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        <title>Calgary Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/calgary-real-estate-updates/</link>
        <description>Justin Havre's Calgary Real Estate Blog brings you the latest market news and property listings, as well as tips for buying or selling a home. </description>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/tuscany-springs-just-sold.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/tuscany-springs-just-sold.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Tuscany Springs - JUST SOLD</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
We Just SOLD 36 Tuscany Springs Circle NW, Calgary. This great starter home is clean &amp; shows very well. Dark stained oak hardwood floors on Main. Your main floor consists of a bight living room, Oak kitchen with island, corner pantry, breakfast nook with access to 2 tiered deck &amp; yard perfect for summer entertaining. 1/2 bath completes the main floor. Up stairs you have a spacious master bedroom with walk in closet, 2nd bedroom is of good size. Your loft comes complete with wall mounted LCD TV &amp; Surround Sound (Included in Sale + Loft can be converted to 3rd bedroom) &amp; 4pc bath. double detached garage with additional shelving for storage. 

Search for more homes in Tuscany
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            <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:17:58 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/retractable-awnings-protect-and-extend-summer-fun.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/retractable-awnings-protect-and-extend-summer-fun.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Retractable Awnings Protect and Extend Summer Fun.</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 
Everyone wants to enjoy the beautiful weather that summer brings. But the warm sun and damaging rays sometimes force us to retreat inside, where we crank the costly air conditioning to stay cool.

Creating an outdoor room is a great way to expand your home's living space without the cost of an addition. Retractable Awnings expand homes by turning decks and patios into added living space, combining the comfort of the indoors with the enjoyment of the outdoors.

In the hot summer days, an awning provides a simple solution that shields out these harmful rays while keeping you cool. It also helps homeowners conserve energy and therefore save money because awnings block the sun from entering the home through windows. Not only do your cooling costs go down, your furniture and carpet are protected from fading.

Awnings are fully customizable and available in a wide variety of style options with over 200 vibrant 100-percent acrylic fabric colors and patterns to compliment any dcor. 

Some brands come withy an optional wind or motion sensor which allows awnings to automatically retract when wind speeds reach a predetermined level, preventing awning damage. A sun sensor can also be added to allow for automatic operation determined by the sun's strength. Also, an interior wireless remote control is an option that provides easy-access operation. When not in use, awnings can be easily retracted, safely stored, and will subtly blend in with the exterior beauty of any home.

On those summer days when it normally would be too hot to be outside, awnings enable homeowners to fully embrace the season creating their vacation oasis right in their own backyard, and there is nothing cooler that instant shade at the touch of a button.

Awnings and shade structures come in a variety of styles, and even oddly shaped patios can be covered with retractable awnings. Retractable awnings operate with a crank or motor, and they dont require any framework. Awnings that retract are perfect for families with large outdoor pets that may be a bit rambunctious around freestanding structures.

Awnings are visually stunning while harmonizing with the architectural design of any home or commercial building, so they capture attention in a way that complements your existing structure. With a decades-long lifetime, retractable awnings can bring beauty and panache to a building in ways that surpass any other comparable landscaping or enhancement, and this beauty is something many home owners appreciate. With retractable awnings, you can expand your usable living space outdoors for a much smaller price tag than new construction or remodelling. 

Match your awning to the style of your choice and it truly becomes an extension of a home's personality.


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            <pubDate>Sun, 02 May 2010 17:15:41 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/calgary-real-estate-renting-vs-buying-which-option-is-better-for-you.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/calgary-real-estate-renting-vs-buying-which-option-is-better-for-you.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Calgary Real Estate: Renting vs. Buying, Which option is better for you?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 
Buying a house can be the most rewarding purchase you ever make. However depending on your current circumstance this may not be your best option.&nbsp; To help make an educated decision, try to answer the following questions first:

1. Do you really want to own your home?Some would argue that this is the first question you should ask yourself. Home ownership, like everything else, is a matter of choice. Only you can decide whether or not home ownership is important to you. If it is then you may want to re-assess how you spend your money every month.

2.&nbsp; How often do you expect to move in the future?If you expect to be moving a lot (every couple of years or more) then you probably shouldn't buy your own home. Every time you buy or sell a home you incur significant costs (selling commissions alone average 6%). Unless you get lucky and the value of the home you purchased goes up by at least 10%, you'll be losing money.

