December 2015 Issue 117

WHAT’S INSIDE:HOMES FOR SALE | PAGE 4Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster,Dundas & Glanbrook

HOMES FOR SALE | PAGE 8Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln & Niagara

To find the Right Dealon a House, StripAway All Emotion PAGE 2

December 2015 - Vol 82

NO COST • NO OBLIGATIONNO COST • NO OBLIGATIONHOME EVALUATIONHOME EVALUATION

905-575-7700 905-945-0188905-575-7700 905-945-0188

Rob GolfiSales Representative

www.GolfiTeam.com

Page 2 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch December 2015

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After weeks of dithering, theOntario government has ruledagainst expanding the municipal

land transfer tax beyond Toronto’s bor-ders.

There is already a levy on all homesales collected by the province, andToronto has a unique power to collect anadditional tax. But more than a monthafter it was revealed Queen’s Park wasconsidering allowing the province’s other443 municipalities to collect the tax,Municipal Affairs Minister TedMcMeekin announced Tuesday the planwon’t move ahead.

“Other than in Toronto, where thepower already exists, our governmentwill not be extending Municipal LandTransfer Tax‎ powers to other Ontariomunicipalities,” he said.

The provincial land transfer taxesranges from 0.5 per cent to two per cent,depending on the value of the home.Toronto’s runs a similar scale.

In Toronto, homebuyers pay an aver-age of $12,000 in provincial and munici-pal land transfer taxes, according to theOntario Real Estate Association, whichlobbied hard against the change. On a $1million home in Toronto, that bill rises to$32,200. In a red-hot housing market,that might not seem like a threat to real-tors’ business, but they cautioned againstallowing the tax to spread to spread toother cities.

First-time home buys get a rebate ofup to $2,000 for the provincial tax andnearly double that in Toronto.

“Extending the power to levy themunicipal LTT to Ontario’s municipali-ties would hurt the home market byadding thousands of dollars to the costs ofresidential transactions,” the OREA saidin fact sheet about the hike. “The munic-ipal LTT would price many low and mid-dle income Ontarians out of the realestate market entirely.”

The Progressive Conservatives atQueen’s Park were equally critical, withdeputy leader Steve Clark leading thecharge against the municipal land transfertax. He warned that expanding the taxwould cost Ontarians upwards of $10,000per home sale.

That news came out of discussions theprovince was having with cities abouthow to increase their revenues and helpthem handle the costs of social services.In late October, it was revealed that land-transfer taxes were part of those talks.

“Looking at the consultation we did,no one was asking for a land transfer taxand there was a campaign of misinforma-tion in the house there, and it just madesense to me and to my caucus” toannounce that change, McMeekin saidTuesday after question period, where heannounced the sudden about-face.

PC leader Patrick Brown laudedClark’s work and the OREA for spread-ing the word and said he’s glad theLiberals changed course.

I don’t know why the minister decidedto get up in the middle of question peri-od… to kind of pull something out of thinair and throw it on the table

“I’ve said I’ll criticize the governmentwhen they make a bad decision; I willapplaud them if they make a good deci-sion. It is a good decision to back awayfrom this,” Brown said.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath said it’scurious the minister announced thechange with consultations ongoing. Shesaid many cities are still struggling to bal-ance their books after years of servicedownloads and she wonders what thegovernment will do now to help replacethat possible revenue.

“Municipalities are still in very badshape,” Horwath said. “The topic hadbeen discussed at a number of places(including) the Association ofMunicipalities of Ontario. I don’t know

why the minister decided to get up in themiddle of question period… to kind ofpull something out of thin air and throw it

on the table.”by Ashley Csanady, National Post

Ontario won’t expand the Municipal Land Transfer Tax beyond Toronto’s Borders

where the future takes shape

Rob GolfiSAlES REPRESENTATIVE

905-575-7700

If you are buying or selling a home,

contact Rob Golfi today.

Seniors Real Estate Specialist is a designation for REALTORS® to address theneeds of home buyers and sellers, age 50-plus.

Call Today 905-945-0188

December 2015 The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch Page 3

To find the Right Deal on a House, Strip Away All Emotion

The blazingly hot 2015 real estatemarket is gradually winding downin Toronto as new listings dwindle

and house hunters become distracted byholidays and year-end diversions. TheToronto Real Estate Board figures thatwhen the final numbers are tallied, 2015will mark a record year for sales andprices.

