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

Appearing like a green monster from the deep, Meyer's Mill in Belleville, Ontario wears her finest August frocks.

A view of Meyer's Mill from the front. Belleville was originally called Meyer's Creek and the mill is the structure that the city grew around. It was restored by Quinte Construction Association and serves as a reminder of how it all began.

Children love to cool off in the shallows of the Moira River all summer long. There are many swimming holes and most folks who grew up in Belleville have fond memories of hot summer days swimming in the Moira River.

There is a beautiful Belleville Riverfront Trail along the Moira River as it snakes through Belleville and numerous photograph opportunities. This is looking south towards the Dundas Street (Highway 2) Bridge and the mouth of the river.

The river bed is limestone and there are numerous small waterfalls and natural ridges along the way. Herons and Grackles as well as turtles can be seen sunning themselves on rocks and along the shores.

Looking west towards the Front Street bridge, one can see how dry the river was this past August'07.
There was a severe water shortage throughout the watershed and wells were low. Many people mentioned they had never seen the river this low before.

The Lion's Club has built a beautiful park along the Moira on Station Street. There are numerous benches for sitting and abundance of small paths through glorious flower gardens. The riverfront trail footbridge over the Moira can be seen int he distance.

Two boys hunt for turtles and fish on a hot August afternoon along the Moira. Can you spot the second small boy?

The Moira River empties into the Bay of Quinte along Belleville's waterfront near the Bay Bridge, which you can see in the distance.
During a windstorm that occurred last week (January '08), a truck crossing this Bay Bridge was blown right over and the bridge was closed down for a number of hours. Note the sailboat in the distance. The Belleville and Quinte Regions are a boater's paradise.

The Ramada Inn sits on it's own inlet off the Moira River in Belleville. Great for boaters who decide to spend the night.

Looking southeast, we see the Anchorage, one of Belleville's premier condominums with each unit having a beautiful bay view. The Anchorage overlooks the mouth of the Moira River and the Bay of Quinte.

At Victoria Park, we see the final journey the Moira has taken to arrive at the Bay of Quinte. Numerous docks at Victoria Park are used for small craft in the summer months and for happy citizens out to catch some dinner.

I love to bring my lunch down here and watch the birds and listen to the water lapping the shore.

This is Morch's Marine looking across the Moira to Belleville City Hall and the towers of some of our gracious old limestone churches.

There's no finer place to spend a lazy summer day in Belleville than stretched out on a blanket with a good book in hand under one of these fine old trees at Victoria Park on the Moira River.

Along the path that each of us takes during the course of our lives, are many transitions. One of the major transitions most of us make, during various stages in our lives, is moving to a new residence.

Very few of us remain in the same home from the time we are born until we reach our life's end; although it has been known to happen.
For the rest of us, we are accustomed to things in life taking place which bring us to another fork in the path as we consider moving once again.

• Sometimes it is a personal choice as we desire to move to another town or community within our existing town. Perhaps a job change forces us to relocate or we desire to move closer to loved ones.
  
  
• At other times a move is thrust upon us due to the natural progressions of our lives.Young people marry and buy their first home.
  
  
• Children are born and a bigger home is required.
  
  
• Children grow up and move out on their own and we realize that the old homestead has become much to big and empty and a smaller place, perhaps all on one floor, is now desired.
  
  
• Sometimes there are health issues which force us to give up our present home and move to one more easily managed or in with family.
  
  
• Perhaps we have lived as a single person for a number of years and we meet someone new and fall and love. The decision then comes as to who should sell and move in with who, or should both homes be sold and a new one be purchased where we can make a new start as a couple in a place all of our own.
  
  
• At times a spouse dies and we are faced with all of the memories of a happy life at every turn. The house we shared seems empty and different and we find ourselves no longer being able to cope with the constant reminders of our loved one at every turn. Perhaps a new start in a new home will help, we surmise.
  
  
• At other times, we are called upon to manage the estate for a parent or relative who has died and as part of the execution of the estate, there is a property to sell.

