xmas is fast approaching. Don't get caught with that dreadful last minute
shopping feeling. Why not shop from the comfort of your own home and consider
Online Shopping. Here are some great Canadian sites
http://www.intletail.com/canada or
http://www.cybershopping.ca. If
you choose to shop from US sites and don't want to pay the high shipping cost,
have your merchandise shipped to the UPS store in Ogdensburg. You can track
your parcel at
http://trackogdensburg.com/ .
When placing your online order, you simply need to enter your shipping address
as : 2981 Ford St Extension Ogdensburg, NY 13669, United States. When the
parcel is ready for pick up, you simply go to the UPS store with your online
shopping receipt, claim your parcel and pay $5.
I have been living in Oxford Mills for over two years now. One of the many
advantages of living in the country is being close to antique and country craft
stores filled with beautiful treasures, lovely keepsakes and amazing gift
ideas. If you haven't discovered 'Olde Porch Primitives', I highly recommend
you take the trip to Oxford Mills. OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 10:00 - 5:00 AND
SUNDAY 11:00 TO 4:00. Located 5 minutes west of Kemptville in the quaint little
village of Oxford Mills, 9 Water St., across from the General Store and adjacent
to the Brigadoon Restaurant. You should make an afternoon of it and have dinner
at the Brigadoon Restaurant.
When you act on a prompting you can change someone’s life. The SendOutCards
convenient system lets you send that birthday, anniversary or thank you card
without the hassle of pen, paper, stamps, envelopes or mailboxes. Sending a card
has never been so easy! With just the click of a button, you can choose your
custom card, add a personal photo, write your message and click send.
SendOutCards prints, stuffs, stamps and mails the physical card for you. Try it
and make someone happy. Send out a free card today. Go to www.sendoutcards.com/michelerowe
Shopping online does
carry some risk, but so does shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. At least
online shoppers don't need to worry about fender-benders in the parking lot,
pick pockets at the mall, or getting the flu from all those fellow shoppers. But
the nice thing about shopping online is that by following some basic guidelines
you can be reasonably sure you'll have a safe experience.
Secure your
PC: The first thing you
need to do is be sure your computer is secure. Keep your operating system and
browsers updated and use a good and up-to-date security program.
Click with care: Your
best protection is to not click on any links--even if the message looks
legitimate--but to type in the merchant's URL manually.
Know the
merchant: You're generally pretty safe with sellers that are
affiliated with shopping aggregators like Amazon.com, Yahoo
Shopping, Retrevo or BizRate. It's a good idea to look for seals
of approval from Truste
or Better
Business Bureau Online, but remember that a seal is only a graphic.
It can be counterfeit. To be sure, visit the certifying agency's site to look up
the merchant. When you're about to enter your credit card, make sure you're on a
"secure "site. The URL should have an https at the beginning (s for "security")
and there should be a small gold lock in the lower right corner of the browser.
This isn't an iron-clad guarantee, but still worth looking for.
Pay
by credit card: Credit cards offer you an extra level of protection
including the right to "charge back" if you feel you're a victim of fraud. The
credit company will investigate your claim and permanently remove the charge if
fraud can be proven. It's also a good idea to check your online credit card
statement frequently.
Know the real price: Be sure you
understand the actual cost of the item, including shipping, handling, and sales
tax. That can have an enormous impact on the final price.
Happy
returns: Be sure you
understand the merchant's return policies including the deadline for returns and
what documentation you'll need. In most cases, they won't refund the shipping
charges and you'll have to pay to ship it back. Always keep your packing until
you're sure you're not going to return it.
Read the privacy
policy: The policy should disclose what information the seller is
gathering about you, how the seller will use this information; and whether and
how you can "opt out" of these practices.
Enjoy
the holidays: By paying attention to these tips, the odds of your being
victimized by online fraud are pretty low --another good reason to be cheerful
during the holiday season.
Sellers can facilitate the sale of their home by obtaining a pre-listing home
inspection (PLI).
Home inspections used to be initiated almost exclusively by
the buyer in real estate transactions. However, PLIs, paid for by the seller
before a house is put on the market, are a popular way for REALTORS® to try to
reduce the possibility of last-minute surprises and, at the same time, create a
marketing edge.
Having PLI information available to all parties may result in
fewer conditions in offers. It can help take much of the anxiety and frustration
out of the transaction for all parties. However, reports should not be given to
other persons without the consent of the home inspector. A cautious REALTOR®
would not provide such reports, even with the author's permission, without a
covering letter that the seller is not authenticating the information or its
timeliness, and that the buyers may wish to obtain their own reports or have the
inspector update it.