In December, some listings continueto arrive on the market because of the lifecircumstances of the owners or becausethe property is a condo unit that doesn’tbenefit from improving weather as muchas a single-family dwelling does.

At this point, many real estate agentsare advising sellers to wait until 2016 tolist their properties for sale. That way, theproperty will appear fresh when buyersturn their attention back to the lists ofweekend open houses.

But it’s also a time when negotiationsheat up on houses and condos that are stillsitting. Some figure that December is agood time to strike while rivals are busyand sellers may be weakening in theirresolve.

Rokham Fard, co-founder ofTheRedPin brokerage, says lots of peopleare motivated to sign a deal before NewYear’s Eve, but sometimes properties lan-guish because buyers and sellers sabotagepotential sales.

“All of them have a component ofmixing emotion and logic,” Mr. Fardsays.

Sellers, he says, tend to inflate thevalue of the house because they remem-ber how much work went into the kitchenrenovation and they build their memoriesof family occasions into the value.

He points to the example of a sellerthat spurned many prospective buyersbecause they deemed the offers too low –even though the house had been on the

market for many months. The owner feltthey would get what they thought thehouse was worth and not what the marketwas telling them the value was.

The buyer, of course, is comparing thehouse with others on the market.

“You have to really look at it as sellinga product,” Mr. Fard advises homeown-ers. Take all of your own emotionalattachments out of it.

One downfall Mr. Fard sees amongsellers is that they don’t make it easy forhouse hunters to see it by appointment.Those willing to set a time are usually farmore committed than the neighbours whocome through the weekend open houses,so they should be accommodated.

“You should be at the mercy of thebuyer,” Mr. Fard says. “If they want tosee it on a Tuesday afternoon, you shouldmake it possible.”

He says even people selling their oldphones in online advertisements seem to

understand that basic concept, but manysellers have such strong confidence intheir home’s appeal that they think thebuyer will accommodate the homeown-er’s schedule. Instead, he cautions, theseller should be thinking about whatother properties the seller might seeinstead.

“If I am selling anything – even onKijiji – I will make myself available.”

Mr. Fard also warns against stickingaround for that appointment or openhouse if you are the seller. Buyers need tobe able to visualize themselves in thathome. Usually, they can do that bestwhen the family isn’t gathered around thekitchen table for lunch.

He cites the example of shoppingwhen a salesperson follows you aroundthe store or won’t stop staring at you. Allthat does is make the customer uncom-fortable, he says, and house hunters feelthe same way.

“We’ve all felt that – where a salesper-son is following you and you’re not in thezone any more. All you want to do is getout of the store.”

He says potential buyers will be reluc-tant to discuss the home’s suitability infront of the owner because they don’twant to be disrespectful. But when anumber of people are weighing in on apurchase, they need to be able to speakfreely, he points out.

As for buyers, he advises them to berealistic about their offering price –whether or not the house has drawn mul-tiple offers. Putting in a lowball bid willoften serve only to insult the seller.

“The moment the seller sees you low-balling the offer or looking for a deal,they can feel disrespected,” he says.“They don’t want to take your offerbecause they think you’re not a motivat-ed, serious buyer.”

If competing bidders show up, know-ing that there is an offer registered mayonly encourage them to make a higherbid, he says.

And where there are no rivals, it’s stillimportant to go in with a good offer, hesays. If buyers truly believe the house isworth less than the asking price, that’s avalid position, Mr. Fard says, but theoffer should still be strong.

“It shows that you’re solid and moti-vated.”

For both sides, he says, it’s about strip-ping away the emotional aspect from abusiness transaction.

“It’s not about what you can get as adeal but what the market dictates aboutthat home.”

by Carolyn IrelandThe Globe and Mail

Canada Mortgage and HousingCorporation (CMHC) releasedtoday its third quarter financial

report as well as complementaryMortgage Loan Insurance, Securitization,and Covered Bonds Supplements.

CMHC provides mortgage loan insur-ance and securitization guarantee pro-grams to facilitate access to mortgagefinancing and to contribute to the stabilityof the financial system. Consistent withour mandate, CMHC is present in allmarkets and through all economic cycles.During the third quarter, CMHC providedmortgage loan insurance for over 80,000units across the country.

