You can't help what you were born with...but you can help what you become.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
A glowing testimony to the area turns 50
KITCHENER — For 50 years, it has been a beacon to weary travellers journeying home from Toronto on Highway 401.
The original version of the huge neon Schneiders sign beside Highway 401 at Highway 6 was lit up on March 20, 1961.
It was built 16.7 metres above the road, on a steel structure standing more than 17 metres high and more than 24 meters long, It did not yet have the “Dutch Girl” picture who now smiles at travellers heading toward Kitchener.
The first sign just had the name of the Kitchener meat factory, “Schneiders” in huge red neon letters, and beneath it, “Famous For Quality Meats.” Below that, a comforting note: “Kitchener 12 miles,” with an arrow pointing homeward.
The section of Highway 401 up to Highway 8 in Kitchener had just been opened a few months before, in November, 1960. The traffic was “very light,” recalls Vern Sherk, 72, of Kitchener. “People were still learning it was there and just what they could do with it,” he says.
Of course, the notion of living in Kitchener and working in Toronto was unheard of then, he adds. “Now, it is taken for granted.” But over the years, as people made that journey home, the Schneider sign became “a landmark,” Sherk says.
The original sign was built by Claude Neon, which had an office in Toronto then. It was refurbished a few times over the years.
Eventually, it was rebuilt to add the famous Dutch Girl symbol. The beaming golden blond-haired girl in the winged white bonnet symbolizes the Pennsylvania Dutch origins of the many farmers who supplied the livestock.
The original sign had huge wooden letters that had to be physically changed five to six times a year to deliver different commercial messages. But that was replaced by a scrolling electronic message board.
When the sign was refurbished in 1980, local dignitaries were photographed snipping a string of wieners, in place of the usual “ribbon cutting” ceremony.
People laugh when they say the sign is known as the “Weiner Beacon.” But to residents who understand Kitchener’s history, it represents much more than wieners.
Sherk is related, through his grandmother’s side, to a Schneider — not the J.M. Schneider of sausage-making fame, but to the Joseph Schneider who was a Kitchener pioneer and who migrated from Pennsylvania to settle here in the early 1800s.
Still, he is proud of that Schneiders sign. To him, it represents what Waterloo Region is truly famous for, which is the quality of the products it makes.
“It is part of our industrial history,” Sherk says. “So many of the early industrialists were interested in doing a good job, not just making money.” They knew it was about reputation and “they wanted a good reputation,” he adds.
So that’s what the sign represents. “It said people can depend on quality here.”
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Title Insurance...What is it and why should I have it?
Generally, there are two forms of title insurance. Lender's title insurance, required by most lending institutions, is normally written in the amount of the mortgage and protects the lending institution from losses resulting from title defects.
Because lender's insurance expires when the mortgage is repaid, you may benefit from the second form of title insurance known as an owner's title policy. It usually is written for the amount of the purchase price of the home. This protection starts the day of the closing and lasts as long as you or your heirs retain an interest in the property.
Unlike other insurance premiums, your title insurance premium is paid only once, at the closing. By purchasing owner's and lender's protection simultaneously, substantial savings in title insurance premiums can be realized.
After all fees have been paid and documents signed and notarized at the closing, you will receive a copy of each and, most importantly, title to your house.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Home Inspection
Buying a home may well be the largest financial investment you will ever make. Naturally you will want to know as much as possible about the property before you finalize the purchase at closing.
It's important to hire a knowledgeable, independent home inspector for advise on the overall condition of the property. The purchase contract usually requires specific time periods for each inspection, and it's critical that these time frames be met. Usually the cost for any and all inspections and re-inspections are paid by the Buyer. Prices can range from $350 to $500 for whole-house inspections.
Some examples of common inspections are:
- Structural - Defects caused by poor construction, soil movement, water or drainage conditions, settlement, fire, etc.
- Environmental Hazards - Including asbestos, lead-based paint, radon gas or any other toxic material.
- Roof - Can include framing members, decking and shingle condition.
- EMP - Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing - Should include electrical and plumbing systems, built-in appliances, heating and cooling systems, swimming pool/spas, sprinkler systems and security systems.
- Termite - Report would show any visible infestation or visible damage caused by a wood destroying organism (termites, water damage, wood rot).
Many companies specialize in only one area of inspection, and others will group several together and offer a package price. Whichever route you go, assure yourself you're getting the inspections you need. Your REALTOR can provide a list of several of each to choose from.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Seth's Blog : Bring me stuff that's dead, please
Bring me stuff that's dead, please
RSS is dead. Blogs are dead. The web is dead.
Good.
Dead means that they are no longer interesting to the drive-by technorati. Dead means that the curiousity factor has been satisfied, that people have gotten the joke.
These people rarely do anything of much value, though.
Great music wasn't created by the first people to grab an electric guitar or a synthesizer. Great snowboarding moves didn't come from the guy who invented the snowboard... No one thinks Gutenberg was a great author, and some of the best books will be written long after books are truly dead.
Only when an innovation is dead can the real work begin. That's when people who are seeking leverage get to work, when we can focus on what we're saying, not how (or where) we're saying it.
The drive-by technorati are well-informed, curious and always probing. They're also hiding... hiding from the real work of creating work that matters, connections with impact and art that lasts. I love to hear about the next big thing, but I'm far more interested in what you're doing with the old big thing.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Getting Ready to Move?
Are you getting ready to relocate? I came across this helpful checklist on the HGTV website and thought it was worth sharing.
Another Movie Being Filmed in Galt
Silent Hill 2 movie to be shot in Galt
Cambridge council has given its approval to a noise bylaw exemption for a film shoot set from March 21 to 26.
Silent Hill 2 DCP Inc., has been given permission to shoot in the Market Square parking lot, Main Street Bridge on March 21, 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. March 23, 24 from 7 to 11 p. m. and March 25 from 7 a.m. to 6 a.m. March 26.
The production company has advised the city that special effects will be used during the filming to simulate fog and ash.
Silent Hill 2 is the sequel to the 2006 horror film of the same name that is based on a popular video game.
The first film was released theatrically in 2006.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Cambridge bucks housing trends
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released February preliminary housing starts data for the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).
Construction began on 133 homes, down from the 142 units started in the same month last year.
Builders poured foundations for 84 single-detached homes in February, down slightly from the 87 units started in February 2010. Townhome starts declined to 11 units, down from 29 units last February, but apartment construction strengthened to 36 units from the 24 units started a year ago.
“Starts were unusually strong in early 2010, as buyers rushed to avoid the HST and higher mortgage rates anticipated later in the year, so some decline this year was expected,” said Erica McLerie, senior market analyst for the Kitchener CMA, in a statement. “Cambridge continues to buck the trend, with higher starts in both January and February.”
For detailed information, visit http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/kitchener308t.pdf.
SOLID HOME SALES ACTIVITY IN FEBRUARY FOR KITCHENER WATERLOO REGION
KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (March 3, 2011) –Sales of residential properties via the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) continued their steady pace in February.
There were a total of 491 residential properties sold last month, a 32.7 percent increased compared to January’s results, and a 6.7 percent decrease compared to February of last year.
"These are above average numbers for February", says KWAR President George Patton. "Keeping in mind that this time last year we had an unusually active February, setting a record for home sales in that month."
Residential home sales last month included 308 detached homes (down 11.3 percent from 2010), 104 condominium units (up 19.5 percent from 2010), 46 semis (down 4.2 percent from 2010), and 31 freehold townhouses (down 26.2 percent from 2010).
While the most popular price range selling in February of last year was in the $300,000 to $350,000 category with 76 sales, there were almost the same number of homes (72 units) selling in the $250,000 to $275,000 price range last month.
"Vigorous activity for condos and homes in the mid price ranges was reflected in the slight decrease in the average overall residential sale price," says Patton.
The average sales price of all residential sales decreased 0.8 percent to $288,404 compared with February 2010. While single detached homes sold for an average price of $331,027, an increase of 1.1 percent compared to last year. In the condominium market the average sale price in February decreased 2.4 percent to $196,213 compared to the same month a year ago.
The KWAR cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing long term trends, but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. Those requiring specific information on property values should contact a REALTOR®.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Reno coach keeps projects in the ballpark
Planning her first major home renovation in the summer of 2009, Tina Davies felt like she was awaiting her first baby: excited, nervous and not sure what to expect.
The project would plunge the Toronto makeup artist’s household into chaos for five months, but once it was done, her family of three would have a new kitchen and bathrooms, updated plumbing and electrical systems and upgrades to the entire interior, from new floors to freshly plastered ceilings.
With $350,000 on the line, however, Ms. Davies wasn’t impressed by the vague quotes and sparse details being offered by the first three contractors she approached, whose contracts were so unprofessional, they looked as though they’d been drawn up “on paper napkins.”
Was this normal? She wasn’t sure. She’d never done this before.
“As a homeowner, you’re just really at the mercy of these contractors and you don’t know their language or what is the proper way to have something done,” Ms. Davies said. “You’re so overwhelmed and confused and you want to make sure you don’t do the wrong thing.”
She figured she needed help from someone knowledgeable and impartial, who understood how the industry worked. Then she heard about reno coaching, a relatively new service where, for $75-$100 an hour, a project manager would come to her house and help her draw up a budget and advise her whether her project was practical and affordable – think Mike Holmes meets Gail Vaz-Oxlade, but with the aim of preventing expensive mistakes.
The reno adviser she hired, Jay Charendoff of House Calls Project Management, “was really good about advising us about what to do before you get into it,” said Ms. Davies, adding that once she found a reputable contractor, he went through the contract line by line and highlighted problem areas.
“It’s just nice to know that there’s somebody on your side,” she said.
Mr. Charendoff, who has a degree in architecture and is a LEED-affiliated professional, launched his business four years ago and is among a handful of professionals offering reno advice in Canada.
It’s a service that is starting to catch on due to a new consumer awareness about the financial risks of renovating, says Carl Mascarenhas, president of eRenovate Inc. With the housing market cooling, he says, it’s no longer a given that property values will rise and homeowners will recoup their costs; they are more cautious now.
As with any new industry, Mr. Mascarenhas says it’s buyer beware when hiring a renovation adviser. As demand for the service increases, opportunists will emerge, he says. “There’s still a bit of caution for consumers to really weigh out the role the professional is playing and that they have the right credentials or experience to do so.”
Home renovations are big business in Canada. According to a survey by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., Canadians spent $25.8-billion on home renovations in 2009, with the average project costing about $12,100. Of those 2.1 million households, 35 per cent said they went over budget.
“People don’t really know how much things are going to cost,” Mr. Charendoff says. “People sometimes have a general idea of what they want to do, but in this business, it’s really about the details.”
In addition to budgeting advice, Mr. Charendoff also looks at housing market conditions and gives homeowners straight talk if he thinks they are not making a good investment.
Such was the case for Karen Weinthall, who asked for advice while planning a major kitchen renovation on her 1920s Toronto home. After inspecting the property, Mr. Charendoff told Ms. Weinthall that her house, which was built on top of a steep hill, was slowly sinking into the ground.
He looked at the kitchen and looked at the floor and said you really are not going to be able to do that without a huge structural job. So I moved,” Ms. Weinthall said with a laugh.
“If we had just gone ahead and hired a contractor to do the kitchen, at what point in that proceeding would we have found out what a big problem it was?”
Mr. Charendoff says a reno adviser acts as a middleman between the homeowner and the contractor, whose main objective is sales. “The hat that I wear is really a different hat – it’s what advice and guidance can I offer to this owner that’s going to be a wise financial decision.”
Lisa Rapoport, a partner at Plant Architect Inc. in Toronto, is skeptical of the reno coaching trend and says any good designer or contractor will offer the same advice, and will be able to help clients find savings to match their budgets. “Just providing that kind of middleman service sounds like an extra cost, and I guess if you’re going to pay the extra cost, I’d rather put it into a good contractor,” she said.
Finding a good contractor requires a bit of homework, says Mr. Mascarenhas. He recommends consumers begin by doing some research on the CHMC and Better Business Bureau websites, and read consumer reviews on sites like HomeStars.com and casaGURU.com.
For Ron Singer, hiring a reno adviser was certainly a wise financial decision. In the midst of constructing a $30,000 art studio for his wife, he began to have some doubts about whether the contractor was putting in adequate insulation. The adviser confirmed his doubts, and he was able to have the contractor fix the problem on the spot.
“As far as I’m concerned, hiring someone for a couple of hundred in order to ultimately save down the road in terms of either repairs or things that go wrong, is certainly worth it,” Mr. Singer said. “We now have without a doubt the best constructed, best insulated studio one can have.”
The pre-reno checklist
1. Know the rules. Building codes and local by-laws may limit what and how you renovate. There’s nothing worse than discovering the project you’ve painstakingly planned is not allowed. Talk to your municipal building department and find out about zoning and permits.
2. Know what’s possible. Your home’s heating, plumbing and electrical systems will also affect how you can renovate. For big projects, it’s wise to check with an architect, home inspector or contractor before you begin.
3. Create a budget. Doing a detailed financial analysis of your project in advance of the physical design allows you to evaluate your situation and study a variety of options well before you get to the construction stage. It’s a low-cost exercise that allows you to clarify your needs versus your wants.
4. Do the math. Get quotes from at least two reputable local renovators, architectural firms or material suppliers. Take the most reasonable quote and add 10 to 15 per cent for unexpected costs.
5. Spend wisely. If you need financing, you may be able to renegotiate your mortgage or apply for a personal loan to cover the cost of the reno. You may even be eligible for assistance, as some utilities and governments offer incentive programs for energy-efficiency upgrades.
Sources: Dianne Nice, CMHC, House Calls Project Management
Monday, March 7, 2011
Clare's March Newsletter
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian resale market to have a soft landing in 2011
Fears of a U.S.-style housing crash in Canada were unfounded and the resale market in this country has landed safely, according to a recent report by TD Economics.
