Moving Forward into the new Year!

The Canadian Real Estate Association

(CREA) has issued its forecast for

home sales activity via the Multiple

Listing Service®. Based on an overall

view of current and expected

Canadian real estate activity, CREA

anticipates that national sales in

2012 and 2013 will remain roughly

on par with the 10-year average,

with 2012 ending up slightly above

and 2013 slightly below average.

The national average price is

expected to edge lower by one tenth

of one percent to $364,500 in 2013,

with Ontario and British Columbia

registering small price declines

amid modest average price gains in

other provinces.

"All real estate is local, so

housing market prospects

can and do differ among

regions and communities,"

said Wayne Moen, CREA

President. "For that reason,

buyers and sellers should

talk to their REALTOR® about

the housing market outlook where

they live."

In this rapidly changing real estate

environment, the services of your

real estate sales representative are

more essential than ever. Let’s work

together in 2013 to realize all your

housing dreams. Until then, best

wishes for the holidays, and a happy,

healthy New Year!

CNSF

as the holiday mayhem winds up and 2012 winds down, you may be

thinking ahead to where you’ll be at this time next year. is a move in

your personal housing forecast?

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Compliments of Nadene Milnes and Kristina Tardif

Volume 8, Issue 12

Clutter Caution

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Stress and Other Negative Emotions Studies have shown that clutter can be a source of constant, low-grade stress, whether because it assaults the eye and brain with too much visual stimuli, resulting in feelings of “information overload”, or because clutter is a visual reminder of the work you feel you should be doing – that is, cleaning up. Clutter can also engender feelings of lethargy, shame, hopelessness, and a loss of control over one’s life and may be felt by the whole family.

Time and Money Clutter isn’t just a psychic drain, it’s a drain on your time and finances too. When you have a place for everything and everything is in its place, things are easy to find; when you live in clutter, you waste valuable time and energy every day looking for things – things that may be right in front of you, but obscured by clutter. A disorganized home can also cause us to waste money: we may not pay bills on time, or buy duplicates of items we “lost” or didn’t realize we already had, for example.

Your Social Life Does the thought of having guests over send you into a tailspin of anxiety? Is getting ready for company an all-day event? Have you stopped inviting people over or making friends because you’re embarrassed about your home? Are you habitually late for appointments because

you’re held up looking for things, causing conflict with friends and family? Or perhaps people have begun to treat you differently and are uncomfortable or avoid spending time in your home.

Living in the Past Holding onto “stuff” can be a way of holding onto the past. When we’re tied down by the memories that are tied to our belongings, it’s hard to move forward in life, to achieve our goals and address persistent problems. To put it in Feng Shui terms, "nothing new flows into your life until you make room for it". In other, more familiar words — out with the old and in with the new. Remember, you don’t need to hold on to the item in order to hold on to the memory.

Safety and Sanitation Clutter can make a home difficult to navigate through, increasing the likelihood of trips and falls – something you especially want to avoid in homes with children or older adults. Speaking of children, clutter makes it easier for them to get their hands on things they shouldn’t. It also makes it harder to keep your home clean, as it obscures surfaces and collects dirt itself, leading to excessive dust and perhaps mold, which is particularly problematic if anyone in your home has respiratory sensitivities.

Much has been said about the effects of clutter on homebuyers and home sales, but what about its effects on you and your everyday life? Most of us have a little clutter in our homes, which poses no threat to our quality of life, but for some, it can have a negative impact on our happiness and healthfulness. Here’s how.

It's got to go!New, or Not?

Volume 8, Issue 12 3

every homebuyer has a decision to make: resale or new construction? each offers distinct advantages, but when it comes to the buying process, they’re more similar than you might think.

When you buy resale, there are no years of waiting before you can move in, and once you do, you won’t be surrounded by ongoing construction. There are fewer surprises: what you see is generally what you get, both in terms of the home itself and character of the neighborhood, which, in being established, likely has more amenities. As well, buyers of resale homes may have greater flexibility when it comes to negotiating on price and other terms.

Should you decide, however, that a new-construction home is the right choice for you, don’t let the excitement of “new” blind you to the fact that you need to take the same steps to safeguard your best interests as you would if buying resale. Steps like:

Working with your own real estate sales representative, if there’s a buyer-broker arrangement in place. The builder’s onsite salespeople are there to represent the builder’s best interests. You need someone to look out for your best interests, which your real estate representative is obligated to do.

