8 Friday, December 20, 2024 brooklintowncrier.com Teens Make Christmas Magical Having a teen daughter can be challenging. The mood swings alone can be tough to navigate. But as the holidays approach, my daughter's mood seems to shift and I get to see some of the little kid she used to be resurface. I also see a new side of her. As she's maturing, so has our approach to the holidays. She now brings a unique energy and charm to the holiday season. The days of visits to Santa and elf on the shelf have changed, but they haven't completely ended. That's one of the special aspects of teens at Christmas. They often bring a mix of nostalgia for childhood traditions and enthusiasm for creating new ones. My daughter is carrying on the magic from her childhood with her little cousins who are five and three years old. It's so sweet to see her talking about Santa and letters (emails this year) to the jolly guy with the wide-eyed tots. She's also been sharing with my sister-in-law creative ideas for elf antics. Teen daughters tend to have a flair for creativity and design and this year she took over decorating the house. Out came the dried macaroni ornaments from grade 2, which we admired and then tucked back in the box. Instead she went with a stunning red and white theme on our tree and it's never looked better. Now the whole house shimmers. She's been taking culinary arts as a school elective and has been putting her learning to use baking cookies and festive treats. She enjoys putting thought into the gifts she gives. Her purchases are showing her growing understanding of what her family and friends appreciate. This is also extending to her giving back to her community. When tasked to provide some warm clothing for a family, she carefully chose stylish items for the teen she was helping. Like many teen girls, my daughter has a knack for fashion and she's helping put together stylish holiday outfits for my husband and I which she claims will make for "Instagram-worthy holiday photos". But let's face it, teen girls ooze sarcasm. Her quick wit and sense of humour light up our family get- togethers. Her intervention to help out her relative's carol singing by joining in with a dog squeak toy is one for the memory books. And that brings me to the best part of Christmas with teen daughters. Christmas offers a chance to connect deeply. When the rest of the year she avoids hugs and often see her parents as a source of embarrassment, Christmas is the time for bonding. We snuggle watching holiday movies, laugh over trying to get the dog to wear a Santa hat for a family photo and I've even been graced with the highly coveted mother/daughter coffee date at Starbucks. As she grows up, there's a wonderful mix of growing independence and warm family spirit that emanates from her in a sort of sparkly way around Christmas. That sparkle is a reminder of days past when we counted sleeps until Santa came. It's like a sprinkle of fairy dust that makes Christmas perfect. Merry Christmas, everyone! MARKETING YOUR HOME FOR ALL IT IS WORTH! Direct: 905 655 7236 Office: 905 239 4800 Eleanor KingEleanor King B. N. B. N. RealtorRealtor Maurice KingMaurice King B.E.D.S., B.Arch.B.E.D.S., B.Arch. RealtorRealtor What others are saying... "Trusted advisor!" | "Customer Focused!" | "Local Expert!" | "Professional!" | "Knowledgeable!" "Hard Working!" | "Accessible!" | "Dependable!" | "Patient!" | "Reliable!" "Well Prepared!" | "Honest!" | "Strong Negotiator!" "Superb Service!" Want to know what's happening in the market? Want to Know the Value of your House? Call Us Now! 905.655.7236 There is no cost or obligation! Your Trusted Source to Buy, Sell or Invest! 905.655.7236 view 1000's of Homes for sale at KingHomeTeam.com or KingOfBrooklin.com Townhouse Pre-Construction Sale! **Photo similar to house being built Not intended to solicit those under contract. Expect balanced market in Durham Region in 2025 Not surprisingly, there was a decrease in the number of sales in almost all regions covered by the Central Lakes Association of Realtors (CLAR) in November compared to the previous month. "This trend is typical for this time of year, as many individuals choose to postpone real estate transactions until after the holidays," CLAR President Vicki Sweeney tells us. (CLAR covers Durham, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Peterborough Regions and Prince Edward County.) Here in Durham, there was notable 39 per cent increase year over year: from 532 sales in November 2023 to 739 sales last month. The average home price in the region rose slightly from $880,089 to $904,226 during the same period. The King Home Team:Royal Heritage Realty is proud of the sustained interest in Durham Region as a place to call home and the continued value of properties here. Meanwhile, two key changes taking effect to mortgage rules this month offer greater accessibility to both first-time buyers and current homeowners. First, eligibility for 30- year amortizations on insured mortgages expands to all first-time homebuyers and to all purchasers of new construction properties, up from the current 25-year threshold. While lower interest rate cuts are alleviating financial pressures and will continue making homeownership more attainable, the 30-year amortization period will ease monthly payments, particularly for first-time buyers. Second, the mortgage insurance cap will increase from $1 million to $1.5 million. That allows buyers with a down payment of less than 20 per cent the chance to explore housing options at a higher price point. "These changes may provide relief to many Canadians looking to purchase a home in the new year," Sweeney notes. Several interesting real estate reports have been released predicting 2025 market conditions. According to one report, the aggregate price of a home in Canada will increase six per cent year over year to $856,692 in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the median price of a single-family detached property and condominium projected to increase seven per cent and 3.5 per cent to $900,833 and $605,993, respectively. That report predicts the Greater Toronto Area will see a slightly more moderate gain of five per cent. Another report finds: • Lower mortgage rates and changes to the stress test are encouraging sidelined buyers to re-enter the market. • 50 per cent of Canadians feel more optimistic about the housing market compared to last year, while 36 per cent believe the market will improve in 2025. • 40 per cent of Canadians are open to exploring more neighbourhoods that offer more affordable housing options to cope with rising housing costs. Still another report predicts Durham Region will have a balanced market in 2025. That term means the number of homes for sale is roughly equal to the number of buyers so neither sellers nor buyers have a distinct advantage. Sellers typically accept reasonable, close-to-list-price offers and homes generally sit on the market for an average or typical length of time and is positive news for our community. The King Home Team is here to offer valuable advice as the market evolves and will work with your budget to meet your needs. Please visit our website at www.kinghometeam.com for more information about the local real estate market, including a property search tool that allows you to finetune your search by such criteria as city, neighbourhood, address and school. As 2024 comes to a close, we extend our very best wishes for a joyous holiday season and Happy New Year! Please watch for our next Brooklin Town Crier article in the new year, when we explore Colours of the Year 2025. Search 1000's of Homes. Find SOLD details in your neighbourhood at search.Look4DurhamHomes.com Gorgeous Townhouse Bungaloft Thinking of Making a Move? Call us for similar results! 905.409.6730 More New Build Bungalows Available! Quality Finishes! Loads of Extras Thank you to all for participating in the Food Drive!We delivered a trailer full of groceries to the local food bank!Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours! 4 Bedroom with Loads of Extras SOLD! 2 Left! MARKETING YOUR HOME FOR ALL IT IS WORTH! Another Christmas Carol: A Panto Sequel Dec 27-31 - Whitby Centennial Building Theatre, 416 Centre St S Have you ever wondered what happened to Ebeneezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and all the other characters from the original Dickens' story? Well, in this hilarious Panto Sequel, Scrooge must seek the help of some friends to stop a now grown up Tiny Tim, who is returning to London from America with a terrible dastardly plan to take over the family business and become the most powerful man in London. You will get to boo and cheer, laugh and dance in your seat to a score of popular music. But beware...you might see a ghost or two. Brooklin Family Matters: by Leanne Brown