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Kingston, ON Real Estate News

By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
Heather has written a timely post with regard to what Sellers need to know about Open Houses.  I love when she asks the question "Would a Realtor Hold an Open House on Their Own Home?"   Via Heather Littrell & Associates, ABR, CRS, GRI (Keller Williams Realty):   Do open houses help sell your home? They could, but don't count on them as the be-all and end-all of your property listing. Open houses tend to interest the tire kickers, and people who just want to entertain themselves for the day by roaming through someone else's home as if it were a museum.  Often, they are not qualified, don't even know what the house is worth, or still have something to sell and are just trying to get an idea of what kind of house they can get in the area. But that won't help you.   A quality virtual tour ...
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By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
Kingston, ON Renting vs buying in Kingston Ontario This is a decision which many people face, and the decision is not as easy to make as it may sound.As a homeowner, you can reasonably expect the equity in your home to increase over time as your mortgage is paid down. That, combined with regular appreciation in property values, can be a rapid and rewarding way to increase your net worth. In contrast, the person renting over the same amount of time is left with no property investment but may have enjoyed lower living expenses and the opportunity to invest in other opportunities. When comparing owning to renting, you have to add up all of the figures, including the cost of your home, the size of your down payment, utilities, immediate repairs, interest rates and insurance, and compare the...
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By S Emo
(RE/MAX Riverview Realty)
Kingston, ON Even though household debt relative to income has risen sharply in Canada, it is well below U.S. and British levels.  In a reactive rather than proactive response, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in a recent interview; "Canada may require people taking out mortgages to come up with a larger down-payment if it looks like indebtedness is getting too high. The likely action we will take is to increase the size of the down-payment from 5 per cent to a higher number and reduce the amortization -- bring it down from 35 years to something less." What this means to the hopeful future homeowner is that you'd better JUMP into the housing market pretty darn quick! No more sitting on the fence.  No more waiting for the stars to be aligned and the moon to be in the right quarter.  JU...
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By William DeVries
(Magnum Property Inspection)
Easy question to ask but have you really answered it. Agents say they want whats best for thier clients, they advertise they will go to the end of the world for them, they will be there every step of the way during the purchase process, but why as an agent do you get some of the known soft Inspectors. Or why do you not reccommend the known thorough inspectors, the inspectors that you know will do a proper inspection, follow the SOP in which we are required to, have the E&O Insurance and the tools to do the Inspection, also the cutting edge tools for an even more indepth inspection. The question is in a nut shell would you as an agent advise your client to walk from a house if you knew that the burden of getting in would cause them to loose the house a few years down the road.  Inspectio...
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By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
Susan Emo gives this place **** 4 stars! ~Kingston, Ontario Do you like the convenience of frozen meals but are not too impressed with grocery store, mass produced options?  Classic meals such as Braised Lamb Shank with Garlic Mashed potatoes, or Cider Baked Ham with Scalloped Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts - Duck Confit with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and cabbage,  Creole Shrimp, Meatloaf . . .  the list goes on and all I can say is Dig In! Well if you're in the Greater Kingston Area, look no further than 250 Ontario Street where Laura and Andy have opened up The Kitschen !! Fabulous and convenient frozen meals with no muss and no fuss!  A wide selection of classic entrees, soups, burgers etc, ALL MADE FROM SCRATCH!!   You will love it, I promise.  Laura and Andy have been keeping cust...
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By S Emo
(RE/MAX Riverview Realty)
Picture it . . .  the elders of the real estate community placed on ice flows to drift away from civilization!    How many of you opened this post hoping to read that this was now the official plan to rid your market of these seasoned salespeople?  NO, that is not my wish nor the intent of this post even tho I've read many comments that come close to this concept recently :0)  This morning as I was enjoying a glass of ice water, and I was again reminded, looking at the glass, that we only see 10% of the ice above the water's surface whether it be in a glass in the form of a cube or in the Arctic Ocean, just a wee bit larger.                                                                                         80 -  90% of the ice is below the surface and mainly unseen to the majority ...
