We safeguard your private info. The government wants to crack it wide open....

Original Press Release HERE

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Competition Bureau Threatens to Dismantle Privacy Safeguards of Home Sales... 75% of Ontarians Opposed

March 14, 2012 – Today, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released the results of an Angus Reid Vision Critical poll. The vast majority of Ontarians clearly expressed their opposition to abandoning the privacy safeguards of the current MLS® system.

When asked about the consequences of the Competition Bureau’s actions, Ontarians expressed concern:

• 75% of Ontarians believe that personal information such as name and final sale price should be kept
confidential by REALTOR® professionals. Commissioner Aitken wants to release this information.
• 70% of homeowners do not want their personal contact information released to the public. Commissioner
Aitken wants to release this information.
• 67% of Ontarians oppose any measure to make personal contact information such as name and address
available to others who are not subject to a professional code of conduct. Commissioner Aitken wants to
release this information.

“The results of this poll are overwhelming,” said TREB President Richard Silver.” TREB strongly believes that REALTORS® have an obligation to protect consumers’ personal information. That’s why TREB and REALTOR® Members are fighting for the privacy rights of consumers.”

The Competition Bureau is taking action that would force TREB to abandon the safeguards in the MLS® system and make personal information publicly available on the Internet, threatening the privacy and safety of GTA consumers.

If the Competition Commissioner gets her way, consumers’ private information, which is currently protected on our secure MLS® system, would become freely available on the Internet, including:

• Seller’s name and address
• Property floor plans
• Sensitive Property access information
• Negotiated sale price
• Mortgage details

“Ontarians clearly oppose what Commissioner Aitken is trying to do. They’ve said they want their personal and private information kept confidential,” said Von Palmer, Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer and Chief Privacy Officer for TREB.

If Commissioner Aitken gets her way, Ontarians won’t. Privacy matters. TREB is standing up for GTA consumers.

Visit www.ProtectYourPrivacy.ca for more information.

Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Over 34,000 TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area.  The Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board


Ben Sage, Sales Representative. www.facebook.com/SageAdviceRealEstate  www.bensage.com www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. www.a-brealty.com

Yard Sale for the Cure 2012 COMING SOON!

Hello Friends,

If you're anything like me, you've started (or are at least THINKING about starting) your spring cleanup.  Sorting through stuff that's been hanging around for a while, thinking of what to get rid of and what to hang on to for another year.

I'd like to ask that as you're cleaning / tidying for spring, if you'd think about me, and the annual commitment that  my brokerage undertakes to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  Every year, the Realtors at my office pool their resources and throw a huge Yard Sale!  This year, the event will be on Saturday, May 26, 2012.  Venue not yet confirmed.

We will be having Drop off Days in the coming months, so stay tuned to this space for more information on those dates and locations. 

What we need is gently used items of reasonable value to sell at the yard sale!  Unfortunately we can't take large appliances, large furniture, clothing, or old electronics.  Anything else is fair game!!!

Please set aside any items of value, and either bring them to a drop off location, or give me a shout, and I'll happily come and pick up the stuff!

Ben Sage, Sales Representative. www.facebook.com/SageAdviceRealEstate  www.bensage.com www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. www.a-brealty.com

Ben's thoughts on a Retirement Plan for a low-rate world.

Since 2007 I have been a licensed Real Estate Salesperson, and since 2008, I have also been a Real Estate Investor.  More or less from the start of my career in the Real Estate business, I have seen a low rate environment. 

The persistent low rates have caused prices to remain stable, or increase in several markets, despite a tumultuous economic background.  The have allowed homeowners to refinance and take advantage of lower payments or shorter amortizations, and in some cases may have saved homeowners from default (perhaps after a job loss, or layoff). 

If you have read the news at all in the past two years, you've likely seen repeated messages from Mark Carney at the Bank of Canada, warning Canadians to stop gorging on cheap credit, as many Canadians may be leaving themselves vulnerable to shocks when rates inevitably move upwards.  At the same time, you're seeing messaging from Banks and Investment firms claiming that the current crop of Baby Boomers is about to begin retiring (The first of the BB's turns 65 in 2012....  Yikes), and that many of them are entering their retirement years without sufficient savings to live the type of lifestyle they have grown accustomed to in their working years.  In addition, we're now entering into an era of fiscal austerity in Canada, and especially Ontario.  With government programs such as Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan in a state of constant revision, can you really afford to be complacent with your retirement plans?  The banks and the investment firms all say "Save your money," or "Top up your RRSP" or "Open a TFSA" etc. etc. etc.  But in a low rate, stagnant growth, high risk monetary environment, who feels confident socking 10% of their income away in an RRSP? You could always invest in GIC's, but the paltry 1- 1.5% growth offered in these guaranteed investments will result in a net loss, as we see inflation surging forward at over 2%.  Are you counting on a Pension?  I wouldn't.  Who knows what might happen to that pension you've socked your money into for 20 + years?  Many examples exist TODAY of Pension mismanagement. 

And here's my point.  If you are worried about the risk exposure or lack of growth in your RRSP portfolio, mismanagement of your pension, or cuts to government social assistance for retirees, and you want to explore a different avenue for investment, TAKE CHARGE of your retirement plan.  Look towards Investment Real Estate as a supplementary income for your retirement years.  USE MY EXPERIENCE and THE CURRENT MARKET SITUATION TO YOUR BENEFIT. 


So, why aren't you using today's low rate environment to your advantage?  Leveraging the bank's cheap money and the practical value of real estate to improve your equity position and ultimately build a solid retirement income level is a great plan to supplement your existing RRSP plans, company pension, and government assistance. 

