1. Average Price Rises, Despite Fewer Sales
Information courtesy of the Toronto Real Estate Board.
TREB
The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB)
reports a continuing slowdown in real
estate transactions versus the same
time last year. However, even though
Greater Toronto Area REALTORS®
charted a sales decrease of 7.1
percent in October 2012 compared
to October 2011, the average selling
price in October 2012 rose to
$503,479 – an increase of 6.2 percent
compared to October 2011.
TREB Senior Manager of Market
Analysis Jason Mercer notes, “We
continue to see price increases well
above the rate of inflation. Active
listings have remained low from a
historic perspective, so substantial
competition between buyers still
exists, especially for low-rise homes.”
Of course, the real estate market is
fluid, and Mercer adds, “It should be
noted, however, that the annual rate
of price increase has been edging
lower over the past few months as
the market has gradually become
better supplied.”
TREB President Ann Hannah
commented, “Sales have decreased in
the second half of this year compared
to 2011, especially since the onset of
stricter mortgage lending guidelines
at the beginning of July. The prospect
of higher monthly mortgage
payments due to the reduced
maximum amortization period has
prompted some households to delay
their home purchase.”
In this rapidly changing real estate
environment, the services of your
real estate sales representative are
more essential than ever. Let’s work
together in 2013 to realize all your
housing dreams. Until then, best
wishes for the holidays and a happy,
healthy New Year!
Sales & Average Price By Major Home Type
OCT. 2012 Sales Average Price
416 905 Total 416 905 Total
Detached 931 2,417 3,348 $779,484 $573,598 $630,850
Yr./Yr. % Change -7% -1% -3% 5% 8% 7%
Semi-Detached 347 458 805 $575,618 $390,459 $470,273
Yr./Yr. % Change -4% -9% -7% 7% 5% 6%
Townhouse 286 775 1,061 $453,477 $357,237 $383,179
Yr./Yr. % Change -10% -1% -3% 2% 5% 3%
Condo Apartment 1,141 427 1,568 $358,741 $286,138 $338,969
Yr./Yr. % Change -14% -20% -16% -2% 4% 0%
Recine Team Report
Compliments of Melanie & Fabio RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage
Each office is independently owned and operated.
Melanie Maranda Recine &
Fabio Recine
Sales Representatives
"It's your call
Call Melanie and Fabio"
RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage
9100 Jane Street, Bldg. L, Suite #77
Vaughan, ON L4K 0A4
Office: 416-987-8000
Fax: 416-987-8001
Direct Melanie: 647-836-4062
Direct Fabio: 416-828-5441
mmaranda96@hotmail.com
frecine@trebnet.com
www.RecineTeam.ca
Greetings! You’re receiving this
newsletter with hopes that you find it
informative and entertaining.
If you’re thinking of making a move, or
are just curious as to real estate trends
in your area, please feel free to call at
any time. It’s always good to hear
from you!
Best wishes,
Melanie and Fabio
Volume 8, Issue 12

2. Clutter Caution
2
Stress and Other Negative Emotions
Studies have shown that clutter can be a source of
constant, low-grade stress, whether because it assaults the
eye and brain with too much visual stimuli, resulting in
feelings of “information overload”, or because clutter is a
visual reminder of the work you feel you should be doing
– that is, cleaning up. Clutter can also engender feelings
of lethargy, shame, hopelessness, and a loss of control
over one’s life and may be felt by the whole family.
Time and Money
Clutter isn’t just a psychic drain, it’s a drain on your time
and finances too. When you have a place for everything
and everything is in its place, things are easy to find;
when you live in clutter, you waste valuable time and
energy every day looking for things – things that may
be right in front of you, but obscured by clutter. A
disorganized home can also cause us to waste money: we
may not pay bills on time, or buy duplicates of items we
“lost” or didn’t realize we already had, for example.
Your Social Life
Does the thought of having guests over send you into
a tailspin of anxiety? Is getting ready for company an
all-day event? Have you stopped inviting people over or
making friends because you’re embarrassed about your
home? Are you habitually late for appointments because
you’re held up looking for things, causing conflict with
friends and family? Or perhaps people have begun to treat
you differently and are uncomfortable or avoid spending
time in your home.
Living in the Past
Holding onto “stuff” can be a way of holding onto the
past. When we’re tied down by the memories that are tied
to our belongings, it’s hard to move forward in life, to
achieve our goals and address persistent problems. To put
it in Feng Shui terms, "nothing new flows into your life
until you make room for it". In other, more familiar words
— out with the old and in with the new. Remember, you
don’t need to hold on to the item in order to hold on to
the memory.
Safety and Sanitation
Clutter can make a home difficult to navigate through,
increasing the likelihood of trips and falls – something
you especially want to avoid in homes with children
or older adults. Speaking of children, clutter makes
it easier for them to get their hands on things they
shouldn’t. It also makes it harder to keep your home
clean, as it obscures surfaces and collects dirt itself,
leading to excessive dust and perhaps mold, which is
particularly problematic if anyone in your home has
respiratory sensitivities.
Much has been said about the effects of clutter on homebuyers and home sales, but what about its effects on
you and your everyday life? Most of us have a little clutter in our homes, which poses no threat to our quality of
life, but for some, it can have a negative impact on our happiness and healthfulness. Here’s how.

3. It's got to go!New, or not?
Volume 8, Issue 12 3
Every homebuyer has a decision to make: resale or
new construction? Each offers distinct advantages,
but when it comes to the buying process, they’re
more similar than you might think.
When you buy resale, there are no years of waiting
before you can move in, and once you do, you won’t
be surrounded by ongoing construction. There are
fewer surprises: what you see is generally what you get,
both in terms of the home itself and character of the
neighborhood, which, in being established, likely has
more amenities. As well, buyers of resale homes may
have greater flexibility when it comes to negotiating on
price and other terms.
Should you decide, however, that a new-construction
home is the right choice for you, don’t let the excitement
of “new” blind you to the fact that you need to take the
same steps to safeguard your best interests as you would
if buying resale. Steps like:
 Working with your own real estate sales representative,
if there’s a buyer-broker arrangement in place. The
builder’s onsite salespeople are there to represent the
builder’s best interests. You need someone to look
out for your best interests, which your real estate
representative is obligated to do.
 Have the home professionally inspected before you
agree to buy it. Unfortunately, new-home buyers
frequently waive their right to an inspection, believing
that a brand new home is a perfect home. But as many
homeowners can attest, new-construction properties
are certainly not exempt from defects.
 Shop around for a mortgage lender. Builders sometimes
have onsite lenders – though convenient, they might
not offer you the best deal. You could save thousands
by shopping around for a mortgage just as you would
for any other product.
Whether looking at new construction or resale, your real
estate sales representative will guide you in making the
right decision for your needs.
You. At least during showings. With you there, buyers
may feel self-conscious, not wanting to comment or
ask questions, and feel rushed, taking less time to tour
your home than they would in your absence. Plus, you
might say something you shouldn’t have.
Pets. Just as you can distract or scare off buyers, so can
your pets; as such, it’s best they be absent for showings
too. Some people are allergic to, scared of, or simply
dislike animals; you wouldn’t want a negative pet-
related experience to sour a buyer on your home.
A theme room. Your favorite animal, your favorite
sports team – whatever the theme of your room, when
you list, it’s time to replace it with neutral décor. While
theme rooms are a cosmetic issue, many buyers simply
can’t see past them and find them an instant turn-off.
Clutter. Speaking of instant turn-offs, clutter tops the
list. It makes a home look less spacious, presents an
obstacle for buyers in terms of being able to imagine
themselves and their belongings in the space, and gives
the impression the home hasn’t been well looked after.
Anything of a personally revealing nature that might
prejudice buyers against wanting to deal with you.
Remember, when selling your home, neutrality is key,
not just in terms of what shade of paint is on the walls,
but in terms of what you reveal of yourself to buyers.
How you live in your home before it goes on the
market is very different than how you live in it after
it goes on the market. Below are five things that
shouldn’t be in any home you hope to sell.

4. Ready for the “Suite” Life?
Somewhere between the process of setting up your first
house and packing up to downsize after the kids move out,
you may find your thoughts drifting to the seemingly less
complicated option of condominium living.
Condo owners are quick to point out the advantages of
condo ownership:
Less upkeep. Think about all those things you have to do
around the house to keep it well maintained: mowing the
lawn, weeding the garden, cleaning the gutters, painting
the trim, shoveling the driveway… Now think about never
having to do those things again – in a condo, all those jobs
are someone else’s responsibility.
A more active lifestyle. In a condo, you’ll have plenty to do
with all of that newfound spare time, thanks to recreational
facilities like pools and gyms, as well as organized
social events.
A strong sense of community. Many condo owners find
that, in sharing those recreational facilities, attending social
events and living in such close proximity to their neighbors,
it often helps foster a great sense of community.
Greater security. Features like cameras, security staff,
24-hour concierges, and key fob technology help residents
feel better about leaving home, especially for those who
travel frequently.
A convenient location. Condos are often located in close
proximity to amenities like public transportation, shopping,
dining, recreation, and entertainment.
Interested in finding out if the “suite” life is for you, or if,
perhaps, a different style of house might satisfy your housing
needs? Simply call today for a no-obligation discussion!
Terminology Tip
Mean vs. Median Home Price — The mean
(or average) home price is the mathematical
average of all the prices of homes sold during
a certain period. The mean price of homes sold
may run higher than the median price if there are
a number of very high-priced homes in the group.
The median home price refers to the mid-point
of prices, where precisely half of the homes sold
for more than the median price, and half sold
for less. Median home sales numbers usually
provide a better gauge of home prices than
the mean sales price, because homes sold
for exceedingly low or high values only count
as one unit when determining the median.
4
The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the published
information. This newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Not intended to solicit properties or businesses listed for sale and agency agreements in place with other real estate brokers. Whole or
partial reproduction of this newsletter is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. © Market Connections Inc.® 2012, Phone: (800) 387-6058.
www.RecineTeam.caMelanie Direct
647-836-4062
Fabio Direct
416-828-5441
Fabio and Melanie Recine
Sales Representatives
Compliments of Fabio Melanie Recine RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage