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January 2011 - Vol 23a
P R E S E N T E D
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G O L F I
T E A M
Rob Golfi Sales Representative
Rob Golfi Sales Representative
Sharon Stafford Sales Representative
Heather Reid Sales Representative
Hans Marcelissen Sales Representative
Wendy Murray-Nicholson* Sales Representative
Ashley Sidler Sales Representative
Dena Zlatar Office Manager
www.GolfiTeam.com
Rosemary Fournier Listing Co-ordinator
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The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch
About Rob Golfi
S
ince the inception of his career in 1997, Rob Golfi has recognized that understanding his clients’ needs is essential to providing excellent service. As business grew, Rob assembled the Golfi Team in an effort to maintain the same level of professionalism clients have come to expect. Shortly thereafter in 2003, the team received the prestigious honour of being among the top 100 Real Estate Teams for RE/MAX Canada, and this status continues to date. Rob’s experience and aggressive negotiating skills have earned him every major honour awarded by RE/MAX, including President’s Club, 100% Club, Platinum Club, Chairman’s Club, Hall of Fame, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and the SRES® designation in 2009. Having worked with many of the industry’s professionals
by: Rob Golfi
over the years, he has the necessary edge to best negotiate the sale of your home. Any agent can list your house, but Rob’s knowledge, extensive marketing background and dedication gives clients peace of mind when dealing with the single most important investment in their lives. With years of combined experience, the Golfi Team can provide your home with a level of exposure that most agents cannot. Utilizing a team approach also means that they will likely find a purchaser to buy your home sooner, rather than waiting for other agents to approach you with potential buyers. Ranked in the top 5 of nearly 2,000 sales agents in the Hamilton-Burlington and Niagara areas, listing with Rob and the Golfi Team is the right choice when choosing someone to represent your best interest. -Å
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January 2011
Sellers... Do You Know where Buyers Come From? Where do Buyers come from? Are you a home seller wondering where all the buyers are and how in the world do they find your home? That National Association of REALTORS® publishes a yearly report on Home Buyers and Sellers, they also break this report down to reflect the individual states. This typically revels some very interesting facts about today's home buyers, and since I sell real estate right here in the Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby, Lincoln area, this type of information is fascinating to us. For example did you know that the average buyer purchases a home 25 kilometers from their previous residence... I didn't know that! That means that people really don't move very far and that the potential new owner of your house could be living in the same town as you do. All the more important is your yard sign. Make sure, especially as snow approaches, that your sign is clearly visible from all angles. Please, please keep shrubbery trimmed around the sign... nothing is as frustrating for the REALTOR® professionals and potential home buyers as a hidden For Sale sign! You want your house to POP! Don't hide that sign! While I'm on my rant about signs, make sure yours is in good condition and clean... nothing irks me more than a dirty faded yard sign or one that is falling down. If your home is on the market currently, take a good look at your yard sign. Does it need some sprucing up? Call your REALTOR® Professional and have them come take care of it. Did you know that 89% of Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby , Lincoln home buyers purchased their home through a REALTOR® Professional? 89% now that's a huge percentage if you ask me...of course I'm probably a little prejudiced since I am a REALTOR® Professional, but I still think that's a huge percentage! Hey don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't try to sell on your own if that's what you want to do but consider the facts... 89% that means that 11% came from some other source... maybe from your
For Sale By Owner sign or maybe not?? Oh, by the way, out of that 11% something like 4% are people you already know. So now think about this...28% of the home buyers learned about the home they purchased through a REALTOR® Professional and 47% learned about it through the Internet... that means that you need to be sure your REALTOR® Professional has a strong company website... 47% of your buyers found their home on the net and then contacted an agent! Wow! Folks you need to check out your real estate companies website... don't let anyone fool you about this one. Yes the personal touch is still needed..Thank goodness for us, remember 89% bought their home through a REALTOR® Professional, BUT, 47% found their home on the Net! You betcha...a solid web presence is crucial to your success!!! Lets look at the rest of the story. We know that: • 28% of the buyers found the home they bought from a REALTOR® Professional. • 47% found the home they bought from the Internet. • 12% found the home they bought from a yard sign. • AND get this 2% from print newspaper advertisement. • 6% from a friend, relative or neighbor. • 3% directly from the sellers. • 1% from the home builder or their agent. • 1% from a home book or magazine. So where do you think your buyers are? I bet their surfing the web, watching and waiting but I do think...2011 will be a good year in real estate. Prices will be much more affordable and that means that maybe your children will be able to afford to buy a home in the town/area they grew up in and that I think is a very good thing! Need more information about the real estate market? E-mail me or search www.robgolfi.com
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“The key to buying a home is location, location, location. We’ll need the money located in our savings account, located in our retirement fund and located in our cheque book...”
www. GolfiTeam .com
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Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln
Rob Golfi*
93 acreS
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O
GRIMSBY $189,900 21 Hedge Lawn Drive
GRIMSBY $184,900 13 Sacks Avenue
334 Lake Street
GRIMSBY $649,900 39 Mud Street West
Affordable freehold townhouse w/escarpment views boasts 3 bdrms, 2 full baths, eat-in kit w/oak cabinetry & ceramic backsplash over looking fenced yard w/patio, & fin. rec-rm in basement. Freshly decorated, updated shingles, close to park & schools, quick access to QEW.
Cute semi in a great neighbourhood close to parks & schools. Nice corner lot! 3 bdrms, two full baths, finished rec-rm w/gas fireplace, & open concept on main flr. Fantastic opportunity for any buyer to aquire in Grimsby.
Well maintained & priced to go! Situated on a large mature lot plus recent upgrades incl. windows, siding, soffits, facia, eaves trough, furnace & baths. Oak cabinets in kit, hrdwd flrs on the main level, reno’d lower lvl. Dbl paved drive holds 4 cars. Pool & 6 person hot tub (07).
“WOW” Rare find! 93 acre farm only 5 minutes to Grimsby and QEW. Work shop 18.4 x 36 ft. and Barn 37 x 70 ft. 80 acres of workable land, 13 acres of bush, well maintained home with updated shingles, windows, beautiful hardwood flrs, finished basement
GRIMSBY $159,900 28 Kelson Avenue South
GRIMSBY $1,999,900 351 Ridge Road East
GRIMSBY $227,900 24 Kenyon Crescent, Unit 34
Great opportunity for any buyer or investor! Come and see this affordable 2 bedroom home with attached garage on a 75 x 125 ft private lot. This home features hardwood floors, large kitchen with lots of room for eating area, and spacious laundry room, new shingles 2008.
This fine property shows like a dream. Seated on 4 acres of lush landscape and backing onto Niagara Escarpment. This amazing 6500 sq ft estate features main floor master suite, multimedia control centre, gourmet chef’s kitchen & 4 additional large bedrooms.
Outstanding & immaculate town home beautifully finished throughout. Features great open concept design w/over sized sun filled living rm, oak kitchen w/sliding doors to private patio, finished basement, & quick access to QEW
GRIMSBY
$239,900
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O
WaTerfronT
GRIMSBY
$299,900 63 Griffith Drive
Completed top to bottom with professionally finished basement. Spacious eat-in kitchen, dinette, cozy front porch with Escarpment views, patterned concrete drive, patio, private treed yard. Very desirable neighbourhood. Quick access to QEW!
Scan this code to view more info on our listings! Go to www.4qr.ca on your mobile phone to download your free scanner. Text "GOLFI" to 123411 to view our listings on your mobile phone.
GRIMSBY
$1,499,900 143 Lake Street
Fabulous waterfront property! Custom built 3000 sq ft home with Lake views every room. Maple hardwood floors, granite counters, master suite with access to back deck, ensuite and walkin shower. Handicap adaptable!
Golfi Team has Maximum Internet Exposure to Get Your Home SOLD!
The
Call today!
905-945-0188
BEAMSVILLE $228,900 5141 Connor Street 1386 sq.ft. Features include great sized bedrooms with 3 pc ensuite and walk in closet off of master. Kitchen overlooking spacious family room, attached to neighbouring unit at the garage.
JUST LISTeD
WESt LINCOLN $349,900 7574 Highway #20
GRIMSBY $299,900 8 Casablanca Blvd.
GRIMSBY $289,900 33 Debora Drive
BEAMSVILLE $259,900 4498 Ontario Street
2+1 bedroom fully reno’d & with modern kitchen, cherry wood cabinets, ceramic, cathedral ceilings, adjoined fam room. Thick carpeting in all principal rms & main bath w/whirlpool tub. Dbl side drv, fin bsmt (’06) incl. rec rm, kitchen, bedrm & laundry, 25 yr roof (’04), furnace (’03).
Custom built 2000 sq.ft. home with plaster construction and an unbeatable floor plan, gorgeous hardwood floors, oversized sunken family room, new furnace, new shingles in 2009, beautifully landscaped on oversized 75 x 133 ft lot.
Spacious raised ranch in impeccable condition 3+1 Bedrms, 2 baths, on large 61 x 125 ft lot across from private park, updates include new windows, new furnace & central air, finished bright basement, walk to downtown, 1 min to QEW
Ideal for Home Business. Impressive 4 bedroom, 4 level back split sitting on 60' x 150' lot. Features hardwood floors, updated windows, shingles ('06), furnace ('03), garage door & opener ('08), 2 fireplaces, walkout from lower level, 20' x 22' garage.
