REALTORS® have many resources
November 27, 2009 -- If you are one of the thousands of GTA residents who has made a move to a home more suited to your lifestyle this year, chances are you used the services of a REALTOR® to help you do so.
On the surface it may seem that a REALTOR’S® access to the Multiple Listing Service is the most significant reason for working with a real estate professional.
While REALTORS® can use the MLS® to match your housing preferences with available properties and help you establish realistic expectations if you’re selling, it is just one of several tools they use to offer you professional advice.
They can also for example, access the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s database to provide you with valuable insight into current taxes on individual properties, ownership histories and lot size specifics.
Using Teranet’s GeoWarehouse, they can retrieve even more information that is useful in the decision-making process like streetscape imagery, mapped neighbourhood sales, and average local incomes.
As well, if you’re considering a newly constructed home, your Greater Toronto REALTOR® has your needs covered through their access to RealNet Canada’s database of new home listings.
RealNet reports on 99 per cent of all developments greater than 15 units in size in the GTA. Its database includes more than 35,000 current records, which are updated on a monthly basis. A search of the RealNet database can be conducted by housing type, location, price range and number of bedrooms. Searches can produce an array of details including builder names, lot sizes, condo fees, and quantity of available units.
This information can help you measure your preferred builder’s value proposition and more carefully weigh your decision with respect to choosing new versus resale housing.
Your REALTOR® can also advise you on government programs that will save you money. For example, if you’re considering a few fix-ups prior to listing, your REALTOR® can provide you with details of programs like the Home Renovation Tax Credit and the Energuide for Houses Retrofit Grant. If you’re wondering whether buying a home is within reach, your REALTOR® can tell you about a program that, with only five per cent down, allows you to apply for mortgage insurance that can facilitate your purchase. As well, if you are a first-time homebuyer, your REALTOR® can advise you of a program that allows you and your partner to each withdraw up to $25,000 from your RRSPs to put towards your purchase.
Greater Toronto REALTORS® also work tirelessly to advocate your interests on important issues like property taxes, sales tax harmonization and the Toronto land transfer tax. They make direct contributions to GTA communities as well, helping to feed 1900 children in 11 local schools every week through the Children’s Breakfast Program and providing grants to 20 shelter-related charitable organizations this year alone.
These are just a few of the many ways that there’s more to Greater Toronto REALTORS® than MLS®. To find learn more about working with a REALTOR® please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Canada proposes code of conduct for credit/debit cards
Ottawa, November 19, 2009
2009-109
Government of Canada Introduces Proposed Code of Conduct for Canadian Credit and Debit Card IndustryRelated document
Backgrounder
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released for public consultations a proposed Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada.
"This proposed Code is intended to promote fair business practices and ensure merchants and consumers clearly understand the costs and benefits of credit and debit cards," said Minister Flaherty.
The proposed Code of Conduct released today is based on ongoing discussions with merchant and consumer associations across Canada. Once adopted, the proposed Code would respond to their views by:
Ensuring that merchants are fully aware of the costs associated with accepting credit and debit card payments.
Providing merchants with increased pricing flexibility to encourage consumers to choose the lowest-cost payment option.
Allowing merchants to freely choose which payment options they will accept.
The proposed Code of Conduct is being circulated for a 60-day comment period. During this period, stakeholders are invited to submit their views on how best to monitor compliance with the proposed Code. Comments can be submitted to codeconsult@fin.gc.ca.
"I welcome input in the process to ensure the proposed Code ultimately meets its goals," said Minister Flaherty. "The Government supports efforts that encourage a competitive environment which provides for fair pricing practices, innovation, a safe and secure payment system, and high quality services for consumers and merchants."
The recently released credit card regulations complement this initiative in protecting credit card users by making clearer and more transparent information available to them.
"By making clearer information available to consumers and encouraging fairer business practices, our Government is taking unprecedented steps to protect Canadian consumers," said Minister Flaherty.
___________________________________
For further information, media may contact:
Annette Robertson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080
2009-109
Government of Canada Introduces Proposed Code of Conduct for Canadian Credit and Debit Card IndustryRelated document
Backgrounder
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released for public consultations a proposed Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada.
"This proposed Code is intended to promote fair business practices and ensure merchants and consumers clearly understand the costs and benefits of credit and debit cards," said Minister Flaherty.
The proposed Code of Conduct released today is based on ongoing discussions with merchant and consumer associations across Canada. Once adopted, the proposed Code would respond to their views by:
Ensuring that merchants are fully aware of the costs associated with accepting credit and debit card payments.
Providing merchants with increased pricing flexibility to encourage consumers to choose the lowest-cost payment option.
Allowing merchants to freely choose which payment options they will accept.
The proposed Code of Conduct is being circulated for a 60-day comment period. During this period, stakeholders are invited to submit their views on how best to monitor compliance with the proposed Code. Comments can be submitted to codeconsult@fin.gc.ca.
"I welcome input in the process to ensure the proposed Code ultimately meets its goals," said Minister Flaherty. "The Government supports efforts that encourage a competitive environment which provides for fair pricing practices, innovation, a safe and secure payment system, and high quality services for consumers and merchants."
The recently released credit card regulations complement this initiative in protecting credit card users by making clearer and more transparent information available to them.
"By making clearer information available to consumers and encouraging fairer business practices, our Government is taking unprecedented steps to protect Canadian consumers," said Minister Flaherty.
___________________________________
For further information, media may contact:
Annette Robertson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080
GTA Sales hot despite cooler weather
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales still hot despite cooler weather
November 20, 2009 -- Winter may be fast approaching but there is certainly no cooling trend when it comes to the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market.
In the first two weeks of November, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 3,666 sales, an 84 per cent increase compared to the same period a year ago. The average price of GTA homes sold during this timeframe also grew, by 10 per cent, to $415,066. Condominium activity throughout the GTA was even more extraordinary. Sales of this housing type increased 90 per cent to 959 transactions, with an average price of $296,664, up 15 per cent year over year.
The City of Toronto experienced the highest increase in sales volumes while average price appreciation was consistent throughout both areas.
The number of sales in the City of Toronto increased by 88 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, reaching a total of 1,560 transactions. The average price meanwhile, climbed to $441,893, a 10 per cent increase from mid-November last year. Condominium sales in Toronto almost doubled to 674 transactions, an increase of 97 per cent from a year ago. They sold at an average price of $317,939, up 13 per cent year-over-year.
In the 905 Region sales activity was up 81 per cent over the first half of November 2008, totaling 2,106 transactions. The average price of a 905 Region home was $395,195, also up 10 per cent from a year ago. Condominium transactions in the 905 Region increased 75 per cent from mid-November last year, to 285 sales. They fetched an average price of $246,351, up 20 per cent year-over-year.
