When is the Spring Market in Mississauga and Toronto?

Do you think that it is better to purchase a home now or in the spring?

This article will discuss the pros and cons to doing either, this article will go into detail for both options.

Enjoy!

Mark

The spring market in the Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area is almost a legendary time. It's the time when all sellers and buyers come out of hibernation and transact real estate. But if you wait for Spring to sell your house, it may be too late.

Right Timing the Sale

If you are thinking about selling your house, you may want to do some planning now before you are ready to get your house listed on the market. This way, you can know what to expect and how long it will take. You will also have knowledge of when the best time to sell your house will be.

When interviewing Real Estate Agents in the GTA and Mississauga in order to decide who you should hire, make sure to ask them when the best time to sell is. If you have no time constraints, you may want to target the Spring Real Estate Market. However, be sure that you know when that is.

When is Spring in Mississauga Real Estate?

Good question. When you think of Spring, you think of April showers and May flowers. But in real estate, the spring Market is half over by then. Will you have missed your buyer if you list your house in April or May? Are you still going to get the best traffic, and therefore the best offers, through your house?

Well, maybe. If you are thinking of putting your house up for sale in the Spring, you should think February. February? Yes, February. Actually, the landmark date that you should think of as the beginning of the Spring Real Estate Market is the Super Bowl. That seems to be the time when most people venture out of their houses, are settled back in after the holidays and are starting to get stir crazy. It's also a great time to start getting your house on the market for sale.

Browse to this graph to see the upswing in the marketplace in February: http://www.mississauga4sale.com/TREBavg1995date.htm

Why is February the best month to sell?

Think about if for a minute. These days, the real estate market is slowing down in many areas. Your house may take several months to sell. Most people want to find a house buy the end of June at the latest so that they can move over the summer when work loads are lighter and kids are not in school.

If you list your house in May and it takes three months to sell, you will find your self in July and in a very quiet market. However, if you list your house in February and it takes three months to sell, you will find yourself in April, with a month or two left in the busiest real estate time of the year. No worries, no pressure.

What time of year are the Buyers Buying?

I sell real estate in Mississauga, Ontario and in my area, we find that the most agreements are written in the months of March and April. You can be sure that the buyers have been looking before they were ready to sign contracts to purchase a home, so that backs us right up to February.

When are the Market Slowdowns?

You have nothing to loose by listing your house for sale in February. In fact, if prices are steady in your area, you can be sure that there are many, many houses for sale. If you get a jump on some of the new listings that will surely be coming on the market for Spring, you may find yourself ahead of falling prices and get more money for your house.

Additionally, when do you think the owners of those houses are waiting for to relist their houses for sale? Spring, of course. Don't you think it will be a good idea to get your house on to the market before there is so much more inventory added to the mix?

Must I sell My House in the Spring?

No. of course not. There are many reasons why other times of the year are great times to sell as well. For example; only serious buyers are house hunting in the winter time, fall market is busy because people want to move during holiday vacation and there is less inventory for sale during the summer months so you may choose this time as a better time to sell

You may find that you can not wait until Spring market and that you have to sell your house at a particular time of year. Don't worry. Find a great realtor and you should get the most that the real estate market has to offer.

Bottom Line, Don't Miss the Spring Real Estate Market

If you are targeting Spring market because you want to make the most out of the sale of your house, or if you are waiting for Spring to put your house on the market for sale, don't wait too long. You may just find out that the Spring real estate market has sprung without you.

I hope you have found this article helpful

Mark

CREA Report October a record breaking month for MLS resale housing market

This is the latest report on the mls data for sales and activity for the
month of October across the country. It shows very interesting trends and
national averages.

Enjoy!
Mark



October a record breaking month for MLS(r) resale housing market
New records for the month were reported in about one-fifth of local markets

OTTAWA - November 16th, 2009 - According to The Canadian Real Estate
Association, sales activity reached the highest level ever for the month of
October.

