Dedication. Drive. Determination.

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Our nation is basking in Olympic gold on home turf thanks to athletes such as Mogul Skier Alexandre Bilodeau, Ski Cross Ashleigh McIvor and most recently Ice Dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue. I applaud all the Olympic athletes for their achievements. As many of you know, I missed my chance to compete at the 1984 L.A. Olympics in Kayaking when Hungary joined Russia and other Eastern-bloc countries in boycotting the games. It’s an unrealized milestone that I’ll always feel some regret about. However, I’ll never regret how my competitive sport background continues to shape and influence my life. Sport (for me, gymnastics and then kayaking) taught me the 3 D’s – Dedication, Drive and Determination. There were some other D’s…Discipline, Decisiveness, Devotion and Doggedness. And of course, 2 special D’s – Dazzle and Dream!! I believe all the things that I learned and that made me a successful athlete at an international level have made me successful as an independent Real Estate Agent. As I look at my “D-List”, I can absolutely say I apply them all to my current career, as well as any new undertaking. Selling Real Estate involves operating your own small business, setting your own goals, structuring your own workday, creating and serving your client base and most importantly, continuing to educate yourself and keeping your learning curve fresh and sharp. I love achievement. I always have. That’s why it’s important to keep looking at the Real Estate business with fresh eyes and to continue to be innovative when it comes to my business. I believe my marketing materials, my multiple websites and my YouTube videos reflect this thinking outside the box.

It is interesting to look at the evolution of sport. Materials like graphite and carbon and Kevlar are now commonplace in equipment. Skis have gotten shorter, tennis racquets and golf clubs larger, swimsuits are sleeker, running shoes have air pockets and skates are molded to bare feet. Who knew 20 years ago that the Olympics would host events like Moguls or Snowboard Cross? And who knew 20 years ago that I could send a virtual tour of a newly listed property to your phone?!! Cutting edge in sport means embracing technology as a component of your training. Cutting edge in Real Estate means the same thing. It is another tool that we must embrace to make our business successful and relevant in 2010. But regardless of the tools that have become available to us, it’s essential to have the ability and desire to apply those 3 D’s – Dedication, Drive and Determination (and the rest of the “D-List”!!) to your business and often, to your every day life!! I, for one, thrive in a fast-paced energetic environment and know my clients recognize my continued use of my “D-List”!!

Accidents Do Happen!

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Monday is Family Day here in Ontario and the day off will be marked by families out skating and skiing and possibly even biking!! Families are the essence of Oakville’s growth which brings me to the unfortunate building of the massive 900 Mega-watt natural gas plant by the Ford plant approved last September. I lend my voice to the near unanimous group of Oakville residents who believe the plant should be located in a less densely populated area, and specifically away from an area of the GTA already suffering poor air quality. It’s 380 yards from a school. It’s beside a railroad track where we worry about train derailments. It’s close to a hospital. The Power Authority expects the plant to run 40% of the time – when electricity demand is high, and to be operational by the end of 2013. The die has been cast and I believe this plant will be built despite ongoing legal gestures. It’s a bit disheartening in light of the February 7 Connecticut Power Plant explosion that killed 5 workers and injured dozens more. Employer negligence may have been involved in the blast of the 620 Mega-watt Kleen Energy Power Plant under construction in Middletown Connecticut. The force of the blast blew out windows and shattered the foundations of nearby houses. The plant, designed to burn natural gas, is one of the largest to be built in New England in recent years and was nearing completion, set to go online as early as June of this year. Workers had been complaining about grueling hours – 12 to 13 hour work days, 7 days a week – in a push to get the project finished. The accident happened during the procedure of using natural gas to purge the system’s pipes to remove air. (Workers had expressed concerns of a gas smell an hour before the explosion and were told to open the doors for ventilation!!) This procedure has been blamed for at least 7 major explosions in the United States since 1997 according to federal documents. In an odd twist, just 3 days before the fatal blast, the US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued an urgent recommendation for tougher safety codes governing the practice. It criticized current codes for strongly recommending, but not requiring, that gas lines being purged be vented outside. Nor do they explicitly require the evacuation of all non-essential personnel during the process or the use of gas detectors.

