Sara Kareer Century 21 Millennium Inc Brampton Mississauga Vaughan Real Estate

TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOARD (TREB) MARKET WATCH REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2009

TREB Reports Strong Growth in October MLS Transactions

In October 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 8,476 sales, up 64 per cent from October 2008. The average price for October transactions was $423,559 - up by 20 per cent compared to the same month last year.

"Strong sales growth has occurred across many property classes - from price ranges that would attract first-time buyers to luxury properties selling for over one million dollars," said TREB President Tom Lebour. "The highest rate of sales growth in October was experienced for properties selling for over $750,000 dollars. In contrast, luxury home sales declined at an above-average rate last year."

Year-to-date sales, at 74,721, were up nine per cent compared to the first ten months of 2008. Average price, at $392,264 was up by almost three per cent.

"After a short dip in the winter, the average home price in the GTA has rebounded because sales have been high relative to listings," according to Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "Watch for listings to rebound in 2010 as home owners react to the strong sales and price growth experienced in the latter half of this year."

Median Price
In October, the median price was $357,000, from the $312,000 recorded during October of 2008.

I received an email with the funniest photos of Dogs dressed in their best Halloween costumes.

The email was entitled "Why Dogs Hate Halloween".


Being a new dog owner – we have a German Sheppard puppy – I can really appreciate the love people have for their dogs. I joked with my kids that I would dress “Duke” up as a poodle....but these photos take the cake!

.... Enjoy!!

Comedienne/Movie Star/TV Host Caryn Johnson has recently moved into her new $2.8 million (USD) luxury home in West Orange, New Jersey.

The mansion, built in 1927, has 8 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms and is situated on 9,486 square feet and is surrounded by lush gardens with a servant’s house, carriage house, and a green house.



The home is located just 14 miles west of lower Manhattan.





Who is Caryn Johnson, you ask?

Well, you’ve seen her in movies, such as Ghost, Toy Story 3; and TV shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and The View. Can you guess who Caryn Johnson is?

You know her better as Whoopi Goldberg.

Thinking of Buying or Selling your home?

Contact me for a FREE Home Evaluation.

All Buyers receive a FREE 7-NIGHT RESORT GETAWAY when they buy a Home or Condo with SARA!

It’s here! Google Street View is now available in certain areas of Canada. Street View allows you to view a map and zoom, rotate, and drill down to the street level and view the photos as though you were virtually standing on the street.

I’ve attached a YOUTUBE video that will walk you through the process.

With this functionality, you can view details of your neighbourhood (or your dream neighbourhood!) and check out all the nearby amenities (parks, schools, shopping, etc)

There are so many uses for this technology and it will be interesting to see how this impacts the home buying/selling process.



All Buyers receive a FREE 7-NIGHT RESORT GETAWAY when they buy ANY Home or Condo with SARA!

* My wife & I can't decide between a regular home or a condo. Are there any differences between the two that may not be obvious to most buyers?

This was a great question. My condensed response was printed in the Brampton Guardian on October 7, 2009. As promised, here is the full response:

Great question. These are two different types of ownership.

With a "regular" freehold home, you own the land and the property. As such, you are responsible for the maintenance and repairs to your property (roof, windows, snow removal, lawn maintenance, etc).

When you purchase a Condominium, you own everything within the walls of your own dwelling; and a proportionate share of the common elements (eg. Roof, windows, hallways, pool, party room, recreation room, grass, etc). In a Condominium, there is a Board of Directors, comprised of unit owners within the complex, who make spending decisions regarding the common elements. These expenditures are then allocated proportionally to all of the condo owners, known as condo maintenance fees. Buyers should be aware that these monthly condo fees are in addition to your monthly mortgage payments and taxes.

Typically, condominium maintenance fees include exterior maintenance (roofs, windows, doors, exterior walls, etc.), grounds maintenance (snow removal, grass cutting, etc.), building insurance (the exterior structure of the building), property insurance (liability insurance for the common areas, protecting against slip & fall lawsuits, etc.), and property management fees (most condo boards hire a property management company to look after the day-to-day operation of these contracts). Condo fees can also include things like recreation facilities (some condos have exercise rooms, pools, saunas, etc.), and they can sometimes include some or all utilities (hydro, water, heat, cable, etc.).

Condominiums are a good choice for people who don't want to be bothered by the upkeep of a traditional home. Many first time buyers choose a condominium because it's often less expensive than a freehold home -- and this allows them to get into the housing market sooner.


Please keep in mind that if you are buying a Condominium, your agent should make your Offer conditional upon your Lawyer reviewing the Status Certificate to ensure the Condominium Corporation has an adequate Reserve Fund.

Whether you're thinking of buying a freehold home or a condominium, I can walk you through the process and help you make the right move.

All Buyers receive a FREE 7-NIGHT RESORT GETAWAY when they buy a Home or Condo with SARA!