Year-to-date sales throughout the GTA have increased 11 per cent over last year, to a total of 78,233 transactions, putting 2009 on track to finish with some of the best years on record. The average GTA house price has also increased three per cent year-to-date, to $393,180.
While it’s reasonable for sales in the first half this month to be strong as compared to the same period a year ago, when the market experienced a marked decline, such strong price recovery is particularly significant.
I discussed this characteristic of the market with the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis Jason Mercer, who pointed to affordability as an important factor.
“Average home prices recovered quickly in the GTA compared to other centres in countries like the United States because the average priced home remained affordable relative to average household incomes. As consumer confidence in economic recovery improved in the spring, home ownership demand and home prices recovered quickly.”
According to Mercer, the outlook for next year’s spring housing market is also favourable.
“Expect home ownership demand to remain strong in 2010. Market conditions will balance out next year as more homeowners react to the strong sales and price growth reported in the second half of 2009 and list their home. The average resale home price will grow at a sustainable rate next year.”
If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in the coming months I encourage you to talk to a REALTOR®. For more information, please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Sales still hot despite cooler weather
November 20, 2009 -- Winter may be fast approaching but there is certainly no cooling trend when it comes to the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market.
In the first two weeks of November, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 3,666 sales, an 84 per cent increase compared to the same period a year ago. The average price of GTA homes sold during this timeframe also grew, by 10 per cent, to $415,066. Condominium activity throughout the GTA was even more extraordinary. Sales of this housing type increased 90 per cent to 959 transactions, with an average price of $296,664, up 15 per cent year over year.
The City of Toronto experienced the highest increase in sales volumes while average price appreciation was consistent throughout both areas.
The number of sales in the City of Toronto increased by 88 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, reaching a total of 1,560 transactions. The average price meanwhile, climbed to $441,893, a 10 per cent increase from mid-November last year. Condominium sales in Toronto almost doubled to 674 transactions, an increase of 97 per cent from a year ago. They sold at an average price of $317,939, up 13 per cent year-over-year.
In the 905 Region sales activity was up 81 per cent over the first half of November 2008, totaling 2,106 transactions. The average price of a 905 Region home was $395,195, also up 10 per cent from a year ago. Condominium transactions in the 905 Region increased 75 per cent from mid-November last year, to 285 sales. They fetched an average price of $246,351, up 20 per cent year-over-year.
Year-to-date sales throughout the GTA have increased 11 per cent over last year, to a total of 78,233 transactions, putting 2009 on track to finish with some of the best years on record. The average GTA house price has also increased three per cent year-to-date, to $393,180.
While it’s reasonable for sales in the first half this month to be strong as compared to the same period a year ago, when the market experienced a marked decline, such strong price recovery is particularly significant.
I discussed this characteristic of the market with the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis Jason Mercer, who pointed to affordability as an important factor.
“Average home prices recovered quickly in the GTA compared to other centres in countries like the United States because the average priced home remained affordable relative to average household incomes. As consumer confidence in economic recovery improved in the spring, home ownership demand and home prices recovered quickly.”
According to Mercer, the outlook for next year’s spring housing market is also favourable.
“Expect home ownership demand to remain strong in 2010. Market conditions will balance out next year as more homeowners react to the strong sales and price growth reported in the second half of 2009 and list their home. The average resale home price will grow at a sustainable rate next year.”
If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in the coming months I encourage you to talk to a REALTOR®. For more information, please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Road to Recovery
President's Message
November 13, 2009 -- Despite the fact that the holiday season is fast approaching, the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market continues to thrive. After a brief but marked decline, activity has been very strong since May. Given the profound impact that real estate has on the greater economy, we have experienced an incredibly fortuitous turn of events. With each passing month, this remarkably speedy recovery has taken hold and I’m happy to report that the outlook for the GTA resale housing market is very promising.
I recently attended a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation conference aptly titled Road to Recovery, which offered countless reasons as to why the market outlook is bright.
Special guest speaker Joe Berridge, a founding partner in the planning and urban design firm Urban Strategies, made one of the most noteworthy points, indicating that Toronto is now considered a global city, ranking amongst the top 15 Alpha cities in the world. He pointed to several of our city’s most positive characteristics including Toronto’s cultural diversity, acclaimed universities and international airport.
Given that property in the GTA is much more affordable than in the western world’s other high ranking Alpha cities like New York, London and Paris, the opportunity to invest in luxury homes and condominiums here is very appealing to off-shore buyers.
Of course, local buyers also recognize our city’s excellent investment opportunities and in recent years, many have bought condominiums at the pre-construction stage. As these units begin to reach completion within the next year, some investors may choose to list them for sale immediately, which will help to balance the market.
This effect should not be any reason for concern though, given that GTA demographics support a strong outlook for the condominium market. Between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses, the largest population growth was seen for couples without children and one-person households – groups that generally support an increase in condominium construction.
In light of these statistics, high-density land purchases have been on the rise throughout the GTA, particularly in York Region. Between 2006 and 2008, 40 per cent of the GTA’s high-density land purchases were made in the City of Toronto, with York Region following closely behind at 32 per cent, while 13 per cent were made in Peel Region.
Low-rise housing has also recovered from the very bleak period in the last quarter of 2008 and the early part of this year, and immigration has continued to play an important role. Drawn by our city’s cultural mix, diverse employment opportunities and range of housing stock, nearly 100,000 immigrants move to the GTA each year. Given that the majority of these newcomers buy a home within 10 years, the demand for low-rise housing will most certainly continue as well.
Sales of newly constructed low-rise housing have also increased in recent months, which will result in greater housing starts next year. In the long term though, land supply and infrastructure constraints will limit the potential for low-rise development in many areas like York Region.
In its presentation, CMHC also identified several Toronto neighbourhoods that are ripe for gentrification like W06 on the lakeshore, as well as E06 and E04 in the East and North-East Danforth area. These areas contain single detached homes selling for at least 10 per cent less than the GTA average, and are adjacent to districts with above-average selling prices. There’s no doubt that regardless of whether your clients opt for a low-rise or high-density dwelling, a successful purchase always comes down to that old adage: location, location, location.
Given this year’s strong resurgence, we can expect homeowners who have taken note of this activity to boost listings in 2010. As I mentioned at the outset of this message, all of this activity is good news for the broader economy because increased sales translate to increased spending on renovations and professional services, both prior to, and subsequent to each transaction.
If you have questions about market activity or any of TREB’s range of services, please feel free to write to me anytime at trebpres@trebnet.com
Tom Lebour
President
November 13, 2009 -- Despite the fact that the holiday season is fast approaching, the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market continues to thrive. After a brief but marked decline, activity has been very strong since May. Given the profound impact that real estate has on the greater economy, we have experienced an incredibly fortuitous turn of events. With each passing month, this remarkably speedy recovery has taken hold and I’m happy to report that the outlook for the GTA resale housing market is very promising.
