This morning I had the pleasure of listening to a great seminar put on by CREW (Community Renewable Energy Waterloo) and the City of Kitchener discussing the benefits of the KGHIP (Kitchener Green Housing Incentive Program).
It's an incentive program designed to encourage builders and consumers to build high performance green homes.
Builders may be interested as a great program they can offer consumers as a way to get paid for making greener choices. Consumers are recognizing the importance of being greener and many will chose greener choices over other choices, even when it costs more.
Basically the City of Kitchener will pay you to build your new home as a LEED home. LEED is a third party company that will assess the home you've built and give you ratings based on it's eco-friendliness. The City of Kitchener then gives you cash incentives based on those ratings.
Note that an Energy Star home is not included in the incentive program since after 2012 every home built will HAVE to be a minimum of an Energy Star Home. That's good news for our environment!
If you're thinking of building a new home in Kitchener, it's worth asking about the KGHIP.
Essentially for approximately a coffee a day you can get PAID to build an Energystar home. If you were to give that coffee a day back to the builder you could build a LEED home for free. If you were willing to give up a coffee or two a day that would be about the cost of building a LEED Platinum home.
Great job, Kitchener! Our environment thanks you for putting this as a priority! If you're building a new home in Kitchener, why WOULDN'T you take advantage of this program?
Any questions at all pop me an email! krista@jonkerteam.com
Here are a few websites you may find interesting:
LEED
CREW
CITY OF KITCHENER KGHIP
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Reference from happy buyers
Buyers sent me this glowing reference.....I love working with great people!
"When we decided to relocate from Ottawa to Kitchener-Waterloo, we asked our selling agent to refer us to a high-calibre agent in the KW area. After doing some research, she introduced us to Krista. Even though we were still preparing our home in Ottawa for market, Krista made a point of communicating frequently with us, and met with my husband to understand what type of home we were looking for. Krista set us up with an MLS alert and was very responsive (and patient!) as we changed our minds over and over about our requirements. When we travelled to KW on a house-buying trip, Krista had all the bases covered for us, right down to ensuring our kids were entertained while we were out viewing homes. Krista sourced a wide range of properties for us to view and, as we were unfamiliar with the area, provided us with candid advice on various neighbourhoods, locations, schools and amenities. Once we found the right property for us, Krista worked quickly and under difficult circumstances to ensure that our offer was accepted. She helped us organize a home inspection and kept on top of all the details. We are now waiting for our closing date to move in, and Krista is continuing to offer support to help make our move a successful one. Working with Krista was a very pleasant and positive experience. She is always friendly, receptive, responsive and ready to help. We highly recommend her to anyone relocating to the KW area." C&R, Stittsville, ON
"When we decided to relocate from Ottawa to Kitchener-Waterloo, we asked our selling agent to refer us to a high-calibre agent in the KW area. After doing some research, she introduced us to Krista. Even though we were still preparing our home in Ottawa for market, Krista made a point of communicating frequently with us, and met with my husband to understand what type of home we were looking for. Krista set us up with an MLS alert and was very responsive (and patient!) as we changed our minds over and over about our requirements. When we travelled to KW on a house-buying trip, Krista had all the bases covered for us, right down to ensuring our kids were entertained while we were out viewing homes. Krista sourced a wide range of properties for us to view and, as we were unfamiliar with the area, provided us with candid advice on various neighbourhoods, locations, schools and amenities. Once we found the right property for us, Krista worked quickly and under difficult circumstances to ensure that our offer was accepted. She helped us organize a home inspection and kept on top of all the details. We are now waiting for our closing date to move in, and Krista is continuing to offer support to help make our move a successful one. Working with Krista was a very pleasant and positive experience. She is always friendly, receptive, responsive and ready to help. We highly recommend her to anyone relocating to the KW area." C&R, Stittsville, ON
Monday, March 7, 2011
January and February Stats
Here is the market update for the first part of 2011. Decreased number of sales, but prices staying pretty steady. Last February was significantly higher than normal, this February more "normal".
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/january-home-sales-return-to-normal-levels-in-kitchener-waterloo/
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/Stats/February_2011_Media_Release.pdf
One thing the stats don't always show are the overall climate. This last month there were quite a few multiple offer situations in KW. There seems to be more buyers out there than listings indicating a slight seller's market. If that continues, that can sometimes drive prices up a bit more. Sometimes the spring listings will catch up and it will even out a bit.
