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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/</link>
        <description></description>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/wisest-new-home-upgrade-investments.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/wisest-new-home-upgrade-investments.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Wisest new-home upgrade investments</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
New-home shoppers, take note: When navigating the wide world of upgrades, it's best to put your money where you can walk all over it.


Carpet, tile, wood, whatever - slather your upgrade budget all over the floor.


If you've purchased a new home, that big trip to the design center is exciting but can leave you wondering where to start. Cabinets and appliances? Landscaping and a swimming pool? One of those gorgeous vessel sinks?


New-home sales are down in this real-estate market, but they are happening. We polled builders and real-estate agents to find out which upgrades are most wanted and wisest for starter homes and luxury new builds alike.


First up: floors, and here's why:


"Flooring is something you never want to do again," says Chad Christian, an agent with Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty in Phoenix. "It's expensive."


In the future, potential buyers will walk through the house staring down. Neutral flooring in good condition will be a happy discovery, whatever the home's price range. More-expensive carpet often lasts longer. Go for the thicker pad. Install tile in high-traffic areas.


Of the buyers at Shea Homes who spend between $90,000 and $350,000 on a home, 87 percent put money into upgraded floors, spending an average of $9,800, spokeswoman Mary Garrett says. 


Second: Keep that flooring consistent. 


Creative homeowners often get a little nuts with marble here and wood there, maybe slate in the kitchen and travertine in the entry. You shouldn't just because you can, Christian says.


"You want the tile everywhere to be the same," he explains.


Starter homes often come with a tile entry but linoleum in the kitchen. Tiling the kitchen as well is a smart and popular move.


In more upscale homes, many buyers are going for the decorative tile medallion in the entry.


"The tile itself can be a piece of art," says Dawn Anderson, design center manager at Superstition Mountain Homes in Gold Canyon. 


Third: Think kitchen.


At William Ryan Homes at Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear, even the starter $169,000 houses have a cool kitchen option: the "castle" look, where cabinet heights and depths are varied to add interest. Granite is the standard kitchen countertop, though some buyers are upgrading that to quartz, says company Vice President Corbett McCallum.


At Shea Homes, 92 percent of buyers spending between $350,000 and $500,000 on a house give their kitchen cabinets some love, spending an average of $9,500. 


"Darker stained woods are popular right now," says Shea Homes spokeswoman Garrett, along with pullout shelving, tip-out shelves by the sinks, and concealed pullout garbage and recycling containers.


Countertops also are important to this group, with 82 percent spending about $3,400 to trump basic Formica. 


"Granite is still very much in style," Garrett says, as is ceramic tile. And many of these buyers take their tile up the walls; pretty kitchen backsplashes are popular and chic.


In starter homes, real-estate agent Christian recommends that buyers take cabinets up a notch or two, trying to get beyond that basic, oak-trimmed laminate. In this market, you want your home to have as much added value as possible. 


In Shea Homes' starter market, the average countertop upgrade is $4,200, and the average spent on cabinets is $3,400. More than 80 percent of buyers go for both.


In luxury homes, like at Anderson's Superstition Mountain community, buyers "want their cabinets to mimic a piece of furniture," she says. The island might be a different color than the cabinets that line the walls, and distressed and antiqued finishes are welcome. The appliances might be paneled as well.


But here, too, real-estate agent Christian says, suppress your urge for variety.


"Don't have contemporary cabinets in a bathroom and a really traditional kitchen and Southwestern cabinets in another bathroom," he says. "They don't have to all be the same," but they do need to be consistent in style and color.


And don't forget the appliances. At every price point, more than 70 percent of buyers choose to purchase more luxe models. 


From here, upgrades depend on your market. If you're purchasing a starter home, Christian says, put money into the backyard.


"One of the things that really plagues new homes is those horrible dark backyards," he says. "People don't know or appreciate how much it costs to get that" landscaping done. 


Christian recommends that you try to negotiate a landscaping package with your builder. Get sprinklers installed, at least. For the uninitiated, that can be a daunting job.


Look for ways to make your home special


At William Ryan Homes, where prices range from $169,000 to $305,000, the focus is on energy-wise building, with standard offerings at least 25 percent more energy-efficient than is required. Many buyers choose to take that even further, upgrading to tankless water heaters and air-conditioning units with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of 15 or 16. The higher the SEER rating of a unit, the more energy-efficient it is. 


"The money they recoup over time really makes it worth it," William Ryan's McCallum says.


In Shea Homes' midprice models, 74 percent of buyers add extra style to their bathroom vanities with tile countertops or cool sinks, Garrett says.


And at luxury Superstition Mountain Homes, where prices range from the high $400,000s to more than $1 million, upgrades get a little wild: receding glass walls that open onto the patio; air-conditioning units that cool pool areas and even portions of the backyard; misting systems; and home theaters galore.


These days, with resale competition fierce, it's smart to plan ahead and upgrade wisely in ways that will make your home stand out. 


Shopping for a house, Christian says, "is kind of like a beauty contest."


The prettiest almost always wins.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/decor/articles/2009/07/04/20090704upgrades0704.html#ixzz1luBXw59Z
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            <pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:07:38 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/pre-super-bowl-open-house-in-killarney.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/pre-super-bowl-open-house-in-killarney.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Pre Super Bowl open house in Killarney</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Please visit my open house at 2609 25a Street SW in the heart of Killarney Sunday February 5 between 11:00 and 2:00.  This two storey infill from 2003 has it all!  See you there. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:01:57 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/dont-wait-until-rrsp-deadline-cibc.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/dont-wait-until-rrsp-deadline-cibc.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Don't Wait Until RRSP Deadline: CIBC</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
In a growing trend, on the cusp of RRSP season, yet another poll shows that Canadians, by and large do not feel prepared for retirement.



Furthermore, many do recognize the link between retirement success and developing and implementing strategy: “Planning ahead makes a significant difference, according to the poll - among Canadians who say they have a long term investment plan for retirement, 76 per cent say they are financially prepared for retirement, versus just 25 per cent among those who don't have a plan.”



“Planning for retirement is something almost every Canadian thinks about at this time of year, and our poll results show that many would like to be further ahead when it comes to their retirement plans," commented Christina Kramer, Executive Vice President, Retail Distribution and Channel Strategy, CIBC. "Our poll results reveal a split in the country when it comes to retirement, with those who are actively planning ahead are about three times more likely to feel prepared for their future retirement than those who have not yet mapped out their retirement strategy."


For Baby Boomers who feel panicky, and that time has run out in advance of their retirement, fear not. There is no time like the present, even when it comes to retirement saving and planning.


Furthermore, previous CIBC research shows that 69% of Canadians intend to keep working through retirement age, so for many there is flexibility in terms of saving deadline.


There is also benefit, no matter what stage of life you are in, to understanding what you are investing in, and how that fits into your overall planning. The temptation for many is to wait to the last minute of the RRSP deadline, which can sometimes result in rushed decisions.


“We're all busy, and some Canadians have fallen into the habit of making their RRSP contribution just before the deadline without taking the time to sit down and understand where they are versus their goals, and what they might need to change to keep making progress," added Ms. Kramer. "We encourage Canadians to make this the year you use the time before the contribution deadline to look at your broader financial picture, particularly given the difference we see it making in the confidence people have in their retirement plans."


http://propertywire.ca/news/national-news/1677-dont-wait-until-rrsp-deadline-cibc.html
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            <pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:13:30 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/open-house-at-2609-25a-street-sw.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/open-house-at-2609-25a-street-sw.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Open House at 2609 25a Street SW</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Hello home buyers!


Please visit me at my open house on Sunday January 22 from 12:00 to 3:00.  Click http://www.rabbitview.com/dave-greenwood/2609-25a-street-sw to see the virtual tour!


Thank you,


Dave  Greenwood
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            <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:02:32 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/locking-in-never-looked-better.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/locking-in-never-looked-better.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Locking in never looked better</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Long-term mortgage rates have dropped to the lowest point in Canadian history — and the stampede to lock in is expected to pick up.


Bank of Montreal became the first major Canadian financial institution to bust through 3%, with its 2.99% closed fixed rate mortgage for five years. Others are sure to follow.


If five years isn’t long enough for you, ING Direct has weighed into the current mortgage discussion with a 10-year fixed rate product at 3.89%. The added bonus of going longer than five years is that under Canadian law after half a decade you can break your mortgage for as little as three months’ interest.


TD Canada Trust, which had already lowered rates on six and seven-year fixed rate terms, now has lowered the four-year fixed rate to 2.99%. Farhaneh Haque, director of mortgage advice and real estate-secured lending at the bank, says the argument has never been stronger because there is no guarantee these deals will be available in two years. The two new deals from TD and BMO are limited time offers.


“Buyers have to evaluate if they want to stay in variable,” says Ms. Haque, suggesting even those with deep discounts might want to consider scrapping those deals to take advantage of the historical bargains.


It’s hard to argue against locking in, unless you are one of the lucky people with a variable rate mortgage tied to prime that came with a whopping discount. Some consumers have deals with as much 90 basis points off prime, meaning they are borrowing at 2.1%. That’s not the same as negotiating today when you’re only get 10 basis points off or 2.9%.


“You’ve got a dinosaur, you are living in Jurassic Park with something that doesn’t exist anymore. You can’t get that again,” says Vince Gaetano, a principal broker at Monster Mortgage, who suggests you keep the low rate and use the savings to pay down your mortgage as fast as possible. “You cut your mortgage in half and you don’t care as much what the interest rate is when you renew.”


Mr. Gaetano says keep on eye on some of the new products and stipulations that might include things like prepayment terms and amortizations.


Bank of Montreal’s new product demands you get a 25-year amortization, instead of the maximum 30 years, and will only let you pay 10% per year of the original mortgage amount. TD Canada Trust’s new four-year product will let you prepay 15% while ING Direct goes as high as 25% prepayment.


By: Garry Marr, Financial Post
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            <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:55:13 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/nomophobia-do-you-have-it.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/nomophobia-do-you-have-it.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Nomophobia - do you have it?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The fear of losing mobile contact has become so common that experts have created a new term to describe the state of anxiety it creates for millions of people around the world - NOMOPHOBIA. 


Do you become anxious if you lose mobile phone contact with your friends, family or work contacts ?


If so you are not alone.


With the massive worldwide growth in mobile telephony has come a growing dependency on being able to maintian mobile phone contact with the important people in our lives 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Losing mobile contact with children, parents, friends, colleagues or customers can be a stressful and worrying experience. 


Nomophobia.com's Top Tips for Avoiding Loss of Mobile Contact  








Nomophobia Risk






Tip








Loss or Theft






Carry your mobile phone out of view in a buttoned or zipped pocket or section of your bag.   


Avoid putting your mobile down in public places.


Regularly create a back up of your address book on a spare mobile phone, SIM card or computer. 


Keep a separate record of your account number, phone number and security codes in a secure but convenient place in case you need them to report the loss of your phone to your mobile services provider. 


 








Handset or SIM Card Failure






Buy a low cost mobile phone with a pay as you go SIM card package as a back up and make sure that you have copied your address book to the SIM.


  








Battery failure






Make sure you charge your battery before you leave the house. 


Keep a spare battery charger at work. 


Buy a spare battery as a back up. 








 


Running out of credit


 


 


 






 


On pay-as-you go phones check your balance and top up your phone regularly. 


If you can’t top up your phone direct from your bank or credit card make sure you remember to check your balance and top up when you are visiting a Post Office or other retail outlet providing top up services.


  








Keeping in contact while traveling abroad






Before traveling check with your Mobile service provider to make sure that you can send and receive calls while abroad.  


Find out how much calls home are likely to cost and shop around for better deals using international calling cards or payas you go SIM cards. 


 








Poor Reception






Just in case you venture into an area with poor reception make sure you have personalised your voicemail message. Callers are more likley to leave a messsage if they are sure they have reached the right person.








http://www.nomophobia.com/
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            <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:47:30 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/gary-clements-top-10-cartoons-of-2011.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/gary-clements-top-10-cartoons-of-2011.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Gary Clement's Top 10 Cartoons of 2011</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But mostly, it was the worst of times. Natural disasters, civil unrest, bloody suppression, financial catastrophe, political shenanigans, sexual indiscretion, 2011 had it all and then some.


It made my life as a cartoonist pretty easy, as all these events readily lend themselves to satire and mockery. Except for natural disasters.


After the jump, Gary Clement picks his top ten of the year.


http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/12/26/gary-clements-top-ten-cartoons-of-2011/
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            <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:48:49 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/open-house-2609-25a-street-sw-saturday-december-17-from-100-to-400pm.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/open-house-2609-25a-street-sw-saturday-december-17-from-100-to-400pm.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Open House 2609 25a Street SW -  Saturday December 17 from 1:00 to 4:00pm</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Stop by to visit this Great New Listing in Killarney! If you cannot make it to the open house, please feel free to view the Virtual Tour on my Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/cgreenda?feature=mhee#p/f/0/F-WdBxnRneg



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            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:50:47 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/calgary-apartment-vacancy-rate-on-the-decline.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/calgary-apartment-vacancy-rate-on-the-decline.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>Calgary apartment vacancy rate on the decline</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Canada Mortgage and Housing reports Calgary's vacancy rate slipped below the 2 per cent mark in October, down almost two full percentage points from the same period a year ago.A strong economy attracting job seekers is getting most of the credit.The Executive Director of the Calgary Residential Rental Association tells 660News, landlords have been closely following the drop.Gerry Baxter says despite the decline in rental units, rents are not expected to rise any time soon.Baxter says landlords will let market forces dictate rents moving forward, predicting only minor increases to cover higher operating costs.He says over the course of the year there is a 40 per cent turnover in renters in the city.


Read full report from CMHC...


By: http://www.660news.com
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            <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:42:40 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/open-house-saturday-december-10-12-3-pm-2609-25a-st-sw.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.davegreenwood.net/blog/open-house-saturday-december-10-12-3-pm-2609-25a-st-sw.html</link>
            <author>davegreenwood@shaw.ca (Dave Greenwood)</author>
            <title>OPEN HOUSE Saturday, December 10, 12-3 PM @ 2609 - 25A ST SW</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Stop by to visit this Great New Listing in Killarney! If you cannot make it to the open house, please feel free to view the Virtual Tour on my Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/cgreenda?feature=mhee#p/f/0/F-WdBxnRneg



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            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:15:36 -0600</pubDate>
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