905-937-6000 (Office)
1-866-999-9497 (Office)
dollar@royallepage.ca
www.SallyDollar.com

Royal LePage Niagara R.E. Centre, Brokerage
Visit: www.SallyDollar.com
101 LAKEPORT RD
ST. CATHARINES, ON L2N7L7

Executive 2 Bedroom corner unit in Southgate Condominium near Pen Centre and Niagara escarpment in South St. Catharines. Just over 1400 sq.ft. of living space including in-suite laundry & balcony. Fabulous location in a beautifully well-kept building. $249,900.00 View virtual tour @ www.SallyDollar.com

Here are just a few of the programs that are available to make home buying easier in these economic times. It is also part of the services that I provide as a BUYER REPRESENTATIVE when you hire me. I will sit down and go through the process step by step with you and show you how you can save money and apply for rebates. Even if you are not ready to purchase a home just yet, its a good time to swtart your research. Just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to hear from you.

Canada's Government introduces financial help for first-time home buyers.
Canada's Economic Action Plan supports the Canadian home construction and real estate industries, with a First-Time Home Buyers' tax credit that will provide up to $750 in tax relief to first-time home buyers; and an increase in the amount that they can withdraw from an RRSP to purchase a home from $20,000 to $25,000. For more information see: www.actionplan.gc.ca

First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit (HBTC): To assist first-time home buyers with the costs related to the
purchase of a home, Budget 2009 proposes to introduce a First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit. A 15-per-cent credit will be applied to a $5,000 amount, and will provide up to $750 in tax relief to reduce the costs associated with first home purchases completed after January 27, 2009. For more information see: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/bdgt/2009/fqhbtc-eng.html

First Time Home Buyers' Program - Property Transfer Tax Act: It is important that the client understand all requirements of the FTHB program, including changes announced in Budget 2008 that became effective February 20, 2008. Please see: http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/bulletins/PTT_004.pdf to find out more.

The Home Buyers' Plan allows eligible individuals to withdraw up to $20,000 tax free from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to purchase or build a qualifying home. For more information see: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/home_buyers_plan.shtml

FOR EVERYONE:

Home Renovation Tax Credit: Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) will provide a temporary 15 per cent income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010. The credit may be claimed for the 2009 taxation year 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. For more information see: http://jasminahomes.ca/home-renovation-tax-credit-home-buyers-plan-eco-energy-grants-in-canada#section4

Selling your home, or just thinking of it? Here are some tips to help you get it ready and sell yours for more than your next door neighbor's, and faster!

Most buyers will know within 15 SECONDS after crossing the threshold if they want your home. But first, you need to attract them inside!

11 home staging steps to take to sell your home for top dollar:

1. Start at the street. The buyer's first glimpse of your home must entice them inside. Design Psychology goes further than mere curb appeal. Here are some easy additions you can make to help your home outshine the competition:

Add a couple of BIG plants, either in hanging baskets or pots, to the porch, which will lead buyers' eyes to the entrance.

The first color our eyes process is yellow, so place yellow flowers near the front door.

Plant white flowering annuals, since they look clean and show up better at night.

2. Get rid of brown or dead leaves and bare spots in the yard. Add mulch to cover bare dirt near the house. Bright flowers hold the eye and "fill" empty areas, but you don't need to add plants to every space. Just make sure that everything looks neat.

3. Paint your front door a happy color. Yellow-gold (amber), red
(blue-based), sage, apple, or forest green, depending on the other colors of your home, will attract the eye and create happy feelings. Buyers won't notice the Color Psychology you're employing, but they'll love the result.

4. Once buyers step inside the front door, they usually make their minds up within 15 SECONDS, so first impressions are vitally important. Focus your attention on the first wall buyers will see, and then hang a mirror on that wall large enough to reflect the buyer's image. It will psychologically reinforce the buyer's presence in the home when they see themselves in the mirror, causing them to imagine living in your home.

5. Go beyond just clearing clutter, and remove furnishings that don't add to the setting. Also clear bathroom and kitchen countertops. Under-furnished homes let the buyer's imagination fill rooms with their own belongings. Once they visualize their favorite chair in a particular spot, you have a sale.

6. Pack away your personal photographs, trophies, diplomas, and small accessories and stack them neatly in the garage or a separate storage space. That will also protect you from having strangers view your personal life.

7. If your home looks too bare, replace your personal treasures with house plants or cuttings from the garden. Be creative.
Use tree branches and fresh flowers to bring nature indoors.
Fill vases and glass jars with fresh cuttings and set them in baskets. Add green house plants in winter, spring, and fall.

During hot selling seasons, use green, silver and gray foliage to help keep your home visually cool.

8. Lighting affects your buyers' emotions and is a crucial design
element for happiness, so turn on the lights when showing your
home. Day-like light bulbs enhance happiness. Amber and pink light bulbs warm, while blue light cools.

9. Air the house out. You get used to odors, but buyers shouldn't
smell anything other than natural pleasing scents like wood burning in the fireplace or fresh lemon in the summer. Cut up a grapefruit and run sections through the garbage disposal. It's both refreshing and clean smelling.

10. Buyers like temperatures around 70 degrees in the winter and 67 degrees in the summer, so turn up the thermostat in the winter and turn it down in the summer.

11. Park your car out of the way and encourage buyers to park in a space where their car won't block the view from the inside.

Remember, you've only got 15 seconds to sell your home, but by using Design Psychology techniques, you can convert lookers into buyers and get top dollar for your home.

NOTE: from Sally

Especially in this slower market, where houses are sitting longer and getting less money...... why would you NOT have your home staged? A few hundred dollars can turn in to thousands of dollars and a faster sale. Our home stagers can show you what work needs to be done so you can do it OR they also have access to professionals to do it for you if you would rather not or are not handy. I have access to professional home stagers who can help you get your home sold for the maximum price in the least amount of time. Just ask.....

This is fantastic news for travellers in our area! Even better for our GREENing and our Niagara Residents who dont like the drive on the QEW. Our seniors or non-drivers can now get around easier! Go Transit has started in St. Catharines and Niagara. A ticket from Niagara to Unionville is only $14..... check out the fares - you can even take your bike.

Visitors to Niagara Falls have another way to get there - by GO Train. For the first time, GO Transit is running seasonal weekend and holiday train service to Niagara Region.

This excursion service offers four train trips daily in each direction on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Saturday, June 27 through to Thanksgiving weekend, Monday, October 12.

If you visit the site www.GOtransit.com you can view the prices and destinations.

NOTE: From Sally
Niagara is growing and prospering.....what a great place to live and invest! Another good reason to relocate to our area. I have spent my lifetime in Niagara enjoying all it has to offer. If you know anyone that wants to relocate back to our area or is a first timer to Niagara and wants to buy a property here - let them know that I am here to help them. I will share my knowledge of the Good, The Bad and They Ugly....of the area and make them feel welcome. I can guide them to all the professionals they need as well as the best the area has to offer. I love Niagara and it shows!!!!

©2009 Brookfield Real Estate Services Fund.