Real Estate Continues to be a Dynamic Driver in Quebec This Fall 2020
Even if shutdowns are ongoing in Quebec at the end of October 2020 because of an increase in COVID cases, the real estate market is still extremely active and sales continue to break records in the Greater Montreal area; this could also be due to overbidding from some buyers for some very desirable properties. In Quebec, 32,200 property sales were recorded from July to September 2020, an exceptional increase of 49% compared to the same period in 2019. This is an absolute record of activity since the Centris system began compiling market data, in 2000. As for new property listings, there were 37,566, an increase of 16% over 2019. In addition, we’ve seen continuous price increases for several years now. Throughout the province, the median price of single-family homes increased [...]
Real Estate and Covid: Visits and Transactions Are Still on for Fall 2020
Despite the partial shutdown of certain commercial activities (restaurants, bars, gyms) in red zones across Quebec, all real estate activities continue to be carried out, but with the necessary preventive measures put forward by the government. Better Safety Measures "It goes without saying that, since the start of the pandemic, visits have changed in order to respect physical distancing and the new reality that we are all living through,” explains Katia Samson, Certified Real Estate Broker Chartered AEO and President of Groupe Immobilier Katia Samson. Several new safety and hygiene measures are currently being implemented, including a coronavirus statement declaring the person who wishes to visit a property has not been in contact with anyone affected by Covid, and that they themselves exhibit no symptoms. In addition, several guidelines provided [...]
Home Staging Services Now Offered at Katia Samson Real Estate Group
Home staging has become a must for residential sellers! The practice of decluttering and creating a soothing and clean décor for the property you want to put on the market “makes it easier for prospective buyers to visualize it as their future home. Staged homes usually sell faster and for more money than those that are unstaged,” according to Katia Samson, Founder of Katia Samson Real Estate Group, and a broker since 1996. Since launching her own real estate boutique agency in 2019, Katia has brought on board a diverse group of brokers, each with their own style and specialty. One of these is Katsiaryna Shumskaya, who studied interior design and now provides home staging services at Katia Samson Real Estate Group in order to help increase profit for home sellers [...]
Post Shutdown, What’s REALLY Happening to the Housing Market?
Since March 2020, when the World Health Organization announced we were all in the midst of a global pandemic, the housing market in Montreal has also clearly been affected by shutdowns and new social distancing rules. While real estate changes do seem to be stabilizing, how will this be impacting your next sale or purchase of a property? Here is some information you might be hearing about: 1. Property Prices Continue to Rise The math is pretty straightforward here: when there are less goods on the market that people want, prices go up. Simple, right? After restrictions on real estate were lifted in May, we saw a dramatic spike in sales in the month of June. “First-time buyers drive up demand more than others because they aren’t selling [...]
Top 10 Questions You Should Ask a Real Estate Broker When Selling your Property
If you’re looking to sell your property faster, and at a better price, the first thing to do is to find a reputable real estate broker. But before you sign on the dotted line, here are some questions you should ask. Just to make sure you are working with the real estate professional who will best represent your interests! 1. What are your credentials? As you start thinking about selling your home, you should be working with a real estate broker who is accredited by the APCIQ (Quebec Association of Real Estate Brokers) and the OACIQ (the Authority of the Real Estate Brokerage in Quebec). This means the person is fully vetted by the industry, will have access to the Realtor.ca, and possesses all the insider knowledge to list your [...]
News About the Montreal Real Estate Market for Summer 2020
What’s happening in the real estate market in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest, after the lockdown due to Covid-19? Is it a sellers’ market, a buyers’ market, or is it more of a balanced market? Many future buyers and sellers are asking themselves these very questions, since we’ve all experienced radical changes in our daily lives. First of all, here are brief descriptions of the three types of real estate markets to consider according to Katia Samson, who heads the boutique agency Katia Samson Real Estate Group, and who has seen firsthand the evolution of the Sud-Ouest, St-Henri and Griffintown neighbourhoods over the last 15 years, because she lives and works in the area. The Three Types of Market A seller’s market happens when there are few properties for sale compared to a [...]