Archive for November, 2009

As the Christmas season approaches, you may be looking for some festive activities to get you into the holiday spirit.  Here is a list of events that you and your family can enjoy throughout the Hamilton-Burlington region.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Christmas at Ruthven
November 1 – December 20
www.ruthvenpark.ca/events.html

Hamilton Santa Claus Parade
November 14, 2 p.m.
www.hamiltonsantaparade.com

Doorways to the Holidays
November 15 – December 13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays
Royal Botanical Gardens Centre

Teddy’s Annual Auction
November 21, noon – 4 p.m.
Children’s Entertainment and visit from Santa
30 Main Street, Grimsby

Caledonia Light Up Night
November 26, 6:30 p.m.
The Old Mill
www.Christmasincaledonia.ca/lightup.aspx
 
Dundas Christmas Tree Lighting
November 26, 7 p.m. – Memorial Square
www.downtowndundas.ca/christmas-tree-lighting-2009.php
 
Aldershot Tree Lighting
November 27, 6 p.m.
Chaps Restaurant on Plains Rd.

Community Christmas Tree
November 28, 11 a.m. – noon
Bayview Cemetery, 740 Spring Gardens Rd., Burlington

Flamborough Santa Claus Parade
November 28, 6:30 p.m.
www.flamboroughsantaclausparade.com

Christmas in Ancaster Craft Show
November 28 & 29, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
New Ancaster Fairgrounds, 630 Trinity Road Corner, Hwy. 2 & 52
www.miltonfarmcraftshows.com

Christmas House Tour & Tea Room
November 28, 10 a.m. – noon, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
November 29, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Binbrook Memorial Hall, 2600 Hwy. #56 (at fairgrounds)

Christmas Concert
November 29, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Mt Hope United Church, 3076 Homestead Drive
 
Christmas Tree of Hope Tree Lighting and Concert
December 4, 5 p.m.
Gore Park, Hamilton

Christmas in Downtown Hamilton
December 4 – 24, miniature train and carousel rides
Gore Park
check www.downtownhamilton.org for times

Dunnville Light Up and Santa Clause Parade
December 5, 5:30 p.m.
www.dunnvillechamberofcommerce.ca

Grimsby Santa Claus Parade
December 5, 5:15 p.m.
www.grimsbyparade.ca

Stoney Creek Santa Claus Parade
December 5, 2 p.m.
www.inform.hamilton.ca/record/HAM1516

Burlington Santa Claus Parade
December 6, 2 p.m.
www.cms.burlington.ca/Page76.aspx
 
Lakeside Festival of Lights – Burlington
December 6, 5 p.m.
The Festival runs nightly until January 6, 2010.
www.burlingtonfestivaloflights.com

Winona – Candlelight Christmas House Tour
December 6, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
www.winonahistory.org/calendar

There’s no need for the Ontario government to hold public hearings on its plan to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the GST next July, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday, adding that voters can pass judgment on the issue in the 2011 provincial election.

Basically, McGuinty is telling the public he plans to ram this tax down your throat whether you like it or not and it doesn’t matter what you think about it either because he’s not interested in listening.  He goes on to belittle the public by stating that the topic can be discussed at election time in 2011.  The interesting piece of that comment is the new tax is slated to take effect in July 2010.  Once again, we can talk all we want, but McGuinty won’t listen to your concerns until after he has pushed the new tax through. 

“There has been, and there will continue to be, all kinds of opportunities for people to have conversations on this, whether you’re talking about talk radio, letters to the editor, blogs, water cooler conversations (or) kitchen table conversations,” said McGuinty.  “I would be very surprised if this was not an issue up for consideration at the time of the next election. People will have an opportunity to pass judgment on us in connection with the HST.”

“It’s going to be a long November and December for Mr. McGuinty and his Liberals if they think they’re going to ram the HST legislation through without public consultations,” warned Progressive Conservative critic Lisa MacLeod.

McGuinty should agree to hold public hearings on the largest tax changes in Ontario history, and hear the concerns people have about paying eight per cent more for goods and services currently exempt from the provincial sales tax, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.  “He needs to be talking to the people and hearing what they have to say about the fear they have about the impact of this tax,” said Horwath.

This tax is likely to pass, but what should be concerning to the Ontario public is that your elected official plans on pushing through the largest tax change in Ontario’s history, yet he isn’t even interested in what you have to say about it.

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Sales Stats for October   
                          Sales      Volume                 Average      Days on Market  
Burlington    138        $57,001,040      $413,051             40 
Milton            151         $53,236,288       $354,241             18
Oakville         301        $181,070,315     $600,705           32

Sales Stats to Date 

Burlington    1397     $536,766,045     $384,228            46
Milton            1601      $552,479,031     $344,653            30
Oakville         2869     $1,495,912,372  $521,224            41   

Sales Stats for October Comparing 2009 to 2008.
                                                  Units       Average Sale Price
Toronto                                 +64%      +20%
Hamilton/Burlington      +32%      +15%
Oakville/Milton                 +58%      +12%

Burlington                            +30%      +16%
Oakville                                 +78%      +12%
Milton                                    +94%      +5%  

OAKVILLE/MILTON
Number of Sales:
October 2009 – 791 units sold
October 2008 – 502 units sold

Cumulative – Year to Date 2009 – 8074 units sold
Cumulative – Year to Date 2008 – 7066 units sold

OAKVILLE/MILTON
Residential Sales By Price:        2009       2008
$100,000 – $199,999                32          15
$200,000 – $299,999               116        88
$300,000 – $399,999               181        142
$400,000 – $499,999               121        58
$500,000 – $599,999               77          31
$600,000 – $699,999               53          20
$700,000 – $999,999               56          16
$1,000,000 – $2,000,000      18          12

Effective July 1, 2010, home buyers and sellers will pay 8 per cent more on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees, and moving costs, adding about $1,500 in new taxes to the average residential real estate transaction in Ontario.

