Shrink Wrapping your windows.

I have decided to post this small blog to help those that have older windows, or not properly insulated windows and like to plastic wrap them for the winter.

I just left a home that had "tried" to shrink wrap their windows(like the image) but like about 60% of the people that try to do this, they had done it incorrectly. So now they have an eye sore of a window that is still losing heat and creating drafts. Here's how to do it right.

- Go get yourself some plastic film from the hardware store, as well as double sided tape.

- put the double sided tape on the WALL all around the window. This is the most common mistake people do, they only tape the windows on the actual window frame, however a LOT of the heat loss and cold air is actually coming from the mouldings and window sill. So you have to wrap over that.

- once the double sided tape is all up, put on the plastic, top first, and then one side, then try to pull it as tight as you can so it still looks transparent.

- to tighten it even more once its all stuck on there, get out a hair dryer and go over the plastic with it, the plastic will shrink further with the heat of the hair dryer, and will get nice and tight. This way it doesnt look quite as ghetto and you can actually see out of your window.

- as a final touch, with a knife or scizzors, cut of all loose ends of the plastic, so that it looks clean and professional.

Shrink wrapping your windows is a great inexpensive way to keep money in your pocket from heat loss of your home. If you have a few windows in your home that you can feel a slight breeze somehow coming through even when the windows are closed, give it a try. It's not hard and its something that even the kids can help with and have fun.

Well I hope this little tip helps you. It's no fun doing things twice so hopefully you can get this done the right way first.

Feel free to contact me if ever you have any questions or need any advice regarding real estate in Ottawa and its surrounding communities.

Buying a Home in Winter

Cold enough for ya yet?

It's December now and with winter coming on and Christmas fast approaching, many people give up on searching for their home now until spring time.
DON'T! You will be selling yourself short, and might miss out on a great opportunity. I'll give you a few great reasons why:

NO COMPETITION - Many buyers were thinking like yourself and decided to duck out. Unlike in the spring, you have less of a chance of getting into a multiple offer situation which in turn could save you money.

SELLER's MOTIVATED - Sellers begin to feel the market slowing down a bit. They see less people coming through their home and begin to get discouraged. Thoughts that they might not be able to sell their property begin to cross their mind. Could lead you to a lower price.

BANKS WANT THEM GONE - One of the best times of the year to be purchasing a bank sale, is in December. The banks fiscal year end is JAN 1st and they HATE to see properties sit in their inventory. They also know that the market is a bit slower in the winter months and will take any reasonable offer seriously.(email me for a list of bank and estate sales)

EFFICIENCY OF HOME - Ottawa is the coldest captital city in the world. Keeping the heat in your home, and money in your pocket is very important. Imagine this; there was just a huge dump of snow and all the homes on the street have snow covered roofs. Except the one that you are looking at? You have a heat loss problem on your hands and may want to think about budgeting for some more insulation. The windows are full of condensation inside the glass? Seals are done and the windows should be probably be replaced. Floors are just freezing in the bedroom above the garage, or somewhere else in the home, could mean another insulation problem. Windows and doors have drafts coming through, you could just need some better caulking or weather stripping, or maybe worse. There are huge icicles hanging from the ease trough, sure looks pretty, but you could have an ice daming problem and when it all begins to melt and then refreeze you will have some bigger problems.

There are many more problems one can notice in the winter months and this being Ottawa, its a good idea to know what to look for.

Please feel free to contact me if you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling. I'll make sure that we get you a great deal on the property that you are buying, and you will be confident knowing you are not getting screwed buying something that is not worth the money you are paying.

Is Your Kitchen Ready For The Holidays?

Most of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and not always just cooking. Traditionally the kitchen has always been the heart of a home, and more and more these days is a great spot for entertaining. The holidays is no exception to the rule and it is the place to be when you have a house packed full of family and friends. Is your kitchen ready for the holidays?

Whether you have a larger, open concept kitchen, or a smaller more convenient kitchen, here are some simple tips that can help you inexpensively bring it back to life.

