Over the past few weeks I've come accross quite a few first time homebuyers who are thinking of buying a home in Orleans.  For many of them, the whole process seems a little overwhelming and stressful. One of the areas I feel gets pushed aside are the buyers closing costs. Below you'll have a review of the most common costs associated with buying a home in Orleans. Once you have found your new home there are 2 up front costs to keep in mind:     - Deposit $1,000-$10,000 (varies depending on home and circumstances)     - Inspection $400-$500 (varies; residential or country home?)Once you have completed your purchase, your total closing costs are approx. 2.2% of your purchase price (ie: $200,000 x 2.2% = approx $4,400) which include the following:     - Legal/Lawyer fees     - Land transf... 12/22/2009

No doubt you have thought about not having to write a cheque every month to your landlord and watch your money go down the drain.  Why not take the step to own your own house, and direct your hard earned money into an investment!  Nothing can make you feel more secure than owning your own house, unless buying a home will create financial problems of its own.  Instead of the standard deduction on your income tax return, most homeowners itemize their deductions, allowing them to deduct the following and save on taxes (home mortgage interest, property real estate taxes, state income taxes, gifts to charity, medical and dental expenses over 7.5% of your income, personal property taxes, and most moving expenses). First things first, you need to figure out your monthly payments if you were to... 12/18/2009

Real Estate Agents are always looking to give their Buyers original, different closing gifts.  One gift that I give and its always truly appreciated is changing the locks on the house.  On closing, the Sellers turn over the house keys in their possession to the Buyers and everyone is excited but - there always a but - what about the key with the neighbor down the street or family members that moved out or on or Uncle Fred that comes over once in a while and crashes on the basement couch.  Yep!  there can be a whole slew of keys that the Sellers could have forgotten about. The safest thing to do is call a locksmith as soon as you take possession of the property or better yet schedule an appointment with a locksmith to come over and change the clocks the same day. OR, use me as your real ... 12/17/2009

GRANITE MYTHS - Don't let common myths scare you away... When upgrading your home in Orleans there are a few products that are generally more utilised than others. In recent years granite has become a popular surface choice for bathroom and kitchen countertops. Some homeowners hesitate to use it because of myths about it being unsafe or difficult to care for. Here are a few myths dispelled: 1- Granite is absorbent: Granite qualifies as impervious to water and is actually less absorbent than some solid (plastic) surface products. 2- Granite stains easily: Granite is resistant to stains. Generally if wiped up within a few minutes, will not stain. Oils will cause stains only if left to soak into the stone. 3- Granite requires a lot of maintenance: Routine cleaning with a mild soap and wate... 12/17/2009

GUERTIN LAW - Louis Guertin Louis is an exceptional lawyer who is well-known for his outstanding client service, no surprise pricing, no-charge conversations and the personal attention he gives each client. As your Realtor I work hard to surround myself with other professionals who have the same level of service and business standards as I do. Once we have completed the agreement for your home, Louis and his team are highly competent in efficiently closing your purchase or sale successfully with a personal touch! You will never again wonder "When will I hear from my lawyer?" At Guertin Law, you'll find a qualified team of professionals who are always available for you. Whether you're purchasing your first or fifth home, refinancing, relocating or downsizing, call Louis today (613) 830-7... 12/17/2009

                                                                                             On December 12th at 5:45pm, the 25th edition of Christmas Lights across Canada was launched with an illumination ceremony on Parliament Hill. This year it was set to coincide with the arrival of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Flame as the relay reached the Capital. Christmas Lights Across Canada was launched in 1985 by the National Capital Commission. It is one of the many unique programs that were created to liven up the cold winter months! Originally only Parliament Hill was illuminated, but the program has grown to include 20 NCC sites and over 40 other sites along Confederation Blvd. This is one of the most significant achievements of the NCC as it brings Canadians together and links the Capital... 12/16/2009

The winter has definitely arrived here in the Canada's Capital! If you are in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada this winter you'll want to stop by on the world's largest skating rink! During the summer month the Rideau Canal Waterway is a true boater's paradise many coming from across North America to travel it's 2020 kilometres. The Rideau Canal Waterway which links many lakes and rivers between Ottawa and the city of Kingston is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America. If you are thinking of going out to skate be sure to visit the National Capital Commission website to know what the skating conditions are. Have a look at the promotional videos on the NCC website.   Looking for a home in Ottawa? Want to sell your current home? Looking for a Home for Sale in Ottawa visit my websit... 12/16/2009

