Jo-Anne Smith- Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Region Real Estate, Ont

The mood was one of gaiety and laughter as we stood
around in a circle, glasses of wine in hand, trying to outdo one another with ghostly real estate tales.

The setting was one of the office parties my broker at that time, regularly held to recognize the office achievements of his sales representatives.
When it came my turn to tell a story, I decided to relay the events that had occurred at an open house I had held at one of my listings the previous weekend.

There was a hush in our small group as I began my story...

On the previous weekend, I had done an open house at a circa mid 1800s home in one of Ontario's oldest towns.

When I had listed the house, the owner, one of the warmest and nicest women in her seventies I have ever known, told me the story about Edmund, who she was going to dearly miss when she moved.
‘Who is Edmund?’, I asked; thinking him to be a neighbour.
With a somber look in her eye, she told me in an outright fashion, ‘Edmund is the ghost that lives here in the house and has been here since the day we bought it 30 odd years ago.'

‘Oh?’ , I asked as my eyebrows rose in sincere interest.

‘Yes, he is very mischievous and he and I are friends. He often plays games like flushing the toilet, or moving my papers around from one room to another. ‘ , she said with a twinkle in her eye.

‘Really?’, I exclaimed, thinking to myself that perhaps she was just saying these things to amuse me.

She then proceeded to tell me about the history of the house, how rumour had it that the original owner, a blacksmith, had hung himself in the woodshed, which was now the family room, in the late 1800s.

She figured Edmund was this blacksmith’s ghost. She also said that various members of her large extended family had seen Edmund and that his footsteps were often heard walking around the house.

I finished up my paperwork, had her sign all the documents and drove back home to prepare the listing for turning in to my office first thing in the morning.
I didn’t think much more about her story until one grey, wet Sunday in the fall when I was at the property doing an open house.

Things were very quiet during the first half hour with no prospects turning out in the drizzly rain.
Deciding to go into the living room and read some magazines, I had no sooner sat down when I heard a door open and some footsteps walking across a hall upstairs.

Suspecting a buyer must have tiptoed by the living room doorway and not known I was here, I decided to go upstairs and investigate.
The second story of the home was not huge, consisting mainly of two bedrooms, a large hallway and a bathroom.

I checked the bathroom and each bedroom, including under the beds and in the closets and, upon finding no one, I decided I must have been hearing things.

With a bewildered feeling, I returned downstairs and to my spot in the living room where my magazine lay waiting.

I had barely sat back down when I heard the toilet upstairs flush and the loud footsteps above my head once more.
Thoughts of Edmund came to my mind, however I thought to myself 'there is just NO way'.

Surmising that there HAD to be SOMEONE up there, I very quietly snuck back up the stairs.
Pausing at the top landing, I gazed down the hall and towards the open bedroom doors.

Standing very still, I listened for any noises. Nothing.
I checked each wardrobe in the bedroom, under the beds once more, and in the walk-in closet and again checked the bathroom.
No one could be found anywhere.

By now I was beginning to have the sneaking suspicion that Edmund was making his presence known to me.
Feeling a bit foolish, I softly said ‘Hello Edmund.’.
Then I went back downstairs and finished my reading.

When the loud footsteps began again upstairs, I ignored them.
On that cold, drizzly fall day, not a single person had attended my open house, unless you count Edmund, of course.

An agent called me in the last ten minutes and said he was bringing over an offer and asked if he could present it to my seller after the open house.
I told him that would be fine as I knew my seller was coming back as soon as the open house had ended.

As I stood waiting for her in the doorway between the kitchen and the sunroom, I felt a coldness all down one side of my body.
I shivered as I sensed someone standing right next to me.

Moving out of the energy field to escape the uneasy feeling, I felt strong eyes upon me and decided to go outside and wait for my seller to return.
Edmund was getting too close for comfort.

The seller returned, we dealt with the offer, and before leaving I told her I had met Edmund. She seemed quite pleased with this and told me this meant that he liked me.

As I finished my story, I noticed how round and amazed my peers eyes had become.
Since we were a group of close friends and watched out for each other’s interests, one of them asked if I had told our broker about this.
No, I said. I didn’t think I needed to.
She replied that he would be very interested in hearing this story. I felt rather embarrassed and did not want to tell him. Unfortunately, right at that moment, he approached our group and asked ‘What’s up ladies?’

