In the interest of protecting sellers everywhere, perhaps you can avoid these four “emotional traps” that can directly impact how well (and for how much!) a home sells:

Emotional Trap #1: Pricing High

You’ve loved your home. You may have raised kids or started a marriage there. Everywhere you look, you see history, memories, and the reasons you fell in love with the place. I guarantee you: Buyers can’t see these. Remember: What you may think is an amenity might not be for a buyer, too. It could even be a negative. Distance your emotions from the list price.

Emotional Trap #2: Hovering at Showings

Sure, there may be times when you need to be there. But 9 out of 10 times, you’re only going to make buyers uncomfortable, get your feelings hurt when the buyers don’t like something, or take each minor complaint as commentary on how you’ve treated the place. Perhaps worst of all? You might prevent them from giving the agent honest feedback that would help you and your agent sell your home faster.

Emotional Trap #3: Turning Down the First Offers

Some of the sweetest interest in your home is going to happen in the first 14 – 21 days it’s on the market. If offers come during this time, consider them seriously! The longer it sits, the more likely it is you’re going to face price reductions. Don’t get cocky early on when offers come in and think there will be a steady stream. You might end up selling the home to these same people for less down the line.

Emotional Trap #4: Feeling Insulted by Negotiations

This may sound crazy, but when you’re in the middle of a sale, it’s a very real phenomenon. Remember: They’re not buying you, they’re buying the house. Negotiations prove the buyer is serious, so unplug from the nitpicking fast.

I provide my clients with the rational balance and support they need during the marketing and sale of their home. I’d be glad to help you sell yours, feel free to contact me at (519)442 0005 or on my direct line (519) 771 0886.

Brant County council has given final approval to an application for a draft plan of subdivision from J.H. Cohoon Engineering on behalf of Harold J. Edgar to build 90 single-family homes on farmland the family owns on the east side of Rest Acres Road north of Highway 403.

After much debate, council has also approved an application from Riverview Highlands Ltd., run by Henry Stolp, to rezone an adjacent parcel of land from agricultural to residential to build 45 houses, with two future development blocks yet to be registered.

When all phases of the joint developments are finished, the area will have more than 200 homes.

Little was said at Tuesday’s council meeting when the Edgar development was approved. But there was much discussion over the Riverview component, during an earlier special planning advisory committee meeting on the subject, and the later council meeting.

The Riverview project is challenged by two factors. First, Six Nations activists paid a visit to Riverview last year in connection with a native land claims dispute.

When the notice of the company’s rezoning application was forwarded to Six Nations, elected band council, Lonny Bomberry, director of Six Nations Lands and Resources, responded in a letter that the land in question is in the Haldimand Treaty area and in the Gore of Dumfries, a tract crossing the Grand River Tract, about which Six Nations argues “there has never been a formal agreement to share with our neighbours.”

The federal government and the province have not resolved longstanding land claims issues.

Bomberry’s letter says that “for those reasons, the subdivision development by Riverview Highlands are of major concern to the Six Nations, and require our free, prior and informed consent before attempting to implement plans.”

Brant senior planner Marcus Davidson told council in a report that a meeting was held on April 26 between the developer, county staff and members of the Six Nations, at which Bomberry’s letter was discussed.

Participants left the meeting with a commitment to continue to negotiate in further meetings to include additional members of the County, Six Nations and the Ontario government.

The other factor is an unresolved issue over a right-of-way at one side of the Riverview property held by two other landowners.

Riverview officials also began discussions with one owner, Jim Young, but have yet to be resolved.

Young told the planning advisory committee he didn’t want the proposal going forward before the negotiations were complete because it would not be fair to his position.

“There seems to be a great push to get this plan approved and I don’t know why,” he said.

Coun. Robert Chambers urged the committee to proceed, event though the right-of-way issue has not been resolved.

“It’s not the committee’s job to negotiate the right of way. That’s the job of the parties,” he said.

“We should pass the recommendation. We must keep our eye on the ball.”

Jay Hitchon, solicitor for Riverview, urged the committee to proceed, saying the right-of-way issue was something that could be resolved separately, and that it was important his client’s development move in lock step with Edgar’s.

Mayor Ron Eddy said he wanted the whole application referred to the county solicitor for a legal opinion, considering the complexity of the issues.

However, the committee endorsed the application’s approval 5-4. It was later given final approval by council.

By Michael-Allan Marion, Brantford Expositor

Thursday, May 3, 2012 1:03:07 EDT PM

The Big Creek Saddle Club Horse Show in The Valley Horse Rings.

When he began investing in property over a decade ago, Jon Keddy was a single graduate earning $350 a week. Today, the married father-of-one lays claims to a bulging portfolio of 12 properties. Sarah Megginson reports.

