Shah Ahmed

WINTER is here, on a snowy day Try new recieps. Thank you for the feedback. Report another imagePlease report the offensive image. CancelDone

chicken tikka masala

main courses | serves 4
(Note: the marinade will need to be prepared the day before so the chicken can marinate overnight.)

For the marinade
Blitz the chilli, garlic, ginger and vegetable oil in the food processor. Add the paprika, garam masala and tomato puree, plus the coriander stalks, and blitz again to form a paste. Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl, coat them with the marinade and leave in the fridge overnight.

The next day…
In a little vegetable oil, on a medium heat, fry the onion, peppers and spices in a large saucepan. Cook gently for 10 minutes then add the tin of tomatoes and the yoghurt. Add the chicken pieces and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked. Just before serving, stir through the double cream and chopped coriander leaves.

Serve with fluffy boiled rice and a mixed leaf salad.

ingredients

• ½ fresh red chilli, deseeded
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled
• 15g fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• a pinch of paprika
• ½ tablespoon garam masala
• a teaspoon of tomato puree
• 3 sprigs of fresh coriander, leaves picked and chopped, stalks reserved
• 400g chicken breast, preferably free-range or organic, diced into 2.5cm pieces
• 1 small onion, peeled and sliced
• ½ red pepper, deseeded and sliced
• ½ green pepper, deseeded and sliced
• a pinch of ground cinnamon
• a pinch of ground coriander
• a pinch of turmeric
• 1 x 400g tin plum tomatoes
• 100ml plain yoghurt
• 100ml double cream

Market Watch – November 2010
Canadian Housing Market is Returning to Balanced Market

Sales figures collected from real estate boards across the country in October indicate that the Canadian housing market is returning to a balanced market.

“Six months ago we were in a strong seller’s market, now we have moved into a more balanced market position,” said Rick Snell Past President of Ottawa Real Estate Board. “Some properties are still receiving multiple offers but this is happening much less often than was the case in the spring.”

However, sellers should be aware that demand for homes is strong, yet selective. Buyers recognize that selection, although dropping is still generous and they’re looking for properties priced competitively.

The outlook for mortgage rates and income growth over the next year is favourable. The average home selling price could increase moderately next year and remain affordable for the average Canadian household.

Ontario - October price growth reflects healthy housing market conditions

Toronto, November 3, 2010 - Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 6,681 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October 2010. This represented a 21% decrease compared to the 8,476 sales recorded in October 2009. Through the first ten months of the year, sales amounted to 75,582 – up 1% compared to the January through October period in 2009.

"The annual change in sales and average selling prices has been quite uniform across the GTA and by property type as the market has balanced out from record levels of sales in the second half of 2009 and first few months of 2010," said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Bill Johnston.

"The composition of GTA home sales does differ depending on location. Condominium apartments accounted for 42% of total sales in the City of Toronto and almost 60% of sales in TREB's central districts," Johnston continued. "In regions surrounding the City of Toronto, in contrast, low rise home types accounted for almost 90% of transactions."

The average price for October transactions was $443,729 – up 5% compared to the average of $423,559 reported in October 2009. The average selling price through the first nine months of the year was $430,802.

"The average selling price in the GTA has continued to grow relative to 2009 because home ownership has remained affordable," said Jason Mercer, the Toronto Real Estate Board's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "A household earning the average income in the GTA can comfortably afford the mortgage payments associated with the purchase of an average priced home."

The median price was $366,000 in October, from the $357,000 recorded during October of 2009.

Ottawa, November 2, 2010 – Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,042 residential properties in October through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,197 in October 2009, a decrease of 12.9%. Year to date, the number of properties sold has declined 2% compared to the same period last year, a record setting year. Of those sales, 221 were in the condominium property class, while 821 were in the residential property class.

“Six months ago we were in a strong seller’s market, now we have moved into a more balanced market position,” said Immediate Past President Rick Snell. “Some properties are still receiving multiple offers but this is happening much less often than was the case in the spring.”

The average sale price of residential properties, including the average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in October in the Ottawa area was $340,719, an increase of 6.8% over October 2009. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $263,292, an increase of 13.4% over October 2009. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $361,560, an increase of 5% over October 2009.