Ottawa, October 5, 2011 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,202 residential properties in September through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,071 in September 2010, an increase of 12.2 per cent. The five-year average for September sales is 1,160.
Of those sales, 280 were in the condominium property class, while 922 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.), which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties, which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.
“Not much has changed in the Ottawa resale housing market since last month. Sales remain slightly above average, prices continue to appreciate at a moderate rate, and homes are taking about the same amount of time to sell,” said Board President Joanne Tibbles. “The stability and affordability of our housing market, coupled with low interest rates, is still appealing for investors and for home buyers who want to make Ottawa the best place to call home,” she added.
The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in September in the Ottawa area was $335,765, an increase of 3.4 per cent over September 2010. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $254,864, an increase of 5.9 per cent over September 2010. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $360,334, an increase of 3.2 per cent over September 2010. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.
Keller Williams VIP Realty is sponsoring their 3rd annual fundraiser, "LAUGHS FOR CHARITY" Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Centurion Conference Center at 170 Colonnade Road. This year's goal is $10,000 dollars with proceeds benefiting Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa and Christie Lake Kids.
We are looking for donations for our silent auction. Any items will be graciously received and appreciated. Tax receipts are available for items valued over $200.00
For tickets and donations, please email Michele Rowe at mrowe@kwvip.ca
Click the link to view Ottawa Real Estate Board April Statistics http://www.theottawahomes.com/MLS/page_2179039.html
As an MLXchange Instructor, I have decided to start blogging about how as realtors, we can help each other out by posting tips and tricks with regards to using MLXchange. Therefore I am posting my first Tip and hopefully this will be the beginning of a new trend
TIP # 1: Checking how many times your clients have accessed their personal web page
- From the Search Menu, select 'Saved Search Manager'
- Scroll to the very right of the screen
- Position your cursor on the title of the column 'Last Gateway Access' and click twice to sort by most recent date
- You can now have a visual of which client is accessing their gateway and the date they last accessed.
On Saturday, March 26th, I hosted a Home Buyer Seminar. I was very pleased with the outcome and attendance. I'm extremely grateful to all the speakers that took the time on the weekend to come out and speak. I spent the previous week preparing the Home Buyer Kits which included CMHC publications such as the Home Buying Step by Step, Choosing a sustainable neighborhood and other useful information such as the MLS district map, a detailed explanation of the Buyer Representation Agreement, mortgage information, First Time Buyer Incentives. All in all the kit is full of great information. I advertised on my web site and the mortgage specialist was kind enough to distribute the flyer to numerous branches. I contacted a few of my past clients and they agreed to post the flyer at their offices. All the attendees came from seeing the announcement on my website. I was hoping to get more responses from ads in Facebook and the flyers that were posted in different locations.
The Seminar lasted 3 hours. I started off by thanking all the attendees and introducing the guest speakers. Each speaker had sent me their powerpoint presentation prior to the seminar and once the final copy was slightly modified I integrated into my presentation. At the end of the seminar, I had a door prize and had the attendees fill out a Buyer Questionnaire. I am fairly confident that I will have 3 new buyers out of 6 that attended the seminar. Not bad considering that 4 out of the 6 were couples; the 5th was single and the 6th was a client that had purchased one week prior to the seminar. He was kind enough to provide a testimonial of my services. Thank you for that Jonathan.
I welcome any suggestions for improving my future seminars such as : efficient ways to advertise to get a better turn out, incentives to attract more people, ideas on door prizes.
My next seminar will be held on March 26th, from 1:00 to 4:00. I shall have 3 guest speakers again (mortgage specialist, inspector and lawyer).
FREE HOME BUYER SEMINAR
Thank you to all those who attended the
Seminar on Saturday, March 26th, 2011
It was a great success!!
The next Seminar will be held on:
SATURDAY, MAY 14TH, 2011
Book early and reserve your seat
Guest Speakers:
Mortgage Specialist
Real Estate Lawyer
Home Inspector
Real Estate Representative
Click here to Register
For all Realtors who are representing clients purchasing a Hobby Farm, I would like to share this valuable information and experience with you that will benefit your client and relieve unnecessary stress.
I recently represented a client who was downsizing from a $800K home to a 98 acre hobby farm which he purchased for $580K. Needless to say he was very pleased with the fact that his monthly mortgage payments would be significantly reduced and walk away with a profit allowing him to renovate the farm and take advantage of the Ontario Renovation Tax Credit. So far so good!!
The bank ordered an appraisal which was done on the farm and 5 acres only, which is pretty standard for a hobby farm appraisal. The appraisal came back at $140K less than the purchase price. You can well imagine how upsetting this was for my client as he would now have to use the profits of the sale of his house to come up with the difference since the mortgage is based on 20% of the appraised value.
