Oakville & Burlington Real Estate Blog - Dan Cooper » Statistics

Ready to sell more homes and offer more services in 2012

Dan Cooper — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:29:11 +0000

The year-end housing statistics were not available for Oakville and Milton as I was writing this column, but the stats for Burlington and Greater Toronto are out and they show that sales were strong and house prices continued to climb.

“Low borrowing costs kept buyers confident in their ability to comfortably cover their mortgage payments along with other major housing costs,” says Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. Greater Toronto witnessed its second-best year on record, Silver said, adding that house prices increased by eight percent in 2011 compared to 2010.

In Hamilton and Burlington, the market saw increases in the number of listings and average sales price in December compared to the same month in 2010. The increase in the average sales price for residential was 7.2 percent and for condominiums an impressive 15 percent.

“The December market performed well compared to the average for the month over the last 10 years,” says Cameron Nolan, President of the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington. “And the average sale price continues to rise in our area.”

In Burlington, the average sale price for a residential home climbed from $384,827 in December 2010 to $412,461 in December 2011. Condominium prices rose on average $265,878 in December 2010 to $305,790 in December 2011.

Next week I will review the housing stats for Oakville, which are expected to be released this week. In other news, our relocation services just got stronger. When moving out of town, out of province or out of Canada, you can start the buying process right here at home. Too often, homeowners believe it is up to them to find an agent in the community in which they are moving. But that’s simply not the case. Royal LePage’s key strategic partnership with Brookfield Global Relocation Services allows me to work with agents around the world on behalf of my clients.

My global reach was broadened last month when Brookfield purchased Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services (PRERS), a recognized leader in employee relocation and real estate franchising. The addition of PRERS to Brookfield’s existing residential real estate franchising and employee relocation services businesses establishes Brookfield as the world’s second largest employee relocation services provider and the third largest residential real estate franchising business.

Through its various brands, Brookfield’s residential real estate franchisees are now present in all 50 U.S. states, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and Portugal, with a network of approximately 80,000 real estate agents, 2,800 real estate brokerage locations and more than $150 billion in annual residential real estate transactions.

U.S.-based Brookfield Global Relocation Services moves nearly 85,000 families in and out of over 125 countries around the world each year. With the acquisition, more than one-third of Fortune 100 companies are its clients. In addition, Brookfield is now the largest provider of relocation services to government, with long-term relationships with the U.S. and Canadian governments.

The acquisition greatly strengthens Brookfield’s existing U.S. business and results in the expansion of its operations in nine countries, with a rapidly growing presence in China, Brazil and India.
My success over the past 20 years has not been restricted to the west GTA, but has included representing thousands of clients who have needed to relocate. Being tapped into a global leader such as Brookfield gives me access to a wealth of expertise and resources.

In addition to helping individuals move, The Dan Cooper Team has the depth, scope and scale to provide a full array of services for corporate clients and the employees they transfer.

This is an example of how The Dan Cooper Team’s creativity, perseverance and determination are paying off for our clients. We use leading-edge online strategies and old-fashioned hard work to sell homes faster and for more money.

If you need to relocate or know of someone wanting to move to the Oakville or Burlington areas, give us a call. We have the expertise and resources to make the move stress-free.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009, 2007, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Looking for a strong finish in home sales for 2011

Dan Cooper — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:09:08 +0000

October and November were two of the strongest months for The Dan Cooper Team as we bucked the trend for the Oakville and Milton areas, and remained on track with what was happening in Burlington and the GTA.

There was a cooling in sales in the Oakville area in November, according to the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB), but Hamilton/Burlington and Toronto enjoyed increases in listings, sales and average sale price.

“The increase in transactions has been broad-based, with strong growth across low-rise and high-rise home types throughout the Greater Toronto Area,” says Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. “The market has also become better supplied, with annual new listings growth outstripping that of sales. As this trend continues into 2012, we will see more balanced market conditions.”

The average price in the GTA for November transactions was $480,421, representing an increase of almost 10 percent in comparison to $437,494 in November 2010.

In the Hamilton and Burlington areas, average prices rose 7.8 percent for homes and 6.1 percent for condominiums. This was for all transactions under the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington, which takes in Glanbrook, Dunnville and Caledonia. Burlington on its own witnessed a 13.8 percent increase in the average sale price last month – $421,008 in November compared to $369,874 the same month last year.

