Newfoundland

Have you ever thought of going to the Far East? I am not talking about the Far East from whence the wise men came with a caravan of gifts for Jesus. I'm talking about the far east of North America where you can acquire the badge that says "I Have Seen the East and Really Lived!" OK, perhaps there is no real badge, but there should be! If there were, it would be awarded to those who had gone to the most easterly point in North America.

I have heard some in the media refer to the east coast of Canada as, wait for it....Halifax, Nova Scotia. Perhaps they were unaware that in 1949 Newfoundland joined confederation and became part of the dominion of Canada. I guess history is not a strong subject for some. I have to admit, it was not my favorite either.

The notion that Canada ends at Nova Scotia though is inadequate at best and mistaken geography at the least. Regardless of the oversights of a few, and in spite of those who argue the honour belongs to Greenland, (not part of the continent of North America) there can be no mistaking that the most easterly point in Canada and North America is found in Newfoundland.

St. John's, the Capital of Newfoundland, is the oldest city in North America. Its history is filled with legends of trouble and toil on both land and sea. It was inhabited in the early 1500's by fishermen from Europe. The St. John's harbor became known as a safe haven for fishermen. The surrounding hills provide a natural shelter from the Atlantic's fury, which on not a few occasions has flared.

The origin of the name St. John's, (note the apostrophe- something that Active Rain is having trouble with) is uncertain. Nor is this name to be confused with Saint John, New Brunswick, no apostrophe or ‘s'. Unwitting travelers have on occasion found themselves arriving in the wrong city and province. It is in one of those moments that one must conclude that failure to pay close attention to a possessive apostrophe is more expensive than one imagined.

The earliest reference to the old city is known from an ancient Portuguese map from 1519 wherein it is called Rio de San Johem. It is believed however that the Italian explorer, Giovanni Caboto who landed in Bonavista, Newfoundland in 1497, was to have given the name to the harbour town.

It may interest you that St. John's is the place where the first trans Atlantic wireless signal was sent by Guglielmo Marconi on December 12, 1901 a mere 108 years ago. From a lofty perch atop of Cabot Tower, it can be said that the Blackberry received its early debut. Millions around the world may send St. John's a thank you for aiding in its development. An e-card from a remote devise would seem to be most fitting.

If you want to wear your "I Have Seen the East and Really Lived" badge, you should know that the point of land that will so designate you as a legitimate claimant is on the rocky cliffs monitored since 1836 by a lighthouse just a few km from St. John's. Cape Spear, now designated as a National Historic Site, and noted for its rugged cliffs and hardened gaze into the Atlantic, stands as the place closer to Europe than any other landmass in North America.

And if you wonder why it seems so bleak, so forlorn, so alone, perhaps it is due to its lot in life. It has endured the furry of every Atlantic storm for a millennium and it has watched in anguish every disaster the Atlantic has wrought upon many who by necessity traversed its waterways.

The place that will award you your imaginary badge is just beyond where the ships seeking refuge in the St. John's harbour. It is a place that I have stood many times, gazing toward the Atlantic, watching whales breach, icebergs float breathlessly by, and over-sized waves being tossed with ease against vertical shores as though by the breath of God they danced a reckless dance. It is a place that in those moments I have heard a voice within reassuring me that our Creator is alive and does His work well. In those moments too, He has heard me reply, "Today, I am alive and am immensely glad to be so!"

R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor serving St. John's and surrounding areas, Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years and can be reached at 709-895-2500. Visit http://www.rgregosmond.com/for further information. Find him on facebook at R. Greg Osmond.

When we pass a car parked on the side of the road with the emergency lights flashing, most of us would stop to see if we can help, right? Well, from what I observed today, it turns out that most of us keep on driving. Generally, we think we have to for so many reasons. Traffic might get jammed if we stop, we would be late for work, a meeting or shopping or school, it's far too cold, I'm not dressed for it, etc. etc. We tend to rationalize that someone else is on their way to assist this person, so we don't really need to do anything.

Well today, I passed, yes me too because everyone else was doing it, a lady who had stopped on Prince Philip Drive, in St. John's, Newfoundland, with the emergency lights flashing. You should know that this isn't the safest place in the capital city to be stopped. It was a busy traffic period. Everyone was on their way to work, meetings, shopping and school. It was also -10 Celsius with a wind chill factor of -20.

I noticed that this stranded lady had retrieved a "mini" spare from the trunk, that marvel of engineering that looks more like round "tuit" than something you would drive on. She was ice dancing around to the front outside wheel with a lug wrench in hand. I also noticed that there was no one, no not one, stopped to assist her.

As I passed by, my mind began to doubt my decision, though it was as common as the cars on the road this morning. I thought of the time when my wife had received help from a street angel with changing a flat tire, before I got there. I thought of the time when a mechanic client of mine stopped and changed my tire in the "Active" pouring rain. Then I thought, what if this person doesn't have anyone coming or if she gets hurt trying to change her own tire. Her flat was on the traffic side and there was a real risk that someone not paying attention might just leave a grill print in the backside. Honestly, I couldn't leave her there without checking to see if there was anything I could do. Who could with all these thoughts racing through your mind?

I took the next turn and circled back to get onto Prince Philip Drive again and came up behind her disable car, park my car with the emergency lights flashing and jammed on my tuque. I made sure the car was a good distance back in case someone hit it. At least they would not run right into hers. I got out and approached her with the first empathetic question that came to mind. "Having a bad Tuesday?" I said.

She was a nurse just getting off work. She had just called her husband and he was on his way. I jacked up the car and proceeded to remove the flat tire. Her husband arrived at that point and graciously took over the job thanking me for stopping. I shook their hands and left her my card and gave them my best wishes feeling confident that things were well in hand. Yes, I had a little grease on my hands but I felt happy.

Now I doubt that they will be calling me tomorrow and listing their home just because I stopped. I didn't do it for that reason. And, please don't think that I am trying to blow my own horn! I thought I would share the start to my day with you because you never know when your turn to help someone else will come along.

I believe that when we do an act of kindness for someone, it lightens their load and when they find out your profession, it will reflect well on whatever your industry and everyone in it. So in doing an act of kindness for one person, we are actually giving a little something to all.

If you have an opportunity to help someone stranded on the road this week, try not to view it as an inconvenience. It just might be your chance to give something to a whole lot of ordinary people just like us. And you know what? It will make your day just a little brighter!

R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor serving St. John's and surrounding areas, Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years and can be reached at 709-895-2500. Visit www.rgregosmond.com for further information. Find him on facebook at R. Greg Osmond.

Negotiating for Real Estate in St. John's, Newfoundland is a skill well worth honing.

Typically Real Estate transactions are formed as binding buy and sell agreements that must be negotiated by at least two parties. A Purchase and Sale agreement is between a specific buyer and seller and as a minimum, lists the terms and conditions of the agreement, the parties involved in the transaction and the planned closing date.

While it is true that some folks would rather not haggle for anything (nice luxury for those who can afford it), negotiating is as important to Real Estate trading as writing the cheque on closing day. But securing an agreement between two competing parties is often not as easy as said, especially if either party has had little or no negotiating experience. But that's OK. We all have to start somewhere.

It should be understood that negotiating with a street vendor while vacationing in Jamaica to secure an acceptable price for a toy clown is inadequate preparation for the rigor of contest over a quarter million dollar home. I am familiar with negotiating with the Jamaicans. Let's just say I found myself pushing it a little too far when my wife announced, with gentle eyes rolling, we were arguing over a quarter. I learned then that you have to know when to accept the final offer, but we'll come to that another day.

There are a few guidelines to bear in mind before beginning the process of negotiating for the dream home that you have just found, already love and now, oh my, must have! Things often move slowly with the home buying process until one experiences the "love at first sight" factor. We will explore these in detail in the coming blogs. Today, let's talk about the basic principal of successful negotiating.

Why Do We Negotiate?

One normally negotiates to acquire something if interest. The home buyer wants the vendor's home to gain a certain utility; a nice place to live, a convenient location, prestige among friends and colleagues, a two car garage, the indulgence of an "ensuite" bath, or if you can believe it, some want a certain proximity to the mother in law. The needs for home grown childcare have a way of taking precedence for some men who overlook the mantra, "Don't by next door to your mother in law"! By the way, in case my own mother is reading this, I would be happy to live next door to mine. She is great! You heard me say that didn't you. Witnesses are always good.

Negotiating is based upon the principal of fair trade. We refer to it as a win/win transaction. Both parties will trade if they believe they are not being pilfered. We cannot offer a ridiculous price to purchase someones home without expecting to encounter a negative response. The more ridiculous the offer, the more emphatic will be the rejection from our trading opponent.

If either buyer or seller comes to the table with only their wish list front and center, giving no thought to the needs and desires of the other, a successful trade will be difficult to achieve. When we think only of our interests there will be failure to understand why the other party doesn't accept our offer, our reasoning or our point of view. I have known a few deals to go south quickly when the vendor was offended by a very low priced offer.

What happens if we try to see things from our opponent's eyes, if we ask ourselves a few questions to help us understand our opponent? Questions such as, what will s/he deem fair and acceptable?

If negotiations are going to succeed they must reflect a deal that allows both parties to win. Trying to negotiate a one sided deal where one party gains at the other one's expense will nearly always meet with unfavourable results. These win/lose deals fail to conclude because they violate the fair trade principal.

If you want to succeed in negotiating, it is important to remember that each party to the negotiations must gain something that they are satisfied to substitute for whatever they are asked to concede. Expectations will vary depending on time, circumstances and the skill of communications.

The first thing to remember though is to think about the other side before you begin. You might be surprised to find something that is important to your opponent that is of very little consequence to your own interests.

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R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor serving St. John's and surrounding areas, Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years and can be reached at 709-895-2500. Visit www.rgregosmond.comfor further information. Find him on Facebook at R. Greg Osmond.

We are into the third week of January and the most common real estate question I am being asked is "where will the housing prices be in 2009?" As in most years, it’s difficult to predict. Last year CHMC predicted 6% and RE/MAX stated at least 12%. I remember saying after the first quarter we’ll see much higher then 12%. The final tally for 2008 is not yet in but should be close to 23% in my opinion. Now….where do I see the St. John’s real estate market for 2009. Currently my mind is set at a 5% increase from 2008. How can I say this with the US housing market expecting to drop even more, Canadian markets are predicted to lower in some areas, and the UK, no real direct relation, but the world housing market seems to be taking a hit right now. It all boils down to consumer confidence, the provincial economy and a balanced market. All three we are seeing in Newfoundland currently. There are still a lot of "sale pending" left over from 2008 that will help keep the numbers up for unit sales in 2009, but there is clear evidence that it’s no longer a seller’s market. With mortgage rates still at VERY low levels, as well as increased inventory in new construction and pre-existing homes, this will leave more choices for buyers. Personally I do not see the market going into the negative numbers, but I do see houses sitting longer on the market and “price reduced” signs being more familiar then “sold signs”.

News release from Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Urban housing starts posted solid growth during the month of December, according to preliminary data1 released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). December’s total housing starts posted 55 per cent growth, with 202 starts recorded throughout the St. John’s area versus 130 in December of 2007. An additional 24 housing starts were recorded in other urban areas across the province for a total of 226 provincial starts, an increase of 44 per cent. For the year, urban housing starts totaled 2,229 throughout the province, up 22 per cent. Within the St. John’s region, starts reached a 33-year high of 1,863 in 2008, a 26 per cent gain over the 1,480 starts posted in 2007.

“Urban housing starts ended the year with considerable growth and were consistent with CMHC’s new home construction expectations for 2008,” said Chris Janes, Senior Market Analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Residential construction activity within the St. John’s metro area reached a 33-year high in 2008, with solid economic and demographic fundamentals creating unprecedented buyer demand and price growth throughout the year,” added Janes. For Canada’s urban centres, total housing starts decreased six per cent with 10,487 recorded in December compared to 11,157 during December of 2007. Single-detached starts fell 29 per cent to 4,335, while multiple starts of 6,152 represent a 22 per cent increase from a year ago. Throughout Atlantic Canada, there were 574 urban housing starts posted versus 651 the previous December, a decline of 12 per cent.