But, like the weather, we can make some well-educated guesses based on statistical data and the opinions of Economists, real estate investment experts, and Realtors (R) themselves.  Here are some trends to expect in 2015:

1. Prices will continue to rise, but at a slower pace than what we saw in 2014.  We are expecting prices for single family homes to increase anywhere from 2- 3.5% this year, based on tight supply and high demand.
2. We are not expecting a drastic increase in Interest Rates.  It is generally predicted that if Interest Rates rise, it will not be by much (i.e. 25 basis points) and will occur in the 3rd or 4th Quarter of this year.
3. Inventory is currently low and Buyer demand remains high. Despite the drop in the price of oil, the market is tight, particularly with homes in the $350,000 – $450,000 range. So, if your home falls in between this range, this is an incredibly good time to put it on the market!  Just make sure to give yourself a long Possession date so that you have time to find the home you want, as we are predicting more inventory to come on the market as we get closer to Spring.
4. We are continuing to see high demand in the $1 million+ plus homes, which is an indicator of not only higher incomes, but also Consumer confidence in the Move-up market.
5. Because the average price of a home has continued to rise, we will also continue to see Condo and attached housing sales increase, as these are typically more affordable than single-family homes.

All in all, there is NO talk of a Housing Bubble, although you sometimes hear this in the Media. The overall Consensus is that the Edmonton and Sherwood Park Markets will show Slow and Steady Progress in 2015.  This doesn’t make for fancy headlines, but is good news for Buyers and Sellers alike!

If you would like to know what is happening in your specific area, supported by concrete data and statistics, please contact me to arrange a meeting to see what you potentially get for your home today!

Sellers consider Christmas to be the LEAST desirable time to list and sell a property. There is so much going on, from holiday preparations, special engagements and cold weather, that it is easy to dismiss that time of year to sell. However, the season DOES have some advantages: fewer sellers to compete with, and a select group of serious Buyers, who often have to buy either within time restrictions, or are preparing for a new start to the New Year. Once you’ve decided to take the plunge and put your home on the market, here are some useful tips to consider:

1.). Too Much of a Good Thing is NOT a Good Thing!

Decorating over the holidays can add a touch of excitement and glamour to a home. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, or it becomes overly distracting. Avoid overly religious themes as well, as these can polarize potential buyers.

2.) Make it Bright!
Christmas time means dark, early nights. Make sure your home is lit up (i.e. not Griswold style, where you need your own generator!), especially the entrance of the house, where it is often difficult to see where the key fits in the door. You can purchase timers to light up the house at specific times while you are away, and if you are able to time your lighting through your alarm system, consider doing that as well. A well -lit home is warm and welcoming!

3.) Turn up the Heat!
Speaking of warmth, make sure your thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature, especially if the property is vacant. If you have a gas or electric fireplace, turn it on. Don’t use lit candles for safety reasons – use flameless products instead to create a warm ambiance. Buying is an emotional response to a house, so make sure the emotion you are creating is warm and evokes a feeling of comfort.

4.) Clear the Walks, Driveways and Steps of Ice and Snow.
I cannot emphasize this one enough. Show buyers (and their realtors!) that you care about their safety. Watch for water dripping from the eaves to the walk below, as this can get severely slippery.

5.) Add Some Festive Scent.
By this, I mean real scent, not artificial. Fresh baked cookies, hot apple cider, fresh pine boughs can evoke positive thoughts of the holiday season. Like decorating, make sure the scent is not overpowering, otherwise it too becomes distractive.

6.) Price it to Sell.
No matter what you do to prep your home over the holiday season, price is the number one determniner in attracting an offer. The best properties at the best prices sell the quickest. This is true of any time of the year, but is particularly important to remember over the holidays when there are fewer buyers.

Hope you find these tips useful in attracting that Buyer! For more ideas, please contact me – I’m happy to help!

I often get asked, “When is the BEST time to sell my home?” To me, that question is a bit like asking, “When should I start raising a family?  The answer is, “When you are ready!”  Sellers have all kind of reasons for selling, and these can occur throughout the Year!

Most people choose to list and buy in the Spring. This is borne out in our Edmonton and Sherwood Park Real Estate data, where year after year, the peak of inventory AND the peak of Purchases occur during the third week of May.  OK, so that is what the majority of people do – the grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and summer is on its way. But does that mean Fall is NOT a good time to sell? The answer is a resounding, “No”, for the following reasons:

Less Inventory to Compete With! If the majority are listing in the Spring, that means at that time you are competing with more homes to get the attention of interested Buyers. If you list in the Fall, you have less competition as a Seller, which is good!