Residential sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service(r) (MLS(r)) of
Canadian real estate boards numbered 42,288 units. This is up 41.5 per cent
compared to October 2008, when news of the global financial crisis hammered
consumer confidence. New records for the month were reported in about
one-fifth of local markets, including Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Seasonally adjusted national MLS(r) home sales totaled 45,818 units in
October 2009. This is two per cent higher than the previous record set in
May 2007, and 74 per cent above the recent low in January, when activity
fell to the lowest level in a decade. New monthly records for activity were
set in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, which reflect record level
activity in Greater Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.

Since the beginning of 2009, some 401,124 homes have traded hands via the
MLS(r) System. This is 1.6 per cent above the same period last year, but
below levels for this period in each of the previous three years.

"Low interest rates and upbeat consumer confidence continue to release the
pent-up demand that built late last year and earlier this year," said CREA
President Dale Ripplinger. "The release of that pent-up demand has boosted
national sales activity to new heights and is drawing down inventories."

The national MLS(r) residential average price also reached new heights in
October 2009. At $341,079, the average sale price was up 20.7 per cent from
the same month last year. The increase reflects the high degree to which the
national average price was skewed downward last year by a significant
decline in activity in Canada's priciest markets, and then upward by the
rebound in activity.

The price trend is similar but less dramatic for the national MLS(r)
weighted average price, which compensates for changes in provincial sales
activity by taking into account provincial proportions of privately owned
housing stock. It set a record in October, rising 14 per cent on a
year-over-year basis.

October also saw the MLS(r) residential average price in Canada's major
markets improve. At $373,095, the average sale price was up 22.1 per cent
from the same month last year. As with the national counterpart, the price
trend is similar but less dramatic for the major market MLS(r) weighted
average price which rose in October 12 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

Seasonally adjusted new listings coming onto the MLS(r) Systems of real
estate boards across Canada inched up on a month-over-month basis in October
to 65,148 units. New listings peaked in May 2008 and declined sharply until
March 2009. Since April 2009, new listings have held to within a range of
66,500 units, plus or minus 1800 units.

The sharp rise in resale housing demand has increasingly shrunk inventories.
There were 194,994 homes listed for sale on the MLS(r) Systems of real
estate boards in Canada at the end of October 2009. This is 20.8 per cent
below the peak reached one year ago, and the sixth month in a row in which
inventories are down from year-ago levels.

Nationally, there were 4.1 months of inventory in October 2009 on a
seasonally adjusted basis, the lowest level in more than two years. The
actual (not seasonally adjusted) number of months of inventory in October
2009 stood at 4.6 months, which is down slightly from the previous month
(4.9 months), and among the lowest of levels this year. The number of months
of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current
inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

"New listings are still expected to rise in the coming months in response to
headline average price increases," said CREA Chief Economist Gregory Klump.
"New supply dropped dramatically in December last year and earlier this year
in response to a difficult pricing environment. Sellers who moved to the
sidelines should be drawn back to the market as prices rise further over the
rest of the year and in early 2010."

PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this news release combines both
major market and
national MLS(r) sales information from the previous month. The Canadian Real
Estate Association has previously released these separately.

CREA cautions that average price information can be useful in establishing
trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised
of widely divergent neighborhoods or account for price differential between
geographic areas. Statistical information contained in this report includes
all housing types.

MLS(r) is a co-operative marketing system used only by Canada's real estate
Boards to ensure maximum exposure of properties listed for sale.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada's largest
single-industry trade associations, representing more than 96,000
REALTORS(r) working through more than 100 real estate Boards and
Associations. Further information can be found at www.crea.ca.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

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CRA and Moving expenses

I hope that you find that this article is interesting and will give you some insight into some of the items to consider when moving. This will also give you some of the expenses that are deductible.

This is another in a series of articles meant to help and educate you with regards to real estate.