This month I've been keeping busy with market evaluations for clients looking to sell in the near or not so near future. Some looking to downsize, and some looking to upsize. I was also able to help C&R secure a new home for their family. After a few attempts we were able to find them an underpriced home on a beautiful greenspace lot and we were even able to avoid multiple offers! Worth the wait!
The sun is shining today and melting the snow. Gives me opportunity to remind you to take a walk around your property and be sure the melting snow is heading in a direction away from your house. Noone wants to discover the cracks in their foundation the hard way, with water in the basement!
Enjoy the sun!
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/january-home-sales-return-to-normal-levels-in-kitchener-waterloo/
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/Stats/February_2011_Media_Release.pdf
One thing the stats don't always show are the overall climate. This last month there were quite a few multiple offer situations in KW. There seems to be more buyers out there than listings indicating a slight seller's market. If that continues, that can sometimes drive prices up a bit more. Sometimes the spring listings will catch up and it will even out a bit.
This month I've been keeping busy with market evaluations for clients looking to sell in the near or not so near future. Some looking to downsize, and some looking to upsize. I was also able to help C&R secure a new home for their family. After a few attempts we were able to find them an underpriced home on a beautiful greenspace lot and we were even able to avoid multiple offers! Worth the wait!
The sun is shining today and melting the snow. Gives me opportunity to remind you to take a walk around your property and be sure the melting snow is heading in a direction away from your house. Noone wants to discover the cracks in their foundation the hard way, with water in the basement!
Enjoy the sun!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tighter Mortgage Rules
Monday, Canada's finance minister announced new tighter mortgage rules that will take effect March 18th.
The rules in a nutshell:
1)CMHC will no longer insure morgages amortized more than 30 years (from 35).
2) The maximum amount that can be refinanced will be 85% (From 90) of the value of the property.
3)CMHC will no longer insure home equity lines of credit.
These new rules are aimed to promote saving through home ownership and discourage debt, hoping Candians will pay off mortgages quicker and thus pay less total interest.
The message here folks is not to overextend yourself in debt!
Any questions? Let me know! :)
The rules in a nutshell:
1)CMHC will no longer insure morgages amortized more than 30 years (from 35).
2) The maximum amount that can be refinanced will be 85% (From 90) of the value of the property.
3)CMHC will no longer insure home equity lines of credit.
These new rules are aimed to promote saving through home ownership and discourage debt, hoping Candians will pay off mortgages quicker and thus pay less total interest.
The message here folks is not to overextend yourself in debt!
Any questions? Let me know! :)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
2011
To begin this year I'd like to look at the past year. 2010 was a great year for the Kitchener Waterloo real estate market. The spring was, as I like to refer to it as, NUTTY! Many buyers purchased in hopes of avoiding the predictions of rising interest rates, tighter mortgage rules, and the introduction of the HST in July. As a result, prices were driven up and many first-time home buyers got into the market. The fall market finished off the year, still strong and holding onto the increased prices. As a result, single-detached house prices ended 2010 at an average of 9.3% over the previous year.
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/Stats/December_2010_Media_Release.pdf
2011 began with a few out-of-town referrals so I thought I'd say a few words on this. Moving to a new city can be a scary process that I can certainly help with. If you or someone you know is moving to a new city give me a call! If it's in the KW area I'm happy to welcome them to the city (whether they're purchasing a home or not) and be a contact for them for information and referrals about the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Over the holidays a lovely agent from the Ottawa area called me up to interview me for clients she has who were selling their home and moving for a new job in Waterloo. We had a great 45 min. chat on the phone and I was able to answer some pretty pointed questions about how I work with my clients. The agent interviewed a few more agents and called me back to let me know she wanted to refer her clients to me. C&R will be listing their home with her out Ottawa way, and I was able to meet R this week to chat about how we can find his family a fantastic new home in Waterloo. Another agent I know from Brantford also called me up last week to pass along the name of a client selling in Waterloo and moving to Paris. I look forward to possibly being able to connect with him as well. I always appreciate it when other agents entrust me with their clients and I take the responsibility seriously.
Likewise, sometimes I have people contact me wondering if I have an agent recommendation for another city and I'm always happy to help! I have many contacts for agents in other cities and if I don't, I have other agents I ask, and similar to the agent from Ottawa who called me, I also am willing to call other agents to interview them to decide who to refer people too. So, don't hesitate to call or email me if you're looking for some referrals to agents in other cities. I know some great people out there!
