Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI, ABR ENOUGH ALREADY! Baby it's cold out there. It's hard to enjoy the snow unless you are a skier, ice skater, snow mobiler or a kid. I know I'm grumbling but why not, many people are shut- ins and won't come out until the weather warms . Often watching the TV, the media will sensationalize world events leaving us with fear and a sense of doom and gloom. After the Holiday season, as we look back, last year... [read more]

Stats providec by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI, ABR Celebration of Life In lieu of my usual opinions about the market, the drop in the interest rates or if it’s a good time to sell, I’m turning my thoughts to a special goodbye. I’ve never attended a celebration of life quite like the one for Paul Turney, who helped us with our newsletter and passed away last month.                         ... [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver                                                                                                                                   ... [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR Many Parts, All Working Together! There is so much more to selling a house today than there ever was. As properties sit waiting for a buyer to come along, stagers are running out of furniture stock to stage a property. I know stagers that have 20 to 30 houses that are sitting on the market and no inventory in their warehouse to help stage another property.  Should the stager purchase more furniture, that is the... [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

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Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

It's All About Looking Up! Summer Solstice Is Upon Us!  And so is the beginning of hope.  Last month sales may have been down BUT things are looking up, just like the sunflower! Now that the Bank of Canada has lowered it's overnight rate, it seems enough to give people hope that more is soon to come. The short one minute video at the top of our newsletter says it all.  June is solar-driven and high-powered. June is also a high-voltage month for... [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver,Broker of Record, FRI, ABR  May Has Always Been A Month Of Change In April, there were at least 61 Condo apartments that sold in the whole of Durham Region and 18 of them were in Pickering.    Ajax had just 1 Condo Apartment that sold, which was only on the market for 10 days. Never before has it been so important to list your property for sale at the right price. I'm not talking about Condo Townhouses, Semi's or Detached, but... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR Houses Are Like The Eclipse! The solar eclipse glasses were practically “a dime a dozen”. They were all basically the same, inexpensive, and plenty to go around…yet still not enough for everyone who wanted a pair. Don’t wait ’til it’s too late... This is similar to something seen in real estate. When people hear there’s a great house on the market, they often wait to go see... [read more]

  Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI, ABR Lots Happening In March! St. Patrick's day, a pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow, we changed to daylight savings with longer days and shorter nights. The Bank of Canada hasn't increased rates, Sales are up for the first two months of the year, even prices are up slightly and sellers are feeling more confident that buyers are out there. Interesting that detached and semi-detached are doing slightly better in... [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI, ABR Welcome 2024, To All Our Friends And Clients January is always a month for making changes, catching up and putting new plans in place for the coming year.                                            Seems life for many has been like riding on a roller coaster, yet some have put their life on hold and are... [read more]

Stats courtesy of Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

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Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR,  ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – Realtor® Edition A Realtor’s Christmas Poem (Poetic License Definitely Taken) ‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, only Realtors were stirring. And, of course, a mouse. The contracts were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that the closings soon would be there. The buyers were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions... [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Hard To Know What To Say Anymore!                                                                                                               ... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Who Is Going Back to School? Kids and students aren't the only ones going back to school this fall ... it's all the Real Estate agents as well. Real Estate was hit hard with three governing associations making major changes, two of which will affect the public directly, not to mention the amalgamation of several real estate boards in the province coming together and being renamed. It is serious and challenging to... [read more]

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Stats Provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board   [read more]

Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Jo Rucinski Sales Representative What's In A Headline It's easy to get caught up and overwhelmed with Headlines. Stories are often sensational, tragic or terrifying. The media knows how to keep us engaged on our phones, tablets and newspapers. They know bad news sells! And yet, that's only a part of life. I recently attended a lovely outdoor wedding at Trillium Trails Banquet and Conference Centre in North Oshawa. The Officiant told the story of two people who... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Opinions... Opinions... Everyone has one! I love watching the Stats Guys on the CREA Housing Report. "Sales are down and Prices are slightly up, as are interest rates." No one has a crystal ball to predict the future. With more houses coming on the market, Buyers will have more choice.  Sellers must price their house right or it may take a lot longer to sell.  What's your opinion? [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA So Many Changes! The Summer Solstice is fast approaching. It's about the transition from Fall to Summer, from out of the darkness into light, from action to nourishment. It is the beginning of Summer, and the warmth of the Sun.  On June 21st we will see the longest daylight hours of this year. What does all this mean? I'm not sure, but there have been many changes. Everyplace you look, we see changes... [read more]

Thoughts from Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI, ASA, ABR What A Guessing Game! We are back to supply and demand. So many buyers and sellers have been waiting for the market to stabilize. But does it ever? It's a moving force to be reckoned with, and many have tried.  Canada is growing leaps and bounds and is viewed as one of the best and safest places to live. Unfortunately, if you live in the Ukraine these days that may not be the case. There is nothing wrong with... [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Big Changes Coming To The Real Estate Business! Each province has their own governing body and though the Rules & Regulations are very similar, there are some very definite differences. In Ontario, our governing body RECO, the Real Estate Council of Ontario has been extremely busy streamlining the Rules & Regulations for the Real Estate Business, and it's all about raising the bar in Consumer... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Has Anything Changed? Well, the first month of 2023 is over and nothing has changed... or has it!  Everyone is waiting to see what February will bring. It's been a slow climb after the pandemic halt. Those crazy bidding wars seem to be in the distant past. When you have been in business and watched the cycles over the years, well, we used to be able to call it. But caution is now the key word, and that's... [read more]

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Stats provided by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Today, A Property Must Be Offered At Market Value Or It's Not For Sale! I know we are all wondering what's happening. None of us are sure of anything today. Buyers don't know what price to offer for a house. Meanwhile Sellers are stuck in the past. They expect February's "this year's prices" and activity to come back. It's all about inflation.          Once the... [read more]

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What's Happening? Who Do You Listen To! Everywhere you look, people are hot, angry, tired and impatient. They say "I missed the market!" Transitions are difficult. I thought the market would definitely slow down with Summer and interest rate increases, but as much as we were all taken by the huge price increases in the bidding process, we were just as surprised at how quickly the prices dropped and to what level. Some agents are advising Sellers to wait -- it's a... [read more]

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Getting Back In The Groove   After the Pandemic, it was time to get back to doing the fun things we used to, but many of us were out of sync and couldn't                       pick up where we had left off.  We are such creatures of habit, even driving back and forth daily to the office seemed strange.                          The roads and drivers seemed... [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA I Love The Springtime! One thing about Real Estate is that it is never dull and always changing. I bet if I took a survey, most people would say they were really uncomfortable with rising house prices.  I know first time buyers were. Even the banks, mortgage companies and home sellers had apprehension about how quickly prices rose and how long they would last. Ideally, those who bought and sold in the same market... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Don't Let Fear Be Your Guide! Two years into the pandemic, we're still getting our heads around vaccines, huge increases in house prices, gas, food and inflation. Now comes a new budget, war in the Ukraine, economic uncertainty and the Bank of Canada increasing their rates. I know right now it seems pretty awful, but there is always an upside to everything. Many home buyers made wonderful purchases allowing... [read more]

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Sales and Prices are up and looks like interest rates are going up too. In the spring of 2017, just over four years ago, we reached a price peak in the market. What happened? Almost overnight sales and prices started to drop. Thinking back, the banks and CMHC wanted to put a lid on the prices increasing so quickly. Policies were created making it difficult for Buyers to qualify--stress tests were designed to slow things down. Then, in 2018, we had a year of slow sales and prices started... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Information Overload! Never thought I would say this, it's hard to wake up in the morning positive and happy. It seems the whole world is experiencing tragedy after tragedy, day by day. Maybe we should quit reading newspapers, watching the news or picking up our cell phones every time there's a notification. Maybe NOTHING has really changed!  Historically our world has gone through wars, pandemics and... [read more]

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We had fewer New Listings August 2021 than August 2020, less days on the market and the average price has increased 25%!  [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Hot And Getting Hotter? You May Need A Pool! It wasn't so long ago that if you had a house to sell with a pool, it could be a negative and reflect in a lower price. Some Buyers who really liked the house and property but did not want the pool would pay to have it filled in. Buyers that were looking for a house with an inground pool, usually paid the price. That's because installing a pool can be costly. It's... [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA We've Moved! We have served the Durham Region, Toronto East and Northumberland for over 27 years. The last eight years were spent at 92 Church St South in Ajax on the main floor of the residential condominium building. During that time, we made more great friends and even helped convince some lawyers to relocate there as well. I knew this would be good for the residents in the building to have access to their great... [read more]

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  Fathers Day.. With Father's Day just around the corner, thinking of my Father brought back many memories. My Dad became a Realtor back in the '50's when the fee was only $2.00 for a real estate license.  It was a time Ontario was starting to grow. I remember thinking all my Dad did was paperwork, talk on the phone a lot and spend time away from home and not with me.  One day my friend decided to become a Real Estate agent and asked for my Dad's... [read more]

Provided by Durham Region Association of Realtors  [read more]

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Thoughts from Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record What Does The Future Hold? Let's look at our Past! Toronto Region Real Estate Board celebrated their 100-year anniversary last year.  In 1921 the Toronto Home Builder's Association was created and 100 years later the successor of this industry association, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) celebrated their centenary.  BILD and the Toronto Star are presenting the history, growth and... [read more]

Is There A Corner To Turn? We have all been waiting for the pandemic to end. Instead, we're into a third lockdown. Real Estate has been a front runner of much of the world's economy. I'm sure there is more to it than people just wanting to move out of the city. Governments may introduce plans to keep the prices from escalating, but by that time, it may be too late. So we have to keep going and make the best of it. Don't be afraid. Deal with it today! Even in a hot... [read more]

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Durham Association of Realtors [read more]

5-year Mortgage Rate Increased & No Parade! One of my sisters reminded me that this will be the second year in a row there will be no St. Patrick's Day parades...anywhere!  Her birthday is March 17th and she honestly believes she is of Irish heritage. I know I'm not, but Anna, a treasured member of our team, is as Irish as they come. She has a delightful accent, makes Irish soda bread for us all, and on St. Patrick's Day, dances a little Jig that she brought over... [read more]

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For more than 20 years, MinCom New Choice Realty has presented their annual awards at a luncheon celebrating Chinese New Year. As an office we gathered, mingling with each other and getting caught up in the highlights of each other's lives. Not only was the food great, the predictions for the New Year and the personalized predictions for the animal each person represented were a lot of innnocent fun. The Pandemic has certainly put an end to that. Yes we have the ability to invite a... [read more]

Wow, what a year we've had in Durham Region! The average price for a house has increased approx. $220,000 since January 2020.      Lower interest rates, more first time buyers, the need for bigger homes to allow dedicated office/work spaces, have made for an influx of buyers. However the low inventory has continued to push prices up.                                       ... [read more]

Wow, have a look at the Average Price of a home in Durham Region in January 2021.                                                                                 Lower interest rates have created a lot of first time buyers and along with low inventory have caused prices... [read more]

If anyone had told me the world would be held ransom by a controlling Virus , I would have said no way. The world leaders, as a group, were able to orchestrate almost complete control of their people within a nine-month period. People all over the world have been left confused, lost and some without hope. Hope is the key here! Fake news has not helped either. It has only fueled the controversies and conspiracies, not to mention the trust in all our nations' leaders. Seems like only a... [read more]

Provided by Durham Region Association of Realtors [read more]

Average House Sale Prices in Durham Region have increased over $15,000 from November 2020 to December 2020.  Number of sales decreased from 1088 in November 2020 to 773 in December 2020.  The Average Price in December 2020 has increased 21.5% from December 2019.        We're starting off 2021 with Low Inventory and Higher Prices. Questions about Selling or Buying in Today's Market? We have answers and are here to... [read more]

Compared with November 2019, November 2020 has an increased number of sales and increased selling price, however the number of active listings is down more than 50%.  Questions about Selling or Buying in Today's Market?  We have answers and are here to help. Call us for a FREE Home Market Consultation. [read more]

Another great month for house sale prices, check out your city and house style for the average price in November 2020. Questions about Buying or Selling in Today's Market? We have answers and are here to help.    [read more]

Average Price broken down by City and House Type. Questions about Selling or Buying in Today's Market? We have Answers and are here to help. Make an informed decision, call Judy's Team today. [read more]

Once again, house prices are up from the the previous month as well as the previous year. Number of sales has also increased over last October. Question about Selling or Buying in Today's Market? We have Answers and are here to help. Make an informed decision, call Judy's team today.   [read more]

Questions about Selling and Buying in Today's Market? We have answers and are here to help. Call us today for a FREE Home Evaluation, get the facts so you can make an informed decision.   [read more]

Questions about Selling or Buying in Today's Market? We have answers and are here to help. Know the facts to make an informed decision....call today for a FREE Home Evaluation. [read more]

2020 has been an unusual year, however the stats show Number of Sales and Average Price has increased over August 2019. Questions about Selling or Buying in Today's Market? We have answers and are here to help....get the facts. [read more]

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The Durham Region Real Estate Market  is HOT HOT HOT! Average prices across the Region are up from June 2020.                                                                    Together with relaxed "stress test" requirements and low interest rates, It's a great time to make your move...If you have... [read more]

Prices are up in Durham Region, see chart for average price in your city. Number of homes sold in June 2020 were 1,281 compared with 1,093 in 2019.  Average price is also up from June 2019...average price for 2020 is $685,655.  If you have questions about today's Real Estate Market, we have answers! [read more]

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In the Durham Region, in March 2020 both the number of sales and average sale prices are up from March 2019. Interested in what your home may be worth?, call today to arrange a FREE over the phone evaluation of your home. Provided by Durham Region Association of Realtors [read more]

Listed by city and house style. Interested in what your home may be worth?, call today to arrange a FREE over the phone evaluation of your home. Provided by Durham Region Association of Realtors [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA What's Next...                                                                                                                   ... [read more]

    Provided by Toronto Real Estate Board [read more]

Provided by Toronto Real Estate Board [read more]

📣 Judy's Team has a new member, we're pleased to welcome Denise Roussel. 🥳 Born and raised in Pickering, she was involved with her family's Building and Construction business, sales came naturally to her and now Denise brings her experience, passion and commitment to Mincom New Choice Realty. Giving back to the community, personally and professionally is very important to her. Please join us in wishing her success.    Give Denise a ☎️if you have any... [read more]

Two Espressos Coming Right Up! My family suggested it was time to leave the home I lived in for 60 years. Commissions were important and selecting the agent was my decision. After talking with several agents I found communication and trust with Judy.                          With her caring, experience and attention to detail, I knew she would help me work through this. We shared many conversations over an... [read more]

Naughty or Nice....which list were you on?! The Egg Nog was flowing, the Christmas music was playing as the Residents of 92 Church St. S. were invited down to our office to say hello, partake of some of Anna Stinson's homemade Shortbread, enjoy a cup of cheer and leave with a poinsettia. Our building has a wonderful group of people, very community oriented and willing to help out a neighbour. Micheline is an amazing baker and repaid our kindness with some of her own yummy... [read more]

Durham Region Monthly Home Sales, Year over Year Comparison [read more]

Get excited when you hear Real Estate numbers and stats on the radio or tv???                                                                                                     Well that's for the Greater Toronto Area....we provide stats... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Tis' The Season! I don't want to write about Stats and more Stats, we will have plenty time for that next year. I want to write about Christmas and Holidays.  We invited the Condo owners in the building to our Office Open House, gave away Treats, 25 beautiful Poinsettias and had many laughs sharing wonderful stories. Now for some Trivia: Toronto Real Estate Board, one of the largest in the world will be... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Million Dollar Question? Toronto Real Estate Board reported for October that the number of sales and prices were both up. Then in mid November it was reported that this is the first time in awhile the House Price Index went down. Usually,the percentage of First time buyers is between 54% - 56% , now it has dropped to 47%. It has also been reported First time buyers are renting longer and Women are taking the lead in... [read more]

Real Estate, like life, is all about timing....we provide Monthly and Year over Year home sale stats specific to Durham Region. If you have questions, we have answers.     [read more]

The October Durham Region Home Sale Stats, Average Prices by City are now available   [read more]

Alaska…Been There, Done That and Got the T Shirt too!   Judy Stacee-Cleaver from MinCom New Choice Realty and her Team has been our Realtor of choice over the years.  We own several properties and both times Judy and her Team sold over the asking price, even in a slower market!   Judy gave us good pre-sale advice, a low commission rate and her services were the best.    Visiting their office we noticed pictures of Alaska that her daughter... [read more]

Curious about Home Sales in Durham Region?  We have monthly Breakdown by city.....have a look. If you have questions, we have answers. [read more]

Real Estate, like life, is all about timing....we provide Monthly and Year over Year home sale stats specific to Durham Region. If you have questions, we have answers. [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA   Never Take-Unless You Are Willing To Give Back! Mincom New Choice Realty has belonged to a small Networking group in Durham for over 20 years. Membership has gone through its ups and downs during that time. As small business entrepreneurs, collectively we make a difference. Starting a business can be lonesome and scary, but having the support of such a group is helpful both personally and... [read more]

Mincom New Choice Realty Ltd., Brokerage is helping provide you with home sale stats.....an informed decision is always the best decision. [read more]

Wondering what the average house sale prices were in Durham Region....our chart breaks it down, city by city and house style. [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA I'm Going Golfing! (for charity, that is) Well, kids are back at school, summer's over and politicians are campaigning in full force. We now have more parties running than ever before - what's that all about? Most Canadians originally came from other countries, worked the land and worked hard to have a better life. They pay taxes, practice their faith and look after their families. We expect our government... [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA Summer Time...And The Living Is Easy Well, maybe for some. It's been very strange. Most people take holidays, but not so this year. We've had a late start with the spring market and Sellers who did not prepare their houses in time found that the trades people were too busy. Many couples use 'Date Night at Home Depot or Lowes' making plans for improvements to the house. As sellers make decisions and... [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Real Estate Board [read more]

Stats Provided by Toronto Real Estate Board [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-CleaverBroker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA   Does Staging Really Help Sell My House?   Absolutely... When you walk into an empty house, it often feels cold and uninviting. Buyers need to visualize themselves living there.   Not all rooms need furniture and... [read more]

We've compiled the Average Selling Price  for April by City and House Style. Check it out. [read more]

According to the TREB Stats, comparing April 2018 to April 2019 prices are stabilizing. However the good news is that the number of Sales in the Durham Region increased by almost 16% !! As always, whether you're thinking of Buying or deciding on a List price for your house, an informed decision will save time and money in the long run.   Call the Judy Stacee-Cleaver Team today to help you navigate today's Real Estate Market. [read more]

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  Friends Forever.... With technology, today's Real Estate offices can have hundreds of agents, who never see their fellow agents or office staff.  25 years ago Judy Stacee-Cleaver started Min Com New Choice Realty and with weekly meetings, seasonal lunches, company trips and events, our agents and staff definitely got to know one another.   Humour is good for the soul and boy did we have a lot of characters who made life that much more... [read more]

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Thoughts From Judy Stacee-CleaverBroker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA   Slow And Easy Does It! I am so glad to be a Realtor in the Greater Toronto Durham Areas. After all, we do have the highest number of sales of all major cities in the country.   I know there are housing issues. Unfortunately, the politicians... [read more]

Providing facts and figures to help you make an educated decision in today's Real Estate Market [read more]

Lots Of Predictions For 2019! Some good, some bad and there are some things you just can't do anything about.  They have to work their way through the system.   Our Government and its policies are still controlling things that affect our real estate market. If prices keep spiraling the way they have... [read more]

Providing facts and figures to help you make an educated decision in today's Real Estate Market. [read more]

These stats only show the average sale price, not the number of sales. To find out the number of sales contact us, we'd be happy to help. [read more]

These stats only show the average sale price, not the number of sales. To find out the number of sales contact us, we'd be happy to help. [read more]

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver Broker of Record, FRI, ABR, ASA What Will Next Year Bring? What a year in Real Estate this has been! Many of us will be happy to see the last of 2018. But, the world is always changing and we are changing with it. For instance, for market trends, I've gone back to posting year-over-year statistics and added the types of homes sold monthly in each area of the Durham Region. In this loveliest holiday season of celebrations, may you find many... [read more]

It’s business as usual for Mincom New Choice Realty. They wouldn’t let a little thing like a fire in the building slow them down, no matter how much damage was done. In fact, most people, including their clients, weren’t even aware that the office had been uninhabitable for more than a week.On Monday, November 20th, Mincom Jo was diligently working online at the office keeping up with her courses. Around 6:00 pm, alarms started to sound. Following protocol, Jo left her... [read more]

Chris Cleaver drives an altered 1932 Dodge, but not to work. He turns the AA Fueler loose at the drag strip where its 3,000 HP hemi works to turn seven second ¼ miles reaching speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. The blown “supercharged” engine runs on methanol. It’s a different world…roaring engines, screaming tires and fire suits. Oh, and parachutes to slow you down at the end of the run.    For Chris, drag racing is more than just a hobby. He... [read more]

It’s that time of year when driving around the Durham Region is nothing but a delight to to the senses. The smells, the sounds and especially the colours are overwhelmingly gorgeous. Mother Nature was totally on board for driving and exploring this particular Thanksgiving long weekend. The temperature was warm and the skies were sunny (most of the time). It doesn’t matter how long you’ve lived in the Durham Region, a leisurely drive on a beautiful fall day is sure to lead you... [read more]

These are busy times. The world just seems to be going faster and faster. Maybe not faster than a speeding bullet, but while we all try to get through our lives as Superman/Superwoman, one of the hardest feats to accomplish is being able to spend time with family. What’s more powerful than a locomotive? Spending time with family on a locomotive! We may not be able to leap tall buildings at a single bound but we can certainly share the “Adventures of Mincom Jo and her Dad”... [read more]

Canada has officially marked the sesquicentennial anniversary of Canadian Confederation. “What does that mean?” you might ask. Well, it means we are officially 150 years old and it’s time to party!  There was, of course, no lack of celebrating in the Durham Region. Everywhere you looked you could see red. Mincom Jo chose to spend the afternoon at the festivities in Port Perry. Historic downtown Port Perry is one of Jo’s favourite parts of the Durham Region. She... [read more]

We can think of no better way to experience the Durham Region than to “walk it”.  There are a lot of folks who agree with us.  People who participate in the annual Jane’s Walk Festival are like-minded.  Every year, on the first weekend in May, tens of thousands of people all over the world take part. “Jane’s Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to tell stories about their... [read more]

Sunnybrae Golf Club was the place to bring your appetites for pancake breakfast on Sunday, March 5th. The club, located at 1430 King Street in Port Perry,  opened its doors for the Rotary Club of Port Perry to host its Annual Pancake & Family Day in aid of Oak Ridges Hospice There were lots of activities to keep every one busy, but of course the star of the show was the pancakes. Sooooo, good! They were cooked to perfection by pancake... [read more]

There is nothing like a bowl of hot soup to fend off the November chills. Even when the temperature turns unseasonably warm and perhaps soup isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, it warms your heart to be a part of the Annual Durham’s Empty Bowls. This is the third year that Feed The Need, the regional food distribution warehouse serving Durham Region, has participated in Empty Bowls.  As a long time supporter, Mincom Jo looked forward to spending the... [read more]

One of the most attractive aspects of living in the Durham Region is its proximity to Toronto. On the other hand, there are times when one of the least attractive aspects of living in the Durham Region is its proximity to Toronto. We have all been there – stuck on the 401 in deadlocked traffic or sitting on the Go Train waiting for your stop, thinking you will never get to work on time, or worse yet, that you will never get home! Incredibly, only a few blocks from Canada’s... [read more]

When it comes to fundraising for a good cause, the people at Graymatter Marketing Solutions leave everyone else at the starting gate. Vice president Vanessa Blue had an idea on how to help Joanne’s House, which is a part of Durham youth housing and support services. Memories of her years in England included attending the Royal Ascot, Britain’s most valuable race meeting which attracts many of the world’s finest thoroughbred racehorses. Much like our own Canadian... [read more]

Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes another door opens…”, and people have been quoting these words ever since. Often, those “open doors” lead to interesting and exciting opportunities or adventures. Such is the case across Ontario this season. Doors Open Ontario 2016 offers you the opportunity to discover the story behind every door.   Each year from April to October, the Ontario Heritage Trust invites you to... [read more]

By now you’re probably aware that Phase 1 of the Highway 407 East Project has been completed and is officially opened to traffic. This section includes Highway 407 from Brock Road in Pickering to Harmony Road in Oshawa, as well as Highway 412, which connects Highway 407 and the 401. Some think the best part of the opening may just be that the use of these sections is toll free until the new year. “Free” is hard to argue with, but a recent trip to Port Perry from Pickering was... [read more]

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away (we’ll call it the Durham Region), there lived a wee Princess named Mincom Jo. Now Princess Jo was a very happy Princess, but she longed to spend her time whiling away the hours wandering around a beautiful castle while her faithful subjects brought her food, mail and the remote. This little Princess knew all about castles and came from a very long line of castle experts who had handed down the knowledge for generations: a person’s home... [read more]

Bowmanville knows how to throw a good “Fest”. A big part of their success is because of the people who live there. It is a community that loves its town and supports the activities that happen there. The recent “MapleFest” was a perfect example. They came in droves…young and old, families and couples, friends hanging out and even some four legged ones. It was a perfect day. The weather was not too hot and not too cold. The sun shone brightly. Mincom Jo,... [read more]

It’s not always just fun and festivals for the people of the Durham Region. Some things we take quite seriously. One of those things is sustainability. Wikipedia defines sustainability in general terms…“Sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes. The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable development, which includes the four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture.” Pickering... [read more]

March can get a little crazy in the Durham Region.  When it comes to weather one might even say it is bi-polar. One day you are getting emergency weather winter storm warnings, with “polar” temperatures and record snowfalls. The next day the sun is shining and you are tempted to walk about in your shorts. We won’t mention any names (Mincom Jo). Let’s face it, we are Canadians — there was a lot of shorts-wearing going on. If the weather didn’t... [read more]

There are a lot of things to celebrate in February. This week alone we started with Superbowl Sunday, moved into Chinese New Year on Monday, followed by Fat Tuesday (a.k.a Mardi Gras) and Ash Wednesday. We have Valentine’s Day on the 14th and Family Day on the 16th, but it doesn’t stop there. We have numerous special days for the rest of the month, all the way up to February 29th when we will celebrate the Leap Year. “It can’t be monkey-see, monkey-do this year... [read more]

Death is a part of life. It is something that we all have to deal with at one point or another. The funeral industry itself has changed over the years to accommodate modern culture and emerging trends, cremation being one of them. In the last decade or so, cremation has skyrocketed in popularity, in part due to its flexibility. Memorial services featuring cremated remains can be customized to accommodate a range of needs and tailored to truly honour the person they’re... [read more]