I recently attended a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation conference aptly titled Road to Recovery, which offered countless reasons as to why the market outlook is bright.
Special guest speaker Joe Berridge, a founding partner in the planning and urban design firm Urban Strategies, made one of the most noteworthy points, indicating that Toronto is now considered a global city, ranking amongst the top 15 Alpha cities in the world. He pointed to several of our city’s most positive characteristics including Toronto’s cultural diversity, acclaimed universities and international airport.
Given that property in the GTA is much more affordable than in the western world’s other high ranking Alpha cities like New York, London and Paris, the opportunity to invest in luxury homes and condominiums here is very appealing to off-shore buyers.
Of course, local buyers also recognize our city’s excellent investment opportunities and in recent years, many have bought condominiums at the pre-construction stage. As these units begin to reach completion within the next year, some investors may choose to list them for sale immediately, which will help to balance the market.
This effect should not be any reason for concern though, given that GTA demographics support a strong outlook for the condominium market. Between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses, the largest population growth was seen for couples without children and one-person households – groups that generally support an increase in condominium construction.
In light of these statistics, high-density land purchases have been on the rise throughout the GTA, particularly in York Region. Between 2006 and 2008, 40 per cent of the GTA’s high-density land purchases were made in the City of Toronto, with York Region following closely behind at 32 per cent, while 13 per cent were made in Peel Region.
Low-rise housing has also recovered from the very bleak period in the last quarter of 2008 and the early part of this year, and immigration has continued to play an important role. Drawn by our city’s cultural mix, diverse employment opportunities and range of housing stock, nearly 100,000 immigrants move to the GTA each year. Given that the majority of these newcomers buy a home within 10 years, the demand for low-rise housing will most certainly continue as well.
Sales of newly constructed low-rise housing have also increased in recent months, which will result in greater housing starts next year. In the long term though, land supply and infrastructure constraints will limit the potential for low-rise development in many areas like York Region.
In its presentation, CMHC also identified several Toronto neighbourhoods that are ripe for gentrification like W06 on the lakeshore, as well as E06 and E04 in the East and North-East Danforth area. These areas contain single detached homes selling for at least 10 per cent less than the GTA average, and are adjacent to districts with above-average selling prices. There’s no doubt that regardless of whether your clients opt for a low-rise or high-density dwelling, a successful purchase always comes down to that old adage: location, location, location.
Given this year’s strong resurgence, we can expect homeowners who have taken note of this activity to boost listings in 2010. As I mentioned at the outset of this message, all of this activity is good news for the broader economy because increased sales translate to increased spending on renovations and professional services, both prior to, and subsequent to each transaction.
If you have questions about market activity or any of TREB’s range of services, please feel free to write to me anytime at trebpres@trebnet.com
Tom Lebour
President
There’s More to us than MLS
There’s More to us than MLS
November 13, 2009 -- If you are one of the thousands of GTA residents who has made a move to a home more suited to your lifestyle this year, chances are you used the services of a REALTOR® to help you do so.
On the surface it may seem that a REALTOR’S® access to the Multiple Listing Service is the most significant reason for working with a real estate professional.
While REALTORS® can use the MLS® to match your housing preferences with available properties and help you establish realistic expectations if you’re selling, it is just one of several tools they use to offer you professional advice.
They can also for example, access the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s database to provide you with valuable insight into current taxes on individual properties, ownership histories and lot size specifics.
Using Teranet’s GeoWarehouse, they can retrieve even more information that is useful in the decision-making process like streetscape imagery, mapped neighbourhood sales, and average local incomes.
As well, if you’re considering a newly constructed home, your Greater Toronto REALTOR® has your needs covered through their access to RealNet Canada’s database of new home listings.
RealNet reports on 99 per cent of all developments greater than 15 units in size in the GTA. Its database includes more than 35,000 current records, which are updated on a monthly basis. A search of the RealNet database can be conducted by housing type, location, price range and number of bedrooms. Searches can produce an array of details including builder names, lot sizes, condo fees, and quantity of available units.
This information can help you measure your preferred builder’s value proposition and more carefully weigh your decision with respect to choosing new versus resale housing.
Your REALTOR® can also advise you on government programs that will save you money. For example, if you’re considering a few fix-ups prior to listing, your REALTOR® can provide you with details of programs like the Home Renovation Tax Credit and the Energuide for Houses Retrofit Grant. If you’re wondering whether buying a home is within reach, your REALTOR® can tell you about a program that, with only five per cent down, allows you to apply for mortgage insurance that can facilitate your purchase. As well, if you are a first-time homebuyer, your REALTOR® can advise you of a program that allows you and your partner to each withdraw up to $25,000 from your RRSPs to put towards your purchase.
Greater Toronto REALTORS® also work tirelessly to advocate your interests on important issues like property taxes, sales tax harmonization and the Toronto land transfer tax. They make direct contributions to GTA communities as well, helping to feed 1900 children in 11 local schools every week through the Children’s Breakfast Program and providing grants to 20 shelter-related charitable organizations this year alone.
These are just a few of the many ways that there’s more to Greater Toronto REALTORS® than MLS®. To find learn more about working with a REALTOR® please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
November 13, 2009 -- If you are one of the thousands of GTA residents who has made a move to a home more suited to your lifestyle this year, chances are you used the services of a REALTOR® to help you do so.
On the surface it may seem that a REALTOR’S® access to the Multiple Listing Service is the most significant reason for working with a real estate professional.
While REALTORS® can use the MLS® to match your housing preferences with available properties and help you establish realistic expectations if you’re selling, it is just one of several tools they use to offer you professional advice.
They can also for example, access the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s database to provide you with valuable insight into current taxes on individual properties, ownership histories and lot size specifics.
Using Teranet’s GeoWarehouse, they can retrieve even more information that is useful in the decision-making process like streetscape imagery, mapped neighbourhood sales, and average local incomes.
As well, if you’re considering a newly constructed home, your Greater Toronto REALTOR® has your needs covered through their access to RealNet Canada’s database of new home listings.
RealNet reports on 99 per cent of all developments greater than 15 units in size in the GTA. Its database includes more than 35,000 current records, which are updated on a monthly basis. A search of the RealNet database can be conducted by housing type, location, price range and number of bedrooms. Searches can produce an array of details including builder names, lot sizes, condo fees, and quantity of available units.
This information can help you measure your preferred builder’s value proposition and more carefully weigh your decision with respect to choosing new versus resale housing.
Your REALTOR® can also advise you on government programs that will save you money. For example, if you’re considering a few fix-ups prior to listing, your REALTOR® can provide you with details of programs like the Home Renovation Tax Credit and the Energuide for Houses Retrofit Grant. If you’re wondering whether buying a home is within reach, your REALTOR® can tell you about a program that, with only five per cent down, allows you to apply for mortgage insurance that can facilitate your purchase. As well, if you are a first-time homebuyer, your REALTOR® can advise you of a program that allows you and your partner to each withdraw up to $25,000 from your RRSPs to put towards your purchase.