Twelve years ago, when Jon Keddy commenced his career as a police officer, he realized one thing for certain: it was a good thing he was passionate about working in law enforcement, because it wasn’t going to make him rich.

“My start-up police officer income was only $700 cleared every two weeks. It wasn’t the greatest wage and it was actually difficult to make ends meet after paying rent, my car loan and a new student loan,” he confides.

“I roomed with a co-worker of mine and we used to put our funds together and cook chili, because it was cheap to make and would keep us going for a few days.” But Jon wasn’t going to let his low income hold him back. Even though his take-home pay was $350 a week, Jon decided to research the property market, with a view to becoming a landlord while still renting himself. He had watched his parents invest in property over the years so “a bit of the fear was minimized,” he says. “It’s simply a matter of finding a property when rent-in is more than expenses-out, resulting in positive cash flow.” So it was with this formula in mind that Jon began searching for his very first property purchase, back in 2001.

Boosting his income with property

Jon’s roommate was also interested in real estate, and eventually went on to become

a landlord as well. “He’s a close friend and we always bounce ideas back and forth when looking at potential properties,” Jon says. “Todd actually recently began writing a book about our real estate journey called Poor Man’s Chili.”

But a decade ago, neither man knew much about property investing. Jon decided to

focus his search on his local area, Truro- Colchester, where it was possible to find positive cash flow properties within his price range. After following the market for several months and lining up finance, he made the move on a three-unit apartment.

It was listed for $80,000 and Jon offered $70,000, which was accepted. He paid the deposit, roughly $4,000, using funds borrowed from his father, David. “At the time, it gave me approximately $400 positive cash flow a month and this increased to $500 per month over time, “Jon says. This helped him to supplement his income, which allowed him to breathe a little easier when the bills came in each month. It almost seemed too good to be true, so it’s no wonder that Jon began looking for another investment property almost immediately. “It was the first and best move I ever made in real estate,” Jon confirms. “A year later, I took equity out of this property and moved into my first owner-occupier residence, which was a duplex. Two years after this, I took equity out of the duplex and used it to buy my third property, and the list goes on and on.” Replicating the strategy Jon didn’t realize it at the time, but in purchasing his first three homes, he had devised simple strategy for acquiring properties that he has since replicated many times over. To begin with, he carefully purchases properties that are priced at or below market value. This means that he never gets emotionally attached to a deal, so there’s

no temptation to pay more than a property is actually worth, and instead treats every purchase as a business transaction.

“When I purchase under market value it means the equity is there right away to reinvest into the property and make any repairs and get rents up to where they should be,” he explains.

“By purchasing below market value, or even slightly below, it allows me to enjoy positive cash flow and still upgrade the property or the building, and get an instant head start.”

He restricts his location search to good neighborhoods that have plentiful access to schools, hospitals, transport and employment hubs, and to date he’s never gone further afield than his local area of Truro-Colchester. The hub of Nova Scotia, Truro turned out to be the perfect location to focus his efforts.

“Truro-Colchester lies in the Halifax- Moncton Growth Corridor. The Corridor boasts a population of more than 650,000 people within a two-hour drive of us,”

Jon says. “This area’s official census population is around 51,000, and since 2006, our urban core has grown by 4%, the second-highest urban growth rate in Nova Scotia – second only to urban Halifax.” Truro is only 45 minutes away from Halifax, which was recently awarded an unprecedented $30 billion government contract. The announcement will see Halifax Shipyard become one of the two major suppliers of shipbuilding to the Canadian government. Housing in the region is poised to increase in the next 24 months as a result of heightened employment activity.

Jon has learned it’s not simply finding the right location that determines a good investment. Experience has taught him that it’s important to keep his properties in good condition, as the quality of the

property correlates with the quality of the tenant it attracts.

“Poor units likely attract poor clientele,” he says. “Also, I don’t like to just fill the unit for the sake of renting it. I’ll ask potential tenants many questions, and I don’t always trust the last landlord as a reference – they might not be the best choice, as they may simply want the tenant out of their building. We’ve all been there.”

Finally, with 12 properties to maintain –he had 15, but has sold three in recent years

– Jon has created a network of affordable and trustworthy maintenance people to call on, and he has a system in place to ensure that his portfolio is managed as efficiently as possible. All in all, it’s a straightforward investing strategy and it’s one that has led Jon toward a profitable portfolio. “A few of the properties I bought eight to 10 years ago have literally doubled in value. Some I have taken equity out three times to leverage into the other property purchases as part or all of the down payment,” he adds. “The interest on equity take out continues to be tax deductible, and it is injected into another growth opportunity, so it’s a strategy that has worked well for me.”

A view on finance.

