First-Time Home Owner/ First-Time Garden Owner (Handy tips and links)

Your First Home! Wow! Congratulations! Awesome feeling, home ownership.

Are you excited about having a yard? Are you planning your flower beds, maybe some decorative pots on the porch? Did you remember to buy a lawn mower (a push one if you have a small lawn)?

It's exciting to get your hands dirty in the garden for the first time. It's also a big responsibility. I've got some information you need, things to think about, some tips and links for you to get you started, including a list of essential garden tools. 

There's the property standards thing: There are bylaws about fences and hedges, and garbage, and more.  "Private Property and Boulevard Enforcement involves by-laws primarily associated with land use (zoning), lot maintenance, property standards, boulevards, signs and noise. The enforcement of these by-laws supports orderly development, community standards and community image." (Town of Newmarket) 

And the environmental thing: Newmarket has a bylaw limiting pesticides, and water restrictions. There is a green bin compost program and the town encourages you to purchase a garden composter (Town of Newmarket) and York Region has tips for yard care and gardening that save water and we got our rain barrel cheap through the region (Water For Tomorrow).   "The average suburban lawn uses six times the hazardous chemicals per acre as conventional farming. Per hour of operation, a gas mower emits 10 times as much hydrocarbon as a car. Then, of course, there are the sprinkler systems that go off like clockwork, even when it’s raining." (Canadian Living) 

Remember, you're taking care of living things. You'll love watching your baby plants grow into flowers and vegetables. If you don't have children, having a garden gives you a great outlet for your nurturing instincts. If you have children, there are a million lessons that gardens teach.

Don't worry. There's lots of help out there: websites and blogs online, books, and staff at gardening centres, even gardening centres in department stores and at Canadian Tire can help. And, talking about yard work is a great way to meet your neighbours! They'll know best about what works in your neighbourhood.

For information on plants and planting and everything gardening, follow local garden people, like Mark Cullen. on blogs and Facebook posts to get timely advice. You'll know when it's time to plant tulips and the best way to do it, for example.

Don't go crazy buying all the fancy gardening tools. You might not need them all, and you might be able to borrow some. Here's a list of essentials:

1. Gloves (can be old leather gloves)
2. Wheelbarrow (kids' wagon works in a pinch)
3. Rake (for leaves, and a straight rake if you have flower and vegetable beds)
4. Hand pruners (scissors, saws, and loppers and other cutting things are good too)
5. Watering Can (and a good hose attachment is nice)
6. Trowel (for planting smaller things)
7. Spade (for planting bigger things- watch where you're digging. Here's the number to call to locate underground stuff.)

Creepy Garden Gnomes Optional

Location? Price? Size? What's most important?

There's that old Real Estate story that everyone knows: When asked to state the top 3 factors in determining the value of Real Estate, a British tycoon said: "Location, location, location!"

I think it might be different when you're in the market for a family home. Sure, it's an investment. But, it's your home. Home is a powerful thing. Home is a powerful word. It conjures up all kinds of feelings, emotions, memories, associations that have nothing to do with dollar value. Location is a big factor, but I don't think that it's related to dollar value when it's considered. It's more likely to be in relation to other family members or work or school. If it's thought of in terms of cost, then it's likely about cost of travel to work.

Here is one possible list of Top 3 Factors in Home Buying

Price:
What can you afford? What are you willing to pay? This is where you have to start, really. How much do you have and how much of that are you willing to pay for your home? Will spending more on a home mean fewer holidays? Will spending less on a home mean more travel time, or will it just mean more travel-to-work time, commuting? You'll have to look at your finances and you'll have to talk to your family to see what they value. First, you have to determine the bottom line.

Location: 
Where would you like to live? What has value for you? Do you want to be close to or far away from family, parks and schools, work, nature, urban amenities, fishing holes? How far are you willing to go from your workplace? How far from Mom do you want to be? You'll need to think about the cost of your commute in terms of time and dollars. It might be a question of space vs time. In any case, the bottom line will be the determining factor.

Size/ Fit:
How much space do you need? Is your family growing or shrinking? Do you need an in-law suite, rooms for the grand kids, a fenced-in yard for your dogs, spaces for entertaining, space for your car, space for storing your boat, a wine cellar or a man-cave? When you consider how much room you need, the easy measures are the number of bedrooms and parking spaces, lot-size, and square feet (or metres). The numbers alone can't measure how your family will fit into those spaces. You'll have to walk through and visualize yourselves using the space. In the end, the cost might make you change your mind about what you "need."

