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Hamilton, ON Real Estate News

By Bianca Marijan, Broker Owner of Independent Real Estate Brokerage
(City Brokerage, Hamilton)
I love everything art deco; from furniture to architecture to jewlery; there is something about that style that is glam, elegant and simple in a sophisticated way.     Hamilton has some real jewels of art deco architecture.........           and here are photos of homes in and around Hamilton, in their beauty.    
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By Bianca Marijan, Broker Owner of Independent Real Estate Brokerage
(City Brokerage, Hamilton)
So, suddenly, it is no longer inappropriate to publicly voice your concerns about being overtaxed, overworked and worried about retirement.   Maybe 2008 was the “awakening” for a lot of people.   Talking to clients, acquaintances and friends most are unhappy about being in debt and overextended and are not embarrassed to voice it any longer.   Re-fi is an option of course, but if you’re rolling your debts into your mortgage for the third time or grovelling for a consolidation loan, YOU”VE GOT TO STOP!!!!   Call me debtors anonymousJ   Your motto or credo should be “if I can’t pay for it cash, I don’t need it”   Debt should be reserved only for something that will make you money.   Drum roll;       this is where I come in.   Pension funds worldwide are wobbling and it’s time to put your ...
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By Bianca Marijan, Broker Owner of Independent Real Estate Brokerage
(City Brokerage, Hamilton)
The cold cellar is a pre-fridge, pre-electricity survival  invention, also known as a root cellar, where root vegetables and cured meats were  stored to prolong their  life, through the long winter. Initially it was literally a hole in the ground, covered with earth and evolved into being a part of the main house  but the important components of it being dark and temperature- consistent have remained. Typically it is stocked  with canning, potatoes, onions, carrots and such. Some store wine in their cellar, smoked meats such as prosciutto, smoked cheeses etc. When we hit the indulgent eighties, people completely lost interest in the fruit cellar and used it for storage of patio furniture etc and now, the cold cellar is back and back with a bang. The consciousness of the home owner has t...
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By Donna Bacher, Broker
(PureRealty Brokerage)
Hot, Not Bothered: Inexpensive Home Heating Tips The dramatically rising cost of home heating is a bothersome concern for most Canadians. Heating your home efficiently this winter will be the key to keeping your energy costs under control. Here are some quick, easy and, most importantly, inexpensive ways to maximize warmth and minimize impact to your pocketbook: Adjust Your Personal Thermostat: Wear a sweater and dress warmly around the house. When you're stationary, watching television or reading, you're most susceptible to a chill, so toss a throw around you. Since hot air rises, resist the icy influence of cooler floors with thick socks or slippers. Adjust Your Home Thermostat: It goes without saying that the less energy you use, the lower your heating bills will be. Set your thermos...
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By Janice Ankrett, Staging Professional
If you are selling your home are the Buyers and their Realtors whispering behind your back? Of course they are! They are discussing their impressions of your home after viewing it. They are ticking off the 'I wants' on their list that they found in your home. They are discussing the price and if it is appropriate. They are discussing the general condition of your home. They are comparing it to other homes they have seen. Staging was created to make sure the first and last impressions of your home are positive. By preparing your home for sale you are presenting a clean, uncluttered, spacious, well maintained product. Yes, your home has become a product. Like shopping for a car, the buyers are going from one model to another checking them out and imagining it in their life. They may even ...
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By Janice Ankrett, Staging Professional
As I look outside today at this unpredictable spring weather it is hard to think about gardens. However as a Stager, I know that outside spaces should be treated as a room or part of a house when you are selling. The truth is that even though it is not warm enough for flowers the grass has started to grow. There are bits of dead plants and leaves from last fall out there waiting for you sellers. Yes, it is time to get out there and clean up the yard. I've been seeing grass and weeds coming up between paving stones in walkways and patios. It is important to help the buyer see the possibilities for entertaining and enjoying your garden. So, out you go to clean up and weed. Then set up your patio furniture. Once the weather warms up a little add a planter or two to the entrance of your hom...
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By Karen Hubert, Home Stager
(Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton)
I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Staging Professionals Conference in Las Vegas as an extra day after the Real Estate Staging Association Conference. It was a fabulous day of people sharing their expertise. Teresa Robertson of "Design to Go" winner of the CSP mentor of the year for 2010.  Teresa shared with the group her ideas "to help grow and manage a successful staging business." Nairn Friemann, president of "Ingenuity & Pizzazz, Inc." shared "Mastering the Art of Difficult Conversations with sellers in 10 simple steps." From the "Social Media Academy For Women". Francine Allaire shared steps for "using Flip Video's and some simple scripts to increase your visibility on Social Media". Forbes called Francine one of the "Top 20 Women for Entrepreneurs" to follow on Twitter f...
