Hamilton, ON

 

If you are planning on selling your home, now is the time to replace that flamingo pink broadloom.  Don't leave it for the new owners to do or you may be sitting on your property for quite some time before it sells.  Many of today's buyers want move-in ready homes, so think twice before going the route of a carpet allowance. 

If you happen to live in Halton Region, you're in luck.  Hamilton Carpet Mill Outlet, located at 2799 Barton Street East in Hamilton, is holding an enormous open house this weekend. In fact, it will be the largest carpet sale going on in the province.

Bob Birthelmer, Owner and Mark Tomlinson, Consultant and Certified Instructor will both be on hand to assist you with all of your flooring needs. There will be many in-store specials on broadloom and hardwood flooring.

As well, enter your name for the draws. The grand prize is a one week stay in Myrtle Beach at a condo for up to 8 people. Other prizes include several box seat tickets (50 yard line) for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, gift certificates and referral cards.

Make sure you bring your home staging and home décor questions along as well. I’ll be there on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to provide you with advice and tips and assist you with colour selection.

The open house is running Saturday, May 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, May 31st from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The 5 major local radio stations started running ads yesterday and they will run right through the weekend. Listen to find out more information.

Stop by and say hello. I’ll look forward to seeing you there!

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Dezigner Digz is a professional home staging and interior decorating company based in Burlington, Ontario and servicing Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas.  The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and currently serves on the Executive Committee as Regional Vice-President, Canada.  For more information about us, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com

Councillor Bob Bratina blew it recently when he stated, with disgust, that the university is "an unwieldy leviathan ruining everything around it," and a "huge nuisance".

MacMaster University-with more than 19,000 full-time undergraduate students, almost 3,000 grad students and more than 7,500 employees--has a huge positive impact on our city with its ability to attract bright minds, research money and prestige.

Bratina made the comment at a council meeting that concerned a proposed zoining change so a developer can build a 10-storey apartment building to house 600 students between Rifle Range and Ewen roads, south of Main St. West.

I don't particularly agree with multi-user apartments and if you talk to a lot of the students, they don't like them either; too much like residence. They like to live in homes but of course the city finds that hard to swallow. But since the school can't afford to build housing, and the municipality/province won't subsidize, just where are the students to go?

At a special "student housing" meeting last week with Councillor Brian McHattie, Realtors from the area (including yours truly) were met with several proposals concerning new regulations and bylaws designed to limit student housing in the immediate area surrounding MacMaster University. This despite the lack of housing available.

Naturally, the Realtors let him know that new laws and even licensing wasn't going to solve the problem. In fact, it isn't much of a problem it seems. Of all the resident complaints about bad, noisy, or derelict housing, it affects less than 200 students (out of 1,900 at any given time). Most student housing is responsible, healthy, and affordable. Socially, it's a preferred environment that fosters independence and responsible behaviour--at least once they've finished first year.

It's comments like these made by uniformed councillors which cause those of us who help put students and investors together cringe. Student Housing is a viable, high yield investment. And there are some good investors out there--the majority in fact. In other words a win/win/win situation for students/MacMaster/investors.

Make laws that stop the slum lords, the partiers, etc. But don't stop student housing, regardless of its form. MacMaster is a vital part of Hamilton and to lose it would make losing Stelco a minor glitch in the economy in comparison. And of course, no housing....no students!

In hindsight, perhaps City Hall is that leviathan that is, more often than not, the nuisance.

Just a thought.

Robert J. Morrow is editor of www.HamiltonHomeReview.com, an online real estate magazine serving Greater Hamilton, Ontario. Click here for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION sent to your email monthly. Click here to receive new Hamilton area listings in your email daily.

If you are buying a home in the Hamilton Market . There is currently a lead pipe replacement program. Details are on the city of hamilton web site. Now lead is new concern for older homes. It is my understanding if you have a shower in the morning and the water runs for five minutes your drinking water is safe. It is without argument good to replace any lead piping, this is a fact. However a more recent oversight is that of galvanized plumbing.

While there are some insurance companys that will provide insurance it will be 3 times the rate.

It is a good idea to have an insurance clause in the offer on older homes or at least extra time on the inspection clause to deal with any issues. Galvanized plumbing rusts from the inside out and cause pipes to break. Insurance providers have become much stickier on this issue in the last few weeks and this may become the new hot topic when buying an older home.

A good home inspector will look for these issues.

Carl

Bank of Canada cut its overnight lending rate by 0.50% to 1.00%, the lowest since the central bank was formed in 1934. The decrease was inline with most economists expectations.

The previous lowest rate level set by the Bank of Canada was last seen at 1.12% in 1958.

In the past few days leading up to this morning’s announcement by the Bank of Canada, a few lenders began cutting some of their fixed term mortgage rates. It is expected that the various Canadian Banks will announce cuts to their Prime Rate either this afternoon or tomorrow.

Gina Burgio, Mortgage Agent
FSCO Lic. No. M08008590
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc.
FSCO Lic. No. 10194
Toll Free: 1-877-345-6265
Fax: 1-877-345-6256
Email: gina@ginaburgio.com

Each VERICO Broker is an independent owner operator.

Metrolinx is set to announce the biggest multicity bus purchase in Ontario history. And with it comes yet another well-needed tangible spark that the core is being revitalized. With improved bus service East-West and shortly thereafter, North-South, resale and rental properties will experience a surge. The improved service is ideal for connecting students and new MacMaster core workers to suburbs that need the growth and divert some of the housing attention away from West Hamilton.

Hamilton is one of many municipalities across Ontario that signed a deal with the provincial agency, Metrolinx, for the joint purchase of buses in 2009, with an option to buy more the following year.

Hamilton will get 17 diesel New Flyer buses in each of the next two years. Because they replace existing buses, one-third of their estimated $17 million cost will be covered by a provincial subsidy, according to Don Hull, director of Hamilton transit.

He also stated that Metrolinx will anounce full funding of $16.5 million for 18 diesel-electric hybrid 60-foot buses, as Hamilton's express east-west B line and coming north-south A line on James Street use these articulated buses.

Because of the joint-city purchase, Hamilton saved apx. $15,000 per bus. The articulated buses are part of a $32 milion grant for plant upgrades and more that Metrolinx has given Hamilton, to upgrade the B line and add a A line express route.

"It's huge for us," Hull told the Hamilton Spectator. It will allow the B line to be entirely serviced by these long, articulated buses (accordion centres).

In September 2009, Stage 1 of the A line on James will introduce five of the articulated buses. In addition, the city recently approved an expansion to the Rymal 44 route so that it will go from Eastgate Square to Centennial Parkway and all the way to Ancaster Businss Park.

Robert J. Morrow is editor of www.HamiltonHomeReview.com, an online real estate magazine serving Greater Hamilton, Ontario. Click here for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION sent to your email monthly. Click here to receive new Hamilton area listings in your email daily.