Buy   Sell   Rent March 2010   House sales set record for April My client and I we're interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen newspaper on the subject of April's house sales and the real estate market outlook. Read the full article from the Ottawa Citizen here. If you're planning on selling now is the time give me a call to discuss your real estate needs. 613-889-7732 Hottest April on record for resale housing market Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,841 residential properties in April through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,591 in April 2009, an increase of 15.7 per cent. Of those sales, 425 were in the condominium property class, while 1,416 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of ... 05/10/2010

What does it mean downsizing in real estate?  Most people think that downsizing means getting smaller and most of the time time it does but in real estate it sometimes means size but not value.  Let me give you an example: A couple own a 4 bedroom, double garage, two-storey house with a finished basement on 1/2 an acre of land.  They purchased a 2 bedroom bungalow, unfinished basement with a double garage.  So you're thinking OK this makes sense but it cost them more to buy the bungalow.  How are they downsizing, well here we go: 1.  Less outdoor maintenance 2.  Less inside maintenance 3.  Less hydro and heat costs So the savings might not be the initial dollar value but over the long run they will have saved quite a bit plus they will have time to do other things. Another couple owned ... 05/09/2010

If kids aren't happy enough that summer is almost here, they are sure to be super excited that the Gloucester Fair will start their summer off on a high note!   With names like the "zipper," "sizzler," "cannonball" and "tilt-a-whirl" these rides are not for a weak stomach! If rides are too dizzying for you then the Gloucester Fair will fill your afternoon with such delights as Monster truck Shows, midway races, a Reptile Rainforest and grandstand entertainment bringing you the highly anticipated Strongman competitions. You can also check out the Petting Zoo, Western Horse Show, and the yummy Canadian BBQ Competition. Pay-one-price to get in to the Fair and enjoy unlimited midway rides! May 27th-30th 2010 Location: 4837 Albion Rd, Gloucester Ontario, K1X 1A3 Price: $10 for Kids & $20 for... 05/07/2010

  Check it out!  From Keller Williams Canada......Keeping you informed for the month of May! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdbCU7Kyn-A   05/07/2010

Now in its 58th year, the Canadian Tulip Festival will be gracing the nation's capital May 7th - 24th. The tulip festival preserves the local heritage of Canada's role in freeing the Dutch people during World War II and for the city of Ottawa providing a safe haven to the Dutch Royal family at that time. In 1945, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa with a "thank you" gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs. We now celebrate the tulip as the international symbol of friendship. The beauty of spring is never more apparent than at this annual event. Over three million tulips will bloom in Ottawa, a colourful tulip rainbow flowing from Major's Hill Park along the Rideau Canal to the Commissioner's Park at Dow's Lake. As you enjoy the fresh gardens music will sweeten the air with perform... 05/06/2010

The Princess and the Tulip - the History of The Canadian Tulip Festival When the Germans invaded the Netherlands in 1940, the Dutch royal family fled to the safety of England. Unfortunately, England was not much safer; Queen Wilhelmina decided to send her daughter and heir Princess Juliana to Canada. The Dutch royals were given refuge in the capital of Canada, Ottawa. The family lived like all others during the war. In 1943, Princess Juliana would give birth to the only royal child ever born in Canada; Princess Margriet who became fourth in line to inherit the throne. The birth of the little princess provided a big boost to the Dutch people in their struggle and the Canadian troops who had orders to liberate the Netherlands; and they did! In 1946, as a sign of gratitude to the Canadian ... 05/05/2010

Check out the link below and learn more about conserving energy in your home and how to save money from your pockets!  With Time-of-Use, there is a financial incentive for you to conserve energy and to shift some consumption away from on-peak periods.  http://www.hydroottawa.com/smartmeter/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=357   05/04/2010

Solar Shingles are a little on the pricey side, but if your roof took a beating this winter and you feel it's time to re-shingle then these sun soakers could be a worthy investment. Solar shingles are designed to look like conventional asphalt shingles and can be installed like asphalt shingles too. Although they are similar in appearance to asphalt shingles, the benefits of solar shingles far exceed protecting your roof. They are an integrated photovoltaic (PV) building product, which means they directly generate electricity from sunlight. The sunlight is used to generate electricity and some models can convert the electricity to heat. This natural source of electricity is said to be able to cut your home's electrical costs by 40% to 60%. All photovoltaic power is produced in the form ... 05/04/2010