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By Karen Hubert, Home Stager
(Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton)
The Real Estate Staging Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas was a huge success.  The RESA conference was held in January and approximately 400 stagers from all over North America were there.Although there were many hi-lights from the RESA conference event the top three for me were:1.  Jackson West from "Reveal Estate" home staging.Jackson's presentation for the RESA conference was "How to Close More Sales and Raise Your Profits by Perfecting Client Proposals".I learned a great deal and am now putting together a template for my own Client Proposal.2.  Christine Rae from "Certified Staging Professionals".Christine is very passionate about going green and especially being green in your home staging business.Some things Christine shared about the state of our water here on the planet...
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By Janice Ankrett, Staging Professional
One of the cities that I work in has a lot of building going on. When someone puts their house on the market they are competing not only against similar homes but brand spanking new versions as well. I make sure to point this out to my clients. They should know just what they are up against. The same model of home is probably for sale a few streets over in either direction. It may even be one that's never been owned with no scuffs, dings or dirty carpet. Those appliances are all shiny and new. You know, it has that 'new car' cachet. No matter what sort of city you live in your house will be compared to others that are similar. Your home needs to outshine that other house when a buyer visits. Let your home be the one: - with the good layout - without the pet smells in the carpeting - tha...
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By Janice Ankrett, Staging Professional
Wouldn't it be better if it was just all open and empty? That's what the seller wanted to know about a room in their home that was not furnished. The answer is simply, no. You would expect a room to look bigger when it is empty but the reverse is true. It often looks smaller. There is no reference point for our eye to judge if that sofa or hutch or dining table and chairs will fit. Not many buyers come prepared with a tape measure and a list of measurements of their belongings. They need to see furniture in the room to compare. By placing appropriate furniture in the room you give the viewer the spacial reference point they need. They can see that the room will accommodate a sofa, table and chair with space left over. They can compare that 'sofa' to their sofa and form an opinion on how...
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By Gail Fabiani
(Right at Home Realty Inc., Brokerage)
Photo by Frank Greco During the Christmas Season, stay in shape by going hiking.  Even though the weather may be cold, it is invigorating if you dress properly.  Walking is one of the best ways to get exercise and it is free.  The Bruce Trail is Canada's oldest and longest footpath.  The 1885 km runs from Queenston in Niagara Falls through Burlington and on to Tobermory.  There are also 400 km of sidepaths and it provides the only continuous public access to the outstanding Niagara Escarpment.  If the Bruce Trail isn't for you, then you can visit some of the 150 waterfalls in the City of Hamilton.   Whatever your choice, enjoy some outdoor activities during this holiday season.
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By Donna Bacher, Broker
(PureRealty Brokerage)
Now's definitely the time to be Jolly...and think of saying goodbye to your landlord!! I just got the latest interest info from one of my trusted Mortgage Specialists, Bruna Di'Iorio from HLC (Home Loans Canada). Bruna has just secured a mortgage for clients of mine: a cash back mortgage at 2.2 % interest. They're renting right now...and in a couple of months they'll be moving into their new address! The amazing part is it's going to cost them the same price as their apartment did! Which confirms my belief that right now the prices are great, selection is fantastic..and interest rates are low...so why pay someone else's mortgage when you can pay down your own!!! It's a win/win situation!! When you get your Mortgage statement at the end of the year and see that you've increased your equi...
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By Donna Bacher, Broker
(PureRealty Brokerage)
It's obvious that even Mother Nature doesn't know Hamilton exists! Well, guess what Mother Nature...we're Hamiltonian's, and over the years we've gotten very accustomed to being overlooked. Living in the shadow of Toronto isn't easy...but it builds character. So no snow is really not a big thing! We are OK with you giving all the Cities around us....all of the snow!!!! Is there going to be a Federal or Provincial Inquiry into Mother Natures' behavior? No, we won't be pushing for one, even though London, Ontario is enjoying their 80 cm of snow...and are just about to receive another 20 cm. We know that that snow storm could have easily been given to us or even just a bit of it! Here in Hamilton, we agree with you.. London is a much more suitable City for Mother Nature to invest in...so ...
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By Donna Bacher, Broker
(PureRealty Brokerage)
Exactly how much information do we really need to do anything in our life? How much information can we process and actually absorb before we can no longer make a timely decision? I'm hoping that as I type this blog right now, there's some University student studying this behaviour. We are catapulting hyper-speed down the information highway and are just starting to really see the effects of information overload. Real Estate is definitely no exception. Imagine needing to purchase a couch.Just a basic brown couch and then walking into a large warehouse with 4000 brown couches in it. All the couches are $800.00. There isn't a single sales person in the store to assist you...just you and the couches. How long would it take for you to buy a couch? Of course you would want the best couch for...
