Steve HudsonSales Representative

RE/MAXFirst Realty Ltd., Brokerage1154 Kingston RoadPickering, ON L1V 1B4

Office:Direct:Fax:Email:Web:

905-831-3300905-420-6222905-831-8147steve@stevehudson.cawww.stevehudson.ca

Greetings! You're receiving thisnewsletter with hopes that you fi ndit informative and entertaining.

If you're thinking of making a move,or are just curious as to real estatetrends in your area, pleasefeel freeto call at any time. It's always goodto hear from you!

All the best,

steoe Hudson.

Each office is independently owned and operated.

CONGRATULATIONS,MORTGAGE-SAVVY CANADIANS!The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provided

some interesting - and positive! - insight into the way Canadian

mortgage holders view their mortgage obligations, according to the

CMHC 2011Mortgage Consumer Survey.

Overall, Canadians appear toenter the housing market withboth eyes open, doing extensiveresearch before they purchase,and then are diligent in theirmortgage management followingtheir purchase. After all, as PierreSerre. Vice President, InsuranceProduct and Business Developmentat CMHC noted, "Buying a homeis one of the biggest financialdecisions most Canadians will makein their lifetimes."

The survey showed that Canadianstake, on average, 11 months toplan their purchase, and 88 percentof homebuyers indicated theyhad a good sense of how muchmortgage they could afford beforepurchasing a home.

Throughout your own buying andselling experiences, it's importantto remember that a realestate sales representativeis more than just someonewho hammers a "for sale"sign in the lawn foryou. A real estatesales representativeworks alongsideyou to ensure

that you completely understand,and are comfortable with, everystep in the real estate process.Thisincludes important discussions onfinances, to ensuring the propertiesyou view include everything onour "wish" list, from location to

type of home and property size to,of course, affordability.

Whether you have questionsabout your own moving plans, orquestions on the real estate climatein a specific area, please rememberthat you can call at any time fora discussion and advice, withabsolutely no obligation.

A NEW LOOK FOR L~ROLL WITH ITPaint is one of the easiest. least expensive ways tobreathe new life into your decor. Change a room's colorand you not only change its look, you change its vi be.Large rooms feel cozier when painted in darker shades;bright rooms feel more calming when painted in coolhues, like marine greens and blues. But there are manymore applications for paint than just changing wallcolor. Use paint with stencils to create faux finishes,or paint. well, just about anything: bookcases, tables,lamps, and even floors. Check local retailers for mis-mixed paints, which you can pick up at a fraction oftheir original cost.

CHANGE OF PLANSIf you're like most people, your floor plan is arrangedin such a way that all of your furniture is pushed backflush against your walls. Such a layout can look a bitsterile, so try bringing your furniture out from theroom's perimeter, and placing pieces on the diagonal -this can lend rooms a sense of movement, taking themfrom dull to dynamic. Also, experiment with groupingsof furniture, creating different "zones" that servedifferent functions - a reading nook and aN-watchingarea, for example. Changing your floor plan might makeyou break a sweat. but it certainly won't break the bank.

IT'S THE LITTLETHINGSRugs, pillows, artwork, picture frames, lamps, vases-easy to move around, repositioning accessories are agreat way to revamp a room. Rearrange your accessoriesor rotate them so only some of them are out at anyonetime. Want to introduce a theme into a room or changeone that's already there? Accessories are a great way todo so - limiting your thematic expression to accessorieshelps to avoid overkill and allows you to easily andinexpensively change your theme when you tire of it.

A SHIFT IN FOCUSInterior designers will tell you every room should havea focal point. a place for the eye to rest. If your roomdoesn't have a focal point, create one. To make it easier,some rooms have natural focal points: a fireplace, picturewindow, or wall of built-in shelving. If the room alreadyhas a focal point, you can shift it - from the N to yourbig, fabulous painting or area rug, for example. Emphasizeyour new focal point by arranging your furniture aroundit. accenting it with lighting, accessorizing it. or paintingthe wall behind it a different color.

[

• Make a "needs vs. wants" checklist and use it to measurehow each property stacks up. Sometimes, it's the sheeramount of choice, or the thought of ending up in a homethat's not right for them, that leaves buyers stymied. Achecklist helps narrow your focus and prevent you frompurchasing a home that doesn't meet your needs.

• Talk to a mortgage consultant. A home is a big financialcommitment, and that can leave some buyers feelingparalyzed, as can wondering if they can afford it. Amortgage consultant can give you an idea of what youcan afford, tell you what you qualify to borrow, anddiscuss borrowing options with you to find the best fit.