So what happened in Oakville/Milton? The OMDREB says this is a traditional slowdown as consumers busy themselves preparing for the holiday season. It says overall sales in November compared with the same month last year were down 5.9 percent. Oakville, however, saw a 5.5 percent increase in sales, but experienced an almost static position in the average sale price. The average price in November was $588,557 compared with $589,354 in November 2010.

“While we are experiencing the traditional drop in sales that occurs during the winter months, we remain on track for a strong finish in 2011,” says OMDREB President Jack McCrudden. “As long as interest rates remain at their current historic lows, demand for housing in the Oakville/Milton market will remain strong.”

The key to selling your home is to choose an experienced realtor who will market your home effectively. Innovative advertising, knowledge about the marketplace, commitment and exemplary service differentiate The Dan Cooper Team. The result is that we are achieving accomplishments that illustrate the Dan Cooper difference. We have been the Number 1 team in Canada for Royal LePage for seven of the past 11 years, which is a testament to our ability to sell homes quickly and for the best possible price in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

Housing market to remain strong to year end

Dan Cooper — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:00:21 +0000

The resale housing market continues to show strong gains as we enter fall. And if low mortgage rates continue, we’re looking forward to a vibrant market through to the end of the year.

Record low mortgage rates remain the most significant factor in buyers’ housing purchase decisions, according to Jack McCrudden, president of the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board. “Even though recent Statistics Canada figures indicate a decline in consumer confidence across the country, homebuyers in this area are still influenced by record low mortgage rates and increased choice in the housing market.”

Similar opinions are being expressed in the Hamilton/Burlington area and Greater Toronto.
Ann Forbes, president of the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington, says, “We are heading into the fall market with positive reports on the market. In general, we are seeing better-than-average results across the board when we look at last year and the 10-year average.”

And in Toronto, Jason Mercer, senior manager of market analysis for the Toronto Real Estate Board, says, “Strong price growth through the first nine months of the year was mitigated to a great deal by low interest rates and rising incomes. As buyers continue to take advantage of the affordable home ownership options in the GTA, we remain on pace for the second best year for sales under the current TREB market area.”

What are we talking about exactly?

In Oakville, sales were up by 3.5 percent and the average selling price increased five percent in September compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date, the average sale price is up by 8.5 percent to $608,301 from $561,197 this time last year.

The biggest gains were witnessed in Milton, recognized as one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, where the number of sales increased by 39 percent and the average price jumped by 16 percent last month compared to September 2010.

In Hamilton and Burlington, the condominium market saw the largest gain with a 13.9 percent increase in the number of sales when compared with September last year. Prices, however, dipped slightly (less than one percent) last month. The area covered by RAHB includes Grimsby, Dunnville and Caledonia. Burlington alone saw the number of sales increase by 11.4 percent, but experienced a drop in pricing by 3.8 percent in September compared to September 2010.

Sales in Greater Toronto were up 25 percent and the average selling price for detached, townhouse and condos were all up about nine percent in September compared to the same month last year. In fact, over recent months the number of listings has improved so the Toronto board expects homebuyers will have more to choose from in the months ahead.

McCrudden appears to sum up the current climate with these comments, “If low mortgage rates continue, we’re looking forward to a strong market through to year end.”

Whether you are buying or selling, it is important to work with a broker who is familiar with the area, has a professional team, strong marketing initiatives and a proven track record for providing results. At The Dan Cooper Team, we are available for our clients 24/7, we have an innovative and effective marketing program and we are selling homes for top dollar – fast. For more information or a free home evaluation, call the Dan Cooper office.

Does growing sales volume mean the housing market is heating up?

Dan Cooper — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:47:42 +0000

We are now at the halfway mark for the year and the housing market has been quite interesting to say the least. After a slow start in the first few months, the market appears to be steadily improving with the volume of sales making double-digit gains.

The number of homes sold in Oakville increased by 16.8 percent in June. This followed an 11-percent increase in May and heralds a strong market for resale homes, according to the Oakville Milton and District Real Estate Board. “Sales have increased for the second month in a row,” says Jack McCrudden, President of the real estate board. “At the same time, prices are moderating, encouraging more buyers into the market.”

Meanwhile, the number of new listings, those homes being put on the market, is relatively consistent. So we have the number of homes being sold outpacing the number of homes being listed. McCrudden, however, says there is still room for sellers wanting to attract interested buyers. “If interest rates stay as they are, the Oakville, Milton area can anticipate a healthy market over the next few months, with opportunities for both buyers and sellers.”