This is how I saved the day with the advice from a fellow Realtor specializing in rural properties, the dedication of three bank representatives and an experienced appraiser. The appraisal should have been coordinated and requested by the Small Business Adviser at the bank. Most banks will have such a person on staff. There is a program in place that allows them to appraise the farm house, the outbuildings and the remainder of the 5 acres. Since it is considered a different mortgage than residential, the banks will require more security. The Small Business Adviser proceeded to order another appraisal which I am happy to say came in over the purchase price. My client is extremely pleased with the outcome and grateful for my persistence and professionalism throughout this long stressful process.
For further information about the program or contact information of all the 'Key People' that made this happen, email me at mrowe@kwottawa.ca or call my direct line at 613-794-2899.
Ottawa – January 27th, 2009 – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) welcomes the federal government initiatives to stimulate economic growth outlined in the 2009 budget, especially those that will encourage home ownership in Canada. The Association applauds the government for recognizing the economic importance of the housing industry in some of the budget measures.
“The change announced to the popular Home Buyers’ Plan will help Canadians who want to own their own home, and do it in a responsible way that is not a major drain on taxpayers,” says the President of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Calvin Lindberg.Research conducted for CREA by the Altus Group shows that each residential real estate transaction in Canada generates $32,200 in ancillary consumer spending. The study also reported that 94,700 full time direct jobs were generated annually by that ancillary or spin-off activity. The study is posted on the www.crea.ca website.“The federal government has found a way to introduce economic stimulus and housing initiatives for specific groups, and for Canadians who want to buy their first home.” Mr. Lindberg added. CREA had proposed the federal government do that by increasing the limit of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) to help stimulate the housing market.
Introduced in 1992 by a Conservative government and made permanent by a Liberal government in 1994, the HBP has broad political and consumer support. It will now allow first time homebuyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSP to be used in a down payment on a residential property. The Plan has not had the same impact and relevance it did 16 years ago, when the original $20,000 limit represented 13.3 per cent of the average house price, versus about 6.5 per cent in 2008.
The Association also believes that the success of the proposed home renovation tax credit program will depend on effective administration and promotion. “The use of tax credits will make the program of interest to many Canadians who own their own home,” adds the CREA President, “but the success will be tied in part to the availability of savings or credit, since the expense has to be paid before the tax credit is issued.”A survey conducted for CREA by IPSOS Reid in October 2008 revealed that only 12 per cent of homeowners had ever applied to some type of government renovation or energy efficiency program. In that same survey, 36 per cent said they would consider replacing windows as a priority to improving home energy efficiency, while another 27 per cent said it would be adding insulation.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) also welcomes federal government initiatives that will encourage home ownership and better communities in Canada. “The announced measures for aboriginal and social housing are welcomed by REALTORS® as steps to help house those who may be in need, and to modernize existing housing resources,” adds CREA President Calvin Lindberg.
CREA first called on governments to address various issues affecting native home ownership during the World Urban Forum in Vancouver in 2006. The Association’s analysis of native housing issues is available in a booklet posted on the www.crea.ca website. “The budget spending initiatives help address the issue of the quality of native housing, and quality of life on Canadian reserves. Equally as important is the transition to market-based housing on reserves, and the government in the budget has committed to the transition to that as well,” adds Mr. Lindberg.
The 2009 Federal Budget offers up several financial breaks for first-time homebuyers and home-owners looking to improve the value of their homes through renovations. First-time buyers could see savings of up to $750 to alleviate closing costs by way of a $5,000 non-refundable income-tax credit on a qualifying home purchased after Jan. 27, 2009. This is welcome news for prospective real estate clients debat-ng whether they should wait for better financial times. Coupled with the Province of Ontario’s rebate of up to $2,000 for Land Transfer Tax for first-time homebuyers, potential savings are substantial. In a further effort to stimulate the housing market, the proposed budget offers to increase by $5,000 the maximum amount first-time homebuyers can withdraw from their RRSPs.
Under the Home Buyers’ Plan, $25,000 can now be withdrawn, up from $20,000, with the stipulation the money be repaid over a 15-year period, beginning in the second year after it is withdrawn. The budget also contains something for prospective sellers: A Home Renovation Tax Credit—a one-year, temporary 15 per cent income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed or goods acquired between Jan. 27, 2009 and Feb. 1, 2010. A credit may be claimed on eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000 but no more than $10,000, putting up to $1,350 back in the homeowners’ pockets. This provides a great opportunity for sellers deciding if they should spend money to complete a few renovations in order to make their homes more attractive to potential buyers.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (613) 794-2899,