David's Prespective On The Orangeville Real Estate Market

Orangeville MarketWatch Update - January 7th 2009

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:44:45 -0800

Hello and Welcome to 2010! Man, it's been cold this week! I was just out on an appointment today and we just about froze solid. This cold snap reminds me when I was a kid, growing up in Toronto. Always lots of snow, very cold, and so amazingly beautiful. Well, its been interesting this week so far.

There are 23 new listings that have come on the market and are ready for sale. Some are homes that are re-listed because they did not sell this past fall or over the holidays, but there is fresh inventory.

I would like to tell you about a couple of homes that I saw on my travels over the past few days! Please click on the photo so you can view the listing as well. I'm really enjoying providing you with these posts, it's a nice way share what I'm seeing in the market place.

25 Clarke Ave is a Beautifully Maintained Salem (Sunvale) 2,235 Sq Ft Home In the Sought-After Area of purple hill. I really like this one since it's in move-in condition and has been Professionally Landscaped. It comes with all the great features you might want such as Open-Concept Kitchen, Ceramic Floor, Extra Height Upgraded Cabinetry, Tile Backsplash, Centre Island, W/O To Yard, Main Floor Family Room, Corner Gas Fireplace, Master Bedroom Loft Overlooks Living Room, Fabulous Ensuite W/Corner Tub & Separate Shower, Finished Lower Level Rec Room, 5th Bedroom, W/O From Main Floor Laundry To Deck, Access To 3 Car Garage. I also like the location as it's only a 1 minute drive to the hospital and 30 seconds drive to the Elementary school. Asking $449,000

52 Pheasant Drive is a good size family home for an excellent price. I found that this 3 bedroom home was spacious enough for a larger family, and sits on a large lot, but does require a little elbow grease and some updating in a few places. The kitchen and flooring has been updated, and the basement is finished, it just needs a little attention. It's located in the north west end of town and is walking distance to schools and a 2 minute drive to shopping. Asking $379,900.00.

310 Elderberry Street is a fantastic townhouse in Montgomery Village. I think this is a wonderful, bright home in a very desired community!! This home is VERY WELL PRICED and will not last long!! It shows beautifully! Completed tastefully throughout with a Rec Room, 4th Bedroom and 3 Pc bath offered downstairs as well. Now for the car buffs the double car insulated garage with loft, extra shelving and workshop area is awesome. You can walk to schools, Rec Centre, Shopping, Trails & Parks, nothing to do here but move In. Asking $229,000

Do you know the 10 Most Expensive Mistakes People Make When They Buy Or Sell A Home?

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:22:17 -0700

Ok, I have a great site that helps people findout about my area (Orangeville Ontario)

pssst! Do you know the 10 Most Expensive Mistakes People Make When They Buy Or Sell A Home? Visit www.SearchOrangevilleHomes.com

Learn more and buy smart!! That's the way to a happy client.

David

Living in Orangeville Ontario

EXTRAS:

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Orangeville Saturday Tour of Homes

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Home sellers face $300 'green' audit

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:13:18 -0800

Ontatio's clean-energy bill would raise hydro rates and promote alternative power

Ontario residents won't be able to sell their houses or condos without first getting a home energy audit – which now costs about $300 – under the proposed new Green Energy Act. That's one of several measures in the legislation unveiled by Energy Minister George Smitherman to boost incentives for electricity conservation and encourage renewable sources of energy.

Critics fear the energy audits and Smitherman's estimated 1 per cent rise in household electricity bills as a result of the law will pinch pocketbooks as the recession deepens. "It'll be used to beat down the seller of a home," Progressive Conservative MPP and energy critic John Yakabuski warned of the audit, which would put detailed information on a home's energy efficiency into the hands of buyers.

Toronto homeowners are already concerned about the impact the city's new land transfer tax – in addition to the provincial one – is having on sales and prices. Both taxes add up to thousands of dollars even on cheaper houses.

While homeowners will have to get a private contractor to do an energy audit before selling, there will be no requirement to take any action – the measure is simply intended to inform potential buyers what state of energy efficiency a property is in so they can take action if desired.

What are they going to come up with next??

The Benefits of Building Green

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:21:05 -0800

As consumers continue to learn more and more about green building, architects, designers and builders are starting to incorporate more green features into their new homes. As technology and products continue to emerge, consumers can build their dream home without sacrificing aesthetics.

Even though everyone in the home building industry is buzzing about the term 'green' building, many consumers are still confused as to exactly what it means to build a green home. building a green home is good for your family's health, your budget and the environment. Here are some of the benefits to building green -- a healthier home, cost-efficient home and environmentally friendly home.

A Healthier Home

Green homes' use of toxin-free building materials helps combat indoor air pollution, which can be much worse than outdoor pollution. Unhealthy air inside can pose serious health risks for residents, including cancer and respiratory ailments like asthma. Such non-toxic materials include wheat-derived strawboard, natural linoleum made from jute and linseed oil, paints with little or no volatile organic compounds and toxin-free insulation made from soybeans, recycled paper or even old denim.
Green homes have far fewer problems with mold or mildew.
Natural ventilation in green homes, as well as use of mechanical ventilation systems to filter and bring fresh air inside and vent stale air outside, keep residents breathing easy.

A Cost-Efficient Home

The net cost of owning a green home is comparable to -- or even cheaper than -- owning a standard home. If upfront costs are higher, it is often because many architects, homebuilders, engineers, plumbers and other industry professionals just don't have the knowledge and experience to cost-effectively plan, design and build a green home. Finding a professional familiar with green-building techniques will save you money and ensure you're getting the best-quality work possible.
Month to month, people who live in green homes save money by consuming 40% less energy and 50% less water than standard homes. Over the years, that adds up to big savings.
A green home is more durable than most standard homes because of its high-quality building materials and construction processes, requiring fewer repairs.
The value of a green home is typically higher than that of a comparable standard home, and the market demand for green homes continues to rise.
Local, state and federal governments are increasingly offering tax breaks and other incentives for building LEED homes or adding green features to your home.

An Environmentally Friendly Home

Residential cooling and heating alone make up 20% of the United States ' yearly energy use. Throw in household lighting, appliances and other electronic equipment, and homes are clearly a major source of energy consumption. Green homes use 40% less energy than comparable standard homes.
Some green homes further reduce our dependence on conventional energy sources as they generate some or all of their energy needs through alternative energy sources like the sun, wind, geothermal energy and biomass.
Efficient plumbing and bathing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and water-conserving irrigation systems help green homes use, on average, 50% less water than standard homes.
Far fewer natural resources are used in the construction of a green home. Many green building materials have significant recycled content. Some companies, for example, now make carpets and floor tiles from recycled tires and bottles. Green homes can also be constructed with salvaged materials from demolished buildings. Green homes use materials made from rapidly renewable materials, like bamboo, hemp, agrifibersand soybean-based products. And the use of wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council helps promote socially and environmentally beneficial forestry practices.
Building a standard 2,500-square-foot home creates approximately 2 tons of construction waste that ends up in landfills. Construction of a green home, however, generates 50% to 90% less waste.

Changing Times..... Benefit Home Ownership...

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:13:42 -0800

Here is a re-cap of 3 Government actions to stimulate the housing industry in Canada...

