Jan. 1, 2011 Issue 17

www.GolfiTeam.com

Rob GolfiSales

Representative

Sharon StaffordSales

Representative

Heather ReidSales

Representative

Hans MarcelissenSales

Representative

Wendy Murray-Nicholson*Sales

Representative

Ashley SidlerSales

Representative

Dena ZlatarOffice

Manager

Rosemary FournierListing

Co-ordinator

Rob GolfiSales Representative

P R E S E N T E D B Y T H E G O L F I T E A M

January 2011 - Vol 23a

MarketWatch January A_MarketWatch_Transfer.qxd 03/01/11 12:48 PM Page 1

Page 2 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch January 2011

www.GolfiTeam.com

Since the inception ofhis career in 1997,Rob Golfi has

recognized that understandinghis clients’ needs is essential toproviding excellent service.

As business grew, Robassembled the Golfi Team in aneffort to maintain the samelevel of professionalism clientshave come to expect. Shortlythereafter in 2003, the teamreceived the prestigious honourof being among the top 100Real Estate Teams forRE/MAX Canada, and thisstatus continues to date.

Rob’s experience andaggressive negotiating skillshave earned him every majorhonour awarded by RE/MAX,including President’s Club,100% Club, Platinum Club,Chairman’s Club, Hall ofFame, the Lifetime Achieve -ment Award in 2006 and theSRES® designation in 2009.Having worked with many ofthe industry’s professionals

over the years, he has thenecessary edge to best negotiatethe sale of your home.

Any agent can list yourhouse, but Rob’s knowledge,extensive marketingbackground and dedicationgives clients peace of mindwhen dealing with the singlemost important investment intheir lives. With years ofcombined experience, the GolfiTeam can provide your homewith a level of exposure thatmost agents cannot. Utilizing ateam approach also means thatthey will likely find a purchaserto buy your home sooner, ratherthan waiting for other agents toapproach you with potentialbuyers.

Ranked in the top 5 of nearly2,000 sales agents in theHamilton-Burlington and Niagaraareas, listing with Rob and theGolfi Team is the right choicewhen choosing someone torepresent your best interest. -Å

About Rob Golfi

by: Rob Golfi

The Solution

Fill in the grid above, so that each row of

9 squares, each column of nine and each

section of nine (three squares by three)

contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any

order. There is only one solution for the

puzzle and the numbers shown can NOT

be changed.

5 3

8 9 1 4

7 2 9

3 9 82

2 6

9 4 6 1

7 15

8 4 36

1 8

SUDOKUSUDOKU

“The key to buying a home is location, location, location.We’ll need the money located in our savings account, located

in our retirement fund and located in our cheque book...”246587 931

839715 624

715236 498

673198 245

124859 376

958462 713

467321 589

582943 16

391674 852

7

Where�do�Buyers�come�from?Are you a home seller wondering

where all the buyers are and how in theworld do they find your home?

That National Association of REAL-TORS® publishes a yearly report onHome Buyers and Sellers, they also breakthis report down to reflect the individualstates.

This typically revels some veryinteresting facts about today's home buy-ers, and since I sell real estate right herein the Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby,Lincoln area, this type of information isfascinating to us.

For example did you know that theaverage buyer purchases a home 25 kilo-meters from their previous residence... Ididn't know that! That means that peoplereally don't move very far and that thepotential new owner of your house couldbe living in the same town as you do. Allthe more important is your yard sign.Make sure, especially as snow approach-es, that your sign is clearly visible fromall angles. Please, please keep shrubberytrimmed around the sign... nothing is asfrustrating for the REALTOR® profes-sionals and potential home buyers as ahidden For Sale sign! You want yourhouse to POP! Don't hide that sign!While I'm on my rant about signs, makesure yours is in good condition andclean... nothing irks me more than a dirtyfaded yard sign or one that is fallingdown. If your home is on the market cur-rently, take a good look at your yard sign.Does it need some sprucing up? Call yourREALTOR® Professional and have themcome take care of it.

Did you know that 89% of Hamilton,Stoney Creek, Grimsby , Lincoln homebuyers purchased their home through aREALTOR® Professional? 89% nowthat's a huge percentage if you ask me...ofcourse I'm probably a little prejudicedsince I am a REALTOR® Professional,but I still think that's a huge percentage!Hey don't get me wrong, I'm not sayingdon't try to sell on your own if that's whatyou want to do but consider the facts...89% that means that 11% came fromsome other source... maybe from your

For Sale By Owner sign or maybe not??Oh, by the way, out of that 11% some-thing like 4% are people you alreadyknow.

So now think about this...28% of thehome buyers learned about the home theypurchased through a REALTOR®Professional and 47% learned about itthrough the Internet... that means that youneed to be sure your REALTOR®Professional has a strong company web-site... 47% of your buyers found theirhome on the net and then contacted anagent! Wow!

Folks you need to check out yourreal estate companies website... don't letanyone fool you about this one. Yes thepersonal touch is still needed..Thankgoodness for us, remember 89% boughttheir home through a REALTOR®Professional, BUT, 47% found theirhome on the Net! You betcha...a solidweb presence is crucial to your success!!!

Lets look at the rest of the story.We know that:

• 28% of the buyers found the homethey bought from a REALTOR®Professional.

• 47% found the home they bought fromthe Internet.

• 12% found the home they bought froma yard sign.

• AND get this 2% from print newspa-per advertisement.

• 6% from a friend, relative or neighbor.

• 3% directly from the sellers.

• 1% from the home builder or theiragent.

• 1% from a home book or magazine.

So where do you think your buyersare? I bet their surfing the web, watchingand waiting but I do think...2011 will bea good year in real estate.

Prices will be much more affordableand that means that maybe your childrenwill be able to afford to buy a home in thetown/area they grew up in and that I thinkis a very good thing!

Need more information about thereal estate market? E-mail me or searchwww.robgolfi.com

Sellers...Do�You�Know�whereBuyers�Come�From?


Call Today 905-945-0188

Rob Golfi*

Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln

January 2011 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch Page 3

GRIMSBY 234,900

42 DianaSituated on spacious treed lot on quiet cul-de-sac, beautiful gleaming hardwood in bedrm,sun filled living room with floor to ceiling baywindow, fin’d bsmt w/full bath & spare bedrm.Fenced yard. Close to schools, parks & quickaccess to QEW.

GRIMSBY $299,900

63 Griffith DriveCompleted top to bottom with professionallyfinished basement. Spacious eat-in kitchen,dinette, cozy front porch with Escarpmentviews, patterned concrete drive, patio, privatetreed yard. Very desirable neighbourhood. Quickaccess to QEW!

GRIMSBY $239,900

334 Lake StreetWell maintained & priced to go! Situated on alarge mature lot plus recent upgrades incl.windows, siding, soffits, facia, eaves trough,furnace & baths. Oak cabinets in kit, hrdwd flrson the main level, reno’d lower lvl. Dbl paveddrive holds 4 cars. Pool & 6 person hot tub (07).

GRIMSBY $649,900

39 Mud Street West“WOW” Rare find! 93 acre farm only 5 minutesto Grimsby and QEW. Work shop 18.4 x 36 ft.and Barn 37 x 70 ft. 80 acres of workable land,13 acres of bush, well maintained home withupdated shingles, windows, beautiful hardwoodflrs, finished basement

GRIMSBY $299,900

8 Casablanca Blvd.Custom built 2000 sq.ft. home with plasterconstruction and an unbeatable floor plan,gorgeous hardwood floors, oversized sunkenfamily room, new furnace, new shingles in 2009,beautifully landscaped on oversized 75 x 133 ftlot.

GRIMSBY $189,900

21 Hedge Lawn DriveAffordable freehold townhouse w/escarpmentviews boasts 3 bdrms, 2 full baths, eat-in kitw/oak cabinetry & ceramic backsplash overlooking fenced yard w/patio, & fin. rec-rm inbasement. Freshly decorated, updated shingles,close to park & schools, quick access to QEW.

GRIMSBY $159,900

28 Kelson Avenue SouthGreat opportunity for any buyer or investor!Come and see this affordable 2 bedroom homewith attached garage on a 75 x 125 ft private lot.This home features hardwood floors, largekitchen with lots of room for eating area, andspacious laundry room, new shingles 2008.

GRIMSBY $227,900

24 Kenyon Crescent, Unit 34Outstanding & immaculate town homebeautifully finished throughout. Features greatopen concept design w/over sized sun filledliving rm, oak kitchen w/sliding doors to privatepatio, finished basement, & quick access toQEW

GRIMSBY $1,499,900

143 Lake StreetFabulous waterfront property! Custom built3000 sq ft home with Lake views every room.Maple hardwood floors, granite counters, mastersuite with access to back deck, ensuite and walk-in shower. Handicap adaptable!

GRIMSBY $184,900

13 Sacks AvenueCute semi in a great neighbourhood close toparks & schools. Nice corner lot! 3 bdrms, twofull baths, finished rec-rm w/gas fireplace, &open concept on main flr. Fantastic opportunityfor any buyer to aquire in Grimsby.

GRIMSBY $1,999,900

351 Ridge Road EastThis fine property shows like a dream. Seated on4 acres of lush landscape and backing ontoNiagara Escarpment. This amazing 6500 sq ftestate features main floor master suite, multi-media control centre, gourmet chef’s kitchen &4 additional large bedrooms.

The Golfi Team has Maximum InternetExposure to Get Your Home SOLD!

Call today! 905-945-0188

93 acreS

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

WESt LINCOLN $349,900

7574 Highway #202+1 bedroom fully reno’d & with modern kitchen,cherry wood cabinets, ceramic, cathedral ceilings,adjoined fam room. Thick carpeting in all principalrms & main bath w/whirlpool tub. Dbl side drv, finbsmt (’06) incl. rec rm, kitchen, bedrm & laundry,25 yr roof (’04), furnace (’03).

BEAMSVILLE $459,900

4276 Maple Grove RoadRaised ranch on 11 acres, built in 1993, finishedin-law apartment with walk out, spaciouskitchen with plenty of counter space, shinglesone yr, furnace 3 yrs, well maintained home inthe heart of wine country.

BEAMSVILLE $228,900

5141 Connor Street1386 sq.ft. Features include great sizedbedrooms with 3 pc ensuite and walk in closetoff of master. Kitchen overlooking spaciousfamily room, attached to neighbouring unit atthe garage.

BEAMSVILLE $259,900

4498 Ontario StreetIdeal for Home Business. Impressive 4bedroom, 4 level back split sitting on 60' x 150'lot. Features hardwood floors, updatedwindows, shingles ('06), furnace ('03), garagedoor & opener ('08), 2 fireplaces, walkout fromlower level, 20' x 22' garage.

GRIMSBY $289,900

33 Debora DriveSpacious raised ranch in impeccable condition3+1 Bedrms, 2 baths, on large 61 x 125 ft lotacross from private park, updates include newwindows, new furnace & central air, finishedbright basement, walk to downtown, 1 min toQEW

SMIthVILLE $289,900

16 Lindan StreetPrestigious 2 storey built in ‘06 on fantastic sizelot, features spacious kit w/granite counters &breakfast bar, beautiful hardwood throughout, asun-filled living room, large bedrooms, ensuiteprivilege off master, main floor family room,walk out from bsmt to fenced yard.

BEAMSVILLE $209,900

4806 John StreetGreat neighbourhood! 1700 sq ft of livingspace plus finished rec room in full basement.Bright eat-in kitchen with large bay windowplus spacious living & dining room. Hugemaster with ensuite potential. Situated on alarge, mature, fully fenced lot.

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

JUST LISTeD

WaTerfronT

Scan this code to view more info on our listings!

Go to www.4qr.ca on your mobile phone to download your free scanner.

Text "GOLFI" to 123411 to view our listings on your mobile phone.


Call Today 905-945-0188


Rob Golfi*

Commercial

Examples (Price-Tax)

The information contained on this page is for estimation purposes only and applies to the sale ofOntario Residential properties only. Your actual Ontario Land Transfer Tax should be independentlycalculated and verified. The real estate board nor any of its advertisers shall ave any liability for theaccuracy of the information contained on this page.

$55,000 - $275

$65,000 - $375

$75,000 - $475

$85,000 - $575

$95,000 - $675

$100,000-$725

$110,000-$825

$120,000-$925

$130,000-$1025

$140,000 - $1125

$150,000 - $1225

$160,000 - $1325

$170,000 - $1425

$180,000 - $1525

$190,000 - $1625

$200,000 - $1725

$210,000 - $1825

$220,000 - $1925

$230,000 - $2025

$240,000 - $2125

$250,000 - $2225

$260,000 - $2375

$270,000 - $2525

$280,000 - $2675

$290,000 - $2825

$300,000 - $2975

$325,000 - $3350

$350,000 - $3725

$400,000 - $4475

$425,000 - $4975

$450,000 - $5475

$500,000 - $6475

$525,000 - $6975

$550,000 - $7475

$600,000 - $8475

$650,000 - $9475

$700,000 - $10,475

$725,000 - $10,975

$750,000 - $11,475

$800,000 - $12,475

$825,000 - $12,975

$850,000 - $13,475

$900,000 - $14,475

$925,000 - $14,975

$950,000 - $15,475

$975,000 - $15,975

$1,000,000 - $16,475

Land Transfer Tax

Calculation For Residential

Transaction in Ontario

BEAMSVILLE $499,900

5532 King StreetZoned light industrial, consists of building plus4 Bedroom century home sitting on approx 3acres located on Regional Rd 81 on wine route,with good traffic. Property has 6000 sq.ft steelframe building on concrete slab with 2washrooms, 220 volts.

BEAMSVILLE $1,399,900

4485 King StreetOver 700 ft of frontage on Niagara's busiestwine route. 26.6 Prestigious acres on the lowerbench with over a 20ft fall from front to back ofproperty. Property consists of a large barn with 2cold storages, heated workshop and parkingarea. 3 residential detached homes on property.

BEAMSVILLE $249,900

4993 King StreetDowntown core storefront with large window,front and back entrances can suit 2 businesses or1 large one. Rear parking and municipal lot.New furnace, 2pc bath. 1800 sq ft of businessspace with GC zoning, plus 2 bedroomapartment on upper level.

StONEY CREEk $349,900

19 King StreetLocation, Location this 2.5 Storey commercialbuilding w/high traffic & visual exposure zonedCA-1 permits 29 uses, ideal for doctors, lawyers,accountants, mortgage, real estate office.Approx 1,335 sq.ft. on main flr, plus 1,500 sq.ftapartment on 2nd & 3rd flr, plenty of parking.

