Burlington & Hamilton Real Estate Blog

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www.charliecan.com

Hot New Listings in Burlington & Hamilton Area!

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Visit;

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Looking to sell your home in the Hamilton & Burlington area! Visit,

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Backyard Entertaining on a Budget

Nothing says “bring on summer” quite like a backyard BBQ. It’s the perfect mix of friends, the fresh outdoors, and fantastic food! But just because you want to throw a social, doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. Here are a few ideas of how to entertain outdoors on a budget:

Food
Send an electronic invitation to your friends to let them know you’re throwing a pot-luck BBQ. Create a food list and give guests an idea of what to bring, usually a side dish or dessert. Remember to prepare as much as possible in advance so that you can spend most of your time outside with your guests and not in the kitchen.

Seating & Décor
Arrange several seating areas if space allows. If you’re short of chairs, ask friends and family to bring their fold-ups that transport easily. Swing by local garage sales or thrift stores if you need extra tables. Pick up colourful vinyl tablecloths, napkins and decorations at your local dollar store.

Kids & Fun Stuff
Kids love the beach, so buy an inexpensive wading pool and fill it with clean sand. Add plastic buckets, spades, blow-up beach balls, and a croquet set from the local dollar store and they’ll be all set. Lay bright beach towels on the grass, or under a tree and the little ones will have their own picnic area too.

Lights & Pesky Bugs
String some white or blue lights around the backyard for nighttime. Place a few tea lights in glass containers and display them around the garden on things like bird baths and paving stones for a magical effect. To stop bugs from crashing your party, stake some tiki torches in the ground or put citronella candles on tables to keep them away.

Favour Ideas
Want to send your friends off with a little gift at the end of the party? If your homemade BBQ sauce is a party favourite, make a big batch, put in sterilized bottles and give to guests. If there is plenty of leftover food, be generous and let everyone take something home for dinner the next day. Don’t forget to save some for yourself!

Staying Cool the Green Way

It’s cool to be green, and green can keep you cool – especially in hot weather. Here are ten tips for maintaining a comfortable home without relying on the air conditioner this summer.

1. Heat rises so make sure your roof is well-ventilated. Consider installing a temperature controlled attic fan that switches on when the mercury rises.

2. Ensure proper insulation in the walls and ceilings. In Canada, we tend to think of insulation as a must for winter, but proper insulation also guards against the heat of the day in summer.

3. Shade the west side of your home by planting large bushes or trees to mitigate the amount of direct sunlight your west-facing walls receive. Be sure any planting is done a safe distance from the foundation.

4. Ceiling fans can cool a room by several degrees. Install ceiling fans in larger rooms and set them to the forward position so the fan rotates counter clockwise. This will help create a wind-chill effect and make you “feel” cooler.

5. Venetian blinds or California shutters are both aesthetically appealing and effective at shutting out the sun’s glare. Another option is to add heat reflecting film on windows. It will help keep things cool, while reducing ultraviolet rays that can damage furniture and floors.

6. Since most summer breezes blow from west to east, open the southwest and northeast windows to allow a refreshing cross-breeze. Open windows at night to allow the cooler air in, and close them in the morning.

7. Use a dehumidifier to absorb moisture in the air, as dry air feels cooler. A dehumidifier can also prevent mold, mildew, and musty odours, especially in the basement.

8. If you can, minimize use of your stove in really hot weather. Consider using an outdoor barbecue or a slow cooker which emits very little heat.

9. Invest in a fold-away gazebo for your deck or garden. It protects from sun, insects, and summer showers when you want to cool off outside.

10. Lighten up the exterior paint. Light coloured paint doesn’t absorb as much solar energy as darker paint, and is a relatively low-cost solution that can reduce your energy bills.

When summer sizzles, think green, keep your cool – and enjoy!

Moving Checklist

What's the best way to prepare for a move? See our moving checklist  >>

Thinking about buying a home? You've come to the right place. At Royal LePage, our goal is to help you make smart real estate choices. Buying a new home is a big decision, and there’s a lot you need to know before signing on the dotted line. In this section you’ll find information and advice about every step of the home buying process, from determining how much house you can afford to presenting an offer you can live with.

And when you’re ready to start your real estate search, count on Royal LePage to show you the way. We’ll help you find the right home, in the right neighbourhood, at the best price.

http://royallepage.ca/en/realestateguide/buying/index.aspx

Thinking about selling your home? You've come to the right place. Selling a real estate property takes a little patience and a lot of preparation before you can see the pay-off. In this section you’ll find information and advice about every step of the home selling process, from capitalizing on housing market conditions to closing the sale smoothly so you’re completely satisfied.

And when you’re ready to put your house up for sale, count on Royal LePage to show you the way. We’ll help you sell your home faster and easier, getting you full value for your investment.

http://royallepage.ca/en/realestateguide/selling/index.aspx

Market Starting to Settle

(June 4, 2010 – Hamilton, Ontario) The Greater Hamilton-Burlington area resale market reported a total of 1451 units sold in May, an increase of 8.8 per cent over May of last year, according to the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) statistics released by the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB).

When compared to April of this year, May’s total unit sales were down 5.5 per cent.

“The market is beginning to settle a bit,” said RAHB President Joe Ferrante. "We saw big highs in both the numbers of listings and sales in March and April, and now we are seeing how things will probably be continuing for the next few months.”

Residential properties sold during May totalled 1406, which included 1114 freehold properties and 292 condominiums. Commercial sales for May, including industrial, farm, vacant land and business, totalled 45 units.

The average price of freehold residential properties sold in the month of May was $339,484, an increase of 8.5 per cent over the same month last year and an increase of just under one per cent over last month.

In the condominium market, the average price of condominiums in May was $224,707, a decrease of three per cent compared to May, 2009 and a decrease of slightly more than two per cent from last month. The average sale price reflects the dollar volume of residential sales divided by the number of total residential units sold.

May’s total average residential sale price increased six per cent over the same month in 2009.

The total number of units listed for sale during May was 2370, which is almost 33 per cent higher than were listed in the same month in 2009.

“This is still a strong market by any measure,” added Ferrante, “and is performing pretty much as we expected.”

Unit sales reflect “all property types” including residential, condominiums, commercial property, farmland and sales of businesses.

courtesy of;

REALTORS® Association
of Hamilton-Burlington

Market strength continues through April

Royal LePage National Garage Sale for Shelter!

May 15th, 2010 9:00 - 3:00 pm Bayfront Park

100% of the proceeds go to a local woman's shelter and to education and violence prevention programs in our community.  

http://garagesale.staterealty.ca/

Royal LePage National Garage for Shelter!

May 15th, 2010 9:00 - 3:00 pm Bayfront Park

100% of the proceeds go to a local woman's shelter and to education and violence prevention programs in our community.  

http://garagesale.staterealty.ca/