Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: Market watch Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Sears is gone

Market watch Peterborough and the Kawarthas

Well, 2017 is over and reflection of that crazy, unpresidented sales year is looked at. The final inflation of value ended up at 22%. So if your house was worth $300,000 at the beginning of 2017 it will be now worth approximately $366,000. Most people make less than that in a year of work!

Usually Peterborough and the Kawarthas works with a 3 to 5% increase year after year. At one time earlier in 2017 values were up over 27%. Crazy.

So what will 2018 bring? Good question. I feel the market will be more balanced but the value increase will stick from 2017. I do not see values dropping 22% to get back to our "normal" levels of value. 

Check out the numbers below!

December 2017

Unit Sales                      Down   8%
Active Listings              Down   16%
Average sales price      Up 22% YTD

Sears is officially gone

I had not been back to Sears for years. I did not go to see the doors of Sears close for the last time. The last time I was at Sears it was July/August 2016. I was looking for lawn mower blades for my Craftsman Lawnmower I purchased at Sears. They did not have them, they were switching the store to fall fashion so I could buy snowblower parts if I wanted to.

 Their customer service was at one time legendary. Sears decided not to provide that anymore. They also did not see how future retail was going and did not change their business model. Hence the results. Doors closed. Upper management failed badly. Of course upper management will be paid first their millions of dollars for their epic failure. If anything is left maybe employees may get something that is owed to them. Maybe. The store employee should be paid out in full and if anything is left pay upper management. The store employee did nothing wrong.

I do not shed a tear for Sears. Sorry to see people lose their jobs but better things will come to the space and provide more jobs. I can't wait to see how it is developed. 

See some final pictures here or check out Lance Anderson's video

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Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Flat Rate Realty

The HOUSESOLD name for buying and selling real estate in Peterborough and local waterfront!
www.bradsinclair.ca 

Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: Selwyn PolarFest 2018, Dude, where's my car, Transparent is not how the Peterborough Farmers Market going to go, List my house now? Really?

Selwyn PolarFest 2018: Selwyn Polar is quickly coming! On February 2, 3 and 4th is an outdoor  festival for the whole family. Everyone is invited to Selwyn to enjoy the festivities! The major sponsor is Eastlink. The two most popular events is the ice sculpture carvings and the polar plunge. Don’t miss out on the other events that are planned. You will find shinny hockey tournament, night hike, snow pitch and much more. Check out this article written by Lance Anderson of Peterborough this Week for more details.

Dude, where's my car? If your car is not on the street in Peterborough where you left it, here is where you will find it.

Transparent is not how the Peterborough Farmers Market going to go: I followed Joelle Kovach of the Peterborough Examiner twitter account last night closely as the meeting was being held to decide the fate of the 7 vendors at the Peterborough Farmers Market. The board decided to keep the public shut out of the proceeds. A GAG order was given. I am serious. A GAG order was given for a farmers market meeting. This is out of control and someone needs to step in. Cindy Hope the president hid from the media and sent Mark Jones, marketing director outside to tell the media to go home. Instead of being transparent, the board has decided secrecy is the best way to go. That won’t feed the fire at all, will it? Stupidity at its best that decision.

As a member of the public, I don’t know the full story. I don’t know both sides of the story. I have heard snippets of information and I am trying to decide what is right and what is wrong. Since this issue is now in the spot light of the public eye there is no benefit to keeping secrets if you believe you are in the right. Bad decision on the Peterborough Farmers Market Board.

List my house now? Really? "I am waiting until spring to list my house when it looks the best" I hear this statement all the time from home sellers and they are dead wrong. Now is the time to list especially if you live in the City of Peterborough.

Listings (inventory) is extremely low right now. Most current listings that have been around for a while so imagine the excitement that is caused when a new listing hits the market. It is craziness! Today you will get more for your house then you will ever get in the spring market, even more then when your house looks its best in June. That is because there is a ton if listings hit the market in May/June. You will be ahead of the pack.

Best part of selling your home now is the closing will be when all the new listings are hitting the market and you get your choice of the new batch! You will also be in better bargaining position because there is so much more inventory!

