Courtesy of the Ottawa Real Estate Board September 2012
August sales take a mini-vacation
Members
of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,141 residential properties in August
through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,328 in
August 2011, a decrease of 14.1 per cent. The five-year average for August sales
is 1,193.
August's sales included 248 in the condominium property class,
and 893 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 number of
residential properties sold has decreased compared to August 2011, while the
average price has slightly increased," indicates Ansel Clarke, President of the
Ottawa Real Estate Board. "The new mortgage rules came into effect in early
July, and this could be an explanation for the decrease in properties sold.
Potential home buyers may be waiting to save a bit more money before purchasing
a property. This summer, we also experienced exceptionally hot weather, which
may be a factor in the market slow down. This August's sales are still in line
with the five-year average, so the Ottawa market remains steady despite a small
dip in units sold." Clarke also notes that the total number of year-to-date
properties sold is up 2.8 per cent and the average sale price is up 2.2 per cent
from this time last year.
The average sale price of residential
properties, including condominiums, sold in August in the Ottawa area was
$346,949, an increase of 2.5 per cent over August 2011. The average sale price
for a condominium-class property was $272,367, an increase of 7.6 per cent over
August 2011. The average sale price of a residential-class property was
$367,661, an increase of 1.7 per cent over August 2011. 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.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Prepare for Fall-
Fabulous Fall: Gardening Tips
Fall is a feast for the eyes with red, gold and bronze hues. While enjoying the trees in their tawny splendour, consider these simple tips to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter.
Grass
Although a carpet of leaves is part of autumn’s glory, don’t let them sit too long. Rake them frequently as grass needs oxygen and sunlight for proper growth. This is also the time to seed your grass for a thick lush lawn in the spring, and to keep pesky weeds out.
Leaves
Put leaves to work! Small leaves from birch, beech and silver maple trees (or shredded larger leaves) spread under shrubs and over soil will degrade into mineral nutrients and worms will turn them into fertilizer.
Pruning/Re-arranging Plants
Pruning in the fall is important. With leaves cleared you have a better view of your plants. Cut off dead and diseased branches. Remove diseased leaves from under roses (blackspot) and dispose of in the garbage (not your compost heap) or they’ll re-infect plants the following spring. If you decide to re-arrange plants or shrubs, move them while the earth is still warm so that the roots can take hold. Protect delicate shrubs with burlap.
Bulbs
If you want to see crocus, tulips and daffodils peeping through the soil in spring, now is the time to start planting. Buy the very best quality bulbs and you will be rewarded with showy blooms in the spring. Check with a local horticulturalist for native bulb options and ideal planting conditions.
Container Gardening
Fill your balcony or patio containers with fall flowers. Picture a pot filled with Vanilla Butterfly (marguerite daisy), with a background of Orange Sedge – this olive green grass turns orange in cool weather, finally fading to bronze. Want an instant conversation piece? Plant ornamental Kale (winter cabbage) in your container: its quirky look is an attention-getter.
Every season has its beauty, but a Canadian fall is spectacular – enjoy!
Fall is a feast for the eyes with red, gold and bronze hues. While enjoying the trees in their tawny splendour, consider these simple tips to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter.
Grass
Although a carpet of leaves is part of autumn’s glory, don’t let them sit too long. Rake them frequently as grass needs oxygen and sunlight for proper growth. This is also the time to seed your grass for a thick lush lawn in the spring, and to keep pesky weeds out.
Leaves
Put leaves to work! Small leaves from birch, beech and silver maple trees (or shredded larger leaves) spread under shrubs and over soil will degrade into mineral nutrients and worms will turn them into fertilizer.
Pruning/Re-arranging Plants
Pruning in the fall is important. With leaves cleared you have a better view of your plants. Cut off dead and diseased branches. Remove diseased leaves from under roses (blackspot) and dispose of in the garbage (not your compost heap) or they’ll re-infect plants the following spring. If you decide to re-arrange plants or shrubs, move them while the earth is still warm so that the roots can take hold. Protect delicate shrubs with burlap.
Bulbs
If you want to see crocus, tulips and daffodils peeping through the soil in spring, now is the time to start planting. Buy the very best quality bulbs and you will be rewarded with showy blooms in the spring. Check with a local horticulturalist for native bulb options and ideal planting conditions.
Container Gardening
Fill your balcony or patio containers with fall flowers. Picture a pot filled with Vanilla Butterfly (marguerite daisy), with a background of Orange Sedge – this olive green grass turns orange in cool weather, finally fading to bronze. Want an instant conversation piece? Plant ornamental Kale (winter cabbage) in your container: its quirky look is an attention-getter.
Every season has its beauty, but a Canadian fall is spectacular – enjoy!
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