Springing Into The Busy Season!

Information courtesy of the Toronto Real Estate Board.TREB

SaleS & average PrIce By Major HoMe TyPe

JAN. 2013 SAlES AvERAgE PRIcE416 905 Total 416 905 Total

Detached 502 1,579 2,081 $765,049 $563,675 $612,252

Yr./Yr. % change -7.6% 3.7% 0.7% 2.7% 6.8% 4.7%

Semi-Detached 147 324 471 $586,080 $391,830 $452,456

Yr./Yr. % change -5.2% 0.9% -1.1% 12.5% 3.6% 6.5%

Townhouse 166 519 685 $418,262 $359,271 $373,566

Yr./Yr. % change -11.2% 1.0% -2.3% 1.8% 5.6% 4.0%

condo Apartment 730 321 1,051 $340,295 $269,073 $318,542

Yr./Yr. % change -4.5% -6.4% -5.1% -1.3% -1.4% -1.2%

commenting on the 4,375 transactions reported through the Toronto Multiple listing Service® (MlS®) system by greater Toronto Area REAlTORS® in January 2013, Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Ann Hannah said, “The January sales figures represent a good start to 2013. While the number of transactions was down slightly compared to last year, the rate of decline was much less than what was experienced in the second half of 2012. This suggests that some buyers, who put their decision to purchase on hold last year due to stricter mortgage lending guidelines, are once again becoming active in the market.”

The average selling price for January 2013 homes was $482,648 – up by 4.3 percent compared to the $462,655 average reported in January 2012. The MlS® Home Price Index composite

benchmark price was up by 3.8 percent over the same period.

“There will be enough competition between buyers in the marketplace to prompt continued growth in home prices in 2013. Expect annual average price growth in the three to five percent range this year,” said Jason Mercer, TREB Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Wondering what the value of your home is in our busy spring market? Interested in targeted news regarding real estate activity in your local area? Please call today for a personal, no-obligation information update!

If the real estate sales numbers reported so far this year are any

indication, Toronto’s spring market is gearing up to be a busy one!

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Recine Team ReportCompliments of Melanie & Fabio RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Melanie Maranda Recine &Fabio Recine

Sales Representatives

"It's your callCall Melanie and Fabio"

RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage9100 Jane Street, Bldg. L, Suite #77Vaughan, ON L4K 0A4

Office: 416-987-8000Fax: 416-987-8001Direct Melanie: 647-836-4062Direct Fabio: 416-828-5441mmaranda96@hotmail.comfrecine@trebnet.comwww.RecineTeam.ca

Greetings! You’re receiving thisnewsletter with hopes that you find itinformative and entertaining.

If you’re thinking of making a move, orare just curious as to real estate trendsin your area, please feel free to call atany time. It’s always good to hearfrom you!

Best wishes,

Melanie and Fabio

Volume 9, Issue 3

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Bedrooms Strip beds, laundering skirts, mattress covers, duvet covers,

etc. Wash pillows according to manufacturer directions. Sprinkle baking soda on box springs, let sit for an hour, then vacuum; repeat the process with mattresses. Flip over and rotate mattresses for even wear.

Empty nightstands, dressers, armoires, etc., throwing out or donating things you can’t/won’t use. Clean their insides before putting everything back. To keep clothes smelling fresh, store them with sachets, fabric-softener sheets, baking soda boxes, etc.

Bathrooms Soak showerheads in white vinegar or suitable

commercial product to loosen mineral deposits and restore water pressure.

Gently machine wash shower curtains and liners, including a couple of towels in the load. If safe to do so, add bleach to the cycle to remove mold.

Empty out drawers, cabinets, and linen closets, throwing out things like expired medication and old makeup. Wipe down (and re-line) the insides before putting things back.

Clean grout with a toothbrush and mixture of two parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide.

Kitchen Kitchen walls (especially backsplashes) take a lot of

abuse, thanks to grease and smoke, so give them a good washing.

After clearing the food trap/drain of debris, run your dishwasher empty save for a cup of lemon juice, white vinegar, baking soda, or, if there’s mold, bleach.

Empty cupboards and drawers, throwing out or donating

items you can’t/won’t use. Wash and, if needed, re-line their insides before putting everything back.

While oven cleaner is working on the inside, remove and clean (or replace) drip catchers, knobs, burner grates, etc., and clean them thoroughly.

Empty the fridge, throwing out/donating food you won’t use. Remove and wash shelves and drawers, and wipe down fridge and freezer insides before putting food back.

If possible, pull out the fridge and stove, sweep and mop the areas where they normally sit, and vacuum fridge coils.

Throughout Your Home Working top to bottom, dust ceiling fans, curtain

rods, window and doorframes, light fixtures, artwork, windowsills, and baseboards, as well as lamps, electronic equipment, picture frames, knick-knacks, and the surfaces they sit on.

Vacuum lampshades, blinds, upholstered furniture, and HVAC registers and vents, using the appropriate attachments for delicate surfaces or getting down into nooks and crannies.

Take down window coverings and hand wash, machine wash, or dry-clean them per the manufacturer instructions. At the very least, vacuum (if safe to do so) and tumble dry them with a fabric-softener sheet.

