Courtesy of Frank VanderBleek

Frankly The Best

FOCUS real estate

REALTOR ®

780.431.5600 frank@royallepage.ca | www.franklythebest.ca

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

AVERAGE SALE PRICE

Edmonton, March 2, 2023: Total residential unit sales in the Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) real estate market for February 2023 decreased 43.4% compared to February 2022 but saw an increase of 31.2% from January 2023. New residential listings were down 12.9% year-over-year from February 2022, while also noting an increase of 15.1% from January 2023. Overall inventory in the GEA was up 20.8% from February of last year, and up 8.5% from the previous month. For February, detached unit sales were down 50.9% from February 2022, but saw an increase of 24.4% from January 2023 at 725. Row/ Townhouse unit sales also decreased 33.9% year-over-year and increased 26.4% month-over-month. Apartment Condominium unit sales saw only a minimal decrease of 2.1% from February 2022 but increased 47.7% from the previous month. Total residential average prices hit $369,286, a 13% decrease from February 2022, and a 0.2% decrease from January 2023. Detached homes averaged $459,600, a 9% year-over-year decrease and a 1.8% increase from January 2023. Row/townhouse prices were down 4.3% from February 2022, but were up 1.4% month-over month, selling at $251,332. Apartment Condominium average prices hit $187,325, showing both a decrease of 0.1% year-over-year and 0.8% from last month. Detached homes averaged 54 days on the market, an 11-day decrease from January 2023. Row/Townhouses averaging 60 days on the market, a decrease of three days month-over-month. Apartment condominiums averaged 65 days on market, showing a large decrease of 17 days from January 2023. Overall, all residential listings averaged 57 days on the market, increasing by 10 days year over-year and dropping nine days from January 2023. EDMONTON HOUSING SALES SEE STRONG MONTH-OVER-MONTH INCREASES

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

ROW/ TOWNHOUSE

APARTMENT CONDO

$251,332

$187,325

$459,600

DOWN 0.1% YOY

DOWN 9.0% YOY

DOWN 4.3% YOY

SALES TO LISTINGS RATIO

NEW LISTINGS TOTAL 2,579 ACTIVE LISTINGS TOTAL 5,686

50%

ALL RESIDENTIAL

SOLD LISTINGS TOTAL 1,291

DAYS ON MARKET

54

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

65

APARTMENT CONDO

Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton

60

ROW/TOWNHOUSE

CHICKEN WITH CREAMY MUSHROOMS AND SNAP PEAS

Courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 200°F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Dredge 2 chicken cutlets in flour, shake off any excess and place in the skillet. Cook until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes per side; transfer to a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the other 2 chicken cutlets. Cover the dish loosely with foil; place in the oven while you prepare the vegetables. 2. Add the butter to the hot skillet, then add the scallions and mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms brown, about 4 minutes. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the cream and boil until the sauce thickens slightly, 3 to 4 more minutes. Stir in the snap peas and heat through, season with salt and pepper. Serve the chicken topped with the creamy vegetables.

INGREDIENTS: 4 chicken cutlets (about 1 1/4 pounds), patted dry Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil All-purpose flour, for dredging 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 scallions thinly sliced

8 ounces mushrooms (button, cremini, shiitake or a combination), quartered 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 3/4 cup heavy cream 2 cups sugar snap peas stemmed and halved lengthwise

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

BRAIN TEASERS Courtesy of www.goodhousekeeping.com

Henry William Williamson (1895 – 1977) was an English writer who wrote novels concerned with wildlife, English social history and ruralism. He was awarded the Hawthornden Prize for literature in 1928 for his book “Tarka the Otter.” He was born in London and raised in a semi-rural area where he developed a love of nature, and nature writing. Music comes from an icicle as it melts, to live again as spring water. -Henry Williamson

1. What is the longest word in the dictionary? 2. Throw away the outside and cook the inside, then eat the outside and throw away the inside. What is it? 3. What has hands but cannot clap? 4. Four cars come to a four-way stop, each coming from a different direction. They can’t decide who got there first, so they all go forward at the same time. All 4 cars go, but none crash into each other. How is this possible?

3. A clock. 4. They all made right-hand turns

1. Smiles, because there is a mile between each ‘s’. 2. Corn on the cob.

Answers:

HIRING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER OR AN INTERIOR DECORATOR

Moving into a new home affords you the opportunity to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, make you and your family comfortable and provide functionality. For some, this comes easily and doesn’t require a second thought. For others, it’s a struggle that warrants the hiring of a professional. But what professional do you need exactly? If your goal is to have your home look a specific way – minimalistic, country chic, contemporary, rustic – your best course of action is to consult with an Interior Decorator. These experts use décor, paint colour, flooring and furniture to make a space look put together and attractive. Ask for their portfolio with examples of past work as well as references of past clients to ensure their skillset suits your needs. On the other hand, if you want the spaces in your home to function a certain way, you will want to consult an Interior Designer. Designers take a more holistic approach, envisioning and designing the space from scratch. A designer’s focus is more involved with core elements such as architecture, structure and functionality. They often have professional certification and can use knowledge and experience to create living spaces that meet your family’s specific needs.

