Courtesy of Leigh Johnston

Leigh Johnston Associate, REALTOR® Real Estate Services with Integrity & Committment

FOCUS real estate

780-920-4163

leighjohnston@royallepage.ca

Edmonton Photo Courtesy of

Serving Edmonton, Sherwood Park & Surrounding Areas

www.ck-photography.ca

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 11

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19/08/2019 3:14:24 PM

AVERAGE SALE PRICE

Edmonton, November 2, 2023: Total residential unit sales in the Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) real estate market for October 2023 came to 1,812, decreasing from September 2023 by 12.0%, but showing an increase of 21.0% over October 2022. New residential listings amounted to 2,753, which is 8.8% lower than September 2023, and 5.8% higher than October 2022. Overall inventory in the GEA showed decreases of 12.7% from October of last year and 4.9% from September 2023. Total residential average prices came in at $396,550, a 0.6% increase from September 2023. Detached homes averaged $486,751, amounting to a 1.8% year-over-year increase. Row/ townhouse prices were down 3.1% from September 2023, selling at an average of $258,779. Apartment Condominium average prices hit $203,663 showing increases of 11.8% from last month and 8.9% from last year. “We’ve seen in other markets what a low supply of inventory can do to home prices,” says REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton 2023 Board Chair Melanie Boles. “And that applies on a smaller scale to any market during the colder season. There are buyers who can’t wait until spring when more properties become available, and they’re willing to spend more on the right place. But until we see interest rates come down, for many people those detached homes are still out of reach.” Overall, all residential listings averaged 46 days on the market, increasing by two days month-over-month and dropping by four days in comparison to October 2022. Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton DESPITE INTEREST RATE WORRIES, LOW INVENTORY CAUSES INCREASE IN AVERAGE SALE PRICES

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

ROW/ TOWNHOUSE

APARTMENT CONDO

$203,663 $486,751 $258,779

DOWN 0.6% YOY

UP 1.8% YOY

UP 8.9% YOY

SALES TO LISTINGS RATIO

NEW LISTINGS TOTAL 2,753 ACTIVE LISTINGS TOTAL 6,259

66%

ALL RESIDENTIAL

SOLD LISTINGS TOTAL 1,812

DAYS ON MARKET

43 42

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

ROW/TOWNHOUSE

61

APARTMENT CONDO

DIRECTIONS 1.

WINTER SQUASH SOUP

Preheat oven to 425˚F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment. 2. Combine cider vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt in a small sauce pan and simmer until reduced by half. Set aside. 3. Toss cubed squash with 2 Tbs olive oil, spread on the prepared baking sheets, season with salt and pepper and roast until edges are caramelized, about 30 minutes. 4. While squash is roasting, preheat a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Adjust to medium low and add 2 Tbs olive oil and onion. Sauté and allow onion to “melt” over low heat, about 5-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add spices and stir to coat. Add carrot and celery, raise heat to medium and sauté until sweating, then add apple and cook until fragrant and slightly tender. 5. Add squash to pot, stir to combine and add vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer. 6. Working in batches, purée mixture in a blender until creamy and smooth. Be careful while blending hot ingredients. 7. Return soup to pot and bring to a simmer. Add cider vinegar reduction, stir to combine. Adjust salt and pepper to suit taste. Serve and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS • 2 lbs butternut or other seasonal squash, peeled, seeds removed and cubed • 4 Tbs olive oil • ½ cup cider vinegar • 1 Tbs sugar • 1 medium onion, chopped • 2 stalks celery, chopped • 1 medium carrot, chopped • 2 apples, core removed and chopped

• 3 tsp ground ginger • ½ tsp cinnamon • ¼ tsp five spice powder • ¼ tsp (scant) ground nutmeg • 2-32 oz containers vegetable stock • Kosher Sea Salt • Fresh ground pepper • Crusty Bread- toasted for serving

Courtesy of Feedtheswimmers.com

WINTER JOKES What kind of ball doesn’t bounce? A snowball. How does a snowman get to work? By icicle. Which side of a polar bear has the most fur? The outside. Why do birds fly south for the winter? Because it’s too far to walk. Why do programmers love winter? Because there are no bugs...

One kind word can warm three winter months.

- Japanese Proverb

When you’re thinking of how long winter seems to be, remember this Japanese Proverb and share some kindness with a friend, loved one, neighbour or stranger. It won’t cost you anything and will make both you and the recipient feel warm.

