Brampton real estate update

 So how did the Brampton real estate market do last year? How did it compare to the
years before?

As you can tell the spring market in 2010 was really busy but it really died off after the summer. It was still the busiest year in the past few years. I will keep you updated on 2011.
If you have a house to sell you can fill out the home evaluation form on the side and I will get back to you right away.

Helpful videos

Below are some videos that I think might be helpful for buyers and sellers.

If you have a Brampton house to sell you can find great information on my low commission here. I would love to be one of the brampton real estate agents you interview.

Eco friendly homes (How to)

As a first time home-owner you made sure that you were built an energy-efficient house. You promised yourself that your new home will be a testament to your efforts to minimize your carbon footprints. After building a green home you consciously see to it that you follow through by making it eco-friendly. Below are some pointers which can help you in maintaining a green home:

*Insulate roof and walls. Most homes lose heat through its walls and roofs. Insulating them would save you money.

*Buy new, energy-efficient light bulbs.  Energy-efficient light bulbs are easily available and not overly expensive. They consume five times less the energy being used by older bulbs.

*Unplug the power switch of any electronic appliance that is not being used. It has to be unplugged and not merely switched off. Switching appliances off put them on standby mode were power is still being used.

*Install an energy-efficient heating system. This might mean more money spent, but you get a government rebate for this.

*When doing the laundry, run the washing machine on a full load at low temperature. Also try to hang clothes outdoors to dry to avoid using the tumble drier. Tumble driers consume huge amounts of electricity. Canadian Tire or Home Hardware sells drying racks that could be set up the laundry room during the winter to save on electricity.

*Turn down your thermostat by one degree. It will still keep you warm, and minimize your energy consumption. Just make sure you’re comfortably bundled up.

*Make a habit of turning off the lights in areas that you don’t use.

*When boiling water in a kettle, don’t boil extra water because it is a waste of both time and energy. Instead, just boil the exact amount of water that you need.

*Learn to love vintage.  Buy second hand and help reduce resources and energy in making new products.  Check out E-bay, Kijiji and Craigslist the next time you need furniture.

*Draught-strip doors and windows to close air gaps. And then see the difference in your heating bills. Not only that, when you seal the house and you keep the heat inside which will be more comfortable.

*Use natural paint and oils to avoid breathing in chemicals. You also prevent toxic waste when you buy these products.

*Buy local produce. The next time you do your grocery shopping be aware of buying products grown in Ontario. You can also try the local farmer’s market. They run all year round in some communities, even during the winter. Do check them out.  Local produce do not have to be transported by trucks or planes from across the border/ or from other countries.  Both shipment methods use too much fuel.

*Recycle. Recycle plastics, paper, glass and metal. Use a compost bin for your food waste. It will do your garden good.

There are so many ways to make your home eco-friendly.  Most of the time, these methods are simple enough even for a child to practice. When you start  living an eco-friendly lifestyle you don’t only help the environment by minimizing your carbon footprints, but you also help your finances by saving on energy use.*

To look for Brampton houses for sale click here
To get full service when selling your Brampton home AND pay low real estate commissions click here.

Benefits of buying a Brampton house

Buying a home is a major decision. There comes a point when you have to think long and hard about your future living space. How long do you want to continue renting? Is it time to consider buying a home? Depending on your current situation both options have their advantages and disadvantages.

First let’s take a look at the advantages of buying a home:

*A great investment.  If you have read any of David Bach’s books in the Finish Rich series, you will be smart to take note that one of the wisest investments you will ever make is to purchase real estate. A home builds equity over time as you pay your mortgage. This means that you have ownership of the home as you complete mortgage payments.

*Tax rebates and deductions. First-time home buyers get refunds from the government to assist them with the costs of purchasing a home. The First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) is non-refundable, and is based on $5,000 for those who acquire a qualifying home after Jan. 27, 2009. It is calculated by multiplying the lowest personal income tax rate for the year by $5,000. For more details on this please refer to the HBTC guidelines. There are also tax rebates on home renovations, energy savings home improvements, and land transfer tax credits.

