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Oakville, ON Real Estate News

By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Many people feel that November and December are less than stellar months to buy or sell a home. I don't believe there is ever a bad time of year to make a real estate transaction.  Here are 10 reasons why  these months present  great opportunities.1. Unmotivated sellers take their homes off the market. Therefore there is LESS COMPETITION for serious sellers. Unmotivated sellers will put their homes back on the market in January when a rush of other will also. Chances are they still won't sell unless they are priced correctly and show well.2. Homes SHOW WELL over the holidays. Seasonal decorations, warm fires, wonderful smells from the kitchen entice buyers. TIP: Leave some cookies on a plate for the potential buyers.3.There may be LESS SHOWINGS but most showings will be from SERIOUS BUY...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Thinking of migrating moving to Oakville, Ontario?  Or is it time to leave Oakville for greener pastures?  Many species migrate twice a year.  That's a lot of work.  Building a nest can take some effort.  Settling in, exploring your neighbourhood, making new friends takes time.  New adventures unfold.  Many thrive in their new surroundings and never look back.  Others eventually make their way back "home".  Whether you are flying solo, with a partner or with a flock always remember "Home is where the heart is."    If you are thinking of migrating to or from Oakville, call me to help you with your flight plan. www.oakvilleontariorealestate.ca This post is dedicated to Kevin & LeYen  
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Crawford Lake - Revealing the Mysteries of the Past - Burlington Attractions and Oakville History.Hidden in the eastern Ontario woodlands of the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, rests Crawford Lake.  Crawford Lake, a rare 'meromictic' lake, holds fascinating secrets of the past deep within it's depths.As a meromictic lake, there is very little circulation at it's lower  levels, thereby allowing annual sediment deposits called 'varves' to lay undisturbed for thousands of years. In 1971 an analysis of sediment collected from the depths of Crawford Lake revealed a high concentration of corn pollen. The corn pollen, dating from the years  1434-1459, indicated that a native village once rested nearby on the shores of the lake.Archeological excavations revealed the presence of an Iroquoian villa...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
It's that time of year and downtown Oakville is getting prepared for many upcoming festivities.  Oakville's downtown core welcomes residents and visitors alike with its' unique boutiques, cafes, popular restaurants and the Towne Square which is always a hub of activity. Other large attractions in downtown Oakville are the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, the Oakville Harbour and Pier and Erchless Estate Museum.  Here's what's coming up in Downtown Oakville October 30, 2009 - Tiny Tots On Parade  This annual event celebrates year number 15 with little ghosts, goblins and munchkins all dressed up and taking to the streets all for the enjoyment of local shoppers and shopkeepers.  All treats, no tricks. November 21, 2009 - Santa Claus Parade Santa Claus is coming to downtown Oakvill...
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By Barry Quine, The Wayne Munden Team - Condo Specialist
(Re/Max Aboutowne Realty Corp.)
What does it take to sell a home in today's market? It isn't as easy as planting a yard sign and putting an ad in the local newspaper anymore.  BIG NEWS! Barry Quine Has Created an exclusive affiliation with a virtual tour company that will go a long way to guarantee that you stay ahead of the competition through cutting-edge virtual tour and online syndication Technology! You get all of this free when you list with me!!!!! • 360 Virtual Tours • Powerful Slideshows • Interactive 2D & 3D Floor Plans • 3D Walkthrough Presentations • Custom 3D Animation • Panoramic Sign Riders • Single Property Websites • Online Syndication • Professional Voice-over AND SO MUCH MORE... Call Barry Quine TODAY to discuss how my marketing system is VASTLY superior to anything else you have seen. 905.845.9180 ...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Fall is in full swing (bloom) in Oakville.  Most of the colours have peaked.  The gusty winds have turned green lawns to yellow, red and orange as the leaves come tumbling down.  Our days are getting shorter.  Next weekend we set our clocks back.  Remember spring ahead - fall back.  Yes, you get an extra hour of sleep.  But what a pain having  to change every clock in the house, on the stove, the microwave, the radios, the cars, your watches. Luckily our computers, Blackberries, etc. are very smart and they do it automatically.   Don't forget  to change the batteries in the smoke detector.  Many are now hardwired so this ritual may  soon become a chore of the past. This is a great time of year  to discover ravines and trails  in Halton Region.  Check out the Conservation Halton website ...
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  Buying a Condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington - Important Things You Need to Know About Condominium Ownership -Common Expenses and The Status Certificate. Part One of the 'Buying a Condominium in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington' series discussed the initial things a buyer should be aware of as they begin to think about looking at condominiums. A link to Part One can be found at the bottom of this page.In this article, Part Two of a three part series on things a buyer should be aware of as they begin to consider the purchase of a condominium, we will be looking at 'common expenses' and also talking about the 'status certificate', two very important aspects of condominium ownership. Condominium ownership involves the payment of monthly condo fees to the condominium cor...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
 Home sales in Oakville, Ontario in the third quarter of 2009 continued to accelerate.  Both the number of sales and the average sale price have surpassed those recorded for the same time period in 2008.The increase in the number of sales month over month compared to 2008 began in May of this year and  continued through September. Limited inventory in Oakville has resulted in the demand for housing outstripping the supply.This originally led to a balanced market but has tipped somewhat to a seller's market with many homes selling over list price in record time with multiple offers. Low interest rates continue to spur the buyers plus somewhat more confidence in the economy and job stability.Home Sales - July 1, 2009 - September 30, 2009 - Oakville, Ontario = 964Home Sales - July 1, 2008 ...
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By Lindsay Walls, Oakville Ontario Realtor
(RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp., Brokerage)
  My husband and I recently bought a new house.  While we had no intention of buying from a developer, after many conversations and much investigation it was clearly the right choice for us.  My wonderful husband Chris is used to me talking about houses and the real estate market non-stop so he was not surprised when I asked him one day if we could stop by a builder’s sales office on our way out of town to spend the day with our nephews.  Truth be told, I think he was actually warming up to the idea that it was time to move although you would be hard pressed to catch him admitting it.  My intentions were really just to understand the new phase being developed by the builder as I do with all the new developments in Oakville.  I wasn’t serious about buying for ourselves and yet there we ...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Cormorant Looking For Lunch Sky High View Bridges Over Untroubled Water Cormorant Going Fishing Cormorant Island - Burlington Skyway Bridge Leaving Town - Hamilton Waterfront Harbour Before The Rain Bathing Suit Competition Burlington Skyway Bridge Hamilton Harbour Cruise This is a great time of the year to head to the lakes or harbours to catch the migrating wildlife.  Excellent places to find differenct species are Oakville and Bronte Harbours, LaSalle Park in Burlington and Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Bay.  Bring your camera, enjoy the sights and sounds and enjoy walking along boardwalks and piers.  Jenny Kotulak photos Windows of the World Photography WoW 2009   Thinking of moving to Oakville?  Contact Jenny Kotulak Broker, your Oakville Community REALTOR.  RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
It's coming and you better be prepared.  Effective October 26,2009 the Province of Ontario's distracted-driving law comes into effect.  Ontario's drivers will have a grace period until Feb. 1, 2010 to acquire a hands-free device for their cellphones, Blackberries, etc.  Police will issue fines after that point up to $500 with no demerit points.  Using earbuds, adjusting GPS units and iPods are also a no-no while behind the wheel.  Exemptions include driver placed 911 calls, emergency service vehicles, truckers and other commercial drivers. A 3 year grace period has been offered to truckers to replace CB radios with new technology. The new legislation also specifically refers to DVD's and Laptops, which I concur are very scary distraction for a driver.  According to a 2009 study by the V...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Oakville, Ontario -  A Premier Lakeside community located within a half hour commute to Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario.  Thinking of making a move to Oakville?  Contact Jenny Kotulak your Oakville Community REALTOR, for all your real estate needs. Visit www.oakvilleontariorealestate.ca for Oakville statistics, neighbourhood information, important community links.  Open 24/7 for your convenience.  Jenny Kotulak, Broker RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp. Brokerage, Oakville, Ontario Past President Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board Photo Location: Oakville Harbour Jenny Kotulak Photos Windows of the World Photography WoW 2009
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Yes it's time to reveal the photo answer to my last Name That Photo posting.  I don't really need to reveal the answer, as it was guessed by many smart people.  I only have to post the reveal photos. I zoomed in on the base of Tews Falls in Dundas, Ontario to take the photo.  There is a great hiking trail between Tews Falls and Webster's Falls (see a previous post for photos)  I recently found out that Hamilton, Ontario is the Waterfall Capital of The World due to the number of different types of falls in the area.  Dundas lies just on the outskirts of Hamilton about a half hour drive from my home. I am now on a mission to check out many of the other waterfalls in the area.  Next on my agenda, when I get a chance will be the Devil's Punchbowl.  