Green Building Conference in Ottawa The inaugural Green Building Ottawa Conference "Retrofit — Sustainability for the future" explores the complex relationship between sustainability and our built environment at three scales: residential, commercial/institutional, and urban. The Conference takes place at Carleton University from May 12-14, 2010. For more information visit www.greenbuildingottawa.ca. Looking for a home in Ottawa? Want to sell your current home? Looking for a Home for Sale in Ottawa visit my website at www.rochstgeorges.com Direct: 613.889.7732 | Office: 613.627.4141 Wondering how much your neighbors sold for? | Beat Other Buyers to Hot New Listings Enter for your chance to win our $10,000 Sweepstakes   04/28/2010

I would like to share with you a question that a client asked me last week regarding home inspections in Ottawa. Below you'll find her email to me which is actually quite a commonly asked question - I thought I'd share since many of you may be asking yourself the same thing!? Hi Christiane, I was talking to a friend about the process of buying a house and she mentioned that a house inspection is ALWAYS done after an offer is presented. Is this ALWAYS the case or can a buyer request an inspection before putting in an offer? Is this something you have seen before? And, is it NOT OK to go that route? Just thought I'd ask someone who may know the answer! Your help is much appreciated! To be completely honest, in my opinion, it is best to do a home inspection in Ottawa BEFORE you put in an o... 04/27/2010

Is it a question that ever crossed your mind-where is the largest house in Canada? Maybe not, but it's interesting to know nonetheless! If you're in the market for Canada's largest home unfortunately you'll have to say goodbye to Ottawa and relocate to Haileybury, approximately 140 kilometers north of North Bay. The home was just listed on MLS this April. The house needs a little bit of work, like flooring, finished bathrooms and wall coverings, but renovating 65,000 square feet on your own shouldn't take that long! Ok maybe hire a team ... The house is as big as the White House and 24 Sussex Drive (Prime Minister's Home) put together! There is a small gym for your daily exercise, grounds for a few golf holes, and a boat house big enough for a 40-foot yacht. There are two elevators, an ... 04/26/2010

Bon Appetit Ottawa - Ottawa's premiere gourmet event is coming to Ottawa on Tuesday May4th 2010 from 5.30 to 9 pm. This food and wine show which takes place at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park will feature over 90 restaurants and caterers as well as dozens of wineries and breweries. For more information on this event you can cotnact the Bon Appetit Ottawa organizers at 613-231-5651. Looking for a home in Ottawa? Want to sell your current home? Looking for a Home for Sale in Ottawa visit my website at www.rochstgeorges.com Direct: 613.889.7732 | Office: 613.627.4141 Wondering how much your neighbors sold for? | Beat Other Buyers to Hot New Listings Enter for your chance to win our $10,000 Sweepstakes   04/25/2010

One of the Ottawa Real Estate Questions I often get asked is tell me about the Sellers Market in Ottawa` well here are some Spring Market statistics from the Ottawa Real Estate Board RealtorLink website  Ottawa, April 7,2010 : Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,499 residential properties in March through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,161 in March 2009, an increase of 29.1 per cent. Of those sales, 327 were in the condominium property class, while 1,172 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e. detached, semi-detached, apartment, stacked etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residentia... 04/23/2010

A few days ago I received an email from our Broker here at Keller Williams entitled TRAFFIC TIP regarding the red light cameras in Ottawa. Council originally approved a pilot Red-light Camera Program in the City of Ottawa and subsequently approved its continuation and expansion. The program was put in place to improve intersection safety by decreasing the incidence of red light running. Red-light cameras are installed at several locations throughout the city; these intersections were selected based on collision rates. For those of you that subscribe to the "Yellow light means hurry-up you still have time" driving style, read below for more red-light cameras being installed around Ottawa.  Fifteen more intersections across Ottawa will be equipped with red light cameras to catch motorists... 04/23/2010