When Jon first started investing in property, he was earning a low income, so he’s faced plenty of challenges sourcing finance over the years. He’s come to learn that no matter how many brick walls he encounters, it pays to be persistent.

“There are always finance hurdles – you just have to wiggle around them. Bank policies can change monthly, so you should never think you are at a dead end with any bank. Instead, talk to other banks and brokers and when you go to the next bank, be prepared and professional,” he says. “Have pictures of your properties and copies of your leases with you on a thumb drive, and make sure you can provide all other supporting income documentation they require. In other words, the easier you can make it for the bank to extend you finance, the more chance you have of being approved for a loan.” Another strategy that has helped Jon maintain his ‘low-risk ’ status with the banks – and to keep his credit score healthy – was to ensure his credit card balance was low. “I only have one credit card, because when you have several credit cards attached to your name, it increases your level of risk to the lender, even if they have zero balances. They will also lower your credit score,” he says. “But, I make that credit card count – I make sure I can acquire aero points or air miles for every dollar I spend. I set up all of my monthly payments as pre-authorized monthly withdrawals off this card and pay off the Visa balance on the 20th of every month, before the interest charges apply.” With the amount of points he earns across 12 properties’ worth of expenses, he has enough to cover a family holiday each year – and then some.

Profit, not pension

The local property market in Truro has been good to Jon over the last decade, so he sees no need to diversify into other cities or towns. He does have plans to keep buying property, with a short-term goal to “continue to keep moving forward by new developments in the downtown core.”Although his property portfolio delivers strong positive cash flow at the present, Jon says his primary motivation for investing in real estate is to provide a financially secure retirement for his family and to have a positive impact on the town of Truro.

“The reality is that some people facing retirement may find it a bit difficult to adjust to the reduced income, based on current market conditions,” he says. “In my opinion, by owning a single duplex income property over a 10–20-year period, a family can help alleviate retirement pressures or maybe retire five years sooner.” With a dozen properties in his portfolio, Jon admits to experiencing the odd drama with tenants: “I’ve probably had 10 bad tenants in the 10 years, where I’ve experienced loss of income and dirty lifestyles,” he says. “At the end of the day, loss of income is money I am not paying tax on, and repairs are 100% tax deductible. Those hurdles are all part of the business, and I try not to take it personally.”

Clearly, any challenges he’s faced along the way haven’t turned him off in the slightest. In fact, Jon’s ultimate ambition, together with his wife, is to own 100 units to afford their family a financially prosperous retirement. If the last decade is anything to go by, he seems set to reach his goal.

Starts at 6:00 pm with great Food and Musical Entertainment.

You may have noticed that many real estate agents take transactional approach to sales- identifying clients, closing the deal, and then moving on to the next one. I choose not to work that way because I believe you deserve more from the professional you decide to work with. That is why I work by referral.
Since my primary source of new business is referrals from people who know and trust me, I don’t have to spend precious time prospecting and promoting myself. I can dedicate myself fully to the activities that benefit you most, and always deliver truly exceptional service.

You Control My Business-

I know that I must earn your future referrals, so I aim to exceed your expectations. I have a vested interest in making sure that you are completely satisified at the end of our transaction together. I want you to be so “fired-up” that you can’t wait to tell your friends and family about me ad the fantastic service you received!

When you come across an opportunity, I appreciate you referring me to great people like yourself, who would benefit from the excellent service and personal attention I provide.

Service After the Sale-

I devote myself to serving the needs of my clients before, during and after each sale. Instead of disappearing after the closing, you can expect me to keep in touch. I will be sending valuable information to you each month, and will also be calling from time to time just to check in and see if you need anything.

I hope you will turn to me for help with any f your real-estate-related needs because it is such a privilege to work exclusively with people like you who admire and respect, and who value the service I provide.

The Canada Real Estate Association(CREA) said today that home sales activity in Canada will remaim relatively unchanged in 2012 from last year, although average prices will be lower in two years than they are now.

National resale housing activity will gain 0.3% from the 457,305 sales last year to reach 458,800 this year, said CREA. Rising demand in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia wll offset declines in British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick , said the report.

“The continuation of low interest rates is the good news for housing and the economy,” Said Gary Morse, CREA’s President. In 2012, a similar picture will play out, according to the CREA forecast with sales slipping 0.3% to reach 457,200.
In terms of price, however, the CREA sees the big gains of 2011 coming to a halt this year. The CREA report showed the average home priced gained 7.1% last year to reach $363,116. But by the end if this year, it is predicted to dip 1.1% to 359,100, followed by a 0.9% gain in 2013 to 362,300.

But in a turbulent global economic envrionment, the CREA offered no guarntee to buyers.

