June 19, 2012 Issue 50

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

June 19, 2012 - Vol 40b

Rob GolfiSales Representative


HOME EVALUATION NO COST • NO OBLIGATION

905-575-7700 • 905-945-0188

The RE/MAX Balloon is Comingto Grimsby for the Golfi Team’sMOVIE NIGHT EVENT!Detail on Page 12 (weather permitting)

MarketWatch June 15 2012 16/06/12 3:43 PM Page 1

Page 2 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch June 19, 2012

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 of Famein 2003, the Lifetime Achieve -ment Award in 2006, hisSRES® designation in 2009 andthe Diamond Club Award in2010. Having worked with

many of the industry’sprofessionals over the years, hehas the necessary edge to bestnegotiate the 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

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.

7 3 2

5 7 3 8

6 4

4 65 1

1 7

1 9 5 8

7 6

2 3 4 9

6 31

SUDOKUSUDOKU

719325 864

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368517 429

437986 251

286154 793

195438 672

851792 346

623849 51

974263 185

7

Arecent Toronto Star storyexposed a problem tenantwho was successful in abus-

ing the Ontario landlord and tenantprocess to avoid paying rent. It can takelandlords up to nine months to evict thesetypes of ‘professional’ tenants.

However, it would be wrong to paintall tenants with the same brush. Over 95per cent of Ontario tenants pay their renton time and take care of their rental units.For every problem tenant, there are alsoproblem landlords who do not properlymaintain their buildings.

Here is how landlords and tenantscan avoid problems:

Qualify your tenant in advance

• When you advertise for a tenant, makeit clear that you will be doing a creditcheck and checking personal refer-ences. This will assist in discouragingpotential scammers.

• Ask for a pay stub or banking infor-mation. Make sure that the proposedtenant makes regular deposits intotheir bank account, to prove steadyemployment.

• Call references to make sure theycheck out

• Google the tenant’s name to see iftheir social media information is thesame as that on your rental application

• Make sure the address on their dri-ver’s license matches where they saythey live now.

• Join a service such as tenantverifica-tion.com to check a tenant’s credit

• Have the tenant pay for utilities, ifseparately metered. They will have topass the credit check of the utilitycompany as well.

Treat tenants with respect Successful investors understand that

tenants are your silent partners. They area source of income and are looking afteryour investment. When you treat themwith respect, and show appreciation, theywill also take better care of your building.

Something as simple as a gift cardcan go a long way. When the tenantsleave, if they have been a model tenant,why not award them with a certificate ofsuperior tenancy, to show your apprecia-tion. This might help them find anotherunit, especially if they have other creditproblems.

If things go wrong, it is better to makea deal

Sometimes bad things happen. A ten-ant loses their job and even though theywould like to pay the rent, they can’t.Instead of rushing to the landlord and ten-ant board, which takes time and results inhard feelings, try to work it out. Perhapsoffer to help the tenant move back withrelatives and forgive part or all of theback rent owed, in exchange for the ten-ant leaving early. Let the tenant knowthat if they agree, you will also not notifythe credit bureau about this and ruin theircredit rating.

The landlord can then write off theamount owing and find another tenant totake over the unit. Also, when a deal ismade, the tenant is likely not to damagethe unit when they leave, which is whatusually happens when things end badly.Tenants, also show appreciation to thoselandlords who do properly look after yourbuildings. Don’t change the locks with-out permission, or permit visitors to dam-age anything on the property.

When landlords and tenants worktogether, everyone wins.

Mark Weisleder is a Toronto realestate lawyer. Contact Mark [email protected]

How to Avoid Rentingto a Tenant from Hell

Moving in: Most tenants won’t give any trouble...


June 19, 2012 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch Page 3

Call Today 905-575-7700

Mike McNeilSales Representative

Kristina KingSales Representative

Rosemarie FournierListing Co-ordinator

Vince LazarukSales Representative

Together Delivering More...

Sharon StaffordSales Representative


Heather ReidSales Representative

Hans MarcellissenSales Representative

Wendy Murray-NicholsonSales Representative

*#1 Brokerage in the Realtors Association of Hamilton Burlington MLS from 1994 to 2010 consecutively. **Year End Standings for 2010, based on residential commissions paid. Rankings are compiled from figures submitted by regional offices.

3 Over $60 Million in Sales Annually**

3 #1 Real Estate Office in Hamilton-Burlington*

3 Amongst the Top Sales Reps in Ontario**

3 Ranked Top 50 Teams in Canada for **

3 Ranked Top 100 Teams world wide**

Facts About the GOLFI TEAM…

2003 2006 201020031998Rob GolfiSales Representative

OVER $460 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE SALES

HOME EVALUATION NO COST • NO OBLIGATION

905-575-7700 • 905-945-0188


www.GolfiTeam.com


CheckOut Our

NewWebsite

View any of the listings in this publication at

www.GolfiTeam.com

Extra pictures, More details!

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Canadian Housing Market Expected to Moderate

OTTAWA, June 14, 2012 —Both new and existing homemarket activity are expected

to moderate through the end of 2012,according to Canada Mortgage andHousing Corporation’s (CMHC) secondquarter 2012 Housing Market Outlook,Canada Edition1.

“Housing has gained some momen-tum recently. Housing starts in the earlypart of the year were robust due to themultiples segment, which varies signifi-cantly from month to month. Althougheconomic conditions are expected toremain supportive of housing demand,housing starts activity is expected tomoderate as 2012 progresses,” said

Mathieu Laberge, Deputy ChiefEconomist for CMHC. “Similarly, bal-anced market conditions in the existinghome market will result in modest houseprice gains through to the end of theyear,” added Laberge.

On an annual basis, housing startswill be in the range of 182,300 to 220,600units in 2012, with a point forecast of202,700 units. In 2013, housing startswill be in the range of 175,100 to 213,500units, with a point forecast of 195,700units.

Existing home sales will be in therange of 431,200 to 516,100 units in2012, with a point forecast of 472,300units. In 2013, MLS®2 sales are expected

to move up in the range of 431,300 to522,400 units, with a point forecast of474,900 units.

The average MLS® price is forecastto be between $341,100 and $406,700 in2012 and between $346,000 and$419,900 in 2013. CMHC’s point fore-cast for the average MLS® price is$372,700 for 2012 and $383,600 for2013. The moderate increases in the aver-age MLS® price, of 2 to 3 per cent, areconsistent with the balanced market con-ditions that are expected to continue in2012 and 2013.

As Canada's national housingagency, CMHC draws on more than 65years of experience to help Canadians

access a variety of quality, environmen-tally sustainable and affordable housingsolutions. CMHC also provides reliable,impartial and up-to-date housing marketreports, analysis and knowledge to sup-port and assist consumers and the hous-ing industry in making informed deci-sions.

CMHC Market Analysis standardreports are available free for download athttp://www.cmhc.ca/housingmarketinfor-mation.

1 The forecasts included in the Housing MarketOutlook reflect information available as of April 27,2012. Where applicable, forecast ranges are also present-ed in order to reflect financial and economic uncertainty.

2 Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) is a regis-tered trademark owned by the Canadian Real EstateAssociation.


Call Today 905-575-7700


Rob Golfi*

Hamilton, Stoney Creek,Ancaster, Dundas & Glanbrook

HAMILTON CTr $229,900

68 Holton Avenue SouthAttention Investors! Big home used as two family!Main level one BR, kitchen, living room, diningroom, 4pc bath rented $875/mo w/utilitiesincluded. 2nd & 3rd floor has 4 BRs rented$400/mo ea. & share living room, bthrm & kitchen.Laundry room in the basement.

STONey Creek $599,900

92 Fifty RoadNature's paradise with perfect view! Gorgeous1acre side split sitting on the bench of NiagaraEscarpment. Gleaming hardwood flrs, large,custom maple kitchen with granite counter tops, 6bedrms with in-flr heating, 4 bthrms, steel roof, newwindows, doors & much more. Call today!

HAMILTON MTN $345,900

23 Vineberg DriveOver 2000 sq ft., 4 level backsplit! Family roomw/fireplace, big kitchen w/oak cabinets & island,vaulted ceilings in LR/DR, open from kitchen tofamily rm, big rooms & walkout to covered patiow/3 year old hot tub. Turner park, shopping, &YMCA all within walking distance.


228 McAnulty BoulevardNothing to do but move in! 2 BR bungalow freshlypainted & updated. New flring throughout main flr,shingles ‘11, attic insulated w/R-50 insulation, newsiding ‘10, basement insulated w/R-12 to R-20insulation, kitch updated ‘12, bathrm updated ‘12 &much more take a look.


11 Greenaway AveBeautiful all brick 2.5 storey single family home.Features 5 bedrooms & lots of possibilities! Newerhardwd flrs, updated kitch & baths, clean & fresh décor,nothing to do but move in! Includes single garagew/lots of parking & close to public transit.


161 Halifax StreetADORABLE & AFFORDABLE! Immaculate 3 bedrmhome in super clean condition on premium lot, featuresmaple kitchen cabinets w/endless storage for cook-ware anddishes, spacious family room w/showcase fireplace withhook up for Plasma TV above, fenced yard & quick accessto QEW.


134 Cove Crescent2 Stry, 3 BR home linked underground & featuresmaster w/ensuite & walk-in closet, LR/DR, eat-inkit w/walkout to a lrg concrete patio & fenced inyard. Basement recently refreshed w/new carpet &3pc bath. Updates incl. windows, roof, furnace &A/C.


82 Whitefish CrescentTRENDY AND STYLISH 2 STOREY! This movein ready 3 BR freehold townhome is in super cleancondition & features incredible space plus finishedbasement, bright master bedrm w/ensuite & walkin closet, wonderful size kitchen, oak stair case &is located across from Seabreeze Park.


216 Gray RoadBeautifully maintained 3 BR home ready to movein. Features main flr ldry, main flr family rm, allvinyl windows, updated kit w/ceramics, refinishedhrdwd flrs, updated copper wiring, new shingles‘03, lots of parking, close to schools, & shopping.


830 Upper Wellington StreetLarge principle rooms, big garage with hydro, longdriveway. Loads of updates! Updates include:bathroom, kitchen, and some flooring. Huge familyroom with big windows overlooking yard. Lots ofstorage in crawl space. Walkup from bsmt to nice yard.


38 Stirton StreetWonderful big family home! 2.5 storey, move incondition. Huge family sized Oak kitchen withwalkout to party deck, front drive or rear parking ifneeded, beautiful hardwood floors, 4 or 5bedrooms, new boiler in 2011 and very clean.


60 East 24th Street Big 4 BR home located on the mountain. Thishome features a main flr BR, family rm, LR/DR &a lrg eat in kitch. Updates incl: roof ‘11, mostwindows ‘10, C/A ‘08, furnace ‘07, 1.5 baths, &has been freshly painted. Lrg 34.29 x 133 lot.Parking in front & rear drive for 5 vehicles.

HAMILTON eAST $499,900

711 Beach Blvd.Live on the beach! Solid home on the Hamilton beachwith a 2 bedroom self contained unit. Separate entranceand furnace. Gorgeous sun room with an amazing view ofthe lake. Huge fenced in yard, big drive way and largeprinciple rooms. Minutes from Spencer Smith park andJoseph Brant Hospital.


46 Lake Avenue DriveULTIMATE CLASSIC HOME! Double brick homesitting on 107.5 x 390.25 ft lot and features originalhardwd floors & trim, new bathroom on 2nd level,finished loft w/plumbing, complete house re- wired w/200amp service, copper plumbing, 63 new windows, 35x19 ft3 car garage, Zoning MR1

HAMILTON WeST $399,900

220 Queen Street SouthCharm & Character best describes this 3 bedrmbeauty with fully finished basement ideal for in-law set up, features gorgeous hardwood, newkitchen & baths, vinyl windows, close to trendylock st. Bay front & downtown shopping.

HAMILTON WeST $319,900

230 Bowman StreetFantastic Location! 3+1 BRs, 1 1/2 baths, newroof May 2012, new front porch, updated waterline, bath tub reglazed, new toilet, orig. hardwdflrs, single car detached garage w/parking for 2cars. Tenanted until August 31, 2012.


5 Sandy DrivePrestigious 4 bdrm 2700 sqft 2 storey. Grand foyerwith oak staircase, kitch w/large island & built inappliances, hardwd in formal dining rm, updatedcarpet & under pad in all bedrooms, family roomwith showcase fireplace, master bedroomw/ensuite & large walk in closet


2-15 Derby Street1284 sq.ft. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse w/afully fenced yard. Updated roof (‘08), windows(‘06), fence & garage door (‘11). No carpet, allparquet flooring. All appliances included, electricalon breakers, huge master with walk-in closet andensuite.


14 Rowan CourtCourt location. Updates include roof,garage door, hardwood floor, gas fireplace,downstairs bathroom, furnace and A/C,most windows, front entry door, concretepad with shed.

SOLD TO GTA BUYER

SOLD IN 30 DAYS

SOLD FOR 99% OF LIST PRICE

WATERFRONT


22 East 39thGARAGE DREAM & LOCATION! Walk toMountain Brow Park, Juravinski Hospital, shoppingon Concession St., and mountain access. Loads ofupdates include windows, shingles, garage door, &C/A. Big dbl garage with concrete floor and hydro.One bedroom used as dining rm (wall still there).



Call Today 905-575-7700

YTD Comparison Listed Expired Sold Average Selling Average Days Selling % ofAREA May 2012 / May 2011 YTD YTD YTD Price on Market List Price

ANCASTER 2012 357 55 228 $451,249 47 98%

(DISTRICT 42) 2011 387 55 233 $436,232 55 97%

BURLINGTON 2012 1917 109 1499 $453,643 29 99%

(DIST. 30 to 36 & 38) 2011 1926 131 1496 $409,085 36 98%

DUNDAS 2012 187 20 172 $365,526 55 98%

(DISTRICT 41) 2011 198 25 146 $347,038 44 98%

GLANBROOK 2012 245 28 160 $338,649 52 98%

(DISTRICT 53) 2011 239 35 151 $316,121 55 97%

GRIMSBY 2012 257 37 183 $334,433 54 97%

(DISTRICT 54,55) 2011 261 34 176 $317,654 67 97%

HAMILTON EAST 2012 460 61 375 $197,739 46 97%

(DIST. 23,24,27,28,29) 2011 494 67 327 $186,994 49 96%

HAMILTON MTN 2012 1049 127 832 $266,338 41 98%

(DIST. 15,16,17,18,25,26) 2011 1107 122 767 $249,946 45 97%

HAMILTON CTRL 2012 647 136 475 $160,395 47 97%

(DIST. 13,14,20,21,22) 2011 707 169 443 $153,707 54 96%

WEST LINCOLN 2012 50 7 29 $364,555 74 97%

(DISTRICT 56,58) 2011 47 11 23 $313,822 97 95%

SMITHVILLE 2012 56 11 33 $274,648 69 97%

(DISTRICT 57) 2011 51 16 32 $242,314 76 98%

STONEY CRK 2012 603 81 463 $313,351 49 98%

(DISTRICT 50,51,52) 2011 617 76 385 $296,534 58 97%

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

Year-to-Date StatisticsBased on sales data on all home sales from May 2011 vs May 2012,

REALTORS Association of Hamilton-Burlington

Home Inspector Liable for Cost of Removing Mould

Arecent court ruling found ahome inspector liable for thecost of removing mould from

a house. The inspector did not find any mould

during his inspection, but the owner had amould allergy and after she took posses-sion there were problems. She sued and ajudge ruled that the inspector should havesuspected mould based on his review ofthe premises.

