Wondering if now is a good time to Buy??

Hi All,

Recently I came across a very interesting article in "Moneyville" put out by the Toronto Star, talking about all the reasons why now is a great time to buy.

To summarize, it is a great time to purchase a home in Canada because:

1) Mortgage rates are at historic lows. As we know, when interest rates are low, they have no where to go but up. So, make sure you lock in your rate and get pre-approved so that you are guaranteed to get a lower rate when rates rise.

2) Canada has great appeal due to its stability both economically and politically.

3) There is a great draw of Immigrants to Canada, many of whom have sold homes in their country of origin and have money to spend.

4) It appears that Canadian's are really good at paying their mortgages as compared to those home owners in the States.

5) Similarly, when there are financial challenges in paying one's mortgage, it seems that Canadian banks are more apt to work with home owners vs. immediately foreclosing on the home

6) Canada has a healthy income to price ratio of 3.5 when you look at the Median Canadian income as compared to the Median cost of homes

7) Because the interest rates are so low, it is a great time to consolidate your debt. This will make the amount to service the debt much more manageable.

8) Given the US is having an election this year, it is likely that the economy will remain steady if not improve. None of the Presidential hopefuls want the economy to fail.

If you would like to speak with a GREAT mortgage specialist who can help you get pre-approved, consolidate your debt, or just give you a road map, please contact us, as we work with some awesome professionals.

To read the full article click here.

Until next time!

The Jamie Dann Team

http://www.thejamiedannteam.com/
http://www.thejamiedannteam.ca/

Check out our newest listings!

Hi All:

If you are thinking of making a move, please check out our latest listings. Or, if you are not wanting to make a move, please send these on to a friend!

For more details, go to www.TheJamieDannTeam.com and enter the ID numbers below.

ID# 25219BL, 6-39 Coulter St., Barrie, $205,000 1100+ sq ft condo 3 bdrm 1 1/2 baths with VERY reasonable condo fees.

ID# 25896BL, 231 Cundles Rd. West, Barrie,
$189,900 1400+ sq ft home linked only at the garage - 3 bdrm 1 bath - fully renovated.

ID# 26078BL, 13 Austen Lane, Barrie, $195,900 1300+ sq ft fully finished, 4 bdrm 2 full baths - Includes 5 appliances

ID# 26124BL, 67 Winchester Terrace, Barrie, $235,000 1474 sq ft, 3 bdrm 2 1/2 baths - Includes 5 appliances, Move-in ready!

Please remember, if you or someone you care about is thinking of making a move, or are just curious as to real estate trends in the area, please feel free to phone at any time. It's always great to hear from you!

Until next time!

The Jamie Dann Team

Barrie Statistics - Oct 26/11

Hi All:

I know that many of you enjoy reading about the Statistics from The Barrie Association of REATLORS®, so one of the goals of The Jamie Dann Team is to provide those stats to you on a monthly basis.

The statistics below are the total number of homes sold over the last 6 months, and is accumulated from data provided by the Barrie Association of REALTORS®. Our intent is to report the data as completely and accurately as possible. These stats are current and up to date as of October 26, 2011.

                                             South West Barrie

                                                South East Barrie

                                                North West Barrie

                                                North East Barrie

We hope you found this information to be helpful!

Until next time!

The Jamie Dann Team

Barrie Statistics - Sept 27/11

Hi All:

I know that many of you enjoy reading about the Statistics from The Barrie Association of REATLORS®, so one of the goals of The Jamie Dann Team is to provide those stats to you on a monthly basis.

The statistics below are the total number of homes sold over the last 6 months, and is accumulated from data provided by the Barrie Association of REALTORS®. Our intent is to report the data as completely and accurately as possible. These stats are current and up to date as of September 27, 2011.

South West Barrie

South East Barrie

North West Barrie

North East Barrie

Hope you found this information to be helpful!

Until next time!
The Jamie Dann Team

Heating Issues....

Hi All:


Many of you may not know that I, Jamie Dann, am currently in the process of moving. As it has been several years since I have moved residences, I am very much in the same process as many of you.

Given that soon we will all be turning on our furnaces, I was doing some research to post about furnace maintenance. In that research, I came across the Enbridge website and learned it actually has a wealth of information.

To view the website please go to http://www.enbridgegas.com/

What I specifically found interesting was under in the tab “Manage Your Energy Use” - here you will find info on how we can be more efficient with our energy use, as well as rebates and incentive programs. Also, check out the conversion calculator, especially if you currently have electric heat and are wondering if switching over to gas may be more cost effective. This info is under the tab "Stop, Start or Move Service."

The site also gives information about the basics regarding stopping and starting services, billing and more.

This is certainly a website that is worthwhile to check out and may end up saving you some money down the road.

Hope that you found this article to be informative and helpful.

Until next time!

The Jamie Dann Team

Mould Matters

Here is a re-print of an informative article I recently read that explained mould in very clear terms.  During the summer months, people often see signs of mould and may want to know more about it...

While exposure to indoor mould doesn't always pose a health threat, it can cause problems for people with sensitivities.  Spores travel easily through indoor air, triggering allergic symptoms like eye and skin irritations; runny nose and watery eyes; respiratory difficulties like coughing and wheezing; and even headaches and flu-like symptoms.

Mould requires certain conditions in order to thrive: lack of air circulation, humidity/moisture, and lack of light. It is no wonder then that mould is most commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens.  To prevent it from growing in these areas, you need to address those conditions.

- LACK OF AIR CIRCULATION - Your kitchen and bathrooms should have exhaust fans; be sure to use them while cooking or showering. If you don't have fans, install them, or at least open a window.

-HUMIDITY / MOISTURE - Exhaust fans and open windows help, but where humidity / moisture is a significant problem, a dehumidifier may be needed. Don't let surfaces stay wet - squeegee tubs / showers and wipe down kitchen and bathroom surfaces with a dry cloth. Always hang damp cloths and towels.

- LACK OF LIGHT - Make sure your kitchen and bathrooms are well lit. Turn the lights on when showering and leave them on for 15 minutes or so after your shower, when your bathroom is most wet. Allow as much natural light as possible into rooms where moisture is an issue.

If you currently have mould in your kitchen or bathrooms, there are plenty of commercial cleaning products that claim to eliminate it. But why spend money on toxic cleaners when you likely already have products at home that will do the trick?

* Vinegar is highly effective in killing mould when left to sit on the problem area. You don't need to water it down, but if its odour is too much, just add a bit of essential oil.

* Bleach and ammonia work for non-porous surfaces of which there are many in kitchens and bathrooms, though you might not want to use them in small spaces due to harsh fumes.

* Solutions of water and either Borax or baking soda can also be used - both are natural deodourizers that, when left on to dry, help to  prevent the regrowth of mould.

* Remember that serious mould problems are best tackled by a professional mould removal company. Consider asking someone on The Jamie Dann Team for suggestions of who to use.

Finally, did you know there is such thing as mould and mildew-resistant paint? Specially formulated for moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms, the paint contains chemicals that won't kill mould (which is why it is imperative that surfaces be mould-free before this application), but will inhibit its growth. Look into this product as a preventative measure.                                                                                                      *market connections 2011

Hope that you found this article to be informative and helpful.

Until next time!

The Jamie Dann Team

Barrie's Housing Market Outlook for Spring 2011

For those of you out there who LOVE statistics, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation recently released their review and predictions for Spring 2011 and beyond. The article states that given the amount of sales in 2010, 2011 is going to be a more moderate year - not as many listings, little to no price increases and much more of a balanced market. According to the report, sales shouldn't start to increase until late 2011 and into 2012. What I found to be interesting was the forcast that as the economy gets stronger in the next few years, along with the fact that more young adults will be moving toward home purchases, the occurance of first time buyers will increase.

This report says much more than I could write here, so, to check out the full document, click here.

Until next time!

The Jamie Dann Team