That’s certainly good news for anyone wanting to sell their home, but also signals the importance of selecting a broker who truly knows the market and is able to market your home effectively. Carefully check the broker’s credentials – how long have they been established in this market, how are they marketing their homes, how efficient are they, and what are their results?

What’s happening with prices? In Oakville, the average price of a home dropped 3.5 percent to $599,504 in June compared with June last year. In Milton, the average price increased three percent.

For the first six months of the year, however, the average price in Oakville increased by seven percent, and in Milton it increased by four percent.

The statistics for Burlington had not been released as I was writing this column, but Burlington has typically been on par with Oakville, so I suspect the story is much the same there.

For Greater Toronto, home sales were up a whopping 21 percent in June compared with June 2010. This number represents the third best June on record – behind 2007 and 2009. “This strong June result capped off an interesting first half of 2011,” says Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. “The pace of sales was a bit sluggish at the beginning of the year, but rebounded in May and June. Because of the positive affordability picture, homebuyers remained confident in their ability to purchase and pay for a home over the long term.”

The average price for June transactions in Greater Toronto showed a 9.5 percent increase.
As we see the market continuing to rebound, I have to emphasize how important it is to select an effective broker; someone who will ensure you sell your home for the best price possible. Are they using the best print options, how effectively are they using the internet, on what websites and how often is your listing going to be profiled, are they utilizing new technology such as QR codes? The Dan Cooper Team is proud to being doing all of this and more. Our track record speaks for itself – top team in Canada for Royal LePage in seven of the past 10 years. It’s an accomplishment we are proud of and one that our clients have appreciated when we sold their homes quickly and for top dollar.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Royal LePage is positioned as one of the top brokerages in North America

Dan Cooper — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:06:39 +0000

I have a bit of a mixed bag of news this week. The first piece of news is that Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. is among the best performing brokerages in North America when compared to the top ranked real estate firms.

Royal LePage measured its performance with those ranked in Real Trends 500. Real Trends is the Fortune 500 of real estate. Their annual research report identifies and measures the performance of America’s largest and most successful residential real estate brokerages.

Royal LePage’s annual closed sales in dollar value placed the brokerage 7th in the ranking of these 500 top firms and 18th in closed transactions.

“These impressive standings are a testament to the strength of our brand and support systems, and to the high performance of our extraordinary realtors,” says Gino Romanese, senior VP at Royal LePage. “In addition to the fact that we are Canada’s number one brokerage in dollar volume, the Real Trends 500 comparison is more information about us that’s great to share.”

Combine the resources of a top 10 brokerage in North America with the #1 Team in Canada for Royal LePage for 7 of the past 10 years – The Dan Cooper Team – and you have a powerful partner to handle all your real estate needs.

The second piece of news is Hamilton is once again in the spotlight. Two weeks ago I wrote that the British-based FDI Magazine, owned by the prestigious Financial Times Group, ranked Hamilton as one of the top 10 large cities in North America ripe for foreign investment. I said at the time, that economic growth feeds the housing market and that real estate in Hamilton and surrounding municipalities would benefit from any investment in that city.

Last week, the Toronto-based Real Estate Investment Network singled out Hamilton as one of the top three places in Canada in which to invest. It was the number one choice in Ontario. “We’re looking for the cities with the most future potential, not what’s happening now,” REIN President Don Campbell told local media. “We see a real window of opportunity for Hamilton in the next five years.”

This is more good news for our area and while we will have to wait to see how these accolades translate into actual investment, it certainly has the politicians and city managers giddy with anticipation.

Finally, the latest housing statistics continue to show slower sales volume throughout the GTA and Hamilton, but prices are still higher than they were a year ago. Fewer homes on the market means sellers are getting more for their properties.

In Oakville, sales were down 20 percent in April compared to the same month last year, but the average price was up 14 percent – $625,900 compared to $551,187 in April 2010. Milton sales were down 23 percent but the average price was up five percent – $411,819 compared with $392,466 a year ago.

“The unusually rainy spring has slowed the usual increase in listings but the higher prices and good weather should bring more sellers into the market next month,” says Jack McCrudden, President of the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board. “Meanwhile buyers attracted by historically low interest rates remain enthusiastic about homeownership, so spring could see an upswing.” McCrudden added that sales of luxury homes increased in April over the same month last year.