Benefit Dance in Sandy Hill Ottawa in Support of Haiti When? Saturday May 1st 2010 at 7pm. Where? 317 Chapel (All Sains') Featuring: The Attachments & Rimbombante There will be a Silent Auction, Door Prizes, Bar and Pizza. Cost is $20 and all proceeds will do to ShelterBox Canada This event is organized by a colunteer committe of Sandy Hill residents. For more information on this event you can contact waters(at)magma.ca Looking for a home in Ottawa? Want to sell your current home? Looking for a Home for Sale in Ottawa visit my website at www.rochstgeorges.com Direct: 613.889.7732 | Office: 613.627.4141 Wondering how much your neighbors sold for? | Beat Other Buyers to Hot New Listings Enter for your chance to win our $10,000 Sweepstakes   04/20/2010

I invite you to take part in Earth Day 2010 in Ottawa! Celebrated every April 22nd, Earth Day is the largest, most noted environmental event worldwide. More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people in over 170 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity. Earth Day provides the opportunity for positive actions, results and is a powerful catalyst for change. In 1990, two million Canadians joined 200 million people in 141 nations in celebrating the first International Earth Day. Test your knowledge with a short quiz below:     1) What is a Carbon Footprint?         a) A dinosaur fossil         b) A measure of the impact our daily activities have on our planet & climate         ... 04/20/2010

For all of you DIY homeowners the list below is for you! Did you know your local Home Depot store offers great Do it Yourself Workshops in Ottawa every month on seasonal projects or even every day around the home renovations?! Stay tuned next month for an updated list of Do it yourself Workshops in Ottawa. Also, next month you can find a list of Kids workshops for ages 6-12 years old! The above workshops are available at the following Home Depot location: 2121 Tenth Line Rd, Orleans, ON K4A 4C5 (613) 590-2030! DATE TIME DO IT YOURSELF! 04/21/2010 7:00 - 8:00 PM Mower selection and maintenance 04/22/2010 7:00 - 8:00 PM Designing and planning a deck 04/24/2010 9:00 - 10:00 AM Mower selection maintenance   1:00 - 2:00 PM Install wood or vinyl fence   3:00 - 4:00 PM Mower selection and main... 04/18/2010

It's that time of year again... spring cleaning tips for homeowners! While year-round maintenance is necessary to keep your home in the best shape, there are more specific, once-a-year chores that all homeowners should pack into their typical spring cleaning list.    1) Store your off-season items:       You don't need them, why keep the clutter in your way? Pack up winter clothes including coats, gloves, scarves, etc.   2) Organize your garage:       This goes hand-in-hand with storage. This could be a one day project, but can save you time and stress for months to come!   3) General outdoor areas:       Are you ready to entertain outside? Start with brushing off your outdoor furniture and deck or patio. Check your home's exterior for any needed repairs.   4) Washing windows:       Bot... 04/18/2010

You have heard of people lining up for days to buy concert tickets, but to buy a home? It's true, people have been lined up since Monday morning outside the Tamarack Homes sales office in Orleans. These residents don't want to miss their chance to purchase a home in our lovely east-end community! The 45 lots designed for bungalows and single family homes won't be released until Friday, but eager homeowners don't want to risk missing the chance to buy a home in the Tamarack's phase two development of the Chaparral community. The sales team has never seen people line up so many days in advance. "This is an accumulation, I believe, of people waiting almost a year -- we've had no lots," said Noella Francouer of Tamarack Homes. With Orleans life high in demand that's promising news for the v... 04/15/2010

Professional Profile for April 2010! Randy LittleLife & Health Insurance advisorInvestment Funds advisor At the beginning of this year, I was lucky to have met Randy through Twitter of all places! If you're looking for someone who can break down the financial "mumbo jumbo" and terminologie Randy's your man! His professionalism, great personality and financial & investment knowledge help you make an informed decision about your future. He'll take the time to get to know you and will help you select the right product or decision for YOU. He walked me through opening my son's RESP and I now understand what I've signed up for. Next week I'm starting my RRSP and I can't wait! Randy helps his clients grow and protect their wealth. The time you spend planning right now will have a significant ... 04/15/2010