Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Local BIA busy attracting consumers to Dundas stores

Streetfest sidewalk sale days are Aug. 7 - 10
Visit the museum, art gallery and market theatre

By Mark Schadenberg
There's lots in store in Downtown Woodstock.
However, it's more than the dozens of stores and restaurants which you will love to browse, but also the Dundas Street attractions.
The Woodstock Art Gallery welcomes a new curator on August 1 in Mary Reid (Sentinel-Review link below), who has also enjoyed similar municipal art positions in Winnipeg and Barrie.
The Woodstock Museum (National Historic Site) is always a must stop with both its permanent displays about the history of Woodstock and our surrounding area, but also its many scheduled exhibits, including the current Oxford (County) In The Age Of Innocence artifacts. The museum website notes this is the first of five exhibits designed to recognize 2014 as 100 years since the First World War.
You should also investigate www.theatrewoodstock.com, which lists all the 2014-15 productions.
The Woodstock Business Improvement Area (BIA) committee is always planning and scheming to bring consumers to Dundas, including the Thursday afternoon (Noon – 5 p.m.) farm market in museum square which also includes some crafters.
Shop. Dine. Work. Play. Those are the tab words on the top of the website www.downtownwoodstock.ca (519 537-5721), but it also reflects what the city's historic main street offers with lots of small stores ranging from books to jewellery, and clothing to framed limited prints, plus shoes and toys.
The annual sidewalk sale days – Streetfest – is Aug. 7 – 10 this year. Several stages with live music, along with attractions for children such as a petting zoo, ventriloquist, juggler and clowns.
The annual Streetfest car show is Sunday, Aug. 10, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Dundas is closed off and becomes a show-and-shine of vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles.


The BIA website says:
All downtown BIA’s have the same goal – to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase traffic and sales in their business district. We strive to create a vibrant community and a prosperous local economic environment. The BIA acts as a unifying body for our membership – working to make Downtown Woodstock a “Destination” not only for the retailers and restaurants, but for our professional and cultural assets as well. Our efforts are dedicated to ensuring a healthy economic environment for our community and making Downtown Woodstock a Destination – a place in which to shop, dine, work, play, live or invest!

Many Woodstock residents might not realize it, but the annual November Santa Claus Parade (Nov. 15 in 2014) is organized by the BIA. Lead-up to X-mas includes Santa's house and a giant musical Christmas tree in museum square along with horse drawn sleigh rides.
Lots of reasons to reside in Woodstock!

LINKS:
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/07/15/happy-to-be-home-curator
www.woodstockmuseum.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
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Friday, 11 July 2014

Modest updates, elbow grease required to sell your home

Lots of ideas, but here are some basics
By Mark Schadenberg
If you're thinking about moving, but also thinking about possibly staying, read the link below offering updating / staging tips from The Globe And Mail.
If you're going to put your house on the market – declutter and clean, clean and clean some more. Inside and outside as beautiful and modest flower beds of petunias create terrific first impressions.
I once had a house listed that showed reasonably well, but if you looked under the kitchen sink you would quickly get a sinking feeling about the home's overall on-going maintenance. Dirty and filthy would be the adjectives, and that was a house on the market.
In principal rooms be sure to have nice flooring even if that means removing old carpeting from a bedroom that Pam loved the purple in, but Pam now lives in Penetang and is married to Paul and has three kids – Paula, Patricia and Patrick (Two Pats), and a dog named Petunia.
If there is hardwood under 10-year-old carpeting -- remove the carpet. If the carpet is quite new and you know the hardwood is not in great condition -- rent a carpet cleaner.
No matter what price range you are selling from, rent a storage unit for those extra boxes, Pamela's high school papers, and an overwhelming number of family heirlooms and pictures. Then, unless you had the brushes, rollers and drop clothes out just two years ago, paint the main two or three rooms, especially the kitchen. Bedrooms with dark smudges around light switches should also be painted a neutral tone. 
Don't spend big bucks on new stone granite countertops, but do modestly replace the counters if they are extremely dated and add a backsplash.
If you're staying, my best advice is never over-improve your home for its neighbourhood. Stamped or impressed concrete driveways are expensive. Home renovations are certainly for your personal enjoyment and to increase the value of your property.

When selling, here's three quick tips.
  1. Clean, no odours, uncluttered and attractive.
  2. Promote home with tons of professional photos (No cars in the driveway).
  3. Priced right. If your home is worth $250,000, don't ask $274,900 as your eventual selling price will be then be under $248,000.

LINK:

Advice from a Royal LePage office in the GTA:

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

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Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Close a deal on a house, but close your deal with GAPP

Insurance in case of illness or injury for a home owner
By Mark Schadenberg
I don't sell insurance, but at the end of the day, insurance is also about financial planning.
What happens if you have a disability (illness or injury) that doesn't permit you to work for a few weeks?
Who then pays your mortgage?
No one expects to be unable to work, but among the first to realize this possibility is your lending institution as they want a backup plan for their clients in case a hardship does occur. Your bank will sell you (could sell you) coverage to assist in making mortgage payments if need be.
Again, I'm a full-time Realtor and not a financial planner, lawyer, accountant or plumber. At the same time, good solid advice is just that – a suggestion on one place you can go to seek advice.
GAPP – Greatest Asset Protection Plan – is someone you should contact. Greg Sloan (519) 851-6500 will show you all the pros and cons of various insurance plans and explain how your greatest asset isn't your house. Your greatest asset is you and your partner – the wage earners who day-in and day-out are creating the life you and your family enjoy.
The story below was printed this past weekend in The Toronto Star (I've used a lot of links from this paper lately) and describes the scenario of a single woman with terrific income who can't decide if she should buy a house or continue to rent. It can be a dilemma, but buying is always the best advice because after 20 years (more or less) of patience and payments you own a significant investment.
Factors, including the cost of maintenance or selling if you are relocating for work always weigh in, but the goal of most Canadian is to be a home owner.
Check out the link and the attachments from Greg Sloan. By the way, he is the same Greg Sloan who does play-by-play on Rogers TV for London Knights games. Just like me, he dabbles a bit in sports broadcasting as a hobby.
There is another story pertaining to the rise of home insurance due to floods and extreme weather.

TORONTO STAR Link:
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2014/06/02/shes_40_on_her_own_and_wants_to_buy_a_house_can_she_really_afford_it.html
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/investing/2014/07/07/homeowners_get_ugly_surprise_on_insurance.html

I was having difficulty with the correct link to this mortgage insurance story, so I broke my own rule and shall cut and paste here:

Mortgage insurance policies may not cover claims: Roseman

When insuring a mortgage, you expect a payout if you die suddenly. But banks can turn down claims years later because of incorrect answers to health questions.


Vivian Elliot lost her husband in 1990. He died from a massive heart attack at age 51.
Six months later, she found out her mortgage life insurance wasn’t in force. The bank said the application was answered incorrectly.
“My husband brought the form home and we filled it out. As far as we knew, it was accepted,” she said.
“It was refused because my husband had ticked off a box saying he did not have lung disease. My husband had bronchitis and the insurance company stated this was lung disease.”
Fortunately, she sued and won a settlement. Her lawyer said the bank was planning to train staff to go over forms with clients and avoid confusion.
Elliot contacted me because she was surprised to read my column about another widow, Angela Massa, who was turned down when claiming for life insurance on a $289,000 mortgage.
Scotiabank said her husband had answered a health question incorrectly and refunded the premiums paid (less than $5,000). It also charged her $12,000 to break the mortgage before its five-year term.
Massa sold the house, which she could no longer afford, and bought a smaller house with her son. She refused to transfer her Scotiabank mortgage, even though she could avoid paying a penalty by doing so.
I heard from several widows, who felt poorly treated by their banks when the mortgage life insurance they counted on failed to materialize. I also heard from a disgruntled banker, now retired.
“I have no qualms about exposing banks for their greed and arrogance,” he said. “Banks knowingly sell insurance to people, aware that many misrepresent the facts concerning their health.
“They collect premiums falsely and when required to pay, they escape payment by proving the falsity. In this scenario, it’s not in the banks’ interests to do due diligence up front on insurance questionnaires.”
Jim Bullock, an insurance broker and expert witness in lawsuits, says mistakes are inevitable when filling out complex questionnaires. People forget about health issues that result in a doctor’s visit, but turn out to be false alarms.
“It takes a trained insurance agent to explain the questions properly,” Bullock told provincial insurance regulators, who were looking into tightening the rules in 2008 (and dropped the idea).
“The agent has to explain that medication includes over-the-counter potions, herbals and food supplements. He has to decide if doctor includes a dentist or chiropractor. He has to delve into a question about symptoms, because this includes things as routine as headaches.”
CBC Marketplace did a 2008 show, In Denial, showing how mortgage life insurance can leave people in the lurch. Marketplace made up an insurance form, similar to what banks use, and asked consumers to complete it without an agent’s help. What happened? Three quarters of consumers with something to disclose about their health failed to do so.
Organizations selling insurance this way have a profound conflict of interest, says Bullock (who appeared on the show). They collect premiums for years on policies that would have never been issued if they had been properly underwritten. And they keep the money on the 90 per cent of mortgage life policies that do not result in claims.
Ami Maishlish of CompuOffice Software, which sells rate comparison tools to agents, also wants to see insurance sold properly to mortgage clients at bank branches.
“I strongly believe there are too many life insurance contracts out there, where the ‘approval’ is only for payment of premiums,” he says. “The purpose of insurance is dual — coverage should the insured event occur and peace of mind. Post-issue underwriting defeats the second purpose.”
Lance Speck argued that mortgage life insurance is deceptive on two levels: (1) The coverage declines as the mortgage is repaid, but the premiums don’t decline. (2) Banks don’t provide coverage when you sign on, but only if you pass a post-death medical exam.
“Few people will meet this hurdle, as even the slightest illness can disqualify the applicant, even illnesses that have nothing to do with the cause of death,” he said. “This is a clear ethical issue.”
My advice: Talk to independent life agents when insuring your mortgage. Compare rates. Ask whether the insurance company will check your records when you apply or only when you — or your survivors — make a claim.
Ellen Roseman writes about personal finance and consumer issues. You can reach her at eroseman@thestar.ca or www.ellenroseman.com




