MLS Watcher

When it comes to laying down roots, the proverbial debate of 'the city versus the suburbs' is likely to get a little more heated, as the majority of house prices in both Canada's major urban and suburban neighbourhoods were found to have nearly doubled over the past 10 years, with urban dwellings appreciating slightly more than their suburban counterparts, according to the Urban vs. Suburban Survey released today by Royal LePage Real Estate Services. The country's most impressive gains were seen in Edmonton where condominiums in both urban and suburban areas more than tripled and quadrupled in price,respectively. ...

Echoing the trend observed in Canadian cities this year, the country's recreational property market is returning to a more normal state, with price increases moderating when compared to the frenetic pace experienced in 2007. In almost all of the nation's summer hotspots, prices have continued to rise in 2008, but at a considerably slower rate than in the previous year. This moderating trend bodes well for cottage seekers - particularly the young professionals who make up the single largest group of those planning or considering a cottage purchase (19%), according to the 2008 Royal LePage Recreational Property Report released today. ...

Rich and Debbie Sulkovsky of Herndon had been looking for months for a place near the ocean when they saw a yellow house with green shutters in a creek-front community not far from Rehoboth Beach.

If you've spent years waking up to wood-panelled walls and soft shag rugs, some home renovations, especially if you're thinking of selling your home, may be in order. Before picking up a sledgehammer, however, it's worthwhile to know the cost of updating your decades-old décor, and the degree to which those costs will be recouped when it comes time to sell. While some renovations such as updating a kitchen or bathroom may require a trained professional, there are a number of do-it-yourself projects that are sure to increase a home's resale value, according to the Royal LePage Renovations and Returns Survey released today. ...

Canada's real estate market stands on stable footing. On average, healthy year-over-year house price gains were recorded during the first three months of 2008. While more modest price increases were observed when compared to previous quarters, the solid appreciations noted in the first quarter are largely due to the shared effects of resilient local economies, high immigration levels, and relatively low interest rates – all leading to enduring buyer demand, according to a House Price Survey report released today by Royal LePage Real Estate Services. ...

EDMONTON - Resale home buyers swarmed back into the Edmonton-region market in June, setting a residential sales record for the month.

I have a colleague whose husband welded a flag holder to the front of their home - right under their bedroom window - and inserted a large Canadian flag. That was years ago, and it hasn't come down a day since.

Sometimes it keeps them up at night when the flagpole creaks against the shutters and the material flaps in high winds. And it keeps their teenage daughter in a perpetual state of embarrassment: "WHY are we, like, the ONLY ones in the neighbourhood who fly a flag all year when everybody else only does it on Canada Day?!"

What do you think? Is this overkill, more akin to the American flag-waving tendency? Today, will you be hanging the Maple Leaf on your...

• Car?
• Porch?
• Boat?
• Pole in the front yard?
• Dog (sweater motif)?
  
• Window?
• Kid as a cape?
  
• Elsewhere?

(Maybe read up on Heritage Canada's "rules for flying the flag" first.)

From Prairie Boy to National Traveler

I was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and have lived in Canada most of my life. And every year - for decades now - as the president of CENTURY 21 Canada, I cross this great nation, ocean to ocean, to talk with real estate agents about how homes are selling in their neck of the Canadian woods.

And no matter how many times I see The Rock loom below on the flight into St. John's, the morning light paint the tops of the Rockies, or all the vast kilometres of forest, lakes, plains and rivers in between - I never fail to feel the awe and pride of being Canadian.

Happy Canada Day. Make it a good one.

Be proud of the red and white.

The past-president of the Central Alberta Realtors Association thinks residential sales activity in the last quarter is reason for optimism.

See what's happening in and around Plymouth.

(ARA) - Modern home selling has gone way beyond the "for sale" sign on the front lawn. Nearly 90 percent of home buyers look online when shopping for a home, according to the National Association of Realtors. So your home-selling efforts need to cruise the Information Superhighway at top speed.

The Post-Crescent has compiled databases on a variety of topics. Click on the headline to view several featured databases.

Royal LePage Real Estate Services is pleased to announce that Dan Cooper, a Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., has earned the coveted title of number one REALTOR

Hundres of thousands of foreclosed homes are hidden from the market's eye.

Hundres of thousands of foreclosed homes are hidden from the market's eye.

I'm not a U.S. licensed lawyer, but would like to be a part of the ABA. What can I do? (Back to top) If you are currently a law student at an ABA-Accredited law school, you can become a law student member.

Ennis House Foundation has spent about $6.5 million to restore the estate. The Mayan-inspired landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Frank Lloyd Wright -designed Ennis House in Los Feliz has landed on the Multiple Listing Service at $15 million.

The remodeled Mediterranean sits on 2.4 acres with tennis and sports courts, a swimming pool, a covered patio, a barbecue area and five stables. Actor Morris Chestnut has listed his tennis estate in Hidden Hills at $4,495,000, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

The porn filter that keeps you from typing Though the Chinese government has delayed plans to require the shipment of the highly-controversial Green Dam filtering app with all new PCs, several big-name PC manufacturers are shipping the thing anyway.… Web threats: Why conventional protection doesn't work

If you were waiting for the real estate market to cool further before buying, you may have waited too long.

Listings are printed on a space-available basis. For the complete calendar listing, please visit www.insidebayarea.com/alameda.n Mastick Senior Center — Fourth of July Bingo Bash, July 4.

Listings are printed on a space-available basis. For the complete calendar listing, please visit www.insidebayarea.com/alameda . n Mastick Senior Center — Fourth of July Bingo Bash, July 4. Doors open 10 a.m. First game begins 1 p.m. Multiple generations can enjoy socialization, a festive day of Bingo, and the opportunity to win cash and prizes.

Often, young pitchers with strong pedigrees just need seasoning to reach the expectations bestowed upon them at an early age.

AMHERST— A local company is hoping a new Web site feature will make it easier for prospective home buyers to get a feel for a new neighborhood and a potential new home without leaving the confines of their current one.

Deadline for items for the Community Calendar is Wednesday noon two weeks before desired publication date. Send information on fund-raisers, clubs, lectures, community events, reunions and support groups to Community Calendar, Pioneer Press, 3701 W. Lake, Glenview IL 60026; Fax (847) 486-7495; or e-mail to jmolitor@pioneerlocal.com. There is no charge for publication.

Local home sales continued to warm up in May, but the gap from last year's numbers has widened significantly.