According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey1, the aggregate price of a home in Canada has continued to post steady year-over-year gains during the third quarter of 2019 as the real estate market sustained its recovery from the significant downturn of 2018 and early 2019, following the introduction of the federal mortgage stress test.The Royal LePage National House Price Composite, compiled from proprietary property data in 63 of the nation’s largest real estate markets, showed that the median price of a home in Canada increased 1.4 per cent year-over-year to $630,335 in the third quarter of 2019. When broken out by housing type, the median price of a two-storey home rose 1.3 per cent year-over-year to $738,346, while the median price of a bungalow remained flat at $521,250. Nationally, condominiums remained the fastest appreciating housing type, with the median price rising 3.4 per cent year-over-year to $457,911. Data analyzed contains both resale and new build transactions, provided by Royal LePage’s sister company, RPS Real Property Solutions.“Low interest rates and an outstanding employment picture continue to buoy consumer confidence and support our recovering real estate market,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage. “The collateral damage from the trade war between the U.S. and China has been manageable to date. Barring a full-blown American recession, our outlook for Canada’s housing sector is for continued market expansion.”Looking to the fourth quarter of 2019, Royal LePage forecasts that the aggregate price of a home in Canada will rise 1.5 per cent year-over-year to $632,226, which is a 0.3 per cent increase compared to the third quarter of 2019. The 2019 fourth quarter forecast is dependent on consistent economic conditions and no new housing policy changes.To view the chart with aggregated regions and markets visit rlp.ca/houseprices.For more regional analysis, visit Royal LePage’s media room at rlp.ca/mediaroom.1 Aggregate prices are calculated using a weighted average of the median values of all housing types collected. Data is provided by RPS Real Property Solutions.Seasonal decorating ideas that lastMany of us love our festive (but short-lived) holiday-themed trimmings, only to remove them after New Year’s Eve. Here are some tips on how to achieve a look that lasts!Prep your home now for a spring saleAre you a little restless when icy conditions keep you indoors? If you’re thinking about selling your home, ready it for the spring market by completing these tasks now:Declutter/tidy. Begin packing up tchotchke and personal items. Buyers want to see themselves in the space and imagine their belongings in the rooms. By streamlining the number of photos or artwork on walls, you’ll see areasthat might need cleaning, repair, or a fresh coat of paint.Downsize. Let go of excessive furniture that doesn’t serve a specific purpose. Garage sale apps can help you sell off any purged items.Make room for storage. Create open areas so buyers can see where they can add shelving, cupboards, or bookshelves.Build. If you have a wide hallway or large bathroom there might be space for new cabinets, if you have the budget and interest. Home improvements can add to the value of your property.Give grout new life. When your bathroom looks a little worn, scour and apply fresh grout between tiles. Carefully caulk around the perimeter of your tub. It’s an absolute must! Don’t cover up dirt; give everything a thorough scrub before making these upgrades.With a clean, open home you’ll be ready to paint, stage, and show your house when the weather warms up!Winter home safetySnow and ice form hazards around your house. Avoid injury by taking precautions after storms arrive:Protect your trees. Snowfall and windy weather may break tree limbs, causing damage to your home and possibly endangering people and pets. Use a broom to brush away snow after it falls. Don’t shake trees; weak or frozen areas might break.Be sure to trim back branches close to the house.Clear paths. Keep walkways and drives slip-resistant by shoveling (or snow blowing) regularly. Use ice melt that is safe for plants and pets to provide traction, including the steps to your home. If you’ll be out of town, arrange for someone to do this for you. Some municipalities may fine homeowners for unshoveled sidewalks. Look after neighbours and yourself.Watch the roof. Clear icicles that might fall on anyone entering or exiting your home. Look out for potential rooftop “ice dams” holding snow and water, causing damage. Remove ice near eavestroughs and be careful not to harm shingles or drains. Better yet, hire an expert to do it.Snowy scenes can be beautiful, but they’re easier to enjoy when everyone’s safe and sound.Working with teens to prevent family violencePrograms promote safe and healthy relationshipsWhile emergency women’s shelters are an essential – often lifesaving – resource for women and children escaping domestic violence, preventing abuse before it starts has long been a focus of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. In addition to granting millions of dollars to shelters from coast-to-coast for critical services like trauma counseling, job training and support for childrenwho have witnessed abuse, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has also prioritized a 20-year national partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF), providing $4 million in funding to support violence prevention.Whenever Royal LePage professionals from across Canada gather together to raise funds for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, these proceeds are earmarked for the prevention of family violence. Each year, a grant is made by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation to CWF to fund programs in communities across the country that teach youth how to create safe and healthy relationships.Delivered in schools and community-based locations, Teen Healthy Relationship grantees work with youth of all genders, aged 10-19, on learning about dating and relationship violence, gender stereotypes and online safety.A recent evaluation of Teen Healthy Relationship programs* found that participation increased teens’:ability to articulate the components of a healthy relationship, as well as the appropriate feelings and behaviours associated with healthy relationshipssense of equality and understanding that all genders should have the same opportunities; andrelationships skills, including effective communication, healthy boundary setting and conflict resolution.Teens in the programs also experienced positive effects including improved self-esteem and self-efficacy which reduce the likelihood of experiencing or perpetrating violence.“Taking a long-term view to preventing family violence is an essential component of our work,” said Shanan Spencer-Brown, executive director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. “To truly move the needle on family violence we must ensure that future generations are equipped to nurture relationships with one another that are respectful, safe, fair and supportive.”Royal LePage is the only national real estate company in Canada with its own charity. The company pays all of the Foundation’s administrative costs allowing the total amount raised to remain in local communities. Learn more at rlp.ca/shelter.*National Evaluation of the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Teen Healthy Relationships Program, 2019-2017. Prepared by Tracy Byrne and Sarah Cunningham. September 2017. Available: https://www.canadianwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/THR-evaluation-report-exec-summary-2018-en-FINAL.pdf |