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
  I had no idea that there was such a beautiful waterfall located so close to Oakville, Ontario.  Webster's Falls is located in nearby Dundas, Ontario close to Hamilton.  From Webster's Falls you can  follow a trail to nearby Tews Falls.  What a wonderful place to spend an early fall afternoon.  I look forward to writing a future blog post with more photos and tales from Webster's and Tews Falls. Jenny Kotulak Photos Copyright 2009 Windows of the World Photography WoW 2009  
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    The introduction of the HST on July 1, 2010, will result in Ontarians paying a harmonized sales tax of 13 per cent on a long list goods and services that were previously exempt from the eight per cent provincial sales tax.  The dream of homeownership will become more expensive starting next July 1st. Every residential real estate transaction will face a significant tax increase. Home buyers and sellers can expect to pay eight per cent more on:   legal fees appraisals real estate commissions home inspection fees moving costs and many more items associated with buying or selling a home. According to the Ontario Real Estate Association, Ontarians will pay, on average, an additional $1,449 in new taxes on their next residential real estate transaction. In addition, homeowners who are pu...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
It was a chilly  56 degrees F. with a strong wind just before sunset this evening when I spotted this brave? soul taking to Lake Ontario with his surf board at Bronte Beach in Oakville.  Yes, Lake Ontario, where the current temperature was hovering around 67 degrees F. Living on Lake Ontario for all these years, I must say I never really thought too much about all the related statistical information.  I did a bit of research and here are a few interesting facts and figures. Lake Ontario is the 14th largest lake in the World It ranks 4th among the 5 Great Lakes in maximum depth, but average depth is second only to Lake Superior It is the smallest of the Great Lakes in surface area. Lake Ontario is 193 miles long and 53 miles wide The average depth is 283 feet and the maximum depth is 80...
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By Barry Quine, The Wayne Munden Team - Condo Specialist
(Re/Max Aboutowne Realty Corp.)
Rare 4 Bedroom 2 Storey Home for Sale on Sabel Street in Bronte - $475,000 Welcome to your next home! A RARE 4 bedroom, 2 storey in the sought after neighbourhood of Bronte. This home has all kinds of character and sits on a beautiful, large, private, mature lot with extensive landscaping and stunning gardens. The home and the property have been lovingly maintained by the original owners. THIS IS A LOT OF HOUSE for the money. The home boasts 14 rooms including a large eat-in kitchen with sliding doors to a huge, beautifully landscaed backyard, separate dining room, main floor den, 2 large recrooms (one is a british pub style room) in the basement AND a workshop as well. Bedroom sizes are also surprisingly large. Call for your private showing today and lets get you into your next home! $...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
September is here and it's the second most popular time of the year to sell a house. We all know about the spring market. But did you know the spring market starts earlier now? Late February used to be the beginning of the spring market when people began to get cabin fever and went house shopping.Now the spring market starts heating up about the middle of January unless we have an unusually hard winter and people are snowed in. Some sellers whose homes were on the market and didn't sell take them off the market for the holiday season and in January they are re-listed along with new to the market inventory.But back to the fall market. Most sellers listing their homes in the early fall market want to be moved before the holiday season starts so that they may enjoy the festivities in their...
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By Barry Quine, The Wayne Munden Team - Condo Specialist
(Re/Max Aboutowne Realty Corp.)
Not all real estate companies are the same. If you decide to seek the help of a realtor when selling or buying your home, you need some good information before you make any moves.   Picking the right realtor is one of those critical issues that can cost or save you thousands of dollars.  There are very specific questions you should be asking to ensure that you get the best representation for your needs.  Many realtors would prefer you don't ask these questions because the knowledge you will gain from their honest answers will give you a very good idea of what outcome you can expect from using this realtor.  And let's face it - in real estate, as in life - not all things are created equal.   Hiring a realtor is like any hiring process - with you on the bosses side of the desk.  It's crit...
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By Jenny Kotulak, Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate
(RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage)
Last Saturday I wrote a post called The Saturday Before The Saturday Before Fall.  Well here we are, the last Saturday before fall officially arrives on Tuesday. Thanksgiving will be celebrated in Canada in October and in the United States in November. It's hard to believe that summer is almost over.  Here in Ontario July was one of the wettest on record.  August wasn't much better until the end of the month and the last 3 weeks have been splendid.  As summer begins to fade away, here are some photos of what we have to look forward to as the new season of autumn fast approaches with it's own charm aplenty. Farmer's Fields Lola - Thanksgiving 2008 Quiet Marina Sails Away Get Red-dy for fall Purple Bouquet
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