Localism: Ottawa, ON

Ottawa Real Estate Market Update

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:53:25 -0600

Hello everyone,

For those of you who were wondering what is going on with the Ottawa Real Estate market.

Here is what CMHC has to say:

Forecasting for 2009

MLS Sales are expected to decrease by 4.3%
New home construction starts are expected to decrease by 12.4%
MLS prices are expected to increase by 3.6%
Unemployment is expected to increase by 0.8%

We are very lucky to be living in Ottawa! We are sheltered from some of the exterior elements that are seriously affecting other major cities through out the world.

If you have any questions with respect to the Real Estate Market in Ottawa or you would like to know what locations and type of housing is doing better than others, please feel free to ask away.

Todd

Going Green with TD Canada Trust

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:29:09 -0600

This is the first part of a series of articles that we will be posting on Green Mortgages.

How can a mortgage be ‘green’? This seems to be a common initial question when people first hear of a Green Mortgage. Well, the answer is that a mortgage can be green if it provides incentives for purchasing energy-efficient homes, or otherwise rewards home buyers by giving them the tools they need to make their home green.

In Canada, a number of lenders and mortgage default insurance providers offer ‘green’ programs. The lenders currently offering green mortgages in Canada include TD Canada Trust, CIBC and Citizens Bank. The default insurance providers include CMHC & Genworth.

This first article on green mortgages will focus on TD Canada Trust’s Green Mortgage product.

TD Canada Trust is currently offering a five year fixed rate Green Mortgage, which is available to both new and existing TD customers. This Green Mortgage has the following features:

5-year fixed rate that is equal to the posted rate minus 1% (As of Nov. 21 2008 the Green Mortgage rate was 6.20%)
Allows for an amortization of up to 35 years.
Provides a Cash Rebate on ENERGY STAR qualified products: TD will rebate up to 1% of the amount of the mortgage when you submit a Rebate Request Form with copies of the receipts for ENERGY STAR products. This must be sent in within 6 months of the term start date of the mortgage
At the time when TD Canada Trust sends your rebate, they will also make a $100 donation to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
Please note that the Green Mortgage cannot be combined with any other offer or special mortgage, such as a cash back mortgage.

TD’s Green Mortgage essentially provides you with a slightly discounted interest rate and rewards you for buying ENERGY STAR products. What exactly do you get? If you were to take out a $200,000 mortgage, you could then buy up to $2000 in ENERGY STAR products and get a full rebate back from TD. Qualified products include ENERGY STAR major appliances, heating, cooling and ventilation equipment (such as a furnace), windows, doors and skylights. The rebate can also apply to the cost of a residential energy efficiency assessment on your home. For a full listing of ENERGY STAR qualified products, click here. One thing to note is that while the rebate will be given on the cost of the product (including taxes), any cost to install the product is not eligible.

Overall TD provides a great upfront incentive for customers looking to improve the energy-efficiency of their home.

Would you like to talk with a Mortgage Agent about TD’s Green Mortgage? If so please click here.

Have you had any experiences with the Green Mortgage? Please let us know by entering a comment below!

Green Mortgages and Living Lightly

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:16:51 -0600

These days, almost everyone is trying in some way to “go green”. One of the easiest ways for all of us to take on this challenge is to green our homes.This can mean everything from reducing electricity use, to improving home heating, to replacing chemical products in your home.

When buying a home, a Green Mortgage can also be a way to get you started on the right track. Green Mortgage products offer rebates, discounts or other bonuses that help you green your home. As a Green Specialist, I can not only help you with a Green Mortgage, but can also guide you to programs and services that will make your home energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

If you would like to find out more, I will be making a short presentation at The Living Lightly and Locally Showcase event on Sunday, November 16. The event is being held at the Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank Street, from 2:30-4:30 pm.

If you are looking for ways to live well and with less of an ecological impact, then this event is for you! Come out and watch the feature presentation of the Ottawa-based film "Be The Change", by David Chernushenko and be inspired! You'll also meet with local providers of "living lightly" products and services to learn what you can do right here in Ottawa.

Other confirmed exhibitors include: Sustainable Ottawa, Isolara Solar Energy, Vrtucar car sharing, Tucker House, the Otesha Project, Baby Be Green, La Siembra, Moving to Green, Appleseed Lawn Care, Arbour Environment Shoppe, CSV Architects, Allegra Printing, Simply Raw...

The event will also feature:

– Greening the Old Firehall: a presentation by architect Anthony Leaning

– Take-home guides: National Capital Region Green Pages and a guide to local suppliers

Admission is by donation: $10-adult, $2-youth, $20-family. Free Bridgehead coffee coupons will be available to the first 125 adults donating $10 or more at the door.

Have any questions about Green Mortgages? Will you be able to make it to the The Living Lightly and Locally Showcase? Share your thoughts by posting a comment below.

Canada's Day of Apology * The Sins Of Our Fathers

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:32:07 -0500

This day has been building many many years. A mixture of feelings overwhelmed me as I watched and heard our country's leaders express sorrow and apology over the treatment of aboriginal children in residential schools ".... for failing to protect you" in institutions that were not properly regulated.

Since the Canadian government compensated those inflicted with life long pain, many of them have died, making their final indulgences with drugs and alcohol - too little too late in lives too painful.

My eyes spring with tears of shame and deep sadness. I've been aware many years of the travesty of children removed from their homes to be abused in Catholic residential schools.

A friend told of leaving her mother at age 5 to go to residential school. She has a framed picture of the day; innocence itself, dressed in a little plaid skirt and white blouse, patent shoes with white socks; her mother bravely holding her in their last moments. I wondered at her anxiety & strange behaviour on a trip we took together. She later told me she has trouble travelling because she gets the feeling she will never return home. She is getting better with it.

The Canadian government has apologized and paid out compensation. However I wonder along with aboriginal people who have expressed it.....

it seems that something is being overlooked ...

....WHAT ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT WHOSE HANDS THESE CHILDREN WERE ABUSED? ..sexually, with beatings, torture, made to eat vomit and excrement - intended to 'kill the Indian' in the child.

They killed the spirits of many innocent children.

I watched some time ago as a spokesman for the Catholic Church issued an apology, which in my mind was casual, weak, not anywhere near adequate. What about accountability? It seems they've hardly been brought to task for the many horrors inflicted in various areas in addition to the residential schools.

Who brings the church to task, to accountability for the horror? For the active ongoing cover-up, including a significant document written by the current pope? This 'holy' institution it appears has only been coming 'clean' as they've had no recourse, nowhere to hide.

The shame is theirs.

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

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Deborah Pearce is a Kelowna Business Woman & webmaster established with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years. LIVING SPACES features over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors.

Deborah's blog frequently features interior design, real estate, community, environmental, internet, travel, art and human interests.