Starting this July, Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Urban Lifestyle will be bringing resort style living to the shores of Bronte Harbour in Oakville. Situated on the east shore of Bronte Creek, The Shores will provide you with luxury condominium living in the relaxed atmosphere of Oakville's Bronte Village. The setting offer's residents picturesque views of the Bronte Harbour and Marina as well as Lake Ontario.The modern, 10-storey structure was designed by architects Page & Steele and boasts interiors designed by Brian Gluckstein. "Page + Steele have created a design that makes the most of the location and the absolutely stunning views," says Danny Salvatore, President of Fernbrook Homes. Brian's influence will be seen throughout the suites' finishes. From kitchens that will feature stone... 07/26/2008

Overall TREB (Toronto Real Estate Board) members reported 8,600 sales in June according to Toronto Real Estate Board president Maureen O'Neill. "Sales were down 18 percent from the 2007 total of 10,451, which was the best performance ever for that month," noted the president. "Nevertheless, the 8,600 figure is the fifth best June on record, and indicative of an active, healthy market."Sales within the City of Toronto totaled 3,481, down 18% from the 4,238 recorded in June 2007. Sales within the 905 suburbs, at 5,119, were also down (as a whole) 18% from the 6,213 recorded during the same period last year.In the Town of Oakville, Real Estate sales for the month of June 2008 totaled 158, up 3% from the 153 trasactions reported during June 2007. Now this would only be viewed as a marginal ... 07/24/2008

 Sales Statistics Jan - March 2008Average Price: $524,419Average Days on Market: 33Units Sold: 744% Selling Ratio: 97% Sales Statistics Jan - March 2007Average Price: 465,439Average Days on Market: 41Units Sold: 909% Selling Ratio: 97%DIFFERENCE YEAR OVER YEAR12.67% increase in average price over 2007Average days on market decreased 19.51%Units Sold decreased 18.15 %% Selling ratio remained unchanged at 97% Statistics obtained from Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate BoardFor Further Information on Oakville Area Stats Please Contact Jenny at www.openingdoorsinoakville.ca 04/18/2008

Oakville 2007 2008 % ChangeNo. of Residential Sales 317 282 -12.4%Average1 Sale Price $495,086 $527,670 6.2%Median2 Sale Price $411,500 $410,000 -.4%1The average home price is found by adding the value of all sales and dividing by the numberof homes.2The median sale price is the midpoint of all sales.Source: Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board 04/06/2008

Think Spring, Think Maintenance By George DlugoshPrudential Town Centre Realty Inc. BrokerageSpring is a season of renewal. Birds are singing and the flowers are beginning to burst into bloom. The days are getting longer and people are getting outdoors again. So not surprisingly, real estate activity begins to swing into high gear. The weather is more cooperative and families are looking to move during the summer break. If you are considering putting your home on the market, now's a good time to do some spring maintenance to make sure your home is in tip-top shape.  Even if you aren't planning to sell your home, you should still add these chores to your list to help preserve your home's value and help avoid major repairs later on.Walk Around the OutsideCheck for any damage caused by win... 04/03/2008

Oakville 2007 2008 % ChangeNo. of Residential Sales 294 278 -5%Average1 Sale Price $466,601 $528,588 +13%Median2 Sale Price $390,000 $425,000 +9%1The average home price is found by adding the value of all sales and dividing by the numberof homes.2The median sale price is the midpoint of all sales.Source: Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board For More Information on the Oakville, Ontario Real Estate MarketCall Jenny Kotulak Sales RepresentativeRE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. BrokerageOakville, Ontario 905-842-7000 03/24/2008

O.K. So this is my first BLOG.  First of all I can't even figure out how to make the font bigger.  I guess this will be a learning experience.  I'm sure I am suppose to say something witty here and try to get Real Estate Consumers to call me over all the other Real Estate Sales Representatives who are Professioinal BLOGGERS.First things firstWho Is Jenny Kotulak?Oakville resident, mother of 4, selling Real Estate since 1989Professional Volunteer (for the fun and definitely not for the money)School PTA President for 4 years (Before School Councils replaced the PTA's)Board of Directors --- 5th Year Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board (2008 Past President)Proud RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. Brokerage Sales RepresentativeI enjoy working with both buyers and sellers.  I love to hel... 03/09/2008

Benefits of Buying a Condominium in Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga.More and more homebuyers are turning to the condominium lifestyle in Canada today. Condominium ownership can appeal to both those leading a fast-paced lifestyle, as well as those who are retired and enjoying a slower pace. Condominium ownership comes with numerous benefits that help the homebuyer achieve a more comfortable and stress-free life. Affordability-Condominiums can often be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a standard residential home. This is an important factor that attracts both the single lifestyle, first-time buyers and those who are retired. Security and Personal Safety-Condominium complexes offer a closer knit community than a single family dwelling. For those who frequently travel or live alo... 02/24/2008

Respecting the Past, Celebrating the Present , Embracing the Future is the Town of Oakville's motto.My husband Wayne (history major) is currently reading a book entitled John A., the Man who Made Us.  It is a new book about Canada's first prime minister, by Richard Gwyn, author of The Northern Magus.  Wayne has been feeding me tidbits of Ontario history such as:Did you know that in 1820 the population of the entire province of Ontario was 200,000 people? In a few years the Town of Oakville will surpass that in number!All this talk of Ontario history this week inspired me to write something on how the Town of Oakville evolved. Mississauga IndiansOakville was originally the home territory of the Mississauga Indian tribe who were hunters and fishers.  The Mississauga sold their land to the... 02/13/2008

My husband and I both are fortunate to live and work in Oakville.  Oakville  provides the opportunity for many residents to live, work and play in the community.Did you know that more than 400 companies have located either their national or international headquarters here in Oakville?Why are employers attracted to Oakville?  The average household income, was recently estimated at $97,550, about $18,000 higher than the average Greater Toronto Area figures.Further, Oakville's workforce is highly educated, more than 40 per cent of residents have a university education.The benefits of all this economic investment to our local community are seen in everything from employment to public works and services. Since businesses pay double the tax rate or residential property owners, and use fewer s... 02/13/2008

Residents of Ontario, Canada, who have never owned a home before, can now heave a small sigh of relief if they're thinking of embarking on the path that leads to home ownership.The McGuinty government has just introduced a tax relief measure for first time home-buyers who are buying their fist home anywhere in Ontario, Canada. Effective December 13, 2007, if you have signed an agreement of purchase and sale to buy your first house in Ontario, you may be eligible to apply for the land transfer tax rebate.  You may apply for the rebate as long as your offer to purchase your first house was accepted and signed by the seller after December 13th, 2007. In order to qualify for the Ontario Land Transfer Tax rebate, you must be 18 years of age and have never owned a home or had an interest in ... 01/11/2008

Research confirms what I'd suspected:  Buyers are highly irrational beings.   An economist might assume buyers make logical decisions about features, benefits and reasons to buy.   As an observer of home buyers' reactions first-hand (as well as my own) I say  "Not so!"This was confirmed lately when I read some new research on Buyer Psychology.  A group of scientists from CalTech, Carnegie Mellon and MIT reviewed studies examining how people buy.   Their conclusion:"Buyers buy with their hearts first. When money changes hands, the primitive, emotional part of the brain calls the shots.  Buyers buy with their heads second. Logic comes in afterwards as the brain justifies the decision it's already made." Salespeople need to pay close attention to this as well as home sellers.  A few things... 11/29/2007

Oakville is a forward-thinking modern town that cherishes its history and heritage.This past weekend Wayne and I were strolling along Bronte waterfront with some friends and enjoying a cappucino gelato.   There was a storm on the horizon.  We stopped to admire the new Fishermen's Memorial Monument.  Unveiled just a few weeks ago, this beautiful granite memorial measures 12′ x 6′ x 2′.  The simple dedication reads:"In memory of the Bronte Commercial Fishermen who ventured onto the lake in good weather and bad to set and lift their nets to earn a living catching fish. Ciscoes, Herring Whitefish Lake Trout. Cleaned at the dockside shanties. Packed in ice and shipped to markets in Toronto, Hamilton and New York City. Twenty-two boats travelled from the harbour at the peak fishing season. As... 09/20/2007

As Canadians, we're fortunate to have livable cities, neat and attractive subdivisions, and neighbourhoods that are ideal places to live, work and play. When it comes to finding the right community for you, it's not so much a matter of finding a good community as picking the best of many.Your REALTOR® has a wealth of knowledge about the communities in their cities and towns. He or she can help you choose the one that is best suited to you and your family.Here are just some of the things you may want to consider:Environment Ask your Realtor about any known environmental issues in the area. Check with neighbours and the local media about air, water, and soil quality. Environmental issues can be detrimental to your health and to property values. Appearance Explore the neighbourhood keeping... 06/25/2007