*Stable monthly costs.  Owning a home gives you more control over your costs with fixed-mortgage payments.  Sometimes the mortgage could even be lower than the cost to rent. Your principal and interest payments would stay the same every year, unlike rent which could go up every time you sign a new lease.

*Freedom to Renovate.  If you own your own home you are free to renovate and move things around according to your personal taste. You can play around with your living space to suit your lifestyle without the need to ask for permission from your landlord. You can paint your walls or dig a pond in your backyard. You can express yourself in your own home.

* Community.  Buying a home gives you the sense of security and stability of being a part of a community. Unlike renting, you feel a certain amount of commitment to neighbors and community. This is the reason why people carefully choose the areas where they buy their homes. They look for a community that they like, and envision to love because they are going to be part of that community for a long time.

When you buy a home you have responsibilities for its upkeep and maintenance. You do this because you love your home and want to live a good quality of life, and also because a well-maintained home raises the value of the property. Some people regard these responsibilities as “disadvantages” to owning a home. It all depends on how you view things, but these responsibilities include: liability for accidents and injuries on your property; liability for damage caused to your neighbor’s property if it came from yours;  mortgage needs to be paid even if you are having financial problems; equity rates may vary; you need to pay property taxes.

Also, unlike renting when you can pack up and leave anytime, you cannot just pack and move everything when you own a house.

Find all Brampton houses for sale here. If selling, you can get full service and pay low real estate commissions at the same time.

Why do I need a real estate agent?

There are numerous reasons why you should hire a real estate agent. It’s a great idea actually. A real estate agent, who is a good negotiator, can cover his entire commission. This automatically eliminates the seller’s primary reason for not using a real estate agent – to save on commission.

Real estate agents are skilled negotiators and when you get a good negotiator chances are he will be able to cover his entire commission. Good negotiation skills are acquired through training and experience. Agents view transactions with rationality, and without emotional attachments. They look after their client’s interests. They can help negotiate price, inclusion or exclusion of repairs, financing, inspections and investigations, among others. There are a lot of negotiations taking place in selling and buying a house, and an agent is equipped with the right skills for this task.

A real estate agent will save you time. He has the educational background and experience needed for the job. You save your time on research, phone calls, and leg work.

He can help you set a price. Agents will help buyers and sellers set the right price for the property. He can provide you with market information, financing, and the terms and conditions of competing properties. This will help you sell your property at the best price.

He knows the neighborhood. He makes it his business to know the community. He knows where you can find information on utilities, zoning, schools, churches, fitness clubs, etc… He can provide you with information on population and social demographics. You will definitely want to know if the neighborhood is the right fit for you, and if the property will have a resale value should you want to sell it in the future.

He has an established network. A real estate agent networks with other professionals who provide services that you may need when you’re buying or selling a property. He can give you a list of references to help you find companies or people for the service. He also markets your property to other real estate agents and the public.

He is available to help after closing the sale. Sometimes, in the excitement of closing a sale things can get overlooked, and surface months after the sale has been finalized. An example would be mixed up invoices. Good agents will be available to help resolve these concerns, and won’t leave you in the dark to figure it out by yourself.

So when you are thinking of buying or selling your property, consider hiring a real estate agent. He will save you time, headaches and maybe, if he is a good negotiator – he can save you money.*

Living in Brampton

Brampton, known as the Flower City, is one of Canada’s most diverse and multicultural centers. It is bustling with economic activities and holds the record for having the 13^th largest construction market in Canada in 2008 and the 4^th largest in the Greater Toronto Area. And yet, it is far from being a concrete urban jungle with about 6,000 acres of parkland and open spaces.  So far, a good balance between progress and the preservation of nature.

A robust economy. Located north of the Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Brampton’s major industries include manufacturing, retail and the wholesale trade. The city is home to 8,000 businesses. Its major economic sectors include: advanced manufacturing; retail administration and logistics; ICT food and beverage; life sciences; and business services.

Industries that have their national headquarters in Brampton include Loblaw Companies, Maple Lodge Farms, HBC/Zellers, Santa Maria Foods, xpedx, Velcro Canada, Bacardi Canada Inc., Brita Canada, Italpasta, Atlantis Aerospace, Clorox of Canada, Blue Giant, Nacan Products, Brampton Brick, and Mandarin Restaurants.