The ruling highlights the importanceof checking or identifying mould, espe-cially in older homes.

Here is what happened: Glenda and Jennifer Halliwell

bought an 80 year old home on DufferinSt. in Toronto in 2006. Glenda told herreal estate agent that she was allergic tomould. The agent referred her to a homeinspector who found no evidence of aleaky roof or basement and so nobodysuspected any problem. The inspectorsaid in his report that the exterior brick-work concrete at the base of the homenear the driveway needed repair, as didsections of the driveway itself, but youcould probably find this in most oldhomes.

The report had a standard limited lia-bility clause which meant that if theinspector made a mistake, the most thebuyer could expect would be the cost ofthe report. This clause is common in mosthome inspection reports, mostly due tothe fact that the inspector can’t lookbehind walls or under floors.

The Halliwells bought the house andwithin three months after closing, mois-ture, mould and mildew presented prob-

lems for the allergic Ms. Halliwell. Theysued the seller, the home inspector andthe real estate agent for the cost to fix theproblem.

In court, it was revealed that the sell-er had lived in the house for six years andthe house was leak-free. There was noevidence that he tried to cover anythingup by building a wall or repainting thebasement walls.

In a decision in January, 2011, thejudge decided that the inspector shouldhave known that the damaged concreteand driveway at the front of the homecould result in leaks to the foundationwhich could eventually cause mould,which would be especially problematicfor someone who was allergic to it.

The judge decided that the home

inspector should pay 50 per cent of thebuyer’s loss. Even though there was alimitation of liability clause, the judgeaccepted the evidence of Ms. Halliwellthat it was not explained to her so it hadno effect. The judge also decided that thebuyer’s real estate agent was 25 per centresponsible for the loss, saying that theagent should have also read the inspec-tion report and come to the same conclu-sion about the possibility of mould occur-ring. The buyers were found to be 25 percent responsible for not reading the reportthemselves. The sellers were not respon-sible because they did not know aboutany leaking.

Everyone appealed. In a decisionreleased last month, Ontario appeal courtjudges decided that the home inspector

should pay all of the loss. It was too muchto ask a real estate agent or a buyer tomake the connection that defects in theconcrete and driveway at the front of thehouse could somehow later lead tomould.

I think the buyers were fortunate inthe case that the court found that theinspector did not properly explain thelimitation of liability clause.

Real estate agents are not generalcontractors, and should not be expectedto provide this type of advice to buyers.Still, agents should be suspicious if thereis any visible slope in the floor, cracks inthe walls or water stains. In addition, anytime the seller has done recent renova-tions or paint jobs, it could be that thesellers are trying to hide an old problem.In all cases, buyers should be warned toconduct detailed home inspections to sat-isfy these concerns.

Mould is becoming a serious issuefor buyers. It can cause illness if one isexposed to it over an extended period oftime and costs a lot to remove. The prob-lem was that testing for mould once costover $1,000.

Now companies such as TristarDisaster Recovery with offices inHamilton, Toronto and Waterloo, canconduct tests for mould for as low as$250, and can assist homeowners withremoving mould as well. Since mosthomes for sale in the GTA are over 50years’ old, a mould test should be manda-tory for every buyer.

Mark Weisleder is a real estatelawyer. Contact him at [email protected]



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Specializing in Content appraisals for Estates, Divorce & Legal IssuesAppraisals for Vehicles, Insurance Claims, Bankruptcy, Tax Relief, OSAP & MTO.

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estate Clearing

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Crossword Puzzle(Solution on Page 4)

Across1 Be in front (4)

3 Regarded with respect (8)

9 East African capital (7)

10 Dance of Cuban origin (5)

11 Burn superficially (5)

12 Making an effort (6)

14 Sundry (13)

17 Merchant of Venice character (6)

19 Tiny fly (5)

22 Native American tent (5)

23 Malady (7)

24 Obstruction (8)

25 Walk heavily (like apoliceman?) (4)

Down1 Solitary (8)

2 Someone from outer space?

(5)

4 Brilliantly clever (13)

5 Ahead of schedule (5)

6 Keepsake (7)

7 Small drink of alcohol (4)

8 Hold together (6)

13 Appraised (8)

15 Eighth sign of the zodiac (7)

16 Spry (6)

18 Adjust finely (5)

20 Reside (5)

21 Wound with a dagger (4)

Canadian Households’ Debt hits another Record

According to StatsCan, householdscarry record debt as world bracesfor eurozone ripples.

Canadian households were worthmore in the first three months of this year.But they also owed more. And their dis-posable incomes didn’t rise fast enoughto keep pace with their growing debtload.

This widely quoted measure ofCanadians’ debt loads hit a record higheven as policy makers warned consumersto curb borrowing.

Canadian households’ ratio of debt todisposable income climbed back intorecord territory in the first quarter,Statistics Canada said Friday.

