Real Estate — April 15, 2009

Homes sold by the owners - Up 8% in the first quarter of 2009

    CHARNY, QC, April 15 /CNW Telbec/ - The number of homes sold directly by
their owners in Quebec increased by 8% in the first quarter of 2009, according
to the most recent data published by the ByTheOwner.com network.
    During the first quarter of 2009, 1,339 homes were sold without
intermediaries, compared to 1,241 for the same period in 2008. ByTheOwner.com
also reported a 12% increase in properties going on the market during the
first quarter, for a total of 2,684 listings.
    The average time taken to sell a home was up slightly in the province
from 67 to 77 days for single-family homes and from 74 to 76 days for co-owned
properties.
    "The economic slowdown has undoubtedly had a significant influence on
owners deciding to sell their homes themselves," suggested Nicolas Bouchard,
president of ByTheOwner.com. "Selling without an intermediary brings the
vendor considerable savings, and in a recession every dollar counts," he
added.
    The president of the ByTheOwner.com network greeted these results with
enthusiasm: "Our clients seem to be defying recent predictions, with analysts
and real estate organizations talking since the start of the year about
unfavourable markets and declining sales."
    In the greater Quebec City area, the number of properties sold rose by
20% over the first quarter of last year (up from 411 to 493). The greater
Montreal market has not been static either, with 6% more properties being sold
(up from 513 to 544).

    Greater Quebec City area (Quebec City, Levis)

    New listings:
    2008: 601
    2009: 767

    Properties sold:
    2008: 411
    2009: 493

    Greater Montreal area
    (Montreal Island, Laval, Monteregie Rive-Sud & Ouest, Lanaudiere &
    Laurentians)

    New listings:
    2008: 1,031
    2009: 1,183

    Properties sold:
    2008: 513
    2009: 544

    About ByTheOwner.com

    Since the company's founding in 1997, more than 25,000 Canadians have
sold their properties through its network, which regularly posts more than
7,000 properties online and receives more than 1.4 million visitors monthly.
In 2008, ByTheOwner.com was ranked among Canada's 125 fastest-growing
companies according to Profit magazine, and also came 13th in L'Actualité
magazine's rankings of Quebec's growth leaders.
    Based in Charny, in the Quebec City area, ByTheOwner.com offers a full
Web-based real estate service permitting individuals to sell, rent or buy
homes privately with no agents and no commissions.

For further information: Frédéric Auger, Communications Director,
DuProprio.com / ByTheOwner.com, 1 866 387-7677, ext. 123,
fauger@duproprio.com

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