Best U Expo geared to the over-50 crowd

South Gate Centre in Woodstock to host health fair on March 24

By Mark Schadenberg

No matter what your age, you should circle March 24 on your calendar.

The Best U Expo will be held at South Gate Centre in Woodstock (on Old Wellington St) by the gate to Southside Park).

While South Gate (519 539-9817) is an activities centre selling memberships to the 50-plus set, the Best U Expo on Monday, March 24 (Noon – 5 p.m.) is a free trade show and is geared to every facet of health, wellness, nutrition and fitness for aging adults. I’m curious about laughter yoga, by the way. 

For more details email: bestuhealthexpo@gmail.com

Previously known as the Active Living Fair, the event is now coordinated by Nancy Scott and more details are available through The Sentinel-Review link below, but the event will attract more than 30 vendors / exhibits to South Gate.

I like to write about South Gate as I'm a Realtor who has earned the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation.

Golden Nugget

The March issue of the South Gate newsletter called the Golden Nugget is an important read as it includes a tribute to the late Bob McFarland, who I knew quite well as a member of the Woodstock recreation advisory committee for many years. McFarland was integral in many areas of the City when he was employed as the director of community services. His accomplishments include the strengthening of the South Gate Centre membership numbers, plus the relocation of the Woodstock Art Gallery to Dundas Street, Cowan Park soccer complex, skateboard park in Southside Park, expansion at Southwood Arenas for additional dressing rooms, the creation of fenced-in leash-free dog parks, extensive improvements to the area walking trail system especially on the south shore of Pittock Lake, and the naturalization of some spaces within larger city parks.

The Golden Nugget also features a list of upcoming events, membership perks, information on day trip possibilities, a look at activities ranging from card tournaments to woodworking to yoga and computer learning, plus a volunteer of the month profile, and a recap on the club’s Chilly Charlie ground hog day event.  

Southgate Centre: Our mission is enriching lives of adults 50+ within our community.
Vision- Realizing and inspiring active, healthy and meaningful lives for adults 50+ in our community by providing access to innovative, recreational, educational and social programs.

LINK:
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/03/11/best-u-health-expo-coming-to-woodstock

www.southgatectr.ca

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

City vs Township vs Education in local taxation budgets

Local budget deliberations

Mark Schadenberg

Municipal taxes in Oxford are divided into three – city, county and education.

The County of Oxford has an ominous task of deliberating, delivering and debating what is the correct direction for Woodstock, Tillsonburg, Ingersoll and five its townships.

If you are a dairy farmer with 200 acres or a municipal resident in Woodstock, the county structure is important for providing many services, but some are somewhat duplicated.

The county has a library system and Woodstock has a public library. If you live in Sweaburg (SouthWest Oxford) you must pay a user (membership-type) fee to withdraw books from the library. That’s a great idea.

If you play hockey and you’re from Sweaburg or elsewhere in SouthWest Oxford you must leave your township to play minor hockey or sign up for figure skating. Somewhere and somehow user fees must be reflected in those registration costs as SouthWest Oxford does not have an arena to subsidize. (Arenas and swimming pool always lose money – heavily subsidized or they would close)

The County administration has the arduous agenda to supply housing – Woodingford Lodge for the aging population and social services’ housing supplements.   

Oxford is seeking advice through public consultation and in-house discussions on the Official Plan. (http://oxfordcounty.ca/Your-Government/Speak-up-Oxford/Campaign-Details/ArticleId/2142/Official-Plan-Review) While a budget covers a general span of five years, the Official Plan attempts to delve into the future to predict all trends (demographics) over the next 20 years.

I have a good friend working in Land Divisions at the county office and that work is all about land severances, future subdivisions, modifying zonings to create a possible change-of-use scenario, plus also knowing all the intricate policies on creating right-of-ways to access lots whether they’re a rural cluster or 300 acres of pasture.

Balancing the budgets of each of the eight partners individually is not easy and then the debate begins about how many tax dollars from your area should be re-directed to the County so it can continue its services.

Oxford’s mandate also includes the board of health, water supply, garbage and recycling, tourism, and public works (roads and snow removal, etc)

INGERSOLL

In Ingersoll, looking at the proposed (draft) budget – they are predicting a $32 increase per average household or 1.75%. (See links below).

NORWICH

There is a link below noting Norwich Township numbers. This district is interesting because of the tug-of-war between residents in the town of Norwich versus those living on a gravel road with a septic system and a drilled well. On March 7, Norwich passed its 2014 budget which features a $95.00 increase per typical household.

