Jason Walker Real Estate in Toronto

TORONTO-April 16, 2010 --Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 4,601 sales through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) during the first two weeks of April. This represented a 25 percent increase compared to the 3,681 sales recorded during the same period in 2009. New listings increased by 48 per cent annually to 9,512. "The fact that annual growth in new listings outstriped growth by listing their homes in greater numbers. They are confident they will receive offers in line with their asking price." The average price for April mid-month transactions was $430,271 - up 12 percent compared to the average of $383,361 recorded during the first 14 days of April 2009. "The average annual rate of price increase has declined and we are shortly going to see a return to sustainable single-digit rates of growth," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "As Home Buyers experience more choice in the marketplace, there will be less upward pressure on the a...

April 16, 2010 -- Toronto Star--Tom Lebour,President of the Toronto Real Estate Board. If there is one thing on which all homeowners can agree, it’s that there’s always something to do around the house.If during these remaining weeks of winter you’re developing a list of improvements to get underway this spring, be sure to include energy efficiency enhancements, which contribute to your home’s overall value while also reducing your energy costs.If you have an older home, renovations such as new windows, extra insulation or an Energy Star rated furnace can sizably diminish your energy costs. You can even qualify for government rebates to help you through the process.There are a number of minor changes you can also undertake to make a big difference to your monthly energy bills. It’s estimated for example, that you can save two per cent on your heating bill for every degree that you lower your thermostat. Replacing your old thermostat with an Energy Star programmable unit that automatic...

Toronto Real Estate Board- "From September through December 2009, TREB Members reported 3,859 lease transactions for condo apartments and Townhouses through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) - Up 12 percent from the 3,433 recorded during the same time in 2008. Condo Apartment transactions, which account for over 90 % of the total, were also up 12 %. The weighted average rent across all apartment types and all TREB districts for the last four months of 2009 was $1,667 - in line with the 2008 weighted average of $1,672. This reflected the fact that average rents for the two most popular apartment categories moved in opposite directions, with one percent decrease for one bedroom apstments and one percent increase for two bedroom apartments. At district level, rent changes were quite mixed, in some cases changing at rates above or below the GTA average." For a complete report, email me at jawalker@trebnet.com . I would be happy to send it off to you.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 6, 2010) - Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,430 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, pushing total first quarter 2010 sales to 22,418 – the best result on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. The average price for March transactions was $434,696. The average price for the first quarter was $427,948. "The strong rebound in the existing home market was one of the initial drivers of economic recovery," said TREB President Tom Lebour. "While we don't expect to see the same rates growth moving forward, GTA households will remain confident in ownership housing as a quality long-term investment, especially as economic recovery expands across all industries." The annual rate of growth for new listings continued to accelerate in March. The number of new listings grew by 42 per cent compared to March of 2008. "The average home price in the GTA will continue to grow th...

April 5, 2010 -- Be aware of recent changes to the ecoEnergy Retrofit Program. Effective March 31, 2010, the Government of Canada ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program is no longer accepting bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations. The program will continue to be administered until March 31, 2011. If you have already booked an appointment for a pre-retrofit evaluation, have completed an evaluation or applied for re-entry to the program, you remain eligible to apply for a grant. Please check the Natural Resources Canada website for complete details. http://oee.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/residential/personal/grants.cfm?attr=0 Homeowners in Ontario may still qualify for grants of up to $5,000 for energy retrofits through the provincial program. Details on the Government of Ontario Home Energy Retrofit Program can be found at http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/conservation/homeenergyon/?page=homeenergy-retrofit

April 2, 2010 --Tom Lebour, President of the Toronto Real Estate Board...SUN Column. If you’re preparing to get in on the Greater Toronto Area’s spring housing market by undertaking a number of improvement projects to your home, you’re in good company.According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, close to $21.3 billion was spent in our country’s 10 major centres on renovations in 2008, an increase of more than $1.6 billion compared to 2007. The majority of those surveyed, 55 percent, indicated renovations were undertaken in preparation for a sale, to update or add value to their homes. Another 33 per cent of respondents pointed to a need for repairs as their primary motivation for improvements.Whether you’re planning a renovation in preparation for a sale, because your house is in need of repairs or simply for esthetics, it’s wise to plan carefully to achieve the best return on investment. Most of us know that kitchens, bathrooms and a fresh coat of paint inside and out, offer...