You can use these 3 factors, Price, Location, and Size, in your preliminary home search, on my website. You can indicate a price range, a location, and the number of bedrooms or square feet, for example.

Other variables available on the property search are: garage spaces, bathrooms, acres, year built, and number of stories. Variables you can't type in: style, colours, smell, landscaping, does it feel warm and homey, will you fall in love with it?

You don't have to do an online home search at all. You can call me (416-716-3112) or email me (harrynaghavi@gmail.com).

Call me and I'll make it easier for you. We'll meet and discuss your needs and your desires. We'll talk about all the things your family has to consider in your specific circumstances. And, then I will search for you and provide you with lists of possibilities. I'll send you emails of listings, and we can meet and look at listings too if you prefer. I'll make appointments to go and see the houses you like. When you choose, I'll get you the best deal possible!

I will save you time and money.

And, buying a home will be as stress-free as possible. 

We'll find you a house you'll love, a house to call  home. 

Clean and Declutter: Ready to Sell

You don't always have time to "stage" your home. You don't always need to. 

You've been taking care of your investment all along, haven't you? No?

If you've let a couple of things go, it's best if you can fix them up before selling, but don't stress out if you can't get it done. 

There are buyers who look beyond the surface and see the potential for creating their own personalized space in your home. Some people will look for a home that they can update for themselves with the colours and styles that they want, not a perfect home with brand-new things that they don't like and will want to replace anyway. 

Clean as much as you can. Take away the clutter, including some of the furniture that's taking up too much space. Make the home look clean and spacious. Leave it to the imaginations of the buyers to fix it up the way they want it. 

You might not get the price that the spiffy home up the street got, but you'll sell just as fast and without all the headaches and costs of renovations.

Give me a call and we'll see how much you need to do and can do to get your house on the market. I'll give you an honest evaluation and professional and common sense advice. Call Harry, Your Friendly Realtor: 416-716-3112. 

Get Ready to Sell! Do Your Own "Staging"

You're thinking about moving. You're getting ready to sell your house.

First of all, call me, Harry, Your Friendly Realtor (416-716-3112).

I'll pop over to your place, give you a free evaluation, and we'll look at what you need to do to get the house ready to sell for the best price possible. Don't worry, you probably won't have to do much "staging".

There is a ton of information on the internet about staging homes to get the most money. There are companies who will do it for you. Get a quote and see what they'll do. Sometimes they do amazing things. But, you might not have the money to hire a staging company and you might not have the time and money to invest in a big DIY project either right now, and that's okay. You have to consider the cost to yourself in terms of time and money in relation to the effect on the selling time and price. Will it be worth it?

You might end up just doing a major cleaning and just change things around a bit. Maybe you'll have a weekend to do some painting. Even if you have a good-sized budget and a fair amount of time, I believe that you can do it yourself if you can think like a buyer. It's a bit difficult to look at your home and your stuff and think of it as someone else's. But, that's what you've got to try to do. And, I can help you with that.

Here's a link to a blog post that has some good common-sense ideas for things to do before inviting buyers in to your house. You won't have to spend too much time on the projects that they recommend. It's on a Blog called The Sweet Spot Blog.

The most important thing is also the easiest to do: declutter and clean. 

Have a yard sale to get rid of things you don't need, give things away, recycle, and then throw things out. Pack away stuff that you won't need until after your move. Store it, and maybe even a few pieces of furniture that are crowding your spaces, at someone else's house or rent a storage space.

Then, clean thoroughly. If you hate cleaning, then you can easily hire people to do it for you.

Don't forget the outside of your house! Curb appeal is actually a big deal. People do judge based on appearances, on first impressions.

The next blog post in the series on the Sweet Spot Blog is about getting the outside of your house ready for sale. I recommend that one too if you want to see some good tips.

I can also help you decide what you need to do to boost your curb appeal, if you need to do anything at all. 

You've been taking care of your investment all along, right? I'll tell you what it's worth "as is". You might be surprised at how little you really need to do.

I will help you make your move as stress-free as possible.

And, you'll save money: you'll get the best deal selling and buying with my help!

Focus on Kitchens and Bathrooms

Bathrooms and Kitchens: 

Keep these spaces up-to-date and clean to take care of your investment. 

Never underestimate the importance of bathrooms and kitchens. If they're tired and dirty, you'll turn buyers off. If you've been neglecting these areas in your home, you'll want to spend some time and money here before putting your house up for sale. 

At the very least, clean thoroughly and clear the counters and all surfaces of clutter. Pack away some of your stuff so that storage areas look organized and spacious. 

A weekend project can have a big impact. Some paint can do wonders, and there are tons of great ideas for fast fixes for kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanities. 

