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Ready to sell more homes and offer more services in 2012

Monday, January 9th, 2012 by Dan Cooper

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.

Posted in Brookfield Global Relocation Services, Moving, Relocation, Statistics | No Comments »

Stability is the watchword in real estate in 2012

Thursday, January 5th, 2012 by Dan Cooper

I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. As we enter 2012, all the signs point to a stable and balanced economy – which in turn creates a good climate for real estate transactions.

Across Canada, the real estate market was balanced in 2011 with housing prices growing more or less in line with the rate of inflation.

Oakville, which has always been one of the hottest markets in the country, surpassed the national trend for sales and price increases. The latest available statistics take us to the end of November and show that the number of residential sales was up 8 percent in 2011 over 2010 and the average price had increased by 8.5 percent – $609,034 in 2011 from $561,769 in 2010.

In Burlington, sales were on par with the national trend, but the average sale price increased by a whopping 13.8 percent – $421,008 in 2011 from $369,874 in 2010.

And we can expect the same pace of growth in 2012 according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The key will be continued low interest rates. Rates had been expected to rise in 2011, leading to a slowdown in the housing market. But that didn’t happen.

In 2012, a looming economic slowdown, record consumer debt and weak wage growth could put a downward pressure on the market. But these will also encourage the Bank of Canada to leave interest rates on hold – and that’s good news for homebuyers. It’s also good news for sellers since the lower rates will encourage more buyers into the marketplace.

While uncertainty about the global economy and our own recovery will continue to mess a bit with our psyche, the fact that we will see some stability, that there will still be some growth in the economy and the job market, bodes well for the real estate scene over the next 12 months.

Whether you are buying or selling a home, choose a broker who understands the market, who is knowledgeable about the community and has the resources and staff to provide you with superior service 24/7.

From the entire Dan Cooper Team, I would like to wish you and your families all the best for 2012.

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.

Posted in Burlington Real Estate, Oakville Real Estate, Prices, Real Estate Market, Selling | No Comments »

Looking for a strong finish in home sales for 2011

Monday, December 12th, 2011 by Dan Cooper

The Dan Cooper Team - Rising Sales

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.

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.

Posted in Burlington Real Estate, Oakville Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Selling, Statistics | No Comments »

Lakeshore Living Magazine is bigger and better than ever

Monday, December 12th, 2011 by Dan Cooper

The second issue of Dan Cooper’s Lakeshore Living will be out beginning this week and it is bigger and better than the spring’s inaugural issue.

The fall issue is loaded with great reading – everything from a spectacular renovation in South-East Oakville by celebrity designer Ramsin Khachi to an incredible California getaway offer by the Napa Valley Crush Co-op. If you like California wines, you will want to see what the Napa Valley Co-op has to offer.
My friends at Budds’ BMW have teamed up with the Napa Valley Co-op to host an exclusive wine tasting event that will include some exceptional “cult” wines from the Napa region. Also likely to be taking part in this special event is Crescent Hill Gallery, which has an extensive and impressive offering of artwork. We hope to see a small glimpse of their collection at Budds’.

Matt Dunigan is this issue’s celebrity profile and I want to thank my good friend for taking time out of his busy schedule to be interviewed and photographed for this article. Matt has suffered several concussions in his career as one of the CFL’s leading quarterbacks and he reveals to us what will become of his brain. You’ll have to read the magazine to find out.

Appleby College is celebrating a milestone this year – its 100th anniversary – and we provide a glimpse into the rich history of this prestigious school. The school is also planning its Centennial Gala on May 12th next year and this promises to be bigger and better than ever. It’s one social function you don’t want to miss.

Lakeshore Living also offers some practical advice for homeowners. Concept Lighting Galleries is one of the area’s top lighting stores with lighting solutions for every home. They have a wide selection and can satisfy any tastes from contemporary to traditional to transitional. Their expert advice and attention to customer service make them the number one lighting store in the area. And today they have three locations in Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington.

For window treatments, inVU Drapery has the experience and expertise to help you create windows that complete a room in elegance and style. There is more to choosing the right window treatment than meets the eye. Fabrics, colour, patterns and hardware all make a statement and so the professionals at inVU can help you make the choices that will create the right balance in your home.

And last but not least, the magazine has an impressive parade of high-end homes for sale in my Prestige Collection. These are homes that are $1.5 million plus, and Lakeshore Living is just an example of how I’m finding innovative ways to market homes for my clients.

Lakeshore Living’s mission is to bring interesting and informative stories to your doorstep. If you want a copy of the magazine, feel free to call my office.

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.

Posted in Lakeshore Living Magazine | No Comments »

Moving out of town? Relocation couldn’t be easier

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 by Dan Cooper

Dan Cooper (centre) with Phil Soper, President & Chief Executive and Gino Romanese, Senior Vice President of Royal LePage

Dan Cooper (centre) with Phil Soper, President & Chief Executive and Gino Romanese, Senior Vice President of Royal LePage.

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.

The advantage is the convenience and peace of mind you will find by working with someone locally for a new home in the next community or on the other side of the globe.

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. Brookfield Global Relocation Services is the number one relocation service in the world with access to more than 600 companies that can handle corporate relocations on a daily basis.

Not only do I have the best relocation service at my fingertips, I have access to the top agents in North America. These are high-calibre professionals who are absolutely the best performers in real estate. As a member of the Royal LePage Chairman’s Club, I am networking with the top one percent of agents within Royal LePage. This is an elite group who know how to find the right home for you and negotiate the best deal possible.

I also have direct access to international counterparts through Real Living, an innovative, fresh and fast-growing real estate brand located in the U.S. The company maintains an industry leading 96 percent customer satisfaction rating and its innovative concepts were recognized as one of the best by Entrepreneur magazine.

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.

Or, if you are simply selling your home, tapping into a worldwide relocation service also increases the list of potential buyers who are transferring into the Oakville and Burlington area. When seeking buyers for your home, we explore every possible opportunity believing that more exposure results in a better price for your home. Combined with our national database of homebuyers through Royal LePage, you have a powerful resource at your fingertips.

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.

Posted in Brookfield Global Relocation Services, Moving, Relocation | No Comments »