After falling slightly at the end oflast year to 150.5 per cent, the ratio roseto 152 per cent in the first quarter, theagency said.

That means that for every dollarCanadian households earned, they owed$1.52 in debt on average. The ratio is

considered a proxy for consumers’ abilityto repay their debts.

The data comes a day after the Bankof Canada warned a financial shock wavein Europe could push some Canadianhouseholds over the edge if it led to aglobal economic slowdown and a rise inunemployment.

With record low interest rates set toeventually climb back to more historical-ly normal levels, central bank governorMark Carney has been warning Canadianhouseholds for some time to rein in theirborrowing.

It appears Canadian lenders havebeen heeding the message, TD Bankeconomist Diana Petramala wrote in anote to clients.

The rate of household debt growthslowed to 0.9 per cent over the previousquarter. It’s now up just 5.8 per cent overlast year, the lowest pace since 2001,Petramala wrote.

But incomes grew at an even slower

rate, up a “measly 2.3 per cent” over lastyear, Petramala noted.

“The slowdown in household creditcan likely be chalked up to tighter bor-rowing regulations put in place by thefederal government in early 2010 and2011, rather than households taking aresponsible attitude toward debt accumu-lation,” Petramala speculated.

Calling the level of household debt“excessive,” she warned Canadians werecoming perilously close to the 160 percent level that pushed many U.S. andU.K. households over the edge.

Canadians can no longer count onrapidly rising real estate and stock marketprices to do the saving for them, sheadded.

Canadian households’ net worth roseto a record $6.5 trillion, or $185,800 onaverage. That’s up 1.8 per cent over theprevious quarter.

Year over year, net worth rose just2.6 per cent, the lowest increase since the

recession of 2008, Petramala said.On a positive note, with the debt cri-

sis in Europe continuing to threaten toslow the global economy, Canada’s cen-tral bank is unlikely to raise its trend-set-ting interest rate any time soon, saidRichard Goyder, vice-president, personallending, at RBC.

Recent sharp gains in employment— the economy created 140,000 newjobs in March and April — also meanhouseholds’ disposable income shouldimprove, Goyder said.

“We’ve seen the levels of personaldebt continuing to rise, though the rate ofthat rise has continued to slow as well.That, combined with the continued delaysin rate rises from the Bank of Canada,means the servicing cost of this debtremains very manageable for Canadians,”Goyder said.

Torstar News

Home evaluationNo Cost or Obligation

Call Rob Golfi today!

905-575-7700 / 905-945-0188



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Rob Golfi*

Grimsby, Lincoln West Lincoln & Niagara

GrIMSBy $249,900

195 Main Street WestUpdated, trendy escarpment property in 2003.Showcase gas fireplace in family rm, large masterbedrm with hotel style ensuite, large kitchen withporcelain tiles, dinette w/patio doors leading to privatedeck overlooking escarpment.

GrIMSBy $379,900

15 Tamarack CourtOutstanding & immaculate home on a quietcrescent with escarpment views! Features 2000sqft. of beauty, spacious kitchen w/patio doorsleading to landscaped & private fenced yard,family rm w/hardwd flrs, large sun filled mastersuite w/walk-in closet and ensuite bath.

GrIMSBy $247,900

176 Livingston Ave, Unit #43 BR townhome in Grimsby w/elegant finishes topto bottom. Lrg eat in kitch, formal DR, lrg LRw/walk out to private terrace. Master bedrmw/ensuite bath & two more good sized bedrms onthe upper level. Lrg family rm w/laundry & plentyof storage space. Close to amenities

BeAMSVILLe $324,900

4034 Barry Drive Trendy, stylish raised ranch! This home features 9-ft ceilings w/bright big windows, hardwd flrs, kit.w/walk out to patio and renovated bathrm, sunfilled basement w/family rm, gas FP & spare BRw/full bathrm. Fantastic escarpmentneighbourhood w/an extra deep lot.

VINeLAND $289,900

3380 Dustan StreetCozy and stylish bungalow in peaceful lakefrontcommunity with access to beautiful walking paths,waterfront clubhouse & beach! Open concept livingfeatures 9ft ceilings, 2 full bathrms, large kitchenw/patio doors leading to back yard deck, main flrldry.

GrIMSBy $459,900

391 Kerman AvenuePrestigious 2-storey will surprise you! 2750 sqft ofluxury, maple & oak hardwd flrs, large family sizekitchen with granite counters & breakfast island,showcase fireplace in family room, crownmoulding, shingles 3yrs new, furnace & C/Air 2yrsnew, landscaped yard with pond.

GrIMSBy $244,900

15 Adelaide StreetFantastic Investment Opportunity, Duplex withinthe downtown core. 2 bedrm unit on main level& 1 bedroom unit on upper level. Gross incomeof $1885/mth. Includes large double car garage,shingles approx 4 yrs new, and new furnace2011. Please allow 24 Hrs for showings.

SMITHVILLe $399,900

146 Rock StreetOutstanding & immaculate Custom built 2350 sq.ft.Facing park, loaded w/upgrades, features maplekitchen with antique finish and granite counters,gleaming hardwood flrs, porceline tile, Californiashutters, luxury ensuite master bedrm with Frenchdoors leading to 16x24 covered patio.

GrIMSBy $474,900

53 Sumner CrescentDYNAMITE DEAL IN GRIMSBY! 5 BR homeincluding laundry rm, all on second flr. Featuresgorgeous hardwood floors, grand foyer w/oakspiral staircase, maple kitchen cabinets, rich hotelstyle ensuite bath w/glass enclosed shower, & aprofessionally finished basement with 9’ ceilings.

GrIMSBy $349,900

81 Colonial Crescent3 bed home features open main floor plan, Jewelstone finish flooring in liv/din room, hardwood &walk out to backyard oasis, oversized deck, aboveground pool & views of the Escarpment. Basementis fully finished with a 3 pc bath.

BeAMSVILLe $419,900

4844 Northgate CrescentLAVISH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM! 2400 sqft. ofluxury this 4 bdrm home features gorgeoushardwood, main flr laundry, oak staircase w/balconyoverlooking great rm, crown mouldings, over sizedmaple kitchen w/granite & island, ,R-I-bath inbasement, $1000s in upgrades, shows like a dream!

GrIMSBy $168,999

49 Ontario Street, Unit#14Stunning townhome! Quality finishes throughoutincl. hardwd flring, kit w/breakfast bar, oversizedmaster BR, walk-in closet, & a main floor bath.Condo fees are $290.00/month & incl. C/Air, &exterior maintenance, building insururance, hydro,parking, & water.

GrIMSBy $1,499,900

143 Lake StreetFabulous waterfront property! Custom built, 3000sq ft home with lake views from every room.Maple hardwood floors, granite counters, mastersuite with access to back deck, ensuite and walk-inshower. Handicap adaptable!

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WeST LINCOLN $324,000

9407 Silver StreetAmazing home on 100 x 200ft lot, built in 1953,has an open concept LR/DR w/hrdwd flrs, hugemaster suite, new HighEff gas furnance/CA,updated bath, entry doors, & water cond.. Bonusrm over the garage.

GrIMSBy $199,999

5 Kelson Avenue NorthQuiet location in Grimsby close to QEW, Go andshopping. This 3 bedroom bungalow needs TLCbut has loads of potential. Windows done in 04/06,roof 09, kitchen has been refaced. Good sized backyard.

ST. CATHArINeS $274,900

15 Lakeside Drive, Unit 412 BR townhome w/amazing views of the lake.Resort style living. Lrg eat-in kitch, formal DR, LRw/corner gas FP. Hardwd in DR/LR & new hardwdin the master BR. Beautifully decorated, ingroundpool, lrg courtyard, priv. deck off patio doors,lower level is finished.

BeAMSVILLe $284,900

4503 Dufferin AvenueRaised Ranch with 4+1 bedrms ideal for in-lawsetup, double garage, walk out from finishedbasement, renovated kitchen with oak cabinets,island with granite counter, new C/air 2011,shingles 2005. All vinyl windows, greatneighborhood.

GrIMSBy $649,900

7 Chestnut DrivePURE LUXURY! Over 3000 sqft. flourishedw/upgrades, lrg kitch w/Caesar stone throughout,hardwd in great rm & dining rm, lrg master bedrmw/upgraded ensuite w/oversized glass shower, 2stainless steel gas fireplaces, oak handrailsw/aluminum spindles, 9 ft ceilings.

SMITHVILLe $469,900

14 Sarah CrescentStation Meadows Beauty. 2600 sq ft, 4 bdrm. Inclmain laundry, soaring ceilings in the main flrfamily rm, oversized eat-in kitc & w/o to deck &pool-sized yard. Basement fin w/ rec room &additional rms for bedrms or office

IN-LAW SETUP


GrIMSBy $419,900

32 Elgin StreetAMAZING SPACE IN THIS FABULOUS 2 STOREY!This open and inviting floor plan is 11yrs new w/2168sq.ft. and features kitchen with butler’s pantry to diningroom, grand foyer with oak stair case, hardwood floorsin family room with show case fireplace, cozy coveredfront porch, fully landscaped, & quick access to QEW.

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BeAMSVILLe $339,900

4092 Mountain StreetWant quality, this house is for you! This one flrplan incl. $20,000 in extras, California knock downceilings, rounded corners, 120 sq.ft. of hrdwd flrs,upgraded trim package, maple kit, asphalt drv &much more! Approx 1445 sq.ft. similar to be built.

BeAMSVILLe $285,000

5144 Connor DriveFabulous end unit freehold! 2 Stry, 1800 sq.ft.features incl. 9ft ceilings, wrap around porch, greatsized 3 or 4 BRs w/3pc ensuite & walk-in closet formaster bedrm, kitch w/dinette area overlookingfamily rm, main flr ldry, access from garage to rearyard & mins to all amenities. To be built.

BeAMSVILLe $244,900

5136 Connor Drive2 storey, 1460 sq ft. freehold town home features9ft ceilings, 3 great size BRs, loaf area w/3 pieceensuite, 2 large closets in master bedroom, kitchenw/ breakfast area overlooking family rm, accessfrom garage to rear yard & minutes to allamenities. To be built.

