Jenny Kotulak Oakville Real Estate

$2,000 to The Halton Lighthouse Emergency Shelter

$5,000 to Milton Community Resource Centre, Infant Food Bank Program

The REALTORS Care^TM Foundation work is made possible through the generous support of REALTORS® andlocal Real Estate Boards from across Ontario. Since its inception the Foundation has granted more than $2-million dollars on behalf of Ontario REALTORS® to shelter-based organizations across the province.

OMDREB and its' members are very proud to support the REALTORS Care^TM Foundation through on-going donations. In 2008, OMDREB also participated in the REALTORS Care^TM Foundation, Every REALTOR® Campaign. On behalf of all OMDREB Members, a donation of 1 dollar per Member per month for 12 months was donated. This was a significant donation on the Board's behalf and we are so pleased that our community will be reaping the benefit of our support.

The REALTORS® of The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board are committed to making a real difference in the community and in the lives of those who do not have the comfort, warmth or safety of their own homes. As well -- those who rely on the shelters, foods banks or live in sub-standard housing. Our Members will continue to work towards making a difference in the communities we work in.

Canadian Tire is a well known retail institution in Canada. In business since 1925 and with close to 500 stores, it has been said that 85 percent of Canadians live within 15 minutes of a Canadian Tire store. How many of you have scads of Canadian Tire money laying around the house? How many of you buy gas at Canadian Tire, use the Canadian Tire Mastercard or buy at Mark's Work Warehouse, all Canadian Tire subsiduaries.

The ingenious Canadian Tire money loyalty program began over 50 years ago and is still going strong. Here in Oakville, the old, cramped Canadian Tire in the plaza on Kerr Street at Speers Road has closed their doors forever.

Just up the road, on the property that once housed the Country Squire Restaurant, an Oakville legend, a brand spanking new and enormous Canadian Tire store has just opened. Their grand opening celebration was held over the past four days. There are now 3 Canadian Tire stores within a ten minute drive from my home.

Situated on the north side of the Queen Elizabeth highway, right at the Kerr Street exit, you couldn't ask for better exposure. If you stand at the front of the parking lot and look across the highway you can probably see the Home Depot. Whereas Home Depot caters to contractors and handymen and women, Canadian Tire offers a huge automotive section, as well as housewares, sporting goods, and electronics.

There are 3 Home Depots located within a fifteen minute drive from my home. Everytime a new Canadian Tire or Home Depot goes up, it seems to be bigger and brighter than the last. Wider aisles, more consumer friendly. All well planned, I'm sure to pull at the consumer's pocketbook strings.

I must admit the new Canadian Tire couldn't have timed their opening better. By the looks of the crowded parking lot the past few days and the Police there to direct traffic, I'd say they are bound to capture their share of the Christmas shopping market.

Yes indeed, I finally saw woody in the forest today. I've been searching high and low lately for one but it wasn't until the leaves came off the trees that I was finally able to capture the bird that has been eluding me and my camera.

Yes, there he was, the Pileated Woodpecker in all his glory with a crown of red. What a beauty he was. Did you know that the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker is based on the Pileated Woodpecker? And speaking of Woody, did you know he is going to be 60 years old next year?

Do you remember the interview that Barbara Walters had with Katherine Hepburn many years ago where she uttered those words? For some reason that came to mind today when I saw this unusual looking tree.

Maybe if I was a tree I would be a London Plane Tree. Not only does this tree have an unusual camouflage looking bark but it bears interesting fruit that looks like Christmas ornaments hanging on the branches.

I took these photos today at Coote's Paradise in Hamilton, Ontario. A pretty cool looking tree, I think. So, if you were a tree, what kind would YOU be??

All Bark, No Bite

I'm Loaded

Very Fruitful

The number of home sales in Oakville in October 2009 was a whopping 78% higher than October a year ago. Last October saw the beginning of the tumble in the market but the sales rebounded this past spring and we began to see healthy sales stats once again. Consumer confidence returned and the excellent mortgage rates made for a winning combination.

The average sale price in Oakville in October 2009 was $600,705, up 12 percent from last October. The median sale price of $486,250 saw a 25% climb from the previous year. The average days on market shrunk from 41 in October 2008 to 32 this past month.

Our current market has swung to a seller's market in the low and mid price range. There is a good supply of buyers but low inventory which means that many homes are selling for list price or more with competing offers. Here is an article I wrote with some advice on How To Buy In A Seller's Market.

Many people feel that November and December is not the right time of year to buy or sell real estate but that is a misconception. Check out the following article on Buying and Selling in November and December.

Here are some charts showing the sales activity in Oakville for 2009.

Number of Home Sales- January - October 2009

Average Sale Price Per Hundred Thousand Dollars in Oakville - January - October 2009

Oakville Median Sale Price Per Hundred Thousand Dollars - January - October 2009

Stats Source: OMDREB Tarasoft Matrix