I am excited about Re/Max Curbside Marketing

For almost a year now (I keep telling you we're ahead of the curve), the office of RE/MAX a-b Realty ltd and its agents have been working with Quick Response Codes.  Many of us have implemented these codes into our marketing program, using them on our business cards for profile/contact information, or inserting them into feature sheets or onto lawn signs for quick access to information.



With the launch of Curbside Marketing, RE/MAX has made it absolutely simple to implement an advanced information system as a key part of marketing your listings.

For my listing clients, I am now including a custom sign rider (I'm sure you've seen these before) that doesn't simply have a URL on it (www.whateveraddress.com) as it has in the past.  The sign rider will now contain TWO methods of gathering information; the first is a "Short Code" that you may text on your phone (free of charge, of course), and receive INSTANT information on the listing you're sitting in front of! (Photos, description, property description and details, as well as video!).  The second is the trusty QR Code, which, for the more savvy Smartphone users, can be scanned by your phone's camera, and bring up the listing information without keying a single digit/letter into your phone!

Cool eh?


Watch this space for more, as I roll out this amazing service for my selling clients.


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

New Listing - 597 Sales Drive

Realtor.ca link

RealTour.ca Virtual Tour (Derek McGrath's Virtual Tour!)

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

Government softens impact of HST on new housing

Reprinted courtesy of CREA


The Government of Ontario is proposing two measures that will soften the impact of the harmonized sales tax (HST) on new housing. The HST was introduced in the 2009 Ontario Budget.

Under the first measure, the province proposes to enhance the new home HST rebate so that it
would be calculated as 75 per cent of the provincial portion of the HST payable on the purchase
of a new home, up to a maximum rebate of $24,000. Under the government’s initial proposal only homes under $400,000 qualified for the 75 per cent rebate.

Similar to the enhanced new housing rebate, the province is proposing a rebate for new residential rental properties. Landlords who purchase new rental homes would be eligible for the rebate, calculated as 75 per cent of the provincial portion of the single sales tax payable on the purchase of a new rental home, up to a maximum rebate of $24,000.

The province is also proposing HST transitional rules for new housing. Generally, as part of the
transitional rules, sales of new homes under written agreements of purchase and sale entered into on or before June 18, 2009 would not be subject to the provincial portion of the single sales tax, even if both ownership and possession are transferred on or after July 1, 2010.

For more information on the HST - click HERE

There you go - buy your new house before June 18, 2010 and save!

Housing affordability improves, RBC says

Reprinted courtesy of cbcnews.ca

It's becoming easier to carry the costs of home ownership in Canada, but a survey by RBC Economics on housing affordability suggests this may be as good as it's going to get.

Home ownership became more affordable in the second quarter, the bank said Wednesday. It was the fifth straight quarter that the measure improved, it said.

"The national home affordability level has been restored to pre-housing boom levels," senior RBC economist Robert Hogue said in a statement.

But he warned that consumers shouldn't expect affordability to improve much more.

"The recuperative phase of the affordability cycle seems to be drawing to a close, with housing prices firming up in many parts of the country, and mortgage rates no longer trending downward," Hogue said.

Most banks lowered their mortgage rates in the last week, reversing this summer's earlier rate hike. A five-year fixed closed mortgage can now be obtained at 4.19 per cent at many banks and as little as 3.99 per cent at a few smaller financial institutions.

The RBC affordability study measures the percentage of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of buying a home (mortgage payments, utilities and property taxes).

Housing affordability - bungalow
City	Q2/09 (% of pretax income needed)	Q2/08
Vancouver	63.4	76.8
Calgary	35.7	46.2
Edmonton	33.8	41.8
Toronto	46.5	54.2
Ottawa	38.6	42.4
Montreal	37.3	41.4
CANADA	39.1	45.4
Source: RBC Economics

The study found that it took an average of 39.1 per cent of income to pay for a detached bungalow in the three months ending in June — down from 39.7 per cent in the first quarter.

The priciest market continued to be Vancouver, where it took 63.4 per cent of pre-tax income to service a bungalow purchase.

Nationally, the RBC study found that affordability also improved for two-storey homes, townhouses and condos.

Despite predictions that home affordability is levelling off, RBC economists say the recent bounce-back in the housing market is not likely to wane any time soon.

"Supply of properties for sale is dropping as demand bounces back, which is working to heat up prices again in many parts of the country," RBC's Hogue said.

Figures from the Canadian Real Estate Association showed that 50,270 homes changed hands in July via MLS — a record for any July.

The average residential resale price rose 7.6 per cent from a year ago to $326,832.

Announcing the launch of our amazing new website!

Woodstock/Stratford/St.Mary's is proud to announce the launch of our new brokerage website!

Check it out here -> Remax a-b Realty Ltd

First Time Home Buyers - What a GREAT time to buy!!

Are you thinking about buying your first home? Has the recent recession reduced home prices to the point that you're considering diving into the world of home ownership?

Now is DEFINITELY the time to act.

Contact me right now to find out how I walk buyers through the entire process of buying their first home, from the very first private showing, all the way through to personal pizza delivery on moving day, I will be with you every step of the way.

Here are only some valuable areas I can provide assistance:

Introduce you to a mortgage specialist. A friendly person, who will meet you in your home on your own terms to discuss your plans, and get a pre-approval.

Arrange private showings on listings that we select together. Ride in my car, if you want. I keep it running well and its (normally) very clean!

Benefit from my knowledge of Woodstock. Where will my kids go to school? Where can I find the best ice cream in town? Who does the fastest oil changes?

Assist through the process of making an agreement to purchase. Negotiating a purchase price that works for your budget, drafting conditions to protect you and your future investment, advising on aligning dates that work for you.

Recommending professional tradespeople to perform any services that you might require. As a real estate agent, a homeowner, and an investment property owner, I meet and use lots of Home inspectors, mortgage specialists, insurance agents, movers, cleaning services, plumbers, electricians, property maintenance, etc.

Show you how you can maximize your purchase and get thousands of dollars in government rebates for home renovations, deduct thousands of dollars from your income taxes, pay no land transfer tax, cash in your RRSP's tax free towards your downpayment, and benefit from historically low interest rates.

Respond very quickly to any requests you make. By embracing technology, I am equipped to receive your email, text message, and voicemail requests instantly and endeavour to always respond as soon as possible. Even if it's as quick as "Hey Bill, I got your Message. I'm on the 14th hole. I will respond to it as soon as I return to the office!"

So with property prices down, and rent steady or increasing, why not take the plunge? I go above and beyond with every step. Take advantage of what I'm offering today!

Call me - 519-536-7535 ext 487