WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; April 5, 2012

WINNIPEG - First quarterMLS® sales and dollar volume market activity are in line with the same period in 2011. This year’s result can only be viewed positively given last year’s first three month’s performance was the best first quarter WinnipegREALTORS® ever had since its inception in 1903. Sales are down 2% while dollar volume is up 3% in comparison to 2011.

March 2012 was also up against the best March in WinnipegREALTORS® history in 2011 so to be down only 4% in sales and dollar volume respectively is hardly something to fret about. If anything, it can be seen as a bit of a reprieve that will allow more inventory to help moderate the upward market pressure on prices.  In fact, going into April, there are 17% or more than 200 active residential-detached listings available for sale than was the case at the end of February.  Helping increase supply was the 5% increase in new listings coming on to...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; March 6, 2012

WINNIPEG – If this was a Winnipeg Jets hockey game we would be going into overtime as FebruaryMLS® sales were identical to last year’s. We will have to wait until February 2013 to break the tie. On the other hand, dollar volume was a different story altogether with the clear edge going to February 2012 with dollar volume up 12% at $191 million. As a result, the average residential-detached sales price was notably higher at $266,000 in comparison to $240,000 in February 2011. Condominium average sales price also vaulted past February 2011 with a jump from $198,000 to close to $211,000 in February 2012. Another virtual tie came in newMLS® listings with 1,315 entered in February 2012 compared to 1,313 in February 2011.

Even the total sales price to total list price ratio which is an indicator of  strong buyer demand when the ratio climbs over 100% were nearly the same between the two February’s with...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; February 10, 2012

WINNIPEG – With the exception of 1997 when January sales were at 660, January 2012 sales activity ranks among the best results for all other Januarys as none have even threatened the 600 sales level. Dollar volume is another story altogether as despite sales being in a virtual deadlock with last January, there was still nearly an additional $8 million worth of sales activity. As a result, we see a replay of previous years where even if sales are not up to the previous year level, the dollar volume sets a new monthly record.

Interestingly enough, some of the real star performers of last year relate to property type, dropped off in the first month this year in comparison to activity the same month a year ago. Sales of single-attached were off 25% while condominiums dropped 16%. And vacant lots and mobile homes both decreased 8%. The saving grace was the 4% increase in single family homes which accounts for the lion...

From Winnipeg Free Press Publication, January 28, 2012

OTTAWA — Canada will likely avoid a crash or serious correction in its “somewhat pricey” housing market, with the possible exception of Vancouver, says a new paper from the Bank of Montreal.

The analysis by BMO economists suggests alarms about Canada’s housing market by international observers, from the International Monetary Fund to The Economist magazine, are exaggerated or simplistic.

“The main takeaway is that the national housing market appears somewhat pricey but is far removed from a bubble,” said economists Sherry Cooper and Sal Guatieri in the report released Monday.

“In our view, the (market) is more like a balloon than a bubble. While bubbles always burst, a balloon often deflates slowly in the absence of a ‘pin.’ ” The report said house sales remain strong in Alberta and Saskatchewan and in major urban centres such as Toronto, Montreal,...

From Winnipeg Free Press Publication, January 28, 2012

By Todd Lewys

By now, pretty much everyone who calls Winnipeg home knows it’s one of the hottest real estate markets in the country.

Here’s a statistic — courtesy of WinnipegRealtors’ market analyst and director of public affairs, Peter Squire — that puts just how hot the market is into perspective.

“It took us 99 years to reach onebillion dollars in sales in 2002,” he said at WinnipegREALTORS’ sixth annual forecast breakfast Jan. 25. “Nine years later, this milestone has tripled. Winnipeg, thanks to an increasingly hot real estate market over the past nine years, is now a three-billion-dollar MLS market.”

A banner 2011 — marred only by slow sales in April, the result of flooding — reinforced the fact the Winnipeg market isn’t about to slow down any time soon.

“Overall, we were just 14 sales shy of topping our best year, 2007. Sales volume...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; January 10, 2012

WINNIPEG - Based on the busiest December on record in WinnipegREALTORS® 108-year history, you have to surmise that some of all those gift cards being purchased in December had to be house-warming gifts. December sales have never been at the 700 level mark before nor has dollar volume climbed so high to $182 million – a total that is leaps and bounds over any previous December. Prior to 2009, no December dollar volume ever eclipsed $100 million.

The strong finish to 2011 encompassed the entire second half with new monthly sales records or near best results. It led to WinnipegREALTORS® having its first $3 billion year worth ofMLS® sales and the second bestMLS® sales year – only nudged out by 13 sales in 2007.  There is no question something special and significant happened to this city when the announcement was made of the return ofWinnipegto theNHL. Buyers gained confidence and were clearly...

I am proud to be a MREA (Manitoba Real Estate Association) Shelter Foundation Board Builder.

When you watch the video, keep an eye out fom me in the group photo !!   

For more information on the MREA Shelter Foundation, please watch the video below and visit www.mreashelterfoundation.com.

From Winnipeg Free Press, by Murray McNeil, January 11, 2012.

WINNIPEG’S Goldilocks housing market is showing no signs of being gobbled up by the big, bad wolf.

Although a growing chorus of experts predicts overheated housing markets like those in Vancouver and Toronto could be in for a fall in 2012, year-end housing reports issued Tuesday show Winnipeg’s robust market is showing no signs of slowing.

