Frank Fu Feng

416-800-5898

Forest Hill Real Estate Inc., Brokerage, Signature

www.realtyfrank.com

Mobile: 416-800-5898

Dear Friend,

We all know people who have attended a webinar or meeting and wanted to raise their hand to ask a question — but didn’t. Why didn’t they? It was probably because they worried their question would sound silly, or they were embarrassed.

But as many teachers have told their students over the years, “There is no such thing as a dumb question.”

How true.

In fact, when you think about it, asking a question is about the smartest thing you can do. Asking questions helps you get the information you need to make better decisions.

For example, say you want to know the best season to sell your property. If you don’t ask — because you assume you should know — you may never get a clear answer. At least, not without a lot of time-consuming Google-ing.

So, when you have a real estate-related question, who should you ask?

Me.

Feel free to call or email whenever you have questions about current selling prices, mortgages, market conditions, moving – or anything real estate-related. When you call me, any question you ask will be smart!

GTA REALTORS® Release March 2023 Stats

GTA Real Estate Market Update by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board

TORONTO, ONTARIO, April 5, 2023 – Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market conditions tightened in March 2023. Sales accounted for an increased share of listings in comparison to March 2022, suggesting that competition between buyers is on the rise. The average sale price was above the average list price for the first time since May 2022.

“As we moved through the first quarter, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) Members were increasingly reporting that competition between buyers was heating up in many GTA neighbourhoods. The most recent statistics bear this out,” said TRREB President Paul Baron. “Recent consumer polling also suggests that demand for ownership housing will continue to recover this year. Look for first-time buyers to lead this recovery, as high average rents move more closely in line with the cost of ownership.”

GTA REALTORS® reported 6,896 sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in March 2023 – down 36.5 per cent compared to March 2022. On a month-over-month basis, actual and seasonally adjusted sales were up. New listings were also down on a year-over-year basis, but by a much greater annual rate. This points to tighter market conditions compared to last year.

“Lower inflation and greater uncertainty in financial markets has resulted in medium-term bond yields to trend lower. This has and will continue to result in lower fixed rate borrowing costs this year. Lower borrowing costs will help from an affordability perspective, especially as tighter market conditions exert upward pressure on selling prices in the second half of 2023,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark was down by 16.2 per cent on a year-over-year basis, but up month-over-month on both an actual and seasonally adjusted basis. Similarly, the average selling price was down by 14.6 per cent year-over-year to $1,108,606. The average selling price was up monthover-month on an actual and seasonally adjusted basis.

“As population growth continues at a record pace on the back of immigration, first-time buying intentions will remain strong. Because the number of homes for sale is expected to remain low, it will also be important to have substantial rental supply available. Unfortunately, this is not something we have at the present time. We need to see a policy focus on bringing more purpose-built rental units on line over the next number of years,” said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

Best Regards,

Frank Fu Feng

Direct: 416-800-5898

www.realtyfrank.com

Understanding Market Value

We will look at a variety of factors, such as the desirability of the neighbourhood, the features of your home, how well it has been maintained, renovations and other improvements you’ve made, and of course, its location. We will also review what similar homes in your area have sold for recently – which is, perhaps, the strongest indicator of current market value.

Once we know the market value of your home, we can make an informed decision as to how to price it so that it will attract the right type of buyers and the best possible price.

When to Consider Buying a “Diamond in the Rough”

That’s just good old-fashioned marketing.

However, not every house you see will actually look this way. For any number of reasons, a house on the market may be less than tidy, poorly decorated, and even in need of minor repairs. You may open the front door in anticipation, only to be immediately turned off by stains on the carpets, faded paint on the walls, cluttered hallways, and more.

First impressions form quickly. It’s easy to make quick judgments and move on. But, you may be passing on what could be a dream home. Don’t make that mistake. Make your purchase decision based on a carefully considered second impression, not just your first. When viewing a house, imagine how it will look with a fresh coat of paint, some redecorating, the minor repairs completed, and your furniture adorning the rooms. You might just find that a home that doesn’t show well is really a diamond in the rough.

(One caveat: Be careful of houses that don’t look like they’ve been well maintained. There could be issues lurking that may require expensive repairs or renovations. Always make a professional home inspection a condition of your offer.)

There are advantages to buying a home that doesn’t show well. They attract less interest and, therefore, less competition from other potential buyers.

Is this your Year to Get Gardening?

Similarly, it’s important to know the hardiness of your preferred plants, and how much sun and shade they require. Make sure your soil is conducive for optimum growth and supplement with appropriate nutrients as needed. Be prepared to back up nature’s rainfall with a reliable source of supplementary water, either manually or through an automatic system. Now that you’ve done your prep work, the true pleasures of gardening begin – but don’t think it’s an easy hobby! It takes hard work to keep the weeds at bay and your garden on track, but you’ll see the fruits of your labour grow before your very eyes.

Notable, Quotable, Quotes!

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
Unknown

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another.”
Walter Elliott

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin