August 2023 vs August 2022:   Sales Activity: 116 vs 140 (-17.1%) Dollar Volume: $62,800,000 vs $58,400,000 (+7.5%) New Listings: 229 vs 220 (+4.0%) Active Listings: 418 vs 349 (+19.8%) Months of Inventory: 3.6 vs 3.2 Average Price: $546,000 vs $500,000 (+9.2%) Sale to List Price Ratio: 98.2 vs 99.4   **Average price i ...

A lot of people wonder how long they should live in their home before they sell it. Here are 5 things you should consider before you sell.     1. Consider Your Mortgage When you first bought your home, you paid mostly interest, not the principal. If you’ve been at the house for less than 5 years, you probably won’t make much mone ...

  Now that the Christmas decorations are ready to be retired, it's time to think about what kind of decorations you'll have for the rest of the winter. If your home is looking a little bare without your Christmas tree or trimmings then our team has put together some great tips on post-holiday wintry décor and style.   Today, we're looki ...

  This Week in Housing, we're discussing the home equity line of credit, Sarnia's new retirement community, elections, Sarnia's entrance signs, building a community centre in Bright's Grove, the city's dealing with homeless camps in our area, and a breakdown of the housing market.     Home equity line of credit What is the biggest adv ...

      Stats for July 2022:  624 active listings currently   July 2021: 177 sales, and $86 million in volume. July 2022: 123 sales, and $64 million in volume. Number of Sales by Price Range  Out of the 154 sales we had:   7 sales: 0-200K 36 sales: 200-400K 45 sales: 400-600K 34 sales: 600K+ Averag ...

  Are you renting and wondering if it’s time to get out of the world of renting and into the world of homeownership?   Here are 5 Signs It’s Time to Stop Renting and Buy a Home.       1. You’re tired of your living situation. If you’re constantly unhappy with your rental situation, it may be time t ...

        Candidate Info Session A free information session for individuals interested in running for city office will take place on Wednesday evening. The meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., and it will be held at the Sarnia Public Library on Christina Street.   Wawanosh Wetlands Closing for Upgrades The Wawan ...

  It's important to keep track of your credit score and report so that you can be proactive about maintaining a good credit rating. But how do you know what your credit score is, and how can you access it? Today, we're looking at How To Get Your Free Credit Report.     So, why would anyone need to see their credit report ...

  Housing Shortage Ontario is likely to fall short of its goal of creating 1.5 million homes by 2031 to address the housing crunch, according to a new study from the Smart Prosperity Institute.   Ontario wants to build 1.5 million new homes over 25 years. But this goal may not be realistic because it is based on a study that has been debunked ...

  Good marketing is key so getting your home sold under the best conditions for sellers. And one of the most important things we use to market your home is high quality photos and videos.   So, what can sellers do to make the home look its best? Here are some Tips for The Perfect Listing Photo Shoot.       1. Thi ...

    Basement floods and leaks can be both damaging to your home and costly to fix. Water damage can destroy your personal belongings, it can ruin your flooring, appliances, drywall, and if not dried properly, it can result in a mold problem.   So, what can homeowners do to prevent water damage to the basement?   Today, we are l ...

  When a home is affected by fire, the results can range from financially costly to tragic. Many people have friends or acquaintances who have lost their homes, possessions or their lives to fire. Let's do our part and check out some preventative tips.   It's important for everyone to know their role in fire safety. Homeowners, landlords and ...

  When you're on your own buying or selling, you're missing out on some of the biggest perks of working with a real estate brokerage; agency.   Our clients gain some big advantages over those trying to do so on their own. But how do we protect our clients' interests?   Here are 6 Ways We Protect Our Clients' Interests.     ...

The winter season is drawing near which means sub-zero arctic-like temperatures, icy conditions, and a whole lot of snow. That's why it's time to start thinking about how to protect your home from any potential damage the frigid temperatures and snow may bring. Taking charge now, before it is too late, may help you avoid a home insurance claim late ...

    How much money should you put down as a down payment? Let's break it down for you and give you some tips on how to choose the right amount.       Down Payments in the  5%-20% Range. 5% is the minimum amount that you can put down on a home in Canada for your principal residence. It's also the amount ...

    What's going on this weekend? November 11th - November 13th   November 11th | FUSION at Degroots BACK IN PERSON! Lambton County Developmental Services (LCDS) is pleased to celebrate FUSION: Food, Wine & Craft Beer Show, presented by Pembina Pipeline Construction, with you!   This year we have tons of amazing celebrations pl ...

      Active listings: 638   Sales Count October 2021: 148 sales October 2022: 125 sales   Sales Volume: October 2021: $77,400,000 October 2022: $57,000,000 Sales by Price Range: 2 sales: $0 - $200,000 56 sales: $200,000 - $400,000 43 sales: $400,000 - $600,000 22 sales: $600,000+   Average Sale Price: O ...

November 18th | Disney's Beauty & The Beast | Imperial Based on the smash hit 1991 Disney animated feature and dating back to a late 18th-century classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is impriso ...

  What's going on this weekend? December 2nd - 4th Christmas on the Farm | Friday December 2nd Join us for a free celebration of the holiday season with Christmas on the Farm. Old favourites are back alongside some new attractions to delight all ages including roasting chestnuts; horse and carriage rides; ice carving demonstrations; crafts; storyt ...

  Most homeowners need a mortgage loan to be able to finance the purchase of a home. But did you know there are many types of mortgages? Today, we're going to give you a breakdown of two popular types. This is Open vs Closed Mortgages.     Open Mortgages Open mortgages offer more flexibility to the borrower and the freedom to make add ...