Ensuring overall portfolio qualitythrough prudent underwriting reduces therisk associated with the mortgage loaninsurance business. An average creditscore of 747 for transactional homeownerloans and an average gross debt service(GDS) ratio of 25.7% for the three-monthperiod ended September 30, 2015 demon-strate a strong ability among homebuyerswith CMHC-insured mortgages to man-age their debts. The average insured loanamount for transactional homeownermortgages in the quarter was $251,262.

The strength of CMHC’s portfolio isreflected in the overall arrears rate which

was 0.35% as at September 30, 2015while Claims Paid for the quarter totalled$76 million, a decrease of $38 millionfrom the same period last year, as 2014claims paid were high primarily due tothe timing of payment processing. Thetotal number of loans in arrears decreasedslightly (3.8%) compared to year-end2014.

CMHC has a legislated limit of $600billion of insurance-in-force. During thethird quarter, total insurance-in-forcedecreased by $18 billion to $525 billionwhen compared to year-end 2014.CMHC expects insurance-in-force todecline gradually as normal mortgagerepayments continue to offset new insur-ance written.

CMHC’s securitization guaranteeproducts facilitate access to funds for res-idential mortgage financing. New securi-ties guaranteed for the third quarter were$31.9 billion, comprised of $22.7 billionfor market NHA MBS and $9.2 billionfor CMB. For 2015, the Minister ofFinance has authorized CMHC to provideup to $80 billion for new guarantees ofmarket NHA MBS and up to $40 billionof new guarantees for CMB.

CMHC’s mortgage loan insurance andsecuritization guarantee programs oper-

ate on a commercial basis without sup-port from Canadian taxpayers. During thequarter, CMHC generated $380 millionin net income from these activities.

CMHC works closely with provinces,territories and housing providers, includ-ing First Nations, to help low-incomeCanadians access affordable, better qual-ity housing. For the three-month periodended September 30, 2015, CMHC pro-vided more than $463 million for housingprograms on behalf of the Government ofCanada.

To further enhance transparency andexpand the availability of data, CMHChas also published Business Supplementsin support of Mortgage Loan Insuranceand Securitization, as well as a CoveredBonds Supplement which outlines theCorporation’s activities as Administratorof the Registered Covered Bonds pro-gram.

These files contain a range of statisticsand data on CMHC’s commercial activi-ties and help readers better understandthe business undertaken by CMHC. Thesupplements provide meaningful insightand provide market participants with datathat will allow them to better analyze ouractivities in the Canadian housing mar-ket. These supplements will continue to

be released quarterly.A copy of the Quarterly Financial

Report and the supporting business sup-plements are available at:http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/corp/about/core/core_001.cfm.

Canada Mortgage and HousingCorporation (CMHC) has been Canada'snational housing agency for almost 70years.

CMHC helps Canadians meet theirhousing needs. As Canada’s authority onhousing, we contribute to the stability ofthe housing market and financial system,provide support for Canadians in housingneed, and offer objective housingresearch and information to Canadiangovernments, consumers and the housingindustry. Prudent risk management,strong corporate governance and trans-parency are cornerstones of our opera-tions.

For more information, follow us onTwitter, YouTube, LinkedIn andFacebook.

Karine LeBlancCMHC Media Relations

[email protected]

CMHC Releases 2015 Third Quarter Results

Hamilton, Stoney CreekAncaster, Dundas & Glanbrook

Rob Golfi*

Call Today 905-575-7700


Redone 2-1/2 Storey HomeHardwood throughout. Two separate kitchens. Main floorbedroom. Two separate entrances. Beautiful large deck with2nd entrance to Upper Level Looking over 51 x 200 ft lot fullyfenced. Close to malls, parks & public transit. Do not miss out!Property sold on an "as is" basis without representation orwarranties. Chattels not included in any offer.27 Centennial Parkway South, Stoney Creek | $377,900

Opportunity Knocks!Currently used as commercial office and residence withseparate entrances and hydro meters. Could be used as aresidence. Large 20’ x 20’ block garage. Furnace and roof2015, water heater 2013. Buyer to verify usage.95 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton | $319,900

Land Value Only!!Fabulous find- Prestigious 3 acre lot with a 230 ft. frontage and550 ft. deep, build any size home you want. Existing homeupgrades include windows, roof, furnace, air conditioning,siding drilled well and electrical all within the past 10 yrs.Property also has cistern but not used at the present time.764 Fiddler’s Green Road | $699,900

