Gloria Valvasori, ASA, Streetsville Real Estate - 100% Client Service Rating

MAJESTIC 50 x 150 FOOT TREED LOT

JUST LISTED !! Lovely 4 Bedroom Family Home On A Spectacular Lot In Mature Meadowvale.

Strip Hardwood in Living and Dining Rooms, and Hallway. Back Yard Oasis With Inground Pool, Large Covered Deck And Fenced Yard.

New Aluminum Siding 2009, New Hi-Eff Furnace 2009, New Ac 2009, New Windows 2009, New Front & Back Doors 2009, New Extended Deck And Roof Extension 2010, Extra Wide Driveway Fits 3 Cars.

Generous Room Sizes. Main Floor Family Room With Fireplace And Walkout To Covered Deck. Strip Hardwood In Living, Dining Rooms And Hallway. Flexible Close. Priced to sell - $449,900.

I live and work in STREETSVILLE. Are you considering buying or selling or know anyone who is? Give me a call for a complimentary evaluarion of your home in this changing market. (416) 717-6331

www.gloriavalvasori.com gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETVILLE Real Estate Agent, dedicated to providing outstanding service

Gloria Valvasori, Sales Representative

Signature Service GMAC Real Estate

5636 Glen Erin Parkway, Unit 10 (Longo's Plaza)

Misssissauga, Ontario

Office: (905) 363-4622 Direct: (416) 717-6331

September Rounds Out a Strong Third Quarter

October 5, 2011 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,658 transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in September – a 25 per cent increase over September 2010. Sales during the first three quarters of 2011 amounted to 70,588, representing a 2.6 per cent increase compared to the first nine months of 2010.

"We have experienced strong growth in sales so far this year, with a much more active summer compared to 2010. However, while sales have been strong, we have continued to experience a shortage of listings, resulting in more competition between home buyers," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver.

"Over the past few months, the listing situation has started to improve, so we expect home buyers will have more homes to choose from in the months ahead." With annual growth in sales (+25 per cent) outstripping annual growth in new listings (+15 per cent) in September, market conditions became tighter and the average selling price continued to grow by close to 10 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

"Strong price growth through the first nine months of the year was mitigated to a great degree by low interest rates and rising incomes," said the Toronto Real Estate Board's Senior Manager of Market Analysis Jason Mercer. "As buyers continue to take advantage of the affordable home ownership options in the GTA, we remain on pace for the second best year for sales under the current TREB market area."

How Energy Efficient is Your Home?

Home Energy Audit Checklist

We all know and recognize that saving energy is cost effective, but you may not recognize how inefficient your home really is until you conduct an energy audit. You can spot many problems in your home with a simple walk-through. Keep a checklist of areas you inspect and any problems or issues you find. This will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.

Lighting

Energy expended by lighting accounts for about 10% of your hyrdo bill. Check the wattage of the light bulbs in your home. You can exchange 100 watt bulbs and in most cases use a 60 or 75 watt bulb. Compact Fluorescent lamps for higher uses area are also recommended.

Insulation

If insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum, heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be high. You likely have the insulation level in your home from the builder that was recommended at the time your home was built. This level might be inadequate by today's standards and should be upgraded, especially if you have an older home.

• Check the attic hatch to ensure it has the same level of insulation as the attic, and ensure is it closes tightly.
• In the attic check to ensure ductwork and chimneys are sealed and seal any gaps with expanding foal or other permanent sealant.
• Check that vapor barriers are in place beneath the insulation.
• Ensure any vents are clear and not blocked by insulation.
• Check for indoor air leaks along baseboards, junctures of the walls and ceiling, or the edge of flooring
• Make a list of any obvious drafts. The saving from reducing drafts could range from % - 30% at year, depending on the severity of the drafts or leaks you find.
• Check to see if air can flow through these places: electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and wall or window mounted air conditioners, gaps around pipes and wires, foundation seals and mail slots.
• Check windows and doors for air leaks. Try rattling the, as movement means possible air leaks. If you see daylight around a door or window frame, then it leaks. Seal these leaks by caulking or weather stripping. New, high efficiency windows and doors should be considered.

Heating and Cooling Equipment

Having your heating and cooling systems inspected and cleaned annually to maintain their efficiency. If you have a forced air furnace, ensure you replace the filters on a regular basis, at least every 2-3 months, especially during period of higher usage.

