It is being held on the following dates:

January 28, 2012 10:00 am-12:00 pm
February 25, 2012 10:00 am-12:00 pm
March 31, 2012 10:00 am-12:00 pm
April 28, 2012 10:00 am-12:00 pm
May 26, 2012 10:00 am-12:00 pm
June 23, 2012 10:00 am-12:00 pm

For more information check out the Bruce County Museum’s website.

Canadian residential real estate defied conventional logic and outperformed expectations in 2011, posting another solid year of housing activity virtually across the board.  The trend is expected to carry forward into 2012 as Canadians continue to demonstrate their faith in homeownership, despite concerns over the European debt crisis and its impact on the global economy, according to a report released by RE/MAX. 

The RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook 2012 examined trends and developments in 26 major markets across the country.  Eighty-eight per cent (23/26) anticipated average price increases by year-end 2011—with percentage hikes ranging from one to 16 per cent. The forecast for 2012 shows the upward trend moderating, but still ahead of 2011 figures.  Overall home sales are expected to remain on par or ahead of last year’s levels in 85 per cent (22/26) of markets in 2011—including Saskatoon with a year-over-year percentage increase of 13 per cent and an eight per cent uptick in Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton-Burlington and Sudbury.   Almost half of Canadian markets will match the 2011 performance, while the remainder should post increases ranging from one to five per cent next year. 

By year-end 2011, an estimated 460,000 homes are expected to change hands, up three per cent from the 447,010 units reported in 2010.  Sales are expected to climb one per cent to 464,500 units in 2012.  The value of a Canadian home is set to climb to $363,000 this year—an increase of seven per cent over the $339,030 posted one year ago.  By year-end 2012, the average price in Canada is forecast to appreciate two per cent to $371,000.

The Canadian housing market has demonstrated tremendous resilience in recent years, but 2011 stands out.  Instead of responding to economic concerns both here and abroad with a retreat in sales and prices, residential real estate markets actually experienced an upswing in the volatile third and final quarters.  While clearly not impervious to the impact, Canadian consumers are intent on making their moves now, in advance of higher housing values and rising interest rates down the road.

Improvement in both provincial and local economies, especially during the second half of 2012, should serve to further stimulate home-buying activity.  Calgary, Saskatoon, and Halifax-Dartmouth will likely lead the country in unit sales in 2012, each with a projected increase of five per cent.  Regina, Greater Toronto, Saint John, Moncton, and St. John’s anticipate a three per cent increase in home sales next year.

The economic underpinnings support ongoing demand, particularly as job creation efforts continue and unemployment rates edge down further.  Nationally, we remain on an upward track, and the confidence consumers have demonstrated in housing over the past decade will prove well founded once again next year.  The rising belief in homeownership is key, especially among Generation X and Y—some of whom are making their moves sooner.  Boomers and retirees are changing, too. They’re healthier and more active, with longer life expectancy.  Overall, we’re seeing an extension of the homeownership cycle, and it’s great news for housing.

While tighter supply levels contributed to steady price appreciation in most major markets across Canada this year, an increase in inventory more in line with years previous should ease upward pressure on average price in the year ahead.  The highest appreciation is expected in Regina, where values are forecast to increase eight per cent, followed by Greater Toronto, Halifax-Dartmouth, and St, John’s—each posting a five per cent gain. Overall, 81 per cent of the markets examined are forecast to set new records for average price next year.  Noteworthy milestones include Greater Vancouver, which will break the $800,000 threshold, as well as Regina and Kitchener-Waterloo, which will reach the $300,000 mark.

While prices will remain on the upswing, buyers will benefit from greater selection moving forward.  Stability or modest growth will characterize sales activity while GDP moves forward at a more muted pace in 2012.  Whether markets will meet or potentially exceed projections will hinge largely on consumer confidence.  An unexpected call for interest rate hikes could also serve to bolster sales.

Other highlights include:

• Population growth and immigration are major factors expected to prop-up housing demand and household formation in the coming years.  Since 2000, Canada’s population has experienced double-digit growth of 11 per cent.  By 2031, over 42 million people are expected to call Canada home.
• Investment will also continue in Canada’s major centres, with income-producing properties at the top of the most wanted list.  Low vacancy rates and stock market volatility reinvigorated this segment of the market in 2011 and the very same factors are forecast to influence sales moving forward.
• Condominiums are expected to gain an increasing share of the marketplace, particularly in Western Canada and Ontario.  A focus on higher density urban growth is impacting purchasing patterns and introducing new, affordable options—critical to the attainability of homeownership as prices continue to move upward.
• Housing stock in major Canadian centres will improve as municipalities focus on redevelopment and revitalization.

RE/MAX is Canada’s leading real estate organization with over 18,500 sales associates situated throughout its more than 700 independently-owned and operated offices in Canada.  The RE/MAX network, now in its 38th year, is a global real estate system operating in 80 countries, with over 6,200 independently-owned offices and over 89,000 member sales associates.  RE/MAX realtors lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, and asset management.  For more information, visit: www.remax.ca.

Kincardine BIA Hometown Christmas on Friday, November 18, 2011. Come to downtown Kincardine between 6pm and 10pm to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, have a horse-drawn haywagon ride, see the reindeer and miniature horses, a live nativity scene and the Grinch and Blinky! There will also be carolling by the Kincardine Community Singers and food, refreshments and free Christmas treats. 

Trillium Court’s Annual Christmas Bazaar on Thursday, November 24, 2011. From 11am to 3pm at Trillium Court in Kincardine. There will be a wide variety of vendors, and lots of food items available.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas Yard Sale on Saturday, November 26, 2011. Sale starts at 8am and runs until 1pm and is happening at the Kincardine United Church. No items will be priced, you are asked to make a donation for any of the items you would like.                                                               You can donate any of your unwanted Christmas items to the sale on Friday November 25^th from 4-8pm at the Kincardine United Church. You can also make an appointment to drop any items off by calling Jody 519-396-5130 or email bbbskincardine@hotmail.com. They are also looking for baked goods donated for their bake table and jently used winter jackets for children and youth in their agency. The sizes range up to mens XL.

Kincardine Santa Claus Parade on Saturday December 3, 2011. The parade starts at the Zehrs plaza at 6:30pm and will follow through Queen Street and end at Victoria Park. This year’s theme is ‘A Christmas Carol.” For more information or if you would like to register a float contact the Kincardine Chamber of Commerce at 519-396-9333. Re/Max will have free hot chocolate and cider outside their office, so stop by to warm up!

Highlights:

• Sales activity rose 2.7 per cent in September from the previous month.
• Holding in line with the ten-year average, activity during the first nine months of this year pulled ahead of sales over the same period last year.
• The number of newly listed homes held steady when compared to the previous month.
• The national housing market tightened in September from the month before, but remains firmly entrenched in balanced territory.
• The national average price posted the smallest year-over-year increase since January.

National sales activity rose 2.7 per cent in September when compared to August, and follows three months of stable activity. September’s increase reflects strengthened activity in a number of major markets, led by Toronto. The monthly increase pushed national sales to its highest level since recently tightened mortgage regulations dampened sales earlier this year.

Actual (not seasonally adjusted) national sales activity came in 11 per cent above levels in September 2010. As was the case over the summer, the year-over-year increase reflects weakened activity one year ago.

A total of 361,749 homes have traded hands via Canadian MLS® Systems to date this year. This is 1.2 per cent above levels for the same period in 2010, and in line with the ten-year average.

“The Canadian housing market remains a bright spot against a backdrop of mixed headline news about the global economy,” said Gary Morse, CREA President. “Low mortgage rates continue to draw buyers to the housing market, while recently tightened mortgage regulations are working as intended. That said, housing market trends often diverge from national trends due to local factors, so buyers and sellers should talk to a local REALTOR® to understand housing market trends at play where they live.”

The number of newly listed homes nationally was little changed from each of the previous two months. New listings were up from the previous month in a number of major markets including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Oakville and Vancouver, offset by fewer new listings in other markets including Edmonton and the Fraser Valley.

The monthly rise in sales resulted in a tighter national housing market that remains firmly planted in balanced territory. The national sales-to-new listings ratio, a measure of market balance, stood at 52.8 per cent in September, up from 51.6 per cent in August.

Based on a sales-to-new listings ratio of between 40 to 60 percent, nearly two-thirds of all local markets in Canada were in balanced market territory in September, with an even split of buyer’s and seller’s markets among the remainder.

The number of months of inventory stood at 6.1 months at the end of September on a national basis, little changed from the end of August (6.2 months). It represents the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity, and is another measure of balance between housing supply and demand. Months of inventory have held steady at about six months since April.

The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average price for homes sold in September 2011 stood at just under $352,600, remaining below record level heights reached earlier this year. While up 6.5 per cent from September 2010, the year-over-year increase is the smallest since January.

“Canada’s housing market remains stable amid continuing financial market volatility, contributing to Canadians’ confidence in the economy and providing support for Canadian economic growth,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “Interest rates are expected to remain low for longer, and evidence suggests that recent changes to mortgage regulations are preventing the kind of excesses they were designed to avert. Both of these developments are good news for the housing market.”

Overall, sales activity and prices remained stronger than expected in the second quarter. Sales momentum was also better than expected heading into the third quarter. As a result, the 2011 national forecasts for sales activity and average price have been raised slightly.

National sales activity is forecast to reach 450,800 units in 2011, up less than one per cent from levels in 2010. CREA had previously forecast a decline of about one per cent for activity in 2011. Erosion in affordability due to higher prices has prompted a small downward revision to the outlook for sales in 2012.

British Columbia’s 2011 sales forecast has been revised slightly higher, in recognition that home sales there appear to have bottomed out sooner than previously anticipated. Stronger than expected activity in Ontario offset slightly softer than anticipated demand in Quebec, Manitoba, and Newfoundland in the second quarter of 2011. Accordingly, the Ontario sales forecast for 2011 has been raised, while the outlook for activity in Quebec, Manitoba, and Newfoundland has been revised lower.