I love sitting around the kitchen table with my sellers figuring out what they can do to get the most for their homes. If you're thinking of selling. Give me a call. I'll come over and we can talk. 416-716-3112

Sell or Buy First?

Sell first and then buy. 

When people think of moving, they'll often call me and ask to see a bunch of homes. They just want to have an idea of what's out there. We're just shopping around. Most often, it's a waste of time for them. (Not for me. It's always a good experience to see homes. I can recommend things to other buyers.) 

When you go house shopping, you need to have your finances in order. If you already own a house, then your money will probably be tied up in that. Once you sell your house, the market will be different. 

Let's say you're shopping around while you're just thinking about moving and you fall in love with a house you see. How will you be able to make an offer on it? You can make a conditional offer. If there's another offer without the "sale of buyer's home" condition, then they won't choose yours. Let's say yours is the only offer and they accept it. Do you really want to sell your house under that kind of pressure? Can you get the most out of your present home if you are pressed for time? 

Take your time to prepare your house for sale. Get top dollar for your investment. Then, go shopping with the power to offer the strongest bid. 

Where do you want to live? What kind of home do you want?

If you're thinking of moving, unhappy with your house or apartment, how do you decide where to move and what kind of house you want?

How do you decide? This is an especially frustrating question for first-time buyers. 

The possibilities seem endless, and there are always more questions: 

• country or city
• commute or live close to work
• house or condo
• new or resale
• more house or more land
• modern or traditional
• close to family or farther away
• do you need to be close to schools or hospitals
• do you need public transit
• will you need room for guests
• will you need space for your family to grow
• can you do some renovating
• do you like yard work
• how many cars do you need
• what do your pets need
• what about your dreams 

The biggest and first question is always "How much can I afford?" 

The bank will tell you something, and so will friends and family. There are formulas for calculating mortgages and debt to income ratios, and there are always surprises, hidden expenses. Sit down with your bank information and your Realtor. I will help you to understand all the costs involved and I will also help you to see beyond the basics. Numbers don't always tell the whole story. Personality and individuality play a part, so you might need to look outside the box.

After you figure out approximately what you can pay, you need to narrow down your search. I can help you with that too. 

Sometimes it's easier to eliminate what you don't like first. Decide where you don't want to live. Think about what you're not willing to do, features you don't like, and anything else you want to avoid. Sometimes this direction of thinking will open up the ideas about what you do want too. This is a good time to write things down. Make a chart with 2 sides: Like/ Don't Like or Want/ Don't Want. Jot things down as they come to mind (and be prepared to change your mind). 

Go to my website and use the interactive search tool there. That will help. 

Most importantly, go and see homes with your friendly Realtor, me, Harry Naghavi. 

Wherever you are in your decision-making process, give me a call (416-716-3112). It will help to have a professional on your side to help you decide. I can take you to see all kinds of homes and we can take your list with us. When you actually step in to the homes that are available, and drive around the neighbourhoods, you will learn more than you can by sitting at a computer screen. 

We will choose a bunch of places to go and see and decide on a couple of dates that you're available. Then, I'll make appointments to go and see them. I'll set up a route, and we'll go and check them out. Remember to wear comfortable footwear that you can easily take off and put back on again. We can see as many homes as you need to, and take as much time as you need to. 

Signs of Spring: "Open House Today!"

It's finally Spring. And, you know what that means. 

The signs of spring:  

Open House signs!

Now that we can see the houses that were hidden behind the snow banks, people are ready to move. They've been indoors for a few months, cleaning and packing and sprucing up their houses. Now, they've got the signs up.

There's one on your street.

And you're wondering, 

"What does it look like inside?" and 

"What did they do with the basement?" and

"What does a house like ours cost?".

So, you pop over during the open house. 

You avoid making eye contact with the Realtor there. You rush through, and go back home. 

But, now you're thinking:

"Our house is better than that. We could get even more!"

You drive around and pop in to a bunch of other open houses. Problem is, there's always a Real Estate Agent there, and they're trying to sell you the house. No thank you. You're just curious, right?

Wait! 

Stop! 

Call Harry! 

Call me, text me, or email me now. 

If you want to know what your house is worth, I'll give you a free home evaluation, no strings attached.  

If you're looking at other houses, you might be thinking that you could get a better house. 

Call me and I'll sit down with you and together we'll figure out what it is that you don't like about your present house, and what it's worth, and what else you can afford. 