1. The 2009 budget proposes to introduce a new non-refundable tax credit based on an amount of $5,000 for first-time home buyers who acquire a qualifying home after January 27, 2009. You are considered a first time home buyer if neither you nor you spouse or common law partner owned and lived in another home in the calendar year of the home purchase or in any of the four preceding calendar years.

2. The Home Renovation Tax Credit - the budget proposes to implement a temporary 15% home renovation tax credit to provide some 3 billion in tax relief to an estimate 4.6 million Canadian families. The tax credit will apply to eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010. The 15% tax credit may be claimed on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000 but not more than $10,000 and will provide up to $1,350 in tax relief.

3. Home Buyer's Plan Enhanced - Homebuyers can withdraw $25,000 tax free from ther RRSP to buy or build a first home - up from $20,000.

And lastly, but not part of these incentives, is the lowering of interest rates by the Bank of Canada which seems to be having the largest immediate impact on those seeking to purchase a home. The prime lending rate now stands at a 50 year low of 2.50% which is a boom to those seeking to purchase or refinance existing loans. Coupled with plentiful inventory, motivated Sellers and reasonable prices this has created the best market in well over a decade to people to enter the housing market.

Energy efficiency law hits homesellers

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:41:33 -0800

Mandatory energy audits on home sales wrong, Toronto's real estate agents say.

In the wake of a new municipal land-transfer tax and unmoored by a sinking economy, Toronto real estate agents are bracing for a new storm on the legislative horizon: Mandatory energy audits for home sales.

Ontario Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman's proposed Green Energy Act, which was introduced to the Ontario legislature Monday, contains loosely defined "mandatory conservation and energy efficiency practices" that would cost home sellers about $300.

But with homes lingering on a stagnating market, and average sale prices dropping throughout the GTA, even the distant possibility of one more fee or one more bureaucratic obstacle, leaves real estate agents feeling seasick.

"It's not so much the dollars that it costs you to do the audit, I think you have to think long-term in terms of how will that impact your property value, what will that do to the market in terms of potential bottlenecks," said Von Palmer, spokesman for the Toronto Real Estate Board. "So the devil's always in the details and I think that's where we need to be careful."

We really need some help in on these issues, why do we need this and who keeps coming up with these polices!!

It's time home owners and realtors take a stand.

Who pays a buyers agent?

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:43:01 -0800

This is a much debated question among real estate professionals. The import of the question has to do with common sense perceptions and common law conventions that "he who pays the piper calls the tune". Buyer agents take the position that the commission fee comes from "the proceeds of the transaction". Sure the seller pays his agent and the buyer doesn't but all the money actually comes from the buyer. If the buyer didn't pay there would be no transaction.

But in the most basis terms — no matter how payment is set up, the buyer walks away with the house and the seller walks away with 95% of the agreed upon purchase price.

So you decide.

Should You Hire A Buyer's Agent?

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:57:53 -0800

How's "That depends," for an answer?

A good buyer's agent can be the greatest asset you will have in navigating through the real estate marketplace, and a poor one can be a burden. So the right answer is "Yes, but only if you do your homework first and then choose carefully and wisely."

Some real estate firms have instituted a nasty habit of insisting that new customers become clients at the first meeting. If you're the customer, that means before you've had an opportunity to get acquainted with the agent or find out anything about his or her personality or work habits, you're locked in.

You could end up with a great agent, or you could get stuck with someone who lets you go do all your own looking and just shows up when its time to pass "go" and collect the money.

It's kind of like getting married when a blind date meets you at your door.

A buyer representation agreement is a legally binding contract between the buyers and the agency. Unlike a marriage, it does have an expiration date, but if you want to get out of it early, everyone has to agree.

If you're a buyer, it ties you to that agent. So if you buy through another agent, you still have to pay your buyer's agent.

Why would you do that?

If you choose the right buyer's agent, you will get far more service than you can expect from a seller's who may be showing you property.

You can expect:

Confidentiality - your buyer's agent cannot disclose any information about you or your financial situation to the sellers, the seller's agent, or anyone else.
An objective market analysis of any home or property you are considering.
Help with negotiations. No one can absolutely know what the other party to a transaction will decide, but an experienced real estate negotiator will help you make good decisions based on market conditions and any information he or she has been able to learn about the sellers and their situation.
Exposure to more choices. Your buyer's agent will search out properties that others might not even know are available. Buyer's agents keep an eye on "For sale by owner" properties and keep a list of homes that are coming on the market but are not yet advertised.
Immediate notification of new properties on the market - all agents should do this, but many don't take the time.

In short, when you have a good buyer's agent you have a valuable ally on your side.

Multiple Representation Or Dual Agency by another name

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:46:20 -0800

Whether you are a home buyer or seller, it is important for you to understand the legal nature of the agency relationship you have with your agent. Your agent must act in your best interest while representing you in a real estate transaction. This gets complicated if you find yourself in a “multiple representation” situation.

What is dual agency? Basically, it means that a real estate agent is representing both the buyer and seller in a real estate transaction, which is legal in Ontario but … A real estate agent who is working as a dual agent could easily find herself in a conflict of interest by trying to represent the best interests of both parties.

So, what should you do if you find yourself in a dual agency transaction? First, insist on clear communication at all times. Second, be explicit with the agent about your needs in the transaction. Third, check with the agency’s broker of record if you have any questions or concerns.

If all the involved parties work hard toward a smooth transaction, dual agency doesn’t need to be a problem. But, it is your right and responsibility to ask questions and make sure you are not being disadvantaged. It can be a complicated situation, so if you have questions or want more information about dual agency, ask until you are satisfied.

What's IN for Orangeville Real Estate in 2009?

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:06:03 -0800

Here's the list you've been waiting for!

