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April Newsletter:The last month or so has been very eventful in the real estate marketplace.
The Bank of Canada reduced the prime rate .5% a couple of weeks ago. There has not been such a large drop since just after 911. Read More
Secondly, the weather in the GTA has been a major player in slowing down our market somewhat, only time will tell, and soon, if our market will surge as it has in the past 13 years in April. March was flat.
Lastly, the US real estate market and economy is reeling from the sub-prime crisis. We are about 5 months into a recession in the US and most are predicting another 8 to 16 months of this. Read more about the Sub-Prime Meltdown
How much this will affect our GTA real estate marketplace and the Canadian economy in general is not known, but so far we are holding our own and many suggest that we will not feel the effects of the US slowdown and our economy will be fine for the short and long term. I tend to agree.
April Report: April 8, 2008 -- Sales Moderate in March 2008 - Harsh Winter Weather to Blame
April 7, 2008 -- Low inventory levels kept sales brisk but well off record levels, TREB President Maureen O'Neill announced today. "With 6,631 transactions recorded during March, the overall Greater Toronto Area resale market was down 22 per cent from the 8,518 sales of March 2007. Since inventory, at 20,533 listings, fell six per cent between these two time periods, a portion of this result can be attributed to a lack of suitable product. And this lack of product was at least partially caused by the severe winter weather that kept both buyers and sellers on the fence during the first half of the month."
Sales were not evenly distributed across the Greater Toronto Area. In the City of Toronto (416 area code), they decreased 27 per cent to 2,527 from last March. However, the 905 suburbs saw only an 18 per cent decline, to 4,104 sales. Overall, average prices rose four per cent in the GTA to $380,338 over March of 2007. Within the City of Toronto proper, however, the average, at $404,361, increased only two per cent over the $394,199 recorded during the same period last year. Furthermore, City of Toronto districts bordering the 905 averaged $347,882, up less than one per cent from the same period last year.
You may wish to read about the Power of Sale section at my website that will show you the pitfalls to avoid and the clauses to put into your offer when you buy a Power of Sale property in Ontario. This new section will also explain Power of Sale and Foreclosure in detail. Read more here.
Last month was another strong month for sales. Prices and sales volumes were high, read more
I have a few 2008 calendars left in hand. If you would like to receive one of my calendars, please fill in your information at this form and I would be happy to send you a calendar once they arrive!
I found this very interesting mortgage rate website on the internet where they survey mortgage experts to gauge the state of mortgage rates over the next 30 to 45 days: Will rates rise, fall or remain relatively unchanged?
You may read about Sold Stats for W16, W19 and W20. If you want the stats for your area, just email me and I will send them to you.
Listing inventories are low, so if you are thinking of selling, this is a good time to list your home. The market has been 'very good' for the past month or so and new listings are need. Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation of your property?
It appears as if rates may hold steady for the short term. Many feel The Bank of Canada may hold the course in the near future on their current level of 4.75% prime, (Current Bank prime is shown here), so this should keep mortgage interest rates at their current levels.
Average single family residential prices were UP compared to the previous month. This is typical for this time of year. Price trends over the past 12 years indicate that prices will likely increase over the next month or so.
Last month was another very solid month to add to another banner year in real estate in the GTA. See graphs of the sales figures, read more
My blog is moving along. I enjoy posting to it and keeping you current on the real estate market. I will update the blog throughout each month to keep you current with the real estate market. This newsletter will continue to be published monthly. Read my Mississauga Real Estate Blog
NOTE: You can often negotiate a discount of 1% or more off posted rates. "Best" Mortgage Rates
BANK PRIME
As of
April 8, 2008
the Bank Prime Rate was
5.25%
Bank of Canada Prime Rate was 3.75% as of March 4, 2008 and March 4, 2008 was the date that the Bank of Canada reduced the prime rate by a whopping .5%
Prime means "best," and this is the rate that banks charge their absolute best customers for loans. Changes in the prime rate influence changes in other rates, including variable interest rate mortgages. This rate fluctuates based on economic conditions. Some mortgage companies offer interest rates starting at Prime less .75% as an incentive to borrow from them! These are known as "SUB PRIME" Mortgages and we know what happened in the US when too many sub-prime mortgages were given out in the mid 2000's Read more about Sub-Prime Mortgages
P.Eng. Broker (since 1987)
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