Sustainable housing and real estate in Kitchener-Waterloo region

Market Update- September 2009

2009-10-06T14:23:00.000-04:00

The market remains steady with sales starting to close in on last year's totals. As Karen Shartun of the K-W Real Estate Board explains, "After the first quarter of 2009 sales were down on a year-to-date basis by 25% compared to last year, by the end of the second quarter that gap decreased to 10% below, now after the third quarter the decrease is only 4.2%. The recession appears to have had its greatest effect during the first part of the year and now the market has returned to near normal levels.

There was a total of $108,337,581 in real estate sales in Kitchener-Waterloo region in September 2009. $62,476,342 of that was in single family detached homes, and $32,069,126 of that was in other single family dwellings. There was $8,075,800 in sales in multi-family units, $242,000 in land and $5,474,313 in commercial sales in September.

The average sales price for a single family detached home in September was $289,242, a 1.6% decline from the numbers this time last year. The average sales price for a semi-detached home was $204,428. The average price of a freehold townhouse unit was $247,326. The average price for a condo unit was $185,447. The average price for a co-operative unit was $136,000. The average price for a link home was $219,000. The average price for a mobile home was $68,000.

There were 408 unit sales last month in the Kitchener-Waterloo region; with 216 single family detached homes sold, 29 semi-detached homes sold, 38 freehold townhomes sold, 89 condominium units sold, 1 cooperative home sold, 1 link home sold, 1 mobile home sold, 14 multi-family dwellings sold, 1 land property sold, and 18 commercial properties sold.

Of the 375 residential sales, 342 were resale homes and 33 were new construction homes. The majority of these residential sales (177 or 342 sales) were in the $200,000 to $299,999 price range. There were 10 residential sales under $100,000; 81 residential sales in the $100,000-$199,999 price range; 69 residential sales in the $300,000-$399,999 price range; 19 residential sales in the $400,000-$499,999 price range; and 10 residential sales in the $500,000-$749,999 price range. There were no residential sales above $1,000,000 in September.

The majority of residential sales (155 units) happened in Kitchener West of King Street. 80 units were sold in Waterloo West of King Street, 72 units were sold in Kitchener East of King Street, and 68 units were sold in Waterloo East of King Street.

There were a total of 691 new listings processed in September, with 1,666 listings still on the market. This means there are still plenty of homes for you to choose from to find the home of your dreams and expectations that the value will still steadily increase over time. Sellers are getting still high values for their homes and are still selling fairly rapidly. The market will likely start to slow over the winter, as it normally does, picking up again in the early spring.

The accidental environmentalist.

2009-09-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

Now you may be surprised to hear this, considering that I write a blog about sustainable housing, but I do not consider myself an environmentalist. I do not feel like I am one of the green, tree-hugging folk.

I do live what most would consider a fairly green and simple life. I haven't really been shopping in a few years now, aside from groceries and the occasional need for office supplies for my business (mostly 100% recycled paper and re-filling the ink cartridges in my printer). I think very carefully before I make a purchase and try to research its impact whenever possible. My clothes are all second hand from the thrift store or handmade creations by friends. I live in a very minimum square footage, use all non-toxic cleaners (thank goodness for baking soda), and take great measures to reduce my daily energy usage. I grow some vegetables and herbs for the fresh goodies through the harvest and to preserve to last me as far as I can get through the winter. Aside from chocolate (which I can't imagine ever giving up!), I try to eat mostly a localvore diet, although I'm not extremely strict on this. I dream of the day when I will be able to live in a fully self-sustaining home, off the grid, growing all my own food myself.

So why do I write about sustainable housing, and why do I seem to care about environmental issues so much?

I've always considered myself a fairly good person. It has never been my intention nor want to cause another being harm and I have always been concerned with human rights and freedoms. It is with this purpose that my so-called "environmentalism" came to be.

I was once a fairly heavy consumer. I desperately wanted the latest and greatest, and coveted these goodies with great lust. I dreamt of a high-tech, gadget-filled existence and thought the tree-huggers to be unrealistic idealists with their head in the clouds.

That all began to change-- slowly, but surely--after extensive world travels and years at university studying about global affairs began to really open my eyes. I read (and write) constantly about human rights and have for at least most of the past decade. I dream of a day where the basic human rights (you know, like those ones agreed upon by many nations--including our own--through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights over 60 years ago) are actually ratified and guaranteed by the governments of the world. A world where everyone has the basics they need to live a healthy and happy existence.

For me, environmentalism coincides with this dream. Pollution, in my opinion, violates my human rights. It affects my health and well-being and the health and well-being of my family. I should not have to endure a barrage of toxins if I don't want to do so willingly.

Unfortunately, we have little choice in the matter. Our air and water is filled with toxic pollution and it is only getting worse. In some places, people are experiencing severe health problems due to the high toxicity levels in the air, ground or water. Their right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their families is being infringed upon by polluters.

High levels of consumerism are having an immense impact on pollution levels. We live in a society where we are expected to shop. We are expected to have a home computer and a cell phone and a big screen TV. We are taught from a young age to value material things. Unfortunately, this value for the material happens to contradict with many people's value of doing no harm. It was this contradiction that led to my gradual life change.

Not only does the need for the latest-and-greatest cause tremendous pollution, which will harm the planet and the beings living on it, but many of these latest-and-greatest are also incredibly human rights abusing in their production. Now, I'm not just talking about sweat-shops, even thought almost every store in North America probably has at least one product created by sweat-shop labour. The abuses go much deeper.

Think about where your products came from and what it took for them to get from raw materials in and on the ground to your home. They have probably traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles, creating mass amounts of pollution along the way only to wind up in a landfill at the end of it.

If the product has metal components, it is possible that this metal was mined by slaves and you would never even know it. It is quite possible that it also provided financing for a murderous warlord to continue warring. For example, you'd be hard-pressed to find an electronic product such as a cellphone or laptop computer that hasn't helped in some way to finance civil war or helped to continue the rape, torture or death of innocent civilians.

It is with this in mind, that I began to look into what I was consuming, why I was consuming it and how it was impacting the world. It is with this in mind that I became an "accidental environmentalist". I started searching out the sources of the products and services I was using daily and whenever I found one that didn't meet my ethical standards-- I stopped using it. As I stopped using all the products and services to such a high degree-- I noticed that I didn't need or miss them after they were gone for a while. As I started looking into environmental issues more and how they were affecting the people of this planet, I started reading about the different renewable and sustainable technologies that exist. I starting thinking-- why aren't we using these? They make so much sense, not only from an environmental standpoint, but they are also more cost effective and efficient.

Reversing or slowing climate change has never been a prime goal for me. Not infringing on other people's human rights, however, IS.

The next time you think about going green, think about this. Probably the number one greenest thing you can do for this planet and the beings living on it is to STOP CONSUMING SO MUCH STUFF!!

Everything you consume had to be created. It had to use goods mined or extracted from the earth, causing pollution and depleting often non-renewable resources, and is perhaps even using slave labour or causing war and death along the way. When you throw it away at the end of its usage it will probably wind up in a landfill leaching into our water supplies. So think before you buy-- do I actually need this? Chances are, you probably don't, and after a while, you probably won't even miss it.

Condos are moving... August market remains fairly steady.

2009-09-10T16:38:00.000-04:00

There were 520 unit sales in the month of August in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, a 19.3% increase from August of the previous year, with an average sales price of $255,311 for residential properties. Of the 482 residential properties sold, 278 were single family detached homes, 46 were semi-detached, 33 were freehold townhomes, 122 were condos, 1 cooperative home, 1 link home and 1 mobile home sold during this period.

The incentives for first time home buyers appear to be affecting the market as both condominium and semi-detached home sales were significantly up from last year with a 62.7% increase and 31.4% increase respectively.

Of the 482 residential properties, 454 were resale homes and 28 were newly constructed homes.

The volume of sales was highest in the $200K-$300K price bracket, which constituted nearly 49% of all sales (235 units). There were 9 sales in the under $100K price bracket, 131 sales in the $100K-$200K price bracket, 69 sales in the $300K-$400K price bracket, 23 sales in the $400K-$500K bracket, and 12 sales over $500K. There were no sales over $1 million this month.

Kitchener west of King Street topped the sales again this month with 208 units sold in August. Waterloo west of King Street followed this with 102 sales during this time period. Waterloo east of King Street had 79 sales, while Kitchener east of King Street had 93 sales. Kitchener east properties seem to moving more quickly as sales volumes were up 78.8% from last year's numbers and nearly 20% from last month's.

In total there was $131,995,819 in sales in real estate in the Kitchener-Waterloo region for August, up nearly 15% from last year. Residential sales accounted for the majority of these sales, with $119,428,287 of sales recorded ($80,282,630 in single family detached homes and $39,145,657 in other single family dwellings). Multi-family unit sales were worth $4,529,500, vacant land sales were worth $1,356,000, and commercial sales at $6,682,032.

The average sales price for a single family detached home last month was valued at $289,829, down about 3.4% from this time last year. The average sales price for all other single family dwellings was valued at $193,790, up about 2% from last year. The average semi-detached home sold for $210,510, while the average townhome sold for $224,399. The average condo unit sold for $180,968, the average cooperative unit for $132,900 and the average link home for $229,900. The average mobile home sold for $21,500.

There were a total of 599 new listings processed in the Kitchener-Waterloo region in August, 327 new single family detached homes, 182 other single family homes, 26 multi-family units, 6 vacant land properties, and 58 commercial properties. There are 1,665 active listings still available to search from, with 710 single family detached properties, 421 other single family properties, 78 multi-family units, 53 vacant land properties, and 403 commercial proeprties still on the market.

If you have any questions about any of these statistics or require further information-- please be sure to ask me at rebecca.sargent@century21.ca.

Visions of integrative-sustainable housing.

2009-09-04T19:45:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I've been dreaming of building my own earthship on a large acreage (enough for a woodlot, orchard and gardens) for many years now. I think about this all the time and someday in the no-so-distant future it will become a reality. I love growing vegetables/gardening, and definitely love the idea of living in a home that can provide me with self-sustaining renewable supplies of food, energy and water.

I also have dreams of a more integrative city. A city where green spaces collide with living spaces and buildings can "live" on their own. Buildings that can collect and store energy, collect and clean water, and even grow food for their occupants, not to mention help clean the air.

It doesn't matter whether you believe climate change is "hype"-- these types of building and designs make sense in many other ways. In a world where security is an issue and people are told to create "emergency preparedness kits" for their homes, it makes good sense to not have to rely on a grid that could be possibly unreliable.

It makes good sense to have a way to feed cities within the cities. This ensures that in case of emergency there are still food sources available to the population. It's also much, much cheaper than buying produce and it tastes so much better because it hasn't ripened on a truck or sat in storage at some facility before being shipped. There are even services out there now in some cities that you can hire to come and tend your vegetable garden for you if you don't want to grow them yourself. They can be grown on roofs, sidewalks, and any space big enough to hold a pot.

It makes good sense to have energy available on a renewable individual basis without having to be attached to some massive grid. Again it's cheaper-- much, much, much cheaper. Installation costs can be returned on utility savings in short periods of time and if you are collecting enough energy, you never pay for utility costs again. You only have to worry about maintenance and replacing the systems every 15-25 years. Again-- in the case of emergency-- you still have power. Makes sense.

It makes good sense to have a way to clean and collect water. We all need water to live, and we use a LOT of it. There are many creative ways to reduce, collect, treat and clean water that have been converted to home use and could be done on a much larger scale. Reed bed waste water systems have very low operational costs compared to other types of waste treatment options because they use gravity for the main pumping. They also look better from the outside, because instead of a massive treatment facility spewing out sludge there is a space full of plants (creating more green space).

The city I imagine uses space wisely-- more efficiently and thoughtfully. It integrates and maximizes spaces like the roofs and walls of buildings in innovative ways. It diversifies the usages of the land-- combining retail space with business space, with residential space, with farm space, with industrial space, with recreational space, and making them all work together, reducing the need to travel for daily activities.

These types of initiatives are starting to happen all around us. The more we invest and use these types of systems-- the better they will become. Ontario has started to implement Smart Growth policies in an attempt to redevelop the land to help prevent urban sprawl.

So let's start creating energy, creating useful space and creating clean air instead of using energy, destroying useful space and polluting the air. It just makes sense!

Unique starter home on quiet street in the downtown core!

2009-09-02T16:26:00.005-04:00

Are you a first time buyer looking for that perfect starter home at a great price? Look no further!

11 Reinhardt Street, Kitchener

asking $174,000

The last home on quiet street with only 5 properties, this unique starter home is right in the downtown Kitchener core. You can walk within minutes to King Street, shopping, schools, parks and many other amenities; the #18 bus comes just out the end of the street on Weber.

The home has had many upgrades including 100 AMP service, plumbing, and potential in-law suite with separate walk-out entrance in the basement.

The kitchen, in soft taupe, has beautiful laminate (faux wood) floors and all newer stainless steel appliances (electric stove and fridge).

Some original glass hardware on the door give a touch of character.

The kitchen-adjacent dining room features an original built in cabinet with frosted glass panels.

The living room features newer laminate (faux wood) floors and soft colours.

Main floor bathroom directly off the living room with full shower/tub.

Bedroom 1 upstairs

Bedroom 2 upstairs

Laundry area down the stairs from the kitchen. Features front loading washer and dryer.

Downstairs rec room features double sink cabinet and walk-out entrance to the side of the home. Possibility of converting to in-law suite or bar area.

Downstairs bathroom has stall-shower and closet space.

Downstairs bedroom/office is approximately 14' X 10'.

Why don't you come see it for yourself?

Please call me today for an appointment at 519-591-4299.

Schools in the area:

Public Schools:

Grades JA-06 King Edward Public School; 709 King Street West; 519-578-0220

Grades 07-08 Margaret Avenue Public School; 325 Louisa Street; 519-578-1910

Grades 09-12 Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate; 787 King Street West; 519-745-6851

Catholic Schools:

Grades JA—08 St. Teresa Grades; 270 Edwin Street; 519-743-2131

Grades 09-12 St. David Catholic Secondary School; 4 High Street; 519-885-1340

French Schools:

Grades JK-06 Mere Elisabeth Bruyere; 280 Glenridge Drive; 519-880-9859

Grades 07-12 Pere Renee De Galinee; 450 Maple Grove Road; 519-650-9444

Some criticism of sustainable technologies.

