Home Ownership Matters!

There’s a reason why home ownership is considered part of the Canadian Dream. People aspire to home ownership for the financial and social benefits to people, communities and Ontario.

TO PEOPLE…

• Home owners say they have a better of Quality of Life. They report being happier, healthier and enjoy a greater feeling of control over their lives.

• Home owners are free to redecorate, renovate and modify their homes as they wish.

• Most home owners enjoy stable housing costs – a fixed rate mortgage payment might change a little over time while rent in Ontario has increased on average 3.5% a year.

TO COMMUNITIES…

• Home owners are civically engaged. Home owners are much more likely to say they voted in the last municipal election than renters.

• Home owners are significantly more likely to have donated to charity, participated in local festivals/events, volunteered, and written a letter to their editor.

• The overwhelming majority (94%) of Ontarians agree that owning a home provides a stable and healthy environment for raising a family.

TO ONTARIO…

• 72% of Ontario households are owner occupied. Ontario is a province of homeowners.

• In 2010, Ontario MLS® home sales generated $9.3 billion in additional consumer spending.

• Every home purchased in Ontario pumps $47,575 into the economy for furniture, home improvements and related items.

• Home sales on MLS® generate over 80,000 direct and indirect jobs annually in Ontario.

Woodstock Sales Strong in March

Woodstock, Ont. 

          The number of homes sold through the MLS® System of the Woodstock-Ingersoll and District Real Estate Board are on par with year-ago levels in March 2010 and up 41 per cent from February 2011.

         According to statistics provided by the Board, home sales numbered 123 units in March 2011 with sales totalling $26.3 million. Of the units sold 112 were Single family homes and 10 were Condominiums.

          “Last year, in March 2010, we saw the market start to pick up momentum with the looming threat of increased interest rates; the introduction of HST; and changes to the mortgage rules. So being on par with last year is a positive sign that our local market is very stable and a stable market is a positive indication of recovery,” comments President Goldhawk.

            The overall dollar value of homes sold in March 2011 is up 4 per cent from March 2010. Edging the residential sales price average up 4 percent to $213,862 compared to year-ago levels. “The increase can be attributed to 28% of homes sold in March were selling at a price of $250,000 or greater. When examining the median price of homes sold in March, the price is $209,900 a difference of 2 per cent from the average sale price and a better more realistic representation to what we are currently seeing in our market,” commented President Goldhawk.

              The best selling residential home type for Woodstock and Ingersoll was the 2-Storey and Bungalow respectively. The total sales numbered 124 units in March, down seven per cent from the same month in 2010. The total value of all properties sold was 26.4 million, down four per cent from March 2010. New listings on the Board’s MLS® System numbered 269 units in March 2011, a decrease of 9 per cent from a year earlier. Seasonally adjusted new listings have been trending downward since peaking a year ago.

If you wish to view the listings currently on the Woodstock-Ingersoll & District Real Estate Board, as well as information pertinent to Sellers and Buyers please go to www.widreb.ca

The Woodstock-Ingersoll & District Real Estate Board is an Association of REALTORS® committed to promoting and providing programs, services, education and technology enhance member competency, knowledge, ethics and professionalism. The Board shall encourage and deliver high levels of service to its members.