Tuesday, January 2, 2018 / by Alayne Keates Administration To Geoff Appleton & Associates
Home'Ward Bound January 2018
Happy New Year!
Welcome to the 2018 New Year edition of our exclusive monthly real estate newsletter!
January marks the beginning of a brand new year and offers 31 wonderful days to set goals, get excited about the future and release the past. Here’s a bit of trivia: January was named after the Roman god Janus, who had two faces which allowed him to look forward into the coming year and backwards into the past one. The original Roman calendar only had 10 months; January and February were added later. It was in 1622 that January 1st became the start of the new year; prior to that it was March 25. Who knew?!
The first day of January is an interesting date as it is both the furthest away and closet date to December 31. January’s birthstone is the Garnet, the stone of passionate devotion and health, and its flower is the Carnation, representing love, fascination and distinction.
For 2018, we are anticipating a strong but stable resale market, one where buyers and sellers can transact in more reasonable conditions than what was experienced in the first 2 quarters of 2017. One of the secrets we have learned by studying the historical statistics of our real estate market is that January and February is the very best time to sell. Quite often people believe they need to wait until spring, but the truth is, the early bird gets the worm. So if a move is on the table for you or a loved one, call us soon!
We sincerely look forward to another year serving you and your family in real estate. Thank you in advance for recommending us to your family, friends and neighbours in 2018!
7 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY
BORROW INSTEAD OF BUY. With the rise of the sharing economy, borrowing is back in vogue. If it’s an item of fairly limited use, or something you will rarely use, you might be able to just borrow it from a friend or family member, saving you hundreds or potentially thousands. All you have to do is return the favour!
SELL EXCESS ITEMS. Go through your home and find things you haven’t used for sometime, or perhaps have never even opened! Make some cash by selling those items on Craigslist, Kijiji or Ebay, or have a yard sale. You will surprise yourself how much cash you can make on things that are gathering dust and taking up space in your home.
INCREASE YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS. By just increasing the amount you save by 1% at the beginning of the new year and then another 1% midway through the year, it’s amazing how much small, incremental increases can add up over the years!
SHOP YOUR INSURANCE. Ask about all the discounts you could possibly receive and shop at least 3 to 5 companies. The ads are true! A few minutes could save you a bundle.
CUT YOUR MONTHLY BILLS. Take a good hard look at where your money goes each month and resolve to negotiate with some of your providers. Shop around for better options and analyze where you can get a better deal on phone, cable, and banking fees.
LEARN HOW TO COOK. Eating out is a major expense that can easily be cut. Brown bag lunches and crock pots are underrated super heroes! Preplan your week of meals and save major dollars! Doing this one step allows for having meals out that are more of a treat than a necessity.
CANCEL YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP. Statistics show that between 60-70% of people with a gym membership never use it. Consider a free fitness regime instead like walking, hiking, running or biking.
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 Parents with kids fighting for their life are most likely NOT thinking about ringing in the New Year. They are simply just being there, doing what real 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.
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, neighbors, 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.
INDUSTRY STATS
Average Selling Prices
for November 2017:
Durham Region: $574,901
Oshawa: $475,938
Clarington: $519,668
Whitby: $615,801
Scugog: $726,898
Ajax: $647,119
Pickering: $686,229
The Highs, Lows and Oohhs of the Market
In November, the Durham Region Association of REALTORS reported 879 residential sales in the Durham Region, a 4% increase over October 2017.
The average selling price in Durham for the month of November was $574,901, dropping by $701 from October 2017, and increasing by just $207 over November 2016’s average of $574,694. The trend towards a balanced market and a return to similar pricing seen in the latter half of 2016 clearly continues.
The amount of new listing inventory between October 2017 and November 2017 fell by 66 units, finishing at 1632 new listings in Durham Region for the month of November. In November 2016, the new listing inventory was 1154 units, 47% less than this November.
The average days on market for November 2017 were 23; in November 2016 they were 13.
Here’s the average price breakdowns for November:
The average detached dwelling sold for $630,021 and sold for 98% of list price in 25 days. A total of 602 units were sold.
The average semi-detached dwelling sold for $460,053 and sold for 100% of list price in 13 days. A total of 57 units were sold.
The average link dwelling sold for $538,013 and sold for 99% of list price in 18 days. A total of 30 units were sold.
The average freehold townhouse sold for $517,425 and sold for 99% of list price in 18 days. A total of 94 units were sold.