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
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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

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Monday, 7 July 2014

Purchase this first-time buyers jewel on Princess

The list of ingredients is endless and enticing

By Mark Schadenberg
What type of house could a first-time buyer find in Woodstock for under $170,000?
Newer hardwood floors, plus a newer furnace (less than 3 years old), and central air and breaker panel box? Check.
How about a kitchen with oak cabinets – and a kitchen open to the living room so you can make sure your 4-year-old is not watching Phineas & Ferb? Check

Three good-size bedrooms, plus a nice 4pc upper bathroom and a convenient main-floor 2pc bathroom? This house was extensively renovated about 10 years ago to improve with drywall and additional insulation, but also added was a solid oak staircase to second floor. Check

For an asking price of $162,900, could you locate a home with main-floor laundry, and patio doors to a wood deck and fenced yard? Yes, visit 681 Princess.
If you could find this modestly price home would it be detached or a semi? This is a detached home with many newer windows.
Would this house be near shopping (Foodland less than 1 block away) and restaurants, and also be found on a quiet street? Yes
If you have now checked your list and are ready to view 681 Princess Street (Section of Princess just west of Huron) in Woodstock, contact me today !
After you add in the interlocking brick double driveway, I think any first-time buying young family will be asking to sign an offer.
The sellers on Princess Street are also willing to include a fridge, stove and dishwasher.
This 1 ¾ storey home has three good-size bedrooms and a cheater door from the master to the main bathroom. The second floor also includes a large storage closet for blankets, pillow cases, towels and stuffed animals.
Purchase this modestly-priced jewel on Princess.

681 Princess, Woodstock
Asking: $162,900
MLS: 73780
Possession: Available before September 1.

Listed By:
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
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
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Toronto condo projects going up and up and up

Website offers sales trends info for GTA condos and lofts
Royal LePage rep offers stats, details and square footage breakdowns
By Mark Schadenberg
I've written about the Toronto condo hysteria many times – upward and upward – prices and the number of storeys built
Is there a solution? Will the scales balance out someday?
Eventually supply and demand will cool the market? Maybe not. Demand will not dwindle for quite some time as condo projects are selling out before construction is completed. People are buying on speculation and never moving in as they re-sell before occupancy and pocket the profit.
The link to a Toronto Star story below is important as it appears someone has created a website to compile sales trends from one high rise to the next. In other words, assisting someone in not paying too much and knowing where the hot locations are, and which are more hype than reality.
The main reason these condo buildings have become so popular is that the previous generations wanted to reside in the suburbs or outside the core – Scarborough, Mississauga or perhaps Markham. Now, everyone seemingly wants to reside where the action is – perhaps the waterfront.
Amenities vary throughout the spectrum from indoor pools and gymnasiums, to theatres and arcades.

For fun and entertainment, and I guess education too of the GTA real estate market, check out www.condos.ca
The site's founder is Carl Langschmidt, who is originally from South Africa, and is a Royal LePage sales representative. 
See: http://www.royallepage.ca/en/agent/ontario/richmond-hill/carllangschmidt/12659/#.U7qeSPldW7k


TORONTO STAR Link:

Thinking of a move to Oxford County?
Possibly relocating within Oxford ?
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
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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Saturday, 5 July 2014

Pre-qualifying for a mortgage just one of many steps

Toronto Star story places emphasis on what first-time buyers need to know
Home hunters should be pre-approved for a mortgage at a dollar amount

By Mark Schadenberg
There's always lots of advice a Realtor can offer a first-time buyer, but explaining the entire process will always result in a lot more questions.
The Toronto Star recently published a story which covered topics like a buyer agency agreement, making sure you are pre-approved for a mortgage before offering and available government programs that could result in a rebate on the land transfer tax the next time you fill out your annual tax form.
Talking to various lending institutions is important as you must know where you are for TDS and GDS. If you are not sure about those terms, call me today for a coffee and conversation. My motto since beginning my full-time real estate career 15 years ago has always been: discussion, determination, direction and destination. The destination is receiving keys to your new home.
Pre-approval is important for six main reasons, in my honest opinion.
  • You receive a guaranteed interest rate for 120 days. Our microscopic interest rates will not continue forever.
  • You understand all the parameters about variable rates vs fixed rates, and the length of your mortgage, and how amortization works.
  • Your Total Debt Service ratio and Gross Debt Service ratio have been calculated. Including principle, interest and taxes, how much can you afford per month, and keep in mind credit cards and car loans are factored in, and so are student loans and credit lines.
  • You can honestly sit down and do your personal math about how much you would like to commit monthly to a home (budget time) as you may want to remain modest on your first home to leave more available dollars for a winter vacation, aluminium fishing boat, wedding bells or a bassinet.
  • How does your planned down payment -- perhaps only 5 percent -- effect any CMHC insurance you will have to pay for your high-ratio mortgage.  
  • No one wants to waste their time looking at homes you can't afford.
Tax Time
As for possible rebates or a tax credit on items such a land transfer tax, be sure to check out the links in the story below. Like everything else in the tax world there are limitations based on total income.
I enjoy the house-buying process – explaining conditions, closing costs such as land transfer tax and title insurance, and knowing why it is important you have a sales representative working for you. To have competent qualified experienced representation is priceless, but does require you to legally sign a buyer Agency agreement.


LINK:
http://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2014/06/27/the_first_3_questions_for_firsttime_buyers.html



Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
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Thursday, 3 July 2014

Canterbury Folk Festival is July 11-13 in Ingersoll

Ian Thomas, Valdy, Murray McLaughlin and many more on stage
Three-day Ingersoll free folk festival is celebrating 15 years

By Mark Schadenberg
INGERSOLL – I was never a huge fan of the comedy sketches on SCTV or the hoser routines of tandem Bob & Doug, so my favourite member of the Thomas family is not Dave . . . it's Ian Thomas.
I'm a radio guy and grew up with CanCon music. I'm not going to list a bunch of Canadian singer/songwriters right here, but rather point out that Ian Thomas and Murray McLaughlin will both be starring at the Canterbury Folk Festival in Ingersoll, July 11-13.
I can name six Thomas hits off the top of my head and all are on my Ipod – Coming Home, Pilot, Painted Ladies, Right Before Your Eyes (Ian made a lot of money hopefully when America also put this song on the charts), Long Long Way, and Hold On (Santana had a hit with Ian's song too). I also find it hard to believe – as the years pass by quickly – that his album Levity is already more than 25 years old, which included minor hits in the title track and Back To Square One.


Picture: Ian Thomas
McLaughlin is a Canadian music staple with his best-known single The Farmer's Song, along with If The Wind Could Blow My Troubles Away, Whispering Rain, Down By The Henry Moore and Try Walking Away. He is a member of the Order Of Canada and has earned at least 10 Juno Awards.
McLaughlin will do some double duty in Ingersoll as he is also part of the ensemble Lunch At Allen's with Thomas, Marc Jordan and Cindy Church.
There are three facets of the Canterbury Folk Festival which make it outstanding – five stages, small-group collaborative sessions (workshops), and it's FREE ! One of the reasons the lineup is so strong this year is that Canterbury is celebrating its 15th year.
Add in appearances on a stool on stage by Valdy, Gary Fjellgaard, Graham Wardrop, Sarah Smith, Poor Angus, Nathan Rogers, Tia McGraff, Red Moon Road, Ingersoll's own m.e. Law (See story link), and even Ingersoll mayor Ted Comiskey with an acoustic guitar (McLaughlin will often wear his harmonica), it's a great weekend lineup for fans of folk or storytelling music – unplugged, but sometimes plugged in.
I love the online description of Red Moon Road (pictured) from www.redmoonroad.com: “Canada's most energetic and endearing folk trio. Masterful story telling. Haunting three part harmonies. Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, Delay pedals and a beat up bass drum. A lush and lively take on modern roots."


Picture: Red Moon Road
Often a master of ceremonies will say a certain performer 'needs no introduction', well that holds true for Valdemar Horsdal, who is originally from Ottawa. Valdy is a Canadian music legend and is oddly best known for Rock And Roll Song.


Picture: Valdy
Bring your lawn chair, and a good sun hat, and be ready to enjoy the Canterbury Folk Festival. Bring your appetite too as there is a pig roast on Friday and a breakfast too, plus downtown activities, and a stage set aside to promote local youth dance groups like Embro's Sim Highland Dancers and also the Judith Coleman school.
Check out the website for all the details, but be sure to listen to Ian Thomas on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2qKTa2CdfM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvY-I9pNpI) while you do check out the details.


LINKS:


Lots to do in Oxford County.
Plan a visit and then plan your move
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
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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