First Sweetcorn of the season!!!
Come see Ryan at Kiley's Sweetcorn + Vegetables located at the corner of Bush Line + John Wise
Tell him I sent you...
Chuck Surette
Coldwell Banker at Success
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Friday, July 29, 2011
SWEE-CORN
Chuck Surette
Coldwell Banker at Success
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Friday, July 22, 2011
Kudos to Park Place Catering
I was trapped in the office and Starving... Park Place catering and Sandwich Shop to the rescue! Check them out!
Chuck Surette
Coldwell Banker at Success Realty
St. Thomas MLS
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Billboard Frame Complete
Almost done with the billboard. Good thing it wasn't too hot today...
Chuck Surette
Coldwell Banker at Success Realty
MLS
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Best Pizza in London (?)
I know some folks love Marvelous - but I'm a big fan of Piero's. What about You??
I'm here to help,Chuck Surette
Coldwell Banker at Success Realty
MLS Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Friday, July 15, 2011
Canadian home sales pick up in June
OTTAWA – July 15, 2011 – According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), home sales activity over MLS® Systems of Canadian real estate Boards climbed in June 2011 compared to May.
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Highlights:
- Sales activity climbed from May to June, with a big year-over-year gain reflecting falling demand in June 2010.
- Year-to-date sales remain in line with the ten-year average.
- The number of newly listed homes also rose from May to June.
- National housing market remains firmly entrenched in balanced territory.
- National average price still being skewed upward by the value of sales in expensive Vancouver neighbourhoods, with price gains in other markets providing additional loft.
Seasonally adjusted national home sales activity rose 2.6 per cent in June 2011 compared to the previous month. Two-thirds of local markets posted month-over-month gains in June.
Activity remained stable in Toronto while declining slightly in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Major markets that saw gains compared to May included Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, London, Hamilton, and Victoria.
“Canadian housing demand remains resilient, thanks to low interest rates, job growth, and home buyer confidence in the economy,” said Gary Morse, CREA’s President. “That said, local housing market trends often differ from national trends, so buyers and sellers should consult their local REALTOR® to understand how the housing market is shaping up where they live.”
Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity came in 10.8 per cent above June 2010 levels, but this largely reflects falling sales activity last June. This was also the case for the year-over-year increase in activity in May. Year-over-year comparisons in July may also be stretched by falling activity one year ago, since July 2010 marked the low point for activity last year.
“The Canadian housing sector remains on a solid footing,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “The rise in monthly home sales activity at the end of the second quarter, upbeat business sentiment and hiring intentions, and signs that the Bank of Canada is in no rush to raise interest rates bode well for home sales activity and prices going into the second half of 2011.”
National sales activity was down 4.7 per cent in the second quarter compared to levels in the first quarter. This in part reflects how new mortgage rules announced in January and implemented at the end of March pulled sales forward into the first quarter at the expense of sales activity in April and May. Mortgage interest rates also rose in April and May, which may have moved some home buyers to the sidelines.
A total of 245,170 homes have traded hands via Canadian MLS® Systems in the first half of 2011. Year-to-date sales activity is running in line with the ten-year average, with monthly sales activity having come close to the ten-year average from January to June this year (Chart A). This highlights the relative stability of demand this year compared to the past three years, when activity swung significantly above and below average monthly levels.
The number of newly listed homes also rose nationally by 1.8 per cent from May to June. Gains in Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa contributed most to the national increase. The rise in new listings will be especially welcome news for home buyers in Toronto, where listings have been in short supply relative to demand this year.
The national housing market remains firmly planted in balanced territory. The national sales-to-new listings ratio, a measure of market balance, stood at 52.6 per cent in June, little changed from 52.2 per cent in May.
About 60 per cent of local housing markets in Canada were balanced in June. Almost half of the remainder can be classified as sellers’ markets, based on a sales-to-new listings ratio above 60 per cent.
The seasonally adjusted number of months of inventory stood at six months at the end of June on a national basis, holding steady compared to May. The number of months of inventory represents the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity, and is another measure of the balance between housing supply and demand.
The national average price for homes sold in June 2011 was $372,700, up 8.7 per cent from the same month last year. The national average price is becoming less affected by the overall number of sales in some expensive Vancouver neighbourhoods, but is still being pitched higher by the value of those sales. Activity in these neighbourhoods has eased from levels reported in February and March, while sales elsewhere across Canada have risen in line with normal seasonal trends. As a result, property sales above $1 million in Vancouver West, West Vancouver, and Richmond now account for a smaller but still elevated share of national activity.
While the effect of Vancouver activity on the national average price has begun to wane, broadly based price gains in other housing markets are holding the national average price aloft. Close to 80 per cent of local markets posted year-over-year average price gains in June. This includes Toronto, where price gains reflect a tight balance between supply and demand.
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this news release combines both major market and national MLS®sales information from the previous month.
CREA cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighborhoods or account for price differential between geographic areas. Statistical information contained in this report includes all housing types.
MLS® is a co-operative marketing system used only by Canada’s real estate Boards to ensure maximum exposure of properties listed for sale.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade associations, representing more than 100,000 REALTORS® working through more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations.