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Another reason I don't like doing Open Houses!  It is so important that Sellers understand why Open Houses are not the way forward with regard to getting their home sold.  This post of Tina's states very clearly why a re-think is required on the part of Sellers and their agents.  Thanks Tina! Susan Emo, Kingston, Gananoque, Brockville, 1000 Islands Region  Via Tina Allen (Exit Realty Tri-County): It's a question we get from most sellers, "Can we do an open house?"  I cringe everytime I am asked that.  I do not care for Open Houses and just finished reading another news article out of North Carolina in which a Realtor sitting at a Model Home was raped at knife point.  Our world is in such array today that I just refuse to put myself in that type of situation.  This Realtor is lucky to be...
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SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD 115 ELIZABETH DRIVE, GANANOQUE, ONTARIO Business is booming in the Kingston, Gananoque and the 1000 Islands region.  Come and see for yourself and maybe you'll decide that this is the perfect place for you too! Susan Emo,Sales Representative RE/MAX Riverview Realty Ltd - Brokerage Kingston, Gananoque and the 1000 Islands613-382 2211
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By S Emo
(RE/MAX Riverview Realty)
I LOVE working with first time buyers and celebrating with them when they find that perfect place in the Kingston, Gananoque and the 1000 Island area!!! SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD 135 LAKE ST, MALLORYTOWN, ONTARIO Come for a  visit and stay for a life time.  First time Buyers will appreciate the care and consideration provided to them. Susan Emo, SalespersonRE/MAX Riverview Realty Ltd, Brokerage Kingston, Gananoque, 1000 Islands,  Ontario 613-382-2211  
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By S Emo
(RE/MAX Riverview Realty)
Did you hear Susan Emo LOVES working with First time buyers?   Another happy couple now living in their own home in Kingston Ontario SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD Old Quarry Road, Kingston, Ontario Susan Emo, Salesperson, RE/MAX Riverview Realty Ltd. Brokerage Kingston, Gananoque, 1000 Islands Ontario613 382 2211  
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By S Emo
(RE/MAX Riverview Realty)
We had a luncheon at our office this week and I supplied a fabulous pizza - YUM YUM (if I do say so myself!)    Especially good for those of you who have outgrown the traditional pizza combos!  We ate mine far too quickly to capture it on film so this is a reasonable facsimile :0)    I melted my cheese more and the onions weren't so caramelized but other than that -  Yum! [I doubled this recipe but kept the blue cheese at only 8 oz and it was more than enough so feel free to cut it in half.  The doubled amount made 2 cookie sheets of pizza that I cut in triangles] (if you don't love blue cheese as I do, goat cheese is gorgeous with it too!)Ingredients 6 tablespoons olive oil2 1/2 pounds yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced1 large sweet apple, peeled and cut into thin wedgesCoarse sal...
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~Susan Emo, Kingsotn,Gananoque, 1000 Islands, Ontario~ Are you like me and the 'New Year' begins the first Tuesday after Labour Day?  TOMORROW!!!! It's  a brand new school year and the fever hits me every time unlike when I was a child,  and I dreaded having to say goodbye to my fun-filled summer.  I get so excited and invigorated just thinking about it now.  The adrenaline is flowing and I'm actually excited about going to buy new pens, markers, folders, etc.   How sad is that?  And don't get me started about getting that new fall wardrobe!!!!  Whoo Hooo! I did mention that I do not have children?  I guess that eliminates the stress a parent must feel when getting them back into routines and I don't get the moaning and groaning that we gave to my parents - tee hee.  My Mother was wrong...
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By S Emo
(RE/MAX Riverview Realty)
Kingston, Gananoque, 1000 Islands Region It is tomato season again here in Canada and I would like to make some tasty salsa to save for the winter months when tomatoes have all the flavour of wood!   Do you have a tasty recipe you could share?  Or possibly you have a chili sauce or spaghetti sauce recipe you would be kind enough to pass on? Thanks, Susan EmoSales Representative, RE/MAX Riverview Realty Ltd. - Brokerage 613 382-2211  
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By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
Did you hear Susan Emo LOVES working with First time buyers?   Another happy couple now living in their own home in Kingston Ontario SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD Old Quarry Road, Kingston, Ontario Susan Emo, Salesperson, RE/MAX Riverview Realty Ltd. Brokerage Gananoque Ontario613 382 2211
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By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
GANANOQUE & 1000 Islands Region to Host One of Ontario's Largest Music Festivals The organizers of this year's inaugural 1000 Islands Music Fest are proud to announce the festival is now confirmed! This will be one of Ontario's largest music festivals of 2009, The 1000 Islands Music Festival will take place August 13, 14, 15, 2009 at The Dingman Farm, located at 15 Pykeview Drive, Gananoque, in Leeds and 1000 Islands Township. It's expected that The 1000 Islands Music Festival will draw crowds from all over Ontario, Quebec and Upper New York State and bring an expected 15,000 new visitors to the region. The festival organizers have assembled a roster of artists that have established world-wide success, and also a great list of Canadian independent and major label recording artists. The ...
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By GEORGE LUCK
(DOMINION HOME INSPECTORS INC.)
We have all been plagued from time to time by telephone sales calls. "Do you want a great deal on carpet cleaning?,or " Do you want a great deal on window cleaning?" or " Do you want a great deal on curtain cleaning?" or "woolen rugs" or , or, or, ( why is it that nobody ever calls and offers to clean the kitty litter?). At any rate, I, over the years, had worked out a fool proof plan that deflected the calls without insulting or hurting anyone's feelings ( well this is Canada and we must be polite) So over the years, I had convinced all sales agents that my Wife and I lived in a house with no carpets, no windows, no curtains, no woolen rugs, etc, etc, etc. In fact we lived in a cardboard box with a telephone. It was a perfect cover! But then technology changed and the calls became auto...
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By GEORGE LUCK
(DOMINION HOME INSPECTORS INC.)
The problem with home inspections is that it is too easy to chase a purchaser away over even minor discoveries. The wrong word. The wrong phrase. A misinterpreted glance. The tone of voice. A purchaser is like a deer. In the woods a snap of a twig, the crunch of leaves, anything can spook him. And so it is with the home inspection. I have heard stories of purchasers spooked out of a perfectly good home over a dripping tap or a non-functional G.F.C.I. outlet. And it was all because of the way the information was presented by the inspector. It is called perspective. Perspective allows the inspector to present his findings in a manner that informs the purchaser without alarming him. Asbestos, poly-b pipe, eureaformaldihide insulation, vermiculite and so many more can legitimately kill a ho...
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By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
"The world economy is going down the drain because of some repossessed, boarded up, unsellable homes in Cleveland." But how does that bring down a 60 or 70 trillion dollar world economy is a whole other story! I thought you might be interested in the following article that was in our REALTOR® EDGE newsletter this morning . . . ***************************************************** If you believe a lot of what you hear and read in the financial media, that's what you'd think, according Jeff Rubin, Chief Economist, Chief Strategist and Managing Director CIBC World Markets, speaking at the Real Estate Forum in Toronto in December. "We all understand how those mortgages were securitized" said Rubin, "and we all understand that when people send in the keys instead of a mortgage cheque those (...
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By Susan Emo, Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area
(Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage)
It was an unbelievably gorgeous day today:  freezing cold but sunny and bright.  I was thankful that there was not a winter storm warning in effect as I had to travel a fair bit to show a farm today to a couple who was travelling 3.5 hours one way to view it. I knew there were plenty of outbuildings/barns etc including a turkey coop (I have never seen one of these) and that there would be cows and horses.    'The driveway was more than 2 miles long and when I finally got to the house it was so disappointing;  it was more of a tear-down than anything else.  The sellers must have invested in the animals quarters more so than their own. The funny part was that a small brown dog who looked part cocker spaniel and part terrier, just kept underfoot, and wouldn't leave us alone.  He was old an...
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By Manson Slik, Gordon's Estate Services Ltd.
(Gordon's Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage)
We find as people age today, they chase their children and grandchildren around the country. Not too long ago, families lived in the same place from birth to death. Today, this is an unusual phenomenon. When children leave the nest today, they don't move to the next twig or branch anymore, they move to a whole new tree and more often a whole forest away. Every holiday is a travelling exercise or a non-event because the kids are too far apart.  Your son has set you up with an internet account and a computer and another account on some website so you can see pictures of your grandchildren and keep up to date on the changes in your family's life.  It is cool, but foreign to what you know as "family experience".  You see online photos and online movies of your grandchildren growing up witho...
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