Here's our opportunity to participate in and support companies who take our planet seriously. For one hour we are all encouraged to 'dim' our energy consumption, and show we that we genuinly care about our future, while thinking about ways to live more efficienlty. Visit
www.earthhourcanada.org to pledge to turn off all nonessential lights from 8:30 to 9:30. And for companies who participate, here's what people think about them: 75% are likely to buy and recommend their products and services.
Last year 50 million people in 370 cities around the world took part. Here in Ottawa we reduced our consumption by4%. Greenies unite!!
I have just listed 3 lots in Julia Estates, in Dunrobin Shores. As a Realtor, I'm thrilled. As a 'green' guy, this neighbourhood is ecologically cool. I know that word has gone mainstream of late, it's trendy to associate with greenness, eco-whatever, sustainabiliy. Julia Estates offers a $10,000 rebate on geothermal heating and cooling system installations. Free money! Chemical use? Not happening here! Covenants strictly prohibit the application of chemical pesticides, herbicides, etc. Kids and pets are grateful. During your build assistance is available on a variety of eco-friendly materials to help you decide how your needs are best served. Free!
When a great neighbourhood has common values, good things happen. Come see.
Prstigious Dunrobin Shores
• lot / land - 
MLS® $119,000
Dunrobin Shores, Ottawa - This fabulous building site on 2 acres in prestigoius Dunrobin Shores incorporates all that is pleasing for a comfortable, naturalist lifestyle: country living fifteen minutes to Kanata, ecologically responsible neighbourhood ($10,000 rebate when geothermal heating/cooling system installed), lovely varied topography throughout the sub-didvision, near the Ottawa River, Gatineau Hills, and historical points of interest, and lots of recreational facilities are some of the amenities awaiting you and your family. Come on home!
Property information
As I stand back and look at Ottawa housing market canvass, I see the recession effect is that of a time shift. Demand is there, it's just laying low as people sort through the economic news and how it affects them. Even as severe as these times are, life for most goes on pretty much as always. Once fears subside, that demand will swell up, creating a healthy balanced market for the spring season, and presenting opportunities for both buyers and sellers. I speak with people every day who are making plans for a housing transition. With the stability enjoyed in Ottawa, it's easy to see why. Inflation is at 1.1%, a 5 year mortgage goes for under 4.5%, and prices will not fluctuate; in fact they may rise. Wealth building through Real Estate, many believe, will be the soundest financial strategy for many years to come. Did I mention all this comes with the enjoyment of new surroundings! So get out there and do your happy dance!! Oh, and I'll be your dance partner!
Picturesque, Gorgeous, Impressive.
•
Fitzroy, Ottawa - Spectacular, Impressive, and Picturesque are but a few words to desribe this rarely, if ever, offered 200 acre piece of heaven situated on 1600 feet of Ottawa River shoreline next to Fitzroy Provincial Park. Close to the city yet in its own world, this one of a kind property, with natural terraces providing unimpeded views, and cul de sac paved roads framing two sides, is a developer's delight, or a sanctuary accomodating an uncompromised lifestyle for those seeking only the best. $2,500,000
Property information
Ha! Made you look! Ok, first a little history. Way back in the '80s, that's 3000 years in tech-dog time, numbers like 386 and 486 got us all excited. Power accelerated! Trouble was, software advanced even faster, bogging down processors yet again. Imagine today's kids staring at a screen for EVER! Didn't think so.
I digress....
Well the hardware guys finally ramped things up which in turn ramped up our lives. Fast forward - tech blood all over the human landscape! Tech up or tech out! Case in point, walk into a store - TV/phone/computer, etc. is tech=x and cost=y. Five minutes later it's tech=z and cost=a. x and y, of course are inferior and more costly. Five minutes later....
I digress....
A la Meatloaf, "...stop right there, before we go any further...." (it's a song, you young'uns), we're beginning, a little bit, to be ok with the same tech stuff in our houses for longer than it takes for the kids shoe sizes to change. 'Cause if we don't....imagine the 5 year old looking away from the screen and says, "Mommy, life is moving too fast."
Do I digress?
Writer's cramp today so I checked the newspaper for inspiration, no smiles there though. Except maybe for the guy whose eleven month old son accidently called 911 while playing with the phone. Because there was no response police were sent to the house as follow-up only to find Daddy in the middle of a 500 plant marijuana grow-op going on. Where you goin', Daddy?
And a Happy Birthday wish for Pat.
We are exposed to a flood of information every day, every hour if we look for it. Lot's of bad stuff, good stuff too, but for the most part, we are immune to feeling or caring about what we see and hear because we are almost never 'part' of it. Well cue the recession. Got your attention? Mine too! It starts with "I think I'll be ok" Then as it permeates everything around us, we get nervious and twitchy even if we are not 'part' of it. All of a sudden we're team players.
So the recession might yet prove to be a wonderful thing. For the first time ever, ever, all regions of the world see themselves in the same mess. And once we get past our knee-jerk protectionalist mentality, it may dawn on everyone that the mess needs to be addressed by the collective whole. The planet. One solution.
Ok, fast forward to the end of the recession. The world stands back to better view the canvass, and whaddya know, we did it thinking as one! What a concept! Who knew! Now insert here:- A Great Leap of Faith. Is it possible, that we just may see the advantages of global collaboration? Book my ticket! This recession is going to be great!
Of course, as soon as we have our sh*t together, the aliens will get us.
Trust ya'll had a good down time, back to the yoke! Ususally I try to inject a little humour into my blogs 'cause, well, it makes me feel good! My hedonistic tendency. But as a Realtor and a consumer I read the same stuff about the economy in general and housing in paticular as everyone else. Serious stuff. After all it's human nature to stick one's hands deep into one's pockets when uncertainty is out there. Self preservation.
We live in Canada, and that's good! We have not lived beyond our means for years and years like the U.S.; buying over priced homes with no money or sustainable income. A $300k home sells for $500k then drops to $250k. Busted!!
We live in Ottawa, and that's great! No spike in housing prices. No manufacturing sector to speak of, no jobless stats as elsewhere. Highly educated. Good standard of living. Stable. Beautiful city.
For most of us, our quality of living revolves around the home, our sanctuary.
If you're looking to add, say 20% to your net worth this year, don't buy a house. Do tell me where to find the 20%, however! But holding off those plans to buy a home is to hold off on your quality of life. And waiting for prices to fall (in Ottawa) may result in lost opportunity.
I can see you're all fired up now, all you need is a 'go to' Realtor to make your dreams happen. Umm, that would be me. wayne.bowness@century21.ca
Rare 2.5 acre property under $400k
• 3,000 sq. ft., 3 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story - MLS® $399,900
Dunrobin Shores, Ottawa - This unique,custom designed home of approx. 3000 sq.ft.is perched on a rare and spectacular 2.5 acre park like estate setting with beautiful views of the Ottawa River and Gatineaus. a totally paved winding driveway leads to a 30x40 insulated 2 car oversized garage located at the back of the property. The kitchen boasts warm brickwork complimenting the lovely cabinetry, island, desk/bookcase etc. Two bedrooms lead to a balcony, while the Master has great views and a deck! Two full baths were professionally renovated in 2000 and 2004. Water access, nature trails, and a first class golf course at yout front door completes a quiet, safe, enjoyable lifestyle that awaits you and your family. Privacy + location = gracious living for under $400k. Fifteen minutes to Kanata. Welcome home!
Property information
Go to your room.
Wikipedia defines 'Economist' as "...an expert in the social science of economics" Must be a tough gig these days. Get up, read the morning newspaper, cringe. Go to the office, brainstorm with colleagues, publish a bunch-o-forecasts, leave the office, cash paycheque. Go home, read the evening newspaper, cringe. Repeat.
Actually Economists are good for the economy. With a median salary of $75,000 (top 10%, $130,000+) (Wikipedia), that's some serious spending power! Of course it can take years to pay off the student loans...wait!!...unlike Engineers, Lawyers, or Doctors, there is no educational requirement or license to be an Economist. Oh but look, there's a Nobel Prize for Economics. Insta-cred! Big props! What? Two Economists won the Nobel for totally opposite views? (true) OMG!, nobody got the memo!
Chronically wrong forecasts have their fun side too. In the summer (2008), we were warned that cheap gas was long gone, suck it up people, we're sure about this one....
Every year as Christmas approaches, I hear the same horror stories of well intentioned people, caught up in the spirit of the season, who decide to build a gingerbread house. The carnage and collateral damage often last well into the new year. My advise is (and I am a licensed Realtor)... don't do it! Imagine the embarrassment when everyone seated at the dinner table witnesses poorly constructed icing dripping from the roof, while the smarties trim falls off, exposing substandard siding material. To make matters worse, the gingerbread man is trapped inside!
This could have been avoided by having professionals do the job. Sure, with travel time and all, it'll probably run you one or two grand, but what is money when loss of dignity and possible family breakup are involved?
To this end, I'm available for pre-build gingerbread house consultation. I am, after all, a licensed Realtor!
Next up - Xmas tip # 44. Don't let Grandma at Guitar Hero.
People often ask: "Wayne, why go green?" I always reply with the same enthusiasm: "You ignorant son-of-a-***, get off the planet, now!" Ok, I need a do over.
I'm often asked about the the effort required to adopt a lifestyle that promotes both environmental respnsibility and cost efficiencies. As a Realtor who counsels my clients on the biggest decision most make, buying and selling homes, it is a happy chore. The old adege; 'It costs money to make money', is spot on when it comes to greening our homes. Consider:
Green is the new gold for outfitting a home
Energy efficient homes sell faster and for more money
The market for greening homes is estimated to grow from $2B TO $20B in 5 years. I think it will be more.
Want an edge? - 54% think greening is too expensive; 15% have no idea where to start.
Greening a home is a huge opportunity on so many levels:
Great return on investment when selling
Energy, water, indoor air quality efficiences
With attendant cost savings
Enhanced home comfort
Energy Star appliances pay for themselves in a short time
You save the world, kids are happy, and you're famous
I have in my possession the "Energy Conservation Kit". 40 pages. Get it. Get it now. Makes a great Xmas gift! I'm shameless.
Buying and selling property in Ottawa should be a pleasant experience. But our beloved media insists on the use of Journalism 101, selective/slanted reporting, to announce the impending demise of the Canadian housing industry. When I last checked, even the most westerly point in Ottawa is not all that close to the most easterly point in Calgary. So why do our media darlings insist on lumping our stable housing market with boom/bust oil, or those Bloc B.C. folks. As a Realtor I often feel like a salmon swimming upstream when engaged in real estate talk with my clients. Putting off that Ottawa home purchase because Vancouver prices are dropping is essentially delaying the next step in our quality of life. Yes I'm biased, but I'm a consumer too. Buyer's market? You bet...selection is great, mortgage rates are fabulous, and CMHC forecasts an
increase of 3.6% in 2009 for Ottawa real estate. Take that, stock market!
For those who currently have their property up for sale, pass this blog on - you'll do us all a favour.
In these times of economic uncertainty, people search out ways to weather the downturn, or merely just to survive. Many unfortunately go broke in the process, which in some cases leads to crime as a last resort. As a Realtor, I'm not immune to the thought of losing my home. What would I do? Rob a bank, or a jewelry store, or God forbid, a 7-11!! Such actions seem so tawdry, and besides, I have no thief skills. Eventually I'd be caught, resulting in social embarrassment and loss of freedom.
A one shot deal might work, however, and then it came to me. First, place a newspaper ad for an unemployed fishing boat captain, and go rob an oil super tanker! Pirates do it all the time, can't be that hard. Then fnd a hiding spot to figure out the financial take. Let's see, a big one can hold 2 million barrels X $60/barrel comes to $120 million. Now priced to sell, say $25/barrel nets a nice round $50 million. Factor in the costs- car rental to Newfoundland, buy the captain lunch, and first class airfare back from the hiding place will give me a bottom line, rounded, of, wow!, still $50 mil.
I've checked for flaws, but it all seems sure-fire to me; so if anyone sees a downside, I would appreciate your comments.