Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Toronto and GTA Residential Real Estate Marketplace update for May 2017 Strong Growth in New Listings in April

This is the May report from TREB for the month of April

See graph of sales prices by clicking the graph below




Strong Growth in New Listings in April

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 3, 2017 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® entered 33.6 per cent more new listings into TREB's MLS® System in April 2017, at 21,630, compared to the same month in 2016. New listings were up by double-digits for all low-rise home types, including detached and semi-detached houses and townhouses. New listings for condominium apartments were at the same level as last year.

Total sales for the TREB market area as a whole amounted to 11,630 – down 3.2 per cent year-over-year. One issue underlying this decline was the fact that Easter fell in April in 2017 versus March in 2016, which resulted in fewer working days this year compared to last and, historically, most sales are entered into TREB's MLS® System on working days.

"The fact that we experienced extremely strong growth in new listings in April means that buyers benefitted from considerably more choice in the marketplace. It is too early to tell whether the increase in new listings was simply due to households reacting to the strong double-digit price growth reported over the past year or if some of the increase was also a reaction to the Ontario government's recently announced Fair Housing Plan," said Mr. Cerqua.

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark Price was up by 31.7 per cent year over- year in April 2017. Similarly, the average selling price for all home types combined was up by 24.5 per cent to $920,791.

"It was encouraging to see a very strong year-over-year increase in new listings. If new listings growth continues to outpace sales growth moving forward, we will start to see more balanced market conditions. It will likely take a number of months to unwind the substantial pent-up demand that has built over the past two years. Expect annual rates of price growth to remain well-above the rate of inflation as we move through the spring and summer months," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.


I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Thursday, April 13, 2017

Real Estate Prices continue their upward march in March of 2017

Greetings from Fabulous Mississauga!
  • The average selling price last month was $916,567 (it was $688,011 in March of 2016 - over 30% increase year over year), and it was $876,186 the previous month.see graph of prices here
  • Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 12,077 residential sales through TREB’s MLS® System in March 2017. This result represented a 17.7 per cent increase compared to the 10,260 sales reported in March 2016.
  • The Bank of Canada Prime Lending Rate now stands at 2.70% steady (since July 2015) read more

The statistics for last month are out, the figures for previous month are out and average GTA sale price and volumes continue to be at or near all time highs, see this page for latest market stats and results from the previous month


Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) Average Prices and Graph

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

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Bank of Canada announces no change in the interest rates today

Greeting from Fabulous Mississauga!

The Bank of Canada announced that they are not making a change to the interest rates today

They will be maintaining the overnight rate at the current level.  This is what the prime rate is based on.

This means that the prime rate remains 2.70%  This is the rate that lenders charge to their best customers.


This is what the Bank of Canada said today in their announcement.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 3/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/4 per cent.
Global economic growth is strengthening and becoming more broadly-based than the Bank had expected in its January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), although there is still considerable uncertainty about the outlook. In the United States, some temporary factors weighed on economic activity in the first quarter but the drivers of growth remain solid. The US is close to full employment, unlike many other advanced economies, including Canada, where material slack remains. Global financial conditions remain accommodative. The Bank expects global GDP growth to increase from 3 1/4 per cent this year to about 3 1/2 per cent in 2018 and 2019.
In Canada, recent data indicate that economic growth has been faster than was expected in the January MPR. Growth was temporarily boosted by a resumption of spending in the oil and gas sector and the effects of the Canada Child Benefit on consumer spending. Residential investment has also been stronger than expected. Employment data have been robust, although gains in hours worked are still soft. Meanwhile, export growth has been uneven in the face of ongoing competitiveness challenges. Further, despite a recent uptick in sentiment, business investment remains well below what could be expected at this stage in the recovery. Accordingly, while the recent rebound in GDP is encouraging, it is too early to conclude that the economy is on a sustainable growth path.
During the rest of this year and into 2018 and 2019, growth in Canada is expected to moderate but remain above potential. At the same time, its composition is expected to broaden as the pace of household spending, especially residential investment, slows while the contributions from exports and business investment increase. The Bank now projects real GDP growth of 2 1/2 per cent in 2017 and just below 2 per cent in 2018 and 2019. Meanwhile, the Bank has revised down its projection of potential growth, reflecting persistently weak investment. With this combination of a higher profile for economic activity and a lower profile for potential, the output gap is projected to close in the first half of 2018, a bit sooner than the Bank anticipated in January.  
CPI inflation is now at the 2 per cent target, largely because of the transitory effects of higher oil prices and carbon pricing measures in two provinces, as well as other temporary factors. The Bank’s three measures of core inflation, on the other hand, have been drifting down in recent quarters and wage growth remains subdued, consistent with material excess capacity in the economy. CPI inflation is expected to dip in the months ahead, as the temporary factors unwind, and then return to 2 per cent later in the projection horizon as the output gap closes.
The Bank’s Governing Council acknowledges the strength of recent data, some of which is temporary, and is mindful of the significant uncertainties weighing on the outlook. In this context, Governing Council judges that the current stance of monetary policy is still appropriate and maintains the target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent.
I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Tuesday, March 07, 2017