3.&nbsp; How stable are you employment situation?You should only consider buying a home if your employment is indeed stable. Home ownership requires a number of regular payments like the mortgage, property taxes, maintenance, insurance, etc. Missing any of these payments can trigger terrible consequences for a homeowner. Unless your employment is stable, your best option is &quot;renting&quot;.

4.&nbsp;Can you afford to make the monthly payments?When qualifying for a loan, most mortgage companies will not allow your housing costs to be more that 33% of your gross income. Housing costs include your mortgage payment, property taxes, utilities, and 50% of condo fees if applicable. If your total debt servicing costs (housing costs plus all of your other monthly debt payments) exceed 40% of your gross income you will not qualify for a mortgage.

How much rent are you paying now? What is the maximum amount you are willing to pay?

If you buy a home, it is important to have some money set aside for &quot;emergencies&quot;. You may not be able to save as much money as a homeowner as you did when you were renting, but it is important that you leave some room in your budget. If you have to stretch your budget too far and you should definitely reconsider your home purchase.

5. Do the math Housing costs can be divided into shelter costs and investment costs. When you rent, you pay your shelter costs, and the landlord pays the investment costs. When you buy, you pay both, which is usually more. Ten years later when you sell the house, you will find that your investment did well and you saved a lot of money by buying. 

From a purely financial standpoint, whether you should rent or buy comes down to your monthly budget and the cost of borrowing. If you have the down payment and interest rates are 5% or lower, it makes very little difference whether you rent or buy. At interest rates above 8%, buying will cost you 20% or more than renting.

Although it might seem that you will be spending more money on buying a house than renting, you need to consider your options and priorities. There are many more advantages of purchasing a home over renting. 

ConclusionBuying a house is an investment, and for many people it is a good one. You can purchase insurance to help you manage any potential risks like fire, earthquakes, and thefts. Remember to take your buying/selling costs into account when considering selling your home; the strength of the real estate market in your area will determine the return on your investment.

Assuming that you can afford the increased costs of owning your home, the question of what's better, renting or buying a house, again becomes one of personal preference. There is a certain satisfaction in owning your own home, but only if it is important to you. 

If you are only staying somewhere for short period of time (less than five years), renting is almost always better; the transaction costs of buying and selling houses will definitely make it less expensive just to rent. 

For longer periods, buying a house is usually better. Although if you have the discipline to invest the difference between your rent and your potential mortgage and other buying costs in a reasonably high yielding investment, renting might be better.&nbsp; But thats if, repeat IF, you figure out the difference and diligently invest that difference; if you cant do that then buying is probably the better choice.&nbsp; 

Buying a house is usually a sound long term investment as it helps you build equity vs. throwing your hard-earned money away as rent real estate generally appreciates; a house bought today is worth more a few years down the road.


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            <pubDate>Sun, 02 May 2010 17:14:06 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/todays-most-desirable-home-features.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/todays-most-desirable-home-features.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Today's most desirable home features </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 
Housing trends and styles are changing constantly. Today, more than ever, buyers have a strong sense of what they want in a home. &nbsp; Todays desirable home features depend greatly of the type of buyer.&nbsp; Buyers can be divided into two main groups. The first group are first-time buyers which is pretty self-explanatory. The second group are the move up buyers, which are looking to move into a home that addresses the shortcomings of their existing home. They aren't necessarily second-time buyers but they are often people that have out grown their current home. Buyer age is also a main factor in deciding the desired home features. 

This article will focus on what is hot in the housing market today. Whether you are planning on renovating, selling, or you are looking for a new home, this information will help you make choices that will contribute to both your real estate enjoyment and investment. 

Home Exterior Today, stone and stucco are very popular choices. Of course, brick is the standard material used with mass builders, but the more customized and trendy home builders are using stone and stucco on a more frequent basis. 

Floor layout&nbsp; Bungalows are hot nowadays. Excessive floor level changes are no longer popular as people desire to live on one or two levels. 

