Record MLS sales for third consecutive month

MLS® HOME SALES REACH MONTHLY HIGH FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE MONTH IN NOVEMBER

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (December 3, 2009) – A new record for residential sales was set by the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board (KWREB) in November as MLS® homes sales to the end of November reached 556 units. That’s an 87.8 percent increase from November 2008, and the third consecutive month that sales set a monthly record.
The steady rise in residential sales this November is a clear indicator that what was happening this time last year--“when sales had begun their slide” says Dieter Turek, broker with Prudential Grand Valley Realty, Kitchener, " has no further influence on our future market." Now for the third consecutive month we have seen a significant increase in residential sales.
Year-to-date, there have been 6,108 residential units sold, meaning sales will easily outshine 2008’s yearend total of 6,115 units.
Demand was strong for homes across all price ranges and types, but the most notable shift occurred in the higher-price ranges. Homes selling between $350,000 to $500,000 totalled 90 in November, an increase of 233 percent compared with November 2008 and an increase of 67 percent compared to last month.
Another bright sign for the local economy, is the rise in new home starts as reported by CMHC and the local board for the past period. There were 85 new construction homes sold through the MLS® System of the KWREB in November, marking a 214.8 percent increase over the same month last year, and an 11.8 percent increase over the previous month’s activity.
Overall home sales last month totalled $114,223,610 (up 92 percent from November 08) and included 357 detached homes (up 81.2 percent from November 08), 106 condominium units (up 112 percent from November 08), 43 semis (up 43.3 percent from November 08), and 47 townhouses (up 176 .5 percent from November 08).
The average price of all residential properties sold through the MLS® System of the KWREB last month sold for an average price of $277,649 a 4.2 percent increase from November 2008 and a 7.4 percent increase from last month.
Single detached homes sold for an average price of $319,954 in November, a 5.8 percent increase relative to November 2008, and a 6.6 percent increase compared to the previous month.
In the condominium market the average sale price in November was $187,521 a 4.7 percent increase over November 2008 and a 8.7 percent increase over October 2009.
Buyers continue to take advantage of low interest rates, and are showing their confidence by pursueing the dream of home ownership, creating the strong demand for homes experienced by local Realtors these last few months, and also the active summer and the strong spring, I believe as many analysts, that the difficult times in the real estate market as a result of the recession have ended, and we are now entering a rising market. This renewed interest will result in higher prices, and mortgage rates, as the demand for homes and mortgage funds increase.

All statistics noted in this article have been quoted from the Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Board November 2009 press release.