As a Certified Luxury Home Marketing specialist, I can offer a specialized expertise in the GTA’s distinctive home market. The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing is the premier independent authority in training and certification for real estate agents working in the upper-tier residential market. My designation is a result of my expertise and impressive performance in the fine home and estates marketplace. I also received the Million Dollar Guild designation by demonstrating skill in the million-dollar market range. Inclusion in this exclusive organization provides my Team and me with proprietary tools, knowledge and strategies that give us the competitive-edge when selling your home.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the #1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Be prepared for a hot spring in the local real estate market

Dan Cooper — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:48:30 +0000

Spring is traditionally a strong season for real estate. It’s a time of the year when nature begins anew, putting us in the mood for a new beginning as well. And from all accounts, this spring appears to put us back on track after a long recession.

A number of surveys and real estate board reports are indicating that we can expect everything from a balanced market to a robust season – depending on where you live. This area will be on the robust side. The Oakville and Burlington markets have consistently been among the strongest in Canada when we measure our performance against the country’s leading communities.

According to the most recent Royal LePage House Price Survey, the best performing major markets in the first three months of this year are Vancouver where the price of a standard two-storey home rose by 9.7 percent and Montreal where detached bungalows rose by 6.3 percent.

The average house price in Oakville rose 8 percent over the same period – again placing this market as one of the best places in which to invest in real estate. “As we move into spring, which traditionally is a good time for buying and selling homes, I think we’ll see a slight upward trend in sales,” says Jack McCrudden, President of the Oakville Milton and District Real Estate Board. “In fact, sales have been increasing month over month for the past three months. All things being equal, it should be a good spring for buyers and sellers.”

The average sale price for March in Oakville increased 6 percent over March last year to $572,909. In Milton, the average sale price in March was $409,207, an increase of 7 percent. Over the first three months of the year, Oakville increased by 8 percent to $609,744 and Milton by 3 percent to $396,989.

In Burlington and Hamilton, the Realtors Association is saying this year will be a return to a normal year. Sales activity was down for the first three months, but the average sale price increased by 3.5 percent, which followed the national average.

“The spring market is proving to be what we would call a normal, more balanced market,” says Ann Forbes, President of the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB). “In this kind of market, we will see a good number of properties coming on the market and a good number of sales going through. There is time for buyers to shop and compare before they buy.”

Mind you, their figures take in the entire area that RAHB covers, which includes 15 cities and towns from Burlington to Dunnville. I would have to think that some of those communities will be dragging these figures down and that Burlington’s performance is not being reflected.

When you consider that Burlington recently placed third in the 2011 Best Places to Live in Canada survey conducted by Money Sense magazine, the desire to live in such a community is going to be high – and that drives up prices.

Across the country, low interest rates and a recovering economy continued to fuel activity over the past year. “Canada’s real estate market has maintained momentum coming out of 2010, indicating the post-recession recovery is continuing,” says Phil Soper, President and Chief Executive of Royal LePage Real Estate Services. He cautions that while prices will continue to creep up, most of the excess demand created by the initial drop in interest rates has been satisfied and that single digit percentage increases are more likely for the balance of the year.

That might be true on a national scale, but hot markets such as Oakville and Burlington continue to buck the trend and we will likely experience strong performances through the year.

Housing sales volumes are still sluggish but prices are up

Dan Cooper — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:32:13 +0000

The latest housing stats coming out of Oakville, Burlington and the rest of the GTA are showing a continuing trend – sales volumes are down but prices are up. This is something I’ve addressed in earlier columns. In one respect the market is soft when it comes to activity, but homes are holding their value which proves that real estate is always a good investment. Let’s look at some of the latest statistics across the board.

In Oakville the number of homes that sold was down a whopping 21 percent in February compared to February 2010. Putting that into perspective is Jack McCrudden, President of the Oakville, Miton and District Real Estate Board. “Area sales have declined compared to last year when the resale housing market was driven by concerns over interest rates, the impact of the HST and potential changes to mortgage rules,” he said.

The rush to purchase homes before the HST came into effect last July created a buying boom. Yet, prices in Oakville last month were 12 percent higher than February 2010. The average home price last month was $645,904 compared to $577,628 last year. In Milton, sales volume matched last year’s volume and prices were up one percent, $385,002 compared to $382,396.
Hamilton and Burlington displayed the same pattern with sales down by 8.7 percent but prices up by 3.7 percent compared to February last year.

