Well Winnipeg, it’s that time again: your monthly event guide!

As Winnipeggers, we face the harsh reality of very cold winters so as a city we are all guilty of jamming as many activities as we can in the summer. And why not? We deserve it after the horrifying weather we face during those long winter months. So, in an attempt to help you get the most of your summer, I have decided to provide you with an event guide to help you stay inspired during the month of August.

Here’s what’s happening this month:

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Kansa T-City Bones

Where: Shaw Park

When: Saturday, August 1st @ 6PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Kansa T-City Bones

Where: Shaw Park

When: Sunday, August 2^nd @ 1:30PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Folklarama

Where: Multiple venues around the city

When: August 2 – 15

What: Folklorama is described as a “celebration of life and culture with World-class entertainment.” Each venue takes you into a new and exciting culture where you will experience delicious authentic food and beautiful cultural displays of art and entertainment. Folklorama is the longest-running multicultural event of its kind in the World. With multiple venues hosting every night, you will be sure to catch amazing shows and experience multiple cultures throughout these two weeks. Do not miss out! For complete details, please visit: www.folklorama.ca

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Kansa T-City Bones

Where: Shaw Park

When: Monday, August 3^rd @ 4PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Sioux Fall Canaries

Where: Shaw Park

When: Tuesday, August 11^th @ 7PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Sioux Fall Canaries

Where: Shaw Park

When: Wednesday, August 12^th @ 7PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Rainbow Stage Presents: Sister Act

Where: Rainbow Stage

When: August 13 – September 1

What: Looking for a night of laughs and amusement? Check out Rainbows Stage’s rendition of the Broadway play Sister Act. This program will have you doubling over in laughter and is sure to be a great night out for the whole family!

For ticket information go to: www.tickets.rainbowstage.ca/TheatreManager/1/online

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Sioux Fall Canaries

Where: Shaw Park

When: Thursday, August 13^th @ 12PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts

Where: Investor’s Group Field

When: Friday, August 14^th @ 7PM

To purchase tickets: http://www.bluebombers.com/single-game-tickets

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Friday, August 14^th @ 7PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

 Dirty Donkey Mud Race

Where: Springhill Winter Park and Oasis Resort

When: Saturday, August 15

What: This race will leave you dirtier than a donkey! The 5km race foot race/obstacle course is – you guessed it – covered in mud. The event will end with music, food, and drinks. With crazy costumes, dirt holes, and a good ol fashioned Canadian party, this event is sure to bring even the grumpiest of donkeys to life! For more information on how you can register, follow: www.eventbrite.ca/e/dirty-donkey-mud-run-winnipeg-mb-assiniboia-downs-august-15-2015-tickets-13968047807

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Saturday, August 15^th @ 6PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Sunday, August 16^th @ 1:30

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Easter Seals Drop Zone

Where: 220 Portage Ave.

When: Thursday, August 20

What: Looking for a little more adventure in your life? Why not rappel off a 220 foot building? On August 20^th Winnipeggers are invited to rappel down the RBC Building in order to raise funds to support and sustain vital programs and services for over 47,000 Manitobans with disabilities. Talk about becoming a real life superhero! Participants are invited to dress the part for the event while they show their support for the community that needs these programs the most. For more information on how to get involved and how much money rappelling off the building will raise to support this great cause, please visit: www.thedropzone.ca/winnipeg

Stars FORE Special O! Golf Tournament

Where: Glendale Golf & Country Club

When: Wednesday, August 26

What: This golf tournament, presented by the Winnipeg Police Association, is a Texas Scramble style golf tournament where golfers will meet two stars at each hole – a celebrity and a SOM athlete golfer. Entry fees are $350 per golfer, or $1300 for a foursome. All funds raised through the tournament support Special Olympics Manitoba. To register contact Kathleen Mason at kmason@specialolympics.mb.ca or phone 204-925-5633.

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Friday, August 28^th @ 7PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Calgary Stampeders

Where: Investor’s Group Field

When: Saturday, August 29^th @ 5PM

To purchase tickets: http://www.bluebombers.com/single-game-tickets

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Saturday, August 29^th @ 6PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Sunday, August 30^th @ 1:30PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

Winnipeg Goldeyes host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Where: Shaw Park

When: Monday, August 31^st @ 7PM

To purchase tickets: http://goldeyes.com/tickets/

There are many reasons why you may need to sell your home quickly: a sudden job relocation; a change in family situation; or perhaps an opportunity to purchase a new home that you just can’t pass up.

Whatever the reason, this strategy will help when you need to sell fast. It’s called the “3 Up” strategy.

• Fix it up.

• Clean it up.

• Spruce it up.

First, you need to fix it up. That simply means getting things repaired around your property, such as a broken floor tile in the kitchen or a sticking patio door that’s difficult to open and close. Maintenance issues like these distract buyers from the appealing qualities of your home. Fortunately, repairs can usually be done quickly.

Second, clean it up. Obviously, when your home is clean and tidy it’s going to look its best. You also want to eliminate as much clutter as possible. You don’t need to make every room look like a magazine cover — but that’s a good attitude to have when prepping your home for a quick sale!

Finally, spruce it up. That means making any quick improvements that are going to make your home even more appealing. It might mean replacing the kitchen counters or giving the main rooms a fresh coat of paint.

Of course, the number one strategy for getting that SOLD sign on your front yard is to select a great REALTOR®. Hint hint.

