Jim Danson

Open House in Clemens Mill / Saginaw on Sunday

Jim Danson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:14:00 GMT

Clemens Mill / Saginaw, North Galt - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 80 Burnett Ave on December 6 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This all-brick home is ideal for your family and is located within walking distance of Clemmens Mill PS, St. Maragret CS, and St Benedicts HS.

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Open House in Clemens Mill / Saginaw on Sunday

Jim Danson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:27:00 GMT

Clemens Mill / Saginaw, North Galt - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 80 Burnett Ave on November 22 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 4 bedroom all-brick home on a large, fenced lot. Located walking distance to Clemens Mill PS, St Margaret's CS, St Benedicts CHS.

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Open House in Clemens Mill / Saginaw on Saturday

Jim Danson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Clemens Mill / Saginaw, North Galt - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 48-199 Saginaw Parkway on November 21 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Awesome condo townhome with 2 ensuites, finished basement, garage, party/club house, pool.

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Best Real Estate Investment In Ontario

Jim Danson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:43:00 GMT

The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), a national independent research company, has released a 108 page report entitled Top Ontario Investment Towns that analyzes current and future trends in real estate investing in Ontario. The report states that the recent correction in the real estate market provides good buying opportunities for home owners and investors in certain areas of the province.

The cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo (collectively known as Canada's Technology Triangle) were named as the best place in Ontario to invest in real estate. This is not the first time that Canada's Technology Triangle has been recognized. In the past, REIN has called the area "the Economic Alberta Of Ontario". A strong and diverse economy, along with multiple post-secondary learning institutions and favourable location make this an ideal area in which to invest. Within a 24 hour drive, 60% of Canada's population and 40% of the US population can be accessed.

For more information on The Real Estate Investment Network, go to www.reincanada.com .

For more information on real estate investing in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario, contact Jim Danson, Sales Representative at Royal LePage Crown Realty Sevices - Brokerage at jim@jimdanson.com or www.JimDanson.com .

How To Sell Your Home In 2 Weeks

Jim Danson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:34:00 GMT

Did you ever notice that some homes sell quickly while other, similar homes sit on the market for months? It's not luck that sells those homes. It is the result of a systematic process in which all parts of the process work together. If one part of the process is missing, the home will not sell at full market value, or it may not sell at all.

So what is this systematic process? Well, I call it a Full Marketing Plan, though there is more to it than just marketing. It starts before a home is placed on the market and continues until the home is sold. Following is an overview of the process. Follow this process and your home will sell. If you miss any part of the process, your home may not sell for the highest price or sell within a reasonable timeframe.

Before Listing Your Home For Sale

complete any overdue repairs and clean your home inside and out.
call a Realtor. Have the Realtor do a preliminary inspection of your home and advise you of what, if any cost-effective improvements should be made. The preliminary inspection will also aid your Realtor in completing an accurate CMA (Competetive Market Analysis).
be open to the advice of your Realtor. Your Realtor deals with sellers and buyers all the time, and objectively knows what buyers like and what buyers dislike.

List Your Home For Sale

your Realtor is legally bound by a Code of Ethics to look after YOUR best interests, which includes confidentiality.
your Realtor will have completed a CMA to determine the market value of your home. Asking the right price for your home is crucial for many reasons which will be discussed in a separate blog entry. Essentially, you should "lead the market" with your price. If prices are rising, you may list your home at a higher price than recently sold homes. However; if prices are declining, you will need to price your home accordingly. In a declining market, the worst thing you can do is price your home higher than the market will support, only to reduce the price at a future time. You will be following the market, not leading it, and if you are not careful, you may find that you are always 2 weeks behind the market.
follow your Realtor's advice with regards to home staging. Some people have the decorating knack and don't need to have their home staged. The rest of us should carefully consider the advice of a professional Home Stager. Most Realtors have home stagers who they work with all the time and a home staging consultation is often included with your Realtor's services.
don't take it personally. If your Realtor or Home Stager recommends some changes, they are doing it from a professional, objective point of view. The idea is to showcase your home so that potential buyers can see themselves living in your home. While you may love your family pictures or beer bottle collection, these things can make it difficult for buyers to visualize their own family living in your home.
discuss your expectations with your Realtor. Be open with your Realtor with your expectations. If you need to sell before the end of the month, or if you cannot allow showings on Sundays, your Realtor needs to know this. Having your expectations out in the open make the selling process work much smoother and with less stress.

Your Home Is On The Market

well, now it's no longer your HOME. It's a HOUSE that you need to sell.
keep it clean and tidy. Your Realtor is working hard to promote your house with advertising, online marketing, office and MLS tours. Your house needs to be ready for a showing at any time.
if you have pets, consider boarding them with family or friends. If this is not possible, your Realtor should have a game plan for dealing with pets during showings. Ideally you will remove the pet during the showings or open houses.
do not smoke in your house and eliminate offensive odours from cooking
be accomodating for showings. To sell your house, people need to see it.
arrange to be out when showings are scheduled. Buyers never like to see a house while the owner is home. They always rush through the house and make a dash for the exit.
if you must be home during a showing, don't interfere with the showing. Let the Realtor do his or her job of showing the house. Do not offer any information. Even a small off-handed remark may offer information that may work against you.
seek feedback from your Realtor. Many Realtors ask for feedback after showings. (Feedback may not be given by the people who viewed your house.) Feedback may reveal a common objection from buyers. Perhaps decor or minor repairs are turning the buyers off.
many Realtors have access to web statistics for your house. They may reveal the number of viewings of your property on various websites. These statistics can be very helpful in determining whether you house is priced correctly.

What If You Have Not Recieved An Offer

if your home has been on the market for a reasonable time period (compared to the "average days on market" for your area, you should have received at least an offer.)
if there is a common objection from buyers who have viewed your house, perhaps you can overcome the objection. If they feel the rooms are too small, maybe you can remove or re-arrange furniture. If decor is the problem, perhaps you can decorate. Some objections are beyond your control. (Your house is beside an apartment building, train tracks or industrial building.)
if you have had lots of viewings online, and you have had showings at your house, you can rest assured that your property is being exposed to the market.
if your property has been exposed to the market, and you have addressed feedback issues (or if you cannot), then only the price is left to be addressed.
any property will sell, at the right price. The right price is whatever a buyer is willing to pay in an open market.
if you are not able to adjust your price to meet the market, perhaps you should put off selling or look for other solutions. Your Realtor can help you achieve your goals.

The process of selling your home includes:

staging the home to show off it's best features and benefits
pricing it very close to it's realistic market value
exposing your home to the market
allowing a reasonable amount of time

If any one of these components is lacking, the others will have to compensate.

For more information contact Jim Danson, Sales Representative with Royal LePage Crown Realty Services - Brokerage at jim@jimdanson.com or www.JimDanson.com

Condos Lead The Market In August

Jim Danson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:19:00 GMT

Sales of Condominiums in Kitchener Waterloo lead the market in August 2009 with 132 units sold. This represents a 67% increase over August 2008. In all, 594 residential units sold for an increase of 16% over the same month last year.

In Cambridge, house sales increased by 17.6% over August 2008 with 240 residential units sold.

In both the Cambridge and Kitchener / Waterloo areas, August was the fourth month in a row that experienced increased sales over the same months last year. In both areas, while the number of sales was up, the average selling price was down slightly from last year by approximately 4%.

With low financing rates, this is a great time to buy. For homeowners with equity in their home, it's a great time to sell and move up to their next home.

For more information on real estate in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo contact Jim Danson, Sales Representative with Royal LePage Crown Realty Services - Brokerage at jim@jimdanson.com or click to www.jimdanson.com .

Cambridge Ontario Homes Are On The Move

Jim Danson — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:30:00 GMT

The Cambridge, Ontario real estate market is rebounding strongly, along with the rest of the local economy.

The Real Estate Board of Cambridge, Ontario reports that sales were up in July 2009 for the third consecutive month, and that this was the second busiest July on record. The number of homes sold in July was up 11% over the same month last year.

The average price for residential homes was $250,396. This is down 2% from the same month last year.

There were 409 new listings in July, down slightly from last year. The total number of active listings was 11% higher at the end of July, but July had the smallest increase of active listings in more than a year.

Inventory during July stood at 3.6 months, below the recessionary peak of 8.9 months in December. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell all current listings at the current rate of sales activity.

Historically, Cambridge and the Golden Triangle area has not been subject to the dramatic market swings of other markets. This is due to a relatively stable and diverse economy that includes advanced manufacturing, high-tech, auto manufacturing, transportation and academics, along with a very convenient location on highway 401, Canada’s busiest highway.

For more information on Cambridge real estate, contact Jim Danson, Sales Representative with Royal LePage Crown Realty Services - Brokerage at jim@jimdanson.com or click on www.JimDanson.com .

Great News for First Time Buyers in Waterloo Region

Jim Danson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:49:00 GMT

The Region of Waterloo is pleased to announce that their Federal and Provincial government partners have allocated additional funding to extend the Affordable Home Ownership component of the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

The Present Funding is for New Homes Only!

The Affordable Home Ownership component of the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program is being delivered by the Region of Waterloo on behalf of the Federal and Provincial governments.

The program provides qualified low to moderate-income households with down payment assistance loans of 5% of the purchase price of an eligible home (current maximum purchase price is $231,000). The down payment assistance loan is forgivable after 20 years, provided there has been no default under the terms of the loan. If the home is sold before 20 years, the principal amount of the loan plus 5% of the capital gain realized through the sale is payable to the Region of Waterloo’s Affordable Home Ownership Revolving Loan Fund.

Please note that an ‘eligible’ home, as per the 2009 Provincial Guidelines, is limited to only new construction units not previously occupied (including conversion from non-residential) that qualifies for Tarion’s new home warranty. Re-sale homes are not eligible for funding under the current program.

Funding for the new construction home ownership program will be provided by the Province on a first come first served basis until all funding is exhausted, or until the deadline of March 31, 2011. The down payment loans will be made available on closing. Purchasers will be responsible for any down payments or deposits required prior to closing.

If you would like further information on this topic, contact Jim Danson, Sales Representative at Royal LePage Crown Realty Services - Brokerage. Office: 519-740-6400 or jim@jimdanson.com . www.JimDanson.com

Open House in Paris on Sunday

Jim Danson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Paris, Brant County - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 29 Brant Rd (HWY 24) on August 16 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Located just north of Governor's Rd, this nicely updated bungalow sits on 2.57 acres and could be ideal for your home-based business.

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Cambridge House Sales Up In May

Jim Danson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:06:00 GMT

The most common question I am asked is, “How’s the real estate market?”. Given the present state of the economy this is a very valid question. For most of us, our home is our greatest investment.

House sales in Cambridge were up in May 2009 compared with the same month last year. According to Real Estate Board of Cambridge statistics, 290 homes sold in May compared with 261 a year ago. This represents an 11% increase.

Most sales occurred in the $260,000 - $349,999 range but the number of sales also increased in most other price ranges. May is the first month in 2009 in which a home sold for $1000, 000 or more. Two homes sold in this category.

The total number of listings available decreased by 17% in May 2009 compared to a year earlier.

These statistics indicate a very strong market. With fewer listings available, it’s a great time to sell your home and make that next move. Historically low interest rates make this an excellent time to buy.

Contact me at jim@jimdanson.com if you would like an opinion of value for your home, or if you would like more detailed statistics on real estate in Cambridge, Ontario.

Kitchener / Waterloo House Sales Up In May

Jim Danson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:02:00 GMT

House sales in Kitchener / Waterloo were up in May 2009 compared with the same month last year. According to Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Board statistics, 478 single detached homes sold in May. This represents a 14.4% increase. Single detached homes made up almost 70% of all sales.

Sales in the range $275,000 - $300,000 increased by 86.4%. The most popular price range iswas $200,000 - $250,000.

The total number of residential listings available decreased by 7.8% in May 2009 compared to a year earlier.

Contact me at jim@jimdanson.com if you would like an opinion of value for your home, or if you would like more detailed statistics on real estate in Kitchener Waterloo, Ontario.

Open House in Upper Country Club on Sunday

Jim Danson — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:06:00 GMT

Upper Country Club, North Galt - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 61-71 Garth Massey Drive on May 31 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This is a beautiful freehold townhome with garage, oak staircase, breakfast bar, whirlpool tub, natural gas bar b q hookup on the balcony. Truly ideal for the professional's lifestyle. Located close to 401 and proposed GO stop.

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Economy On The Mend.

Jim Danson — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:11:00 GMT

'Banking crisis over' says CIBC economist

Jobs and housing still must recover

May 16, 2009 Julian Beltrame The Canadian Press OTTAWA

The financial crisis that plunged the world into the worst recession in decades is showing signs of having righted itself.

