Interest rates continue at their bottom rates with no real reason to feel that they will be increasing in the foreseeable future. This, in itself has created an economic concern in Canada with economists showing that Canadians are taking on more debt. This would largely be due to the fact that we can afford it, at the present interest rates. But it sure indicates a concern for the future when the interest rates increase.
The year has shown increases in the 7 to 8 per cent range in average house prices. This seems to be mostly due to affordability issues and seeing buyers purchasing more expensive houses than the actual prices increasing. On a neighbourhood basis, prices seem to be increasing more in newer, expensive neighbourhoods than they are in older, smaller home neighbourhoods. I would suggest that this is another spin on the lower interest rates.
Another strange thing with the market is that are considerably less properties for sale/available in the K-W market than in Cambridge. It was also pointed out to me recently that the number of vacant homes for sale has increased significantly. I am not sure what all this means. But we do know for sure that a shortage of inventory means that prices will be going up. We'll have to see how this plays out.
Unemployment rates continue to decline according to government numbers.
It looks like are coming into another good year.
Here is the article this week in the Waterloo Region Record .
Here are the Region's annual numbers:
| K-W This Year | K-W Last Year | Cambridge This Year | Cambridge Last Year | |
| Avg. Sale Price | $ 289,338 | $261,379 | $282,492 | $258,415 |
| Percentage Change | +8.6% | +7.7% | ||
| Properties Sold | 6388 | 6347 | 2683 | 2672 |
| New Listings/Sales Ratio | 62.2% | 64.6% | 52.1% | 52.7% |
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