We have decided to pool all of our resources and professional alliances in one place. We will have a new webpage developed in the next month to allow you to pull up and see what our resources are, and be able to book them for any ‘home’ job that may be required. Whether it’s installing a ceiling fan, building a deck or doing dump runs for you, we have a plethora of people to assist you in your projects. We will be sending out emails to everyone to further explain the process, but we guarantee you won’t find a better source for you needs. We have ‘people’ who clean, cook, babysit, build, rake, mow, do plumbing, electrical, pools, interlocking, landscaping, yard work. Work that you can buy by the hour, or by the project, whatever works best for you. We are really excited to be able to pull of this together for you. And look forward to your calls.

Happy Reno’ing, painting, building, …..

There is allot of hype and divergent trains of thought in the media. The following article trys to answer these common questions and, in my opinion, conveys the answers with an even hand, with the aim to help shed some light on the real estate market today.

Give the article a read, and of course if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Moneyville.ca Friday, January 27, 2012.

Why it’s a good time to buy a home.

by Mark Weisleder

I believe there has never been a better time to buy a home. I’ve been in the industry for 28 years as a lawyer and I haven’t seen so many positive signs for housing, whether you are thinking or buying or locking in a mortgage.

Here’s why:

Mortgage rates at historic lows: They can’t get any lower. Four to five-year fixed mortgages at 3 per cent are unheard of. It is lower than the variable rate that most Canadians have been paying for years. Rates have nowhere to go but up, either later this year or next. If you are paying a variable interest rate, lock in now.

Canada’s appeal: This country has everything going for it — a stable banking and political environment, steady real estate market, the natural resources people want and few social tensions. That makes us a safe haven in a volatile world.

Our immigrant draw: Because of the above, we’re a draw for immigrants, often wealthy ones. When they get here, they need a home. So in my view while the real estate market may level off in some areas of Ontario, it should stay strong in most of the GTA and likely Canada’s other large urban centres as well.

Mortgage defaults: According to CMHC, over 99 per cent of Canadians pay their mortgages on time. It quite a different picture in the U.S. where 7 million homes are in foreclosure and perhaps another 7 million homeowners are under water. This represents almost 15 per cent of all homes. So while the American housing market will likely be weak for the next few years, this should not occur in Canada. Our banks are not dumping homes onto the market, so there is no downward pressure on prices.

Recourse Mortgages: In many U.S. states, if you can’t pay your mortgage, the only thing the bank can do is foreclose; they cannot sue you for any shortfall. So when homes go under water, owners give the keys back to the bank. In Canada, loans are almost all Recourse, meaning if you don’t pay and there is a shortfall, the lender can sue you for the difference. This is another reason why, in my opinion, even if times do get tough, Canadian homeowners will find a way to make the payments until things improve.

Income-to-price ratio: Another misleading statistic is that in major markets, like Toronto, the average price of a home is now 4.6 times the income of the average Canadian. This same statistic was found just before the U.S. and UK markets went into the tank. However, if you look at median incomes of Canadians against the median cost of homes, this average comes down to around 3.5, which is not dangerous. Using averages are wrong. A person receiving social assistance will not buy a home, and should not be included in any relevant statistic.

High consumer debt: The warnings about rising debt ratios must be examined carefully. The Governor of the Bank of Canada is worried that the average personal debt ratio is now 156 per cent in Canada. This means a household making $100,000 per year, owes $156,000, two-thirds of which is mortgage debt. Why is this so bad? At an interest rate of 3 or even 5 per cent, the amount needed to service the debt is manageable. Most people do not pay off their mortgages in one year. Still, this is another good reason to consolidate your debt now, at these low interest rates, and lock in.

No guarantees: Nobody can predict the future and there’s always the possibility of a major economic shock. Yet, in a U.S. presidential election year, politicians will do whatever is necessary to prevent it. If the economy goes into the tank, so do re-election chances. The U.S. is already showing signs of economic recovery.

No matter what, do not take on a monthly payment higher than what you can afford. Meet with your lender or mortgage broker in advance to figure out what you can afford before you start looking for a home. It may be the best time to buy, but you need to buy smart.

Mark Weisleder is a lawyer, columnist, author and speaker to the real estate industry. You can contact Mark at mark@markweisleder.com

Reposted from Moneyville.ca with the permission of Mark Weisleder

Contact me if you’re thinking of getting into “The Market”.

Happy House Hunting!

Grant

This Blog is ‘G’ Rated

Shameless Self Promotion

1) Full Access to the MLS- The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a powerful tool that only Realtors have access to. When listing agents market a home for sale, they typically allow any Realtor to present the home to potential buyers, and to present contracts for purchase. The MLS is a database of all homes listed by Realtors, and represents roughly 99% of the homes for sale in any given market. As technology advances, so does the MLS. It has evolved into an extremely powerful search engine that allows your buyer’s agent to enter in search criteria, and returns only homes that match those specific parameters. Buyers can find a lot of this information online through IDX feeds available on many websites, but this information is a “watered down” version of the MLS because the IDX search engines aren’t quite as powerful, and don’t return as detailed profiles as the MLS.

2) Maximize Your Time – While driving neighborhoods is an excellent idea to help you decide which locations you prefer, it’s not a very efficient way to find your new home. Gas is expensive, and your time is valuable. Your Buyer’s Agent will listen to your needs, make fantastic suggestions based on your likes & dislikes, and provide you with a list of homes that ALL match your wants & needs. Your Buyer’s Agent has helped MANY new homebuyers through MANY purchases, and will help you better organize your search & decision making process – saving you valuable time.

3) Representation- Listing Agents enter into legally binding agreements that require them to ALWAYS act in the best interest of the seller. They are the seller’s “coach” and will make sure that their clients’ best interests are looked after. Luckily, your Buyer’s Agent is there to make sure YOUR best interests are accounted for. With your expert Buyer’s Agent in your corner, you can rest assured that you’re on, at least, even ground with the home seller. A football team would be at a pretty significant disadvantage without a coach – just as you would be without a Buyer’s Agent.

4) Negotiating Power – The MLS maintains a record of, not only all homes listed by Realtors in a given market, but also the sales price of those homes. Your Buyer’s Agent will run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to determine a prospective home’s Fair Market Value (FMV). In simpler terms, your Realtor will look at similar homes in the same neighborhood that have sold recently. This way, you will know whether or not the seller has their home priced fairly. If the home is priced over Fair Market Value, your Buyer’s Agent can present your “under asking price” offer with plenty of firepower – and a greater chance that the offer will be accepted.

5) Experience- The average person buys 3-5 homes in their lifetime. A good Buyer’s Agent will assist in 3-5 home purchases every month. What might seem complicated and intimidating to you is fairly common and familiar to your Realtor. Your Buyer’s Agent will know what to expect, and will know when to alert you if anything out of the ordinary occurs.

6) Industry Contacts – It takes a lot of people to close a real estate transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Loan Officer, Inspector, Appraiser, Insurance Agent, General Contractors, and sometimes more! A good agent will come with a strong closing team that has performed in the past, and will continue to perform. A transaction is only as strong as its weakest link – with your strong Buyer’s Agent & their closing team, you can rest assured that you will have plenty of support.

7) Piece of Mind – If you are like most people, your home is the largest purchase you will ever make. The average person spends around 1/3 of their total monthly income on their home. This is a big decision and you don’t want to go at it alone. When you use a trusted Buyer’s Agent, you know that your best interests are accounted for, and that you can feel confident in your purchase.

Purchasing a home can be a fun and exciting process. However, the home buying process can be intimidating, and mistakes are possible. A Realtor who specializes in working with Buyers can help alleviate the fears & possibilities for mistakes. Make sure and use a Buyer’s Agent on any real estate transaction, and you will help ensure that you are making the right decisions.

Contact me when you’re ready to make your next move. “The Service You Expect. The Care Your Derserve’ are not just words!

Happy House Hunting!

Grant

This Blog is ‘G’ Rates

For 2012-2013, the concept of possibilities moves us into a pro-active position.  It spurs us on to mine our newly appreciated familiar world of opportunities and encourages us to combine materials and colours in new unsuspecting and satisfying ways.