“While the numbers show that our sales and listings are down from last year, you have to remember that February of 2010 was the beginning of the recovery from the uncertain market in the early part of 2009,” according to Ann Forbes, President of the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington. “Our average sales price continues to climb, year after year. Buying a property in the Greater Hamilton, Burlington and outlying areas is a good investment.”

Across the GTA, sales were down 14 percent but prices were up by five percent, says Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston. “Continued improvement in the GTA economy, including growth in jobs and incomes and a declining unemployment rate, has kept the demand for ownership housing strong.”

What’s interesting is that last month’s sales may have been 14 percent lower than last year, but were 50 percent higher than sales in February 2009 (during the recession) and slightly higher than the average February sales volume over the previous 10 years. Jason Mercer, the board’s senior manager of market analysis, further said that market conditions remain tight in the GTA. There is enough competition between homebuyers to promote continued price growth.”

The key to selling your home is to choose an experienced realtor who will market your home effectively. Innovative advertising, knowledge about the marketplace, commitment and exemplary service differentiate The Dan Cooper Team. The result is that we are achieving accomplishments that illustrate the Dan Cooper difference. In fact, we have been the Number 1 team in Canada for Royal LePage for seven of the past 10 years, which is a testament to our ability to sell homes fast in the Oakville and Burlington areas.

Why is the outlook for the housing market so positive for this year?

Dan Cooper — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:55:55 +0000

The mood in the housing market has certainly rebounded. For those of us in the real estate industry, we saw a better than anticipated finish in 2010 and see the continued optimism in early 2011. This was confirmed this month by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) which has revised its 2011 forecast upwards for home sales activity.

“Homebuyers recognize that low mortgage interest rates represent a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says CREA President Georges Pahud. “At the same time, they expect that rates will rise, so they’re doing their homework in order to understand what it could mean in terms of higher mortgage payments down the road before they make an offer.”
CREA forecasts that the national sales activity will rebound by three percent, which is roughly on par with the 10-year average. The upward revision to CREA’s forecast for 2011 reflects recent improvements in the economic outlook and a further expected improvement in consumer confidence.

Recent changes to mortgage regulations (the maximum amortization period was recently shortened to 30 years from 35 and the maximum homeowners can borrow in refinancing mortgages was reduced to 85 percent from 90 percent) will further ensure buyers don’t get in over their heads; that they won’t buy more home than they can afford and find themselves in trouble when interest rates rise – which they will inevitably do.

“The new changes to mortgage regulations will likely bring forward some sales into the first quarter that would have otherwise occurred later in the year, particularly in some of Canada’s more expensive housing markets,” says Gregory Klump, CREA chief economist. “This is expected to produce a milder version of the volatility in sales activity that we saw last year which resulted from additional transitory factors.”

Three transitory factors contributed to volatility in sales activity last year: changes in mortgage regulations, the early withdrawal by the Bank of Canada of its conditional commitment to keep interest rates on hold until the second half of 2010, and the introduction of the HST.

CREA expects that home sales activity will gain traction after dipping in the second quarter as the economic recovery and job growth continue, incomes grow and consumer confidence further improves. “Even though mortgage interest rates are expected to rise later this year, they will still be within short reach of current levels and remain supportive for housing market activity. Strengthening economic fundamentals will keep the housing market in balance, which will keep home prices stable,” says Klump.

In the Oakville and Burlington market, sales were down last month compared with the same month last year, but prices were up – indicating we are still in a solid real estate market with home values remaining strong. In Hamilton/Burlington sales were down 7 percent but prices were up 9.4 percent. In Oakville sales were down 11 percent and the average price was up 9 percent. The average price rose from $590,657 last year to $644,849 in January in Oakville.

Pahud says the housing market and buyer psychology is different now than it was at the beginning of last year, and advises that buyers and sellers consult their realtor to understand local market trends.

I’ve consistently advised that the key to finding a good deal or selling quickly for top dollar is to work with a broker who knows the community. The professionals at The Dan Cooper Team of Royal LePage have such a track record, which has led to our achieving the Number 1 Team in Canada for Royal LePage for 7 of the past 10 years.

Will 2011 be the year to buy a home?

Dan Cooper — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:49:17 +0000

From all accounts, this Christmas shopping season was one of the strongest in the past few years as consumers shook off those recession blues and expressed their confidence in the future through their pocketbooks. And while many of you are currently enjoying the deep discounts during the Boxing Week sales, some of you will perhaps be thinking about a new home.

