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"The Onsen Team"
Royal LePage Wolle Realty
842 Victoria St North
Kitchener ON N2B 3C1
(519)578-7300
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The Onsen Team's Blog

The Onsen Team

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Displaying blog entries 1-9 of 9

Rapid Transit Rail system coming to Kitchener/Waterloo

Thursday, May 28, 2009
by The Onsen Team
There has been a lot of talk in the last 18 months of the upcoming and proposed plans for a Rapid Transit Rail System that will run through Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.

It seems that we are getting closer to those plans becoming a reality! Here is an short article from our Kitchener/Waterloo Real Estate board monthly newsletter, and a link for more information.



Rapid Transit

Waterloo Region is one of the fastest growing communities in the Country and Rapid transit has been identified as key to meeting the region's future growth and transportation requirements.
On June 24th Waterloo Regional Council will review public input and consider the recommendation to implement a rapid transit system.
Rapid transit will have a huge impact on our community, and members are encouraged to learn more about the preferred rapid transit system for Waterloo Region by visiting the public consultation portal http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/ "

Flav Onsen
Royal LePage Wolle Realty
519-578-7300

2009 Ontario Study shows Kitchener/Waterloo as #1 place to buy Real Estate!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
by The Onsen Team

For those people who are interested in buying (and investing) in Real Estate, I found this short article regarding the 10 Top Ontario cities to do so! Not surprising, Kitchener/Waterloo is #1 on the list.

Toronto, ON The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN™), Canada's leading real estate education and research organization, is pleased to release its report on the top ten investment towns in Ontario. The 105-page report, entitled Top Ontario Investment Towns 2008/2009 is the result of oroginal research compiled for REIN™'s national and international membership of real estate investors over the past 15 years. REIN™'s analysis concludes that fundamental changes in Ontario's industrial base over the last few years will deliver an above-average impact on real estate valuations in these towns heading into 2008 and 2009.

Top Ontario Investment Towns analyzes current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities in the province, and identifies the best towns and regions for long-term investing. REIN™'s findings are based on in-depth fundamental research, analysis of the latest statistics, economic and social trends, and on-the-ground reports from REIN™'s technical staff and investing membership.

Kitchener / Waterloo / Cambridge - Canada's Technology Triangle - is #1 on the list

The top ten list is as follows:

1.   KWC - Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge - The Technology Triangle
2a. Simcoe Shores - Barrie
2b. Simcoe Shores - Orillia
3.  Durham Region - Whitby, Pickering and Ajax
4.  Markham
5a.Hamilton
5b.Brantford
6.  Brampton
7.  Ottawa
8.  Toronto
9.  Oshawa
10.Whitchurch-Stouffville

 As always, if you have questions regarding Real Estate, for investment or as a home to live in, send me an email. I'll be happy to chat to you about our market here in Kitchener/Waterloo.

Flav Onsen
Sales Representative
Royal LePage Wolle Realty

What is going on in our Real Estate Market?!!

Thursday, December 04, 2008
by The Onsen Team
This seems to be one of the hottest topics on most people’s minds these days, so let me take a minute or two and fill you in on the situation in our Kitchener/Waterloo (and South-Western Ontario) market. I can only give you my opinion of course, but it’s going to be an informative one based on facts and based on discussions I’ve had with other professionals in the last few months.
 
First and foremost, if you hear or read “Sales are down” or “the Sales in (fill in your city here) are down 35% over last year”, it does NOT mean that the value (or prices) of your home has decreased. Not 35% or at all, depending on your particular location. All it means is that the number of sales (how many homes have sold) in one month (October for example) compared to the number of sales of the same month last year. There is so much propaganda out there to scare the public it’s unreal. Disaster headlines are what sell, be it on Television or in the Newspaper, and those “analysts” who make the biggest deal about what is happening (or what WILL happen) are the ones who make the headlines! Lastly, please don’t confuse the US Market with the Canadian Real Estate market. 80% of the things that are going on in the US don’t apply to Canadians, mainly because of the Mortgage rules and regulations, which has resulted in their downwards spiral of the economy and housing market and prices.
 
In the November edition of the Kitchener/Waterloo Real Estate Board monthly statistics letter (which every Realtor receives) there were some very interesting points.

”The number of residential sales for the cities of Kitchener-Waterloo dipped to pre 2005 values for the month of October, a decrease of 14% in sales (the amount of homes sold) over October 2007.
“This activity is not surprising”. Reports Karen Shartun, President of the Kitchener-Waterloo real Estate Board, “the last three years have simply been exceptional, and the market activity is slowly but surely working towards balanced numbers. While sales are down, the volume of new listings is up along with the average sale price, all of which contribute to a healthy market”.
The average sale price for all residential properties (in October, 2008) was $261,900 with single detached homes averaging $311,000.
“Our market is healthy”, says Shartun “and weather the dip in sales is a reflection of pre-election jitters or stock market instability from south of the border, or an indicator of a return to a more balanced market, will be determined over the coming months”.
 