"After years of living at the same address, when we thought of checking out the market, we contacted our agent, Mary Caird, who had sold us our home 17.5 years previous.  Mary had always taken care over the years of keeping in touch.  Within hours of our first meeting, she had provided us with options.  We visited houses the next day and found our new home.  Mary made this experience a very positive one.  She knows her business and it shows.  She does not try to sway you with her personal opinions; she listens and offers her views when asked.  I respect that in a business person.  This has been nothing but a positive experience for our family and we look forward to more years of happiness in our new home.  Thank you Mary."  Lori Anne and Ernest (Orleans, ON) "Everything about Dan impres... 12/10/2009

Here are a few tips from the Salhany Caird Team on how to decorate for the holidays without spending a fortune on your Christmas décor. Focus on fun and activities Start by creating family traditions that shift the Christmas focus away from material goods and gifts to warm events and activities. While the kids may not be getting all the fun stuff they put on their Santa wish list this year, you can make the holidays more enjoyable than ever by starting some new traditions or reviving ones from your own childhood.  For example, making your own Christmas wreath is easy, fun and offers limitless possibilities for creativity and joy that is shared among all family members. A Christmas wreath can be made in one afternoon, and the kids will love working with the fragrant greens and being able... 12/09/2009

HOW DOES WEATHER AFFECTS REAL ESTATE??? A WHOLE LOT!  IN MY 25 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT MOTHER NATURE CONTROLS OUR BUSINESS! INDEED, I REMEMBER THE ICE STORM OF JANUARY 1998, OUR WORLD STOPPED! ALL SHOWINGS WERE CANCELLED,NO CALLS , NO APPOINTMENTS.. IT WAS VERY STRANGE. BUT IT GAVE ME A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL GOOD FRIENDS AND PAST CLIENTS. EVERYONE WAS HOME AND EAGER TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND CHALLENGES! 3 YEARS AGO, WE HAD AN EXCEPTIONNAL AMOUNT OF SNOW AND SOME OF MY ONE STORY LISTINGS ABSOLUTLY LOOKED LIKE IGLOOS...THE SNOW WAS SOOO HIGH , IT REACHED THE ROOF AND WE HAD TO WALK INTO A SNOW TUNNEL TO REACH THE FRONT DOOR. MOST YEARS, IN OTTAWA, WE SELL 500-600 HOMES IN JANUARY VS 2000 SALES IN MAY. HUGE DIFFERENCE!! I REMEMBER SELLING ... 12/09/2009

Well its my favourite time of year again! We've got our Christmas tree up and it looks fabulous.  We decided with the little ones that it would be a great tradition to start going to local area Christmas Tree farms to cut down our tree ourselves. I've always been a traditionalist and have never gone for those plastic artificial trees.  I even felt guilty as it used to be common perception that a real Christmas tree was bad for the environment and a waste of resources. Turns out that Greenpeace now supports the Christmas Tree Farm industry instead of fake.  All the PVC and lead that are contained in many of these artificial trees will be in landfills for generations! We went to Thomas' Christmas Tree farm in North Gower.  It was a fantastic family experience for $50.00 we got a tractor r... 12/07/2009

With so much talk about the new HST tax in the news how will the HST affect real estate in Ottawa? Homebuyers and sellers will have to pay an additional 8% more on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees and moving costs. What does this mean? That the average family will be adding approx. $1,500 in new taxes to their residential real estate transactions in Ottawa. Above the added costs on the actual home sale or purchase transaction the HST will also add 8% on a series of home related costs, more specifically on your utility bills ie: gas, electricity and home heating fuel, home renovation labour, snow removal, lawn/landscaping upkeep, etc. Moreover, your whole family's cost of living with increase ie: gas, personal/professional services, dry cleaning, cab ... 12/07/2009

How's the housing market in Ottawa? November was a great and successful month in Real Estate sales. Many buyers and sellers in Ottawa were all trying to get into their new homes before the Christmas holidays. There are still many multiple offer situations and a shortage of homes on the market but all in all the Real estate market in Ottawa is still going strong! According the Ottawa real estate board President Rick Snell "November home sales back on track after slow 2008"! During the month of November members sold 916 residential properties through the MLS system which is an amazing increase of 42.5% over November of last year! "The dramatic increase in sales can be explained by last year's sales being affected by the crisis in the financial markets," said Board President Rick Snell.  "... 12/07/2009

Well it is still a Sellers Market in Ottawa ! A shortage of homes for sale and lots of qualified buyers should make all Ottawa home owners considering waiting to sell in the Spring consider to sell their homes NOW ! Give yourself a Christmas present and sell your home in the next two weeks for top dollar.I can show you how and I can help you realise a stress free, headache free sale.Go to http://OttawaRealEstateQuestions.com   12/05/2009

I think it's official... the christmas holidays are here and our thoughts are all turning towards decorating, baking and gift giving/getting! For most of us it's an extreamely busy time of year. In the Real Estate world it tends to slow down however if you're selling your home in Orleans during the holidays there are still some serious buyers out there who will be viewing your property. With that in mind I wanted to pass along a few tips to help your home's showability over the holiday season.  We all know that the process of selling your home in Orleans is not easy and very inconvenient, hopefully you'll find these tips helpful: 1- Scale back when decorating for the holidays. Buyers still need to be able to see the space your home offers and not your stuff. This may mean having a small... 12/03/2009

What's happening in Sandy Hill, Ottawa? The neighborhood of Sandy Hill in Ottawa saw only 5 new listings during the month of November 2009. Of these 5 listings 2 homes have sold within that same month, 1 has been conditionally sold and 2 are still active. On average these homes sold within 5 days! If we take a look at the numbers of November 2008 listings we can see that homes are selling much quicker. Homes listed in November 2008 we're on the market an average of 33.5 days before getting sold. This being said now is a great time to sell your home in Sandy Hill as demand is high and inventory is low. If you are looking to sell your home call today for your free home market evaluation. 613-889-7732 Looking for a home in Ottawa? Want to sell your current home? Looking for a Home for Sale... 12/02/2009

What's happening in Beacon Hill South Ottawa? The Neighborhoods of Beacon Hill South in Ottawa saw 11 new condo listings during the month of November 2009. Of these 11 listings 2 condos have already sold within the month, 1 has been withdrawn, 1 cancelled and the others are still active. If we compare these numbers with those of November 2008 listings for condos in Beacon Hill South have gone up 266% If you are planning to buy a home or condominium in Beacon Hill South now is a great time! Remember my services are generally free to buyers! If you are looking to sell your condominium call today for your free home market evaluation. 613-889-7732 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 Dir... 12/02/2009

What's happening in Castle Heights & Overbrook Ottawa? The Neighborhoods of Castle Heights & Overbrook in Ottawa saw 11 new home listings during the month of November 2009. Of these 11 listings : 4 homes have sold within the same month, 2 have homes conditionally sold, 1 has been cancelled and 4 are still active listings. If we compare these numbers with those of November 2008 listings in the Overbrook / Castle Heights area listings have gone up 37% As for condominium activity in Overbrook & Castle Heights. There has been a total of 2 new listings during the month of November 2009. Both of these listings have sold within 7 days of being listed on the Ottawa MLS If you are planning to sell your home or condominium in Castle Heights or Overbrook now is a great time inventory is low and de... 12/02/2009

On Saturday November 28th, the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association's annual Parade of Lights event turned out to be a great success! This is the 12th year that the parade has been going strong and every year it continues to grow.  An incredible 120,000 people attended!  We are very happy and feel very proud that we were able to be a part of the event this year as we made our way through Orleans to help pick up food, toys and money for the needy.  The Salhany Caird team had a wonderful time helping build the float as we managed to showcase 1500 lights on it which helped add sparkle to the night.  But nothing made it more memorable then being able to drive by and see smiles on children's faces, watching them dance around and hearing the laughter in the air, the Christmas spirit ... 12/02/2009

I'm sure you've all seen the snowfall over the past few days which means winter is just around the corner :) Have you thought about preparing your Orleans home for winter? This is a very important key to your property maintenance and longevity of your major components interior and exterior. Below you'll find a few tips and things to do when winterizing your Orleans home: 1- Furnace InspectionI strongly suggest getting your furnace inspected and your ducts cleaned at least 1x a year - and this is a great time to ensure a smooth winter season. Make sure you keep an eye on your filter and change once a month. 2- Get the fireplace readyHaving your fireplace cleaned and inspected yearly is also to your advantage. Stock up on firewood (unless your heating by gas) and keep it in a nice cool an... 12/02/2009