Courtesy of Samantha Schmidt

Your Local Real Estate Expert.

Samantha Schmidt

REALTOR ®

780.221.6832

FOCUS real estate

samanhtas@royallepage.ca www.samanthaschmidt.ca

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5

AVERAGE SALE PRICE

Edmonton, September 4, 2019 - Total residential unit sales in the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) real estate market for the month of August 2019 dropped 6.38% compared to August 2018. The number of new residential listings is also down, dropping 4.73% from August 2018, and overall inventory in the Edmonton CMA fell 12.21% from August of last year. Single family home unit sales are down 9.01%, while condo unit sales dropped 3.05%, and unit sales of duplexes fell 4.40% from the same period of time last year. All residential average prices remained stable at $367,339, similar to August 2018, and are virtually unchanged from July 2019. Single family homes sold for an average of $434,634, a 2.24% year-over-year increase from August 2018, and a 1.14% increase from July 2019. Condominiums sold for an average of $234,480, a 5.16% drop year-over-year, but an increase of 5.19% from the previous month. Duplexes are up 7.00% from last year to $354,455, which was a 6.34% increase from the previous month. “Edmonton real estate prices have remained relatively stable” says REALTORS® Association of Edmonton Chair Michael Brodrick. “Single family home pricing is virtually unchanged, condos are up 5.19% from last month, while duplexes increased 7.00% year-over-year.” Single family homes averaged 57 days on the market, a one day decrease from last year. Condos spent one day longer on the market, from 73 to 74 days, while duplexes averaged 61 days on market, a two day decrease from August 2018. Overall, all residential listings averaged 62 days on market, a 1.59% decrease year-over-year, and remained the same as the previous month. Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton AUGUST RESIDENTIAL PRICES REMAIN STABLE DESPITE DROP IN SALES

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

DUPLEX/ ROWHOUSE

CONDO

$354,455

$234,480

$434,634

DOWN 5.16% YOY

UP 2.24% YOY

UP 7.00% YOY

SALES TO LISTINGS RATIO

NEW LISTINGS TOTAL 3,043 ACTIVE LISTINGS TOTAL 8,818

ALL RESIDENTIAL

SOLD LISTINGS TOTAL 1,571

DAYS ON MARKET

57

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

74

CONDO

61

DUPLEX/ROWHOUSE

THREE EASY LUNCHES YOU CAN MAKE THE NIGHT BEFORE MINI SANDWICHES Ingredients: Bread, peanut butter (or an alternative), jelly. Directions: Make like a regular sandwich, cut into bite-sized squares, store in fridge overnight. LEMONY PASTA SALAD Ingredients: Cooked orzo, lemon juice, olive oil, frozen spinach. Directions: Combine ingredients in a small container, let cool, store in fridge overnight. NO-BAKE FRUIT AND NUT BALLS Ingredients: 1/2 dried apricots, 1/4 cup prunes, 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 2 tbsp chia seeds. Directions: Combine ingredients in food processor and blend, roll into balls, store in fridge overnight.

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

QUOTE “You have to be odd to be number one.” – Dr. Suess (Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American children’s author, who also worked as a political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, screenwriter and filmmaker. He is best known for writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.)

WEIGHT FOR THE BIRDS! Do you know how much a bald eagle nest weighs? How about a hummingbird? What do you think weighs more… a bird’s bones or their feathers? Answers to these weighty questions below! • The biggest bald eagle nests weigh up to 4,000 pounds. • Some hummingbirds weigh less than a penny. • Many birds’ feathers weigh more than their bones.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN VIEWING A HOME

Looking for a new home is exciting and its easy to get caught up on paint colours and flooring. But those features can easily be changed once you’ve made a purchase. Instead, keep an eye out for these five things instead. 1. Is there rust on the HVAC, water heater or other large appliances? If so, this could indicate the home hasn’t been well maintained. 2. Are the roof’s shingles curling or are there any missing? A rough looking exterior roof could mean water has gotten through to the structure or attic below. 3. Do any of the interior doors look tilted? Tilted doors might be a sign of bigger structural issues. 4. Does any part of the home smell musty or are the window sills soft? Moisture damage can be a serious problem – especially if mold has developed. 5. How’s the neighbourhood? Are the other houses well- maintained? Are a lot of other homes in the immediate area for sale as well? You aren’t just going to be living in the house – you’re going to be living in a community as well.

