Wednesday, October 31, 2012

And You Thought Statistics Canada was a Boring Group....Facts about Halloween in Canada.

It's Halloween next Thursday, and the annual candy and fright-festival is doubtless going to be as popular as ever.

For some amazing halloween home decorations and light shows , check out this link HERE!

To mark the occasion, the numbers-obsessed folks at Statistics Canada have compiled a list of some surprising Halloween-related numbers:
  • 3,734,401 — Number of trick-or-treating aged kids in Canada, which the agency defines as those between five and 14 years old.
  • 13.3 million — the number of Canadian households across Canada that could potentially be mined for candy.
  • $21.6 million — the total value of all costumes manufactured in Canada last year.
  • 88,400 tonnes — the amount of pumpkins grown in Canada last year.
  • 100 — the number of businesses across Canada in the costume-renting business.
  • $355.9 million — the amount of candy sold across Canada last October.
  • $276.2 million — the average amount of candy sold across Canada in other months.
  • 850 — the number of Canadians who reported that they were Satanists in 2001, up from 340 in 1991.
  • 9,575 — the number of Canadians who reported their religion as "Wicca" in 2001.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates and Pay Down Your Mortgage Quicker...

Just 60 short months ago, mortgage rates were double what they are now. That means payments on a 25-year mortgage of equal size were 36 per cent higher than today.


Since then, the amortization gods have slashed mortgage rates and payments. Compared to interest costs in 2007, today’s rates would save you $101,700 if projected out over 25 years on a $200,000 mortgage.
If you look at the payments on a mortgage that size, they’ve tumbled from $1,284 in 2007 to $945 today. (To put that in perspective, the payment at zero per cent interest would be $667.)

It’s clear that the savings potential of today’s rates is phenomenal. The question is: are Canadians taking advantage of these record-low rates?  Also, click here for some additional strategies to pay down your mortgage quickly.

The answer? Not enough. About 60 per cent of mortgage holders make only their minimum mortgage payment, finds the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals.

But what would happen if people made their payments at the 2007 level?

If applied today, that higher $1,284 payment would knock an extra $21,900 off your principal in five years. You would also save $1,600 in interest and retire your mortgage in two-thirds the time.

Switching to bi-weekly 2007-style payments - $642 every two weeks in this example - means you would pay off that 25-year mortgage in 14.8 years. The five-year interest savings would jump to $2,100.

To replicate interest savings like that, you’d have to chop a quarter per cent off your interest rate. And negotiating another quarter-point reduction on a deep-discount rate can be tougher than sucking sap through a straw.

“Canadians have a legacy of focusing on rates as the primary means to save on the cost of borrowing,” says David Stafford, managing director of real estate secured lending at Scotiabank. “That’s where all of the time and effort is being invested.”

“But the actual cost of a mortgage is based on how much you borrow, at what rate, and for how long,” adds Mr. Stafford, who inspired the calculations above. “And with rates well below recent historical averages, the best way to save money on a mortgage is to use today’s low rates to shorten the amortization.”

Of course, paying extra isn’t easy or everyone would be doing it. Some folks are running too close to the financial edge to bump up payments. Others have more pressing needs for their extra cash. And the rest could pay more if they wanted to, but choose not to.

Looking forward, the leaves in my teacup suggest we won’t see 2007-style rates again for a while, but I can’t definitively predict that. Nor can anyone else.

What we do know is that rates are cyclical. They move like a roller coaster. Right now we’re at the bottom of a valley with an incline off in the distance.

When rates ride the escalator back up, the ascent could theoretically take us back to 2007 levels. So prospective mortgage holders need to ask themselves: Would I buy the same price house if I had to make payments that were 36 per cent higher? Would I get the same size mortgage if rates were double today’s rates?

If the answer is no, they probably shouldn’t be in that mortgage today.

If you’re a mortgage holder with other high-interest debt or higher returning investments, or you have no emergency fund, you may want to divert your cash to those objectives. Otherwise, if you want a respectable low-risk return, increasing your mortgage payments fits the bill.

“An extra dollar paid at the beginning of a mortgage is a dollar you’re not going to pay interest on for the next 20-30 years,” Mr. Stafford says. “And making a payment that’s more reflective of historical rates also has another added benefit – you future-proof yourself from payment shock if rates are back at six per cent five years from now.”

 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Steps to Buying a Home in Kitchener - Waterloo

I help many home buyers, some first-time buyers, navigate through the process of home buying.    Home ownership is a good long-term investment. The keyword, though, is long-term. There are many extra costs associated with owning a home, including such things as repairs, maintenance, insurance, and cosmetic upgrades.

Luckily, real estate in Kitchener - Waterloo has appreciated at a dependable rate and it appears that the gains are sustainable. Home ownership, while having numerous inherent values, isn't for everyone.

However, if you've decided to become a home-owner, there are some basic steps you'll need to follow.  Feel free to contact me today for a complimentary Home-Buyer's Toolkit.

The most logical place to start then is with how much you can really afford.
  1. What can you afford? This is a tricky question. Of course, there is the number your lender gives you. "You qualify for X amount." It's up to you, however, to decide if that amount is reasonable for your lifestyle. Just because you qualify for X amount doesn't mean you should buy a home priced at that. You may find a cheaper home services all of your needs, while leaving you plenty of extra monthly cash for traveling, entertainment, and other of life's pleasures.
  2. Long-term use: Think long-term in terms of the size of the home and its location. You may be a single person or a young couple now, but kids can be a game changer. A once perfectly sized home can seem cramped. With homeowners needing to stay put longer in order not to sell at a loss, it's even more important for first-time buyers to think long-term.
  3. Fixer or move-in ready? Some buyers love to buy a fixer-upper home in a prestigious neighborhood. It's a foot in the door, literally. With a few upgrades and cosmetic fixes you can bring an outdated home into the new decade. Other buyers abhor projects. They want a home that needs nothing. They love the kitchen, baths, and even paint colors. Which type of buyer are you?
  4. Attached or Detached living? A condo can be maintenance free, but it will also come with HOA fees. A townhouse may give you more outdoor space, but you'll still be sharing walls with a neighbor. Are you wanting lots of privacy? Are you looking forward to the autonomy that a detached home affords you? Be sure to discuss all of your options with your real estate agent.
  5. Choosing an agent: If you are like most first-time buyers you'll start your search online. That's a great place to start, but to traverse the roads of real estate competently and safety, you should enlist the help of a real estate agent. They will not only show you the newest listings and the best fitting homes, but will also guide you through all the carefully worded contracts coming your way.
  6. Be ready to pull the trigger: While it is currently a buyers market in most areas of the nation, you still need to be ready to buy when a good deal presents itself. Some first-time buyers can become trigger shy when the time finally comes to make an offer. It's no wonder. Seeing your name next to all those zeros can be quite a pill to swallow. So, mentally prepare ahead of time for the act of signing on the dotted line.
  7. Lender Pre-qualification: Sellers want pre-qualified buyers viewing their homes. This shows that you are serious about buying. It will also show you how much you can spend and even if you can qualify for a mortgage. Lending is tight and if you have blighted credit you may have a hard time procuring a loan.
  8. Downpayment: How much of a downpayment do you have saved? Are there family members who might be willing to help out?  Homes can  be purchased without having a 20% down payment, but then they are considered "high-ratio" mortgages with the added costs of default insurance and possibly higher interest rates.
  9. Resale: If you are planning on staying put for the long haul, resale might not be a real concern, but if this is going to be a starter house, you should be sure to consider how easy a home will be to resell later down the road.
  10. Finally, be sure to consider the "what ifs" of life. What if you or your spouse lose your job? Will you still be able to afford your mortgage payments? What if you become ill? Will you still want to climb those three flights of stairs? What if you have children? Will you quickly outgrow your home? All of these scenarios should be given careful consideration.
Homeownership can be a genuine joy. It can bring stability and a sense of pride to any household. Take the time to think over these ten tips and you'll be sure to make a great decision for your first purchase!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Only 3 Questions You Need to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR to Sell Your Home...

For every seller, their main goal is always to sell the home as quickly as possible for the most amount of money.

Nearly every piece of real estate marketing says basically the same thing "I will sell your home for the most money in the fastest time."

When intervewing a REALTOR to list your home, make them prove it!  Here are the only three questions you need to ask - if they don't know the answer move on to the next candidate.  Anyone can make claims, very few can prove them.


1- What is your ratio of homes sold to homes listed (how good are you at selling the homes you list)?  Contrary to popular belief, many homes fail to sell or only sell after being listed and relisted by several agents.  Your goal is to sell your home, not advertise it.  A REALTOR should know and be willing to share that last year they listed 14 homes, but only sold 9 of them, less than a 65% ratio.  Don't just ask what that agent's ratio is, they should also know the ratio for their brokerage.  The WORST thing that can happen to your listing is that it expires......

MY STATS:  100%  I've sold every home I ever listed.


2 - What is your final sale price to list price ratio (how much do you sell your homes for)? This is important because you want to get as much as possible for the home.  If a REALTOR's stats are 95%, then that means they negotiated away 5% of the asking price.

MY STATS: 99%  On average I am able to negotiate 99% of the asking price for my clients


3 - What is your average days on markets for your listings (how long does it take to sell your homes)?  When people decide to sell, they want to do it as quickly as possible.  They have made a decision to proceed to a new part of their life and don't want the inconvenience of showings, open houses, meetings and keeping their home in showroom condition.