You should consider replacing your heating and/or cooling system with a newer higher efficient units, if they are more than 15 years old. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption.

Exterior

Inspect areas where two different building materials meet, i.e. all exterior corners, where siding and chimney meet, areas where the foundation and bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. Check the caulking around exterior doors and windows and check whether the exterior storm door and primary door seal tightly. Look for any cracks in the mortar, foundation and siding and seal with appropriate material.

Are you considering purchasing a home with an in-ground pool? Do you imagine hot, lazy afternoons, lounging by your pool with friends and family? Become an informed buyer, do your research, and ensure your real estate agent includes the appropriate clauses to protect you from unforeseen expenses on closing.

Unlike kitchen and bath renovations, or the addition of hardwood floors and crown moulding, a pool does not necessarily add value to the home equal to the cost of the pool. The fact is, that in most cases it adds little or no value to the home. Some buyers who view a home and love it, turn away from the purchase because of the existence of a pool. Your either love it and really want it, or you don’t.

Or course buying a home with a pool is much more appealing on a hot summer afternoon, rather in the cold dark days of winter. Often Sellers will display photos of the pool for perspective buyers as it appears during the summer months, to show it off at its best advantage.

If you are buying a home during the winter months, and the closing is set for the summer months after the pool has been opened, you need to insert clauses in your offer for protection from potential expenses. Ensure the pool will be opened by a professional pool company, and stipulate that in your offer. Ask that the paid invoice be left so you may take advantage of any guarantees or warranties in the event of problems. Also, request the Sellers have the pool company do a thorough inspection of the pool prior to closing date, and ask the Sellers to leave a certificate of inspection or similar from the pool company.

If the pool has a heater, ensure a clause is inserted in your offer whereby the sellers will warranty that it also will be in good working condition on closing date in addition to the chattels and fixtures.

Ask the Seller about various aspects of the pool prior to preparing an offer if the information is not contained in the listing.

• How old is the liner? How old is the pool?
• Were any repairs done to the pool in the last year, if so, by whom?
• Has the pool been opened and closed by a professional pool company?
• If the pool has a diving board, is the pool at a safe and proper depth to accommodate that?
• Is the pool completely fenced in?
• How high is the fence, and does it comply with the by-laws of your city.
• Is all the pool equipment staying on closing. Ensure this is stipulated in your Offer.
• If there is concrete or tiles around the perimeter of the pool, look for any cracks or loose tiles as these could be the source of leaks and future problems.
• Check the soil around the pool and pump for any signs of water saturation.

Ensure your real estate agent inserts a clause in your offer whereby the Seller guarantees that all chattels, fixtures and equipment are in good working order up to and including the day of closing. On closing day, after title has changed and you receive the
keys to your home, go and check everything to ensure everything is in good working order. The sellers are responsible until midnight on the day of closing, so if there is something not quite right, call your real estate agent to notify him/her and a report will be made to the listing agent and request the seller remedy any deficiencies.

Pools can be a source of great pleasure and fun for both you and for family and friends.

Just make sure you do your due diligence before you take the plunge!

I live and work in STREETSVILLE. Are you considering buying or selling, or know anyone who is? Please give me a call. I love referrals! (416) 717-6331.

www.gloriavalvasori.com

gvalvasori@rogers.com

Your STREETSVILLE Real Estate agent, dedicated to providing outstanding client service.

Strong August Home Sales in the GTA

September 7, 2011 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,542 sales through the TorontoMLS® system in August – a 24 per cent increase over 6,083 sales in August 2010. New listings, at 12,509, were up by 20 per cent compared to August 2010. Market conditions remained tight as sales growth outstripped growth in new listings.

"Home sales in the GTA have stood up well despite a less certain economic outlook," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. "Home sales will be bolstered by low mortgage rates moving forward. The Bank of Canada is expected to be on the sidelines until the second half of 2012 or even into 2013. However, home ownership affordability in the City of Toronto could be further improved with the removal of the City's land transfer tax. This tax currently represents a substantial upfront cost for home buyers."

With market conditions remaining tight in the GTA, the average selling price continued to grow strongly in August – up by more than 10 per cent year-over-year to $451,663.

"We remain on pace for the second best year on record for sales. Approximately 90,000 transactions are expected by the end of December," said TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis Jason Mercer. "Major home ownership costs, including the average monthly mortgage payment, remain affordable despite the strong price growth experienced so far this year."