The most important percentages in the Norwich dollar picture -- as noted in the Norwich Gazette -- was this line: “From each tax dollar paid, 43.7 cents goes to the township, 34.9 cents to the county and 21.4 cents to education.” 

Should Norwich township tax payers be allocated a higher percentage than 34.9 to the County, a lower number, or is 34.9 an accurate assessment? (How dare I use the word assessment).

It’s a fun debate or a frustrating debate?

Oxford County LINKS:

www.oxfordcounty.ca

http://oxfordcounty.ca/Your-Government/Speak-up-Oxford/Campaign-Details/ArticleId/2142/Official-Plan-Review

http://www.blandfordblenheim.ca/Our-Services/Finance/Budgets-and-Reporting

www.zorra.on.ca

Norwich Gazette LINKS:
http://www.norwichgazette.com/2014/03/10/township-taxes-go-up-55

http://www.norwichgazette.com/2014/02/14/oxford-county-approves-costly-new-software

http://www.norwichgazette.com/2014/02/22/small-municipalities-across-ontario-crushed-by-soaring-opp-policing-costs

Ingersoll Times LINK:

http://www.ingersolltimes.com/2014/02/19/questions-criticism-cautious-praise--residents-provide-budget-feedback

Town Of Ingersoll Draft Budget LINK:

http://www.ingersoll.ca/Portals/Ingersoll/Documents/For%20Residents/Budgets/2014%20Budget%20Report%20-%20Public%20Feb%2018.pdf

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Home sales depict slow February in Oxford

Housing starts in London area also lower

By Mark Schadenberg

The housing construction market in London was slow in February when new construction numbers were released.

At the same time, house sales in the Woodstock-Ingersoll District Real Estate Board (WIDREB) marketing area were also lower for February 2014 versus other recent Februarys.

Is the weather to blame? Certainly.

I’m not a meteorologist, but I would guess temperatures in February averaged at least 5 degrees colder than 2013, if not likely even more.

Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported 64 housing starts in the London – St Thomas area this past February (last month), compared to 77 last year.

Also, seen in the list below is the 2009 recession and how it mirrored in very slow real estate sales in the Oxford area due to the car industry meltdown and overall time period defined as a recession.

A similar reduction is depicted in WIDREB numbers for recent Februarys.

                        Month Jan & Feb Total

2014:               68                    112

2013:               103                  178

2012:               83                    146

2011:               90                    164

2010:               88                    149

2009:               46                    94

2008:               82                    163

2007:               113                  199

2006:               80                    162

2005:               90                    168

The main reason you should list now if you plan on selling this spring, is the overall total of active listings is very low. The demand will be there, but it is waiting for the snow melt.

CMHC Fees

Also, first-time buyers or people purchasing with under 20 per cent down for a high-ratio mortgage will soon be seeking to solidify a buy as CMHC insurance premiums are increasing after May 1. See: Toronto Star link below for a terrific story/viewpoint explaining the CMHC math by Mark Weisleder, who is a lawyer and not a Realtor. (Also: www.markweisleder.com). 

Time for a minor rant from yours truly. We are requested by CMHC (federal government body) and the lending institutions to forget that we had almost grown accustomed to banks letting people buy with zero money down, or handing out large payments at closing (cash back, but slightly higher interest rate) to do business with them, and that suddenly now there is not supposed to be a surprise when we are told the banks would rather not lend out money to purchasers with less than 20 percent down (I'm confused ?). Bottom line -- of course -- is that you still must qualify for the dollars you want based on credit score and employment record. 

Another reason to sell now is that attractive historic interest rates simply mean that a consumer can afford more of a house.

Woodstock's economy continues to be thriving versus other markets where employment seems to be shrinking still.

LONDON FREE PRESS LINK:

http://www.lfpress.com/2014/03/10/london-st-thomas-area-housing-starts-down-in-february

TORONTO STAR LINK:
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2014/03/07/what_cmhcs_15_per_cent_rate_increase_means_for_buyers.html

STATSCANADA LINK:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110113/dq110113b-eng.htm

Full-Time Realtor. Call me Today!

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Morris - Cotter combination lose two important curling finals

Cheering for Morris, who previously had competed at provincials in Woodstock

By Mark Schadenberg

You would have to be a tremendous curler to represent three different provinces at The Brier.

You would have to be a terrific person to stand through six identical interviews conducted by Mark Schadenberg.

