November 20, 2019 Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate News

lotus lake - Kaohsiung
November 20, 2019. In this week’s Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate News: Taiwan, Go trains, Electrohome building, predicted rate cut, amazon effect, WR’s tech dominance, prices up, Japan’s vanishing towns, work productivity…

From Taiwan: Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate News

November 20, 2019

November 20, 2019. In this week’s Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate News: Taiwan, Go trains, Electrohome building, predicted rate cut, amazon effect, WR’s tech dominance, prices up, Japan’s vanishing towns, work productivity…  

1

Why I like living in Taiwan

My extended (working) vacation in Taiwan is almost over now. I have enjoyed living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

2

New plan for faster, two-way GO trains in Kitchener by 2025

Economic promoters claim that frequent, two-way commuter service will move thousands more workers to their jobs, helping to sell investors on the Waterloo Region-Toronto corridor as a technology hub.

Finally! 

The former Electrohome building in Kitchener will soon be coming down. A Toronto-based company announced their purchase of the property last week. 

3

Weaker national employment may lead to BoC rate cut

The October employment numbers significantly deviated from expert predictions.

4

Real estate is a dirty word

If you ever want to suck the air out of a dinner party conversation, just tell someone that you are in real estate. You will see what happens immediately…

5

The ‘Amazon Effect’ on housing

Home sales in Arlington shortly after Amazon’s initial announcement saw a 21% increase year over year. The median list price in Arlington County was $863,300 in October, a 33% increase from a year ago.

6

Waterloo Region dominates Canada’s fastest growing tech companies 

Deloitte announced the 2019 winners of its Technology Fast 50, which highlights Canadian companies’ growth and commitment to innovation. This year, three Kitchener-Waterloo startups took the top spots.

7

Canadian home sales and prices up for eighth month in a row

National sales activity is now 20% above its low this past February, and just 7% shy of the peak it reached in 2016 and early 2017, with annual transactions up in 80% of all local markets, including Canada’s largest cities.

8

Japan’s vanishing rural towns

Facing declining birthrates and rural depopulation, hundreds of villages could vanish in a few decades.Some small towns are fighting back with tourists, mascots, and beer gardens. 

9

Working while not (in Taiwan)

I was reading an article last week that said we are interrupted 14 times each day, while at work (that’s all?). And that workers spend only 43% of their day on their primary job responsibilities (that much?). I remember reading somewhere that most people only work at 40% of their capacity. There was a story a couple of weeks ago about a company in Japan that gave employees Fridays off and productivity rose by 40%. 

What I am saying is sometimes it’s best to reset, step back, sharpen the saw, take a breather…then some real work can get done. 

10

Further Reading

  • How to buy in a Seller’s Market
  • Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate News: folding bike, tiny houses, high density apartment, Tarion, wood-burning fireplace maintenance, investment tips, cybersecurity, walking in Japan, websites… 
  • 6 reasons not to sell your home vacant
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