Real Estate Prices UP by nearly 28% in the GTA Real Estate Marketplace




Greetings from Fabulous Mississauga!

click this image to see a graph of real estate prices
  • The average selling price last month was $875,983 (it was $770,745 the previous month) compared to January of last year. and this represents aver a 27.7% increase compared to the same month last year- see graph of prices here
  • The overall average selling price for calendar year 2016 was $729,922 – up 17.3 per cent compared to 2015
  • Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 8,014 residential transactions through TREB's MLS® System last month. This result was up by 5.7 per cent compared to the same month last year
  • The Bank of Canada Prime Lending Rate now stands at 2.70% steady (since July 2015) read more
The statistics for last month are out, the figures for previous month are out and average GTA sale price and volumes continue to be at or near all time highs, see this page for latest market stats and results from the previous month

Mortgage Interest Rates - time to lock in? read more


Once again, last month was another very strong month for sales and prices in the GTA.
TREB reports that the volume of sales was down but prices are up year over year. 



All the best!
Mark


Sunday, January 01, 2017

The Bank of Canada last announcement in 2016 was that it will maintain its target rate at 1/2 per cent

Greetings from Fabulous Mississauga!


The Bank of Canada announced on December 9th that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 3/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/4 per cent.

This means that mortgage rates and bank prime rates should be steady for next month or so.  Of course lenders can offer rate specials that you may be able to take advantage of.

Prime lending rate to consumers will likely stay at 2.70%

Some mortgage rates increased after the December announcement 

The bank supported it's latest hold on rates by issuing the following statement, in part:

"Economic data suggest that global economic conditions have strengthened, as the Bank anticipated in its October Monetary Policy Report (MPR). 

However, uncertainty, which has been undermining business confidence and dampening investment in Canada's major trading partners, remains undiminished. 

Following the election in the United States, there has been a rapid back-up in global bond yields, partly reflecting market anticipation of fiscal expansion in a US economy that is near full capacity. Canadian yields have risen significantly in this context.

"

Inflation in Canada is on track to return to 2 per cent in 2017 as the complex adjustment underway in Canada's economy proceeds. The fundamentals remain in place for a pickup in growth over the projection horizon, albeit in a climate of heightened uncertainty.

The United States increased their prime rates a few days after this announcement. This is the first time in many years that the US interest rate is higher than here in Canada. 


I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com




Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Bank of Canada announces it will maintain its target rate at 1/2 per cent

Greetings from Fabulous Mississauga!

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 3/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/4 per cent.

This means that mortgage rates and bank prime rates should be steady for next month or so.  Of course lenders can offer rate specials that you may be able to take advantage of.

Prime lending rate to consumers will likely stay at 2.70%

Inflation in Canada is on track to return to 2 per cent in 2017 as the complex adjustment underway in Canada’s economy proceeds. The fundamentals remain in place for a pickup in growth over the projection horizon, albeit in a climate of heightened uncertainty.


I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Thursday, May 12, 2016

How to get top dollar for your home - article from MoneySense

This is an article that appeared in MoneySense about How to get top dollar for your home and some information the current state of our real estate market in 2011.  Too bad we didn't have the foresight back then to see how much the average price would increase, otherwise we would have purchased many properties!

Read the full article here

I wish you the best,
Mark









Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve

I received this email and thought I would share the contents with you.  

I am a firm believer that 'whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve'  This has been my credo since I can remember.  

I firmly believe that you have to visualize your success in order to become successful in life or any venture you undertake.
Some of the "words of wisdom" that came across my plate recently are shown below.  The key is that you can't afford to be an average leader.

Enjoy!
Mark

So, how do you become the great leader that you want to be?

One method is by studying, learning and teaching the principles that Dr. John C. Maxwell shares in his powerful program, Lessons On Leadership.

He talks about LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SUCCESS and TEAMWORK.

This is a comprehensive program for self-training, teaching and mentoring.

Some of the key aspects of leadership are
* Growing yourself and your team
* Learning the role of serving in leadership
* The importance of modeling
* How to connect with others
* Causing people to learn
* Gaining ideas for effective teaching
* Ways to sustain motivation
* Establishing trust
* Rebuilding when trust is gone
* Challenges of leading from the middle
* How to keep the leadership pipeline pumping
* Learn principles leaders practice to lead up
* The principles of leading peers
* Becoming a person of influence
* Competing vs. completing
* Making your attitude your greatest asset
* How to deal with discouragement
* Dealing with change
* How to profit from failure
* The four major benefits of listening
* Moving others to action
* How to avoid losing touch with your people
* Leading on the basis of trust
* Avoiding inconsistent leadership
* The pitfalls of personal insecurity
* Making the tough calls
* And many more!

I spend a great deal of my time visualizing and determining that there is no other outcome in my life other than SUCCESS and the methods of achieving success are:

* Adding value to yourself and others
* Knowing your purpose in life
* Growing to your maximum potential
* Sowing seeds that benefit others
* How motives matter
* Characteristics of people who influence others
* Evaluating what you do with your time
* Doing the right things right
* Living with integrity and leading by example
* Developing a winning strategy or "big idea"
* Building a great management team
* Inspiring employees to achieve greatness
* Creating a flexible and responsive organization
* The 10 traits successful leaders have in common
* Four strategies that will keep you moving
* Leading from the front
* Holding others accountable
* Building on strengths
* Forming relationships
* Making good decisions
* How to prioritize decision-making
* Avoiding decision-making traps
* And many more!

TEAMWORK is another area that I focus on:

* Understanding the value of unity
* Diversity in skills
* Gathering and growing a team
* Creating an environment that rewards creativity
* Motivating your team for unpleasant challenges
* The four stages of training
* Commitment that inspires results
* Communication that increases effectiveness
* Adding value to team-mates
* What a coach should communicate
* What a coach should look for in players
* Adding value individually and collectively
* Coach John Wooden's nine promises to make and keep
* Motivating players to fulfill their roles as part of the team
* Paying attention to fundamentals and details
* Five steps of teaching
* Players vs. pretenders
* Having a servant's mindset
* Why hard choices are hard to make
* And many more!

One of the benefits is that you will experience significant impact on your own growth and the growth of those around you
Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? | Best Mortgage Rates | Current Home Prices | Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com
Homes for Sale

Monday, May 09, 2016

Annual real estate cycle for Toronto and the GTA in Ontario over the past 20 years

Greeting from Fabulous Mississauga!

The graph below clearly shows the pattern of the annual real estate cycle for Toronto, the GTA in Ontario over the past 20 years.

 
This graph shows the cycle of how average price increases in the late winter and early spring, decreases during the summer months, increases again in the fall (but usually not as high as the highest price in the spring) and then decreases again over the  early winter months. The cycle repeats itself with near certainty, year after year and has done so since at least 1995.  When will this regular price increase stop? Nobody knows for sure, but it's a very interesting trend to see the seasonal fluctuations in home prices.

The only period that didn't show this regular increase was late 2008 to early 2009 during the Global Financial Crisis when housing prices fell more than 50% in some markets in the USA and elsewhere.  We only experienced a small downward 'blip' in our prices and then the steady increase began again in the spring of 2009

The graph below shows average single family residential prices of homes for the Toronto Real Estate Board.  Or, maybe you would like to see the average prices of single family residential homes since 1985








I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Friday, May 06, 2016

Graph showing TREB Historical Average Price Data

Greeting from Fabulous Mississauga!

Below is a Graph showing TREB Historical Average Price Data

  • The graph below shows a graph of sales price data obtained directly from the Toronto Real Estate Board showing the average selling price of single family homes from 1985 to date in our GTA marketplace.
  • Note the historical trends for spring and fall price increases, where spring typically has a larger increase compared to the fall.
  • The benchmark for changes in price is chosen to be the average price of homes at the last height of the market, which was $273,698 in 1989







I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com