As your Buyer Agent, I'll take you to see homes that are within your budget, that have the number of bathrooms and bedrooms you want and all the features you need. And, we can go any day. And, we don't have to deal with a sales pitch. We can objectively view and discuss homes that we already have information about. And, when you find something you like, I'll negotiate for you. I'll take the pressure off. You'll get the best deal. 

I'll take the pressure off.
You'll get the best deal. 

Your Most "Prized Possession"

Here's another reason to choose me, Harry Naghavi, as your Realtor.

Harry Naghavi respects your most prized possession and understands that it is more valuable to you than any dollar amount can express.

The Wikipedia entry for "home" says:

A home is generally a place that is close to the heart of the owner, and can become a prized possession.

It is often a house, apartment, or other building...

It is certainly the most expensive thing that most people own. But, your house or condo is really valuable because it's your home. It's close to your heart. You've put effort into keeping it well-maintained. You've renovated it and decorated it so that it reflects your personality and your values. It holds all the things that you love and the people you love best, too.

When you buy or sell a house, you need to do it right. Get the best, most professional help. Get someone kind and understanding who will respect your home, your needs, and your heart: Harry Naghavi, Your Friendly Realtor, me. Contact me today! 416-716-3112    harrynaghavi@gmail.com

Real Estate Flyers: The World's Smallest

Even I get annoyed with all the Real Estate Flyers coming in my mailbox every day! The Spring Market is in high gear and everyone's trying to get your attention.

How many of those things do you look at? How many go straight to the blue box?

Instead of sending out big flyers in the mail, I walk around your neighbourhood and hand out my business card to people I meet in the street and pop cards into people's mailboxes or tuck them into door frames. I'm trying to make a smaller personal footprint on the environment, and I'm getting some exercise, and (best of all) meeting people face-to-face.

If you see a little white business card with my bald head smiling at you in a corner, turn it over and see that it's meant to be "the world's smallest flyer". Call me or send me a message and we'll talk. I'd like to meet you over a coffee or tea and get to know you so that we can be a business team.

So Many Newmarket Realtors: Choose Harry Naghavi

Why choose Harry Naghavi?

There are so many Realtors in Newmarket, so many Realtors in Aurora, Realtors in Richmond Hill, everywhere! How should you choose? How do you know what the best choice is?

1. First of all, make sure you do have a Realtor to represent you when you sell and when you buy. Real Estate is complex and mistakes can have huge, costly consequences. Get professional help. This is no place for DIY. Harry is an experienced and knowledgeable professional.
2. Think about what success means to you. I'm not a pushy Realtor whose success is the result of making fast deals. Some people are out for fast money, the fancy car. That's not what success means to me. My success is in getting the best deals for my clients, giving them the best service, not turning houses around for my profit. If you're in a hurry, we can sell your house fast, but fast is not always best. I have represented clients in fast-and-fierce bidding wars in Toronto, and I've spent years with families holding on to investment properties, waiting for the right buyer with the right price.  I'm not a rich Realtor. Happy clients define success to me. Harry Naghavi is a successful Realtor. 
3. Selling your home with a local Realtor is a good idea. I would make sure my neighbour's house sold well, darn sure. A sale in my neighbourhood affects the value of my home, so I'd have a personal interest in that sale, beyond a paycheque. Harry is your best choice for a Newmarket Realtor or a York Region Realtor.
4. Buying your home with a local Realtor is also a good idea. A Newmarket Realtor can tell you all about Newmarket. That being said, your Realtor is a professional who will research an area for you. I have bought and sold homes and businesses far from my home all over Ontario. Whether I'm working in my backyard or far afield, I do a thorough job to get the best deal for my clients. Harry is hard-working, and does a thorough job.
5. Work with someone you can trust and feel comfortable with. This is probably the biggest and most important purchase of your life. Make sure you're comfortable and don't feel pushed or bullied. You need someone honest and friendly on your side. Sure, Real Estate can get tough and stressful, but it's your Realtor's job to get tough on your behalf and deal with the stress for you, not to be tough with you and give you stress! Harry is "Your Friendly Realtor". 
6. Work with someone who understands you, takes the time to get to know you, and puts you first. You are the most important factor, not the property and not the paycheque. I will get to know you so I can help you best. Let me help you. Harry is not #1. You are #1!

 

Move your Family and your Business to York Region

I love living in York Region, and most of my family and friends are here too, mostly in Newmarket, Aurora, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan. Newmarket is the centre of York Region, and my home.

If you're the kind of person who likes to see numbers, here are some impressive numbers for you to consider.