British Columbia – Fraser Valley housing market “getting back to normal”

Surrey, November 2, 2010 – Fraser Valley’s real estate market moved towards balance in October as inventory continued to decrease and sales and prices remained stable.

A total of 1,014 sales were processed on the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s (FVREB) Multiple Listing Service® in October, a decrease of 3% compared to 1,044 sales in September and a decrease of 40% compared to 1,704 sales in October of last year.

Deanna Horn, FVREB President, says “with help from near record low mortgage rates and a steady decrease in the supply of homes, we’re getting back to what I call a ‘normal’, balanced market.

The Board received 2,125 new listings last month, a 12% decrease from September and a 25% decrease compared to October 2009. The Board finished October with 9,561 active listings, 4% fewer than in September and an increase of 9% compared to the 8,807 properties available in October 2009.

Horn adds, “When supply and demand move into balance, prices can become a real ‘sticking point’ underlining the importance of hiring a professional REALTOR® who knows your local market and can provide detailed comparisons to ensure your home is priced competitively.”

The benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes in October was $505,759, down 0.3% compared to September and 3% higher compared to $491,128 in October 2009.

The benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses in October was $319,058, a 0.9% decrease compared to September and a 2.2% increase compared to October 2009 when it was $312,339.
Year-over-year, the benchmark price of apartments increased 0.2% going from $240,048 in October 2009 to $240,542 last month and 0.4% higher compared to September 2010.

Alberta - Month-over-month price drop brings properties to 2009 housing price levels

Edmonton, November 2, 2010 - Although the all-residential average price dropped 3% in October, average prices are almost exactly what they were a year ago. Single family dwellings were sold on average for $365,691 which is just $1,434 less (-0.39%) than October 2009. Condos sold in October for about $2,000 less (-0.9%) than a year earlier at an average price of $235,893.

“Stability is the key word for the Edmonton housing market,” said Larry Westergard, president of the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. “Prices this fall are matching almost dollar for dollar with prices for the past two years. But I am pleased to report that the inventory dropped 10.6% in October, and as it returns to a more normal level, prices will start to move.”

The average all residential price in October was $317,422 compared to $327,235 in September. It was less than one percent lower than the October 2009 price of $320,184. Listing activity continued to slow with just 2,269 residential properties added in October. There were 1,077 residential sales for a sales-to-listing ratio of 44.5%. Total residential inventory was 7,689 properties at the end of October as compared to 8,602 the month prior. The average days-on-market went up to 60 days from 56 days last month.

The all-residential median price rose from $306,500 in October 2009 to $308,000 last month. “This rise in the median price stretched the range of the lower end of the market,” said Westergard. “Yet REALTORS® still found 529 properties priced under $300,000 for buyers with smaller budgets or modest housing needs in October. There is still a home suitable for every buyer in this market.” There were 32 sales of residential properties priced at over $750,000 during the same month.

Facts Tell “Pictures Sell” - Stunning Photography Sells Homes

Since many buyers are turning to the internet to shop before they take a drive around neighbourhoods, photography can make the difference in selling your home quickly.

A picture says a thousand words, and with the right listing pictures, you can attract more people to your property by showing your home’s highlights. Below are tips on how you can take the best quality pictures of your property to showcase it properly.

Clean the entire house before taking photos.
Never take photographs of a dirty home. Remove all trash cans from all rooms being photographed. Tidy up any clutter and remove personal photos and drawings from refrigerators and bulletin boards.

Think about the picture before you take it.
What are you trying to show in the photo? Do you want to move or remove anything before you take it?

Highlight the best features of your home.
Do your rooms have spectacular views? You can take pictures of your rooms to show off their views. Let the potential purchaser imagine themselves standing in the room with the view. They will appreciate the picture more knowing where they will be able to enjoy the view when they purchase the home.

A general photography rule of thumb is the closer the subject, the better the photo. However it may be useful to take a few steps back or use a wide-angle lens to give the viewer more context and makes your home seem more spacious.