Although Canada’s resale housing market has had a wild ride in the last three years, the report confirms that the worst-case scenario of a bubble and crash has been sidestepped here.
Increases in borrowing rates have been delayed, the key development since TD’s previous forecast. This prompted TD to upgrade its 2011 forecast for home sales and average prices. However, its analysts still predict annual sales to be lower than those of 2010.
The average annual resale price for 2011 is expected to remain essentially unchanged, slipping by less than 1 per cent, the bank forecasts. On the flip side, higher borrowing rates remain a possibility, resulting in TD’s prediction that 2012 sales prospects now look weaker than they appeared in September. “With limited pent-up demand, higher sales activity in the near-term will likely take away from sales thereafter. In this context, the annual average price is likely to drop a bit further, by 1 to 2 per cent.” Although rising interest rates are predicted to be the main driver, they are expected to occur against the backdrop of an improving economy, the report states. Along with contained increases in supply, continued modest gains in income and employment should limit the extent of home depreciation.
Better rates, better sales – As of October, TD reports that sales were up a cumulative 13 per cent from July, with a modest increase in average price. “With mortgage rates dropping lower than initially expected, sales found their footing ahead of our September forecast – which had predicted a trough in the second quarter of 2011.” With negotiated rates closer to a historical low of 3.5 per cent, home affordability in the third quarter saw its first improvement since early 2010 and demand improved.
Interest rates key driver - The ups and downs of the housing market in the past three years confirm the sensitivity of demand to mortgage rates. Although income and employment are also considered, they do not carry the same weight as lending rates. TD’s economists are watching interest rates closely and expect the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate to stay at 1 per cent until the second half of 2011 before reaching 2 per cent by year-end and 3 per cent by the end of 2012. Although higher rates will erode affordability, other factors such as continued income growth are predicted to soften the blow. “Over the next two years, our home affordability measure is expected to range between 30 and 32 per cent of average household income. In historical terms, this is manageable erosion in affordability compared to 40 per cent and higher observed in the late 1980s.”
Stability forecast - First-time homebuyers drove the 2009 housing market rebound, the report states, warning that although home sales may stay elevated for another couple of quarters, they should begin to moderate thereafter. This is because first-time buyers with no built-up equity or capital gains are more sensitive to changes in affordability due to interest rate changes. “For potential future first-time buyers, a slight change in borrowing rates can mean the crucial difference between an entry-level purchase and being priced out altogether.”
As sales flatten and begin to slow in 2011, TD expects prices to hit a ceiling over the next few quarters. A softer market balance will likely result in a modest price drop of 3 to 5 per cent in late 2011 and early 2012 before prices stabilize later in the year. A modest market adjustment driven by higher borrowing rates may occur, but an improving economy will cushion it, the report concludes. “The resale market of 2010 was not what bubbles are made of and the next two years will not be what crashes are made of.” To view the full report, visit www.tdeconomics.com.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
JUMPING THE LINE VS. OPENING THE DOOR
Every morning, the line of cars waiting to get onto the Hutchinson River Parkway exceeds 40. Of course, you don't have to patiently wait, you can drive down the center lane, passing all the civilized suckers and then, at the last moment, cut over.
Drivers hate this, and for good reason. The road is narrow, and your aggressive act didn't help anyone but you. You slowed down the cars in the lane behind you, and your selfish behavior merely made 40 other people wait.
This is a different act than the contribution someone makes when she sees that everyone is patiently waiting to enter a building through a single door. She walks past everyone and opens a second door. Now, with two doors open, things start moving again and she's certainly earned her place at the front of that second entrance.
Too often, we're persuaded that initiative and innovation and bypassing the status quo is some sort of line jumping, a selfish gaming of the zero sum game. Most of the time it's not. In fact, what you do when you solve an interesting problem is that you open a new door. Not only is that okay, I think it's actually a moral act.
Don't wait your turn if waiting your turn is leaving doors unopened.
via Seth Godin
TOP CREDIT RATING FOR THE REGION
Moody’s Investors Service has rated the Region of Waterloo with the highest credit rating possible.
The report states that, “the region’s AAA rating reflects sound financial management, a low debt burden and a strong liquidity position”.
Moody places the Region of Waterloo amongst other highly rated municipalities in Ontario.
Moody’s Investors Service has been providing Canada’s investors and issuers with the highest quality rating service since 1901.
via The Cambridge Times
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Wonder and anger
It's hard to imagine two emotions more different from one another.
And yet one can easily replace the other. A sense of wonder and grinding anger can't co-exist.
Great innovations, powerful interactions and real art are often produced by someone in a state of wonder. Looking around with stars in your eyes and amazement at the tools that are available to you can inspire generosity and creativity and connection.
Anger, on the other hand, merely makes us smaller.
Seth Godin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)