Diversity. In terms of population, Brampton is home to 433,806 people and was named the 11^th largest city in Canada and the 3^rd largest in the GTA in 2006 by the national census on population. As of this year, the city’s population is projected to hit 510,400. Its residents represent more than 170 different cultures and speak more than 70 languages.

Heritage. In 2002, Brampton started to revitalize its Flower town heritage through different campaigns and has successfully claimed the title of Canada’s Flower City.  The construction of the Rose Theater was part of this successful drive. The cut-flower industry in Brampton was started in 1863 by Edward Dale, an immigrant from England. Dale, of Dale’s Nursery built a flower nursery in the town, and marketed the flowers globally. At its peak, the company it produced 20 million blooms and was dubbed the largest cut flower business in North America. The rippling effect was the development of about 48 other flower nurseries in the town.

Mostly an agricultural town when it was first incorporated as a village in 1853, the longest running company in the city is the Peel Mutual Insurance Company that was founded in 1955. It was an offshoot of the County of Peel Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company.  Meanwhile, the longest-operating retail business in the city was established in 1890 as Harmsworth and Son.  Now known as Harmsworth Decorating Centre, its current store location at 24 Main Street was purchased on 1904.

Nature. Brampton residents commune with nature in its 6,000 acres of parkland.  Residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in these parklands and open spaces to include forested destinations, lakes and rives and floral tours.

Community. A city committed to providing economic opportunities and comfortable living to its residents, Brampton has numerous libraries, hospital services, educational facilities, shopping malls and churches. *

When it come time to look for a Brampton house be sure to check all Brampton homes listings here.

Brampton real estate statistics

Brampton Real Estate Statistics for August, 2010

Brampton residential real estate sales for August, 2010 dropped by $34.21 billion compared to recorded sales of the same month, last year, data from the Brampton Real Estate Board shows.

BREB market statistics showed that for August, 2010, active listings for area W23, Brampton totaled to 885, while acting listings for area W24 Brampton totaled to 647.  Of these listings, 992 were new, and sales volume was reported at $196.91 billion for both areas. The average price per home for W23 is $341,480 and for W24 it’s at $357,156. Average Days On Market (DOM) was 29 and 30 days, respectively.

In comparison to BREB data for August, 2009, area listings for W23 were 824, and 598 for W24. Of these, 706 were new listings. Combined sales volume for both areas was at $231.12 billion. Average price per home for W23 was $330,663 while it was at $323,061 for W24. Average DOM was 27 and 31 days respectively.

A Year-to-Date comparative data is found below:

Year-to-Date: August, 2010

(Source: BREB)

Year-to-Date: August, 2009

(Source: BREB)

Meanwhile, the City of Brampton, under its Economic Indicators report showed an increase in average home prices. It quoted the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Toronto Real Estate Board for its report.  New home prices for single-detached were at $471,274 (Aug., 2010) and $468,030 (Aug. 2009); Resale prices for single detached were at $417,212 (Aug., 2010) and $378,206 (Aug., 2009). It quoted average home prices (resale) at $352,955 (Aug., 2010) and $321,255 (Aug. 2009)

The same Economic indicators report also showed an increase in resale activities on residential properties for the same period: detached- 3,335 (Aug.2010) and 3, 069 (Aug.2009); semi-detached 1,231 (Aug., 2010) and 1,066 (Aug. 2009); condominiums and apartment – 307 (Aug., 2010) and 260 (Aug.2009); townhouse – 546 (Aug. 2010) and 421 (Aug., 2009).*

Are you thinking of buying a house in Brampton. Find thousands of Brampton houses for sale . If selling, find low real estate commissions here.

Past clients

Click here for more Brampton homes I’ve sold.

Above were some Brampton homes I sold recently where I represented the sellers and saved them a bundle of money! These are all my listings. If you have Brampton real estate to sell or looking to buy a home in Brampton please click here to contact me for great service and affordable commissions. I return all calls within 14 minutes! All savings calculations are based on 3.5% total commission paid vs 5% total commission paid.

You can read/see some customer testiomonials here.

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I hope to be one of the Brampton real estate agents you interview.