BeAMSVILLe $249,900

5143 Connor DriveFabulous end unit freehold Bungalow 1110 sqftavail. for 60-90 day closing. Come & visit ourmodel home & wowed on this Energy Guide &Tested home. Incl. great size BRs w/4pc ensuite offmaster, kitchen area overlooking family rm,attached to neighbouring unit at the garage only.

BeAMSVILLe $244,900

5137 Connor Drive2 Storey freehold town home 1386 sq.ft. Similar tobe built. Features includes great sized BRs w/3pcensuite & walk in closet off master, kit w/breakfastarea overlooking family room, available for 60 daypossession, access from garage to rear yard, & minto all amenities.

BUNGALOW

GrIMSBy $424,900

18 Manor CrescentOUTSTANDING HOME IN FANTASTICNEIGHBORHOOD! Features 4 large sunnybedrooms ensuite off of master, Wonderfulfamily Size Kitchen leading to fenced yard, mainflr den, spacious family rm with gas fireplace,well worth a look.

STeVeNSVILLe $254,900

3669 Carver StreetBeautifully maintained 7 yr old, 2 BR bungalow.Large open concept living room/dining roomw/cathedral ceilings complete with a homeoffice/den. Completely finished basement w/cornergas fireplace, wet bar and a 2 piece bathroom.Loads of upgrades.

BeAMSVILLe $279,900

5132 Connor Drive, Unit 60Fabulous end unit freehold! 2 storey, 1800 sq.ft.features 9 ft ceilings, great sized 3 or 4 bdrms,master with a 3 pc ensuite & walk in closet,kitchen w/breakfast/dinette area overlookingfamily rm, main flr ldry, access from garage torear yard & mins to all amenities. To be built.

SOLD IN 15 DAYS

The History behind Canada Day – July 1st – CelebrationsOn June 20, 1868, Governor General

the Viscount Monck issued a royal procla-mation asking for Canadians to celebratethe anniversary of the confederation.However, the holiday was not establishedstatutorily until 1879, when it was desig-nated as Dominion Day, in reference tothe designation of the country as aDominion in the British North AmericaAct. The holiday was initially not domi-nant in the national calendar; up to theearly 20th century, Canadians thoughtthemselves to be primarily British, beingthus less interested in celebrating distinct-ly Canadian forms of patriotism. No offi-cial celebrations were therefore held until1917—the golden anniversary ofConfederation—and then none again for afurther decade.

In 1946, Philéas Côté, a Quebecmember of the House of Commons, intro-duced a private member's bill to renameDominion Day as Canada Day. His billwas passed quickly by the House ofCommons but was stalled by the Senate,which returned the bill to the Commonswith the recommendation that the holidaybe renamed The National Holiday ofCanada, an amendment that effectivelykilled the bill.

Beginning in 1958, the Canadiangovernment began to orchestrateDominion Day celebrations, usually con-sisting of Trooping the Colour ceremonieson Parliament Hill in the afternoon andevening, followed by a mass band concertand fireworks display. Canada's centenni-al in 1967 is often seen as an importantmilestone in the history of Canadian patri-otism, and in Canada's maturing as a dis-tinct, independent country, after whichDominion Day became more popular withaverage Canadians. Into the late 1960s,nationally televised, multi-cultural con-

certs held in Ottawa were added, and thefête became known as Festival Canada;after 1980 the Canadian governmentbegan to promote the celebrating ofDominion Day beyond the national capi-tal, giving grants and aid to cities acrossthe country to help fund local activities.

Some Canadians were, by the early1980s, informally referring to the holidayas Canada Day. However, this practice didcause some controversy: Numerous politi-cians, journalists, and authors, such asRobertson Davies, decried the change atthe time, and some continue to maintain

that it was illegitimate and an unnecessarybreak with tradition. Proponents arguedthat the name Dominion Day was aholdover from the colonial era, an argu-ment given some impetus by the patria-tion of the Canadian Constitution in 1982,and others asserted that an alternative wasneeded as the term does not translate wellinto French. Conversely, these argumentswere disputed by those who claimedDominion was widely misunderstood, andconservatively inclined commenters saw

the change as part of a much largerattempt by Liberals to "re-brand" or re-define Canadian history. ColumnistAndrew Cohen called Canada Day a termof "crushing banality" and criticized it as"a renunciation of the past [and] a mis-reading of history, laden with politicalcorrectness and historical ignorance".

The holiday was officially renamedas a result of a private member's bill thatwas introduced in the House of Commonswhen only twelve Members of Parliamentwere present. (This was actually eightmembers less than a quorum, but, accord-

ing to parliamentary rules, the quorum isenforceable only at the start of a sitting orwhen a member calls attention to it.) Thebill passed the House in five minutes,without debate. It met with stronger resist-ance in the Senate — some Senatorsobjected to the change of name; ErnestManning, who argued that the rationalefor the change was based on a mispercep-tion of the name, and George McIlraith,who did not agree with the manner inwhich the bill had been passed and urged

the government to proceed in a more "dig-nified way" — but finally passed. Withthe granting of Royal Assent, the namewas officially changed to Canada Day onOctober 27, 1982.