The 2012-13 paint colour palette is full of take-charge optimism. Our need to take charge, influenced by our public sharing of information through social media, being more aware of our impact on the environment or taking time out of our busy lives for quiet meditation – is reflected in a paint palette dominated by REDS, GREENS and NEUTRALS, from charming corals, garden greens and dark soil browns to nude PINKS, pastel BLUES and subtle MAUVES

Right now Colour Zoning is one the hottest trends again in home decorating this year. It’s a big bold way to add a colourful punch to a room. It’s fun, affordable and a contemporary way to dress up a room for instant interest, instant personality and instant talking points.

Stripes, Squares, rectangles and circles in harmonious colours or contrasting shades that say “LOOK AT ME”. It’s easy with colour zoning techniques.

“Living Scrapbook” theme celebrates self-expression and a culture that has learned to share ‘who I am’ through social media like Facebook, MySpace and blogs. This palette includes colours that reflect the uniqueness of highly personal tastes.

“One Small Seed”  Nature will take a step indoors in 2012-13 as consumers embrace the One Small Seed theme. Recognizing that we may not be able to change the world on our own, but as individuals we can take steps to make a difference, this colour grouping is inspired by the process of photosynthesis and features water, clay and earth tones.

One Small Seed Palette

“Delicate Mix”, in todays uncertain world, the Delicate Mix theme delivers subtle, calming neutrals that soothe the soul and promote a sense of quiet harmony and balance.

So which are you? ”Living Large and Bold” ? more like planting “One small seed”? or looking for a “Delicate Mix” in your life, your colours paint your personality. Explore and express yourself.

Tomorrow: Psychology of Colour !

Christmas Shopping!

Merry Christmas!

www.mavenlanerealty.ca

http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/s/2YAGLW

Heather Gibson
Broker Of Record
Maven Lane Realty Ltd
905-925-7653

Sent from my Mobile Office
iPad 2011.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/s/1m6p6x

Heather Gibson
Broker Of Record
Maven Lane Realty Ltd
905-925-7653

Sent from my Mobile Office
iPad 2011.

6 Summer Bunk Bed Rooms | Momtastic – StumbleUpon.

www.mavenlanerealty.ca

http://www.facebook.com/mavenlanerealty

Here’s the Background

You’re a good person and you know the rules of renos: you help out others on their projects and they’ll help you later with yours. Imagine trying to put that drywall up on the ceiling by yourself! But, let’s be honest, there are some people you probably have some reservations about helping. Maybe this person doesn’t give back, whether it’s time or tools, what they receive. It can be complicated.

The Solution

To help you with your decision – to help or not to help with the reno – Canadian Home Workshop Magazine has come up with this handy little chart.

This Blog has been ‘G’ Rated

Happy Reno!

Grant

Shameless Self Promotion

From Dana, from Dana’s Goldsmithing !!!!!!

Simplicity. This beautiful Anniversary band is featured in 14k white gold and contains 3 round brilliant diamonds and 8 baguette diamonds totalling a combined diamond weight of 1 carat. Also available in yellow gold.

TEUFEL-Jewellery in Motion. Ring shown is 14k white gold with a quarter carat in diamonds. The outer circle of diamonds spins as you move. Dana’s Goldsmithing is the only select authorized retailer of this line in Ontario. Available in several styles. www.teufelinc.com.

Dana’s Goldsmithing Inc.

186 Queen St. Port Perry

905-985-2953

www.danasgoldsmithing.com

DIMPLES Fingerprint Jewellery allows you to take an impression of a loved one-newborn infant to mature adult. That Fingerprint-a moment in time permanently preserved in a pure sterling silver pendant, bracelet or cuff link can be worn and enjoyed each day.

Silverside

227 Queen St. Port Perry

905-985-9533

www.silverside.org

Dana’s Goldsmithing Inc.

www.danasgoldsmithing.com

186 Queen St. Port Perry, ON L9L 1B8

905-985-2953

Follow Us On FaceBook