Summer is finally found it’s way to Chatham-Kent, which means that the Spring housing market numbers are finally in. The Chatham-Kent Real Estate Board is proud to announchat home sales rose 30% from levels reported in April of this year. Home sales numbered 166 units in May, jumping nearly 43% from the same month last year. The average price of these home sales was 2% higher than those recorded last year, at $140,401.

Sylvia Rintjema, President of the Chatham-Kent Real Estate Board notes that “May was a very strong month for home sales in the region.” However, this trend is not expected to continue. “Going forward, sales activity is widely expected to cool headning into the second half of the year, given the combined effects of HST, stricter mortgage rules, and rising interest rates.”

If you’re looking to purchase a home in Chatham-Kent, now’s a great time. May’s real estate report noted that new listings were up for a fourth consecutive month, climbing 17% on a year-over-year basis to 256 units. At the end of the month, there were a total of 872 active listings on the Chatham-Kent Real Estate Board’s MLS system.

Need help buying or selling a home in Chatham-Kent? Then give me a call at 519-360-0141 – I’m always happy to help!

The Chatham-Kent Economic Development released their first quarter accomplishments this week, and I must say, it was quite a long list! Some highlights include:

• Council Approves New Conference/Exhibition Centre
  Municipal Council approved moving ahead with an $8 million conference and exhibition, or “con-ex”, centre on the donated section of the former Wheels Inn. Construction could begin as soon as September and take a year to complete. A Request for Interest concerning the management of the centre will be advertised and brought back to Council for approval.
• St. Clair College to Bring Programming to Downtown Chatham
  St. Clair College’s plans to offer a bakery program through Thames Campus in downtown Chatham. The expected date for the Baking Techniques and Baking program is September 2011.
  The location of this baking school will be part of the retrofit of the historic building at the corner of King and Fifth streets in the heart of Downtown Chatham. The college is looking to providing state-of-the-art trades education and training for the community of Chatham-Kent. A $309,500 cash injection from the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program was the final ingredient. This funding will help purchase and install equipment and fittings required to provide baking courses.
• Part of Largest Green Energy Initiative in Canadian History in Chatham-Kent
  The Merlin Wind Farm/BWP Wind Limited Partnership It is one of 184 contracts across the Province that has been announced under the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program. It means new jobs, a cleaner environment and the domestic content requirements in these projects will mean thousands of new jobs in the growing green energy sector and about $9 billion in private-sector investment across the Province.
• Free WI-FI in City Core
  Historic downtown Chatham is embracing the future and offering free WI-FI in all outdoor spaces.
  The project is a partnership between the Business Improvement Area and Potensia Corp. thanks to a $48,000 grant from the Community Futures Development Corporation of Chatham-Kent (CFDCCK).

With so much happening, it’s safe to say there’s never been a better time to buy a home in Chatham!

Speaking of homes, I’ll be showing two amazing properties this weekend. The first is at 95 Smithfield Circle, Chatham, the second is at 347 Mc Naughton Ave W, Chatham. Drop by to learn more about these two outstanding properties.

Are you in the market for a Chatham-Kent home? Then don’t miss your chance to view a beautiful house this weekend!

I’ll be showing a 3 bed, 2 bath single family home at 27 Manning Drive this weekend. Features of the home include:

• Cement driveway and walks
• Automatic door opener included
• Fenced yard, deck with roof and bottom storage
• 2nd bathroom, extra bedroom and huge rec room downstairs (fully finished)
• 4.5 years left on Terrion warranty

I’ll be onsite at the home from 1pm to 3pm. For more information on this property, visit my full listing. Want a private viewing of the home? Give me a call at 519-360-0141.

Hope to see you this weekend!

If you’re in the market for a new home this spring, you’re in luck – now is a great time to buy! The momentum in the Canadian housing market has carried over from last year, and mortgages are still well below average. Mild temperatures and the impending Harmonized Sales Tax deadline date have also added a sense of urgency to this year’s house hunt, so what are you waiting for? Let’s find you a home!

Reasons to Buy Now

Inflation has raised the expectations that borrowing costs will soon be headed higher – now’s the best time to get preapproved for a mortgage.

