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Lisa Tollis SRES®

Does my Reno Qualify for the Ontario Home Renovation Tax Credit?

-(NC)
Renovations like a new roof, upgrading electrical wiring and bathroom remodels are eligible expenditures and qualify for the Home Renovation Tax Credit.

The Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) is available for the 2009 tax year. It is a temporary, non-refundable tax credit. Here are a few things you should know about the HRTC as well as information aboutwww.LisaTollis.ca | Home Inprovements what renovations qualify and how much you can claim:

· The tax credit is 15% of eligible expenditures over $1,000 and up to $10,000 on home renovations made in respect of eligible buildings.
· The maximum tax credit amount is $1,350 per family ($9,000 x 15%).
· The tax credit will apply for costs incurred after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010.
· Costs related to an agreement entered into before January 28, 2009 are not eligible for the credit.
· Costs incurred will be claimed on the 2009 tax return, including the January 2010 costs.
· The HRTC will not be reduced by any other tax credits or grants to which a taxpayer is entitled, for the same expenditures, under other government programs. For example, if an eligible expenditure also qualifies for the medical expense tax credit (METC), both the METC and the HRTC can be claimed.
· For purposes of sharing the HRTC, a family consists of an individual, and where applicable, their spouse or common-law partner, and children under 18.
· Each family is subject to the maximum tax credit of $1,350, based on eligible expenditures.
· If one family member is unable to utilize the entire credit, the unused portion may be claimed by one or more of the other family members.
· If two or more families share ownership of an eligible dwelling, each of those families will be eligible for their own credit up to $1,350, based on eligible expenditures.

Eligible dwellings

· An eligible dwelling is a dwelling which qualifies as the individual's principal residence at any time during the period January 28, 2009 to January 31, 2010 inclusive, and includes the land that forms part of the dwelling.
· A housing unit qualifies as a principal residence if it is owned by the individual and ordinarily inhabited by the individual, the individual's spouse or common-law partner, or their children. This could include a cottage or vacation home.
· For condos and co-op housing, costs will be eligible for the credit if they are incurred to renovate the individual's principal residence "unit", and a share of the cost in respect of common areas may also be claimed.
· Where a portion of a principal residence is rented out, the credit can be claimed only for expenditures made in respect of the personal-use areas of the home.
· Where costs are incurred for common-areas of a partly-rented home, such as a roof, the credit will apply only to the portion allocated as personal use.

Eligible expenditures

· Expenditures must be supported by receipts, which will not have to be submitted with the tax return, but must be available if requested by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
· Expenditures will qualify if the renovation or alteration of the eligible dwelling is of an enduring nature, and is integral to, or built into, the dwelling.


Examples of eligible expenditures:
· re-shingling a roof
· interior or exterior painting
· kitchen, bathroom, or basement renovations
· replacing windows or doors
· new furnace or water heater
· resurfacing a driveway
· laying new sod
· upgrading wiring
· upgrading insulation


Expenditures are not eligible if they are for repairs and maintenance which are usually performed on an annual or more frequent basis.

· Expenditures for appliances (e.g. fridge, stove) and audio-visual electronics are not eligible.
· Financing costs are not eligible.

Other examples of non-eligible expenditures:

· furniture and draperies
· purchase of tools or other construction equipment
· carpet cleaning
· house cleaning
· maintenance contracts for furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, etc.
An air conditioner which is a portable plug-in type (an air conditioning unit which is built into the home heating or ventilation system would be eligible).

For more information visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

courtesy of: News Canada

Visit www.LisaTollis.ca For More Information about Real Estate & Listings.

Lisa Tollis SRES.
Sales Representative
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage.
Hamilton Ontario
Office: 905 574 4600
Toll Free: 1 877 574 4601

www.LisaTollis.ca

July Sales Right On The Mark

The Hamilton-Burlington area resale market reported a total of 1,369 units sold in July, indicating an increase of 10.6 per cent over the same month last year. The total unit sales for the first seven months of 2009 are being reported at 7.4 per cent lower for the same period last year, while new units listed are 8.3 per cent lower for the year-to-date, according to Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) statistics released by the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB).

"The summer market has continued with the strength seen in the spring," said Bruce King, RAHB President. "July marked the second month where sales and average price were up, year over year. Consumers continue to see value and opportunity in the greater Hamilton-Burlington area."

Residential properties sold during July totalled 1,318 which included 1,060 freehold properties and 258 condominiums. Commercial sales for July, including industrial, farm, vacant land and business, totalled 51 units.

The average price of freehold residential properties sold in the month of July was $311,945, an increase of 3.3 per cent over July last year. The average sale price reflects the dollar volume of residential sales divided by the number of total residential units sold.

In the condominium market the average price of condominiums in July was $233,509, an increase of 6.4 per cent over July 2008.

The total number of units listed for sale during July was 1,764, which is 0.7 per cent fewer than were listed in the same period in 2008.

"With inventory low, and the number of new listings easing, buyers may have to be patient," added King. "Market trends differ between cities, and among areas and housing types within a city. For local market expertise and information, buyers and sellers should use the professional services provided by a REALTOR®."

Unit sales reflect "all property types" including residential, condominiums, commercial property, farmland and sale of businesses.

courtesy of: REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington

Visit www.LisaTollis.ca for more information about Real Estate & Listings In Ancaster-Hamilton-Burlington-Stoney Creek & Surrounding Areas.

Lisa Tollis SRES.
Sales Representative
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage.
Hamilton Ontario
905 574 4600
1 877 574 4601
www.LisaTollis.ca

When Viewing Homes, View Them with Your Eyes WIDE OPEN!!!

Ok, you're in the market to purchase a home.

August & September are couple of the BEST Months to List & Purchase a Home!
Some want into their New Homes Before or During the Start of the New School Year.

Next step is that you'll want to go to a bunch of open houses or have your realtor set up appointments to view homes for sale.

You pull up to the curb and there it is - the home of your dreams.

Calm down.

Take a deep breath and start again. The hardest thing to do when looking for a home is to remain objective. It is easy to fall in love with a home's appearance, but it's very important to look beyond the window dressing.

The following not only helps Buyers, It also helps Sellers to get there home ready before they list it on the market.

Here are some things to consider when looking at a home:

General upkeep
First appearances do count. Is the home dirty and cluttered? Are the lawns uncut? Are the walls chipped and in need of paint? If the owner hasn't bothered to keep the house looking clean and attractive, what problems are lurking below the surface?

Water leaks
Water can do a lot of damage to a home. It rots wood, undermines foundations, and leads to mould and mildew. Reshingling a house, or repairing a cracked foundation to stop water leaks, can be extremely expensive.

It takes an expert eye to find most water leaks (which is why we recommend you have a house inspected before you buy). If you spot stains, bulges and other signs of water damage on ceilings or walls, make special note that there could be a problem.

Appliances and fixtures
Test the lights, faucets, toilets, furnace, air conditioning, and all major appliances that are to be included with the home. Make sure everything is working as it should.

Floors
Floors should be smooth, even, and solid. Soft springy sections, excessive squeaking, and unevenness are all indications that expensive repairs may be needed.

Doors and windows
Check that doors and windows fit snugly and operate smoothly. Look for flaked paint and loose caulking. Check for drafts.

Drainage
Walk around the yard looking for areas where water might collect. Soggy areas near the foundation indicate poor drainage.

Grout and Caulking
If the grout and caulking around bathroom and kitchen tiles are loose and crumbling, there is a good chance water is finding its way into the wall or under the floor.

Structural
Look for deep cracks in the foundations or loose mortar and bricks.

Furnishings
If you are not planning to replace all of your furniture (and not many people are), make sure it will fit into the rooms of the new house. Be sure to bring a measuring tape. Rooms can be deceptive.

Storage space
Make sure your new house has enough storage space for all your belongings. And that means more than just your clothes. Think of all the things that need to find a home - tools, gardening equipment, old toys, sports equipment, and all those wedding presents that are still in their original boxes. Check the size of the closets, the attic, the basement, and the garage. Rule of thumb: there's never enough storage space.

Inspection
You should take a long hard look at a house before you put in an offer to protect yourself from disappointment down the road. But, nothing can replace the expert opinion of a qualified home inspector. Inspectors can spot problems that the average person would never find and they can usually advise you on how much it will cost to make the repairs. A home inspection can help you determine whether or not you are going to make an offer on a house, and if you decide to go ahead, just how much that offer is going to be.

If you require more Information on Buying or Selling a Home, Please Do Not Hesitate to Call Me

Lisa Tollis SRES
Sales Representative
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage.
Hamilton Ontario 905 574-4600 24hr pager
Toll Free: 1 877 574-4601

Visit www.LisaTollis.ca For more Listings & Helpful Information on Real Estate.

Open House in Huntington Park Area, Hamilton East Mountain on Sunday Aug. 23, 2009 2-4pm

Open House in Huntington Park Area, Hamilton East Mountain on Sunday Aug. 23, 2009 2-4pm

Nice Bungalow In Huntington Park Area, Hamilton East Mountain - I want to invite everyone to visit my open house at 160 BRENTWOOD DRIVE on August 23 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Property information

Visit www.LisaTollis.ca For More Information About Real Estate & Listings In Hamilton Ontario and Area.

Lisa Tollis SRES.
Sales Representative
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage.
Hamilton Ontario

905 574 4600
Toll Free: 1 877 574 4601 www.LisaTollis.ca

OpenHouse on Hamilton West Mountain on Sunday FEB 10, 2008 2-4PM

OPEN HOUSE ON WEST HAMILTON MOUNTAIN

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS HOUSE!!!

Hamilton West Mountain, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 46 MILANO Court on Sunday February 10 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Property information

Call Lisa Tollis if you would like to view this home before the Openhouse.

Lisa Tollis
Sales Representative
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage
Hamilton Ontario 905 574-4600 24hr pager
Toll Free: 1 877 574-7441

Visit www.LisaTollis.ca