My hope is that Ontario has tougher codes in place, and that Oakville, in return for the $1 million in taxes it will receive annually, will do its part to ensure on behalf of all Oakville residents, that such codes are being stringently met. After all, we know that accidents can happen, and there can be horrible repercussions. That’s why kids have to wear bike helmets, and ski helmets, and hockey helmets. That’s why we have house insurance and car insurance and seat belt laws. So, in closing, to all Oakville families – have a great Family Day, but most importantly, stay safe in all your Family Day activities!!

The Ugly Duckling May Win The ROI Game

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AKA: The house with your best Return on Investment (ROI) may not be the sexiest! They say in a wardrobe, build with the basics…you can never go wrong with the classics…flashy accessories and trends will come and go. When writing a script, structure is king. A great photograph demands great composition. And in the case of a great house, smart buyers in today’s market know what to look for. It’s important to look past the ‘pretty picture’. Go beyond the décor and buy based on location. Make sure the house has good ‘bones’. And especially in this market, ACT QUICKLY!!

I realize you’re buying a dream, but your dream lays in structure and layout, not the previous owner’s furniture and decorating skill. Visualizing is often the toughest part for potential homebuyers. Only about 10% of buyers can picture themselves living in the home when handed a Builder’s layout. That’s why they invented Builder’s Models. If a home lays empty while on the market, chances are it won’t sell for what it’s worth. That’s why we have Stagers. And here’s a thought: If you can’t visualize, but think you may have a gem, ask for a second showing ASAP and bring an Interior Decorator. He or she can sketch it out and bring it to life as ‘your’ home. Another thing I find is that Clients often ‘say’ they want a fixer-upper, but really they want something closer to picture perfect, so be honest with yourself before you begin the process of home shopping.

Remember, if you’re buying brand new, character will be missing – but that’s just window dressing. Any potential homeowner should buy based on the 3 L’s: Layout, Lot and Location. All the other stuff is easy to change. It’s the unsexy features that may just be your purchase decision tipping point – windows, roof, furnace and the like. So the bottom line: To get the best ROI on your home purchase, the Ugly Duckling may win in the end!

And now a quick word about the current market. Can I say “IT’S ON FIRE”? Or should I just say it’s hot hot hot. Either way, if you’re thinking about buying or selling, make your move NOW! Demand is high, supply is short – and that may just change in the second half of the year when we expect to see interest rates rise. Want a consult? I’m available. Need to know what you can get for your house? Just ask. If it’s in the right area (North Oakville), I will be coming to the table with a list of potential buyers looking to move in. (And for my buyers – I will knock on doors to find you the right home!!)

Krisztina’s 411 Back With New Episodes!!

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A New Year and a new episode of Krisztina’s Real Estate 411 (Real Estate Tips for Real People).. Now let me catch you up…in Episodes #1 and #2 we covered Choosing a Real Estate Agent, discussing the qualities you should look for as well as other considerations such as Area Specialists, Commissions and Brokerages. In Episode #3, experts are interviewed about Staging and Home Improvements for Resale which I called Preparing to List. Episode #4 covered the Marketing Plan, The Open House, the Virtual Tour as well as Internet and Print Advertising. Which brings us up to date. Now I am pleased to bring you Episode #5: The Purchase (How to select homes to view, the Offer and the Home Inspection). Sadly there will only be one more Episode in my Real Estate 411 series which will concentrate on The Closing (the mortgage and the legals), so I hope you enjoy!!

As I mentioned, this episode concentrates on the 3 Key Steps to finding your dream home:

1) Selecting homes to view

2) The Offer

3) The Home Inspection

Before I go house hunting with any Client, I ask them to prepare 3 Lists: A ‘Would Like to Have’ List, A ‘Must-Have’ List and a ‘Dream’ List. Then we narrow the search by discussing areas, home styles and pricing. It is important for me to really listen to my Clients so that I may get to know and understand their home-buying needs. Once I have my Clients out looking at homes, I ask them to make notes and will typically limit a viewing day to 4-5 homes. It is essential that I have already narrowed the search and that they recall the details of each home they have seen.

When we move onto the next step, The Offer, I ensure that my Clients are educated in the housing market and understand current market trends. That means looking at recently sold homes in the area as well as considering upgrades and the location.

