I saw this article from an agent in Nova Scotia, and thought it was well worth re-posting here for anyone in the Kingston Real Estate area to consider:
Just because it's winter, it doesn't mean it isn't a good time to buy a house.
The following are 10 great reasons to buy in winter.
1. Interest rates are generally lowest in winter. Like the price of gasoline, interest rates are generally highest when most buyers are buying in summer and lowest in winter.
2. Less competing offers in winter. Fewer sales, less chance to lose the dream home you are looking at.
3. Home prices are expected to be at their lowest during winter. All those over-priced homes will have been reduced.
4. Sellers are more likely to accept a lower offer in winter. They do not expect many offers so they may accept your lower offer.
5. Contractors such as electricians, plumbers, home renovators, movers, etc., are less busy in winter.
6. Utility connections are faster in winter. We all know how long it takes to get telephone or cable connected in the Summer time.
7. Winter is generally an indoor time. You will have hubby away from the golf course and into the basement completing your "Honey Do" list of renovations before the better weather comes around.
8. A winter move should not affect your summer vacation. Keep your summer time free to be with your family.
9. You can expect more moving and painting help in winter. You family and friends cannot give you many excuses why they cannot be there to help.
10. Bankers, inspectors, lawyers and Realtors are also less busy in winter.
(originally posted by Jim Knox, a Nova Scotia Realtor)
© 2010 Weekly News (Bedford, Sackville, NS). All rights reserved.
For any Kingstonn Real Estate market information, please contact me:
Michael Scriven - Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Realty Concepts, Corp.
Kingston, Ontario K7P 2N2
613.389.7777 office
877.924.3689 toll free
613.484.1810 cell/blackberry
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
This Kingston Real Estate Guy Remembers John Lennon
Copied from Rolling Stone Magazine online:
John Lennon's Final Interview
Nine-hour discussion with 'Rolling Stone' took place three days before he died
On December 5, 1980, three days before he was murdered, John Lennon sat down with Rolling Stone's Jonathan Cott for a nine-hour interview. Select excerpts from the interview ran in Rolling Stone's tribute to John Lennon the following month — but Cott never transcribed all of the tapes. For 30 years they sat in the back of his closet.
"Earlier this year I was cleaning up to find some files in the recesses of my closet when I came across two cassette tapes marked 'John Lennon, December 5th, 1980,'" Cott says. "It had been 30 years since I listened to them, and when I put them on this totally alive, uplifting voice started speaking on this magical strip of magnetic tape."
Cott's interview with John Lennon — the artist's last print interview — finally hits newsstands this Friday as the centerpiece of Rolling Stone's tribute to John Lennon on the 30th anniversary of his death. In the remarkably candid interview Lennon lashes out at fans and critics who went after him during his five-year break from music. "What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean," Lennon says. "I'm not interested in being a dead fucking hero...so forget 'em, forget 'em."
He also talked about plans for a possible return to the road. "We just might do it," he said. "But there will be no smoke bombs, no lipstick, no flashing lights. It just has to be comfy. But we could have a laugh. We're born-again rockers, and we're starting over...There's plenty of time, right? Plenty of time."
Yoko Ono also contributed an intensely personal essay to the issue about her final days with Lennon. "Just before we left the studio [minutes before he died] John looked at me," Ono writes. "I looked at him. His eyes had an intensity of a guy about to tell me something important. 'Yes,' I asked. And I will never forget how, with a deep, soft voice, as if to carve his words in my mind, he said the most beautiful things to me. 'Oh,' I said after a while, and looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed."
John Lennon: October 9, 1940- December 8, 1980 (Not nearly enough time)
John Lennon's Final Interview
Nine-hour discussion with 'Rolling Stone' took place three days before he died
On December 5, 1980, three days before he was murdered, John Lennon sat down with Rolling Stone's Jonathan Cott for a nine-hour interview. Select excerpts from the interview ran in Rolling Stone's tribute to John Lennon the following month — but Cott never transcribed all of the tapes. For 30 years they sat in the back of his closet.
"Earlier this year I was cleaning up to find some files in the recesses of my closet when I came across two cassette tapes marked 'John Lennon, December 5th, 1980,'" Cott says. "It had been 30 years since I listened to them, and when I put them on this totally alive, uplifting voice started speaking on this magical strip of magnetic tape."
Cott's interview with John Lennon — the artist's last print interview — finally hits newsstands this Friday as the centerpiece of Rolling Stone's tribute to John Lennon on the 30th anniversary of his death. In the remarkably candid interview Lennon lashes out at fans and critics who went after him during his five-year break from music. "What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean," Lennon says. "I'm not interested in being a dead fucking hero...so forget 'em, forget 'em."
He also talked about plans for a possible return to the road. "We just might do it," he said. "But there will be no smoke bombs, no lipstick, no flashing lights. It just has to be comfy. But we could have a laugh. We're born-again rockers, and we're starting over...There's plenty of time, right? Plenty of time."
Yoko Ono also contributed an intensely personal essay to the issue about her final days with Lennon. "Just before we left the studio [minutes before he died] John looked at me," Ono writes. "I looked at him. His eyes had an intensity of a guy about to tell me something important. 'Yes,' I asked. And I will never forget how, with a deep, soft voice, as if to carve his words in my mind, he said the most beautiful things to me. 'Oh,' I said after a while, and looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed."
John Lennon: October 9, 1940- December 8, 1980 (Not nearly enough time)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Kingston Real Estate people drink wine too...
I've copied this from a great blog called "Cheap Eats - Toronto" I'm going to have to try some of these wines! I'm particularly interested in those Aussie Shiraz' and Shiraz/Cab's...
Vintages Value List Release Saturday Nov. 27, 2010
Hello Fellow Tipplers!
You all know it by now - Christmas is a month away! We are inundated with holiday shopping “guides”, festive music fills the stores and high anxiety is setting in as you realize that you haven’t finished your gift shopping and the calendar is full of gatherings both good and bad. Now is the time to drink - whether it is with friends and family or home alone after a particularly stressful outing. We have the suggestions for either of these scenarios.
Vintages is also promoting many special products of the “gifty” sort. There is a particular product that is in the “It’s Perfect” section of the release catalogue. We tasted this wine and were completely wowed – BUT – it does not meet our value criteria. SO – if you were thinking about buying us a Christmas present - a bottle of 539098 2006 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon from California ($114.95) would be greatly appreciated because it is perfect!
SPARKLING WINE
194803 LANGA HERMANOS REYES DE ARAGON BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2007 (SPAIN) $13.95
Unbelievable good value here. Distinct apple notes followed closely by apricot, toast and biscuit. It’s only $14 for pete’s sake – grab it while you can!!!
WHITE WINE
707158 ZENATO LUGANA 2009 (LOMBARDIA) $13.95
Opens up with a hint of lanolin on the nose followed by expressive flavors of melon, white grapefruit and clean crisp acidity.
734921 MACULAN PINOT GRIGIO 2009 (VENETO) $13.95
OK – we are not huge Pinot Grigio fans. We think them rather uninteresting on the whole. This one, however, really stood out and we skeptics opted to recommend it. Look for kiwi and honey notes and a decent finish.
213173 ORGANIZED CRIME RIESLING 2008 (BEAMSVILLE BENCH, NIAGARA PENINSULA) $21.20
Go local, keep it in the family with this fine, slightly off-dry, Riesling from Niagara. It is very pretty, boasting citrus rind, peach and minerals.
394353 BERINGER SAUGIGNON BLANC 2008 (CALIFORNIA) $21.95
Pretty and flavorful melon, citrus notes, with hints of herb and spice!
RED WINE
185017 GEMMA MADONNA DELLA NEVE DOLCETTO D’ALBA 2009 (PIEDMONT) $13.95
An everyday Italian featuring cigar box, cedar and spice. A weeknight supper wine here.
123430 SCOPETANI RISASSO CHIANTI RÚFINA 2007 (TUSCANY) $14.95
A decent Chianti for the price. Chestnut and red fruit on the nose segues to a fresh yet dry finish. It actually tastes like a Chianti!
183442 DOMAINE DES AILES MOULIN-À-VENT 2009 (BEAUJOLAIS) $15.95
Sweet spun cotton-candy- like floral nose opening to a bowl of fresh cherries, cassis and spicy notes on the palate. This is decent Beaujolais - enjoy it solo or paired with a light dish.