No matter what the transition period we are facing in our lives is, be it happy or be it sad, we require the services of a real estate sales representative who is caring, trustworthy, knowledgeable and patient. Finding such a REALTOR® will make all the difference in the world when it comes to a smooth property sale as you go forward to the next step in your life.

The first thing to do when you are considering the sale of your property, is to locate a REALTOR who is a good match for you; someone who you feel comfortable with and who comes highly recommended either through their personal testimonials from prior clients, or as a recommendation from a friend or family member.

The real estate sales representative you choose will guide you through the sale process and be with you every step of the way as they take care of all of the details and provide you with advice on the things you can do to facilitate the successful and smooth sale of your home.

Your real estate sales representative will make numerous recommendations to you with regards to preparing your property for sale.

Please watch the video below for valuable information you won't want to miss as you begin to prepare your property for sale .
Proper preparation can make all the difference in the world when it comes to a quick and productive sale that nets you top dollar for your home.

Tucked away off the beaten track is one of Ontario's oldest and most beautiful, small cities with such a fantastical and intriguing history that it would rival that of many of Europe's oldest cities.
The small city wraps itself around the old limestone-bedded, snaking Moira River with one of the oldest, still-standing, limestone mills, the mill itself the centre upon which the settlement grew.

Named after Lady Arabella Gore, wife of Sir Francis Gore, after their visit to the small settlement in 1816, Belleville boasts some of the finest architectural beauties to be found in the province of Ontario.
One of these timeless treasures rests in the area known as the 'Old East Hill' of Belleville.
Glanmore sits aloof and untouchable amidst century old trees and fine Victorian homes.

Built of a subdued greying, brownish-yellow brick and being of a 2nd Empire architectural style totally unique unto itself, the house appears alive with the spirits of the past and a beating heart all it's own standing testament to an eccentric and lively time in Canada's history.

Built in 1882-1883 for the prosperous banker, J.P.C. Phillips and his wife Harriet, it remained in the same family for three generations before being sold and subsequently being turned into a museum.

Phillipa Faulkner, an artist who was born in the house, is purported to have experienced numerous supernatural occurrences during her days spent living there.
The spirit of Harriet Phillips, herself, is said to still remain walking the halls and frequenting the cavernous victorian rooms of the fine old mansion.
Phillipa had witnessed the piano in the drawing room play of it's own accord and doors that had opened and closed with no visible human entity in sight. She sensed that the spirit behind these occurrences was her Grandmother, Harriet Phillips.

In 1962 Phillipa engaged a Roman Catholic Priest to come into the home and exorcise the troubled spirits who wandered the grand old Belleville mansion.
Family accounts written by Anne Burrows Faulkner, Phillipa's daughter, state that the supernatural occurrences seemed to abate somewhat after that time period, however Harriet's restless spirit never completely left the beautiful old home she had so steadfastly loved.

Glanmore National Historic Site is now open to the public , and houses a magnificent collection of period antiques and art, many of them original to the home.

On my numerous visits to the house, I always feel a certain 'unease' as I walk around the creaking, old rooms and hallways.
There is a strong sense of loneliness and abandonment that seeps into one's pores with a heavy foreboding as one walks from room to room.

In many areas of the home, I've sensed an invisible presence nearby as it observes the comings and goings of the visitors to the house.

As happy as I am to bring visiting friends and relatives on a tour of the stately Victorian home, I experience a great relief when it is time to leave.
The house is beautiful and certainly a timeless Canadian Historic treasure, however it exists in another time and place and hastens to remind you to never leave go of that oppressive and heavy fact.

Upon leaving and re-entering the sparkling, sunlit air, you step back into the present and feel a great sadness for the house and for those who lived there in the past and for some reason, were never able to leave.

Caught in a time warp of their own volition, they serve the gracious home to this day, and make certain it will always remain just as it was over one hundred years ago.

©2008JoSmith

The U.S. real estate market continues to be plummeted by the sub-prime mortgage fall-out and the question I get asked most often by home-sellers these days is "Will we be affected negatively by what is taking place in the U.S.A.?"