Greater Toronto REALTORS® also work tirelessly to advocate your interests on important issues like property taxes, sales tax harmonization and the Toronto land transfer tax. They make direct contributions to GTA communities as well, helping to feed 1900 children in 11 local schools every week through the Children’s Breakfast Program and providing grants to 20 shelter-related charitable organizations this year alone.
These are just a few of the many ways that there’s more to Greater Toronto REALTORS® than MLS®. To find learn more about working with a REALTOR® please visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Home Sellers: Top 5 home improvement projects
Home Sellers: Top 5 Home Improvement Projects Based on Cost and Return on Investment
RISMEDIA, November 10, 2009—HomeGain.com, one of the first websites to offer Web-based free instant home values, announced that it has released the results of its nationwide home improvement and home staging Home Sale Maximizer survey.
HomeGain’s recent survey shows the top do-it-yourself home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers. HomeGain received responses from nearly 1,000 Realtors nationwide and configured a list of the top 12 do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvements that cost under $5,000 and benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.
According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:
1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)
Cleaning and de-cluttering continues to rank as the top suggested home improvement (since the survey was originally conducted in 2000), recommended by 98% of Realtors, costing less than $200 and returning a value of nearly $1,700 to the home’s sale price, or an 872% return on investment.
“Many Realtors agree, especially in a buyer’s market, that sellers who make these recommended home improvements often get their homes sold faster and at higher prices,” stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain. “We have customized our Home Sale Maximizer online home improvement tool to help identify and prioritize the projects that can increase the salability and selling price of a home.”
Rounding out the top 12, the list of low cost, do-it-yourself home improvements includes: updating electrical, replacing or shampooing carpets, painting interior walls, repairing damaged floors, updating kitchen, painting outside of home, and updating bathroom/s.
The home improvement projects with the highest price increases to a home’s resale value are updating the kitchen ($1,200 cost / $2,850 price increase), followed by painting the outside of the home ($900 cost / $1,815 price increase) and home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase).
“Inexpensive cosmetic home improvements and basic improvements greatly enhance the value of the home,” stated Carol Wilson of Carpenter Real Estate in Indianapolis, IN, HomeGain AgentEvaluator member since 1999.
RISMEDIA, November 10, 2009—HomeGain.com, one of the first websites to offer Web-based free instant home values, announced that it has released the results of its nationwide home improvement and home staging Home Sale Maximizer survey.
HomeGain’s recent survey shows the top do-it-yourself home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers. HomeGain received responses from nearly 1,000 Realtors nationwide and configured a list of the top 12 do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvements that cost under $5,000 and benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.
According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:
1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)
Cleaning and de-cluttering continues to rank as the top suggested home improvement (since the survey was originally conducted in 2000), recommended by 98% of Realtors, costing less than $200 and returning a value of nearly $1,700 to the home’s sale price, or an 872% return on investment.
“Many Realtors agree, especially in a buyer’s market, that sellers who make these recommended home improvements often get their homes sold faster and at higher prices,” stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain. “We have customized our Home Sale Maximizer online home improvement tool to help identify and prioritize the projects that can increase the salability and selling price of a home.”
Rounding out the top 12, the list of low cost, do-it-yourself home improvements includes: updating electrical, replacing or shampooing carpets, painting interior walls, repairing damaged floors, updating kitchen, painting outside of home, and updating bathroom/s.
The home improvement projects with the highest price increases to a home’s resale value are updating the kitchen ($1,200 cost / $2,850 price increase), followed by painting the outside of the home ($900 cost / $1,815 price increase) and home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase).
“Inexpensive cosmetic home improvements and basic improvements greatly enhance the value of the home,” stated Carol Wilson of Carpenter Real Estate in Indianapolis, IN, HomeGain AgentEvaluator member since 1999.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
GTA October sales
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Fix-up Frenzy
November 6, 2009 -- The Greater Toronto Area real estate market showed continued strength in October with the number of sales and average price up considerably over the same period a year ago.
If yours is one of the more than 70,000 homes in the GTA that has changed hands so far this year, you likely undertook some fix ups as part of your efforts to prepare your property for listing or to put your personal stamp on a new residence. Regardless of whether you are undertaking a move though, this is a particularly opportune time to embark on household projects thanks to the federal government’s Home Renovation Tax Credit which expires on February 1, 2010. This program provides a 15 per cent credit that can be claimed on a portion of eligible renovations between $1,000 and $10,000, a credit of up to $1,350.
While it’s definitely wise to take advantage of this program, astute homeowners will choose renovations that offer the best return on investment and use the most environmentally advanced products to undertake them.
You can for example, expect to get back 75 to 100 per cent of what you put into kitchens and bathrooms. Look for high-efficiency appliances with the Energy Star symbol. You might also want to consider installing automatic dustpan inlets, which are connected to the central vacuum system. Used for quicker, more energy efficient clean-ups, they are located in baseboards and cabinet kickboards, and are activated with a toe switch. Look for low-flow water fixtures as well, keeping in mind that some government programs like the City of Toronto’s residential toilet replacement program offer rebates on new units.
Painting will return 50 to 100 per cent of your investment and in this case, be sure to consider your indoor air quality and the environment by choosing low VOC paints, which reduce the number of unstable, carbon-containing compounds that enter the air and react with other elements.
New flooring can also dramatically enhance the overall look of your home and will provide returns of 50 to 75 per cent. To keep your existing materials out of a landfill and save on labour, consider installing floating flooring. This product, which can be glued or clicked together, floats on top of your existing floor. You can find this product in a number of different colours and looks, including natural wood.
It’s also important to consider what your home needs most. Window and door replacement may only offer a return of 50 to 75 per cent as well, but if your existing units are broken, there’s no question this should top your project list. When purchasing windows, look for low-E argon-filled units with the Energy Star symbol to achieve the highest thermal efficiency. A new product on the market can even eliminate dirty panes with a special coating that lasts the lifetime of the glass. It reacts to ultra-violet rays from natural daylight to break down dirt. When it rains, dirt washes off leaving no streaks or drying spots, thus reducing your water consumption.
These are just a few examples of new and green products that add appeal and value to your property. To learn more about all of your housing options, talk to a REALTOR® and visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com for full details on government programs, market statistics and neighbourhood profiles.
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Fix-up Frenzy
November 6, 2009 -- The Greater Toronto Area real estate market showed continued strength in October with the number of sales and average price up considerably over the same period a year ago.
