Wolseley Classic...only $119,900

Open House Sunday October 28th from 1-4 pm, offers are being looked at on Monday October 29th. 

 

Looking for an amazing, affordable condo with a fantastic location? 

"The Rothesay", designed by Winnipeg architect H.E. Mathews, built in 1912

This charming 529 sq. ft condo offers all of that plus more! Newer Maple Kitchen cabinets with slate counter tops and ample storage, remodelled bathroom with modern sink/vanity, claw foot tub and a generous sized master bedroom. Mixture of hardwood floors and cork flooring throughout. This unit is Pet friendly, has its own separate entrance and a separate storage locker included.

On approved credit, with 5% down you could live here for under $800 a month! (that includes taxes, condo fee’s & hydro) Cheaper than rent!!

To view this wonderful condo please contact Lee Ann Dueck of The Tony Marino Team for your private viewing at 204.782.8536 or email at houses@mts.net.

Ways to go Green

Easy Ways to "Go Green"

These days, most people want to do their bit to help the environment.

Unfortunately, not everyone is willing, or able, to install solar panels on their

roof or implement an in-ground heat recovery system.

Luckily, there are many smaller things you can do that can make a big

difference. Here are some ideas that can help you "go green" easily and

inexpensively.

Get a recycling bin and learn how to use it.

Most jurisdictions have a

recycling program. You may be able to get a rebate on your recycling bin or

even get it for free. Keep a list of items that can be recycled on your fridge

door, so that everyone in the family can participate.

Get a kitchen compost bin.

Find out if your jurisdiction has a compost

pick-up program. If they do, get a kitchen compost bin. Composting can

reduce landfill waste by as much as 32%.

Use energy-saving light bulbs.

Low energy light bulbs have come a long

way in recent years. Their consistent glow and brightness now rival their

incandescent counterparts. By replacing regular 40-watt bulbs with energy saving

8-watt bulbs, you could save nearly 50% of the electricity you used

for lighting. Results may vary by brand.

Shop for local produce.

Many grocery stores and supermarkets offer

produce – fruits, vegetables, – that are grown within a 100 mile radius. The

short transportation distance, means significantly less fossil fuel is required

to get the produce delivered to your local store. Keep in mind that some

non-local produce, such as apples in the off-season, often need to be

transported thousands of miles.

Let nature do the work.

As an alternative to air conditioning, open windows

and block out the passive heat gain from the sun with curtains. Do the

opposite in winter. Strategically using curtains and windows can lower your

energy bill by as much as 20%.

As you can see, you don't have to do much to have a "greener" home. Just

a few little changes can make a big difference.

And here's a little real estate related info...

How to budget for closing costs

If you're shopping for a new home, you would be using the The Tony Marino Team, of course, so we would make you aware that there will be
 

some costs over and above the purchase price. It makes sense to budget

for these costs so you're not surprised – and unprepared – when you get

the bill.

Most of these costs fall into a category that the real estate industry calls

"closing costs." The most common types include land transfer tax, lawyer’s

fees and disbursements, sales taxes, and for newly-built homes, utility hookups.

You should also consider other expenses you will incur, such as home

insurance and moving expenses.

Of course, if your new home is a condominium, you’ll also have to account

for the monthly condo fees.

Closing costs can vary depending on the type and location of your new

home. The Tony Marino Team, REALTORS® can help you determine the costs you will incur.

 

Please remember The Tony Marino Team of Royal LePage Top Producers Real Estate are here to help you with all your Real Estate needs. Please feel free to call us at The Tony Marino Team Hotline, 204.792.8525 or email us at houses@mts.net For your Real Estate Experience™

 

 

Not intended to solicit sellers or buyers under contract    

 

Getting Your Home Ready for Winter

I woke up this morning to find frost on the windshield of my vehicle and temperature of minus two degrees… that means only one thing, winter is coming.  Can’t complain because winter comes every year.  The key thing is making sure our homes are ready for the worst Mother Nature throws at us!!

So how and what do you do? Hire a handyman? Send Mike Holmes an email? Talk to Tony? All the above? Lol...

The first thing to do is make a list of what needs to be done.  The list can start off with little easy things like turning the water off to the outside tap and draining it. Caulking any gaps around windows and doors on the exterior of the home along with baseboards at floor level, this alone will probably eliminate drafts. Check the weather stripping around exterior doors and windows that open. If you have older windows don’t worry about it, they sell plastic film that goes over the windows and with a hairdryer you can get the wrinkles out of the plastic. I have clients that do this every year and they tell me they save quite a bit of money on heating bills during the cold months. You can get this at any of the hardware stores. While you are there, look at picking up foam gaskets for plugs and light switches on exterior walls, again good return on the initial investment. Once you install them you don’t need to do it again unlike the window film! Just be careful when doing this there is live current going through those outlets!!!

 

The other spots where you can save a little in heating costs would be to add insulation to your home.  The attic is a good place to start; today the code is a minimum of an R-50. So unless you have just built a home you more than likely don’t have anywhere close to that (check with Manitoba Hydro first to see if they are offering any rebates or credits for the insulation). Regardless if you qualify or not, the savings will be there. Renting a blower to blow in the insulation is marginal. The bags of insulation aren’t too expensive either.

 

If your basement is unfinished insulation is a snap. The million dollar question is how hard core did you want to be in insulating your basement. Do you want to spray foam the walls which is very expensive, or use 2 inch rigid foam on the walls? After you do either one of those, stud the basement on 16 or 24 inches on centre and use friction fit insulation then you will have a very warm basement. This will be a little less money than the spray foam. Remember you will be still studding the basement to cover it with drywall in both cases (you can’t leave foam exposed it is a fire hazard). The least expensive way is plain old friction fit insulation itself using 2x4 studs pull the wall back 2 inches from the foundation wall and use insulation designed for 2x6 walls this will give you a good R value. You could use insulation designed for 2x4 walls which is perfectly fine, if you wanted, but the R value will be less.

 

The last thing you should consider is checking the furnace. Get it tuned up on regular basis and change the filter regularly for optimum performance.

 

This should help you save a little money this winter!

If you are reading this and think "wow that's a lot of work, it’s the condo life for me!" You can call The TonyMarino Team of Royal LePage Top Producers Real Estate for your Free Home Evaluation and we will be happy to help you with you sell and purchase of your new home. We are here to help you with all your Real Estate needs.

 

The Tony Marino Team has over 20 years of knowledge in helping families, empty nesters, first time buyers find the right home.

We serve Winnipeg and surrounding areas.

We are never too busy for your referrals.

This is not intended to solicit sellers or buyers that are currently under contract

Fall Yard Clean Up

If you live in in a neighbourhood that has mature trees it’s the time of year when the leaves have turned the colours and have started to fall. Autumn is the most colourful time of the year but it can be the most labour intense. It tends to start with the eave troughs, which requires setting up a ladder to reach them. Remember to always have someone holding the bottom of the ladder and don't try to stretch that extra two or three feet. Get down and move the ladder! For those who don't like ladders, there are a couple of options. First, you can have gutter guards installed to keep leaves out. Second, there are leaf blower extensions that can reach up into the gutter and blow leaves out. Either way, you'll need to be sure that the joints where the gutter meets the downspouts are cleaned out.

Once they are clean, take a hose and pour some water into your eaves and watch where it goes. You may need extensions to direct the water away from your foundation and prevent leaks. When diverting water from your foundation, be sure to avoid driveway and walkways, which will ice over and become hazards in the winter.

Lawn clean up
Leaf cleanup is a necessary but it is a never ending battle. Leaves left scattered for the winter will smother the lawn, not good. Don't worry, however, about getting every last leaf out of the plant beds. As they breakdown, leaves can help insulate plants and provide them with valuable nutrients.

As for what do to with all the leaves you've raked, remember to recycle them in your own compost pile or put them in the paper bags that the City of Winnipeg provided when they dropped off our new garbage and  recycling bins. The city is picking up our yard waste every second week during certain times of the year. Check your schedule for pick up in your area. If you are using the leaves on your own compost pile, either grind them up or run them over with a lawn mower to speed decomposition. To move large piles of leaves, I recommend piling them onto a tarp and dragging them to their desired destination, be it the compost pile or paper yard bag.

Once the leaves are collected, cut your lawn one last time before the winter, trimming it as short as possible to prevent matting, disease and rodent damage. When you are done mowing, run the lawn mower itself until it runs out of gas. Gas left to sit in the tank over the winter will gum up the carburetor so it won't run as well next spring. Also, change the oil, grease the engine and pull and inspect the spark plug. Before you replace it, place several drops of five-weight oil in the hole and pull the start cord several times to lubricate the engine so it won't rust. In the spring, you'll only have to add gas, sharpen the blades and start mowing again.

Early in November, I like to fertilize the lawn with a high phosphorus mixture to promote root growth over the winter, so the grass will green up sooner come spring. Fall is also a great time to fertilize trees and shrubs. It not recommended pruning ornamental trees and shrubs, as they can contract die back and suffer from winter desiccation.

Perennials
Your perennials will need to be cut back as they fade. While you are at it, scratch some super phosphate fertilizer into the soil around them. In the garden, remove leftover vegetation and put it in the compost pile. 

Getting ready for the white stuff
Now's the time to get your snow blower up and running. Nothing is more frustrating than having your snow blower not start when the first snow storm hits. If you shovel, double check that your shovels are where you left them.  


If you have an underground irrigation system, be sure that the lines are cleared of water so it won't freeze up and damage the pipes. Drain and coil up your garden hoses also and store them for the winter in your garage or shed. Then head to the basement to shut off the water to your outdoor taps. On the pipe, in between the shut-off and the tap, you'll find a weep valve that you can open and drain into a bucket. These steps will prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Please remember we are never to busy for your referrals. If you you now of anybody that's thinking of selling or buying a home please let us know. The Tony Marino Team of Royal LePage Top Producers Real Estate are here to help you with all your real estate needs. 

  
 

Winnipeg Real Estate...304 Johnson Avenue West

Showings Start Aug 9th, Open House Sunday Aug 12th 1-3 pm, Offers Aug 15th @ 8 pm. Solid 853 Square foot, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom bungalow in East Kildonan. This home features a newer white Kitchen (with modern raised panel doors), tons of storage and counter space, newer counter top, new vinyl flooring, double sink, fridge & stove. Bathroom has been updated with a low flush toilet in '11, new tub surround & new vinyl flooring in '12. Master bedroom is HUGE with new carpeting, a double closet, loads of storage and 3 windows to allow lots of natural light. Home features some original hardwood flooring and original trim throughout. Spacious closet inside front door. Full basement with some studding & some ceiling work done. Large 2 tiered freshly painted deck, with privacy lattice and a new 5x8 garden shed. Beautiful covered front porch, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee. Home has new shingles (lifetime transferable warranty) and some new sheeting. High efficiency furnace and air conditioning in '08. For more information go to www.TonyMarino.ca. To view this fine home call The Tony Marino Team at 204.782.8536 today! 

Winnipeg Real Estate... 123 Pilgrim Ave

New to market!  The Tony Marino Team of Royal Lepage Top Producers Real Estate presents  123 Pilgrim Avenue. Showings start August 1st, Open house August 5th and August 6th 1-3pm, Offers August 8th at 7pm. Estate sale, long time owner. Tastefully updated 993 sqft 1+1/2 storey, 2 bedroom starter home (Main floor dining room can be third bedroom). Updated maple kitchen in modern dark rich stain. Freshly painted through out. New carpet 2012 in Master bedroom. Hardwood floors through out main. Updated vinyl flooring. Front drive with single attached garage. 50'x102' lot. Located in Old St. Vital, this home is close to shopping, schools, and bus. Perfect for the first time buyer. Go to www.TonyMarino.ca for more information on this fine home.   

Winnipeg Real Estate - The End of The 30 Year Mortgage

Canada’s mortgage rules to tighten again ~ RBC Current Analysis

By Robert Hogue, Senior Economist RBC
CURRENT ANALYSIS
June 21, 2012

Canada’s mortgage rules to tighten again

• As of July 9, 2012, the rules for government-backed insured mortgages will tighten

again in Canada. This will be the fourth round of rule tweaking since 2008.

• Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty today announced that the maximum amortization

period for government-backed insured mortgages will be reduced to 25
years from 30 years.

• The maximum amount that an individual can borrow when refinancing will be

lowered to 80% from 85%.

• The federal government will set a maximum for gross debt-service ratio (GDS) at

39% and lower the maximum for total debt-service ratio (TDS) to 44% from 45%.