Personally I think the Canadian public is just a little scared at the moment. There is uncertainty about the economy and certainly some uncertainty about the immediate future.
 
Lastly, I want to fill you our local Mortgage Interest Rates. The prime rate is 4.75% (0.75% higher then what it was 6 months ago) and a typical fixed 5 year rate is around 5.5% (0.5% higher then what it was 6 months ago). For anyone who has been on top of Mortgage Rates, this is not in any way alarming. The 5 year fixed rate was as high as 6.0% a year ago (2007) and it has remained steady for the past few years, and is not expected to change much in the next 12 months.
 
As always, feel free to call or email Teresa or myself if you have any questions or comments about your home or particular situation.
Flav Onsen
Sales Representative
Royal LePage Wolle Realty

Ever lose your cell phone?!?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
by The Onsen Team
Yes, I lost my cell phone.
 
You don’t think much of it until it happens to YOU. Most of us in this North American (and Global) society are wired in. I read a statistic that 85% of the adult population currently has a cell phone in North America! So what happens when you lose that phone; that connection…
 
Well it happened to me last night. I actually didn’t “lose” my phone, but mistakenly left it in my client’s car. I was signing an offer with them (in the back seat of their Vibe, outside the seller’s house at 10pm) when I took out my phone and left it on their back seat…. I realized it on my way home, and was immediately panic stricken. My phone (a Bell Blackberry unit) is literarily my life. As a Realtor, I have ALL my client’s information in it, my day-to-day itinerary and appointments, upcoming closings and more… and on a more personal note, I have family members/friends’ birthdays (and what I thought about getting them), what sort of trees we want to buy for our front-landscaping project, and what Hotel we’re staying at this summer in Paris.
 
So it’s 11pm, and I’m driving around to find a pay-phone to CALL my clients to see if my phone truly is in their back seat… too funny. I did finally get a hold of them, and got my life-line, I mean phone, back the next day, but for those 12 hours my whole routine and comfort level without my phone was very VERY strange. If this has happened to you, you might have an idea what I’m talking about.

Flav Onsen
"The Onsen Team"
Sales Rep. 

Kitchen Countertops - change them and enjoy them!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
by The Onsen Team

So I'm thinking of replacing my kitchen countertops... Let me give you some quick background info on my situation, and the resulting ideas and thoughts I want to share today. 

I live in a 3 yr old 2 storey, single detached home, that I bought from a builder. I spent some money on upgrades at that point throughout the home, but the kitchen was left fairly average and untouched. There are oak cabinets with some modern handles, and the standard acrylic countertops. The change I did make was to add a raised breakfast bar, which I quite like and enjoy eating at daily. The colour, however, of the countertop is one I am not very fond of. Which brings me to today's topic... I want to change my kichen countertops. New countertops will undoubtedly add value to the home - granted I get some higher end ones. Some of the homes in this price range will have the granite, or quartz, which certainly gives the home a "WOW" feel, especially since my kitchen is quite large and open.

I've gotten a few quotes, and debaiting on the best type of material to use, for my budget, but before I get off topic, and before I bore you to death let me get to the point. I was going to wait a few years, to make this change; probably just before I decide to sell the house, because it would be a great feature and investment to have, when selling the home.... but the more I thought about it, the more I realized, why would I not do it NOW, enjoy the nicer countertops, and still have them (the countertops) as a great feature down the road when I want to sell it. Now THAT'S a great investment!!!

Many times, home owners DON'T do upgrades throughout the home, because they are "happy" with what they have but would gladly change, repair, or replace things when it comes time to sell. This could (and does) include, a deck/patio, bathrooms (tub, sink, etc), outdated light fixtures, painting, rec.room (re-carpeting, etc), or replacing old carpet with laminate or hardwood.... the list goes on.

If you have questions about how much $ to spend on a certain item, because you're wondering the sort of return you'll get when/if you sell the house, feel free to call us. We know what buyers are looking for (and are specific to type/size of house, and the average price of homes of your type) and also what they expect, so we can tell you to spend that $15,000 on a new kitchen, or NOT to spend the $10,000 on new hardwood flooring, in a condo townhouse. 

Flav Onsen
"The Onsen Team"
Sales Rep. 

The truth about OPEN HOUSES!

Tuesday, April 01, 2008
by The Onsen Team
Public Open houses DO work!!!
Some agents shy away from having weekend Open Houses for the public, because they feel those who come through the open house are rarely ever going to buy that home.
 
“They are just lookers, and not buyers”, or “Most are tire kickers, and don’t even know if they can afford the house, let alone be ready to buy it”, are some of the comments (or excuses) some agents might make. My personal opinion is, with THAT kind of attitude as an agent, you are certainly doomed and will never “sell that house” at an Open House.
 
It’s all in the approach you take. Having plenty colourful feature sheets with details of the home is crucial (make sure they have plenty of inside pictures of the home, so the customer can remember the home long after they’ve left). Having a map of the area (or city), info on schools nearby, information from banks (or mortgage brokers) regarding monthly mortgage payments (with different down-payment options), and plenty of branding info about yourself (as the agent).
 