Sidelined home buyers. Family or lifestyle additions or changes made in buyers households in the last three years are forcing those waiting out the market transition to finally get off the fence and say, it's time for our family to buy the new home that suits our new needs.
Home uplifts. Not a big renovation, but some new finishes that can visually holdover stay-put home sellers. Not a gut rehab to the studs new kitchen, but new flooring, countertops and appliances.
Collaborative home pricing. The old days of home sellers configuring a homes price are out. What's new is that the seller with their agent look at closed comparables, set a price, then the buyer and their agent agree or disagree, but in the end, a mortgage lender and their appraiser will set the price, as they are assuming the most risk in the transaction.
Balanced reporting by real estate and personal finance journalists. Consumers learned in 2008 that the 'doom and gloom" residential real estate market headlines don't apply to all markets. What's been lost in the hype is that there are still stories of homes selling in short market times (in as little as 1-3 days), homes selling at full price and some selling with multiple contracts on the table.
Creative home seller financing. Exhausted home sellers are turning to self-financing to move properties. Installment sale contracts and lease-to-own are the most popular and effective ways for sellers to begin to receive income from a property that has languished on the market in 2008.
Real estate agents as a housing resource, not a salesperson. New-age real estate agents help consumers through the home sale or purchase process which takes a skilled agent who is not driven by sales, but by providing resources to help the consumer determine if they should buy or sell a home. Home ownership is not for everyone. Factors such as a job move in 3 years or less, marginal credit and lack of interest in home maintenance can be reasons for a resource-driven agent to advise their client not to buy.
Property tax appeals. With home prices dropping, many savvy home owners are appealing their property taxes. This is especially attractive to those looking to sell their home in 2009. With a competitive marketplace, those with the most realistic taxes are more likely to offer buyers an overall lower expense in home ownership.
House therapists. Divided partners in a home are increasingly relying on an independent third party (house therapist or coach) to bring household relationships to common ground on such prickly issues such as to stay or move, how much to spend on remodeling or decorating, or spending nothing at all. Third parties can outline the benefits and pitfalls of over-spending on a new larger home or weighing in on a spouses desire to over-improve for the neighborhood. With less equity and with the financial stakes higher smart couples hire a home therapist to wrangle concessions and agreements out with their significant other instead of doing damage to their relationship by going head-to-head with them.
Architectural overhead garage doors. After years of bland vanilla garage doors, the architecture has permeated the door most people look at the most. Traditional styling has arrived with mullioned windows, faux wrought iron hinges and latches that provide the original non-overhead garage door look. Contemporary looks now include the adjacent siding applied over the door for a seamless look, much like the panels installed on refrigerator doors to complement cabinets in a kitchen.
Loveseats. A pair or trio is gaining acceptance as the functional way to rearrange a living or family room. Consumers appreciate the ease at which they can rearrange them, move an extra one to another room, or provide long-term furniture flexibility in future homes. Plus, they're tired of sitting miles away from others on oversized sectional sofas.
The master bed as a throne. With consumer spending down and more nesting at home, home owners are focusing on making their bed like an at-home luxury hotel experience. Posh linens, pillows and mattresses create a getaway without leaving home.
Older war-horse appliances. Collectable, working appliances from the 1940's through the late 1980's have found a new niche among homeowners who appreciate their rock-solid construction and durability. Harvest gold double ovens from the 1970's have been repainted a metallic red and go from boring to bold. Cold spot refrigerators from the 1950's refinished in sky blue perks up the butler’s pantry in suburban home. And, the early 1960's dryer that looks like it's from George Jetson's house painted pink to match punches up the in-unit laundry room in a condominium.
Dining chairs that don't match. With consumers watching their non-essential spending closely and electing to stay home to entertain friends, many have found a quick pick-me-up for their dining room suite, mismatched pairs or single chairs. Feedback from friends or family has been favorable to this easy and cost effective way to say welcome to my cutting edge table.
Obama-era paint colors. President elect Barak Obama will add a fresh, younger and forward-looking feel to residential interior paint decor in the spaces at The White House where he and future First Lady Michelle have a say. Look for parchment whites, cashmere yellows, bright optimistic blues and radiant golds. Depressing Bush era colors such as plum, chocolate brown, rusty mustard and pale sage will gladly be replaced by more optimistic colors in American homes.

What do you think?

Comment below!

Five Investment Mistakes You Don't Want to Make...

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:03:29 -0800

These are scary times for people trying to build or preserve their retirement accounts.

The daily swings in the stock market are large enough to churn anyone's stomach!

The current landscape makes it easy to commit big mistakes with your investment portfolio. Here are some of the worst errors I've seen people make, in no particular order of danger.

All are of equal hazard. Though there are no guarantees when investing, avoiding these five slip-ups can better your chances of success.

Panic: This crops up during bear markets or recessionary times like we see today. As you watch stock prices fall, you begin to believe that any price is a good number to cash out. You fear your portfolio will be lower tomorrow and lower still the next day. You believe it will never come back in your lifetime.

So you sell, hide out in cash, and wait until things turn around. Therein lies the problem: You eventually get back in after prices have raced back up. (Hmmm … sell low, buy high -- not a good strategy!)

Don't get me wrong; I understand your fear. It's OK to feel fear. After watching your retirement account fall on paper month after month, you wouldn't be human if you didn't have that strong impulse to park everything in a savings account for a while. But you must not act on that fear. If you have an investment account that is well-diversified and designed with your long-term objectives in mind, chances are that your portfolio should be left alone.

Euphoria: This is the opposite of panic and occurs frequently in times of hot markets. You watch equities surge, and all common sense goes out the window. It doesn't seem likely to you that there's a real potential for principal loss.

When you catch sight of enormous investment returns elsewhere, you worry that someone else's portfolio is outperforming yours. While ignoring principal risk, you've now entered The Euphoria Zone. It is the opposite of the phenomenon where a person thinks that any investment he touches loses money.

As the equity markets rise, investors reason that the risk of a significant decline fades away. But the opposite is true: As equity markets rise, the potential for a drop is greater than before. So as the stock market rises, it becomes riskier, not safer.

Under-diversification: This mistake is a bad one, because taking this action (or inaction) feels so logical when in fact it's setting you up for the kill. You become enthralled with today's hot sectors, confine your portfolio to what's working at that moment, and then become under-diversified.

Over short periods of time, asset classes approach their own peaks, and the universe of what's working shrinks down to one idea. In 1999-2000, that idea was technology—specifically the Internet. During the bear market of 2001-2002, the “smart” move was safety and the hot sector was cash. In 2004-2005, real estate was the investment everyone had to have. In 2006-2007, energy took over. This fatal narrowing of a portfolio down to one idea helps assure that you enter a hot investment just before it heads back down.

Chasing the sector of the moment is a powerful mood-altering drug … until you overdose. Under-diversification is for hares (read: rabbits). Tortoises are the ones who believe in disciplined diversification.

And you know who won that race. (Investors should note that diversification does not assure against market loss and that there is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will outperform a non-diversified portfolio.)

Letting taxes drive your decision: If you own your own business like me, you are more observant of your tax situation than most people. Estimated tax payments, deductions, record keeping, and other CCRA-related exercises keep your income taxes top of mind. But you can take your attention to taxes too far.

Many people build up mini-fortunes thanks to one spectacularly successful investment that develops into a large chunk of their wealth. Then they refuse to diversify because they're afraid to pay 15% capital gains taxes. They feel that they cannot sell their $400,000 investment because if they do, they will have to pay $60,000 in taxes. That's a mistake. Focusing on the taxes causes them to forget that $340,000 in gains -- which now can be reallocated -- isn't bad at all (remember the diversification discussion above?). Indeed, most people would agree that a net $340,000 investment gain is a good situation. But if you let taxes do the thinking for you, you are asking for trouble.

Recent events at Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and others emphasize my point. That's why you don't under-diversify. It's also why you don't let taxes dictate your investment decisions. It doesn't matter if you're invested in the bluest of blue chips, and it doesn't matter how long the company has been in business -- there are factors you cannot control that can negatively affect any individual holding.

The converse is also true. Some people think they can't sell because they don't want to take the loss. They will wait until they get back to where they were. The thinking goes like this: I bought Internet XYZ at $242, it dropped to $151, and now it's down to 75 cents. Let me wait until it gets back to even.

Mistake!

Your investments don't know what you paid for them and wouldn't act any differently if they did. The longer you wait to migrate to quality investments and diversify, the longer it will take for you to realize that you hold garbage. By the time your investment rises back to even (if it ever does), you might be celebrating your 99th birthday.

When you let taxes sit in the driver's seat, the car can go off the cliff.