• Let go of "the one" idea. For some buyers, it's the ideathat there's such a thing as the perfect home thatcauses them to miss out on a good thing. The reality isthat no home is perfect; there will always be somethingabout every property you wish you could change. The Making your home move-in ready doesn't necessarilyquestion is, can you live with those imperfections? mean doing costly kitchen and bath renovations. It does

--+------------------------j--Imea n·-a-ddressing-safety issues.ras wettas p-erform ing- -- --• Work with a real estate sales representative. The maintenance tasks, both minor (such as fixing leaky

home-buying process can be intimidating; some buyers faucets and drawers that stick) and major (like fixingare so fearful of making a misstep that they can't faulty appliances or problems with your heatingftake the next step at all. Team with a professional cooling system). To that end, consider having your homeand you'll have someone on your side whose job it is professionally inspected before it goes on market; theto explain each stage of the process and look out for inspection report can serve as your to-do list, ensuringyour best interests. your property is all fixed up - not a fixer-upper.

ANALYSIS PARALYSISAre you so overwhelmed by the home-buying

process that you find yourself unable to move

forward? If so, you may suffer from buyer's paralysis.

Luckily, this condition can be cured. Here's how.

Most buyers, especially first-time homebuyers,

agree that finding a property in "move-in ready"

condition is important to them. So, sellers, it's

time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Getting your home in move-in condition also meansmaking sure it's thoroughly clean and neutral in decor.Ideally, buyers want to be able to move into a propertywhere they can apply their personal touch withouthaving to first remove yours. In other words, your decorshould be a blank canvas - so give your walls a freshcoat of paint in a neutral tone, and, if not already aneutral shade, replace your carpeting, too.

Just as buyers want a move-in ready home, you wanttop dollar for your property. So, while putting work andmoney into your home only to turn around and sell itmight seem counterproductive, doing so will help to justifya higher asking price than you could set for your home ifit required more work on behalf of its new owners.

jJ MIXPaper from

FSC responsible sources

_,,,"" FSC" C018297

The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the publishedinformation. This newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Not intended to solicit properties or businesses listed for sale and agency agreements in place with other real estate brokers. Whole orpartial reproduction of this newsletter is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. e Market Connections lnc.<!l2011, Phone: {800} 387-6058.

From high winds to heavy rains, this country is no strangerto extreme weather. What can you do to help protect yourhouse from storm damage?

• Get your roof regularly inspected and make sure there areno missing or damaged shingles (when replacing shingles,consider wind- and impact-resistant ones). Have your roofand attic checked for leaks that could provide entry pointsfor water, especially around anything that passesthroughyour house's exterior, like chimneys and plumbing vents.

• Lessenthe possibility of water damage by ensuring yourgutters and downspouts are clear of debris, free of leaks(usually found where gutter sections meet), and securelyfastened to your house. Install splash blocks or downspoutextensions to divert water away from your house'sfoundation lest it collect there and seep into your basement.

• Install storm shutters. Not just an attractive decorativefeature, storm shutters protect windows from airborneobjects and can help reduce damage resulting from pressurechanges caused by broken doors or windows. You may alsowant to consider installing impact-resistant windows.

• Keep on top of landscape maintenance. Remove any weakor dead trees and limbs of trees to reduce the chances ofthem faiiing on your home or becoming projectiles. Keepbranches trimmed so they're not near power lines, windows,or your roof where they might damage your shingles.

• Review your insurance policy to make sure you haveadequate coverage. Many insurance providers offerdiscounts to homeowners who take proactive stepsto safeguard their properties, so inquire as to whatpreventative steps might qualify you for lowerinsurance rates.

Terminology lipConditional Offer - An offer topurchase a home provided certainconditions, agreed upon by both buyerand seller, are met within an agreed upon

-~time- frarne.-$l.IG·h-eOr:lditions typlcauyinclude completion of a home inspection,the buyer's ability to secure financing,and the sale of the buyer's currenthome. Once the conditions are met,the contract becomes binding and thebuyer is then obligated to purchase theproperty; if the conditions aren't satisfied,the buyer is not obligated to buy.

Compliments of Steve Hudson RElMAX First Realty Ltd., Brokerage

Fax:905-831-8147

St~Hud£ofVEmail:

steve@stevehudson.ca

whether YOlkare-buyinj or s~ a.houce, I auc here-toa£si£tYOlkand your fauUiy witIv aLlyour real- estate- needs.Pleasefed fee- to caLt nee-toith: aI1j' 1ue!tWlU. I look.

forwttrdto s~ witlvyolA/.

Steve HudsonSales Representative

Office:905-831-3300

4 P-275935