Durham Region Real Estate Blog

So, I’ve written about big house and small houses and the right sized house, but these homes, designed by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company have got to take the cake!

The walk in closet in my new bedroom is just under 85 square feet. 84.84 square feet to be exact. O.k. maybe it’s a little excessive, but the bathroom and bedroom parts of the addition were already oversized, so why not afford a little more space for the closet? We will move into this space in the next few days and I’m sure that by the end of the year, the closet will be filled to overflowing and we’ll be kicking ourselves for not putting in another hanging rack.

Just bigger than my closet!

I don’t know what we would do if we had to live in one of the houses made by Tumbleweed Tiny House Comany. There are fishing huts out on the local lake that are bigger than some of these houses. Jay Shafer, the owner, has lived in an 89 square foot house since 1997. Well, good for him! While I agree that we sometimes are a little (ok, a lot) excessive with the size of house we live in, I believe this is taking things a little too far in the other direction. How do you market this home to sell once you’ve outgrown it? Sure to cause a breakup with your girl/boyfriend after just two dates in! Save on heating oil, just use your own body temperature to regulate the heat. Too cold? Do 15 push-ups and the heat radiating off your body will warm the entire home! Electricity costs are low – only one light bulb to light up the place! Would the words cute and cozy apply to this house?

Looking at the website does get me thinking about how much is too much. Do you really need an entire living room inside your bedroom? If you can fit 4 couches in your family room, is that too big? Though Jay has taken size down to an extreme, how many of us really use the space we live in. If you have a garage, you likely have two of the exact same screwdrivers. You bought the first one so that you would have one in case you ever needed one and you bought the second one when you needed the first one, but couldn’t find it! Maybe we all need to rethink how much is too much, how much is too little and how much is just right. Looks like Goldilocks knew what she was doing all along!

What do you think? Let me know. But if you’re calling, let the phone ring a little; I don’t know where it is!

So you, your spouse, three children and mother-in-law are thinking about your ideal house. Perhaps it goes something like this; four bedrooms – the mother-in-law will have the master bedroom and ensuite so that she can have a little privacy. The two boys will share one room, your little angel will have her own room and you’ll take the final room. Since you definitely wanted two bathrooms, you sacrificed a little on living space. No main floor family room, but that’s o.k., you have a finished basement, and the kitchen is small, but functional and there’s plenty of room for family dinners in the dining room. It’s not a palace, but you’re there, you’re together and you love it!

Maybe you are able to afford a few more luxuries. A four bedroom home, three and a half baths, main floor family room, large, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room and a separate suite for your mother-in-law. You are happy here. The family is close but there is a quiet nook for reading and one on one time with each of your children. Maybe even a double car garage.

Well, if you are Mukesh Ambani, the fourth richest man in the world, you definitely don’t think either of these descriptions fit your idea of the perfect house. Instead, a cute and cozy, 27 storey building, with over 400,000 sq ft of living space and room to park 168 cars is in order. When the home was completed in 2010 it was estimated to be worth as much as US$1 billion.

When looking at homes with buyers I often hear that they want an open concept home. One where the cook can see the children playing or be a part of the conversation when company drops by for dinner. But in a home with only 5 residents and 600 employees, you are more likely to run into the maintenance staff than your Mom. With more than four floors per person you could cook, eat, clean up and sleep for weeks without ever running into your family. Hmm, on some days that might be preferable!

Thankfully there is a perfect house for all of us, sometimes it just takes a little while to figure out what our “perfect” is. But once we find it, there’s nothing like going home each day.

Purchasing a home in north Oshawa as an income property does come with some restriction. Residential properties located in the vicinity of Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (DC/UOIT) must be licensed through the Residential Rental Housing Licensing (RRHL) By-Law and they must compy with the city’s zoning by-laws.

The RRHL By-Law came into effect in Jun 2008 and it requires homes within a certain area near DC/UOIT to be licensed. Number of rental bedrooms are limited to four on all streets in the rental area.

Property owners must consider five main criteria with their houses:

1. The property may only be used as permitted under the city’s zoning by-laws.

2. An R1 zoned home must function as a single housing unit.

3. Only a maximum of 4 bedrooms are allowed.

4. The home must comply with the fire code, building code, electrical code and property standards by-law

5. The owner must carry a minimum of two million dollar liability insurance policy.

If the owner complies with all these things, they can apply for a license and pay the required fee. Once reviewed, the owner will be contacted to set up the required inspections. The owner must schedule their own inspection with the Electrical safety Authority.If the application is denied, the owner may appeal.

