Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / by Alayne Keates Administration To Geoff Appleton & Associates
Home'Ward Bound August 2018
August is for Clowning Around!
In August, summer appears to be in full swing, with long, hot and often humid days and balmy star filled nights. It’s easy to ignore the fact that we’re actually beginning the slow crawl towards autumn, but we are! August is a wonderful month for star gazing! Look for the August Moon or Full Sturgeon Moon this month, as Indigenous Peoples have coined it. They knew that at the full moon in August, sturgeon were more readily caught in the Great Lakes. Clearly it’s a great time for fishing!
August is the month to enjoy the harvest of favorites at our local farm stands as well: fresh sweet corn on the cob, nectarines, peaches, blueberries and blackberries are all in season, and even the apple harvest begins toward the end of this month. Planting fall bulbs? This is the month to do it!
In real estate, August has always seen a dip down in sales, as it is sandwiched between summer vacation getaways, and preparation for back to school. So it’s a great time to leverage your purchasing power in more favourable market conditions where inventory is traditionally in surplus. Our local market continues to carry 2 to 3 months of available inventory, indicating a balanced market where buyers have a great selection but also, market times for homes that sell are still reasonably under 30 days. Razor sharp pricing strategies have not been such key factors in the sale of property since before 2015, and we are seeing bank appraisals that are weighted very conservatively. With the whisper of interest rate hikes on their way, we’re all hoping for some tax relief and buying incentives from the new provincial government. Like all markets -- whether financial, economic or real estate -- we are always in a state of flux, open to a myriad of factors from political to environmental that can affect and shift values. We analyze the macro market at large for you every month, but feel free to call on us to give you a summation of the micro market of your particular neighbourhood. We are committed to providing you with the most current information available and proving our worth to you as your real estate advisors for life. Thank you for continuing to recommend us to your friends and family, co-workers and neighbours! It is the greatest compliment we can ever receive!
Great Idea: Create a Water Park at Home!
We all know that the best way to beat summer heat is to get wet! Here’s some easy ideas to add water amusements to your own backyard!
A homemade slip n’ slide outperforms and outlasts the store bought kind every time! A heavy vinyl runner or plastic sheet will do. Add some baby shampoo to the surface and fire up the hose!
Suspend water balloons from tree branches, the swing set or monkey bars and use them as water drenching piñatas!
Create a water blob by duct taping 2 thick sheets of plastic together and filling the cavity with water. This giant sack can be rolled on and walked on for hours of balance defying fun. Add food colouring and glitter to the water if using transparent plastic sheets for added allure.
Break out the water guns and have a bucket filling race! String ropes with small single buckets across trees or poles, one bucket per line. Have competitions to see who can fill and move their bucket along from one end to the other, first.
Anyone for dodge ball? Water balloon dodge ball hurts a lot less and cools kids off in the summertime while getting great exercise.
To All the Families out there…
Right now, there are moms and dads out there struggling for their kids, wondering how to bring joy back into their lives as they fight debilitating illnesses. These families aren’t out back to school shopping or enjoying cottage holidays they are simply being there, doing what loving families do.
This is where you can help…
As you probably know Make A Wish Canada does great work in helping Kids fight through and survive nasty diseases and cancers. And as you know Make A Wish® depends on sponsorships and donations to provide top care while keeping family costs to a minimum.
We are on a mission to raise $25,000 for Make A Wish Canada.work in helping kids fight thru and survive nasty debilitating diseases like cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia is second to none! Make A Wish Canada isfor profit and survives onand donations.are committed to donating a portion of our income from home sales to this very worthy cause.
So, YOUR REFERRALS REALLY DO HELP THE KIDS…
Who do you know considering buying or selling a home you could refer to my real estate sales team?
Not only will they benefit from our award-winning service, you can rest assured a very worthy cause benefits as well!
I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbours, associates or family members considering making a move, so here are your options:
1. You can go to www.ReferAFriend.info and enter their contact info on line or forward the link to who you know considering a move.
2. Of course you can always call me direct as well at 905-728-1600.
Remember our promises to buyers and sellers!
Home Sellers Receive this guarantee: Your Home Sold at Your Price or We’ll Buy It!*
Home Buyers Receive this guarantee: Guaranteed 100% Satisfaction With Your Home Purchase or We’ll Buy It Back!*
Life moves fast for some and we are eager to make the Home Selling and Buying experience a smooth rewarding one. Over the years of helping families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you! So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help – you can rest assured that not only will they get the award winning service we are known for, but that a portion of the income we receive will go toward a very worthy cause.
AUGUST DATES TO REMEMBER
August 1: National Girlfriend Day
August 3: International Beer Day
August 5: National Sister Day
August 6: Civic Holiday
August 10: World Humanitarian Day
August 12: International Youth Day
August 13: Left-Hander’s Day
INDUSTRY STATS
Average Selling Prices
for May 2018:
Durham Region: $610,728
Oshawa: $515,261
Clarington: $5332,908
Whitby: $679,406
Scugog: $660,367
Ajax: $637,319
Pickering: $718,344
Uxbridge: $787,372
Source: DRAR
The Highs, Lows and Oohhs of the Market
In June, the Durham Region Association of REALTORS reported 918 residential sales in the Durham Region, representing an impressive 6.87% increase over May, but still a 7.92% decrease from June 2017.
The amount of new listing inventory between May 2018 and June 2018 dropped by 352 units in the Durham Region, finishing at 1895 new listings compared to 2,247 the previous month.
The average selling price in Durham for the month of June was $610,728, a welcome increase of 2.22% over May and a positive indicator of market stability as it significantly surpassed the $600,000 threshold once again, as it did in April. Homes continue to sell well in an average of 21 days.
Here’s how that average price breaks down:
The average detached dwelling sold for $677,020 and sold for 98% of list price in 21 days. 619 units were sold.
The average semi-detached dwelling sold for $492,648 and sold for 99% of list price in 17 days. 66 units were sold.
The average link dwelling sold for $529,827 and sold for 98% of list price in 23 days. 26 units were sold.
The average freehold townhouse sold for $521,898 and sold for 99% of list price in 21 days. 105 units were sold.
The average condominium apartment sold for $384,120 and sold for 98% of list price in 26 days. 44 units were sold.
The average condominium townhouse sold for $405,809 and sold for 99% of list price in 24 days. 57 units were sold.
Source: www.DRAR.ca
DIY CORNER:
August is the ideal month to take on exterior work around your home. Whether it’s a backyard project or a boost to your curb appeal, this is the month to tackle it. Here’s a few great ideas that will improve both the form and function of your habitat!
Update your front entry. Paint your front door with a fresh coat of glossy paint in one of the newest designer tones and change outdated and weathered door handles and hardware too. Swap tired, rusted and faded outdoor entry and coach lights with sleek modern styles. Add in a new door mat and perhaps a standing planter that you can fill with seasonal arrangements and ta-da! You’ll be surprised what these minor tweaks will accomplish!
Create a stone path. Avoid the expense and maintenance of a typical structured walkway by laying a more casual, whimsical path set into the grass or a bed of limestone. Stepping stones in brick, granite, flagstone and fieldstone and bordered by moss or river rock are beautiful options.
Add a window box. Enormous eye appeal is achieved by the addition of these simple ornamental boxes. Store bought options vary from wood to plastic to iron and hold a variety of lush flowers and greenery year round. It’s a win-win as the view from inside becomes greatly improved as does the view from the street!
Collect rain water. Summer rain shortages are notorious in our area, and can have a very negative effect on lawns & gardens. The month of August usually sees the worst of it with many municipalities requesting water conservation during these dry spells. A rain barrel allows you to keep your yard and gardens well irrigated without being a tax on the system.
Add a garden shed. A backyard shed frees up precious storage space in your garage and is the perfect solution for seasonal storage year round. Today’s ready-made sheds come in a plethora of incredibly attractive styles and sizes, and even a variety of purposes to appeal to modern living. From potting sheds to art studios, stand alone workshops to mini work at home office spaces, modern sheds add style and pizzazz to the backyard landscape. They’re not just for the lawnmower anymore!
Remember Our Promises to Buyers and Sellers!
Home Sellers Receive this Guarantee: Your Home Sold at Your Price or We’ll Buy It!*
Home Buyers Receive this Guarantee: Guaranteed 100% Satisfaction With Your Home Purchase or We’ll Buy It Back!*
Life moves fast for some and we are eager to make the Home Selling and Buying experience a smooth and rewarding one. Over the years of helping families to sell their homes and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you!
So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help – you can rest assured that not only will they get the award winning service we are known for, but that a portion of the income we receive will go towards a very worthy cause.
Preparing for Back to School:
Here’s some handy tips for transitioning your family back to the school routine before the September rush:
Organize and tidy closets and wardrobes. Try on clothing and footwear to see what still fits and what doesn’t, and donate what your children have outgrown. Make a list of what is needed for their school wardrobe before you go shopping and stick to the list to save money and protect from buying what isn’t necessary.
Create a family command centre in your home, with a file system to store each child’s school notices and forms and a wall calendar with everyone’s schedules and appointments displayed on it.
Go through last year’s school supplies and throw out what is broken and unusable and donate what isn’t needed anymore. Make a list of items you need to shop for and hit the stores early, before the rush, while selection and price are at their best.
Make a neat homework friendly zone in your home and take into consideration quality of light and limit the amount of possible distractions–like the tv–to the area.
Assign a backpack spot to store all of their daily gear. Do you need to add some hooks? Shelving?
Why I Support, Make A Wish ®
I grew up right here in Oshawa. Born in Oshawa General Hospital. I remember when I first heard about a young person close to our family suffering from a nasty disease that was granted A Wish from Children's Wish Foundation . This was the turning point in this persons recovery. It was then that I began to pay closer attention to the work they do. Since then, I have learned that it is a collection of hard working professionals all coming together for a common cause. That cause is to help young people over come unfortunate health issues that life sometimes throws our way. I take pride in supporting in a way that I can, the good work these people do at Make A Wish . My team rally’s around our annual goal of raising money and donating portions of our income to help Make A Wish in their quest to heal young people when they need healing. My team and I are committed to providing outstanding results for buyers and sellers referred to us by our past clients. I have discovered that Make A Wish shares similar commitments to their patients. And since their services survive on sponsorships and donations we are happy to contribute and proud to support them.
Sincerely,
Geoff Appleton
Your Referrals Help the Kids
Over the years of helping families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you! So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help - you can rest assured that not only will they get the award winning service we are known for and the guarantee to back it up, but that a solid portion of the income we receive from the transaction will go toward a very worthy cause.
Not only will they benefit from our award winning service, you can rest assured we are also donating to a very worthy cause.
Again, it’s easy to refer your friends, neighbours, associates or family members considering making a move:
1. You can go to www.ReferAFriend.info and enter their contact info on line or forward the link to who you know considering a move.
2. Of course you can always call me direct as well at 905-728-1600.
With all my appreciation.
Geoff Appleton sales representative Remax Jazz Inc Brokerage
P.S. The story of this young person below may cause you to look at your loved ones differently. It did me. Check it out.
FAMILY FUN AROUND DURHAM
BluesBERRY Festival: August 18, Downtown Bowmanville
Celebrating the best of Blues music and fresh berries. Blueberry pancake breakfast, tarts, shortcake, sweets and more! Live Blues band, street artisans and craft booths. Jumping castles, rock climbing walls, celebrity pie eating contest, bike parade. Free admission & free parking.
Bikes on Bond: August 11, Downtown Oshawa
One of the largest motorcycle viewings in Ontario, this is the 7th year of this free event. Live music and vendors. Rotary Club of Oshawa 17th Annual
Ribfest: August 17-19, Lakeview Park.
Ribfest: August 17-19, Lakeview Park.
This free event is Durham’s original, largest and most successful Ribfest with over 50,000 visitors expected. Entertainment, live country music, wide variety of food vendors and exhibitors, beer garden & midway. Free parking and shuttles.
Kars on King: August 24, Downtown Oshawa
A free event showcasing hundreds of classic cars from across North America, 1986 and older. Live entertainment and so much to see and do!
25th Annual Autofest: Lakeview Park: August 25-26
Oshawa See over 1400 custom, antique, restored and classic street rods and pick-ups! Kids activities too!
Bark in the Park Pet Festival: August 25-26, Orono Fairgrounds
Over 120 vendors and animal rescue groups with food trucks, games, splash pools, demonstrations, fashion show, agility, entertainment and LURE course...bring your dog and your whole family too! Small admission fee.
Fun Fact: Bring in the Clowns!
August is home to the annual International Clown Week, August 1-7. Worldwide, it is estimated that there are over 20,000 independent clowns. In addition, there are over 10,000 clowns in organized clown groups. They all have just one purpose: to make us happy! Since 1971, International Clown Week has been an opportunity to celebrate, promote and inform society about the history and relevance of clowns in culture. Let’s pay homage to these dedicated people who’s gift to the world is to make others laugh and have fun, often at their own expense.
Fun Fact: Bring in the Clowns!
Haven’s Wish to Meet Actor Jay Baruchel
Fifteen-year-old Haven loves drama class, seeing musical theatre productions and watching her favourite movies on repeat. It’s safe to say that she’s caught the acting bug and nothing will keep her from chasing her dreams, not even cancer.
In 2017, Haven was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. She underwent brain surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy which have left her body feeling weak, reduced her appetite and caused hair loss.
In spite of the challenges that she and her family face during this difficult time, they remain optimistic and Haven distracts herself with creative pursuits. She loves the How to Train Your Dragon movies and writes fan fiction based on the animated films.
A character called Hiccup in the movie is voiced by one of Haven’s favourite actors, Canada’s own, Jay Baruchel. When Haven discovered that her medical condition meant she was eligible to receive a wish, she asked Make-A-Wish® to help her meet Jay in person.
On wish day, Jay Baruchel arrived at The Rec Room in Toronto to meet Haven and presented her with a bouquet of flowers and gifts. Haven was a bit shy at first, but quickly opened up and talked to Jay about her medical condition and told him about her interest in acting and writing. Jay also shared some stories about his life and some of the projects he is currently working on. They became fast friends and enjoyed playing arcade games and taking photos together.
After their goodbye hugs, Haven and her family were picked up by a limousine for the drive home. Haven was overjoyed, talking excitedly about her wish and said, “It was the best day of my life.” Her mom, Kimberly, shared that her daughter loved her wish experience so much that, “…if she had one more wish, it would be to do the same day over again!”
