TrentonRealEstate

Still Riding the Trenton Real Estate Roller Coaster!

2009-12-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

The Trenton Real Estate roller coaster ride continues! One minute things are looking up with the announcement of CFB Trenton’s upcoming multi-million dollar infrastructure expenditures and then we learn of yet another series of layoffs at Invar, a manufacturing company just north of Trenton.

In June 2010, 134 Invar employees will lose their jobs. When combined with the job losses at General Mills in 2007 and Pepsico in 2008, a total of 850 positions will have gone by the wayside over the past three years … a considerable number for a town of our size.

While the expansion at the Base is excellent news, we have to keep in mind that it isn’t bringing any permanent jobs to the area right away. However, the influx of 500 – 600 military families in 2011 should provide a greater demand for homes and should help re-energize the local economy!

FREE Saturday Matinee at the Empire

2009-11-13T17:06:00.000-08:00

Your Customer Appreciation Day has been announced! Team David Weir is inviting you to join us for a complimentary family movie at the Empire Theatre on Saturday, 23 January 2010. We have purchased tickets for the 2:00 PM showing so be sure to mark your calendars early! The movie, popcorn and a drink are all on David! Stay tuned for the name of our Feature Presentation and for details on how to move to the front of the line for tickets. Until then, don't forget ... we're never too busy to help your friends and family with their real estate needs as well! Visit the 'Giveaway' page at http://www.davidweir.com/ for other 'freebies'. Cheers everyone!

Home Energy Audits

2009-11-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

When you mention an 'audit' to Canadian taxpayers, there's a good chance the associated thought will be a negative one. However, the federal and provincial governments are now trying to put a positive spin on another type of audit; that is, a Home Energy Audit.

A Home Energy Audit shows how your home uses energy and where it is being wasted. It identifies improvements you can make to your home’s heating, cooling, and hot water heating systems. It also pinpoints other inefficiencies that COULD result in hundreds of lost dollars each year.

Given that everyone wants to save money and that protection of the planet is at an all-time high, why would you not want to reduce your energy bills and help the environment at the same time?

A typical audit comprises of 3 things: 1. an assessment of your home’s insulation, heating and cooling systems, as well as other energy uses. 2. a depressurization test to identify leaks and drafts in your home. 3. an Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report.

The cost of the audit runs about $300 -500 and Ontarians can get up to $150 of the energy audit cost back from the provincial government. The actual testing of your home takes 2 to 3 hours.

Energy-saving upgrades identified by your Home Energy Audit may qualify you for rebates under the Home Energy Retrofit Program. You could receive up to a maximum of $10,000 from the Governments of Ontario and Canada when you complete improvements identified by your audit. In addition to receiving monies back for energy savings upgrades, some of your improvements may also qualify for additional savings through the Home Renovation Tax Credit.
Is there something wrong with this Home Energy Audit picture? When the Ontario government floated this idea, they wanted to make the audits mandatory through legislation labeled the 'Green Energy Act'. Of course, making it mandatory would require that everyone go through the process at some point … and pay accordingly.

As it stands today, the government has decided the onus will fall on home sellers to initiate a home energy audit when they put their home on the market for sale. In other words, if this legislation is passed and you want to sell your home, you would need to have this audit completed – unless the buyers waive their right to have an audit done. Once again, the government mandates and the taxpayer pays!

You, like I, want to help the environment and, of course, we all want to reduce our energy bills so maybe we are okay with the mandatory energy test. However, I think that during the home sale process this audit, or lack thereof, could be yet another important variable in the marketability of your home, especially in a competitive market. Furthermore, the Home Energy Audit could become a bargaining chip during negotiations, or perhaps even a hindrance if you don’t have the report completed prior to listing.

I will discuss more of these issues in the next installment of my column. In the meantime, feel free to get internet links to the three government websites that outline home energy and renovation tax credits. Go to www.davidweir.com.

Shopping for Insurance?

2009-10-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

If you're soon to be in the market for home or auto insurance and want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck, check out this option. It allows you to compare different types of insurance with various companies based on your postal code. How efficient is that? No going through a long automated telephone procedure, no long conversations, and all from the comfort of your own home. The company is Kanetix. Let me know what you think once you've given it a try!

Talking & Driving?

2009-10-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Confused about the new rules regarding multi-tasking behind the wheel? I know I was and so were a few other people I know. One person told me the new rules had come into effect June 1st, so clearly I was out of the loop as I continued to carry on business as I transited between appointments. Turns out the distracted-driving law comes into effect on 26 October 2009 but won't be enforced until 1 February 2010. For the full story, check out http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/703627. Oh, by the way, that's not me in the pic but I'd be happy to give you a call if you need to chat about buying or selling a home in the Quinte Area. Cheers!

YOUR TRENTON REAL ESTATE UPDATE

2009-09-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are edging towards autumn on the heels of a very 'interesting' summer in the Real Estate industry. You can tell from the 'bi-polar pontificating' of real estate, business, and political gurus that no one truly knows what's going to happen in the market next. Will home prices go up, will the next government change industry programs, will mortgage rates remain the same? ... and so on.

From the information provided by the Quinte & District Real Estate Board, you can see what's been happening locally. All is certainly not great news, but these are the facts nonetheless. My personal beliefs are that any positives in our little 'Quinte bubble' may be offset by a myriad of factors in 2010 such as an increase in mortgage rates and/or by the 'dreaded HST'. In other words, positives like the future expansion of the military base could be be negatively impacted by larger factors outside our market place.

The silver lining in all of this is that Buyers are happier with the more realistic prices, great mortgage rates, and potential upside to market prices. Consequently, our market has not seen the drastic slide in prices as has happened elsewhere.

Go Team Go!

2009-02-15T14:01:00.000-08:00

One of the most recent innovations in the Real Estate industry is the concept of 'Teams'. Teams have been in place within other professions for years to the point that there is an 'expectation' of team. For instance, when you go for your annual dental appointment you don't expect the Dentist to clean your teeth. You know he or she has likely hired someone to help with this part of the treatment.

The same concept exists within the Real Estate industry. Teams allow each member to focus on their area of expertise. For example, one REALTOR® may act as a ‘Buyer’s Agent’ and another may be a ‘Home Listing Specialist’. Another may be a Mortgage Specialist and, if you prefer to do business in French to fully understand the buying or selling experience, the Team may include a bilingual REALTOR® to assist you. And finally, another team member may be an Administrator or Client Care Coordinator. The point is, each team member has a specific role in which they are most skilled or that they enjoy the most, both of which allows them to best serve the needs of their clients.

Does this cost you more? Not usually. In fact, by pooling resources Teams can often offer you more services, at no additional charge, than a single REALTOR® can. This includes things such as greater local and national advertising for your property and 24/7 availability even when one REALTOR® is sick or on vacation.

Furthermore, REALTORS® initially go through their own pool of buyers to find a purchaser for your home and a Team will usually have a larger list of potential purchasers. Also, a Team can market your listing to their entire database of potential buyers. In other words, your home will receive more market exposure in a shorter amount of time. The more buyers who know your home is for sale the greater the likelihood your home will sell quicker and for more money

Why would you not hire a Team? Call me at 1.800.263.2177 for more information about Team David Weir and how we can help you with your real estate needs.

We 'BOLT' for our Clients

2009-01-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again when we, at Team David Weir, host a complimentary movie for our Client Appreciation Day. The movie this year is the Golden Globe nominated Disney movie 'BOLT' with the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus. See the following link for a trailer http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/bolt/

The movie is being shown in Belleville on Saturday January 17th at 10:00 AM. For more information on the theatre and its location, etc go to www.theempiretheatre.com. As always, there is a limited amount of tickets and they will be given away on a first come first serve basis. Please contact David or Janet at 613.394.4837 or via janet@davidweir.com if you would like some tickets.

Chelsea Weir of Team David Weir (right) presents Eve Lawrence and Susan Stoddard of the MFRC with 25 complimentary tickets for any military family with a spouse serving in theatre. The tickets can be picked up at the MFRC.