As the anniversary of Confederation,Dominion Day, and later Canada Day,was the date set for a number of importantevents, such as the first national radio net-work hookup by the Canadian NationalRailway (1927), the inauguration of theCBC's cross-country television broadcast(1958), the flooding of the SaintLawrence Seaway (1958), the first colourtelevision transmission in Canada (1966),the inauguration of the Order of Canada(1967), and the establishment of "OCanada" as the country's national anthem(1980). Other events fell on the same daycoincidentally, such as the first day of theBattle of the Somme in 1916—shortlyafter which Newfoundland recognizedJuly 1 as Memorial Day to commemoratethe Newfoundland Regiment's heavy loss-es during the battle—and the enactment ofthe Chinese Immigration Act in 1923—leading Chinese-Canadians to refer toJuly 1 as Humiliation Day and boycottDominion Day celebrations until the actwas repealed in 1947.

Queen Elizabeth II was present forthe official Canada Day ceremonies inOttawa in 1990, 1992, 1997, and 2010,when more than 100,000 people attendedthe ceremonies on Parliament Hill. TheQueen also helped celebrate Canada's100th anniversary on July 1, 1967. PrinceWilliam and his wife took part in theevents in Ottawa for Canada Day, 2011,the first time a member of the RoyalFamily other than the monarch and herconsort had done so.

from Wikipedia


www.golfiteam.com


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Having a swimming pool inyour back yard can be a sum-mer dream come true. Know

the pros and cons, risks and benefitsbefore deciding to install a backyardpool.

If you spend your summer cartingkids, beach balls and floaties to the pub-lic pool or swim club nearly every day,chances are you’ve flirted with the idea ofputting in your own backyard pool.

Swimming pools are a source ofsummer fun, instant recreation for yourkids, and a plus for your property.They’re also expensive to install andmaintain, time consuming, and a safetyconcern.

Before you sign off on plans toinstall a backyard swimming pool, con-sider the pros and cons for your family.

With a Swimming Pool

As a pool owner, be prepared foryour neighbours and your children’sfriends to be lining up at your door, gog-gles and beach towels in hand. Havingyour own pool is an advantage if youhave teens and older children and you’relooking for a way to keep them at home.Your children will never be able to say,“We don’t have anything to do” whenthey’re not in school. For children fromtoddler through teens, water is a source offun.

A swimming pool is an attractiveasset to your property and is a great placeto entertain, not to mention a theme forany party.

A Pool Helps a Child’s Swimming

Skills Improve

Having a swimming pool in theirown back yard allows children regular

exposure to the water, which improvestheir confidence, swimming skill, andsafety. One factor in a child’s ability tolearn to swim is how often they’re in thewater and how frequent they’re using andpracticing techniques.

Like any sport, the more often a childswims the quicker he masters the task,improves his technique, becomes moreconfident in the water and is a better,safer swimmer.

Health, Sports and Fitness Benefits of

a Backyard Pool

No matter what athletic interestsyour family has, swimming is a great wayto stay in shape and train for any sport.Swimming is highly aerobic, a good car-dio workout, and is easier on the muscles,joints and bones than running or biking.

When children are in a pool – even ifthey’re just tossing a ball back and forth

or playing Marco Polo – they’re getting

exercise.

Safety and Liability Concerns of

Backyard Pools

Installing a pool on your property

carries with it an added responsibility in

backyard safety. Before installing a pool,

be aware of local requirements for fenc-

ing. A responsible pool owner goes

beyond legal requirements and sees to it

that the pool is protected by a high fence

with a locked gate. Consider pool alarms,

door alarms that can be set at night to pre-

vent toddlers from going to the pool dur-

ing the night, and the best safety covers

for when the pool is closed.

Talk to your insurance agent about

an umbrella policy that covers any acci-

dent at your home, at the pool, in the

pool, or anywhere on your property.

Swimming Pool Expenses

The cost of installing a backyardpool ranges from high – for an in-groundcement pool – to lower – for an above-ground pool. Having the pool installed isjust the beginning. Fencing, a cover,equipment and landscaping add to the ini-tial cost of a swimming pool.

Chemicals, cleaning, heating, main-tenance, repairs, closing your pool in thewinter and reopening it in the summer areall additional expenses.

Some expenses are offset by the costof a swim club membership, beach pass-es or trips to a public pool.

Your Time at Your Pool

Pool owners become part-time poolcleaners and full-time lifeguards. You’llfind yourself spending part of every dayeither cleaning the pool, checking filtersand baskets, and checking and addingchemicals, not to mention being presentwhile any child is in the water.

Doing your own pool cleaning, how-ever, has a side benefit advantage. Abackyard pool is cleaner and more sani-tary than a public pool.

And as the lifeguard, you’ll be sureyour children are being watched over.Don’t hesitate to set strict rules – no div-ing, no jumping onto rafts, no running onthe pool deck, no glass at the pool, andwhen the adult in charge has to leave thepoolside area, no matter how brief, every-one gets out of the water.

After weighing the pros and cons, ifyou decide to take the plunge and installa backyard swimming pool, being pre-pared for the expense and safety concernswill help you to enjoy your pool evenmore.

Diane Laney Fitzpatrick

Should You Install a Backyard Pool?Pros and Cons of Swimming at Home



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June 19, 2012 Issue 50

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