Summerside House & Condo Sales in London Are Doing Quite Well Sales of 2 storey and one floor homes in Summerside in south east London have been very active year to date with 82 houses selling. The average selling price of a 2 storey house was $263,356 being 98. % of the asking price of $268.023! There were 19 condos that sold at an average sale price of $212,216 which was 98% of the asking price. Houses such as 2 storey and bungalows were on the market an average of 82 days while condos took an average of 42 days to sell! At present there are 13 resale 2 storey houses for sale in Summerside starting from $220,000 - $340,000 and 3 condos for sale starting from $165,900 - $263,900. Summerside as well offers new homes as well, some alreay near or completed or lots where you can have your ... 09/20/2010

LICENCE NEEDED FOR DWELLINGS WITH FOUR OR LESS RENTAL UNITS A by-law regarding the licensing of the residential rental units in the City of London is as follows. - What is the purpose of this by-law? The Residential Rental Units Licensing By-law was put into place to address sub-standard housing conditions in rental units and to protect the amenity, character and stability of residential areas. By licensing rental units, the City will be better able to identify and remedy unsafe and/or unhealthy building conditions in smaller-scale residential rental properties. - Which units require a licence? Any building containing four, or less rental units - including single detached dwellings, semi-detached dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes - and converted dwellings* in the city of London... 09/20/2010

Houses & Condos in Pond Mills have sold quite well from January of this year to September 20,2010 with both houses and condos getting 97-98% of the asking price.Condos have been averaging 46 days to sell with houses in Pond Mills only 34 days! The average selling price for a condo in Pond Mills is $122,764 which was 97% of the asking price(44 sales) and  with houses averaging $194,690 which was 98% of the asking price(56 sales). As you can see, Pond Mills has some very attractive prices and for anyone wanting quick access to the 401 or industry in London, this is the place. Some great schools, shopping and other family amenities are all close by. For up to date information and some great buys, maybe we should get together. As well, as with all averages, there are pockets in Pond Mills w... 09/20/2010

Houses and condos have been selling quite well in Riverbend, a neighbourhood in west London off of Oxford Street West and nestled between the Hunt Club and The Riverbend Golf Community.  There have been 56 houses sold in Riverbend since the new year with the average sale price of $432,012 which was 98% of the asking price of $443,053. Two storey homes led the way followed by one floor cottages and ranches.  As with both condos and houses, the average days on the market were 66 days. At September 20 there are 111 re-sale homes for sale in Riverbend & Riverbend West and 8 condos all under 4 years old and ranging in price from as low as $359,000 up to $749,000. There are many model homes and condos to view if you prefer new. Condos in Riverbend start at $288.000 and on average you can expe... 09/20/2010

So far this year, house and condo sales in Byron have been quite active (Septmber 20, 2010) with 176 houses selling on average for $331, 737 which was 98% of the $336,943 asking price and it an average 45 days to sell. There were 47 condos that sold at an average of $215,006 which was 97% of asking and on average a condo in Byron took 34 days to sell. As you can see, the Byron community in South west London is popular with all the amenities offered. Feel free to contact me for an updated list of houses or condos for sale in Byron 09/20/2010

The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you. If you are playing poker and it takes you more than a minute to figure out who the sucker is, then it's you. When in a real estate negotiation and you are trying to figure out who has the weakest position , then it's you. The moral of the above: You are a mirror, you reflect your thoughts! 09/18/2010

I had the opportunity to travel in the UK for 2 weeks and fly with Air Canada, our country's national airline which all in all was efficient and pleasant. What national airline comments in 3 languages? When I came through security in my own country, I could not understand the directions or questions asked by those in uniform and yes, I fully agree that security is necessary but it sure would have been nice to see a Canadian there or even someone who could speak English or French clearly! Asking for directions at Toronto International Airport was harder than if I had been on Mars!We in Canada historically have always welcomed immigration and our country is continually letting other world cultures inflect their values over our nationality. I am glad to be back in Canada and I welcome ever... 09/18/2010

When you are away from your home for a 2 week period of time, it sure is nice to return to your own bed and as I think of it, habits. Staying with family and friends in Ireland and England, B&B's were great and very comfortable but there is something about home and our comfort zone. Real estate and home financing is done quite differently in the UK but in general, buyers and sellers, real estate sales people and lenders all basically have the same inherent interests and concerns.Buying a home or selling a home can be many things to many people and as real estate professionals, answering and solving our clients concerns is what this business is all about. Our commissions are just a way to keep score. Helping others in real estate with their home decisions is far better than helping someo... 09/18/2010