LIVING WALLS BRING GREENERY INDOORS

Looking to add more plants to your interior, but lack the extra space? Consider a living wall system, which you can either buy or build yourself. The most common at- home living wall is made of non-toxic felt and contains pockets where you insert plants such as herbs, lettuce and flowers. DIY versions can be constructed out of old pallets or other materials. If you’re in need of inspiration, head to Pinterest and be wowed by the endless ways homeowners have brought a little – or a lot – of green into their homes.

EVOLVING EDUCATION

Technological advancements, reliance on computers and the development of artificial intelligence and automation means the nature of work is evolving. And experts are saying education needs to evolve with it. But what does that look like? First of all, less emphasis will be put on a formal post-secondary education as individuals become highly skilled as self-taught coders, graphic designers and in other computer-based work. Talent comes in many forms and thanks to online learning platforms, workers are now able to acquire skills without attending university. Tech companies such as Google and Apple often train new employees through apprenticeship programs, much like electricians, carpenters and other trades have been doing for decades. The benefit of this approach is that students are able to earn an income as they learn, eliminating the loan debt that often bogs down a graduate of a traditional post-secondary program.

NATURE-INSPIRED FURNITURE AND DECOR If you love nature, you likely love nature-inspired home decor. And there are so many ways to use the materials and colours of the outdoors in your interior living spaces. If you don’t have these items yet,

consider incorporating them into your home. A wood- framed chair with the back and seat made out of woven leather or another strong textile brings the right blend of comfort and style. Seagrass baskets add a nice touch to bathrooms, bedrooms and living rooms and are extremely useful for storing odds and ends. And why decide on one shade of blue when you can have several? Nothing says sea and sky like an ombre throw blanket that fades from a navy blue to a blue so pale it’s nearly white.

BRAIN TEASER

ISLAND FRUITS

The four islands in the Tropicana group each produce a different type of fruit. Can you match each island name with the type of fruit produced, the island population (293, 305, 328, 402) and its location (A-D) in the chain? 1. The Kolahani islanders in habit the island west of but no immediately next to Holahu island. Holahu doesn’t produce bananas or pineapples and has a higher population than Wahani island. 2. Molaku island isn’t the one with a population of 293, nor is it the one immediately next to the island with a population of 293. 3. The islanders who grow bananas inhabit the island east of but no immediately next to the island of Kolahani. 4. The island at location D isn’t the one with the highest population. 5. Molaku island (which isn’t the one at location B) is the next island due west of the one where papaya fruit is grown. 6. The islanders who grow coconuts don’t inhabit the island immediately next to the one where bananas are grown.

TIPS ON SELLING YOUR HOME DURING BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON

Back-to-school season is already busy enough with everyone figuring out their new routine and shaking off the more laidback vibe of summer. Add selling a home into the mix and the sense of overwhelm can begin to feel insurmountable. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t list your home during the late summer and early fall months. Decluttering, easy storage solutions and involving the whole family in keeping the home tidy should help decrease the stress – and hopefully make your home selling mission a success! Depersonalize. Create a house that buyers can picture themselves in by taking down school photos and kids’ artwork and packing them away. You can display them proudly once you move to your new home. Use storage bins. Buy or make simple storage bins and keep them in your closets and under furniture. Label them by family member and instruct your kids to place their belongings in their dedicated bin whenever they aren’t using them. It doesn’t matter if inside the bin is messy – as long as the mess is contained! Don’t do it all yourself. If your kids are old enough to help out, give them specific jobs they need to accomplish in preparation for a showing. For example, it could be their job to pick up everything in their room and put it in the storage bin under their bed. Or perhaps they can be responsible for wiping down the bathroom or doing the dishes. Don’t be afraid to store things in your car. If a last minute showing has you feeling unprepared, grab a few bags or boxes and toss extra books, school supplies and toys inside – then stick them in your trunk. It’s not like the potential buyers will be looking there!

Island Name Fruit

Population Location (A-D)

Courtesy of www.puzzlechoice.com

D A C B

328 293 402 305

Coconuts Bananas Pineapples

Kolahani Molaku Wahani

Papaya

Holahu

Location (A-D)

Population

Fruit

Island Name

SOLUTIONS:

ROYAL L e PAGE NORALTA REAL ESTATE Office: 780-455-4181 200, 15057 Stony Plain Rd Edmonton, AB T5P 4W1 SAMANTHA SCHMIDT

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

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