C'mon Lethbridge – Let's vote! - Lethbridge Journal

Page 32 - THE JOURNAL - WEEK OF JANUARY 20, 2011
Homes
Stage set for stronger
housing market
NC)—According to a survey
conducted by Royal
LePage Real Estate Services
and released in January, Canadians
could see the average
price of homes rise over
the coming year. A strengthening
economic recovery
and low interest rates are
behind the company's forecast.
At the same time, the
prospect of rising mortgage
rates may prompt heightened
buyer activity early in
the year.
Keeping your roof top of mind
(NC)—Winter can be tough
on many parts of a home.
Whether it's snow, ice or
rain, our windows, porches
and driveways take a beating.
However, homeowners
need to look up as their
roof is one of their property's
most vulnerable areas.
No matter what material
makes up your roof, snow
and ice can cause severe
and expensive damage. If
left untended, the result
could be water damage that
trickles inside house as well
– not necessarily the latewinter
gift that you were
looking to take home.
“Canadians are always
clearing their driveways or
scraping their windshields
after the snow or ice, but
Trends in the housing market
continue to be driven by
the lingering after—effects
of the recession,” said Phil
Soper, president and chief
executive of Royal LePage
Real Estate Services. “Canadians
realize that interest
rates are unsustainably low
and that homes will become
effectively more expensive
when mortgage rates return
to normal levels. We
will likely see more price
appreciation early in 2011
the roof is out of sight so
it can get overlooked,” said
Wayne Ross, insurance expert
at Aviva Canada. “By
taking steps to check and
care for your roof during
the season, you can help
avoid a leakage and extend
the life of your roof at the
same time.”
Ross recommends these tips
to check and clear off your
roof:
• Hire a professional snow
removal company: If your
roof is particularly high, it is
much safer to hire a professional
snow removal services
to remove the snow from
your roof.
• Use binoculars: Try to see
your roof's condition by using
binoculars – in most cas-
as some buyers complete
transactions in advance of
anticipated higher borrowing
costs.”
Soper added, “2011 is expected
to unfold much like
2010, when close to 60 per
cent of sales volume occurred
in the first half of
the year in anticipation of
interest rate increases that
never materialized. However,
housing market activity
in the first half of 2011
will be modestly closer to
es, you can see everything
you need without having to
get on top.
• Rake it up: Use a rake to
force built-up snow onto
the ground.
• Do Warm-Weather Installations:
Consider installing
radiant heat in the warmer
months to keep your roof
temperature above freezing.
You can also install
an ice barrier, used mostly
on metal roofs, to prevent
snow from sticking.
When taking these steps,
your roof will exit this
year's winter season with
strength for many seasons
to come. More information
is available from your insurance
broker or online at avivacanada.com.
ANCAH
JBlinds, Shades & Shutters
the norm, as last year's phenomenon
was exacerbated
by mid—year tightening of
mortgage accessibility and
the introduction of HST in
Ontario and British Columbia.”
Regionally, the strongest
price appreciation of the
cities studied is expected in
mid—sized urban centres
where affordability is better
than the national average.
For example, in Winnipeg,
St. John's and Fredericton,
two—storey homes below
$300,000 are still widely
available. Demand in these
cities is expected to be
strong, putting upward pressure
on home values.
Across Canada, the average
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price of a home is forecast
to rise 3 per cent over the
coming year to $348,600
while the number of transactions
is expected to drop
2 per cent.
Full results from the Royal
LePage House Price Survey
and Market Forecast can be
found at www.royallepage.
ca.
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Mayor Magrath Dr. S. beside Good Earth Café.
403-320-5310