WINNIPEG   - Since 2007 when for the first time June sales surpassed 1,500, this level has become the new benchmark upon which June is judged.  At 1,509 MLS® unit sales in June, over 1,500 sales have occurred three times after 2007 including last year when there were 1,515 sales. There is only a 55 unit sales difference or over 3% higher sales activity in the record-setting June 2008.

Not much difference on a year-to-date basis either.  Year-to-date sales are running less than 1% ahead of last year with 6,502 sales. This total is only off 7% from 2007, which at the halfway mark and year end holds the highest unit sales level in WinnipegREALTORS® 112-year history.  

This reinforces why Winnipeg’s real estate market may lack the excitement of other housing markets because it’s so steady and stable in generating similar results every year.

“In all honesty, our Winnipeg market can be quite boring due to how  remarkably close the month end numbers are in comparison to the same month  the year before,” said WinnipegREALTORS® president David MacKenzie.  “I will take that result any day over the uneven swings which occur in some other major Canadian markets.”

A byproduct of this stability is more affordable house prices. In RBC’s most recent housing affordability report  which has been compiled since 1985 and-captures Manitoba’s proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home at market values , condos fared better with bungalows and two-storey homes going up marginally. In conclusion, RBC says “affordability measures remain remarkably close to long-term averages”. Sound familiar?

Speaking of average house prices, they are very much in line with last year at the half-way mark of 2015.

There is no breakout like this for condominium sales; however, the year-to-date average sale price of $241,029 is up over 1% from the same period in 2014.

As indicated in the 2015 annual MLS® forecast, a plentiful listing supply will ensure well balanced market conditions prevail and therefore keep a lid on increasing house and condominium prices. 13,728 listings have been entered on the MLS® this year, an increase of 14% over 2014. Based on brisk sales activity in June, there is an inventory of approximately four months going into July.

Reflecting how prices are being kept in check is the similar dollar volume this June compared to last June. Dollar volume eked out an ever so slight edge over 2014 (less than 1%) with a record-setting $416 million for this month and one of the highest monthly totals on record. Year-to-date dollar volume of nearly $1.8 billion is up less than 2% over the same period in 2014. It is the highest level on record for the first six months.

Owing to a healthy supply of MLS® listings and historically low mortgage rates, buyers are continuing to capitalize on choice and rates or choice rates if the property they have long sought after is available for sale. Demand is holding up well too with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 5.6 % and continued population growth fuelled by strong immigration. Manitoba’s real GDP is expected to grow 2.3% in 2015, making it the third best among provinces and above the national average of 1.8%.

“Given the outstanding selection of listings available throughout the city and entire capital region, it behooves buyers to see for themselves and call their REALTOR® for their expert advice,” said MacKenzie. “REALTORS® know the market and can give you quick access to new MLS® listings. Your chances of finding what you want have never been better – resale or new properties.”

MLS® property type breakdown shows condominium sales in June were only down 6% in comparison to last June. This is a vast improvement over some earlier months such as February and April when they were well off last year’s sales activity.

“We surveyed our real estate brokers recently and the majority of them felt the introduction of the new Condominium Act on February 1, 2015 had some impact on sales,” said MacKenzie. “Everyone involved in the condominium sales process is adjusting to the new requirements of the Act so our expectations are to see sales numbers perform better in the second half of 2015. Let’s not forget either an increased supply of affordable residential-detached homes competes directly with condominiums.”

Year-to-date sales show residential-detached units up 5% while condominiums have decreased 15%.

The most active price range in June for residential-detached sales was $250,000 - $299,999 (23% of sales), followed by the $200,000 - $249,999 range (15%) and the $300,000 - $349,999 range (15%). Another 22% of sales were split evenly in the $150,000 - $199,999 and the $350,000 - $399,999 ranges.

Average days on market was 29 days, 4 days slower than June 2014. The highest priced residential-detached sale was $1,165,000 and the least expensive sale was $32,000.

The most active price range for condos was $150,000 to $199,999 (35% of sales) followed by the $200,000 to $249,999 range (18%) and the $250,000 to $299,999 range (16%). Days on market for condos was 49 days, compared to 41 days last year with the highest priced condo selling for $655,000 and the lowest priced sale at $57,000.

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,880 real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, and financial members active in the Greater Winnipeg Area real estate market.  Its REALTOR® members adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) designed exclusively for REALTORS®. WinnipegREALTORS® serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.  REALTOR®, MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned and controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association and are used under licence.

When you purchase a home, you’re hoping it will continually go up in value — just like a good investment.

However, there’s something else that you want to see go up in value as well: the neighbourhood. In fact, the neighbourhood plays a key role in what the home will be worth in years to come. If the neighbourhood goes down in terms of desirability, so will the market value of the home.

That’s why, when shopping for a new home, it’s important to get a feel for the value of the neighbourhood, and whether or not it’s on the upswing.

How do you do that? One way is to simply take a walk. Look at the properties. Are they well maintained? Is the landscaping groomed and attractive? Those are signs of “pride of ownership” — a clear indication that owners value their homes and the neighbourhood.

Another way is to do some research. Has crime gone up in the neighbourhood? Are there improvements planned, such as new parks? Is the neighbourhood attracting the kind of people you want as neighbours? How does the neighbourhood school rank?

Some of this information may be difficult to get on your own and that's what makes it so important to work with an agent who has done this research for you and can give you the information you need to make these informed decisions. 

Thinking about buying? Call me today to help you get started!