OTTAWA, February 28, 2014 — Following the annual review of its insurance products and capital requirements, CMHC will increase its mortgage loan insurance premiums for homeowner and 1 – 4 unit rental properties effective May 1, 2014.

The increase applies to mortgage loan insurance premiums for owner occupied, self-employed and 1-to-4 unit rental properties, including low-ratio refinance premiums. This does not apply to mortgages currently insured by CMHC.

For the average Canadian homebuyer requiring CMHC insured financing, the higher premium will result in an increase of approximately $5 to their monthly mortgage payment. This is not expected to have a material impact on the housing market.

Effective May 1^st, CMHC Purchase (owner occupied 1 – 4 unit) mortgage insurance premiums will increase by approximately 15%, on average, for all loan-to-value ranges.

CMHC reviews its premiums on an annual basis and, going forward, plans to announce decisions on premiums in the first quarter of each year.

Based on a 5 year term @ 3.49% and a 25 year amortization

Based on a 5 year term @ 3.49% and a 25 year amortization

The residential home inventory on the Edmonton Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® System) rose 16% in January. Typically just over 1,800 homes in the Edmonton  come onto the market in January. Last month’s listings of 1,842 were higher than the 783 listed in December. Sales figures were higher than a typical January and higher than sales in December and January 2013. The increased inventory  kept prices stable in all housing categories.

Compared to December, the all-residential average3 price of $347,847 was down just $1,226 or
-0.16%. Single family detached (SFD) home prices were down 1.5% at $416,344. Condominiums were priced on average3 at $230,463 (down 1.5%) and duplex/rowhouses showed the biggest movement and were down 5.3% at $336,220.

Price stability and more property available for sale results in a balanced market.Right now both buyers and sellers have time to consider all their options and housing needs. More homes are listed every day and Irina Mierzewski your russian speaking REALTOR® can advise you of a suitable property as soon as it comes available.

The residential sales-to-listing ratio was 45% and the average days-on-market was 61 days in January compared to 73 days in January 2013. There have been four property sales over a $1 million already this year but half of the SFDs sold in January were sold at or below $385,000.

Strong economic indicators such as low unemployment, higher hourly wages and positive in-migration all support an optimistic view of the Edmonton and area housing market. Consumers are confident in their economic future and prepared to risk a first-time or move-up purchase. Low rental vacancies and the potential for higher rental rates are also attracting investors into the market.

Irina Mierzewski – your  russian/ukranian speaking REALTOR in Edmonton will be happy to answer all your questions and give her professional advise whether you sell or buy property in the near future.

The real issue is how much money you have and how much you’re prepared to spend in order to secure the house of your future.
If you are prepared to own two homes for an extended period of time, you could buy the new Canadian house and simply wait until you sell your primary residence.

But if you’re just waiting to find the right house so that you can retire, owning two homes could be a substantial setback to your plan. And if you can’t really afford to own the two houses at once, you might be better off making sure you have a buyer for your current home before trying to buy a home.

The problem is that you still might own these two homes for some time to come. To understand how much of a liability you face, you’ll have to do an indepth study of homes that have recently sold and those that are on the market.
You can do this by looking up the prices of homes that have closed. But if you are unsure of where the real estate market is in your area, just ask me to get my thoughts on the market and how to position your home for sale.

Since you may not have your home ready to sell for almost a year, the market today could be very different from the market next summer. If the real estate market in your area is better now, you might want to consider selling soon. If the real estate market in your area is poor now, it may or may not get better next summer.

Your decision to buy hinges on whether you can see into the future to determine where the real estate market might be. I do know that owning two homes and having the expenses for those two homes is a big burden to bear particularly when you are trying to retire and scale down your home and your way of life.

With the a later than expected arrival of spring, average prices for housing in the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) decreased month-over-month in April after a surprising uptick in March. The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reports that the all-residential price (including single family detached, condominiums, duplexes and row-houses) decreased 1.8% over March to $348,535. Compared to April 2012, the all-residential price was up 2.0%.

“The second quarter is the most active time of year for real estate sales,” said President Darrell Cook. “Both buyers and sellers want to complete the transaction before school starts in September and get settled into the new neighbourhood.” About 33% of annual sales happen in April, May, and June, while 25% occur in Q3 and 19% in the last three months of the year. In April, there were an estimated 1,645 (1,523 actual) total residential property sales through the Edmonton Multiple Listing Service® as compared to 1,656 (actual) in April 2012.

Estimated SFD sales of 1,037 units (960 actual) were down 4.4% from last year but condominium sales increased 4.1% year-over-year to 459 estimated sales (425 actual). There were 118 estimated sales of duplex/rowhouse properties (109 actual) in April (up 15.4% y/y). Sales numbers are estimated to account for late reported sales and provide meaningful comparison to previous year actual sales.

Market activity picked up in April according to both market activity indicators. The sales-to-listing ratio was up at 55% in April while days-on-market was down from 50 in March to 49 in April. Inventory continues to be relatively low with 5,294 residential properties of all types available on the MLS® System at the end of April. There were 2,769 residential properties listed for sale in April (up just 0.5% from April, 2012). “As many as 100 additional homes are listed everyday so motivated buyers need to maintain contact with their REALTOR® to ensure that they are notified the moment that a suitable property becomes available,” said Cook.

In April, the average price for a single family detached home was $402,270 (down 3.5% from March). The average priced condo sold for $243,503 (down 1.3% m/m) and duplex and rowhouses prices were up 2.8% to $324,975 on average. It is important to note that the average price encompasses all properties and can be driven upward by a higher than average number of expensive sales in any given month. Contact your REALTOR® to get an accurate evaluation of your home.

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MLS® System Activity (for all-residential sales in Edmonton CMA1)

April 2013 M/M % Change Y/Y % Change
SFD2 average3 selling price – month $402,270 -3.47% 2.88%
SFD median4 selling price – month $379,000 -0.26% 2.99%
Condominium average selling price $243,503 -1.25% 3.45%
Condominium median selling price $228,000 -0.65% 1.38%
All-residential5 average selling price $348,535 -1.75% 2.03%
All-residential median selling price $335,000 1.61% 2.29%
# residential listings this month 2,769 14.33% 0.47%
# residential sales this month 1,523 9.88% -8.03%
# residential inventory at month end 5,294 11.66% -12.35%
# Total6 MLS® System sales this month 2,014 10.54% -9.16%
$ Value Total residential sales this month $616 million 8.08% -6.20%
$ Value of total MLS® System sales – month $710 million 10.37% -7.06%
$ Value of total MLS® System sales – YTD $2.3 billion 10.24% -7.35%
1 Census Metropolitan Area (Edmonton and surrounding municipalities)
2 Single Family Dwelling
3 The total value of sales in a category divided by the number of properties sold
4 The middle figure in a list of all sales prices
5 Residential includes SFD, condos and duplex/row houses.
6 Includes residential, rural and commercial sales

FOR BUYERS: HOMEBUYING – THE  PROCESS I will be with you every step of the  way during the home buying process, so I wanted to give you a good idea  of what to expect. I came across this article that does a good job of  explaining what the home search and purchase process entails. I have a  wealth of information and resources so please let me know if you have  any questions. I look forward to working with  you.

How  to be the Most Attractive Homebuyer by Andrea Murad. © 2013 FOX  News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reports that residential property prices in the Edmonton CMA1 were up again in March. The all-residential price (includes single family detached, condominiums, duplexes and row-houses) rose 3.5% in a month and single family detached prices were up 3.9%. Compared to March 2012, the all residential price was up 4.3% and the SFD price was up 7.0%.

Because of a shortage of lower priced homes, the average price is pushed up as buyers move up-market to find a home. The increase in average price may not increase the market value of a particular property. The relative number of homes sold in the $450-650k price range increased from 12.2% to 14.5% year-over-year while homes under $300,000 dropped from 40.7% of the market to 38.2%.

The average price for a single family detached home was $416,739 in March, condos were priced at $246,574 (up 6.3% m/m), duplex and rowhouses at $316,110 (down 4.9% m/m) and the all-residential average price was $354,759. SFD prices peaked in May of 2007 at $424,400.

The demand for homes in the Edmonton area continues to be driven by net job creation and low unemployment, economic stability and low rental vacancy rates. Sales were brisk with the sales-to-listing ratio up at 57% for March which indicates that almost six of the ten homes listed during the month were sold. Days-on-market was down from 57 in February to 50 in March.

The number of homes available for sale in the MLS® System inventory was up from 4,183 to 4,741 in March. While this is an increase of 558 properties from last month, it is down 15.4% from the same time last year. The lower inventory is exerting upward pressure on prices but has a dampening effect on sales. “When first time buyers cannot find a house that meets their needs or are forced into a multiple offer situation, they often remain on the sidelines. Low interest rates and rising rental rates create the interest and desire but lack of suitable properties means they are not able to make the transition to home ownership at this time.

REALTORS® are facing some multiple offer situations on lower-priced property but overall, the market remains in balance with neither buyers nor sellers having an advantage in most neighbourhoods.

Residential sales in the Edmonton CMA were up 1.14% in March as compared to March 2012. There were 1,497 estimated sales (1,386 reported) on listings of 2,422 during the month. SFD sales were down 6.63% from last year but condo sales more than compensated at 8.84% y/y increase. Note that sales numbers are estimated to reflect late reported sales and make a more accurate comparison with prior month actual sales.

MLS® System Activity (for all-residential sales in Edmonton CMA1)

Edmonton, May 2, 2012: According to figures released by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, there is a sea of calm in the local real estate market. Residential sales through the Multiple Listing Service® System in April were up 5.3% from the same month last year but below average for April. There were 1,713 residential sales in April as compared to the 5-year average of 1,940 sales. There were 7,334 residential properties available in inventory at the end of April which is up 7% from last month.

“There is plenty of choice in the market at this time,” said REALTORS® Association of Edmonton President Doug Singleton. “Single family prices have risen slightly each month this year which is encouraging sellers to list their property.” He urged home buyers to remain calm, to confirm their financing arrangements and to study the market with their REALTOR®. “Of course, when your REALTOR® shows you the ideal home you should move decisively to make an offer and begin the home buying process in case another buyer is also interested.”

In April, the average1 residential price was up just 0.8% from last month at $337,363. The average price of a single family detached home was $382,384, up 0.9% from the previous month. The average price of a condominium in April was $235,036, up 1.3% from March. Duplex and rowhouse properties sold on average for $329,025; a 3.6% rise from the previous month. Residential prices were also up when compared to a year ago:

• Single family up 0.4%
• Condominium up 1.1%
• Duplex/Row house up 8.9%
• All residential up 2.99%

The average days-on-market in April was 50 days (down three from March) and the sales-to-listing ratio was 53% (up 2% from last month); both indicators reflecting increased market activity. REALTORS® participated in the sale of $578 million worth of residential property last month and total MLS® activity for the year is $1.5 billion (up 15% from 2011 YTD).

“If a change in your lifestyle requires a change of address, then this a great market to be in,” said Singleton. “Choice of neighbourhoods, variety of housing types and stable pricing may not be available in every market but they are features here in the Edmonton area.”

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Activity (for   all residential sales on Edmonton MLS® System)

2 Residential includes SFD, condos and duplex/row houses
3 Single Family Dwelling
4 The middle figure in a list of all sales prices
5 Includes residential, rural and commercial sales

1 Average prices indicate market trends only. They do not reflect actual changes for a particular property, which may vary from house to house and area to area. Prior period figures have been adjusted to include late reported sales and cancellations and therefore reflect a more accurate view of the period than previously reported at month end.

The homeseller understands the way to any potential homebuyer’s heart is through the
kitchen. Over the years, the kitchen has shed its once humble beginnings as a
place to simply prepare and serve meals, to more of a place where friends can
socialize over a glass of wine or where children can do their homework. With
the kitchen becoming one of the most multi-dimensional and functional rooms in
the house, kitchen renovations have attracted the attention of many who are
looking to increase their home’s resale value or would simply just like to
enjoy the improvements to their home.

Nevertheless, many sellers would rather not deal with the expense and length of
the project before they sell their home. But for many, kitchen renovation can
mean top return for the prospective home sellers. According to the Appraisal
Institute of Canada, kitchen renovations represent a 75% – 100% return on
investment, which is the second highest return in the home, next to bathroom
renovations.
Fortunately, home renovation is not as difficult as one might expect; the
recent expansion of renovation centres across the country has led to a
burgeoning “do-it-yourself” project culture. The “do-it-yourself” renovation
can be a cost-effective way to increase the value of your home without the high
price of a trained professional.

Here are a few steps you can take to increase the equity in your home.
According to Rona.ca, kitchen cupboards are one of the best investments one can
make in terms of return on investment on the home. Many homebuyers’ first
impressions of the home take place in the kitchen, and much of that is
highlighted by the kitchen cupboards. By spending a few more dollars on high
quality cabinetry and hardware (knobs and handles on cabinets), you can expect
your investment to reward you handsomely.

By either painting the walls and/or cabinets, it will update the look of the
kitchen with minimal costs and make the room more spacious

Lighting is often one of the last fixtures to be considered, and often
forgotten when the kitchen is remodeled. But by adding new light sources to the
kitchen, it can be a great way to bring together architectural and decorative
balance to a room. Good lighting can highlight certain features of a kitchen
such as the backsplash to create a more colourful and robust look.

Every kitchen needs a sink and faucet. But when it comes to the resale of the
home, few home sellers see the value of replacing the sink. “The faucet and
sink are one of the most important features of a kitchen. When homebuyers enter
the room, they naturally gravitate toward the sink and test out the faucets”,
says Mike Mazza of Mazza Renovation Group Inc, “it provides a sense of hearth
for many buyers because they spend a majority of their time in the kitchen”.

Financing your “do-it-yourself” project can be quite overwhelming. Many
renovation centres offer financing options, but usually charge up to 18%
interest rate after the introductory “interest-free” period is over. For a more
prudent option to finance your project, visit your local financial institution.
By going to your local financial institution rather than the
renovation centre for your financing needs, you can save hundreds of dollars on
interest.