Robert Morrow

OCT 30/08

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), resale home sales will continue to be strong into 2009.

"...Existing home sales, as measured by the Multiple Listing Service
(MLS(R))(1), which reached a record level of 523,701 sales in 2007, will
moderate in 2008 to 452,225 units. In 2009, MLS(R) sales will move to 433,375
units. Despite a moderation in MLS(R) sales, demand for existing homes will
remain strong by historical standards. With housing markets having become
balanced across Canada, the rate of growth in the average MLS(R) price will
moderate. Average prices will reach $306,500 in 2008 and $306,700 in 2009."

Robert J. Morrow is editor of www.HamiltonHomeReview.com, an online real estate magazine serving Greater Hamilton, Ontario. Click here for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION sent to your email monthly. Click here to receive new Hamilton area listings in your email daily.

As you can see, house prices in the Hamilton area have risen approximately 4-5% over the past year. This was, of course, before all the hiccups in the US but still bodes well for those looking for assurances.

Flamborough leads the pack with a whopping 40% increase in price but much of this is due to new housing in the Greensville area and developments closer to Waterdown. Waterdown, itself boasts the highest decrease in house prices, much of which can be credited to the change in new build home types last year.

Some prices are decieving. For example, try finding more than a handful of homes in Dundas under $280.

Robert J. Morrow is editor of www.HamiltonHomeReview.com, Greater Hamilton's online real estate magazine. Click here for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION sent to your email monthly. Click here to receive new Hamilton area listings in your email daily.

The City of Hamilton just entered into a $115,000 contract with ilookabout that will involve four vehicles, mounted with digital cameras to snap 180 degree panoramic photographs every five metres down each street in the entire city.

Using ilookabout's new software "Streetscape", city staff will be able to call up pictures of anything, anytime. Hamilton has had access to stills since 2004 but now instead of three angles, there will be five, according to gord McGuire, manager of surveys and tech services.

Gord says looking at detailed stills of a street helps staff avoid unnecessary and sometimes lengthy trips to a site, which also reduces vehicle emissions.

For example, said McGuire, if a resident calls the city to complain about the location of a pole near their driveway, "rather than meet on site, we can talk on the phone, pull up the photography...and we can address the concern or at least havae a good understanding right off the bat." The city says it will save $200,000 annually.

"The clarity allows...even manholes, you can see the names of the utility lids, you can see the writing on signs in the field, so that type of clarity can really help," said John Murray, manager of asset management services at the city.

ilookabout president and CEO Jeff Young said 98.5% of the photos don't have people in them, and faces and licence plates are blurred out to safeguard identity.

So, for the next few months, beware of what signs you post on your lawn, or what stickers you put on the back of your car in the driveway. And, of course, don't sit on your front porch for too long sneaking a cigarette. Chances are, such information will be caught on camera and kept in city files forever... or at least until they send the trucks out again.

Robert J. Morrow is editor of www.HamiltonHomeReview.com, an online real estate magazine for Greater Hamilton, ON.

For more info, see: www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/447602, and www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ilookabout-captures-city-hamilton/story.aspx

This one from my good friend Rita Amalfi Cruse at Mortgage Alliance in Dundas, Ontario:

"Wow have you been keeping up with all the media hype on the economy? I have, and sometimes I wonder if we didn't have all the "doom and gloom" coming at us from every which way then maybe the Laws of Attraction would really work.

If you think it, it will happen !!!!!! Well, think low interest rates because that is what is happening, right now, look at my chart.

*Rates may vary by province and are subject to change without notice. Rates last updated - Monday, October 27, 2008

I know most of you are sitting back and playing wait and see but if you are carrying any kind of credit card debt, you should be calling me right now to see how I can roll that debt into the equity of your home at low interest rates. If you leave it and pay only the minimum payment on a monthly basis it will take you years to pay it off.

It is a buyers market out there for real estate, record number of listings, your dream home could be sitting waiting for you to put an offer in on it, before doing that you need to call me to get pre-approved.

Now more than ever it is important to maintain a good credit history. I have attached a booklet that I have been working on to help you figure out what your credit might look like. If you really want to know then visit my website and you will find a link to check your credit.

Have a look at the attachment on this email, it is a booklet about credit and the little things you can do to improve yours."

You can contact Rita via rcruse@tmacc.com, www.mortgagealliance.ca/ritacruse or call (905) 529-1199

This one comes from my good friend Jim at the City of Hamilton:

"I have fact checked this and it is a valid warning. Not a hoax. JR The Government of Canada has issued a warning not to consume Pirate's Gold Milk Chocolate Coins that

have been sold in Canada at Costco, (the candy may also be available in smaller quantities at dollar stores

and bulk stores). The candy has tested positive for melamine. Please pass on this important information

to everyone you know that have children going out for Hallowe'en. For additional details, please consult

the following link: http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=421359 ."