I assure anyone I'm conversing with that Canada's real estate market and economy is alive and thriving.
The Canadian employment level is at an all-time high and current interest rates are very stable and appealing to home-buyers. There is an abundance of buyers and a shortage of listings, particularly for first-time buyers.

The sub-prime mortgage fall-out which the U.S. is experiencing, will not occur here as, contrary to that in the U.S., high-ratio mortgages (80% of the property value or higher) from Canadian financial institutions must be insured.
Additionally, sub-prime mortgages represent only 5 % of the Canadian mortgage market as compared to 22 % or more in the USA. To understand what is taking place in the U.S.A., take a moment out to watch this video from 60 minutes which aired last night.
In the article, take a close look at the map and it will give you an idea of just how all-encompassing this debacle has become.

Canadian real estate values, although their rate of increase has slowed slightly, continue to rise and will likely continue to do so over the next 2-3 years.
At that time, we may begin to experience a leveling off of prices once the impact of the coming recession in the states begins to take hold on our manufacturing and export market.

The truth of the matter is that the sub-prime mortgage write-down in the U.S. is currently at a point of over 100 billion USD.
That amount is expected to triple before they begin to see a change in a positive direction.
When we are dealing with figures as high as this, the global economy will feel the waves and along with it, Canada's economy will be impacted.

Canada is in an excellent position, globally, with vast reserves of highly valued and in demand resources such as oil and minerals. Our labour force is strong and our educational system is one of the best in the world.

Canada's strong commodity markets will continue to grow and this will bring a steady rise in property values for the four western provinces.

With close to 80% of all of Canada's exports destined south of the border, a major economic slowdown in the USA will mainly affect the central provinces and the greatest leveling out of real estate values will be felt in Ontario and Quebec.
However, I anticipate Ontario's property values will continue to rise in the coming years due to the steady growth of the population and the balancing from Canada's commodity and energy sectors.

It's an excellent time for buyers to purchase right across Canada with low interest rates, a steady inventory of reasonably priced properties and an economy which will continue to remain strong and show significant growth in the coming years.

©2008JoSmith

There's no need to come down with cabin fever in the unusually snowy weather we've been experiencing in the Quinte and Belleville area this winter. Our communities abound with activities and events for every different age group and interest.

On January 28th George Thomson will be giving a presentation on ferns, one of the most ancient and beautiful plants seen widely throughout the Quinte area forests and natural areas.

The Victorians brought them into their homes and it's a tradition we continue to this day.
To learn more about ferns, make sure to attend the Quinte Field Naturalist's meeting at Bridge Street United Church, 60 Bridge Street East in Belleville. The meeting is held in the Sills Auditorium and begins at 7:30pm.

Cormac McCarthy's novel No Country For Old Men, has been made into a magnificent film and it is playing from January 28th to 31st at the Empire Theatre in Belleville, beginning at 7:30pm each evening.
View the trailer of this adventure filled tale and make sure to schedule an evening out in comfort at the Empire to see it sometime this week. Admission is $9.50 for adults and $7.00 for seniors and children.

Have you always wanted to learn more about the birds of the Quinte Region? Here is your opportunity to take a 6 week course with Terry Sprague at the Quinte Conservation Office on Old Hwy 2 just west of Wallbridge Loyalist Road.

The course will be focusing on the identification of birds through various means and will feature films by renowned naturalists John and Janet Foster. The course will be held every Tuesday evening at 7-9pm from January 29th to March 4th. The cost is $75. To register, email Terry.


The Young Player's Company will be presenting The Mikado on January 30, 31 and February 1,2 and 3rd at Sir James Whitney Auditorium beginning at 7:30pm with Sunday's matinee beginning at 2pm.
Tickets are available at the door for $10 or may be purchased in advance at the Quinte Arts Council. Greenley's Booksellers, O'Connor Jewellery and Frequent Steps.

The lunch begins at noon and takes place in the John M. Parrott Art Gallery. To enter the world of Upper Canada in the days of yore, be sure to attend.

For a fun-filled evening of laughter don't miss The Dance Party of Newfoundland when they come to the Empire Theatre on Friday, February 1st. Shows sell out across the country so reserve your tickets today.