This document discusses walkability and its value for homeowners and communities. It reports that homes with above average walkability scores sold for $4,000-$34,000 more in 2009 than other homes. Walkability refers to living in an area where daily needs can be accessed on foot. Younger homebuyers especially seek walkable urban areas that don't require long commutes. Walk Score measures walkability and its data is used by real estate sites and influences home prices. The benefits of walkability, like public transit and biking, are also growing in importance.

1. November 2014

2. Walkability Is
All About Dollars
and Sense
How much would you pay to be close to the
amenities you need? Well, even as far back as
2009, people paid between $4,000 and
$34,000 more for houses with above average
walkability scores. Now it’s considered even
more valuable.
Walkability is all about living within a
comfortable walking distance from the
amenities that are important to you: schools,
parks, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The
highest walkability scores (90 to 100) mean
you can complete all your daily errands on
foot. And this is a game-changer.
Today’s home buyers, particularly the younger
ones, want to buy in urban areas where
entertainment, work, school, and stores are
walkable from home. Not just because these
areas are trendy, but also because walking
saves on long commutes, parking tickets, and
gasoline. Plus, it’s healthy.
Walkability scores are the brainchild of a
Seattle company called Walk Score, which
compiles walkability data for virtually every
address in North America. Walk Score sells
this information to a number of real estate
industry websites, and they, in turn, use the
data in their listings to attract potential buyers
to walkable properties. Houses listed with
high walkability scores can command a
premium, according to a 2009 Impresa study
quoted in Real Estate News Exchange and
noted above.
So what’s n e x t ? These d a y s , t h e
environmental and economic benefits of
proximity to transit, and bicycle-friendly
neighbourhoods, are as appealing as being
able to walk to everything. So, Walk Score
has introduced Transit and Bike Scores to its
online searchable data base.
Retrospective: 2014
Looking back this year!
As 2014 is nearing it’s end, let’s take a quick look back at the
market this past year. It started late, due to the harsh long winter,
but once it got rolling, it really took off.
Then, mid-summer, the listings kept coming….and coming…
and… By mid-September we had nearly 1,900 active house
listings and over 600 active condos in Winnipeg.
What does this mean for the buyer and the seller?
If you’re buying, there has rarely been a better time. Interest
rates are low, and there are lots of homes to chose from.
If you’re selling, choose your Listing Agent carefully. It’s no longer
good enough to just put it on the MLS®. Buyers are looking in
other places as well, such as Kijiji, The Free Press and other
online resources. So make sure that your real estate agent
places your home where buyers are looking.
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, call me anytime!
Thinking of Buying a Home? Get
My Free Guide
Page 1
November 2014
Buying a home is a complex process
with many factors to consider.
Prepare for the decisions you’ll need
to make along the way by requesting
my free report, “10 Easy Steps to
Buying a Home.”
Just call me at 204-333-2202 and I’ll
send it right out to you.