181545 PIONA CAMPO MASSIMO CORVINA VERONESE 2007 (VENETO) $15.95
Corvina leaving Rondinella and Molinara behind and appearing solo here – boasting tasty dark berries, white pepper, cocoa and a nice smokiness leading out to the finish. Well done!
199539 THE GARDEN PATH SHIRAZ/CABERNET 2006 (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) $17.95
This Aussie number offers up ripe dark berry, plum, smoke and damp earth. Big and flavorful - score 90+ (www.erobertparker.com)
17475 MARQUIS PHILIPS SHIRAZ 2008 (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) $19.95
Massive wine here – huge in fact. Look for smoked meat and blueberry notes after you pull your socks back on. eRobertParker.com gave this one a 91.
182295 QUINTA DO CÔA VINHO TINTO 2007 (PORTUGAL) $19.95
Delicious – luscious! Raspberries, plum and milk chocolate make this wine a great little package. Wine Spectator scored this a 91.
192476 BODEGA Y VIÑEDOS FERNÁNDEZ RIVERA DEHESA DE LA GRANJA 2004 (SPAIN) $21.95
Ola - this Spanish beauty exudes flavors of dark berries, earth, spice and a kick ass finish. Drinking well from 2010-2020, score 92 (www.erobertparker.com)
FORTIFIED WINE
973768 SANDEMAN VAU VINTAGE PORT 2000 $29.95
The cooler weather sees us gathering around the fireplace after dinner and there is nothing more comforting than sipping on a lovely port. This is a vintage port that won’t break the bank. Cassis, chocolate and a defined raisin-ness are the predominant characters here. It is rather full-bodied with enough richness to allow for at least another decade for ageing.
LIQUEUR
180695 ST-GERMAIN DELICE DE SUREAU ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR ARTISANALE (FRANCE) $49.95
Ooh, those sweet libations are ever so tempting – treat your senses to this lusciously fragranced beauty featuring floral, delicately skinned fruit, honey and guava aromas that follow through on the palate. Exquisitely made and the perfect harmony of alcohol level, sweetness, acidity and floral impact.
Vintages Value List Release Saturday Nov. 27, 2010
Hello Fellow Tipplers!
You all know it by now - Christmas is a month away! We are inundated with holiday shopping “guides”, festive music fills the stores and high anxiety is setting in as you realize that you haven’t finished your gift shopping and the calendar is full of gatherings both good and bad. Now is the time to drink - whether it is with friends and family or home alone after a particularly stressful outing. We have the suggestions for either of these scenarios.
Vintages is also promoting many special products of the “gifty” sort. There is a particular product that is in the “It’s Perfect” section of the release catalogue. We tasted this wine and were completely wowed – BUT – it does not meet our value criteria. SO – if you were thinking about buying us a Christmas present - a bottle of 539098 2006 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon from California ($114.95) would be greatly appreciated because it is perfect!
SPARKLING WINE
194803 LANGA HERMANOS REYES DE ARAGON BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2007 (SPAIN) $13.95
Unbelievable good value here. Distinct apple notes followed closely by apricot, toast and biscuit. It’s only $14 for pete’s sake – grab it while you can!!!
WHITE WINE
707158 ZENATO LUGANA 2009 (LOMBARDIA) $13.95
Opens up with a hint of lanolin on the nose followed by expressive flavors of melon, white grapefruit and clean crisp acidity.
734921 MACULAN PINOT GRIGIO 2009 (VENETO) $13.95
OK – we are not huge Pinot Grigio fans. We think them rather uninteresting on the whole. This one, however, really stood out and we skeptics opted to recommend it. Look for kiwi and honey notes and a decent finish.
213173 ORGANIZED CRIME RIESLING 2008 (BEAMSVILLE BENCH, NIAGARA PENINSULA) $21.20
Go local, keep it in the family with this fine, slightly off-dry, Riesling from Niagara. It is very pretty, boasting citrus rind, peach and minerals.
394353 BERINGER SAUGIGNON BLANC 2008 (CALIFORNIA) $21.95
Pretty and flavorful melon, citrus notes, with hints of herb and spice!
RED WINE
185017 GEMMA MADONNA DELLA NEVE DOLCETTO D’ALBA 2009 (PIEDMONT) $13.95
An everyday Italian featuring cigar box, cedar and spice. A weeknight supper wine here.
123430 SCOPETANI RISASSO CHIANTI RÚFINA 2007 (TUSCANY) $14.95
A decent Chianti for the price. Chestnut and red fruit on the nose segues to a fresh yet dry finish. It actually tastes like a Chianti!
183442 DOMAINE DES AILES MOULIN-À-VENT 2009 (BEAUJOLAIS) $15.95
Sweet spun cotton-candy- like floral nose opening to a bowl of fresh cherries, cassis and spicy notes on the palate. This is decent Beaujolais - enjoy it solo or paired with a light dish.
181545 PIONA CAMPO MASSIMO CORVINA VERONESE 2007 (VENETO) $15.95
Corvina leaving Rondinella and Molinara behind and appearing solo here – boasting tasty dark berries, white pepper, cocoa and a nice smokiness leading out to the finish. Well done!
199539 THE GARDEN PATH SHIRAZ/CABERNET 2006 (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) $17.95
This Aussie number offers up ripe dark berry, plum, smoke and damp earth. Big and flavorful - score 90+ (www.erobertparker.com)
17475 MARQUIS PHILIPS SHIRAZ 2008 (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) $19.95
Massive wine here – huge in fact. Look for smoked meat and blueberry notes after you pull your socks back on. eRobertParker.com gave this one a 91.
182295 QUINTA DO CÔA VINHO TINTO 2007 (PORTUGAL) $19.95
Delicious – luscious! Raspberries, plum and milk chocolate make this wine a great little package. Wine Spectator scored this a 91.
192476 BODEGA Y VIÑEDOS FERNÁNDEZ RIVERA DEHESA DE LA GRANJA 2004 (SPAIN) $21.95
Ola - this Spanish beauty exudes flavors of dark berries, earth, spice and a kick ass finish. Drinking well from 2010-2020, score 92 (www.erobertparker.com)
FORTIFIED WINE
973768 SANDEMAN VAU VINTAGE PORT 2000 $29.95
The cooler weather sees us gathering around the fireplace after dinner and there is nothing more comforting than sipping on a lovely port. This is a vintage port that won’t break the bank. Cassis, chocolate and a defined raisin-ness are the predominant characters here. It is rather full-bodied with enough richness to allow for at least another decade for ageing.
LIQUEUR
180695 ST-GERMAIN DELICE DE SUREAU ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR ARTISANALE (FRANCE) $49.95
Ooh, those sweet libations are ever so tempting – treat your senses to this lusciously fragranced beauty featuring floral, delicately skinned fruit, honey and guava aromas that follow through on the palate. Exquisitely made and the perfect harmony of alcohol level, sweetness, acidity and floral impact.
Kingston Real Estate Strong/Stable for 2011
This report was just released from RE/MAX, and shows that 2010 was a decent year for real estate sales in Kingston (and across most of the country) and is expected to be "stable" for 2011 with the market returning to a more normal condition:
Click here for the full report.
Click here for the full report.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Kingston Real Estate
I've copied this article from the Toronto Star today (December 6th, 2010)
By Mark Weisleder | Sat Dec 04 2010
When you use an agent to sell your home, you may agree on a commission as high as 5 per cent with the proceeds split two ways. One half goes to the agent who works for you and the other half is paid to the agent who finds the buyer and helps negotiate the deal.
Now that the federal government has brought more competition to buying and selling a home, there are more ways for you to sell a home by yourself. That means the role of the real estate agent acting for the buyer will become even more important to you and the buyer.
Most people understand that when you sign a listing agreement to sell your home if you sell during the term of the agreement, you owe commission to that agent.
It’s a little different for when you’re buying a home. Here, you agree to work exclusively with one agent to find the property you want. The agent protects your interests and negotiates the best price for you. This becomes important if you are involved in a bidding war because you’ll need an objective third party to guide you, to make sure that you do not get too emotional and end up overpaying for the property.