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O GRIMSBY
234,900 42 Diana
Situated on spacious treed lot on quiet cul-desac, beautiful gleaming hardwood in bedrm, sun filled living room with floor to ceiling bay window, fin’d bsmt w/full bath & spare bedrm. Fenced yard. Close to schools, parks & quick access to QEW.
BEAMSVILLE $459,900 4276 Maple Grove Road
SMIthVILLE $289,900 16 Lindan Street
BEAMSVILLE $209,900 4806 John Street
Raised ranch on 11 acres, built in 1993, finished in-law apartment with walk out, spacious kitchen with plenty of counter space, shingles one yr, furnace 3 yrs, well maintained home in the heart of wine country.
Prestigious 2 storey built in ‘06 on fantastic size lot, features spacious kit w/granite counters & breakfast bar, beautiful hardwood throughout, a sun-filled living room, large bedrooms, ensuite privilege off master, main floor family room, walk out from bsmt to fenced yard.
Great neighbourhood! 1700 sq ft of living space plus finished rec room in full basement. Bright eat-in kitchen with large bay window plus spacious living & dining room. Huge master with ensuite potential. Situated on a large, mature, fully fenced lot.
Call Today 905-945-0188
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The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch
January 2011
Commercial Rob Golfi*
BEAMSVILLE $1,399,900 4485 King Street
BEAMSVILLE $499,900 5532 King Street
BEAMSVILLE $249,900 4993 King Street
StONEY CREEk $349,900 19 King Street
Over 700 ft of frontage on Niagara's busiest wine route. 26.6 Prestigious acres on the lower bench with over a 20ft fall from front to back of property. Property consists of a large barn with 2 cold storages, heated workshop and parking area. 3 residential detached homes on property.
Zoned light industrial, consists of building plus 4 Bedroom century home sitting on approx 3 acres located on Regional Rd 81 on wine route, with good traffic. Property has 6000 sq.ft steel frame building on concrete slab with 2 washrooms, 220 volts.
Downtown core storefront with large window, front and back entrances can suit 2 businesses or 1 large one. Rear parking and municipal lot. New furnace, 2pc bath. 1800 sq ft of business space with GC zoning, plus 2 bedroom apartment on upper level.
Location, Location this 2.5 Storey commercial building w/high traffic & visual exposure zoned CA-1 permits 29 uses, ideal for doctors, lawyers, accountants, mortgage, real estate office. Approx 1,335 sq.ft. on main flr, plus 1,500 sq.ft apartment on 2nd & 3rd flr, plenty of parking.
Free Down Payment What is a Free Down Payment Mortgage Program? First time homebuyers and those who do not have sufficient down payment for their home purchase are eligible for a free down payment mortgage program. Fixed rate closed terms mortgage with a 5 year term.
What are the limitations? A minmum beacon score (credit score) of 650 is required. This program applies only to owner occupied single family or duplex units.
How do I benefit from this mortgage program? Don't wait to save up your 5% down payment before purchasing a home. You can purchase now without a down payment.
Are there any extra fees? The mortgage default insurance premium is 2.90% of the mortgage amount instead of the standard 2.75% with 5% down payment from your own resources. Client pays the full posted interest rate for the 5 year term rather than the discounted rate.
How does this mortgage program work? The lending institution provides a down payment equal to 5% of the property lending value. They will advance these funds directly to the solicitor on the closing date.
For more information on the Free Down Payment Mortgage Program and how it could help you buy your home sooner, please contact the Golfi Team at 905-5757700. -
Land Transfer Tax Calculation For Residential Transaction in Ontario Examples (Price-Tax) $55,000 - $275 $65,000 - $375 $75,000 - $475 $85,000 - $575 $95,000 - $675 $100,000-$725 $110,000-$825 $120,000-$925 $130,000-$1025 $140,000 - $1125 $150,000 - $1225 $160,000 - $1325 $170,000 - $1425 $180,000 - $1525 $190,000 - $1625 $200,000 - $1725
$210,000 - $1825 $220,000 - $1925 $230,000 - $2025 $240,000 - $2125 $250,000 - $2225 $260,000 - $2375 $270,000 - $2525 $280,000 - $2675 $290,000 - $2825 $300,000 - $2975 $325,000 - $3350 $350,000 - $3725 $400,000 - $4475 $425,000 - $4975 $450,000 - $5475 $500,000 - $6475
$525,000 - $6975 $550,000 - $7475 $600,000 - $8475 $650,000 - $9475 $700,000 - $10,475 $725,000 - $10,975 $750,000 - $11,475 $800,000 - $12,475 $825,000 - $12,975 $850,000 - $13,475 $900,000 - $14,475 $925,000 - $14,975 $950,000 - $15,475 $975,000 - $15,975 $1,000,000 - $16,475
The information contained on this page is for estimation purposes only and applies to the sale of Ontario Residential properties only. Your actual Ontario Land Transfer Tax should be independently calculated and verified. The real estate board nor any of its advertisers shall ave any liability for the accuracy of the information contained on this page.
