Housing sales for March 2011 are very similar to the same period from 1999-2001. The unit sales numbers are similar to a typical market. Average home sales are continuing to show a slight improvement. Condo sales and Luxury Properties including acreages are t on target for this time last year…

Inventory is leveling and listings should begin to show up once the snow melts. BRRRRR!. . Well priced properties are selling again, buyers are looking again, the phones are ringing and it seems like we are getting back to some stability. Interest rates remain low and affordability is high. Our political system should keep interest rates low for a while as we move towards another election.

The mortgage amortization decrease to 30 years on March 18th 2011 has begun; let’s see what the Spring will bring…

If you’re thinking about buying and selling this is a great time to move up or move down. No matter what we are back to reality for a little while and with rates so low the experts agree that this is a good time to buy and sell real estate again.

Whatever your Calgary Real estate needs are, my team and I are ready to serve you….

“No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time”.

Unknown

Get your golf clubs ready,

Rod Forsythe

Keller Williams Real Estate

Email rod@rodforsythe.com tel. 403.777.1040

Helping people buy and sell since 1986

Rod Forsythe’s Calgary Real Estate Report for March 3 2011 

CALGARY’S HOUSING MARKET RECOVERY CONTINUES AT A GRADUAL PACE

Says “The Calgary Real estate Board”. 

Housing sales for February 2011 are showing signs of improvement. We are not out of the woods yet. The Calgary real estate board is correct sales from January 2011 to Feb 2011 are up. What they didn’t share is the numbers are still a far cry from a typical market. Average home sales are from 1500-2000 unit sales for single family homes in a typical February market compared to 1169 sales this February 2011. Condo sales and Luxury Acreages are off slightly from a typical February market. 

Inventory is rising slowly with almost 9000 listings on the market. Watch out for our weather to break there will be more inventory showing up soon. Well positioned properties are selling quickly and we are back into a supply and demand market place with the buyers still holding the upper hand. Interest rates remain low and affordability is high. 

The current market is better than the latter part of 2010 and buyers will continue to set the tone for 2011. The mortgage amortization decrease to 30 years on March 18^th 2011 could potentially slow the market down a little.

If you’re thinking about buying and selling this looks like a great time to reposition across the market. The experts agree that this is a good time to invest in real estate again.  

Whatever your Calgary Real estate needs might be, my team and I are ready to serve your Real Estate needs… 

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”                          

                                                            –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a great March, 

Rod Forsythe     

Keller Williams Real Estate 

Email rod@rodforsythe.com  tel. 403.777.1040 

Helping people buy and sell since 1986

Rod Forsythe’s Calgary Real Estate Report for Feb 18 2011

Buyers are beginning to show back up in market says “The Calgary Real estate Board”. Total home, condo and country residential sales for 2010 were down about 15% in unit sales; and sales since January 1st 2011 are marginally up over 2010. Inventory is quickly coming onto the market again and it seems the well positioned properties are selling quicker than last year. Interest rates remain low and affordability is high.

The market is better than the latter part of 2010 and the prudent buyer will continue to set the tone for 2011 as the levels of inventory increase through the spring.

If you’re thinking about buying your timing might be perfect and if you are selling and buying this is a beautiful move across market, investing in Calgary Real estate; the experts agree that this might be the best time in years to reacquire real estate. The activity this year far exceeds the last 7 months of 2010 and buyers are starting to write contracts again.

Whatever your Calgary Real estate needs might be, my team and I would love to help.
“Sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right”
Karla Montalbano

With thanks

Rod Forsythe

Keller Williams Real Estate

Email rod@rodforsythe.com tel. 403.777.1040

Helping people buy and sell since 1986

Metro Stats Update (Feb 1-12 2011)

                                2010                          2011

Calgary Metro – Single Family

Sales                            88                              75

New Listings                 112                             111   

Inventory                     3,106                         2,670

Sales to New                 79%                           68%

Sales to Inv                   3%                              3%

Calgary Metro – Condominium

Sales                           44                               44 

New Listings                 60                              59

Inventory                     1,635                          1,480

Sales to New                 73%                            75%

Sales to Inv                   3%                               3%

Towns (Outside Calgary)