The licence is valid for up to one year and expires on August 31 of each year and it is the responsibility of the owner to apply for a renewal each year.

Have a look at the map attached here. If your property falls within the boundaries and you’d like to rent it out to students, have a look at oshawa.ca/rrhl. If you are thinking about purchasing a home in Oshawa and you’d like to know a little more about renting it out, give me a call so we can get together and discuss what your best options are in today’s market.

Planning for your future involves more than just money. It involves you, your needs, values and dreams. Your financial planner should learn more about you and what’s important in your life. This understanding, along with a review of your financial situation, your investing preferences and your tolerance for risk, will guide your chosen planner as they recommend strategies and provide solutions that will help you achieve your goals.

Whether you’re saving for a rainy day, for retirement, for your future or to send your kids to college, there is a saving plan for you. There are four registered savings vehicles available to you. Registered retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSAs), Registered Education savings Plans (RESPs) and Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs). You need to work with a planner who fully understands you and the programs available. Helping you get to where you want to be in 5, 10, 25 years.

Planners can also help you achieve your home ownership dreams. They know what it takes to get you into a home, one that you can afford and that will allow you to sleep at night, knowing that you can afford the payments and the maintenance issues that come with owning a home. The other great thing is that if you have been working with a planner for a while, you’ll have a healthy amount in your RRSP and you can take advantage of the Home Buyer’s Plan. You can borrow the funds from your RRSP to help you purchase your first home (you and your spouse can each withdraw up to $25,000).

Financial planning may not be the funnest task you do, but it is one that you should not put off for tomorrow. You want your tomorrows to be full of financial freedom, so you’ve got to start today! Do you need a recommendation to someone great who can help you? Let me know and I’ll recommend some names.

With today’s interest rates at near record lows, many people are recognizing that a mortgage payment on a house can actually be comparable to what they would spend on renting an apartment or home.  Perhaps you’re one of them and are ready to take a step up the property ladder.

For most people, buying a home is the most significant financial investment they’ll ever make, and there’s a lot of planning that goes into a successful transition.  With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you navigate the home buying process:

Consider future needs. Look ahead and anticipate what your family may look like just a few years from now.  If you’re a single buyer, you may someday add a ‘significant other’ to your household.  If you’re a young couple, you may be planning on children.  Or you may already have children whose needs will change within just the next few years.  As they get older, perhaps your children will need a bedroom of their own, or some private play space.  Though additional space may not be needed immediately, it’s important to consider potential future plans for a home.  Keep in mind that there is no such thing as the “perfect” house. Instead, determine what’s essential for the near future – number of bedrooms, approximate square footage, community, etc.  But be cautious.  Look to future needs but don’t overextend yourself buying space you may not ever need.

Remember resale. Purchasing a home is a great long-term investment. However, there are many reasons home buyers may need to move again, such as relocating for a job or a major lifestyle change. Think about the length of time that the home may be owned and during your search, also consider the potential resale value of prospective properties you are viewing.  I can help by sharing such valuable information as the average price of resale homes in the area, how long each property has been on the market and what features increase – or detract – from a home’s value and appeal.

Plan for maintenance and repair costs. Owning a home is a rewarding experience. However, along with a set of house keys come certain responsibilities for upkeep.  A leaky faucet and unkempt lawn won’t take care of themselves, so be sure to include future repairs and maintenance in your household budget.  Keep in mind that certain properties such as condominiums and town homes require less exterior maintenance and might be a good option for those who find the idea of maintaining a yard a bit daunting.

Want to know more about the home buying and selling in the Durham Region?  Contact me so we can talk about the best options for you in today’s market.

Do you have high expectations of your real estate salesperson or are you just happy if they show up, fill in the paperwork and bring you an offer? Do you ask several questions or do you just answer some questions and hope the whole thing just goes away?

Sometimes I forget what it’s like not to know what is involved in the whole real estate process. Sure, for the first time homeowner it’s a whole new process, but it is also a confusing thing for many buyers and sellers. Most people who buy and sell a home haven’t done it in years so the things I consider routine are anything but normal. And forget about those strange circumstances that come up. You have no clue what to do about them!

So what should your REALTOR® bring to the table? A pleasant demeanor. You’re going to spend some time together during the process so you definitely want to work with someone you can get along with. Knowledgeable about the whole process. Does your REALTOR® have experience in dealing with many types of properties and buyers or sellers, or do they only know one market. Is that market a fit for your needs? Experienced. This can go a long way in getting you the results you want. An experienced REALTOR® can help you market your home in the best possible light so that you can get the most amount of money in the least amount of time. They also know how to find the house that’s going to be perfect for you. Trustworthy. The REALTOR® you choose to work with will know a lot about you and your finances, your bottom line, your motivation for selling or buying and any number of other personal details about you. Make sure you are working with someone under a contractual agreement (Buyer’s Agent or Seller’s Agent or both!). You want to make sure that your personal information is kept private so that it can’t be used against you in negotiations. And while I’m mentioning negotiations, you want to have a great negotiator on your side. Someone who can weave their way through the sales talk and fancy nonsense words to get you to the very best deal for you.

I really suggest that we sit down and have a relaxed conversation. What questions will you ask me? What do you expect from the whole experience? I’d love to hear from you!

It seems that life is adding more and more stress on our plates all the time. But how do we handle stress is what sets us apart from our neighbours. In your home stressful things are going to happen, but the place itself should be a source of great joy for you. Sure, a little face lift may be of value, but the building and the feeling you get when you walk into it should be perfect for you. If you feel stressed just pulling into the driveway, it may be time to make a move.

Just because you love where you live, or it was the perfect house when you originally purchased it, doesn’t mean the house is going to perfect forever. Life change, we get older, our families grow larger and smaller. Why shouldn’t our houses change with us? You’ll find that place that was once perfect is now stressing you out. A move to your new perfect place will help.

15 years ago Blair and I bought our perfect home. Blair called to let me know he had found a great house for sale that he thought we would love. As we drove closer to our ultimate destination in Oshawa, my mouth dropped. I knew there was no way we could afford a house in this neighbourhood. Well, afford it we did. Purchased for more than the asking price, firm, with a 20 day closing date. What were we thinking? It all worked out though and Blair could often be heard saying that he would never move from this house.

That was four houses ago. Surprised? Don’t be. The perfect house for you one day may not meet all your needs, or your lifestyle, in the future. Perhaps it is another persons perfect house. Again Blair and I find ourselves living in our perfect house. But for how long, I don’t know. What I do know is that if you find yourself stressed out by your house, forgive yourself for falling out of love with it. Clean it up, list and sell it so that you can get in to your next perfect house and let someone else form a love affair with your home.

Looking after your home will definitely help to maintain the value in it and new paint is a great idea. You can get a completely new feel in each room for a fraction of the cost of new flooring or furniture.

First you must determine how much paint you need.

Measure the perimeter of your room (length and width), and then add the four numbers together.

Multiply the perimeter by the height.

Deduct windows and doors. An average window is approximately 15 sq. ft. and an average door is 21 sq. ft.

Divide by 400 (1 gallon of paint covers about 400 sq. ft.)

Length + length + width + width = total perimeter

Total perimeter x height – doors – windows = Total sq. ft.

Total sq. ft. / 400 = number of gallons needed

Then round up to ensure you have enough paint.

Second, decide which sheen to use. Use a flat paint in a low traffic area then increase the sheen as the amount of traffic increases. Use flat in a living room, flat enamel in a dining room, eggshell in the master bedroom, satin in a hallway, soft gloss in a kitchen, semi gloss in a kids bedrooms and high gloss on doors and trim.  Of course, a satin could work well for walls in all the rooms and then you could just try the semi gloss or high gloss paint on the doors and trim.

Third, decide on a primer. Tempted to skip the primer? Don’t! Primer not only provides a good surface for he paint by helping to even out the surface’s porosity, but is also brings out the paint’s true colour. Some primers have specific formulas to address certain problems such as hard to hide colours, glossy surfaces and stains. Using a high quality primer ensures a durable, even finish with more accurate colours. It can actually save you time and money too!

Fourth, prepare the surface.The great majority of paint failures are attributed to inadequate surface preparation. Clean and dry the surface but removing all dirty, dust and grease and dull the glossy surfaces with a liquid de-glosser or sandpaper. Repair all surface imperfections, fill all cracks and seams with paintable acrylic caulk, fill holes with a patching compound and then scrape or sand any peeling paint. Finally , prime all the areas.