“Risks to the Canadian economic outlook remain elevated,owing to the European sovereign debt quagmire, but the continuation of low interest rates is the silver lining,” sad CREA chief Economist Gregory Klump.”So long as the European debt crisis is contained and global economic recession avoided, low interest rates will support Canadian homes sales and prices.”

Prices are expected to slip most in British Columbia this year. On the heels of 11.1% gans last year, the province will see the average price drop 4% this year from $561,304 to $439,100. The biggest price ains will be in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Quebec, according to the CREA.

(Article from canadian real estate magazine – May 2012)

Step 1 – Work on a Budget

I really like Debt Free Forever: Take Control Of Your Money And Your Life by Gail Vaz-Oxlade this book is fantastic as determining how you should work out your budget to make sure that you are living within your means.  You need to make sure that all your expenses including Utilities,  RRSP’s, RESP’s, Utilities, Taxes, Groceries, Daycare  etc are accounted for.

Step 2 – Finance

You have taken the time to save your down payment – now you should talk with Mortgage Brokers, Banks or Credit Unions.  Make sure that you provide them all the paperwork required so that you have a clear idea of what you are qualified to purchase.  Paperwork that may be required – 3 years of T4′s and Notice of Assessments, Letter of Employment and a copy of a recent pay stub, proof of down payment. You should ask the bank you choose to use to pull your full credit report and have a clear idea of what debt you have. When the bank gives you the amount that you are pre-approved for, ask what the monthly payment will be. Ask what the payment will be if you paid less as well. Make sure that you are comfortable with the monthly payment and that it fits in your budget, all too often I have seen clients purchase the full amount the bank has approved them for but when it comes time to pay their mortgage they realize they have no money to put towards RRSP’s, trips or any fun activities.  Check out Mortgages Made Easy: The All-Canadian Guide to Home Financing by Douglas Gray, for an idea on how Mortgages work.

Step 3 – Find a Realtor

Talk to friends and family, visit open houses and check out the local newspapers. Interview a few Realtors, this is the person who is going to assist you in making a major investment. You want to know what their qualifications are, if they are going to be there for you, if they are going to have time for you or if they are going to push you off on an assistant or mignon of some sort instead of working with you on a personal level. Tell the realtor what your “NEED” list is and what your “WISH” list is  – this is not always the same thing. Make sure they have a clear picture of what your MAXIMUM comfort level is,  so they can properly assist you along the way.

Step 4 – Home Inspector

Home Inspections are a very important step, some people feel if a home is only a few years old they don’t need an inspection. NOT TRUE! I have seen New Builds that need a lot of work because they were built too fast.  You need to ask your realtor or friends and family for Home Inspectors they have used in the past, then call the Inspectors themselves to ask them what their qualifications, what their report includes, and the cost of the inspection. Remember spending a few hundred today can save you THOUSANDS in the future. For more info about Inspections check out Holmes Inspection - by Mike Holmes.

Step 5 – Lawyer

A Lawyer is the final person that you will need in this process. Not all lawyers are the same, again you need to call realtor or friends and family to ask about who they recommend. Then again you need to call the Lawyers themselves and ask  them what they charge and their hours. I know of a few lawyers that have stayed open late so that a buyer could pick up a key.

Step 6 – Move in

Congratulations!!!

Tips for a GREAT GARAGE SALE!

1. A group sale is better then selling alone. More stuff draws more traffic.
2. Be prepared. Be ready to go the night before so that you don’t have to rush around in the morning.
3. Plan your sale layout with customers in mind.  (remember some people drive by unless they can see items they want, make sure everything is dsiplayed well)
4. Price things carefully. Buy Pre-priced stickers – remember people will be looking for a deal.
5. Label things well.
6. Be friendly. Greet people as they arrive — chat if they’re chatty.
7. Do not bad-mouth your items.
8. Be willing to bargain, but be less flexible at the start.
9. Keep a ledger. Jot down a description of each item and how much you sold it for.
10. Do not use a cash box. Keep your money on you at all times.

Some great books on Garage Sales are;

1. Garage Sale Guide
2. Idiots Guide to Garage Sale

Long gone are the days when shouting at the kids to “turn off the light!” was a sure way to save on electricity (though installing reduced-energy bulbs is a good move, too). The U.S. Department of Energy reports that “75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while products are turned off.” Why’s that? Because newer electronics and appliances consume power even when the device is turned off. The term to describe this is known as “phantom load.”

Home entertainment systems with remote controls, wireless routers, appliances with clocks, electronics that use a power adaptor (i.e. a wall cube) and computer printers are all good targets for reducing phantom loads. If you can feasibly eliminate these loads, you can save a lot of money over the course of the year.

