Total # of Listings [Jun] = 963

Total # of Sales [Jun] = 476

Number of Active Listings in the NLAR MLS System = 2580

Listings are almost on par for the same time for 2007 but the sales are up 12% year to date.

There were a good number of new listings for the St. John’s, Mount Pearl and surrounding areas in June. Buyers still out number the sellers as noted from the number of sales which is up again this month.  Two apartment homes and investment properties are in high demand.  Single Family homes in East End St. John’s are short in supply.

Most of the new sub divisions for St. John’s (Clovelly Trails, Roncolli Estates, East Point Landing) are in building demand.  Pine Ridge Creek in Torbay will soon open up the new phase.

Here is a break down by area for the month of June for single family homes

St. John’s Real Estate: Listings = 173 Sales = 103 Sales/Listings Ratio = 60%

Average Sale Price: $191,024 ($184,730 for April)

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Listings = 23 Sales = 26 Sales/Listings Ratio = 113%

Average Sale Price: $202,627

Paradise Real Estate: Listings =35 Sales = 37 Sales/Listings Ratio = 106%

Average Sale Price: $216,424

East Extern Real Estate: Listings = 32 Sales = 21 Sales/Listings Ratio = 66%

Average Sale Price: $192,465

Conception Bay Real Estate: Listings = 49 Sales = 28 Sales/Listings Ratio = 57%

Average Sale Price: $198,352

74 Viscount Street

Airport Heights, St. John’s

5 year old registered two apartment in East End St. John’s. Three bedrooms on main plus family room and laundry in basement. Main floor has hardwood in living room and hallway. Eat-in country kitchen with oak cabinets. Master bedroom has ensuite and walk-in closet. Basement apartment has two bedrooms. Each unit has individual laundry rooms. Income presently $1400 per month and potential for more.  Asking price is $229,900.  Call Fraser or Stephen Winters for more information.

58 Charter Ave Unit #302 - $137,900 - SALE PENDING -

Fantastic two bedroom condo with plenty of upgrades. Mostly hardwood & ceramic floors. White kitchen cabinets. Spacious living room with patio door to balcony overlooking Quidi Vidi Lake and Signal Hill. Laundry room inside condo. Great location in St. John’s Pleasantville area. Near downtown St. John’s. Asking price is $137,900. Call Fraser or Stephen Winters for more details.

2 apartment home on a large corner of St. Andrews Ave and First Street in Mount Pearl. Both units currently rented.
Large main unit has 2 bedrooms and undeveloped basement. Apartment is above ground and has two bedrooms. Mostly new Vinyl windows throughout. Some hardwood floor in main apartment. Great investment property. Asking $169,900 Call Fraser or Stephen Winters for a viewing.

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.”

Unit sales in Canada for April rose the most in Newfoundland & Labrador at a 27 per cent gain over last year, followed by Saint John at 18 per cent, according to CREA.

While Home sellers flooded the markets in Toronto and Saskatoon last month, causing the number of listings to surge to a record level in Canada. Kitchener-Waterloo, St. John’s Newfoundland, and Thunder Bay actually saw a decrease in the number of homes on the market.

It appears that throughout most of Canada we are seeing a pull back in prices and real estate sales, a cool down. But not in Newfoundland. The only thing cool in Newfoundland right now is the temperature. Prices are continuing to rise. Buyers are continuing to flood the market and investors are still looking for rental properties.

In Saskatoon where prices are continuing to sky-rocket, buyers seemed leery about the idea of purchasing a new home. “70 per cent said it was not a good time to make a purchase.” In contrast to Atlantic Canada where 49 per cent were positive towards the idea of owning a new home.

CREA released it’s First Quarter Forecast 2008 earlier last week and as expected, MLS home sales are forecast to ease gradually in all provinces in 2008, but record-level activity in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador during the first quarter will result in new annual records in these provinces.

Source: Homes Market Flooded by Sellers - Globe and Mail

Canadians are increasingly migrating to regions where new jobs are plentiful, and they must be able to move their assets with them. Households can move their furniture and their stocks and bonds, but not their real estate investments, without substantial tax consequences. Reinvestment in real property should be facilitated so that investors can reposition existing investments without punitive tax measures. The deferral will facilitate more effective management of real estate investment portfolios in recognition of the fact that Canadians are becoming more financially self-reliant in retirement.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is recommending to the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act to promote increased reinvestment in real property. The amendment would effect a deferral of both the capital gains tax and the capital cost allowance recovery for all real property investments when an investment property is sold and the proceeds are invested in another real property within the subsequent year. Any proceeds that are eligible but not reinvested, or where such reinvestment does not meet the criteria, would be subject to capital gains tax. (Similar to the United States 1031 Exchange)

The proposal also helps make the federal government an active participant in the regeneration and intensification of urban neighborhoods. This requires properties to be turned over at a rate that is sufficient to promote regeneration.