York Region has about 1.1 million residents. It’s the third largest municipality in Ontario and sixth largest in Canada. York Region is big; it covers 1,762 square kilometres from Lake Simcoe in the north to the city of Toronto in the south

The York Region Administrative Centre, on Yonge Steet in Newmarket

Here are some more facts about York Region from Invest in York, the region's business attraction program.

• 1st in population growth among Canada’s largest municipalities

• 42,000 Local Businesses - Ontario’s second largest business centre after the City of Toronto

• 528,000 Local Jobs - 0.8 million jobs projected by 2030

• 14 Fortune 100 Corporations have operations in York Region

• 3,700 ICT Firms - Canada’s second largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry cluster

• 70 Employers with over 500 employees; 20 ¬firms with over $0.5 billion in revenue; 98% of businesses are Small-Medium size Enterprises (SMEs)

• 3rd largest residential construction market in Canada after Vancouver and Toronto

• 140M North American consumers within a day’s drive (500 mile radius)

The numbers add up nicely, don't they? So, come on! Give me a call and we'll work together to move your family and your business to York Region.

Family Getaway at Home in Newmarket

I had to work on a Sunday, as I often do, being a Realtor. But, I piled the family into the van and we all went on a beautiful drive in the country and then enjoyed a peaceful walk in the woods. We were only gone for a few hours, but we had an amazing afternoon retreat, reconnecting with each other and with nature.

From Newmarket, you can take a short drive or a longer drive and spend time in one of the many conservation areas and York Regional Forest tracts like this one. 

We extended our drive all the way up to Lake Simcoe, to Willow Beach, where we saw the incredible number of ice fishing huts that dot the lake in the winter. We also drove past our fishing spot on Cook's Bay, a little closer to home and not quite so busy.

Living in Newmarket, you can enjoy a good life in a great detached house in a quiet and safe neighbourhood with every amenity nearby, and you'll also be close to nature. 

Choose Newmarket for your Family and Business

If you’re considering moving to Newmarket, good thinking!

I moved up here from Toronto in 1996 and I love it. It’s been a perfect place to raise a family, to do business, and to enjoy life.

Take a look at the Wikipedia page for Newmarket. There is a ton of good information about our town, and lots of great reasons to make it your home. You can follow this link. 

Here are some simple facts from that page:

“According to the 2011 census, the town's population was 79,978. The York Region Planning Department projects a population of 98,000 by 2026. Newmarket's population density is just over 2000 inhabitants per square kilometer, ranking it third in Ontario and 33rd in Canada. 

English is the mother tongue of 77.4% of Newmarket residents, according to the 2011 Census. Italian is the mother tongue for 1.8% of the population, followed by French at 1.4%, and Russian and Spanish, each at 1.3%.

In 2005, the average household income in Newmarket was $96,680.00, far exceeding the provincial average for the same year of $77,967.00”

Check out that bottom line!

If you’re thinking of starting a business, start it here. Newmarket is not only a perfect place to raise a family, but also a great place to do business. People from all over the region come to Newmarket to shop at the Upper Canada Mall, along Yonge Street, on Historic Main Street and all around town. Highway 404 conveniently brings people up into town at Mulock, Davis Drive and Green Lane. 

Although many Newmarket residents commute to jobs in Toronto, something I did for a number of years as well, there are lots of jobs right here. And, the town is growing and improving constantly.  

Here’s what Wikipedia says about our economy:

“Newmarket features a diverse and growing economy based largely in the business services and knowledge industries, and the administrative, manufacturing and retail sectors.

The following are some of the Town's major public sector employers:

• Southlake Regional Health Centre

• Regional Municipality of York

• Town of Newmarket

• York Regional Police

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters

• Ontario Court of Justice

• York Region District School Board

• York Catholic District School Board

• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

• The following are some of the town's major private sector employers:

• Allied International Credit

• Flextronics

• TS Tech Canada Inc.

• Effem Foods

• CeDe Candy

• Exco Technologies

• Magna International

• Snap-On Tools

• Cintas

Notwithstanding these major employers, a large percentage of Newmarket's population commutes to Toronto for employment.”

Helping You get What You Want

What kind of house do you want? Sounds like an easy question, but it's not.
You might think you want a brick house, but then you'll see an amazing stucco house with a pool and a great family room, perfect kitchen and a real laundry room, and you'll decide that a brick exterior is not that important after all.
You might think you want a detached house, but there's nothing decent in your budget.
"You can't always get what you want."

Unfortunately, the reality is that your bottom line and the market determine what kind of house you get.

Fortunately, you can get a good idea of what's on the market from the comfort of your home, and you can call me up and we can find something suitable together.