Have the home professionally inspected before you agree to buy it. Unfortunately, new-home buyers frequently waive their right to an inspection, believing that a brand new home is a perfect home. But as many homeowners can attest, new-construction properties are certainly not exempt from defects.

Shop around for a mortgage lender. Builders sometimes have onsite lenders – though convenient, they might not offer you the best deal. You could save thousands by shopping around for a mortgage just as you would for any other product.

Whether looking at new construction or resale, your real estate sales representative will guide you in making the right decision for your needs.

You. At least during showings. With you there, buyers may feel self-conscious, not wanting to comment or ask questions, and feel rushed, taking less time to tour your home than they would in your absence. Plus, you might say something you shouldn’t have.

Pets. Just as you can distract or scare off buyers, so can your pets; as such, it’s best they be absent for showings too. Some people are allergic to, scared of, or simply dislike animals; you wouldn’t want a negative pet-related experience to sour a buyer on your home.

A theme room. Your favorite animal, your favorite sports team – whatever the theme of your room, when you list, it’s time to replace it with neutral décor. While theme rooms are a cosmetic issue, many buyers simply can’t see past them and find them an instant turn-off.

Clutter. Speaking of instant turn-offs, clutter tops the list. It makes a home look less spacious, presents an obstacle for buyers in terms of being able to imagine themselves and their belongings in the space, and gives the impression the home hasn’t been well looked after.

Anything of a personally revealing nature that might prejudice buyers against wanting to deal with you. Remember, when selling your home, neutrality is key, not just in terms of what shade of paint is on the walls, but in terms of what you reveal of yourself to buyers.

How you live in your home before it goes on the

market is very different than how you live in it after

it goes on the market. Below are five things that

shouldn’t be in any home you hope to sell.

Turkey Dumpling Soup

Ingredients for Stock:• 1 roasted turkey carcass • 6 cups each: chicken broth

and water • 1 celery heart with leaves• 1 onion

• 1 carrot• 1/2 bunch fresh parsley• 1 bay leaf• Salt and pepper, to taste

Ingredients for Soup & Dumplings:• 1 cup each: carrots, parsnip,

tomatoes – chopped • 3 cups cooked turkey

– diced

• 2 cups biscuit mix• 2/3 cup milk• 1 tbsp. fresh parsley –

finely chopped

1. Combine all stock ingredients in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for three hours.

2. Strain broth, discarding bones, vegetables and bay leaf.

3. Return broth to stockpot. Add chopped vegetables and cooked turkey. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Combine biscuit mix, milk and parsley. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto simmering broth. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a dumpling comes out clean (do not lift the cover while simmering).

Directions:Terminology TipMean vs. Median Home Price — The mean (or average) home price is the mathematical average of all the prices of homes sold during a certain period. The mean price of homes sold may run higher than the median price if there are a number of very high-priced homes in the group.

The median home price refers to the mid-point of prices, where precisely half of the homes sold for more than the median price, and half sold for less. Median home sales numbers usually provide a better gauge of home prices than the mean sales price, because homes sold for exceedingly low or high values only count as one unit when determining the median.

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Office:705-422-2350

Web: Email:www.WasageLife.com info@wasagalife.com

Whether you are buying or selling a home, we are here toassist you and your family with all your real estate needs.Please feel free to call us with any questions. We lookforward to speaking with you.

Nadene & KristinaKristina Tardif

& Nadene Milnes

Compliments of Nadene Milnes and Kristina Tardif Compliments of Nadene Milnes and Kristina Tardif

The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the published information. This newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Not intended to solicit properties or businesses listed for sale and agency agreements in place with other real estate brokers. Whole or partial reproduction of this newsletter is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. © Market Connections Inc.® 2012, Phone: (800) 387-6058.

© 2012. An independently owned and operated broker member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. a Prudential Financial company. is a registered service mark of The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

Office:705-422-2350

Web: Email:www.WasageLife.com info@wasagalife.com

Whether you are buying or selling a home, we are here toassist you and your family with all your real estate needs.Please feel free to call us with any questions. We lookforward to speaking with you.

Nadene & KristinaKristina Tardif

& Nadene Milnes

Compliments of Nadene Milnes and Kristina Tardif Compliments of Nadene Milnes and Kristina Tardif