Recent Blog Posts by CENTURY 21 Action Power Team Ltd.

START YOUR NEW CAREER !!

Our career in real estate session will be held Wednesday June 27th at 1pm. Find out more about the Real Estate Sales and Marketing Profession. To RSVP please email joyce.wilkie@c21apt.com or call 613-837-3800.  

Spending to Make Money - Is a Finished Basement a Good Option?

If you have ever wondered what they mean by spending money to make money. Well here is a great example. Basement renovations are on the "most wanted" list of home improvements for many families as they look to expand quality living space in their homes. An unfinished basement is just an opportunity waiting to be exploited and a great way to increase the finished square footage of your home!     Keep ...

Hot New Property $269,900

Queenswood Heights Three bedroom townhouse - Close to all amenities. Livingroom with wood burning fireplace, diningroom with patio doors that lead out to fenced in back yard and two piece powder room. Finished recroom with two piece bathroom. Three good sized bedrooms, full bathroom. Single garage with inside access. Priced to sell !!!

CONGRATULATIONS ! TO LYNNE ST-HILAIRE

Our agent, Lynne St-Hilaire received the Centurion Honor Society award for 2011. Congratulations Lynne !!  

Best Places to Live for 2012

Did you know that Ottawa has again been rated the No. 1 place to live in Canada.  Also of note are Kingston #3, Halifax #4, Oshawa #22, Saskatoon #30 and Victoria suprisingly, #35.  Way to go Ottawa!

HOME WANTED

Single home with 3+ bedrooms, finsished basement with bathroom. Inground pool. Client prefers west end...Kanata, Stittsville, Barhaven $600-800K - June / July possession

Immediate Possession

Beautiful three bedroom townhome in Orleans thats close to everything!  Diningroom that overlooks livingroom with wood burning fireplace and patio doors that lead out to fenced in back yard. Bright kitchen and two piece powder room. Upper level features three good sized bedrooms and full bath. Lower level features a finished recroom and plenty of storage. Contact Diane Decooman 613-863-7449.

Sure Signs Of Spring As Residential Home Sales Rise!!

Spring is here and now is a great time to buy and sell with interest rates remaining at all time lows, Ottawa's hot resale market continues to thrive, and grow!! similar to the blossoming spring flowers!!!   The Ottawa Real Estate Boards Latest News Release Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,396 residential properties in March through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® ...

Wendy and Jon -- "2 for 1" Realtors

Choosing  a Realtor to help you buy, sell, or invest in a home should be a serious and well thought out choice.  Real Estate transactions, as a rule, require immediate response, experience in many areas, and in depth understanding of Canadian, Ontario, and Ottawa Real Estate Law. We knew that working together as a team, we could offer two Realtors input on every transaction.  ...

REAL ESTATE AGENT CAREER INFORMATION SESSION

Do want to find out more about a career in real estate? We will be holding a real estate career information session on Wednesday April 25th, 2012 at 10am. To RSVP email joyce.wilkie@c21apt.com or call us at 613-837-3800.

Best Places to Live 2012

CHECK OUT CANADA'S BEST PLACES TO LIVE !!!! Best Places to Live compiles municipal data and information from Statistic Canada and other sources. Numbers below represent rankings out of 190 cities. Where statistics are only available by province, provincial rankings are shown. Some cities have the same ranks because they are tied. For full methodology, click here.   http://list.moneysense.ca/rankings/best-places-to-live/2012/Default.aspx?sp2=1&sc1=0&d1=a

Staging a House - Prepare Your house to SELL in Ottawa

Prepping and staging a house. Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home. Difficulty: Average Time ...

First-time Home Purchasers Qualify for Tax Credit

There is a tax credit of up to $750 on qualifying homes for first time home buyers.  This helps with the overall costs of buying a home.  Be sure to ask your realtor about this. Also, when purchasing a more accessible or functional home there is a tax benefit for homeowneres who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).  This also falls under the First-time Home Purchasers ...

INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN REAL ESTATE?

We're Hiring in the Ottawa and Surrounding Area !! Get started in a lucrative sales and marketing profession Obtain a real esate license Receive professional training and coaching to quick start your new career Avoid common beginner mistakes For your new Career Interview        Call or email Pasquale at 613-837-3800 or pasquale@c21apt.com  

Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) is a program for first-time homebuyers that allows you to withdraw funds from your RRSPs to buy or build a home. You can withdraw up to $25,000 tax-free ($50,000 for a couple). Your RRSP contributions must remain in the RRSP for at least 90 days before you can withdraw them under the HBP. Generally, you have to repay all withdrawals to your RRSPs within a period of ...

RRSP Time

One can purchase a new RRSP for the 2011 tax year up until Feb. 29th.  Did you also know that first time buyers can use their RRSP toward the downpayment of their new home.  Be sure to get the facts and if you need a good mortgage broker to help you work out the figures, I will be happy to recommend one.

Ottawa real estate Winter starting strong

Even with the snow upon us, real estate is still going strong in the Ottawa area.

Moving Tips

Moving can seem daunting....here are some very helpful tips, courtesy of about.com, that may help to reduce the stress:  Who can't use some moving tipswhen they're packing up their whole life for a new home? If you're among thousands of people who have picked up and moved their family to a new home or a new community, you have fresh memories of some of the ups and downs or thrills or frustrations ...

Happy Holidays!

How to decorate the old fashioned way.  If you are lucky enough to have a staircase or mantel, make the most of them.  Other ways of introducing the Christmas spirit is with mirrors and tops of windows.  Fresh cut cedars along with assorted garland and a few bobbles truly gives an elegant effect.

New Program to Connect with Clients

Yesterday, was a very important training day to show realtors how we can stay in  touch and up to date in the fast moving real estate world.  Our trainer, Darren Villeneuve, gave highlights and showed us the new innovative program of Client Connect.  I will be happy to use this program for my own clients and friends.

Holiday time is also time for crime, beware!

You may not be thinking about criminals this Christmas season, but make no mistake, they're thinking about you. The holidays present big opportunities for car prowlers, purse snatchers and many other types of criminals including CYBER criminals.  Recently it has been noted that Starbucks gift cards can be easily duplicated, other cards may also be susceptible.  Another ...

Don't misjudge a property by its street face

For real estate buyers, the process of purchasing a home, or cottage, can be overwhelming. Many purchasers, particularly first-time or first-time-in-a-long-time buyers, are relieved that at least part of the process is easy—viewing properties. That's where they make a big mistake.   It seems easy. Look at a house from the street, and you either like it or you don't.   Walk ...

How to Spruce up Your Home

Whether you will be putting your house on the market next Spring or just want it to feel like a new home again, here are a few simple inexpensive tips for you to explore: 1. Repair all the little items that need some attention and when it does come time to sell, it will pass the potential buyers expectations and you will prevent any decrease in value at the same time. 2. Make sure the exterior ...

Smooth sailing for home sales in Ottawa for September

Smooth sailing for home sales in September Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,202 residential properties in September through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,071 in September 2010, an increase of 12.2 per cent. The five-year average for September sales is 1,160. Of those sales, 280 were in the condominium property class, while 922 were in the residential ...

Great advice for First time home buyers in Ottawa

Turning the key in a lock that no landlord has access to, reading in a hammock in your own backyard and painting your dining room bright red - what could be more exciting than making the leap from renter to first-time homeowner? Getting swept up in all the excitement is a wonderful feeling, but some first-time homeowners lose their heads and make mistakes that can jeopardize everything they've worked ...