Not only was 2011 the second-best year on record for MLS (Multiple Listing Service) sales (13,065), it was the best year since 1989 for singlefamily housing starts (2,002) and the second best since 1988 for multiplefamily starts (1,329).

And last month was the best December ever for both MLS unit sales — up seven per cent to 698 — and dollar volume of sales — up 19 per cent to $182 million.

“As the year progressed, it became evident momentum was on our side and it carried us all the way through to a record dollar-volume year...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; December 8, 2011

WINNIPEG - Mustache or not, WinnipegREALTORS®’ Movember stands for MLS® momentum. In the last few months, 2011 has been exceptional and now the year-to-date is challenging the best year ever… 2007. November set a new sales record for the month, edging out November 2007 by one sale. The dollar volume vaulted 30% higher than 2007 and is 11% better than 2010, which was the highest November on record until this year.

While it appears 2007, with a 200 sale lead over 2011, is a sure bet to hold its title as the all-time best year with over 13,000 MLS® sales, it will easily be supplanted by 2011 for dollar volume. It is still possible, if momentum carries the day again in December, that 2011 could be only the second year in WinnipegREALTORS® illustrious 108-year history to crack the 13,000 sales level.

November MLS® unit sales increased 6% (881/829) while dollar volume rose 11% ($202.1 m...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; November 8, 2011

WINNIPEG – In what has clearly become a surprisingly consistent and impressive string of solid month sales, and October is no exception with the second best sales on record for this month, 2011 has now supplanted 2008 for second place and with two months to go, is less than 2% off the strongest sales performance ever in 2007. Year-to date dollar volume is already the highest achieved in WinnipegREALTORS® 108-year history with $2.67 billion dollars worth of MLS® sales.

October 2011 helped get the fourth quarter off to a great start with everything up in double-digit percentages. New listings rose 11%, sales were ahead by 13% and dollar volume reached 20%. Only 2007, the year that 2011 is nipping at its heels, had better sales in October.

October MLS® unit sales increased 13% (1,076/949) while dollar volume was up 20% ($256.9 million/ $214.2 million) in comparison to the same month last year. Year-to-date...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; October 6, 2011

WINNIPEG– Balmy summer weather in September created summer-like market activity which led to a third consecutive month of over 1200MLS® sales. As a result, it makes September 2011 WinnipegREALTORS® best September in 108 years. September 2010 was the previous best September on record. The dollar volume was impressive too as it easily eclipsed last year’s record by $30 million. With three months to go, year-to-dateMLS® dollar volume stands at over $2.4 billion andMLS® sales of 10,400 are flirting with the best year ever in 2007 when there were over 13,000MLS® sales by year end.

Call it what you will, a jet -fueled market with our newNHLteam ready to take-off this weekend, and exciting new developments including an IKEA, a Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a new football stadium, an expanded Winnipeg Convention Centre and a new airport opening at the end of the month, Winnipeggers are optimistic...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; September 7, 2011

Mosquitoes have become an endangered species inWinnipegthis year … but a new bug has appeared – theWinnipegreal estate sales bug! Sales in August are on par with the best August ever in the real estate Association’s 108 year history.

In August of 2005 there were 1293 sales – and this August we registered 1290MLS® sales.

But the dollar volume isn’t even close – in 2005 the 1293 sales amounted to $169 million in dollar volume – this year’s 1290 sales registered $297 million – so virtually the same number of sales - but a staggering 76% increase in dollar volume in 6 years.

With concern about the world economy; a potential 3^rd stimulus package south of the border and rampant fluctuations in the stock market and personal retirement investments, theWinnipeg real estate market continues to be the steadiest economic engine on the tracks.

“At the start...

WinnipegREALTORS® Press Release; August 8, 2011

WINNIPEG - Spectacular weather in July which kept ice cream and beer vendors busy did not deter sellers and buyers from remaining engaged in the market after an exceptional June of over 1,500MLS® sales. While not as active given Winnipeggers’ penchant for taking advantage of a plethora of summer festivals and frequent trips to Manitoba’s diverse cottage country, sales of close to 1,250 were on par with the third best July on record in 2007.  July 2008 is by far the best July ever at over 1,400 sales with the 10-year average for July sitting at 1,200 sales. New listings were ahead of last July too with over 1,700 added in July 2011.

To no one’s surprise, given a strong sales performance for this month and higher average sale prices in each successive year, dollar volume once again set a new record for month of July. It still however fell short of the $300 million monthly mark that was...

• Keep warm-air registers, return-air openings, and space heaters or baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes allow free air movement.

• Do not store combustible materials such as paper, chemicals, paint rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace.

• Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapours and liquids in the vicinity...

Excerpts from Winnipeg Real Estate News Publication, October 9, 2009

Spending time with a book or a loved one in front of a warm and cozy fire is a pleasant experience many Canadians embrace during the colder winter months. Not only do gas fireplaces offer us memorable moments and decorative qualities, they also provide comfortable, economical and supplemental heating for the home. However, before using gas fireplaces this season, it is important to take the time to conduct a routine inspection and annual maintenance.

CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services, offers the following tips to help you prepare your gas fireplace for the winter season:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the owner’s manual, or use the care guide for maintenance and use of your gas fireplace.

• Installation and repair of a fireplace should be done by a qualified professional service person.

• A fireplace should be inspected before use...