Headlines that Get you Thinking

 

For many, spring isn't just a time for renewal on the home front. Tidying gardens and cleaning the garage in anticipation of a garage sale are things that many homeowners engage in at this time of year. But there's also another way to look a renewal or spring cleaning and that is spring cleaning of finances, investments, new starts etc.

With the snow gone and the grass attempting to revive, renters contemplate home ownership, sometimes over a lust for lawn and other times it's part of a strategic investment plan. Some would say that owning 'something' i.e. property, a home or condo, lends to investment stability or a look to one's future and finances.

There's a lot to read these days involving real estate and home ownership in general. Between interest rates, market values, HST and other taxes, government and political tangents, the stock markets amd the value of the U.S. dollar. The list goes on and on and it's a lot to take in and follow.

You might want to bookmark my facebook page, follow me on twitter or connect on linked in. I trend a lot of what's going on in the news and market and you will find headlines linking directly to articles that you may find of interest. AND, you don't have to search for them as they are right there.

As always I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you should you need the services of a realtor.

Enjoy your weekend!

"Working for you every day."

Joanne

Backyard Bling and Indoor Fab

Since my last update Spring has sprung, at least on the calendar! We are experiencing really cold weather with a windchill fierce enough to send us back inside and under an electric blanket all over again!

But fear not, Spring is just waiting to spring under that layer of cold (and in some cases, snow) and it's only a matter of time now. The warmer temperatures will show up soon. They have to right?!

The birds are back, the geese are noisy and the squirrels have left the hollow of the tree. Mother nature cannot put us off for that much longer!

Another sign of spring - the renovation, home and backyard shows and seminars taking place all over.
There's the Ottawa Home Show taking place right now. The Cottage Show and Big Backyard Show as well as the Spring Garage Show

That's a lot of 'show' going on in the next few weeks. Considering attending one or all. It's a great place to get ideas from, especially if you are a visual person and like to see things already put together. As well, it's a one stop shop for resources, finding out who does what in the city and picking up some brochures and business cards for your own upcoming project.

Enjoy

Joanne

Spring is in the Air and our Thoughts are with Japan

There is so much in the air right now. Here, there is the hope of spring through the rainfall, the sun, the longer hours of daylight and the big puddles left in the aftermath of melting snow. Spring and hope seem to go together. It's a time of renewal and new beginnings and we are more than ready to embrace it after months of winter.

Elsewhere, particularly in Japan, there is much more in the air since the earthquake and tsunami. What has happened in Japan is unimaginable yet through the news and hourly photo reports via CNN and other news agencies, we are seeing first hand what, up until now, we could only ever imagine. And, it is real. Very real. The tragedy, the ensuing loss, the unknown. 

Not to be missed in all of this is the courage, the strength and the banding together of people in this time of crisis. There has been no looting. In its place, cooperation and continuous stories of strangers helping strangers. That's not to say there isn't fear and sadness but the people of Japan seem to be working together and dwelling on hope instead of despair. They must. This is their home, their livelihood. There is no option to leave for most. They must dig in and persevere. And they are. 

Everyone wants to help and as a country, we are and so are many other nations. Individually, we feel the need to help and to be thankful for all we have here. The need to be thankful for what we do have is more poignant than ever in light of what has happened and we need to remember this daily.

With Spring comes optimism and with this tragedy comes hope for the future for Japan.

Warmest

Joanne

Spring it Forward!

I know. I know. This past week's weather has not been any indicator of what is suppose to be just around the corner that is for sure! The 'S' word is floating around with feelings of hope and anticipation. 'S' as in SPRING! We're ready. We're waiting. Bring.  It.   On.  Right?

Perhaps Ms Mother Nature hasn't been keeping her lines of communication open with Mr. Calendar...Not sure but the other 'S' word has been everywhere this week. Snow, sleet and slush and all just two weeks before Spring hits, on the calendar at least. And for those that are reading the calendar these days and counting down until March Break (it's here now parents:) and then Spring, this weekend is very important in helping with this transition! 

This Saturday night we 'Spring Forward' meaning we are to set the clocks ahead one hour at bedtime. The good news is that we will have more light! The bad news is that we lose one precious hour of sleep this weekend. But  I think it's fair to say that the trade off is minor. As we get closer and closer to longer, sunnier and warmer days, one hour of sleep is more than negotiable to help us get there don't you think?

Enjoy your weekend.

Joanne

Working for you every day!

Vacation Homes/Secondary Residences

It's hard to believe that February is almost behind us. It was a whirlwind for sure! And now comes the exciting time when March teases us about spring but never actually comes through with any consistent spring weather. And really, it shouldn't because it's still winter whether we like it or not! But step into any mall and it's full swing spring and almost summer according to the fashions and colours alive in all the display windows.

This is also a time when people think about planning vacations and going to the cottage and some think about buying additional property for a year round vacation home and/or an investment.

There is a great little article about vacation home buying and the new CMHC regulations regarding the purchase of secondary properties in the Ottawa Citizen today.

Click here to read it.

Enjoy your weekend!

Joanne

Wish vs Want when considering a new home.

There's a lot of daydreaming going on these days with the change of season teasing us (we really wish Spring was just around the corner but which corner!) as the weather goes up and down. Also, the interest rate speculation and new government changes concerning mortgages has people thinking and looking.

It's a good idea to write out a list before looking at properties. It's almost as important as getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Some couples may save a lot of disagreeing by making up 'his' and 'her' lists also:)

We all have big dreams. Dreams are free so that part is easy. But then comes reality and practicality right behind dreamland, forcing us to get down to the nitty gritty of what we can afford, what we NEED and what we WANT. This is where the list comes in handy. Write down everything you would love to have in your new home i.e. 2.5 bathrooms, an ensuite, an open family room to kitchen, number of bedrooms, floor finishes etc. And then go through that same list and rate everything 1, 2 and 3. 1 is 'have to have' and 2 and 3 follow. 2 could be if budget affords and 3 could be something to add later down the road i.e. an improvement when the money flow is better.

Doing this exercise will really help with expectations and allow you to set realistic goals-especially if there are two people involved in the buying process. You can make more rationale decisions when they are on paper and you have had some time to process them. This will help both you and your agent narrow in on properties that fit your criteria and in the end, will save you lots of time and avoid too much conflict.

As always, I love to hear from current, past and prospective clients! I'm available for any questions you may have or to meet with you about your needs.

Working for you every day!

Joanne

February in the Capital

February in the Capital

Let is snow! Let it snow! This seemed to be the theme not just in Ottawa but throughout parts of Canada and the U.S. I'm sure we all watched a lot of news and weather on t.v. where scenes of 'how high the snow could get' were shown everywhere. It was almost like a competition or at the very least, a novelty, especially in places like Texas where it's not uncommon to wear flip flops year round. And while Ottawa enjoyed a 'snow day' from the real world on Wednesday, we didn't get nearly the snow the others did and really, according to many, calling it a snow day was overkill!

The good news is, according to a very reliable source aka Mr. Groundhog, we will have an early spring! Take all of this with a grain of salt as I'm not sure Mr. Groundhog was even able to burrow out of his hole to see if he could see his shadow:) But the idea of an early spring certainly is good news and makes for a great daydream!

February in the Capital definitely embraces the winter as Winterlude begins today! Three weekends of outdoor activities including snow and ice sculpture competitions, tubing down the hills of J Cartier park, skating on the world's longest skating rink (which is in great condition due to the snow and steady temperatures) and of course the yummy food huts sprinkled between all the other points of interest. Enjoy! Enjoy!

For your guide to Winterlude go here.

Joanne