Nothing but Countryside!2500 sq.ft. bungalow on a private lot with unobstructed views!Sunken living room with fireplace and 18ft. vaulted ceilings.Gourmet kitchen with granite tops, ceramic flooring and inlaydesign. 3 bedrooms. Master with closets to ensuite. Basementwith finished rec room, 2 bedrooms & 3pc bath with in-lawpotential! Private yard with deck, hot tub and swimming pool.2325 Shaver Road, Ancaster | $779,900

Upgraded End Unit!3 bedroom Losani end unit townhome complete w/manyupgrades, features including California Shutters, Californiaceilings, newly installed Bamboo hardwood flooring on themain level. Separate side entrance from the garage to thehouse & a fully fenced back yard.20 Dulgaren Street, Hamilton | $399,900

3 Bedroom TownhomeImmaculate describes this 3 bedroom townhouse.Professionally painted thru-out with many upgrades includingCalifornia Shutters, newer hardwood floors, pot lights anddesigner light fixtures. Kitchen has breakfast bar with stainlesssteel fridge and gas stove for the gourmet cooks.75 Hannon Crescent, Stoney Creek | $379,900

Stadium View!!1.5 storey, plenty of major updates: shingles and flat roof 2012,furnace 2011, windows vinyl, kitchen 2006, bathroom 2012,wiring 2007(panel and all knob & tube removed), Omni interiorweeping and sump pump 2008, concrete drive and walkway.Close to everything don’t wait will be gone soon.111 Melrose Avenue North, Hamilton | $214,900

Stunning 2 Bedroom Condo!1324 sq.ft. 2 bedroom condo apartment! Master w/ensuite &walk in. Hardwood floors, pot lights, granite counters inkitchen. 2 underground parking spaces, exercise & party roomfor amenities. Close to shops, restaurants, mins to AncasterVillage & HWY.125 Wilson Street West, Unit 109, Ancaster | $624,900

Private Oasis!Welcome to your own private Oasis! Beautiful home with largelot by Bruce Park. Work shop with hydro and furnace,gorgeous kitchen with porcelain floor & roof 2015, pool liner2013, furnace/AC & windows 2006, 2 wood burning fireplaces,rec room with wet bar. This is a great family home and perfectfor your entertaining.137 East 8th Street, Hamilton | $449,900

Business for Sale!Well established, Convenience Store in busy plaza in EastHamilton. Surrounded by apartment buildings, town-homes,businesses, schools, restaurants etc. Many loyal customers.Lotto $2,800-3,000. No Franchise fee. Seller motivated & co-operative. Do NOT go direct or unaccompanied.160 Centennial Parkway North, Unit 5, Hamilton | $129,999

Immaculate Custom built!Located in lower Stoney Creek. 3300 sq.ft. Perfect home forlarge family. Features 4+2 BRs, 4 baths, large eat in kitchw/walk-out, ceramics & hardwd throughout, separate diningrm, sunken family rm, den, in-law suite in basement w/separate entrance, double garage, oversized lot.4 Hewitson Road, Stoney Creek | $699,900

Stunning Bungalow!Stunning quality custom built home, 3750 sq.ft., bungalow withloft area, 4 baths, 4 bedrooms, pot lights, hand scrapedhardwood, high end appliances, speaker system, and 3 cargarage.522 Gray Court Drive, Ancaster | $1,199,000

Expert mortgage advice for borrowing solutionsWhether you are looking to purchase an investment property, buy a new home, or start renovations, call me today to learn how to get started.

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Convenient Central Hamilton Location!This 3 Bedroom 1.5 Storey home has neutral décor, vinylwindows, recently updated shingles, fenced yard with sidedrive. Move in condition! Close to all shopping, schools,entertainment and great HWY access.55 Rosemont Avenue, Hamilton | $189,900

Location Rocks!Family friendly East Hamilton one floor plan w/huge fencedyard and plenty of parking. Recently renovated to SELL. Newfurnace 2015, vinyl windows, mudroom/laundry room w/lots ofwindows and natural sunlight, and good sized rooms.Fabulous location close to parks, schools, shopping andhighway access.259 Glennie Avenue, Hamilton | $199,900

Going, Going! Opportunity awaits!Lovely 2.5 storey brick home with a big front porch and maturelandscaping. Many renovations done: pot lights, kitchen/cupboards/island/ backsplash/Quartz countertops, hardwood/ceramic flooring. Bathrooms (one on every level). Sought afterSt. Claire/Blakely Neighbourhood.21 Roseland Avenue, Hamilton | $299,900


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Endorsed by Shark Tanks’s Barbara Corcoran“To sell your home on time for the most money, you need asharp agent with a marketing strategy that creates the mostdemand. Bottom line: you need a partner willing to put theirown money on the line for you.”

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23 Wickham Ave.

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Endorsed by Shark Tanks’s Barbara Corcoran“To sell your home on time for the most money, you need asharp agent with a marketing strategy that creates the mostdemand. Bottom line: you need a partner willing to put theirown money on the line for you.”

Call the agent I would partner with…

144 Brentwood Dr.

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Rob Golfi*

Call Today 905-945-0188


Business Opportunity - RM2 Zoning¾ acre site centrally located in the downtown area, permitteduses; apartment dwelling, boarding or lodging dwelling, homefor the aged, nursing home, group home, private homedaycare. Call for details on permitted uses.Lot #201 Academy Street, Beamsville | $369,900

BUILDING LOT

Bulding Lot Rare FindFantastic opportunity to build your dream home on this 65.62x 111.32 ft. lot! fully serviced with sewer and water to lot line.Buyer pays town, regional charges plus building permit. Quickaccess to QEW beautiful views of Niagara Escarpment.5 Muscat Drive, Grimsby | $249,900

Country Living5 minutes to everything! Fantastic home on 2.2 acres ofpicturesque land minutes from new hospital & shopping. 2+3bedroom home with 4 full bathrooms, large all-seasonsunroom, 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms and 2 dining rooms. In-ground pool and multi-level deck. Circular drive with doublegarage with separate workshop. Lots of opportunities!3985 15th Street, Jordon Station | $574,900

602 ft FrontageZoned light industrial and commercial with 5.5 acres and 602feet of frontage on Durham Rd.23 Durham Road, Beamsville | $989,900

5.5 ACRES

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A Real Winner!This Century Home begs for family get together in the largeprincipal rooms. Large dining and living rooms and cozy familyroom with spectacular views. Century old barn relocated to theproperty (52x30 main barn, 55x30 addition), providing amultitude of opportunities for home-based business or thehobbyist who needs space. On-ground pool. 1383 Effingham Street, Pelham | $549,900

Welcome to Victoria ShoresThis beautifully finished 2+1 bedroom raised ranch. Features alarge living room and dining room, main floor master withensuite. Spacious eat-in kitchen w/deck walout. Backyard has18 x 33’ heated pool. Prof. finished hardscape. Fin. basementwith large rec room, games room, bedroom and a full bath. Dblgarage. Easy access to hiway, waterfront, walking trails.3364 South Shore Boulevard, Vineland | $599,900

1 Bedroom ApartmentThis ready to go, sunny & quiet 1200 sq.ft. top floor studio is ina fantastic area, waiting just for you! Boasting closets, sep.kitch w/appliances, plenty of space for a queen size bed,furniture, dining set & more. Rent+utilities. Min. 1yr. lease, nosmoking. 3-166 Main Street East, Grimsby | $1200/mo + Utilities

LEASE

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Attention Hunters & Hobbiests!Everything has been done to this 3 bedroom raised ranch with48x32 car garage or workshop, sitting on 10 acres with 7 acresof bush. Updates include windows and furnace 2011, updatedkitchen cabinets with granite counters and backsplash,professionally finished basement and much more.8326 3rd Concession Road, West Lincoln | $539,900

Incredible Value in Smithville!4 bedroom home situated on a large pie-shaped lot. Largeopen concept, eat-in kitchen and family room with cozyfireplace. Features separate dining room and laundry room. 4large bedrooms, master with ensuite and walk-in closet.Basement has full walk-out to extra-large fenced-in backyardwith above ground pool. Walk-out from kitchen to sunroom.Large 2 car garage with triple driveway.14 Lindan Street, Smithville | $409,900

Lifestyle living at its best!2+1 bedroom affordable waterfront bungalow! Move in &update at your leisure or plan for expansion. Double cargarage, 2 full bathrms, above ground pool,sunroom, treedproperty close to waterfront parks and trails.111 Fairview Road, Grimsby | $579,900

Lots of PotentialLarge 2 storey country home on .9 acre lot with 4 bedrooms,1700 sq.ft., eat-in kitchen, master bedroom balcony, main floorlaundry, family room & living room, corner lot w/mature trees,parking for 6 with a 24x30 detached garage. Updates includegeothermal 2009 & steel roof 2009. Lots of potential to makeyour dream home!43898 Flanagan Road, Wainfleet | $214,900