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By Karen Hubert, Home Stager
(Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton)
In one of my previous posts, I shared Hamilton/Halton Real Estate Staging Association Chapter's Charity of choice "Wall's of Hope". Sera Mansueto, the founder of "Wall's of Hope" was being honoured by Debbie Travis as an unsung hero in Oakville for her generous and hard work in helping families in the Oakville area. The show "All For One" was taped at the end of August and aired on October 31. Many of our RESA chapter members were part of the 5 day project honouring Sera . It was an exciting, exhausting, and educational 5 days. Here are some pictures of some of our RESA Chapter members.  You might recognize some of them. Linda Graydon from "Soulscape Interiors" was chosen by Debbie Travis as the Design Crew Leader.  It was a very stressful 5 days. Igor from "Restaurant Makeover" was the...
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By Karen Hubert, Home Stager
(Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton)
Hamilton/Burlington Real Estate Staging Association October Chapter Meeting was a big success. We had many in attendance and some very good presentations. Linda Graydon shared some photos with the group of our "Wall's of Hope" project.   Linda also shared a slideshow of the "Debbie Travis"  project some of us also participated in.  Debbie Travis's new show is"All For One". This is me listening intently to what Debbie is telling me. Also during the meeting I shared the picture hanging tip I learned here on Activerain via Kym Tarr's blog post. Laurie Carther from "Silklauer" Designs also shared a picture or mirror hanging tip. Our guest speaker was Anthony Giaitzis from "Stoneridge Insurance Company".  He is husband of Luisa Giaitzis who is one of our members. He has come up with a RESA G...
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By Ken Caldwell
(Royal LePage State Realty)
As the cost of a university education continues to skyrocket many parents as well as investors are eying the McMaster Universitystudent rental market.  Rental fees average approximately $5,000 per year for each student, with many student houses having five or six rooms.  With an adequate down-payment, a parent, or parents group could easily buy a residence and have their son/daughter live in it for 4 years, while their mortgage is paid by the other renters.  At the end of the four years, they will have reduced their mortgage, had their child's stay at university subsidized, and should have a nice appreciation on the value of their home.  The average home price in the Westdale neighbourhood in 2006 was $229,995 last month the average price of homes sold in the same are was $295,514. In m...
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By Karen Hubert, Home Stager
(Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton)
  The Hamilton/Burlington RESA Chapter met on September 27 at Tansley Woods Community Centre. Our guest speaker was Laurey Fawcett from Sherwin Williams Paint. Laurey had a lot of information to share about paint and how to pick the right paint for your project.  She taught us how to read the fan deck properly and the types of finishes were discussed.  Unfortunately we were unable to have Laurey complete her whole 1.5 hour presentation due to the time allowed for our meeting.  This was a little disappointing. Each member attending the RESA Chapter meeting will be getting a free fan deck. Laurey shared a website to our Hamilton/Burlington Chapter members to receive free paint chips in large sizes to use for our businesses.  I am unable to share this website unfortunately.   Our Hamilton/...
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By Charlene Storozuk, Home Stager - Burlington Ontario
(Dezigner Digz)
  Hamilton, Ontario - the next tourist "mecca" for the world's cultural set?  Seems a bit far-fetched, but perhaps it's not.  The Toronto Star reported recently that talks are underway with world renowned, award winning, and, might I add, Toronto born architect Frank Gehry to design a building for none other than Steeltown.  Gehry's works include the Art Gallery of Ontario and numerous international projects such as the infamous, titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.  If you're not familiar with Bilbao's museum, check it out here.  It's absolutely amazing. Prior to the construction of the Guggenheim, Bilbao was an industrial port city whose main industries were steel and shipbuilding; an interesting parallel to Hamilton.  Once Gehry's masterpiece was opened, the city receive...
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By Karen Hubert, Home Stager
(Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton)
I have just earned the RESA-PRO™ home staging designation. For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                           Karen Hubert of Center Stage Design earns Prestigious RESA-PRO™ Home Staging Designation Ancaster, Ontario, September 27th,,2010. Karen Hubert of Center Stage Design has earned the RESA-PRO™ designation.   RESA-PRO™ designees must meet the following 6 mandatory requirements:   Must pass the RESA® Ethics Exam.    Must agree to follow the RESA® Code of Ethics.  A minimum of 1 year in business, as a professional home stager (proof by either a Business License, DBA,  LLC, CORP, Re-sale license or Legal  Partnership,) Proof of Home Staging Busin...
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