In exchange, you agree to pay this agent a fee, typically a percentage of the sale price. For example, if the homer costs $200,000 and you agree to pay your buyer agent a 2 per cent commission, the cost is $4,000. Usually, the agent will get the commission from the seller. If the seller refuses to pay, then the offer will be readjusted to $196,000, and the buyer will pay the fee directly.
When interviewing buyer agents, be sure to ask for references and then follow up and call them. If you are nervous about signing the agency agreement, you might want to consider signing for a short term, let’s say 14 days, to get a feel for the kind of service your buyer agent will provide. You must understand though, that if your agent shows you a home during that 14 day period that you later buy, you will owe commission.
Sellers should make the effort to co-operate with buyer agents as well, even if they are trying to sell their home by themselves. One of the main reasons is that when a potential buyer approaches a seller directly, the seller has no idea whether this buyer is really looking for a home or even has the financial ability to afford the home. They may in the extreme case be a thief who is only looking to see whether they can come back to this property at a later time. When you work with a buyer agent, you know that they have already qualified any potential buyer so that you have the comfort of knowing that this buyer is in fact ready to buy and more importantly, can afford your home.
In addition, because the buyer agent will protect their buyer by conducting the appropriate due diligence on the property itself, there is less chance that the buyer will discover problems after closing. This means that the seller will not likely be sued by the buyer after closing. This means peace of mind for the seller after closing, as well.
There are advantages to both buyers and sellers in working with buyer agents. Understanding this will make your next home purchase or sale decision much easier.
Real estate lawyer Mark Weisleder is the author of Put the Pen Down! What homebuyers and sellers need to know before signing on the dotted line.
By Mark Weisleder | Sat Dec 04 2010
When you use an agent to sell your home, you may agree on a commission as high as 5 per cent with the proceeds split two ways. One half goes to the agent who works for you and the other half is paid to the agent who finds the buyer and helps negotiate the deal.
Now that the federal government has brought more competition to buying and selling a home, there are more ways for you to sell a home by yourself. That means the role of the real estate agent acting for the buyer will become even more important to you and the buyer.
Most people understand that when you sign a listing agreement to sell your home if you sell during the term of the agreement, you owe commission to that agent.
It’s a little different for when you’re buying a home. Here, you agree to work exclusively with one agent to find the property you want. The agent protects your interests and negotiates the best price for you. This becomes important if you are involved in a bidding war because you’ll need an objective third party to guide you, to make sure that you do not get too emotional and end up overpaying for the property.
In exchange, you agree to pay this agent a fee, typically a percentage of the sale price. For example, if the homer costs $200,000 and you agree to pay your buyer agent a 2 per cent commission, the cost is $4,000. Usually, the agent will get the commission from the seller. If the seller refuses to pay, then the offer will be readjusted to $196,000, and the buyer will pay the fee directly.
When interviewing buyer agents, be sure to ask for references and then follow up and call them. If you are nervous about signing the agency agreement, you might want to consider signing for a short term, let’s say 14 days, to get a feel for the kind of service your buyer agent will provide. You must understand though, that if your agent shows you a home during that 14 day period that you later buy, you will owe commission.
Sellers should make the effort to co-operate with buyer agents as well, even if they are trying to sell their home by themselves. One of the main reasons is that when a potential buyer approaches a seller directly, the seller has no idea whether this buyer is really looking for a home or even has the financial ability to afford the home. They may in the extreme case be a thief who is only looking to see whether they can come back to this property at a later time. When you work with a buyer agent, you know that they have already qualified any potential buyer so that you have the comfort of knowing that this buyer is in fact ready to buy and more importantly, can afford your home.
In addition, because the buyer agent will protect their buyer by conducting the appropriate due diligence on the property itself, there is less chance that the buyer will discover problems after closing. This means that the seller will not likely be sued by the buyer after closing. This means peace of mind for the seller after closing, as well.
There are advantages to both buyers and sellers in working with buyer agents. Understanding this will make your next home purchase or sale decision much easier.
Real estate lawyer Mark Weisleder is the author of Put the Pen Down! What homebuyers and sellers need to know before signing on the dotted line.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Kingston Real Estate - "stable" forecast for 2011. Looking at a more "balanced" market, with prices staying constant. Check this C.M.H.C. link for details: http://ping.fm/MyP3X
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