Trying to do it yourself: As an agent, I believe that we offer a much safer and more valuable alternative compared to selling a home yourself. After all, there is significant risk when a homeowner doesn't know what he's doing, right?

This line of thinking also applies to planning and managing your finances. I've come in contact with many ultra-successful folks who are masters of their field... but ill-equipped to manage their money. This has nothing to do with intelligence or interest. But again, think of your own experience.

Remember … personal wealth is not driven solely by investment selection. It relies in large measure on investor behaviour, as illustrated by the previous four mistakes outlined in this post.

What your investments do versus other similar investments is relatively unimportant. The critical issue is what you do, and avoid doing.

With professional guidance, common sense, and a reliance on strategies that have been proven time and again, you can avoid many common pitfalls and improve your chances of meeting your future investment goals.

Repairs That Help Sell Your Orangeville, Erin, Caledon or Sheburne Home

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:00:26 -0800

What you may or may not know about today's real estate environment is that prices have suffered a bit, but the most drastic change in the market is in number of sales.

In mid-2006 and 2007, it was common to see 7 or 8 homes out of every 10 sell.

Now what we've seen in this "new market" is the number is less than 2 in 10 for some parts of the GTA. Including Orangeville! (see the W29 stats for December)

More than ever, you've really got to stand out in the crowd and price it well.

With great advice about improvements, realistic pricing and great marketing, your chances of success are guaranteed.

So... let's tackle a new study of more than 2,000 real estate agents and the transactions they've been involved in that looks at the highest returns and best "bang for your buck" repairs to do before you sell...

Most sellers know of some repairs that need to be made to their home, but not all repairs are equal in the eyes of the buyer.

Finding out which repairs will help you sell your home helps you create a good, solid fix-it list to work on.

A study produced by HomeGain in the U.S. aimed to take the guess-work out of where to spend your repair dollars. According to the study, the top four areas to focus on are:

Clean and de-clutter
Lighten and brighten
Stage the home for sale, and
Landscape the front/back yards

The Return on Investment (ROI) depends on the repair and, in some cases, which part of the country you live in. Still, even though we're not in the U.S., there are some pretty revealing trends.

Here’s how HomeGain breaks down the ROI for the top four repairs. Cleaning and decluttering can create a 578 percent ROI (the highest return was 837 percent in the West). The ROI for staging a home was 340 percent (this category ranked second in the South and Mid-West). Landscaping the front and back yards, brought in a 415 percent ROI. According to the survey, each of these repairs range in cost from a few to several hundred dollars but can return thousands in profit.

Rounding out the study’s top-ten list of repairs are:

Repair electrical or plumbing problems
Replace or shampoo carpeting
Paint interior walls
Paint exterior walls
Repair damaged flooring
Update kitchen and bathrooms

Gopalakrishnan says routine maintenance can help too.

“Not washing the windows is something so simple but a big mistake that homesellers make,” says Gopalakrishnan. Another top mistake is covering up or neglecting care of the floors. “If they leave a dirty carpet on the floor... that would be a mistake,” says Gopalakrishnan. She adds that a key strategy for staging a home is to, “lift up the carpets and show off those nice floors — give them a quick shine and clean them up first.”

When you make the above repairs costing approximately $5,000 - $8,000, HomeGain, says that prices, for example, on a three bedroom, two bathroom home can result in price increases: in the West, as high as $22,762; in the East, as high as $23,532; in the South, $21,470; in the Mid-West, $20,279.

“With homes sitting on the market longer, homeowners should do everything they can to sell it quickly and at a price they expect," says, Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain.

The online resource centre at HomeGain also has a “What If” tool that allows users to hypothetically add a room, bathroom, or even square footage to a home to calculate value estimates on residential properties.

Real Estate Gets Big Boost From Canada's Budget

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:55:46 -0800

Canada's housing industry is thrilled with the government's new budget, which provides up to $7.8 billion in tax relief and funding for everything from home renovations to housing for low-income seniors. From First Nations housing to first-time buyers' incentives, there's something for almost everyone.

The Conservative government came through on its election promise to help first-time buyers with closing costs such as legal fees and land transfer taxes. A tax credit worth up to $750 will be made available for first-time buyers, as well as existing homeowners who buy a more accessible or functional home and qualify for a Disability Tax Credit.

The government has also increased the amount that first-time buyers can withdraw from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan to buy a home, from $20,000 to $25,000. The popular Home Buyers' Plan was introduced in 1992 but the amount that could be withdrawn tax-free had not changed since then. The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) says in a news release that the plan "has not had the same impact and relevance it did 16 years ago, when the original $20,000 limit represented 13.3 per cent of the average home price, versus about 6.5 per cent in 2008."

Now two first-time buyers purchasing a home together, such as a married or common-law couple, will be able to withdraw up to $50,000 from their RRSPs to purchase a home.

To stimulate the residential construction industry, there's a new 15 per cent income tax credit for home renovation work performed between January 27, 2008 and February 1, 2010. The credit applies to expenditures exceeding $1,000 but not more than $10,000, and provides up to $1,350 in tax savings.

This credit is "family based" – a family is considered to be an individual and their spouse or common-law partner, who can share the credit.

Routine repairs or maintenance such as lawn fertilization, cleaning and snow removal are not eligible for the program. But the credit can be used for such things as renovating a kitchen or bathroom, finishing a basement or building a deck, and it can be used for houses, cottages or condominiums.

The budget provides this example of how the credit could work: "Sally and Ed … decide to replace their windows and improve the insulation in their home in 2009, incurring $10,000 in expenditures. After taking account of the $1,000 minimum threshold, a 15 per cent credit will be available on $9,000 in eligible expenditures, providing tax relief of $1,350." The government expects this program will cost $500 million in 2008-09 and $2.5 billion in 2009-10.

"The use of tax credits will make the program of interest to many Canadians who own their home," says CREA president Cal Lindberg. "But the success will be tied in part to the availability of savings or credit, since the expense has to be paid before the tax credit is issued."

The budget also builds on the existing ecoENERGY Retrofit program, which provides property owners grants of up to $5,000 to offset the cost of making energy-efficiency improvements, such as upgrading insulation or installing a new furnace. Homeowners will be able to take advantage of both this program and the new Home Renovation Tax Credit for eligible work.

Social housing is getting a huge boost in the budget. A one-time investment of $1 billion over two years has been pledged for renovations and energy retrofits for up to 20,000 social housing units, but it must be on a 50-50 cost-shared basis with the provinces.

The Conservatives have promised $400 million over two years for housing for low-income seniors, and $75 million over two years for the construction of housing for those with disabilities – also to be cost-shared with the provinces. Another $400 has been pledged to support on-reserve First Nations social housing projects, and there is also money for social housing in The Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The government is providing up to $2 billion over two years in low-cost loans to municipalities to invest in infrastructure projects such as sewers and waterlines. This money can be used to fund their contribution to cost-shared federal infrastructure programs.

Michael Atkinson, president of the Canadian Construction Association, says, "Our industry is pleased the government recognized that the best and quickest way to get Canadians back to work is through investments in infrastructure – every billion dollars invested means more than 11,500 jobs."