If the retail scene over the past few weeks is an indication that our economy continues to get back on track and that consumers are feeling more secure about the employment picture and confident in their finances, then we can look forward to some good real estate investment opportunities in 2011.

Just to confirm that 2011 promises to be a better year, a recent poll conducted for the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business revealed that Canadian executives are increasingly optimistic about the economy and that they plan to boost capital spending, hire more staff and make acquisitions. In fact, 92 percent think our economy will grow next year, albeit moderately as opposed to strong growth. This optimism is the highest level recorded in the Globe’s annual survey in more than four years. That is good news after the struggles we’ve faced over the past couple of years.

On the housing front, improving economic conditions and stable mortgage rates will help fuel a projected 5-percent increase in house sales next year, according to a recent forecast by Central 1 Credit Union. According to the firm, housing resales have climbed since last July when the introduction of the HST stalled the housing market. The rebound is thanks to low mortgage rates, improved affordability and an improving economy. Central 1 expects sales to continue to grow early in 2011 and to tail off in the second half as mortgage rates rise.

“Mortgage rates will remain well anchored and conducive to housing demand over the forecast horizon. Posted rates in 2011 will range from an average of 5.4 percent in the first quarter to 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter. Rates are projected to rise to a modest 6.5 percent by the fourth quarter of 2012,” the credit union predicts. For those of you who are considering the lower but riskier variable rates, these reflect the Bank of Canada’s policy interest rate, which has been increased three times in 2010 in 25 basis point increments, pushing the rate to 1 percent. The credit union predicts that the next rate hike will most likely be a 25 basis point increase on the Bank’s next rate-setting meeting on April 12. While the credit union says the Bank will resume its rate normalization, it expects the policy rate to reach 2.25 percent by the end of 2011 and then to 2.75 percent or higher by the end of 2012.

Trying to predict future mortgage rates and choosing a mortgage that is right for your circumstances is an important consideration for anyone buying their first home or moving up into a larger home and carrying a mortgage. There are several strategies from fixed to variable mortgages to length of amortization.

For example, selecting the length of your mortgage amortization period will affect how much interest you will pay over the life of your mortgage. While the lending industry’s benchmark is 25 years, there are shorter or longer timeframes available. The popular opinion is that shorter is better – you pay off your home faster and pay less interest over the life of the mortgage. But there are advantages to a longer amortization and next week Lee Anne Taylor of Dominion Lending Centres will outline the pros and cons when choosing an amortization period.

Until then, all of us at The Dan Cooper Team wish you every happiness for this season and throughout the coming year.

Dan Cooper is an award winning Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call the Dan Cooper Team.

A silver lining during the holiday season

Dan Cooper — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:38:17 +0000

Talk about lousy timing for depressing news. Just as consumers are flocking to the stores to do their Christmas shopping, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney came out with a stern warning that Canadians are too far in debt. He says that household debt is so high that if there was an interest rate hike, consumers would buckle under the load.
Personally, I don’t see any reason to be an alarmist. Yes, people have been spending, but they have also been saving over the past two years. The economic meltdown in the U.S. gave us all a scare and practically halted our own economy to a standstill.

It was refreshing, therefore, to see the recent remarks by Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist with BMO Capital Markets, who said that while household debt has been “rising relentlessly,” so too have household assets. Porter calls for calm. “This singular focus on the debt side of the balance sheet really overlooks the very clear improvement under way that we’ve seen on the asset side of the ledger for the past year or so. When you take this into account, Canadian household finances are not nearly as stretched as commonly perceived.”

He said Canadians have invested rather than just spend, and most of that investment has been in real estate, thereby increasing assets. In fact, Canadians are worth more than they used to be, he says. He rightly cautions that to scare consumers into closing their wallets would be dangerous. Such action would put a serious drag on our fragile economy, which is gradually improving.

Of course, Ontarians were hit with a double whammy this year. In addition to the recession and a shrinking manufacturing base, we also had to contend with the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), which was introduced in July. Here in Oakville, the impact on our property values were further exacerbated by the controversial power plant proposal which scared off potential buyers.

But we are recovering. Consumers are getting used to the HST and the province wiped the power plant proposal off the drawing board. I’m confident that with all this turmoil behind us, the housing market in Oakville will be booming this coming spring.

It’s a good time to start looking at properties for your next move and remember to work with a broker who knows the community and has established successful selling strategies to ensure you sell your home for top dollar – fast. In the meantime, all of us on the Dan Cooper Team wish you a happy holiday and the very best for 2011.