If an offer gets drawn up, I encourage my clients to put in 2 clauses: 1) A Home Inspection and 2) Financing (if it is required). In my mind, the Home Inspection is the best $3-500 you’ll spend for your safety and assurance. It is crucial to find out any deficiencies in your new home and to make sure it meets safety measures.. Adrian Guertin (APG Home Inspections) refers to this as the last step in the home buying process, but perhaps the most important. This is the only time you can really examine the house from the foundation up to the attic and insulation. You can look at all the major components from the HVac to Electrical to Plumbing and Small Hazards. I agree wholeheartedly with Adrian when he says a Home Inspection will eliminate any ugly surprises. Some dealbreakers Adrian has encountered: major electrical issues, foundation problems, previous flooding and asbestos. Personally, I have had a Client walk away from a deal when the Home Inspection revealed mold issues.

For smaller problems, you can approach Home Inspection issues with an amendment to the Offer by having the old homeowner fix certain things like roofing, windows or leaky basements. But be prepared for minor issues – you WILL have them. As a rule of thumb, I have been advised that if you have to spend 1% of the home’s value on minor home improvements, it’s a GOOD home. Less than 1%, then the home is in EXCEPTIONAL shape. If it is more than 1%, you should RENEGOTIATE THE PRICE OR TERMS.

I’ll finish here with another quote from Adrian: “A Home Inspection may be the least expensive part of the process, but it might be the most important!”

I encourage all of you to check out previous episodes on my YouTube channel, ‘NorthOakvilleAgent’ and I look forward to bringing you the final episode of Krisztina’s Real Estate 411 in 2 weeks.

Going the Extra Mile

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First, a special thanks to all my clients and neighbours who ventured out last week to my Christmas Open House. It’s especially nice to spend some time socializing over a glass of wine instead of over a Purchase Agreement (although that’s fun too!!).

December is always an interesting month in Real Estate. It’s our year-end, people are relaxing into the holidays and it’s easy to slow down and believe no one is interested in thinking about listing their home. However, experience has taught me not to slack off during this time. If anyone is contemplating a move in the spring, now is the time that they’re thinking about choosing a Real Estate Agent. The “weather outside may be frightful” but that doesn’t stop me from going to old-school methods – DOOR KNOCKING!!! There’s nothing like the face-to-face approach for spurring homeowners to action – and the cold weather may even get you invited inside for an eggnog!! Armed with a list of clients looking to move into the area, I have achieved great success in securing listings by pounding the pavement and chatting with homeowners. I hope I never treat this business so cavalierly that I stop Door Knocking. I believe it is an integral component of my marketing strategy – and ultimately of my success in the Real Estate field. (And as marketing costs go, Door Knocking is definitely a great return on investment!!) And when I ‘simply don’t feel like it’, I have given my Office Manager, Cathy carte blanche to kick me in the behind and get said behind out there!!

If you’re thinking of a move, I say avoid the spring rush, and list your home in January. Property prices are on the increase minute by minute and if you act now, I believe you will get more money for your home. Come spring there will be more properties on the market and more competition, thus driving home prices slightly downward. And remember, even if you list in January, you can put your close date into the spring. (And let’s not forget that looming HST July 1st date. Although in the long run, I do not believe it will affect the overall market, I do think that people will react in the short term and try to move properties before July 1st.)

As I’ve already mentioned, I’m headed to Germany mid-month to spend Christmas with family, but I will be working right up to my flight departure and will be back at it before you can say ‘Happy New Year!’ Some people call my dedication “Going the Extra Mile”. Me? I just call it loving what I do and being there for my clients.

THE VIEW FROM OAK PARK

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Margarita Madness

As a Real Estate Agent working in the north Oakville area, I know houses. And even if the home you are looking for is not listed, I can sti ll find it for you. I can also tell you most of the restaurants in the Oakville and Oak Park area. But what I can’t tell you is who serves the best Margarita in the Oakville area ! I know, I know – Mojitos and Caipirinhas are all the current rage, but I confess, I still like a good Margarita. I’m a traditionalist or some might say a purist when it comes to my Margarita. Rock salt rim, real lime juice, triple sec (NO bar mix!), served on the rocks and – most importantly – premium tequila! I am not fan of the frozen Margarita, and having just learned some of them can have upwards of 800 calories, I say beware! I also say, for the ‘at home’ cocktail, Oak Park seems perfectly designed. Our quiet back patios are ideal for entertaining and our front porches are the place to sit, sip a drink, watch the world go by and invite a neighbour over for a cold beverage.

To date I have had 2 noteworthy Margarita experiences. The first was at Uncle Julio’s Hacienda on W. North Ave. in Chicago. They are a small chain hailing from Dallas and they custom-make their Margaritas from any of 15 tequilas! And, as an added bonus, they are located conveniently close to the Crate & Barrel Outlet and Z Gallerie, both go-to destinations for Home Décor. (And their website is darn fun!!) The second great Margarita was at Hotel California in Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico. About an hour north of Cabo San Lucas this small artist colony town makes for a great day of exploring and Hotel California makes a great stop to recuperate from all that exploring! The actual Hotel California is incredible – it was renovated in 2005 and despite the fact that Don Henley denies any connection to his song, it doesn’t stop them from piping in The Eagles. The Hotel explodes in purples, reds, hot pinks, oranges, periwinkles and pulsating shades of green and golden yellows. (It’s amazing how well all the colours work – but I could only imagine doing it on a vacation property!) Breathing in the fragrance of the tropical flowers as you sit at La Cornela Restaurant and Bar makes anything taste great, but even my husband had to admit the margarita was superb.

So my hunt is on. Please feel free to make some suggestions for Oakville’s Best Margarita. I’m quite willing to do all the taste testing. As for the best home patio Margarita, I have to award that to my Office Manager, Cathy Braun. But if you would like my opinion on your own concoction, and try to oust her ranking, I would be happy to give it a try!! And thanks to many of my Real Estate Clients, who celebrate buying a new house by inviting me over and serving up their own cocktails – it’s always appreciated!
Oh, and a Margarita recipe I found that I’m going to try at home: 1 Container Frozen Limeade, 1 Container Triple Sec, 1 Container Tequila, 3 Containers Water…Serve over Ice. Yum!

Patio Party Anyone?

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I’m feeling that summer has arrived (finally) and so thought it would be appropriate to talk a little about backyard patios – particularly since our Oak Park neighbourhood design gives most Oak Parkers a unique little backyard enclave. With careful planning and consideration, a backyard patio can be the perfect extra living space for the summer without building walls! OASIS. PARADISE. SANCTUARY. MEDITATION ROOM. HAVEN. If any of these words sound appealing to you, then that’s the first step in designing your open-air room! Everyone should have a space that provides an escape from the daily grind as well as a peaceful setting for hosting family and friends. Outdoor spaces have come a long way in recent years. Fade resistant and waterproof furniture, gazebos, outdoor fireplaces (check your local by-laws), ornate planter boxes, patio heaters, outdoor wireless speakers, speakers disguised as rocks and tin fence art (check out Winners/Homesense) are just some of your considerations. Start with a great foundation. Whether it’s brick, stone, concrete or wood, having a dream patio can be achieved by anyone! And if your patio consists of a hot tub or outdoor grilling area, you may want to consider different levels for your patio. Give some thought to your colour scheme. It seems the Romans knew a thing or two when it came to outdoor rooms and colour. Their surviving frescoes consistently use soothing water and earth tones. Although we may have more choices today when choosing furniture and accessories, aim for a uniform look that evokes a serene feel. If you want to create a cozy atmosphere for long evening conversations, lighting matters. Consider solar powered lamps in your flowerbeds and wall lanterns. Even small spaces can be split – think about creating an eating area and a sitting area (or as I like to call it, a cocktail area!!). One of my neighbours has done both, covering her eating area with a gazebo strung with lights and it looks stunning. Little things make a difference. Think about accessory pillows, planters and matching tableware and glassware. The more you love your space, the more you’ll use it. In this current economic environment, we’ll all be spending more time at home, so we deserve a great outdoor space. For more inspiration, invite friends over, try a new recipe on the grill, create a specialty drink for the evening and put a fun summer music mix on your iPod dock.

If you’re not currently in a position to upgrade your home with a move, then upgrading your home with a great outdoor living space is the next best thing this summer. And if you’re considering selling, finishing off your backyard space will increase the visual appeal, and ultimately the value of your home. Home Real Estate prices have been quickly returning to their pre-recession levels according to the latest data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (although number of transactions as well as number of homes on the market are down). This means that committed buyers and motivated sellers are the ones currently moving properties. And I can testify to that – all my listings have been moving quickly!

Doomsday? No Way!!

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On the front page of The Globe & Mail recently was a headline: “Spring brings sales thaw as brokers see new signs of life in housing market (Hints of recovery as volume of existing home sales up 7 per cent in March)” Month after month, housing activity continues to demonstrate that market fundamentals in Canada are different than those of the housing market recession under way in the United States. Inevitably some markets will be softer than others, but Oakville is proving to be quite resilient.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) provides a monthly overview of the housing market in Canada. They compile statistics of properties sold through MLS and tracks market trends for prices and properties sold. The average selling price of a home in Canada is still trending upwards, although volume sold is down. In February 2009, CREA declared that home activity is expected to decline in 2009 before rebounding in 2010. National MLS sales activity declined 17.1% in 2008 and sales activity is forecast to fall an additional 16.9% in 2009. This would be Canada’s lowest level since 2000. (Note – BC, AB and ON lead the decline.) The CREA then expects home sales to rebound by 9.9% in 2010.

We are caught in a cycle where consumer confidence has been eroded because of job losses. The essential selling ingredients in today’s market are: realistic pricing, marketing and preparation – the holy trinity of real estate, which I consider to be my best strengths. Supply will take time to adjust to lower demand, but sellers unwilling to accept offers below their expectations will remove their home from the market. Fewer active listings reduces buyer choice and, in time, puts a floor under prices.

The plus for us? Buyers are drawn in as Bank of Canada cuts interest rates. (And word is, another cut is on the way.) This allows improved affordability in most markets, especially from first time home buyers.

Despite the doom and gloom, there are multiple offers on some properties. My home sales movement has remained on the upswing and I am as busy as ever. My keys to maintaining sales in this tougher economy – consummate professionalism, looking at the big picture before I put a house on the market (back to the holy trinity – pricing, marketing and preparation) and always, of course, working my butt off!!!

HST Hysteria

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Announced in our last fiscal budget, starting in June 2010 and creating quite a stir, Ontario will soon join Quebec and the Atlantic provinces in harmonizing the 5% GST and the 8% PST into a 13% HST. The move is getting mixed reviews, particularly in the housing sector, with headlines reading “Yet another demand on Ontario’s already overtaxed homeowners.” On a single detached house priced at $360,000, HST could add $2325.25 in new taxes to closing costs. Or it could add $1731 to the price of new homes. But let’s be realistic here. Is this really making resale less affordable? I say NO! Agreed, services currently only charging 5% GST (Home Inspections, Real Estate Commissions, Mortgage Insurance Premiums and Legal Fees) will now have to charge 13% in HST. But my position is three-fold. First, with the drop in mortgage rates, and the current environment of giving credit-worthy homeowners opportunities to renegotiate and shop their mortgages, inclusive of penalties, housing is already much more affordable. Secondly, housing demand and supply are equalizing – meaning those that really want to, or need to sell, are pricing their homes appropriately and fairly in order to attract buyers. Sellers who were looking for the quick investment turnaround are rethinking their positions. Thirdly (and probably most importantly), service pricing will adjust. Real Estate Agents will negotiate for a selling price that reflects the HST. Many lawyers will offer (or are currently offering) flat service fees. And so on down the line. The bottom line is that the harmonization of the taxes mean that small business owners will benefit and can pass on that savings. Take my own situation: I currently pay PST on a number of things for my business – gas, car maintenance, office supplies etc. Prior to harmonization, that 8% was considered a cost of doing business. It was an unrecoupable cost. With the harmonization, although I will have to cash flow the outgoing HST, I will be able to balance that with the incoming HST and recoup any difference. I feel that this is good for manufacturers, good for big business and good for small business. The Atlantic Provinces harmonized in 1997, and not much happened. The only issue was cash flow for paying the tax. Yes, businesses will have to change their accounting systems and Point of Sale systems to accommodate the new tax, but the government is offering up to $1,000 in Small Business Transition Credits (for those businesses with less than $2M in revenue). On an even more personal note, my husband works in the film industry where one project can be on the hook for thousands of dollars in unrecoupable PST. They pay it on rental cars, gas, service, props, set decorating pieces, wardrobe etc. The harmonization would allow a film to actually hire an extra person or two with the cost savings!

So in closing, I do not see this as a poison pill for the Real Estate industry. In the end it will be…as Shakespeare once said, ‘Much ado about nothing!!’

Oak Park Moms & Tots Fundraiser