Hilda's Blog and Real Estate News and Tips

Burlington Ontario 

I lived in several Ontario cities before finally settling in Burlington more than a decade ago now.

Since living in Burlington it seems I am always learning of some very successful people who I had no idea had a connection to this great city.

Listed are several people who at one time lived in Burlington:

Robert Bateman – Artist
Robert Bateman is a celebrated artist and environmentalist whose artistic technique encapsulates the natural world and wildlife. He lived in Burlington and taught at Nelson and Lord Elgin High Schools from 1958-1963, 1965-1969 and 1970-76. There is now a Burlington high school named in his honour.

Jim Carrey – Actor
James Eugene Carrey was born in 1962 in Aurora and lived in Burlington for eight years. He attended Aldershot High School. Carey would often perform comedy sketches for classmates in middle school which fortified his outrageous stage talent. He relocated to Scarborough in his teens, where he later dropped out of high school to pursue a career in comedy. Smart decision!

Finger Eleven – Alternative Rock Band
The members of Finger 11 first came together at Lester B. Pearson High School where they originated as a funk band called the Rainbow Butt Monkeys. Original members Scott and Sean Andersen, Rob Gommerman, James Black and Rick Jackett won a contest on a local radio station and used the prize money to produce their first album Letters from Chutney (1995). When the original drummer left the band, the Rainbow Butt Monkeys became Finger 11 and hired current drummer Rich Beddoe.

Chip & Pepper Foster – Entertainment/Fashion
Identical twins Chip & Pepper Foster grew up in Burlington and went to high school at M.M. Robinson. They are co-owners of the self-titled Chip & Pepper apparel company and former hosts of their own NBC series, Chip and Pepper’s Cartoon Madness. In 1994, the Fosters opened a store by the name of Golf Punk. As it grew, the Fosters decided to resurrect their signature brand, which took place in fall of 2003 in Los Angeles. The duo gained notoriety as stylists on the Style Network show The Look For Less and numerous appearances on E!, including Glamour’s 50 Biggest Fashion Dos & Don’ts. More recently, the Fosters introduced a line called C7P aimed particularly at the teen market.

Ryan Gosling – Actor
Ryan Gosling was born in London and lived in Cornwall before he moved to Burlington where he attended Lester B. Pearson High School. He starred in the Mickey Mouse Club and hit T.V. show Breaker High. He has since been nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the 2006 drama Half Nelson as well as a Golden Globe award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in 2008’s Lars and the Real Girl.

Sarah Harmer – Musician
Sarah Harmer grew up on a small farm in northern Burlington. She has become an accomplished singer, songwriter and activist, co-founding the organization PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land). Harmer earned a degree in Philosophy and Women’s Studies from Queen’s University and has received numerous Juno award nominations, including Songwriter of the Year. To date, she has released five albums, her latest being Oh Little Fire in 2010.

Walk Off The Earth – Alternative Rock Band
Walk Off The Earth is an unconventional, multi-talented five-piece band based in Burlington. Their brilliant 5-people-playing-one-guitar interpretation of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know exploded on Youtube garnering well over 35 million views in under two weeks. The massive fan response quickly drew attention to their collection of innovative songs and videos spanning their last five years and generated an unprecedented flood of media interest. They were nominated for two Junos in 2013 for break through group and video of the year.

Burlington is a great place to live for many reasons … just ask any of these famous people. I bet they’d agree.

Contact Hilda Campbell Now 

When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Burlington or Oakville area, or for general real estate advice, please contact me and I can help!

Source: tourismburlington.com

I have had a wee bit of a stressful week and felt like putting out a light-hearted blog today. I hope you enjoy these fun facts.

Real Estate Facts

1. The median age of the average Realtor is 57.
2. The average age of a first-time buyer in Canada is 29. The average repeat buyer is 52.
3. The average cost of a home in Canada is just over $389,000.
4. The average cost of a home in the GTA is just over $523,000.
5. The two amenities that most convince couples to buy their first home are the master bathroom and the walk-in closet.
6. At the opposite end of the spectrum, having a swimming pool ranks as the least important amenity when deciding on a first home.
7. Only 48% of first time buyers are married couples.
8. 74% of unmarried renters living alone are at least somewhat willing to live with their significant other to save money.
9. Only one third of all home buyers are buying for the first time.
10. Unsurprisingly, the internet is now the main source for people to search for homes (92%) and real estate agents (88%).
11. On the flip side, only 17% of people now use home/real estate magazines to find the same information.
12. Buyers search a median of 12 weeks and visit 10 homes.
13. 57% said they would give up a home with a larger yard if it meant they could have a shorter commute.
14. TGIF! The best day of the week to list your house is Friday.

 Contact Me Today! 

When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Burlington or Oakville area, or for general real estate advice, please contact me and I can help!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Source: http://www.realestate411.ca/15-fun-real-estate-facts-figures 

When a couple decides to separate or divorce one of the things they will probably have to deal with is what to do with the house. Should they sell? Can one spouse buy the other out? Will the spouse who moves out allow the remaining spouse to stay and delay selling until the children are finished school? Having gone through this myself, I know first-hand that this is not an easy decision.