Get up to $5000 in Ontario Home Energy Rebates until March 31, 2011 • Furnaces — high-efficiency gas or oil, up to $790 • Central air conditioners — replacement $250 • Hot water heaters — condensing gas $375 • Hot water heaters — tankless/instantaneous gas, condensing-type $375 • Boilers — high-efficiency gas or oil $750 • HRV — heat recovery ventilator $375 • Solar — hot water system $1,250 • Heat pumps — air-source heat pump which doubles as air conditioner $500 • Geothermal — ground- or water-source heat pumps which are energy-efficient heating and cooling systems up to $4,375 • Attic or roof — insulation up to $750 • Exterior wall — insulation up to $1,875 • Basement — insulation up to $1,250 • Crawl space — insulation up to $1,000 • Air sealing — for your home up to $430 • Windows & doors — $40 for each replacement unit • Toilets — $65 for each replacement unit
To qualify you need an energy assessment before you upgrade For details or to book your appointment speak to an agent
1-877-732-9888 www.homeperformance.com Monday - Friday, 9am - 9pm Saturday 9am - 5pm
Call Today 905-945-0188
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Hamilton & Stoney Creek Rob Golfi*
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O EASt hAMILtON $324,900 19 Renis Court
StONEY CREEk $219,900 503 Highway #8, Unit 19
hAMILtON CENtRAL $379,900 46 Edgemont Street South
WESt hAMILtON $314,900 82 Bowman Street
Nestled on top of cul-de-sac on private pie shaped lot, window lined back of home for incredible back yard views, spacious kitchen with island & bay window, fully finished basement, updated shingles, quick access to Red Hill and close buses and shopping.
Located in secluded complex w/plenty of visitor parking. Sunken LR w/gas FP, gorgeous hardwood flrs. Bright fully finished basement. Attached only at garage, close to all amenities & easy hwy access.
Classic 3+1 bedrm home, kit w/plenty of cabinets, elegant dining rm, master bdrm w/gas fireplace, lrg walk in closet, skylights & ensuite w/whirlpool tub, prof. fin’d basement, located in a very quiet exclusive neighbourhood.
Great investment -- walk to McMaster, updates include new furnace (07), new shingles (02), hardwood floors, all new appliances, new driveway, carpet, ceramic floors in kitchen. rental income $1750/month, tenants pay utilities!
MOuNt hOpE $262,900 59 Critzia Drive, Unit 312
StONEY CREEk MtN $309,900 36 Hillcroft Drive
StONEY CREEk $264,900 24 Puritan Court
hAMILtON EASt $174,900 119 Fairfield Avenue
Condo in Twenty Place. Features 2 bedrooms, hardwood, ceramics, Califormia Shutters, 2 walkouts to outdoor covered balcony. Don’t miss out! Access to Clubhouse with pool, whirlpool, gym, tennis courts, underground parking & large storage locker.
Charming 8 yr old, all brick, 5 level backsplit. This home is finished top to bottom & features kitchen overlooking family room w/showcase fireplace, leading to backyard concrete patio & fence yard, finished basement w/rec-room, & 2 full baths.
2 Storey all brick home with in-law set up in basement with separate entrance, hardwood in living/dining rooms & family room, beautiful oak kitchen cabinets, large fenced yard with patterned concrete patio, mostly vinyl windows, shingles are 5 yrs new.
3+1 bdrm home w/a side drive, garage, & screened in back porch, includes hrdwd flrs, bright white kit, freshly painted, LR & a great flr plan. Dry basement, Weeping tiles installed 9 yrs ago. Close to all amenities. Come see!
Scan this code to view more info on our listings! Go to www.4qr.ca on your mobile phone to download your free scanner.
D SOL ER TH O N A ONE
Text "GOLFI" to 123411 to view our listings on your mobile phone.
WINONA $359,900 328 Winona Road Easy access to the QEW, shopping,and schools. Large kitchen with island & granite counters. Vaulted ceilings, pot lighting, california shutters. Inside garage entry with main floor laundry. Fully fenced back yard. Large master, his/her closets & ensuite with corner soaker tub.
Golfi Team has Maximum Internet Exposure to Get Your Home SOLD!
The
Call today!
905-575-7700
StONEY CREEk $339,900 11 Creaona Blvd. Features hardwood floors through out most of home, great room with gas fireplace and vaulted ceilings, professionally finished basement, landscaped with fenced yard, concrete double drive with garage!
