Friday, February 27, 2009

Prestigious Homes in Lorne Park, Fine Homes in 905, Elegant Homes in Churchill Meadows, Buying a Home in Today's Market

Buying a Home in Today's Market

Is it a good time to buy?

Should I buy a home today or wait until the market calms down? I hear this question at least once every day. In order to answer the question you first need to look at the long term benefits of home ownership.

Financial Reasons:

  • Fixed payments - no more rent increases
  • Tax deductible interest
  • Build equity through long term payments. Your house can be sort of a forced savings account.
  • Build equity through appreciation. For any 10 year period including the years of the great depression real estate has gone up in value. We have seen that homes can go down in value but I also believe that they will go back up.
  • Control a large, valuable asset for the cost of a down payment. $200,000 dollars of stock costs $200,000 to buy. A $200,000 house will have a down payment ranging from a few thousand dollars to maybe $40,000. But you control the entire house and are entitled to 100% of the benefits.

Over 80 percent of all buyers begin their search on the internet. Here are a few tips to help with your internet search:
- Put in good information. Your search results will only be as good as the search criteria that you input.
- Consider signing up for an automated listing search. With the automated search the new or changed listings that match your search will be automatically emailed to you.

Most agents will never call you and now with the Do Not Call List that has come out, agents have to be very diligent on who they will call. If agents do call, it usually is just an offer to assist with your search and there is nothing too heavy handed especially if there is no obligation from you as a client. This is not the case with myself. I call and help as much as you will allow me to do so, and see what your next step will be.

Many of the web "Sign ins" do not screen the information. I do screen site sign ups because I have had many requesting information with email addresses that go nowhere and also dead telephone numbers.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for any additional information at905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875
Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter; http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or salethat will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.


Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Prestigious Lorne Park Homes, Fine Homes in 905, Elegant Homes in Churchill Meadows, Mississauga

Consider The Advantages of Owning Property Instead of Renting

If you are in a rental and are paying someone $1500 per month, for an average of the next three years, becomes $54,000 in actual payments that could have been used to pay down your mortgage or improve your property. If you don't believe me, talk to a Mortgage Specialist.

Current interest rates are at 4 - 5% on a blended mortgage balance (variable plus fixed averaging). These rates are at a historically low right NOW. I believe there will be additional interest costs as people ( especially Governments) continue to borrow.

Let me put my team to work to get you the up-to-date information about Mortgage Rates and the payments that you will be making which can be compared to your rent payments.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius at 416.427.1875. You can email me at http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

Experience is not expensive; it's Priceless!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Get in Touch with Betty in the 905 area code

Betty Bart discusses buying or selling homes in Lorne Park and Churchill Meadows, Mississauga.



You can contact Betty at 416 427 1875 or email

Monday, February 16, 2009

Elegant Lorne Park and Churchill Meadows Homes for Sale, Fine Homes in 905, Home Renovations Tax Credit, Market Watch

The sun is starting to shine and the snow is starting to melt. With Spring just around the corner, we bring our thoughts to the landscaping and outside chores that we laid to rest in the past fall season. We're all in the same boat.

The renovation tax credit that was announced in Budget 2009 stimulus plan, may motivate property owners to carry out home improvements this year.

Renovating a home is a labour of love the can generate long-term benefits and financial return.

Because more and more of us are concerned with the environment, here are a few "Green" ideas for remodeling your home. Some of these ideas would be more appealing with recreational property, but could also apply to your prime residence.

Reclaimed Wood Flooring

If you are considering replacing the floor, reclaimed wood from other buildings could be used. There are companies that produce quality flooring out of used wood. It looks great, performs well and DOES NOT impact the environment through logging.

EnergyStar

Remodelling the washroom? Look for EnergyStar appliances -- low-flow toilets, water saving shower heads and faucets. These save on water useage and they save on energy required to heat your water.

Local Flora

Local plants will require less care than imported ones. They have been raised to adapt to our different seasons. They require less watering, no special soil or tending.

Energy Saving Windows

Energy-efficient windows will eventually pay for themselves with the savings in heating and cooling.

Alternative Power Sources

Solar panels and wind turbines are only 2 options of a growing movement to get more energy from renewable resources rather than our power grids or fossil fuels.

Educate yourself on the care and maintenance of 'green' products

After spending money on 'eco-friendly' products, we are disappointed when they don't perform as previous products. These products have a shorter shelf life and may require more care. Read instructions on use and choose according to cost and time to maintain these products properly.

If you are not looking to renovate, just click here regarding homes of the future. That could also give you ideas towards "green" homes.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for your real estate needs and questions 905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

Your new home is just a few clicks away;
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Elegant Homes in Lorne Park Homes for Sale, Fine Homes in 905, Fine Homes in Churchill Meadows, Home Renovation Tax Credit, Mississauga


Home Renovation Tax Credit

Canada enjoys a high rate of home ownership among industrialised countries.

For many Canadians, owning a home represents both the achievement of a key life goal and the most important investment of their lives. A robust housing sector is also an important source of economic activity in Canada as it promotes demand for labour, building materials and other goods. To provide needed stimulus in these challenging econimic times, Budget 2009 proposes measures to help Canadians purchase and improve their homes.


Home Renovation Tax Credit is alive for another few days.

Home renovations can represent a smart investment in the long-term value of a home and generate economic activity. To support economic growth during these challenging times, Budget 2009 proposes to introduce a temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC).

The HRTC will provide temporary incentive for Canadians to undertake new renovation projects or accelerate planned future projects, thus providing timely stimulus to the Canadian economy while boosting energy efficiency and the value of Canada's housing stock.
How the Temporary HRTC Will Work

The proposed programme will provide a temporary 15% income tax credit on eligible renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1st, 2010, pursuant to agreements entered into after January 27th, 2009. The credit may be claimed for the 2009 taxation year on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000, and will provide up to $1,350 in tax relief.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for assistance with all your Real Estate requirements at 905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

Your new home is just a few clicks away:
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Elegant Homes in Lorne Park and Churchill Meadows, Fine Homes in 905, Market Watch, Sheridan Homelands, Oakville, Burlington

Why is Buying On The Slide a Buyer's Advantage In the Toronto Real Estate Market?

First lets consider a Sellers Market;

A Sellers Market occurs simply when there are more Buyers than Sellers. This trend has been in place since 1996 and has continued upwards till 2008. If there are two listings and 20 buyers, the home owner is able to dictate price, terms of the sale and deposits that accompany the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. The home owners took their appliances, chandalier, and window coverings. You agreed because you were happy to pay. If you were in a multiple offer situation, the group mentality applied and you paid because you wanted the property.

The Seller had Control of the Situation.

We started to see hesitation in the marketplace around October 2007, and the buying /selling dynamic started to "shift".

This Shift in the Marketplace has moved us into a Buyers Market.

You can take advantage of the Buyers Market by being a qualified, ready to buy customer and force the homeowners who need to sell to come to US with their Offers to Buy.

Are we taking advantage of the situation? Yes! Absolutely. Everything, that I learn about the Seller's situation is available to you, from the negotiating perspective. (If you are under a brokerage Representation Agreement with me.)

What have you gained? You now have the upper hand against the Seller.

Lets put this into a practical example. Let us assume that you want a house in Neighborhood 'A', and there are 25 listings available for sale in that neighborhood. From the Sales to Listings Ratio, we know that only one house in ten will be sold this month. How do we find the most motivated Seller? We pick the best homes you and I have seen together, start with an offer of the best one, and present it to the seller. Remember, an Offer must be agreed to by both parties. If the first one doesn't want to negotiate, then we move on to the next one. The seller who truly wants/needs to sell will make his presence known to you because he NEEDS, WANTS to sell and be gone. Interested?

You as the Buyer will dictate the terms, conditions, inspections, appliances and even the family chandalier that you never had a chance at before. Let's ask for everything.

So ..... Lets wait and see, we'll buy when the market has bottomed out.

There are a few different lines of thought; when the market has bottomed, you and I together are looking at historic values, so the exact date of the purchase can never be forecast. In a Balanced Market there will be no "motivated or deperate" Sellers that make their house extra appealing to you to buy as an Under Market Value Purchase. There is NO Leverage.

Secondly, if you are in a rental and are paying someone $1500 per month, for an average of the next three years, becomes $54,000 in actual payments that could have been used to pay down your mortgage or improve your property. If you don't believe me, talk to a Mortgage Specialist.

Lastly, Current interest rates are at 4 - 5% on a blended mortgage balance (variable plus fixed averaging). These rates are at a historically low right NOW. I believe there will be additional interest costs as people ( especially Governments) continue to borrow.

For those Selling and Buying into the same market there is no effective change. Sure you may get less than your neighbour did a few months ago, or back to last years values...but you will be buying with me and saving as you upgrade your property. The benefits for you are enormous.

Why don't you and I get together and have a coffee and talk about Buyers Agency and the whole process of making a move in this market.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for your own private viewing of a property that would interest you at 905.828.3434 or directly at 416.427.1875.

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email: http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter:
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision-making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Elegant Homes in Lorne Park, Call Betty Bart at 416 427 1875, Burlington Headon Forest, Elegant Homes for Sale

This great home is looking for a new owner. There is a new price of $429,900.00 and is waiting for a new family.

Welcome to this beautiful home in Burlington's 'Headon Forest' family oriented community! Find this home on Deer Run Avenue. Bright and spacious layout! Beautiful and large corner lot. This home is well maintained with many updates and improvements. The home shows pride of ownership. This is a great location - close to great schools, parks and many other amenities. Enjoy a beautiful view of the Niagara Escarpment from 2 of the bedrooms. This is a great area to raise a family! Please note that it is an all brick home.

For the Virtual Tour Click:
http://www.bettybart.com/search/feature.cfm?ml_num=W1550209

This home offers strip Hardwood (Maple) flooring in the family room, and cherry wood strip hardwood in the living and dining rooms. Most new windows. A new kitchen with a centre island with an extended counter top. Glass gas stove top, a stainless steel built-in oven, stainless steel fridge, a microwave shelf. Extra lighting provided by undermount cabinet lighting. A new main bath with large soaker tub. The new Patio Door leads to a wrap-around sundeck. A large second recreation room and a 2-piece bath in the basement.

This home also boasts no aluminum wiring. All the plumbing has been been professionally redone. The roof was re-shingled just in the summer of 2008 with 35 year shingles. There is only one layer of shingles.

A newer fence surrounds the property with lovely wrought iron decor for privacy. A newly poured concrete walkway leads to a welcoming entrance. Entrance to this home is also from the garage. The driveway of this lovely home is located on a quiet street giving easy access to come and go. Also, enter this home from the garage into a large laundry room. Located on the first floor there is no more lugging the laundry from the basement.

This home also has a large cedar closet, cold room, a walk-in linen closet, and central air.

Contact Betty Bartusevicius for your own private viewing of this property at
905 828 3434 or directly at 416 427 1875

Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage

Contact me by email; http://www.bettybart.com/AgentProfile/contactme.cfm

If not this property how about someting else?

I can help you save time and money by shopping smarter;
http://www.bettybart.com/createnewclientuserid/whyregister.cfm

There is no time like the present to begin your investigations into a property purchase or sale that will lead to sound decision making.

Experience is not expensive; it is Priceless.