According to the latest Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) annual forecast the Ontario housing market is making a comeback! 

A rebound is expected by the latter half of 2023, with an increase in home prices and sales after months of declines. 

What does this mean for potential buyers and sellers?

The following are the key takeaways of what to expect going forward:

1. The average home price for the year is expected to reach $1,140,000, which is higher than January's average price of $1,038,668 ( albeit still 4% lower than last year's average).

2. The board forecasts 70,000 sales this year. Still 7% fewer than last year, however, all indicators are predicting it will stabilize and will continue to increase into next year.

3. TRREB cites an Ipsos poll showing that more would-be buyers are considering buying a property this year than last year, and a slightly higher percentage of homeowners planning to put their homes up for sale.

4. Even though TRREB expects activity to remain slow in the first half of the year owing to relatively high mortgage rates, it predicts that rates of fixed-mortgage products will start falling this year, which will increase demand for housing. 

Lastly, the Canadian labour market has remained relatively healthy, adding 150,000 jobs in January, and given that Canada plans to take in another record number of immigrants, will definitely put pressure for more housing, translating into higher prices and sales.

Therefore, before the market gets too hot, would-be-buyers should act now to realize a dream home reality, before it becomes too late.

Working With a Trusted Real Estate Agent

Thinking of buying a home? With 15 years of experience, Sue Heddle Homes has what it takes to help you find your ideal home and location. From sharing key information about specific areas to knowing how to negotiate the best price, Sue is the only experienced realtor you need. If you’re thinking of starting your home search, give us a call at 416-906-7998 and let’s talk.

It’s been common past practice to add a synthetic air freshener to your Oakville home when you’re trying to make it smell pleasant for a showing. However, if you’re doing so in the hopes of improving the chances of selling your home, you might want to think twice. 

Smell is one of our most important senses and is closely linked with memory. Good smells can evoke happy memories and experiences while bad smells can do the opposite. Smell is also highly emotive, meaning different fragrances can convey a vast array of emotions and feelings. So, it should be no surprise that smell can come into play when you’re trying to sell your home.

Increasingly, more and more people find it difficult to tolerate synthetic perfumes, which can come across as overpowering and uninviting. If you use one in your home, there’s a good chance that a potential buyer may be sensitive to these types of scents, making it hard for them to make it past the front entrance, let alone be able to really get a sense of whether or not your home is right for them.

Three Simple Ways To Add Pleasant Scents To Your Home 

Give your prospective buyers extra incentive to purchase your house by making it smell like a home they can see themselves in. Your goal is to make every guest feel like they belong. By using scents that evoke only the best memories and feelings, you may end up adding the factor you need to make the sale.  Keep reading for some suggestions from Sue Heddle Homes on how to use scent to help sell your home without relying on synthetic products.

Now, before you make the effort to include some pleasant scents as part of your selling strategy, it’s best to make sure you don’t have any negative scents working against you! Empty every garbage, make sure the laundry hampers are emptied too, make sure appliances are clean inside and out (especially front-loading washers which can develop a mildew smell), and use natural/unscented cleaning products. 

1 - Essential Oils.

In addition to offering a lovely smell, essential oils have many health benefits as well. For example, peppermint oil has been known to reduce stress, tension and headaches. While lavender oil is thought to be a great way to relieve anxiety. All of these are exactly the emotions you want potential buyers to feel when they are in your home. Avoid using strong scents that can have a polarizing effect such as patchouli, sandalwood, or ylang-ylang. Other great options include grapefruit, rose, or bergamot. These smells can evoke the atmosphere of a luxury spa.

2 - Fresh Flowers.

This may be the simplest option, as it’s easy to run out to a florist and pick up a beautiful bouquet. Not only will flowers add to the visual appeal of your home, but the scent of fresh roses, for example, can often encourage people feel happy and relaxed.

3 - Open The Windows.

If you have time before a showing, open all the windows for 15 minutes or so. Yes, even in winter! Outside air can do wonders when it comes to removing unwanted odours from a home and leave the space feeling fresh. If it is cool outside, you can close the windows back up after a few minutes, which will still give the home time to warm up before prospective buyers arrive. 

Sell Your Home With Sue Heddle Homes

For more tips on selling your home, contact Sue Heddle Homes. Sue Heddle is an experienced Oakville realtor that always goes the extra mile to ensure her client’s get the results they want from the sale of their home. From free home staging, to understanding that the little things really do matter, working with Sue Heddle Homes will reduce the stress that often comes with real estate transactions. Call Sue today at (416) 906-7998 – we’re ready to help you sell your home!