Manoj Arora

Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,561 transactions in the first half of May - an increase of three per cent compared to May 2008.

"Members reported a rise in buying activity this month," said TREB President Maureen O'Neill. "Many home buyers who were undecided about purchasing a home during the winter months are now proceeding with confidence as a result of the GTA housing market's affordability."

The average price for MLS® sales was in line with last year, down by less than one-half of one per cent at $399,811. "More sales and fewer listings resulted in tighter market conditions which pushed the average selling price back up to last year's level," according to Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "Look for new listings to increase as home owners react to the positive news surrounding home sales and prices."

In March 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 6,171 sales - down seven per cent from March 2008, representing the smallest year-over-year decline in the last five months. The average price for March transactions was $362,052 - down less than five per cent from the same month last year.

"The Greater Toronto housing market has stood up very well given the challenging economic times the world has experienced in recent months," commented TREB President Maureen O'Neill. "In fact, over the past two months, the situation in the housing market has improved."

The seasonally-adjusted annual rate of sales increased to 65,600 in March - up 36 per cent from the ten-year low reached in January. "Sales in March increased at a rate over and above what would be expected from the normal spring-time bump," said Jason Mercer TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "A greater number of households have taken advantage of increased affordability in the housing marketplace."

Read the complete Market Watch Report

Home Renovation Tax Credit

The proposed Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) will provide a temporary 15 per cent income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010. The credit may be claimed for the 2009 taxation year on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000, and will provide up to $1,350 in tax relief.

For more information on all of the home ownership and housing related stimulus in Budget 2009, go to http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpa5a-eng.asp#Personal or to the Canada Revenue Agency Web site at www.cra-arc.gc.ca and search for "Home Buyers Plan."

What's eligible and what's not for the Home Renovation Tax Credit?
The federal government hopes the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) will get Canadians spending now to help create jobs in industries typically hurt by an economic downturn. Now through January 31, 2010, homeowners can claim a tax credit for 15 per cent of renovation expenses between $1,000 and $10,000. Here's a sample of what qualifies under the program and what does not.

Eligible

• renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement
• new carpet or hardwood floors
• building an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall
• a new furnace or water heater
• painting the interior or exterior of a house
• resurfacing a driveway
• laying new sod

Ineligible

• purchase of furniture and appliances (e.g. refrigerator, stove, and couch)
• purchase of tools
• carpet cleaning
• maintenance contracts (e.g. furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, and pool cleaning)

TORONTO, March 5, 2009 - Toronto Real Estate Board Members reported 4,120 sales in February 2009 compared to 6,015 sales recorded in February 2008. The average home price was $361,305 last month compared to $382,048 during the same month last year.

"A considerable number of transactions continued to take place in February 2009. Motivated buyers and sellers, who were aware that market conditions changed over the past few months, were able to negotiate transactions acceptable to both parties," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O'Neill.

To see the detailed report, please visit my blog at http://www.aceteamrealty.com/blog.asp

March 3, 2009 - The Bank of Canada announced this morning that it is cutting interest rates by 0.50%. This take the target for the overnight rate to just 0.50% This takes the total easing to 4.00% since December 2007.

The bank said in it's release that the global economic outlook has worsened since January with slower growth than expected in the major economies and the US recession with the weak car and housing growth is a big challenge for Canada. Q4 2008 also showed a sharp decline in Canadian economic activity.

To see the detailed report, please visit my blog at http://www.aceteamrealty.com/blog.asp