Give your outdoor Space a Wash & Haircut

by Norm Rousseau 4. April 2010 08:51
When preparing a home for sale, most people focus on making the inside look as appealing as possible. But the outside of your property deserves your attention too.
After all, it’s the first thing a potential buyer sees. You can dramatically improve the appearance of your property by giving it a “wash and haircut”! Clean the driveway, walkways and deck or patio. A pressure washer - which can be rented from most home improvement centers - works best. But you can do nearly as good a job with a water hose and walkway cleaner.
Trim hedges and shrubs. Mow the lawn. Pull any weeds out of flower beds. These small measures will help you make the best first impression on buyers.
Full Article: Informed Home Buyer Seller April1.pdf (567.63 kb)

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Home Owner Resources

Exclusively for Members Only!

by Norm Rousseau 21. March 2010 16:14

Toole Peet Insurance has partnered with the Federation of Calgary Communities to offer Special discounted group home and auto insurance

rates.

Who is Eligible?

Members with a paid community association membership (applicant with poor accident or driving record may not qualify)

Special Features!

Group rates and additional discounts.
Save Up to 50% in Total Insurance Discount!
Interest-free Pre-authorized monthly installments
Value-added products to complement insurance products
Claims service 24 hours/7days per week

Ask us for a quotation!

Complete the online reply card via our website www.toolepeet.com. We will call you at a time convenient to you.

Email us at FCCquotes@toolepeet.com

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Home Owner Resources

CMHC’s Homebuying Step by Step guide

by Norm Rousseau 26. January 2010 15:20

CMHC’s Homebuying Step by Step guide has the answers you need to your mortgage financing questions.

Congratulations! You’ve decided to begin your search for a new home, or perhaps you’ve already found the home of your dreams and are ready to make an offer. It’s now time to consider your mortgage options. But with so many different choices available, how can you select the right kind of mortgage for your needs?To help you make an informed decision, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the following answers to some of the most common questions Canadians have about choosing a mortgage:

  • What is the difference between conventional and high-ratio mortgages?
    A conventional mortgage is a loan for up to 80 per cent of the purchase price (or market value) of a home. With a conventional mortgage, the buyer supplies a down payment of at least 20 per cent, and mortgage insurance is usually not required. If your down payment is less than 20 per cent of the purchase price, however, you will typically need a high-ratio mortgage. High-ratio mortgages normally have to be insured (by CMHC, for example) against payment default.
  • What are fixed, variable or adjustable interest rates?
    When you choose a mortgage, you have to decide whether you want the interest rate to be fixed, variable or adjustable. A fixed rate is locked-in for the entire term of the mortgage. With a variable rate, the payments remain the same each month, but the interest rate fluctuates in accordance with the overall market. For adjustable rate mortgages, both the interest rate and the mortgage payments vary based on market conditions. Talk to your lender to find out which option is right for you.
  • Should I choose an open or closed mortgage?
    With a closed mortgage, you pay the same amount each month for the entire term of the mortgage. Closed mortgages can be a good choice if you want a fixed payment schedule, and you don’t plan on moving or refinancing before the end of the term. An open mortgage allows you to pre-pay a lump sum or even the entire loan at any time without a penalty. An open mortgage can be a good choice if you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, or if you want the flexibility to make lump sum payments.
  • What about the term, amortization and payment schedule?
    The term is the length of time (usually from six months to 10 years) that the interest rate and other conditions of your mortgage will be in effect. Amortization is the period of time (such as 25 or 30 years) over which your entire mortgage debt will be repaid. Lastly, the payment schedule sets out how frequently you will make payments on your mortgage — usually either monthly, biweekly or weekly.
For more information or a free copy of CMHC’s Homebuying Step by Step guide, or for information on any other aspect of owning, maintaining or buying a home, visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca or call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642. As Canada’s national housing agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been a source of objective, reliable housing expertise for more than 60 years.For story ideas or to access CMHC experts or expertise, contact CMHC Media Relations — National Office at: 613-748-2799 or by e-mail: media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca. 

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Home Owner Resources

Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC)

by Norm Rousseau 19. January 2010 15:50

Time is running out!  

Only available for the 2009 tax year.

The Home Renovation Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit based on eligible expenses for improvements to your house, condo or cottage. It can be claimed on your 2009 income tax return. It applies to work performed or goods acquired after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010 under an agreement entered into after January 27, 2009.

Important Notice
Eligible expenses for goods acquired during this period, even if they are installed after January 2010, will still qualify. If an eligible expense involves work performed by a contractor or a third party, and the work is not completed by the end of the eligible period, only the portion that is completed before February 1, 2010 will qualify even if a payment has been made.

The HRTC applies to eligible expenses of more than $1,000, but not more than $10,000, resulting in a maximum non-refundable tax credit of $1,350 [($10,000 − $1,000) × 15%].

Details at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/hrtc/

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Home Owner Resources

Five year locked mortgage or a prime Mortgage?

by Norm Rousseau 19. October 2009 15:47
Should we lock in for a five year trem or go with the prime rate. If you like the comfort of the regular monthly payment or have it floating, attached is a chart that may help make that decision.

5 Closed Mortgage & Prime Rate.pdf (2.12 mb)

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