February 15, 2024
When I was a kid growing up at home, I was always looking for ways to supplement my allowance. At first snowfall, I was up and out with a list of two or three homes with walks to shovel on my way to elementary school. In summer I would pick dew worms and sell them along the highway up in cottage country. I had a paper route. It was a Toronto based newspaper and so I had to cycle all over St. Catharines to service a few customers. But it was income.
I realize by the time you are reading this article it’s the middle of February and Christmas is a distant memory. It’s just that so much happens around Christmas time that we can’t get it all in in one newsletter. Last month, we talked about our Caring and Sharing initiative that we undertake each year. This month I want to share the details of our Christmas Gala because it is such a special event at RE/MAX Garden City Realty.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. Enchanting! The season brings visions of golden-brown turkeys with all the trimmings. Carolers singing as the snow falls gently down. Gifts under the Christmas tree. Stockings hung by the fireplace. Family times. It’s just a special time unlike any other in the year. And a time when memories are forged that will last a lifetime.
January 15, 2024
There are a lot of challenges being a residential landlord these days. That’s for sure. But one of the major ones is our governing legislation, The Residential Tenancies Act. It’s there. It’s a reality. We need to understand it and work with it. But as I say, it’s a challenge.
January 15, 2024
Looking back at market performance over the years, we see that while in rapidly appreciating markets like 2017, 2020 and 2021 it is not unusual to see prices continue to climb into December and January, that is not typically the case. In both declining markets and in stable balanced markets, we see prices decline at year end, and generally on into January as well. That pattern was seen in 2022-2023 and that is precisely what we are seeing again in 2023-2024.
December 15, 2023
As an industry we have been operating under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act (REBBA) for a little over 20 years now. And before that, the previous Act governing our industry was rolled out in 1946. It’s been a long time.
December 15, 2023
Often things economic go in cycles. Whether we are talking the stock market, the real estate market or whatever. Things are relatively tranquil. Then a few investors sense an opportunity and buy in, then a few more, and before long it’s a stampede. I mean with so many rushing to get it, it must be the right thing to do, mustn’t it? 100,000 lemmings can’t be wrong