Could this be your Shopportunity 2k10

Welcome to the Toronto Real Estate Boards stats for mid January 2k10. We have entered into a very unusual market. We are starting this year firmly as a seller’s market. With an absorption rate in excess of 50%, on a monthly basis, multiple offers will continue on the most demanded products namely starter entry level homes and smaller condos.

The real story continues to be the reduced number of homes for sale coupled with a continued demand from nervous buyers looking for that first great starter home. Currently there are 11K homes for sale. That inventory level is thousands of units short of what we have had during January’s in the past few years.

January mid month sales for 2k10 are 2,025 units. Although this number seems a bit low, it is likely the result of a lack of good homes to sell as well as a typically slow start to the year. This mild spell in the weather is indeed keeping people active hoping to beat the rush of spring price increases. We need a clear increase in the number of homes available for sale. As this market has gotten tighter. We are observing more instances of multiple offers and in some cases, sale prices that are much higher than I even would have ever guessed. To put things into perspective, if the number of homes for sale doubled overnight, we would still be in a very stable market.

What I need to relay to potential sellers, is your need to understand this is a “perfect dynamic”. All the odds are in your favor and it’s hard to comprehend that there could ever be a better time to sell and get a great price for their house. The step between your property and what you truly want has never been closer. If you have a listing that hasn’t sold in these conditions, the only reasons can be price or condition. The easiest and quickest fix is PRICE.

Call me or email David@DavidPylyp.com Check out ShopTOism

Marketing in a Recession

Found this article that is very on point for today's market.

Posted by Marketing Specialist - Jim Connolly

Last month, I interviewed some business owners, who not only survived the last recession but actually grew their businesses; whilst those around them saw their businesses shrink or go broke.

I wanted to know what their secret was, so I could share it with you!

It became apparent very quickly that there was a single, common thread, which was shared by each of the successful business people from the last recession.

Here’s what they told me.

The successful businesspeople continued to invest in the key areas of their business, whilst their competitors stopped investing in those same, key areas!

Marketing lessons from past recessions

During the last recession, many of the businesses that went backwards or went broke, decided to invest as little as possible in anything. They chose to hunker-down and wait for the recession to finish. As a result, they cut back on things like service contracts for their cars, office equipment etc. They also stopped most or all of their marketing.

Even in a good economy, a business with creaking infrastructure and no marketing is really going to struggle. In a recession, that approach is going to make it almost impossible to survive!
Recession marketing

During the recession, your prospective clients / customers are looking for the best value for money possible. This requires super-effective marketing, as you will need YOUR message to stand out and then convince people, more powerfully than your competitors, that YOURS is the best value for their money!

Your existing clients / customers will be hurting financially too. They will be looking for better deals and for ways to reduce their outgoings. You need to make sure they don’t go to a competitor or simply drop your service, thinking it will save them money.
This is clearly not the time to forget about your marketing.

Marketing opportunities

I believe 2009 will present some amazing opportunities. The months ahead will be a time of great change and those with the vision and courage to adapt to these changes, will get the rewards.

Use the challenges of the year ahead to position yourself in your marketplace as a provider of answers. During times of flux, people want answers and we are attracted to those who we believe have the answers we need.

Listen to what your marketplace is saying to you. Keep in regular dialogue with your clients / customers and also your prospective clients / customers.

Find ways to match the benefits of your products or services to their changing needs and ensure that you and your business are an essential resource for them!

David Pylyp; Applying the lessons that are in the article, I have more than doubled my internet activites, to be in a better position with activily signed in readership thru RSS feed and those that sign up for the insiders newsletter via email. You may like the news, commentaries and market events I post and they will make you aware of what is happening in the real estate market and West Toronto (GTA) issues. What am I doing to reach out?

The lessons I have learned from the website are that the site is information about real estate related matters. Of the more than 500 pages of content there are less than 3 pages about me.

But the exciting news is the social interaction that is available on twitter.com You can follow my activities on a daily basis thru this site. Daily updates or New video's being uploaded. Follow dpylyp /David Pylyp to your twitter account

New Our Lakeshore website

Ourlakeshore.net is a neighbourhood revitalization initiative by neighbours, for neighbours. We have residents, business owners, and politicians working together to promote and improve New Toronto / Lakeshore Village

We are launching a new OurLakeshore website that turns residents and community groups into the publishers of this local site.Click here to preview the new website.

(You will need to create an account in order to publish content).

The current OurLakeshore.net website was put up in one day and we did not envision that the site would grow to over 800 registered members. Recently, 166 people completed our survey collecting input on what they think OurLakeshore.net should do going forward.

The website component of this survey found that:

• 41% want to find out about new businesses
• 38.7% want community events and classifieds
• 20 % want a community discussion board
• 16.7% want people to write guest blog posts
• 12.8% want to be able to set up their own group

The new website addresses much of the input from this survey. (Note: we have also inserted the comments from the website section of the survey at the bottom of this email).What you can do on the new site:

Add your own events

Post news about local businesses

Create and communicate with your own group

Write a blog post

Upload a picture or video
Create or join a discussion forum.