Further information can be found at :
http://www.crea.ca/public/news_stats/media.htm.
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Chuck Surette
Sales Representative
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tips for cost effective kitchen renovation
If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, investing in a few well-conceived improvements could pay you big dividends in terms of improving your resale value The big question is: where to spend your money? Whether you’re selling in the near future or at some later date, your first consideration should be the value you place on the improvements while you’re continuing to live in the home. After taking that into consideration, there are several guidelines that can help you achieve the best return on your investment. The kitchen is normally the focal point of any house. It’s the high point of virtually every potential buyer’s walkthrough – male and female alike. As such, improvements to this area are almost always a worthwhile investment.
As a general rule, the more visible an improvement is, the better your chances for a good return on your investment. For example, mentioning you have a new water heater or plumbing upgrade won’t have the powerful visual impact of a new kitchen counter top or tile backsplash -- even though they may cost the same. Refacing your existing kitchen cabinets is a lower cost option than replacing all your cabinetry. If you’re thinking of a major kitchen renovation, focus your energy – and your budget – on creating new work surfaces and improving function or traffic flow, rather than simply focusing on adding more floor space.
For the more budget conscious, a fresh coat of paint is one of the least expensive improvements that can create a favourable first, and lasting impression on buyers. In fact, dollar for dollar, a fresh coat of paint often delivers one of the best returns on your investment. So, why stop with the walls? Painting your kitchen cabinets and simply replacing your handles with updated hardware can revitalize the entire look of your kitchen and strengthen its visual appeal.
Remember when choosing your colours that light colours can make a room appear larger, and neutral shades will be most appealing to the greatest number of potential buyers. Another optical effect that will help create the illusion of more space is to install new flooring or backsplash tiles on the diagonal to draw the eye up and away on the longest line possible.
A new tap, and possibly even a new kitchen sink are also very affordable options to give your kitchen a quick and affordable ‘facelift’.
Lighting is also a very affordable way to improve the look and the function of your kitchen space. For a very minimal investment, the new halogen light fixtures can illuminate your workspace while adding ambiance to your kitchen. Small under the cabinet halogen pot lights take up little space, and can add a modern flair.
If you’re not sure what’s worth doing or where to start your kitchen reno, give me a call. I would be glad to let you know what improvements will show well to prospective buyers in the future and where to find the best deals on reno supplies.
I'm Here to Help,
Chuck Surette
Sales Representative
Coldwell Banker at Success Realty, Brokerage
Office-519-633-5570
Cell-519-777-4727
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Get the best bang for your renovation buck
Get the best bang for your renovation buck
Now more than ever, Canadian homeowners are venturing into the domain of home renovating. Many Canadians look forward to enjoying the new, attractive or functional features that these renovations can bring to their everyday life. Yet more and more, market-savvy homeowners are spending thousands of dollars on home improvements, just to turn around in a short period and put the property up for sale. Renovations may not sound like a novel idea in terms of adding market value to your home. However, knowing how and where to use your money can help you achieve the best return on your investment by delivering an improved listing price when the time comes to sell.
The two most prominent areas of your home that will affect its selling appeal are the kitchen and bathrooms, so these are two prime areas to focus on if you’re looking for the biggest bang for your renovating bucks. For bathrooms, if you’re looking to improve resale value, then focus your efforts first on the main floor bath or powder room. Buyers decide on a home within the first few minutes, and it will be the only one they will have seen in that time. Besides, it’s usually the bathroom all your visitors use and it’s typically small – perhaps a half bathroom – so it’s a good place to splurge and achieve maximum impact for a relatively low expenditure. After the main floor, the master bath is most worthy of premium fixtures and upgrades, because that’s the one prospective buyers will visualize themselves using. For these two rooms, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank by replacing tubs and sinks. New products such as porcelain tub paint or even a full insert that mounts on top of your existing tub can give your bathroom a fresh as new look. Where it will pay off in the end to spend some money is with new, modern faucets and perhaps a new light fixture.
No other fixture in the home gets more use than the kitchen faucet – so don’t skimp here! A good idea is to choose one of the latest washer less styles that minimize internal seals and components that can wear out. Spend the extra couple of dollars on stylish, advanced faucets that will give years of leak-free service. While the plumbing for the faucets are out, you might decide to replace the kitchen sink – a good investment if yours is showing signs of obvious wear.
The countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms are another guaranteed-return home improvement. If the cost seems a little daunting, don’t be discouraged. New melamine paints can rejuvenate an outdated counter surface with today’s new cool neutral shades. If your counter is scratched and worn, there are new countertops available today, which are custom ordered pieces according to your specifications that are placed over top of your existing counter. The end result is a low cost, limited effort alternative that gives you the look of solid granite!
Give me a call if you have any questions and I can give you further ideas on how to best improve your home in terms of market value.
I'm Here to Help,
Chuck Surette
Sales Representative
Coldwell Banker at Success Realty, Brokerage
Office-519-633-5570
Cell-519-777-4727
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