My friend announced ‘Jo has a story to tell you.’. Well, I guess I now had no choice but to relay the story to him.
Upon hearing the story, he proceeded to ask me if I had told the buyer’s agent who had brought the offer on the property about this. ‘No', I replied, 'I didn’t think I had to.’

‘You most certainly do have to disclose this to the buyer’s representative', he said.

He then told us that a few years previous, a local brokerage had been sued for not disclosing the facts or knowledge of a haunted house that one of his agents had listed.
The house was known to be haunted and no one had told the buyers or their agent about this.
The buyers moved in and a succession of very frightening things had occurred. Eventually they found out that the house was known to be haunted and they proceeded to sue the listing brokerage.

The listing brokerage had lost that lawsuit.

Office policy now dictated that we MUST disclose when one of our listings is known to be haunted to the buyer’s representatives and to potential buyers.
In my case, it turned out ok. I called the buyer’s representative and informed him of the possibility of a ghost.

It turned out he and his buyers already were aware of the ghost, since they all were local residents and had heard the stories over a course of many years.
The fact that it was haunted did not scare his buyers in the least. On the contrary, there ended up being a bidding war for the property precisely BECAUSE it was known to be haunted.
It seems the ghost was quite a local celebrity .

When listing any property in Ontario, if it is disclosed to the listing representative, by the seller, that it is haunted or otherwise stigmatized, or if it is common knowledge that we are somehow made aware of, then by law we must disclose it to all potential buyers and their agents.
This includes properties where murders/suicides have occurred and any other type of stigmatization that the property may possess.

Do you know the law regarding stigmatized/haunted properties in your province or state?

©2009JoSmith

Crawford Lake - Revealing the Mysteries of the Past - Burlington Attractions and Oakville History.

Hidden in the eastern Ontario woodlands of the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, rests Crawford Lake.
Crawford Lake, a rare 'meromictic' lake, holds fascinating secrets of the past deep within it's depths.

As a meromictic lake, there is very little circulation at it's lower levels, thereby allowing annual sediment deposits called 'varves' to lay undisturbed for thousands of years.

In 1971 an analysis of sediment collected from the depths of Crawford Lake revealed a high concentration of corn pollen.



The corn pollen, dating from the years 1434-1459, indicated that a native village once rested nearby on the shores of the lake.

Archeological excavations revealed the presence of an Iroquoian village, the first 'prehistoric' village in the eastern forests of North America to be accurately dated.



Along with the location of the native longhouses and building structures, thousands of Iroquoian artifacts were found.

Reconstruction of the village took place over a number of years and today you may visit this beautiful Burlington and Oakville area attraction and historical site to experience for yourself life in a pre-contact Indian village.







As you stroll around the walkways of the village, the sultry scent of woodsmoke fills your nostrils and you find yourself transported back to a time when life was simple and people lived with the heartbeat of the land guiding their daily activities.











On entering one of the many Longhouses, your eye becomes entranced by the delicate, yet sturdy, baskets, tools, clothing, canoes and snowshoes of our indigenous peoples.

















A fire started with flint, the same way it would have been started hundreds of years ago by a woman of the village, sends it's smoky curls upwards in search of the smoke-hole in the Longhouse roof.


For a moment you find your heartbeat slowing and your every cell gentling to a quiet rythm rarely found in the hustle and bustle of today's harried world.





A sadness takes over you as you sense a deep spirit of loss and you find yourself wishing that, even for just a few hours, you could be transported back to that time when the waters of Crawford Lake teemed with fish and happy children's playful calls could be heard echoing throughout the surrounding woods and fields, while simple but delicious suppers cooked slowly over the longhouse fires.

Crawford Lake Conservation Area is located at the junctions of Steeles Avenue (now Conservation Road) and Guelph Line north of Burlington, Ontario.
To view a map showing how to get to Crawford Lake, click here ->Crawford Lake Conservation Area and Iroquoian Village .

With it's 19 kms of groomed hiking, cross-country skiiing and snowshoeing trails, as well as a sturdy, wide boardwalk around the lake itself, Crawford Lake will quickly become one of your destinations of choice when the urge to explore Oakville's history or Burlington's attractions comes upon you.

The unmatched beauty of the Niagara Escarpment surrounds the visitor at the Nassagaweya Canyon Interpretive Lookout as their gaze takes in the incredible views of nature and the sounds of forest creatures echo across the breathtaking landscape.

With a Visitor's Centre, well-stocked Gift Shop and Refreshment Area, Theatre, Gathering Place, Exhibits and Picnic Areas, Crawford Lake is sure to have something to please people from all walks of life and of every age.

If you are a teacher or a group leader, be sure to explore the amazing, hands-on, Educational Programs at Crawford Lake.
Parents may even opt to hold their child's next birthday party here!
It's certain to be one that will be remembered and talked about for years to come.

No matter what your interests are, if you are planning a visit to Crawford Lake, don't leave home without your camera. Photographic opportunities abound.

Crawford Lake, while revealing the mysteries of the past to it's thousands of annual visitors, has become a favourite Burlington area attraction for all who are interested in Oakville history, the Niagara Escarpment and the history of Ontario's Iroquois people.

©2009JoSmith

When I was 5 years old, my little sister, Maureen, died. After she was gone I was immersed in my own and my parents emotional pain for many months.
One day, shortly after Maureen's passing, I proclaimed to my Mother that I was never ever going to have human babies and instead would give birth to only puppies or kittens. They seemed much hardier to me and I somehow felt we had a choice.

Time moved on and I eventually gave birth to three beautiful sons. They were adorable little guys and with their unique personalities and interests, there was never a waking moment when something memorable wasn't taking place.

As small boys are apt to do, they grew up and moved far away. I missed them terribly as one by one they followed each other to Kelowna, a beautiful city in a stunning British Columbia mountain valley.

In September we flew to Victoria, BC and after spending an idyllic week exploring Vancouver Island, boarded the ferry and drove to the Okanagan Valley to spend a cherished week visiting with my sons David, Iain and Rob and David's girlfriend, Angie.

We had a wonderful time and when it came time to say goodbye, I steeled my heart and held back my tears.
While sharing in giant goodbye hugs, my heart overflowed with pride and love for each one and the very fine young men they had become.
It never ceases to amaze me how very fortunate I am that I was blessed with not just one, but three such caring, wonderful sons. They have all of the qualities I hoped they would have and then some.

Rob, Dave, myself and Iain at a lookout point near Kalamalka Lake.

©2009JoSmith

Buying a Condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington - Important Things You Need to Know About Condominium Ownership -Common Expenses and The Status Certificate.

Part One of the 'Buying a Condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington' series discussed the initial things a buyer should be aware of as they begin to think about looking at condominiums.
A link to Part One can be found at the bottom of this page.

In this article, Part Two of a three part series on things a buyer should be aware of as they begin to consider the purchase of a condominium, we will be looking at 'common expenses' and also talking about the 'status certificate', two very important aspects of condominium ownership.

• Condominium ownership involves the payment of monthly condo fees to the condominium corporation. These fees vary widely from development to development, not only in amount, but also in terms of what they cover.
  Monthly fees, also known as common expenses, are used by the condominium corporation to cover such things as maintenance of the common elements, funding the reserve account (see explanation of reserve account below) and paying for the management of the day to day operations of the building/development and the operating expenses of the condominium corporation.
  
  Monthly condo fees may also include, depending on the condominium, such things as snow removal, grass cutting, building insurance (for the exterior of the building), exterior building and grounds maintenance, water usage, utilities and television cable.
  
  Be sure to find out the exact amount of the monthly fees and what they include prior to the submission of an offer to purchase.
  
  If you are working with a REALTOR® , they will attain all of this information for you on each condominium that you are considering.
  
  You should also be aware that if you will be requiring financing for your condo purchase from a bank or mortgage company, the amount of the monthly condo fees will have an impact on how much the lender will be willing to loan you for a mortgage.
  
  If you are considering the purchase of a condo that has not yet been built or is in the process of being built, be aware that the condo fees you will be quoted may rise by up to 50% or more after your first year of ownership. Factor this into your monthly costs when you are determining how much you can afford prior to submitting an offer to purchase.
  
  
  
• One of the most important documents applicable to condominium ownership is the 'Status Certificate'. It is vital that you do not purchase a condominium prior to having your lawyer review the status certificate and go over with you in detail it's contents.
  The status certificate will cover the following very significant aspects of the condominium corporation and unit you are considering:
  
  
  1. The amount held in the 'reserve fund'.
  All condominiums are required by law to maintain a separate fund that is allocated for the payment of major repairs and replacements of the common elements of the condo corporation. These may include repair or replacement of windows, roofing, pools, parking, elevators etc.
  
  
  2. Whether or not the unit you are interested is overdue on any common expense payments.
  
  
  3. Reveals any liens against the unit you are considering.
  
  
  4. Provides you with detailed accounting of the most recent audited financial statements and budget of the condominium corporation.
  
  
  5. Indicates whether there are any special assessments or legal actions involved with the condominium corporation or with the unit.
  
  6. Includes a list of the Board Members of the condominium corporation.
  
  
  7. Whether or not there are any increases in the monthly fees being contemplated.
  
  
  8. A copy of the condo corporation's 'Declaration'. The declaration is the legal document that creates the condo corporation. In it you will find a description of the boundaries of your unit and the percentage used for calculating the specific montly expenses/fees for your unit. It will also contain any obligations that affect the use of your unit.
  
  
  9. The Bylaws of the condominium corporation. The bylaws will outline the organizational and administrative functions and duties of the Board of Directors and the Condominium Corporation. They will also provide a structure for the calling of owner's meetings and for the election of members to the Board of Directors.
  
  
  10. All condominiums have a set of 'Rules and Regulations'. These will also be included in the status certificate.
  Condo rules and regulations set out the standards of behaviour for the condo community.
  They will cover such things as the day to day use of the common elements and also of the individual units.
  Some condominiums do not allow pets or limit the type and size of pets. If this is the case, it will state so in the rules and regulations.
  There are various other stipulations that will be found in the rules and regulations and it is very important for you to review them prior to making a firm offer to purchase.

Your REALTOR® will set out a certain amount of time (usually 10 days), in the offer to purchase, for you and your lawyer to review the status certificate. This is set out in the form of a condition,
thereby allowing you to rescind your offer should you or your lawyer find something of concern when reviewing the status certificate.

For Further Reading:

Buying a Condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington - Important Things You Need to Know - Part One.

Buying a Waterfront Condominium in Oakville.

If you are considering buying a condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington and would like a complete list of condominiums currently available for sale that meet your needs/desires,
contact Jo-Anne Smith.

©2009JoSmith

Buying a Condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington - Important Things You Need to Know About Condominium Ownership - Part One.

In today's real estate market, homebuyers from all age groups often consider the purchase of a condo as they begin to explore their homebuying options.

If you are amongst this diverse group of homebuyers, there are many important things you should be aware of before moving forward on the path to buying a condominium.

Enlisting the help of a knowledgeable real estate sales representative early in the process will save you an enormous amount of time and potentially problems and money.

REALTOR®s have the knowledge, skill and experience you will be thankful to have on the road to condominium ownership.
They will guide you along the path to a well-built condominium in the best location for your needs and desires and will be with you every step of the way as you realize your dream of not only moving to a place you are pleased to call home, but also in making a profitable investment for your future.

Buying a condo in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington, similarly to buying in other locations across the continent, is quite a different process from buying a detached home or freehold property.

When buying a condo, you own the interior of your unit on your own, however the exterior of your unit and the grounds or building that it is located on or in, are considered common elements and you are only buying a share in these common elements.
The common elements, such as a pool, walkways, tennis courts, lobbies, etc are owned by the condominium corporation and you, as a condo owner in the development, own a share in the condo corporation and hence in the common elements.

Please review the following list of key points to familiarize yourself with condominium ownership:

• When you begin to consider buying a condominium, it's a good idea to carefully consider the appearance, location and nearby amenities of the building or development.
  These important factors will have a great impact on the future value of your unit and also on the quality of your day to day life while living there.
  
  
  
• Explore the common elements of the building or development and decide whether or not they are of value to you or if you will be making use of them.
  This is an important consideration as part of your monthly condo fees will be going towards the maintenance of the common elements and will determine the amount of the condo fees that you will be paying, no matter if you use the common elements or not.
  
  Common elements may include such things as pools, squash courts, gyms, parks and gardens, lobbies, parking garages and more.
  
  
  
• The age of the building or development is also an important factor to consider. Checking for the condo builder's reputation at TARION.com is an imortant step that many buyers often neglect to do before putting in an offer on a condominium unit.
  
  
  
• If you are considering older developments or buildings, it's a wise move to investigate the management and financial history of the condo corporation and also find out what kind of management the condominium has.
  Your real estate sales representative will be able to help you in exploring all of these things as you work towards choosing the right condo for you.

If you are thinking of buying a condo in Oakville, Burlington or Mississauga, be sure to read Part Two in this series as we continue to explore the important things to know when considering condo ownership.

Other articles in this series:

The Benefits of Buying a Condominium in Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga.

©2009JoSmith