Now it’s time to paint! Use painter’s tape to mask off any areas not peing painted. Cover furniture and floors with drop cloths. Sitr paint throughout the painting process and if you are using multiple cans of the same colour, mix them together for the best uniform colour. Prime the area to promote hide and adhesions. Painit the ceiling first by brushing a 3 inch border then begin in a corner and roll across the ceiling in 3 foot sections. Finish with long, even roller strokes across the entire ceiling. Paint the walls next. Paint only one wall at a time by brushing a 3 inch borger around the ceiling, floor, tim and corners. Always maintain a wet edge. Working in a 3foot x 3 foot area, roll a large “W” onlto the surface. Now fill in the “W”. Work hoizontally across the room, moving from side to side. and continue the pattern across the wall. Finally, paint the trim and remember to leave the windows open for at least one hour to prevent sticking to newly painted sills.

Once the room is painted and the clean up is done, take a picture and email it to me (I’d love to see the new room) then sit back and enjoy your handiwork!

It really wasn’t that long ago when wood burning fireplaces were a major source of heat for many homeowners and many home buyers still desire them. But knowing the common problems associated with them and how they can be fixed will really help you out in the long run.

According to a study by Environment Canada, “Using a wood-fire stove for only nine hours….produces as much fine-particle pollution as does a car in a year.” Not a great statistic, especially in a city where air quality might not be the best to begin with. But if you love wood heat, don’t despair, there are ways that you can eliminate the amount of smoke from a wood burning fireplace, making it more environmentally friendly.

First you need to understand how the fireplace works. Smoke should be drawn naturally up the chimney at all times. If the fireplace smokes when it’s operating, it’s not designed property, or there is something in the house that is causing the fireplace to smoke. There are some configurations that are more likely to smoke than others. For example, chimney height has a big influence on how well the fireplace draws. A taller chimney will draw better. Also, the flue size should be at least 1/12 of the fireplace opening size in order to provide an optimal draw and eliminate smoke.

It’s common for the fireplace to smoke when the fire is first lit and when the fire has burnt down. This is called the cold-hearth syndrome. When the chimney flue is hot, it draws well, and when it’s cold, air flows down the chimney rather than up. Sometimes this can cause soot and cold air to pour down the chimney when the fireplace is not in use, even when the damper is closed. This is indicative of a less-than-ideal fireplace and chimney design. You should also check for soot under the mante as its presence can indicate a fireplace with chronic back-drafting.

Solutions for smoking fireplaces include:

Add glass doors: They reduce the effective fireplace opening size and the volume of air going up the chimney. These both improve the fireplace draw.

Decrease the fireplace opening size: Anything that reduces the opening size of the fireplace will result in better draw.

Extend the chimney: A taller chimney draws better. This is a good solution, but it is more expensive that the other suggestions.

Convert to gas: If all else fails, consider installing a gas direct-vent fireplace. These fireplaces vent out the wall of the house. No chimney required.

A zero-clearance fireplace is a viable option if you would like to have a fireplace added to your home. It has a light-weight insulated chimney. This means it can be added to the house without adding a foundation, making it an option for any floor of the house, and as the name says, it requires “zero clearance”.

There have been many fires due to improper operation and maintenance of wood burning equipment. Knowing how to operate them is imperative to home safety so here are a few safety tips:

Hire a professional chimney sweep to get rid of any creosote build-up in the chimney because it is a highly combustible substance.

Keep the flue clean by burning only seasoned hardwood. Don’t burn garbage and scraps of paper.

Keep smoke in its place by stacking logs hear the back of the fireplace.

Make sure the damper is open before lighting the fire.

Have the flue cleaned and inspected yearly (cleaned more often if you use the fireplace a lot).

Keep the hearth area clean and clear.

Use a spark screen in front of the fire.

Don’t leave an open fire unattended.

Make sure household smoke and CO detectors are functioning.

Zero-clearance fireplaces need to be cleaned and inspected as well. They don’t tolerate a lack of maintenance well.

For zer0-clearance, check the manual to verify if the fireplace can be operated with the glass door shut.

I love a natural fire and the dry warmth it provides on a cold, winter evening. Maybe this is the year I should add one to my house!

Not if you’re looking at the same statistics I’m looking at right now. Looks like the market and the thermometer are in a neck and neck race to the finish!

We had 906 sales in the month of July. That brings our year to date sales to 6,213 which is a 3.7% decrease over 2010. But, if you thought that was bad news, you’re going to love this next fact (well if you’re a seller you’ll love it!): The average selling price of a home in Durham Region for July is $329,956, an increase of 11.2% over July last year. With sellers seeing strong price increases for their homes, real estate continues to be a great investment in our neck of the woods!

Wondering if home ownership is in your future or curious about the current market value of your home? Give me a call or send me an email. I love hearing from you.