How to choose a cottage real estate agent?

Don’t you love the peace and quiet of the cottage; the uncomplicated, the slower pace of life? Its proximity to nature. The waves of the lake lap at the dock creating the familiar rhythmic sound of water and dock rigging. The Warm breeze on a sunny day, they are perfect for canoeing, sailing, or hiking.

For some people this is no longer what they want. They don’t like the long drive. They no longer like the isolation and inconvenience of leaving their city home and starting all over again supplying the kitchen for comfort. In short, they want to sell their cottage. How to choose a cottage real estate agent? or recreational property agent ?

Most Cottage buyers are city people and they list their cottage with their city agent. Many agents have expertise in the city as well as the cottage area. Some don’t. They are familiar with septic systems and wells. Some of them know about riparian rights and shared access or limited access to remote waterfront properties. Some don’t have the time or inclination to invest in recreational property sales. These are some of the important questions for the buyers. For the seller it’s another question; who to choose to sell the cottage !

Most remote cottages can be easily accessed by float plane making the hour or more on poorly marked or unmarked roads much easier. Imagine giving directions to your real estate agent hoping he’ll find the right cottage: go to the log cabin at the north east peninsula on Wolf Lake. Good luck and the trip may take the whole day! No one to ask directions during the week. Everyone is working in town. Oh yes! The cottage has two towering pine trees and a dock at the water front. Don’t they all? The key is under the bolder at the foot of the first tree. A real estate agent with a float plane is able to access the cottage with relative ease, take the measurements, take photos, post several For Sale Signs; one at the waterfront dock and another at the road entry. Attach a lock box and take an aerial photo to post on the agent’s favourite web sites.

It is sometimes possible to use the float plane to visit with the owner. They can review the condition of the property and adjacent cottages. Explain some of the important features of the geography. All this is so much easier and faster in a float plane.

For a cottage buying it makes sense to visit several properties located at different lakes all on a morning’s tour and be back in Ottawa or Kingston by noon. Wouldn’t that be a pleasant way to choose a cottage! Call me. Interesting discussion. There is lots to consider.

Don and Betty Fry Celebrate!

The reward for continued maintenance and smart renovation is a Buyer willing to pay more than full price when it comes time to move to an alternate residence. It also took patience waiting for the right buyer to come along. Patience isn’t easy when all they wanted was action on the house. It took faith. Faith and trust in their Real estate agent that he was correct in his vision of the perspective Buyer. Faith that their house was priced wisely when it was priced much higher than neighbourhood home sale prices. Finally it took focused energy. Focusing their actions to improve and finish prior house projects to make the house whole and complete for the new owner.

Preparation and staging is an important part of selling. In sales you are showing off the architecture and not showing your personal choice furnishings, although I suggest choice furniture and fine wall treatment help to attract a specific Buyer. Knowing the Buyer’s demographics such as age, income, and education play an important factor in the staging process and ultimately the sale price.
 

Don’t leave home without Fire Insurance

Houses rarely burn down but it happened just like this in Westboro and it happened to me in 1984.  I learned then how important accurate documentation of your insurance policy can be.  When the insurance adjustor arrived at 8 am after the firemen departed he arrogantly informed me that I had no insurance coverage for the house. I was already shocked and frightened at the loss of my cherished house. That I had no valid insurance was like a clap of thunder and I was unable to respond. I had paid the house insurance premium every year without fail. What could have gone wrong?

Fortunately, I was able to produce insurance documents kept in a secure place. They were not burned or wet.  I had each year since I purchased the house stored in a folder and they proved to be a life saver. There was a small detail in past records proving that I had accurately described the house. Thankfully, I had proof of insurance and funds where made available to me to rebuild my house to the total amount of the insurance policy. 

You can’t be watching your house and property all the time but thankfully home insurance is a useful back up product when you’re not at home. Fire Insurance; Don’t leave home without it. 

Hanging Artwork is part of Staging a Home for Sale

 