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3 Bedroom TownhomeImmaculate describes this 3 bedroom townhouse.Professionally painted thru-out with many upgrades includingCalifornia Shutters, newer hardwood floors, pot lights anddesigner light fixtures. Kitchen has breakfast bar with stainlesssteel fridge and gas stove for the gourmet cooks.75 Hannon Crescent, Stoney Creek | $379,900

www.GolfiTeam.com


Most people don’t like that “fall back”time change every November, but youknow who does? Burglars. Burglars

love to “fall back” because it gives them moretime to practice their criminal activities thanksto the earlier veil of darkness. This is also a con-venient time for them as the holiday season isupon us and most people have a lot of newlypurchased gifts in our homes. Perfect bait forburglars.

In general, most homeowners will take pre-cautions around Christmas time to prevent firesdue to Christmas lights, yet they do not takeextra security measures to prevent home rob-bery. Though fire prevention is certainly impor-tant, your home is far more likely to attract theeyes of a burglar than to go up in flames. So,here are 15 ways that you can keep the burglarsaway:

• Keep doors locked at all times. This is trueeven when you are home, and even when it’slight out.

• Keep your windows locked, even those onthe second floor. Burglars DO have climbingskills.

• Use door reinforcements and top-flight locks.

• Keep the curtains and blinds closed. This willensure that no one can take a peek at yourvaluables.

• Install security films on the windows. Thesehelp to prevent the penetration of objectssuch as a baseball bat or crow bar.

• Give your home a “lived-in” look with ahome automation technology system. Manyof these can be controlled by a model device

or scheduled to turn lights on or off at a spe-cific time.

• Collect your newspaper and mail as soon asthey arrive.

• Place a large pair of men’s work boots nearthe door, and make sure they are scuffed up tomake them look worn.

• Put a large dog bowl near the entryways ofthe home, but make sure it looks realistic. Dothis by adding a chewed up toy or large leashto the scene.

• Make sure there is no shrubbery crowdingentry points of the home.

• Go to Google news, and type in the phrase“door kicked in” along with your location.You will be shocked by the results. To protectyourself, consider a device such as DoorDevil, which is a high-level door reinforce-ment device.

• If you have a garage, make sure you are pack-ing and unpacking gifts from the car inside ofthe garage so no one can see what you pur-chased.

• Don’t advertise your Christmas gift purchas-es on social media, as many thieves usesocial media to find potential victims.

• Make an investment into a home security sys-tem. The best systems provide a clear view ofwhat is happening in the home on yourmobile device when you are not there.

• If you have a car parked out in the drive,place a pair of men’s gloves on the dash.Most burglars will think twice if they believethere is a large man living in the home.

15 Tips to Keep YourHome Safe During theHoliday Season

Call Today 905-575-7700


www.GolfiTeam.com

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Crossword puzzle

Across1 Sworn written statement (9)8 Hit hard (5)9 Defunct (7)10 At a much reduced rate (3-5)11 Wicket crosspiece (4)13 Child at an early stage of life (6)14 Mum or dad (6)16 Sharp — bakery product (4)17 Take it easy (5,3)19 Sums (7)20 Hackneyed (5)21 In another place (9)

Down1 Visible (8)2 Furious (6)3 Obligation (4)4 Position affording a good view

(7,5)5 Gossip (6-6)6 Typical things one has to offer

(5-2-5)7 Made up of many differing parts

(12)12 Capable of erring (8)15 Morally pure (6)18 White Christmas requirement (4)

the Solution

6 9 3 45

8 4 2 6

5

4 3 9

7 6

7 12

2

5 83 1

9 1 2 8 7

SUDOKUSUDOKU

216934 758

834216 597

759842 631

423167 985

187359 264

695781 423

378695 142

562478 31

941523 876

9

Fill in the grid above, so that

each row of 9 squares, each

column of nine and each

section of nine (three squares by

three) contains the numbers

1 through 9 in any order. there

is only one solution for the

puzzle and the numbers shown

can not be changed.

(Solution on Page 10)

CONSUMER FEATURE

On November 1, 2012, Ex-pert Mortgage launched the“85-Alive” program in Ontario.The concept was simple: aslong as you had a pulse, Ex-pert Mortgage would provideyou with a home equity loan,up to 85 per cent of the valueof your property. No job re-quired. Bad credit, OK.