So how do you eliminate phantom load? Unplugging devices every day is a hassle, but one sound alternative is the use of power strips which allow you to kill the connection to the main outlet without having to unplug devices. If you Google “smart power strips” you’ll also find a variety of options for allowing certain devices to “pass through” while others are shut off. This can be useful when you have certain devices which do need to be “on standby” while others do not.

While going green is a perfectly good reason to reduce your power consumption, the money you save on power can go to other household expenses, family vacations, and perhaps even the down payment on your next (or first!) home.

Keep an eye out for those energy vampires! Usually you can tell who they are by their LED lights glowing in the night.

I love to help my clients get the most out of their home. If you’re thinking of selling or searching for a home soon, please get in touch today

St. Patrick’s Day Toast

Here’s to a long life and a merry one.

 A quick death and an easy one.

A pretty girl and an honest one.

 A cold beer – and another one!

Have a Green St. Patrck’s Day!

Here are a few classic wedding toasts, sampled from around the web:

“May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”

“May you live each day like your last, and live each night like your first.”

“Here’s to the two secrets to a long-lasting and happy marriage: A good sense of humor and a short memory!”

While the etiquette of toasting varies across cultures and situations, there are a number of interesting “rules” that are commonly followed. For instance:

A toast is generally offered standing, unless the group is very small or informal.

When gathered to honor a person, it is the host of the event who has the honor of delivering the first toast.

The person honored in a toast usually does not stand or drink (but rises after to thank the person offering the toast).

Putting a glass down before the completion of a toast or holding without drinking is thought of as impolite, as it suggests one does not share the spirit of the toast.

Toasts accompany some of life’s greatest changes, and so do real estate decisions. If your nest is about to be emptier or more crowded, now could be a good time to find that dream home for the next step in your life. If you have any real estate questions you’d like answered, please get in touch today!

Who would have thought that you could control your TV with your iPad? And match colors you see in the world to exact hues with Sherwin-Williams? And carry a comprehensive wood grain library with you everywhere you go? Oh, and did I mention: An app to measure your rooms and a different one to help you decorate them?

Here are 5 incredible apps for the iPad that I think most homeowners will love:

ColorSnap: Capture real world colors and match them to Sherwin-Williams paint colors—for free.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/colorsnap/id316256242?mt=8

Remodelista: Looking for the perfect couch, stylish DIYs, or inspiration to refresh your space? Get your daily deco fix with the new Home Design App from Remodelista.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/remodelista/id377290615?mt=8

Control4: Turn your iPad into a touch screen remote! Control your TV, lights, sound system and home security from one place:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/control4-my-home-for-ipad/id364304056?mt=8

Photo Measures Lite: Photo Measures is the most elegant and the easiest way to save measures on your own photos on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo-measures-lite/id417222688?mt=8

I.D. Wood: A powerful reference guide to help you ID any kind of wood, or choose a color and grain for future projects.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-d-wood/id325838725?mt=8

Not a homeowner yet? Maybe I can help you with that! I guide first-time buyers through a pain-free process all the time. Reach out to me today!

To prevent the hassle and heartbreak of forgotten possessions and lost information, make a check list containing the following items:

1. Jewelry, watches, and small valuables:  These small, expensive and often irreplaceable items are best kept in a safe deposit box or kept with trustworthy friends or relatives on moving day.

2. Garage door opener:  The old one won’t be of much use at your new house, will it? Be sure to leave it behind for the new owners.  Also, make sure the old owners of your new house give you theirs!

3. Spare keys:  Sets to your old house should remain with the new owners, but don’t forget sets to the new house!  There’s nothing more frustrating than arriving at your new place without a way to get in.

4. Old address books:  Yes, we all have fancy new smartphones, but it seems like families all have a well-worn phone book stashed in a spice drawer somewhere.  These are practically family heirlooms of information, so don’t leave them behind.

5. Unfinished errands:  Do you have any clothes at the dry cleaner?  Books due to the library?  What about other video game or DVD rentals?  It can be a real hassle to settle up on these items from 100 kilometers away, right?

6. Medical records:  While a lot of medical information is digital these days, you should make sure you don’t misplace your copies, including dental information and prescriptions.  It’s easy to lose them at the bottom of a hastily thrown-away box.

7. Make sure you check EVERY cabinet and appliance when you leave – I have had clients leave their favorite Baking Stones in the bottom of the Stove – because they sold the Stove with their house.

8. Lawn Mower.  Although this is not a small item that’s easy to miss, it is easy to forget your lawn mower because it’s likely to be stored in an outbuilding or other location outside of the home.

9. Fire-Resistant Security Box.  Most families have these, but many forget them during a move.  Although most fireproof boxes are purchased to house important papers, such as deeds, titles and other essentials, they can be overlooked if they are stored in an inconspicuous place.

10.  Bathroom Plunger.  It’s not a glamorous essential, but it is a necessary one nonetheless.  Because a plunger is intentionally made to be unobvious when stored in a bathroom, it’s easy to overlook on moving day.

A good rule of thumb is that the last things that you use are likely to be those that are forgotten, so make sure to do a final check through the house before leaving.  As you are packing in the days leading up to the move, make a checklist of the items you need to remember to pack

I make sure my clients’ experience selling their old home and moving into their new dream home is a smooth transition. If you’re interested in a hassle-free home selling experience, please get in touch today:

Direct Line: (519) 771 0886

Email: homes@andreaclendening.com

“Every­one wants a house or condo that will be per­fect the minute they move in so they only have to do the min­i­mum amount of work to it,” says Bar­bara Sukkau, pres­i­dent ofOREA. “But with the price of houses con­tin­u­ing to rise, and some buy­ers des­per­ately look­ing for a fam­ily home in a seller’s mar­ket, it may not be an option for all buy­ers. Buy­ing a prop­erty that needs work can be a way to save on the over­all cost even when you fac­tor in the cost of an exten­sive ren­o­va­tion,” says Sukkau.

OREA rec­om­mends poten­tial home­buy­ers work with their Real­tor to iden­tify prop­er­ties that will build equity after improve­ments are made but still remain in bud­get. Together with their Real­tor, home­buy­ers should research what the top homes in the neigh­bour­hood sell for before buy­ing a fixer-upper.

“It doesn’t make sense to invest $100,000 worth of ren­o­va­tions in a prop­erty if the other homes only sell for fifty thou­sand more than what you bought the house for,” says Sukkau. “Buy­ing a house that needs ren­o­va­tion should grow equity — not become a prop­erty that’s too expen­sive for the neigh­bour­hood when you want to sell.”

Sukkau says there are other ben­e­fits to buy­ing a prop­erty that needs ren­o­va­tion, such as the fact that HST does not apply to the price of a resale home, unlike newly built homes, which can save a home­buyer thou­sands of dol­lars. Also, the fed­eral gov­ern­ment cur­rently offers grants up to $5,000 to own­ers who want to make their home more energy effi­cient. If an older home needs new win­dows or a new fur­nace, then home­own­ers can apply for the grant for this cost. And finally, ren­o­vat­ing a home lets the home­buyer add their own per­son­al­ity to the space and deter­mine what’s most impor­tant to them. Newly built homes, while beau­ti­ful, can have a cookie-cutter feel and look very sim­i­lar to the other homes in the neighbourhood.

No mat­ter if a home­buyer decides on a fixer-upper or a prop­erty that needs no improve­ments, accord­ing to Sukkau the most impor­tant thing is for poten­tial home­buy­ers to know their bud­get and stick to it. “Before look­ing at any home, dis­cuss with your Real­tor what your bud­get is for both the prop­erty and any pos­si­ble ren­o­va­tion. Even though it is dif­fi­cult, remain emo­tion­ally detached when look­ing at homes, and if a prop­erty is beyond your means, then move on to the next one,” says Sukkau.

———————————————————————————————————————
Contact Andrea Clendening by calling (519)771-0886 on her direct line. 

Andrea Clendening is a local Realtor  with Remax Twin City Realty Inc,

She did not write these arti­cles, they just repro­duce them here for peo­ple
who are inter­ested in local real estate. 

While I understand the desire for privacy, I think it’s important we realize that regular, helpful communication with our neighbours makes us both safer and paves a smooth road for difficult conversations we might face with our neighbours in the future.

Small gestures such as a nice note about landscaping, an invitation to a pot luck, or an “all hands on deck” community improvement project allow us to get to know our neighbours.  This is vital when you consider the people around you are the most likely to spot smoke in a fire, clue you in to suspicious activity, and have the opportunity to share vital local information.

What’s more, if you build a positive base with your neighbours, when the time comes to have a difficult conversation (such as a nuisance dog, kids running amok, or intrusive lighting issues), you’ll have a buffer of mutual respect and goodwill to draw on.

If your opening conversation with a neighbour is a complaint, you’re setting yourself up for a long, antagonistic relationship.  Who wants to live next to that?

It doesn’t take much to start off the right way.  Consider leaving a nice note in their mailbox, a small “thank you” gift for looking out for the neighborhood, or some other “olive branch” act that will build rapport.

I think a civil community depends upon our connection to our neighbours.  We all benefit when we depend on and trust one another.

Mort­gage inter­est rates have fallen from the peak they hit this sum­mer, but var­i­ous eco­nomic fore­cast­ers pre­dict there are more sav­ings to come.

Even with­out fur­ther reduc­tions, a lead­ing mort­gage bro­ker­age sug­gests it might not be wise for home­own­ers and buy­ers to lock them­selves into a five-year term right away.

Where U.S. rates go, Cana­dian rates would likely fol­low. The Bank of Canada would not want to encour­age a fur­ther rise in our dol­lar that would bring more pain to manufacturers.

Rubin pre­dicts the inter­est yield on 10-year gov­ern­ment bonds will fall by half a per­cent­age point or more, pro­vid­ing a lift to the price of bank and other finan­cial ser­vices stocks over the next sev­eral months.

If bond yields fall, then mort­gage inter­est rates would soon fol­low, although not nec­es­sary as quickly or as far.

“A prag­matic and flex­i­ble Fed­eral Reserve Board is likely to limit any con­ta­gion effects from a slump­ing hous­ing mar­ket with at least three rate cuts next year,” Rubin wrote last month.

In Canada, Rubin pre­dicts our cen­tral bank will cut short-term rates by as much as a full per­cent­age point next year, twice the half-point rise he pre­dicts for long-term bond inter­est yields.

(While con­sumers might enjoy Rubin’s fore­cast on inter­est rates, he’s stick­ing to his pre­dic­tion that oil will even­tu­ally hit $100 (U.S.) a bar­rel, and cer­tainly rise from the recent $60 level past the $77 peak hit in July. He does, how­ever, con­cede that a short-term rise in inven­to­ries and a tame hur­ri­cane sea­son could tem­porar­ily lower prices to $50. Regard­less, he expects nat­ural gas prices to con­tinue falling, and to hurt the price of energy stocks and income trusts that rely heav­ily on gas exports.)

Major banks have cut their posted mort­gage rates from 6.95% for five-year terms in mid-August to 6.6% as of the end of last week. They have cut their one-year rates from 6.6% to 6.4%.

Mean­while, inter­est yield on five-year gov­ern­ment bonds has fallen nearly 0.6 of a per­cent­age point com­pared with the 0.35-point reduc­tion in five-year mort­gage rates. That leaves room for fur­ther mort­gage rate reductions.

For that rea­son alone, Invis, a national chain of mort­gage bro­kers based in Lan­g­ley, B.C., is urg­ing savvy con­sumers who need to renew or nego­ti­ate a mort­gage to be strate­gic about their choice of mort­gage term.

“A more sophis­ti­cated mort­gage con­sumer who prefers the com­fort of a fixed-rate, but doesn’t want to miss out on poten­tial sav­ings if rates do con­tinue to fall, just might have a solu­tion,” Invis suggests.

They could work with a mort­gage bro­ker — hint, hint, nudge, nudge, know who they mean? — to select a variable-rate mort­gage that can be con­verted at any point dur­ing the term into a fixed-rate mortgage.

The one pro­viso Invis sug­gests to con­sumers is this: Ensure from the out­set that the fixed-rate mort­gage will be offered at a fully dis­counted rate, and not just the rate posted on the door or offered to renewal cus­tomers to see if they will bite.

At the time Invis did its analy­sis, con­sumers who fol­lowed the strat­egy stood to save as much as 0.4 of a per­cent­age point enough to save $3,848 in inter­est over five years if you hap­pened to have a $200,000 mort­gage amor­tized over 25 years.

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Most of the renters I’ve talked to say “no” to every one of these questions.  They also feel like they have no choice but to put up with the inevitable inconveniences of renting– noise, strange odours, lazy maintenance.  Many have a hard time imagining exactly how they’ll escape the “rental trap.”

If you feel this way, I’d like to extend a friendly introduction and invite you to have a conversation about how you might become a homeowner.  You see, I specialize in helping people make the transition from renting to owning.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about buying a home, especially given how much the media focuses on a “bad housing market.”  The truth is actually not so simple.  Great opportunities exist for first-time buyers, or previous owners who now want to leave their renting nightmares behind.

Even if you’re not in a position to consider home ownership right now, I can definitely provide you with some advice and resources to get you on the right path.  (Imagine the satisfaction of knowing your rent check isn’t going into someone else’s’ pocket!)

If you’re curious how I can help make home ownership a reality for you, send me email at homes@andreaclendening.com or give me a call at 519-771-0886.  There’s no obligation.  Even if you’ve just wanted to ask a real estate agent a few questions, I’d be more than happy to help.

Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour

RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc. has emerged as the frontrunner in the Brant County marketplace, after securing the #1 position in marketshare with the acquisition of Remax Heritage Inc. 

“We’ve had an eye on expansion in this community for quite a while now,” says Peter DeGroot, Broker-Owner, RE/MAX Twin City.  “This opportunity was particularly favourable.  Paris is a growing community with an active housing market.  Increasing the size of our franchise will allow us to better serve our clients with more locations, while firmly solidifying our reputation as a leader in local real estate.” 