John Morris fits both categories as he lost Sunday in the Canadian men’s curling finals 10-5 to Kevin Koe (Pat Simmons has been a top rung player for many years, plus Carter Rycroft who previously competed for about eight years with the great Kevin Martin, and Nolan Thiessen) of Alberta. Morris, who has previously worn the jersey for Ontario (Tankard champ in 2002), Alberta and now British Columbia is a life-long curler and thereby wears the personality expected from a top-notch athlete who is both humble (not really modest though) and very confident.

Losing to Kevin Koe would have been quietly quite difficult (emotions must be hidden, you know) for Morris as he played with (this particular) Koe (not Jamie) a few years ago for three seasons, but has also been on teams with Martin (see: Rycroft), and won an Ontario title with Joe Frans, Craig Savill and Brent Laing back in 2002.

Morris would always be calm under pressure as he is also a two-time world champion as a junior competitor (1998 and 1999), an Olympic gold medallist and 2008 world champ (both with Martin), and Brier finalist as Ontario skip in 2002 with a loss to Randy Ferbey in the finale.

John Morris grew up in the Ottawa area (Wikipedia says he was born in Winnipeg) in the pressure cooker of curling as his father Earle Morris was an Ontario champ in 1985.

Earle Morris is currently preparing for the world championships as a coach. The worlds begin for women on March 15 in Saint John, New Brunswick and Earle is the coach for Rachel Homan’s Ottawa foursome (Pictured at bottom).

Me & John

Getting back now to my tale of me and John Morris (left in photo).

The first time I met him was at the provincial Tankard in Woodstock in 2001. I still have a copy of Morris versus Wayne Middaugh on VHS. The reason I saved the tape? I’m the play-by-play guy.

Moving forward, I would also work for Rogers TV at the provincials in Whitby, Mississauga, Owen Sound and Guelph. On those occasions as show host one of my duties to promote the day’s broadcasts (afternoon and evening draws) was to do live remote ‘hits’ on the program Daytime for six different communities all in one hour. Yes, six identical interviews with six different stations (London region, K-W, Toronto, Durham Region, Barrie area, and Ottawa) all between 11 a.m and noon, as Daytime is a live TV show. As an idea, it would be an interview (without a monitor to actually see the hosts in each community) at perhaps 11:05, 11:15, 11:25, 11:35, 11:45 and 11:55. 

On one of these occasions, John Morris was good enough to share his thoughts on the game by joining me for six interviews. I still remember him climbing over seats in the arena to rush up to our corner broadcast position. You must keep in mind, this is like the movie Groundhog Day, but six chats all in one hour. The task was simple – talk about yourself, curling, the event’s upcoming schedule, promote the venue and community, rinse and repeat.

People who know curling would recognize names of other players who participated in this Daytime fun, including Richard Hart (an Olympian with Mike Harris), Bill Gamble (2003 Ontario champ with Bryan Cochrane), and Anne Dunn (2003 Ontario champ in Mississauaga).

John Morris is an Olympic gold medallist (2010 in Vancouver with Kevin Martin), and he and Jim Cotter also lost the finals at the Olympic trials in Winnipeg late last year to Brad Jacobs (Who of course would win gold in Sochi).

It’s too bad John Morris now competes for B.C. as it would be great to watch his team compete at the provincials in 2015 in Dorchester – an even to be co-hosted by Dorchester, Thames Centre and the Ingersoll district curling club.

LINKS:

http://www.tsn.ca/curling/story/?id=445756

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Quebec+game+collapses+hand+Manitoba+bronze+Brier+Kamloops/9597553/story.html

Full-Time Realtor; Part-Time Sports Broadcaster

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Cabot Lane should be your condo destination

507 Nova Scotia Court, Woodstock

Nova Scotia Court end-unit condo with 3 bedrooms

MLS: 72416 (www.realtor.ca)

Asking: $241,000 (Reduced Asking Price)

Available for NOW possession !

A condominium is a choice for lifestyle and location.

A one-floor plan townhouse condominium (with a basement too) featuring a 2-car garage certainly provides for anyone seeking convenience and lifestyle, but the location of your relocation is also always paramount.

This end unit with 3 (2+1) bedrooms in Cabot Lane (Off Finkle Street between Parkinson and Pember’s) also completes the neighbourhood aspect as its found near Southside Park (pool, lawn bowling, seniors centre, etc), the community complex arenas, hospital (brand new in November of 2011), Cedar Creek golf course, plus box mall shopping and countless restaurants. The city development office refers to the outdoor shopping complex as 'the regional commercial node', but with Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Staples, Pennington's, Mark's Work Warehouse, Sport Chek and Winners, and a couple dozen more stores there is lots of reasons to shop on Norwich Avenue.

From the entrance of the condo, what is apparent quickly is the modern move-in decor including the newer hardwood floors.

As it’s an end unit, there is a window in the dining room, which may seem like a small point but otherwise the only window in the living-dining room would be at the front.

You will also enjoy the eat-in kitchen with its peninsula countertop and spacious dinette. Garden doors out to a private back deck. Five appliances are available: fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer.

The spacious master bedroom with a 4-piece ensuite and walk-in closet is also a selling point as is the main-floor laundry. There is a second 4-piece bathroom on the main floor across the hall from the second bedroom.

The expansive lower family room with a gas fireplace is great for holidays and family visits, as is the third bedroom. The unit's basement also has ample storage as you need a place to store the photo albums when your granddaughter visits with her boyfriend.

I think the 2-car garage aspect is very important as almost all empty-nester couples own two cars.

Cabot Lane was built by Z-Group, which is based in London and has built several condo projects there.

Contact myself for your showing today, call (519) 537-1553.

103.9FM makes switch to country music format

Woodstock inundated with radio signals

By Mark Schadenberg

Firstly, I think there are simply too many radio stations beaming signals into Woodstock, and I think you will agree after you have read this diatribe.

Woodstock’s radio station is 104.7 Heart FM.

After that, we have various formats and stations zooming in from various directions as The Friendly City truly is the southern Ontario crossroads (www.cometothecrossroads.com) – beginning with London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Tillsonburg (I do listen to 101.3 CKOT on occasion), and continuing with Brantford and Stratford broadcasting operations.

During the Olympics, I even listened to hockey through the scratch and hum and interference on TSN radio (1050 AM). To me, Mike Richards is a hockey player, not a morning talk show host on the airwaves.

By the way, I rarely listen to talk radio unless I’m driving into London for a Knights game and want to hear about the highways (not Highway 101) on either 1290 AM or 980 AM.

When you factor in something called an IPod, plus satellite radio and compact discs, then you realize many parents allow their kids to watch DVD movies in the back seat on long trips, how many radio stations do we need?

COUNTRY RADIO

Last week, Woodstock’s other radio station (103.9 FM) switched from rock hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s (More FM) to country music, which is a very crowded format in southern Ontario. I think the rock format would have worked if they had eliminated the 70s ‘disco’ tinged songs as it created too much of a ‘covering-all-the-bases’ format.

I think I’m permitted – by the way -- to call 103.9 Woodstock’s other station as I worked at the 290 Dundas Street studio for more than four years, including the summer of 1986 when the building switched from CKDK 1340 AM to CKDK 102.3 FM (Today’s Music For Today’s Adults. I still own the sweatshirt - pictured). It was all cart radio (No CD’s really as music and commercials for the most part were all on cart, which is closer to an 8-track set up than anything else).

I do remember CKOX 1340 AM and Trading Post, but very faintly as I’m 47, not 57.

I did initially work at CKDK 1340 with the likes of Dave Taylor, Ken Curtis, Robert Palmer, Mark ‘In The Dark’ Taylor (Give somebody a hug tonight as it means 'a whole bunch'), Ian Crighton, Dani Stewart, Brad Janssen, Steve Young, Greg Kelly and Tim Westin. I believe the original morning man for 102.3 FM was Jim Martin, but if I recall he did not stay in Woodstock that long.

I even attended Fanshawe College for broadcasting and had my first full-time radio gig working at CJBK in Huntsville where London legend Joe Duchesne would be a mentor. In Muskoka, I did have an opportunity to take live phone calls for what they called ‘Buy & Sell’. I do like the term Trading Post better.

Anyway, 103.9 FM has traded its music format to country.

The www.country104.com website home page says:

“Country 104 is what Southwestern Ontario radio listeners have been looking for ! What are we? We are Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley and many more great country artists! 

Country 104 is a family member of Canada’s Leader in Country Music Network, Corus Entertainment. Country 104 has been highly researched to deliver what you want !
FUN, ENGAGING, ACTIVE COUNTRY HIT RADIO!

I have no idea who Kacey Musgraves is?

I do have admiration for many cross-over country artists including Johnny Reid (Today, I truly am trying to change this world we call home by walking through a grassy meadow), Restless Heart, Alabama, Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts, Terri Clark, Blue Rodeo, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, Emerson Drive, and yes (Terry Empey – Woodstock-based cover country singer can be seen March 28 at Double-B bar in Downtown Woodstock) even George Strait. For proof, all you would have to do is look at my IPod list.

I would admit Need You Know by Lady Antebellum is a terrific tune, especially as it reminds me (as if a sequel) of England Dan and John Ford Coley’s I’d Really Love To See You Tonight.

The England Dan reference would point out why I do listen to some country styles as the similarities or evolution of the likes of storytellers Gordon Lightfoot, Harry Chapin, Neil Young, Dan Fogelberg, America and the Eagles can now only be heard in the sounds of newer cross-over country music, in my opinion.

At the end of the day, however, country is not my favourite radio format, but many will be pleased with the change – except for people affiliated with 92.7 BX93 in London, Country 107.3 in Tillsonburg, Country 1380AM in Brantford, or 106.7 FM in Kitchener where my pal Mike Farwell (See: Kitchener Rangers and the OHL) is heard.

I haven’t even referred to London's FM 96, 103.1 Fresh FM, 102.3 Bob FM, Funny 1410AM also in London, 106.9 FM (Fanshawe London), FM 97.5 London, FM CHYM 96.7 in Kitchener, 570AM News Kitchener, 107.7 FM from Stratford, and also programmed into my RAV4 is 92.1 FM (CKPC, The Jewel) from Brantford. 

LINK:
www.country104.com

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/03/03/woodstocks-ckdk--fm-goes-country

http://www.am980.ca/2014/02/28/13934/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKDK-FM

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

High-ratio mortgage home buyers to pay higher insurance premium

Percentage modifications introduced by CMHC, effective May 1

By Mark Schadenberg

The race is on.

Today, is March 1, so home buyers have exactly two months to purchase a house requiring a high ratio mortgage, to avoid an increase in the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) insurance fees.

It was predicted that CMHC was to announce an increase and the press releases were issued yesterday (on Feb 28).

The odd item about the news is that the CMHC fee is not really insurance to protect you if you default on your mortgage payments, but rather protects the bank and its ability to fully recoup the loan you (all borrowers actually) had previously qualified for.

I’m not sure on the exact date of the previous change in percentages, but it’s been about a dozen years since a modification had occurred and the change is a significant 0.40% for the high-ratio mortgage buyers with just 5% (loan-to-value ratio) as a down payment – 2.75% will become 3.15% in calculating the insurance.

Up to 90% (or under 10% down) will move up from 2.00 to 2.40, and 85 – 89.99 changes modestly from 1.75 to 1.80.

“CMHC’s capital holdings reduce Canadian taxpayers’ exposure to the housing market and contribute to long term stability of the financial system,” says Steven Mennill, vice president of insurance operations at CMHC, in the press release on their website.

The change amounts to $5 per month on a mortgage payment (25-year amortization), but keep in mind buyers are pre-qualified based on what they can afford per month on a math calculation factoring in wages, credit already committed to (credit cards, car payments, student loans, etc), and your credit rating (beacon score).

The entire CMHC press release and large chart is included below in the link, but it also includes purchasing income property of four or fewer units.

CMHC is quick to note that the insurance permits consumers to buy a home with a minimum of 5% as a down payment and still receive an interest rate equivalent to a buyer with more than 20% down. The caveat is obvious – good steady job and good credit score.

The key is that the closing date of your purchase can be after May 1, but the formal loan request must be made before that date.

In math terms, a $150,000 mortgage on 95% loan-to-value is currently charged a $4,125 premium (150,000 x 2.75). After May 1, that number becomes $4,725 (150,000 x 3.15).

The increase at 85% loan-to-value is very insignificant.

I would guess there could be a quick surge in sales over the next two months to beat the race to May 1. A similar occurrence happened a few years ago when the GST/HST switch happened and suddenly real estate commission, home inspectors, lawyers (etc) were all required to collect more taxes.

Call me today, to begin your house hunting.

Also, be sure to contact your bank or preferred mortgage broker too and confirm your standing. In other words, be sure to be pre-qualified and have a guaranteed interest rate, then don't assume any more large debt (large furniture purchase on credit or booking an expensive vacation on a credit line)   

LINK:

http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2014/2014-02-28-1100.cfm

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Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination