New listings in December 2024 totalled 599, representing a 22.75% increase compared to December 2023, though down 60.20% from November 2024’s 1,505 new listings. Active listings stood at 2,573, a 73.38% rise year-over-year and a 28.80% decrease from November 2024. The months of inventory metric remained steady at 6.68, pointing to balanced market conditions that offer opportunities for both buyers and sellers.
December’s year-over-year growth in sales and steady market conditions highlight the strength of Simcoe County’s housing market. As we closed out 2024, the data reinforces our region’s attractiveness and adaptability, with more options available to buyers and sustained value for sellers. Looking ahead, Simcoe County continues to provide a dynamic landscape for real estate.
Our community has been in the grip of a classic winter lately. With plenty of snow, harsh winds and frigid temperatures, there’s nothing like coming home to a nice warm, inviting house. With the cold weather looking set to stay, it’s important to find ways to keep your home cozy but the costs down.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 ways to help you stay toasty through this winter wonderland!
1. KEEP COLD AIR OUTSIDE AND WARM AIR INSIDE
Check for areas in your home where drafts are allowing cold air in and warm air to escape. Check windows and doorways for drafts. You may be able to add simple insulation in the form of weather stripping to reduce the loss of warm air and better insulate your home. If your home is an older home, a further investigation on your home’s insulation status may prompt you to consider better insulation in areas such as attics or ceilings.
2. USE THE SUN FOR FREE HEAT
Open curtains on south-facing windows on sunny days. Streams of sunlight will gently warm those areas. Close window treatments when the sun goes down and on overcast days.
3. USE CEILING FANS IN THE WINTER
During the summertime, ceiling fans are most efficient when their blades rotate in a counterclockwise or forward direction. Did you know you can switch the direction of your blades with a toggle, typically located near the motor.
As winter approaches, optimizing your ceiling fan for the season is essential. For colder months, adjust your fan’s blades to rotate clockwise (or in reverse). This clockwise direction helps draw room air upwards, guiding warm air towards the ceiling and then gently forcing it down and towards the walls.
4. REFRAIN FROM HEATING UNUSED SPACES TO CONSERVE HEAT
If you have rooms in your home that are unused, don’t waste heating energy and money by heating them. Consider reducing heat sent to guest rooms, laundry rooms, or storage areas. Close and seal off vents in those rooms, close doors, and conduct the flow of warm air to rooms that you use more regularly.
5. SUPPLEMENT YOUR HEAT SOURCE TO HEAT YOUR HOME
You may want to consider adding additional heat sources (such as a space heater or using your fireplace) to warm key rooms while you are inhabiting them. Using additional heat sources can help you to better control specific rooms in your home – keep the temperature in those rooms toasty without adding heat to the whole house.
Which techniques have you been using this winter to keep your home warm? Let us know!
Across the region, we saw dips in some important categories. Decreases included; Active Listings and Average Price. Active Listings were down across the communities as the market started to wind down in anticipation of the Holiday Season. However, buyers that are looking at this time of year are always motivated and we saw a nice 14% rise in sales across the region and also a smaller Days On Market.
A combination of the Holiday Season along with the anticipation of another rate change saw the local markets slow down. Locally, we saw decreases across the board in Average Prices except for in Tiny, where we saw a massive 76% rise in Prices. In most communities we also saw Sales Activity was up and Days On Market were down – a great sign that the Buyer’s whom are shopping right now are highly motivated and active. With interest rates continuing to drop, we are expecting to continue to see a rise in prices across the region. It’s a great time to check in with your trusted For Sale On Georgian Bay agent to learn what your property is worth or even how much equity you’ve built.
Every year we are humbled to be nominated by our Community for award consideration. Your belief in us to guide you through some of the biggest transactions of your lives is our fuel.
We are so excited to once again see our very own Michael Seguin become a finalist for “Best Real Estate Broker”, of course, Michael isn’t just a Broker – he’s the Broker of Record for Keller Williams Experience Realty! Last year’s Winner, Victoria Badger is also a finalist again in the “Best Real Estate Agent” Category. Victoria is joined by another previous winner as Jessica Radecki is also a finalist in the “Best Real Estate Agent” Category. Congratulations to Michael, Victoria and Jessica – everyone at For Sale On Georgian Bay is so happy and proud of you!
We are also excited to be nominated as a Team for “Best Real Estate Office” again, an accolade that we have won for 3 years in a row. Also, our brokerage, Keller Williams Experience Brokerage has been nominated again for “Best Real Estate Brokerage”. Thank you once again to our amazing community, clients and supporters for nominating us year over year.