A proclamation of the welcome development came at the same time that data showed the Canadian economy took another hard knock in March, with manufacturing sales falling 2.7 per cent, reversing a February pickup.

The cheerier harbinger is a steady reduction in global credit spreads -- the gaps between interest rates on low-risk government bonds and higher-yielding corporate and other debt -- which suggest that the financial meltdown is on course to being resolved.

"The banking crisis is over,'' declared the headline in a note yesterday from CIBC World Markets chief economist Avery Shenfeld.

"Nobody now expects there's another Lehman out there,'' Shenfeld wrote, referring to the mid-September collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, which jolted financial markets around the world.

"Nor will banks be pushed into a fire sale of assets that would depress valuations of like assets on other banks' balance sheets.''

The three-month London Interbank Offered Rate, a benchmark for lending between banks, was down 10 basis points on the week to 0.84 per cent, reducing bank funding costs.

Some base rates were the lowest since the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis erupted in the summer of 2007.

Pointing to narrowing credit spreads and improved interbank lending, Shenfeld said a turning point in the U.S. crisis was reached with the Obama administration's rescue measures.

Bank of Montreal economist Sal Guatieri said he also was encouraged by narrowing credit spreads.

"It means borrowing costs will be coming down for a wide range of borrowers, because a lot of variable-rate mortgages and a lot of personal and business loans are tied to the LIBOR rates,'' he said.

Guatieri cautioned that weakness remains in the economy and he is not ready to declare an all-clear until he sees improvement in job creation and housing, particularly in the United States.

Yesterday's data on Canadian manufacturing showed that the recovery will not be a "neat, straight-line'' move, noted economist Derek Holt of Scotia Capital.

The surprising 2.7 per cent tumble in factory sales in March left them down 23 per cent from their peak last July, despite a bounce in auto shipments following assembly-plant shutdowns in January and February.

The retreat was widespread, and with more auto sector retrenchment on stream, the manufacturing picture only looks bleaker down the road.

"Manufacturers are reining in production, but not as quickly as sales are plummeting,'' said Grant Bishop at TD Economics.

"Downward pressure on Canadian manufacturers will continue throughout the next two quarters.''

Price Reduced on 45 Third Avenue in West Galt

Jim Danson — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:12:00 GMT

West Galt, Galt - Announcing a price reduction on 45 Third Avenue, a 850 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm bungalow. Now $175,000 - Recently refinished hardwood flooring, renovated bathroom, electrical panel, updated windows. MLS 0991854

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Home Is Where The.....Office Is!

Jim Danson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:20:00 GMT

10 per cent of Canada’s labour force – or 2.5 million Canadians – work outside the office at least one day a week* and 80 per cent of households own at least one computer. These are just two two reasons why building an office in your home is a good investment. Whether it’s for business or personal use, here’s a few ways to ensure your new home office is both functional and comfortable.

Your first step is to find the ideal space for your home office. Look for a room with enough space to accommodate a desk, office chair, bookshelf, and equipment such as a fax machine, printer, or filing cabinet. If possible, ensure the room isn’t too close to high traffic areas like the kitchen, living room or any other area that may cause distractions. You’ll also want your room to have sufficient natural light, ventilation and easy access to phone lines and electrical outlets.

If finding the perfect space for your office proves difficult, you can always try transforming a large storage area, walk-in closet, or even a section of the basement. Partitioning an existing room is also possible with the help of a few strategically placed bookshelves.

Next you’ll want to plan your work area. To save time and a lot of moving, measure your furniture and the room’s dimensions and draw up a floor plan beforehand. Make sure to leave a clear path from the office door to your seat to prevent constant maneuvering around furniture, and situate your desk near electrical plugs and phone jacks. Install shelving behind your desk for easy access to books and supplies, and position your computer screen at a 90 degree angle from any light source to avoid any glare while you work.

Your final step is to add some style to your office. First choose a colour scheme. Warmer colours like reds and yellows make for a comfortable, upbeat environment, while pastels and darker colours will give you a sophisticated, classy look. Give some visual punch to your office by adding paintings, sculptures, framed photos, or sports memorabilia to walls and bookshelves. Finally, use flowers or green plants to create a little ambiance and improve the air quality. Now your new home office will be ready for work, rest, or play.

*Canadian Telework Association.