Rooms Room sizes have been gradually increasing for a number of years. Buyers tend to place the most importance on 3 key rooms which include the Kitchen, the Family room and the Master bedroom. You can expect to see these 3 rooms continue to increase in size over the next 10 years while rooms such as the living and dining room are likely to get smaller or disappear altogether. Many new homes scrap the living room and instead incorporate that space into the Family room or the 'Great' room.

Buyers still, ideally, desire four bedrooms in their home and would like, if possible, two living areas. One of the living quarters can be the recreation room in the lower level (basement). 

A master bedroom on the main floor is ranked very important for buyers 65 and older. A two-car garage with ample storage area and a main floor laundry area is desirable for the move-up buyers. 

Kitchen and bathroomsThe kitchen is becoming the hub of the house. The most desired features for the kitchen include: an abundance of counter space, a butlers pantry, deep drawers and two sinks. Stainless steel appliances are also very popular today, and in the upper end market, appliances concealed as cabinetry are very chic.&nbsp; 

Large kitchens with an island and counter tops made of granite or marble are very desirable for the move up buyers. . However, this must be matched with stylish kitchen cabinets.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Luxurious Bathrooms with separate tub and multiple shower heads along with pedestal sinks and large mirrors with a spa like feeling, attached dressing rooms and a place to sit are all desirable features. Master suite soaker tubs and Whirlpools are still desirable for many home buyers, but they clearly went down a notch. 

Energy efficientwith the green movement becoming more popular, energy efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation, eco-friendly treatments, and environmentally smart building plans are among the &quot;green&quot; features touted in homes. 

Tech-readinesssatellite and internet wired along with multiple phone jacks and central air are what people want. With today busy live style relaying heavily on technology, even a day or two without high speed internet could be a major inconvenience. 

Home officeToday many people would much rather have this space than a formal dining room. Simple work from home opportunity can be a blessing in disguise in troubled times of today. Those who find their regular incomes diminishing due to recession and those who are laid out of jobs can use simple work from opportunity to make money online

Outdoor living spacethe popularity of outdoor spaces continues to grow. Patios, deck, exterior lights, fenced yard and fire bit extend the outdoor living space at home and make a great extra feature.

Other NotablesSome other notable features that home buyers consider very important when buying a home include central air conditioning, recessed lighting, hardwood flooring, energy efficiency and the potential to turn a profit should they decide to sell that home in the near future.

Todays buyers are looking for a little luxury and features and treatments that are the highest quality the price range will permit.

Justin Havre

CIR Realty


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            <pubDate>Sun, 02 May 2010 17:11:58 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/alberta-approves-construction-of-5-new-calgary-schools.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/alberta-approves-construction-of-5-new-calgary-schools.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Alberta Approves Construction of 5 New Calgary Schools</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Alberta government announced on April 22, 2010 that they have awarded the construction jobs of the 5 schools that are to be built in Calgary. 

The Calgary Board of Education gets the following schools built:


Coventry Hills Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900

Taradale Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900

Panorama Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900

Tuscany Middle School (5-9) Capacity 900


The Calgary Catholic Board gets one school in Copperfield which will have grades K to 9 also with a capacity of 900.

These schools are expected to open in 2012 and are built under a private-public partnership and these schools are badly needed in their communities.

&nbsp;

Justin Havre

CIR Realty

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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            <pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:51:29 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/bank-of-canada-upgrades-forecasts-opens-door-to-june-rate-hike-by-removing-conditional-commitment.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/bank-of-canada-upgrades-forecasts-opens-door-to-june-rate-hike-by-removing-conditional-commitment.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Bank of Canada upgrades forecasts; opens door to June rate hike by removing conditional commitment </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ &nbsp; 
Here is an update I just received from my RBC&nbsp;Mortgage&nbsp;professional&nbsp;and I thought I would share it with you guys.
&quot;The Bank of Canada left the overnight rate at 0.25% this morning and opened the door to rate increase at the June meeting by removing its conditional commitment to keep the policy rate at its current level, &quot;until the end of the second quarter of 2010.&quot; The Bank stated that with, &quot;recent improvements in the economic outlook, the need for such extraordinary policy is now passing, and it is appropriate to begin to lessen the degree of monetary stimulus. The extent and timing will depend on the outlook for economic activity and inflation, and will be consistent with achieving the 2% inflation target.&quot; The change in the Bank's statement reflected a sharp upgrade to the Bank's economic forecast with growth in 2010 forecasted at 3.7%, up from 2.9% in its January projection. The 2011 growth forecast was revised lower to 3.1% from the 3.5% growth rate in their January outlook. The Bank added its 2012 forecast for the economy to expand by 1.9%, which we assume is its estimate of the economy's potential. As a result of the faster pace of growth in the near term, the Bank expects that the economy will reach its productive capacity and inflation to the 2% target in the middle of 2011, sooner than was thought in January. The Bank failed to provide an overall assessment of the risks to the outlook based on macro considerations, which is unusual, but it clearly acknowledged that some reduction in the amount of policy stimulus will be required over time. The pace of which will depend on the flow of data. To our mind, the Bank will be cuing the timing of its first rate hike off of upcoming inflation reports looking at movements in the core inflation data which are forecasted to &quot;ease slightly in the second quarter of 2010.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;The upgrades to the 2010 economic forecast were based on recently strong housing market activity and global growth as well as the Bank's assessment that policy stimulus supported, &quot;more expenditures being brought forward in late 2009 and early 2010.&quot;&nbsp; The statement also sited uncertainty about the pace of the global recovery combined with the potentially restraining effect of the strengthening in the Canadian dollar and low productivity as downside risks for the economy going forward.Today's statement sets up interest rates to start to rise, with the first increase likely to be dictated by movements in the core inflation rate, assuming that the economy continues to show strong growth momentum as we (and the Bank) expect. We forecast that the core inflation (to be released on Friday) will show an easing in the Bank's core rate to 1.8% as the jump in travel accommodation prices proves transitory and remains below 2% in April, which will ease the pressure for a June rate hike. Today's statement, however, leaves the door open to the Bank moving rates in June. Today's rate decision and statement reinforce our view that economic conditions are strong enough that the Bank will increase the overnight rate and there is risk that the first hike comes in June rather than July. Our forecast is that the Bank will raise the policy rate to 1.25% in 2010, and the pace of tightening will accelerate in 2011 as the economy continues to build momentum with the overnight rate finishing the year at 3.5%.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Dawn Desjardins, Assistant Chief Economist, RBC Economics&quot;





I personally think we will see some of the major banks start to lower their rates slowly again now that the Bank of Canada did not raise their rates today.



What do you think they will do?



Justin Havre

CIR Realty
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            <pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:00:27 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/market-watch-april-2010-residential-resale-market-maintains-momentum.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/market-watch-april-2010-residential-resale-market-maintains-momentum.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Market Watch – April 2010 Residential Resale Market Maintains Momentum</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 
The spring market kicked off early and strong this year, possibly boosted by the unseasonably warm weather and absence of snow in March. Inventory is still lower than at this time in 2009, but has begun to increase slightly in recent months.&ldquo;The strong rebound in the existing home market was one of the initial drivers of economic recovery,&rdquo; said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. &ldquo;While we dont expect to see the same rates growth moving forward, GTA households will remain confident in ownership housing as a quality long-term investment, especially as economic recovery expands across all industries.&rdquo;Most major banks raised their fixed mortgage rates in late March and the Bank of Canada has warned that interest rates will rise again after the second quarter. Many buyers are hurrying to lock in rates and find a home before the more stringent qualification requirements for mortgages come into effect on April 19th.

&ldquo;There is consumer confidence in this market and both buyers and sellers appear eager to enter the housing market,&rdquo; said Larry Westergard, president of the REALTORS Association of Edmonton. &ldquo;Prices are up about 10% from a year ago and sellers are eager to take advantage. Buyers are aware of higher mortgage rates ahead and are getting into the market before the rates rise.&rdquo;

Ontario - A Record First Quarter Sales

Toronto, April 6, 2010 - Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 10,430 sales through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in March, pushing total first quarter 2010 sales to 22,418  the best result on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. The average price for March transactions was $434,696. The average price for the first quarter was $427,948.

The annual rate of growth for new listings continued to accelerate in March. The number of new listings grew by 42% compared to March of 2009.

&ldquo;The average home price in the GTA will continue to grow this year, but the pace will slow as we move through the spring,&rdquo; said Jason Mercer, TREBs Senior Manager of Market Analysis. &ldquo;As growth in new listings starts to outstrip growth in sales, buyers will experience more choice, resulting in more sustainable single digit rates of average price growth.&rdquo;

Ottawa, April 7, 2010 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,499 residential properties in March through the Boards Multiple Listing Service system compared with 1,161 in March 2009, an increase of 29.1%.

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 residential property class includes all other residential properties.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in March in the Ottawa area was $329,767, an increase of 15% over March 2009. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $240,409, an increase of 15.1% over March 2009.

The average sale price of a residential-class property was $354,698, an increase of 15.1% over March 2009. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

British Columbia  Buyers Market Continues in Fraser ValleySurrey, April 6, 2010  With plenty of selection and relatively modest price increases, buyers are enjoying a healthy spring market in the Fraser Valley. The Boards Multiple Listing Service (MLS) recorded 1,565 sales in March, an increase of 30% over Februarys sales and an increase of 56% over the 1,006 sales processed March of last year.

Deanna Horn, president of the Board says, &ldquo;March sales volumes can fluctuate as much as the weather, and this years reached the mid-point between the highs and lows seen over the last decade. However, available listings were near the peak, meaning buyers had lots to choose from and were clearly taking advantage of great buying opportunities.&rdquo;

There were 3,395 new listings entered onto the MLS in March, slightly higher than in March 2009, when 3,028 new listings were added. Altogether, there were 9,828 active listings on the MLS at the end of March, on par with the 9,832 active listings one year ago.The ratio of sales compared to active listings, which indicates the type of market, reached 16% in March, representing a buyers market. This is up from last years 10% but a far cry from the 25% ratio in March 2007, when the Fraser Valley was in a sellers market.

&ldquo;Prices are closing in on the record highs we last saw in spring 2008, so its no surprise to see the increase in listings as sellers position themselves to move up or downsize into a smaller residence using their home equity for their purchase,&rdquo; Deanna Horn stated.In March, the benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes was $514,787, an increase of 11.9% from the March 2009 price of $459,841.

The benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses in March was $326,307, a 10.3% increase compared to $295,809 in March 2009. The benchmark price of apartments increased by 8.6% year-over-year going from $227,188 in March 2009 to $246,673 in March 2010.

Alberta  Edmonton Buyers and Sellers Remain OptimisticEdmonton, April 6, 2010 - Housing figures released by the REALTORS Association of Edmonton for March and the first quarter of 2010 show that resale housing prices are up, and listings and sales are up.

Single family residences in the Edmonton area sold on average for $388,473 in March which is up 4.7% from February and 11% from a year ago. Condominium prices rose by 8.4% month-over-month and 10.5% year-over-year. The average condominium sold for $252,416 in March. Duplex and rowhouse prices (at $313,836) dropped a third of a percent in March but were up 10.4% from a year ago. The average residential price was $343,607 (up month-over-month by 8.5%).

Sales also demonstrated the optimism of the marketplace. 3,728 residential listings in March were up over 30% from a year ago and up 246% in the first quarter. Residential sales of 1,571 properties in March were up 15.1% from a year ago and 77.3% in the first quarter. Sales were up from 1,307 in February: a 20.2% increase. The March sales-to-listing ratio was 42%; down from 52% in February.

&ldquo;Seller activity has boosted the inventory to 6,770 residential properties,&rdquo; said Westergard. &ldquo;I am less concerned about available inventory now than I was at the beginning of the year. I think the market has reached a balance between buyers and sellers.&rdquo;

The average days-on-market in March was 41 as compared to 47 in February.Alberta will not be influenced by the GST harmonization taking place in Ontario and British Columbia so we may not see the sales slump in the second quarter that is expected in those two provinces.&nbsp;


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            <pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:56:24 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/selling-your-home-appeal-to-the-homebuyers-senses.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/selling-your-home-appeal-to-the-homebuyers-senses.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Selling Your Home? Appeal to the Homebuyer's Senses</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 
Every seller wants his or her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. It's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their cheque books.

Your home will be judged not only on its outward appearance, but also on the feelings it evokes in those who view your property. Follow these simple tips to prepare your house and turn it into an irresistible home.

Sight Use light to showcase your home. Open draperies in the daytime and turn on lights (day and night) to accentuate a cheerful atmosphere. If you have a fireplace, burn a Duraflame log. De-clutter and remove any personal photographs and any potentially offensive posters or religious signs.

Sound Consider playing soft background music while people tour your home. If there is exterior noise, such as traffic or nearby construction, work with your sales agent to schedule showings around noisy times of day.

Smell Make sure your home is sparkling clean. Grind a fresh lemon in a garbage disposal or boil cinnamon sticks to add a clean, fresh scent. Candles and flowers look nice and smell pleasant as well. Lingering scents of strong-smelling foods, smoke or pets should be aired out prior to showing your home.

Taste Realtors and home stagers say that one of the most appealing smells to people is fresh baked cookies. Bake a small batch of cookies before every showing (or at least on the weekends when there will be multiple showings). This not only adds a pleasant scent to the home, but also adds to the hospitable home atmosphere. Potential homebuyers may also appreciate a cookie or lemonade.Add a human touch Your home should appear livable. Update the look by making simple changes like rearranging furniture and accessories, painting, and adding stylish and practical pieces.

Buyers who come with agents are more at ease when the owner's not around, so it is best if you take your children and pets on a short walk during the showing. To ensure your safety, remember to remove keys, jewelry and other valuables from your home during showings. 

The key to getting your house sold is to make it stand out from the comparable real estate properties around you. This process is best done by making an emotional lure with a lot of bait. That bait comes in the form of unique characteristics of livability. Use plenty of hooks, and people looking to purchase a home will swarm to your bait and take it.


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            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:28:28 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/how-to-make-your-home-unattractive-to-thieves.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/how-to-make-your-home-unattractive-to-thieves.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>How to Make Your Home Unattractive to Thieves </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



 
One thing nearly every home owner is concerned about is home security. Whether that means installing a burglar alarm, a home security camera, or simply fortifying windows and doors for a more burglar proof home.

Most thieves do not usually try to get into any home, they select their target carefully. So the trick is to make your home less attractive (or harder to get into) than someone else's.

You can make your home unappealing to a potential thief in a number of ways without the need to break your bank account. Here a few effective deterrents that you can do by yourself.

1- Start with doors and window In many homes, the most serious home security weakness is doors. A thief's job is made simpler by poor locks, breakable doors or both. Doors containing a small window or windows are the most exposed. Thieves only need to break the glass, reach inside and unlock the door. Upgrade your locks by installing dead bolt locks. Even better, double dead bolts locks (that need a key to be unlocked from the inside) provide the best security.

Patio doors and sliding windows are relatively easy to get out of their frames. A thief could do it by just lifting it up out of the frame (works just as well from the outside as it does when you lift them out for cleaning from the inside). The way to fix this problem is to drive a few screws into the top track above where the door or window sits when it's closed.

Make sure all your doors and windows are in good working condition and have strong modern locks. If you notice a broken window or lock, fix it right away. Don't think that just because a window is on the second or third story that a burglar can't figure out a way to get to it.

2-Make the best use of lighting Burglars don't like to be seen, so install lights that will light up the outside of your home. Motion detecting fixtures are a great idea, just be sure to install them where a burglar can't reach up to remove or break the bulb.

Don't give burglars the opportunity to hide behind your untamed bushes and shrubbery. Keep the leafage trimmed, especially around the house, and make sure all the outdoor lights are working and are turned on during night.

3. Install a good home security system Many experts maintain that alarm systems are the best deterrent if they are properly maintained and used in conjunction with all the basics. Before deciding on one, interview at least three companies, then request an onsite survey from your local police department's crime-prevention unit.

Make sure to encase all outside electrical wiring for your security system and phone lines in a pipe at least three meters high on the wall.Make sure all home members know how to use your alarm system properly. And dont forget to turn it on when you leave the house even if its just for a 15 minute walk. It only takes a few minutes for a thief to plunder your property.

4-Start a neighbourhood watch group One thing that is common in every neighbourhood is empty streets most of the day. But there's usually someone home in the neighbourhood. Keep an eye on your neighbours' property, ask them to do the same for you, and call the police if you hear breaking glass, see someone lurking about or notice anything suspicious. You might also consider joining a community crime-watch group. Criminals know which neighbourhoods have watch groups and they avoid them like the plague. The local police department can help you set up a program.5- Use common sense Don't advertise that there are things worth stealing in your home. If you get a new TV or computer, don't just put the box out by the curb on trash pickup day and let the bad guys know what's inside. Break down the box into small pieces, so no one passing by will be able to make a shopping list.Finally, make sure your home has a lived in appearance. Plug interior lights and a radio into timers that turn on and off at different times so your house looks occupied. If you're going to be away for a while, make arrangements to have your grass cut (or snow cleared), stop mail and newspaper deliveries and have someone pick up those flyers that seemingly show up every day. Getting a neighbour to park a vehicle in your driveway also helps make it look like someone is there.Keep your garage and storage sheds locked at all times. Also, make sure you don't leave a ladder laying out in your yard anywhere. Someone could use this to gain access to the second-story windows.Use an answering machine so your phone doesnt ring unanswered, but never leaves a message saying you're not in. Say, &quot;I'm not available right now.&quot; Put up a security system sign visible from the road. It's a proven deterrent.Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that if you do everything suggested here that your home wont ever get broken into. However, these suggestions will definitely make it more difficult for a burglar to get into your home, and often that's enough to get him to try somewhere else.&nbsp;


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            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:27:22 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/mortgage-talk-interested-in-a-fixed-rate-mortgage.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.justinhavre.com/blog/mortgage-talk-interested-in-a-fixed-rate-mortgage.html</link>
            <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre)</author>
            <title>Mortgage Talk: Interested in a Fixed Rate Mortgage?</title>
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With the prospect of upcoming rate hikes looming over, many home buyers think that locking into the best fixed rate mortgage is the way to go. Does the idea of a mortgage with a fixed interest rate sound appealing? 

There are mixed messages out there about when and if interest rates are going to go up. But just as important is a thorough understanding of fixed-rate mortgages and what it could mean for you and your home investment in the long run. Keep in mind that the cost of interest rates rising by 1% is equivalent to the home price falling by 10%. Historically when interest rates have gone up they have gone up fast. It is not uncommon for there to be a 1% hike in a matter of months.Here are some common fixed-rate questions you may be asking yourself.What does a Fixed Rate mean? The interest rate on a fixed rate mortgage stays the same throughout the life of the loan. Typically, the standard for fixed-rate loans is the 20 to 25 year fixed rate loan. You can also find fixed-rate loans with shorter pay-off periods. When loan periods are shorter, you will have higher monthly payments, but slightly lower interest. 

When are Fixed Rate Loans better? The advantage of the fixed rate mortgage is that the payment is the same each month. This is important especially when interest rates are unpredictable. When interest rates rise, people with adjustable rate mortgages are faced with increasing monthly mortgage payments. 

A fixed-rate loan means you will always know how much your home payment will be each month, regardless of what is happening with the economy or current interest rates. 

Whats the downside of Fixed Rate Loans?The disadvantage is that the interest is generally a little higher than an adjustable rate. With a fixed-rate loan, youll always pay the same amount of interest. That is great when interest rates are climbing, but if they drop below your interest rate, you will continue paying the higher amount of interest. Of course, you can always refinance a fixed-rate loan in order to get down to the best fixed rate mortgage but this may not always be an option. 

Over the life of your fixed-rate loan, you will pay a substantial amount of interest. In fact, you will probably pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest. There are ways to manage your mortgage so that it is an investment that works for you, and you can do this by talking to a mortgage specialist.Should you have a Fixed Rate Mortgage?You should discuss your particular situation with a talented mortgage specialist. Generally, you'll find that fixed rate mortgages are the right choice if:&bull; You think interest rates are low&bull; You can afford the payment for the house you want&bull; You need to budget for and predict monthly payments&bull; You will keep your home for a relatively long period of timeThe best fixed rate mortgage works for you and your lifestyle. If you'd like the peace of mind that comes with a stable interest-rate payment, then a fixed-rate mortgage may be the ideal choice. Borrowers often choose fixed-rate mortgages when interest rates are low and are expected to rise.


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            <pubDate>Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:14:20 -0600</pubDate>
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