The Chartered Accountants of Canada gave the government a "B-plus" rating on the budget, and were particularly pleased with the Home Renovation Tax Credit and other tax cuts that were announced. But institute president Kevin Dancey also offered a note of caution that the incentives can't last forever.

"There is uneasiness any time a government turns to deficit financing but these are extraordinary times," he says. "Driving down debt levels is like dieting. It is much easier to put the weight on than it is to take it off. For government, it is much easier to spend than it is to reduce the debt load. It will be important for the government to get back on its diet with a focus on debt reduction once times improve."

Boring Old Canada... With The World's Best Banking System :)

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:52:45 -0800

From my friend Maria Philpott...

Original source: Fareed Zakaria - NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Feb 16, 2009

The legendary editor of The New Republic, Michael Kinsley, once held a "Boring Headline Contest" and decided that the winner was "Worthwhile Canadian Initiative." Twenty-two years later, the magazine was rescued from its economic troubles by a Canadian media company, which should have taught us Americans to be a bit more humble.

Now there is even more striking evidence of Canada 's virtues.

Guess which country, alone in the industrialized world, has not faced a single bank failure, calls for bailouts or government intervention in the financial or mortgage sectors?

Yup, it's Canada. In 2008, the World Economic Forum ranked Canada 's banking system the healthiest in the world. America's ranked 40th, Britain's 44th.

Canada has done more than survive this financial crisis. The country is positively thriving in it.

Canadian banks are well-capitalized and poised to take advantage of opportunities that American and European banks cannot seize. The Toronto Dominion Bank, for example, was the 15th-largest bank in North America one year ago. Now it is the fifth-largest. It hasn't grown in size; the others have all shrunk.

So what accounts for the genius of the Canadians? Common sense.

Over the past 15 years, as the United States and Europe loosened regulations on their financial industries, the Canadians refused to follow suit, seeing the old rules as useful shock absorbers.

Canadian banks are typically leveraged at 18 to 1—compared with U.S. banks at 26 to 1 and European banks at a frightening 61 to 1. Partly this reflects Canada 's more risk-averse business culture, but it is also a product of old-fashioned rules on banking.

Canada has also been shielded from the worst aspects of this crisis because its housing prices have not fluctuated as wildly as those in the United States. Home prices are down 25 percent in the United States, but only half as much in Canada.

Why?

Well, the Canadian tax code does not provide the massive incentive for overconsumption that the U.S. code does: interest on your mortgage isn't deductible up north. In addition, home loans in the United States are "non-recourse," which basically means that if you go belly up on a bad mortgage, it's mostly the bank's problem. In Canada, it's yours.

Ah, but you've heard American politicians wax eloquent on the need for these expensive programs—interest deductibility alone costs the federal government $100 billion a year—because they allow the average Joe to fulfill the American Dream of owning a home.

Sixty-eight percent of Americans own their own homes. And the rate of Canadian homeownership? It's 68.4 percent.

Canada has been remarkably responsible over the past decade or so. It has had 12 years of budget surpluses, and can now spend money to fuel a recovery from a strong position. The government has restructured the national pension system, placing it on a firm fiscal footing, unlike our own insolvent Social Security. Its health-care system is cheaper than America's by far (accounting for 9.7 percent of GDP, versus 15.2 percent here), and yet does better on all major indexes. Life expectancy in Canada is 81 years, versus 78 in the United States; "healthy life expectancy" is 72 years, versus 69. American car companies have moved so many jobs to Canada to take advantage of lower health-care costs that since 2004, Ontario and not Michigan has been North America's largest car-producing region.

I could go on. The U.S. currently has a brain-dead immigration system. We issue a small number of work visas and green cards, turning away from our shores thousands of talented students who want to stay and work here. Canada , by contrast, has no limit on the number of skilled migrants who can move to the country. They can apply on their own for a Canadian Skilled Worker Visa, which allows them to become perfectly legal "permanent residents" in Canada —no need for a sponsoring employer, or even a job. Visas are awarded based on education level, work experience, age and language abilities. If a prospective immigrant earns 67 points out of 100 total (holding a Ph.D. is worth 25 points, for instance), he or she can become a full-time, legal resident of Canada.

Companies are noticing. In 2007 Microsoft, frustrated by its inability to hire foreign graduate students in the United States, decided to open a research center in Vancouver. The company's announcement noted that it would staff the center with "highly skilled people affected by immigration issues in the U.S. " So the brightest Chinese and Indian software engineers are attracted to the United States, trained by American universities, then thrown out of the country and picked up by Canada —where most of them will work, innovate and pay taxes for the rest of their lives.

If President Obama is looking for smart government, there is much he, and all of us, could learn from our quiet—OK, sometimes boring—neighbor to the north.

Meanwhile, in the councils of the financial world, Canada is pushing for new rules for financial institutions that would reflect its approach. This strikes me as, well, a worthwhile Canadian initiative.

The Average Homeowner Is Worth 35 TIMES More Than The Average Renter

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:57:50 -0800

If you're renting and wondering if you should buy a home, consider what bestselling author, David Bach, says, "The average homeowner is worth 35 times more than the average renter."

He advises renters to take action immediately and start saving part of their paycheck every month to help accumulate a down payment. He also encourages renters to borrow 10-20 percent less than what the bank is willing to lend; that way they're only buying as much home as they can afford.

The longer you rent, the longer it may take you to eventually get into homeownership.

If the market conditions have scared you, perhaps you're not looking at the other side of the coin. Owning a home becomes part of your investment portfolio, provides tax benefits, allows you to build equity (it still exists), and, if you buy now, you may get an excellent deal.

According to a MarketWatch news article, buying a home now can provide some real negotiating power to request improvements, price reductions, help with closing costs, and more. "People can get a lot of what they need and almost all of what they want today," said Jay Papasan, one of the authors of "Your First Home".

But in order to make your purchase profitable, here are some things you should consider:

How long will you be in the home? Some experts advise that if you are planning to move within a year, buying may not be the best option because of the expenses associated with moving. However, if you're searching for a place to live for, at least, several years, buying now could be a good choice for you.

How much you can afford. Don't let tighter lending regulations scare you off from making a purchase. Instead, understand what you truly can afford. Don't get caught up in buying too much home. In fact, these days, the trend is moving toward smaller homes -- simpler living.

Mortgage rates drop to historical low. How much home you can afford is affected by mortgage interest rates that, right now, are highly appealing. Good credit, documenting your income, and a substantial down payment will make you a better candidate for the better mortgage rates.

Freedom to choose. Now, unlike several years ago, the market has a large inventory in many areas. The market time to sell a home has increased which creates a large inventory of homes, everything including new, existing, and power of sales. Buyers can peruse the market and have the freedom to select the home they really want. If you're interest is in a new home, know that many developers are getting more competitive with their pricing because they also have taken a hit by the ailing economy.

Quality of life. Buying a home can create a higher quality of life, giving you pride of homeownership, and something to enjoy improving and developing over the years.

Tax credit benefit. First time buyers can qualify for up to $2,000 of exemption from the Ontario Land Transfer Tax, plus the new budget has added an additional $750 incentive.

Here's How To Get Your Free 2009 Guide To Orangeville Area Real Estate Prices..

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:37:43 -0800

Here's How To Get Your Free 2009
Guide To Orangeville Area Real Estate Prices...

If you're just starting to look for a new home in Orangeville, this guide could be very helpful.

It's a comprehensive guide to the Orangeville real estate markets. Inside you'll get pictures and price ranges for 72 of the most common house styles available, along with features and descriptions, so when you're driving through these neighbourhoods you'll know how much the houses generally sell for...

It's like having the teacher's edition of your high school algebra book!

There are locator maps of Orangeville so you can find your way around.

The guide also includes important telephone numbers you'll need -- like schools, municipal offices and utilities.

When you request your guide, you'll also get information on homes that are currently for sale and a free subscription to the Orangeville MarketWatch newsletter, which gives you bi-weekly market updates of new homes as they come on the market.

To get your free guide fill out the form below... and your guide will be mailed right away!

Visit www.SearchOrangevilleHomes.com

Eight Questions For Your Agent

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:30:35 -0800

Eight Questions For Your Agent

Here is a list of questions to ask any agent you are considering for the job. More importantly, I have some tips on how to assess the answers you get.

1. Once I am ready to start looking at homes - what should I do?

just call me up when you are ready, let me know what neighbourhoods you're interested in, how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need and we can head out and start looking at homes

2. What are you looking for when we look at homes together?

Tip: You want to make sure that your agent can assess the condition of a home. Remember, this is a discussion, not a test. An agent does not have to mention every physical feature belonging to a particular home, and is unlikely to. No agent should be expected to do the work of a professional home inspector. But a good agent will mention at least a few key items, signalling to you that they are professional about evaluating homes.

3. Why should I confine myself to working with just one agent?

Tip: You may hear a lot of vague comments about extra service in response to this question, but any agent should be able to clearly explain to you the benefits of Buyer Agency. If you find that after reading our Homebuyers' Guide, your knowledge is better than that of the agents you are speaking to, it's probably not a very good sign.

4. If I would like to work with many agents, would you still be willing to work with me?

Tip: This question separates the professional consultant who values their work from the amateur who is willing to take any opportunity to potentially close a deal. We like agents who say NO. This may seem to work against the HomeBuyer, but the opposite is true. A good consultant providing you with a high value service asks for your loyalty in exchange. Agents who take pride in what they do and value the service they offer their clients choose to work under mutually beneficial conditions. You should be wary of a sales-focused agent who is too eager to work with you under less than reasonable conditions.

5. How do I pay for your services?

Tip: What you don't want to hear is some less than upfront story about buyer agents working for free. We know better. Buyer agents should be able to explain that their commissions are paid by HomeSellers (who in turn pass on some of this cost to Homebuyers through home prices). You want to be able to have a frank discussion about the compensation that will be earned by any agent you decide to work with.

6. What happens when you are not available to work with me?

Tip: Your aim is to understand how an agent manages even brief periods of unavailability. Answers such as "I'm always available" just don't cut it. After all, many dream houses have been found unexpectedly, so being able to act quickly is not something you want to leave to chance. What you want to hear is that the agent partners up or is associated with another agent who can act as backup. An agent should be able to explain this arrangement clearly to you and provide you with appropriate contact information.

7. Once I find a home I would like to purchase, would you be comfortable giving me your market valuation of that home in writing?

Tip: You want an agent's home valuation or Comparative Market Analysis in writing because you want to have a record of the advice that she is giving you, allowing you to hold them accountable for this advice. Real professionals will not have a problem with this. If the agent you are interviewing gives you some excuse as to why they do not feel comfortable doing this, it is up to you to decide if you want to work with someone who does not appear to have full confidence in their abilities.

8. Give me two examples of how you have helped HomeBuyers save money on their purchase?

Tip: A good agent should be able to share a couple of good, detailed stories about how he was able to save a client some money. If the agent you are talking to can't, you might wonder if saving your money is high on his list of priorities.

David Waters, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.
115 First Street
Orangeville, ON
(519) 942-8700
www.davidwaters.ca

www.SearchOrangevilleHomes.com

Free Orangeville HomeSearch Service

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:26:27 -0800

Free HomeSearch Service Helps
Orangeville & Area Homebuyers Buy Lovely Homes
From $250,000 To $500,000 For Zero Down

Dear Friend,

I'm David Waters, Sales Representative with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc. I started this service because many consumers think they need tens of thousands of dollars to buy a $250,000 to $500,000 home these days. You may have talked with Realtors or Lenders who have told you that you need $20,000, $40,000 or even $60,000 to buy a home in Orangeville.

Five years ago that may have been the case, but it is no longer true. As a matter of fact, right now there are eight loans that enable you to buy a $250,000 to $500,000 home for absolutely zero down payment, plus get up to $10,000 or more of free government money if you are a first time buyer.

It's easy to learn what homes and home loans are available with my new HomeSearch Service. Each night, my HomeSearch computers access the Orangeville area Multiple Listing Service and search through all the information on every home listed in the entire area by every real estate company.

The computers sift and sort through all of the new listings, automatically finding and matching the homes that meet your exact specifications. The system then mails, or if you prefer, automatically faxes or e-mails you that information on a daily, weekly or twice-weekly basis... your choice.

The HomeSearch Service gives you access to inside information normally available only to real estate agents. From the privacy of your home, on a daily basis, you receive information about every single home available in the area of your choice, and you receive this information even before many other real estate agents have seen it!

As you receive information about homes you're interested in, you can study, compare, and drive by the properties on your own. When you find a home you'd like to see, all you need to do is give us a call and we'll make arrangements to get you inside the home at your convenience.

I am totally service oriented. I'm not your typical salespeople but rather a consultant. At no time will you ever feel any pressure to buy a home. When you find the perfect home, you'll know it.

In addition to the HomeSearch Service, I have a HomeLoanFinder computer network that searches through 161 home loan programs to find the best home loan programs for you. This allows us to find the very best loan to meet your personal objectives - be it low interest rate, low monthly payments, or zero down payment.

As you can well imagine, there's just too much to tell you about in this brief letter, but it's easy for you to get more information. Just send me an email with your contact information, and I'll take care of the rest.

Sincerely,

David Waters, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.
115 First Street
Orangeville, ON
(519) 942-8700

REGISTER HERE!

Home Buying Class Helps Hundreds of First-Time Orangeville Home Buyers Find Their Dream Home

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:15:46 -0800

Home Buying Class Helps Hundreds of First-Time Orangeville Home Buyers Find Their Dream Home

Orangeville Couple Buys Their Dream Home Using Strategies and Tools Taught at a FREE, ALL NEW HOME BUYER CLASS

Orangeville, Ontario - Buying a home is a complex process. Title Insurance - inspections - negotiations - mortgages. To help ensure that your home purchase is profitable and problem free, six area companies have teamed up to sponsor a home buyer's class to teach you the secrets of successful home buying.

The class is presented in an information packed 2-hour format and held at 115 First Street in Orangeville. Whether you personally own a home or this is your first time, you will learn new tips and strategies for getting the best buy and the best mortgage.

At the class, you'll learn:

How much home can I afford?
What government programs do I qualify for?
How many zero down home loan programs do I qualify for?
What are closing costs?
What are the important differences between new and resale homes?
What programs do I qualify for that will pay my closing costs?
Do I qualify to receive up to $10,000 of Free Government Money?
Home inspections - do I need one?
What are the seven steps involved in buying a home?
Can I see my credit report? Is my credit good enough?
What's the best way to find the right home?
How do mortgages work?
How to avoid paying thousands more than the home is worth, without even knowing it!
How can I tap into the Realtor database to find the best homes before anyone else?

There Are More Than 151 Types Of Home Loans!
Do You Know Which One Is Best For You?

You may be able to buy more home than you think. Or maybe you can reduce your monthly payments by 25% or more. Just by taking a few simple steps, you could raise up to $10,000 or more for your downpayment. This means you can have that extra bedroom or two-car garage, just by knowing secrets that few buyers know!

We'll take the confusion away and replace it with practical, down-to-earth knowledge that you can use now. We'll make it simple. From getting started to getting moved in, we'll lead you all the way through the process.

At the class you will receive a FREE Buyers Manual to get you started in the right direction.

This and lots of other information is yours free with absolutely no obligation of any kind.

The class also includes:

Mortgage and Insurance Information
Realtor Home Search Information
Home Inspection Information
Legal Information

Here's what graduates have said about the Orangeville Buyer Class:

"Very informative. Friendly and well-explained."

"Really enjoyed it. Great experience. Learned a lot of little things we may not have thought of."

"Everything that was said was helpful and informative to me. I came into the seminar knowing almost nothing, now I know a lot more than I did. The experience was very good."

"The most helpful thing was having peace of mind knowing more about buying a new home. Very well done and clear."

"I thought everyone was great and explained everything well. This seminar was full of a lot of useful information."

"Great introductory overview of the home buying process."

"The inspection portion gave us a heads up about what to look for, and the lawyer spreadsheet regarding breakdown of fees was very helpful. Great seminar - a lot of information and answers provided."

"You receive a lot of great information and advice you won't be able to find anywhere else."

"There was a lot of information given that we had no idea about. Presenters were funny and informative."

"Definitely a must-take class."

"It was extremely helpful to have the whole group together to present the full story. Excellent comprehensive summary of all major aspects of home buying."

"It was nice to have people willing to take the time to help explain the whole process of buying a home."

There is NO CHARGE for the Class, and you can bring a guest - but you must pre-register. Class size is limited, so register early.

Class Presented By:

David Waters, Sales Rep, RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.
Alexis Drake, Mortgage Broker, Mortgagebrokers.com

Class Location:

115 First Street
Orangeville, Ontario L9W 3J8

Next Class Time and Date:

Tuesday, March 29th, 2009
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

(we're running one more in April, date to be posted soon)

REGISTER HERE!

Space is limited, so register today.

For more information about buying a home in Orangeville, visit: www.davidwaters.ca

Mandatory Home Energy Audit Coming to Ontario With New Green Energy Act

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:10:23 -0800

Via Bruce Johnson, ABR®, e-PRO®, GREEN® (RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc., Brokerage):

The Ontario government, in hopes of converting the province from an auto-industry driven economy to a green-energy driven economy with its groundbreaking Green Energy Act ( http://www.greenenergyact.ca/ ), may soon rival California as North America's "greenest" area.

"With this initiative, Ontario is on track to become a leader in the global shift to clean energy and in preventing dangerous climate change," said Mark Lutes, climate change and energy policy analyst for the David Suzuki Foundation.

However, an interesting tidbit tucked neatly into the legislation aims to make energy audits a mandatory step before someone can sell their home. And this has caused quite a stir in the real estate circles.

In a press release sent out by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), Bob McLean, director of communications, stated: "Ontario REALTORS® agree with the principle of energy efficiency for homes expressed in the Government of Ontario's proposed mandatory home energy audit, but they say that the additional costs will hurt homeowners, especially in these economic times.

"This mandatory government regulation will impose a significant cost on home sellers. As with most Canadians, we don't believe in green at any cost," said Gerry Weir, President of OREA "It's not the initial cost of these audits that concerns us," he said. "Rather, the results of these audits will be used by home buyers as bargaining chips to significantly reduce the final selling price.

"Today's economic downturn is a terrible time to introduce this measure. Home sellers are already worried about lost equity in their homes. A move like this, which will reduce their value even further, will not help them in any way," Mr. Weir said.

REALTORS® favour government encouragement of energy efficiency in homes through expanded tax breaks and other measures.

In addition, REALTORS® point out that there is no one standard for energy audits. Different firms arrive at different assessments of the same house. "EnerGuide ratings of an existing home can and do vary between energy auditors, depending on the assumptions they make and the extent of data they collect on the building's actual construction," Mr. Weir said.

Furthermore, since there is no regulation of energy auditors, a conflict of interest can arise if a contractor conducts the audit. There is a natural inclination for that contractor to find problems that he can offer to repair for the homeowner.

Many details of the energy audit proposal have not been released. For instance, the government has not said if an energy audit will be required if a property is transferred between family members. Nor have they said how long an energy audit will be recognized as valid. For example, if a homeowner sells within one year of buying a property, will the previous energy audit be recognized?"

--Interesting points, but I think we've got to start leading the way toward more energy efficient homes and this seems to be a step in the right direction. I welcome the opportunity to help guide my buyer clients through the maze of greenwashed homes by having a "window sticker" to look at in the form of an energy audit.

And I look forward to assisting my sellers in finding a reputable energy auditor, by helping explain what changes they can make to their home in order to make it more energy efficient and therefore attractive to a potential buyer. Bring on the Green Energy Act!

~Bruce

"People don't resist change. They resist being changed!" ~Peter M. Senge~

STATE OF THE MARKET January 2009 What is Happening in the ORANGEVILLE Real Estate Market?

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:34:50 -0800

The Average Selling Price in Orangeville increased from $246,143 in 2005 to $285,809 in December 2008 (see below chart), this is a 3.8% increase per year over the 4-year period.

Since and during the stock markets and world economy shakedown in November and December 2008, we are experiencing fewer sales and declining prices. As of January 31st, 2009 we have experienced 30% fewer sales than January 2008. There were 87 listings in Orangeville during January 2008 and as of January 31st there were 186. This is a 113% increase. Right now Buyers are very cautious and the properties that are selling are where the Sellers are realistic and motivated. There is presently a 6.6 month supply of homes on the market given current sales, making it a Buyers market.

With interest rates at an all time low*, and plenty of well-priced properties with motivated sellers, it's an excellent time to buy a new home or upgrade to a larger one.

New Listing In Shelburne - Great 3 Bedroom Bungalow With Finished Basement

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:03:11 -0800

YOU MUST see this house.

Home if purchased at $219,999 for 5% down - $10,950 95% mtg carries for $958 per month 35 yr am 4.10% 5 yr fixed rate.. This is cheaper than paying rent!

This home is now at 2006 market prices and must sell. If you know of anyone looking for something like this please pass this along!!!!

http://www.531parkave.com

or Search For Homes On
http://www.searchorangevillehomes.com/index.php?r=910

Amazing New Web Site Just Launched. FREE! Search over 500 homes for sale in Orangeville

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:49:35 -0800

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FREE! Search over 500 homes for sale in Orangeville,
PLUS: Find out how to buy a home with Zero Down

SearchOrangevilleHomes.com

Is the Water You Drink Safe?

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:32:16 -0700

North America has one of the safest water supplies in the world. However, national statistics don't tell you specifically about the quality and safety of the water coming out of your tap. That's because drinking water quality varies from place to place, depending on the condition of the source water from which it is drawn and the treatment it receives. Here in Orangeville and the surround areas the water is great is one place but in other areas where there are lots of farms the well water is not very good.

What contaminants may be found in drinking water?

There is no such thing as naturally pure water. In nature, all water contains some impurities. As water flows in streams, sits in lakes, and filters through layers of soil and rock in the ground, it dissolves or absorbs the substances that it touches. Some of these substances are harmless. In fact, some people prefer mineral water precisely because minerals give it an appealing taste. However, at certain levels minerals, just like man-made chemicals, are considered contaminants that can make water unpalatable or even unsafe. Some contaminants come from erosion of natural rock formations. Other contaminants are substances discharged from factories, applied to farmlands, or used by consumers in their homes and yards. Sources of contaminants might be in your neighborhood or might be many miles away. Your local water quality report tells which contaminants are in your drinking water, the levels at which they were found, and the actual or likely source of each contaminant. Some ground water systems have established wellhead protection programs to prevent substances from contaminating their wells. Similarly, some surface water systems protect the watershed around their reservoir to prevent contamination.

Where does drinking water come from?

A clean, constant supply of drinking water is essential to every community. People in large cities frequently drink water that comes from surface water sources, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Sometimes these sources are close to the community. Other times, drinking water suppliers get their water from sources many miles away. In either case, when you think about where your drinking water comes from, it's important to consider not just the part of the river or lake that you can see, but the entire watershed. The watershed is the land area over which water flows into the river, lake, or reservoir. In rural areas, people are more likely to drink ground water that was pumped from a well. These wells tap into aquifers--the natural reservoirs under the earth's surface--that may be only a few miles wide, or may span the borders of many regions. As with surface water, it is important to remember that activities many miles away from you may affect the quality of ground water.

How is drinking water treated?

When a water supplier takes untreated water from a river or reservoir, the water often contains dirt and tiny pieces of leaves and other organic matter, as well as trace amounts of certain contaminants. When it gets to the treatment plant, water suppliers often add chemicals called coagulants to the water. These act on the water as it flows very slowly through tanks so that the dirt and other contaminants form clumps that settle to the bottom. Usually, this water then flows through a filter for removal of the smallest contaminants like viruses and Giardia. Ground water is naturally filtered as it passes through layers of the earth into underground reservoirs known as aquifers. Water that suppliers pump from wells generally contains less organic material than surface water and may not need to go through any or all of the treatments described in the previous paragraph. The quality of the water will depend on local conditions. The most common drinking water treatment, considered by many to be one of the most important scientific advances of the 20th century, is disinfection. Most water suppliers add chlorine or another disinfectant to kill bacteria and other germs. Water suppliers use other treatments as needed, according to the quality of their source water. For example, systems whose water is contaminated with organic chemicals can treat their water with activated carbon, which absorbs or attracts the chemicals dissolved in the water.

What are the health effects of contaminants in drinking water?

The contaminants fall into two groups according to the health effects that they cause. Your water supplier will alert you through the media, mail, or other means if there is a potential acute or chronic health effect from compounds in the drinking water. You may want to contact the supplier for additional information specific to your area. Acute effects occur within hours or days of the time that a person consumes a contaminant. People can suffer acute health effects from almost any contaminant if they are exposed to extraordinarily high levels (as in the case of a spill). In drinking water, microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, are the contaminants with the greatest chance of reaching levels high enough to cause acute health effects. Most people's bodies can fight off these microbial contaminants the way they fight off germs, and these acute contaminants typically don't have permanent effects. Nonetheless, when high enough levels occur, they can make people ill, and can be dangerous or deadly for a person whose immune system is already weak due to HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, steroid use, or another reason. Chronic effects occur after people consume a contaminant at levels over safety standards for many years. The drinking water contaminants that can have chronic effects are chemicals (such as disinfection by-products, solvents, and pesticides), radionuclides (such as radium), and minerals (such as arsenic). Examples of the chronic effects of drinking water contaminants are cancer, liver or kidney problems, or reproductive difficulties.

How can I help protect drinking water?

Using the new information that is now available about drinking water, citizens can both be aware of the challenges of keeping drinking water safe and take an active role in protecting drinking water. There are lots of ways that individuals can get involved. Some people will help clean up the watershed that is the source of their community's water. Other people might get involved in wellhead protection activities to prevent the contamination of the ground water source that provides water to their community. These people will be able to make use of the information that local authorities and water systems are gathering as they assess their sources of water.

Other people will want to attend public meetings to ensure that the community's need for safe drinking water is considered in making decisions about land use. And all consumers can do their part to conserve water and to dispose properly of household chemicals.

CENTURY HOME ON 1.65 ACRES NEAR SHELBURNE

David Waters (RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:48:30 -0700

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Description

Country Living Without The Work. This Spectacular 2 1/2 Story Century Home With Large Addition + Parking For 12 Cars Is For You. Located On 1.65 Acres Of County Surroundings With Fantastic Views, Is The Ideal Place To Work Or Call Home. Features 5 Bedrooms,3 Baths, Original Woodwork Throughout Home Cozy Wood Stove In Family Room, Large Workshop & Spacious Light Filled Gathering Spaces Add To The Charm Of This Beautiful Home Only. 10 Mins To Amenities.

Upgrades Include, New Shingles, Soffit & Facia (05),Exterior 2nd Floor Bathroom Totally Reno'd (08).50% New Windows Since 99,Huge Kitchen Has Been Completely Upgraded With Harwood Flooring, New Solid Wood Cabinetry & Windows, 200 Amp Panel, Features: Golf, Skiing, Wooded/Treed for more details and photos please visit WWW.DAVIDWATERS.CA

Features

Bedrooms:	5
Bathrooms:	3
Parking:	20
Year Built:	1910
Lot Size:	1.65 Acres
Garage Size:	2
School District:	Centennial Highland ES
Square Footage:	2500
Agent Name:	David Waters
Broker:	RE/MAX Select Realty Ltd
MLS #:	X1355303
Heat:	Oil
Type:	Forced Air
Taxes:	$2,241 (2007)

Location

518145 County Rd 124 Shelburne Ontario

vFlyerId: 1745296

David's Prespective On The Orangeville Real Estate Market

Orangeville MarketWatch Update - January 7th 2009

Do you know the 10 Most Expensive Mistakes People Make When They Buy Or Sell A Home?

Ok, I have a great site that helps people findout about my area (Orangeville Ontario)

pssst! Do you know the 10 Most Expensive Mistakes People Make When They Buy Or Sell A Home? Visit www.SearchOrangevilleHomes.com

Learn more and buy smart!! That's the way to a happy client.

David

Living in Orangeville Ontario

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Is the Water You Drink Safe?

What contaminants may be found in drinking water?

Where does drinking water come from?

How is drinking water treated?

What are the health effects of contaminants in drinking water?

How can I help protect drinking water?

CENTURY HOME ON 1.65 ACRES NEAR SHELBURNE

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