The reason why ExpertMortgage could oíer a “noquestions asked” lending pro-gram, while the major bankscould not, is that they repre-sent over 200 private lenderswho lend strictly on propertyvalue. These subprime lendersspecialize in mortgage clientswho have had some bad luck,and need a helping hand untilthey get back on their feet.

The program has been sosuccessful that Expert Mort-gage can barely keep up withthe volume of calls. To helpfund this unexpectedly largenumber of borrowers, it haspartnered up with dozensmore private lenders.

Licensed Mortgage AgentExpert Mort-

gage’s “85-Alive” representa-tive for the

, says, “We’re seeingmostly homeowners behindon mortgage and propertytaxes. The banks are refus-ingto restructure their loans.Many of these people havelost jobs due to the badeconomy... or they’re self-employed. Unless you are aperfect applicant, the bankdoesn’t want to talk to you.”

But not everyone condonesExpert Mortgage’s easy lend-ing criteria. A local real estateagent with 25 years of experi-ence, who has asked to remainanonymous, says, “When thismarket turns down, it’s goingto get ugly! It’s utter ënancialsuicide for Expert Mortgageto be giving money away soeasily to clients without theability to make payments. I’dbe surprised if they’re still inbusiness ëve years from now.”

Nonetheless, homeowners

like Anita P. don’t see a prob-lem with the program. Whenquestioned on how she planson making payments on hermortgage when she has noincome, Anita responds, “Wewere four months behind onour mortgage and they savedour house. My husband hasbeen unemployed for ninemonths. He won’t be unem-ployed forever. We used the85-Alive loan to pay oí all ourdebits. We also had $25,000left over that we put in thebank for emergencies. And tomake life easy, they worked itout so we have no mortgagepayments for 12 months.”

For more details on the ”85-Alive” program, contact

New program provides emergencymortgage loans to homeowners

Top 6 Reasons WhyNow is a Good Timeto Sell your House1) Supply & Demand: During the

Holiday Season there are significantlyless homes on the market. Less supplymeans less competition. Less competi-tion means more money in your pock-et and faster sales.

2) Holiday emotions: Buying is an emo-tional purchase and emotions tend torun high during the Holiday Season.Strategically, having the opportunityto work off a buyer’s emotion is inyour favor...they tend to offer a higherprice when emotions are involved.

3) Low interest rates: The interest ratesare incredibly low, which allows abuyer to afford more in the market.When rates are low, buyers tend topresent higher purchase offers. Not tomention, Mortgage interest rates areheaded UP, which will drasticallyimpact your BUYING POWER.

4) Beat the rush: Most sellers wait to listafter the first of the year, which causesa lot of new inventory in January. Thelonger you wait, the more competitionyou create for yourself. You canexpect a flood of new inventory in thefirst quarter of 2015. As supplyincreases, your likelihood of gettingan offer at an acceptable pricedecreases.

5) Relocation: Companies typically bringin new talent starting in the beginningof the year. These new hires are look-ing at property now. You must be onthe market to take advantage of thesebuyers.

6) Serious Shopping: Tire kickers do notlike the cold and will stay home.Serious buyers do not have a choice.They must buy now and will brave theelements to make it happen. Picturethe buyer who puts on her hat, gloves,boots, scarf, and winter coat to go lookat homes in 3 feet of snow and in themiddle of a snow storm. Are they buy-ing or “just looking”? I think youknow the answer. Selling during thewinter months keeps the neighborsand looky loos out of the process andattracts only serious buyers to yourhome; making the showing processmuch easier.

And remember, listing your homenow doesn't mean you need to moveout today. In fact, the average timeframe from list date to move out dateis nearly 90 days.


Call Today 905-575-7700www.GolfiTeam.com

Golfi Team Feature HomeRob Golfi*

4 Hewitson Road, Stoney Creek

Custom Built Home Perfect for large family. Features 4+2 bedrooms, eat-inkitchen with walk-out, separate dining room, sunken familyroom, den, in-law suite with separate entrance, doublegarage and oversized lot.

• Custom build home 3300 sq.ft!

• Large eat in kitchen with walk-out

• Ceramics and hardwood throughout

• Separate dining room

• Sunken family room

• In-law suite in basement with separate entrance

• Double car garage

• Oversized lot

$699,900

December 2015 Issue 117

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