It's too much work, Right?  Wrong.  Managing income properties isn't overly difficult.  As with any investment strategy, there ARE some risks involved in it, obviously, however increasing numbers of young adults are more interested in risk that they can understand and control, rather than risk exposure at the hands of some bureaucrats in the European Union, or the United States Senate.  With my experience, we can get you on a plan to minimize your risk exposure and start building the portfolio that will earn you the income level you desire in your retirement years.  This takes time though, so we should start NOW!!!

Banks are now fighting for your mortgage money, with 5 year fixed rate mortgages at 2.99% as of March 7, 2012, and 10 year fixed rates at 3.99%.  Crazy!  Seize this opportunity. 

Come talk to me today, and I'll show you my Real Estate Investment portfolio, and get you started on the path to passive income in retirement. 







Ben Sage, Sales Representative. www.facebook.com/SageAdviceRealEstate  www.bensage.com www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage. www.a-brealty.com

Woodstock Recreation and Leisure Fair

The 8th annual event is Sunday, March 4, 1-4 p.m. at Cowan Park on Ridgewood Drive.

Organized by Woodstock Recreation Advisory Committee this free community event features information on minor sports, adult sports, hobbies (photography, crafts, etc), groups who research history, collecting clubs, choirs, dancing, acting, singing, musicians (arts and creative arts), service clubs, and sports clubs to join -- perhaps badminton, cycling, lawn bowling, curling and even kids' tackle football.

For more details contact Glynis Hill at the City's Community Services department at 539-2382.

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

Title Insurance - More Than Just Fraud Protection

How much do you really know about title insurance? This article explains how title insurance can protect you against more than just fraud...

What's in a title? - Mortgage Broker News


Ben Sage, Sales Representative.
Re/Max a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage.
519-536-7535
521 Dundas St.
Woodstock, ON N4S 1C3
www.facebook.com/SageAdviceRealEstate
www.bensage.com
www.oxfordcountyhomes.ca

Whats Happening in Woodstock, Feb 2012 Edition

Hello again!

It's time for a market update. These statistics reflect Residential Real Estate Sales information (excluding condominiums) in Woodstock, Ontario. These statistics were generated using information from the Multiple Listing Service.

For the year end Average Sales, we have once again seen a slight increase in average sale prices in Woodstock.   Woodstock Residential sales averaged $218,102 in 2011, up 3% from 2010.

It looks like the Average Sale Price for a Residential property in Woodstock in January 2012 was $226,245 which is up from $225,082 in December of 2011, up 1% over January of 2011. 

This chart shows current Residential Listings, compared to Residential Homes Sold in Woodstock.  As of Feb 1, 2012, Woodstock showed 266 Active homes for sale, and 30 sold within the month of January.

I hope you find this information useful and informative - if you have any questions about this or other Real Estate related matters, please feel free to contact me!

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

When is an 8% return on investment actually 35% ???

Good day all!

Many of you know that I am not only a Real Estate Salesperson, but also a Real Estate Investor.  The purpose of this blog post is to show how you can absolutely demolish returns expected through traditional stock-market investments through Real Estate Investment.

So, how is it possible to earn HUGE returns on your investment in this volatile marketplace?

Let's use my new listing at 42 Vansittart Avenue in Woodstock as an example.

Asking Price is $157,750.
Both units are currently rented, grossing $16,800 annually. 
Landlord covers Property Taxes ($2,138 annually), Water ($1,100 annually), and Water Heater Rentals ($380 annually)
You should probably have insurance too ($600 annually).

This leaves a NET OPERATING INCOME (NOI) of $12,582.  

When you consider that you'll earn $12,500 on a purchase price of $157,750, you end up with a RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) of 7.92% or, 8%. 

This 8% return on investment assumes that you paid $157,750 in CASH for the property. 

Not a bad return, when I consider what my Mutual Fund portfolio looks like at the end of 2011......but....

BEHOLD the POWER OF LEVERAGING!

Suppose, however, you decided take out a mortgage on the property, as opposed to pay cash for the full amount.  How does the investment look then?

Well, you'd need a 20% downpayment (thanks to the instability in the global markets, investors need to pay 20% upfront in order to purchase "speculative" property).

So, your 20% downpayment would be $31,550.

Lets assume closing costs at 1.5% (may be more, may be less, depending on certain circumstances).  Another $2,366.25.

Your total out of pocket expense would be $33,916.

We now must add the cost of borrowing that money into our expenses.  Year 1 on a mortgage (using 4% fixed/15 years) would cost you $4,893, reducing your ROI to $7,688

Considering you've only invested $33,916, and you're earning $7,688 on that investment, it now shows a return of 23%.

TRADITIONALLY, PROPERTY VALUE IS AN APPRECIATING ASSET

Calculating Capital Appreciation based on 2.5% annual increase in property values (historically, increases have been much higher than that, however, lets be reasonable here - historic increases are largely unsustainable, and a more conservative approach is prudent) shows a further gain of $3,950 in equity.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE.....

After the first year, you've seen a 23% return on your cash investment, and you've seen an appreciation in the asset of 2.5% or $3,950 (representing a further 12% return on your cash investment), for a TOTAL RETURN ON CASH INVESTMENT of 35% in your FIRST YEAR!

MONEY OUT = $33,916

CASH RETURN = $7,688
CAPITAL APPRECIATION = $3,950

(TOTAL RETURN = $11,638) 

Divided By 

(TOTAL INVESTMENT = $33,916) 

 equals 

34% ROI

CALL ME TODAY TO GET STARTED!

 











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