This information about nothing is usually written on Friday so why on Tuesday this week. Where I am for a few days in Ireland this week, I will not have access to my blackberry, or computer or phone. Here are a few to ponder: Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'? Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word? Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural? Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs! How come you never hear father-in-law jokes? 09/14/2010

Being on vacation in Ireland I have learned not only blarney but useless stuff as well. Here are a few more: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell . .. . brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made... 09/14/2010

      If you're in the market to buy a home anytime soon, and you want to find the perfect home at the best possible price, terms, and financing, there are THREE things you need to do up front:   First, understand and get control of your personal emotions about the purchase of your home. Second, get the most valuable, important information available so you make a prudent and educated decision.  And third, become informed about the very best financial resources and products to fit YOUR needs...NOW, not later.         Buying a home is very different from any other financial transaction.  It isn't just a "home," it's a transaction that affects your monthly overhead expenses...your ultimate net worth...your retirement...your kids education...your credit score and much more.           So it'... 09/13/2010

Bill calls into work and says, 'Hey, I'm not coming into work today, I really feel sick. I have got a headache, stomach ache and my legs hurt, I'm not coming in.'  The boss says, 'You know something, Bill. I really need you today.When I feel sick like you do, I go to my wife and tell her to give me sex. That makes everything better and I go to work. You try that.'  Two hours later Bill calls again. 'I did what you said and I feel great. I'll be at work soon.........You've got a nice house'. 09/13/2010

This is the second week of my vacation in England and Ireland and rather than bore people with pictures of beautiful scenery, I thought I would pass along some useless information. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out o... 09/13/2010

Dave and his buddies were hanging out and planning an upcoming fishing trip. Unfortunately, he had to tell them that he couldn't go this time because his wife wouldn't let him. After a lot of teasing and name calling, Dave headed home frustrated.   The following week when Dave's buddies arrived at the lake to set up camp, they were shocked to see Dave. He was already sitting at the campground with a cold beer, swag rolled out, fishing rod in hand, and a camp fire glowing..   "How did you talk your missus into letting you go Dave?"   "I didn't have to," Dave replied. Yesterday, when I left work , I went home and slumped down in my chair with a beer to drown my sorrows because I couldn't go fishing. Then the ol' lady snuck up behind me and covered my eyes and said, 'Surprise'."   "When I ... 09/12/2010

This Thursday I spent half the day hiking around the Antrim Coast and especially the rope bridge area.Below is brief descriotion of the area. A short coastal footpath leads to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. On the way, there are wonderful vantage points to stop and take in the natural beauty. The geology, flora and fauna have won Carrick-a-Rede recognition as an area of special scientific interest. Fulmars, kittywakes, guillemots and razorbills breed on the islands close to the rope bridge. Of course, Carrick-a-Rede also boasts an exhilarating rope bridge experience. Traditionally fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Today visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge! The rope bridge origina... 09/12/2010

I spent a good part of Friday hiking around The Giant's Causeway located in County Antrim, on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about two miles  north of the town of Bushmills. The Giant's Causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea.  Most of the columns are hexagonal,  the tallest are about 12 metres (36 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres thick in places. 09/12/2010

After hiking along the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland and visiting a few pubs, I thought I would I would give my legs and liver a break. Writing a blog on your Blackberry is a wee pain, so I am sitting here with my trusty laptop at a table keeping abreast of things and drying out!Here are a few "Where did that name come from" Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings... 09/11/2010

Have you ever wondered where this term came from? They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor"But worse than that, were the really poor  folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot...........they "didn't have a pot to piss in" and were the lowest of the low. So there you go and if you don't have a pot, just pee! 09/11/2010

If you read any of my previous 5 "Don't ask me why" series, there are just some things that need to be questioned. Here are few more. Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?  How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?' Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over? 09/11/2010

Today, with my arm twisted and me fighting all the way, I am off  to  Ireland's oldest working distillery. Bushmills. It is on the way to the coast and to view the profits this company has made from me will be a treat.   In 1608,King James I grants Sir Thomas Phillips a royal licence to distil ‘uisce beatha', the gaelic for 'water of life', or whiskey as we know it today, in 'the territory of the Rowte' in Co. Antrim. This is the first official recorded evidence of whiskey-making in the area that was to become Bushmills. I'm off now, I hear the wee people a callin! 09/08/2010