I hope that you are able to take time this season to spend with family, friends, as well as take time for yourself. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to call.   

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing real estate agents is how to approach the next generation of homebuyers, and their uncertainty toward the housing market.

So, what does Generation Z think about home ownership? A recent RE/MAX survey found that nearly 51% of those between the ages of 18 and 24 in the Greater Vancouver Area would like to own a home in the next few years. Meanwhile, Torontonians are more inclined to continue renting or living with their parents.

Generation Z is expected to outnumber Millennials within a year and as such, this generation will have a significant impact on the housing market over the next 20 years. With the mounting cost of home ownership in Ontario and British Columbia it is no surprise that 38% of respondents expressed no desire to own a home, while 46% would like to buy in the next few years.

However, the survey also found that 67% of 18- to 24-year-olds in Ontario and British Columbia feel stressed when thinking about buying a home. In the Greater Toronto Area and Greater Vancouver Area this is higher, at 75% and 71%, respectively.

About half of the survey respondents agree that they have limited knowledge of the housing market, but are interested in learning more. This was especially apparent in each of the province’s hottest housing markets, with 57% in the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA) and 51% in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) feeling undereducated.

“Gen-Zers are interested in learning more, and a greater effort needs to be made to educate them about the benefits and potential risks of home ownership,” says Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “As Gen Z looks ahead, it’s important that they have a trusted team and good resources to turn to, to alleviate stress and empower them in the process to becoming first-time homebuyers in the future. While the survey showed interesting trends across two of the hottest markets, the Gen-Zers we speak to are eager to become informed and excited about the future of home ownership.”

“While the prospects of home ownership may seem daunting, that doesn’t mean that Generation Z should give up hope,” says Christopher Alexander, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, RE/MAX INTEGRA Ontario-Atlantic Region. “It will be more important than ever for financial institutions and real estate professionals to educate this generation and reach them through the platforms they frequent, such as social media and online.”

Despite the anxiety felt by many Gen-Zers toward the prospect of home ownership, more education and help from the right team of professionals could dispel the fears and assist them in making a sound investment. It is expected that this generation will have a big impact on the Canadian real estate market in the next 2 decades. Gen-Zers and other young homebuyers are adapting to current market conditions by looking outside of city centres to find affordable properties. Government must also play a role in ensuring that these suburban communities are well-connected to urban centres, via developments in public transit and infrastructure.

The winter holidays will be here in a matter of weeks – are you ready? If you still have a lot of holiday shopping to do, here are some great tips for making your life a little easier and more affordable this season.

Use Money-Saving Technology

There are many apps and websites that make holiday shopping more affordable. One is RetailMeNot, which has both an app and a website. It lists deals and promo codes at top retailers, both online and in-store, and can save you big bucks on holiday gifts. It also has cash-back offers for certain retailers. Another great site to try is Ebates, which has cash-back offers at thousands of retailers, giving you savings in the form of rebates. Sometimes they also offer exclusive discounts.

Find Your Local Markets

If you want to skip the crowded malls and support local small businesses instead, look for the local winter holiday markets in your city. While these may be harder to find in smaller towns, most big cities have holiday markets where numerous artisans sell handmade gifts. You’ll be supporting small local businesses while purchasing unique gifts for your loved ones.

Consider Donations Instead of Gifts

Is your house already packed to the brim with stuff? Or is money really tight this year? One way to reduce clutter and expenses — and make a positive impact in the world — is to get your family to skip traditional holiday shopping and instead each make a donation to a cause you care about. When your family gathers, go around in a circle and share what cause you chose to donate to and why it’s meaningful to you. If you can’t bear to part with gift-giving, you could make a rule that each person can give one gift for each family member, but the rest of the gift money goes toward a good cause.

If you’re thinking about shopping for home sometime soon, please reach out at any time — I’d love to help you. Get in touch

The holiday season is all about giving – even when you’re trying to receive a great offer on your home. Give a good impression, by taking the time, tastefully decorate for festive showings and make home hunters feel right at home. This year, leave the reindeer display in the box and try these tasteful yet festive decor tips to make prospective buyers feel right at home.  

LIGHT IT UP

First, make sure the outdoor lights are functioning — winter days are short, so lighting the walkway and front door evening viewings is a must. Second, when it comes to festive light displays, keep it simple. String white lights to highlight an architectural feature or a splendid spruce in the front yard, and stash that reindeer display in the garage.

FESTIVE FRONT DOOR

Since the front door is typically the first thing potential buyers will see, make it count. Give that dull front door a quick makeover by hanging a tasteful wreath or swag. Placing a seasonal arrangement in the entryway or on a hall table also makes it feel like prospective buyers are coming home for the holidays, rather than coming to someone else’s home for an open house.

HOLIDAY FLAIR

Although year-round home staging promotes a less-is-more philosophy, when the holidays roll around, ramping up your ornament game. But don’t go overboard. A bowl of fragrant pinecones, some strategically placed sprigs of holly, or a bowl of shiny glass baubles should do the trick. Steer clear of overtly religious displays as it might put off some people. Remember: this is about them, not you.

PRETTY PALETTE

Eclectic collections of ornaments may hold great sentimental value, but they may clash with a home’s decor. Consider the overall colour palette and find complementary ornaments. If the walls are white, suggest your clients consider a faux white tree, or if the room is decorated in darker tones, gold or green holiday accents.

WARM UP

Stepping out of the biting cold and into a warm and cozy home is one of the few pleasures of wintertime. Enhance the corporeal experience of your potential buyers by making sure the thermostat is cranked up a couple of extra degrees. If there is a fireplace, ensure it is lit for showings and staged photos.

SEASONAL FRAGRANCE

Thanks to human physiology, the quickest way to access memories is through the sensation of smell. Make sure potential buyers get a good whiff when they walk through the door. Simmering apple cider or baking a batch of ginger cookies are good standbys, but take it a step further and sparingly spritz a winter-scented home fragrance throughout and breathe deeply.

Find Out What Your Home is Really Worth! FREE Online Home Evaluation

Whether you are just thinking about selling or if you are further down the road and are preparing your home to get sold, deciding at what price to offer your property, most likely your biggest asset, is one of the most important financial decisions you will make. Price is often the first thing buyer’s see – their “first impression” of your home. Many homes are rejected by qualified buyers as not being priced right – and that’s even before the first showing!

It’s equally dangerous to price your home too low as you will leave money on the table. Pricing correctly is not a simple process and should not be taken lightly. As you research and ask questions, finding out what your home is worth is important information to arm yourself with when selling your home.

Watch this new exclusive video that will provide the answers and next steps to this very critical first step to take.

Find out how you too can Guarantee the Cash Sale of Your Home. Don’t be a victim of the “Real Estate Catch 22″ when selling your Vaughan and Toronto area home. It’s an extremely anxious position to find yourself in. This financial and emotional tightrope is one you usually have to walk alone because most agents have no way of helping you with this predicament.

Selling Your House During the Holiday Season May be the RIGHT MOVE to Make!

1. Buyers who look for a home during the holidays are typically more serious
2. Fewer houses to choose from means less competition
3. Since the supply of homes for sale will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home in the New Year! Less demand means less money for you!
4. Houses “show better” when decorated for the holidays.
5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!
6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during the work week!
7. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture that market!
8. You have the option to restrict showings during your personal family events but still be on the market
9. You can sell now, but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year
10. By selling now you have an opportunity to buy during the Spring, when many houses are on the market.

Bottom Line?

By listing your home for sale now, you may have fewer actual showings, but more qualified and motivated Buyers.  Your Home Sold Guaranteed or We Buy It! www.yourhomeguaranteedsold.com

The Reason?

You have less competition, resulting in a quicker sale and a better price for you.