Home Sales
THE GIFT OF THE GAB
Starting a conversation with someone you just met can be intimidating.
Over the past two years, our social game has taken a bit of a hit due to lockdowns, social distancing and a lack of events and get-togethers.
Making conversation can be daunting if you can’t think of anything to say but these helpful tips will have you filling up awkward silences and chatting up a storm in no time:
You Name It
When you’re introduced to someone, use their name right away as people love to hear their name and by saying it out loud you’re more likely to remember it.
Mirror Mirror
Always maintain eye contact to show you’re interested, nod your approval every now and then and mirror their gestures to make them feel more comfortable.
Be Open Ended
Ask questions as people love to talk about themselves but try to always make sure that they’re open-ended questions so that the answers aren’t just yes or no.
Listen Learned
Rather than worrying about how to respond, listen carefully to what others are saying so that you’ll be able to provide a more natural response when there’s a break in the conversation.
Common Ground
Try and find similarities between you and the other person and build upon them. It could be as simple as a hobby you share, friends you have in common or the fact that you live in the same area.
Smile & Be Positive
Most individuals are drawn to positive people so stand tall, smile wide and keep your conversation upbeat instead of sharing your worries and woes right off the bat.
Making conversation is actually really easy — you just need the confidence to pull it off. Instead of awkwardly fidgeting when you’re introduced to someone, try to relax, listen carefully and most importantly, just be yourself!
DREAM HOMES REALLY DO COME TRUE!
House hunting in the Grey Bruce area is supposed to be fun, but it’s important to be properly prepared.
It’s easy for homebuyers to get frustrated, especially in this market, so it’s important to start off with a solid plan and a positive mindset. Here are a few points to consider before you head out hunting for homes:
Finance Forward
Get pre-qualified for a mortgage so you’ll know exactly how much you can afford to spend. It’s important to also set aside money for closing costs such as legal fees and tax adjustments.
Know Your Needs
Make a list of the features your new home must have such as a double driveway and then a separate list of features you’d like to have such as an ensuite bath or walk-in closet.
Future Plans
Think about how long you plan on living in the home and whether or not it has to be in move-in condition or close to schools, transit, shopping, etc.
Keep An Open Mind
In this market, you’ll need to be flexible so when you start your search, try to keep an open mind. When you’ve explored all your options, you’ll be able to narrow things down and focus on your goal!
Location, Location, Location
Determine whether the location of your home is more important than the home itself. You can always update the home but you’ll never be able to update its location.
The Bold & Beautiful
Don’t be put off by the green shag carpet or floral wallpaper as they’re easy to replace. On the other hand, don’t get “taken in” by a well-staged home with expensive furniture.
Ready, Set, Go!
Homes in the Grey Bruce area sell quickly, so when you finally find the perfect place, it’s important to act in a very decisive manner so that you don’t end up with regrets.
Properly preparing yourself before you head out on your house hunting journey will make your experience much more enjoyable so do your best to get everything sorted out in advance.
In the meantime, if you’re thinking about making a move, we can set you up on a custom search to help you get acquainted with the Grey Bruce market. That way, when the perfect home comes along, you’ll be ready to move forward with confidence!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE – Feb 2022
For detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood or if you’re curious about what the house down the street sold for, please don’t hesitate to reach out – I’m always happy to help!
TORTILLA PINWHEELS: THE EASY APP!
This delicious yet easy-to-prepare appetizer is sure to impress!
If you’re looking for an easy yet delicious appetizer to serve your friends and family, try this simple recipe for tortilla pinwheels. Here’s all you’ll need:
- tortilla wraps
- cream cheese
- grated cheese
- red pepper
- jalapeno pepper
- sour cream
Spread the cream cheese on the tortilla and then dice the peppers and add them on top before sprinkling on the grated cheese.
All you have to do now is roll up the tortillas and place them in the fridge for a few hours. Once they’re chilled, slice the tortilla rolls 1” apart before serving with sour cream. It’s that easy!
The beauty of this app is that you can prepare it well in advance and then just pull it out of the fridge when you’re ready to serve but if you have a bit of extra time, you can also heat them up in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes.
You can also be creative with the types of ingredients you add as the recipe is very flexible. Just be sure to make enough as it’s the type of snack that people can’t get enough of!
BEST HIKING TRAILS IN GREY BRUCE
Beat the winter blahs by getting out and enjoying the great outdoors!
Most people are sticking closer to home this winter, so it’s the perfect time to get out and explore some of the natural gems that our area has to offer.
Hiking is a great way to get exercise, fresh air and a healthy dose of vitamin D, all while connecting with the great outdoors and beating the winter blahs!
Another big advantage of hiking during the winter is that you don’t have to worry about getting eaten alive by mosquitoes 🙂
Grey Bruce County has plenty of scenic trails in and around the area. In fact, some of the best hiking trails in the province are right here!
If you haven’t visited Grey Bruce’s beautiful waterfalls in winter yet, there’s still time! From Inglis Falls to Jones Falls there’s something very magical about the frozen falls. Please note that accessibility and opening hours are subject to change and that not all of the area’s waterfalls are open during the winter months.
You can also visit Ontario Nature Trails for a full listing of trails in the area, plus details on where to view local wildlife and birds!
If you’re looking to get out for a day trip, there’s a guide that features some of the best trails in Ontario. You can search trails by region and activity, so whether it’s hiking, snowshoeing, geocaching or mountain biking, this guide has you covered.
Whether you’re going hiking on a local trail or heading out further afield, it’s important to be prepared. Waterproof boots and layers will keep you comfortable if the weather changes and don’t forget water and snacks.
Also, always check that the trail is open before you leave and have a look at the conditions as harsh weather can impact the safety of the trail.
Winter can sometimes drag on which is why it’s important to stay physically and mentally active while reconnecting with nature. Whether you’re a walker, hiker or jogger, there’s bound to be an exciting outdoor adventure that will put a smile on your face!
AN APPY LIFESTYLE
The right app can help kick-start new habits that will change your life!
If you’re looking to make some changes this year, your smartphone may hold the answers. Here are a few apps that are worth a look:
Duolingo
If learning a new language is on your to-do list for 2022, the Duolingo app is an absolute must!
Happify
This app is designed to help you overcome negative thoughts by offering a series of games that train your brain and build skills to help increase your happiness.
Done
The Done app is an intuitive and enjoyable way to help you manage your time and focus on your tasks. It displays monthly progress snapshots and also highlights your success streaks to keep you motivated.
TAKE IT TO THE BANK!
The demand for food donations in the Grey Bruce area will be greater than ever this year.
During the holidays, most people are in a very giving mood but when the new year rolls around, donations usually slow down to a crawl.
Local charities, such as food banks, have struggled to keep up with a strong demand that has continued to increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
To make matters worse, collecting food donations has been a real challenge since their usual fundraising events had to be postponed.
On top of that, food prices are expected to rise by up to 7% in 2022 according to Canada’s Food Price Report which means that even more people will have to rely on food banks this year.
There are so many people in the Grey Bruce area who struggle to afford nutritious meals during these difficult times which is why the Salvation Army Food Bank is in desperate need of non-perishable food donations along with diapers, toiletries and cleaning supplies.
In addition to food and toiletries, financial donations are especially important as they offer the flexibility to buy fresh food or to load up on items that are in short supply.
Thanks so much to the amazing people who continue to volunteer their time at the food bank. Your work is truly invaluable!
GOAL SETTING STRATEGIES
Whether your goal is to buy a home or give up a bad habit, it’s important to track your progress.
I’m a huge believer in lists, whether it’s going to the grocery store or packing for a trip. The best thing I love about lists though is the satisfaction of crossing things off!
Studies have shown that a surge of dopamine is released each time an item is crossed off a to-do list which then fuels us to tackle other tasks. It’s basically a snowball effect that helps us get things done.
Listing and tracking your goals is the best way to hold yourself accountable so to make things easy, here’s a downloadable goal planner and to-do list to help you easily chart out the days, weeks and months ahead.
Goals are often financially related, such as saving up for a downpayment to buy a home, but there’s more to life than money so it’s important to also set goals for the following areas:
- family (ie. spend more time with family)
- physical (ie. work out on a regular basis)
- spiritual (ie. volunteer more often)
- social (ie. join a networking club)
- mental (ie. learn a new language)
Once you have a general idea of what your goals are, use the following guidelines to fine-tune them:
Step Up
Specify the steps you’ll need to take in order to achieve each goal and then break down large goals into achievable, “bite-size” pieces.
Write On
It’s important to write your goals down and place them by your computer, bathroom mirror, car’s dashboard, etc.
Seeing Is Believing
Take time each day to close your eyes and visualize yourself achieving your goals and enjoying the rewards that follow.
Goal setting is like therapy as it provides us with a focused direction and a sense of purpose. Your enthusiasm will increase as you start to achieve your goals which, in turn, boosts your self-esteem.
Planning out your goals helps to reduce the stress that comes from feeling powerless and out of control. If you make it your goal right now to take control of your future, 2022 may just be your best year yet!
GREY BRUCE REAL ESTATE UPDATE
Grey Bruce MLS® home sales set a new full-year record in 2021.
The number of homes sold through the MLS® System of the REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound totaled 155 units in December 2021.
This was down sharply by 23.6% from December 2020.
Home sales were 2.8% above the five-year average and 8.4% above the 10-year average for the month of December.
On an annual basis, home sales totaled a record 3,503 units over the course of 2021. This was a minor increase of 3.8% from the same period in 2020.
The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) tracks price trends far more accurately than is possible using average or median price measures.
The overall MLS® HPI composite benchmark price was $534,800 in December 2021, a jump of 30.8% compared to December 2020.
The benchmark price for single-family homes was $535,200, a substantial gain of 30.4% on a year-over-year basis in December.
By comparison, the benchmark price for townhouse/row units was $466,600, an advance of 41.6% compared to a year earlier, while the benchmark apartment price rose by 34% to $384,000, from year-ago levels.
The average price of homes sold in December 2021 was a record $830,982, a jump of 48.5% from December 2020.
The more comprehensive annual average price was $650,944, a significant increase of 35.2% from all of 2020.
The dollar value of all home sales in December 2021 was $128.8 million, a gain of 13.4% from the same month in 2020. This was also a new record for the month of December.
The number of new listings was down sharply by 21.4% from December 2020. There were 114 new residential listings in December 2021.
New listings were 8.4% below the five-year average and 24.7% below the 10-year average for the month of December.
Active residential listings numbered 256 units on the market at the end of December, a substantial decrease of 16.1% from the end of December 2020.
Active listings haven’t been this low in the month of December in more than three decades.