Sales                           24                                34

New Listings                 92                                 78

Inventory                     2,124                           1,883 

Sales to New                 26%                              44% 

Sales to Inv                   1%                                 2%

Country Residential – Acreages

Sales                             6                                    6

New Listings                   27                                 20

Inventory                       651                               663

Sales to New                  22%                              30%

Sales to Inv                    1%                                 1%

Total MLS®

Sales                              163                               160   

New Listings                     235                               227

Inventory                        8,114                            6,696

Sales to New                    69%                              70%

Sale to Inv                        2%                               2%

SP>=LP                            16                                 11

Avg.$ Ovr LP                     5,566                             4,033

Max.$ Ovr LP                    30,000                           25,308

SP=LP                              6                                   4

% of SP to LP                    97.21%                          96.56%

METRO STATS UPDATE (Jan. 1 – 12, 2011)
                    2011                2010
Calgary Metro – Single Family
Sales              214                  209
New Listings    593                  529
Inventory        2,897               2,278
Sales to New    36%                40%
Sales to Inv      7%                  9%

Calgary Metro – Condominium
Sales              61                     94
New Listings    268                  252
Inventory        1,510               1,291
Sales to New    23%                 37%
Sales to Inv      4%                   7%

Towns (Outside Calgary)
Sales               40                     49
New Listings    241                   259
Inventory        1,997                1,859
Sales to New    17%                 19%
Sales to Inv      2%                   3%

Country Residential – Acreages
Sales               12                     9
New Listings     52                     66
Inventory         639                   542
Sales to New    23%                  14%
Sales to Inv      2%                    2%

Total MLS®
Sales                334                  363
New Listings      1,175               1,076
Inventory          7,589               5,970
Sales to New      28%                 34%
Sales to Inv        4%                  6%
SP >= LP            16                   42
Avg. $ Ovr LP      8,223              4,350
Max. $ Ovr LP      31,000            42,800
SP = LP               3                    17
% of SP to LP      96.47%           96.09%

Information supplied by the Calgary Real Estate Board.

Rod Forsythe’s Calgary Real Estate Report for December 2010

Buyers remain cautious and are beginning to show back up in market says “The Calgary Real estate Board” . Total home, condo and country residential sales for 2010 were down about 15% in unit sales in 2010; and the good news is sales Dec 2010 were marginally off about 8%. Inventory is quickly coming onto the market again in 2011 and if anyone is thinking of selling it might be wise to get up for sale sooner than the spring. Interest rates remain low and affordability is high.

The market is a little better than the past few months and the prudent buyer in this market will continue to set the tone for 2011. Inventory today sits at about 7100 properties; this is an average amount of inventory for the Calgary Market place. The average price for a home in Dec. 2010 in Calgary was $441,341 down from $451,349 a year ago; the average condo price is $282,768 down slightly from $284,667 in 2009.

If you’re thinking about buying your timing might never been better, if you are selling and buying this is a beautiful move across market, investing in Calgary Real estate; the experts agree that this might be the best time since 1982 to reacquire real estate. The activity is better than the last 7 months and buyers are starting to ring our phones again. Timing could be perfect to reposition your real estate interests in this market (interest rates are great and inventory is plentiful).

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

With thanks Rod Forsythe

Keller Williams Real Estate

Email rod@rodforsythe.com tel. 403.777.1040

“It is choices not chances that creates our destiny”

Hello and Happy Holidays everyone,

I’ve been asked a number of times if it’s a good idea to wait until spring before listing your home. Some of our great listing clients are also asking if they should stay “on the market” throughout the holidays.

Statistically this is a good time of year to get your home sold and having spent my share of Christmas Eve’s working on successful offers. Here’ a list of reasons that I can think of to explain why it’s a good time of year to sell your home. If home sales run at 60% of the norm, that means there are still a lot of homes selling. Why not yours?

-If people are looking at your home during the holidays, you know they’re serious. Even more so if it’s snowing!

-Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays. Less competition means more money for you!

-Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in mid January giving buyers more choices, there may be less demand for your particular home.

-Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during the work week!

-You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days of holidays.

-You can sell now for more money and get a longer possession date.

-By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a subject free buyer as inventory levels increase. This may allow you to sell high and buy low during 2011, when many more homes are on the market.

If you’d like to discuss this further, give me a call at 403.777.1040

Have a wonderful Holiday Season,

The Forsythe team

Rod Forsythe, Stefan Safrata & Andrew Astles

Calgary Real Estate Report for November 2010 by Rod Forsythe

Calgary buyers remain in control of this market says “The Calgary Real estate Board”. Total home, condo and country residential sales are low compared to last year. The activity above $1,000,000 is the only part of the market that remains constant with 2009. Inventory on the market today is enough to last for 6 months without another listing coming onto the market.

