Save $1350.00 on a Renovation Project THIS year!!!
Just recently announced in the 2009 Canadian Federal Budget, is this initiative to stimulate the local economy. Canadians can claim a tax credit of 15% of eligible home renovations from between $1,000 and $10,000 of the projects for a total possible tax credit of $1,350
click HERE for the Government Brochure with all the specific details
Seven Tips for First-time Homebuyers (ARA) - If you’ve ever thought about owning a home, now may be the time to take action. Lower interest rates combined with a large inventory of homes in most markets across the U.S. may translate into a good opportunity for buyers in negotiating the terms of a sale with a seller.
The home buying process may seem daunting to someone who has never purchased a home before. But, through home buying educational seminars offered in your community, and with the assistance of an experienced loan officer, a first-time home buyer can obtain a better understanding of their financing options, leading to a more positive home buying experience.
Whether you’ve been dreaming of owning a home for years or you’ve just decided it would be a smart financial move to make, your first home buying experience will be a memorable one. It’s important to learn about your financing options in order to find the mortgage that’s right for you.”
Here are seven tips for first-time home buyers:
1. Educate Yourself About the Mortgage Process – By taking the initiative and learning about the mortgage process, you can be more confident in the financial decisions you are making. It’s important to learn about different types of mortgages, how much you can afford, how your credit impacts your interest rate, and the benefits of home ownership. A mortgage tutorial is available at http://smartedgebygmac.com, which breaks down the home buying process into easy-to-understand steps.
2. Save Just a Little Bit More – It’s not only important to save money for the down payment and closing costs, but it’s important to factor in some of the other costs of home ownership such as decorating, repairs and maintenance. Many mortgage lenders recommend that first-time home buyers have at least three to six months of additional savings in their possession in anticipation of these additional expenses.
3. Check Your Credit – An individual’s credit score will have a significant impact on his or her mortgage loan approval and interest rate. A good first step in financing a home purchase is to check your credit history. You can request a free credit report from any of the two credit reporting bureaus: Equifax or TransUnion. Carefully review your report and contact the credit reporting bureaus to correct any inaccuracies.
For more information, contact one of the credit bureaus directly at:
4. Shop Around for a Mortgage Lender – As you start thinking and preparing for the home buying process, start shopping for the mortgage lender from whom you would like to obtain a mortgage for your new home. Because this process is new, it's easy to go with the first lender or loan officer you meet. Instead, take your time and shop around. Start by asking friends, co-workers and family members for recommendations. When you’ve identified two or three loan officers, ask for references. In addition to pricing (interest rate and closing costs), focus on customer service as well as other services and tools that a mortgage lender may be able to offer you.
5. Get Pre-approved – Before you start working with a real estate agent, consider contacting a mortgage lender to obtain a pre-approval credit decision. A loan officer will review your financial status, including your income, cash flow and credit score, to help you determine the maximum monthly housing payment for which you may be able to qualify, and, if qualified, "pre-approve" your mortgage before you've found a home. Armed with a credit pre-approval, you can start searching for homes with a much better idea of your price range, and in turn save time as you will know the right homes to focus on. Obtaining a pre-approval may offer more confidence and certainty to home sellers in your ability to purchase the home.
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions – Once you’ve found your new home, the mortgage lender will help you through the details of the loan process. From application to closing, your loan officer will work through the financing process with you, just as your real estate professional should do in the home buying process. Throughout the process, read all loan documents carefully, and involve an attorney, if necessary.
7. Inspect – Before you commit to purchasing a home, don't forget to hire a licensed home inspector to conduct a thorough assessment of the property. An inspector can alert you to any major problems with the home, and/or help you understand potential short-term and long-term home maintenance issues.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
BUYING HOME CHECKLIST
SELLING YOUR HOME ON YOUR OWN - OR USING A REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON
DOWNSIZING YOUR RESIDENCE
If you are buying a home, then, before you decide on whether this home is your dream home, the following checklist will help you look at prospective homes with a critical eye. We suggest printing this page and putting it on a clipboard. When you find a home that really interests you, mark the features you see and note their general condition on this list.
If you have decided that now is the time to sell your home, you might be thinking: should I hire a Real Estate Sales Representative or do it alone. Have you ever considered repairing your own car? Anyone can buy the tools and parts. However, most of us just do not have the knowledge, training, experience or the expertise and commitment of time to do the job properly. Besides, there are plenty of experienced professionals to do the work for us.
A great many moves in our lives are to larger residences to accommodate growing families. Or, perhaps our financial development allows us to move up to a larger home with more features and amenities. There is no stress involved in trying to reduce our life’s stuff to fit into a smaller place. If anything, we just need to shop for some more furniture for the new larger place.
Prepare your house for sale in Georgetown Real Estate
Prepare Your House for Sale from the Ground Up Residential Real Estate sales have been slower getting started this spring in Georgetown, Halton Hills, and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area. Whether you're selling now or decide to stay put, a few interior updates can do much to enhance your home's appeal either way.
If you’re planning to put your house on the market, some sprucing up can make your house stand out from the other homes for sale in the neighborhood. By spending a minimal amount on a few easy-to-do updates, your house can take on a new, refreshed look and have greater appeal. Or, if you’ve decided to wait out the housing slump storm, these simple home makeovers can make your current home far more habitable.
New Style at Your Feet
Nothing dates a house more than old, cracking linoleum or an outdated floor pattern. Starting from the ground up, a new floor can lend fresh vitality to a room. With so many choices in flooring available today -- from authentic looking wood-grained laminates to nature-inspired vinyl styles such as stone and tile -- a homeowner can turn any room into an attractive and comfortable oasis.
“With the new flooring options being offered today, a floor not only can look good, but it can offer added comfort beneath your feet,” says Lise LeBreton, creative director of Tarkett Residential, a leading international hard surface flooring manufacturer. “Today’s flooring offers high performance while being stylish at the same time. If you’re looking to make an easy update while adding value to your home, a new floor can be a quick and affordable option.”
Less expensive than ceramic tile, vinyl -- also known as “resilient” flooring -- offers an attractive option for a high-end appearance. The newest vinyl styles and patterns feature a wide array of colors, designs and textures while providing added beauty to any room.
In addition to good looks, vinyl’s durability makes it a smart flooring choice. As an example, Tarkett’s FiberFloor resilient flooring provides what consumers desire most – overall warmth and comfort; repels water and moisture; is scratch, scuff, stain and indentation resistant; and is easy to clean.
Other Quick and Easy Updates to Give Your Home Added Appeal
Freshen up with a coat of paint -- Once the old flooring has gone, removing that faded wall paper or covering up marred walls is important to make that great first-impression. Consider painting every room in the house to infuse a new freshness into your home’s interior, but first and foremost, be sure to paint the kitchen. A high-traffic area, the kitchen is the one room where the walls usually take an added beating. Use a good quality paint that will cover with one coat and stand up to fingerprints and the occasional food splatters.
Don’t get sunk by the old sink -- Old-fashioned kitchen and bath fixtures can attach an expensive price-tag to your house -- giving the potential buyer thoughts of impending pricey remodeling jobs. Adding a new sink and faucet to a kitchen or bath can be a do-it-yourself weekend project or a simple and fairly inexpensive half-day job for the local plumber.
Facelift for your cabinets -- Re-facing existing cabinets or simply repainting them with a high gloss finish will give your kitchen a sleek new appearance. Add new knobs and drawer pulls and you have an entirely new look overall.
Whether you decide to stay or go, it’s easy to update your current home so it can become an attractive and comfortable dwelling that you come to love and potential buyers just can’t resist.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Curb Appeal
History of Georgetown
Georgetown was named after George Kennedy, who settled here in 1821. He built a sawmill, grist mill, foundry and a woollen mill, which began the early economic development of the area. In the early 1950's a man named Rex Heslop arrived in Georgetown with plans to expand the town with large residential, commercial and industrial development. Construction began in 1955 and attracted some industry to Georgetown, but the industrial base did not materialize to support the local demands that accompany a growing residential area. In February 1959 the federal government decided to cancel the Avro Arrow project in nearby Malton and over 600 Georgetown area people became unemployed. By 1960 Georgetown had reached a population of 10 000 and a year later the community had its own hospital. On January 1, 1974 Georgetown was absorbed into the new regional town of Halton Hills.
Consumer Brochures
For your reading pleasure please find listed below a number of Free Consumer Brochures prepared by OREA- Ontario Real Estate Association available to the Public.
Just click on the Brochure you wish to read and a PDF file format will Open.
If you wish to receive a hardcopy brochure just click on the Contact tab on top of the page and the Brochure will be mailed to your home. No need to speak to a Representative.
Enjoy!
Source of this information is compliments of OREA.com