2009-08-23T10:49:00.000-04:00

Sustainable technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal heating are just really starting to take off. The more these type of technologies are used and become popular, the more efficient they can become, allowing different and new types of technology to emerge onto the marketplace.

There are criticisms of many of the systems and those who use them will surely tell you they are not without their flaws. Some of the first earthships created, for example, were designed in such a way that they produced excessive, unlivable amounts of heat. They had to be tweaked and perfected in such a way that would address the problems so that they could be livable. As a result, newer earthships are better designed and more comfortable to live in. They needed to be used, tested and tried to even discover what the real problems were to be able to even begin to address them.

Renewable energy and sustainable technology is really only at its infancy. We are just beginning to realize the true potentials and possibilities that are out there. The best is yet to come.

One of the biggest problems I see with many of the renewable energy technologies (such as solar, geothermal and wind turbines) being truly sustainable is the resources that they require in batteries and heavily mined materials to manufacture them. All batteries require mined metals and minerals that are non-renewable and incredibly waste intensive. Many of the technologies are also incredibly waste intensive during their manufacture, distribution or at the end of their lifecycle, as they wind up in landfills leaching toxins into the garbage soup that may eventually find its way into our groundwater.

Sustainable means thinking about the entire lifecycle of a product, not just how much energy it will save during its usage. How much energy went into its manufacture? How much waste was created? How far did it travel? Where will it go when its done being useful? Will it wind up in a landfill, or can it be recycled? I always like to add to this, was it created/distributed/disposed in a manner respectful of all human rights, because to me, this is also part of being truly sustainable. If a product was manufactured using slave labour or disposed of in a way that will toxify other human beings-- it is definitely not sustainable.

So what's best to use? Which technologies are best? How should we live our lives in the most sustainable way?

There's no magic answer. Mostly, because the way the world is set up right now, it's next to impossible to really find out the full details of every product you are using, even if you wanted to. The average product makes at least 10 stops along the way before it ever reaches our stores and we throw it away when its finished its use with little regard for where it will truly end up. This is not being sustainable.

It's time to stop greenwashing, and instead really focus on being truly sustainable. This won't happen overnight, and will take some trial and error. It will take companies looking into the entire lifecycle of their products and finding ways to reduce their impact overall.

If you find faulty "green" claims out there or cases of greenwashing- you can report them under the Competition Act.

Community gardens in the Kitchener-Waterloo region

2009-08-12T13:16:00.000-04:00

Community gardens have become much more popular over the past couple of years and are popping up throughout the city. Community gardens are a great way to encourage an urban community's food security, allowing people to come together to grow their own food and plants. Those without access to their own land have a chance to be connected to land; to grow their own crops. Community gardens can be done on a cooperative basis, or a person can rent a plot within a garden to tend to themselves. Community gardens help diversify the city and provide green space to be enjoyed.

There are many different community gardens that one can be part of within the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Here is a list of some that have spaces available.

Community Gardens in Kitchener

Backyard Plots to Share Sponsored by: Opportunities Waterloo Region Garden location: Highland Rd. & Mill St. area Garden size: No. of plots: 1 Plot size: ~ 5' x 15' Cost per person: Services provided: Open to: For information contact: Maxine Tel. 519-747-7404

Chandler-Mowat Community Garden Sponsored by: Chandler Mowat Community Centre Garden location: Chandler Park Garden size: 300 sq/ft No. of plots: 15 Plot size: Not Available Cost per person: Call for information Services provided: Land, water, use of garden shed, participation in gardening events for families, and educational activities Open to: Residents of surrounding neighbourhood This garden is located in a high density residential neighbourhood and serves many new Canadians. The garden grew to its present size in May, 1999, with support from the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, the City of Kitchener, and a partnership with the Chandler Mowat Community Centre. The City of Kitchener provided land in Chandler Park, the Home Depot donated a garden shed (2000), and Chandler Mowat Community Centre provides a free source of water. Garden activities include: garden opening and blessing, activities for children, picnics and meetings with gardeners. Upcoming events include: canning workshops, children's programs, and a harvest celebration. For information contact: Tim and Kathy Elliott Chandler Mowat Community Centre 222 Chandler Drive Kitchener, ON N2E 3L7 Tel: 519-570-3610

City of Kitchener Allotment Garden Plots Sponsored by: The City of Kitchener Garden location: 1541 Fisher Hallman Road behind the Williamsburg Cemetery No. of Plots: 147 Plot size: 20' x 20'; maximum 2 plots per family. Cost per season: $23.00 (including GST) Services provided: Land, tilling, fertilizing with compost, and water access Open to: Residents of the City of Kitchener This garden is located on land owned by the City of Kitchener. Plots are rented to gardeners each season. Gardeners may have the same plots every year. Gardeners are expected to plant by the end of May and keep plots free of weeds. For information contact: City of Kitchener 82 Chandler Drive, Kitchener ON N2E 1G6 Tel. 519-741-2557

Courtland-Shelley Community Garden Sponsored by: Courtland-Shelley Community Centre Garden location: Vanier Park Garden size: Not Available No. of plots: 20 Plot Size: 10' x 10' Cost per season: $ 10.00 Services provided: Land, garden tools, and water Open to: Residents of surrounding neighbourhood, primarily Courtland-Shelley townhouse residents This garden has real diversity with people from many different cultures. Learn about gardening and different cultural practices! For information contact: Doreen West-Gemmell Courtland-Shelley Community Centre 1064 Unit G Courtland E Kitchener, ON Tel. 519-571-7953 Fax 519-571-7591

Doon - Pioneer Park Community Garden Sponsored by: Doon-Pioneer Park Community Centre Garden location: 150 Pioneer Drive, Kitchener Garden size: Not Available No. of plots: 16 Plot size: Narrow pie shaped plot 22' long Cost per season: $10.00 Services provided: City of Kitchener land, water tank, use of shed and tools Open to: Neighbourhood residents Doon Pioneer Park Community Garden offers 16 individual plots for organic food production. The garden was designed in the form of a wagon wheel with a medicine (herb) wheel in the centre to pay tribute to the native and pioneer heritage of the area. Flower gardens and some raspberry canes surround the fenced-in individual plots. A reclaimed barn-board shed holds tools and resource material for gardneres. Plots are planted individually, but the flower gardens and pathways are cared for communally. For information contact: Sandra Lachance Doon Neighbourhood Community Garden Tel. 519-748-4665 sdlachance@golden.net

Eden's Gate Community Garden Sponsored by: Seventhday Adventurist Church Garden location: 235 Williamsburg Rd., Kitchener Garden size: 90' x 70' No. of plots: 36 Cost per season: Call for information Services provided: Land, water, use of garden shed Open to: Residents of surrounding neighbourhood and church members This garden is located in the middle of a residential neighbourhood and it is its first year to open. The City of Kitchener has helped with working up the garden area and giving some compost and top soil. There will also be a plot to supply St. John's Kitchener with food, herbs and flowers. The sponsors are looking forward to meeting new people and gaining more knowledge. Garden activities include: opening of the garden and blessing it, meeting with gardeners, and Harvest Festival. For information contact: Natasha Gould Tel. 519-568-9153

George Lippert Community Garden Sponsored by: Mount Hope/Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association Garden location: This garden is located in George Lippert Park on Weber Street in Kitchener, between Louisa Street, Ahrens Street and Wilhelm Street. Garden size: 1,000 sq. ft. No. of plots: 10 Plot size: 10' x 10' Cost per season: $10.00 Service/equipment provided: Land and water Open to: Anyone interested in organic gardening, but especially residents in surrounding neighbourhoods. This garden is an initiative of the Mount Hope/Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association. It started in May 2002 with the support of the City of Kitchener, and a grant from the Waterloo Region Community Garden Network to cover the start-up costs. It is open to anyone interested in growing their own vegetables, herbs, and flowers. For information contact: Ann Voisin Tel. 519-578-8638; available evenings

Green Rural Opportunities for Waterloo Region (GROW Herbal Gardens) Sponsored by: The Working Centre Garden location: This garden is located on Kraft Drive and is the second driveway off Bloomingdale Road in Kitchener Garden size: 1.5 acres No. of plots: Single collective plot Cost: None Services provided: Land, water, seeds, tools, compost, shed, greenhouse, and training in gardening skills development GROW Herbal Gardens is a non-profit project that provides mental health consumer survivors with a garden of therapy and enterprise, and with the training and skills necessary to maintain it. Volunteers of the GROW garden produce organically grown herbs and quality herbal products to sell to the larger community. For more information contact: The Working Centre Misha Gingerich Tel. 519-749-9177 ext. 238 mishag@theworkingcentre.org

KW Urban Harvester

Sponsored by: Laurier Students' Public Interest Research Group
Garden location: Throughout KW
Garden size: Varies from plot to plot
No. of plots: 10 and growing
Plot size: Varies
Cost per season: Free, though donations are welcome
Services provided: Land, garden tools, and water
Open to: All residents of KW, or visitors who just want to help out for a short time

Urban Harvester was started in the spring of 2006 by WLU Grad Kyla Cotton. It is a project dedicated to turning our urban landscape into something that is beautiful, sustainable, and of course edible. It was restarted in Spring 2008 with a plan to begin growing organic crops in any piece of urban soil we can legally use. We want to turn useless lawns and forgotten gardens in the Waterloo Region into bountiful sources of life and nutrition.

For information contact:
kwurbanharvester@gmail.com
http://kw-uh.wikidot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10563736723

Community Gardens in Waterloo

Beaver Creek Housing Co-op Community Garden Sponsored by: Beaver Creek Housing Co-op Garden location: Beaver Creek Housing Co-op Garden size: not available No. of plots: 20 plots for Beaver Creek Members Plot size: 5' x 20' (varies) Cost per season: none Services provided: land and water Open to: residents of the Housing Co-op This garden is a totally green, natural, and pesticide-free garden. Since 1983, this garden has been maintained in the co-operative spirit. The participants ensure their gardening practices have minimal impact on the environment. Gardeners grow perennials and vegetables using water efficient gardening methods and no pesticides. For information contact: Kathy Middleton Beaver Creek Housing Co-op 590 Bearinger Road, Unit #7B, Waterloo, ON N2L 6C4 Tel. 519-886-1081

Brighton Yards Co-operative Housing Community Garden Sponsored by: Brighton Yards Housing Co-op Garden location: Brighton Yards Housing Co-op Garden size: Not Available No.of plots: 10 Plot size: 10' x 10' Cost per season: None Services provided Land and water Open to Plots are only available to residents of the Housing Co-op. This garden was started in May 1997 with the purpose of giving co-op members the opportunity to grow food, create a beautiful and social space, and contribute to the co-operative spirit of the housing co-op. For information contact: Brighton Yards Housing Co-operative Tel. 519-886-9242

Christ Lutheran Community Garden Sponsored by: Christ Lutheran Church Garden location: Next to the church, 445 Anndale, Waterloo Garden size: Not Available No. of plots: 35 - some raised bed plots Plot size: Not Available Cost per person: $10.00 Services provided: Land and water Open to: Surrounding neighbours A great garden with lots of sunshine! Location is very accessible with great diversity in gardeners - friendly people with a wealth of garden information. This garden was established in May 1999 with support from the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, a Waterloo Region 25th Anniversary Community Grant, and the City of Waterloo (land preparation and water hook-up). Gardeners include members of the Church, Food Bank garden referrals, and neighbours. For information contact: Christ Lutheran Church Jeanette Nelson or Shirley Freeman 445 Anndale, Waterloo Tel. 519-885-4050

Lutherwood Garden Club Father David Baur Drive 519-884-8485

McDougall Road Garden Sponsored by: Private Citizen Garden location: 52 McDougall Road, Waterloo Garden size: 70' x 30' No. of plots: 9 plots Plot size: 5' x 28' Cost per person: $20/yr (mainly to pay for water) Services provided: Compost, wood chips and delivery charges paid by owner Open to: 14 gardeners - some gardeners share plots For information contact: Andrew Copp Tel. 519-725-2993

The Good Earth Garden Call after April 4, 2008. Sponsored by: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Garden location: Behind St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Garden size: Not Available No. of plots: 90 Plot size: 10' x 12' - some gardeners may have two plots Cost per season: $10.00 Services provided: This garden has its own garden tools and shed Open to: Neighbourhood residents A lovely organic garden with an old fashion water pump. The garden is nestled beside a grand shade tree an has both sun and shade. Gardeners can relax at the picnic table on the side. This peaceful garden was started in May 1999 by local residents, the church and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. The City of Waterloo helped to prepare the land. For information contact: James Graham St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church 22 Willow Street Waterloo, ON N2J 1V5 Tel. 519-888-0561

The University of Waterloo Community Garden Sponsored by: Land donated for use by the University of Waterloo, Waterloo Environmental Studies Endowment Fund
Garden located: University of Waterloo; North of Westmount North past Columbia Lake
Garden size: Not Available
No. of plots: 10
Plot size: 10' x 10'
Cost per season: None
Services provided: Land and water
Open to: Members of the UW Community

Two garden styles exist. One garden is run with individual garden plots with shared tasks; while the other garden operates as one large communal garden where members garden together.

For information about individual garden plots contact:
Jason Rochon
University of Waterloo
Tel. 519-888-4567 ex.t 33518

For information about the communal garden contact:
Candace Wormsbecker
Tel. 519-886-4185
cwormsbe@gmail.com Veghouse Community Garden 55 Euclid Aven mattheppler@gmail.com

Community Gardens in Cambridge

Christopher Champlain Cultivating Community Garden (CCCG)Sponsored by: Christopher Champlain Community Centre Garden Location: Percy Hill (where McDonald meets Champlain behind 125 Champlain Blvd) No. of plots: 10 Plot Size: 5' x 20' (negotiable) Cost per family: $5.00 Services provided: Resources, water, and initial roto-tilling Open to: The Public These garden plots are new, tilled with fresh soil in the spring of 2008. Although CCCG is still in its birthing stage, native plants have been planted to keep it true to the area. It is planned to have benches available by the end of the season allowing for residents, young and old, to walk and enjoy the progress of this garden. Planting with CCCG allowed many residents to come out mingle with each other and produce some wonderful fresh vegetables for those summer meals. Look for future information on canning, preserving etc... For information contact: Lisa Koop Tel: 519-624-3855 ext 227 or Paula Johnstone 519-740-8565

The UW School of Architecture Community Gardens

Sponsored by: Land donated for use by the City of Cambridge
Garden location: Directly south of School of Architecture building, beside the Grand River
Garden size: Triangular plot of land, approximately 1250 sq ft
No. of plots: One - the garden is communal
Cost per season: None
Services provided: Land and water
Open to: Students of the School of Architecture, and any interested community membersThis garden was initially designed and implemented in 2007 through a graduate course at the School of Architecture. Open to both the school and the surrounding community, the garden has become a successful public space where members of the school and community alike come together to share and learn. The garden currently has several beds of perennial flowers, herbs and some fruit, while the majority of plots are left open for annual edible plantings every year. The garden is currently run communally, however if members of the school and/or outside community are interested, plots could also be gardened individually. The project is still in its early stages and any support is appreciated. All gardeners, donations and wisdom are welcome!