As we look to 2011 if you're thinking that selling or purchasing a property may be something you'll be looking into please don't hesitate to pop me an email or give me a call....sooner rather than later! Don't feel like you have to have all of your ducks in order! I have a few clients out there who I know are thinking of selling this year who I have already met with and given tips on getting their properties ready. Giving me the heads up also gives me the opportunity to keep an eye on comparable properties for you so we can keep tabs on properties that may affect the price you get for your property when you sell. So keep me posted!
Thanks to Cathy and Jeff for trusting me this month to refer me! And thanks to you all for reading! Any questions or suggestions as far as topics for this blog are always welcomed!
Wishing everyone a joy, health, and happiness - filled 2011!
To begin this year I'd like to look at the past year. 2010 was a great year for the Kitchener Waterloo real estate market. The spring was, as I like to refer to it as, NUTTY! Many buyers purchased in hopes of avoiding the predictions of rising interest rates, tighter mortgage rules, and the introduction of the HST in July. As a result, prices were driven up and many first-time home buyers got into the market. The fall market finished off the year, still strong and holding onto the increased prices. As a result, single-detached house prices ended 2010 at an average of 9.3% over the previous year.
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/Stats/December_2010_Media_Release.pdf
2011 began with a few out-of-town referrals so I thought I'd say a few words on this. Moving to a new city can be a scary process that I can certainly help with. If you or someone you know is moving to a new city give me a call! If it's in the KW area I'm happy to welcome them to the city (whether they're purchasing a home or not) and be a contact for them for information and referrals about the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Over the holidays a lovely agent from the Ottawa area called me up to interview me for clients she has who were selling their home and moving for a new job in Waterloo. We had a great 45 min. chat on the phone and I was able to answer some pretty pointed questions about how I work with my clients. The agent interviewed a few more agents and called me back to let me know she wanted to refer her clients to me. C&R will be listing their home with her out Ottawa way, and I was able to meet R this week to chat about how we can find his family a fantastic new home in Waterloo. Another agent I know from Brantford also called me up last week to pass along the name of a client selling in Waterloo and moving to Paris. I look forward to possibly being able to connect with him as well. I always appreciate it when other agents entrust me with their clients and I take the responsibility seriously.
Likewise, sometimes I have people contact me wondering if I have an agent recommendation for another city and I'm always happy to help! I have many contacts for agents in other cities and if I don't, I have other agents I ask, and similar to the agent from Ottawa who called me, I also am willing to call other agents to interview them to decide who to refer people too. So, don't hesitate to call or email me if you're looking for some referrals to agents in other cities. I know some great people out there!
As we look to 2011 if you're thinking that selling or purchasing a property may be something you'll be looking into please don't hesitate to pop me an email or give me a call....sooner rather than later! Don't feel like you have to have all of your ducks in order! I have a few clients out there who I know are thinking of selling this year who I have already met with and given tips on getting their properties ready. Giving me the heads up also gives me the opportunity to keep an eye on comparable properties for you so we can keep tabs on properties that may affect the price you get for your property when you sell. So keep me posted!
Thanks to Cathy and Jeff for trusting me this month to refer me! And thanks to you all for reading! Any questions or suggestions as far as topics for this blog are always welcomed!
Wishing everyone a joy, health, and happiness - filled 2011!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Competition Bureau and October Stats
Many of you over the past number of months may have been following the talks between the Competition Bureau and the Real Estate Biz. The following are my opinions based on my understanding of the facts.
The media has made a big deal about this new agreement between the Competition Bureau and the Canadian Real Estate Association. Many headlines have stated that consumers will save money and it's now "easier" to sell their properties on their own....this is not really the case. The perception is that you can now use the MLS system without a Realtor. That is not correct.
The MLS system is a system for Realtors. Always has been and always will be. Realtors have developed and paid for this tool. It belongs to Realtors, not consumers. Realtor.ca is an advertising site for consumers. In order for a listing to be posted on the MLS system one needs to use a Realtor. This system only has it's value because the information can be trusted. Any Realtor who puts a listing on the MLS system must verify the information and is held to a code of ethics when dealing with it. This has not changed.
Essentially the agreement with the Competition Bureau keeps local real estate boards from discriminating against Realtors who choose to list "mere listings" or listings with only a very limited number of services attached. My understanding is that this does not change anything for our local KW real estate board as there were never any rules or bylaws that kept those listings off the MLS system. So, now consumers can use a Realtor for a negotiated rate, for negotiated services to sell their property.....oh....wait....that's the way it was before the agreement!