If yours is one of the more than 70,000 homes in the GTA that has changed hands so far this year, you likely undertook some fix ups as part of your efforts to prepare your property for listing or to put your personal stamp on a new residence. Regardless of whether you are undertaking a move though, this is a particularly opportune time to embark on household projects thanks to the federal government’s Home Renovation Tax Credit which expires on February 1, 2010. This program provides a 15 per cent credit that can be claimed on a portion of eligible renovations between $1,000 and $10,000, a credit of up to $1,350.
While it’s definitely wise to take advantage of this program, astute homeowners will choose renovations that offer the best return on investment and use the most environmentally advanced products to undertake them.
You can for example, expect to get back 75 to 100 per cent of what you put into kitchens and bathrooms. Look for high-efficiency appliances with the Energy Star symbol. You might also want to consider installing automatic dustpan inlets, which are connected to the central vacuum system. Used for quicker, more energy efficient clean-ups, they are located in baseboards and cabinet kickboards, and are activated with a toe switch. Look for low-flow water fixtures as well, keeping in mind that some government programs like the City of Toronto’s residential toilet replacement program offer rebates on new units.
Painting will return 50 to 100 per cent of your investment and in this case, be sure to consider your indoor air quality and the environment by choosing low VOC paints, which reduce the number of unstable, carbon-containing compounds that enter the air and react with other elements.
New flooring can also dramatically enhance the overall look of your home and will provide returns of 50 to 75 per cent. To keep your existing materials out of a landfill and save on labour, consider installing floating flooring. This product, which can be glued or clicked together, floats on top of your existing floor. You can find this product in a number of different colours and looks, including natural wood.
It’s also important to consider what your home needs most. Window and door replacement may only offer a return of 50 to 75 per cent as well, but if your existing units are broken, there’s no question this should top your project list. When purchasing windows, look for low-E argon-filled units with the Energy Star symbol to achieve the highest thermal efficiency. A new product on the market can even eliminate dirty panes with a special coating that lasts the lifetime of the glass. It reacts to ultra-violet rays from natural daylight to break down dirt. When it rains, dirt washes off leaving no streaks or drying spots, thus reducing your water consumption.
These are just a few examples of new and green products that add appeal and value to your property. To learn more about all of your housing options, talk to a REALTOR® and visit www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com for full details on government programs, market statistics and neighbourhood profiles.
Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Family Benefits to Self-employed realtors
The Government of Canada delivers Employment Insurance fairness for the self-employedTORONTO, ONTARIO, November 3, 2009—The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced that the Government of Canada has introduced the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, legislation that would extend Employment Insurance (EI) special benefits, including maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits, to the self‑employed.
“Our government knows that self-employed Canadians should not have to choose between their family and their business responsibilities,” said Minister Finley. “Extending access to these benefits is the fair and right thing to do. It is good family policy, and it represents one of the most significant enhancements to the EI program in the last decade.”
“The self-employed have had little or no income protection to cope with major life events, such as giving birth, caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, being sick or injured, or caring for a gravely ill family member,” added Minister Finley. “This government is now providing these Canadians with greater peace of mind with respect to their future financial security.”
This measure responds to the Government’s 2008 pledge to help provide improved economic security and support for all those who are self-employed. By introducing this legislation, the Government is delivering on, and in fact exceeding, its commitment. With these changes, self-employed Canadians would be able to voluntarily opt into the EI program and receive special benefits. Overall, the special benefits for self-employed individuals would mirror those currently available to salaried employees under the EI program.
“About 2.6 million Canadians are self-employed. The majority of them have long asked for this support, and our government is responding to this strongly expressed need,” said Minister Finley. “We think that the self-employed should have the option of getting the same income protection that salaried employees currently receive when it comes to major life events.”
This measure demonstrates that the Government continues to make responsive and responsible choices to support Canadians through the EI program. It is just the latest in a series of improvements the Government has already made to the EI program.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government is helping those hardest hit by the economic downturn by providing longer EI benefits, more efficient service and support for training, while protecting jobs through Work-Sharing agreements. The Government has also frozen EI premiums for 2010 at the same rate as 2009.
Most recently, the Government introduced legislation to extend EI regular benefits for unemployed long-tenured workers, who are individuals that have paid EI premiums for years and made limited use of the program, and who now need additional support while they look for jobs in a recovering economy.
- 30 -
This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backgrounder
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairness for the Self-Employed Act
Income protection for life-transition events, such as the birth of a child, adoption, illness, and the care of a gravely ill family member, is a key contributor to the financial security of all Canadian workers. The 2008 Speech from the Throne recognized the challenges facing self-employed Canadians as they deal with the dual pressure of being entrepreneurs and caring for their families. In Budget 2009, the Government proposed to examine ways to best provide self-employed Canadians with access to Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental benefits. The Government has now introduced the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, legislation that would fulfill and exceed this commitment.
Through the new legislation, self-employed Canadians who opt into the EI program would be eligible to receive the same special benefits currently available to salaried employees, specifically:
maternity benefits (15 weeks maximum) are available to birth mothers and cover the period surrounding birth (a claim can start up to 8 weeks before the expected birth date);
parental/adoptive benefits (35 weeks maximum) are available to biological or adoptive parents while they are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, and may be taken by either parent or shared between them (if parents opt to share these benefits, only one waiting period must be served);
sickness benefits (15 weeks maximum), which may be paid to a person who is unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine; and
compassionate care benefits (6 weeks maximum), which may be paid to persons who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill with a significant risk of death.
Under the proposed legislation, self-employed Canadians would be required to opt into the program at least one year prior to claiming benefits. They would also be responsible for making premium payments starting with the tax year in which they apply to the program. With a program start date of January 2010, claims could be made as early as January 1, 2011.
To access EI special benefits, self-employed individuals would need to have earned a minimum of $6,000 in self-employed earnings over the preceding calendar year.
The self-employed could opt out of the EI program at the end of any tax year, as long as they have never claimed benefits. If they have claimed benefits, they would have to contribute on self-employed earnings for as long as they are self-employed.
Self-employed Canadians who opt into the program would pay the same EI premium rate as salaried employees. They would not be required to pay the employer portion of premiums, in recognition of the fact that they would not have access to EI regular benefits.
Self-employed residents of Quebec would continue to receive maternity and parental benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Program provided by the Government of Quebec. In addition, they would now be eligible to take advantage of the sickness and compassionate care benefits being offered by the Government of Canada through EI. Should they choose to take advantage of the program, they would pay EI premiums at the same rates as employees in Quebec, where rates have already been adjusted downward to take into account the existence of a provincial maternity and parental benefit plan.