Take a look at my website. There's a great tool right on the home page. You can search for available homes very easily. Type in Newmarket, for example, and click on Homes under Type in the red bar, and then click on Map in black. Houses will appear on the map, all around Newmarket and just outside of Newmarket too. Click on a picture and you'll get more info. You can name a price range too.

Give it a try!  Find out what kind of house you can get, because, if you try, sometimes, "you get what you need."

Stuck in the house? Declutter!

One of the biggest jobs that you have to do to prepare to sell your house is something that most of us aim to do anyway. It's on most lists of New Year's Resolutions. It's usually right up there with going to the gym.

Get organized.

Get rid of junk and put all the stuff you want to keep away neatly and smartly.

Declutter.

It's been a long winter, and we're having another cold and icy weekend. If you're stuck in the house, why not get some work done? If you're considering moving this spring, you'll need to get your house ready to show. People will be looking at how well it works, how well the space can be used. You'll have to declutter.

You might as well do it now. When the weather is good, you'll want to be ready to go out and play.

One reason that people move is that they need more space to put stuff: more rooms, bigger rooms, more storage, a nice garage, a good basement, a shed in the backyard, etc. When you're a young couple, the two of you will accumulate things, and then when the kids come, the amount of stuff you have seems to increase exponentially. You'll need a bigger, better house to hold your growing family and all your stuff.

Even when people are downsizing, they want to see that a smaller space will hold all the things they want to keep. The space has to work. It has to be efficient.

Look at your home through a stranger's eyes. You'll see that a lot of the things you have and love, objects you cherish, will appear to others as clutter. Art work, souvenirs, wedding gifts, your parents' antiques, collector's items, knick-knacks make your home feel like home, but take up space. The wall of family photos going up the stairway is really cool, but might just be a messy bunch of strangers' snapshots to a buyer. If you can't walk through a room easily, maybe there's too much furniture. It's hard to think of the things you like as clutter, but if you try to see your home from a buyer's perspective, you start to see the unnecessary extras. Get rid of all the clutter.

If you don't know where to start, there are lots of helpful lists on the internet.

Here's a link to a simple list of tasks.

Here's a link to a more detailed method of decluttering from Home Storage Solutions.  I like their visuals, so here's one to get you inspired. All it takes is some time, some boxes and garbage bags, and you'll have a decluttered home.

Good luck!

Don't Do the Spring Cleaning on Family Day

There are lots of opportunities for staying indoors and organizing and cleaning in the winter, especially this winter! Clean out the closets, the storage spaces, the garage. Spruce up the kitchen and bathrooms. Have the draperies and carpeting cleaned. It's a great time to prepare your house for sale. Spring is around the corner (really!) and the housing market is going to pick up and take off soon. A long weekend is perfect.

But, I hope you didn't spend the long weekend doing any spring cleaning. Family Day is for having fun with the family. I hope you went out ice fishing or skiing, skating or shopping.

Today is the day after Family Day and we have another foot of snow.

Today, you'll be able to stay in and clean out the hall closet, or take a look at the kitchen cupboards (maybe you could update the hardware, count the handles). This weekend, you can paint the laundry room and fix the leaky faucet.

When you're ready, give me a call and we'll get your house on the market and find something better for you to move into once the snow is all gone.

Call me now and I'll give you some tips on what you can do to get your house ready to sell without too much time and effort. 

January/February Good Time to Sell, Really

You'll notice that the For Sale signs have started going up and the Real Estate Agents are sending more flyers.

January is the beginning of the Spring Season, believe it or not :-)

If you're aiming to move in April or May, then you sell and buy now. The market is picking up, but it's not yet super-busy. That will start in March (June and July closings). So you have people's attention now, your Realtor's and the buyers who don't have too many choices yet.

So, this is a pretty good time to sell your house.

With all the snow and harsh weather, you might think that it will be hard to make your house look its best, but the darkness and cold mean that it won't be too hard to make your house look like a warm and cosy home. Spruce up your lighting, turn up the thermostat, bake some cookies and invite buyers in. Just make sure the driveway and walkways are clear.

There's lots of advice online for selling a house in the winter, like this one, Home Selling in Winter. And I, Your Friendly Realtor, can make some suggestions too.

Together, we can sell your home for a great price and get you into something better for the Spring.

Starting to dream about ice fishing already.

It's Halloween today (Happy Halloween!). October 31st. Yesterday, I went hunting. There was a little bit of snow at my spot, but in Newmarket it was dry. It's rainy and cold, but not really wintry yet. And yet, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority posted this article on Facebook (you can click and read it):

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing on Lake Simcoe

While I'm always happy to think about, read about, dream about fishing, I don't understand their timing here. Ice fishing won't be starting for quite some time yet.