Take a shot of every part of the house including living room, kitchen, dining room, and other key areas of your home.

Pay attention to lighting.
Lighting is the key to good photography, and you must choose the optimum time of the day for the shot typically when the sun is behind you. If the front of the house faces east, the morning is the best time. If the front faces west you want to take your pictures in the late afternoon.
A good general time of the day is around noon or early afternoon on a sunny day for most exterior pictures since the sun is overhead and there are few shadows. If it is overcast you can set your camera to a lower shutter speed to absorb more light and create a brighter image.

The light source also affects colour. When the sun is lower in the sky, either in the morning or in the late afternoon, you get more intense colour. This time of day makes the sky pop blue and the house shows off its best colour. High noon overhead sunlight tends to wash out colour.

Cloudy and overcast days can often provide surprisingly wonderful diffused light that can bring out great colour, although shots like this lack the bright blue sky in the background.

For dramatic evening photography, turn on all the house lights, and take the picture after sunset but before it is totally dark. You will see light coming out of the windows, however there will be enough exterior light to capture the details of the house.

For interior room photography avoid mid day, since on sunny days the light coming in the windows will be too bright. The best times are after daybreak and just before sunset. Use a powerful flash or turn on all the lights.

Take many shots.
If you are using a digital camera, you can take multiple shots of the same room and then pick which one looks best. You can try different angles and pick the winning view of the room.

You can touch up your pictures on your computer software including brightening up a darker picture. After you have a look at your pictures, you will have a better idea of how to improve them. Some indoor pictures can look too warm due to the lighting. You can always reduce certain colours with your photo editing software to make it look more natural.

Consider hiring a professional real estate photographer.
Many real estate agents and homeowners simply do not have the time, equipment, or skills necessary to take good photographs of a home or building they are listing for sale. Professional photography is provided by many brokerages as an optional service and the price is extremely reasonable.

Photos of your home are the first introduction of your new listing to the world. This is the visual element that captures the imagination of buyers and sends them running to contact you for a first look.

7 Factors That Affect Your Home's Value

There are many factors that can affect the market value of your property, ranging from home improvements to the mood of the seller. All of this is a lot to internalize, but you can make an informed decision while pricing your home if you tackle these issues one at a time.

1. Location
Your home’s proximity to public transportation, train stations, shopping facilities, schools, etc., plays an import factor in determining your property’s market value. Every area has a high end and a low end. The market value of your property is affected by that reality. People that purchase homes in “lower end” areas expect to pay less than they would if they bought the same home in a “higher end” neighbourhood.

2. Features
One of the key factors in your home’s value is the features it provides. For example, some house styles are more popular with buyers than others. The age and size of your home compared to other available properties also plays a part in affecting your home’s value.

3. Condition
Potential buyers will take into account the condition of your home in deciding if they want to buy it and how much they are willing to pay for it. A home in immaculate condition has a much higher potential for a top dollar sale than one that is lacking the most basic routine maintenance.

Experienced buyers look for important conditions like paints, floor coverings, walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows. Buyers may also pay close attention to the plumbing, electricity work, repairs, bathrooms, kitchen, and so on.

4. Home Improvements
Most people think that home improvements are a sure way to increase the value of a home. Major home improvements are unquestionably important factors that affect the property value. Improvements like room additions, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and other items like floor tiles, swimming pools, etc., can increase the value of your home. However, it only matters what those improvements are worth to the buyer.

5. Market Conditions
When the market is flooded with similar properties for sale and real estate buyers are scarce, you can expect to sell your home for less than you would if there was a shortage of supply and lots of eager potential homebuyers.

6. Seller Motivation
Seller motivation is also a major factor which affects the offer price made by the buyer. For example, if you bought a home in a new area you may be willing to accept a lower price to quickly complete the sale of your current home.

7. Marketing
The marketing plan that your agent executes on your behalf will determine the amount of interest that is shown in your property. Your agent’s level of skill and expertise in the negotiating process will affect the amount of money you’ll be able to get for your home. Many people put more thought into what they’ll have for dinner tonight than who they will trust to market their most valuable asset. Don’t make the same mistake.