The market seems a little better than July, August & September. Be careful waiting for prices to rise say the experts; because when spring arrives so will the all that pent up inventory and all those people refinancing from their 2006 purchases. Total inventory today sits at 5740. The average price for a home in November 2010 in Calgary is $455,469 down from $462,465 a year ago and the unit sales equaled 891 vs. 1095 in 2009; the average condo price is $297,327 up slightly from $289,155 in 2009 and total condo sales equaled 310 in 2010 vs. 504 in 2009.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling or investing in Calgary Real estate the experts seem to agree that this is a great time to reacquire real estate. It is clear there is some money starting to show up in our market again. Timing could be great to reposition yourself in this market (interest rates are great and inventory is plentiful).

“Do not wait; the time will never be ”just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
Napoleon Hill

If I can be of help please call or e-mail me  

Thank you,
Rod Forsythe Keller Williams Real Estate
Email. rod@rodforsythe.com / tel. 403.777.1040

Rod Forsythe’s Calgary Real Estate Report for October 2010

Calgary buyers remain cautious says “The Calgary Real estate Board” November 2010. Total home, condo and country residential sales are low compared to sales prior to 2008. The activity above $1,000,000 is the only part of the market that remains constant. The inventory is creeping up 10,473 total month end inventory for Oct 2010 compared to 7995 month end inventory in Oct 2009 and the buyers are in control. Interest rates remain low. If listings remain high the average price will adjust to the supply and demand.

The market is better than June 2010 when the total inventory was 13,500 today the inventory sits at 10,473. The average price for a home this October 2010 in Calgary is $444,744 down from $462,465 in October 2009, the average condo price is $287,793 down slightly from $289,155 in 2009.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling or investing in Calgary Real estate the experts agree that this might be the best time since 1982 to reacquire real estate. It is clear there is some money starting to show up in our market again. Timing could be great reposition your real estate in this market (interest rates are great and inventory is plentiful).

Net Migration and Natural Increase for Calgary from 2009-2010:
• From April 2009 to April 2010, 4,154 more people moved away from Calgary than moved to Calgary. The last time Calgary experienced a negative net migration was 1992 when the net migration was (-853).
• Natural increase (the result of births over deaths) continued to be a source of growth at 10,214, up 571 from last year’s figure of 9,643.

• Housing
• The number of housing units, both existing and under construction, increased to 445,455 up from 438,663. This is an increase of 6,792 from April 2009.
• The number of vacant dwelling units in Calgary increased from 13,012 in 2009 to 16,929 in 2010. The overall vacancy rate in the city is 3.93%, up from 3.08% in April 2009.
• There are now 414,185 occupied dwellings. Of this number, 292,627 or 70.65% are owner-occupied. In 2009, the comparable percentage was 71.14%.
The Civic Census Results Book (re-designed for 2010) will be available online at calgary.ca/census.

The only way to predict the future is to invent it yourself.
-Alan Kay

With thanks Rod Forsythe Keller Williams Real Estate
email. rod@rodforsythe.com tel. 403.777.1040

Total sales, home, acreage and condos.
Calgary’s real estate market is stalled. Maybe now we are beginning to feel the slowdown. Remember Calgary’s stalled market would be a boom market in the USA. May, June and July 2010 are the lowest combined period for sales going back to the early eighties. Inventory is creeping up and our local Real Estate Board President Elect feels this could take some time to get back to normal.

We are in a buyers market. The forecast is slow or no growth for the rest of the year, there is enough inventory on the market to last 6 to 8 months without another property being listed for sale. The average price for a single family home in July 2010 based on about 920 sales is $464.655 and the median price based the same square footage says $433,260 sq ft. Condos Average price is based on 396 sales is $291,157 and the median price is $275,080.

The activity in the Luxury Home & Acreage market is still above last years sales numbers. This shift in upper end sales is a welcome relief in 2010.

Today when only 10% to 12% of properties listed are selling well priced homes are taking advantage of this cycle. Moving up in a down market creates great opportunities for families in the future. The uncertainty and availability of the current inventory have put the buyers in control. The market has no magic pill to turn around anytime soon, we have lots of inventory without another listing coming into the market.

Price, position and reality are required to sell your home in this market.

If I can be of assistance then please give me a call,
Rod Forsythe/ July 2010
E-mail- rod@rodforsythe.com tel. 403.777.1040

Keller Williams, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Helping People buy and sell since 1986/ Locally Known & Globally Connected