Making The Decision To Sell  

If the decision is to sell, try to work through the process together. Interview prospective agents together.  Hire someone you are both comfortable with.  You want to work with someone who will be impartial while trying to do what is best for both of you – selling your house quickly at the highest price possible.  Pricing a property well or “correctly” is always very important, but even more so when the sale is because of a marriage breakdown.  Whether the split is amicable or not, you will probably be eager for closure and ready to move on to start your new life.  Waiting for weeks or even months for your home to sell could be unbearable. Hire an agent who knows your neighbourhood well and who will price your home to sell in a reasonable amount of time.

If the split is acrimonious and being in a room together is out of the question, try to hire one real estate brokerage to sell your home.  It is possible to hire two, but that usually screams that the house is being sold because of a marital split and that it’s acrimonious.  You don’t want to give prospective buyers the impression that you’re desperate to sell as it will probably be reflected in the offer price.

Listing Your House 

Once the house is listed for sale, if one spouse has already moved out, try to make it appear as though you are both still living there.  Take only the clothes and shoes you need for that season, for example, so that the closets have both sets of clothes in them.  If you have family portraits on the walls keep them there (and don’t deface them in any way :-). Again, you don’t want to make it obvious why you’re selling. 

Your House Sold 

Finally, don’t assume that once your house is sold and the deal closes you will receive the money right away. This is not information your real estate agent will be privy to.  Ask your lawyers about this so there aren’t any surprises.  Find out whether you will get the money the day of closing or not. There is the possibility that it could be several weeks or even months before you see any of that money.

Selling a house because you have to can be very emotional and stressful, but take heart. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side!

Contact Me Now

When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Burlington or Oakville area, or for general real estate advice, please contact me.  I can help!

Did you know that most, if not all, neighbourhoods experience four distinct phases of a life cycle? Some may even go through the cycle more than once, depending on the age of the neighbourhood. Each phase will have an impact on property values as well as demographics. Do you know which of the following four phases your neighbourhood is in?

GROWTH PHASE

This is the phase in which a neighbourhood is first being developed. It is becoming popular and building construction is replacing much of the vacant land. New construction includes not only residential housing, but the development of amenities such as schools, plazas, parks, etc.

STABILITY PHASE

In this phase the neighbourhood has been completed and has reached the height of its popularity. Property values are at their highest in comparison to other similar neighbourhoods and a full range of amenities are in place.

DECLINING PHASE

In this phase a fully developed neighbourhood is losing its appeal and popularity. Properties tend to look less well maintained. Retailers and commercial businesses are either closing or moving away, leaving higher than usual vacancies. Property values tend to decline as compared to other similar neighbourhoods. This phase may be caused by the growth of other neighbourhoods or high unemployment rates.

RENEWAL PHASE

This is the phase in which a neighbourhood is bouncing back from a period of neglect or decline and which is becoming popular and in demand again. New construction, home renovations and the reappearance of retailers and commercial businesses are evident.

Knowing the phase a neighbourhood is in can make a big difference, especially when purchasing an investment property. For example, if the neighbourhood is in decline, the vacancy rate will probably be high which can translate into lower monthly rental income. If you have school-aged children and you live in an area of decline, your children’s school may close due to declining enrolment.

Contact Me Today to Learn More 

I can provide you with advice on when to buy or sell depending on your specific situation and circumstances and can explain the affect each phase could have on your finances and lifestyle.

When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Burlington or Oakville area, or for general real estate advice, please contact me.  I can help!

Now that the nice weather is here, I’m noticing all the damage done to trees and shrubs in the wake of this past winter’s ice storm. I have boxwood hedges lining the walkway at the front of my house that were pretty much destroyed. They are an eyesore and are definitely not adding to the curb appeal of my home. Curb appeal is very important to a home and can either add or detract from its value, but how much effect does it have?

There are a wide range of opinions out there as to how much value landscaping adds. Studies show anywhere from 5% to 50%. Even at the low end of a 5% increase in value, that amounts to $25,000 on a $500,000 home. Not bad.

Some tips to consider before undertaking any major landscaping project:

• Hire a professional. You can almost always tell the difference between a professionally designed landscape vs. a DIY project. Yes, it can be expensive, but it’s worth the investment.
• If you are going to do your own landscaping take into consideration how your gardens will look once they start to mature. That little tree that you plant a few feet away from the house might become a problem when it’s grown to 20 or 30 feet.
• Don’t forget to include hardscaping in your landscaping plan. A nice stone walkway or driveway can make a big difference to the curb appeal of your home.
• Pay attention to your front door. Make sure it is nicely painted and avoid using outrageous shades of paint colour. If the door contains a lot of glass, keep the glass clean.
• Adding lighting can have a very dramatic affect, but don’t overdo it. Sometimes less is more. Too many lights can take away from the landscape itself.
• Be sure to include colour. Vary the shades of green when planting trees and shrubs. Include flowers for a burst of colour, using both perennials and annuals.
• Try to keep your gardens low maintenance. Most people don’t want to spend hours maintaining their gardens.

Landscaping Projects 

If you do decide to undertake your own landscaping project, but aren’t sure what to do, many landscape companies will do the design work for you. You simply pay for the plans and then do the work yourself. The cost will probably be several hundred dollars for the plans, but that’s a lot less than if you were to hire the landscaper to do the work for you.

Hopefully these tips will inspire you to make the most of the curb appeal that your home has to offer.

Contact Hilda Campbell Now

When you’re ready to buy or sell in the Burlington or Oakville area, or for general real estate advice, please contact me and I can help!