Jingle Bells, Houses Sell

Happy Holidays! It's been too long since I blogged last - October I see. Well, things have changed quite a bit since then. The shock of the HST has warn off, then the landslide win of underdog (?) Rob Ford took our breath away for awhile, and now....we are in the midst of holiday time. This has not stopped homes from being sold or bought in this traditionally slow season. However, this year has seen some changes of heart. While the summer/fall season was slow, confidence in the market re-established itself late in October and continues to stay steady. This is great news of course, despite the resurgence of grumblings by the Bank of Canada and its publication of Canadian household debtloads. Yes, we all carry debt - too much perhaps - but the low interest rates keep us confident that we can afford what we take on. The warning bells are real and we need to heed them as rates, the likes of which we may not see again, are going to climb - eventually. However, home prices are staying on the higher end price-wise, which can cancel out the term 'buyer's market' even as the interest rates are low. So be careful, and don't consume too much this holiday season! Instead, save for that new home in 2011. It'll be worth every saved penny to put towards a new home. In the meantime, enjoy time together with friends, family and share the gift of togetherness. It's free!