Premier Dalton McGuinty said the province is putting an end to some restrictions that prevent people from using outdoor clotheslines. This includes agreements between home builders and buyers in some towns and cities in Ontario.

Using outdoor clotheslines instead of electric dryers can:

• Save consumers $30 per year when they reduce their dryer use by 25 per cent.
• Cut greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduce demand on the power grid — home dryers use about 900 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

QUOTES

"There's a whole generation of kids growing up today who think a clothesline is a wrestling move. We want parents to have the choice to use the wind and the sun to dry their clothes for free," said Premier McGuinty.

"We want every Ontario family to have the tools they need to save energy and save money. Just using a clothesline instead of a dryer can make a significant difference to your pocketbook, reduce demand on the electricity grid, and help keep our air clean," said Energy Minister Gerry Phillips.

QUICK FACTS

• Florida, Utah and Hawaii have laws in place that ensure people can use clotheslines. Similar legislation is being considered in Vermont.
• Electric clothes dryers use about six per cent of electricity in the home — as much as a refrigerator running 24-7.
• Over the course of a year, five clothes dryers could result in roughly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as an average-size car.

LEARN MORE

http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=conservation.tips

The Chatham market continues to have good prices and good mortgage rates.  This is a great time to buy a home.  Buyers have a great choice of good listings right now in Chatham (April 2008.)

Having your own home is an investment.  Invest in Ontario.

Anna Mae McPhail, Broker of Record

Anna Mae McPhail

If you need to make improvements to your home, do the work before it goes on the market. Potential buyers are not interested in hearing about your good intentions to look after defects before a transfer of ownership takes place. Even if fix-up work is underway, buyers may not be able to visualize what your home will look like when the work is finished. They will just remember it being in a state of disrepair.

Home Inspections: A serious buyer may want to have a professional home inspector check your house from top to bottom before making an offer. Even though this guide will help you identify problems on your own, the option of hiring a professional home inspector is open to you, as well. If you can afford it, an inspection in advance of putting your home on the market is a good idea. It is your best way of finding and taking care of serious deficiencies before an inspector hired by a potential buyer discovers them.

When getting your home ready to sell, you need to look at your house in a new way. Think of your house as a product about to go on the market where it is probably competing with brand new housing. It needs to show well – which means clutter-free and well kept.

Today’s homebuyers lead busy lives and may not be interested in taking on major repairs or improvements upon moving in. You need to make your house a “10”.  It will give you the opportunity to take corrective action to ensure your house looks fresh, clean and well maintained when the “for sale” sign goes up.

There are risks and rewards of flipping properties;

Ask yourself these questions: -

Do you have the time, energy, cash, and other resources to be successful; you must minimize risk and maximize potential profits in a very competitive market.

the key factors that make or break the novice house flipper

• You should secure financing before you look at houses.
• As a flipper, you want dontwanners—houses that the owners obviously don't want.
• You make your profit when you buy the property. You realize your profit when you sell.
• Always plan on earning at least 20 percent after your total investment—purchase price, repairs and renovations, real estate agent commissions, and holding costs (monthly mortgage payments, insurance, property taxes, and utilities).
• Working with a top-notch real estate agent can save you thousands of dollars more than what you pay in commissions.
• You should choose a limited geographical area to work and then become an expert on the houses and property values in that area.
• Your goal when renovating a home should be to bring the property up to market standards, not exceed them.

Flipping houses is a hot topic these days. Here are 10 tips to help you find the perfect flip from HGTV’s The Big Flip renovator’s John Stassen and Randy Mackay.

1. Find properties that are diamonds in the rough - homes that are rundown in comparison to those around them - as these often have a low list price.

2. Are the surrounding properties well maintained? This can add value and clinch a sale when your house goes back on the market.
3. Scrutinize previous renovations. Poor quality workmanship can mean you have paid a premium for finishes that you will have to repair or replace yourself.
4. Can you add bathrooms, storage or enlarge a small kitchen to meet the needs of today’s average family? If you can't, walk away, as these features often make or break a sale.
5. Ensure you do a thorough home inspection before purchasing properties – this could save thousands of dollars in the long run.
6. Identify your potential buyers (i.e. young professionals or families) and design the house with their needs in mind.
7. Find a real estate agent who understands the market. There are thousands of real estate agents; get one who is experienced and understands the business of flipping houses!
8. Do your research and find areas that are up and coming. Neighbourhoods that are in the early stages of being gentrified often contain homes that offer large returns on their investment.
9. Be realistic with your budget and always leave room for hidden costs. Early budget optimism can mean cost cutting later on, which means sacrificing quality – and profits – in the final sale.
10. Keep your eye out for properties with good layouts that can be easily updated with new paint and trim. You may get lucky and find a home that’s a good price and only needs finishing touches, adding tens of thousands of dollars with minimal investment.

Our work doesn’t stop there as we will fully investigate the real estate market and compare your property with similar listings to make sure that you receive the highest amount you deserve for your home.

Our agents are well trained.  They have gone through the OREA Licensing program, through which their training has given them the best business practices.  They are trained to advise you, and to help you.

They are trained to know how to appraise your property for sale.  They are trained to conduct CMA's on every property they go to list.

Listen to your realtor.  They are trained to do the job.

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

Make the House Sparkle!

• Wash windows inside and out.
• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Vacuum daily.
• Wax floors.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Replace worn rugs.
• Hang up fresh towels.
• Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

By laws in Canada, homebuyers who don't have a 20 percent down payment must get mortgage insurance from CMHC, Genworth Financial or another mortgage insurer.

This insurance actually covers the lender, not the homebuyer, but without it, lenders simply wouldn't lend, and lots of people--particularly first home buyers-- would be locked out of the market.

With the loans insured, there might be some potential for complacency on the part of lenders, but rules ensure strict limits on lending ratios.

For example, your total monthly housing costs (principal, interest, property taxes and heating, plus condo fees where applicable cannot exceed 32 per cent of your gross household income.  And total debt, housing costs, plus vehicle loans and other credits) cannot exceed 40 percent of gross household income. 

These two qualifiers ensure that homebuyers can't overbuy, as they did in the U.S., or that if mortgage rates rise, the homeowner is not so quickly and adversely affected.

Canada's economy does not always follow the U.S. and don't let those who would sensationalize the U.S. situation erode your confidence in the Canadian system.

Predictions for housing growth here in 2008 are still healthy.

Credit issues, No credit, Discharged Bankruptcy, New to the Country, Self employed, No proof  of income, bank turn down, power of sale…… We have a mortgage for you!!

A new company is offering a 50 year mortgage

Preparing your home for sale is a bit like designing a stage for a play. Everything is in just the right place, perfectly arranged, and comfortably set.

There are television shows like Designed to Sell focused exclusively on, not decorating a home, but getting an otherwise drab, cluttered, boring house ready for a quick and profitable sale. Homes that are properly prepared sell faster and at a higher price than similar, unprepared homes.