Empty closets, throwing out or donating items you can’t/won’t use. Clean the insides, including shelves, rods, and floors, before putting everything back.

Disinfect light and ceiling fan switches; temperature controls; door and drawer handles, pulls, and knobs; and appliance and fixture (e.g. toilet) handles.

A Fresh New seAsoN!

It’s that time of year when the change of season

inspires us to give our homes a more thorough cleaning

and purging. Below are some chores, broken down by

room, that may get overlooked as part of your daily or

weekly cleaning routines but should be on your spring-

cleaning “to-do” list.

Preventative MeasuresFirst things First

volume 9, issue 3 3

the busiest home-buying time of the year is just

around the corner. But as savvy buyers know, there

are a few things you’d be wise to do before you

even begin to pound the pavement this spring.

they are:

Checking your credit. You’d be surprised how often people find mistakes on their credit report: closed charge accounts that appear as available credit or repaid loans that show up as outstanding, are just two examples. You’ll want to clear up any mistakes before they impede your ability to secure the financing you’ll need to fund your home purchase.

Getting pre-approved by your lender. In addition to helping you establish your budget (an important thing to do before shopping for anything), mortgage pre-approval means you can act more quickly than non-approved buyers once you find the right property – and that’s particularly important during the spring season, when competition for homes can be stronger.

Establishing your needs and wants. How can you expect to find what you’re looking for when you haven’t yet figured out exactly what that is? If you don’t establish your must-have criteria before you start looking at homes, you’re likely to spend precious time viewing properties that aren’t a good fit for you, and spend more money than you intended.

Hiring a real estate sales representative. Sure, you could wait until you’re ready to buy to hire representation, but doing so before starting the home-hunting process means ending your search a lot more quickly. Plus, your rep can help you with the other items on this list, such as securing a loan pre-approval and figuring out what it is you need in your next home.

Inspection issues. Many buyers make their purchase offer contingent on a home inspection; when the results reveal problems, buyers may back out. Getting your home inspected before you list is a great way to reduce this risk. A pre-listing inspection allows you to discover any problems and address them – on your terms, not the buyer’s – before your home even goes on the market.

Financing issues. It can be heartbreaking to find a buyer only to have the deal fall through because they couldn’t obtain financing. Lower the chances of this happening to you by hiring a real estate representative, who will pre-screen potential buyers by ensuring they’ve been pre-approved for financing – in other words, by making sure they’re actually capable of purchasing your home.

Failure to satisfy the offer conditions. Buyers often make their offers contingent upon certain conditions being met, such as the seller making agreed-upon repairs. Failure to meet these conditions by the dates specified means having to arrange for an extension or even losing the sale altogether, so to ensure a smooth closing, be sure to address all the buyer’s conditions in a timely manner.

A low appraisal. If your home appraisal comes in low, the buyer’s lender won’t likely approve mortgage financing. To avoid a low appraisal, prepare a list of improvements/upgrades for the appraiser; make sure your home shows well (i.e. is move-in ready); have your own appraisal done before listing; ask your real estate rep to provide information on comparable sales.

real estate deals sometimes fall through for reasons entirely out of the seller’s control. Below, however, are some common deal-killers and the steps sellers can take to prevent them.

Your front entrance is one of the first things buyers notice about your house. Make a great entrance this spring with these curb-appealing tips.

Give your front door a fresh coat of paint, ideally in a color that contrasts (but coordinates) with the façade of your house. Touch up surrounding trim too, if needed.

Polish up your hardware (e.g. door handle and lock, knocker, kick plate, mailbox, house number, and light fixtures) to a shine or replace hardware that’s outdated or looking a little worse for wear with new coordinating pieces.

Trim any trees or shrubs that are blocking views of your front entrance, or that are spilling over onto the pathway leading up to it. If you don’t already have any, add a pair of seasonal plantings in containers on your front steps.

Make sure your front entrance, walkway, and house number are well lit at night – savvy sellers will make a point of visiting your neighborhood during the day and after dark.

Small touches such as a new floor mat, a wreath on the door, and a proportionate table and chair(s) set can go a long way towards making your house look like a warm and inviting place to potential buyers.

Clean the area of dirt and debris. Give your walkway, steps, and porch a good pressure washing if needed, and make sure your front windows are clean, inside and out.

Please call for more seller-savvy home selling tips today!

Front and Center

Terminology TipEASEMENT — A legal right to use or

cross another person's premises for limited

purposes. An example includes a utility

company's right to run wires or lay pipe

across a property. A private easement

could include the right to cross a neighbor’s

parcel of land to gain access to your home,

or a mutual driveway that both owners

share to access garages in the backyard.

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The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the published information. This newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Not intended to solicit properties or businesses listed for sale and agency agreements in place with other real estate brokers. Whole or partial reproduction of this newsletter is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. © Market Connections Inc.® 2013, Phone: (800) 387-6058.

www.RecineTeam.caMelanie Direct647-836-4062

Fabio Direct416-828-5441

Fabio and Melanie RecineSales Representatives

Compliments of Fabio & Melanie Recine RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage