Clovelly Trails Phase 3a lot prices are now up on the website for the public and purchasers to view. Clovelly Trails appears to be the most popular subdivision in St. John’s this year. 69 of their lots have had deposits on them for months. Some dating back to 2007.

The lot prices range from $69,900 to $94,900 (plus HST). A hefty jump since the last phase (base price was approx $54,900) but the demand is there to justify it.

Almost all subdivisions in St. John’s and Paradise have increased in prices since last year some as much as ten to fifteen percent.

Remember Fraser and Stephen Winters can represent your interests in the buying of your new construction home. We will be there from lot and house design selection, through signing the paperwork, choosing your paint colors - all the way to final walk-through and beyond.

There are ZERO costs to use our services on the buying side of purchasing your new (or pre-existing) home. There is no cost to you - no decreased incentives - no increased price - the developers actually pay us to work with you through the buying process. Contact us and we’ll show you how we can assist you in finding the new home you’re looking for in ANY subdivision.

This weekend (May 31 and June 1) the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation is holding the 24th Annual Janeway Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. This year’s theme The Heroes Among Us highlights the patients, the physicians and the medical staff of the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre and the men and women who work so hard to support our province’s only hospital dedicated entirely to pediatric health care.

On Sunday, June 1 RE/MAX offices in St. John’s will be answering phones and volunteering for the Telethon. As well, each year we provide a donation check to this wonderful cause. RE/MAX believes in giving back to the community and in doing so we donate a portion of each home sale to the Janeway.

Since 1992 RE/MAX Sales Associates have raised in excess of $50 million for CMN, $21 million of that in Canada alone, in contributions through RE/MAX’s Miracle Program in Canada.

Together we can make miracles happen for children in your neighbourhood. Please donate this weekend.

An economic engine firing on all cylinders has driven residential real estate activity in Newfoundland and Labrador to new heights. Home sales in the first quarter of 2008 climbed just over 14 per cent, rising from 624 units—and a buyer’s market—one year ago, to 713 units, and a seller’s market. Average price followed suit, with year-to-date values rising close to 14 per cent to $156,953, up from $138,167 in 2007. The momentum is even greater in St. John’s, where average price now approaches $190,000. Not since a very short-lived period in 2004 has the city seen the level of consumer confidence that exists in the marketplace today.

Fueled by export growth—in the form of crude oil—Newfoundland-Labrador’s GDP growth led the country in 2007 at a substantial 13.4 per cent. Newfoundland- Labrador has reported the largest single-decade turnaround in GDP per capita in one decade—a first in Canadian history. Out-migration has been stemmed and population growth is expected for the first time in 15 years. Premier Danny Williams has promised that the province will be a “have” within the next 11 months.

Prosperity has fueled a spending spree that includes housing, retail, and auto sales. Inventory levels are tight and multiple offers are commonplace on homes across the board.

First-time buyers are entering the market en masse, taking advantage of zero and low down payment plans and longer amortization periods. Equity gains have also played a role, prompting serious move-up activity. Home sales priced in excess of $350,000 are brisk.

Investment is a growing segment of the real estate market, spurred by purchasers from Western Canada. Lower interest rates are expected to stimulate even greater activity in the marketplace.

There are $10 billion in capital works projects on the table and the pressure is only starting to build. Natural resources are the key to success and the future has never looked brighter for St. John’s. Real estate will following lock-step, with sales and prices exceeding 2007 levels by double-digits at year-end 2008.

Read the full Remax Atlantic Canada Martket Trends Report 2008

Alberta’s red-hot economy is fueling demand for residential real estate in Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland this year, according to a report released today by RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada.

“Strong economic performance in Western Canada continues to spillover into other parts of the country,” says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “A serious influx of Western Canadian purchasers has bolstered housing sales in every Atlantic province. Tremendous job opportunities available in Alberta that allow commuting to and from the East Coast have served to further strengthen home-buying activity in the region. Last, but certainly not least, after living in Western Canada for many years, more and more Maritimers are returning home.”

Newfoundland-Labrador (St. John’s, Corner Brook, Grand Falls) currently leads the region overall in terms of percentage increases in both unit sales and average price, with the number of homes sold up close to 18 per cent year-to-date and average price up almost 15 per cent, compared to the same period one year ago. Two thousand and seven was the first and only year since Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949 that the province led the country in economic performance. GDP growth soared to 13.4 per cent due to mining and oil development, according to Statistics Canada.

“Housing performance in Newfoundland has been nothing short of remarkable,” says Polzler. “There are $10 billion in capital works projects on the table and the pressure in the real estate market is only starting to build. By year-end 2008, housing sales and values are expected to climb by double-digits, leading not only the region, but the country, in terms of percentage increase.”

I just was introduced to the world of kijiji. Kijiji is a website where you can post anything for sale or post looking for items to buy. Similar to to craigslist.org

I looked under the real estate section of St. john’s Kijiji and noticed there was 45 ads to sort through. The problem that I saw was the 40 ad’s from Realtors in Edmonton, PEI real estate, BC Real estate and realtors, free mortgage advice and online mortgage approvals from no name ad’s. However there was 5 listings there but you really had to look closely and sort through the Google Ad’s (St. John’s Real Estate Blog - www.stjohnsrealestateonline.com was there 4 times) and sponsored links. Of course I’m biased but I do not see a “free classified” online website the optimal way to promote your home for sale.

I looked on craigslist.org and ebay.ca as well for real estate listings. Much easier to find and sort through, however extremely limited in selections.

Personal plug: Why not just use a Realtor to purchase your home? It’s free to have a Realtor in St. John’s assist you in the purchasing of your new home. Both pre-existing homes and new home construction apply. Contact your local Realtor today and ask them how they can help.

Fraser and Stephen Winters just listed 222 Three Island Pond. A beautiful 3 bedroom home with 65 feet of pond frontage. Open concept kitchen with built in appliances and adjacent family room. Formal living room with wood burning fireplace and a formal dining room. Sitting area with wet bar, wood burning stove and patio door to large deck over looking the pond. Enjoy complete privacy and watch the sun set over the pond in your back yard. Garage is converted into living space but can be converted back. Back yard has wired shed. Contact Fraser or Stephen Winters for a private viewing. 709-682-9245 or 709-682-9045. Asking price is $279,900.

On May 28th, 2008, MLS.ca will be introducing some new features to the web site on behalf of REALTORS® across Canada. The result will be an even better real estate resource, with more information about the properties displayed on the site.

The first change will be the introduction of interactive mapping. You’ll be able to use Microsoft Virtual Earth software on the site to determine your search area, and to determine where a property is located. Interactive mapping will make it much more convenient to search traditional neighbourhoods or a specific region.

The web site will also have a new streamlined text search. You’ll be able to input your initial search criteria without all of the details of an Advance Search. The site will still offer the detailed or Advance Search option, but also has a streamlined text version to make looking for properties even more convenient.

There will be a new look, or design. The traditional REALTOR® map is still a key part of the web site, but the new layout will make it easier to look for properties and information.

And there will be a new address - www.realtor.ca Don’t worry, you don’t have to memorize it. You’ll automatically be redirected to the new address even if you input our old one.