Low Interest Rates. Interest rates are still very low, and that could change next year in the Spring /Summer market, making your home less affordable for certain Buyers.

Less volatile time. Because the market is less busy in the Fall, it may be easier to predict the value of your home.

Great time for Move-Up Buyers. Say you want to move to a bigger, more expensive house, but you are thinking that you will get 2% more money for your house next Spring. That also means you will be paying 2% for the house you will be buying at that time as well, as the market does not discriminate!  You will gain LESS in the sale than you will be paying out on your purchase. If you are downsizing, it might make more sense to sell in the Spring. It’s really  all about what you net,  after all!

Buyers in the Fall are Serious! No fooling around! If they need to buy, chances are they aren’t kicking tires. They typically want to move in and get settled before Christmas, and preferably before it gets really cold if they can help it!  Serious buyers mean serious offers. That, combined with less inventory, means a better offer for you, the Seller!

If you ARE considering putting your home on the market soon, please contact me for a no-obligation market evaluation that determines the value of your home. I can also help you if you are thinking of Buying in the Sherwood Park and Edmonton region. What are you waiting for, Christmas? 🙂

The NUMBER ONE QUESTION I get asked as a Realtor(R) is, “What is the market going to be like?”

To me, that question translates into “I am thinking of selling my home this year. Is this really a good time to do it?”

While I don’t have a crystal ball ( I wish I had!), and the fact that forecasting the Real Estate Market is a bit like forecasting the weather, 2014 is looking to be a GREAT year to sell or buy a home! Here’s why:

• High Demand.  In 2013, the Edmonton and Sherwood Park regions showed the lowest housing inventory and highest average sale price for the PAST FIVE YEARS, indicating that demand for housing is stronger than ever!

• Robust Economy. The Edmonton and Sherwood Park regions are the FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN CANADA, even beating out Toronto and Calgary, and continues its growth at THREE TIMES the NATIONAL AVERAGE!

• Increasing Value. Forecasters are conservatively predicting a 3% increase in the value of Single Family Homes and a 2% increase for Condos.

• Strong Buyer Demand. There are many BUYERS out there right now due to low vacancy rates, higher rents and the ongoing migration of people obtaining full-time employment.

• Great Value. Among the major municipalities in Canada, the Edmonton / Sherwood Park region remains the LOWEST priced, and interest rates have continued to be low.

• Stable Investment. Economic growth is forecasted to continue well into 2017/2018, which provides consumers with confidence in making a solid real estate investment.

Want to talk further?  Want more information on the Edmonton and Sherwood Park market?  I can help! Contact me for specific information on your area so that you can make the Best Decision possible and Get the Service You Deserve!

Thinking of Selling Your Home in Sherwood Park or Edmonton?  Wondering if You Should List Your Home in the Fall?

Most Sellers feel that the best time to sell a property is in the Spring, when the snow has passed and everything is fresh and green. Note that I said “Most”.  If the majority of Sellers are listing in the Spring, shouldn’t you do the opposite to make your home truly stand out?

While Spring is the most popular time to list and sell a property, here are some reasons why Fall is a GREAT time to List:

• Less Competition from Other Sellers. Typically at this time of year, there are fewer listings, which means that as a Seller, you have less properties to compete with. This is very desirable for a Seller, as opposed to listing in the Spring when there are many more properties on the Market.

• Buyers Get a Chance to See Your Home BEFORE the Snow Flies. Very often, the Buyers need to see the front and back yards of a property before it is covered in mountains of snow! The Fall colors are beautiful, and it is a good time to post these pictures on your listing before Winter begins.

• Home Buyers are Still in the Mood to Buy in the Fall. Many Buyers, particularly families, want to move and settle in before the crazy Christmas and holiday season begins. It is also important to remember that there are Buyers at ALL times of the year, due to circumstance, job transfer, etc.

• Houses are Still Selling Rapidly in the Fall Season. That is, if you price your property correctly. At this time of year, it is essential to price your home at or slightly above Market Value. In spite of the lower inventory, Buyers also want value, and if you want TOP DOLLAR for your home, you need to offer the BEST HOME for the BEST PRICE in your geographic area.

Contact me for a Free Market Evaluation to see what your Sherwood Park and Edmonton home could sell for in today’s market!