THE BEST TYPES OF FRUIT TREES TO GROW IN CANADA

Trees are amazing: they provide shade, serve as home to birds and squirrels, convert carbon dioxide into life-enabling oxygen, and can produce a vast range of delectable treats. While many different types of fruit trees can grow in Canada, the two most popular are apple and pear. Apple trees are especially popular in Canada as they require little maintenance aside from the pruning of dead wood and the removal of dropped excess fruit. Apple trees benefit from the colder climate and therefore thrive in all regions of the country. Unlike with other types of fruit or flowers, apples can grow even when there is snow on the ground or frost late into the spring. Apple trees are also suited to any size or shape of yard regardless of climate or soil. If desired, you can even plant your apple tree in a pot. Pear trees are also extremely hardy and thrive in the Canadian climate. They can even be planted in proximity to apple trees, turning any suitable space into a mini orchard. Unlike with apple trees, pear trees will bloom earlier in the season, and will continue to bear fruit earlier in the summer – providing a visual display of blooms and a tasty supply of fruit for months. Pear trees are also heat resistant and will endure weather extremes that would kill other trees. Pear trees are rugged enough to survive virtually any climactic issue including droughts, high heat and excessive humidity. Pear trees can be planted anywhere in your yard, regardless of the available sunlight. As with apple trees, pear trees can also be grown in pots, a tribute to the species’ resilience and versatility.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR YOUR NEW HOME

While it may sound easy, choosing a neighbourhood to live in can be a much harder task than you first imagine. After all, if you buy a house you’re going to be in that area for a long time. Making a commitment like that deserves as much planning and research beforehand as possible. Here are some criteria you might want to consider when settling on a neighbourhood to live in.

Noise? You may not think about sound, but background noises can impact the enjoyment of an area. If you like a certain section of the community, but realize a busy highway, railway tracks, airport or industrial facility are nearby, that could have a very unpleasant influence on your day-to-day existence. You don’t want to move into your new home to only discover that freight trains are at their busiest at 3:00am. Streetlights? Much like background sound may not be uppermost in your mind when house-hunting, how well an area is served by lighting could be another factor you’ve not considered. Visiting a selected area during the day won’t provide much information about this overlooked feature, but a trip through the neighbourhood at night will.

Safety? You’ll want to know that you and your family are going to be safe in your new home. Check with city hall or the local police department to determine what areas of a community have the lowest crime rates. If you narrow your search to a few select areas, do a walk around on your own. Talk to local shopkeepers and others who live and work in the area to get their opinion. They are likely willing to share experiences and thoughts with you. Transit? Not everyone owns a car. If going to school or to work requires travel, it’s important to learn beforehand where the local transit routes are. If you’re a regular user, ensure you’re comfortable with the distance to connect with your ride.

WORD FIT Courtesy of www.freeprintablepuzzles.co.uk A word fit is a bit like a crossword, except that instead of clues we give you the answers, and your challenge is to fit them into the spaces.

Words to fit:

•

Badger

• Monkey • Gorilla • Rat

• Lion • Reindeer • Elephant

AN ‘A TO C’ LOOK AT SOME COMMON REAL ESTATE TERMS

Real estate is a complicated business and like with any distinctive profession includes its own unique jargon and terminology. Here is a sampler, covering some of the more common real estate terms. But those just in the categories of A to C. • Adjustable-rate mortgage: A mortgage loan of this type comes with an interest rate that can change throughout the loan’s lifetime. • Buyer’s agent: An agent that works strictly with buyers to find and purchase properties. • Comparative market analysis (CMA): A process used by agents to determine the approximate value of a home based on the sale prices of similar properties in the area. CMAs help sellers set a listing price. • Contract: A written and legally binding agreement between a buyer and seller outlining the details of a real estate transaction. • Curb appeal: The appearance and overall attractiveness of a property’s exterior.

Answer:

ROYAL L e PAGE NORALTA REAL ESTATE Off ice: 780-431-5600 3018 Calgary Trai l NW Edmonton, AB T6J 6V4 Frank VanderBleek

Visit www.royal lepagenoralta.ca for currently l isted homes in and around the Edmonton area.

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