It’s important to know that not all moves will qualify for such tax relief. The tax rules provide that, where a taxpayer moves to be at least 40 kilometers closer to his or her place or work (for example, a taxpayer who moves from Toronto to take a job in Regina), most moving costs will be deductible from employment or business income earned at the new location. The 40- kilometer distance is measured using the shortest route normally available to the traveling public, which inmost cases would mean the distance by road. Also,moving to be closer to work doesn't have to mean moving to a new company; a job transfer to another city while continuing to work for the same employer will qualify, assuming the 40- kilometer criterion is met.

Spring is typically the busiest season for real estate sales and, consequently, the time when most moves take place. Selling one’s home and moving qualifies as one of life’s more stressful experiences, but it’s an experience that most families will go through at least once. In addition to the upheaval of leaving behind a home, a school, and a neighbourhood, the financial outlay associated with moving can be considerable. While our tax system can’t do anything to help with the non-financial costs of moving, it does, in some circumstances, minimize the financial hit by providing a deduction from income for moving expenses incurred

The list of expenses that may be deducted is fairly comprehensive, but not all moving related costs are deductible. Under the Canada Revenue Agency' administrative policies, as outlined in its Form T1-M, Moving Expenses Deduction (available on the

CRA Web site at http://www.craarc.

gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t1-m/t1-m-08e.pdf), the

following are considered eligible moving expenses:

• traveling expenses, including vehicle expenses,meals, and accommodation, to move the tax payer and members of his or her family to their new residence (note that not all members of the household have to travel together or at the same time);

• transportation and storage costs (such as packing,hauling, in-transit storage, and insurance) for household effects, including items such as boat sand trailers;• costs for up to 15 days for meals and temporary accommodation near either the old or the new residence for the members of the household;• lease-cancellation charges (but not rent) on the old residence;• legal fees incurred for the purchase of the new residence, together with any taxes paid for the transfer or registration of title to the new residence;• the cost of selling the old residence, including advertising, notarial or legal fees, real estate commissions, and any mortgage penalties paid when a mortgage is paid off before maturity; and• the cost of changing an address on legal documents, replacing driving licenses and noncommercial vehicle permits (except insurance), and utility hook-ups and disconnections.It sometimes happens, especially where, as is now the case, the real estate market is slow, that a move to the new home has to take place before the old residence is sold. In such circumstances, the taxpayer is entitled to deduct up to $5,000 in costs incurred related to the maintenance of that residence while it is vacant and efforts are being made to sell it. Specifically, costs including interest, property taxes, insurance premiums, and heat and utility expenses paid in relation to that residence may be deducted.It may seem from the foregoing that virtually all moving-related costs will be deductible; however,there are some costs that the CRA will not allow to

be deducted, as follows:

• expenses for work done to make the old residence more saleable (i.e., home-staging costs, furniture or art rental charges, cleaning costs, etc.); deduct them from income earned in subsequent years.• any loss incurred on the sale of the old residence;• expenses for job- or house-hunting trips to another city (for example, costs to travel to job interviews or meet with real estate agents);• expenses incurred to clean or repair a rental residence to meet the landlord’s standards;• costs to replace such personal-use items as drapery and carpets; and• mail-forwarding costs.To claim a deduction for any eligible costs incurred,supporting receipts must be obtained. While the receipts do not have to be filed with the return on which the related deduction is claimed, they must be kept in case the CRA wants to review them .Anyone who has ever moved knows that there are an endless number of details to be dealt with. In some cases, the administrative burden of claiming moving-related expenses can be minimized by choosing to claim a standardized amount for certain types of expenses. Specifically, the CRA allows taxpayers to claim a fixed amount, without the need

for detailed receipts, for travel and meal expenses

related to a move. Using that standardized, or flat rate,

method, taxpayers may claim up to $17 per meal, to a maximum of $51 per day, for each person in the household. Similarly, the taxpayer can claim set per-kilometer amount for kilometers driven in connection with the move. The per-kilometer amount ranges from 49.5 cents for Saskatchewan to 66 cents for the Yukon Territory. In all cases, it is the province or territory in which the travel begins that determines the applicable rate. These rates were in effect for the 2008 taxation year – the CRA will be posting the rates for 2009 on its Website early in 2010, in time for the tax-filing season.



Any moving-related expenses can be deducted from employment or self-employment income (but not investment income or employment insurance benefits) earned at the new location. Where a move takes place late in the year, it’s possible, especially where the move is a long-distance one, that such expenses will exceed income earned at the new location during the calendar year. In such cases, it's possible to carry forward the excess expenses and deduct them from income earned in subsequent years. Generally, these rules apply to moves made from one location to another within Canada. While it’s possible to deduct expenses arising from moves

from Canada to another country, from another

country to Canada, or between two locations outside of Canada, the rules governing deduction sin such situations are far more restrictive.

The rules governing the deduction of moving expenses are outlined in some detail on the CRA’sT1-M form, and any questions not answered by that form can be directed to the CRA’s individual enquiries line at 1-800-959-8281.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
( BUS 905-828-3434
2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
› E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com?subject=Mississauga
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

• Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months? Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
• Power of Sales and Foreclosures
• If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
• See seasonal housing patterns
• Would you like me to send you a 2009 Calendar?

Matrimonial Separations and selling Real Estate for residential transactions

The information below was forwarded to me and I thought you may find it of interest.

Thank you,

Mark

When acting for separating spouses on the sale of a matrimonial home where only one of the spouses is on title be sure to confirm the status of the marriage before the agreement is executed.

In the event the spouses have been living separately before the agreement, and a formally executed Separation Agreement is not in place, the consenting spouse (i.e. the non-titled spouse) must sign the consent clause. This is because he/she still retains a right in the property as it was a matrimonial home.

By ensuring that the spouse signs consent you potentially eliminate contention or backlash from unresolved family law matters to the real estate transaction.

Generally speaking always remember to ask if your client has a spouse who will be consenting to the agreement as supposedly “happy” families have been known to contend a sale on the grounds of non-execution of the consent clause.

The OREA form of Agreement of Purchase and Sale contains the Family Law Act Warranty. Once you become aware that consent is required remember to have the Spousal Consent section at the end of the agreement executed by the spouse before an eligible witness.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
( BUS 905-828-3434
2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
› E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com?subject=Mississauga
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

• Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months? Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
• Power of Sales and Foreclosures
• If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
• See seasonal housing patterns
• Would you like me to send you a 2009 Calendar?

Downsizing: The Rising Wave in Real Estate

I received this email today and thought I would share some of the thoughts that people have with regards to our local real estate market, the real estate market in Canada and what is happening with the 'baby boomers' in the next decade. It's an interesting set of statistics.

I love the bottom of their email where they talk about the 10 reasons to downsize, I think that 8 of the 10 reasons are either true or apply in my case, but I'm not going anywhere yet! It's a little doom and gloom, Garth Turner like, but interesting perspective and thought I would share it with you.

Enjoy!

Mark

Did you know?

• 22% of Canadians expect their home to be a primary source of retirement income
• 31% of home sales in Canada this past summer were attributable to downsizing
• 60% of Baby Boomers expect to downsize in the next 10 years

Downsizing is a significant and growing segment of the real estate market.

As homeowners approach or enter retirement many of them need to capture the equity value of their family home. These homeowners face a growing risk of seeing their value decline in the coming years as:

• interest rates rise
• the number of family home buyers decreases
• the number of family home sellers increases

Here are some of the areas covered:

• Home prices in the GTA - history, trends, predictions
• Demographic trends and their impact
• Affordability - history, trends, predictions
• Downsizing Case Studies
• The Keys to Retirement Income - Security, Potential, Flexibility