• REFRIGERATOR - Get rid of the magnets! - Unless you have artwork done by the family, remove everything from the fridge to have a nice clean look.


• WALLS AND CEILING - To quickly brighten up the space and bring everything to life, try a fresh coat of paint. This will immediately change the whole feel of the kitchen.


• ACCESSORIES - Provide some accent colors through the selection of brightly colored floor mats and dish towels.


• CABINETRY - If those cabinets look like they have seen better days, paint them. Even if you have a nice neutral wood.


• HARDWARE - Now time to add your own personal style through some new hardward(knobs, handles, hinges) for the cabinets and doors. This is a great way to liven up old cabinetry and distracts onlookers from the cabinets themselves. This is probably the easiest do it yourself kitchen project and often overlooked when preparing a home for sale.


• FLOORING - If you don't have tile in your kitchen, perhaps it's now time to consider? If ceramic or slate tiling is not really in the budget, there are many varieties of linoleum available that are very inexpensive. Many times I have buyers that are even fooled into thinking the floor is tiled with very deceptive lower cost flooring.


• WINDOWS - Line the window sill with some potted herbs grown from seed, and maybe hang a valence to tie everything together

Since the kitchen is thought to be the most important room of the house, this should be the first spot that you are working on renovating whether you are looking to stay in the home for years, or are preparing to sell in a few months.

If you would like anymore information or tips on improving the feel, look, and worth of your home, please feel free to contact me at anytime. amiller@kwottawa.ca

Think of Buying a home?

Have you been thinking of purchasing a home but just unsure of where to start? Browsing online or in your neighbourhood and looking at homes, thinking of what would be perfect for you? Scared to take the next step or just unsure? Well keep on reading then!

Lots of people looking to buy a new home find the financial part of the process a bit confusing, and sometimes even intimidating. You may have even started reading up on what you should be doing, well obviously because you are reading this right!? There are a lot of things to take into consideration, so here are a few basic concepts to keep your head on straight and your eyes on the prize:

GET PRE-APPROVED

This will help you to determine what you can afford to purchase. If you can't afford something right away, at least you can build a game plan to get to where you need to be. No sense looking at homes you can't afford either, because you may fall in love with one and then can't afford it after all. Also, most home sellers will work with pre-approved buyers over those who are not pre-approved because they may feel more confident that the purchase will go through.

DON'T CHANGE A THING!

While you are looking for a home try not to make any sudden changes to your finances. Don't go buy that porche you wanted, and don't quit your government job to go flip burgers at Wendy's. Banks like stability in the people they are shelling out all their money too.

PAY OFF YOUR DEBT!!!

If you owe a ton of money for student loans, and on your car, do you really think the bank is going to give you another 200k for a home? Know your current debt level and work to lower it as much as possible between now and when you purchase a home.

CREDIT SCORE?

Don't have a ton of cash to pay the credit card completely off? That's ok. Just make sure you at the least pay the minimum payment to keep your credit score good. Payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. Check with credit bureaus to find your score and fix any errors.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING!

The basic mortgage types are fixed-rate, adjustable-rate and hybrid. There are a variety of other types of loans as well though and you should seek the help of a professional to find out what is right for your circumstances. Everyone is different, and therefore everyone needs a different type of loan that fits their needs.

SHOP AROUND!!!

Talk to a mortgage broker. A broker can search out many different lenders, and get many different rates. I'm not saying don't go to your bank that you trust, but perhaps talk to a mortgage specialist first and see what else is out there for you.

Your financial picture is a crucial part of the home purchase process. If you’d like to know more about home loans, please call or email any time.

TIPS for a Greener Kitchen

Today's modern kitchen is more than simply a place to prepare food, it's fast become a common area that the whole family enjoys, a place of entertainment. There are several ways to help keep this space happy and healthy, not only for your family and friends but also the planet. From floor to ceiling, the kitchen is a perfect spot to start to help optimize the green friendliness of your home.

Follow these tips!

Change your light bulbs – Replace the bulbs in your kitchen with LED or CFL light bulbs. Lower energy use and cost!