Nevertheless, I still think you might be interested to know that we're very close to a wonderful, fantastic natural resource and source of fun and excitement all year round! Here are some interesting facts from the article:

" Lake Simcoe is the most intensively fished inland lake in the province with more people fishing it in the winter than at any other time of the year."

"During a good winter, there can be over 4,000 ice huts on the lake. Many of these huts are available to rent on a daily basis from ice hut operators located around the lake. A current list of operators is available in Ontario outdoor magazines, on some Lake Simcoe Web pages, and from MNR offices."

And here's a chart on fishing limits:

Species	Full Seasonal Licence (Sport) Limit	Conservation Licence Limit
Yellow Perch	50 daily	25 daily
Lake Trout	2 daily	1 daily
Whitefish	2 daily	1 daily
Northern pike	6 daily	2 daily
Walleye	4 daily	2 daily
Black crappie	50 daily	25 daily
Rainbow smelt	No limit	No limit
Lake herring (cisco)	CLOSED FISHERY

Happy Thanksgiving! That was a great long weekend!

Did you have a good long weekend? Cleaned up the house for the family Thanksgiving Dinner? Yard work done? 

Fall is a good time to show a house. And if you sell now, you'll have a good chance of celebrating Christmas in you new, better house. Better because it's bigger to fit more family; or better because it's smaller and your brother will have to start hosting the family dinners? 

Give me a call or send me a message so we can get working on that better house for Christmas. 

TGIF! Time to get away from it all -right here in Newmarket

Another Friday, and the 400 is a parking lot. Tons of people are all heading north from Toronto to get away from it all. Heading to a lake, to the woods, to a cottage, a cabin, a trailer, a tent, they just want to have some space and fresh air away from the city.

Another bunch of people are at home in Newmarket, enjoying a big backyard, maybe a pool, maybe a walk in the park. They're going to the lake tomorrow, fishing, or to the beach for a couple of hours after going to the Saturday Farmer's Market in the morning. Lake Simcoe is just up the street. And, maybe tomorrow night, they'll go to a game in Toronto, or meet with some friends. It's not that far.

A weekend at home can be as good as a holiday.

Thinking about getting away from it all in Newmarket?

Give me a call. I'll help you find a home that gives you a weekend getaway every weekend, without the traffic. 

Wish you had a pool? I can help!

It's another beautiful hot summer day.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a pool in your backyard? 

I can help you find a home with a pool, or recommend an excellent pool company.

Give me a call.

Summertime and the beach is easy

It's still summer, and it's a beautiful hot day. If you lived in Newmarket, you could be at a beach in half an hour- how does a picnic supper at the beach on a work night sound? 

Newmarket has all the urban amenities you need and access to all the rural escapes you want. 

And, it's still affordable.

Give me a call and we'll find you the perfect home.

Buy Low - Sell High

It's the simplest, most logical statement in business: Buy Low - Sell High... Yet, most people only believe it in theory and act differently when making actual decisions!

When the price of something is increasing many rush to purchase it, and when it's decreasing they get anxious to sell it off quickly! They Buy High and Sell Low!!!

In Canada we have historically low interest rates right now and there are areas where you can still get very reasonable deals in real estate. However, I still meet "investors" who are too cautious to buy anything and tell me that they will wait for the conditions to correct themselves first. So they are hoping that prices will go down.

My mind goes back to 2002 and 2009 where I heard the same sentiments before - and what happened? Prices went UP and not down. If you are not selling your property cheaper, and I am not selling mine cheaper and none of your friends and neighbours are prepared to take a loss in their real estate values, then HOW are the prices coming down, eh?!

Smart investors, BUY LOW. If you factor in the thousands of Dollars saved in interest alone, then THIS is the time to BUY and reap the benefits in the next decade. History can only repeat itself.

Take advantage of great Interest Rates

So last month, again, they did the sensible thing and kept the interest rates low. It's a delightful thing to see the Government awake and smelling the coffee!

The Bank of Canada says it will need to keep interest rates at current, stimulative low levels for some time to come, although things weren't that bad in the first quarter of 2013.

As expected, the central bank kept their rate at one per cent, where it’s been since September 2010, helping bring about some of the most favourable borrowing conditions ever for Canadian consumers and businesses.

As well, the bank statement indicated that the current policy position will likely be needed for some additional time, after which Canadians should look for a modest increase in interest rates.

In essence, the bank is saying that the Canadian economy continues to require considerable monetary stimulus in order to keep its head above water. This is good for the BUYERS who want to buy a home soon, because they get a great mortgage rate, plus they can potentially purchase their ideal home for a slightly lower price!