TOP TEN REASONS TO DOWNSIZE IN THE NEXT YEAR

10. There are rooms in your home that you haven’t been in for more than a year

9. Home prices are good now but will likely decline when interest rates rise

8. You can't remember what’s in the boxes in the basement/garage

7. Affordability has never been better and there are a lot of potential buyers out there

6. You are paying to heat/cool/clean at least twice the space you actually need

5. Home prices have risen for 13 consecutive years ... is it time to lock up your gains?

4. Your home equity can earn Guaranteed Income Growth of 7% each year before retirement including 2009!

3. It took more than 12 years for home prices to recover after the last "peak" in 1989

2. The home equity you free up can generate Guaranteed Income for Life with upside potential

And the #1 Reason to Downsize in the next year:

Your “30 something” kids won’t be able to move back in with you!

Dow Jones Closed at highest level in a year

Dow Jones closed highest in a year!
Things are looking up!

How important is price when it comes to selling real estate in Mississauga?

This is provided from a newsletter I just received, enjoy! Mark

REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
October 2009

How Important Is PRICE?
Most of us instinctively know that price is important. It’s important in every kind of market, but it gets more important as market activity slows.

In the current market, it’s almost impossible to exaggerate the importance of price from the prospective of buyers and sellers.

Buyers who successfully buy make offers that are at or near market price. Sellers who successfully sell price their properties at or near market price. Simple?

You’d think so. But there are so many would-be buyers out there who are trying to “steal” properties for way less than they’re worth (yes, even in this market). There are also a good many sellers who are still overpricing homes they’re futilely wishing they could sell (yes, even in this market).

There are also buyers who are getting good deals and sellers who are making reasonable sales. Their secret?

SUCCESS SECRET

Successful buyers and sellers make it a point to KNOW what market price is for the property they’re seeking to buy or sell. There are many ways to do this. Each involves work and/or money.

You can check with your agent or the public records for what SIMILAR homes nearby have actually SOLD for RECENTLY. Make adjustments for any obvious differences such as lot size, curb appeal, condition, etc.

You can pay an appraiser to do this for you. In my neck of the woods, one would expect to pay about $350 for an appraisal. It might be more or less in your area.

There are also home value report services on the internet. We have a link to one on our site. Some of them are very good, especially if you have enough knowledge to interpret them (ignore homes nearby that are included, but aren’t really comparable, for example). Some of these services are free. The better ones tend to charge for their reports.

There is also a service that’s probably available that buyers and sellers don’t typically use. What am I talking about?

Experienced real estate agents are very good at doing a “market analysis” and coming up with a market price using data available to them through their local, realtor multiple listing service. They typically provide this service without a separate charge to their listing and buying clients.

Bankers who don’t necessarily want to pay the full price to have an appraisal done will often offer to pay a real estate agent a smaller fee to do a market analysis on a property and provide an “opinion letter” as to the current market value of the property. Experienced agents are often very good at this, so the bank saves money, and the agent has an additional source of income.

I think buyers and sellers could probably make similar arrangements with real estate agents. The cost could be expected to be less than the cost of a full blown appraisal which is particularly important when one considers the fact that possible changes in value should be evaluated at least every six weeks under current market conditions.

If I were a buyer or seller approaching an agent, I’d tell them this frankly when I asked for their help. If I were a seller, I’d probably “sweeten the pot,” and incidentally broaden my marketing options by telling them I’d also be willing to pay them the listor’s typical commission (about half the going rate) if they brought me a buyer for my property.

No matter what approach one uses, successful buyers and sellers begin with and maintain a good knowledge about the market value of the property which is the subject of their interest.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
( BUS 905-828-3434
2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
› E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com?subject=Mississauga
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

• Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months? Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
• Power of Sales and Foreclosures
• If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
• See seasonal housing patterns
• Would you like me to send you a 2009 Calendar?

Mississauga Real Estate Commission Rates and Information Request

Here is a typical question that I receive about commission rates

Dear Mark,

Can you tell me who sets the commission rates for selling residential homes?

Thanks,

DF

Hi D.F.,

There is no set commission, setting commission rates is against the law and the Anti Combines Act and a few other laws in Canada.