ENHANCE YOUR CURB APPEAL

When your home is on the market, the first impression the buyer is going to have is from your online photos. Probably the first photo will be of the exterior of your home. If you want to have potential buyers click through to read the full listing and see the rest of the home in person, you’re going to need to make sure your photo shows your home in its best light. Curb appeal is extremely important year-round. And even though there is the potential for a foot of snow to cover everything, enhance the curb appeal of your home with a few small changes. In all photos and whenever possible before showings, clear the driveway or sidewalk of snow and ice. Keeping these areas maintained is not only safest, but it is sure to leave a positive impression on anyone viewing your property. You’ll also want to look over the yard and remove any foliage debris that didn’t get taken care of in the fall. Broken branches, unruly weeds, piles of leaves should be removed as the yard will look better and show you care for your home and property which buyers will appreciate. Another way to add care and warmth to your home is by creating adequate lighting along pathways, doors and around the yard. The more a buyer can see, the better they can visualize themselves in the space in the warmer months. Finally, little things like updating the house numbers, having limited seasonal décor on the porch and investing in a sturdy and tasteful welcome mat will not necessarily be seen in photos, but will leave viewers smiling when they step onto your porch.

WINTER SAFETY DRIVING TIPS

Canadians often joke about driving in the winter and how they can do it in their sleep, so to speak. However, if you’re new to driving or new to driving in snow and poor road conditions due to a recent move, there are some pretty basic do’s and don’ts to follow to make your winter trips safer and less stressful. First, before even getting in the vehicle, use the facilities, pack a snack and water and ensure your winter safety kit is stocked and accessible. Ideally, you’ll have winter tires on your vehicle as well because they are made to keep their elasticity and grip at low temperatures which means more traction for you. Also be sure to brush, or scrape, off any snow or ice that has accumulated on your vehicle. It will not only allow you to see better, but also prevent snow from disturbing the drivers around you as it blows off your moving vehicle.

Making a small, yet impactful change to the look of your room can be quick, easy and cost effective. The easiest way is to change out decor items - get new storage baskets, replace your candles or vases, get new throw pillows, etc. If you want to take it a step further, here are five easy and relatively low-cost changes you can make this weekend that go beyond purchasing new decor. 1. Apply wallpaper to, or paint, the panels on your interior doors. For doors that don’t have pre-made panels, change the colour or texture of the entire door, or just a rectangle in the middle. 2. Change your lampshades and/or paint the bases of your lamps. Either way, it will look like you went and purchased new lamps when really you just gave them a makeover. 3. Change your light fixtures. You can add a chandelier to your ceiling light in the kitchen or incorporate a square design if your light fixture covers used to be round or vice versa. Add colour to your wall sconces or track lighting to really make a statement. 4. Install decorative vent covers. There are so many options on the market today including the option to purchase custom designed vent covers to make those household necessities into works of art. 5. Upgrade the legs on your furniture. If your table, bed, chair or sofa legs aren’t a permanent piece of the frame, you can replace them entirely. Or, you can purchase covers that change the look to match more with other furniture, or to stand out completely. Once on the roads, you generally want to give yourself more space between the vehicle in front of you so you have more room to stop, but also to react if someone in the next lane skids or loses traction on a patch of ice, for instance. Avoiding sudden braking and turning to help prevent yourself from skidding on snow or ice and definitely adjust your speed to the road conditions. If you stay with the flow of traffic by not going too fast or too slow, you should be safe. Finally, experts say to avoid using cruise control in poor road conditions and to be cautious when relying on other driver assistance technologies (such as lane keeping assistance and blind spot warning) as they may not function properly or accurately with precipitation falling. Review your vehicle’s owner’s manual for instructions on these technologies as well as Electronic Braking Control (standard on vehicles made since 2012.) FIVE WAYS TO REFRESH A ROOM

CRYPTO-QUOTE

Courtesy of www.puzzlechoice.com

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SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES TO INVEST IN

J H X I

Q O P S W Z M E B

It’s probably safe to assume you have at least one small kitchen gadget that you rely on to make your life easier. But with so many different tools and gadgets on the market, how do you know which ones will fit in with your lifestyle? Here are a few small kitchen appliances you can invest in and try for yourself: Food processor: a little more versatile than your average blender, a food processor can puree, chop, blend or even grate food, dressings and sauces. Most are dishwasher safe too making clean-up a breeze. Food steamer: using steam to cook vegetables, fish and even meat can mean a healthier diet as steaming food tends to keep the nutrients intact without affecting the taste and texture. Air fryer: if fried foods are a staple in your home, an air fryer cuts down on the oil needed to fry foods and can greatly reduce cooking time and energy used. Slow cooker: because they come in a variety of sizes, slow cookers can meet the needs and budget of nearly everyone. They’re great for soups, stews and other comfort foods that cook all day while the flavours blend together. Instant pot: essentially an electric pressure cooker, instant pots can make anything from cheesecake to roast to yogurt. Just be warned, you’ll be shocked the first time you release the air vent. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Panini press: this is a great tool to have on hand if you like warm sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas and similar foods. Most panini presses can also grill food like vegetables and meat. A great alternative in the winter months when a BBQ may not be accessible. ROYAL L e PAGE NORALTA REAL ESTATE Office: 780-467-7334 148 - 2755 Broadmoor Blvd Sherwood Park, AB T8H 2W7 LEIGH JOHNSTON

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- Confucius

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

Answer:

Visit www.royallepagenoralta.ca for currently listed homes in and around the Edmonton area.

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