National sales activity in 2012 is forecast to ease seven tenths of a percentage point to 447,700 units, which is roughly on par with its ten-year average.

“While there had been some talk of potential interest rate increases, that hasn’t happened,” said Gary Morse, CREA President. “In fact, mortgage interest rates have actually come down, and are now expected to remain low for the remainder of this year and into 2012. It’s a great opportunity to purchase a property with financing at very favourable rates.”

The national average home price is forecast to rise 7.2 per cent in 2011 to $363,500. This is an increase from the previous forecast, reflecting continued strong price growth in Vancouver in the second quarter of 2011 and acceleration in prices elsewhere, particularly Toronto. These two markets exert an outsized influence on the national average due to their relatively high level of activity and average price.

The national average home price is expected to moderate in the second half of 2011, returning to normal following a heavily skewed start to the year. In the first half of 2011, the national average home price was pushed upward by a surge in multi-million dollar sales in selected areas of Greater Vancouver and a higher than normal share of overall sales in more expensive markets.

“Some of the expected moderation in the national average price is seasonal, with average price peaking in many local markets during the second quarter of any year,” said Gregory Klump, CREA’s Chief Economist. “Elevated shares of provincial and national sales activity in Vancouver and Toronto are also expected to return to more normal levels, contributing to an anticipated moderation in average price in British Columbia, Ontario, and nationally.”

“Additional new listings are anticipated to result in a more balanced resale housing market in most provinces,” said Klump. “The national average price is forecast to stabilize in 2012, although at a slightly higher level than previously expected.”

For more information, please contact:
Pierre Leduc, Media Relations
The Canadian Real Estate Association
613-237-7111 or 613 884-1460
Email: pleduc@crea.ca

CREA Residentail Market Forecast:

 

Homeowners who plan to move within a few years are often reluctant to invest time and money on improvement projects that may not pay them back. But unless these improvements are very specialized, any project you choose – from fixing leaky faucets to installing new energy efficient windows – will start to pay you back in energy savings and comfort long before you sell.

The wisest improvements you can make to any home are those that keep it running smoothly and bring it up to the standards of other homes in the immediate area. And these don’t need to break your budget.

Easy maintenance, repairs
Start with simple repairs that don’t cost a lot and you can do yourself: securing loose tiles, adjusting a door, installing a lock, repairing a leaky faucet or pipe, and so on.

It’s also a good idea to locate and read your gas, electricity and water meters on a weekly or monthly basis. This will help you gain an understanding of seasonal increases and decreases in consumption and enable you to take measures to become more energy and water efficient. The savings could be substantial.

You should have your furnace inspected and serviced annually to ensure there are no problems and change or clean the filter regularly. Also, inspect the smoke and carbon dioxide detectors around your home. You want to be certain that these will work in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Bigger upgrades
While replacing leaky faucets can drastically improve a bathroom’s appearance and cut down on water usage, sometimes it takes a lot more than that to bring an old bathroom, for example, to an acceptable standard.

A bathroom tune up can pay big dividends. The first items to replace should be the fixtures — the sink, faucets, vanity, bathtub, shower, and toilet. This is where you will add value and save money by opting for a water-efficient fixtures and energy-saving devices.

The floors, walls and accessories are not an essential part of a bathroom tune-up, but you can save time and money when you do the complete overhaul at once, rather than one piece at a time.

If the decor in your home is bothering you, don’t decide right away to rip everything out. All it may take to make your home look more attractive and in better repair are small improvements such as: refacing cabinets and counter tops, changing the colour scheme, repainting, hanging new wall coverings and installing new lighting.

Other good major home improvements include replacing old carpets and flooring with new, more durable products; adding a garage or a carport if your home does not have one; installing central air conditioning; repairing or adding a fireplace; upgrading your basement space; replacing old windows with new energy-efficient ones; adding terraces, wooden decks and fences that add privacy; and investing in landscaping that adds value and is easy to maintain.

Source: OREA

 Co-ed Beach Volleyball happens every Friday evening on Station Beach at 7:00pm.

 Every Saturday is the Kincardine Agricultural Society’s Farmer’s Market in the Connaught Park Pavilion. Contact Janice McKean for more information at 519-396-7518 or theark@bmts.com

 The 17^th annual Teddy Bear Parade is happening on June 18^th at Victoria Park in Kincardine. Registration is at 9:30am and the parade starts at 10:00am. The rain date for this event will be on June 19^th at 1:00pm. For more information contact Kim Davey at 519-396-3560 or dkbddavy@bmts.com.           

From June 18^th The Bluewater Summer Playhouse is presenting “Michael Pickett in Concert.” Michael Pickett is an award winning artist and Juno nominee. Come out to hear this acoustic Blues artist perform! Tickets are $15 by contacting the Box Office at 519-396-5722.

 June 25^th is the Tiverton Knox Presbyterian Garage Sale from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

 Starting June 25^th through to September 3^rd come out to Downtown Kincardine to enjoy the Scottish Pipe Band Parades, every Saturday night starting at 8:00pm from Victoria Park. Contact Kincardine Tourism for