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O hAMILtON EASt $219,900 19 Scotia Avenue
hAMILtON MOuNtAIN $189,900 68 Seven Oaks Drive
EASt hAMILtON $284,900 85 Bow Valley Drive
hAMILtON EASt $169,900 43 Blair Avenue
Renovated in Rosedale! New kitchen w/crown mouldng, unique backsplash, breakfast bar & blt-in wine rack. New hardwd & furnace, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 200 amp, in-law potential, concrete drive, huge lot! Near parks, schools, golf course & escarpment stairs.
Pleasant 3 bedroom brick, 1½ storey home close to schools, shopping & buses. Features vinyl windows, hardwood floors, furnace '01, finished rec room in basemnt, new shingles '09. Fantastic for first time buyers. Make it yours!
Immaculate 3 bedroom with fully finished basement. Spacious living room and dining room. Eat-in kitchen has been updated and boasts ample counter space and cupboards. Updated vinyl windows, concrete drive and patio in fenced yard.
Large lot, fully fenced yard & parking for 5! Shingles 2009, fence 2007, Vinyl windows, hrdwd flrs, updated kitchen, renovated bath, finished rec room. Beautiful bay window off dining room. All appliances included. Quiet east end location near the Red Hill Pkwy.
StONEY CREEk $479,900 37 Tamwood Court
BEAMSVILLE $439,900 46 Second Road West
BINBROOk $379,900 218 Tanglewood Drive
StONEY CREEk MtN $229,900 50 John Murray Street
3+1 Bedrm w/gourmet kitchen & granite cnter tops, travitn flrs, sunken fam rm w/fp & hrdwd in bdrms. Plus California shutters, crown mlding & cathedral ceilings. Upgrades incl. furnace & central air (08), pool heater & liner (09) newer windows, fascia & eaves.
Oh my gosh, best value for this great 5 bedroom, 5 level back split, sitting 100 x 152 ft lot. Everything is done -- all you have to do is move in. Features gorgeous hardwood floors, beautiful Florida room, showcase fireplace, perfect for growing family, fantastic location close to all amenities.
Quality built 2400 sq ft. Located in Jackson Heights, in the heart of Binbrook, this 4 bdrm, 2 storey home has many upgrades. Hardwd floors in family room & dining room, solid maple staircase. Upgraded ceramics, kitchen & backsplash, cove mouldings, painted in decorator colours, upgraded light fixtures.
This beautiful 3 bedroom bungalow is situated on a spacious lot. Features include in-ground pool, oak kitchen, rec room, second full bathroom w/whirlpool tub & a sunroom addition w/skylights. Shingles & funance fairly updated.
D SOL ER TH ANO NE O
Call Today 905-575-7700
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Ontario REALTORS® Support Grow Ops Registry Bill November 25, 2010 - Ontario REALTORS® support private members Bill 139, Clandestine Drug Operation Prevention Act, 2010, introduced by MPP Lisa MacLeod to establish a marijuana grow operations and clandestine drug laboratory registry. “Grow-ops are major problem for homebuyers in the province and we have been urging the Ontario government to establish a registry to protect consumers for almost ten years,” said Dorothy Mason, President. “We urge the government to pass this bill in order to protect homebuyers.” REALTORS® are obligated by law to disclose to potential homebuyers if a home has been used as a marijuana growoperation or a drug lab. Ontario REALTORS are hindered by the lack of a central registry which is crucial to protecting homebuyers from the potential health and safety hazards of properties formerly used to manufacturer clandestine drugs. Bill 139 defines a clandestine drug operation to be an illegal operation where any substance listed in the schedules I through IV in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of Canada can be obtained by any method or process.
Clandestine drug operations cause significant damage to homes. For example, physical damage done to the house by excessive moisture leading to mould, chemical contamination, structural alterations and electrical rewiring leading to fire hazards. Often these homes received cosmetic renovations to disguise the fact they were marijuana growoperations and consumer unknowingly purchases these homes. This can lead to loss of insurance for the property and exorbitantly high remediation costs. The Ontario Real Estate Association represents 49,000 brokers and salespeople who are members of the provinces 42 real estate boards. OREA serves its members through a wide variety of publications, educational programs and special services. The association provides all real estate licensing courses in Ontario. OREA was founded in 1922 to organize real estate activities and develop common goals across the province. These goals included promoting higher industry standards, protecting the general public from unscrupulous brokers and salespeople, and preserving private property rights.
Home Stagers by: Sheri Gamble Details Event Coordination Inc.
Sellers hire them to declutter, rearrange and stage. Now, buyers are hiring them too! When Marie B. sold her roomy, three-bedroom house a year ago to move into a one-bedroom condo in Kitchener, she struggled to arrange her old furniture in her new space. Familiar pieces that had fit together so naturally before no longer connected in the same homey way. Nothing seemed to work. Her large wooden bookshelves, standing together in the living/dining room area, looked awkward and a little overwhelming. She couldn't find a space for her favorite leather chair amid the other furniture grouped around the living room fireplace. In an alcove off the master bedroom, her desk felt out of place and got in the way of the in-wall ironing board. "I was frustrated because it looked awful," she says. Marie turned to a surprising source for help: the "home stager" she'd hired earlier to strip the personality from her old home so it would be more attractive to potential buyers.
It's not as strange as it sounds. Realestate agents often recommend that sellers hire a home stager to whisk through their homes and "neutralize" them before they go on the market. When "staging to sell," a home stager, stashes away personal items, repaints aggressively colored walls and rearranges furniture and accessories to draw attention to a home's best features. "Staging to live," as it's called, is the logical next step. Having come to appreciate the clean, uncluttered look the stager achieved in their old homes, sellers are rehiring stagers to work the same magic in their new home. But this time, instead of seeking to depersonalize your abode, the emphasis is on organizing, decluttering, and rearranging to "destress" the environment. And because the stager is familiar with your items and belongings, it often doesn’t take them long to get your new home into “tip top” shape and most importantly – most comfortable for you. Sheri Gamble is a Home Stager with Details Event Coordination. She can be reached at 905.632.2602 or via email at sheri@detailseventco.com. Visit www.detailseventco.com
MenusOnly.com is an online restaurant menu guide connecting you with great restaurants in the Hamilton and Burlington areas. Browse through restaurant menus, view pictures of restaurant dining areas, patios, and menu items, and print local restaurant coupons all in one place. MenusOnly.com – a perfect dining experience starts here.
January 2011
amoRTiZaTioN CHaRT Monthly payment per $1,000 Length of Mortgage (Amortization Period) Example $150,000 at 20yr at 3.0%: 150 x 5.54 = $831.00 /month Interest Rate (%) 5 yr
10 yr
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25 yr
30 yr
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3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.50 9.00 9.50 10.00 10.50 11.00 11.50 12.00
9.65 9.88 10.11 10.34 10.58 10.82 11.07 11.31 11.56 11.81 12.06 12.32 12.58 12.84 13.10 13.37 13.64 13.91 14.18
6.90 7.14 7.38 7.63 7.88 8.14 8.40 8.66 8.93 9.21 9.48 9.76 10.05 10.33 10.62 10.92 11.21 11.51 11.82
5.54 5.79 6.04 6.30 6.57 6.84 7.12 7.41 7.69 7.99 8.28 8.59 8.89 9.20 9.52 9.83 10.16 10.48 10.81
4.73 4.99 5.26 5.53 5.82 6.10 6.40 6.70 7.00 7.32 7.63 7.95 8.28 8.61 8.94 9.28 9.63 9.97 10.32
4.21 4.48 4.76 5.04 5.34 5.64 5.95 6.26 6.59 6.91 7.25 7.59 7.93 8.28 8.63 8.98 9.34 9.70 10.06
3.84 4.12 4.41 4.71 5.01 5.33 5.65 5.98 6.32 6.66 7.01 7.36 7.72 8.08 8.44 8.81 9.18 9.55 9.93
17.96 18.18 18.40 18.62 18.85 19.07 19.30 19.53 19.75 19.98 20.21 20.45 20.68 20.91 21.15 21.38 21.62 21.86 22.10
Bump Up Your Credit Score
C
redit score in not just a number obtained through the statistical analysis of your credit report. It is an efficient, reliable, unprejudiced and reasonable underwriting tool that helps the mortgage lender to evaluate your credit worthiness. In other words, it helps them to ascertain the amount of loan that you will be able to pay back in a timely manner. Thus, by improving your score, you can boost up your chances of getting a mortgage home loan at a better rate of interest. Here are a few realistic ways of improving your score. • Pay your bills before the due date – The payment history in your credit report shouldn’t bear any negative marks because these black points remain on the report for no less than 7 years. For an excellent payment history, pay all your bills before the last date. If you don’t pay the bill for more than 30 days, a negative mark will automatically come up on the report. • Don’t sit upon your debt load – If you are already bearing a huge debt load on your shoulders, then it is important for you to reduce it without delay. By adding to the load, your debt will simply become unmanageable, and in the long run, it would adversely affect your credit score. • Maintain your old accounts – The chief benefit of a long credit history is that it increases your credit utilization ratio. Hence, it is essential to maintain your old accounts. At times, it is unusually difficult to manage numerous accounts simultaneously. However, if you are able to do this, your credit score would swell up exorbitantly.
• Avoid using more than 20% of the available credit – By utilizing only 20% of your credit limit, you can increase your score dramatically. The best way to make this possible is to wind up the debt backload before taking up a new loan. All your efforts to stick to the 20% limit will leave a positive effect on your credit report. • Keep your credit report spick and span – Inconsistencies and errors on the credit report serve to ruin your credibility as well as your score. Hence, they should not only be detected at the earliest, but should also be rooted out. If you are unable to track down the errors, then you can engage a credit report management company to get the discrepancies removed as quickly as possible. • Be vigilant while opening new accounts – In a bid to allure customers like you, credit card companies provide countless irresistible offers and discounts. Instead of grabbing each one of them, do a bit of research to find out the best available option. This is important because each credit enquiry would serve to knock down your score. Experian, Equifax are two major credit bureaus in the Canada. that have the reputation of calculating the credit score accurately. The first thing that you should do is to get your score calculated. Thereafter, follow the above mentioned tips ardently to improve it. In a short period of time, the positive results will start appearing on your credit report. -
Call Today 905-575-7700
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January 2011
The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch
Page 7
Household Hints In today's world, even household hints needs disclamiers. Therefore, it becomes necessary for me to say the following. There are hints only. You must be the one who decides that they are valid for use. They are my suggestions and only that. Toothbrush for Cleaning Jobs Keep an old tooth brush around to do little cleaning jobs. (Sanitize the brush by pouring rubbing alcohol on it before putting it into your bag of cleaning tools.) It makes a marvelous brush for those hard to reach places. Crayon on Vinyl Crayon marks on vinyl can be removed with silver polish. On wallpaper, try rubbing very gently with baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. On hard surfaces try rubbing lightly with dry soap-filled steel wool pad. Do not wet. Window Cleaning The best thing for window cleaning is ammonia and water. Use 2 tablespoons ammonia to 1 pint of water. Use as you would commercial spray bottle. Getting Whites Clean and other uses for Cascade For cotton and cotton blends only--1/4 cup cascade powder, 1 cup bleach, mix with one gallon very hot water and soak the cottons and blends---they will be snowy white and odor free. But wait, flush your commode and pour this used solution into it and let stand---stainfree and clean with no scrubbing! I also found that Cascade powder will remove those adhesive remains of the glue on things in bathtubs----wet your tub, cover thickly with Cascade, let set 30 minutes or so, then use a scrub brush and rinse. It may take more than one application, but they will disappear and the tub will be sparkling clean. Garlic on Hands Have you ever peeled garlic or handled it and your hands smell to high heav-
en? The next time that happens, take any stainless steel bowl, pan or other stainless steel kitchen gadget and rub your hands on it. It will take away the smell of garlic. I'm not sure what makes this happen, but it works. Ring Around the Collar Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all kinds of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick when you are travelling. Blood Stains in Clothing Blood stains in clothing need to be removed as soon as possible. Use cold water and wash out the stain. Hot water will set the blood and it will be difficult or impossible to get out. Scorch Marks from an Iron Scorch marks occur when your iron is too hot for your fabric, or when you leave the iron in one place on the fabric too long. If the scorch is not too bad, there are a couple of things you can do to try to get it out. Light scorch marks can be treated with 1 part water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide dabbed gently on the mark. Also you can try a borax solution (1/4 cup borax to 1 quart of water) on the scorch. And if the fabric permits, it can be soaked in a bleach solution. Be sure to rinse throughly and wash as usual after treatments. On the down side, if the scorch is heavy and dark, there may be nothing you can do to remove it. You may, however, be able to "decorate" over it, depending on where it is on the garment. You may be able to add a pocket or add an embroidery decoration over it. Wax on Fabric Set your iron on the "warm" setting or the lowest setting. Let the iron get warm. Take a couple of sheets of paper
towel and put them on the ironing board. Take the fabric with the wax stain, and place the stain over the paper towels. Place additional paper towels over the stain. Then press the iron on the spot. Do not move the iron back and forth, but just set it down, leave it for a moment, and lift it up. Check the paper towels to see if any wax has been absorbed. If some of the wax has been asborbed, move the paper towels to a clean spot and do the same thing again until the wax is removed. You are going to melt the wax and transfer it onto the paper towels. Be careful not to "iron the wax on the paper towels" back onto the fabric, if you have to repeat the wax transfer treatment. Wax on Oriental Rugs Place a blotter or brown paper bag over the spot. Put a hot iron on top. Move it around until the wax soaks into the paper. Repeat as needed. Red Wine on Fabric Apply table salt to the wet stain immediately. Allow the salt to absorb the wine. The stain is then easily rinsed away with cool water. I have had to reapply the salt to the area for complete removal, but it generally works the first time. Salt also works on blood stains on cotton clothes. Wax Crayon on Painted Walls Use WD40 (spray lubricant) to remove wax crayon from painted walls. Just spray it on and wipe it off. Dish soap easily removes all traces of the lubricant from the wall. Heavily colored areas should be done a few times or sprayed and left for a time.
Ink Stains Ball point pen stains can be removed by using hair spray. Let the hair spray dry and wash. Table salt will absorb ink when it is spilled. Pour salt on the wet ink and continue to add salt until there is no more "wet ink". Then vacuum or wash. Other types of ink can be removed using rubbing alcohol.
Ink on Leather Car Seats Rubbing alcohol did well. It does not remove the ink completely, but it will probably fade them to the point that you would have to look very closely to see the the marks. Urine Odors Urine odors on mattresses and mattress covers may be neutralized by dampening the spot and sprinkling borax over it. Rub the borax into the areas and let dry. Brush or vacuum to remove the dry borax. One brand of borax, 20 Mule Team Borax, is found in the laundry department of grocery stores. Pet urine and sour milk odors can be neutralized using the same process. There are also commercial products available at pet stores that do nicely on pet urine. Use as directed. The commercial products are more expensive than is borax. Bicycle Grease Regular dish soap, especially Dawn and Palmolive, take bicycle grease out with very little "elbow grease". Using dish soap to take other oily/greasy stains out of other washables, including sun-tan oil, and chicken gravy will also work. Stainless Steel Sinks and Bathroom Fixtures Rub stainless steel sinks with lighter fluid if rust marks appear. After the rust disappears, wipe with your regular kitchen cleaner. Spots on stainless steel can be also removed with white vinegar. Use a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol to remove water spots from stainless steel. And club soda will shine up stainless steel. Some stainless steel sinks have a nickle plating on them which makes them very shiny. If this surface is worn off, you may not be able to get the sink shiny again. A friend of mine takes auto polish and puts it on her sink and fixtures after they have been polished. This helps keep the water spots off.
History Chart Average Selling Price for Detached Homes YEAR
LOWER uppER StONEY CREEk StONEY CREEk
EASt hAMILtON
WESt hAMILtON
CENtRAL hAMILtON
hAMILtON MOuNtAIN
ANCAStER
DuNDAS
GRIMSBY
SMIthVILLE
LINCOLN
BuRLINGtON
1985
$80,942
$79,137
$56,479
$66,183
$42,253
$73,520
$125,745
$91,210
$82,450
$65,870
N/A
$107,325
1990
$194,027
$184,470
$129,776
$168,413
$116,253
$161,153
$266,681
$209,070
$190,117
$146,557
$155,381
$217,824
1995
$157,811
$160,651
$106,711
$141,665
$82,527
$134,705
$211,505
$165,318
$149,230
$124,002
$132,368
$202,473
2000
$184,130
$177,745
$119,461
$151,572
$89,828
$152,677
$252,164
$194,402
$191,177
$164,699
$164,839
$254,074
2005
$263,252
$263,245
$159,859
$228,813
$123,084
$214,749
$372,585
$288,193
$289,975
$220,649
$240,143
$371,100
2006
$279,816
$279,951
$166,363
$238,338
$130,693
$222,765
$385,046
$317,238
$305,964
$233,243
$268,673
$394,798
2007
$289,651
$284,280
$180,614
$257,108
$137,370
$236,621
$427,272
$331,272
$306,477
$253,259
$275,085
$428,599
2008
$310,131
$293,571
$186,031
$267,973
$148,432
$243,239
$431,561
$329,752
$321,451
$246,381
$301,542
$449,261
2009
$298,521
$299,641
$178,956
$279,104
$144,513
$245,988
$439,293
$344,179
$326,034
$256,862
$289,085
$452,434
2010
$319,983
$324,135
$188,834
$306,689
$152,319
$263,319
$461,254
$375,871
$348,408
$283,446
$295,325
$492,166
Home evaluation No Cost or Obligation
Call Rob Golfi today! Rob Golfi, Sales Representative
905-575-7700 / 905-945-0188
www. GolfiTeam .com
MarketWatch January A_MarketWatch_Transfer.qxd 03/01/11 12:49 PM Page 8
ed
T Includ
S HST & G
OWN THIS FOR ONLY
$864 MONTHLY
MONTHLY P&I* PAYMENT BASED ON 5% DOWN
OUTSTANDING FEATURES
STYLISH 2-STOREY & BUNGALOW TOWNS NESTLED WITHIN A BRAND NEW COMMUNITY PARK!
t 063 45"/%"3%4 "3& .045 BUILDERS UPGRADES t 0/-: #-0$,4 0' 508/4 AVAILABLE t -6963: &/46*5&4 t 42 '5 t %&4*(/&3 KITCHENS
SITE HOURS: Mon,-Thurs 1-5pm Sat-Sun 1-5 pm Fri by appointment
REGISTER ON-LINE NOW! MODEL HOME
1-289-566-9528
905-945-0188 www.homesbycambridge.ca
The bi-weekly P.I. payment, based on 5% down, and a purchase price of $228,000 works out to $864 MONTHLY, (based on 5 year term, 35 year amortization)