1. Now is the time to pre-empt tighter qualifying criteria for insured mortgages effective mid-April as well as avoid the July 1 introduction of the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax). As of July 1, this new charge will add provincial sales tax to the GST of new home purchases (over $400,000), as well as real estate commissions and legal fees.
2. The Ontario real estate market is starting to recover from last year’s severe financial crisis and recession. Unfortunately, home prices will rise with this sense of relief. Now is the time to take advantage of real estate bargains.

Canadian’s Are Buying Real Estate Earlier in Life

The mix of a strong economy and tight rental markets has led to a significant increase in homeownership for Canadians. This increase is most pronounced among young adults. Low home prices and mortgage rates have spurred young Canadians and Chatham-Kent residents to make the leap to home ownership far earlier than previous generations. Between 2001 and 2006 (the latest census data available), homeownership among Canadians aged 25-34 rose 4.6 percentage points to 51.3%, while for those under 25 it jumped 5.2 percentage points to 21.1% (statistics published March 23, 2010 in the Scotia Bank Global Real Estate Trends Report). Current market conditions are making home ownership even more attractive to young Canadians, and for good reason. Why rent when you could be investing in a Chatham-Kent home?

Make Your Move

Properties are already selling fast here in Chatham-Kent, which is a great sign for our local economy. If you’re serious about buying a home this spring, it’s time to get moving! Meet with an experienced Chatham-Kent realtor today to learn how you can make the leap to home ownership this spring.

Here are just a few of my current listings. If you see anything you like, don’t hesitate to give me a call or text. Just don’t wait too long – these properties are sure to attract plenty of attention in this market!

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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has just announced that local home buyers can now qualify for the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

The program, which is funded by the federal and provincial government, provides down payment assistance to low and moderate-income households wishing to purchase a home. Qualified households are eligible for up to seven per cent in down payment assistance, up to a maximum of $7,000.

The program ends December 31, 2010 and applications are processed on a first come, first served basis.

Potential home buyers in Chatham-Kent can contact Nancy Kalbfleisch at 519-351-8573 or nancykal@chatham-kent.ca to learn more about this unique opportunity. More details are also posted in this Chatham Daily News article.

Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and often daunting experience. After all, this is one of the biggest financial decisions that you™ll ever make. So, before you start scanning the listings in the Chatham-Kent Home Buyers guide, make sure you take note of the following house-hunting tips for first-time home buyers.

1) Fall in love with a location.
We™ve all heard real estate agents stress the importance of œlocation, location, location, and it™s for good reason. Location is crucial for a number of reasons. Before you start looking for your Chatham-Kent dream house, think about your dream neighbourhood. How far are you willing to commute to get to work? If you have children, or are planning to have children, make sure to check the area for schools and recreation amenities. The location of your home will affect your quality of life, as well as the potential resale value of your home later on down the line.

2) Set a budget.
There™s nothing worse than finding your dream house and then realizing that you simply can™t afford it. The best way to avoid this disappointment is to get preapproved for a mortgage. Rather than guessing or estimating how much you can afford to spend, ask a professional to give you a full assessment. The true amount might be much more (or less) than you think.

3) Make a list.
When it comes to buying a home, chances are you™re going to have to make some sacrifices. What are you willing to give up? Perhaps a walk-in closet is less important that a large backyard; or you could do without a pool in exchange for an extra bedroom. First-time home buyers are encouraged to make a list with two columns “ a œMust Have and a œWould Like to Have. If you™re shopping with a spouse, have them do the same thing. This will help you zero in on what you™re really looking for (as well as help you avoid a ton of future arguments).

4) Charge your camera.
The first visit to a potential home can be overwhelming. Factor in multiple visits, and before you know it, you™ve forgotten important elements of each home. First-time home buyers are encouraged to bring a camera to open houses and viewings. This will help you keep each home fresh in your memory. You™ll also be able to revisit the photos after the initial excitement of your visit has worn off, helping you to view the home in a more objective manner.

5) Ask for help.
Buying a house involves an awful lot of paper work and planning. So when it comes to buying your first home, it™s a good idea to have a professional real estate agent at your side. A qualified, experienced Chatham-Kent realtor will walk you through every step of the purchasing process, saving you time, money and frustration.

Keep these tips in mind while house hunting in Chatham-Kent. If you™re a first time home buyer and have more questions, please don™t hesitate to contact me. I™d be more than happy to help!

New this year when selling or buying check out this great feature at virtual showing