Uh-oh! ?

As usual I am confused and uncertain enough to be unable to fall in behind either the doomsayers or "everything-is-fine" types with respect to real estate, the economy, exchange rates, pretty much everything.

Generally speaking, everybody is probably partially right. It's the timing that is the rub.

However, here is an interesting little factoid. Today, Thursday, March 25, 2010 in our core business area there were 48 agent open houses for new listings. That is two or three times as many as we would normally expect. Why?.

As usual, I don't know. But here are some possibilities.
• Interest rates are going up soon due to creeping inflation. This will slow the market so everybody is putting their house on the market now to beat the slump. If you buy this one and you need to sell soon, best get your abode on the market NOW. If you buy this one and are looking to buy soon, you might risk waiting a while for the market to slow down. And/or, you should re-double your market-watching -- a big increase in "supply" (new listings) should, all by itself, put a little more balance in the market and could reduce the multiple-offer craziness.

• People THINK interest rates are going up soon ...blah blah. This one could be self-fulfilling. Or not.

• The weather was nice for a few days. Typically, the big rush to market would happen closer to, or just after, Easter. But much like the "winter" slowdown, a significant factor is whether people "decide" that Spring (or Winter) has arrived.

• Some other reason. What do you think?

In any case, it was a huge number and it has us paying attention to see what other signals might appear.

P.S. If you are buying, we are selling. Our new listing is priced at only $389.900 and is well-renovated and a stroll to absolutely everything in and around the Beach. If this sounds interesting, off you go to www.drop.io/AshlandAve

Smoke, Fire, Gas, Light and Time

Courtesy of thefireguy.ca:

Daylight Saving Time is from the second Sunday of March (March 14 this year)
This is also the best time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

If your smoke alarm, or carbon monoxide detector is over 10 years old it is recommended that they be replaced. They have a life span of about 10 years.

This is also a good time to get into the habit of testing your smoke alarm on a regular basis.

A candle will smolder after it is blown out. This smoke should activate the smoke alarm if placed directly below it.
REMEMBER; Only WORKING smoke alarms save lives!
Test YOUR smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to-day.
Remember smoke alarms are now required on every floor level as well as outside sleeping areas.