Page 6 - Your Home Your Way

6 THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

» Continued from Page 5 have sold since Jan. 1, 2021. “We’ve had a lot of prop- Economic spinoffs from
For the same period last erties selling on the first a booming housing market
“We have 270 realtor year, only 72 sold. day, but there are no exact can’t be ignored either.
members in our board,” she Pearson said the national numbers.” Lawyers’ fees, movers,
said. “We are about as far market is showing upwards “Our entire board is see- house inspections and so
east as Portage la Prairie, as of a 48 per cent increase in ing a busier spring market on are placed in the melting
far north as Thompson, as home sale prices. than last year,” she said. pot.
far south as the U.S. border “We’re not experienc- Generally, the entire That helps stimulate the
and right to the Saskatche- ing anything like that,” she province is experiencing economy as well, Pearson
wan border.” pointed out. rapid growth in the housing noted.
As in the rest of Canada, Year-to-date, the aver- market. At a 2021 Market In-
real estate in the Brandon age price for a single family Virtual tours of hous- sights event held in Febru-
area has exploded. home is up by 12 per cent. es due to the pandemic do ary, the Winnipeg Regional
“Residential sales for Condo sales are up too. not appear to have slowed Real Estate Board (WR-
Brandon are up 54 per cent “This year, it’s jumped things down either. Real- REB) president Kourosh
over 2020,” she explained. significantly.” tors are changing the way Doustshenas pointed out
Condominium sales are The average length of they do business. how important the real es-
up by 58 per cent over the time a house is on the mar- “They’re adapting. tate industry sector as a
same time period. ket today is 31 days, said They’re doing virtual tours whole is in its contribution
“COVID didn’t really Pearson. In 2020, the aver- and getting as good a show- to the economy. With every
affect us until the end of age length of time a house ing as you can from across sale, there is a $53,000 eco-
March 2020. It was a bit of was on the market was 52 the country,” Pearson said. nomic spinoff.
a slow start.” days. Pearson said houses Sellers are rejoicing February Statistics from
However, by the end of that have been on the mar- while buyers are bowing the Manitoba Real Estate
March this year, 158 resi- ket for 300 days have just down to the market. Association for the residen-
dential single-family homes recently sold. “There’s a low inventory tial housing market for the
and high demand.” province showed new list-
At a 1.6 per cent lend- ings had increased by 0.06
ing rate, interest rates are per cent compared to the
the lowest they’ve ever same period last year. The
been. People who normally number of properties sold
wouldn’t be able to afford a increased by 48.2 per cent,
down payment for a house but the biggest increase
are in the unique position was felt in the total dollar
of having extra cash from volume at $411.6 million, a
working at home, spending 69.7 per cent increase com-
less on incidentals and kids’ pared to the same time last
activities. year.
The list goes on and on. Pearson thinks even after
No longer is it as big a deal the pandemic, people aren’t
to live in an urban cen- going to return to the urban
tre. Workdays involve the areas they once frequented.
kitchen table and Zoom “People are going to
meetings. continue to work from
“People are spending home. They’re seeing that
more time hanging out at as one of the bigger driving
At Guild HMS we have the right home, realizing what their factors in larger areas which
needs are,” Pearson said. always influences the whole
product at the right price to ensure Based on the hot housing market.”
we have you properly covered. market, it appears people Potentially, they will give
are looking at their options up the small condo down-
and moving into bigger or town to move to the sub-
smaller homes, away from urbs and live for less, stay
2830 Victoria Ave & Shoppers Mall the hustle and bustle of a home and work.
Brandon • 204-729-4949 large city. Or, like the Jacksons,
www.guildhmsinsurance.ca “We really had a ‘steady they’ll move to Brandon to
WAWANESA • VIRDEN as she goes’ market for the be closer to their kids.
CARBERRY • SHILO last five years until this
year.” » kkielley@brandonsun.com