It is Tour Tuesday again, and this week we are coming to you from the car after a morning of showings. We tour all the houses so you do not have to, and this week gave us two very different century homes plus a fresh set of July numbers to talk about.
The two homes we toured
The first was a semi in Belleville’s East End, a century home that has been renovated from top to bottom. New electrical, a new bath, big bedrooms upstairs, and honestly a really good job throughout. Everything was essentially brand new.
The detail that stuck with us was what happened when they opened the walls to redo the wiring. They found a pile of old artifacts inside, the kind of thing most people would sweep into a bin. Instead the owners framed them and displayed them throughout the house. It is a small thing, but it is the kind of detail that makes a century home feel like a century home rather than just an old building with new drywall.
The second was a similar style two storey, also a century home. This one needs work. It is also a huge house with high ceilings, a double garage at the side and a big yard. If you are looking for a project, either to flip or to hold as an investment, the potential is genuinely there at that price.
Where the market sits right now
We are starting to see new listings come up as sellers get ready for fall. That matters, because fall is typically our second busiest season of the year. The last couple of weeks have been quiet, which sounds alarming if you are watching it for the first time, but it is completely normal for the middle of August.
We pulled the July numbers last week. The average sale price came down a little again, which is what we expected and what you can see happening if you follow it month to month. It is not a dramatic drop, but it is enough to make a difference if you are pricing a home or writing an offer.
The question everyone keeps asking is whether we are at the bottom. We do not have a clean answer yet. August, right before the fall market picks up, should tell us a lot. If you are a buyer, this is the stretch worth paying attention to.
A drive past the farmers’ market
We drove down past the Belleville Farmers’ Market on the way, and it got us talking. We both remember the weekdays being busier than they are now. There were only a couple of vendors out. The weekends are still the busy ones, so if you have been meaning to go, aim for a Saturday.
That is our local pick for the week. What are your summer hidden gems around Belleville, Quinte West and the County? Tell us in the comments on the video, because we are always looking for the next stop.
Enjoy what is left of it
Summer is flying by. It is almost the middle of August, the sun is already going down noticeably earlier, and the Labour Day long weekend is only a couple of weeks out. Get the last bit of it in while you can.
If you are thinking about a move this fall, whether that means listing before the busy season or hunting for a project house like the one we saw, reach out anytime. We are happy to talk it through.
See you next Tuesday.