Get that Spring Cleaning Done Yet?

Well, Spring is well underway now and if you are like myself, the spring cleaning has been sitting on the backburner and its time to get at it! You might have tons of unwanted items lying around and like most you are thinking garage sales! Aaannnggg, wrong answer.

In short, garage sales are a pain in the butt. Advertising, tagging and pricing all of your items at once and then hauling them out side, praying that it doesn't rain that day that you have advertised. Well let me tell ya of a little secret thing called the internet. Online garage sale if you will! Think about it. You only have to sell the items you want, when you are ready, and the buyers come to you and negotiate through email. If you haven't sold anything online ever, trust me it is REALLY easy, and its pretty much hassle free. Here's a few tips to help you out:

PICTURES ARE KEY - if you have ever looked to buy something online, you know as well as I do that no one buys anything without at least seeing some pictures first. Try to take accurate pictures, nice a bright so people can see what they are buying.

DESCRIPTION - The key here is honesty. If that old couch has urine stains and ripped in spots, tell people. Otherwise you are wasting your time and theirs, and you will have people coming in and leaving quickly not purchasing what they thought they were coming to get.

DELIVERY - You can offer free delivery or for a small fee, but here's the beauty of online sales. You can usually hold out and find someone that is willing to pick up the item. Do yourself a favour though and meet them outside, and have someone else with you just in case.

PRICE IT RIGHT - Search online for what items that are similar to yours are selling for and price it correctly. Again it saves you wasting your time and others.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SITES - Ebay is great obviously, but its much easier to find local sites to get actual local buyers. usedottawa.com, kijiji, and craigslist are some of the biggest ones. Be wary with craigslist though as it does attract a lot of spammers and scammers.

eBay once estimated that the average household has $2,000 worth of unused goods waiting to be sold. You may already be thinking of a few items that should find a new home before you do. Do yourself a favour and be rid of them. Declutter that house, and put a few extra dollars in your pocket for useful renovations, or items that will help you sell your home.

Stunning 4 Bedroom Bungalow in Fantastic Neighborhood.

Here it is! The one that you have been waiting for. This 2008 Monarch built Colorado model is fully finished and ready to go! Perfect potential to add an in-law suite with only a electrical to add for a stove. Don't waste your time and money buying the same model for the same price minus all the upgrades and come and grab this finished home on a corner lot now before its too late.

Home Features:
- Double Garage
- Garage Door Opener
- Large Corner Lot
- Built 2008
- Natural Gas Furnace
- Central Air
- Storage Shed

Main Floor:
- Spacious Entry Way
- Office/Den/4th Bedroom
- Dark Hardwood Flooring
- Ceramic Tiles
- Full Bathroom
- Large Kitchen
- Dining Area
- Living Space with Fireplace
- VERY LARGE Master Quarters with Large Walk-in Closet and Ensuite with Soaker Tub and Separate Shower.



Lower Level:
- Family Room with Plus Carpeting For Added Comfort
- 2 Additional Bedrooms
- Large 3 Piece Bathroom with Luxury Shower with massager Jets
- Large Recroom with Sink and Counter Tops, Perfect to Convert to an In-law Suite.
- Storage Room
- Utility Room



This home is a MUST SEE! This price just cannot be beat. Call now for a private showing.

Steal of a Deal on a Large 4 bedroom Townhome

Steal of a deal here! Large 4 bedroom home, with a 2 car garage and total of 6 parking spots! hardwood throughout main and upper level. Central A/C(2005). Newer Furnace with Warranty on parts n labour(2019), Roof 2005. Huge Master with wall to wall closets and HUGE Balcony. I challenge you to find a home of this size anywhere in the city for this price. Perfect for investors, close to 417, steps to bus stop. Very little TLC required



Home Features:
- Large 2 car garage with parking in drive for 4 more vehicles
- Balcony off Master
- Forced Air Natural Gas Furnace 2009(comes with 10 year warranty)
- Central A/C (2005)
- Roof Shingles (2005)
- Updated Vinyl Windows
- Maintenance free and private back yard with no rear neighbors
- True 4 bedroom home with all bedrooms upstairs
- No Carpeting

Main Level:
- Good size entry way with original vintage tiles
- Spacious living space with hardwood flooring
- Patio doors to the private yard
- Large dining area
- Good sized and well layed out kitchen with ample cupboard and counter space.
- powder room
- inside access to garage.

2nd Level:
- Hardwood throughout
- VERY large master bedroom with wall to wall closets and large balcony
- 3 other large bedrooms
- Full bathroom

Lower Level:
- Laundry Area
- Family room

This is a great sized home for the value. Don't wait too long and call or email me now to view.


Andrew Miller
Sales Representative
Keller Williams Ottawa Realty Ltd.
Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated
610 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4E6

Ottawa Market Looking Good says OREB

Ottawa, November 5, 2012 :As the leaves continue to fall in Ottawa, we are seeing an increase in units sold, as well as an increase in average sale price. Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,073 residential properties in October through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,059 in October 2011, an increase of 1.3 per cent. The five-year average for October sales is 1,067.

“Compared to the five-year average, Ottawa is right on track, indicating that we are not experiencing a real estate downturn in Ottawa, but a slow, steady incline in units sold and average sale price,” notes Ansel Clarke, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “Ottawa continues to be great place to buy and/or sell a home.”

October’s sales included 237 in the condominium property class, and 836 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 Ottawa market continues to be on track historically in regards to the number of sales to date as well. Since 1999 the number of sales through the MLS® System in Ottawa has ranged from a low of 11,329 to a high of 14,783. Sales for the first ten months of the year are at 12,768. Year-to-date average sale price is also up over 2011.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in October in the Ottawa area was $346,492, an increase of 2.5 per cent over October 2011. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $267,037, an increase of 3.0 per cent over October 2011. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $369,016, an increase of 1.8 per cent over October 2011. 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.

“Although the Ottawa market is characterized as stable and steady, there can be pockets of our market where fluctuations, such as larger increases in price, exist,” explains Clarke. “This is why it is important for buyers and sellers to talk to their Ottawa area REALTOR® for more information about the housing market outlook where they live, or want to live.”

* via the Ottawa Real Estate Board

MORTGAGE CHANGES JULY 2012

Alright enough is enough. After receiving emails from several clients and even more from Mortgage specialists all over the city, I have decided that we need a nice easy to read explanation as to what new mortgage changes Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has indicated will come into effect on July 9th, 2012.

1. Mortgage Amortization periods(length of the full mortgage) will be reduced from 30 years to 25 years. What that means for you buyers is a bit more money in terms of a monthly payment. Really this is better though. 30 and 40 year mortgages were a bit much anyways and in the long run we are better off. A family earning approx. 75k a year will be able to afford about 50k less of a mortgage however. Again, better safe than sorry.

2. The max amount that one can borrow when refinancing will be lowered to 80% from 85%. Again, good in the long term to not have more debt than people can handle. They also dropped this last year from 90% to 85%.

3. No more government back mortgage insurance on over 1million dollars.

4. Lines of Credit taken from the equity in your home will now be a maximum of 65% of your home’s value down from 80%. A home equity line of credit is similar to a standard line of credit but is secured against the equity in your home

5. The federal government will set maximum gross debt-service ratio (GDS) at 39% and lower maximum total debt-service ratio (TDS) to 44% from 45%.

Basically they are putting things back to normal. Since 2008 there have been 4 main changes done to tighten up lending policies. We are going back now to how things were before 2004. It's not to say they are making purchasing a home harder, they are more ensuring that those that are getting mortgages will be able to handle the debt more easily. This is a good thing, we do not want to end up like the states and have our market collapse and since the beginning of the changes in 2008 we are moving in the right direction to ensure that doesn't happen.

If you need anymore information please don't hesitate to ask.

Old Homes Don't Mean Bad Homes.

I got news for everyone out there. New or old there is unfortunately no such thing as a perfect home. All homes are different and all have their own quirks about them that make them unique and one must know what those are before they become costly problems.

The benefits of living in an older home are plenty! The history, the style, the craftsmanship, the way that 3rd stair always squeeks. But owning such a home has its challenges. Maintenance can be tricky and expensive, especially if certain areas have been neglected. Here are some common issues found in older homes.

Energy inefficiency is the one of the key main issue with older homes. Most older homes were built with single-pane windows; maybe those are ok in a tropical climate, but whoever thought that they were sufficient for the temperature changes that we see here in Ottawa, were sadly mistaken.

Insulation in older homes was little to none in some cases and lack of insulation will also result in wasted energy and money. The most important and easiest area of the home to insulate is the attic, but walls and floors above ventilated crawlspaces should be insulated as well if possible. The attic may already have insulation but it may be inadequate by current standards. Not to mention, the type and materials used in older insulation should be carefully looked at and inspected.

If your home has older water pipes, have them checked to identify the material and determine if they need to be replaced. Some older materials such as galvanized steel, iron, and even lead are subject to deterioration and are still in use today even though new construction does not allow them. Replacement options include copper and PVC piping.

Electrical systems can still cause some issues and older types be found a lot homes and may not only be dangerous, but they can make the house uninsurable. Homes in the Glebe and downtown areas where they were constructed prior to 1940 may still have knob and tube wiring. Other homes built prior to the 80's may have aluminum wiring which heats up much quicker than copper and can become brittle over time. Even if no danger is present, we use so much more electricity in our homes now that the capacity of your older system may be inadequate. Only a qualified electrician should attempt any repairs or updates to your home's electrical system.

Foundations can be a tricky subject. Most older homes used stone foundations. During the 50's,60's and 70's, came around block foundations. Both of those types can have issues and your home should be looked at thoroughly to ensure that all is intact with them. Today homes mostly used poured concrete. Not to say that there aren't problems with those as well, but they are generally more durable. You should have someone that can identify any issues before the issues become problems. I have been on well over a hundred home inspections, and I can spot most problems before we waste our money calling in home inspectors to notice the same issues.

All in all, there is no such thing as a perfect home unfortunately. All homes have their problems and the key is to know what your home needs to make it as perfect as it can be.

PRICED TO SELL - Gorgeous 2Storey Loft Style Home

PRICED TO SELL at $274,900 - This stunning loft style 2 storey home sits nestled on a huge lot only 30 mins from downtown Ottawa, and mins from Kanata.

Neighbourhood features:
- Family Oriented
- Park Across the Street from home
- Natural Gas available at road
- High Speed Internet Available
- 30 mins from Downtown Ottawa.
- 5 mins from shopping
- good mix of homes in the area(no cookie cutters here!)
- Close to Constance Bay

Home Features:
- Forced Air Oil Heat
- Central Air Conditioning
- Fresh Paint Job
- Updated Flooring
- Over 25k spent in the last 2 years in improvements

Main Level:
- 2 storey living space flooded with natural light
- Powder room
- Large bright updated kitchen with lots of counter space
- Inside access to garage
- Exit out to rear deck
- Upgraded laminate throughout

Upper Level:
- Plush carpeting for added comfort
- 2 large bedrooms
- 2 full bathroms(one ensuite)
- Laundry room
- Great loft area perfect for office or family room.

Lower Level:
- Laminate flooring with Dry core underbelly
- 3rd bedroom
- Yet another living space!
- Storage area
- Utility room

With all this home has to offer, it is sure to go quickly. Call now to book your private showing. View More Images Below.

Stunning 4 bedroom home on a large private lot!

Have you been looking for that oasis of a home within 45mins of downtown Ottawa? Well look no further and start packing your bags. This one is sure to get you excited to move! A beautifully layed out 4 bedroom split level home sits nestled amongst large mature trees and is approximately 2140 square feet. It sits on an approximate total of 1.77 Acres, and is located about 5 mins from the Hammond Golf Course.

If one house just isn't enough for you, then don't worry, we'll throw in another home on the property for free!!

Main Features:
- 1.77 Acre Lot (178.90' X 429.79')
- Home nestled amongst loads of mature trees
- 5mins from Hammond Golf Course
- 45 mins from downtown Ottawa
- Natural Gas available at road
- Municipal water available
- 2140 sq.ft of living space
- 4 bedrooms
- 3 large living areas
- 2 full bathrooms
- Newer Roof
- 2 car garage
- Another 2 bedroom home at the rear of the property in need of TLC(as-is where is condition)

Main Level:
- Large updated kitchen
- Great sized formal dining area
- Ceramic Tiled entry way
- Hardwood flooring
- Inside access to garage

Second Level:
- Large Living area
- Master bedroom with 4 Piece Ensuite (stand up shower and soaker tub)
- Another good sized bedroom
- Large patio area over looking a gorgeous treed lot

Lower Level:
- Laundry room
- Living Room with gas stove
- Walkout to back yard
- Full bathroom
- 2 good sized bedrooms

Basement:
- Storage room
- Huge family room

Second home on property(as-is, where-is):
- 2 Bedrooms
- Kitchen
- Full Bath
- Large living area

This home has so much to offer for the price, and is too much to try to mention on paper or show through images. This just absolutely must be seen to be appreciated. Call me now to book your own private tour of the property. You will not be dissappointed.



Andrew Miller
Sales Representative
Keller Williams Ottawa Realty Ltd.
Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated
610 Bronson Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4E6
Direct: (613) 447-7669