Should You “High Ball” Your Listing Price?

One of the most important decisions you make when selling your home is setting the listing price. That can be tricky. After all, if you price your property too low, you leave money on the table — perhaps thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you price your home too high, many buyers won’t even bother to see it, believing it is too expensive.

 Even with that reality, there are some sellers who contemplate setting a high listing price in the hopes of a windfall. They want some unsuspecting buyer to fall in love with the home and buy it — even though it’s overpriced.

 That rarely, if ever, happens.

 Instead, the listing often languishes on the market because its listing price is conspicuously much higher than its market value.

Think about it. If two similar homes, side-by-side, are for sale, and one is priced $40,000 higher than the other, wouldn’t you wonder what was going on? That’s exactly what the market thinks. “Why is that home priced so high?”

Of course, many buyers, who might otherwise be interested in the property, won’t even consider seeing it, simply because it’s outside their price range.

 It gets worse. When an overpriced home sits on the market with no offers for several weeks, the price will often need to be adjusted down. That helps the situation a little. However, you’ve lost the excitement created by a “new listing.” Yours is now an old listing struggling to get attention.

 There’s a better way…

 Setting your list price at or near the market value is much more likely to generate interest from qualified buyers and maximize how much you make on your home.

That market value may even be higher than you think! Interested in finding out how much?

 Call or email Ian today. 613-222-2662  ian@royallepage.ca

How to Help Sell Your Home Quickly

Usually when you list your home, you would prefer to sell it quickly. It’s like being the first one served at a crowded ice cream parlour. It’s satisfying. However, sometimes there’s more to it than that. There may be a truly urgent reason why you need to find a buyer for your property as soon as possible, such as a sudden job relocation. If that’s the case, it’s important to explain your situation to your REALTOR®, who will be able to put together an action plan for selling your home quickly and for the best price possible. During that conversation, ask what you can do to help the process along. For example, you may be able to:
 • Spread the word to your friends and other connections on Facebook.
 • Canvass your neighbours and tell them about your listing.
 • Stage your home so that it’s more attractive to prospective buyers.
When it comes to price, be prepared to be flexible. That doesn’t mean you must settle for a price far below your home’s market value. However, you do need to be prepared to accept a good offer rather than try to hold out for a great one. Also be open to as many viewings and open houses as possible. Having many prospective buyers come through your home within a short period of time may be a little inconvenient, but the payoff might be an offer! Finally, work with your REALTOR®. A good REALTOR® will know the local market well and have many ideas for selling your property fast. Looking for a good REALTOR® like that? Call Ian today 613-222-2662 or ian@royallepage.ca

The April resale market in full bloom -

Courtesy of the Ottawa Real Estate Board May 2015

OTTAWA, May 5, 2015 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,570 residential properties in April through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,419 in April 2014, an increase of 10.6 per cent. The five-year average for April sales is 1,531. 

"Despite the late departure of the cold weather this April, buyers were out in full swing, propelling the Ottawa resale market into a busy spring selling season," says David Oikle, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. "Sales continued their steady
pace upwards since the beginning of the year, with 362 more properties sold this April over March."

April's sales included 258 in the condominium property class, and 1,312 in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is
registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

"The average cumulative days on market has improved even more in April, coming in at 74 days, compared to 83 in March," says Oikle. "Properties are moving faster and with just under 9,000 residential properties, including condos, available for sale going into May,"

The average sale price of a residential- class property sold in April in the Ottawa area was $403,239, an increase of 0.9

per cent over April 2014, The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $265,371, an increase of 2.7 per cent over April 2014, The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but
should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value, The average sale
price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

"Several price ranges this month saw significant increases in units sold; a possible explanation for the residential average sale price entering the $400,000 range," explains Oikle. "The $400,000 to $450,000 range saw an increase of 37.3 per cent; while the
$500,000 to $750,000 range saw a 25.4 per cent increase, Two-storey and bungalow residential properties remain as the top selling property-types in Ottawa. In addition to residential and condominium sales, ORES members assisted clients with renting 283 properties in April, and 876 since the beginning of the year." 

Ottawa residential real estate market remains relatively flat in the first quarter of 2015

Canada Newswire – Wed Apr 15 2015, 6:00am ET

Quality listings continue to sell despite a delayed spring market

OTTAWA, April 15, 2015 /CNW/ – The Royal LePage House Price Survey released today saw prices for homes in Ottawa remain flat in the first quarter.

The average price for standard two-storey homes and detached bungalows increased 2.0 per cent and 1.9 per cent year-over-year to $407,000 and $404,167, respectively. Standard condominiums also saw a modest increase in average prices, rising 1.4 per cent to $262,167.

“Similar to last year, we have seen a slow start to the spring market, but quality listings in the right areas are still finding buyers,” said John Rogan, broker of record, Royal LePage Performance Realty. “At quarter end, inventory levels were comparatively low, which suggests a continuation of a balanced market in the months ahead.”

Rogan suggested that the slow start to the spring season could be due to several factors that have inspired inactivity amongst buyers and sellers, including an expectation of interest rate stability, a dreary and prolonged winter, and a looming election scheduled for fall 2015.

Nationally, Canada’s real estate market is experiencing a soft landing, characterized by slower than normal home price increases. Much higher price increases were observed in the country’s two largest urban markets, which combined to send the national average values upwards, partially obscuring the broader national trend.

During the quarter, the average price of a home in Canada rose between 3.8 per cent and 6.6 per cent year-over-year in the first quarter. When broken out by housing type, the survey showed a year-over-year average price increase of 5.3 per cent to $451,463 for standard two-storey homes, while detached bungalows rose 6.6 per cent to $405,895. During the same period, the average price of standard condominiums climbed 3.8 per cent to $261,782.

The steady softening of prices in most markets across the country was first observed in the mid-year 2014 Royal LePage House Price Survey. In recent months, two unanticipated factors disrupted the natural housing price cycle: the steep decline in oil prices late in 2014 and the Bank of Canada’s subsequent reaction in lowering the overnight rate early in 2015.

“Canadian home buyers, with the last decade’s recession still top of mind, have been very sensitive to shifting, broad economic factors. The oil shock has been unsettling for the national economy, consumer confidence and by extension, the housing market,” said Phil Soper, president and chief executive, Royal LePage. “That said, lower prices at the pump and the confidence boosting move by the central bank to lower interest rates have been supportive. With these factors combined, we have a soft-landing for housing after several years of robust expansion. We define a soft-landing as a market in which home prices are flat or increasing slightly, giving the economy and family incomes, a chance to catch up.”

“On balance, we believe we will not be seeing the kind of appreciation observed over the last three years any time soon, as markets work through the current cycle and align with broader economic conditions,” continued Soper. “In terms of downside risk, we do not foresee a sharp decline in home prices, particularly in today’s low interest rate environment.”

About the Royal LePage House Price Survey

The Royal LePage House Price Survey is the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind in Canada, with information on seven types of housing in over 250 neighbourhoods from coast to coast. This release references an abbreviated version of the survey which highlights house price trends for the three most common types of housing in Canada in 90 communities across the country. A complete database of past and present surveys is available on the Royal LePage website at http://www.royallepage.ca( (www.royallepage.ca) ). Current figures will be updated following the complete tabulation of the data for the first quarter of 2015. A printable version of the first quarter 2015 survey will be available online on May 15, 2015. Housing values in the Royal LePage House Price Survey are Royal LePage opinions of fair market value in each location, based on local data and market knowledge provided by Royal LePage residential real estate experts.

About Royal LePage

Serving Canadians since 1913, Royal LePage is the country’s leading provider of services toreal estate brokerages, with a network of over 16,000 real estate professionals in more than 600 locations nationwide. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, dedicated to supporting women’s and children’s shelters and educational programs aimed at ending domestic violence. Royal LePage is a Brookfield Real Estate Services Inc. company, a TSX-listed corporation trading under the symbol TSX:BRE.

God Made A Realtor

I attended a Video Training workshop today and was shown this. I'm not certain if this is Paul Harvey Jr. or senior, but it does remind me of Paul Senior's radio spots I first started listening to in University. Watch and enjoy.

Busy Spring Season Arrives Amidst March Snow Banks-

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,208 residential properties in March through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,184 in March 2014, an increase of two per cent. The five-year average for March sales is 1,236.

"Sales increased month over month, with 356 more properties sold in March over February, a 41.8 per cent increase," says David Oikle, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. "Indications of a fast approaching spring market were noted in February, and these numbers are proof that Ottawa is indeed experiencing an upswing in sales."

March's sales included 228 in the condominium property class, and 980 in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, townhouse, etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

"The average cumulative days on market came in at 83 for the month of March, lower than the average of 99 days in February and 119 days in January indicating that properties are starting to move faster as we enter the second quarter of 2015," explains Oikle. "Year-to-date sales for the first quarter of 2015 are 1.8 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2014. Average sales price has also increased, ever so slightly, by 0.8 per cent. So far, the 2015 resale market in Ottawa remains steady and strong."

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in March in the Ottawa area was $361,572, an increase of 0.7 per cent over March 2014. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $251,666, no change over March 2014. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $387,141, no change over March 2014. While average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, it should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value, because the average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

"The hottest segments of our market in March were sales between $300,000 to $400,000, followed by the $200,000 to $300,000 price range," says Oikle. "Residential two-storey homes continue to be the highest sold property class, followed by bungalows and one-level condos. In addition to residential and condominium sales, OREB members assisted clients with renting 593 properties since the beginning of the year."

Courtesy of the Ottawa Real Estate Board April 8, 2015