Get�up�to�$5000�in�Ontario�Home�Energy

Rebatesuntil�March�31,�2011

• Furnaces — high-efficiency gas or oil, up to$790

•Central�air�conditioners — replacement $250•Hot�water�heaters — condensing gas $375•Hot�water�heaters — tankless/instantaneous

gas, condensing-type $375• Boilers — high-efficiency gas or oil $750•HRV — heat recovery ventilator $375• Solar — hot water system $1,250•Heat�pumps — air-source heat pump which

doubles as air conditioner $500•Geothermal — ground- or water-source heat

pumps which are energy-efficient heating andcooling systems up to $4,375

•Attic�or�roof — insulation up to $750• Exterior�wall — insulation up to $1,875• Basement — insulation up to $1,250•Crawl�space — insulation up to $1,000•Air�sealing — for your home up to $430•Windows�&�doors — $40 for each replacement

unit• Toilets — $65 for each replacement unit

To�qualify�you�need�an�energy�assessment�before�you�upgrade

For�details�or�to�book�your�appoint-ment�speak�to�an�agent

1-877-732-9888www.homeperformance.com

Monday - Friday, 9am - 9pmSaturday 9am - 5pm

Free�Down�PaymentWhat�is�a�Free�Down�PaymentMortgage�Program?

First time homebuyers andthose who do not have sufficientdown payment for their home pur-chase are eligible for a free downpayment mortgage program. Fixedrate closed terms mortgage with a 5year term.

How�do�I�benefit�from�this�mort-gage�program?

Don't wait to save up your 5%down payment before purchasing ahome. You can purchase now with-out a down payment.

How�does�this�mortgage�programwork?

The lending institution providesa down payment equal to 5% of theproperty lending value. They willadvance these funds directly to thesolicitor on the closing date.

What�are�the�limitations?A minmum beacon score (credit

score) of 650 is required. This pro-gram applies only to owner occupiedsingle family or duplex units.

Are�there�any�extra�fees?The mortgage default insur-

ance premium is 2.90% of themortgage amount instead of thestandard 2.75% with 5% downpayment from your ownresources. Client pays the fullposted interest rate for the 5 yearterm rather than the discountedrate.

For more information on theFree Down Payment MortgageProgram and how it could help youbuy your home sooner, please con-tact the Golfi Team at 905-575-

7700. -


Call Today 905-575-7700

Rob Golfi*

Hamilton & Stoney Creek

StONEY CREEk MtN $309,900

36 Hillcroft DriveCharming 8 yr old, all brick, 5 level backsplit.This home is finished top to bottom & featureskitchen overlooking family room w/showcasefireplace, leading to backyard concrete patio &fence yard, finished basement w/rec-room, & 2full baths.

hAMILtON MOuNtAIN $189,900

68 Seven Oaks DrivePleasant 3 bedroom brick, 1½ storey home closeto schools, shopping & buses. Features vinylwindows, hardwood floors, furnace '01, finishedrec room in basemnt, new shingles '09.Fantastic for first time buyers. Make it yours!

MOuNt hOpE $262,900

59 Critzia Drive, Unit 312Condo in Twenty Place. Features 2 bedrooms,hardwood, ceramics, Califormia Shutters, 2walkouts to outdoor covered balcony. Don’tmiss out! Access to Clubhouse with pool,whirlpool, gym, tennis courts, undergroundparking & large storage locker.

WESt hAMILtON $314,900

82 Bowman StreetGreat investment -- walk to McMaster, updatesinclude new furnace (07), new shingles (02),hardwood floors, all new appliances, newdriveway, carpet, ceramic floors in kitchen.rental income $1750/month, tenants payutilities!

WINONA $359,900

328 Winona RoadEasy access to the QEW, shopping,and schools.Large kitchen with island & granite counters.Vaulted ceilings, pot lighting, california shutters.Inside garage entry with main floor laundry.Fully fenced back yard. Large master, his/herclosets & ensuite with corner soaker tub.

EASt hAMILtON $324,900

19 Renis CourtNestled on top of cul-de-sac on private pieshaped lot, window lined back of home forincredible back yard views, spacious kitchenwith island & bay window, fully finishedbasement, updated shingles, quick access to RedHill and close buses and shopping.


503 Highway #8, Unit 19Located in secluded complex w/plenty of visitorparking. Sunken LR w/gas FP, gorgeoushardwood flrs. Bright fully finished basement.Attached only at garage, close to all amenities &easy hwy access.

hAMILtON CENtRAL $379,900

46 Edgemont Street SouthClassic 3+1 bedrm home, kit w/plenty ofcabinets, elegant dining rm, master bdrm w/gasfireplace, lrg walk in closet, skylights & ensuitew/whirlpool tub, prof. fin’d basement, located ina very quiet exclusive neighbourhood.

hAMILtON EASt $174,900

119 Fairfield Avenue3+1 bdrm home w/a side drive, garage, &screened in back porch, includes hrdwd flrs,bright white kit, freshly painted, LR & a great flrplan. Dry basement, Weeping tiles installed 9 yrsago. Close to all amenities. Come see!


19 Scotia AvenueRenovated in Rosedale! New kitchen w/crownmouldng, unique backsplash, breakfast bar &blt-in wine rack. New hardwd & furnace, 3bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 200 amp, in-lawpotential, concrete drive, huge lot! Near parks,schools, golf course & escarpment stairs.


43 Blair AvenueLarge lot, fully fenced yard & parking for 5!Shingles 2009, fence 2007, Vinyl windows,hrdwd flrs, updated kitchen, renovated bath,finished rec room. Beautiful bay window offdining room. All appliances included. Quiet eastend location near the Red Hill Pkwy.

BINBROOk $379,900

218 Tanglewood DriveQuality built 2400 sq ft. Located in JacksonHeights, in the heart of Binbrook, this 4 bdrm, 2 storey home has many upgrades. Hardwdfloors in family room & dining room, solidmaple staircase. Upgraded ceramics, kitchen &backsplash, cove mouldings, painted indecorator colours, upgraded light fixtures.

StONEY CREEk MtN $229,900

50 John Murray StreetThis beautiful 3 bedroom bungalow is situatedon a spacious lot. Features include in-groundpool, oak kitchen, rec room, second fullbathroom w/whirlpool tub & a sunroom additionw/skylights. Shingles & funance fairly updated.

EASt hAMILtON $284,900

85 Bow Valley DriveImmaculate 3 bedroom with fully finishedbasement. Spacious living room and diningroom. Eat-in kitchen has been updated andboasts ample counter space and cupboards.Updated vinyl windows, concrete drive andpatio in fenced yard.



11 Creaona Blvd.Features hardwood floors through out most ofhome, great room with gas fireplace and vaultedceilings, professionally finished basement,landscaped with fenced yard, concrete doubledrive with garage!


24 Puritan Court2 Storey all brick home with in-law set up inbasement with separate entrance, hardwood inliving/dining rooms & family room, beautifuloak kitchen cabinets, large fenced yard withpatterned concrete patio, mostly vinyl windows,shingles are 5 yrs new.

BEAMSVILLE $439,900

46 Second Road WestOh my gosh, best value for this great 5 bedroom,5 level back split, sitting 100 x 152 ft lot.Everything is done -- all you have to do is movein. Features gorgeous hardwood floors, beautifulFlorida room, showcase fireplace, perfect forgrowing family, fantastic location close to allamenities.


37 Tamwood Court3+1 Bedrm w/gourmet kitchen & granite cntertops, travitn flrs, sunken fam rm w/fp & hrdwdin bdrms. Plus California shutters, crown mlding& cathedral ceilings. Upgrades incl. furnace &central air (08), pool heater & liner (09) newerwindows, fascia & eaves.

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

SOLDSOLD

ANOTHERANOTHER

ONEONE

The Golfi Team has Maximum InternetExposure to Get Your Home SOLD!

Call today! 905-575-7700

Scan this code to view more info on our listings!

Go to www.4qr.ca on your mobile phone to download your free scanner.

Text "GOLFI" to 123411 to view our listings on your mobile phone.


Call Today 905-575-7700


Ontario�REALTORS®

Support�Grow�Ops�Registry�Bill

Bump�Up�Your�Credit�Score

Credit score in not just anumber obtained throughthe statistical analysis of

your credit report. It is an efficient,reliable, unprejudiced and reasonableunderwriting tool that helps themortgage lender to evaluate yourcredit worthiness. In other words, ithelps them to ascertain the amount ofloan that you will be able to pay backin a timely manner. Thus, byimproving your score, you can boostup your chances of getting amortgage home loan at a better rate ofinterest. Here are a few realistic waysof improving your score.• Pay your bills before the due

date – The payment history in yourcredit report shouldn’t bear anynegative marks because theseblack points remain on the reportfor no less than 7 years. For anexcellent payment history, pay allyour bills before the last date. Ifyou don’t pay the bill for morethan 30 days, a negative mark willautomatically come up on thereport.

• Don’t sit upon your debt load – Ifyou are already bearing a hugedebt load on your shoulders, then itis important for you to reduce itwithout delay. By adding to theload, your debt will simplybecome unmanageable, and in thelong run, it would adversely affectyour credit score.

• Maintain your old accounts – Thechief benefit of a long credit historyis that it increases your creditutilization ratio. Hence, it isessential to maintain your oldaccounts. At times, it is unusuallydifficult to manage numerousaccounts simultaneously. How ever,if you are able to do this, your creditscore would swell up exorbitantly.

• Avoid using more than 20% of the

available credit – By utilizing only

20% of your credit limit, you can

increase your score dramatically.

The best way to make this possible

is to wind up the debt backload

before taking up a new loan. All

your efforts to stick to the 20%

limit will leave a positive effect on

your credit report.

• Keep your credit report spick and

span – Inconsistencies and errors

on the credit report serve to ruin

your credibility as well as your

score. Hence, they should not only

be detected at the earliest, but

should also be rooted out. If you

are unable to track down the

errors, then you can engage a

credit report management

company to get the discrepancies

removed as quickly as possible.

• Be vigilant while opening new

accounts – In a bid to allure

customers like you, credit card

companies provide countless

irresistible offers and discounts.

Instead of grabbing each one of

them, do a bit of research to find

out the best available option. This

is important because each credit

enquiry would serve to knock

down your score.

Experian, Equifax are two major

credit bureaus in the Canada. that

have the reputation of calculating the

credit score accurately. The first thing

that you should do is to get your score

calculated. Thereafter, follow the

above mentioned tips ardently to

improve it. In a short period of time,

the positive results will start

appearing on your credit report. -

amoRTiZaTioN CHaRTMonthly payment per $1,000

Length of Mortgage (Amortization Period)

Example $150,000 at 20yr at 3.0%: 150 x 5.54 = $831.00 /month

InterestRate (%) 5 yr 10 yr 15 yr 20 yr 25 yr 30 yr 35 yr

3.00 17.96 9.65 6.90 5.54 4.73 4.21 3.84

3.50 18.18 9.88 7.14 5.79 4.99 4.48 4.12

4.00 18.40 10.11 7.38 6.04 5.26 4.76 4.41

4.50 18.62 10.34 7.63 6.30 5.53 5.04 4.71

5.00 18.85 10.58 7.88 6.57 5.82 5.34 5.01

5.50 19.07 10.82 8.14 6.84 6.10 5.64 5.33

6.00 19.30 11.07 8.40 7.12 6.40 5.95 5.65

6.50 19.53 11.31 8.66 7.41 6.70 6.26 5.98

7.00 19.75 11.56 8.93 7.69 7.00 6.59 6.32

7.50 19.98 11.81 9.21 7.99 7.32 6.91 6.66

8.00 20.21 12.06 9.48 8.28 7.63 7.25 7.01

8.50 20.45 12.32 9.76 8.59 7.95 7.59 7.36

9.00 20.68 12.58 10.05 8.89 8.28 7.93 7.72

9.50 20.91 12.84 10.33 9.20 8.61 8.28 8.08

10.00 21.15 13.10 10.62 9.52 8.94 8.63 8.44

10.50 21.38 13.37 10.92 9.83 9.28 8.98 8.81

11.00 21.62 13.64 11.21 10.16 9.63 9.34 9.18

11.50 21.86 13.91 11.51 10.48 9.97 9.70 9.55

12.00 22.10 14.18 11.82 10.81 10.32 10.06 9.93

MenusOnly.com is an online restaurant menu guide

connecting you with great restaurants in the

Hamilton and Burlington areas. Browse through

restaurant menus, view pictures of restaurant dining

areas, patios, and menu items, and print local restau-

rant coupons all in one place. MenusOnly.com –

a perfect dining experience starts here.

Home�Stagers�by: Sheri Gamble

Details Event Coordination Inc.

Sellers�hire�them�to�declutter,

rearrange� and� stage.� � Now,

buyers�are�hiring�them�too!When Marie B. sold her roomy,

three-bedroom house a year ago to move

into a one-bedroom condo in Kitchener,

she struggled to arrange her old furniture

in her new space. Familiar pieces that had

fit together so naturally before no longer

connected in the same homey way.

Nothing seemed to work. Her large

wooden bookshelves, standing together

in the living/dining room area, looked

awkward and a little overwhelming. She

couldn't find a space for her favorite

leather chair amid the other furniture

grouped around the living room fireplace.

In an alcove off the master bedroom, her

desk felt out of place and got in the way

of the in-wall ironing board. "I was frus-

trated because it looked awful," she says.

Marie turned to a surprising source

for help: the "home stager" she'd hired

earlier to strip the personality from her

old home so it would be more attractive

to potential buyers.

It's not as strange as it sounds. Real-estate agents often recommend that sell-ers hire a home stager to whisk throughtheir homes and "neutralize" them beforethey go on the market. When "staging tosell," a home stager, stashes away person-al items, repaints aggressively coloredwalls and rearranges furniture and acces-sories to draw attention to a home's bestfeatures. "Staging to live," as it's called,is the logical next step. Having come toappreciate the clean, uncluttered look thestager achieved in their old homes, sellersare rehiring stagers to work the samemagic in their new home. But this time,instead of seeking to depersonalize yourabode, the emphasis is on organizing,decluttering, and rearranging to "de-stress" the environment.

And because the stager is familiarwith your items and belongings, it oftendoesn’t take them long to get your newhome into “tip top” shape and mostimportantly – most comfortable for you.

Sheri Gamble is a Home Stagerwith Details Event Coordination. Shecan be reached at 905.632.2602 or viaemail at [email protected] www.detailseventco.com

November 25, 2010 - Ontario

REALTORS® support private members

Bill 139, Clandestine Drug Operation

Prevention Act, 2010, introduced by

MPP Lisa MacLeod to establish a mari-

juana grow operations and clandestine

drug laboratory registry.

“Grow-ops are major problem for

homebuyers in the province and we have

been urging the Ontario government to

establish a registry to protect consumers

for almost ten years,” said Dorothy

Mason, President. “We urge the govern-

ment to pass this bill in order to protect

homebuyers.”

REALTORS® are obligated by law

to disclose to potential homebuyers if a

home has been used as a marijuana grow-

operation or a drug lab. Ontario REAL-

TORS are hindered by the lack of a cen-

tral registry which is crucial to protecting

homebuyers from the potential health and

safety hazards of properties formerly

used to manufacturer clandestine drugs.

Bill 139 defines a clandestine drug

operation to be an illegal operation where

any substance listed in the schedules I

through IV in the Controlled Drugs and

Substances Act of Canada can be

obtained by any method or process.

Clandestine drug operations cause

significant damage to homes. For exam-

ple, physical damage done to the house

by excessive moisture leading to mould,

chemical contamination, structural alter-

ations and electrical rewiring leading to

fire hazards.

Often these homes received cosmet-

ic renovations to disguise the fact they

were marijuana growoperations and con-

sumer unknowingly purchases these

homes. This can lead to loss of insurance

for the property and exorbitantly high

remediation costs.

The Ontario Real Estate Association

represents 49,000 brokers and salespeo-

ple who are members of the provinces 42

real estate boards. OREA serves its mem-

bers through a wide variety of publica-

tions, educational programs and special

services. The association provides all real

estate licensing courses in Ontario.

OREA was founded in 1922 to

organize real estate activities and develop

common goals across the province. These

goals included promoting higher industry

standards, protecting the general public

from unscrupulous brokers and salespeo-

ple, and preserving private property

rights.


www.GolfiTeam.com

History ChartAverage Selling Price for Detached Homes

LOWER uppER EASt WESt CENtRAL hAMILtON

YEAR StONEY CREEk StONEY CREEk hAMILtON hAMILtON hAMILtON MOuNtAIN ANCAStER DuNDAS GRIMSBY SMIthVILLE LINCOLN BuRLINGtON

1985 $80,942 $79,137 $56,479 $66,183 $42,253 $73,520 $125,745 $91,210 $82,450 $65,870 N/A $107,325

1990 $194,027 $184,470 $129,776 $168,413 $116,253 $161,153 $266,681 $209,070 $190,117 $146,557 $155,381 $217,824

1995 $157,811 $160,651 $106,711 $141,665 $82,527 $134,705 $211,505 $165,318 $149,230 $124,002 $132,368 $202,473

2000 $184,130 $177,745 $119,461 $151,572 $89,828 $152,677 $252,164 $194,402 $191,177 $164,699 $164,839 $254,074

2005 $263,252 $263,245 $159,859 $228,813 $123,084 $214,749 $372,585 $288,193 $289,975 $220,649 $240,143 $371,100

2006 $279,816 $279,951 $166,363 $238,338 $130,693 $222,765 $385,046 $317,238 $305,964 $233,243 $268,673 $394,798

2007 $289,651 $284,280 $180,614 $257,108 $137,370 $236,621 $427,272 $331,272 $306,477 $253,259 $275,085 $428,599

2008 $310,131 $293,571 $186,031 $267,973 $148,432 $243,239 $431,561 $329,752 $321,451 $246,381 $301,542 $449,261

2009 $298,521 $299,641 $178,956 $279,104 $144,513 $245,988 $439,293 $344,179 $326,034 $256,862 $289,085 $452,434

2010 $319,983 $324,135 $188,834 $306,689 $152,319 $263,319 $461,254 $375,871 $348,408 $283,446 $295,325 $492,166

Rob Golfi, Sales Representative

Home evaluation

No Cost or Obligation

Call Rob Golfi today!

905-575-7700 / 905-945-0188


In today's world, even householdhints needs disclamiers. Therefore, itbecomes necessary for me to say the fol-lowing. There are hints only. You must bethe one who decides that they are validfor use. They are my suggestions andonly that.

Toothbrush�for�Cleaning�JobsKeep an old tooth brush around to do

little cleaning jobs. (Sanitize the brush bypouring rubbing alcohol on it before put-ting it into your bag of cleaning tools.) Itmakes a marvelous brush for those hardto reach places.

Crayon�on�VinylCrayon marks on vinyl can be

removed with silver polish. On wallpa-per, try rubbing very gently with bakingsoda sprinkled on a damp cloth. On hardsurfaces try rubbing lightly with drysoap-filled steel wool pad. Do not wet.

Window�CleaningThe best thing for window cleaning

is ammonia and water. Use 2 tablespoonsammonia to 1 pint of water. Use as youwould commercial spray bottle.

Getting�Whites�Clean�and�other�usesfor�Cascade

For cotton and cotton blends only---1/4 cup cascade powder, 1 cup bleach,mix with one gallon very hot water andsoak the cottons and blends---they will besnowy white and odor free. But wait,flush your commode and pour this usedsolution into it and let stand---stainfreeand clean with no scrubbing! I also foundthat Cascade powder will remove thoseadhesive remains of the glue on things inbathtubs----wet your tub, cover thicklywith Cascade, let set 30 minutes or so,then use a scrub brush and rinse. It maytake more than one application, but theywill disappear and the tub will besparkling clean.

Garlic�on�HandsHave you ever peeled garlic or han-

dled it and your hands smell to high heav-

en? The next time that happens, take anystainless steel bowl, pan or other stainlesssteel kitchen gadget and rub your handson it. It will take away the smell of garlic.I'm not sure what makes this happen, butit works.

Ring�Around�the�CollarDirty neck rings around shirt or

blouse collars can be removed by puttingshampoo on them. Rub the shampoo inlike you were washing your hair.Shampoo is specifically made to removebody oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo keptby the washing machine is handy for allkinds of stains in clothing. Don't forgetthis trick when you are travelling.

Blood�Stains�in�ClothingBlood stains in clothing need to be

removed as soon as possible. Use coldwater and wash out the stain. Hot waterwill set the blood and it will be difficultor impossible to get out.

Scorch�Marks�from�an�IronScorch marks occur when your iron

is too hot for your fabric, or when youleave the iron in one place on the fabrictoo long. If the scorch is not too bad,there are a couple of things you can do totry to get it out. Light scorch marks canbe treated with 1 part water and 1 parthydrogen peroxide dabbed gently on themark. Also you can try a borax solution(1/4 cup borax to 1 quart of water) on thescorch. And if the fabric permits, it can besoaked in a bleach solution. Be sure torinse throughly and wash as usual aftertreatments. On the down side, if thescorch is heavy and dark, there may benothing you can do to remove it. Youmay, however, be able to "decorate" overit, depending on where it is on the gar-ment. You may be able to add a pocket oradd an embroidery decoration over it.

Wax�on�FabricSet your iron on the "warm" setting

or the lowest setting. Let the iron getwarm. Take a couple of sheets of paper

towel and put them on the ironing board.Take the fabric with the wax stain, andplace the stain over the paper towels.Place additional paper towels over thestain. Then press the iron on the spot. Donot move the iron back and forth, but justset it down, leave it for a moment, and liftit up. Check the paper towels to see if anywax has been absorbed. If some of thewax has been asborbed, move the papertowels to a clean spot and do the samething again until the wax is removed. Youare going to melt the wax and transfer itonto the paper towels. Be careful not to"iron the wax on the paper towels" backonto the fabric, if you have to repeat thewax transfer treatment.

Wax�on�Oriental�RugsPlace a blotter or brown paper bag

over the spot. Put a hot iron on top. Moveit around until the wax soaks into thepaper. Repeat as needed.

Red�Wine�on�FabricApply table salt to the wet stain

immediately. Allow the salt to absorb thewine. The stain is then easily rinsed awaywith cool water. I have had to reapply thesalt to the area for complete removal, butit generally works the first time. Salt alsoworks on blood stains on cotton clothes.

Wax�Crayon�on�Painted�WallsUse WD40 (spray lubricant) to

remove wax crayon from painted walls.Just spray it on and wipe it off. Dish soapeasily removes all traces of the lubricantfrom the wall. Heavily colored areasshould be done a few times or sprayedand left for a time.

Ink�StainsBall point pen stains can be removed

by using hair spray. Let the hair spray dryand wash. Table salt will absorb ink whenit is spilled. Pour salt on the wet ink andcontinue to add salt until there is no more"wet ink". Then vacuum or wash. Othertypes of ink can be removed using rub-bing alcohol.

Ink�on�Leather�Car�SeatsRubbing alcohol did well. It does not

remove the ink completely, but it willprobably fade them to the point that youwould have to look very closely to see thethe marks.

Urine�OdorsUrine odors on mattresses and mat-

tress covers may be neutralized by damp-ening the spot and sprinkling borax overit. Rub the borax into the areas and letdry. Brush or vacuum to remove the dryborax. One brand of borax, 20 MuleTeam Borax, is found in the laundrydepartment of grocery stores. Pet urineand sour milk odors can be neutralizedusing the same process. There are alsocommercial products available at petstores that do nicely on pet urine. Use asdirected. The commercial products aremore expensive than is borax.

Bicycle�GreaseRegular dish soap, especially Dawn

and Palmolive, take bicycle grease outwith very little "elbow grease". Usingdish soap to take other oily/greasy stainsout of other washables, including sun-tanoil, and chicken gravy will also work.

Stainless�Steel�Sinks�and�BathroomFixtures

Rub stainless steel sinks with lighterfluid if rust marks appear. After the rustdisappears, wipe with your regularkitchen cleaner. Spots on stainless steelcan be also removed with white vinegar.Use a cloth dampened with rubbing alco-hol to remove water spots from stainlesssteel. And club soda will shine up stain-less steel.

Some stainless steel sinks have anickle plating on them which makes themvery shiny. If this surface is worn off, youmay not be able to get the sink shinyagain.

A friend of mine takes auto polishand puts it on her sink and fixtures afterthey have been polished. This helps keepthe water spots off.

Household�Hints


OWN THIS FOR ONLY

$864MONTHLY

STYLISH 2-STOREY & BUNGALOW TOWNS NESTLED WITHIN A BRAND NEW COMMUNITY PARK!

The bi-weekly P.I. payment, based on 5% down, and a purchase price of $228,000 works out to $864 MONTHLY, (based on 5 year term, 35 year amortization)

REGISTER ON-LINE NOW!

www.homesbycambridge.ca

SITE HOURS: Mon,-Thurs 1-5pmSat-Sun 1-5 pm Fri by appointment

MODEL HOME1-289-566-9528905-945-0188

MONTHLY P&I* PAYMENT BASED ON 5% DOWN

HST & GST Included

BUILDERS UPGRADES

AVAILABLE

KITCHENS

OUTSTANDING FEATURES


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Jan. 1, 2011 Issue 17