Paul Rushforth's (paulrushforthteam) Blog

From Bought to Sold & In Between - It's FINISHED!!!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:01:07 -0700

Episode 9 - Ottawa Real Estate Flip - From Bought to Sold & In Between!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:24:25 -0700

Flipping an Investment - Episode 8!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:22:38 -0700

Episode 6 - From Bought to SOLD & In Between - The FLIP

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:25:21 -0700

Week 5 - From Bought to Sold & In Between

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:36:07 -0700

Flipping a Home! From Bought to Sold & In Between!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:12:12 -0700

Paul Rushforth on Understanding the Ottawa Real Estate Board May Statistics

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:17:19 -0700

The Flip! Following an Investment from Bought to Sold & In Between!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:49:41 -0700

Paul Rushforth Presents 649 St. Felix, Cheney $379,900

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 07 May 2010 04:04:16 -0700

Paul Rushforth Presents 1820 Nicolet Way, Orleans $350,000

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 06 May 2010 08:34:25 -0700

2067 Scully Way, Orleans, Ontario $269,900

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:50:58 -0700

Perfect Starter Home!

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Slide Show Neighborhood

$269,900

TownhouseFor Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms

Location

2067 Scully WayOttawa K4A 3W3Orleans, ON K4A 4L9

Paul S Rushforth Keller Williams Ottawa Realty613 788.2122information@paulrushforth.comhttp://www.PaulRushforth.com Listed by: Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty

Our recent listings Cute Bungalow on Oversized LotOn Quiet CourtPerfect Starter Home!

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Orleans, ON real estate for sale

61 Roberge Cr, Kanata Ontario $319,900

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:46:25 -0700

Cute Bungalow on Oversized Lot

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Video Neighborhood

$319,900

Single Family HomeFor Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms

Location

61 Roberge CrescentKanata, ON K2L 4G7

Paul S Rushforth Keller Williams Ottawa Realty613 788.2122information@paulrushforth.comhttp://www.PaulRushforth.com Listed by: Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty

Our recent listings Cute Bungalow on Oversized LotOn Quiet CourtPerfect Starter Home!

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Kanata, ON real estate for sale

12 Fulham Court, Barrhaven $290,000

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:44:32 -0700

On Quiet Court

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Slide Show Neighborhood

$290,000

Single Family HomeFor Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms

Location

12 Fulham CourtOttawa, ON K2J 2L6

Paul S Rushforth Keller Williams Ottawa Realty613 788.2122information@paulrushforth.comhttp://www.PaulRushforth.com Listed by: The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty

Our recent listings Cute Bungalow on Oversized LotOn Quiet CourtPerfect Starter Home!

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Ottawa, ON real estate for sale

What do the April Ottawa Real Estate Board Stats Mean to You?

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:11:24 -0700

What Should You Expect from your Ottawa Real Estate Agent?

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:03:14 -0700

How Do Ottawa Mortgage Rates Affect You?

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:10:40 -0700

Tips for Ottawa Home Owners on Preparing Your Home for Sale!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:15:21 -0700

Ottawa's UPCOMING Balanced Market

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:33:28 -0800

We have seen a strong seller s market since January 1st of this year, low interest rates coupled with a lack of home inventory in Ottawa and the impending HST introduction has caused a sellers delight and a buyer’s nightmare. For 2 months homes have been priced high and bidding wars have pushed prices higher than anticipated and higher than the Ottawa market can sustain. Just recently home buyers have seen the increase in price as out of control and will likely put a slow end to this sellers market. With the temperature warming and the spring market upon us, sellers are flocking to the market hoping for the unrealistic returns of the last 2 months. As inventory increases and supply increases the demand on homes will subside a little. Ottawa hasn’t seen such a strong sellers market for decades, as mentioned earlier, low interest rates, lack of inventory and the impending HST introduction on July 1st has caused a lot of sellers to hit the market prematurely and a lot of buyers to be frustrated and over paying for homes in the usual slow months of real estate. As the top real estate team in Ottawa and as the top authority on real estate in the Ottawa area, I have good news to report on the soon to be balanced market. Ottawa residents have seen the average sale price in Ottawa go from 300k to 330k overnight and the threat of a bubble has caused a few economists to worry. I am pleased to report the economists are worried for no reason as the market is changing and changing fast. Home sellers are hitting the market at a torrid pace hoping to cash in on this dream sellers market. Unfortunately in Orleans the market has peaked and home sellers are now in heavier competition which will cause for more accurate pricing and less demand for homes as supply increases. Ottawa over the years has seen sellers markets, buyers markets and balanced markets, as Ottawa’s authority on real estate I am confident to say that the only market that creates a win-win for all involved is a balanced market which is where Orleans is heading for a while. For all your real estate news and info, tune in to Open House the real estate and mortgage show on CFRA 580 am every Saturday from 10am to 11am. For more information visit us online at www.PaulRushforth.com

8140 Iveson Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K0A 2P0

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:05:30 -0800

Absolutely stunning home on secluded, private treed lot in Country Hill Estates $744,900 or Trade 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom home boasting all the bells and whistles. High ceilings, crown mouldings, textured walls with rounded corners with pristine maple hardwood and tumbled marble throughout. Gourmet kitchen with loads of cupboards and top of the line appliances. Soaring ceilings in living room with roaring fireplace flanked by oversized windows. Master bedroom retreat with his/her closets, covered balcony and luxurious five piece ensuite bath and whirlpool tub. This home also features a walk out lower level. Click HERE for more details

The Power of Social Media & The Kindness of Strangers

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:10:25 -0800

I recently joined Twitter on the recommendation of a friend of mine, Kelli Catana (@kellidaisy). I was a little skeptical at first about Twitter but once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed it. I have made some great connections with people and have discovered a lot interesting people and businesses in my community. But it was just recently that I discovered how powerful Twitter can really be and how generous of a community it really is. Our office recently signed on to be part of The Ottawa Food Bank Drive Away Hunger Campaign. As we were nearing the end of the campaign I was a little disappointed to see that we had no one drop any donations off to the office. Our office manager Jocelyne (@jocelynewhite) was going to purchase a donation on behalf of our office but we were really hoping that our community would help out as well so we could make a large donation to the Food Bank. That was when Twitter saved the day! I had taken to Twitter to appeal to my local followers that we were looking for donations when Shawna (@ParlezShawna) the local Parlez Wireless Telus rep tweeted that Parlez Wireless wanted to make a donation. Awesome! But that wasn't all. It seemed that Boston Pizza Orleans (@BPOrleans) was hosting a tweet up for local twitterers and one of the participants, Laurie St. Julien (@lauriestj) suggested that they turn the tweet up into a food drive! Local photographer Cherie-Lynn Buchanan (@CLBuchananPhoto) then agreed to raffle off the chance to win a free mini-session for anyone who brought a minimum of 5 food items for donation. Leslie from Boston Pizza then added an additional $25 gift certificate as well. By the end of the tweet up, 10 different twitterers has each brought in a generous donation for our office food drive! Laurie and Candace Derickx, the owners ofThe Best Tools for Schools even went so far as to provide a few cases of food! So at the end of the day our office was able to provide a generous donation to the Ottawa Food Bank to help those in our community who are in need this holiday season. I would like to give a big thank you to the following people from twitter for their generous donations; @ParlezShawna, @LisaLarter, @LaurieStJ, @bitofmomsense, @BPOrleans, @Kellidaisy, @Sheila_gh, @LiteMochaMom, @MrsLoulou, @GlidingLara, @CandaceDX, @CLBuchananPhoto. So thank you to these people and thank you to Twitter for allowing me to make these connections! On behalf of my entire team I hope you all had a very Happy Holiday Season and wish you all the best in the coming year! Paul

The New Networking Philosophy

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:32:30 -0800

It has often been said that, it's who you know, not what you know that can make you successful. In order to be great at sales, regardless of the industry, you needed to get out there and network. Salespeople were taught to go to networking breakfasts, lunches, seminars, charity functions, business meetings, even church; all in an attempt to meet more people and make themselves known. All of this is still not bad advice necessarily (although I can not say that I endorse the idea of someone attending church if their only purpose is to attract more clients- seems kind of wrong, in a going to hell kind of way) However, today's business networking beats to a different drum. Social networking has surpassed actual face-to-face networking in terms of being accessible to a whole variety of people, all from the comfort of their home. I can hardly remember how I kept in touch with people BF (Before Facebook), and I have had a number of clients approach me with real estate questions, eventually resulting in new clients for me. I can send a message about work related events to hundreds of people at once, keeping me at their top of mind awareness radar. Now, in addition to that, we have twitter, we have blogging, we can have online memberships to exclusive groups of people who have certain interests in common. One realtor that I know has actually gotten a couple of new clients as a result of her postings on a Coronation Street Fansite. People no longer have to rely on the yellow pages to find a professional; they just reach out and tweet somebody. People like doing business with people that they like; bottom line. And if you have common interests, well, that makes you more interesting, more likeable, more trustworthy in their eyes. It's not just your own blog that can affect your business either. I read in the paper last week about a woman who's blog about family life has made her a credible resource for companies, who are now approaching her to review their products on her blog. People shopping for goods and services will check her blog for reviews, and use her blog posts as a resource for investigating their next purchase. Goodbye Consumer reports- if someone likes you, it's probably on a blog. If they don't like you, it's definitely on a blog. And if they hate you, it's probably their Facebook status update, in real time, for all the world to see. It's suddenly become an instant connection to the universe. It's no longer the adage from that old hair commercial "and they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on.....". You can be instantly praised or decimated to hundreds of people at once, with little or no control over the news. Your best defense; as always, a good offense. Do right by your clients every time and they will do right by you. And if not, well.....I'm sure it will be fine. How many people actually use the internet anyways?

A New Greener Home

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:28:15 -0800

Green is the new black. It seems that everywhere you go these days you can’t escape this new environmental trend. Green cars, green cleaning products, green clothes, green food, it’s become one of the hottest ways to advertise and create a buzz in new products. Of course, the real estate industry is not immune to this new phenomenon. Many people are looking at greener homes, from renovating and installing environmentally friendly floors, to Energy Star appliances to just making small changes to decrease the amount of heat and hydro being used. Now, you can even have an entirely green home built. You can create the style of home you want, from traditional to modern, with many of the décor looks you enjoy in regular homes. These new homes are extremely energy efficient with not only Energy Star appliances, but state of the art heating and cooling systems, air tight windows and monitored lighting systems. Air filtration systems allow clean fresh air to enter the building so that the air tight windows do not stop all air flow into the building. Materials low in volatile compounds are used as to not irritate sensitive inhabitants. Recycled materials and renewable resources are used when available to provide an all around “green” affect. Builders are starting to pop these homes up all over the country. Call us for more information on green homes and where you can find yours!

Investors - Tips on Finding the Perfect Tenant!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:58:27 -0800

So you’ve taken the steps to setup an investment property to unlock your financial freedom. Now how do you find a reliable and responsible tenant that you can trust? Tenants are protected and it can be very difficult to get rid of a bad tenant. Here are a few tips on finding the right tenant the first time around: 1. Create a list of questions. Tenants will call to find out information about the property, but you should always a have a list of questions yourself, like why are the moving? Do they have pets? How many people will be residing in the rental? How long do they plan to stay? 2. First impressions are always key. When showing the property, try to pick up on cues of the persons habits, like if the wiped their shoes before entering the unit, or what types of questions were they asking during the showing? This is your opportunity to gage the tenant before having them sign the lease. 3. Take them through an application process. Ask for financial, employment records and references. Follow up on the references as well. Some people think that people will only give references names knowing that they will give them a good report, but that is not always the case. It always pays to follow up. 4. Sign a lease and take a security deposit! Before signing on the dotted line, you can always back out if something about the tenant rubs you the wrong away. But always protect your rights by having them sign a lease before they get the keys. As well, a security deposit could save you headaches down the road if they pose a problem with property destruction or lack of rent payment. Good luck with finding the perfect tenant!

Catering to the Trendy Professional!

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:16:24 -0800

There has been a boom in new condo developments in Ottawa in the past couple of years, as many people look to live closer to the urban centres. Many of these new buildings have been planned by well known local developers, such as Minto, Claridge, Ashcroft, Richcraft, and Domicile, to name a few. However, there is a new player in town, who's specialty happens to be the more contemporary big city loft, Urban Capital. Urban Capital has been developing in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and New York, in addition to Ottawa. They started with the East Market Lofts, then moved on to new ground, upgrading the offerings and amenities as they went even more upscale. Buyers have just started moving into their showpiece building (built in collaboration with Tamarack), the Mondrian, which is the new "it" address for the young and trendy professional. Urban Capital is also doing everything they can to keep their clients happy after the sale too. They have launched an VIP affinity program for their owners called Urbaina, which effectively gives them prenegotiated discounts from everything from upscale furniture stores to moving companies, right down to the trendy nightspots these urban dwellers frequent for dinner, rather than staying home and cooking. Consumer response to this new developer has been unprecedented! Buyers lined up for hours on release day for their latest venture, Central, to get their chance to purchase a unit at fantastic pre-release prices. Many potential buyers were turned away even after spending hours in line - I should know, I was one of the unlucky ones that did not make it inside on release day. Their newest building will be a 233 unit LEED silver mixed use building, with retail stores on the ground level, and residential suites above, surrounding a green courtyard area. Location is ideal, nestled between Centretown and the Glebe, and features such amenities such as a fully equipped state of the art gym, film screening room, and a double storey lounge and party room. The most popular units in these buildings are the one bedroom models, for both regular buyers and investors alike. The target client for these buildings are the young urban professional, who aren't looking for much space, but who do appreciate the finer things in life; granite countertops, hardwood floors, and a city's worth of amenities on their doorstep, and they don't mind opening their wallets to get what they want. Central has just done another release of 1 bedroom lofts in order to meet the high demand, which I'm sure, like Mondrian, will sell out before the building goes up. Central is slated for completion in 2011, and there will be 233 people waiting anxiously for the keys to their new condo, and their new lifestyle.

Oil Heat - Should You Be Concerned?

Paul Rushforth (The Paul Rushforth Team - Keller Williams Ottawa Realty) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:55:57 -0800

One of my clients is currently debating changing their heating system from an oil furnace to a natural gas system. Oil has been very reliable for them so far, but the tank is now 31 years old, and it's time to get a new one, or risk future issues. A leaking fuel oil tank is a serious fire and environmental hazard, and cleaning up a spill from a fuel oil tank is expensive. In some cases, a cleanup can cost more than the property is worth, so the best medicine is preventing an issue in the first place. More than 40% of all oil spills in Canada are from domestic oil tanks used to heat homes. These heating fuel oil tanks deteriorate over time and most corrode from the inside out. This internal corrosion is caused by the accumulation of water and sludge at the bottom of the oil tank that can result in small pinhole leaks, which is bad news indeed. Some things to look for on your tank that might indicate a potential issue are signs of rust or corrosion on the legs of the fuel tank, dents, weeping or dripping oil on the outside of the tank, and signs of leaks or spills around the fill pipe or vent pipe or by the tank itself. You also want to take a look at the fuel guage on the tank, to see if it is cracked, or not working properly. Any of these "symptoms" could indicate a problem with your tank, and you should have a qualified inspector check it out immediately. Even if you don't have any obvious issues, you should have your tank inspected at least once a year by a registered contractor, and most insurance companies recommend that you should consider replacing your fuel oil tank if it's older than 15 years old. There can also be insurance issues, especially if the above-ground tank is more than 10 years old, or if there is no proof of recent cleaning, inspection and safety testing, no matter what the age of the tank. Many people who have oil furnaces are now making the switch to a natural gas system, rather than absorb the cost of replacing the tank, due to substantial energy savings by upgrading the furnace. Compared to oil heat, natural gas can save you up to 55% on your energy bill, and if natural gas is available on your street, switching from an oil to natural gas furnace is simple. The cost of switching from electric to natural gas is made up in long term energy savings and improved comfort. Yes, it will probably cost you $5-$6000 or so, but the government is also offering a number of rebates for both home renovations and improvements in energy efficiency. There's never been a better time to upgrade your furnace, and downgrade your heating bills. -Tracy-