Royal LePage Niagara Home Connection August 2010

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

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

Fort Erie Beach District $139,900

3 Bedroom 1 1/2 storey home Cul De Sac near The Friendship Trail in Fort Erie. Eat-in kitchen includes appliances, 2 bathrooms, formal dining room, den, new roof July 2010, tankless hot water home heating system, NO VISIBLE REAR NEIGHBOURS. View the virtual tour www.SallyDollar.com

Canada's real estate market to cool slightly after strong first half

Canada's residential real estate market will start to slow in the second half of 2010 after two quarters of strong price appreciation and sales activity, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast. While market fundamentals remain strong across most major centres in Canada, sales activity was overly 'front-loaded' in the first half of the year and is expected to cool off for the third and fourth quarters. Prices are also expected to steady in the second half of the year.

In the second quarter, the average price of a detached bungalow in Canada was up 9 percent to $331,868, compared to a year ago. Over the same period, standard two-storey homes rose 8.7 percent to $367,835 while standard condominiums rose 7.3 percent to $230,014. Royal LePage is forecasting that by the end of 2010, home price appreciation will average 6.8 percent year-over-year, while home sales will increase by just over one percent compared to 2009.

"We have seen an unusual pattern of activity in the housing market over the past 12 months, with the market experiencing a surge of activity and price increases that peaked in the fall of 2009 rather than spring. Early 2010 has followed a more typical seasonal pattern with prices and activity peaking in the second quarter," said Phil Soper, president and chief executive, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. "An expected increase in the supply of homes on the market will now bring stabilization in prices and in some cities we will see both prices and unit sales decline towards the end of the year. This should not be interpreted as a severe correction but rather a natural reaction to the market having peaked quite early this year."

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that these factors may have prompted an increase in housing market activity in early 2010, as people sought to get out ahead of the changes," Soper said. "Moving into the next six months, key economic indicators such as employment growth will continue to bolster consumer confidence and help to ensure a fundamentally healthy housing market."

For more information, please see the Royal LePage Survey of Canadian House Prices at www.royallepage.ca.

If you are wondering what your home is worth in today's market, please contact me and let me put my expertise to work for you!

Average house prices are based on an average of all sub-markets examined in the area, except for the smaller markets of Charlottetown, Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John and Victoria.

Are you constantly misplacing household items like your screwdriver or tennis racquet? If so, perhaps your household needs a little re-organizing. Whether your home is a compact condo, cozy semi, or spacious detached, we can all benefit from a periodic check-in to see if we are making the best use of our space.

For house owners...
Take a peek inside many Canadian garages and chances are you won't see a car. Garages and basements often become a dumping ground for all the things we rarely use. Here are five quick ways to makeover your garage and/or basement:

• Clear the clutter! Have a yard sale, sell your unused goods online, or donate items to your local charity.
  
• Add tall utility shelving to free up floor space, keeping any hazardous cleaning, garden, and automotive supplies out of reach of children by placing them on the top shelves.
  
• Store lesser used items on utility shelving in plastic storage containers with lids to keep out dust and moisture. Use bigger bins on casters for more frequently used items and roll them out of the way, such as under a worktable.
  
• Clear off your workbench and use a wall or pegboard to hang frequently used tools and store the rest in a tool chest. Use jars or plastic bins for storing and organizing smaller items like nails, screws, and nuts.
  
• Hang skis, bikes, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrows and other unwieldy sport, garden, and household items off purpose-built wall hooks or in specialty containers to keep them free from damage.
  

• Transfer your music collection to a digital format and sell your space-hogging records and CDs.
  
• Keep out-of-season clothes and spare linens in vacuum-sealed storage bags under the bed. Use hooks for bathrobes, clothes, purses, or even jewellery.
  
• Use decorative baskets for small items like magazines, hats, scarves, mittens, and children's toys to keep things neat and organized.
  
• Open or floating shelving will create the illusion of space while providing stylish storage for household and decorative items.
  
• Invest in multi-functional furniture versus individual pieces which can take up valuable floor space. For example, a padded ottoman can be used as coffee table, storage space, and extra seating.
  
  

Luxury for Less

Just because you are on a budget, doesn't mean you have to compromise on style in your home. If it's time to refresh your décor but you don't think you have the necessary funds, think again. Here are a few ways you can add a touch of luxury to any room of your home without breaking the bank:

Start with the walls
No room of your home can ever feel luxurious if the paintwork is shabby or wallpaper looks dull or weathered. A new coat of paint or wallpaper is the fastest, and easiest way to a fresh new look. If painting, consider a suede, satin or cashmere finish in a neutral colour for a look of elegance. If wallpapering, consider rich colours, textures or traditional patterns. Use good quality products for best results.

Liven up the living room
Add an instant touch of lavishness with one or two large cushions in rich embroidered fabric, velvet or faux fur. Add warmth to your wood floors with a shag rug for modern décor, Turkish or Oriental style for more traditional tastes. No need to splurge on new lamps, simply update the shades with linen or silk-like material. Give a favourite piece of furniture a makeover with updated sleek metal hardware or repaint with an attractive gloss paint.

Beautify bedrooms & bathrooms
Buy beautiful bed linen when it is on sale. Billowy comforters or duvets with plenty of plump pillows make the whole room look luxurious and inviting. A plush rug for stepping in and out of bed gives a sumptuous start and end to your day. Add plenty of thick fresh towels and large pillar candles in the bathroom to set a pampered scene. Invest in light switch dimmers to create the ambiance you desire.

Get chic in the kitchen
Freshen up cabinetry with new paint or modern hardware and update lighting fixtures. Buy a beautiful tablecloth or table runner and top it off with a potted orchid in an attractive pot. Rather than using every day chipped or stained mugs, treat yourself to a couple of fine china tea cups from a thrift store or good quality coffee mugs for your favourite brew. Then sit back, enjoy tea for two with a friend, and truly savour the moment.