Friday, December 18, 2009

The Known Universe

Anyone who knows me moderately well will know I'm kinda a geek when it comes to science, science fiction and the universe. Basically I am fascinated by what we know and more importantly DON'T know about our existence. Without getting into a deep philosophical debate, I'd just like to share this wonderful animation, outlining the perspective of the SCALE of our universe. It made me feel absolutely insignificant, and amazed.

Check it out!




Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Monday, December 14, 2009

Blackberry Bold (my communication weapon of choice) mixes Pleasure with Business


Reprinted from The Globe and Mail



A lot of folks like to pick on the Blackberry because it isn't as much fun as the iPhone. There's a sense among some that one Android phone, for example, will differ from another, but a Blackberry is still, at the end of the day, just a Blackberry.

But there's a reason so many people lose their minds once they're separated from their Blackberrys – what RIM's device does, it does really well. And the new Bold 9700 might just be the best Blackberry we've ever seen. There are no great departures from the traditional model, sure, but the Bold still looks tremendous. RIM is slowly trying to make the phone sexier for the average consumer, but they'll be damned if they sacrifice the no-nonsense business capabilities of the Blackberry in the process.

Ups: This is one mighty fine-looking Blackberry. The keyboard has been compressed somewhat from previous iterations, and yet manages to provide a better typing experience than any other phone we tested. RIM has replaced the trackball – which we often broke on previous versions – with a sort of flat track pad. This comes in mighty handy when web browsing. Anyone who has tried to use the trackball to browse the web on a Blackberry knows how frustrating an experience it is to find yourself maniacally skipping from one link to the next. In the Bold, you control a mouse with the track pad, giving you much better control of where you want to go on a page. Web browsing still isn't nearly as good as on the iPhone or the top-end Android phones, but it's far better than it used to be on a Blackberry.

RIM makes few changes to its traditional user interface with the Bold. The home screen contains some of the most-often used functions, such as the mailbox and the calendar. Touch the menu button, and you're transported to the full slew of options. Essentially, the learning curve for anyone who has ever used a Blackberry before will be about 10 seconds long.

Downs: There are no monumental changes here, just a really good version of a well-known smart phone. The Blackberry may still do typing and push email better than any other phone, but it's no longer the only product offering such functions as push email. The non-core functions, such as the media player and the camera, aren't as good as many other phones, especially those with a similar price tag. RIM's Blackberry app market is substantially larger than some of its competitors, such as Palm, but still lags far behind the iPhone.


Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Open house, sunday December 13, 2-4 PM - 1201 Nellis st, #5

1201 Nellis st, #5

I am hosting an open house at a fantastic 3 bedroom 2-storey condominium, from 2-4 PM on Sunday, December 13th from 2-4 PM.

This is a very nicely decorated home, with 1.5 baths, a finished rec room, updated flooring, and nice fresh paint. Move in ready - comes with fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer!

Only $126,900!!!

See you there!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative
Re/MAX a-b Realty LTD
Brokerage: 519.536.7535 ext 487

Open house today, 2-4

Open house, Saturday december 12, 2-4 - 89 Canrobert st - 2+1 bedroom ranch, double garage, double drive, many extras - $221,900.
Ben Sage, Sales Representative
Re/MAX a-b Realty LTD
Brokerage: 519.536.7535 ext 487

Thursday, November 19, 2009

RBC drops fixed interest rates

From Corey Cunningham, RBC Mortgage Specialist

With all the news lately about mortgage rates on the verge of climbing, I am very happy to report that rates have dropped for most of our fixed rate terms.

Variable closed remains very popular amongst most clients at PRIME (2.25%).

Our most attractive fixed rate term I suggest would be the 3 year at 3.85% which will line up nicely with the next presidential election. And if history repeats itself, like it usually does, that's always a time for lower interest rates.


Please email Corey @ corey.cunningham@rbc.com for more details and to discuss your mortgage!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Did you know? Re/Max edition...



Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Kids are so gullible, AKA. the Physics of Santa Claus

The Physics of Santa Claus, Thanks to "Robbo Delicious"


1. No known species of reindeer can fly. BUT there are 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified, and while most of these are insects and germs, this does not COMPLETELY rule out flying reindeer which only Santa has ever seen.


2. There are 2 billion children (persons under 18) in the world. BUT since Santa doesn't (appear) to handle the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist children, that reduces the workload to 15% of the total - 378 million according to the Population Reference Bureau. At an average (census rate of 3.5 children per household, that's 91.8 million homes. One presumes there's at least one good child in each.