If you are buying a home in 2013, don't miss this truly Golden Opportunity. Send me an email and tell me what you need, so I can keep an eye on the market for you!

Tighter Mortgage Rules Again!

So the government is trying to protect us from ourselves again... They tightened the mortgage rules today yet again.

Check out the news if you haven't already: http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/home/flaherty_reduces_mortgage_terms_from_30_to_25_years/fd229d6f

We live "expensive" lives because we apparently have to. No money for the dentist or saving for your child's education, but we have to buy lots of birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, go on vacations and drive shiny new cars! Most have been borrowing against their homes to maintain this lifestyle, obviously because their incomes can't sufficiently support this kind of good life.

I am not sure however, if this tightening of the rules is going to stop any of it.

People have CREDIT CARDS you know! If you can't take more equity from your home then MasterCard and Visa will be tapped to cover the frills.

To scare us by mentioning the "bubble" in the real estate market is irresponsible. They have been warning us about a correction coming for the past decade. In the meantime real estate prices have gone up 100% or more. Let's face it, if you keep saying there is a bubble and there is a correction coming, well, one day it might just happen and then you can say: I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

For now, nobody is selling their homes for cheaper. Not me and not you. So there is no correction as of yet.

Those who go bankrupt or experience a divorce or death in their families cannot be used as measuring sticks that would apply to the rest of the market. Money controllers of the world, want more interest and the government is helping THEM by this kind of talk.

Little people will never benefit from higher rates or tighter mortgage rules.

Closer to the Action

Have I mentioned how great it is to live in Newmarket? :-)


The best ice fishing I've had so far has been right here in my backyard (so to speak) on Lake  Simcoe at Virginia Beach. Non-stop action. 


I spent last weekend fishing in the Belleville area at the fishing derby on Big Gull Lake. It was a nice trip, good fun with friends at a cottage. But, not one fish was caught by our whole group. 


Living in Newmarket, we're also very close to great skiing. It's no big deal for some of the kids in my younger daughter's class to take a day off to go skiing. And, in the high school parking lot, I frequently see kids piling into vehicles with skis and gear in the back.


Every season has its perks. We're a bit closer to the action here. 

Brrrr... It's so HOT

Yup! The lakes are frozen solid and ice-fishing is in full swing here in Ontario! Hockey talk is also going strong these days and many of us have skis, snow-shoes and skates ready for action :) In this wonderfully frigid wonderland that we live in, the real estate market is also really HOT these days!

You see, people who want to move by April, need to list their homes in mid to late January, giving themselves plenty of time to sell and then shop for their next place of residence.

So, keep your sticks on the ice and make sure you have warm undergarments and extra mitts for that day outdoors; but don't forget to contact your Friendly Realtor (ME!!!) to Talk Real Estate!

New Year: New Home!

Happy New Year!


January is New Year's Resolution time. 


Every year you have the chance for a new start. There is always hope that this year will be better. 


Things can improve. Your life will improve if you can make a few changes. 


>Maybe this is the year that you will finally take the plunge and buy your first house. 


>Maybe this will be the year that you finally move out of your starter home and settle down in a house that will be big enough for your growing family.


>Maybe this will be the year that you finally bite the bullet and get rid of your kids' old skis and school books, have the big garage sale, and down-size to a house that's just right for the two of you and the occasional visiting grandchild. 


>Maybe you've had it with shovelling the driveway and cleaning a big house and are ready to move into a condo.


When you're ready, I'm here.


I know how hard it is to make that big change. I work through this with people all the time. I can help you make it easier. 


Contact me and tell me you're ready to move, and I'll help you. 


Let's talk.

Gone Fishing/ Gone Hunting

Nothing is better than getting outside and heading out on to a lake or into the woods to maintain balance and sanity in your life.

Working all day and into the night, weekdays and weekends, looking at a computer screen and at paper documents and dealing with people on the phone, in person, and electronically, with a focus on accuracy and diplomacy can be taxing. It can be thrilling and exasperating. Numbers and details, discussions and deals follow me into my sleep. 

To clear my head and give my body a workout, I retreat to nature. This time of year I let my beard grow, put on my camouflage and blaze orange gear and head to the woods. I'm hunting, but I'm also hiking, bird watching, and meditating.

In the summer, and later in the winter, I can go fishing and ice-fishing.

There are plenty of opportunities for hunting and fishing within a reasonable distance from Newmarket, so it's easy to take a day off and be back in the evening with fresh air in my lungs and a fresh outlook.