iPad Real Estate Apps for Realtors

April 25, 2011 · Filed Under Real Estate Technology · Comment 

I purchased a new iPad 2 a month ago and I have to say I love it. While there are a number of “fun and play” apps available at the App Store my intent was to use this as a work related device. So after a few weeks of Angry Birds I have finally buckled down and setup the iPad for work only mode. In this post I have outlined some of the apps that I found to be worthwhile, from a Realtor’s perspective. In the next post I will review apps for real estate from the buyer/seller point of view.

First in the list Dropbox iPad app. With limited storage space on the iPad (32gigs for mine) having cloud storage is a must. I have Dropbox installed on my iPad, iPhone, laptop and desktop. Anytime I need a file I have it no matter where I go. Dropbox is free for the first 2gigs after that you pay. Well worth the investment. This should be your first install…..after that addictive Angry Birds.

PDF Expert iPad app. Read and edit PDF files. Great app for reading PDF files and typing up contracts. You can bring the iPad to a clients house and type in all the necessary clauses for a contract. Then they can sign it right on the spot. Email your client a copy instantly and forward another copy to the other realtor. Completely paperless. An added feature, it integrates with Dropbox.

Realtor.ca iPad/iphone app (Realtor.com for the US) – The Canadian Real Estate Association has released an app to search for homes across Canada. Search for a Realtor, a property, a particular MLS number and save your searches. My favorite feature is the ‘properties near me’ and the ‘new listings near me’. Simply click on either and up pops listings in a radius near you. Great feature when on the go.

Zillow App for US real estate. Great for Canadians looking to purchaser south of the boarder. I really wish Zillow operated in Canada. They are light years ahead of any real estate property search. Unfortunately even better then realtor.ca

MobileMe. While not necessary for most, I found it very convenient – especially if you have a team.  We currently use Top Producer for syncing contacts and calendars. At about $100 a month Top Producer isn’t cheap. The $109 a year for MobileMe is a much nicer price tag and does everything Top Producer does and easier.  As a bonus we get 10 gigs of storage (integrates into PDF Expert).  What really sold me on this was the ability to sync between my laptop and desktop Outlook, my iPhone and iPad, my fathers laptop and desktop Outlook and his Blackberry and keep our single database in sync as well as share both our calendars.  All this done COMPLETELY wirelessly.  Make a change on ANY device or computer and within minutes the rest are updated.

Tweetdeck iPad App.  Keep in touch with all the “up-to-the-second” tweets from the Twitter world.  I use Tweetdeck for my desktop,  this is the main reason I picked the iPad app.  I like how it syncs your settings on one and will automatically reflect on the other.  There are lots Twitter apps out there.

Facebook iPad/iPhone App.  Used mostly for personal reasons, a lot more Realtors are using Facebook as a means to advertise their properties. (Check out Stephen Winters  Real Estate Page)  There is no”offical” Facebook app for the iPad.  You will be prompted to download the iPhone one. Surprised by this actually. Only a matter of  time til this  app is released  I assume.

Note Taker HD app.  This is a great little app for handwriting notes, diagrams.  Think of this as your digital yellow paper note pad.  Highly recommend purchasing a Targus Stylus (at Futureshop for $15)  There is a $4.99 cost for this app but well worth it.  You can PDF your notes, save them to Dropbox or email.

eKey iphone/iPad app – If your real estate board uses the Supra lock boxes/keys this could be a great feature. I will admit I haven’t used this app yet (only found it this weekend).  It does appear more practical for the iPhone but you can use it if you carry your iPad on appointments.  Simply point and voila….the lockbox is open.  Well….I assume it does.  Any one have feedback on this one?

WordPress iPad app.  If your blog is run by WordPress this makes for a decent app.  Currently writing this article via  the Worpress iPad app and my initial thoughts are good. The only down side is the ability for “visual edit post”  like on the desktop.  Seems that everything is typed in the “html edit post”.  Adding a photo or video is easy as there is an icon for this.  But to add a website address…..it was  easier to pop on to the laptop for this.  Haven’t seen away to”bold” words yet either.  It seems that this is just for a basic  type and post.  If you are looking to add flare to  your post, the laptop/desktop is much easier.

What are your favorite iPad/iPhone real estate apps?

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St. John’s Newfoundland MLS Stats for March

April 13, 2011 · Filed Under Monthly MLS Stats and St. John's Real Estate · Comment 

Average price of a house in St. John’s dropped for the month of March.  In January the average selling price (for that month only) was up over $300,000.  See January MLS Stats here.  For March the average was approx $277,000.  The good news is yearly average prices haven’t dropped.  They are actually up slightly.  This is true for all areas in and around St. John’s.  Sales/Listings Ratio have increased as well indicating we are starting to ramp up for the spring market.

The general population seems to think there are numerous homes for sale currently. (present company included)  However,  total number of listings for the year (compared to last year) is down 3%.  I was surprised to see this as it doesn’t feel this way.  This false impression I suspect is due to the drop in sales ( 5% YTD) and the large increase in expired listings – ( up 45% YTD).  This coupled with houses staying on the market a lot longer then we are used to in recent years. I said it before….proper pricing on your home is key in this market and will be the same trend in 2011.  Contact us for a free market evaluation on your home.

Total # of new MLS Listings [March] = 873 (based on residential stats)

Total # of Sales [March] = 335

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System (ALL of Newfoundland) = 3477

Here is a break down by area for the month of March

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 173   Sales = 75 Sales/Listings Ratio = 40%

Average sale price for a home in St. John’s: $277,025 for the month of March and the 12 month average $279,472

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 45 Sales = 15  Sales/Listings Ratio = 33%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $249,431

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =48 Sales = 32 Sales/Listings Ratio =67%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $308,882

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 36 Sales = 19  Sales/Listings Ratio = 53%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $289,676

Conception Bay South Real Estate: Listings = 47   Sales = 28  Sales/Listings Ratio = 60%

Average Sale Price (12 month average): $255,683

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RE/MAX First Time Buyer Report 2011 for St. John’s

April 6, 2011 · Filed Under First Time Buyers, Market Trends, Remax Newfoundland and Remax Reports · Comment 

Demand for housing in St. John’s remains healthy, particularly among first time buyers, despite a decline in year-to-date sales.  Buyer’s market conditions and the best choice of product in years have buoyed the entry-level segment, along with wage gains, economic growth and rising consumer confidence levels. Affordability continues to be  favourable, with increased earnings offsetting the more moderate price growth of late.  Most young home buyers are now active from $200,000 to $250,000.  Those buying new construction will have to ante up more—typically between $230,000 and $280,000 to start—as the  price of new construction has risen at a greater rate.  Those on a tight budget will find that homes listed below $200,000 are few and far between and tend to sell for close to full price, if listed at fair market value.  Some even generate a rare multiple offer.

To illustrate the supply issue, only 34 homes have sold year-to-date under $175,000, accounting for just 10 per cent of all sales, and only 39 listings under that price point are currently available. Given that, buyers at the lowest end of the price spectrum will have to act more quickly.  The housing mix in St. John’s continues to favour the single detached home, particularly in the first-time buyer segment.

Of the 34 homes sold under $175,000, only three were condominiums. Entry-level condominium product remains limited in St. John’s, as builders continue to focus on the mid-range—units priced between $250,000 and $350,000. While condominiums are gaining traction with younger buyers, they remain only a small portion of entry-level sales. Condominiums now start from $165,000 to $175,000 for an  older, 650 to 750 sq. ft. walk-up unit on Thorburn Rd., Dalton Ave., and in Pleasantville.

With the current oversupply of homes listed for sale in St. John’s, buyers remain in the driver’s seat. That, along with historically low interest rates, continues to serve as a significant  impetus.

Detached homes can be found from $169,000 for an older bungalow requiring work, located on the peripherals. Older homes are most popular. Most sought-after are properties priced between $210,000 and $250,000 in established neighbourhoods such as Cowan Heights, Mount Pearl and Paradise. Most buyers are realizing their choice location, with little need to compromise.  Those that must choose are opting to spend a little more, if necessary.

Solid demand among first-time purchasers is expected to carry over in to the spring market, with new financing criteria expected to have little impact. In fact, look to sales in the entry-level segment to prompt greater activity in the move-up range in the months ahead. February year-to-date sales were 11 per cent off year-ago levels, with 359 sales recorded, while average price continued its ascent at $255,512, up just over five per cent.

Full RE/MAX Media Release for the First Time Buyers Report 2011

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First-time buyers entering home ownership throughout Canada ahead of higher interest rates, says RE/MAX

April 5, 2011 · Filed Under First Time Buyers and Remax Reports · Comment 

Driven by the threat of higher interest rates down the road, first-time buyers are contributing to strong upward momentum in residential housing markets across the country, according to a report released by RE/MAX.

The RE/MAX First-Time Buyers Report, highlighting trends and  developments in nineteen major Canadian centres, found that low interest rates and balanced market conditions have provided significant impetus in 2011, particularly at lower price points.  Just over 30 per cent of markets are reporting sales in excess of 2010 levels as a result, while almost 70 per cent have experienced an upswing in average price.  Leading the country in terms of percentage increases in the number of homes sold are Western Canadian markets, including Saskatoon (up close to 15 per cent), Greater Vancouver (up close to 12 per cent), and Winnipeg (up just over 11 per cent).  With an average price hike of close to 20 per cent year-to-date (February), Greater Vancouver continues to show unprecedented strength, followed by Hamilton-Burlington (eight per cent), Quebec City (seven per cent), Winnipeg (close to seven per cent), Greater Toronto (five per cent), and Greater Montreal (five per cent).

Despite homeownership rates approaching 70 per cent, there is clearly room for growth as entry-level buyers make their moves from coast-to-coast, undeterred by higher housing values and changes to lending criteria.  Many purchasers intent on realizing homeownership are scaling back on expectations or are willing to sacrifice location, quality and/or size to make their dream a reality – not unlike generations before them.

Inventory levels, while tight in several larger centres, are more balanced overall, giving first-time buyers a good selection of housing product from which to choose.  Not surprisingly, condominium apartments and town homes have become the first step for many entry-level purchasers, especially in Greater Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary, London-St. Thomas, Hamilton-Burlington, Greater Toronto, the Island of Montreal, and Halifax-Dartmouth where average prices have risen unabated in recent years.

With the Canadian economy on firmer footing overall, residential real estate is well-positioned moving into the traditionally busy spring market.  Consumer confidence is climbing in conjunction with economic performance, and concerns over a secondary recession fade with each passing day.  The mood is cautiously optimistic, as first-time buyers enter the market.

Changes to recent financing criteria have not created the anticipated run up in activity in most markets.  From a financial standpoint, most rookie home buyers remain quite prudent.  Those making the leap are not doing it lightly, buying within their means.  While this most recent round of policy tightening will likely have a negligible effect on demand, the message is getting across.

Affordability remains a growing concern in most markets, and—aside from first-time purchasers—no one is more in tune with that than housing planners and developers.  In fact, the growing demand for reasonably-priced product is creating a shift in the country’s housing mix.  That trend is expected to gain traction in coming years, as builders look to create greater options for those seeking to realize homeownership.    In recent years, builders have helped ease the move to homeownership by concentrating on intensification—condominium buildings with smaller suites and small-lot subdivisions offering detached, compact homes at a fraction of the cost of a traditional single-family home.   On the flip side, the affordability factor is also breathing new life into tired older neighbourhoods, and that, in turn, is contributing to rising values.

As prices escalate, first-time buyers are indeed spending more—some out of necessity, but others are simply in a position to do so.  Unlike in years past—a greater percentage of today’s first-time buyer pool is comprised of dual-income, college or university-educated couples with solid earnings.  They’re spending close to average price or slightly more to secure—in most cases—a better location or a home that will grow with them.   Yet, the fact remains that those on a tighter budget can get in for considerably less, with reasonable choices in every major market across the country.   While some may feel discouraged by eroding affordability levels, the underlying confidence in the concept of homeownership is rising.

While market conditions are one thing that influences first-time buyers, few things trump the fundamental belief in homeownership.  Today’s entry-level buyers are steadfast in their mindset.  They know they have to live somewhere, but they simply don’t want to pay someone else’s mortgage.  Savvy or practical, they remain a driving force.  The bottom line is that the demand for entry-level product will remain steady.  The role of starter homes in the marketplace is becoming ever more vital.

Full RE/MAX Media Release can be viewed here.

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22 School Road – Bungalow For Sale in St. Philips

April 1, 2011 · Filed Under New MLS Listings · Comment 

** SALE PENDING** Fraser and Stephen Winters have listed a two year old fully developed bungalow with view of ocean. Located on a quiet road in Portugal Cove-St. Philips. Hardwood floors throughout most of main floor. There are three bedrooms upstairs and two in the basement. Open concept floor plan. Tastefully decorated eat-in kitchen with dark cupboards, center island and lots of pot lights. Patio door leading to rear patio deck. Master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in closet. The developed basement includes an open rec room and play room, two spare rooms, a three piece bathroom and large laundry/storage room. Rear yard has lots of privacy and tree coverage.Enjoy spectacular views of Bell Island while sitting next to a cozy fire pit.7 yr warranty on property. REDUCED :$279,900 MLS: 163669

Virtual Tour of 22 School Road here

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