• Government-backed insured mortgages will no longer be available for homes with

a purchase price of $1 million or more.

• In a separate announcement today, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial

Institutions (OFSI) issued its final guideline on residential mortgage underwriting
and practices, which among other things, define internal controls, reporting and
monitoring expected of federally-regulated financial institutions.

Implications

Consider it a full reversal, now. Bit by bit since the fall of 2008, the federal government has undone the loosening of mortgage rules that took place from 2004 to 2006 – a period during which the mortgage insurance business in Canada was opened up to new mortgage insurance players and to new ‘innovative’ practices. This loosening applied to government-backed insured mortgages. It included the extension of the maximum amortization period to 40 years (from 25 years previously), 100% financing and
95% loan-to-value refinancing. This latest move by the federal government — its fourth since 2008 — effectively turns back the clock to the pre-2004 state of affairs, resetting mortgage lending rules to more prudent, if conservative, standards. According to Minister Flaherty, the aim is to both strengthen Canada’s housing finance system and “ensure that households do not become overextended”. On the latter point, record high household debt (152% of income) has been singled out as the biggest risk facing the domestic economy by the Bank of Canada.

Of today’s changes, the further reduction of the maximum amortization period to 25 years will have the most direct impact on the Canadian housing market. Based on a typical mortgage size ($288,000 for a bungalow) and posted mortgage rate (5.24%), the reduction in the amortization period from 30 years to 25 years would raise a home-owner’s monthly mortgage bill by $136, representing a material increase of 8.6%. Such an increase would be the equivalent of a 75 basis point hike in interest rates to someone who would have otherwise gone for a 30-year amortization period. The Ministry of Finance’s own figures show increases in monthly mortgage payments ranging between 9.0% and 12.5% (depending on interest rate assumptions). Viewed another way, the shorter amortization period would require the qualifying income needed to purchase a home — i.e., the income threshold under which homeownership costs (mortgage payments, property taxes and utilities) exceed a ratio of 39%, as per the new GDS rule — to rise by 6.7% (from $62,970 to $67,160). In effect, this will raise the barrier to entry into Canada’s housing market.

Given that first-time homebuyers rely proportionately more on longer amortization periods — last year, 40% of new mortgages were amortized over periods longer than 25 years compared to 25% for total outstanding mortgages, according to a survey by the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals — the new rule will dampen first-time homebuyer demand in Canada.

The change to the amount of refinance will more directly affect the financing tools available to consumers. (Consumer spending will also be impacted indirectly by the shorter amortization, as the higher mortgage payments will reduce funds available expenditures other than housing.)

We expect the new caps on GDS (39%) and TDS (44%) to have little impact. CMHC already applies more stringent maximums for riskier borrowers (35% GDS and 42% for credit scores below 680) and has the TDS ceiling of 44% in place for lower risk borrowers. The only change for CMHC will be the application of a 39% GDS maximum for the lower risk borrowers.

Finally, the new limit of government-back insurance coverage to properties valued at less than $1 million could, at the margin, cool demand for the high-end market segment; however, the proportion of high-ratio mortgages in that segment is likely small.

The separate announcement today by OFSI provided federally regulated financial institutions in Canada with the final guideline on residential mortgage underwriting and practices. Focusing more specifically on financial institutions’ internal procedures, the guideline aims at ensuring that strict controls are followed, and disclosure and monitoring are enhanced in the mortgage business. We expect little material impact on the housing market in Canada arising from the final guideline.

The new rules announced by Finance Minister Flaherty today came as somewhat of a surprise given that Canada’s housing market was not demonstrating signs of overheating for the most part. We remain of the view that the market is in transition to a moderate and sustainable path. As is often the case when rules are changed, the new rules are likely to set off some kind of a stampede in the next few weeks of purchases’ looking to take advantage of the current terms. Past July 9, however, the new rules are likely to restrain homebuyer demand, particularly from first-time buyers. We would expect this restraint to accelerate the process of moderation in housing market activity; yet, we do not foresee any serious correction threatening the stability of the market. Canada’s housing market will continue to find support from an expanding economy and the growth in employment and household income that this will generate.

Please call The Tony Marino Team of  Royal Lepage Top Producers Real Estate at 204.942.2583 or visit us at www.TonyMarino.ca