Hanging Art Work is part of Home Staging

It’s fun to personalize interior walls with photos, posters and paintings. Here is what I suggest to make the hanging of artwork easy. Ask a helper to hold the artwork on the wall to position it. You generally want the art work low on the wall, just lower than half the wall height. When you are happy with the position mark the spot on the wall at the top of the frame with a pencil. Then turn the frame around and measure from the top of the frame to hanging wire pulled tight. Return to the wall and place two nails slightly apart at the same measurement down from your pencil mark. The second nail helps to keep the work from tilting. Easy!
Tip 1. Adding a small curl of masking tape behind the bottom two corners is another way to steady a painting.
Tip 2. Positioning is very important! Frames placed high on the wall have the effect of reducing  the ceiling height. Frames placed lower on the walls give the appearance of higher ceilings and add a spacious feel.
Tip 3. Consider the wall space dimension when choosing art work. Wide walls accentuate the horizontal and generally you would choose a wide art piece for the wide wall. High narrow walls accommodate vertical pieces. Above a fireplace you may choose a vertical art piece to emphasize the ceiling height and the strength of the fireplace. 
Tip 4. Hanging two or more art works is more challenging because you want the frames to line up and look even. First check that all the wire hangers are spaced equally from the top of the frame. Have a helper place the first or middle frame on the wall and mark it with a pencil. Mark the left and right side as well. Add the space between the frames and use the ceiling as your base measure to transfer the height for the additional frames on the left or right sides. A level is good but using the ceiling is often more pleasing to the eye.
Tip 5. Use professional hooks with thin nails and angled to securely hold art work. It makes the job easier. Adjustable hooks allow an up down movement using a screw mechanism. These are very useful when absolute accuracy is needed.

Newest Mortgage Rates for Ottawa Buyers

It is fascinating to note that the rates for mortgages have not changed in months. Low interest rates mean that home buyers have access to relatively low borrowing rates. With the 5 year rate of about 3% you can easily calculate your monthly blended payment of a 100 thousand dollar mortgage. For each  thousand dollars it costs $4.75 a month interest and principal repayment. That translates to $475. dollars per 100 thousand borrowed per month. You can calculate your payment based on your need from this.

There are a few more factors that banks take into account when offering a mortgage pre-approval. They will have to know past credit history and the amount of down payment available for the purchase. They will want to see a minimum of 5% down payment with an additional 2% for closing costs. This approximate 7% of the closing costs must be cash or savings.

Call me about this.There is more you may need to know.

Terms
Bank Rates
Best Rates
 
 
 
1 YEAR
3.00%
2.65%
2 YEARS
3.14%
2.69%
3 YEARS
3.70%
2.75%
4 YEARS
4.64%
2.89%
5 YEARS
5.24%
2.99%
7 YEARS
6.35%
3.69%
10 YEARS
6.75%
3.79%

 

Ottawa Mortgage Interest Rates

It is fascinating to note that the rates for mortgages have not changed in months. Low interest rates mean that home buyers have access to relatively low borrowing rates. With the 5 year rate of about 3% you can easily calculate your monthly blended payment of a 100 thousand dollar mortgage. For each  thousand dollars it costs $4.75 a month interest and principal repayment. That translates to $475. dollars per 100 thousand borrowed per month. You can calculate your payment based on your need from this.

There are a few more factors that banks take into account when offering a mortgage pre-approval. They will have to know past credit history and the amount of down payment available for the purchase. They will want to see a minimum of 5% down payment with an additional 2% for closing costs. This approximate 7% of the closing costs must be cash or savings.

Call me about this.There is more you may need to know.

Terms
Bank Rates
Best Rates
 
 
 
1 YEAR
3.00%
2.65%
2 YEARS
3.14%
2.69%
3 YEARS
3.70%
2.75%
4 YEARS
4.64%
2.89%
5 YEARS
5.24%
2.99%
7 YEARS
6.35%
3.69%
10 YEARS
6.75%
3.79%

Ottawa Local Real Estate Activity

Westboro and McKellar Park: – Mid July to Mid August 2012

Total listings: …………………………….79

Total Sales:……………………………….11

Average Sale price: ……….. $574,400.

Average Condo price:……… $439,675.
Average days on the market: ……..14



BelAir / Copeland Park – Mid July to Mid August 2012

Total listings: ……………………………12

Total Sales:……………………………… 5

Average List price: …………$427,533.
Average Sale price: ……….$383,000.
Average days on the market: …….14.
Summer Adventure!
We’re about to explore the mysterious sunken St. Laurence River wreck of a wooden side wheeler, The Rothesay near Prescott . Launched in 1868, she was a popular passenger steamer between Fredericton and St Johns and later between Montreal and Toronto. One foggy day, she collided with a tug going downstrean
Celia Elder and I are pictured sporting wet suits and SCUBA gear just before our challenging dive. We were certified earlier this year after taking SCUBA instruction from Sharky’s Dive shop on Wellington St. What a great family activity, expanding our sense of community. Working together as Dive buddies and soon to be working together as a Father Daughter team of Ottawa Real Estate Agents .

The Heart Of Westboro Village

 Some of the most sought after Ottawa real estate  is located near the centre or down town area.  There are more services in densely populated areas and people like to live near restaurants ,cafes, bike shops and food stores. Sometimes the it is a matter of better transportation choices. You can use bikes or busses. Matter of fact many people don’t use a car, they walk when services are close.

404 Edgeworth is located in the heart of Westboro village. It is one of the many older houses. It has a grand look. Two story brick, with a handsome veranda and deep back yard. There is plenty of room for parking. Lots of trees and it is a short quiet street. Great for families!