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Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Flat Rate Realty

The HOUSESOLD name for buying and selling real estate in Peterborough and local waterfront!
www.bradsinclair.ca 

Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: The 2nd most expensive listing in the Kawarthas,RYC Ennismore Juvenile, Canada wins Gold

The 2nd most expensive listing in the Kawarthas: How would you like to own 7 bedroom, 8 bathroom home on Pigeon Lake? Well open the vaults as this 3 acre, 230 feet of shoreline property will run you around 3 million bucks plus. Asking price is $3,395,000. This home was brand new in 2016 and comes with its own island. And not one you find in the kitchen!

This property is listed by Sotheby's. Photo credit goes to Ross Halloran and Roger Kolbuc the listing agents.

RYC Ennismore Juvenile: In winning tradition, the RYC Ennismore Juvenile's won Mooretown Silver Stick in AAA this weekend. That is again a crazy accomplishment. Congratulations boys, Bob would have been extremely proud of you!

Canada wins GOLD: After the heartbreaking loss to the USA last year in the World Junior Championships in a bloody shootout the young Canadian squad backed by goaltender Carter Hart took their game to the next level and beat Team Sweden. Way to go guys, what fun hockey to watch.

For more local content subscribe to this blog at the top of this article!

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Flat Rate Realty

The HOUSESOLD name for buying and selling real estate in Peterborough and local waterfront!
www.bradsinclair.ca 

Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: Quote of the day, How not to get screwed from a real estate agent, City of Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes and Selwyn Holiday, Recycling and Garbage collection schedule, New changes to the Landlord tenant act in Ontario, huge changes!

Quote of the day: 
I haven’t failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.  -Thomas Edison

How not to get screwed by a Real Estate Agent:
The screw Story: "My Agent locked me into a long term listing contract and I had no idea that I agreed to the length of time. They have done a poor job, I have not heard from them for months and now I can’t get out!"
How to protect yourself: The very first page of the listing contract has the dates that the listing will commence and expire. 

It is normal to see a 3 month listing period as listings generally take 45-60 days to sell in a balanced market. Where you see the red circle is where the dates are agreed to. Look at this before signing the contract. If the listing date is over 6 months the area must be initiated for extra attention. Make sure you understand the length of the listing and contract. You are locked into this contract unless you hire someone like myself who offers an easy exit listing agreement guaranteeing my work and if you are not happy you will be released from the contract with 24 hour notice.

City of Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes and Selwyn Holiday Recycling and Garbage collection schedule:

Selwyn

City of Peterborough

City of Kawartha Lakes

New changes to the Landlord tenant act in Ontario, huge changes!

For more local content subscribe to this blog at the top of this article!

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Flat Rate Realty

The HOUSESOLD name for buying and selling real estate in Peterborough and local waterfront!
www.bradsinclair.ca 

Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: Ice conditions on Chemong Lake, Serena Ryder & Reuben and the Dark, www.bradsinclair.ca

Ice Conditions:
 Back 6 days ago on Tuesday December 12th I took a picture of the first thin layer of ice on Chemong Lake. Remember this shot?The Lake just froze over.

We have had a few really cold nights and days since then. More ice has built up. Here is my message. The ice is not thick enough to use yet! Over the weekend there has been snowmobiles and ice fisherman out on the ice using it. You are risking your life and the first responders who are going out to try to save you. Please, a little common sense goes a long way people. Stay off the ice for now. 3-4 days are not enough time to make good safe ice.

Quote of the Day:
The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
                                   -Ben Stein

Serena Ryder
World class singer and musician from Millbrook Ont preformed a full concert on Friday in Peterborough. The concert was excellent. Check out this tune!

The opening band for Serena was Reuben and the Dark. They did not have the glitz or glam as Serena did but did just as good of job entertaining by good old fashioned singing. If you never heard of these guys check them out.

Real Estate Website:
I have created what I feel is an amazing website for real estate and my clients. This website is packed with so much information that you can educate yourself before you buyer or sell your next property. On the site you will find MLS listings, home evaluation tools, new listing notifications and neighbourhood sales alerts. Check it out! www.bradsinclair.ca

For more local content subscribe to this blog at the top of this article!

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Flat Rate Realty

The HOUSESOLD name for buying and selling real estate in Peterborough and local waterfront!
www.bradsinclair.ca 

Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: Quote of the Day, Your home on the market for over 6 weeks? If so, it’s time to do something about it.

Todays thoughts: We have had a lot of tragedies in the news in the last few weeks. It is heartbreaking to know so many are in pain because of losing loved ones. I love Christmas and the holiday season but if I read one more time that someone lost their life and it is more tragic because of the time of year I am going to scream. Think of others everyday of the year. Not just Christmas. Lend a hand if you can in July. Pain is there too. My thoughts especially goes out to the Hydro One workers that lost their life yesterday. 

Quote of the day: Focus on things that are small enough to change, but big enough to matter.

               -Kat Cole

Real Estate Advice:

Your home on the market for over 6 weeks? If so, it’s time to do something about it.

The holiday season might traditionally be a slow time of year for the property market, as buyer inquiries tend to slow down, but that might not be the only reason your home hasn’t been snapped up yet. 

Here is a few tips to help you get the SOLD sign up.

PRESENTATION:

Research shows seven seconds is all it takes to make a lasting first impression.

Is the driveway and sidewalks clean of snow and ice? Is the entrance of the house bright, cheery and also clean? Leave a big mat for boots.

PROMOTION:

How are you marketing your home?

If you’re only advertising through one media source, then you’re probably not exposing the property to a big enough market. 

Make sure it has a presence online, through all forms of social media, and in print.

PRICE:

Ask yourself if you’re asking too much for the property. If your expectation is out of line with the market, it’s less likely to attract a buyer.

The data shows that the longer a property sits on the market, the less the market thinks it’s worth the price.

“If a buyer turns up (to an inspection) and the agent has had the property sitting on the market for six months, you’ll have a totally different opinion of the property, compared to if it was its first day on the market.”

AGENT:

Your real estate agent could be holding you back. If you don’t think they’re working for you, meet with them and get things back on track.

“There’s an old saying in horse racing — sometimes if you change the jockey, the horse will win. It’s not always the horse.”

AVAILABILITY:

Your property needs to be available to a buyer when they want to inspect it as real estate is an ‘after hours’ business.

This can be hugely dispiriting, especially for people with young kids, but it’s a case of short term pain to avoid a long time on the market.

For more local content subscribe to this blog at the top of this article!

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representatie

Flat Rate Realty

Offering you exceptional service at 3.75% commission. Why pay 5% and get less?

www.bradsinclair.ca 

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Peterborough and Lindsay Stories and Headlines: Quote of the Day, How not to get screwed by a Real Estate Agent, Lindsay, a beautiful town, Devil's Elbow Ski Hill

Quote of the day:
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you’re hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. THAT IS HOW WINNING IS DONE! 
                           -Rockey Balboa

Devil's Elbow Ski Hill opens for season on Saturday:
Got the skiing itch? Scratch it for the official season opener is on Saturday December16th in Bethany! OPENING WEEKEND TICKET SPECIAL...$25/day ages 6&up. Click here for more details

How not to get screwed by a Real Estate Agent:
The screw Story: "My bid was the best and I got the house. I was told there was 7 other offers. Was there really 7 other offers? How do I know for sure?"
How to protect yourself:
If you want to make sure that the number of offers you were competing with was actually 7 you can have your Brokerage that represented you request to see the 801 forms for each of the 7 offers. What is Form 801? 801 form is a summary sheet of each offer that must retained by the Listing Brokerage. This way you can be satisfied that their was 7 other offers but at the same time keeps the competing offer amount confidential. You will not be told the amount the other offers came in at. The 801 form is to assist in compliance with the Real Estate and Business Broker Act.

Lindsay, a beautiful town and waterway:
I meant to take more pictures of downtown. I left the truck and started taking pictures. It was -19c and the cold got to me quickly. However I still got some great shots of Lindsay to share with you on this cold December day!

For more local content subscribe to this blog at the top of this article!

Written for you by:

Your local Realtor®

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Flat Rate Realty

The HOUSESOLD name for buying and selling real estate in Peterborough and local waterfront!
www.bradsinclair.ca