VanDinther Team Blog

Curb Appeal During The Winter

Burlington Living, Home Improvement / By Erin / February 14, 2021 February 14, 2021

Winter Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is important even while we’re in the middle of winter and some days can seem very grey and dark. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make your home look cozy and inviting, especially if you’re in the process of selling your home during this season.

It can be the little things that can really make the difference when it comes to winter curb appeal. You can add some door decor, a bird feeder, or a fresh coat of paint can go a long way. The following is a list of tips that you can use to enhance the curb appeal of your home.

Update Your Homes Numbers

That’s right, it can even be just changing your house numbers to new and fresh ones. Why not try getting a new mailbox, it can give you an instant upgrade. You can try going for something modern and sleek.

Fresh Coat of Paint

Sometimes it can be as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint to your front door. Since your door is usually the first thing someone will see it’s great to add a blog primary colour, however, you might want to do this before or after the very cold weather. This is because most paints need at least three days of 12 degree weather to dry properly.

Functional Lighting

There are a lot of benefits to having good lighting on the exterior of your home, one of them being the safety aspect. Providing added visibility during the darker and shorter winter months is something everyone will appreciate.

Contact Lori VanDinther and Team Today

If you have any questions about what other tips there are about curb appeal, we will be happy to help!

Make sure you contact Lori VanDinther and her team today if you’re interested in buying or selling your home. If you’re interested in learning what your home is worth, try our free home evaluation.

What We Can Expect for Canadian Real Estate in 2021

Real Estate Market, Real Estate Trends / By Erin / January 6, 2021 January 6, 2021

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Real Estate

It has been reported that prices aren’t expected to plummet in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t deviate Canada’s hottest housing markets, the way some experts had predicted.

Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver saw some fierce composition for detached home. That meant that there were back-to-back months of record-breaking prices. CTV was speaking with some real estate agents and experts in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto to learn more about what we can expect to see in 2021.

While most of them expect the 2021 market to look different, they are also expecting prices for mid-range detached homes to only go up as Canadians look for homes offices and for more space, in an effort to make life with COVID-19 more comfortable.

Ultra-Low Interest rates

It was also reported that there were ultra-low interest rates introduced in the early days of the pandemic. Those purchase are more attractive when you have these ultra-low interest rates and it’s also more attractive for first-time home buyers who haven’t seen their livelihoods effected by COVID-19.

“COVID has made people appreciate the space they live in — or on the flip side, not appreciate it. They’re taking a more critical eye to where they live.” Says Vancouver based agent Mark Wiens, in early December.

The State of Condos

There were bidding wars for houses that are poised to heat up in many parts of the country, but condos appear to be a different story. Experts have agreed that the small one-bedroom condos in downtown Toronto have seen a price hit in 2020.

They aren’t expected to improve in 2021 and this is bad news for condo owners who are interested in selling, however, it’s good news for buyers who are looking for a small space.

The Small Town Revival

“Everyone locked in their homes discovered they things they wanted to change. Some people wanted to change their homes, invest in a bigger kitchen. Some other people decided ‘I want a big change and I’m going to move out of the city.’” Says Lauren, CEO of Zoocasa.

People have been reported to be moving out of the downtown Toronto area and seeking out smaller towns and cities throughout southern Ontario. Which has caused a fierce competition for houses.

It was also reported that if the economy continues to revere from COVID-19 shutdowns and the interest rates can remain as low as they are, this could translate to an upward pressure on the housing market.

The Burlington Real Estate Statistics for December 2020

The Real Estate Association of Hamilton-Burlington reported a total of 913 sales of residential properties in December 2020. In Burlington there was a total of 172 sales, a 59 per cent increase when compared to the previous year.

New listings were reported to be down 47.87 per cent when compared to November 2020 and up 34 per cent over December last year. It’s important to note that the sale of residential properties saw an increase of 1.04 per cent to $729,853.

The average price of a residential home in Burlington was $961,908, a 23 per cent increase when compared to the same time last year.

“We can see that the market has slowed from November, which is normal due to the holiday season, as well as increasing COVID-19 cases throughout the province, and more regions in Ontario placed into lockdown throughout December. Despite being in either the Red Zone (Control) or Grey Zone (Lockdown) throughout December, we do not see the effects on the number of sales and new listings that we did in the spring lockdown. This activity could be the result of continued low interest rates, coupled with increasing consumer confidence due to the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada.” Says RAHB President Donna Bacher.

Contact Lori VanDinther and Team Today

Please feel free to contact Lori if you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19 protocols. Make sure you contact Lori VanDinther and her team today if you’re interested in buying or selling your home. If you’re interested in learning what your home is worth, try our free home evaluation.

Moving During The Winter

Home Buying, Real Estate Market / By Erin / December 31, 2020 December 31, 2020

Buying a Home in The Winter

There are a lot of benefits to moving during the winter and it can actually be cheaper and more convenient. There are some reason why it can be economic during the winter and in this blog we’ll discuss some of those reasons.

Spring has always been considered the best time of the year to move or list your property on the market. The weather is more ideal and people can be outside without being cold or have to worry about snow.

Benefits of Moving During the Colder Months

However, there will always be sellers who need to list their homes and buyers need to buy, even in the dead of winter. Less buyers mean that there will be less biding wars, less stress and more chances to get the home of your dreams.

Another benefit your can take advantage of is that real estate agents are more available. Since the warmer months are the busiest, during the winter you will be able to have more attention from your agent.

Sellers are also a lot more motivated because there are less people looking to purchase a new home. Which also means less competition for you to worry about, and gives you even more opportunity to find your dream home.

Hiring Movers During The Colder Months

When it comes to your moving day you’re going to need movers and since it’s the winter, finding one and booking a truck won’t be as difficult. You also won’t have to worry about booking your movers months in advance.

However, there’s nothing wrong with planning your move in advance, that way you’re able to stay organized. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself stressed out and unorganized on moving day.