3. all age groups studied: Millennials,
Generation X (age 35–49), Baby Boomers
(age 50–69) and the Silent Generation (age
70+). But Millennials use them differently.
Take the bonus smartphone features – GPS
devices, social networking, and applications
like Skype. Millennials are waves ahead of
the other generations, possibly because
Mom and Dad (and Grandpa and Grandma)
weren’t brought up with the sophisticated
technology their Millennials are used to.
In fact, some are only now getting used to
the idea of surfing and Googling, and really
don’t see the value of reading something on
a smartphone screen. As for Millennials,
43 percent of them prefer to surf the Net on
the small screen.
Page 2
Nowadays, people can’t experience
anything without tweeting,
Facebooking, Instagramming or texting
about it. It’s there on the social media
universe for all to see.
It’s especially true for the Millennials –
people between the ages of 18 and 34.
This age group spends about 14.5 hours
a week – that’s over two hours a day –
glued to their smartphone screen,
according to a recent article in
Marketing Profs. And DEB (Don’t Even
Bother) trying to reach a Millennial
between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – when their
smartphone usage peaks; it’s their T2T –
time to talk and text to friends.
In examining various generations’ use of
smartphones, Marketing Profs writer
Ayaz Nanji points to a recent report
from Experian Marketing Services. The
report found that usage of text, email,
and calling functions was equal across
Wondering How Much
Your Home Is Worth?
How has the price of your home
changed in today’s market? How much
are other homes in your neighbourhood
selling for?
If you're wondering what's happening to
prices in your area, or you're thinking
about selling your house, I'll be able to
help.
Just give my office a call for a no-fuss,
professional evaluation.
I won't try to push you into listing with
me or waste your time.
I'll just give you the honest facts about
your home and its value.
And maybe I'll also give you the “inside
scoop” on what's happening in the
housing market near where you live!
Just give my office a call at
204-333-2202 to arrange an
appointment.
Alternatively, stop by at the office. The
address is on the back page of this
newsletter.
Quick Quiz
Each month I’ll give you a new -
question.
Just email me at
boknowshomes@gmail.com or call
204-333-2202 for the answer.
What is a year in Jupiter-time?
Why Not Pass Me
to a Friend?
If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter and
found its information useful, please
pass it to a neighbour, friend or co-worker.
And if you have any comments about
it, don’t forget to give me a call or
send me an email!
Worth Reading
No Time to Think
By Kate Murphy
The New York Times
What does Google know that we
don’t? The company offers its
employees mindfulness meditation
courses not only as a stress-buster, but
also to boost their creativity. It seems
being alone with our thoughts can
inspire creativity. But many people
today have an overwhelming fear of
being alone. On our own, we may
replay negative thoughts. Avoiding
these problems can lead to more
problems. So read this, and think about
it. Alone. More: http://tinyurl.com/
Nov-Reads
11 Ways to Create More Time to
Think
By Paul B. Brown
Forbes
Thinking breeds creativity, but it can
be hard to find time to think. These
tried-and-true ways range from
scheduling times just to think (pick
mornings), to organizing yourself for
tomorrow before bedding down. Some
ideas aren’t always easy: Brown
suggests we turn off our cellphones for
long periods of time and replace
Facebook updates with thinking.
More: http://tinyurl.com/Nov-
Reads-2.
The Holy Trinity of Inactivity …
By Thorin Klosowski
Lifehacker
Perhaps we should start listing
“procrastination” as a strength, not a
weakness, according to author Frank
Partnoy, who suggests procrastination
is necessary to make decisions. This
article compiles other counterintuitive
ideas about thinking. More tidbits?
Boredom can be a filter for
determining what is truly important,
and distraction can help you focus.
More: http://tinyurl.com/Nov-Reads-3
“DEB” Calling Your Millennial
Between 4 PM and 6 PM

4. Aging in Place: The Next Renovation Trend
What’s the next big trend in home
renovation? As baby boomers age, it’s still
all about them. So the next big trend is
their next big concern. These days, many
older boomers are trying to avoid leaving
their homes for retirement residences and
nursing homes, so they’re aging in place –
renovating their homes to improve
accessibility and comfort.
Value-added? According to a recent
article in the Financial Post, many older
adults are making accessible renovations
to their homes; it’s a trend that’s likely to
mushroom as the population ages. And
while many are concerned about ease of
living, and not about making a return on
their investments, some accessible
renovations are already paying back.
Ted Rechtshaffen, chief executive of
TriDelta Financial, told the Post that
seniors considering a renovation need to
think about how many years they will
realistically be able to stay before finally
having to move for health reasons. So
wouldn’t a retirement residence, single-floor
home, or condo may make more
sense?
Emotional attachment: Possibly. But
many seniors are resisting even those
options and remain attached to the family
home. Many would prefer putting money
into it, rather than having to move. Says
Rechtshaffen: “The emotional side is
tough.”
So is the financial side: Some seniors are
concerned about the high monthly costs of
retirement or condo living, although condo
This Month’s Smile: Burning Questions
Page 3
fees cover maintenance, and most
retirement residences cover almost all
living expenses under their monthly fees.
Incentives: As incentives to staying
home, Ontario and British Columbia offer
tax credits ($1,500 and $1,000,
respectively) to seniors/family members
who renovate to improve accessibility,
reduce the potential of risk, and improve
their ability to move around the home.
Of the $63.4 billion renovation market in
Canada in 2013, individuals over 65
accounted for $8 billion, according to an
Altus Group study. As boomers try to age
in place, seniors’ share of the market can
only grow.
Ask the Agent: This
Month’s Question
How can I tell what the next hot
neighbourhood will be?
You want to move into an up-and-coming
neighbourhood, but aren’t sure what’s a
diamond in the rough and what’s a
headache waiting to happen?
A good local real estate agent will know
all the up-and-coming areas. But you can
also watch for these signs:
Business is booming. If on-trend
restaurants, coffee houses, and high-end
retailers are moving in, this area may be
changing for the better.
Major economic developments. A
neighbourhood that boasts a new major
employer is sending out good signals.
Renovations. If homes in a run-down
area are being remodeled, it’s likely the
area has a bright future.
Convenient location. Areas within easy
commuting distance of a main center are
often targeted by buyers who are priced
out of hot downtown neighbourhoods.
Your City at Night: Beautiful … but Scary
You could think of it as an astronaut’s guide to correcting light pollution – as compiled
by non-astronauts.
Since 2003, International Space Station crews have been taking photographs of the
earth at night giving us a glimpse of our cities from space. Until now, these images
have been scattered around the Internet. But according to a recent article in the
Atlantic, a group of volunteers has now put many of them together on a searchable
database.
At Cities at Night (www.citiesatnight.org), users can click on a map to find images of
different cityscapes, as viewed from space. Envision your hometown beaming light
into the universe (not a good thing). Many of the pictures are still unclassified, and
viewers are asked to get involved by helping identify the cities in the photographs.
Cities at Night isn’t just about viewing your home from space. It’s about showing and
learning about the effects of light pollution, which can cause health problems, disrupt
ecosystems, and interfere with research into the hows and whys of our galaxy, among
other things. Organizers hope to identify patterns in light pollution to motivate change.
Have you ever had a burning question and
needed it answered now? It’s usually a
simple question that few people want – or
need – answered. Except you.
Take, for example, the pronunciation of
the condiment, Worcestershire sauce. Do
you pronounce all the syllables, or is there
another way? A right one? That’s easy:
According to the Oxford Dictionary, it’s
pronounced “wooster-sher” sauce.
But what about all those other burning
questions, such as: “Is there a foolproof
way to cure hiccups?”
Fortunately, some of these hot queries
can be answered by experts, providing
you’re a curious pre-teen.
In Big Questions from Little People,
children from four to 12 have some of
their burning questions answered by a
team of famous scientists. We all
should be so lucky!

5. Winnipeg Real Estate Bo Kauffmann
Sudoku instructions: Complete the 9x9 grid so that each row, each column
and each of the nine 3x3 boxes contains the digits 1 through 9. Contact me
for the solution!
Page 4
Recipe: Leftover Turkey
and Cranberry Sauce
Sandwich
Serves 4
This sandwich is easy and delicious.
12 ounces leftover turkey slices (breast
or dark meat)
1 cup leftover turkey or other stock
4 sweet bread rolls
4 heaping tablespoons cream cheese
4 tablespoons leftover cranberry sauce
(or more to taste)
Directions
Place the stock and turkey slices in a
shallow pan and heat on low to warm
through, turning once.
Meanwhile, cut rolls in half and warm
in a toaster oven. Once warm, spread a
heaping tablespoon of cream cheese on
one side of the bread, followed by a
tablespoon (or more to taste) of the
cranberry sauce on the other half of the
roll.
Lift the turkey slices out of the
simmering stock and let excess liquid
drip off, then add to the sandwich.
Enjoy!
This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only
and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to
ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at
any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek
competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in
this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreement.
Winnipeg Real Estate is brought to you free by:
Bo Kauffmann
Remax Performance Realty
942 St. Marys Road
Winnipeg Manitoba
204-333-2202
boknowshomes@gmail.com WinnipegHomeFinder.com

6. October 2014

7. October 2014 Market Facts
Most Expensive Home Sold in past 30 days
$ 877,000 in Waverley West
Most Expensive Condo Sold in past 30 days
$ 740,000 in E. St Paul
Total # of Homes available on Oct. 15th, 2014
1827
Total # of Condos available on Oct. 15th, 2014
590

8. Overall Stats past 30 days
Value Title
1400
1183
967
750
533
317
100
1231
732
Houses Condos
1382
1163
794 762
201 194
275
1079
636
340
1201
1063
554 593
403 429
Value Title
May June July Aug Sept. Oct.
400
300
200
100
0
333
279 271
131 140 137
66 71
244 257
222
124 107 108 108 96 111
116
May June July Aug Sept Oct
Newly Listed Total SOLD Total EXPIRED

9. Value Title
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
418
241
Available Sold
516
273
569 570
296
266
668 679
234 255
May June July Aug. Sept Oct
90
60
30
80
Days of Inventory
86
66
58 60
52
May June July Aug. Sept Oct

10. 1000
900
800
700
Value Title 200
600
500
400
300
639
435
Available Sold
789
477
836 821
425
345
860 841
296 316
May June July Aug Sept Oct
100
80
60
40
20
80
Days of Inventory
87
74
61
51
44
May June July Aug. Sept Oct

11. Value Title
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
235
Available Sold
265
250 245
43 44 41
268 264
25 24 22
May June July Aug. Sept Oct
400
330
260
190
120
50
360
Days of Inventory
335
304
186 189
163
May June July Aug. Sept Oct

12. Value Title
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
565
Available Sold
605 606 600 620
131 140 137
590
107 96 111
May June July Aug. Sept Oct
220
170
120
70
160
Days of Inventory
194
174
130 134 137
May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.