3. Santa has 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to the different time zones and the rotation of the earth, and assuming he travels east to west (which seems logical). This works out to 822.6 visits per second. This is to say that for each Christian household with good children, Santa has 1/1000th of a second to park, hop out of his sleigh, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining presents under the tree, eat whatever snacks have been left, get back up the chimney, get back into the sleigh and move on to the next house. Assuming that each of these 91.8 million stops are evenly distributed around the earth (which, of course we know to be false but for the purpose of our calculations we will accept), we are now talking about .78 miles per household, a total trip of 75.5 million miles, not counting stops to do what most of us must do at least once every 31 hours, plus feeding and etc.This means that Santa's sleigh is moving at 650 miles per second, 3000 times the speed of sound. For purposes of comparison, the fastest man-made vehicle on earth, the Ulysses space probe, moves at a poky 27.4 miles per second - a conventional reindeer can run, tops, 15 miles per hour.


4. The payload on the sleigh adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child gets nothing more than a medium-sized lego set (2 pounds), the sleigh is carrying 321,300 tons, not counting Santa, who is invariably described as overweight. On land, conventional reindeer can pull no more than 300 punds. Even granting that "flying reindeer" (refer to point #1) could pull TEN TIMES the normal load, we cannot do the job with eight, or even nine. We need 214,200 reindeer. This increases the payload - not even counting the weight of the sleigh - 353,430 tons. Again, for comparison - this is four times the weight of the Queen Elizabeth.


5. 353,000 tons traveling at 650 miles per second creates enormous air resistance - this will heat the reindeer up in the same fashion as spacecrafts re-entering the earth's atmosphere. The lead pair of reindeer will absorb 14.3 QUINTILLION joules of energy per SECOND, EACH! In short, hey will burst into flames almost instantaneously, exposing the reindeer behind them, and create a deafening sonic boom in their wake. The entire reindeer team will be vaporized within 4.26 thousanths of a second. Santa, meanwhile, will be subjected to centrifugal* forces 17,500.06 times greater than gravity. A 250 pound Santa (which seems ludicrously slim) would be pinned to the back of his sleigh by 4,315,015 pounds of force.


In conclusion - If Santa ever DID deliver presents on Christmas Eve, he's dead by now.


Happy Holidays!!!


Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Open House, Today, Sunday November 15, 2009 - 41 Canrobert - 2 - 4 PM


Good Day all!



I am getting ready to head out to 41 Canrobert St, in Woodstock to open a GREAT starter house. The home would be a perfect start for your family, or a fantastic upgrade. Get out of renting or condo living and enjoy your own detached, well decorated 3 bedroom home with finished basement, a single garage, parking for two cars, a private fenced yard, and a two tiered deck! This move-in-ready home comes with all the appliances too!!!

See you there, 2-4 today, or book a private showing with me!! Click HERE for more information

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Friday, November 13, 2009

The leafs are masters of the crisp "tape-to-skate" pass. Winners

Ben Sage, Sales Representative
Re/MAX a-b Realty LTD
Brokerage: 519.536.7535 ext 487

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Court Orders B.C. Home Inspector to pay couple $200,000

Reprinted courtesy of The Globe and Mail

A home inspector has been ordered to pay nearly $200,000 to a North Vancouver couple who were told the house they wanted to buy only needed basic repairs.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled Imre Toth was “negligent” and provided “woefully inadequate” estimates after his inspection of the house in September 2006.

Mr. Toth's report estimated house repairs would only cost about $20,000, when in fact they totalled more than 10 times the amount at $200,000.

The judge found the buyers wouldn't have purchased the $1-million home had they been made aware of the extensive rotting beams and other structural problems.

The judgment says another inspector found water weeping from a wooden beam that he easily sunk his knife into, along with several cases of fungus growing.

Mr. Toth is a member of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (BC), a self-regulating association that licenses its members.

The Canadian Press




Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Great opportunity for a first time buyer or upgrading! - MLS 63-437 - 41 Canrobert St, - Move in Ready, only $189,900.


*hint* - click the underlined words for more detail!


This is a great 15 year old raised ranch located in a well established family friendly neighbourhood. It is located very close to parks and has quick and easy access to the major highways.

What more could you ask for? This sturdy, fully finished and move in ready home features a concrete foundation, 3 bedrooms (Master, 3rd Bedroom/Office, Nursery). and a full bathroom on the main floor, as well as main floor laundry, a spacious eat-in kitchen, and separate dining room. Plus a comfortable living room!

In the newly finished basement level you will find inside entry to your single car garage (a rarity in this neighbourhood!), extra storage in the utility room and under the staircase, a spacious full bathroom, rec room, family room, and a bonus room.

Enjoy year round convenience and efficiency thanks to the high efficiency forced air gas furnace with central air conditioning, and no-maintenance exterior of brick and vinyl siding.

Let’s not forget the nice two-tierd deck in your fully fenced back yard. This extremely well decorated home has plenty of space for your growing family, and is ready for quick possession! All appliances included. Be sure to check out the Virtual tour!

For Room Sizes and additional details, check out the Realtor.ca info page

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Thursday, November 5, 2009

With the Christmas holidays approaching ... Here's a LOL for ya!

epic fail pictures
see more Epic Fails

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Flu Shot Impatience: Let's try a dose of Reality

Reprinted from The Globe and Mail

Written by Andre Picard

Could we please stop all the bleating and whining about the waits for the H1N1 flu vaccine?


Honestly, how long do people think it takes to develop, test, manufacture and package 50.4 million doses of vaccine?


How long do people think it takes to distribute those doses across a country as massive as Canada?


And how long do they think it takes to administer vaccine to the 34 million people who could potentially get it?


Wading through the letters to the editor, the posts, the political rhetoric and the often self-serving recommendations from interest groups on how to resolve the “crisis” in H1N1 immunization, one cannot but despair at the unrealistic expectations placed on public health, and on science.


Sorry, folks, but real life is not a CSI episode, where scientific Gordian knots are unloosed in one hour flat, with time to spare for romance and a half-dozen commercial breaks.


Swine flu (H1N1) first came to light in March of this year. The new virus was isolated and genetically decoded in record time.


Then, with very little firm information on how the pandemic might evolve, key decisions needed to be made: Was this a real threat? Should a vaccine be developed? If so, how much should we buy?


In the real world, it takes about six months to produce industrial quantities of vaccine. You harvest some seed stock and then you grow the virus in eggs. It takes time.


Canada decided early to err on the side of caution and invoke its pandemic preparedness plan. That includes ordering enough vaccine to immunize 75 per cent of the population with two doses each.


That was a $400-million decision and it was the right decision. To second-guess it now because the H1N1 is not as lethal as it might have been is disingenuous.


Fast forward to the fall. Production of the actual vaccine actually begins. There have been no delays. The vaccine started rolling off the production line at GlaxoSmithKline in Ste-Foy, Que., in October. It had to be tested and then held for a certain time to ensure there is no contamination.


Sensibly, the vaccine went first to the farthest reaches of the country and last to areas closest to the plant. Naturally, all 50.4 million doses were not available at once. Rather, there will be an average of three million doses a week through December.


Then came the hard part: Getting the vaccine into people – the right people. Because stock is limited, there was a need to set priorities. The process for this is laid out in the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan whose goals are 1) to minimize serious illness and deaths and 2) to minimize social disruption.


Admittedly, there have been some glitches. But, examined dispassionately, the mass immunization has hardly been a disaster. In fact, at least three million people have already received the vaccine and we're still in the early days of the rollout.


The main difficulty has been the impatience of the public. Underlying the stampede to flu shot clinics has been the illogical notion that everyone can be first in line.


Public-health officials have perhaps not been clear enough in their messaging. From the get-go, they have said there will be vaccine for everyone. They have perhaps not emphasized that this availability would be spread out over a period of 12 weeks, and there would be waits.


The greatest frustration has been the long lines. The question is: Were they avoidable?


In the ideal world, absolutely; everybody and their dog has offered up suggestions on how the immunization clinics could have been better run. Many of these suggestions imply that there is no other health care to deliver in this country but flu shots to healthy people.


In Canada, we have built ourselves a tremendous sickness care system. But, despite the lessons of SARS, we have a pretty clunky, under-funded public-health system. It can do the basics like routine immunization but has no ability to carry out massive short-term projects like a universal pandemic immunization program.


There is no surge capacity, no easy way of shifting resources so there can be well-staffed, around-the-clock flu vaccine clinics. The suggestion that priority patients get bracelets is a good one, but where is the information going to come from in a system without electronic health records? Sending the vaccine to family doctors is great in theory too; but are they going to drop everything to give shots?


There is no ability – meaning time and money – in our current system to plan ahead. If the clinics look like they are being run by the seat of the pants it's because they are.


The Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial health agencies have little or no power, and a laughable amount of resources. Clinic locations and staff were begged and borrowed. Nurses are doing yeoman's work but they can't vaccinate a million people a day.


We have a wonderful pandemic plan but good intentions are not enough.


Today, we are reaping the harvest of decades of under-funding of public health.


As the Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote:


In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes of mice and men

Go often askew,

And leave us nothing but grief and pain,

For promised joy!



Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Luxury housing sales edge higher as purchasers take advantage of buying opportunities in Ontario-Atlantic Canada, says RE/MAX

Mississauga, ON (November 3, 2009) -- Luxury homes sales continue to accelerate as economic
recovery takes hold in major markets in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, according to a report released today by RE/MAX.

The RE/MAX Upper End Report found that momentum is building in St. John’s, Saint John, Halifax-Dartmouth, Ottawa, Kingston, Greater Toronto, Hamilton-Burlington, and London as purchasers realize that the best buying period in recent history is about to come to a close. Sales are already on par or ahead of last year’s levels in 50 per cent of cities surveyed, while the remaining markets are set to reach 2008 figures by year-end.

“Twelve months of healthy home buying activity have clearly been crammed into five short
months,” says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “It’s hard to believe that the transition in the market began in May. We’ve seen steady upward
momentum since that time, with solid year-over-year gains posted each and every month.”

Pent-up demand and greater affordability have been the catalyst. Increased selection in all markets—except Greater Toronto—as well as record low interest rates have also helped fuel moveup activity from Ontario to Newfoundland.

Leading in terms of sales appreciation is London, Ontario where the number of homes sold, priced in excess of $500,000, has climbed 11 per cent from January to September 2009, compared to one year ago. Greater Toronto and Ottawa both reported a one per cent increase in the number of homes sold in the top end during the same period. Within the GTA, Richmond Hill/Thornhill is particularly heated, with sales up 24 per cent over 2008 levels, followed by Mississauga— up 10 per cent. St. John’s, Newfoundland is on par with year-ago figures.

Of the six markets reporting a year-over-year decrease in sales, four are off by just a handful of
transactions (10 units or less), including Halifax-Dartmouth (off eight units), Kingston & Area (off three units), Toronto – West End (off 10 units), and Oakville (off five units). Activity in the
remaining two markets—Saint John and Hamilton-Burlington—is on the upswing, with the gap between 2008 and 2009 narrowing each month.

“A considerable shift is underway in the upper end,” explains Polzler. “The price correction that we witnessed earlier in the year is over and prices have since firmed up. Conditions are more balanced across the board or leaning toward seller’s territory once again. The one exception is the Greater Toronto Area -- now largely a seller’s market -- with bidding wars making a comeback amid tight inventory levels. The strength of the luxury segment is evident. This is now a real estate market with all sectors working in tandem.”

Highlights:

  • Upper end sales started to move upward as positive indicators of economic recovery began to emerge. The momentum is expected to continue as Canada edges closer to positive periods of GDP growth in Q4 2009 and in 2010.
  • Locals are fuelling luxury sales in the majority of markets surveyed. Activity among out of-province and international purchasers has waned from one year ago, although their presence in still evident in some markets.
  • Sixty-one properties in Canada are currently priced over $10 million, with 18 of those located in Ontario. The priciest Ontario home is nestled in Toronto’s prestigious Bridle Path area, listed at $23 million.
  • Three hundred properties currently listed for sale are priced over $5 million in Canada.
  • In Atlantic Canada, there are 22 listings in excess of $2 million—13 in Nova Scotia, five in New Brunswick and two in Prince Edward Island. The most expensive property in Atlantic Canada is a $7.75 million estate on a bluff fronting the Atlantic Ocean on PEI’s north coast.

RE/MAX is Canada’s leading real estate organization with over 17,000 sales associates situated throughout its more than 677 independently-owned and operated offices across the country. The RE/MAX franchise network, now in its 36th year, is a global real estate system operating in more than 70 countries. Over 6,700 independently-owned offices engage nearly 100,000 member sales associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, and asset management. For more information, visit: www.remax.ca.

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Monday, November 2, 2009

The United Way Year End Drive


Hello Everyone!

One of the benchmarks of the health of a community is the ability of the United Way to reach its yearly target. In previous years the real estate sector has not been a strong contributor to the yearly campaign. I plan to change that!!

I am personally pledging to donate $50 per closing until the end of the year, and I have asked all of my fellow real estate agents to do the same!

Every mailbox in Woodstock should have, or will shortly receive, a Re/Max a-b branded United Way donation envelope. You can also make a difference. Make a donation today and support this worthy cause! Alternatively you can drop by the United Way office (Springbank Ave - just north of Zehrs), call them with a credit card number (519-539-3851), or call me and I will happily stop by to pick up your donation!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. http://www.bensage.com http://www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Friday, October 30, 2009

Making Sense of Mortgage Rates in Today's Economy - From Corey Cunningham, Mortgage Specialist RBC

Making sense of mortgage rates in today’s economy

Many prospective homebuyers are wondering what has happened to mortgage rates in 2009, and where they may go from here. RBC Economics Research recently updated its’ outlook, and here is what the group has to report.

Since hitting a low in January of 2009, longer-term interest rates have trended higher with the move accelerating in July. The prospect that the worst is over for the global economy is giving investors the confidence to venture out of low-return fixed income securities and seek higher risk investments. While we expect many bumps on the road to recovery we still see potential for a very modest decrease in long-term rates in the final quarter of this year.

Outlook for the future

Momentum in the global economy appears to be changing. Leading indicators currently point to the end of economic contraction for the industrialized world in the third quarter of 2009. Stimulus from central banks, combined with government fiscal stimulus packages, is expected to support a fledgling recovery that is forecast to build momentum in 2010.

Until this recovery is well underway, no changes to policy rates are likely. The Bank of Canada is expected to maintain the status quo until mid-2010. Once the recovery is well established, central banks will normalize their policy rates, and interest rates are likely to increase.

Fixed vs. variable rate mortgages

One of the biggest decisions homebuyers face is choosing between a fixed or variable rate mortgage. This is not a simple decision, which is why many people are looking for advice to help them decide which mortgage interest type is best for them, based on their personal circumstances. I can help homebuyers and homeowners decide which option best fits their situation and risk tolerance.

Mortgage rates continue to trend at historic lows, despite the fact that fixed rates have edged up recently. In this environment, people who are comfortable without a guaranteed rate are opting for a variable rate mortgage. Such a strategy could result in considerable interest savings.

What homebuyers choose should depend on how they feel about rate fluctuations and their cash flow. For example, a first time homebuyer may want assurance that the rate, payment and repayment schedule will not change, and may be wise to opt for a fixed term. A homebuyer who is not concerned about rate fluctuations may want to take advantage of today’s low variable rates in a bid to save more on mortgage interest over the long term.

Today’s flexible mortgage products let you bridge the gap between these strategies. For example, the RBC Homeline Plan lets homebuyers split their mortgages and enjoy the advantages of both variable and fixed rates within a credit limit of up to 80% of the value of the home. The variable portion offers potential long-term savings, while the fixed rate portion offers rate protection. The dividing line is entirely up to the homeowner.

RBC has many resources available:

· Fixed or variable rate – know your options

· Consider the security of a fixed rate mortgage

· The advantages of a variable rate mortgage



Get more information

RBC publishes free research information. It’s easy to stay informed. Register at www.rbc.com/economics for automatic email delivery of new reports.

Your new home doesn't come with mortgage advice. I do.

Contact me today:
Corey Cunningham
Mobile Mortgage Specialist
RBC Royal Bank
(519) 535-2682
corey.cunningham@rbc.com
http://mortgage.rbc.com/corey.cunningham

The statements and statistics contained herein have been prepared by RBC Economics Research based on information from sources considered to be reliable. We make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness.

® Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. © 2009 Royal Bank of Canada.

Asbestos and your Home - Courtesy of Jamie Woodend

If you are thinking of buying a home built before the 70's chances are it
may have some asbestos in it. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used in
construction applications for the greater part of the 20th century. Often
appearing as insulation, piping, roofing, flooring and other items asbestos
in most forms is not dangerous, it is the dust that contains deadly fibers.

Exposure to damaged airborne asbestos fibers can lead to the development of
a severe lung ailment known as mesothelioma. Diagnosis of this
asbestos-related lung illness is a difficult task due to a long latency
period and many symptoms mimicking less serious ailments.

If you locate any suspected asbestos in the home, most experts suggest
leaving it un-disturbed until a home inspector can examine your property,
take evaluations and determine the safest course of action. Sometimes the
best action is no action at all. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may
cause its fibers to be released into the air.

There are companies that can assess, survey and remove asbestos with
qualified asbestos abatement professionals. With a professional staff, they
can help determine if you have asbestos and assist you in determining the
most logical method of managing the problem- disposal or removal. Most work
under provincial and federal regulations to ensure no health concerns arise
from improper removal.

If the home you are thinking of purchasing (or currently own) contains
asbestos don't panic but make inform choices.


Jamie Woodend
Sales Representative
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Homeowners should brace for increased debt

Reprinted courtesy Chronicle Herald

BANK OF CANADA governor Mark Carney has repeated his concern that Canadians may be getting in over their heads in the purchase of homes, saying the government has ways of slowing the market.

Carney told a Senate committee Wednesday afternoon that the central bank is conducting an analysis of whether Canadians are taking on too much debt, particularly in buying homes.

Canada’s housing market has rebounded more strongly than other parts of the economy with sales at times at record levels, although prices remain depressed.

The central banker said ""exceptionally low" mortgage rates are luring Canadians into taking on mortgage debt to purchase homes. Deputy governor Paul Jenkins said the effective variable rate is at 2.25 per cent, a post Second World War low.

"Over the lifetime of a mortgage, they will normalize (so) it’s only prudent that people look through the life cycle of rates to ensure they are borrowing appropriately," Carney said.

"And it’s also appropriate and prudent that financial institutions (lenders) take that into account as well."

High debt at extremely low teaser mortgage rates that eventually spiked higher eventually led to a collapse in the U.S. housing market. That triggered a financial crisis on Wall Street and the recession that swept around the world in the last 18 months.

Carney said he does not believe the central bank should use its power to raise interest rates to discourage Canadians from taking on too much debt, but he added there are other means of achieving the same result.

He noted that policy makers have the ability to influence financial institutions that issue mortgages, both through regulation and pressure, including the ability to change the terms of mortgage insurance.

Last July, Ottawa tightened the rules for government-guaranteed mortgages by limiting the maximum amortization period to 35 years and by requiring a minimum five per cent downpayment on house purchases.

Carney said he was speaking hypothetically, but added: "If this were to persist, there are other options. The housing market is subject to considerable regulation and policy influence.

""That would be the way to approach it."

Carney expressed concern over the potential creation of a housing asset bubble last week, but Wednesday’s comments were the first in which he speculated what action policy makers might take.

In other testimony to the banking committee, Carney said he was confident Canada’s economy would recover, although weakly, and that private businesses will be in position to carry growth forward once government stimulus spending winds down.

Government stimulus will add about one per cent to gross domestic product next year, one third of the growth projected by the bank, he said.

"Once government stimulus is withdrawn, the bank expects at the beginning of 2011 that corporate investment, private investment will increase," he said.



Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

New Listing - 585 Sales Dr


Realtor.ca link - MLS #63-341

This is a gorg­eous, well appointed, open concept home, close to 401/403, in immediate vicinity of the new Woodstock Hospital, close to parks and shopping and with all the amenities desired by the modern family. At only 1 year young, this nearly-new home has only been nicely broken in. With durable finishes such as ceramic and laminate flooring, a large double garage, and main floor laundry, this home is ready for your family, while the beautiful kitchen and open concept living room with dramatic cathedral ceiling will impress your guests. Call today to book your private showing! Immediate possession available. All RSA.


Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

New Listing - 597 Sales Drive


This gorgeous new quality built 2150 sq ft Bungalow is waiting for you! The gorgeous stone exterior is just a hint of the quality found in this home! Inside you will find an amazing, open concept floor plan with dramatic vaulted ceilings, a large main floor master bedroom with ensuite bath and walk in closet, main floor laundry room, and an exciting loft with its own bathroom and two more bedrooms. Finished with quality materials such as hardwood flooring in the great room and ceramic tiles in the bathrooms and kitchen areas, and painted in tasteful modern colours, not to mention beautiful dark stained oak kitchen cabinets and oak hand railings. Don`t wait for this one to pass you by!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Friday, October 23, 2009

On Monday Morning, don't bother with Timmies - come get your coffee here!

Please support the Alzheimer Society of Oxford county by stopping by Re/Max a-b Realty at 521 Dundas St on Monday Morning, October 26th between 8:30 and 10.

Come in, say hi, pick up a cup of coffee on your way to work. All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer Society of Oxford County.

Look forward to seeing you here!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Ok, so, its 6:41, and I've been on the highway for 45 minutes, and gone about 6 km. Right now the car is off. Good times.

Ben Sage, Sales Representative
Re/MAX a-b Realty LTD
Brokerage: 519.536.7535 ext 487

Saturday, October 17, 2009

It would be impossible for the leafs to suck any more. That is all.

Ben Sage, Sales Representative
Re/MAX a-b Realty LTD
Brokerage: 519.536.7535 ext 487

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Alzheimer Coffee Break - Please join us and support the Alzheimer Society!

Monday, October 26th, 2009 8:30-10 AM, at 521 Dundas St, Woodstock.

Come and enjoy your morning coffee with us, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer Society!


Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Kitchen Reno - part whatever: Repainted, Cabinets in, No hardware, countertop not done yet....

Here are a few shots of the cabinets installed. The countertop isn't finished yet - it shipped with a small crack in it, and Caseys Creative Kitchens is getting us a replacement piece. It won't be delivered until Tuesday though.

We should have hardware and appliances tomorrow night, but my next update won't be until I get back from a thanksgiving weekend away.












You might be able to tell by these photos that I have re-painted the entire kitchen. When we got the countertop into the room we noticed that the paint was really not working with it. Sooooo, I stayed up until WELL after midnight doing two coats of paint on the walls. Yep, two more coats. I was not pleased. Shockingly.

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

First rumours of interest rate hikes surfacing

With Australia raising their interest rates, and the broader economic picture in Canada on the cusp of recovery, the first hints are coming down the pipe that the bank of Canada may not hold to its prediction that the overnight rate stay at 0.25% until mid 2010.

What does this mean to you?

If you're thinking of buying in the next 2-3 months, get to your lender and get yourself a "rate guarantee." This will give you a certain amount of time to act while still getting today's rates. Typically up to 90 days.

If you're thinking of selling shortly, get going. As you will see by viewing my blog, we are actually approaching a sellers market at the moment, with supplies dwindling and the cost to borrow remaining historically low, now is the time to get top dollar for your home.

If you're staying put in your home, consider speaking to your mortgage specialist today to explore your options in terms of re-financing to get that great rate, or fixing your variable rate mortgage to avoid the inevitable interest rate uptick.

Good luck, and call me if you have any questions!


Ben Sage, Sales Representative
Re/MAX a-b Realty LTD
Brokerage: 519.536.7535 ext 487

Housing Supply Shortage sparks bid wars

Today the Globe and Mail (courtesy of The Canadian Press) has confirmed what many agents have been saying for weeks now. They have eager buyers, and a stale inventory.

What does this mean? If you're thinking of selling, now is the time. Price it right and you will get it sold quickly and for a good dollar. Call me today for an evaluation of your options!

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Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON


The housing market may be recovering, but is experiencing an undersupply of homes for sale in southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

That's according to the latest house price survey by Royal LePage.

It says with the recession retreating, home prices are stabilizing and unit sales are increasingly driven by improved affordability.

Royal LePage says the average price of a two-storey home in Canada is up just 0.1 per cent from a year ago at $409,335.

Average bungalow values grew 0.06 per cent year over year to $341,146, while the price of an average condo increased 0.09 per cent to $243,748.

Royal LePage says a shortage in housing supply is leading to bidding wars in several cities, including Toronto, Montreal, St. John's, N.L.; St. John, N.B. Moncton, Edmonton, Calgary, North and West Vancouver, and Victoria.

While the Atlantic provinces saw a strong recovery in home prices, western provinces have been slower to recover from significant price corrections in 2008, particularly in British Columbia and Alberta.

Ontario and Quebec saw home prices stabilize or gain slightly year over year with much of the recovery occurring in a strong third quarter.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

We chose a higher quality vinyl flooring, as it is less expensive, looks good, and is easier on your feet/knees/back. The flooring was supplied and installed by Ricks United Carpet, who I would recommend to anyone. They were very professional in all aspects of supplying the flooring, and the product looks great, and was well installed.



Marley was scared to walk on it at first.... She's weird.





Just today the cabinets are being delivered and installed.




More to come!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

The Kitchen Reno - part 5: "Surfaces"

I used Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer on the ceiling. It has high adherence, seals porous drywall mud, and stops greasy stains from transferring through the new painted surfaces.

Two top coats of ceiling paint was used to guarantee a smooth flat finish. I used that fancy paint that starts pink and dries white. Its easier to see where you've already painted!



A coat of Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 was spot painted on all the drywall mudded areas, and the walls were all painted with one coat of ICI tinted primer.

Two top coats of Diamond Matt ICI paint were used to give a washable, flat finish. Flat paints hide minor wall imperfections, and the light colour will contrast our dark flooring and cabinets nicely (hopefully!!!)

Now that the "big dust" is gone, Marley is once again allowed in the kitchen area while i work!





Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

The Kitchen Reno - Part 4: "Rebuilding"

I've started taking fewer pictures at this point. The progress gets much slower, and more boring to watch. Plus I'm busy working on it and forgetting to take pictures as I go.

This is Bill Boulton - the man behind "The Handy Hubby" was contracted to help me with the drywall / plaster wall and ceiling repairs. I say "help" but I really mean "work while I watch and try to learn."

Some of the deeper differentials in the ceiling were filled with 1/2" drywall. I wasn't even aware that they made drywall that thin, but Bill found some, and screwed it in place. Taped the seams, and the mudding fun began.



Since we're not sure exactly whats happening on the "backsplash" area of the walls, we had to concentrate on making it as smooth as physically possible, considering that the fake bricks left holes of various shapes and sizes throughout the entire backsplash area.




Basically, three different phases of mudding were used. Bill is excellent at drywall repair, and is very much a perfectionist. I'd recommend him for any home-repair or renovation job.




Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

The Kitchen Reno - Part 3 - "Electrical"

This is a new circuit, to be a single lamp above the new corner-sink. One of the benefits of doing a total reno is that you can do the electrical properly. We ran 3 more circuits to the kitchen, including one split-outlet, and proper GFI outlets where necessary. We also repositioned a couple light switches to fit under the new cabinetry, and added a proper phone jack to the "desk" area of the new kitchen.



The box that we cut out of this location was behind the old fridge. I'm no electrician, but I'm under the understanding that a fridge should be on its own circuit.... When we pulled the "fuse" for the fridge circuit, my beautiful wife informed us that we had cut the power to the entire upstairs as well (except the smallest bedroom). That means that we had been running the fridge, lights, exhaust fan, hair straightener, and hair dryer at the same time on a single 15 amp circuit. I don't know how we never blew that fuse!



Marley has been the biggest victim of this renovation. She gets shuffled to the basement, or the back yard, depending on the weather at the time! poooooor marley.





Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

The Kitchen Reno - Part 2.2: Demolition! Day 2

On Day 2 of Demolition, we took out the ceramic flooring. There's no real graceful way to take this type of flooring out, other than to smash it to bits and shovel it into buckets. One tip I offer is, if you're going to go the sledgehammer route, take a heavier blanket (in this case we used some discarded curtains) and place it on the floor. Hammer the tiles underneath the blanket in order to keep the dust down. It's a dirty job, but anything you can do to keep the dust down is a plus - it really helped!

Another thing worth noting, is that hammering the crap out of the floor will make a mess in the area below where you're working. Lots of little sawdust bits, chunks of wood, and dust were distributed throughout the basement while we smashed the floor. Don't know how you can stop that, but you should be aware!




You're doing a great job Bruvey.



The view after the ceramic floor was removed. At this point we weren't sure exactly what we should do about the levelling compound that was all over the floor. I had assumed that, since the original ceramic floor had been improperly installed, it had actually been installed directly onto the subfloor, without adding a new layer. Well, I was wrong again - All we had to do to clean up the levelling compound was pull up that top layer of subfloor and chuck it in the bin.



After trying several different methods of removing the sub-floor, we found that the teamwork-garden-shovel method worked the best. After that, we just ripped all the pieces off the floor and discarded them! You want a good quality, heavy steel garden shovel with a good lift to act as a lever to pry the flooring free. After the subfloor was removed, I had to crawl around on my hands and knees and pull out all the screws that were used to hold that subfloor layer in place. Thank god they missed the studs on most of the screws, and I was able to use a claw-hammer to rip em out.



It's more work when the plywood "rips" but, we were learning!




Here's the load we took to the dump. Our dumping fee was only $55. Just over 1 ton of rubble (not including the appliances). Much better than the $400 it would have cost me to have a dumpster. You were right honey. :)










Ben Sage, Sales Representative. Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. 519-536-7535. 521 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON