Go Green and Help the Environment

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The recent floodings in Canada and around the world are clear signs of the global warming phenomena the scientist been warning us about. Global warming is shifting rainfall patterns, making heavy rain more frequent in many areas of the country. 

Unless we take immediate action to reduce global warming emissions, these impacts will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet — including you, your community, and your family. 

The environment we live in is important and we all have to do our best to protect it. Being eco-friendly doesn't require going solar or growing all your own food. A few simple changes in our lifestyle can go a long way to combat both high energy bills and global warming.

1. Plant a treeA single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

2. Change a light bulbReplacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

3. Walk, bike, carpool or take the transitYou’ll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don’t drive. If you must drive, keep your car tires inflated properly to improve gas mileage. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

4. Recycle You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

5. Use less hot waterIt takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead and save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, and washing your clothes in cold or warm water can save 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

6. Pay attention to packagingYou can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%. Always remember to bring reusable bags with you when you go shopping. Keep handy a reusable bag that crunches into a small pouch. 

7. Buy products locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store. The consumable products we all purchase represent over half of the average family’s carbon footprint.

8. Adjust your thermostatSet your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs. This could save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

9. Turn off electronic devicesSimply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer, when you’re not using them, will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

10. Spread the wordActing individually is not enough to solve the global warming problem. We must bring pressure on power holders and decision makers in government to promptly and decisively act on the national and international levels to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

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How to Make Your Garage Sale Fun and Profitable

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Rather than discarding what you may no longer use or want, a yard or garage sale can help you clear clutter and earn some extra cash. A garage sale can be a profitable and fun way to make sure items you no longer use or want are reused. Holding a garage sale is easy to do and all it takes is some time, a few organizational skills, some marketing and you will be on your way to turning your junk into cash.

The following are some tried-and-true tips for a successful garage sale:

1. Planning
The success of your garage sale depends on how well you organize for this big event. You should prepare yourself several weeks in advance as you have to sort, clean, test, repair, label and count all items included in the sale. Choose a date that will not conflict with holidays. The weekends are a better choice than weekdays because more people are likely to show up. You should also consult your real estate agent about any pertinent bylaws from your municipality as certain cities control the number and length of garage sales in their area. Ask neighbours if they want to take part in a neighbourhood sale as this will give your sale a party atmosphere, which will draw larger crowds!

2. Items for Sale
You should display and sell practical household goods, bicycles, children’s toys, clothes, sports equipment, and garden tools in your garage sale. All items should be clean, polished, and in good repair. Remember to limit yourself to the sale of used personal items, otherwise, you'll need a permit and GST/PST registration numbers if you are selling new items.

3. Advertising
As the big day approaches, promote your event effectively to attract as many people as possible. Put up posters in your neighbourhood to promote your event and write your address in big letters and don't forget to include the date and time of your garage sale. Make sure that the poster is legible from 10 to 15 meters away. You could also place a classified ad in your neighbourhood newspaper, distribute flyers to your neighbours, and get your family and friends to help spread the word about your garage sale.

4. Displaying Your Items
Before your event begins, ensure that you display your items attractively in neat and clean surroundings. Place things in categories as it will look more attractive. Place the more desirable items toward the back so browsers can notice other merchandise on their way to the best items.

5. The Big Day
On the day of your garage sale put up a big poster with balloons at the end of your street as well as the busiest intersection near your house to attract and direct people. Be ready early because the real garage sale pros tend to be early birds. Mark the price of articles and leave some room for bargaining. Don't be too rigid about the prices because you are having fun while cleaning out your house and garage. Make sure you have change, bags, boxes and tissue paper for fragile items and remember to have an extension cord and batteries to test that certain items are in working order. Use your big event as an opportunity to mingle with the neighbours and create a sense of community. Be creative and have fun!

Mark the season of spring as your time to clean up your house and discard items that are cluttering the garage and house. Throwing a garage sale will help you do just that while having fun and enjoying a sunny afternoon.

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Is it Time to Lock into a Fixed Rate Mortgage?

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One of the most agonizing decisions homeowners make is whether to go for fixed or variable Mortgage.  The decision could end up costing – or saving – big bucks on what is often the single biggest purchase many will make. Research shows that, in the past, a variable-rate mortgage has been cheaper than a fixed-rate one. But today’s market is different from decades past in two big ways.

The spread between fixed and variable rates is extremely low by historical standards. And we can no longer rely on a long-term downtrend in rates. Given that, the historical advantage of a variable is less applicable today.

Since rates only have one way to move – up – a lot of people are now wondering if they should lock into a fixed rate mortgage. Is it a good idea? Probably, but it depends. Here are four things to consider before locking into a fixed rate mortgage.

What does a Fixed Rate mean?
The interest rate on a fixed rate mortgage stays the same throughout the life of the loan. Typically, the standard for fixed-rate loans is the 5 years fixed rate loan although you can choose to go as long as 10 years in some cases. You can also find fixed-rate loans with shorter pay-off periods. When loan periods are shorter, you will have higher monthly payments, but slightly lower interest.

When are Fixed Rate Loans better?
The advantage of the fixed rate mortgage is that the payment is the same each month. This is important especially when interest rates are unpredictable. When interest rates rise, people with adjustable rate mortgages are faced with increasing monthly mortgage payments.

A fixed-rate loan means you will always know how much your home payment will be each month, regardless of what is happening with the economy or current interest rates.

What’s the downside of Fixed Rate Loans?
The disadvantage is that the interest is generally a little higher than an adjustable rate. With a fixed-rate loan, you’ll always pay the same amount of interest. That is great when interest rates are climbing, but if they drop below your interest rate, you will continue paying the higher amount of interest. Of course, you can always refinance a fixed-rate loan in order to get down to the best-fixed rate mortgage but this may not always be an option.

Over the life of your fixed-rate loan, you will pay a substantial amount of interest. In fact, you will probably pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest. There are ways to manage your mortgage so that it is an investment that works for you, and you can do this by talking to a mortgage specialist.

Should you have a Fixed Rate Mortgage?
You should discuss your particular situation with a talented mortgage specialist. Generally, you'll find that fixed rate mortgages are the right choice if:

• You think interest rates are low
• You can afford the payment for the house you want
• You need to budget for and predict monthly payments
• You will keep your home for a relatively long period of time

The best-fixed rate mortgage works for you and your lifestyle. If you'd like the peace of mind that comes with a stable interest-rate payment, then a fixed-rate mortgage may be the ideal choice. Borrowers often choose fixed-rate mortgages when interest rates are low and are expected to rise.

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K-W Home Sales Post Record High Average and Median Sale Prices!

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 There were 623 residential sales in April through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR), an increase of 1.1 per cent versus the same month last year, and up 2.2 per cent compared to the previous ten-year average for April.  

Total residential sales in April included 394 detached (up 15.2 per cent), and 75 condominium apartments (up 1.4 per cent). Sales also included 113 townhouses (down 28.9 per cent) and 41 semi-detached homes (no change).  

“While sales of detached homes did jump a fair bit compared to the same month last year, they were actually on par with the previous 10-year average for April,” says Brian Santos, KWAR President. “

The average sale price of all residential properties sold in April increased by 10.9 per cent to $529,800 compared to April 2018. Detached homes sold for an average price of $611,803 an increase of 7.6 per cent compared to April of last year. During this same period, the average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $339,426 for an increase of 14.3 per cent. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $405,013 (up 5.3 per cent) and $433,949 (up 7.7 per cent) respectively.

Average sale prices hit an all-time high in April notes Santos. “These are the highest sale prices we’ve ever posted in a single month. It’s only the third time the overall residential sale price has exceeded half a million, and for the first time, the average price of a detached home climbed over the 600-thousand-dollar mark.

Likewise, median prices reached an all-time high in April. The median price of all residential properties sold last month increased 11.4 per cent to $490,000, and the median price of a detached home during the same period increased by 11.1 per cent to $568,500

REALTORS® listed 913 residential properties in K-W and area last month, a decrease of 6.9 per cent compared to April of 2018, and a decrease of 1.6% in comparison to the previous ten-year average for the month of April. The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of April totalled 884, a decrease of 6.1 per cent compared to April of last year, but still well below the previous ten-year average of 1,485 listings for April. Months Supply of Homes for sale stood at 1.8 month in April a decrease of 5.3 per cent compared to last year.  

 

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