MY STATS: 24.5 days on market average (K-W Real Estate Board average is 54 days on market)


I hope this brief explanation will help sellers in choosing the right agent!  If you have any questions about the market in your neighbourhood or would like a home evaluation or staging advice, please contact me.

Trust in Success!



Thursday, October 18, 2012

How to "MONSTERPROOF" Your Home!

With Halloween fast approaching, Monster sighting are on the rise!

Feeling secure in your home is one of the most important aspects of an enjoyable life. You don’t want to worry about vampires, werewolves, ghosts or the boogeyman coming to get you, but yet that’s something that creeps into the back of our mind from time to time. Like when you’re home alone on a stormy night or you hear something go bump in the night? We can try and convince ourselves there are no such things as monsters, but deep down we know that’s not the case.

To help put your mind at ease and assist you in evading even the most cunning of undesirable guests, I've compiled a few tips to help make a monster proof home:

Invest in large bags of salt
3794105536 0ff1ef806e m How to Monster Proof Your House Revisited
Table salt can be your best defense.
 
Salt is used to help preserve lots of things, but few people realize it can help preserve your life from the likes of vampires and vengeful spirits or ghosts. Your basic table salt is known in folklore to be a repellent of evil. In fact ancient mythological tales share how evil spirits cannot cross over lines of salt because they are required to count ever single grain before entering. Since that’s an impossible task, you’ll want to have plenty of salt on hand and if seven seasons of Supernatural have taught me anything it’s that you can line your home’s doorway and window sills with salt to prevent the unwanted from entering the premises. Not only is this an effective home protection measure, but it’s quite affordable too.

Decorate with religious items throughout the house
Monsters of all shapes and sizes don’t tend to like religious objects. Whether it be crucifixes, holy water or talisman, it’s a safe bet that a religious object can help ward the bad guys off. Try having a religious element as a decorative piece in every room of the house for easy access in the case of emergency.

Sleep on a platform bed
athena4 How to Monster Proof Your House Revisited
No monsters can hide under this bed.
 
Every 6 year old knows the number one place for monsters to hide is under the bed. So what’s the best way to prevent monster from hiding there? Eliminate under the bed as a hiding place! Outfit your bedrooms with platform beds that have a solid base around it so there’s no room for the boogeyman to reside. It’s the simplest way to deal with all those lurking creature types.

Get a fireplace
Even more than religious symbols, monsters hate fire. It works on vampires, werewolves, zombies and even deer ticks (don’t even think of trying to say they’re not monsters). A home with a fireplace doesn’t just create ambiance, warmth and a winter weather gathering place. It also provides a great sense of security. Keep a large wooden stick nearby so that if monsters do get through your initial line of defenses, you have an accessible torch nearby that can be used instantaneously.


Own a set of ancient books
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Old books seem to have the answers.
From Buffy to Angel to Grimm, every monster-related show has needed a set of ancient books to help solve for monster problems. Evidently, no one has taken the time to digitize these old texts and put them online. Maybe it’s because most of the time they’re in Latin, but in any case it wouldn’t be a bad idea to head out to your local garage sale or local library and see if you can’t get your hands on some really old, leather-bound books as they’re often the only source that can deal with the most absurd of monster issues.

Buy a treadmill
Let’s be honest. You just have to be faster than the next slowest person to evade a monster attack. Invest in a treadmill and use it regularly.


Yuma, AZ
2816919970 9deb7f8224 n How to Monster Proof Your House RevisitedLive in Yuma, Arizona
When are monster least likely to bother you? When the sun is out of course. Have you ever heard of the boogeyman attacking in the sunlight? We know vampires don’t. Never seen a werewolf do that either. So why live in Yuma, AZ? Well it’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most amount of sunlight in a year. The sun shines in Yuma 4,174 hours of the year making it the least likely place for monsters to want to reside.

So there you have it. Just a few tips to monster proof your home and keep your mind at ease during those dark, rainy nights. Some other ideas to consider include: don’t get a home with a basement, don’t live in the woods and refrain from saying “I’ll be right back” when there are thunderstorms.

Note: Kim Louie or Coldwell Banker Real Estate in no way guarantee that these steps will prevent actual monster attacks. We’re pretty sure they can help, but in life there are rarely any guarantees. Good luck out there.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

What is the Water Hardness Rating in YOUR Neighbourhood?

 


Here is a link to maps showing the water hardness levels in Kitchener - Waterloo and Guelph.

Click ths link for the maps: http://watersoftenerfacts.ca/my-water-hardness

Several municipalities in the Grand River Watershed rely on groundwater for their drinking water supply. The Region of Waterloo takes roughly 75 percent of its water from the ground and The City of Guelph takes 100 percent of its water from the ground.

