Île-des-Sœurs, December 8, 2009 – There were 3,411 sales in the Montréal Metropolitan Area in November 2009, a 51 per cent increase compared to November 2008, according to the Greater Montréal Real Estate Board's MLS® statistics. These 3,411 transactions were enough to surpass, by 4 per cent, the record-breaking sales levels of November 2007, when 3,276 transactions were registered.

“It’s important to remember that last year – in November 2008 – the Montréal real estate market was feeling the effects of the recession and posted a 31 per cent decrease in sales compared to November 2007," said Michel Beauséjour, FCA, Chief Executive Officer of the GMREB. “So the increase in sales in November 2009 was amplified by the market’s poor performance last year. November 2007 offers a better point of comparison, as it was the best November on record," he added.

All property categories registered an increase in sales in November 2009 compared to November 2008, and all categories managed to exceed the record-breaking sales levels of 2007. Condominiums led the way with a 55 per cent increase in sales compared to November 2008 and a 12 per cent increase compared to November 2007. Plex sales also grew by 55 per cent compared to 2008, while increasing by 2 per cent compared to November 2007. Finally, single-family homes posted a 49 per cent increase in sales compared to November 2008 and a 1 per cent increase compared to 2007.

In terms of prices, the median price of a single-family home reached $244,000 in November 2009, an 8 per cent increase compared to November 2008, while condominiums and plexes both registered a 7 per cent increase in their median price.

“The market is very active. Now is a good time to sell a property, and it’s also a good time to buy a property as mortgage rates are still low and the inventory of homes for sale is quite extensive, with 21,197 properties on the market in the Montréal area," said Mr. Beauséjour.

In November 2009, three of the five main geographic areas in the Montréal region exceeded the record-breaking sales figures of November 2007. The South Shore, which registered a 71 per cent increase in sales compared to November 2008, registered a 10 per cent increase compared to 2007. The Island of Montréal and the North Shore were the other two areas that surpassed the November 2007 sales levels, as both areas posted an increase of 6 per cent. Compared to November 2008, these two areas registered sales increases of 55 and 42 per cent, respectively. Sales in the areas of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Laval increased by 60 and 22 per cent, respectively, in November 2009 compared to the same month last year. However, they did not reach the November 2007 sales levels, with respective decreases of 1 and 12 per cent.

As at November 30, 2009, the number of active listings on the MLS® system decreased by 16 per cent in comparison with the same date last year.

Buying a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you'll ever make, so prepare yourself to make a knowledgeable decision.

Although buying a home almost always seems like a great idea, it is important to understand what home ownership involves. Of course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it also means having to invest money, time and energy and take on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home, make sure you're ready.

Here are some things to consider:

Financial Security. If housing prices rise, your home can provide you with some financial security due to capital appreciation.

Stability. Having a place of your own.

Financial Stress. Coming up with the down payment, meeting regular mortgage payments and other ongoing costs will tie up a lot of your cash, and can put considerable stress on your finances.

Maintenance. Keeping your home in good shape requires time and money.

Responsibility. You alone are responsible for payments, repairs and maintenance.

Flexibility. You can decorate or renovate your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.

Now that you have an idea of what to expect, Fill in the advantages and disadvantages to determine if home ownership is right for you.

Advantages of Renting and the Disadvantages of Renting:

Advantages of Buying and the Disadvantages of

The Benefits of a Standby Generator:

Peace of Mind:

The primary motivation to install an automatic home standby generator is to provide peace of mind against unexpected loss of electrical power. In eastern Canada, the frigid temperatures, heavy snowfall, high winds, and the freezing rain of our harsh northern climate are increasingly providing challenges for the deteriorating electric utility grids. In the U.S, Mother Nature wreaks havoc upon the Southern states in the form of hurricanes and tornadoes. Regardless of the cause, the resultant power failures are the same and for many people, there are several important needs that require a backup electrical generator such as:

-In-home medical equipment such as oxygen generators and monitoring systems
-Sump and Septic pumps
-Computer systems and network routers
-Home Security Systems
-Lighting
-Refrigeration
-Heating and/or Air conditioning

Types of Generators:

Portable Gasoline Generators:
These units are the least expensive and provide adequate backup provided that they are properly sized. They require that you are always available to manage the process of moving them outside, starting them up, manually switching the transfer switch and continuously refuelling them throughout the power failure event, usually at 3-5 hour intervals. They are inherently more dangerous due to their requirement for you to transport, handle and store gasoline. As%