101 HOUSEHOLD TIPS

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Seller’s market continues in Hamilton-Burlington

By Todd Fryer
Broker
Century 21 Aberwin Reality Inc.
(905) 869-3473

The Hamilton-Burlington real estate market continues to favour sellers with a lower inventory of homes for sale, while the average listing price of $397,403 has increased by almost four per cent over October 2012. 

The Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 1,207 properties sold through the RAHB MLS system in October 2013.  This represents a nine per cent increase in the number of sales over October of last year.

 There were 1,730 properties listed in October, an increase of five per cent over October of last year.   End-of-month listing inventory is six per cent lower than last year.

Actual overall residential sales were 10.2 per cent higher than the previous year at the same time.  Residential freehold sales were 11.6 per cent higher than last year and the condominium market saw an increase of five per cent in sales.  The average sale price of freehold properties showed an increase of just under three per cent over the same month last year; the average sale price in the condominium market increased 13.7 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

The average sale price is based on the total dollar volume of all residential properties sold.  Average sale price information can be useful in establishing long term trends, but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value.

The average days on market decreased from 46 to 42 days in the freehold market and increased from 44 days to 47 in the condominium market.

Year to date, listings are up almost two per cent compared to the same period last year, while sales are two per cent higher.  The average sale price for the period is just over seven per cent higher than the same period last year.

Beef up your insulation to prevent ice dams

 

By Todd Fryer

Broker

Century 21 Aberwin Realty

905 869-3473

 

Those long, beautiful icicles dangling elegantly from the edges of your roof are very pretty to look at. But they are also an indication of potentially damaging ice dams.

 

An ice dam is caused when snow on your roof melts from escaped heat from your attic. Rather than just running off the roof, the water freezes again and forms a layer of ice under the snow, right at your eaves. As the process continues, the ice grows and can work its way under your shingles and eventually even cause a leak. The freezing and thawing pattern can force shingles apart, push eaves troughs away from the soffits of your home and wreak havoc.

 

The solution to destructive ice dams is usually more, or better, attic insulation. Your home’s attic should be considered “outdoor” space. That is, it should not be heated or cooled. You want your attic to be well ventilated and stay dry. You should never vent your furnace, dryer, or any fans into your attic—that can cause rot.

 

To keep your attic cold in the winter, you need to make sure your home’s warm air stays in your home and doesn’t escape into the attic space. Attics in Ontario should have between R49 and R60 of insulation, according to EnergyStar (http://www.energystar.gov/?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_insulation_table). Blown in cellulose insulation is economical and efficient, although batt insulation also works fine. Sprayfoam is highly effective providing not only insulation, but also draft proofing, but is definitely a professional project and can be costly.

 

Government grants may still be available for insulation, so it’s worthwhile to check before you begin work.

 

Insulate your attic well and provide airflow for ventilation and you’ll solve those ice dams for good.

JANUARY NEWSLETTER