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Sally Dollar - Royal LePage Niagara October E-Newsletter 2010

By
Real Estate Agent with Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate
Royal LePage Niagara Home Connection
Sally Dollar Sally Dollar
Sales Representative

905-937-6000 (Office)
1-866-999-9497

1-866-999-9497 (Toll Free)
dollar@royallepage.ca
www.SallyDollar.com

Royal LePage Niagara R.E. Centre, Brokerage
View Local Events at www.SallyDollar.com
101 LAKEPORT RD
ST. CATHARINES, ON L2N7L7

In this issue...
· Featured Listing
· Step By Step Guidance for Home Buying
· Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
· What eager first-timers need to know before the house hunt
Fall has definately arrived in Niagara!

The weather has been cool & we had our 1st frost warning. Its time to batten down the hatches and prepare for colder weather. There are definate real estate deals out there ready to be had. We are heading in to what is usually the best time of year to buy a home. The summer prices have been reduced & the sellers are anxious. Dont forget to get yourselves pre-approved for a mortgage if you are looking - it will lock in a rate for you just in case you find something. Call me if you are looking for real estate help - I am glad to share my knowledge with you.

90 Maple Street

Downtown Starter Home $159,900

Cleaned, and renovated and freshly painted for you. Loft master bedroom with wood plank flooring. Large kitchen with plenty of counterspace and a pass-thru to dining room, includes gas stove & fridge. Two bedrooms plus small bedroom, nursery or office. New laminate and vinyl flooring, neutral paint colours, forced air furnace 2004, vinyl windows, central air, roof 2007. Main floor laundry room. View photos www.SallyDollar.com

 

Home Buying Step by StepEver wished you were sure that the real estate agent you are working with represents you and only you? Why not HIRE YOUR OWN REALTOR/BUYER REPRESENTATIVE? I will take you through the process step by step from beginning to sale! Do you need advice on relocating to Niagara? I have lived here my whole life and I can guide you to the good areas and best services that we have to offer. There is nothing like using an experienced Home Town Real Estate Representative to negotiate the market with you.

A Buyer Representative will take the time to show you step by step how to get the most information on the process for the best and most profitable experience during your home purchase.
A Buyer Representative can help you coordinate all the professionals needed to successfully complete a sale.
A Buyer Representative can save you time and money and deflect the pressures from Seller Realtors away from you.
A Buyer Representative keeps your information and motivation confidential and away from the Sellers.
A Buyer Representative is constantly scanning the real estate markets for your needs - seven days a week.

And best of all! Most times, the Buyer Representative fee is paid for by the Seller, not you. Ask me how to get your FREE, No Obligation Consultation - it can save you money!

The more information you have, the better decisions you can make. Get me on your side! Call or email me today!

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Home Maintenance ChecklistHere's a simple bi-annual "top to bottom" checklist to keep your home in shape year-round.

1. Roof: Check roof and around vents, skylights and chimneys for leaks. Repair as necessary.
2. Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.

3. Gutters: Clean gutters and drain pipes so leaves won't clog them and be sure they drain away from the house. (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Drain outside faucets.
4. Fireplace: Clean fireplace of ashes. (Fall) Check chimney for loose or missing mortar. Have chimney professionally cleaned. Make sure damper closes tightly. (Spring) Leave damper open for improved ventilation if the home is not air-conditioned
5. Filters: Remember to clean or replace filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood and room fans. Keep heating and cooling vents clean and free from furniture and draperies.
6. Safety Equipment: Ensure that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order. Replace batteries in appropriate devices as needed, or at least twice each year.
7. Air Conditioner: (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Remove window air-conditioners, or put weatherproof covers on them.
8. Refrigerator: Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. In addition, if you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils at least twice each year. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently with clean coils. Also, stock up! A full refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one.
9. Faucets: Check for leaky faucets in kitchen and bathroom(s). Replace washers as necessary.
10. Windows and Doors: Seal drafty doors and windows. If you added up all of the small cracks where heating and cooling escapes from a home, it would be the same as having a window open. Replace seals as needed.
11. Storm Windows and Screens: (Fall) Take down screens (if removable type) and replace with storm windows. (Spring) Remove, clean, and store storm windows (if removable). Check and patch all door and window screens. Put screens up (if removable type).
12. Siding and Paint: Look for cracks and holes in house siding or paint. Replace caulk if necessary. A carpet knife can work well for cutting away old caulking from house siding. Slice down alongside it from both directions with the hook-like blade, then use the knife to lift out the old caulk bead intact.
13. Basement: Check basement walls and floor for dampness. Be sure to clean dehumidifier regularly, if you have one.
14. Heating System: (Fall) Have heating system serviced. Change filters.
15. Hot Water Heater: (Fall) Drain hot water heater. Remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.

What eager first-timers need to know before the house hunt

Lisa MartinYou've saved for your down payment, you've crunched the numbers and you've decided on the neighbourhood where you want to live - but are you really ready to start shopping around?

"Buying your first home is one of life's most exciting milestones, but there are lots of steps on the way to crossing the threshold as an owner for the first time," says Lisa Martin, mortgage consultant with Mortgage Intelligence in St Catharines. "To make sure this process goes smoothly, you'll need to get financing advice right from the get-go and do some work in advance."

Martin breaks the process down with the following tips:

Get your down payment and deposit ready. A down payment must come from your own resources, and in most cases must have been held in your account for at least 90 days. Using a gift from your parents or other family member for a down payment? You'll need a letter stating that it is actually a gift and does not need to be re-paid. These funds will likely need to be deposited in your account two weeks before your purchase closing date.

The Home Buyers' Plan is another financing option for first-time buyers. It allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 ($50,000 per couple) from your RRSP to buy or build a home.

Keep in mind that when placing an offer, a deposit is usually required. It can be all, or part, of a down payment.

Figure out what you can afford. The best way to do this is by talking to a mortgage expert and getting pre-approved for a mortgage. A mortgage consultant can provide examples of what monthly payments and home buying costs will be, to eliminate surprises.

"A major benefit of a pre-approval is that most financial institutions will lock-in a rate for up to 120 days," advises Martin. "This is very helpful if you're buying in a rising rate environment."

Get in touch with the professionals. Think of home buying as a team sport - a mortgage consultant can help you find a good real estate agent, real estate lawyer, home inspector and home insurance agent. Be sure to get in touch with these professionals early in the buying process to avoid last-minute scrambles.

Come up with an offer strategy. In competitive real estate markets, it is common for vendors to put off accepting offers until a particular date. This means buyers may be bidding for a home along with several other parties. It's easy to get caught up in the emotion, so it is important to decide on a maximum price before bidding and to stick to it.

Choose your mortgage strategy. Ask yourself: Do I want the stability of a fixed-rate mortgage or am I comfortable with the potential rewards and risks of a variable-rate loan? A mortgage expert can help you decide which one makes the most sense for your financial situation, as well as help you understand your payment options and the other features of various types of mortgages.

Get ready to close. When buying a home, it pays to learn about closing costs, which can represent up to 3 per cent of the purchase price, including land transfer tax, lawyer's fees, appraisal fees, title insurance and home inspection fees. A mortgage professional can help estimate how much these will cost and offer ideas for how you can cover these costs.

"A lot of first-time buyers can't wait to get out there and house hunt, but they need to understand that this is not a decision to enter into lightly," says Martin. "But with careful planning and expert advice, you can make your first home - and your first mortgage - work well for you in the long term."

For more mortgage information, contact

Lisa Martin, Mortgage Agent
Mortgage Intelligence
905-704-9479 905-704-9479  or lisa.martin@migroup.ca

and say....Sally Dollar sent me!

Don't keep me a secret! Who is the next person you know looking to buy or sell? Anytime you come across anyone with an interest in real estate, please recommend me. I am never too busy for your referrals.
All offices are independently owned and operated, except those offices marked as "Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd." Not intended to solicit currently listed properties. The above information is from sources believed reliable, however, no responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of this information.

©2010 Brookfield Real Estate Services Fund.

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