Through the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has also implemented measures to support all unemployed Canadians. These measures include providing 5 extra weeks of EI regular benefits, increasing the maximum duration of benefits from 45 to 50 weeks in regions of high unemployment, protecting jobs through the Work-Sharing program, and freezing EI premiums for 2010 at the same rate as 2009 to provide economic stimulus. For more information on these measures, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Most recently, the Government introduced legislation to extend EI regular benefits for unemployed long-tenured workers, who are individuals that have paid EI premiums for years and made limited use of the program, and who now need additional support while they look for jobs in a recovering economy. Further information on this proposed measure is available at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
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The Government of Canada and Service Canada are committed to providing visitors with web sites that respect their privacy. This page summarizes the privacy policy and practices on Service Canada Web sites.
Service Canada Web sites do not automatically gather any specific personal information from you, such as your name, phone number or e-mail address. We would only obtain this type of information if you supply it by sending us an e-mail or registering in a secure portion of the site.
All personal information held or collected by this department is protected under the federal Privacy Act. This means that at any point of collection you will be asked for consent to collect your information or advised of the authority for such collection. You will be informed of the purpose for which it is being collected, how to exercise your right of access to that information, and where and for how long the information will be kept.
Service Canada employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. This software receives and records the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer that has contacted our Web site, the date and time of the visit and the pages visited. We make no attempt to link these addresses with the identity of individuals visiting our site unless an attempt to damage the site has been detected. Statistical information may be collected for audit purposes or for maximizing effectiveness.
Service Canada does not normally use "cookies" to track how our visitors use this site or to determine sites previously visited. If cookies are in use and you have your cookies notification option activated on your browser the system will notify you before any cookies are used so that you may refuse them. (A "cookie" is a file that may be placed on your hard drive without your knowledge by a Web site to allow it to monitor your use of the site.)
Visitor information is not disclosed to anyone except Government of Canada personnel who need the information to carry out responsibilities of their job. Any further disclosure of the personal information you give us will be in accordance with the federal Privacy Act. It is to be kept in mind that electronic systems and email are insecure information transmission methods. It is not recommended that sensitive personal information be transmitted electronically.
“Our government knows that self-employed Canadians should not have to choose between their family and their business responsibilities,” said Minister Finley. “Extending access to these benefits is the fair and right thing to do. It is good family policy, and it represents one of the most significant enhancements to the EI program in the last decade.”
“The self-employed have had little or no income protection to cope with major life events, such as giving birth, caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, being sick or injured, or caring for a gravely ill family member,” added Minister Finley. “This government is now providing these Canadians with greater peace of mind with respect to their future financial security.”
This measure responds to the Government’s 2008 pledge to help provide improved economic security and support for all those who are self-employed. By introducing this legislation, the Government is delivering on, and in fact exceeding, its commitment. With these changes, self-employed Canadians would be able to voluntarily opt into the EI program and receive special benefits. Overall, the special benefits for self-employed individuals would mirror those currently available to salaried employees under the EI program.
“About 2.6 million Canadians are self-employed. The majority of them have long asked for this support, and our government is responding to this strongly expressed need,” said Minister Finley. “We think that the self-employed should have the option of getting the same income protection that salaried employees currently receive when it comes to major life events.”
This measure demonstrates that the Government continues to make responsive and responsible choices to support Canadians through the EI program. It is just the latest in a series of improvements the Government has already made to the EI program.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government is helping those hardest hit by the economic downturn by providing longer EI benefits, more efficient service and support for training, while protecting jobs through Work-Sharing agreements. The Government has also frozen EI premiums for 2010 at the same rate as 2009.
Most recently, the Government introduced legislation to extend EI regular benefits for unemployed long-tenured workers, who are individuals that have paid EI premiums for years and made limited use of the program, and who now need additional support while they look for jobs in a recovering economy.
- 30 -
This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backgrounder
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairness for the Self-Employed Act
Income protection for life-transition events, such as the birth of a child, adoption, illness, and the care of a gravely ill family member, is a key contributor to the financial security of all Canadian workers. The 2008 Speech from the Throne recognized the challenges facing self-employed Canadians as they deal with the dual pressure of being entrepreneurs and caring for their families. In Budget 2009, the Government proposed to examine ways to best provide self-employed Canadians with access to Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental benefits. The Government has now introduced the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, legislation that would fulfill and exceed this commitment.
Through the new legislation, self-employed Canadians who opt into the EI program would be eligible to receive the same special benefits currently available to salaried employees, specifically:
maternity benefits (15 weeks maximum) are available to birth mothers and cover the period surrounding birth (a claim can start up to 8 weeks before the expected birth date);
parental/adoptive benefits (35 weeks maximum) are available to biological or adoptive parents while they are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, and may be taken by either parent or shared between them (if parents opt to share these benefits, only one waiting period must be served);
sickness benefits (15 weeks maximum), which may be paid to a person who is unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine; and
compassionate care benefits (6 weeks maximum), which may be paid to persons who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill with a significant risk of death.
Under the proposed legislation, self-employed Canadians would be required to opt into the program at least one year prior to claiming benefits. They would also be responsible for making premium payments starting with the tax year in which they apply to the program. With a program start date of January 2010, claims could be made as early as January 1, 2011.
To access EI special benefits, self-employed individuals would need to have earned a minimum of $6,000 in self-employed earnings over the preceding calendar year.
The self-employed could opt out of the EI program at the end of any tax year, as long as they have never claimed benefits. If they have claimed benefits, they would have to contribute on self-employed earnings for as long as they are self-employed.
Self-employed Canadians who opt into the program would pay the same EI premium rate as salaried employees. They would not be required to pay the employer portion of premiums, in recognition of the fact that they would not have access to EI regular benefits.
Self-employed residents of Quebec would continue to receive maternity and parental benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Program provided by the Government of Quebec. In addition, they would now be eligible to take advantage of the sickness and compassionate care benefits being offered by the Government of Canada through EI. Should they choose to take advantage of the program, they would pay EI premiums at the same rates as employees in Quebec, where rates have already been adjusted downward to take into account the existence of a provincial maternity and parental benefit plan.
Through the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has also implemented measures to support all unemployed Canadians. These measures include providing 5 extra weeks of EI regular benefits, increasing the maximum duration of benefits from 45 to 50 weeks in regions of high unemployment, protecting jobs through the Work-Sharing program, and freezing EI premiums for 2010 at the same rate as 2009 to provide economic stimulus. For more information on these measures, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Most recently, the Government introduced legislation to extend EI regular benefits for unemployed long-tenured workers, who are individuals that have paid EI premiums for years and made limited use of the program, and who now need additional support while they look for jobs in a recovering economy. Further information on this proposed measure is available at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
Share this article
The Government of Canada and Service Canada are committed to providing visitors with web sites that respect their privacy. This page summarizes the privacy policy and practices on Service Canada Web sites.
Service Canada Web sites do not automatically gather any specific personal information from you, such as your name, phone number or e-mail address. We would only obtain this type of information if you supply it by sending us an e-mail or registering in a secure portion of the site.
All personal information held or collected by this department is protected under the federal Privacy Act. This means that at any point of collection you will be asked for consent to collect your information or advised of the authority for such collection. You will be informed of the purpose for which it is being collected, how to exercise your right of access to that information, and where and for how long the information will be kept.
Service Canada employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. This software receives and records the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer that has contacted our Web site, the date and time of the visit and the pages visited. We make no attempt to link these addresses with the identity of individuals visiting our site unless an attempt to damage the site has been detected. Statistical information may be collected for audit purposes or for maximizing effectiveness.
Service Canada does not normally use "cookies" to track how our visitors use this site or to determine sites previously visited. If cookies are in use and you have your cookies notification option activated on your browser the system will notify you before any cookies are used so that you may refuse them. (A "cookie" is a file that may be placed on your hard drive without your knowledge by a Web site to allow it to monitor your use of the site.)
Visitor information is not disclosed to anyone except Government of Canada personnel who need the information to carry out responsibilities of their job. Any further disclosure of the personal information you give us will be in accordance with the federal Privacy Act. It is to be kept in mind that electronic systems and email are insecure information transmission methods. It is not recommended that sensitive personal information be transmitted electronically.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Safe disposal of consumer electronics
As consumers, we often want the latest and greatest techie toys with the newest bells and whistles. The fact is, we all have older model electronics lying around and we don’t know what to do with them. Well it’s time to clean up and get rid of the electronic clutter. For the sake of this article, we will be discussing the disposal of consumer electronics.
The one thing you don’t want to do with old electronics is throw them in the garbage with the mentality of “out of sight, out of mind”. For the sake of future generations as well as ours, we do not want legacy electronics piling up in our landfills. Many of the materials used in electronics, such as steel, glass, aluminum and plastic can be recycled into new products. Unfortunately, most electronics also contain some level of lead, phosphorous, cadmium, barium, mercury and other chemicals which need to be properly disposed of. When dumped into landfills, this toxic chemical cocktail can leach into the environment. All no longer loved electronics must be disposed of in a safe and responsible manner.
When you’re no longer using an item, explore redeploying it. Do you know anyone – family or friends - who would like to have your unwanted but still operational electronics? Or if they aren’t operational, can someone use the parts? If you don’t know anyone who can use them, you can try selling them on Craigslist or eBay. Or give them away through Freecycle (www.freecycle.org). Or donate them to charity.
No matter what you do with your old electronics, always be sure to back up and remove your data!
Data removal
To clear your computer’s hard drive, you can:
Re-format the hard drive and re-install the operating system. Be aware that there are utilities that can be used to make at least some of your data re-appear, though often in fragmentary form.
Obtain software such as Evidence Eliminator™ or Symantec’s Norton Utilities or Systemworks’ Wipe Info program. There are others applications available – some must be purchased, some are free utilities. You can search for these on the internet.
Physically damage the hard drive. Remove the hard drive from the computer, and take a hammer to it. This may sound extreme, but the data on your hard drive will no longer be viewable by anyone.
Removing data from your camera’s digital memory is as easy as reformatting the card using the camera’s Format function.
Prior to recycling or disposing of your old cell phone, delete all your stored numbers and call log files. Remove the SIM card if you have one.
iPods can be reset by connecting to iTunes and reverting back to the factory settings. Other MP3 players can also be reset to their factory settings – check the instructions that came with your player (these can often be found online if you no longer have them).
Safely disposing of your equipment
Most of the major computer manufacturers, like Apple, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo and Sony have recycling programs. You can send back your old hardware and they will safely process, recycle and dispose of it. Most will charge a small fee to help cover costs for this service. Some of these manufacturers will redeploy the computers to schools and/or other organizations in need of equipment.
You can consider donating your old computers and peripherals to an organization such as reBOOT Canada (www.rebootcanada.ca). They accept donations of computer equipment, refurbish as much as possible and distribute to organizations across Canada. Some charities consider the donation of old electronics as a charitable donation, and tax receipts are issued.
Bell, Rogers and Telus accept old cell phones for recycling at no cost to you. There are also a number of non-profit organizations that will recycle your old cell phone, such as The Charitable Recycling Program of Canada (www.charitablerecycling.ca).
Sometimes, digital cameras can be traded-in towards a newer model. Or, they (and MP3 players) can be donated to organizations such as Value Village or Goodwill.
You do have options to safely dispose of your no longer used electronics.
Ask friends and family if they want the equipment.
Explore which charities accept donations.
Check with manufacturers or suppliers of equipment to see if they’ll take back and recycle your old electronics.
Use household hazardous waste sites.
If you’re still unsure of how to safely dispose of your electronics, check out this website: http://www.dowhatyoucan.ca/Electronics/.
The one thing you don’t want to do with old electronics is throw them in the garbage with the mentality of “out of sight, out of mind”. For the sake of future generations as well as ours, we do not want legacy electronics piling up in our landfills. Many of the materials used in electronics, such as steel, glass, aluminum and plastic can be recycled into new products. Unfortunately, most electronics also contain some level of lead, phosphorous, cadmium, barium, mercury and other chemicals which need to be properly disposed of. When dumped into landfills, this toxic chemical cocktail can leach into the environment. All no longer loved electronics must be disposed of in a safe and responsible manner.
When you’re no longer using an item, explore redeploying it. Do you know anyone – family or friends - who would like to have your unwanted but still operational electronics? Or if they aren’t operational, can someone use the parts? If you don’t know anyone who can use them, you can try selling them on Craigslist or eBay. Or give them away through Freecycle (www.freecycle.org). Or donate them to charity.
No matter what you do with your old electronics, always be sure to back up and remove your data!
Data removal
To clear your computer’s hard drive, you can:
Re-format the hard drive and re-install the operating system. Be aware that there are utilities that can be used to make at least some of your data re-appear, though often in fragmentary form.
Obtain software such as Evidence Eliminator™ or Symantec’s Norton Utilities or Systemworks’ Wipe Info program. There are others applications available – some must be purchased, some are free utilities. You can search for these on the internet.
Physically damage the hard drive. Remove the hard drive from the computer, and take a hammer to it. This may sound extreme, but the data on your hard drive will no longer be viewable by anyone.
Removing data from your camera’s digital memory is as easy as reformatting the card using the camera’s Format function.
Prior to recycling or disposing of your old cell phone, delete all your stored numbers and call log files. Remove the SIM card if you have one.
iPods can be reset by connecting to iTunes and reverting back to the factory settings. Other MP3 players can also be reset to their factory settings – check the instructions that came with your player (these can often be found online if you no longer have them).
Safely disposing of your equipment
Most of the major computer manufacturers, like Apple, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo and Sony have recycling programs. You can send back your old hardware and they will safely process, recycle and dispose of it. Most will charge a small fee to help cover costs for this service. Some of these manufacturers will redeploy the computers to schools and/or other organizations in need of equipment.
You can consider donating your old computers and peripherals to an organization such as reBOOT Canada (www.rebootcanada.ca). They accept donations of computer equipment, refurbish as much as possible and distribute to organizations across Canada. Some charities consider the donation of old electronics as a charitable donation, and tax receipts are issued.
Bell, Rogers and Telus accept old cell phones for recycling at no cost to you. There are also a number of non-profit organizations that will recycle your old cell phone, such as The Charitable Recycling Program of Canada (www.charitablerecycling.ca).
Sometimes, digital cameras can be traded-in towards a newer model. Or, they (and MP3 players) can be donated to organizations such as Value Village or Goodwill.
You do have options to safely dispose of your no longer used electronics.
Ask friends and family if they want the equipment.
Explore which charities accept donations.
Check with manufacturers or suppliers of equipment to see if they’ll take back and recycle your old electronics.
Use household hazardous waste sites.
If you’re still unsure of how to safely dispose of your electronics, check out this website: http://www.dowhatyoucan.ca/Electronics/.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Real-estate-mortgage-scams-what-you-need-to-know
RISMEDIA, November 2, 2009—Being a homeowner is one of the biggest dreams. Due to record numbers of homeownership and cheap mortgage rates, individuals who did not own a home previously are now looking for mortgages for financing their ambitions. On certain occasions, the dream of homeownership is associated with a cost that exceeds the mortgage.
For finding out how much your mortgage is going to cost you, a loan mortgage calculator often works as a user-friendly tool. Nevertheless, this tool can’t save you all the time. Similar to other forms of investment, real estate mortgage loans are also subject to scams. Mortgage frauds and scams can make you lose thousands of dollars on interest as a minimum because of excessive fees and other hidden costs. The worst that can happen is that you can lose your home to foreclosure.
According to industry professionals, there are three principal or familiar types of real estate fraud:
1. Identity theft via mortgage request
2. Bait and switch
3. Loan flipping
For preventing scams, it has been witnessed that offense is the best defense. Understand the truth and don’t hesitate to make queries.
Bait and switch is a fraudulent sales technique where a loan product is publicized at a lucrative rate (bait). However, the product or rate is subsequently changed for the gain of the lender (switch). This is an utterly illegitimate and deceitful practice. For instance, one interest rate is assured at the time of selling a loan, but a bigger rate is provided at the time of closing.
When you’re obtaining a pre-approval or mortgage quote, you believe that your question with the lender is secret, right? You’re wrong. On many occasions, important financial details about you and your mortgage requirements are hacked by vying lenders. This can happen within 24 hours of your credit bureau inquiry. Your loan officer is even unaware of this. Many firms provide countrywide accessibility to your financial details to the lenders and everybody in your city who requested for a mortgage within the last 24 hours. Any other lender can talk to these individuals the following day and give them a pre-approval for an improved mortgage loan.
One more dilemma is mortgage solicitation through telephone, the Internet or door to door. These scams involve filling in an application through fax, the Internet or over the telephone and often the rates are phony. However, it is not the largest issue to be bothered about–it is nothing but identity theft. Even though the rates are legitimate, the company would get all your important details such as your social security number that can result in mortgage scam or identity theft.
Another type of mortgage scam that is prevalent in the real estate industry is loan flipping. Loan flipping denotes frequent refinancing of a mortgage within a small time frame with very small gains to the borrower. It takes place when a borrower can’t keep up with the planned payments or constantly combines other unsecured loans into a new secured loan at the request of a lender. Lenders flipping loans ask for too much origination fee with every consecutive refinancing. They might ask for these fees on the basis of the whole loan amount, not only on the increased amount summed up with the loan principal through refinancing. In addition, every refinancing might attract prepayment penalties that can be funded as a portion of the overall loan amount, accumulating the debt of the borrower.
If you’re buying a home, looking for a home equity loan or considering a mortgage refinance, it is better to work with a trustworthy lender. You must shop around and do some homework to get the best offers. Try to stay away from furnishing any details until you’re confident that the company or individual you’re talking to is right for you.
Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-01/top-3-real-estate-mortgage-scams-what-you-need-to-know/
For finding out how much your mortgage is going to cost you, a loan mortgage calculator often works as a user-friendly tool. Nevertheless, this tool can’t save you all the time. Similar to other forms of investment, real estate mortgage loans are also subject to scams. Mortgage frauds and scams can make you lose thousands of dollars on interest as a minimum because of excessive fees and other hidden costs. The worst that can happen is that you can lose your home to foreclosure.
According to industry professionals, there are three principal or familiar types of real estate fraud:
1. Identity theft via mortgage request
2. Bait and switch
3. Loan flipping
For preventing scams, it has been witnessed that offense is the best defense. Understand the truth and don’t hesitate to make queries.
Bait and switch is a fraudulent sales technique where a loan product is publicized at a lucrative rate (bait). However, the product or rate is subsequently changed for the gain of the lender (switch). This is an utterly illegitimate and deceitful practice. For instance, one interest rate is assured at the time of selling a loan, but a bigger rate is provided at the time of closing.
When you’re obtaining a pre-approval or mortgage quote, you believe that your question with the lender is secret, right? You’re wrong. On many occasions, important financial details about you and your mortgage requirements are hacked by vying lenders. This can happen within 24 hours of your credit bureau inquiry. Your loan officer is even unaware of this. Many firms provide countrywide accessibility to your financial details to the lenders and everybody in your city who requested for a mortgage within the last 24 hours. Any other lender can talk to these individuals the following day and give them a pre-approval for an improved mortgage loan.
One more dilemma is mortgage solicitation through telephone, the Internet or door to door. These scams involve filling in an application through fax, the Internet or over the telephone and often the rates are phony. However, it is not the largest issue to be bothered about–it is nothing but identity theft. Even though the rates are legitimate, the company would get all your important details such as your social security number that can result in mortgage scam or identity theft.
Another type of mortgage scam that is prevalent in the real estate industry is loan flipping. Loan flipping denotes frequent refinancing of a mortgage within a small time frame with very small gains to the borrower. It takes place when a borrower can’t keep up with the planned payments or constantly combines other unsecured loans into a new secured loan at the request of a lender. Lenders flipping loans ask for too much origination fee with every consecutive refinancing. They might ask for these fees on the basis of the whole loan amount, not only on the increased amount summed up with the loan principal through refinancing. In addition, every refinancing might attract prepayment penalties that can be funded as a portion of the overall loan amount, accumulating the debt of the borrower.
If you’re buying a home, looking for a home equity loan or considering a mortgage refinance, it is better to work with a trustworthy lender. You must shop around and do some homework to get the best offers. Try to stay away from furnishing any details until you’re confident that the company or individual you’re talking to is right for you.
Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-01/top-3-real-estate-mortgage-scams-what-you-need-to-know/
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