This just in (my inbox) from Matthew Coates in Arizona.
It looks like things have turned in this Arizona real estate area:
Brell,
In my most recent post I discuss the lack of inventory on the market (yes, you heard that right) and the upward pressure being placed on home prices. We have many different groups of buyers competing for the same houses, including investors, first-time buyers, and 2nd home buyers.
Top 10 Data Integrety Issues in Okanagan Shuswap Listings
I wanted to share this list I got from OMREB, our local real estate board about the Top 10 Data integrety issues they hear about from local real estate listings posted on MLS:
1. “For sale” signs in the listing photos - showing advertising 2. Multi-level homes listed with the total square footage - all showing on the main floor 3. “No Showings Until” posted in Comments 4. Unfinished floor area being counted as finished square footage 5. Incorrect P.I.D # 6. Partial Seller Names 7. Wrong Sub Area 8. Wrong Type of Dwelling 9. Contact information included in the Public Remarks 10. NOT including bathrooms as a room - causing an inaccurate count of bathrooms *
Now - these things certainly can effect you as a potential buyer or seller. Some moreso than others. Read the full article on my Website Blog fior insight as to how.
Garbage In, Garbage Out.
If you or anyone you know is looking for real estate services, I'd love to help.
Let's see how this post works as a PDF .... I had fun making these little Christmas Goodies... They hail from Germany, and while I have no ethnic connection to them, the just looked too pretty to ignore! You can find the recipe online via The Food Network.
Gearing up for the North Okanagan Realtor Food Drive! Bags to be dropped off next Tues, fill them & leave on your doorstep for next Wed night & we'll be by to pick up! If Wed doesn't work simply drop off any non perishable food items to Sutton & we'll get them to the food bank!
I found this in my seach for information on the need for contributions this year for the Vernon BC ( and surrounding areas too) Annual Realtor Food Drive, which gears up to go next week... and I wanted to encourage you to support this very real need in our community.
Food bank demand climbs 87 per cent
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 06, 2011 1:00 AM
There appears to be more local residents struggling to put food on the table than elsewhere in Canada.
Between 2008 and 2011, the number of people using the Salvation Army food bank in Vernon climbed 87 per cent, while demand at food banks across the country rose 28 per cent during the same period.
“It’s hard to imagine,” said David MacBain, the Salvation Army’s community ministries director.“We are significantly higher than the national average.”
In March 2008, the local agency assisted 600 people while that climbed to 1,100 in March 2011. “That doesn’t include the people who come in and get bread from us every day,” said MacBain.
Nationally, 38 per cent of those helped by food banks are children under 18 years old while it is 30 per cent in Vernon. “When we’re talking 1,000 people in total, that (30 per cent) is a lot of kids affected,” said MacBain.
Eleven per cent of the local households seeking help are living on income from current or recent employment.
While the client base is up significantly from 2008, it is virtually unchanged from 2010, but MacBain says the large number of people walking through the door continues to strain resources. The recession is partially to blame for steady demand, but it’s not the primary reason. “The root of most of it is low income,” said MacBain.
“People are working when it’s a $8.50 or $9 an hour job, you need more than one to make ends meet.”
A complicating factor is the high cost of housing.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation states the average rent for a bachelor suite in Vernon was $514 this spring (down from $524 in April 2010), while it was $781 (down from $787) for a two-bedroom apartment and $809 (down from $840) for a three-bedroom unit.
MacBain says he knows of a woman who is getting $616 a month on social assistance and her rent is $500, not leaving her much left to buy food. “She’s looking for alternate housing,” he said.
MacBain hopes the public will continue to think of those in need and provide donations to North Okanagan food banks.
“We definitely need the same support as last year,” he said.
Gonna try to embed this video too:
Is he asking for Change, or is he asking for CHANGE? Follow a man as he affects multiple peoples' lives with just one dollar, proving that it doesn't take much to be the change in someone's life.
Here is a link in case the embed does not work as I hope: Change for a Dollar
It does not take much to make a big difference. I hope you be moved to give this holiday season, like you never have before. We have so much to share.
Thank you for taking time to read and consider these global challenges and for acting locally where you can!
Got this in my inbox today... we've already made a committment to a Homemade, Handmade, Local Holiday and are busy making things and planning and having fun doing both.
Brell
Good idea!!!
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New TraditionAs the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labour .
This year will be different . This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians . There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands .
Yes there is!It's time to think outside the box, people . Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut . How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement . Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates . Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course . There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint .
Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open .. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day . My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running . OK, you were looking for something more personal .. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves . They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes . Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip . And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre . Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands .Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community ..
If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip .. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that China can build another glittering city .
Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams .
And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new Canadian Christmas tradition . Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments . This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
BUY CANADIAN - BE CANADIAN - The job you save might be your own
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So happy to see this update in my inbox today! This was such a wonderful evening! A Sell Out in year one!!
The organizers of "A Splash of Red" Angelika Jaeger, Michelle Loughery and Judy Rose, presenting Patrick Allen and Judy Katalinic of the Caetani Cultural Centre with just over $12,000!! The inaugrual event that was held at the Caetani gardens on Aug 25th was an overwhelming success. The goal was to raise funds for the CCC to use for restoring the structural integrity of the historical Caetani house as well as bring focus to Sveva's legacy. The event will take place once again next year, and the organizing committee sincerely thanks the artists, the public, the sponsors and the volunteers for their support.
Check out the upcoming edition of the ICON magazine for a spread on the 'SOR' event!!
and if any of you are on Facebook - we are "Splash O'Red" - come 'friend' us!!
Seven more residential real estate sales occurred in the Okanagan Shuswap Region (Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board) in the week of September 5th, to September 11.2011 inclusive compared to the week prior.
The increase value traded inched up from $38,589,396 to$38,907,325. The makeup of the sales saw an increase in Manufactured Homes, Apartments and Townhomes, and a decrease in Single Family Homes, which is reflected in the drop in the average sale price. Here are the stats:
Okanagan Shuswap Residential Properties Sold (110)
List Price
Sold Price
DOM
Beds
Total Baths
Finished Floor Area
Min
$29,900
$20,000
1
1
1
Max
$2,295,000
$2,050,000
814
7
6
6688
Avg
$372,974
$353,703
127
3
2
1770
Sum
$41,027,188
$38,907,325
Of the 110 real estate transactions, they broke down in to the following categories:
I got this following from a colleague online today and thought it would be good to pass it along just because it is "from the horses mouth". I find it is always interesting to get the perspective from a Realtor on the ground who is not a part of the media and has access to the numbers! Hope you do to!
Of course - if you are considering buying in this area - Give Matt a call, and tell him Brell sent you!
As we end the summer in Phoenix some pretty incredible things have happened with the real estate market. For one, the available inventory has shrunk to 20,000 homes for sale from 44,000 in November. The median home price is around $113,000. More closed sales are resulting from “normal” transactions and less from short sales and bank-owned foreclosure.
The buyer pool has increased substantially, as people are perceiving that the bottom has arrived or is very close. Investor activity remains strong, still accounting for almost half of all home sales. While this doesn’t speed up a recovery at least the homes are no longer sitting vacant. In June a record sales month for Phoenix was set with more than ......
Ten fewer residential real estate sales in the Okanagan Shuswap Region ( Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board) in the week of August 29 – September 4th, 2011compared to the week prior resulted in drop in value traded from $46,220,372 to$38,589,396 . Here are this weeks numbers:
Okanagan Shuswap Residential Properties Sold (103)
List Price
Sold Price
DOM
Beds
Total Baths
Finished Floor Area
Min
$44,900
$41,500
10
1
1
Max
$2,125,000
$1,935,000
498
6
6
6367
Avg
$396,807
$374,654
110
3
2
1826
Sum
$40,871,095
$38,589,396
Of the 103 real estate transactions, they broke down in to the following categories:
·Lots and Acreage 10 sold
·Manufactured Home6 sold
·Recreation 0sold
·Single Family Residence62 sold
·Apartments16 sold
·Townhouse9 sold
Here is a look at the overall sales volume for each zone in the region
Central Okanagan Properties: Sold (64) $26,011,396
It looks like things have turned in this Arizona real estate area:
