Looking for that cottage life?

Do you have a dream of owning a place outside of the city where you can escape, kick back and relax? If so, you’re not alone. As demand continues to increase and average prices continue to rise, now more than ever you will need to be patient, establish a list of ‘musts’ and work with a Realtor who understands the recreational market, if you want your dreams to come true.

To begin your search, target potential areas and consider a road-trip to visit your most coveted spots. Once you find your ideal location, narrow your search by establishing a list of priorities. Do you plan to use your recreational property for seasonal versus year-round use? Do you wish to build a new cottage or buy an existing one? What are your hobbies? Is proximity to hospitals, public transit or schools important? If you are near water, lakes can vary tremendously in terms of allowances for boating, fishing and swimming. In the winter, do you want to use both cross-country and downhill skiing facilities?

With your priorities established, you will also be in a strong position to act fast if you need to. Popular sites are in demand.

Buying a recreational property can be considerably more complex than a standard home purchase and it generally takes longer. There is considerably more time and travel involved. The effort, according to a growing number of Canadians, is more than worth it.

Before you begin your search, give me a call. I can get you started down the right path toward your home away from home. If I cannot assist you directly in your purchase transaction, I can refer you to a quality Royal LePage Realtor in your desired area from our network of over 13,000 real estate professionals from coast to coast.

For the most recent Royal LePage Recreational Property Report, visit www.royallepage.ca and click Press Releases.,Demystifying Mortgages – How Much Can You Borrow?

A home is typically the largest purchase you will make in your lifetime, and for most Canadians this means obtaining a mortgage. The amount of your mortgage will determine the size and location of your new home – not to mention the size of your payments. So how do lending institutions decide how large your mortgage loan can be?

Call RIZ today to purchase your home away from home! 519-716-7253 (direct)

What goes under foot is seldom an easy decision. Colour, surface texture, room usage and price all come into play. Today, greener options abound, adding to the myriad of choices already available.

Increasing interest in incorporating renewable resources into the home has resulted in many beautiful eco-friendly flooring options.

For homeowners looking on the greener side, it’s worth a look at the many sustainable products available today:

• Give a tree another lease on life with salvaged wood flooring. A rustic look can be created with reclaimed wood. Buying reclaimed lumber continues to get easier, and in some instances, less expensive relative to the cost of new hardwoods.
• Bamboo is a good option for rooms with low humidity. High abundance and a natural look make sustainable bamboo an attractive flooring option. Bamboo grows to maturity in three to five years, about a quarter of the time it takes to grow trees used for hardwood.
• Linoleum flooring has retained its popularity over decades. Unlike vinyl flooring, which is a synthetic product made of chlorinated petrochemicals, linoleum is manufactured from natural compounds including linseed oil, cork dust, tree resins and ground limestone. With natural, renewable elements used in its manufacturing, this eco-friendly flooring option continues to remain a popular option.
• Cork flooring has many eco-friendly attributes. Like bamboo, cork is quickly renewable. It is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree and grows back every three years. Cork has anti-microbial properties to reduce allergens, is fire retardant and provides a comfortable feel under foot. Cork flooring can be finished in a variety of paints and stains to complement any room setting.
• Polyester (P.E.T.) Berber carpet is a sustainable option made of recycled plastic bottles. Anytime we can reuse these materials, we reduce the amount of new materials being manufactured and we reduce non-biodegradable materials in our landfills. Polyester Berber is spill resistant and comes in a variety of aesthetically – pleasing colours and patterns.

Whatever your home’s style or design, an eco-friendly flooring option exists to complement the desired look and existing patterns.

Canada Day Local Events

Canada Day @ Waterloo Region Museum (DOON)

9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FREE Admission! Waterloo Region Museum is throwing a party to celebrate Canada Day and everyone is invited! Admission is FREE to the museum and Doon Heritage Village for this fun family event including musical entertainment, fun games like croquet and horseshoes. Guests bring your own picnic lunch or purchase a tasty BBQ lunch.

Columbia Lake Events starting at 4:00 P.M

~ featuring Bobs & LoLo and TVOKids host Gisele

~ featuring live performances by The Strumbellas and Kim Mitchell

~including face painting, water slide, inflatable rides and more

~featuring Waterloo Brewing Co. and a diverse range of local food vendors

~Fireworks finale at 10 p.m.

Kitchener City Hall

Come celebrate Canada Day with us in Downtown Kitchener from 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. This exciting celebration will feature live Canadian entertainment, fireworks from the roof top of Kitchener City Hall, a licensed beer garden, downtown vendors to satisfy your hunger, and much more!

Helpful hints in making a small room appear bigger!

Small rooms are the bane of the home decorator. How do you achieve a pleasing look that doesn’t feel cramped and claustrophobic? Short of building an addition or knocking down walls, you are limited to a few, but effective, decorating tricks that create the illusion of space.

The strategic use of colour and light is the best way to achieve this. Choose light shades of paint or wallpaper for the walls. Lighter colours reflect light making for a brighter room. Use an even lighter shade of the same colour or white for ceilings and floors. A darker colour on the ceiling will make the ceiling look lower and tends to make the walls look as though they are closing in.

Avoid harshly contrasting colours. In fact, a monochromatic colour scheme that carries throughout the room into fabrics and accessories is very effective. Steer away from too many patterned items. The goal here is to blur perspective.

Anything you can do to bring light into the room will also give the effect of increased space. A corner wall sconce that casts light up onto the wall works well. Try to vary lighting effects for interest. A skylight is a great way to add light to a room, but isn’t always practical or affordable. Mirrors are a great solution for small rooms. Place mirrors directly across from another for maximum impact. A mirror placed across from a window is also effective. Place a lamp in front of a mirror to add more light to your room.

If you have wood or patterned flooring, have it installed so that the lines run diagonally across the room. This makes for longer lines, which give the appearance of a larger space. When furnishing the room, pick objects that are proportioned to the size of the room. For example, opt for a loveseat over a full-sized sofa. Lastly, keep the clutter to a minimum. Avoid using a lot of knick-knacks and keep the room tidy and well organized.

Remaining objective can be a difficult task when viewing an open house. It is easy to fall in love with a home’s appearance, blind to problems that may make it unsuitable. While aesthetics can be an important consideration, it is necessary to look beyond window-dressing.

Aqualified home inspector should be hired before purchasing a home, but there are areas that consumers can examine on their own. This will shorten your list of potential homes and reduce the likelihood that a home inspector will reject it as unsafe or unsuitable. Here are some considerations and common problem areas to look for when touring an open house:

General Upkeep

Much can be surmised from the general state of the home. Is the home clean? Are lawns left uncut? Are the walls chipped and in need of paint? If smaller chores have been ignored it may be an indication of a broader disregard for home maintenance.

Water Leaks

Check ceilings and drywall for stains, bulges and other signs of water damage. Water that works its way inside via a leaky roof or a cracked foundation can rot wood, create mildew and mold, destroy possessions and can be expensive to repair.

Does it Work?

Test lights, faucets, the heater, air conditioning, major appliances (that are to be included with the home) – even flush the toilets to ensure everything is working as it should.

Floors

As you walk across the floors be aware of spongy (soft or springy) sections. Excessive squeaking and uneven, bumpy floors may also be indicative of expensive forthcoming repairs.

Doors & Windows

Check that doors and windows fit snugly in their jambs and operate smoothly. Look for flaked paint and loose caulking. If the wood around windows and doors is not protected from moisture, it can rot away. Feel for drafts in these areas too.

Poor Drainage

On a wet day walk around the yard and look for areas where water collects. This can be an especially bad sign if there are soggy areas near the home’s foundation.

Grout & Caulking

If the grout and caulking around bathroom and kitchen tiles is loose and crumbly, there is a good chance that water is finding its way into the wall or under the floor.

Structural

Although this is definitely an area where you want the services of a qualified home inspector, you can get an idea about possible structural problems if you see deep cracks in the foundations or loose mortar and bricks.

Miscellaneous Concerns

Naturally, one the most important factors will be determining if the house suits your family’s needs. If you do not want to replace all of your furniture, make sure it will fit into the rooms of the new house. This is difficult to do by eye, so be sure to bring a measuring tape. Also, take note of storage space. If you are moving from a home with large closets and a shed, make sure your new house is able to store an equivalent amount of belongings.

Are you ready?

When you have decided that the time is right to sell, the first step in preparing for the sale of a home is finding out its worth. Contact me for a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties.

Working to ensure your home is in the best condition possible for showing to prospective buyers will position you to receive top dollar. This includes repairing or improving any trouble spots that could deter a buyer, such as squeaky doors, a leaky roof, dirty carpet and walls, and broken windows.

The first impression that potential buyers form of your property as they drive or walk up should not be underestimated. The “curb appeal” of your home is extremely important. You can create a positive first impression by making sure the lawn is pristine – the grass cut, debris removed, garden beds free of weeds, and hedges trimmed.

However, the trick is not to overspend on pre-sale repairs and fix-ups. This is especially important if there are few homes on the market but many buyers competing for them. On the other hand, making such repairs may be the key to selling your home in a down market.

Don’t Put it on HOLD…..Call RIZ to get it SOLD!!!

… For Buyers and Your Neighbours

The summer months are the perfect time to freshen up the exterior of your home. Whether it’s for your pleasure or to impress potential buyers, you’ll boost your home’s curb appeal with these good old-fashioned cleaning tips:

– Edge the gardens, clean out debris
– Pull the weeds and rake the leaves
– Prune the plants and wooly shrubs
– Plant some urns by the entrance and flowers to the beds
– Tidy the garage of winter trappings
– Dispose of rusty broken garden décor
– Put out a fresh welcome mat and oil the front door
– Paint the windowsills, mailbox, and anything else that is looking tired
– Place clear light bulbs in exterior fixtures, and ensure burned out bulbs are replaced
– Reseal the driveway
– Hide the garbage cans
– Sweep the step
– Fix the saggy gutters

Who says cleaning has to hurt? Get the kids involved! Borrow or buy a power washer and have fun cleaning siding, windows, sills, railings, decking and patio furniture.

By Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) admin   •December 5th, 2012

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (November 5, 2012) –– Residential real estate sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) were up 7.3 percent last month compared to November of last year.

There were 486 residential properties sold in November, bringing the year-to-date total to 5,931, just nine more home sales than during the first 11 months of 2011. The total value of homes sold last month was $151 million, up 11.3 percent over last year.

“In terms of total unit sales, it was a better than average November” says Dietmar Sommerfeld, president of the KWAR. “Our figures show that residential transactions in November were 6.8 percent above the previous 5 year-average.”

November’s residential sales included 318 detached homes (up 8.9 percent), 33 semi-detached (down 17.5 percent), 26 townhouses (up 4 percent), and 103 condominium units (up 14.4 percent).

There was a jump in the number of home selling in the $500,000 to $750,000 price range — 41 homes compared to 23 in November of last year. This put some upward pressure on the average price range.

The average sale price of all homes sold in November was $311,604, compared with $300,447 a year ago, an increase of 3.7 percent. Single detached homes sold for an average price of $359,439, compared with 346,044 last year, up 3.9 percent.

The median price for all homes sold in November was $287,750 compared with $275,000, an increase of 4.6 percent. Single detached homes sold for a median price of $326,500 compared with $315,000 last year, up 3.7 percent.

Sommerfeld says that despite talk of cooling markets in some Canadian cities, continued low borrowing costs, confidence in the local real estate market, and a well-diversified local economy are keeping Kitchener-Waterloo’s housing market steady and stable.

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By Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) admin • November 5th, 2012

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (October 5, 2012) –– Area home sales rebounded in October, with 500 homes trading through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR). Residential sales in October are up 11.6 percent compared to last month’s results, and increased 4.6 percent from October 2011.

October’s residential sales included 322 detached homes (up 1.6 percent), 48 semi-detached (up 54.8), 33 townhouses (up 32 percent), and 92 condominium units (down 7.1 percent).

The average sales price of all residential sales in October was $302,656 a 1.5 percent decrease from the average sale price recorded in October 2011. Single detached properties sold for an average price of $339,592, a 3.8 percent decrease relative to one year ago.

Average prices for townhouses and condominium property types both increased last month, with townhouses gaining 10.7 percent to $287,133, and condominium units increasing 7 percent to $215,831 compared to the same month last year.

“The overall average residential price decreased slightly last month, which is not a surprise,” says Sara Hill, President of the KWAR, “In the past two months the average sale price was showing fairly strong gains even as sales were slowing, so I see this as a slight correction.”

On a year-to-date basis, residential home sales are practically on par with 2011 – with a total of 5,443 sales recorded. The average price of all residential properties sold year-to date is $310,739, an increase of 3.2 percent over 2011.

“The Kitchener-Waterloo housing market continues to show both long-term strength and stability” says Hill. “Shifts in average prices are normal, and home buyers and sellers should work with their REALTOR® to understand the market and set their expectations accordingly.”

Hill reminds consumers to use caution when looking at averages. The average sale price is based on the total dollar volume of all residential properties sold. Average sale price information can be useful in establishing long term trends, but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value.

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National Post CIBC says the U.S. market bubble was partially fuelled by speculative buying — something that has been less of an issue in Canada

Canadian Press, National Post Wire Services | Oct 30, 2012 10:16 AM ET | Last Updated: Oct 30, 2012 12:14 PM ET