The Winnipeg Real Estate Market is still Smokin HOT!!!June is first month when dollar volume for residential-detached sales eclipsed $300 million and a new MLS® dollar volume record was set at $368 million. The average residential-detached sales price in June of $258,275 was up 3% over the same month last year while the average condominium price of $201,642 increased 7% over June 2010.4 out of 5 new listings sold and nearly half of the entire MLS® inventory turned over.June MLS® unit sales increased 6% (1,516/1,432) while dollar volume rose 12% ($367.9 million/$329.2 million) in comparison to the same month last year. Year-to-date MLS® unit sales are up 3% (6,660/6,452) while dollar volume has increased 7% ($1.56 billion/ $1.45 billion) in comparison to the same period last year. 07/07/2011

Wow it's cold out! Check out this video of my Son Sean turning boiling water into Frozen Vapor. 100 Degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) to 0 Degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) in 1 Second Flat! You've gotta Love the Power of -27 Celsius (-16.6 Fahrenheit)!!! Just another typical Manitoba Winter evening. Enjoy! 01/20/2011

Saving for a child's post secondary education has, for years, been a financial goal for many parents.  The theory was that armed with marketable skills and the requisite degree or diploma, the graduate would land a good job, accumulate a substantial down payment and be well on the way to owning his or her home. But, as house prices rise, a growing number of couples with the capital are choosing to invest in a second or even third real estate property with an ulterior motive.  The detached houses, townhomes or condominium apartments they buy can eventually provide viable housing options for their grown children. The Stacey's exemplify this type of investor.  They and their two children, aged 8 and 13, live in a large, four-bedroom home.  Since paying off their mortgage five years ago, th... 07/31/2010

Getting yourself pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage is pretty much standard operating procedure these days if you are looking to buy a house.  This is especially important if you are in a HOT real estate market like Winnipeg right now.  Finding your dream home is one thing, actually getting your offer accepted when there are several on the table is another.  Getting pre-approved for the mortgage can make your offer much more acceptable to the owner of the property because they know that if they sell the house to you, that you will be able to get the mortgage as specified on the offer.  Recently, some of my Clients asked me "What documents do we need, to get a mortgage pre-approval?".    So I asked one of my Mortgage Broker friends if he had a list of documentation that he woul... 06/28/2010