Can owners keep their portion of the Condo Reserve Fund?

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This question comes up every now and then. As a condo owner sells his unit, they receive a copy of their Condo Documents, which among other things, clearly shows their portion of the Reserve Fund in the condo corporation. So naturally, they sometimes ask: Do we get to keep that money?

Alternatively, condo buyers will ask:”Do we need to come up with this amount and put it into the Reserve Fund once we take possession of our new condo?

This 3 min. video gives the answer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNeLnZSgBbc

If you’re in the market to buy or sell a condo in Winnipeg, call or e-mail me for a free consultation.

Bo Kauffmann  333-2202

What’s wrong with this Condo? – Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog

Numerous ‘for-sale’ signs in front of a condo projects DO NOT mean there is anything wrong with the units. Facts behind condo sales in Winnipeg.

Publish Date: 09/18/2011 10:53

http://bokauffmann.com/whats-wrong-with-this-condo/

6 Reasons to buy a Condo in Downtown Winnipeg

TweetSharebar Tweet6 reasons to buy a Condo in downtown Winnipeg . Downtown Winnipeg might not be the first place you think of when you are considering buying a condominium but there are some beautiful buildings …

Publish Date: 07/08/2011 9:44

http://bokauffmann.com/6-reasons-to-buy-a-condo-in-downtown-winnipeg/

Technorati Tags: condominium, Condominiums, first time buyer, luxury condos, mls

Quick Market Snapshot for November 2011

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Each month, I publish a Real Estate Market Update, which shows numbers of available listings in houses and condos in Winnipeg.  In this quick-market snapshot, lets take a closer look at how many of those listings have gone beyond the ‘Offers Dates’ and are waiting for buyers to make a move!

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Market Snapshot for November 2011 video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHqkJtAE1EE

If you’re in the market for a house or a condo, contact me anytime, or submit a Dream Home Finder request, or a Condo Finder Request  (if you DONT already have your own REALTOR)

Is Winnipeg changing into a real estate Buyers Market?

TweetSharebar TweetWhat is a great time to buy Real Estate in Winnipeg? . One of the most often-asked question by home and condo buyers is “When is the best time to buy in Winnipeg?” Similar to other things, purchasing …

Publish Date: 07/13/2011 10:00

http://bokauffmann.com/is-winnipeg-changing-into-a-real-estate-buyers-market/

Buying a Condo in Winnipeg – Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog

If you’re buying a condo in Winnipeg, here are some financial aspects you need to know, including reserve fund, condo fees, start up costs and more.

Publish Date: 02/17/2011 10:49

http://bokauffmann.com/buying-a-condo-in-winnipeg-what-you-need-to-know-and-consider-part-2/

Technorati Tags: buying, buying a house, condominium, first time buyer, House, Market Update, market value, mls, real estate, Real estate broker/agent, winnipeg, winnipeg real estate, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

Depersonalize your Winnipeg home before putting it on the market

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In part 3 of the series on Home Staging by Remax, we take a look at the need to depersonalize the home.  Since the owner has likely lived in the home for a number of years, it has taken on his personality, displaying his photographs, trophies and furniture, along with his personal choices in colors and accents.

A buyer, coming to view the home, needs to be able to ‘visualize’ themselves in the home, and this become difficult if the buyer is overwhelmed with a multitude of personal items exhibiting the sellers personal life and tastes.

In order to help the potential buyer in their decision, home sellers are well advised to:

• Remove family photos and keepsakes
• Remove personal trophies
• Remove potentially offensive items  (Hunting trophies such as bear-skins, etc)

View the 2-minute video on this subject

Home Staging Tip 3- Depersonalizing the home

bokauffmann.com Home Sellers should depersonalize the home, remove family photos and trophies prior to putting the house on the market.

8 things Home Stagers Know….(and now, so will you!)

8 Things Home Stagers know . Have you noticed that home stagers are becoming more popular? More people are hiring them when they want to get a really good price for their home. The reason is …

Publish Date: 05/30/2011 9:39

http://bokauffmann.com/2011/05/8-things-home-stagers-know-and-now-so-will-you/

Home Staging quick tip #2: Curb Appeal

Improving curb appeal very important step in home staging. Houses and Condos in Winnipeg sell faster if proper home staging is used. Real Estate Tip.

Publish Date: 08/26/2011 9:06

http://bokauffmann.com/2011/08/home-staging-quick-tip-2-curb-appeal/

Technorati Tags: Home staging, real estate

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for May 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Real Estate Market Update by taking a look at the previous month’s sales and listing stats on the MLS®.   We report on the total numbers of homes sold in Winnipeg during the previous month, and then take a look at how many Winnipeg homes are available on the last day of that month.  By combining the two factors, we get a good idea of which direction the Winnipeg Real Estate Market is heading….  into more of a Sellers market, or slowing down into a Buyers Market.  See last month’s Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

I also separate the homes along the price line of $250,000, as homes below this price usually sell at a more brisk pace, while homes in the higher price ranges tend to take a little longer.

So, during the month of April 2011, a total of 639 homes of all types, price ranges and styles sold in Winnipeg.  At the end of the month, there were a total of 802 homes available. By diving one number into the other, we arrive at a figure of “Months of Inventory” left on the market.  This is like saying  “If no more homes were listed in Winnipeg after today, how long would it take before all remaining homes are sold”.  Obviously, the lower the number, the hotter the real estate market.  The Winnipeg real estate market remains one of the hottest in the country, with just over 1 month (5 weeks) of inventory remaining.  By comparison some parts of Calgary are measuring inventory in terms of YEARS….  as in 1.4 YEARS of inventory.

We then take a look at homes below $250,000 and found that during the month of April, we sold 359 homes in this price range, and at the end of the month, a total of 391 such homes were available, meaning an even tighter market at 4 WEEKS of inventory.

Finally we can report that sales of homes OVER $250,000 are also continuing on a brisk pace.  We sold 280 such homes during April, and have 411 homes available on May 1st…..  meaning a ‘glut’ of inventory sitting at 1.5 months.

These numbers are ‘as-expected’ since this is the busy spring market, when buyers traditionally come out in larger numbers to look for a home, and home-sellers stand a better than average chance at receiving multiple bids on their homes or condos.

Here is a look at the video version of Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

Technorati Tags: market conditions, Market Update, real estate, real estate agent, real estate agents, real estate market, realtor, winnipeg, winnipeg real estate, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for April 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Real Estate Market Update by taking a look at the previous month’s sales and listing stats on the MLS®.   We report on the total numbers of homes sold in Winnipeg during the previous month, and then take a look at how many Winnipeg homes are available on the last day of that month.  By combining the two factors, we get a good idea of which direction the Winnipeg Real Estate Market is heading….  into more of a Sellers market, or slowing down into a Buyers Market.  See last month’s Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

I also separate the homes along the price line of $250,000, as homes below this price usually sell at a more brisk pace, while homes in the higher price ranges tend to take a little longer.

So, during the month of March 2011, a total of 688 homes of all types, price ranges and styles sold in Winnipeg.  At the end of the month, there were a total of 665 homes available. By diving one number into the other, we arrive at a figure of “Months of Inventory” left on the market.  This is like saying  “If no more homes were listed in Winnipeg after today, how long would it take before all remaining homes are sold”.  Obviously, the lower the number, the hotter the real estate market.  The Winnipeg real estate market remains one of the hottest in the country, with just under 1 month (4 weeks) of inventory remaining.  By comparison some parts of Calgary are measuring inventory in terms of YEARS….  as in 1.4 YEARS of inventory.

We then take a look at homes below $250,000 and found that during the month of March, we sold 409 homes in this price range, and at the end of the month, a total of 315 such homes were available, meaning an even tighter market at 3 WEEKS of inventory.

Finally we can report that sales of homes OVER $250,000 have also picked up pace.  We sold 279 such homes during March, and have 350 homes available on April 1st…..  meaning a ‘glut’ of inventory sitting at 1.25 months.

Here is a look at the video version of Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

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If you’re interested in the Winnipeg Real Estate Market, whether to buy or sell, a house or a condo, call or email me boknowshomes@gmail.com anytime.

Related articles

• Winnipeg Real Estate Blog’s most popular posts over the past month (bokauffmann.com)

Technorati Tags: real estate, real estate market, winnipeg, winnipeg real estate, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

Winnipeg Condo Market Report for March 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Winnipeg Condo Market Report, separate and apart from our Real Estate Market Report, since condominiums form a distinct and separate part of the real estate market.  In this report, we take a look at the total number of condos available, and how they are distributed thruout the City.  Click here to see last month’s Condo Market Report!

To start of, the Winnipeg Condo Market currently has 276 total active listings.   This is made up of all types, styles and price ranges of condos, including apartment, townhouse and stand-alone homes.  The report takes into account all condos inside Winnipeg, plus the areas of East and West St Paul, and Headingley.  During the month of February 2011, we sold a total of 69 Condos citywide.

In the north and north-west of the city, the Winnipeg Condo Market has 43 active listings, priced from a low of $61,900 to a high of $610,000.

In the West of Winnipeg, (Charleswood, St James etc)  we currently only have 18 condos available, from$129,900 to $357,000

In the South and South-east, including St Boniface, St Vital, Pembina Hwy, Lindenwoods, Richmond West and Fort Richmond, we currently have 74 condos available, from $79,900 to $499,900.

Not surprisingly, the majority of units in the Winnipeg Condo Market are available in the central parts of the city, including the downtown, Osborne Village, Wellington Cr and River Heights.  Here we can find 141 available condos, from a low of $49,900 to a stunning condo on Academy Rd. at $700,000 dollars.

For the video version of our Winnipeg Condo Market Report, see this:

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Related articles

• Winnipeg Condo Market Report for February 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• Housing Shortage in Winnipeg: Buckle up for spring 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• Winnipeg Real Estate Blog top 6 posts in past month (bokauffmann.com)
• Buying a condo in Winnipeg: what you need to know and consider (Part 2) (bokauffmann.com)
• What’s the best time to list a home for sale in Winnipeg? (bokauffmann.com)

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for March 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Real Estate Market Update by taking a look at the previous month’s sales and listing stats on the MLS®.   We report on the total numbers of homes sold in Winnipeg during the previous month, and then take a look at how many Winnipeg homes are available on the last day of that month.  By combining the two factors, we get a good idea of which direction the Winnipeg Real Estate Market is heading….  into more of a Sellers market, or slowing down into a Buyers Market.  See last month’s Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

I also separate the homes along the price line of $250,000, as homes below this price usually sell at a more brisk pace, while homes in the higher price ranges tend to take a little longer.

So, during the month of February 2011, a total of 410 homes of all types, price ranges and styles sold in Winnipeg.  At the end of the month, there were a total of 684 homes available. By diving one number into the other, we arrive at a figure of “Months of Inventory” left on the market.  This is like saying  “If no more homes were listed in Winnipeg after today, how long would it take before all remaining homes are sold”.  Obviously, the lower the number, the hotter the real estate market.  The Winnipeg real estate market remains one of the hottest in the country, with just under 1.7 months (7 weeks) of inventory remaining.  By comparison some parts of Calgary are measuring inventory in terms of YEARS….  as in 1.4 YEARS of inventory.

We then take a look at homes below $250,000 and found that during the month of February, we sold 245 homes in this price range, and at the end of the month, a total of 373 such homes were available, meaning an even tighter market at 1.5 months of inventory.

Finally we can report that sales of homes OVER $250,000 have also picked up pace.  We sold 165 such homes during February, and have 311 homes available on March 11st…..  meaning a ‘glut’ of inventory sitting at 1.88 months.

Here is a look at the video version of Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

If you’re interested in the Winnipeg Real Estate Market, whether to buy or sell, a house or a condo, call or email me boknowshomes@gmail.com anytime.

Related articles

• Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for February 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• Is Winnipeg’s Real Estate Market a ‘Bubble’? (bokauffmann.com)
• Housing Shortage in Winnipeg: Buckle up for spring 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• Winnipeg Real Estate Blog top 6 posts in past month (bokauffmann.com)
• What’s the best time to list a home for sale in Winnipeg? (bokauffmann.com)

Technorati Tags: Market Update, real estate agent, real estate market, realtors, selling, winnipeg, winnipeg real estate, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

Winnipeg Condo Market Report for February 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Winnipeg Condo Market Report, separate and apart from our Real Estate Market Report, since condominiums form a distinct and separate part of the real estate market.  In this report, we take a look at the total number of condos available, and how they are distributed thruout the City.  Click here to see last month’s Condo Market Report!

To start of, the Winnipeg Condo Market currently has 235 total active listings.   This is made up of all types, styles and price ranges of condos, including apartment, townhouse and stand-alone homes.  The report takes into account all condos inside Winnipeg, plus the areas of East and West St Paul, and Headingley.  During the month of January 2011, we sold a total of 59 Condos citywide.

In the north and north-west of the city, the Winnipeg Condo Market has 37 active listings, priced from a low of $61,900 to a high of $440,000.

In the West of Winnipeg, (Charleswood, St James etc)  we currently only have 14 condos available, from$129,900 to $365,000

In the South and South-east, including St Boniface, St Vital, Pembina Hwy, Lindenwoods, Richmond West and Fort Richmond, we currently have 52 condos available, from $79,900 to $499,900.

Not surprisingly, the majority of units in the Winnipeg Condo Market are available in the central parts of the city, including the downtown, Osborne Village, Wellington Cr and River Heights.  Here we can find 132 available condos, from a low of $49,900 to a stunning condo on Academy Rd. at $1.2 million dollars.

For the video version of our Winnipeg Condo Market Report, see this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrwIn2jhYd4

Related articles

• Winnipeg Condo Market Report January 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• What’s the best time to list a home for sale in Winnipeg? (bokauffmann.com)
• Housing Shortage in Winnipeg: Buckle up for spring 2011 (bokauffmann.com)

Technorati Tags: condominium, Condominiums, first time buyer, luxury condos, market conditions, real estate market, winnipeg real estate, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for February 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Real Estate Market Update by taking a look at the previous month’s sales and listing stats on the MLS®.   We report on the total numbers of homes sold in Winnipeg during the previous month, and then take a look at how many Winnipeg homes are available on the last day of that month.  By combining the two factors, we get a good idea of which direction the Winnipeg Real Estate Market is heading….  into more of a Sellers market, or slowing down into a Buyers Market.  See last month’s Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update.

I also separate the homes along the price line of $250,000, as homes below this price usually sell at a more brisk pace, while homes in the higher price ranges tend to take a little longer.

So, during the month of January 2011, a total of 276 homes of all types, price ranges and styles sold in Winnipeg.  At the end of the month, there were a total of 526 homes available. By diving one number into the other, we arrive at a figure of “Months of Inventory” left on the market.  This is like saying  “If no more homes were listed in Winnipeg after today, how long would it take before all remaining homes are sold”.  Obviously, the lower the number, the hotter the real estate market.  The Winnipeg real estate market remains one of the hottest in the country, with just under 1.9 months (8 weeks) of inventory remaining.  By comparison some parts of Calgary are measuring inventory in terms of YEARS….  as in 1.4 YEARS of inventory.

We then take a look at homes below $250,000 and found that during the month of January, we sold 174 homes in this price range, and at the end of the month, a total of 287 such homes were available, meaning an even tighter market at 1.65 months of inventory.

Finally we can report that sales of homes OVER $250,000 have slowed a little, at least by Winnipeg Real Estate standards.  We sold 102 such homes during January, and have 239 homes available on January 31st…..  meaning a ‘glut’ of inventory sitting at 2.34 months.

For a look at the video version of this report, go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MygKipyIkKc

If you’re interested in the Winnipeg Real Estate Market, whether to buy or sell, a house or a condo, call or email me boknowshomes@gmail.com anytime.

Related articles

• Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update for January 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• Housing Shortage in Winnipeg: Buckle up for spring 2011 (bokauffmann.com)
• Is Winnipeg’s Real Estate Market a ‘Bubble’? (bokauffmann.com)
• What’s the best time to list a home for sale in Winnipeg? (bokauffmann.com)
• Winnipeg Real Estate Blog: What’s this Blog about? (bokauffmann.com)

Technorati Tags: buying, Market Update, market value, mls, winnipeg real estate, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update

Winnipeg Condo Market Report January 2011

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Each month, Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog issues a Winnipeg Condo Market Report, separate and apart from our Real Estate Market Report, since condominiums form a distinct and separate part of the real estate market.  In this report, we take a look at the total number of condos available, and how they are distributed thruout the City.  Click here to see last month’s Condo Market Report!

To start of, the Winnipeg Condo Market currently has 183 total active listings.   This is made up of all types, styles and price ranges of condos, including apartment, townhouse and stand-alone homes.  The report takes into account all condos inside Winnipeg, plus the areas of East and West St Paul, and Headingley.  During the month of December 2010, we sold a total of 79 Condos citywide.

In the north and north-west of the city, the Winnipeg Condo Market has 34 active listings, priced from a low of $144,900 to a high of $459,000.

In the West of Winnipeg, (Charleswood, St James etc)  we currently only have 5 condos available, from$149,900 to $227,000

In the South and South-east, including St Boniface, St Vital, Pembina Hwy, Lindenwoods, Richmond West and Fort Richmond, we currently have 44 condos available, from $79,900 to $515,000.

Not surprisingly, the majority of units in the Winnipeg Condo Market are available in the central parts of the city, including the downtown, Osborne Village, Wellington Cr and River Heights.  Here we can find 100 available condos, from a low of $59,900 to a stunning condo on Academy Rd. at $1.2 million dollars.

For the video version of our Winnipeg Condo Market Report, see this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbOfV99REv8

Related articles

Related articles

• Winnipeg Condo Market Report for December 2010 (bokauffmann.com)
• Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog most popular posts (bokauffmann.com)
• Winnipeg Real Estate Blog: What’s this Blog about? (bokauffmann.com)

Technorati Tags: condominium, Condominiums, luxury condos, Market Update, winnipeg, Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update