For homeowners the HST will also add hundreds of dollars in additional tax on utility bills, such as gas, electricity and home heating fuel, on home renovation labour, the cost of lawn upkeep or landscaping and the cost of snow removal.

QUOTES:

“The Government of Ontario can try to sell the HST any number of ways but starting July 1, 2010 the taxes on buying, selling and owning a home in our province will go up,” said Pauline Aunger, President of OREA.

“Ontario’s housing market is vital to the health of our provincial economy,” said President Aunger. “An HST on homeownership will reduce housing affordability and increase the tax burden for Ontario families.”

“In the last decade, Ontario’s homeowners have faced a barrage of government imposed costs,” said President Aunger. “From municipal land transfer taxes to sky rocketing property taxes and now the HST, homeowners are once again being forced to foot the bill for this government’s legislative agenda.”

QUICK FACTS:

The HST combines the PST and GST into one value added tax, meaning that the 8 per cent PST will be applied to list of goods and services that were previously exempt. The government plans to begin charging the HST to consumers on July 1, 2010.

OREA estimates that the new tax will add $1,449 in new taxes to an average resale home costing $302,354. OREA also estimates that the HST will add an estimated $262 million in new taxes annually to residential resale real estate transactions.

Homeowners will also have to pay an additional 8 per cent on many services required to maintain their homes. These services were previously exempt from PST and include utilities, home renovation labour, landscaping, snow removal and many others. OREA estimates HST on these services will add $480 in annual tax to the homeowner (based on a family that budgets $500 per month for such costs).

Ontario’s real estate industry is essential to the provincial economy. In 2008, real estate in Ontario accounted for $56.6 billion in sales, $6.01 billion in ancillary economic spending and $1.35 billion in land transfer tax revenue to the provincial government. In addition, independent research indicates that resale housing market creates 80,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Stay up to date with all real estate news by following my blog at www.seankavanagh.ca

The Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington is holding their annual house tour to raise money for the various projects they take on.  It is a wonderful event to help support a wonderful organization. 

The holiday season gets underway in style once again November 13, 14 and 15, 2009, when four distinctive Hamilton and Burlington homes, on loan by gracious homeowners, are magically transformed by teams of talented designers, decorators and retailers into superb showcases of holiday finery.

For more information on the event, please click here

It’s a great way to get into the festive spirit!

SOLD - 2101 NOVIS WAY

Just put up the SOLD stickers on this great property in Burlington, Ontario.  If you are thinking about getting some SOLD stickers put up on your property, all you have to do is give me a call!

LIST WITH ME AND GET HOME STAGING FOR FREE!!!

As part of my full service listing package to my clients, I will offer you a FREE consultation with a professional home stager as a bonus if you decide to use my real estate services to list their house. 

Other benefits you receive if you list with me:

• ·         Maximum front page exposure on www.seankavanagh.ca , www.seankavanaghhomes.com and   www.seansells.ca websites.
• ·         Regular blog posts promoting the property
• ·         Regular Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn updates to thousands of potential buyers
• ·         Property address domain name registered for the property
• ·         Google AdWord purchased directing buyers to your property·        
•         Professional style photography with a 21 photo virtual tour
• ·         Plus much, much more to get your home sold in shortest possible time for mamimum value!

Please call me today for a FREE No-Obligation evaluation of your home.  The evaluation will include a comprehensive analysis report on the current value of your home compared to other properties that have sold in your area.

So pick up the phone, give me a call and let’s get your home SOLD!

For more information on buying or selling real estate in Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville,or West Toronto Ontario, or if you have questions about current market trends, mortgages or interest rate information, please visit the Sean Kavanagh Real Estate Resource Centre at www.seankavanagh.ca  or www.seankavanaghhomes.com.  I’d be happy to answer any questions to accommodate all of your real estate needs.  You can also contact me by phone at 905-220-9198.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sean Kavanagh

Building Lasting Relationships and Exceeding Expectations

Looking for a home in the beautiful Burlington Orchard?  Visit www.2101noviswy.com to see if this is what you have been looking for!

Stunning Orchard Home! 9’ ceilings in this beautifully renovated 2000ft2 Mattamy home. A spacious Master with updated ensuite and walk-in closet. 3 bed/3 bath. Kitchen with updated island and breakfast bar. Walk out from kitchen to landscaped backyard with stone pathways, re-stained cedar deck, hot tub and tiki bar! Great yard for entertaining. Main floor family room with gas fireplace. Bedroom level laundry, separate dining room, double garage with inside access. Custom crown moulding, new baseboards, Central Air and California shutters. Close to schools, shopping, transportation and highways. Come see it before it’s SOLD

For more information on this great home, please visit my website at www.seankavanagh.ca or give me a call at 905-220-9198 to book a viewing today!

Immaculate home on a premium pie shaped lot at the end of a court.  3 bedroom, 3 bathroom beauty!  Large master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in closet.  Eat-in kitchen, Separate dining room, Main level laundry, and Inside garage access.  Kitchen, basement, 2 bathrooms, and laundry room all renovated within the last 12 months! Landscaped yard, interlocking patio in front and large deck in back. Close to highways, shopping and schools.  Great property for young families who need the extra space!

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY!  If you want to come and see this great home, we are holding an open house this Sunday October 25th between 2pm and 4pm.  Hope to see you all there!

To learn more about this stunning home, visit www.seankavanagh.ca or call me at 905-220-9198