The average condominium apartment sold for $359,521 and sold for 98% of list price in 23 days. A total of 34 units were sold.
The average condominium townhouse sold for $368,387 and sold for 99% of list price in 25 days. A total of 62 units were sold.
15 Minutes to Better Self-Care
Self-care is the act of taking care of yourself. It doesn’t need to be complicated or time consuming or expensive. Try these 8 ideas that will take 15 minutes or less.
READ. Just about anything works as long as it isn’t something that causes you stress.
GO OUTSIDE. A short stroll can clear your head and re-energize your mood.
CALL A FRIEND. Take the time to call someone who helps you feel good and who will brighten your day.
COLOUR. Colouring can act to calm you down and clear your mind as you focus on the task at hand.
LISTEN TO MUSIC. Choose music you enjoy; it can energize, relax or inspire you – it doesn’t matter. Focus on the music and enjoy the time to yourself.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS. Sit in a comfortable position and focus on your breathing. When thoughts enter your mind, let them pass through without judgment and refocus on your breathing.
TAKE A NAP. Take the time to add to your sleep bank. A nap of 15 minutes can do wonders.
THINK POSITIVELY. Soon you’ll notice, by making this conscious effort, that you are feeling better about things and life in general.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
The Durham Region is developing a reputation for award winning craft beer and cider production. Samples and tours, brewer meet and greets and a selection of fine beverages to take home with you await in locations from Pickering to Bowmanville. Download the Rural Routes and Dirty Boots Brewery Discovery Route at www.ontariotravel.net. Cheers!
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.
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.
I hope you and your loved ones have an extra special Holiday Season filled with much joy and happiness.
With all my appreciation.
Geoff Appleton sales representative Remax Jazz Inc Brokerage
P.S. The story of this young person enclosed may cause you to look at your loved ones differently. It did me. Check it out.
FAMILY FUN AROUND DURHAM
Embrace the winter season as you explore the outdoor playground! Take a horse drawn sleigh ride, or go tobogganing, winter hiking, snowboarding, cross country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing or try your hand at ice fishing!
The Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls runs until January 31 and is Canada’s foremost illumination festival, capturing the magic of the holiday season in millions of twinkling lights over 8 kilometers of displays! And its free!
Tim Horton’s Holiday Free Skate, January 2, 11:30am-12:45pm, Donovan Recreation Complex Oshawa
The Twisted Ones Balloon Show, January 3, 2pm-3pm, Jess Hann Branch Library Oshawa
ROCK Garden Party, January 5, 1pm-2pm, Legends Centre Oshawa Registration is Required
Holiday Public Swimming, January 6, 1:15pm-3:15pm, Whitby Civic Recreation pool
Tim Horton’s Holiday Free Skate, January 7, 1pm-3:45pm, Harman Park Arena Oshawa
Classic Movie Night at the Regent Theatre, January 4, 7pm “Barefoot In The Park” Adults $5, Students and Children free.
MP Erin O’Toole Free Public Skate, January 6, 4pm-5:45pm, Legends Centre Oshawa
Our Hockey Heroes NHL Alumni Benefit Game, January 13, 2pm, Tribute Communities Centre Oshawa, Tickets start $19.95
Liberty Tax Free Public Skate, January 25, 1pm-2;30pm, Legends Centre Oshawa
Winter Community Skating & Tobogganing, January 27, 1pm-4pm, Trillium Trails Banquet Centre Oshawa
A Game Room for Max
Imagine being told that your child has less than a percent's chance of survival due to an immune system disorder. That was the case with Max, who, in 2014, was put into a medically-induced coma for five weeks. Thanks to his medical team and a rigorous treatment plan, however, Max survived, and went on to have a bone marrow transplant for his critical illness in 2015.
It goes without question that nine-year-old Max has endured a lot in his lifetime — that's why Make-A-Wish wanted to do something very memorable for this special young boy. Max wished for a space to call his own — a room where could play, dream and bring his imagination to life, and also have playdates with friends, from time to time.
The wish granters got to work and not only granted Max's wish, but went above and beyond to give him a space of his own that he would truly cherish. They included a lot of his favourite things, like Lego and video games, and also hid special treats all over the room in boxes and on shelves.
When Max's wish came true it had a ripple effect, which left a positive impact on the entire family. During this experience, "the family was all together," his siblings said, while his mother added, "it's the reason we keep going every day."
