Yes, it's true, winter is almost over. It seems to have just dragged on and on. Yesterday we were welcomed by another couple of inches of snow. We are getting some crocuses starting up through the ground (usually in a warm spot next to a building) but then a fresh white blanket covers them up again. Now, I know that we need more snow on the mountain tops to keep our watersheds from drying out over the summer. Whitewater received about 50 cm. of new snow over the past weekend, so the skiers are happy (lots of students up there during spring break), but I'm hoping that we're done with the snow in the city.
TODAY'S CLEAN LAUGH
*Eggplant Sale*
A grocer put up a sign that read "Eggplants, 25¢ ea.--three for a dollar."
All day long, customers came in exclaiming: "Don't be ridiculous! I should get four for a dollar!"
Meekly the grocer capitulated and packaged four eggplants.
The tailor next door had been watching these antics and finally asked the grocer, "Aren't you going to fix the mistake on your sign?"
"What mistake?" the grocer asked. "Before I put up that sign no one ever bought more than one eggplant."
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh
Saturday evening I had the pleasure of attending a fabulous concert put on by a local musician, Gilles Parenteau. Gilles has written a "Virtual Symphony" which is an incredible piece of music, performed by himself. The sound he gets from a portable keyboard, foot pedals (and a computer) is beyond description. You may want to get a taste of it at his web-site: http://www.virtualsymphony.com/ If you get a chance to hear him, I strongly recommend you take it in.
We have some incredibly talented people here in this area, and it is a real treat to hear or watch them.
Have you every wondered what your "Carbon Footprint" looked like, or how to calculate it? If you check out the Nature Conservancy web-site at: http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/?src=f1 you can find out in about 5 minutes. I'm sorry to say that my footprint is larger than most (it assumes that we are all Americans, or at least I couldn't find anything for Canada), mainly because I live in a large, older home, and drive a larger vehicle. There weren't any questions that asked me how many miles (or kilometers) I put on my bicycle each year! They didn't even ask if I walked to work on a regular basis.
Forget Rednecks,
Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canucks.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, You may live in Canada .
If someone in a Home Depot store Offers you assistance and they don't work there, You may live in Canada .
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, You may live in Canada .
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation With someone who dialed a wrong number, You may live in Canada .
If 'Vacation' means going anywhere South of Detroit for the weekend, You may live in Canada .
If you measure distance in hours, You may live in Canada .
If you know several people Who have hit a deer more than once, You may live in Canada .
If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' In the same day and back again, You may live in Canada .
If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow During a raging blizzard without flinching, You may live in Canada .
If you install security lights on your house and garage, But leave both unlocked, You may live in Canada .
If you carry jumpers in your car And your wife knows how to use them, You may live in Canada .
If you design your kid's Halloween costume To fit over a snowsuit, You may live in Canada .
If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km -- You're going 90 and everybody is passing you, You may live in Canada .
If driving is better in the winter Because the potholes are filled with snow, You may live in Canada .
If you know all 4 seasons: Almost winter, winter, still winter, And road construction, You may live in Canada .
If you have more miles On your snow blower than your car, You may live in Canada .
If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly', You may live in Canada .
If you actually understand these jokes, And forward them to all Your Canadian friends & others, You definitely live in Canada .
Thanks to my friend Andre for the above gems.
First-time buyers driving force in Canada’s residential real estate markets, says RE/MAX
Kelowna, BC (March 11, 2009) -- A report released today by RE/MAX confirms that entry-level purchasers are now the engine driving home-buying activity in almost every major centre in Canada.
The 2009 RE/MAX First-Time Buyers Report, highlighting first-time buying activity in 32 residential housing markets across Canada, found that improved affordability is prompting many first-time buyers to get off the fence, out of the rental, and into the market. While a sense of caution still prevails, more and more first-timers are finding it hard to pass up the chance to become homeowners in today’s buyer-centric real estate climate. Increased inventory and longer days on market coupled with the lowest lending rates ever are presenting opportunities that have not been seen in almost a decade.
“Canadian markets from coast-to-coast are ripe for a reawakening as the weather warms up,” says Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “First-time buyers seem more acclimatized to economic factors, even though the barrage of bad news continues to flow. Those who are secure in their jobs, have accumulated good down payments, and have acceptable credit ratings are continuing to venture forward, undeterred by tighter lending criteria.”
Although the year got off to a slow start, February home sales were well ahead of those reported in January. The upward trending is expected to continue as more and more first-time buyers enter the market in the weeks ahead. The flurry of activity in the lower-end may also serve to kick-start sales in the mid-to-upper end of the market, which have, as expected, been relatively sluggish in recent months. While inventory and days on market was up virtually across the board, it’s noteworthy that several markets reported tighter conditions in the lower end of the market, where demand and buyer activity remains quite healthy.
“While the current economic crisis has caused some first-time buyers to either take it slowly or apply the brakes, home ownership remains a top priority for those who are able to take advantage of reduced carrying costs, rock bottom interest rates and lower house prices,” explains Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “Affordability has greatly improved and buyers are firmly in the drivers’ seat in just about every market we surveyed. The new reality is that homeownership remains well within reach for most first-time buyers.”
According to the RE/MAX Report, buyers are clearly in control in most Canadian markets. Of the 32 markets surveyed, 22 (69 per cent) remain firmly in buyer’s market territory. These include Vancouver, Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Ottawa, Peterborough, London-St. Thomas, Niagara Falls, Mississauga, Metro Toronto, Northern GTA, Kingston, Windsor, Hamilton-Burlington, Barrie, and Halifax-Dartmouth. Ten (31 per cent) report more balanced conditions: Winnipeg, Kitchener-Waterloo, Sudbury, North Bay, St. Catharines, Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, St. John’s, and Charlottetown.
Forty per cent of markets offered single-detached homes priced under $200,000, including Charlottetown, Saint John, Moncton, Peterborough, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Windsor, Fredericton, Halifax-Dartmouth, London, North Bay, Kingston, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. More than two-thirds (71 per cent) offered condominiums starting under $200,000, (Moncton, Fredericton, Halifax-Dartmouth, Sudbury, North Bay, Peterborough, Mississauga, Burlington, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Windsor, Surrey, Chilliwack, Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg).
The most affordable markets for detached homes, based on starting prices are: Moncton ($115,000), Charlottetown ($120,000), and Saint John ($130,000) in Eastern Canada; Windsor ($75,000), Niagara Falls ($119,000), and St. Catharines ($125,000) in Ontario; Winnipeg ($185,000), Saskatoon ($190,000), and Regina ($210,000) in Western Canada.
RE/MAX is Canada’s leading real estate organization with over 17,000 sales associates situated throughout its more than 670 independently-owned and operated offices across the country. The RE/MAX franchise network, now in its 36th year, is a global real estate system operating in more than 70 countries. Over 6,800 independently-owned offices engage nearly 100,000 member sales associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in resident, commercial, referral, and asset management. For more information, visit: http://www.remax.ca/
So, now that you've waded through the national story, let me give you my two cents about the local situation. We are seeing the market react in fairly normal ways. Not very many listings became available over the winter months, but there are new properties coming available now that spring is approaching. All of the sales people in our office, including Drew and I, are finding ourselves busy showing properties, which is encouraging. We are finding that buyers are cautious about making a decision, but we have had lots of inquiries on our listings, and Drew is drafting an offer at the next desk as I write this. Our market prices have dropped on average between 10 & 15% from last summer. We do have some buyers who are writing offers that are well below the perceived market value, hoping to find a seller who is extremely motivated. However, we are finding that our sellers are holding fairly firm, and I know that the lending institutions (banks and credit unions) are not experiencing high loan delinquency rates in this area, so I don't foresee any panic selling happening. To emphasize that prices have dropped, I have just checked the Multiple Listings available in Nelson, and find that there are 19 homes available, priced under $300,000. A year ago, homes under $300k were hard to find.
I saw this on the TV news last week, and thought I had to include it for you. http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/ A warning, though - some of it is pretty gross. (But funny!)
Do You Know A Buyer For This Home?
Located in the lower end of Uphill, Nelson, within walking distance of downtown, and all levels of schooling, this older home has been updated and is in very good condition. It has 2 bedrooms, a wood-burning stove, enclosed porch and sits on a 50 x 120 lot, with lots of room for garden. Don't pass this opportunity by. $294,000. For more details, photos and virtual tour, please check out our web-site at http://nelsonrealestate.com/mylistings.html (hint - it's at the bottom of our 2nd page of listings) MLS K181094.
*Missed Bus*
The new family in the neighborhood overslept, and their six-year-old daughter missed her school bus.
The father, though late for work, had to drive her if she'd direct him to the school.
They rode several blocks before she told him to turn the first time, several more before she indicated another turn.
This went on for 20 minutes - but when they finally reached the school, it proved to be only a short distance from their home.
The father, much annoyed, asked his daughter why she'd led him around in such a circle.
The child explained, "That's the way the school bus goes, Daddy. It's the only way I know."
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/qsyyzzlmn_fwryjrjqfpj.html
Well, tomorrow if St. Patrick's Day. Although I class my heritage as English, there is apparently a strong Irish influence on my mother's side. So, I'll take this opportunity to wish you a well known Irish blessing: May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you're dead!
Thanks for reading.
Lorne & Drew
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