The United States went through very similar changes in the past couple of years with the NAR (National Assocition of Realtors). My understanding is that after a short amount of time the changes made down there actually ended up increasing the average commissions paid to Realtors, not decreased as the media often likes to portray.
A question I've received a few times over the past few weeks is how this changes things for me in my business. My answer is simple, business as usual. I am a full service Realtor who offers knowledge, experience, and service guided by a code of ethics. There will always be consumers who recognize the value of a full service Realtor and for those folks I am here. My services and my commissions have always been negotiable, but ultimately noone works for free and I believe that the value I add to the purchasing or selling process is worth the commissions I charge.
I've had a few experiences with "mere listings" or FSBO (for sale by owner) properties lately. One "mere listing" property I showed resulted in the seller later asking me for advice because the agent they had their property listed with is an agent in a city 6 hrs away and had not been through the property. Given that my code of ethics dictates that I cannot interfere with an existing contract I can't be giving advice just because they've chosen an agent who's not willing to offer that service. Sorry folks!
I had a lovely dealing with a great FSBO (for sale by owner) seller recently when my clients purchased her property. She told me when people congratulate her on selling "on her own" she's been telling people that the only reason things went so smoothly is because the buyers were working with a great agent (me!). She also had an "in" with a great real estate lawyer which certainly helped her end of things. Even though she sold privately she recognized the value of having a Realtor involved, she paid a commission, and she armed herself with a good lawyer to cover her end of things.
There are many out there who feel they can adequatly do what I do without the experience or knowledge. And for some it may work....for others not so much. One local example I've recently heard was of buyers purchasing a property through sellers who later found out that the sellers were actually the tenants who had no legal rights to sell the property but had decided to put up a "by the owner" sign, collected a nice hefty deposit of $10,000 from the buyers who thought they were getting a "great deal" because they weren't working with a Realtor and then those tenants disappeared. Those buyers are now out $10,000. Ouch.
So, that's my 2 1/2 cents on things. Please don't hesitate to call me or email me if you have any questions. Or send a comment if you wish to continue some dialogue and start some discussions on this topic.
In close, here is the link for the October stats for the KW real estate market and a link to a great site giving more information about the value of working with a Realtor. Take a peek! Thanks for reading!
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/k-w-average-home-price-jumps-14-3-percent-in-october/
http://www.howrealtorshelp.ca/
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Fall Update
It's been a busy fall.....as evident by the few blog postings of late! :)
This fall I've had the pleasure of seeing a number of clients move into their new homes. Last week I was able to catch a quick visit with T&H to see them all settled in their new digs after a busy summer of moving and getting married! I have such great clients that they even think of me while honeymooning! H&T took this pic for me while on their European Honeymoon. Maybe you'll see the 3 of us on House Hunters International one day! lol
This fall I've had the pleasure of seeing a number of clients move into their new homes. Last week I was able to catch a quick visit with T&H to see them all settled in their new digs after a busy summer of moving and getting married! I have such great clients that they even think of me while honeymooning! H&T took this pic for me while on their European Honeymoon. Maybe you'll see the 3 of us on House Hunters International one day! lol
September Stats came in and things heated up from the summer months and the market in KW continues to look like it will be strong and balanced for the 4th quarter.
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/k-w-home-sales-wake-from-summer-slumber/
http://www.kwreb.on.ca/k-w-home-sales-wake-from-summer-slumber/
As part of keeping my real estate licence, we as Realtors are expected to keep up with our education and take courses each year. Some of the courses I took part of this fall included ones on Heritage homes in KW and Surveys. We had speakers from both the city of Waterloo and the city of Kitchener speak about some of the areas that have heritage status and some of those areas and specific homes that are on a list of properties that may be added to the list in the future. If a property has a heritage designation there may be restrictions as to what can be done to that property. ie. an owner may not be able to demolish an existing structure. Valuable information for a homeowner to know about a property they may be considering purchasing.
As many of you may have been following the news, the Canadian Real Estate Association has come to an agreement with the Competition Bureau in regards to what is being referred to as "mere postings". My next blog posting will discuss this a little further and give you some of my thoughts on the matter as I know a few of you have emailed or asked me about how this will effect my business.
In closing, congrats to B&S, N&E, Z&C, R&H, and T&I, just some of the awesome couples I've had the pleasure of working with this fall! Thanks for putting your trust in me to help you with your property sales and/or purchases!
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