There are typical rates and regional variations in rates, but they are never fixed. Commission can be zero to 10% or higher.

I hope this helps.

You can read more about commissions at this page of my site: http://www.mississauga4sale.com/commission.htm

Thank you,

Mark

When Selling should you tell people you are moving out of town?

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
( BUS 905-828-3434
2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
› E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com?subject=Mississauga
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

• Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months? Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
• Power of Sales and Foreclosures
• If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
• See seasonal housing patterns
• Would you like me to send you a 2009 Calendar?

Question: When Selling should you tell people you are moving out of town?

This is a question that I receive from some of my sellers

There are mostly negative aspects of stating you are moving out of town after your closing or out of the province or even worse overseas.

In my experience, it is very negative to mention that you are moving far away on the listing or to even tell the buyer this fact. The buyer would most likely become very nervous knowing you are moving out of the country and would worry about the condition of the unit and removal of any items and how they would possibly remedy any unforeseen problems after the closing date if you left the country.

Also, moving out of the country can be interpreted as 'the owner is desperate and must sell" and this could negatively impact your sale price. Thus, I can only see a negative impact on your sale if you mention this anywhere or anytime.

I hope this helps.

Thank you,
Mark

Search all major areas of Mississauga with easy to use forms

Hello,

I've added many pages to my site recently that will assist you when you are buying a home in a particular area of Mississauga Ontario

All you have to do is browse to the area you are interested below and fill in the form and I will automatically send you new listings in your area as they come on the market.

This valuable service is free and there is no obligation on your part.

Just another value added benefit when you buy or sell with Mark Argentino...

Enjoy!
Mark

These are the major districts in Mississauga that I currently have forms:

• Applewood Homes For Sale
• Applewood Acres Homes For Sale
• Applewood Heights Homes For Sale
• Applewood Hills Homes For Sale
• City Centre Homes For Sale
• Clarkson Homes For Sale
• Cooksville Homes For Sale
• Dixie Homes For Sale
• East Mineola Homes For Sale
• Erindale Woodlands Homes For Sale
• Erin Mills Homes For Sale
• Heartland Homes For Sale
• Hurontario Homes For Sale
• Levi Creek Homes For Sale
• Lorne Park Homes For Sale
• Malton Homes For Sale
• Meadowvale Homes For Sale
• Meadowvale Village Homes For Sale
• Mississauga Valley Homes For Sale
• Park Royal Homes For Sale
• Port Credit Homes For Sale
• Queensway Homes For Sale
• Sheridan Homelands Homes For Sale
• Streetsville Homes For Sale
• Streetsville Homes For Sale
• West Mineola Homes For Sale

When selling should you list furniture items for sale?

Some of my sellers want to tell the buyers that they wish to sell furniture in the house when they list their house for sale.



‬‪The issue of the furniture is one we come across from time to time. It is my belief that we sell the house first and then give the buyer an itemized list of furniture etc. with prices and then the buyer can decide what they may or may not want.



Again, a 'normal' buyer most likely would look negatively upon a seller who offers their furniture upfront as this may again indicate desperation, marital problems, lack of funds by the seller or some other negative consequence to your sale or price.‬‪

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

When Selling should you tell people you are moving out of town?

This is a question that I receive from some of my sellers



There are mostly negative aspects of stating you are moving out of town after your closing or out of the province or even worse overseas.



In my experience, it is very negative to mention that you are moving far away on the listing or to even tell the buyer this fact. The buyer would most likely become very nervous knowing you are moving out of the country and would worry about the condition of the unit and removal of any items and how they would possibly remedy any unforeseen problems after the closing date if you left the country. ‬‪ ‬‪



Also, moving out of the country can be interpreted as 'the owner is desperate and must sell" and this could negatively impact your sale price. Thus, I can only see a negative impact on your sale if you mention this anywhere or anytime.‬‪



I hope this helps.‬‪ ‬‪



Thank you,‬‪ Mark‬‪

Financial Markets, Real Estate and the Dollar

This is a snapshot by my investment guru, let's see how much of this comes to pass.