This website is for residents in the Etobicoke Lakeshore community to participate in a discussion about local issues. Posts will be moderated by the community and featured posts will appear on the front page of the site.We are planning on directing www.OurLakeshore.net to the new site soon. We have added a forum topic where you can add your comments about the site. Please note that the google ads that appear on the right hand side are placed there by the service we are using. We have an option of paying to remove those ads. OurLakeshore.netBy Residents, For Residents

Full list of survey comments about website features (although there are a couple that don't seem on topic) more community type events as well, maybe even job postings for local people and businesses.

All great ideas!

extend to the many home based businesses and to businesses within, say 1 mile, of lakeshore??
How can we go about getting new businesses into the Lakeshore? Can our councillor not help?
Who wants to shop dollar stores and cash advance stores?
I'd rather see it as a website rather than blog format as it is very poorly organized, it would probably function better just as a discussion board.
The site is great.
Member to member forum, bulletin board maybe a buy sell to create repeat readership
All of the above would be great.
The more information the better.
I like to try places recommended by others. If there were a bulletin board section on the site to post reviews, it would be interesting.
continue to highlight continued growth and renewal of our community and hopefully attract more business as well as encourage cleaning up tired areas
Consider highlighting one business per month and have that business host host an event (tasting, presentation) with OurLakeshore
A Little Taste of Home just opened and an Air Quality store. I would suggest profiles on both of them.
News and happenings about the Lake Shore even if they aren't related to business.
information on the local services to help our citizens
More community issues - less about business
not necessarily video but business profiles are helpful
May want to explore residents stories / charity work within the area.
Any events happening in south Lakeshore.
Others ways to get involved with the community. e.g. forming of sub-committees to work on other initiatives.
Local events, city hall news that pertains to our ward, more info on Councillor Grimes (how he voted at key votes, etc).
Write ups about the businesses. Not everyone can access utube for the videos.
More news about what is hapening in our hood.Uncensored and objective just the facts.
As you all knowI'd like to make more videos, but more help is needed, and more widespread knowledge that these video's are posted. if that makes sense
The more unique and worthy busin/service advertised will be better supported by lakeshore residents.
1.Definately would Like to have a section with what NEW buisnesses are coming IN , as alot of times i see Stores in which someone is doing renos
CARRY ON AS NOW......YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A VERY GOOD JOB
Upcoming events. To be included - Assembly Hall events are worthwhile (Live Theatre, Silent/Live Auctions, Art Shows etc).
All of the above would be an interest to me.
I don't really have time to go to the web site. The e-mail list is how I stay in touch
We need to step up to show our businesses that are already here that we appreciate there services
Community Information and updates
how about jade elephant
Community news.
I know over the years our area has been in the paper (Toronto Star etc.) in a positive way. We should find those articles and add them to the site.
Links to local business websites, bulletin board of community meetings
information for new residences like where to find banks, police stations, government offices, transit routes, parks, community centres schools etc.
While it isn't my day job, I like to write -- maybe I could interview some of the businesses.
communication between residents. keep each other informed re local issues, crimes, rezoning and development like 51 Lakeshore, general interest stuff.
Restaurant reviews. Places to take your toddler. There are few affordable activities for under 3 year-olds and moms.
Need more information about the historical societies.
Also need to rally people against "Lakeshore Village" - the community is New Torontto
When your meetings are, for a start. Why does this group operate in secret away from the rest of the community?Why are you hiding?
It would be nice to see other local events listed.
A classified section could generate revenue for the site as well as providing a service
- Like some of the ideas including forum and blogs. Don't spend time doing facebook - it's already done! Didn't work at any other organizations.
A discussion board is all that is necessary.
I think as people communicate we can learn what people want from our community and how we can make it the best that it can be.
this would give groups a voice they night not otherwise have and showcase the diversification of our neighbourhood.
To be honest I don't even know what a twitter micro-blog is. I like the business guides best.
The site should be dedicated to facilitate community acitivities and be a voice and a place for exchange of views on community issues.
What is Twitter micro blogging?
Devoted area for "excellence" providers. Perhaps a resident used a specific plumber or cleaning service that did a fantastic job.
Would Like to have a section on ANYTHING that moves in the area so we can get a better idea of the shape up of the area, and how it will benefit us.
community events - definitely
classifieds - I'm not so sure - maybe
Not sure what some of these other options are...
More of a social website, with open points of view as well as easier access.
A list of new developments/proposals in the area (Ex. skateboard pk/skate trail/dev over greenbelt @ 4th st...)Provide user commenting on each.
It is important for long-time residents/groups to have their voices heard - not just newcomers to the area. Attitude of many newcomers is appalling.
Meeting dates, times, locations.
Who this group is really working for. Why do long-time residents of our communities not count - but you do?

As always; Your comments are invited.