Shop and eat locally – You will help your local businesses as well as reduce your family's carbon footprint.

Reduce Waste – Think before you throw something into the trash. 70% of most all household and yard waste can be composted or recycled. We have all the tools to recycle it all here in Ottawa, so please use them.

Turn off the power – Either unplug when not in use or plug electronics such as microwaves and coffee makers to a power bar and turn it off when your not using them.

If you can't do them by hand, load up that Dishwasher – Dishwashers and laundry machines are most efficient when they are run fully loaded. You'll use up to 35% less water by doing a full load of dishes, and prevent energy waste from water heating.

Use Energy Star® – The government's Energy Star label is on more than 40 different kinds of products for the home, such as lighting and appliances. These products will save energy and reduce gas emmissions.

Cabinets – If you are considering a home renovation, opt in for formaldehyde-free adhesives and solvent-free stains or coatings. Cabinetry is the greatest source of formaldehyde emissions in the home.

Please take the time to review the energy efficiency and green friendliness of your home.

A few tips to be rid of Closet Clutter

Have you found yourself slowly becoming a bit of a hoarder? Fearing that you might soon end up on tv for keeping your ragged old clothes that you used to hold dear to you, and now just seem to be taking up space?

Fall is the perfect time to clean out your home. Cleaning out your closets regularly will save you time and energy and keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the task later on. Also if your closets are packed full, then you may hesitate to update your wardrobe.

Here are some tips to help you organize and unclutter your closet:

- If you haven't worn them in over a year, you're not going to, get rid of them.
- Put your out of season clothes in storage.

- If you're not sure about whether to keep some clothes or not, try them on, it will help make a decision.
- Buy good hangers: wire hangers don’t give good support and leave marks on your clothes.
If space permits, add a bar for shirts and pants, or a closet organizer.

When you clean your closets on a regular basis, you may find you don’t need some of the clothing you thought you did. And you’ll actually wear and enjoy the clothes you do have. Take the clothes to a clothing drive or donate them to others that still can enjoy them, it will make you feel really good about a hard decision.

What’s more, cleaning out your closets is a small but important step towards clearing the way to move into your next home. Remember your last move? Rememeber how you said you hated packing? Get rid of the clothes now that you don't really need. If you’d like more information on getting rid of clutter in your home, please don’t hesitate to email or call.

Canadian Housing Market showing some Groth

Canadian home sales gained for the first time in five months in August, led by Ontario and British Columbia, though economists warned the uptick is likely to prove a blip in a declining trend.
Sales of existing homes through the Multiple Listing System rose 4.1% from July, figures released Wednesday by the Canadian Real Estate Association showed. It was the first increase since March, it said. On a year-over-year basis, sales are down 22.5%.
Canada’s housing market, which helped drag the economy out of recession, has been cooling rapidly over the past few months. Consumers made purchases that would have been made in summer earlier in the year to beat rising interest rates and the introduction of the harmonized sales tax in Ontario and B.C.
“A large part of the August increase comes from Ontario and B.C. because there was a lot of confusion in July as to how the HST would affect home sales,” CREA chief economist Gregory Klump said. “This is a bit of a relief rally and one car does not make a parade.”
Klump still expects housing sales to cool throughout the rest of the year, though he says it’s a healthy slowdown from the feverish levels seen at the end of last year.
TD Bank Financial said in a note the August figures are likely to have been a blip.
The bank said high household debt, the weakening employment outlook and declining personal income would all weigh on the market. It expects sales to drop by 20% next year and prices to decline 7%.
The average price of homes sold in August was $324,928, which is on a par with the same period last year. Excluding Alberta and New Brunswick, where prices eased, gains in every other province exceeded the national increase, CREA said.
Seasonally adjusted sales activity was either flat or increased in half of all markets across the country, it said.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in a report on Canada earlier this week warned prices may still be too high and more intervention may be needed to cool the market.
CREA president Georges Pahud on Wednesday rebuffed those suggestions, saying any further tightening in mortgage regulations risk damaging the market.
“Rising interest rates and a projected slowdown in job growth mean that the Canadian housing market is expected to continue to cool,” Pahud said. “This is overlooked in recent commentary that suggests further changes to mortgage regulations may be needed.”

-Ottawa Sun Sept 15, 2010

Ottawa housing market balances as prices rise steadily

After an HST- influenced dip in sales during the earlier part of the summer, the month of August saw a return to a more normal number of sales in the Ottawa resale housing market. Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,122 residential properties in August through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,211 in August 2009, which represents a decrease of 7.3 per cent. Sales numbers in this range are common for this time of year, when people go on vacation and it seems like the whole world slows down a bit.

Of those 1,122 sales in August, 266 were in the condominium property class, while 856 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.

At the end of August, sales so far for 2010 were slightly ahead of where they were at this point in 2009 (which was the best year on record for sales). The number of homes available for sale has increased as sales have slowed, and Ottawa looks to be shifting to a balanced market, where buyers and sellers are on a level playing field with neither group holding a distinct advantage over the other.

Ottawa resale home prices also continued to increase at a sustainable pace. The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in August in the Ottawa area was
$321,969, an increase of 2.1 per cent over August 2009. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $262,999, an increase of 16.8 per cent over August 2009. The
average sale price of a residential-class property was $340,294, an increase of 0.1 per cent over August 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.

Speaking of the HST, let me take this opportunity to remind you that the new tax does NOT apply to the purchase price of resale homes, with very few exceptions (such as homes that have been more than 90 per cent renovated). Only items that were previously subject to GST are now subject to HST, and as resale homes were GST-exempt, this exemption continues under the new tax regime. Newly built homes and substantially renovated homes have HST added to their purchase price, and HST applies to certain services associated with the purchase of a home, such as legal fees, real estate commissions, moving fees, appraisals, and renovation services. If in doubt, ask your service provider.

Strategies for buying or selling in a balanced market can be different from those that applied in the seller’s market we experienced prior to the summer – and market conditions can vary widely among neighbourhoods within the Ottawa area. As a member of the Ottawa Real Estate Board, I can help make your buying or selling experience easier and less stressful. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all.

The President's Pen column was prepared by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and first appeared in the (date) issue of the EMC community newspapers.

Fall Maintenance

Well the temperature is dropping now, and Fall is fast approaching. Time to start thinking about a few things to do to help your home withstand another Canadian Winter.

Gutters

This is something that often gets overlooked. Either get up on that ladder and do it yourself or hire a handyman to ensure that you remove all of the dead leaves and debris removed from rain gutters. If you don't you may get some build up and the melting ice will have nowhere else to go but into your home.

Windows

If you use storm windows, make sure they are clean and free of cracks before installing. If you happen to put plastic inside your home over the windows to eliminate drafts, ensure that you put the plastic right to the wall and over all the window moulding as this is where most of the drafts come in.

Caulking

In most home energy audits performed on the average home. The conclusion results in a football size hole in the side of your home. Go around your home and remove any old worn caulking and replace with new.

Air Circulation

Clean and adjust ceiling fans so that air circulates more efficiently. This allows fans to gently mix warmer air (which naturally rises) back into the room. This should be the opposite of what you had done in the spring time to pull cool air up.

Fire Protection

Winter is fast coming and you will soon want to use that fireplace or woodstove for some extra heat. Make sure to call in someone to have your chimney's cleaned and inspected before use.

Unwanted Visitors

I'm not talking about your inlaws. Mice are excellent climbers and only need an opening of about ¼ inch to sneak into your home to search for food. Seal all cracks and other openings into your home and block off ventilation ducts. Some of the holes like weeping holes in bricks and ventilation for dryers and hood fans are there for a reason and aren't meant to be fully blocked so in that case use a heavy-gauge wire mesh.

Don't ever forget, your home isn't just where you live, it's the largest investment of your life. Protect it, and maintain it.

10 TIPS TO HOME OWNERSHIP

Owning a home is a fantastic thing, yet sometimes a great responsibility that gets over looked. To assist you, here are 10 things to try to keep in mind during your home ownership.

1. Take good care of your home
-as a rule try to budget 1 to 3% of your home’s value for maintenance and repairs each year.

2. Build your homes equity
- By Making an extra principal payment here and there when possible, one can decrease the interest paid over the life of the loan.

3. Your home should have a good first impression
- By Keeping your front entrance clear and welcoming you will increase the curb appeal of your home which improves your homes value.

4. Be properly insured
- In most cases you only need to insure the replacement value of your home and personal property, not the land.

5. Love your neighborhood--not just your home
- If you’re not happy with your current neighborhood, start thinking of where you would be happier and let's get planning to get you there.

6. Make improvements
- Statistics show that updated kitchens and baths are the number 1 key selling features in most homes, so spend your dollars there first.

7. Safety is a must
- Install not only smoke detectors but with most homes now having natural gas furnaces it is also important to install carbon monoxide detectors to ensure the security of your family.

8. Go green and improve your monthly costs.
- More and more these days, buyers are looking for more energy effecient homes. Improvements in the insulation of windows, doors, and storm doors can save energy costs and increase your home’s resale value.

9. Stick to Neutral Colours
- If you’re thinking of moving in a year or so, choose light, neutral paint colors, what looks great to you does not always look appealing to all.

10. Know when it's time to move
- Over time people often outgrow a house or neighborhood. If you’re thinking of making a change, please call or email to discuss the next steps.

Thinking of Selling your home on your own?

Well if you were one of those people that have thought of selling your home on your own to save a few bucks, let me first give you 5 good reasons not too:

1. You WILL sell for less!
- 84 cents on the dollar compared to agent assisted sales.
- due to extremely limited exposure to the people who are actually buying homes and not just kicking tires.
- It won't be because of you, or your home, or your negotiating abilities, it's just a fact that for sale by owner properties attract those looking for deals, including investors and savy buyers.

2. Not knowing the Contract.
- Others are being trained everyday to write the contract in their favour and not yours.
- since most agents I work with don't know the contract either, how can you be sure what exactly it is that you are signing?

3. Physical Saftey and Security.
- working with an agent as myself, you can rest assured that everyone coming through your home will be accompanied by either myself of another fully licensed Realtor.
- there are professional theifs out there that can sneak their way into your home and without you knowing get a handle on some of your valuables.

4. Financial Safety and Security.
- You have no insurance if you happen to do something wrong with the sale of your home or the advertising in doing so, where as I have Errors and Ommissions Insurance to protect both sellers, and myself.
- Any mistake can put your entire financial future at risk.

5. No 3rd party Professional Negotiating for you.
- Most buyers out there will have an agent working for them and negotiating for them, thus you will have directly competiting interests with the buyers. Do you think that agent will be fighting to get you a top dollar amount, or their buyer the best deal they can?

If any of these were a bit of an eye opener to you, perhaps give me a call or an email so we can discuss how I can help you get top dollar for your home, and at the least amount of hassle to you. After all wouldn't you rather focus on the decision of what home to buy next instead of worrying about selling your current home?

HST Clarifications - What the gov forgot to mention.

After discussing the HST with many of my clients, and other buyers and sellers that I have been encountering, I realized that there are many false views of the HST and its impact on the purchase and sale of homes. So I'd like to take the time to clarify two major things.

1. HST does NOT impact the sale price of a RESALE home. HST only affects the price of new construction homes, or homes that have not had a final occupancy permit.(ie no one has lived in the home yet)

So Buyers don't be scared that the price you see will have an extra 13% tacked on after July 1st.
Do be aware that HST will be charged on other services such as realtor fees and legal fees.

2. The minimum downpayment required was NOT pushed up to 10%. There was talk that that was going to be the case, however the government decided not to impliment that so the downpayment required for home buyers is still only 5%.

They did however change the downpayment required for investment properties to a minimum of %20. Also, don't let that intimidate you too much, as I have some lenders that can look past this new rule and find ways around it.

If you or anyone you know are thinking of buying or selling, please don't hesitate to contact me immediately to get started. I am your one stop shop for real estate needs and I have all of the contacts you will need in your home purchase, lawyers, inspectors, contractors, mortgage specialists, and movers. You name it, I got it. I look forward to helping you find your dream home soon.

Market finally settling down

Home sales activity in Canada came up short of the record for the month of April and new listings continued to climb, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

“Many of the sales that would normally have occurred in May were pulled back to April, due to buyers trying to avoid the May 1st transitional implementation date for the HST, as well as new mortgage regulations that came into effect April 19th,” said Ottawa Real Estate Board President Pierre de Varennes. “Buyers knew they would be paying 8% more for all of the service costs associated with a real estate transaction if their closing date was after July 1st, and that it might be more difficult to qualify for financing, so they moved quickly to avoid either situation. In addition, by comparison May 2009 was a record-breaking month as the floodgates opened on pent-up demand following the brief downturn in the market,” he added.

In general the Canadian real estate market is moving towards a balanced market where inventory is increasing well to meet demand. Buyers, sellers and REALTORS® can all relax and enter a sales transaction without pressure.

The easing trend in national sales activity masks a rising trend in a number of major markets. Real estate is local, so buyers and sellers should engage the services of a REALTOR® for knowledge about housing market trends in their market. For sellers, getting specific advice about home values in their local neighbourhood is crucial in a competitive market.

So looks like we are heading back to more of a buyers market in the coming months. Here in Ottawa prices will begin to level off to where they really should be. Those that have waited will have more choices and buying power. If you or anyone that you know could use my expertise, please feel free to contact me directly at amiller@kwottawa.ca or 613-447-7669.

HOT NEW LISTING!

WOW! Outstanding home on a Huge lot! Fully renovated, and updated, you will not find a home like this in the area, for this price! Large master with walk/in closet, and a full ensuite(with stand alone shower and jaccuzi tub). Updated kitchen and baths. Very spacious living/dining areas. Roof re-shingled 2009, Insulation 2010, Carpet in basement 2009, the majority of windows replaced 2009. Huge Garage(28'x20') w/high ceilings and 60Amp service that can accomodate just about any mechanic. Finished basement with 4 bedrooms, complete kitchen, and full bath, that makes it perfect for a teen retreat, an inlaw suite, or a live in ivestment with a Bed & Breakfast! Outdoor Pool, a patio, large yard with mature trees, and a screened in porch, allows for the perfect summer entertaining atmosphere! Do not miss out on this opportunity. There isn't enough space on these servers to upload all the amazing images of this home so call or email me now to have a look in person, you won't be dissappointed! OPEN HOUSE SUN JUNE 13th 2-4pm.

Andrew Miller

Sales Representative

Keller Williams Ottawa Realty Ltd.Brokerage,

Independently Owned and Operated

610 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario

K1S 4E6

Office: (613) 236-5959

Direct: (613) 447-7669

Fax: (613) 235-1515

Email: mailto:amiller@kwottawa.ca

Is a distressed property the right deal for you?

The data is in!

According to the National Association of REALTORS® existing-home sales rose again – increasing 7.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.77 million units in April–due to buyers motivated by the tax credit, improving consumer confidence, and favorable affordability conditions.

That’s great news for real estate and the economy, but one question still remains: what happens beyond the homebuyer tax credit?

Answer: distressed properties. The market for distressed properties – including foreclosures, short sales and REOs – remains high and many buyers stand to save considerable money on the purchase of one of these homes.

For many buyers, the term foreclosure brings up images of run-down homes with no heat and rotting wood. While this is still the case for some homes, it’s no longer the standard. In fact, first time buyers are snatching up distressed deals in decent condition for great prices.

According to a November 2009 Keller Williams Research Buying Distressed Properties Survey, 40 percent of all buyers for bank-owned foreclosures (REOs) were first-time buyers in 2009. 50 percent of all short sale buyers were first-time buyers.

By definition, a distressed property is one that was purchased with a loan and the homeowner is no longer able to make their mortgage payment resulting in foreclosure – or if they’re lucky a short sale – meaning they owe more on the home than it’s currently worth. With a 20 percent increase in foreclosures from 2009, distressed properties still remain a large portion of home sales and are going to continue well into 2010 as homeowners continue to feel the effects of an economy on the mend.

If you’re in the market for a home and are prepared for a unique transaction, a distressed property can be a great option.

Here’s why:

Prices are low – Buying a foreclosed property is an excellent way to get a home for less. Research shows you can save 10-40 percent over the price of similar properties in a traditional sale.

Mortgage costs are low – With rates hovering near historic lows, financing costs to are favorable. Keep in mind, rates are always changing. It’s important to begin the pre-approval process so that you know how much you can realistically afford.

You have options – The number of homes in some stage of the foreclosure process still remains high. RealtyTrac, a site dedicated to tracking foreclosures across the country, estimates that there are approximately 2.1 million homes in some stage of foreclosure in the United States.

Sellers and lenders are motivated – According to data from RealtyTrac, in April, one in every 387 households in the country has received a foreclosure filing. The bottom line is that many sellers are still feeling the pain of a down economy and are anxious to out get from under a home that is putting stress on their current financial frustrations. While it is still an emotional transaction, these sellers are willing to come down on price or even consider concessions such as helping out on closing costs. Banks holding on to large portfolios of Real Estate Owned (REO) properties want to unload quickly – and price these home to sell.

Your best ally when purchasing a distressed property is an expert. Always have a professional REALTOR® by your side to help you make informative decisions.

Gorgeous 3 bedroom single home in Queenswood Heights

Move in ready. Clean & bright. Nestled away on a quiet street in Queenswood Heights, close to plenty of shopping and transportation. This detached home has been extremely well cared for. Newer roof(07), windows(02), siding(03), furnace(07), A/C (05), and hardwood flooring(08), and there goes all your main expenses of a home! A master bedroom that is extremely large, w/cheater ensuite, and his and her sinks. Spacious kitchen and eating area, walk out your patio doors and relax on a large patio over looking your immacculate yard. The lower level features a large family room, storage room, two other bedrooms and a bathroom equiped with a stand alone shower, making the lower level a perfect retreat for your teens. I could go on for days with the many benefits of this home and the area, but better off to come and see it all for yourself! Call or email me to schedule a showing or to see some more images.

Andrew MillerSales RepresentativeKeller Williams Ottawa Realty, Ltd.Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated610 Bronson Ave.Ottawa, Ont. K1S 4E6Office:(613)-236-5959Cell: (613)-447-7669Fax: (613)236-1515Email: amiller@kwottawa.ca

Just Sold only 1 Day on the Market.

This beautiful townhome was listed and sold by me in only 1 day on the market for 99% of the asking price! This listing proves that if you can price a property properly, and market it too its full potential, you can reach the right target market and get many buyers through the door. This allows for the least hassle possible for the seller.

If you would like to see how I could help you with the sale and preparation for the sale of your home, please contact me at amiller@kwottawa.ca

Bright, Clean and move in ready. Owner occupied townhome perfect for first time buyers or investors. Features a custom stone flower bed, patio area, Natural Gas Furnace(2000), AND Central A/C, (most in area still only baseboard heat!) Close to Shopping and Transportation, A great neighbourhood. This is priced to sell and won't last for long! Come and see it NOW!

HOTTEST APRIL EVER!!!

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,841 residential properties in April through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,591 in April 2009, an increase of 15.7 per cent. Of those sales, 425 were in the condominium property class, while 1,416 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. "Last month's sales blew away the record for April, which is always one of the busiest months of the year for our market," said Board President Pierre de Varennes. "The increased sales activity may be partially due to buyers trying to avoid the impending HST and the mortgage changes that came into effect on April 19, but also demonstrates that consumers feel confident about our local economy," he added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in April in the Ottawa area was $332,979, an increase of 11.6 per cent over April 2009. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $254,220, an increase of 17.4 per cent over April 2009. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $356,617, an increase of 11.7 per cent over April 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.

"information provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board."

Picking your Neighbourhood

Choosing your neighborhood

For many people, choosing a neighborhood is the most difficult part of the decision to buy a home. This is true even if already own a home and are trying to decide where to live next.
When you tackle the “location, location, location” question, it’s smart to prioritize various neighborhood features, then start looking for homes in areas that match most of your criteria. Here are some things to consider:

Transportation
Check the length of your commute to work from your neighborhoods of choice. Do streets get clogged at rush hour? Is mass transit within walking distance? In a consumer study, 79 percent of respondents said that a top priority in deciding where to live is having a commute time under 45 minutes. Seventy-five percent also wanted easy access to highways.

What’s close by
Research nearby schools, restaurants, places of worship and parks. Seventy-two percent of survey respondents ranked sidewalks and places to walk as a top priority when considering where to live.

Costs
In addition to the costs of mortgage, insurance and home maintenance, consider local property taxes and homeowner association fees, if applicable. If homes in your preferred neighborhoods are out of your price range, consider condominiums.

Future
Try to imagine what the neighborhood will look like in 10 years. Will you still want to live there, or do you expect to move before then? Will it be desirable to future buyers?
Before committing to the neighborhood, visit it at different times of day and night and talk to as many local residents as possible.

Once you’ve prioritized all your neighborhood amenities and features, you’ll find it’s much easier to focus your home search. Remember, the neighborhood is usually as important to the value of a home as what’s under its roof.

New Listing! In Barrhaven

This trendy urban flat is a perfect spot for any first time buyers, or any young couple looking to take advantage of these low mortgage rates! This 2006 Tartan built Cappuccino model, features 9' Ceilings, 902 sq/ft of relaxed living space, a 20' x 8' Covered terrace with gas hookups for bbq, and better yet, the stainless steel bbq is incld. The kitchen boasts upgraded oak cabinets and has a breakfast bar. There is also gleaming dark hardwood flooring, in unit laundry and storage space, a very spacious bathroom with seperate tub and shower, and to top it all off included in the price is not one but TWO parking spots! This extra parking space is worth over $4000 and can be rented for a min of $40 a month!

Don't waste your time searching for a property any longer, it has finally arrived! Give me a call or shoot me an email, day or night!

Andrew Miller
Sales Representative

Keller Williams Ottawa Realty, Ltd.

Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated

610 Bronson Ave.

Ottawa, Ont.

K1S 4E6

Office:(613)-236-5959

Cell: (613)-447-7669

Fax: (613)236-1515

Email: amiller@kwottawa.ca

web: http://amiller.oreb.mlxchange.com/

Blog: http://www.dreamhomeottawa.blogspot.com/

Getting colder, time to think about your Pipes!

It's time to Pipe Up

During the winter season we usually prefer to entertain family and friends instead of worrying about tedious home maintenance chores like plumbing—and for good reason! Now is an ideal time to relax and enjoy your home.

Nevertheless, homeowners and renters alike tend to take their pipes for granted. Being prepared for problems makes them more manageable if they should occur—so here are a few basic tips for dealing with a pipe leak:

Know where your main water shutoff is. You may not need to use it—if the leak coming from a faucet knob, for example, you can simply shut off the water at the sink. But when in doubt, go to the main valve.

If you know what’s causing the problem and can tell the difference between a slip joint and a saddle valve, feel free to fix it yourself. However, many plumbers make a good living off fixing botched home repair jobs—so feel free to get it done right the first time.

If you ever encounter a frozen pipe, you can often thaw it with a hair dryer. If you’re going on vacation when there’s a cold snap in the forecast, you can help prevent frozen pipes by opening cabinet doors below your sink to let your home’s warm air circulate. You may also try turning the faucet on to a slow drip to keep the water moving and prevent freezing.

It’s smart to take care of plumbing repairs well in advance of putting your home on the market. Buyers can have more confidence in the value of a well-maintained home—and many signs are pointing to acceleration in the real estate market in 2010.

If you’d like more information about how a remodel can affect the value of your home, please don’t hesitate to call or email.