Do you agree with anything below? Disagree?

Mark

Synopsis of the Financial Markets, Real Estate and the Canadian and US Dollar

As the markets go down,
so does OIL and C$.
Just watch the charts.

Same old, same old...
US$ up, everything down,
and then the reverse...

US$ down - to create inflation (that's why OIL goes up)
to get out of the housing mess created by US banks.
However, China comes and doesn't allow US$ to go down by much.
The stock market comes to a halt.

US$ up - recession continues.

Today is the turning point - as bank stress tests come...
Chart shows TOP ($spx - 500 leading US companies).
Closely mimicked by $tsx (but not the same - due to the weighting of gold stocks).

Canadian mutual funds are down (and will stay down in the long-term) due to the heavy weighting in energy.
Canadian mutual fund managers bet against the US$ - they will NEVER recover.
Some have already left the industry.
However, if you go for swing trading you will not only recoup all your loses but pretty much make more.
With the right stocks - in the US (in US$).
Not mutual funds.
NO "investing for the long-term".

If you want to invest for the long-term just hold C$ (nothing else).
I don't see 1:1 again, nor gold to $1000 nor OIL $100 - remember that - that was inflation.
There is no US$ devaluation and except for these 1-2 month bounces there is nothing else the US Federal Reserve can do (they are bankrupt).
They have no money - have to print or borrow from China.
And when they print $ they don't create jobs - they just give it to Wall Street.
The FED can't lower rates any more (they are zero).
32 US banks have gone bankrupt in 2009. (regardless of the stock market games).
Unemployment will be even higher this summer (the official one) -
not it is at 26 year high.
That's when you buy - on OFFICIAL BAD news.
You sell on good (are there any?).

Follow GM the next couple od days - don't be a collector
(the price should go up to $138: 100-1
reverse stock split - like NT).
Most likely GM will not be around in a month from now - the best scenario is a government-run company.

I can't take the credit for writing the above synopsis, but it's very interesting read.

So, what do you think of the above synopsis, agree, disagree, or something else?

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
( BUS 905-828-3434
2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
› E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com?subject=Mississauga
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

• Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months? Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
• Power of Sales and Foreclosures
• If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
• See seasonal housing patterns
• Would you like me to send you a 2009 Calendar?

Good time to trade up in real estate?

I had another email commenting about the current real estate slump we are in and whether it's a good time to trade up or not. This is my current view of the real estate market in Mississauga and the GTA.

This person bought 2.5 years ago and expected to make some money on his purchase. He also wants to sell his current condo that is worth about $160k and trade up to a larger semi for about $300k. This was my response.

I understand how you feel about buying and holding and expecting to make money. Since 1995 this philosophy worked well, until the current economic slump. I've had other clients in similar situations as you. What I have found is that you will benefit by the downturn since the larger more expensive properties have dropped much more compared to your condo, thus the difference is far less than it was 2 years ago.

The market is typically good up until mid June and then slows again for the summer, until about middle/end of August. Thus, if you want to sell this spring, the sooner the better, otherwise you may wish to wait until late summer. Of course these are historical trends and each year could be different. With that said, we expect this year to be similar to previous years, just not as large of a spike in the spring. See this graph: http://www.mississauga4sale.com/TREBavg1995date.htm

Thank you,

Mark

GTA West Days on Market and Sales to Active listings improving

These two charts above show days on the market and sales to active listings ratio and indicates that in the west zones, W01 to W28, the average days on the market has dropped over the past couple of months, indicating that it is taking less time to sell and the market is improving.

This is typical for this time of year in Mississauga and surrounding areas.

The sales to active listings ratio is increasing over the past couple of months indicating that about 35% of homes on the market are selling. This is a sobering statistic. This figure is rarely over 40% even when the market is good, so about 1 out of 3 homes is currently selling.

For more information please contact A. Mark Argentino

A. Mark Argentino, Broker, P.Eng.,
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
2691 Credit Valley Road, Suite 101, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 7A1

BUS. 905-828-3434
FAX. 905-828-2829
E-MAIL: mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website: Mississauga4Sale.com

Anyone can sell a Corvette at half price!

I received the email below and thought I would share it with you along with my answer.

Enjoy,

Mark

---

From: [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 3:07 PM
To: mark@mississauga4sale.com
Subject: Information Request

Hi Mark

I am impressed!

Just found your site when asking the question: What percentage of listing agents are selling agents?

As I wanted to see the stats on agents listing, do they sell your house, or do agents from other companies actually sell your house?

Even though we wont be using your services as we are in BC and you are in Ontario, I do wish to compliment you on your web site, and professional approach to your clients...

I like your web site, the questions and answers....especially what you promise to deliver

We are listed for sale here in Victoria, and I am very very discouraged and now that I have read about you approach to listing and selling a home for your client.....I am thinking things over more....The feedback from a viewing is very helpful to a client....getting no reply back is very disheartening, and we have had aproximately 6 or 7 viewings in the past few months, and I have never heard back from my agent.

We thought we chose the best agent in Victoria, and I have just reread the 5 Truths... http://www.mississauga4sale.com/5truths.htm it enlightens me more Especially Truth #1... I know it is a tough market..but homes are still selling....Our property is rare for our area, its waterfront on a lake in an up and coming area., with revenue potential in several ways, and has several options for the future...

..I know the purchaser decides on the price, and I am astounded our agent wants to lower it yet again..and seldom do we hear from him unless it is to lower the price
.
ANYONE CAN SELL A CORVETTE AT HALF PRICE....however, a clever salesman gets the highest dollar he can to get the highest commission, which is his final goal...

Anyway I have taken up too much of your valuable time....thank you for this valuable information on your web site;....

Good luck to you I am sure your clients have had good results.

G

my response back to this person was:

Hi G,

Wow, such a thoughtful email, so nice of you to write such positive comments.

I am glad you like sections of my site, especially the http://www.mississauga4sale.com/5truths.htm I really try to help people and explain things.

I love your "ANYONE CAN SELL A CORVETTE AT HALF PRICE" I will have to remember that one! Unfortunately, we are in a tough market and it's taking longer to sell, but as you say, with expert marketing the price can still be maximized!

I wish you luck with your sale and most importantly, I wish you and your family all the best in life!

Thank you,

Mark

Bottom line in Mississauga residential real estate

The bottom line is that you want an agent who will:

• do a great job for you at all times
• represent your best interests
• create excellent marketing materials for the sale
• deal fairly with the other agents which correlates to your benefit and n
• negotiate very hard to get you the best price and terms.
  
  I will do an excellent job for you at every step of your sale!

Thank you and have a nice day,
Mark

Mississauga Real Estate

Mississauga realtor provides valuable home selling information

When you're selling your home I will prepare comparative marketing analysis and advise you on your Home's market value

I will list your house to the multiple listing service in the Toronto area which is the database of property for sale that all the other realtor is on the front real estate board can find and see information about your home

I will negotiate all offers on your behalf

I will ensure that you get the best pricing terms for your home in this difficult market

The reason you want to use me as your agent in Mississauga and Churhcill Meadows or Erin mills is because I understand all the economic trends in the current realestate market

I know the local marketplace and can sell Homes at the highest price in the shortest period of time with the best terms and conditions for you the seller

I've sold two homes in Churchill Meadows in January and early February of 2009 and can certainly service your real estate needs as well

Have a great evening

Good evneing

from Mark Argentino

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
( BUS 905-828-3434
2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
› E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com?subject=Mississauga
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

• Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months? Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?


• Power of Sales and Foreclosures


• If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up


• See seasonal housing patterns


• Would you like me to send you a 2009 Calendar?