Groundwater is generally hard because it has absorbed minerals from the earth it flows through. The minerals contributing to “hardness” (mainly calcium and magnesium) are healthy to drink, but do contribute to scale build-up in pipes, appliances, water heaters, and dishes. As a result, residents of areas with hard water can use water softeners to remove the hardness of water to reduce scale build-up, keep water heaters running efficiently, and make the water more pleasing for washing.

You should always find out the hardness level of your water before installing (and setting up) a water softener. For residents of Guelph and Waterloo Region, this site features a hardness guide to tell you the hardness of your water by specific area of your community.

Water is considered hard when it contains large amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium and other minerals. These minerals cause film formation on glasses and residue on bathroom fixtures. Hard water can cause mineral build-up in pipes and appliances and reduce the efficiency of heating elements in water heaters. Many people find this reduces the lather of soap and shampoo during showers and it can make laundry stiffer and less vibrant.

Water hardness is measured in mg/litre (also referred to as parts per million or ppm) or grains per U.S. gallon (gpg) in a range of five classifications:
 
 
Soft
below 17 mg/litre
(0-1 grains per U.S. gallon)
 
Slightly hard
17.1 – 60 mg/litre
(1-3.5 gpg)
 
Moderately hard
61 – 120 mg/litre
(3.5 – 7.0 gpg)
 
Hard
121 – 180 mg/litre
(7.0 – 10.5 gpg)
 
Very hard
over 180 mg/litre
(10.5 gpg and over)

Water hardness levels in Waterloo Region and City of Guelph vary from 148 mg/litre (8.7 grains per U.S. gallon) to 958 mg/litre (56 grains per gallon).

There are a few telltale signs that your tap water is hard. Tap water that contains a higher concentration of minerals will leave soap scum behind on sinks and bath tubs. Minerals in the water form scale in washing machines, dishwashers, coffee makers, humidifiers, water heaters and plumbing fixtures. Without proper maintenance, the efficiency of appliances, such as tanked water heaters, will decrease over time due to mineral or scale accumulation. With this in mind, homeowners renting appliances are often required to maintain their water softeners as part rental agreements.

The main reasons to purchase a water softener are:

  • Lowering energy consumption by reducing scale build-up in water heaters
  • Reducing amounts of soap needed to create lathering
  • Maintaining plumbing fixture appearance and function
  • Enjoying the feel of softened water when washing
For more information on Water Softeners, check out www.watersoftenerfacts.ca


Saturday, October 13, 2012

Leaf Collection Time in Kitchener - Waterloo....Wondering what to do with all your leaves?

The City of Kitchener’s drop-off sites for fall leaves are now open and will be in operation until the end of November. The sites are open seven days a week during daylight hours. Residents are urged to de-bag their leaves at the site. Plastic bags are considered illegal and you are liable to fine for illegal dumping. The city says it will take a zero-tolerance approach with any offenders. The drop off locations are:

-Schaeffer Park on Bloomingdale Road.
-Breithaupt Park off Union Street.
-Kitchener Auditorium, at the Ottawa Street North entrance.
-Meinzinger Park soccer fields on Homer Watson Boulevard.
-Lions Arena on Rittenhouse Road.
-Southwest Optimist Sportsfield on Pioneer Drive.
-Cherry Park at Strange Street and Waverly Road.
-Victoria Street South at Eastforest Trail.
-Hofstetter Park at 40 Hofstetter Ave.

The city urges residents to mulch leaves with mowers when possible, compost leaves on their own properties, bag leaves for pickup as yard waste on designated days. In designated neighbourhoods only, you can rake leaves to the curb for pick during specified weeks.

For more information go to www.kitchener.ca or call 519-741-2345.


In Waterloo loose-leaf collection begins Oct. 29. Rake leaves onto the road, as close to the curb as possible. If you miss the collection take leaves to the landfill site at 925 Erb St. for composting, or bag them for yard waste pickup, which runs every other week until mid-November.


In Cambridge, loose-leaf collection begins Nov. 5 and runs to the end of the month. Leaf vacuum trucks will operate throughout the city. Residents are asked to wait until just before Nov. 5 before raking leaves to the curb, but not onto the road. Watch for notices on the city’s websiteor call 519-621-0740 for the dates when vacuum trucks will be in your neighbourhood.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Amazing Halloween Home Light Shows on Video! Check these out...







 Jack O Lantern



Every community has that one house that goes above and beyond with over the top decorations and holiday spirit. While they may not be the ideal neighbors they certainly create excitement for all ages with their extreme festivity. Do you have a home in your neighborhood like these?

 


Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO


Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen



This Is Halloween by Marilyn Manson


This Is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas


Thriller by Michael Jackson


Ghostbusters


Spooky House Projection