Posts by curiousprojects

Congratulations to our Award Winners

February 16, 2016 | Comments Off

At Royal LePage Team Realty helping YOU is what we do and we couldn’t do that without a dedicated network of real estate professionals. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our 2015 Award winners and thank them for their hard work and dedication. We are so proud to work with those who consistently go above and beyond to ensure their clients are provided with excellent real estate service. Looking forward to an awesome 2016! jQuery(document).ready(function($) { var mpImageSlider = $(“.motopress-image-slider-obj#56e5df6483fc4”); if (mpImageSlider.data(“flexslider”)) { mpImageSlider.flexslider(“destroy”); } if (!true) mpImageSlider.css(“margin-bottom”, 0); mpImageSlider.flexslider({ slideshow: true, animation: “fade”, controlNav: true, slideshowSpeed: 3000, animationSpeed: 600,
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Why Homeowners Should Beware of Icicles

February 13, 2016 | Comments Off

Ottawa’s freeze-thaw weather patterns often create sparkling icicles that look magical. But, they actually identify a dangerous — and potentially costly — hazard, an ice dam. Imagine coming home from work to find water streaming down your interior walls and soaking into the hardwood of your foyer. What would you do? What Is An Ice Dam After frantically tracing the flow, you would find that a pool of water had formed behind a thick ridge of ice in the gutters – hence the term ice dam. Snow on the roof had been melted by heat loss, causing
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Ottawa Real Estate Market Eases off with Cooler January Weather

February 4, 2016 | Comments Off

Ottawa Real Estate “Market Snapshot” January 2016 Statistics are useful in establishing trends but should not be used as an indicator of an increase or decrease in value of specific properties. If you are curious about the value of your home and/or specific neighbourhood statistics we would be happy to provide you with information, no obligation, please contact us at info@teamrealty.ca if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ *provided by the Ottawa Real Estate Board Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 601 residential properties in January through the Board’s Multiple
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Record-breaking December, contributes to a strong 2015

January 7, 2016 | Comments Off

Record-breaking December, contributes to a strong 2015 – Latest News from the Ottawa Real Estate Board Ottawa, January 6, 2016 – Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 703 residential properties in December through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 638 in December 2014, an increase of 10.2 per cent. The five-year average for December sales is 653. The total number of residential and condo units sold through the Board’s MLS® System throughout all of 2015 was 14,658, compared with 13,919 in 2014, an increase of 5.3 per cent. Separately, residential and condounit sales each outperformed the 2014 numbers. “Looking back
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Don’t tax my dream campaign succeeds

January 1, 2016 | Comments Off

The efforts of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) and the Progressive Conservatives were recently rewarded when the provincial government decided they would NOT be expanding the municipal land transfer tax program. Liberals keep election promise In an unexpected announcement during the legislature’s question period, Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin ended concerns that the Liberals would break their election campaign promise and allow other cities and towns to introduce the tax. “There has been no call, at all, for a municipal land transfer tax,” he said, “nor is there any legislation before the House that would allow
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8 steps to getting started in property investment

December 31, 2015 | Comments Off

This propertyinvestment.com post from Nila Sweeney is an excellent primer for those who want to start a property portfolio. First, check your finances to see how much you can invest and get mortgage pre-approval. Then, define what success means for you, as well as the level of risk you are comfortable with, and set your goals. Next, start budgeting and create a purchase plan. Finally, research the market for opportunities that meet your criteria and approach them as business transactions, applying logic rather than being swayed by your emotional attachment. To read more click here. Source: Blog
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An Economist’s Letter to Millennials Who Can’t (Yet) Buy a Home

December 30, 2015 | Comments Off

This post from Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com, explains what Millenials can do to help themselves along the path to home ownership. For example, a high debt burden will restrict their ability to qualify for a mortgage, and the amount they can get, so they need to limit their total debt payments (student loans, credit cards, car loans, etc.) to less than 15% of their income. Smoke also covers the importance of improving their credit score, saving as much as they can for a down payment and creating an emergency fund for unexpected bills. To read more click here.
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5 Questions to Ask Before Replacing Your Roof

December 29, 2015 | Comments Off

Most of us have little or no experience with re-roofing, so this post by home reno expert Bob Vila is a valuable guide to the questions a homeowner should ask before hiring a roofer. First, ask for an estimate that is comprehensive enough (permits, inspections, materials, labour, contingency) to establish a firm budget. Discuss the proposal in detail with the contractor. Find out what materials are being used and get the specifications in writing. Avoid cheaper, low quality materials, especially the shingles, because sub-standard materials reduce a roof’s life expectancy costing you more over the long term.
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The 3 Most Common Reasons a Home Inspection Kills a Deal

December 28, 2015 | Comments Off

In this Redfin.com post, home inspector Dylan Chalk underscores the importance of a home inspection by identifying how they can prevent a potential sale. The most common reason is the home is not what it appears to be, especially in the case of a “flipped home”, one purchased and updated with the intention of making as much profit as possible. The inspection reveals there are more repairs and updates than the buyer expected. Problems with the core systems of a “fixer” house (foundation, frame, roofline, floor plan, drainage and access) add cost and complexity to the new homeowner’s projected
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Reno Investments Providing the Highest Returns

December 27, 2015 | Comments Off

This detailed Home Inspection Network post provides useful data to anyone who is considering a home renovation. Author Bev Siciliano begins by explaining what many do not realize – we might not fully recoup our investment when the home is sold. For that reason alone, home renovations should be analyzed individually to ensure we get the highest return on investment (ROI). Generally, renovations that provide the best return on resale are superficial upgrades, like painting and decorating, with limited capital outlay and maximum impact. According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada’s latest Home Renovation Survey, renovations with the
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