The merger brings the total number of RE/MAX Twin City offices to seven, with a total of 407  realtors serving the communities of Brantford, St. George, Paris (and surrounding areas), Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and New Hamburg. 

“RE/MAX Twin City has long been a force in its local marketplace,” says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “Now with over 35 per cent marketshare, the franchise is a virtual powerhouse, representing one in every three properties listed in the Brant County area.  Under the careful direction of its management team, we are certain this expanded operation will continue to flourish.” 

RE/MAX Twin City’s existing Brantford office is  located at 515 Park Road North, the newly acquired paris facility remains at 1 Grand River St North.  For more information, visit: www.remaxtwincity.com.

RE/MAX is Canada’s leading real estate organization with over 17,700 Sales Associates in more than 650 independently-owned and operated offices.  The RE/MAX franchise network, now in its 35th year of operation, is a global real estate system operating in over 65 countries.  More than 7,000 independently-owned offices engage over 110,000 Sales Associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, relocation and asset management

Step 1 – Work on a Budget

I really like Debt Free Forever: Take Control Of Your Money And Your Life by Gail Vaz-Oxlade this book is fantastic as determining how you should work out your budget to make sure that you are living within your means.  You need to make sure that all your expenses including Utilities,  RRSP’s, RESP’s, Utilities, Taxes, Groceries, Daycare  etc are accounted for.

Step 2 – Finance

You have taken the time to save your down payment – now you should talk with Mortgage Brokers, Banks or Credit Unions.  Make sure that you provide them all the paperwork required so that you have a clear idea of what you are qualified to purchase.  Paperwork that may be required – 3 years of T4′s and Notice of Assessments, Letter of Employment and a copy of a recent pay stub, proof of down payment. You should ask the bank you choose to use to pull your full credit report and have a clear idea of what debt you have. When the bank gives you the amount that you are pre-approved for, ask what the monthly payment will be. Ask what the payment will be if you paid less as well. Make sure that you are comfortable with the monthly payment and that it fits in your budget, all too often I have seen clients purchase the full amount the bank has approved them for but when it comes time to pay their mortgage they realize they have no money to put towards RRSP’s, trips or any fun activities.  Check out Mortgages Made Easy: The All-Canadian Guide to Home Financing by Douglas Gray, for an idea on how Mortgages work.

Step 3 – Find a Realtor

Talk to friends and family, visit open houses and check out the local newspapers. Interview a few Realtors, this is the person who is going to assist you in making a major investment. You want to know what their qualifications are, if they are going to be there for you, if they are going to have time for you or if they are going to push you off on an assistant or mignon of some sort instead of working with you on a personal level. Tell the realtor what your “NEED” list is and what your “WISH” list is  – this is not always the same thing. Make sure they have a clear picture of what your MAXIMUM comfort level is,  so they can properly assist you along the way.

Step 4 – Home Inspector

Home Inspections are a very important step, some people feel if a home is only a few years old they don’t need an inspection. NOT TRUE! I have seen New Builds that need a lot of work because they were built too fast.  You need to ask your realtor or friends and family for Home Inspectors they have used in the past, then call the Inspectors themselves to ask them what their qualifications, what their report includes, and the cost of the inspection. Remember spending a few hundred today can save you THOUSANDS in the future. For more info about Inspections check out Holmes Inspection - by Mike Holmes.

Step 5 – Lawyer

A Lawyer is the final person that you will need in this process. Not all lawyers are the same, again you need to call realtor or friends and family to ask about who they recommend. Then again you need to call the Lawyers themselves and ask  them what they charge and their hours. I know of a few lawyers that have stayed open late so that a buyer could pick up a key.

Step 6 – Move in

Congratulations!!!

For more info contact;

High end quality built home with 9 and 11 ft ceilings throughout. Hardwood floors throughout with travertine floors in foyer/kitchen. 2 walk-in glass ceiling to floor showers with body massagers. Ensuite plus walk in dressing room in master bedroom with propane fire place, walk out onto deck overlooking scenic view. Great room with natural wood burning fireplace plus steam room. Custom kitchen with granite tops and bar counter. Wall to wall plus ceiling to ceiling french door windows and doors. Walkouts. Main floor executive office with sperate entrance. Lots of trails for horses. 70 acres scenic land!

Detached home with a large yard. Perfect for first time home buyers or as an investment property. New windows, new siding, fascia, down spouts, new furnace 2007, roof 2000, updated electrical (ESA – Certificate of Inspection 2011) and plumbing. Freshly painted, new linoleum and carpet. Original hardwood floors in living room.