We typically sell 1 in every 10 homes that we list, through an Open House. So next time your agent tells you; “Open Houses don’t work, no reason to waste your time Mr. Seller”, tell him (or her) that you insist on them!
Flav Onsen

Multiple Offers? It’s nice to meet you!

Friday, March 14, 2008
by The Onsen Team
Most agents have, at one point or another, had to deal with multiple offers. Either you’re on the receiving end (acting for the Seller) in which case you’re usually ecstatic, or you’re the one bringing the offer (acting for the Buyer) in which case you’re usually nervous and anxious waiting to see if your offer is the better one on the night!
 
I listed a cute backsplit semi-detached the other day and 3 days later, bingo, we have 2 offers coming in! Both offers were good (full price offers) and in the end there was very little to pick between the two. So, I was left with no choice but to meet with both of the Buyer’s agents and “send them both back” to their clients and see if they wanted to “improve” their current offers in any way. The closing dates were nearly identical, the price on each offer was nearly identical, as were the conditions for both sets of buyers.
 
In the end one of the offers was accepted (at a higher price then originally), but it wasn’t “all about the money”....
 
“It just feels right (to have these buyers have the house)”, was a comment my Sellers made once we had accepted the offer. Earlier that day, when those Buyers had come to see the house, the Sellers were just stepping out and exchanged a quick hello. The good feeling was cemented, when the Buyer’s agent told us a little more about her clients.
 
So, next time you’re presenting an offer, don’t be afraid to “talk up” your clients. It might just make the difference!
Posted By
Flav Onsen

Mortgage Rates? Fixed vs Variable

Thursday, March 13, 2008
by The Onsen Team

This is a question I've been hearing more and more from clients in the last while. So I went to the source (respected and trusted Mortgage expert), to find out what they would recommend.

"The most asked question in today's mortgage market. Should I go fixed or variable? If you are unsure and need the security that a fixed mortgage will bring then I say, do both. Split your mortgage, so that 50% is fixed to give you the security you need and 50% is variable which, at the time of writing, is a much lower interest rate. We understand that it is preferable to diversify your investments, so by splitting your mortgage, you are also diversifying your debts.

Here is an example:

  • Mortgage Limit of $200,000.
  • A 5 year fixed mortgage of $100,000 at a rate of 5.69%= monthly payment of $522/month.  
  • A 5 year variable mortgage $100,000 at a rate of 4.50%= monthly payment of $447/month
  • This gives you an average interest rate of 5.10%.

This type of mortgage is a Scotia Total Equity Plan mortgage (STEP) and has many other attractive features.

Hildegard O'Connell,
AMP Mortgage Development Manager
Phone: 519-574-2290
Fax: 519-749-0574
E-mail: hildegard.oconnell@scotiabank.com
Web: mdm.scotiabank.com/hoconnell
My commitment is to provide the best mortgage solution for you. The highest compliment my Clients make is the referral of their Family, Friends, and Business Associates. Thank you for your trust.

 

The challenge of Home Staging (and Selling) a home with pets.

Thursday, February 21, 2008
by The Onsen Team
Preparing and Staging your home for sale, when pets are around can be very challenging. If you have a fish, in a bowl maybe not so much but a dog (especially a large one) a cat, or a few of each, and you will soon see my point. We will talk briefly about 1) dogs, 2) cats, and 3) all other pets afterwards.
 
We've just listed a house that was in good condition overall, but the owners have 2 large dogs. The challenge here was not too much the hair shedding (because the owners did a great job at keeping that under control) but the pet "smell" that is inevitable when pets are around.
 
Let’s start with Dogs; man’s best friend. “Love me, love my pets,” doesn't apply when selling your home. Take your dog with you when your house is being shown, or at least keep them outside (or as in our case, put them in the garage). If you have a large dog, you might even consider having him stay with family, relatives, friends, or even at the vet while the house is on the market. Trust me, the $300 you might have to spend will be well worth it, when considering you’ll have a spotless house. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to come home every time there is a showing to let the dog out (especially if it’s during the day when you’re working), will quickly stress you out! Lastly, make sure all dog droppings are removed from the yard.
 
Cats are slightly easier. Make sure the floors are swept and their litter kept clean! Pet odors are a huge turn off to potential buyers. Ensure that their dishes, sleeping areas, and litter boxes are clean. Any noticeable cat hair should be vacuumed.
 
And Lastly, I will refer to all other house-hold pets in one large category. Birds, lizards, snakes, hamsters, frogs, monkeys, and – fill in the blank—should all be treated the same. With the exception of hamsters, (and fish) all other pets should ideally be moved from the house before listing, until the sold sign goes up. The last thing you’d want is a potential buyer walking through your home and hearing your rainbow-coloured parrot repeating “Will sell for less, will sell for less…”
 
 
 
 
Posted By,
Flav Onsen
 
 
"The Onsen Team"
Royal LePage Wolle Realty
842 Victoria St North
Kitchener ON N2B 3C1
© 2003 – 2009 Real Pro Systems, LLC
Last modified 7/3/2009