For information contact:
Natalie Jackson
Tel. 519-312-8600
nataliemjackson@yahoo.com

Melodie Coneybeare
Tel. 519-505-3074
melconeybeare@hotmail.com

Waterloo Regional Police Garden Allotment Program
176 Hespeler Road

Tel. 519-653-7700 ext. 2299

Community Gardens in Other Parts of the Region

Diversity Gardens Location: This garden in located on Notre Dame Drive, between Petersburg and St. Agatha along a Hydro Services Corridor. Garden Size: 2 acres Number of plots: Not applicable Open: Diversity Gardens is open for self guided tours and workshops from the middle of May to the middle of October Cost: Some workshops have a small cost. Other events are free. Upcoming events are posted at: www.cogwaterloo.ca Diversity Gardens is a project of the Canadian Organic Growers - a national charity promoting organic growing. The gardens provide hands on training in growing ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, and herbs using orgnic techniques. Located along one of the Region's environmentally sensitive planning areas (the St. Agatha forest), the garden provides an ideal place to demonstrate the inter-relationships between food and the environment. The site has a series of demonstration gardens, greenhouse, native shrub border, and an outdoor workshop area. On workshop days and when volunteers are at the garden there is access to a demonstration kitchen, a wild crafting studio and washroom facilities. For information contact: Krista Long kristalong@sympatico.ca

For general information about Community Gardens, please contact: Carol Popovic Tel. 519-883-2004 ext. 5336 plcarol@region.waterloo.on.ca

Do you want to view homes and businesses utilizing sustainable and renewable energy technologies and have all your questions answered?

2009-08-09T11:57:00.001-04:00

Hello all!

I will be running a tour of homes and businesses in the K-W region that are currently utilizing sustainable or renewable energy technologies so that you can learn about these technologies from those who use them every single day! The tour will be absolutely FREE and everyone is welcome to attend!

Included in the tour will be solar technolgies, geothermal technologies, wind turbines, green roofs, heat recovery systems, as well as some local community gardens. See how the technologies work and ask all your questions directly to the home or business owners who use them.

You can take the tour at your own pace with your own transportation, or join a group and tour with others walking, riding bicycles, or using rollerblades and skateboards!

If you would like to join the upcoming tour or want more details please contact me at rebecca.sargent@century21.ca or directly at 519-591-4299.

If you own a home or business that is using sustainable or renewable energy technologies and would like to be part of the tour, please let me know about it!

Hope to see you there!

July keeps the pace. The market is still going strong!

2009-08-05T21:53:00.001-04:00

The market is going strong, with the unit sales and average sale price for homes sold in July 2009 being the second highest ever recorded for the Kitchener-Waterloo region. The 2008 housing peak, broken by recession fears, appears to be normalizing on an higher slope than the pre-2008 levels.

There were 522 unit sales last month in the K-W, with an average sale price of $274,895. A total of 486 residential units sold in July; 314 of which were single family detached homes. The average sale price for single family detached homes was $316,436. Of the other residential properties sold, there were 38 semi-detached properties (average sale price $210,050), 33 freehold properties (average sale price $227,324), 97 condo units (average sale price $178,773), 1 co-operative unit (sale price $62,000), and 3 link homes (average sale price $202,500). 12 multi family units were sold, 1 non-residential land unit sold, and 23 commercial properties sold.

Of the 486 units sold, 452 were resale homes and 34 were new homes.

The majority of home sold in July were in the $200,000 to $299,999 range (233 out of the 486 sales). There were 96 sales in the $100,000 to $199,999 price range and 12 homes in the under $99,999 price range. 89 (of 486) homes sold in the $300,000 to $399,999 price range. 35 homes sold in the $400,000 to $499,999 price range. 17 homes sold in the $500,000 to $749,999 price range. 3 homes sold in the $750,000 to $999,999 price range, with one home over a $1 million sold.

Kitchener west of King Street once again had the highest number of sales with 203 units sold, followed by Waterloo west of King Street with 131 units sold. Waterloo east of King Street had 73 sales and Kitchener east of King Street had 79 sales.

The total volume of sales in Kitchener-Waterloo region in July was worth $143,495,025, the majority of that ($133,095,923) in residential sales.

There were 789 new listing processed in July, 667 of those in residential units and 91 commercial units. A total of 1,862 units remain active in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and are just awaiting the proper buyer. Now's your chance to find the perfect property for you! Ask me if you'd like to start viewing some properties today (rebecca.sargent@century21.ca or Direct at 519-591-4299!)

How to be "green" in your greenspace.

2009-07-03T14:16:00.001-04:00

The exterior of a home can be a real asset or a real liability when trying to resell a property. Keeping the lawn well-maintained and green is especially important at this time and sellers are often keen on dumping chemicals and pesticides to ensure their lawn looks healthy and green. But there are other ways to keep your lawn green while being more "green" yourself.

For a healthy lawn, you need to start with healthy soil. Lawns grow best in soil that is a mix of clay, silt and sand and that is not too thoroughly packed. If the ground is thoroughly packed, consider aeration, the process of puling out plugs of soil to create air spaces so that water and nutrients can penetrate to the grass roots. A garden fork can be used to systematically prick holes in a smaller yard. An aerator can be rented at most equipment rental shops to do the job for larger yards.

Periodically adding organic mater like compost, manure or grass clippings helps to replenish the natural nutrients into the soil and lessens the amount of fertilizers necessary. A mulching lawn mower can help add nitrogen back into your lawn naturally and easily without any extra work on your part.

Having your own compost pile can allow you to cheaply and effectively nourish your lawn by adding a thin layer of compost to the entire lawn once or twice a year. The pH of the soil should be between about 6.2 to 6.5 for optimal growth. Adding limestone (powder or peletized) to the soil at of around 50 lbs per 1,000 sq. feet or wood ash anytime the ground is not frozen will help to decrease the acidity of the soil.

Mow high, but mow often. This enables a thicker and deeper root system to develop and will create more resistant grasses. Leaving the grass a little bit longer will also help curb weed growth.

Consider switching to an electric or manual reel lawnmower. Modern day reel mowers are much more light weight and easier to use then older varieties and they are much quieter than their gas-powered counterparts.

If you find you need to stick with your gas-powered machine; change the oil, clean the air filter, sharpen the blades and remove debris from the air passages around the engine regularly to help keep it running most efficiently.

Curb weeds by removing them and spraying any leftover root systems with a vingear solution. The vinegar will kill the grass as well, so be careful where it is sprayed. Most dandelions can be managed early by mowing the plants before they go to seed (before they get the white whispy flowers early in the season). You can also try adding corn gluten meal to the entire lawn during seed germination in early spring. This is considered a "pre-emergent" solution since it prevents roots from forming during seed germination and will prevent any additional new growth from occurring.

There are many ways to avoid using harmful or toxic chemicals on your yard. Keeping good soil and performing regular maintenance will also help reduce the amount of watering necessary to keep a green lawn. If you'd like more suggestions, please ask!

Is Rapid Transit in the future for the K-W region?

2009-06-17T17:30:00.000-04:00

The need for a Central Transit Corridor that would link the three cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge was first identified in 1976 and it seems that an active plan is finally underway to start to really connect them. The region is currently connected by a bus system or by hopping on one of the many roads, highways or walkways. The growing population makes congestion a real issue as nearly three quarters of a million people are expected to be living within the K-W in the next 25 years.

The region has proposed a light rail transit (LRT) route starting at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo (and possibly extended along King Street to St. Jacobs Farmers' Market) all the way through the city in a southerly direction to the Ainslie Street Terminal in downtown Cambridge. The system will possibly also feature a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Think of the LRT system like the streetcars in downtown Toronto. The LRT vehicles use rail technology that travel in dedicated lanes, using overhead electric or on-board diesel/hybrid propulsion to make their way through the city. It would be quicker than a bus, but services a smaller, and more direct line. The BRT system uses buses that travel in a dedicated laneway. It would mean there would be an extra lane on the streets with the BRT system dedicated solely to the bus route, allowing it to move much more rapidly through heavy traffic.

The benefits these systems are currently being weighed and evaluated and on June 24th, the Preferred Rapid Transit System will be presented to the Regional Council for consideration. If passed and incorporated it would mean another alternative to get around and within the three cities (Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge) without having to use a car.

There are many advantages to these types of systems from an environmental standpoint. A single LRT train could reduce the traffic of nearly 200 vehicles, severely curtailing traffic, congestion and idling within the city. This would mean less smog, and less pollution. If made affordable, an expanded tranist system could also be a cheap option for many people to get to and from work.

I currently ride the #8 bus on almost a daily basis to get to where I need to go during the day. Unfortunately, I still need a car for my business, but I try to use the bus for social events, or many other things I need to do during the day. It comes almost just outside my door at most every 15 minutes and at worst every 45. Depending on the time of day and where I am on the line, the bus can be completely overcrowded or almost completely empty.It's easy. It 's fairly cheap. It gets you where you need to go.

My biggest complaint with this type of system is that they do not run completely responsibly. A service that is carrying people across locations should be accessible when people need it. There is currently almost no service earlier than 5:30 in the morning or 12:30 at night. For someone starting work very early in the morning, tranit is not a good option. It also leaves little option for late night party-goers to choose a responsible way home. I have been saying this for years: If you want people not to drink and drive-- give them a cheap and reliable way to get themselves home! Keep the buses running an extra 2 or 3 hours or add a few late night options to get people across the cities.

If we are beefing up the transit between the tri-cities, we should also seriously consider beefing up the transit options between cities like Toronto, and London with the K-W. The current round-a-bout system of buses, or trains from Kitchener to Toronto makes inter-city travel between these two cities a tedious and rather costly affair. If the government wants to encourage people to use transit instead of cars, they should subdidize transit to be more affordable. If a ticket from Kitchener to Toronto costs more than the gas to get there and takes at least 2 times as long to get there-- who wants to take it?

Do you think the proposed LRT is a good idea? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Welcome aboard the earthship!

2009-06-10T17:01:00.002-04:00

What is an earthship, you ask?

: Earthship in Brighton

Let me tell you. The earthship was the brainchild of one American man named Mike Reynolds who began experimenting with different types of architecture in the 1970s.

Reynolds dreamed of a home that would be entirely self-sustaining and completely sustainable, using natural materials indigenous to the area or recycled materials for building, with the home being able to generate its own electricity, heating and cooling, as well as cleaning and collecting its own water, and in many cases even incorporating greenhouses within the space to grow some of its own food. These homes would be entirely "off the grid", so to speak. As the concept developed over the years, Reynolds began even creating subdivisions of these homes that from outward appearance, looked much like any other neighbourhood. The difference is, the people living in these suburbs had annual combined utility bills of $0-100.

The idea experienced a lot of flack in the beginning. The American government nearly shut it down construction and research permanently as it hammered Reynolds with legalities involving what a legal subdivision should entail and denying him permits or permissions to build structures. As with any new technology, some kinks needed to be worked out. The technology is getting better everyday, as more homes are built and more people learn the trade.

The first homes had difficulty being entirely "off-grid"; some complained about extreme temperatures or lack of water or other comfort issues. Many of the first homes had composting toilets, but now they are mostly using a system involving a solar-enhanced septic tank with leach-field and planter cells. As time went on, these kinks started to unravel and the technology got better and better.

Mike's most common design involves using recycled tires and ramming them full of earth until they have great load-bearing capacity, thermal mass and resistance to fire. Then they are then plastered and decorated. You would never know they were once old tires. So why are we not building homes using these types of technologies yet?

It's coming, slowly, but surely. People seem reluctant to invest in something they consider "experimental", especially when they themselves and their families will be living within it. Earthship rental properties available in Taos, New Mexico that offer people the chance to see what it's like to live in this type of home seem to be an encouraging idea.

There are several under construction right now in Ontario. Check out here and here for some more details. Want to learn some techniques how to build your own earthship in Ontario? Check out here and here.

Mike even exported this idea to tsunami victims in Southern Asia to help the local population rebuild cheaply, sustainably and in more weather-resistant ways. This technology is now sprouting up everywhere, with earthships from Nicauragua to India. There is a really great documentary now available on Mike's struggle to bring out this technology called Garbage Warrior. I highly recommend you check it out!

May was definitely blooming! K-W monthly update.

2009-06-03T16:43:00.001-04:00

May was a strong month for real estate in Kitchener-Waterloo region, as the number of residential sales saw a nearly 10% increase over May 2008.

Home ownership incentives introduced in the new budget such as the changes to the RRSP savings program, the First-Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit, the temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit, and the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, seem to be encouraging more home ownership.

The average residential sale price for properties sold in May has seen a 24% increase in value over the past five years, now resting at $295,968 for single detached homes, $207,682 for semi-detached, $229,724 for freehold townhomes, and $166,814 for condo units. It appears overall values are remaining relatively steady. Single family detached homes are moving the fastest with 358 unit sales in May, up 15.1% from this time last year. There were 28 semi-detached homes, 41 freehold townhouse , and 98 condo units sold in May.

Homes in the $225,000 to $249,999 price range sold in the highest volume, with nearly 18% of all sales in this range. 71% of all sales occurred in homes priced between $200,000 to $400,000. 8% of sales were priced higher than $400,000.

Kitchener west of King Street had the most sales for the Kitchener-Waterloo region with 216 units sold in May in this area. West Waterloo had the next highest sales volume with 122 sales in May, followed by Kitchener East with 104 unit sales, and Waterloo East with 85 unit sales. Hespeler had the most sales for Cambridge with 18 units sold, followed by Preston and North Galt with 4 unit sales each, and Galt East and West with 3 unit sales each.

There are plenty of stock available for those looking to buy with 677 new residential property listings processed in May and nearly 1,500 active residential listings to choose from.

Historically low interest rates won't last much longer.Now's the time to buy!

Is it a good time to buy/sell in K-W?

2009-05-15T14:38:00.001-04:00

Despite the current economic conditions, the Kitchener-Waterloo market is still fairly healthy. Last month's sales volume was the fifth highest ever recorded for an April in the region, with overall property values still remaining high. The Average sales price for a residential properties has dropped by about 1.8% since last year's record breaking year, but when put into perspective, this year's average sale price is still up 4.2% since 2007, and has increased more than 42% since 1999. Values remain relatively high overall. The average sale price for single family detached home is currently sitting at about $289,838 and the average sale price for a semi-detached property is $196,429. Freehold townhouse units are sitting at $241,298 and condominium unit's average sale price is about $161,138.

There were 632 homes sold in the K-W in April, a 27.4% increase from March of this year. Almost 10% of these sales were new home sales, with the other 90% in resale homes. The majority of buyers were purchasing properties priced between $225,000 and $249,999. Some highlights this month were seen in the number of units sold in the $400,000 to $500,000 price range, which increased by a significant 31.6% since this time last year, and the average sale price for freehold townhouses jumping by over 16.7% since March as new homebuyers are taking advantage of historically low interest rates. Most lenders in Canada have slashed their 5 year interest rates to below 3.95% for qualified clients, meaning the costs of carrying a mortgage have dropped significantly.

West Kitchener had the most sales in April with 231 residential sales. East Kitchener had 73 sales, West Waterloo had 110 sales and East Waterloo had 78 sales. Cambridge sales are up significantly from this time last year (by more than 50%), with the majority of sales happening in Hespeler. There is a great stock for buyers to choose from, with more than 861 new listings processed last month, and over 2,000 residential properties on the market.

A properly marketed and prepared home will sell in this market and receive a competitive price. Buyers currently have lots of options on the market, and great interest rates for their mortgages that are only probably going to climb higher and higher in the upcoming months. Now is a definitely a great time to buy or sell!

Sustainable Technology and Resources in K-W

2009-05-08T17:11:00.000-04:00

Did you know that the K-W region is home to many advanced renewable energy technology firms and other sustainable buildings and businesses? In fact, we are one of the country's leading regions for these types of technologies. When I first started researching sustainable technologies, I was incredibly suprised to find this out. I had no idea. So I thought I would share with you the sustainable technologies/builders/businesses/etc. in our region that are taking on this innovations. This list is only a handful... there are many others.

Prometheus Energy- distributor of renewable and solar energy supplies

321 Shoemaker Street
Kitchener , Ontario
N2E 3B3
Canada
519-725-8907
519-725-8907

www.prometheusenergy.com

info@arisetech.com

Rapid-Eau Technologies Inc.- small hydro power installation and upgrades

1220 Shouldice Side Road
R.R. #4
Cambridge , Ontario
N1R 5S5
Canada
519-740-8786
519-740-0422

www.rapid-eau.com

dave@rapid-eau.com

Advanced Design & Drafting (AYR) Inc.- Engineering and drafting support for solar and wind energy

24-140 McGovern Drive
Cambridge, Ontario
N3H 4R7
Canada
(519)-650-4413
(519)-650-5072

www.addplus.com

Alternative Energy Resources-Solar Panels, WindMills, Water Pumps, Power Inverters, and more.

138 Bakersfield Dr.
Cambridge, Ontario
N1R 6X7
Canada
519-624-1897
519-624-9737

www.altenergyresources.com/

solar@altenergyresources.com

Natural Power Products-sells solar power and wind turbine products

500 Trillium Drive
Suite 18
Kitchener, Ontario
N2R 1E5
Canada
519-504-1600
519-894-9263

www.npp.ca

info@npp.ca

Batteries Expert Waterloo / RET Power- Solar and wind battery and charging systems

105 Lexington Rd.
Unit #11
Waterloo, Ontario
N2J 4R7
Canada
519-747-2288
519-747-2289

www.retpower.com

batteriesexpert@primus.ca

Free Breeze Energy Systems- Renewable energy products

100 Frobisher Dr. Unit #11
Waterloo, Ontario
N2V 2A1
Canada
(519) 885-9021
(519) 885-1588

www.freebreeze.com

Freebreezeenergy@aol.com

Merlyn Enterprises Inc- Solar Thermal systems

80 Krug St
Kitchener , Ontario
N2H 2X7
Canada

scott@merlynpower.ca

ARISE Technologies Corporation- complete solar and wind solutions

65 Northland Road
Waterloo, Ontario
N2V 1Y8
Canada
(519) 725-2244
(519) 725-8907

www.arisetech.com

info@arisetech.com

RenewABILITY Energy Inc.- Cost-effective energy solutions

60 Baffin Place
Unit 2
Waterloo, Ontario
N2V 1Z7
Canada
519-885-0283
519-885-4475

www.renewability.com

info@renewability.com

Spheral Solar Power, Inc.- Photovoltaic solar cells

250 Royal Oak Road,
Cambridge, Ontario
N3H 5M2
Canada

www.spheralsolar.com

admin@SpheralSolar.com

MTE Consultants- Environmental engineering service520 Bingemans Centre Drive
Kitchener, Ontario N2B 3X9
Phone: (519) 743-6500
Facsimile: (519) 743-6513
E-mail: mail@mte85.com

http://www.mte85.com/main.cfm

Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc.- Solar water heaters

750 McMurray Road
Waterloo, Ontario
N2V 2G5
Canada

www.viessmann.ca/

info@viessmann.ca

AET Group- Environmental Consulting

133 Weber Street North
Suite #3-504
Waterloo, Ontario

Canada N2J 3G9

Telephone: (519) 576-9723
Fax: (519) 570-9589

E-mail: info@aet-group.com

http://www.aetconsultants.com/

The North House

in Hespeler (Cambridge)

mademche@team-north.com

http://www.cambridgereporter.com/news/article/www.kwndp.ca/article/165342

Community Renewable Energy Waterloo- resources

http://www.crewzone.ca/index.cfm

Sustainable Waterloo- Not for profit

http://www.sustainablewaterloo.org/

Residential Energy Efficiency Project Waterloo- Not for profit

http://www.reepwaterlooregion.ca/

Cambridge City Hall Going Green

http://cityhall.city.cambridge.on.ca/going-green.php

EMS Services Cambridge Going Green

http://www.amo.on.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=42180

Green Roofs Over Waterloo- promoting sustinable technologies

http://www.grow.uwaterloo.ca/

Sustainable Technology Education Project- Education and resources

http://www.step.uwaterloo.ca/

Home energy audits may soon be mandatory for all residential real estate transactions.

2009-04-13T11:57:00.001-04:00

Ontario is in the process of passing a couple of pieces of legislation that if passed will make home energy audits mandatory for any residential real estate transaction (full legislation information here and here). Many are elated at the progress this will have on making energy efficiency more of a priority in home ownership, while many others feel that this just another unnecessary cost that will be added to the transaction and are angered that it applies only to residential and not commercial sales.
The first piece of legislation to be brought to the table, the Home Energy Rating Act, was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs in October of last year, after its second reading was carried in the Legislative Assembly. The second piece of legislation is currently under consideration for becoming a Bill by the Standing Committe on General Government after being carried through its second reading in the Legislative Assembly March 11, 2009. These legislations will apply to all residential detached, semi-detached and low rise multi-unit buildings that have no more than three stories and are smaller than 600 square metres. This bill would require all sellers to have a home energy rating report to provide to prospective owners or tenants for any new buildings starting January 1, 2010, and for all other buildings January 1, 2011. The full details are still being hammered out. Home energy rating reports would cost the sellers an extra approximately $300.
Forcing energy audits while home inspections that check for structural, mechanical and safety in the home are not mandatory, seems slightly unreasonable. The safety of the future occupants should be a prime concern. Combining home inspections with energy audits could help to solve this problem and would help to keep the prices of the additional audit lower, as the two services could be performed in one viewing by the same inspector. Some companies do offer both services, but they are usually performed by separate inspectors, trained with different standards and certifications. Having dually certified inspectors or combining these two certifications could be a definite advantage.
The biggest problem with combining the two services is that it is usually the buyers who purchase the inspection, whereas it would be the sellers who would be required to purchase the audit. Both services are really in place for the benefit of the buyer. If positive reports, both services are really advantageous to the seller. So who should be stuck with the bill? It's complicated.
Standard contracts for real estate sales here in Ontario drawn up by the Ontario Real Estate Association now include a clause in bold alerting the Buyer to the importance of the home inspection and that it is not automatically included in the contract. The inspection and audit can truly assist the buyer in knowing the full costs of their new purchase. These measures allow the buyer to see how to improve the value of their purchase, where problem areas lie, and the best strategy to go about fixing them in the future. The new audit could have the effect of saving the buyer a great deal of money in the future AND increasing the value of their home. It alerts the buyer of any potential problems in the future and prevents unpleasant suprises from occuring.
Some fear that the audit will have the effect of depressing prices and sales volumes as the buyers use the assessments as an additional negotiating tool trying to reduce their sale price. There will surely be some who will abuse these reports, but experience with similar legislation in other parts of the world has had the effect of improving the overall housing stock and reducing costs for first time buyers. Over time, it will only help to increase home values, not reduce them. Properly educating clients (and Realtors) about the realities of what the reports mean will help to prevent them from immediately driving the prices down.
The Ontario Real Estate Association has recently made a public annoucement stating their opposition to the new legislation. I find this infuriating. The fear that seems to be overwhelming among Realtors is that homeowner's values will decline because they rated poorly in auditing. The reality is that there are currently very few highly-rated homes on the market and this measure will have more of an effect several years down the line once people begin to become more familiar with the importance of energy savings and will not immediately depress home values as they fear. Each successive home owner will be able to make improvements and will only increase the value of each property over time with each upgrade. Without this measure, energy-efficiency in homes takes a last place in importance to much more superficial factors that should have little effect on overall value. Realtors have the duty to help our clients make informed decisions about their purchase and this new legislation provides us with an additional tool to do so. It reveals the more true costs of home ownership.
The public and business sectors, who are responsible for far more energy wasting, should be setting examples for individuals and should be the first amongst the legislated. Unfortunately, the legislation applies only for residential properties. This needs to change.
I'm interested in finding out people's thoughts on the new legislation. Is energy efficiency something you care about in your home? Would you find this audit useful to helping you judge the costs of carrying a property? Do you feel it is another unnecessary added expense to home ownership?

Spring has come.

2009-03-31T17:26:00.000-04:00

Winter is coming to a close and it is finally beginning to look like spring outside. Spring always brings with it one thing in real estate-- open houses and increasing sales. You can properly tour a home and view it in its prime, as plant life begins to sprout again around it. It adds a certain beauty and appeal to the search process and allows visitors to truly see the property without the hindrances of deep snow. Many begin their home search in the spring time, with the expectation of closing and moving over the summer months while their children are on summer vacation.
If you are thinking a listing a property in the near future, take a couple things into consideration. The current average number of days on market has slightly lengthened and property value has slightly decreased. This means your home will take slightly longer than normal to sell and may sell for a slightly lower price than expected (closer to 2007 prices).

Prudent Realtors will bring you a Comparative Market Analysis on your home to help guide you to price your property at a reasonable value. The Comparative Market Analysis takes recent sales data of similar homes in the area and compares them with the listing property to help determine a fair market value and develop a price that will make the property sell the quickest and for the most value. It will take some recently sold properties, some recently expired properties and some currently active properties that have similar characteristics or features and base the price upon these. Sold properties usually indicate pricing that was somewhat reasonable. Expired properties usually indicate inflated pricing or major problems with the property, although sometimes it is an unwillingness of a seller to budge on pricing or conditions or poor marketing done by the Realtor.

Unfortunately, difficult financial times are often associated with less than reputable business practices. In real estate this can translate to what we call "buying a listing". Essentially the Realtor presents the seller with an overly optimistic sales price for the home, doubtful that it will actually sell for this price in the hopes that he or she can "buy" the listing by suggesting the seller will receive a higher sale price. They expect to talk the seller down every couple of weeks to lower and lower pricing.

Why would they do this? Sometimes homeowners have inflated perceptions of their home value, but mostly, it is done by unscruptulous Realtors who are desperate for listings. The best way to protect yourself? Find a Realtor you can trust, and review all the materials they bring to you. If they suggest a certain price, ask them for proof to back this up.

Interview at least 3 Realtors and get their Comparative Market Analysis. Look at the criteria they are using to determine the value of your home. Are all three using the same comparable material, and where do they differ? Are they using current data (from the last 2 months)? Are they using reasonable comparable properties to your home? Are they taking into consideration the solds, expireds and active listings? If you are unsure, ask.

One high pricing may seem like a dream come true, but after weeks on the market, you may be singing a different tune. Protect yourself up front and ensure you are pricing the property properly. Listing too high will scare away potential buyers or limit them from even searching or viewing your property. Staleness will creep in, and as your price drops, fewer and fewer viewers will be attracted. Get the price right the first time and save yourself the hassle.

What's going on in the Kitchener-Waterloo region housing market?

2009-03-25T16:26:00.001-04:00

Kitchener-Waterloo has been feeling the effects of the economy. There have been layoffs, or talks of layoffs in several industries, and many people are feeling very anxious. This anxiety has impacted the real estate, housing and building industries; slowing housing starts (the construction of new buildings) to slightly lower levels and decreasing housing unit sales. Buyers are finding a wide range of units to choose from and increased bargaining ability as the market remains in their favor. Sellers are finding their home is sitting slightly longer than usual on the market before being sold. Overall, conditions are still relatively comfortable, though perhaps not entirely optimistic for the next couple of years.

There were 269 units sold in Kitchener-Waterloo region in February. The number of single family-detached homes sold in February was 27.5% lower than February of last year. The number of all residential units sold in February was down 27.2% from February of last year. Even with this lower number of sales from last year, the total number of sales was up nearly 26.7% from January 2009 and up 28% from December 2008; with the warming weather likely to only bring increasing sales. There were 53% fewer multi-family units sold in February from last year, up from January 33% and up 60% from December. Farmland and vacant land sales increased across the board.

Year to date sales are down for all units by 28.6% from 779 units sold by the end of February in 2008 to only 556 units sold so far in 2009. 91% of unit sales were in resale homes, with 9% in new home sales. The majority of these sales happened in single family detached residential units.

30% of these residential sales were priced under $200,000, and 78% of all the residential sales were priced under $300,000. There have been no sales over $750,000 so far this year. The average sale price for residential properties was $244,419, down slightly from last year’s average of $254,564.

West Kitchener had the highest volume of sales last month with 130 sales, followed by West Waterloo with 73 sales. Waterloo East had the lowest number of sales with only 41 sales. In Cambridge, properties are moving the most in Hespeler, and least in North Galt.

Now is a great time for buyers. Interest rates are relatively low and as homes stay longer on the market, more bargaining becomes possible. Property values are still likely to increase over the long term (ie. More than 5 years).

If you are a (first time) home buyer, now's the time to talk to a mortgage broker or banker to see if you can qualify for a mortgage and to take advantage of favorable interest rates.

Ways to save water around your home.

2009-03-09T16:47:00.000-04:00

Canadians waste a lot of water. Each person here uses on average 329 litres of water per day, more than twice as much as the average person living in France and significantly more than those in less developed nations. Canada has an abundance of freshwater, with 7% of the world's supply of total renewable water flow and 25% of the world's supply of wetlands. It has the largest per capita supply of freshwater amongst industrialized nations. Despite this supply, many Canadian municipalities have reported water shortages because of socio-demographic pressures. 85% of the population lives within 300km of the American border, yet 60% of the water flows towards the less populated north. Our current water usage is not sustainable, and is taking incredible amounts of taxpayer money to clean and purify at over $4.5 billion per year. We need to find ways to cut our water wastes.
Canadians spend approximately 35% of their water usage showering and bathing and about 30% flushing toilets. A typical low flow shower head uses about 10 litres of water per minute (10 minute shower=100 litres). A typical basic bathrub will hold around 150 litres of water, soaker or larger tubs much more (up to 500 litres or more). Building codes have required 6 litre/flush toilets since 1996, but older toilets can use as much as 20 litres per flush and the average person flushes 7 times a day.
These amounts can be reduced with simple measures, like switching to low-flow toilets and shower heads and fixing leaks as soon as they happen. One drop per second from a leaky tap wastes about 10,000 litres of water per year. Shortening shower time can also drastically reduce water usage.
Using a grey-water system in the home, a more expensive solution, can reduce home water usage by 35-40% annually. This system recycles water that has been used in your shower or kitchens and uses it for toilet flushing and irrigation purposes. Basically, it allows you to reuse the water from your shower in your toilet, drastically saving your water usage. Check out http://www.ecoshift.ca/, a Cambridge company for more details or to have your home assessed for waste reduction.
Canadians water their lawns on average 1.5 times a week in the summer months, often using hose water coming from their municipality. This water could come from the sky, by using rain barrels or rain water tanks to collect and store rainwater. Many designs are available and can suit most outdoor household needs.
Dishwashers use approximately 57 litres of water per load, EnergyStar appliances typically use much less water and energy. Only run the dishwasher when full to save water. Clothes washers use on average 150 litres of water per load, with EnergyStar or front loading appliances using significantly less water and energy.
When renovating your home or upgrading appliances, consider switching to EnergyStar or low flow options. How much do you spend on your water bill? How much can changing your daily living affect this? Small changes can make drastic differences. If you need advice on where to start, just ask me!

What is geothermal heating and cooling?

2009-03-05T13:47:00.002-05:00

Heating and cooling of indoor space is one of the biggest energy wasters in our homes and businesses. What if we could let the earth do this naturally for us, reducing our heating and cooling costs by as much as 50-70%?

A geothermal heat pump moves heat into or away from the earth through a ground loop system (a system of pipes that run deep into the ground). It quietly and comfortably controls the temperature in the home, providing more consistent heat that stays on longer and changes the temperature more gradually. It also has the capability to heat water in your home in place of a traditional water heater. In the summer, the system works as a cooling system with no need for a separate air conditioning system.

The geothermal heating system is made up of 3 main components: the ground loop system, the heat pump furnace unit, and the distribution system. The ground loop is a system of polyethylene pipes which extract heat from soil beneath the frost line deep into the earth. In the cooling mode, the pipes return heat to the earth. The heat pump furnace unit moves heat from one place to another, and the distribution system channels it around your home through duct work and vents.

A geothermal system starts at about $20,000. With federal and provincial incentives and rebates, you can receive about $7,000 back on your system ($3,500 under federal rebate, matched in Ontario), provincial sales tax can also be waived, resulting in a further savings. Ontario also has programs for those who qualify for between $8,000 and $9,000 in possible rebates. See below for links to rebate programs.

Geothermal heating and cooling is best for new home construction or in rural areas since these present the fewest construction barriers when installing the system. Low levels of electricity are required to move the heat about, but electricity is not required to create the energy. There is no combustion taking place, therefore there is no need for a chimney or flue and there are no combustion hazards or concern for carbon monoxide gases.

Since the entire system is either indoors or below ground there is little potential for vandalism or destruction from weathering that can occur with other cooling systems. Other than at installation, noise from the system is minimal.

The initial costs are about two times as high as normal heating systems, but when you consider that the system is also responsible for cooling, the costs don’t seem nearly as high. Payback for the system can occur from savings in only 2-7 years, depending on which fuel/or system you are trading from. Most systems come with 10 year warranties, but can last much longer (20-30 years). The pumps have an average life span of about 20 years. The earth energy pipes are typically warranted for 25 years, but have a useful life of 50 years if maintained and installed properly and depending on local conditions. The best time to think about geothermal heating or cooling is when it is time to replace your old furnace. With rebates and incentives, the cost is not significantly higher than traditional systems and can result in great overall savings.

There are some concerns over the use of geothermal energies. These systems are different than the air to air heat pumps that were installed in the 1950s and 60s. They have become much more efficient and environmentally sound, and the more they are installed and used, the more options will start to come out and the cheaper they will become.

There are environmental impacts to consider when heat mining (which is what geothermal essentially is doing) and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) should be done in advance of any development to make sure the ground is suitable for this type of extraction. You are getting heat from deep aquifers in the ground, and in this process certain minor emissions of gases from the earth are possible. Geothermal heating is said to produce approximately 79 g/kWh of CO2 are emitted when geothermal electricity is generated. Compared to the 955 g/kWh of CO2 emitted from coal generated electricity, this is significantly less.

There is also the possibility of waste water pollution if the waste water is not treated properly. Solid wastes of calcite and silica are also possible to deposit in the pipes as travertine and siliceous sinter build up. These can cause blocking of pipes and boreholes and reduce the permeability of aquifers being developed. The environmental impact assessment should detail ways to help reduce these negative impacts. If done properly, the system should be significantly less wasteful and environmentally impacting than traditional systems.

Geothermal heating and cooling is not for everyone, but for new home construction or rural properties it can make a lot of sense. It is best when used in combination with other renewable energy systems so that the electricity needed to move the heat can be created renewably and so the environmental impact is less and the home is more self sustainable.

Check out http://www.earthheat.ca/ to find an Ontario installer.

ecoEnergy rebates:
http://www.geosmartenergy.com/specsheets/retrofit-qualify-grant.pdf
http://www.geosmartenergy.com/specsheets/grants-residential.pdf
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/home-improvement.cfm?attr=4

Ontario rebates:
http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=conservation.homeretrofit
http://www.geosmartenergy.com/specsheets/General%20App_rebate.pdf

Ontario power authority (rebate of up to $550):
http://everykilowattcounts.ca/residential/coolsavings/
Cambridge Hydro (rebate of up to $1,500), call them directly at (519) 744-9799 to find more details.

If you would like more details on rebates and incentives, please talk to me.

Can wind energy work to power our homes?

2009-02-28T18:35:00.000-05:00

It costs anywhere between $2,000-$8,000/per kilowatt power produced to purchase a small wind turbine. However, the wind turbine costs represent only 12%-48% of the total cost of a small wind electric system. There are also costs for other components, such as inverters and batteries, as well as sales tax, installation charges and labour. People sometimes opt to install the turbine themselves.
After installation, there are maintenance costs, as with any mechanical device. These are said to average approximately 1% of the original cost per year. The blades and bearings need to be replaced approximately every ten years. The wind turbine can last 20-30 years (or longer) if properly installed and maintained. It must be oiled, greased and safety inspected regularly. Bolts and electrical connections must be checked annually, along with checking for corosion and to ensure proper tension on the guy wires.
In cold conditions the turbine will have to de-iced and the batteries must be stored in an insulated place. Turbines should never be placed on a rooftop, as they are said to cause damage to the roof through vibrations. There have also been some complaints of noise or vibrations causing discomfort to those living inside a home with a turbine on the roof.
The turbine does produce noise. From a distance of 250 m away a typical wind turbine produces approximately 45 dB (A) decibels) of noise. This is similar to the noise inside a typical office building. If not properly installed or maintained, turbines have the potential to get louder.
The blades of most turbines are made of fibreglass or wood, and as such are transparent to electromagnetic waves such as radio and tv.
They must be placed in a large open area with a certain level of wind (which varies depending on the type and size of the turbine). It is recommended to have them in an open area free of trees or buildings, approximately 1/2 an acre or more in size for best use.
From what I have read, the claim that wind turbines are dangerous to birds is misleading, with a large window on a home posing more of a threat. This can be reduced with certain measures, such as netting.
Wind power does not create toxic by-products in its generation. Some of the material inside the batteries can be toxic, and should be disposed of properly. Overall, the environmental impact and toxicity of turbines is considerably less than the use of fossil-based or nuclear energy. The electrical components should be stored properly to keep away children or animals, like any other mechanical or electronic devices capable of carrying electricity.
There are a couple types of wind turbines, the horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a design more like an egg-beater.

An adequate wind turbine can generate 50-100%+ of a household energy needs. If it creates a surplus of energy, this energy can usually be sold to a local energy provider. How much do you pay for energy every year? If your energy bill was $0 every year, how much would you save? How long would these savings take to pay for the system? Probably much less than 20 years, the lifespan of a typical wind turbine.
A wind turbine is not for every property or person, and is best used in combination with other energy systems (such as passive heating and cooling, geothermal systems and solar devices). But if you live in a rural environment and have space available, it is an option you should consider. There are government grants available to help subsidize the costs, and savings in the long term will help pay for the system.
The more we move towards alternative renewable energies, the more options there will be and the cheaper they will become.

What does sustainable really mean in housing anyway?

2009-02-24T18:45:00.000-05:00

We've heard the word "green" for so long now, what is this other new catch word "sustainability"? Sustainability is a holistic concept, concerned with the big picture. It looks into the overall cost in terms of economic, ecological, and social costs. It is about looking at where the raw materials that went into a product came from, what happened to them along the way and the final result of where it ends up. It's looking at the entire lifecycle of something and figuring out the most efficient way to make it happen with the least waste as an end result.

In housing, this translates into efficiency in water usage, energy usage and the minimizing of overall adverse health problems. It also means looking into where the building materials came from in the first place and finding out whether or not they are using a system that is maintainable and respecting human rights. It's about reducing the waste that goes into a product, and finding ways to reuse the product in a new way once it's reached its usability. It's about thinking about the ways we are living and finding ways that better suit our current needs. Desiging the spaces around us, around our environment and figuring out the best usage.
Many innovative designs are available. Architechture and engineering schools are turning more and more to sustainable designs and ideas, but the turnover to the building industry is slower. The turnover to the real estate market, probably the main driver of how the building industry will run, even slower.

Not all of the kinks in the new technologies have been worked out, and we should not rely solely on one means of securing energy. Instead we should diversify. The more energy efficient or energy creating technology becomes in demand, the more research will be done and the more options will come out.

It's not about changing everything overnight, but it is about making small changes to be more efficient and cost-effective (including social and ecological costs as well).

It doesn't even mean making any real structural changes. It can be as simple as switching your energy provider to one that offers more sustainable energy (in K-W you can try www.bullfrogpower.com). It's about stopping the leak in your sink, and cauking the cracks. It's about turing the heat down one degree and putting on a sweater. It's about updating windows and doing proper insulation. It's about changing lifestyles to be less wasteful.

The smaller maintanence and daily lifestyle changes make huge differences. Not only in reducing environmental impact, but also in costs. You will save money. Sustainable efficient living will save you money. It will save the amount of toxins getting into your home and into your body.
All housing requires maintenance. When you do the maintenance, think about using more sustainable options in place of what you would normally do. If you don't know what options exist-- ask me! I'd be happy to share my resources with you.

Knowing your rights and responsibilities as a landlord.

2009-02-23T16:51:00.003-05:00

Knowing your rights and responsibilities is very important if you are a property owner of a tenanted building. You should also know what the expectations of the tenant will be.

Here is a list of useful websites and services for rental property owners in the Kitchener-Waterloo region:

You are required by the Landlord and Tenant Board as rental property owners to provide your tenant with the following brochure: http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/graphics/stel02_111728.pdf

What to do with problem tenants, which forms to file (and copies of the forms), when to file them and how to file them with the Landlord Tenant Board:http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/STEL02_111286.html

Landlord and Tenant Boardhttp://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/index.html
Telephone Number: 1-888-332-3234

Filing rental income taxes with Canada Revenue Agency:http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/t4036/t4036-e.html#P406_41464

Centre for Equality Rights Accommodation (CERA)
Provides information and advice on housing discrimination and on evictions. Has helpful for advice on how to prevent human rights abuse in housing and rental units. http://www.equalityrights.org/cera/
Phone number: 1.800.263.1139

Landlord self-help Centre
http://www.landlordselfhelp.com/frontpage.asp
Phone number: 1-800-730-3218

Waterloo RegionCommunity Legal Services
170 Victoria Street South,Kitchener, Ont. N2G 2B9
Tel: 519-743-0254Fax: 519-743-1588
http://www.wrcls.ca/

Rent Bank/Eviction Prevention Program
Program to secure housing for persons in danger of being evicted or need help with a rental loans in a case where a tenant doesn't have funds (for whatever reason) and cannot secure them otherwise. Also can help with last month's rent deposits. If a tenant tells you they do not have the money for rent-- you can try sending them here.
165 King Street East
Kitchener, OntarioN2G 2K8
Tel: Kristine Dearlove - 519-743-2246 x 225

By-Law Enforcement Kitchener: (519) 741-2330
By-Law Enforcement Waterloo: (519) 747-8557
Legal Clinic: (519) 743-0254
Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal: 1-888-332-3234

Information package to give to your tenants (if you so choose):
What tenants need to know about the law. May be helpful to you to see what they can do and what they can't. http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/landlordTenant/tenantsaccess.pdf

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).
Tenant information booklets on:
Can your landlord take your stuff?
Fighting an eviction
Maintenance and repairs
Moving Out
Rent Increases
Web tools for renters with roommates: Sharing rental Housing
http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/subject/landlord.htm

If you need more information, please feel free to contact me.

New tax credit available for renovations in Canada!

2009-02-22T02:26:00.000-05:00

Some great news for those who are interested in renovating this year! You might qualify for a temporary incentive announced in the new Federal budget. This incentive provides Canadian homeowners or home inhabitants to receive up to $1,350 on eligible expenses over $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 in the form of the tax credit. The tax credit is available to any household (1 credit per household only) for work done, or goods bought after January 27, 2009 and prior to February 1, 2010.
(Up to $10,000 - $1,000) X 15%= $tax credit. This means that for $2,000 worth of renovations, you can qualify to receive up to $150 back. So keep your renovation receipts for tax time!
Eligible expenses include: renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement, building an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall, interior and exterior painting, new sod, driveway, flooring, furnace, air conditioning and water heater. Purchases of appliances, furniture, electronics or tools do not qualify; neither does routine maintenance such as carpet cleaning, furnace tune-up, snow removal, lawn care and pool cleaning.
For more details please check out http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/bdgt/2009/fqhmrnvtn-eng.html.

How sustainable is the K-W region?

2009-02-18T15:52:00.001-05:00

How sustainable is the Kitchener-Waterloo region? Well, according to the 2007 Corporate Knights report on sustainable cities, Kitchener ranked the 4th overall most sustainable city in Canada and 1st on the water and waste index with the relatively low water consumption of 390 litres/person/day in 2007. While we topped the 2007 list, we dropped out of ranking in 2008 and 2009. So what happened? This report focuses on more than just ecological issues, and also looks to economic security, governance and empowerment, infrastructure and social well-being.
So where are we failing? Kitchener-Waterloo region is reported to have air pollution levels as high as or higher than large cities like Hamilton and Toronto who have much greater populations. Kitchener currently has the worst air quality scores for ground-level ozone. This is fueled partly by the lack of anti-idling by-laws, polluting corporations and individuals and heavily by the coal plants in the Ohio Valley which contribute over half of the pollutant load in the K-W region according to reports. We are being heavily affected by coal plants hundreds of miles away in the US. This is just one of many reasons why developing more alternative energy is so important and why we all have to work together. We are affected by, and affect more than just our immediate neighbours. Carbon dioxide from retail fuel in the region has jumped 0.2 tonnes per capita in the past year alone, only adding to the air pollution concerns.
We are taking steps to improve public transit with over 13% of the Kitchener fleet now using alternative fuels. With housing starts primarily happening in transit-unfriendly single family or duplex units (just less than 2/3 of the housing stock), and few incentives to use the transit lines, this switch is having only minimal affect. We received a D overall in the Green Apple SMART Transportation Ranking in the past two years.
The region is taking some steps. Residential building starts were 17% more dense in 2008 than in 2007. The Region of Waterloo has also started a growth management strategy to help ensure that density is encouraged, but these steps alone are not enough. We must make a more concerted effort to be sustainable.
The Kitchener-Waterloo region is not new to sustainable technology. We are home to Arise Tech, a major solar technology company (http://www.arisetech.com/) and one of the best urban planning schools in the country (University of Waterloo). We also have energy auditing service grants available for low-income homes (http://www.reepwaterlooregion.ca/documents/assistance_brochure_waterloo.pdf), and several sustainable building housing projects to use as examples such as the KW YMCA (http://www.kwymca.org/Contribute/camping/OurFacilitiesandBuildings.asp), the little city farm (http://www.littlecityfarm.ca/sustain-5.php), the REEP homes (http://www.reepwaterlooregion.ca/prog_house.php), and several other initiatives.

Renewable energy in housing.

2009-02-17T16:05:00.001-05:00

Most of our energy comes from non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, natural gas or radioactive elements. Once removed from the ground and used, these energy sources can take up to millions of years to reform. At the rate we are going, most of the resource deposits in the earth will be completely used up in less than 200 years (and maybe faster).
Renewable energy replaces itself quickly and can come from the natural flow of sunlight, wind or water. We need to spend more time and energy developing ways to harness these natural energies and to do so using sustainable resources. There are actually relatively cheap and easy ways to build yourself energy collecting devices You can check out www.re-energy.ca for some ideas to get you started. They can also be installed or retrofitted into your home so that you can create as much energy as you use and be more sustainable. This can result in great energy and money savings!
Did you know that Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and National Research Council Canada have been working together to export innovations in energy efficient housing (http://www.super-e.com/)?
We do have the research abilities here in Canada. In fact, we even have a Canadian Centre for Housing Technology to help test it out for us (http://www.ccht-cctr.gc.ca/). Many of these energy-efficient houses look just like any other suburban or city area from the outside. They have been working on these projects for over a decade, why are they not yet reaching the market?
Consumer choice and lifestyle will have a huge impact on the housing market and it's progression. Look into other energy options. You might find out that an intitial investment will actually save you in the long run. You might even be able to help fund it through governments grants and incentives.
If you want more details, please ask me.

Toxins in the home.

2009-02-13T15:25:00.000-05:00

Now don’t panic, but many different types of toxins are found throughout the average home. These toxins can be extremely harmful to our health. While it is incredibly difficult to remove all the toxins from our households immediately, it is something you should be aware of and begin to take steps towards reducing. Many of these toxins are carcinogenic (meaning cancer causing), and fatal or life threatening to humans in certain doses. They can cause severe health issues. Many are not naturally eliminated from the body and can be stored over time with each exposure, eventually reaching potentially dangerous limits. Many of these toxins are accumulated in our bodies and can be passed on to our children. Some of these toxins can accumulate in our fatty tissues and only become more highly concentrated as they move up the food chain. This is something we should be concerned about. We can take steps to reduce the toxicity of our home ourselves, which I will detail shortly.

The building industry needs to be aware of this issue and make some changes to ensure housing is less toxic and that toxic materials are not used in its making. They are slowly becoming more aware. Some companies have switched to using more environmentally friendly and non-toxic products. The government has taken steps to prevent some of chemicals (such as asbestos) from now getting into our buildings, but have not taken enough steps to fully protect us.

Some carpets, electronics, furniture padding and mattresses, and other materials contain brominated flame retardants (BFR’s). These chemicals can disrupt hormone and reproductive systems.

Pesticides are often introduced into the home to get rid of insects, weeds and moulds. Different types of soaps, household cleaning products, paints, wallpapers and other materials can be sprayed or coated in pesticides prior to sale. Pesticides can cause disruption of hormones, reproductive systems and are also very carcinogenic. Some also contain heavy metals, which can be absorbed, inhaled or ingested into the body. Pesticides are poison, meant to kill living things.

A range of products contain perfluorinated chemicals such as perfluorooctanyl sulfate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These are often found in floor polishes, denture cleaners, shampoos, herbicides, insecticides, adhesives, and for surface treatment of clothing, carpets and cookware. Perfluorinated chemicals are carcinogenic and can also disrupt horomone and reproductive systems.

Many cleaners, paints, textiles and leather treatments, pulp and paper processing and agricultural chemicals contain alkylphenols which can also disrupt hormone and reproductive systems.

Many of our electronics products are full of toxins that are highly dangerous to humans, especially during the manufacturing processes. People should take caution when repairing, breaking or disposing of these products so that they do inhale, ingest or expose themselves to toxins or leach the toxins into the ground water systems. Certain light bulbs can contain mercury, so can several newer electronics devices. Cadmium can be found in SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductors, older types of cathode ray tubes, and some plastics. It concentrates over time in the body and can cause severe health problems. Electronics can also contain BFRs, barium, beryllium, hexavalent chromium, dioxins and furans; all highly toxic to humans and animals.

Also toxic in the home: most paints, furniture polish, spot remover, varnish, glues, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, floor cleaners, disinfectants, ammonia, scouring powder, bleach, laundry detergents, flea sprays, fertilizers, air fresheners, aerosol sprays, batteries, and motor oil.

There are easy (and usually cheaper) alternatives that are easy enough to make. Baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, lemon juice, cornstarch, table salt and borax when mixed in the right proportions can work fabulously in place of many cleaners, polishes etc. You can check out http://www.greenaction.org/toxics/home/index.shtml for more details or ask me for recipes or suggestions.

When painting your home, you can look for paints with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are now offered in many brands, colours and choices. They do not release toxins into the air.

Avoid using no-pest strips as they can contain pesticides which are released into the air. Get good screens, and fix cracks and doorways. Cedar blocks or bags of cedar chips hung with clothes work to prevent mothballs. Placing dried bay leafs around the corners, cracks, windows or doors will help to prevent spiders from coming in and taking up residence in your home. There are lots of natural alternatives to pesticides.

When buying new furniture or remodeling, consider using a company that is more environmentally friendly or that uses non-toxic materials. There are many sustainable and healthy choices now available. If you don’t know, ask. If they can’t tell you—look elsewhere. You don’t have to make giant leaps, take baby steps.

If you want more suggestions, please ask me!

What is a green roof and how can it enhance my property?

2009-02-09T14:52:00.002-05:00

While green roofs have really taken off in parts of Europe-- they have yet to really impact the North American market. In our quest for sustainability and "green" products, green roofs make a lot of sense.
Green roofs are kind of just how they sound- roofs that are green spaces-- spaces full of plant life. They can be places to grow fruit, vegetables, flowers or any other type of plants. They can be parks, or gardens, an oasis in the hussle and bussle of the city. They can help with heating and cooling in buildings, saving almost 25% of cooling costs in the summer months and even more in heating costs in the winter. They are great insulators, reducing sound by as much as 40 decibels.
They can increase the life span of the roof, lasting almost twice as long as conventional roofing. They reduce stormwater run-off and filter pollutants from air and water, improving air quality in the home and city. They help to increase wildlife habitat in urban spaces, increasing biodiversity. Good tree coverage can add 6-15% value to a home, and green roofs can have similar impacts on home value. It can also be a safe and protected location for gardens, not easily accessible to those living outside the building, limiting vandalism or assault.
But very few buildings take advantage. Large apartment complexes could have urban coops. Share the work amongst the entire building, and everyone reaps the benefits. Or they could sell this space off to urban farmers. We could revitalize mostly currently unused spaces and make them into urban parks or farms.In the days of emergency prepardness-- does it not make sense that those in the city should be able to help feed themselves in some ways? Green roofs can help do this. It also helps to reduce shipping costs-- the amount of fuel and energy needed to get our produce and our foods to us. Our produce could be cheaper, because it comes from right beside us. If all our city buildings had green roofs, our cities could help to feed themselves. We would have more natural spaces in the cities and we would save money and energy.
If you want more information about green roofs, check out www.greenroofs.org

Should I buy a home right now?

2009-02-05T18:18:00.000-05:00

Does the news scare you? Are you looking for solid answer on whether you should buy a home in K-W right now?
Unfortunately, there is no solid answer. No one can predict the future. That being said, we can take into account the entire situation and try to reason what the best options are.
Most tend to agree we are in currently in a buyer's market, where there are more buyers than sellers. This means that buyers have more selection and more room to negotiate. When there is more competition to buy, the prices tend to increase. Waiting until the market swings into a seller's market to buy will mean that the prices will probably increase, resulting in you having to pay more overall for your purchase than you would pay today.
The economy is currently in chaos, but as it begins to repair itself, inflation rates will most likely go higher. This will make the interest rates increase, making it more expensive to carry a mortgage. In fact, the average 5 year interest rate offered by mortgage brokers has come down from 5.80% to 4.49%, making the actual cost of carrying a mortgage decrease considerably from past years.
Yes, certain areas did experience a noticable decrease in average sale price in Ontario in the last little while. Does this mean that prices have actually dropped? No. The decrease may very well be because higher priced homes are not selling, while lower priced ones are-- bringing down the overall average.
In January 2009, the number of residential properties sold actually increased 23.3% from the previous month in K-W. January is typically a slower time of year for real estate in Canada, so considering the current economic climate-- this is actually quite promising.
Realtors have been lobbying to increase the amount of RRSP contributions for first-time home buyers to $25,000 per person and have finally been responded to favorably. This should reflect positively for first-time homebuyers over the next couple of months.
Predictions are that there will be a decrease in sales in 2009, but from an historical view, the current number of sales is only slightly off from those 10 years ago. In fact, the current average sale price is only slightly lower than last year, but considerably higher (more than $60K higher) than 10 years ago.
With a new President in the White House and budget packages looming to help bail out the economy, the possibility of an economic upturn in the not-so-distant future is promising.
Should you be scared to buy? No. Not necessarily. If you have a steady job, you are still in good position to buy right now. So take advantage!

Will be back shortly.

2009-01-21T20:18:00.004-05:00

Just a quick message to let you know that I haven't been active on my blog for the past month or so because I have been dealing with injury and illness. I had an accident over the holidays that has left me off my feet for about 12 weeks.
Hopefully, I will be back on my feet shortly and will be back to the blogsphere.
I have another Realtor who is taking on my workload while I am off, so please feel free to still contact me with any questions.
Thanks,
Rebecca

Suburban sprawl and sustainability.

2009-01-12T12:52:00.001-05:00

Air rights become increasingly important as the population increases. When there is no more room to build, the only option becomes to build upwards into the sky. The ongoing pull of suburbia is incredibly land intensive. Each person now requires more space to live than they did 50 or 100 years ago. With the ever increasing amount of space needed, where do we go from here? Once the land runs out, the only place to go is up.
At the early part of the 20th century, families were larger and homes were smaller than they are today. We now have our 2.5 children and dog living in 2000+ square feet of space on tiny postage-stamp size lots where we can practically touch our neighbours from our window. Why do we suddenly need soo much more indoor space than our parents or grandparents did? Why do we not care as much about the outdoor space around us?
Perhaps we need this space to hold our increasing amount of "stuff"; the overwhelming amount of material goods we now "need" to live our modern life. Perhaps it is because most families buy their groceries and do not need gardens to grow their food. Perhaps it is the government policies and development propaganda that tells us this is what we should want. Whatever the reason, the trend is concerning for many.
We separate the land use in suburbia, with areas for shopping, schools, work and residences all spread out and far away from each other. This increases our need to use our cars to get around, even if it's just to pop over to the store for some milk. Studies have found that those living in suburban areas are more likely to report high blood pressure, arthritis, headaches and breathing difficulties than those living in less sprawling areas. There is also increased use of polluting fossil fuels as people must commute to work, or use vehicles to visit friends, go to the store or get around the community.
Every year I see new developments springing up where farmland used to be and it is very concerning. Southern Ontario has some of the most prime farmland in the province, and it is slowly but surely being replaced by the ever growing population, with little thought to the future. If we want to continue our suburban sprawl, we must do it in responsible and sustainable ways. We must begin to look to the future and redesign these areas with the health of the community in mind. Farms feed us; we need them to survive. If we must build suburban spaces, we should also look to build more green spaces or community gardens within these spaces. Mixed use spaces are recommended, but what else can we do?
Urban areas are expanding at about twice the rate that the population is growing. Interestingly, many developers continue to expand suburbia, expecting the government to foot the bill for infrastructure like roads and sewer lines- increasing our taxes, while making substaintial profits for themselves. Part of the problem is the policies in place for development that focus primarily on profit, and not on the health and sustainability of communities. Redeveloping land currently in use to better suit the needs of the population instead of spreading out further and further is one way. Taking time to plan new developments in more mixed and sustainable ways is another. We are doing a lot of action and very little thinking. If we do not learn from our history, we will continue to make the same mistakes. It is time we took a close look at the housing industry and made regulations to ensure the health and sustainability of our population.

New FINTRAC regulations

2009-01-07T15:46:00.000-05:00

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) now requires all real estate sales representatives to report suspicious transactions and keep detailed records of their clientele. This means that your sales representative will ask you for government issued identification when you make any real estate transactions. They will also be obligated to report any large cash purchases, or any suspicious activity where they suspect money laundering or terrorist activity. They must also make records of all deposits, or any third party involvement in a real estate transaction.
These regulations have recently been beefed up to fight the "war on terror" and are becoming ever more stringent. Real estate professionals have been sent very little literature on the new regulations and which activities to watch out for. This new regulation has not been followed by instruction on how to check identification, making it difficult for agents to properly implement. There is also no regulation on private sales, which are becoming more popular with the advent of the internet.
I believe this regulation was hastily brought out and is not being properly implemented. It makes sense to check identification for large transactions. I had to show ID the last time I rented a DVD; why not for a purchase worth hundred of thousands of dollars?
My biggest problem with this regulation is that real estate agents never learn how to check identification properly or how to spot suspicious activities, yet can be held liable for not reporting or ensuring that we are receiving valid identification. We can be charged up to $2 million dollars, and spend 5 years in jail for not reporting or keeping valid records. If this is the case, we should be taught what to look for, and how to look for it properly.

Thinking of becoming a landlord?

2009-01-05T10:58:00.000-05:00

Rental properties can be great investments, but they can also be huge headaches. A rental unit can help you bring in extra income that can go towards paying down your mortgage. The rental income amount can actually even help you qualify for an increased mortgage amount. They are great investments if you get good tenants who pay on time and keep the place well maintained.

How can you protect yourself from the headaches of being a landlord? Your most important job happens BEFORE you take on a tenant. As a landlord, you have the right to check the potential tenant's credit rating, and rental history. Your relationship is a financial one, and so you should know if they are not paying their bills on time. Take pictures of your apartment BEFORE you rent it out showing the exact condition of the place. This will help you if damages do occur upon tenancy and help you recoup the damages in court.

Your full rights and responsibilities are outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act (available at http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/06r17_e.htm). Make sure you know what you are legally liable for and get proper insurance to cover you. Here are some highlights for you:
- You must keep the property in good repair and up to health, fire and safety standards.
- You have the right to inspect the property, but you must give 24 hour written notice to the tenant to do so.
- The tenant cannot change the locks or bar your entry and there are legal avenues for you to take if they do.
- You cannot ask for anything other than the rent for the last week or month. You are not permitted to ask for a damage deposit.
- It is a breach of the Ontario Human Rights Code to prohibit children in a rental unit. A "no pets" clause is also unenforcable under the Residential Tenancies Act.
- You are required as a landlord to provide an information package detailing basic landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities to your new tenants. It is available at www.ltb.gov.on.ca.
- You cannot require a tenant to provide postdated cheques to you.
- You can only increase the rent by 1.8% per year (in 2009) with written notice 3 months in advance. You cannot increase the rent until the tenant has been living in the unit for more than one year. If the tenant moves out, you are allowed to set a new rent before the new tenant moves in.

It can be very difficult to remove a problem tenant, so the best advice is to pre-screen them before they move in. There are legal channels to help you, but they can take time, and require that you pay up front and sue for damages later. There are many useful resources available, and organizations to help you. Check out http://www.landlordselfhelp.com/frontpage.asp ; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (www.cmhc.ca) and the Landlord and Tenant Board www.ltb.gov.on.ca for more information.

I also have a rental guide for potential landlords. Please ask me for a copy!

Happy New Year to you all!

2009-01-01T17:52:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

If you are considering purchasing your first home this year- now is the time to get started! Go to your bank, and get your credit in order-- so that when mortgage time comes along, you'll be in a good position. Start thinking about what you want in a home. You might be suprised about how easy it can be to own a home. Monthly mortgage payments can be as cheap (or cheaper) than your current rental payments, and it all goes towards building a future for yourself!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I have information packages that can help make the process easier for you, that can be sent to you via email- no hassle or contract required- and free of charge!

I will be back with a regular blog as of next week! Take care!

Forecast for K-W region housing market.

2008-12-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

A slight decrease in sales in Kitchener from October to November demonstrates a move towards a more balanced market, and not a catastrophe. Many buyers are waiting until 2009, while others are taking advantage of the current beneficial market conditions. While currently it may take a few days longer to sell a home in the area, the value of home ownership investment remains high, with the average sale price of a single family-detached residential property increasing by 7.6% last year. In fact, the average price in Canada is projected to appreciate by at least 9% this year, up over $25,000 from 2006 levels in the nation. What does that mean for you?

It means that if you buy a home today, it is likely to increase in value over time. It also means that sellers that list their homes at fair market value are continuing to sell and make money. Housing supply is currently exceeding demand, allowing for more selection for buyers to choose from. It is good time for buyers. The market should pick up more buyers starting in the New Year, increasing the competition and levelling out the excess in supply.

Condominium and town home unit sales are on the rise, and likely to continue to increase due to downsizing baby boomers. Single family dwellings remain the most popular choice for purchasers.

Major economic drivers in the K-W region keep the housing market moving. The K-W is home to two major universities, Canada's technology triangle and a strong financial sector which make for high employment rates. While manufacturing and automotive sectors are slowing, these other economic drivers ensure the area still has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the province, keeping the housing market fairly healthy.

The mortgage crisis in the US has not been as severe here in Canada. According to CMHC, mortgage arrears in Canada remain incredibly low with only slightly more than one-quarter of a per cent of Canadian households (0.26%) falling three or more months behind in their mortgage payments. Mortgage rates have settled and are expected to remain relatively flat over the next few months.

Rental properties are a fairly good investment, with vacancy rates in the region as low as 2.5% in October. The average rental rate for a two bedroom apartment was around $841 per month.

These factors indicate that the K-W region is moving towards a healthy market, and is not in trouble. If you are a buyer, NOW is the time to buy. If you are a seller, it is important now more than ever that you obtain a fair market value for your home to ensure it sells quickly.

Sustainability in the housing market.

2008-12-18T16:22:00.000-05:00

More sustainable living options are available, but the real estate market has been slow in responding to these options. Perhaps people are unaware of the options that are avilable to them. The market is based on the demands of the people, and the people aren't demanding it. Realtors aren't advising their clients to upgrade to more sustainable solutions because many improvements don't increase the value of properties in the market by as large amounts as other more cosmetic upgrades. Not all builders or contractors are salvaging and recycling their materials or using more sustainable solutions in their building practices because they don't know they exist or believe it is too costly. The government housing structures and policies have not legislated enough to ensure that more sustainable housing is mandatory. It is a complicated system that is influenced by many factors, but you as buyers and sellers of real estate property can help sway the tide.

Not only are sustainable living measures looking towards the long-term health of the population, and the planet, but most also make long-term financial sense. A more efficient home, that uses sustainable options wastes far less energy, and therefore money. Many simple and easy solutions result in instant savings. Caulking windows, adding insulation, turning off lights, unplugging unused appliances or switching to a programable thermostat are cheap alternatives that can save you a bundle. There are low-flow toliets, and shower-heads for the bathrooms; even fixing simple leaks or drips is important. There are tons of energy-efficient appliances that reduce energy waste. You can insulate your hot water heater and pipes. There are soo many options for you to reduce your consumption in your home for little to no cost (and actual savings on your energy and hydro bills)! If you want to know more, please ask me!

An initial moderate investment in more efficient heating systems, windows, roofing, etc. can result in significant difference in energy usage resulting in great savings! A more significant investment into sustainable energy solutions such as solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal powering can reduce your energy bills to zero, and possibly even result in rebates if you sell your excess back to the system. Wind turbines can start at as low as $2,500.

Did you know that can switch over to sustainable power in your home today? It is slightly more expensive than traditional energy supplies, but means that you are not using polluting and non-sustainable solutions such as natural gas, or coal; or using potentially dangerous raditation producing nuclear supplies. Bullfrog power supplies Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge with alternative sustainable power supplies. Check out www.bullfrogpower.com to learn more.

The governments of Canada and Ontario offer rebates and programs to help assist you in retrofiting your home to be more energy efficient and sustainable. There are nearly $10,000 worth of grants available to many households to do this. Take advantage of them. Check out Natural Resources Canada at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/incentives.cfm to learn more about these programs or ask me!

If the market (YOU- when buying or selling a home) begins demanding these changes- they WILL happen! We all have a part in this, and can work together to make change happen!

What duties does a Realtor owe you?

2008-12-18T00:11:00.000-05:00

People are often concerned about what Realtors are actually supposed to do for them.

In Ontario, Realtors are licensed and regulated by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and governed under the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act (REBBA), which carries certain liabilities and expectations of service. These structures are in place to protect both you (the buyer or seller) and the Realtor.

Let's say you walk into an open house, and you ask the Realtor at the property some questions? What can they tell, what can't they tell you, and how should they act? Do they have to tell you the truth? In this situation, regardless of whether you are in a contract or not, the Realtor owes you honesty, fairness and due care in answering questions. As skilled and licensed professionals, Realtors are expected to provide sound real estate advice that a person can rely on. They are not allowed to willfully or negligently misrepresent information, or assert themselves as experts in an area that they are not familiar with. They may not be able to provide you with all the information they have on a transaction unless you are in an agency relationship, as a protection to their clients, but they are NOT permitted to provide you with faulty information.You should not tell the Realtor in this situation anything you do not want them to directly reveal to the other party. The Realtor's primary obligation lies with their contracted clients.

If you decide to sign an agency contract with a Realtor, they owe you added duties, including accountability, confidentiality, competence, good faith/full disclosure, loyalty and obedience. Accounting means the agent must keep accurate records of all funds they receive and that all transactions must comply with provincial regulations. Canada's FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) requires all Realtors to check your identification for all financial transactions. They are also required to report any suspicious activity (which includes any large cash transactions) to federal authorities by law. Confidentiality requires that the Realtor should not disclose any information relating to your transactions to anyone else without your consent. This means they can't tell the other party that you are motivated to move, your financial situation, or any other detail about you without your consent. This does not apply to any known material facts of your property (including defects), which a Realtor is obligated to disclose under the general honesty regulation owed to all people.

Competence means that your Realtor must have sufficient knowledge and skill to carry out the transaction. Realtors are obligated to discover certain facts about the property that a reasonable Realtor should be able to ascertain, and have been given training to do this. They are instructed to refer their clients to a third party if they are unable to adequately answer a question. A licence in real estate does not mean the Realtor is licenced to do home inspections, appraisals, or answer legal questions. All homes should be inspected by a licenced inspector for your protection, and a Realtor should not advise you otherwise.

Good faith/full disclosure means that the Realtor must disclose all information they have that relates to the transaction. This means they must tell you everything they know about the property, including any profits they may gain for the transaction from referrals or other reasons. Dual agency, when a Realtor represents both the Buyer and the Seller, is a slightly different situation, as the Realtor must protect the interests of both parties. In this situation, the Realtor should explain the situation to you and get your permission in writing. The Realtor may not tell the Buyer or Seller the price the other party is willing to accept, the motivation of either party, the price the Buyer should offer, or the price the Seller should accept.

Loyalty means that the Realtor should place the interests of their clients above all else except the law. They must act in the best interest of their clients at all times. Obedience means that in a client relationship, the Realtor must follow their client's lawful instructions whether they agree with them or not.

What is the best way to ensure you are receiving the care and treatment you deserve from a Realtor? Inform yourself of what to expect, and interview a couple of Realtors before you hire one. Ask them what services they are willing to provide you with for their services and get it in writing. Keep copies of all your communication or documents. You always have the option to fire the Realtor if they do not meet the contract. Be aware that most agency contracts have holdover periods which may obligate you to pay commission to them for certain services. If you don't know, ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question, and your Realtor should make an effort to answer you- that is what you pay them for.

If you feel that a Realtor has not performed their prescribed duties under their licensing, you should contact RECO or the provincial governing body in your area. The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) handles all complaints in Ontario (ccd@reco.on.ca).

A good Realtor is worth their commission, unfortunately a small handful give the rest a bad name. It is in your best interest to protect yourself by knowing what to expect in the process!

How to choose a Realtor and how they can help you purchase a home.

2008-12-16T23:59:00.001-05:00

The Realtor should first discuss with you the values and services he/she will bring to the table.

What SHOULD they be doing for you as a Buyer agent?
• Organize and schedule your home search process
• Discuss with you the benefits and drawbacks of each home in relation to your specific needs
• Provide you with ongoing updates on available homes
• Help you compare homes and make a decision
• Advise you on the terms and issues of the offer and fill out the purchase order contract
• Present your offer and negotiate on your behalf
• Coordinate and supervise the preparation of all closing documents and guide you through the closing process
• Help you resolve any closing issues
• Answer all your questions in a timely manner.

Decide on the values that are important to you, and discuss them with your Realtor. Are they willing to provide you with all the services you need? Get it in writing!

You will then need to decide whether you want to sign a contract with your Realtor. There are several types of contracts, depending on the services you will require.
The Buyer Agency Agreement is the most common. This agreement:
• Establishes the type of relationship that is involved
• Sets out the duties and responsibilities of both parties
• Details commission arrangements and buyer responsibilities if commission is not to be paid by the seller

Why should you sign an agreement?

By signing the Buyer Agency Agreement, you ensure that your Realtor is working for you in a client relationship, meaning that the Realtor must represent you exclusively in the contract. It lets the Realtor tell you all the information they know about the property, and makes sure they are obligated to work in your best interest.

The traditional agency relationship requires that all agents have a fiduciary relationship with the seller. That means that it's their job to protect the interests of the seller. By entering into a Buyer Agency Agreement, you ensure that the Realtor will always be protecting your interests.

The agreement also protects your Realtor. It means that you acknowledge that he/she is representing you for the duration of the contract period, and that you are agreeing to work exclusively with that Realtor for the duration. This means you have the responsibility to notify the Realtor of any property that you are interested in during this time period and your Realtor will make all the arrangements to view the home. This includes homes that come directly from the builder, or open houses that you want to inspect in the neighbourhood.

Deciding whether or not to sign a Buyer Agency Agreement is up to you. You can sign the Agreement for one property, or one area, or for everything you are searching for. You should discuss the terms of service that the Realtor will offer you in return for your signing and get all the details in writing. This could include certain marketing aspects and all the rights and duties that each party will perform. This is a promise for a promise: you promise your Realtor exclusivity, and they promise you service. This means that if your Realtor does not perform the set services, you CAN fire them. But be aware that Buyer Agency contracts typically have what is called a "hold over" period (usually 30-60 days). If you purchase a property that was introduced to you by your Realtor within this period, they are entitled to commision under most contracts.

Things you can do to protect yourself:
- ask for a short term or specific contract (for 30 days, or 24 hours, or for a specific property, area or price range);
- ask about anything on the contract you don't understand- if the Realtor cannot explain it to you in clear terms- do not sign it.
- Get copies of anything you sign, and keep it in a file for yourself
- Know what duties to expect of your Realtor, and make sure they answer all your questions. Remember there is no such thing as a "dumb" question- so ask if you don't understand! It is part of your Realtor's job to answer your questions.

Can you afford to buy a home?

2008-12-16T23:58:00.002-05:00

Would you like to buy a home, but don't know whether you can afford it or not?

Here's what you can do:

- Check your credit score. You can do this online at www.equifax.ca for about $25.
You are probably looking for a score of at least 600 to be able to qualify for a mortgage. There are many ways you can begin to improve this score. Make sure to make at least your minimum payments on your credit cards each month, and pay all of your bills on time. If you have a large amount of debt, talk to a debt counselor or banker to find out what can be done to up your score. Try Debt Freedom Canada at (519) 342-2524 (located in behind Century 21's current location at 1770 King Street, Kitchener).

- If your credit score looks good, and you are steadily employed (typically for at least 2 years): you should consider talking to a mortgage broker about your ability to qualify for a mortgage. Mortgage brokers will look at your employment status and history. This involves looking at your gross monthly income and the length of your employment (usually 2 years of steady work). They also look at your credit history (any debts you have, debt balances versus your credit limits, how you handled debt in the past, missed payments, late payments, etc.), your assets (stocks, bonds, personal property), and the value of the property you want to purchase. Mortgage brokers are sometimes able to help you build a down payment through special programs. Try Discount Mortgage Canada (who shares an office with Century 21) at 1-866-833-8601 or 519-570-9684 to find out whether you are able to qualify for a mortgage.

- Can't make a down payment? The Region of Waterloo (which includes Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge) runs an Affordable Home Ownership Program. This program allows first time home buyers to obtain a down payment loan of up to $10,000 (payable when you sell your home). This applies for homes under $226,000, for those with household incomes of less than $68,000. Check out the full details at www.region.waterloo.on.ca/aho.

- Mortgage payments can be similar in amount to your current rental payments. The only difference is that instead of losing the money you pay into your residence to a third party, mortgage payments go towards increasing YOUR equity. If you can qualify for and afford a mortgage, home ownership makes a lot of financial sense.

Things to consider:

- Closing costs typically range between 2-5% of your mortgage loan and include things such as land transfer, title policies or insurance, recording fees, inspections, attorney's fees and lenders fees. This works out to approximately $3,500 to close for a $250,000 home purchase.

- Closing (the day you gain possession of your new home) typically takes place between 30-120 days after signing the agreement.

- A deposit is usually required at the acceptance of the agreement of purchase (at the time your offer is accepted by the Seller). Deposits usually start at around $1,000.

- Lenders require that monthly payment ranges for your mortgage be between 25-8% of your gross monthly income. This would include the principal on your loan (P), the interest on your loan (I), property taxes (T), and homeowner's insurance (I). You monthly PITI payments (as these are called) plus all of your debt payments should range between 33-38% of your gross monthly income.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at rebecca.sargent@century21.ca!

How is the K-W Market Doing?

2008-12-16T23:58:00.001-05:00

Do not let the American market and media scare you! Canada's housing market is on much firmer footing than the American housing market.

The sub-prime mortgage crisis that we have seen in the past few years is an ongoing financial crisis that stems from mortgage companies offering mortgages with little or no downpayment to households with low incomes, assets and with troubled credit histories. Sub-prime mortgages account for 14% of the American housing market, but accounts for less than 5% in Canada, making the problem much more severe in the US. Canada has a strong labour market to underpin our housing market, with an unemployment rate holding at a 33 year low of 4.9%. Average wages are outpacing inflation, meaning that homeowners are still realizing real increases in monthly wages.

Kitchener has one of the strongest average sales-to-listings ratios this year. Considering the current instability of the government, confidence and job security is undermined. However, there is good news. The average sale price of a single family-detached residential property in the K-W area increased 7.6% in the past year. Many other markets are experiencing decreases in sale prices, making the value of home ownership investment in K-W relatively high. The slight dip in sales prior to November might be a reflection of the season, pre-election jitters, stock market instability or an indicator of a return to a more balanced market. The market has slowly but surely moving away from the aggressive Sellers market of the past few years and into a more balanced market.

Buyers entering the market today are in a good position, having much better choice and negotiating ability! If you are looking to be in your new home for spring, now is the time to buy! Take advantage of the current market position before it begins changing in the New Year!

How to Buy a Great House!

2008-12-16T23:56:00.000-05:00

You want to buy a great house, but what do you look for? After figuring out what you can afford, you should begin to think about what you really need and want in a new home.

Do you want to be in the heart of the city, the suburbs or in the country? What type of neighborhood are you looking for? What features do you absolutely need in a home? What features would you like to have? How many bedrooms do you need? Is a big property important to you? Think of the spaces you will need or want to live your life. Do you need spaces for entertaining? A home office? A workshop? A garage?

Decide on a top five criteria that are important to you. Remember. It might not be possible to find a home with every feature you are looking for, but this will help you focus your search so that you can find the best home for your needs.

There are many factors to consider when selecting a new neighborhood. If possible, you should first scout the area in person- You live in more than just your house!

- Talk to people who live there- go for a walk through the neighborhood, check out the local shops and services.

- Drive through the area at different times of the day, during the week, and on weekends. This will help to eliminate any suprises.

- Look carefully at how well other homes in the area are being maintained; are they painted, are the yards cared for, etc.

- Consider things like access to major highways, city centres, transit, shopping, etc.

- Listen for noise created by roads, commerce, railways, public areas, schools, etc.

- How far will you be from work? Drive or take the commute and check it out!

Once your list of needs and wants is made, it is time to begin searching for properties.

How to prepare yourself for a move.

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So you have decided to move. How do can you begin to prepare yourself to move? Here are some helpful tips!

-Begin collecting boxes. Many grocery stores are a good source of boxes. You can start by packing up items that you seldom use or non-seasonal items. You can use towels or sheets to wrap more delicate items. Get creative! Label the boxes by their eventual location: ie. kitchen, living room, closets, etc. This will make it easier down the line. Be sure to distribute the weight in your boxes. Do not pack an entire box full of books as it will be very difficult to move!

- Make sure you change your address with Canada Post. You can do this online at www.CanadaPost.ca/ChangeMyAddress. Make sure you change the billing address for your credit cards, car insurance or any other bills. Send a postcard or email to your family and friends with your new address and phone number.

- Arrange for the start of any utilities or services at your new home, including gas, water, cable, internet, etc. This way they can be up and running right away and you won't have to wait around. Also arrange for them to be disconnected at your current home.

- Pack a box of everyday items that you will keep on hand with you during the move. You may want to include things such as toliet paper, tolietries, change of clothes, medications, basic tools (screwdriver, hammer, etc), drinks, tape, markers, broom or vacuum etc. A fold up chair in your trunk might also be handy!

- Start early to save your sanity. Begin packing away things you don't use as often immediately, and slowly declutter your home until the move.

- Don't move anything you won't use again- now's the time to cut back! Consider having a garage sale before you move to get rid of any excess things.

- carry jewelry, important documents or valuables yourself

You've found the home of our dreams- now what?

2008-12-16T23:48:00.000-05:00

Once you have found the perfect property, it is time to make an offer! This is where your Realtor can really help you!

You want to be realistic in your offer; something that you can reasonably afford, and that the other party will reasonably sign. So how do you come up with the price? Your Realtor should provide you with a list of comparable properties to help you decide on proper pricing. Comparables should include a couple of active listings, recently sold listings, and expired listings. Listings should have similar qualities (ie., # of bedrooms, property size, type of home); the more similar, the better the comparison. Sold listings help to give you an idea of homes that were probably fairly reasonably priced. Expired listings tend to indicate a price that was too high for the market or some sort of other deficiency. This will make it easier for you to decide whether the sale price matches the local realtity and whether you should offer more, less than or equal to the asking price.

It is advisable to include a home inspection clause in your offer. Sometimes it will be necessary to include certain clauses to protect your interests. For example, if the property has a well, a fuel tank or a fireplace, there are certain certifications that can be obtained or requested to ensure they meet standards and are in proper working order. If you have any concerns about the property, bring them up with your Realtor and make sure they include the proper clause(s) to protect you. All fixtures and chattels that are staying with the property should be clearly expressed on the offer, so that there is no confusion at closing.

Your Realtor will probably use a standard Agreement of Purchase and Sale form provided by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA). Ask your Realtor to explain anything you don't understand. Usually a deposit will be attached with the offer as a sign of good faith. The deposit can also be given upon acceptance of the offer (once all parties have signed and agreed to the offer).

Your Realtor will then present the listing agent with the written offer, which can be either be accepted, rejected or counter-offered by the Seller. Once the Seller accepts the offer it becomes a legal contract, and you have purchased the home. Usually this is conditional upon inspection or other conditions, and so doesn't become "firm" until a later date.

If the Seller rejects your offer, you can either come back with a better offer or move on to a different home. Offers are rejected for many reasons. If you DO make another offer keep in mind the following: the price, the closing date, the number and type of conditions, and which fixtures or chattels are included. Sometimes simple things, other than just the price are keeping the seller from accepting. If the Seller counter-offers to you; you then have the choice to accept, reject or counter-offer.

How can I prepare my home for sale?

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The best way to ensure your home sells in the quickest amount of time for the highest price is to have the home clean, well-maintained and decluttered. The best time to prepare your home is BEFORE you list it. That way buyers will see it at its best and offer accordingly.

You want to make the space to look as spacious, bright, warm and inviting as possible. Wash the walls, ceilings and trim or consider painting the rooms in light, neutral colours. Repair any cracks, loose knobs, towel racks, switch plates, outlet covers, doors, windows, squeaky floorboards, leaky faucets or loose stair banisters. Clean and repair caulking around tubs and sinks. All light switches should work! Replace any lightbulbs, including any exterior lights.

Remove any unnecessary furniture or clutter from each room. Each room should reflect its purpose. A dining room should look like a dining room. A garage should look like a garage (and not a storage locker!). The buyers need to be able to get through the home easily. All closets should be organized and decluttered. Remove any items you plan to take with you, such as chandeliers. This will help to eliminate any potential confusion down the road.

Curb appeal is important. Cut the lawn, remove snow or ice from walkways. Remove any yard debris, gardening equipment or toys. Trim the shrubs, touch up the paint on doors, siding and trim. Clean the windows and replace any broken panes or torn screens. Clean up the garage and shed.

Certain renovations can help you maximize the value of your home. A small amount of repair and renovation up front can help you get a better offer. The renovations that offer the greatest return are in the bathroom, the kitchen, and the roof. Replacing a furnace or heating system, or interior and exterior painting are also good options. Your Realtor should be able to help you decide which renovations will help to ensure you get the highest return.

Remember, you want the buyer to come into the home and picture themselves living there. They won't be able to do this if your personal touches are clouding their mind and their vision.

Your house doesn't have to be perfect, but a small amount of care can make a great deal of difference!

Dangers of listing your property too high

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You've put your home up for sale, but no one is biting. What's wrong?

Your home may be overpriced. You may think that starting off with a high price is the right way to go, but you couldn't be further from the truth. If you come out with an overpriced home you may scare away potential buyers and send the message to other Realtors that you are not serious about selling your home. Remember: the market determines the price.

You might love aspects of your property- but that does not mean it affects the market value of your property. Potential buyers do not care how much you money you need to purchase your next home, how much you paid on the property or spent on improvements, or your personal attachments to the home. A feature you may love may have little to no reflection on the ultimate value of the home.

Your Realtor should be able to help you determine a competitive price based on location, size, style, condition, ammenities, and market conditions. A realistic price means that your property will sell faster. An overpriced property will lose its "marketability".

The unsold home will ultimately be price adjusted downwards, as market staleness creeps in. You might even have to reduce the listing price below true maket value just to regain market momentum. Buyers may wrongfully assume something is wrong with the property.

A properly priced property should sell within a reasonable time period. Have your Realtor demonstrate a reasonable listing price based on market conditions through a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).