Milton
Sharing thoughts, information, social commentary, news, events, and happenings in Milton Ontario. Also, offering tips and ideas for techno-tools that can make your online life easier and safer.
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Feb. 11, 2009
I've just posted a report showing the average price trends, by house type, in Milton since January 1st, 2002. I chose this date because that is when the houses in the new section of Milton started appearing as resales.
An interesting trend is that the number of units sold was down in 2008, from the peak year 2007, but prices were up across the board. Those 2 factors clearly indicate a market in transition, as inventory is sold off and buyer's begin waiting to see what is happening in the market. Indeed, from September 2008 through to the end of the year, we heard from buyer's that they were going to wait until January or February, to see what happened with prices, rates, elections, etc. True to their word, wait they did, and sales dropped precipituously as a result.
The one exception to rising prices is in condo apartments, and this can be attributed to the new buildings that came to completion in 2008, and the lowering of average prices by their very existence.
The exception to decreasing number of units sold in 2008 was in freehold townhouses, which saw an increase in untis sold of about 15% over 2007. This can be attributed to the strength in demand from entry-level buyers, and an emerging trend of some homeowners selling their more expensive homes before the market dropped further, in an effort to mitigate their losses.
In conjunction with the February 2009 Real Estate Market Update, viewable as a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI6GM3ekNpU, you can find the annual summary of Milton real estate by downloading the PDF file from http://TownofMilton.com/STATS-2002+.pdf
Feb. 9, 2009
Canadians show 'alarming' lack of awareness on fire safety
(NC)-'Fire Prevention Week' kicks off in Canada during October and not a second too soon for the majority of Canadians who need to start doing their homework when it comes to improving fire safety at home, according to a new survey.
The seventh annual Duracell Fire Safety Survey reveals that a whopping 77% of Canadians admitted they failed to practice a home fire drill in the past year. Worse, one in four Canadians admitted to not changing home smoke alarm batteries at least once in the past year as recommended by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC), rendering the critical first line of defense in home fire safety useless.
With Oct. 5 - 11 marking 2008 Fire Prevention Week in Canada, Duracell and the CAFC are urging Canadians to improve their fire safety awareness, particularly as it relates to keeping home alarms in proper working order.
"A working smoke alarm is a key step in fire safety preparedness and Canadians need to be more dedicated to maximizing safety in their own homes," said Pat Burke, president of the CAFC, Duracell's partner in the 2008 national fire safety survey.
The CAFC and Duracell are advising Canadians to get into the habit of refreshing alarm batteries at least once a year and they suggest that an easy way to remember is to do so when resetting clocks every fall.
This year, as the CAFC marks its 100th anniversary, Canada's fire chiefs are partnering with Duracell and Canadian Tire Stores to name Canada's Junior Fire Chief. The contest gives Canadian boys and girls aged 7 to 12 years the chance to win a trip Ottawa to spend a day with the city's fire chief. Details on the contest are available online at www.juniorfirechief.ca.
The seventh annual Duracell Fire Safety Survey was conducted by Omnitel, a division of Acrobat Research, between May 8 and May 11, 2008 and involved a sampling of 1,000 Canadians. More information is available online at www.duracell.com/ca/firesafety.
Credit: www.newscanada.com
Feb. 4, 2009
| What the New Federal Budget Means to You |
The January 27th federal budget was chock full of goodies for homeowners and first-time homebuyers. Below are some highlights from the budget that you may find useful.
Home Renovation Credit
If you’ve been thinking about doing some home renovations, a 15% Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) of up to $1,350 on eligible home renovation expenses undertaken before February 1, 2010 that was proposed in the new budget may help in your decision to invest in improvements to your home.
The credit will apply to expenditures in excess of $1,000, but not more than $10,000, for the 2009 taxation year. Expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010, will be eligible for the credit. The credit will, however, not be available in respect of expenditures for work performed or goods acquired in that period if the expenditure is made pursuant to an agreement entered into before January 28, 2009. Individuals may claim this credit (including expenditures made in January 2010) in their 2009 income tax returns.
Eligibility for the HRTC will be family-based. For this purpose, a family will generally be considered to consist of an individual, and where applicable, the individual’s spouse or common-law partner, and their children who were under the age of 18 throughout 2009.
Two or more families that share ownership of an eligible dwelling will each be eligible for their own credit. Each family’s credit will be determined by their respective eligible expenditures in excess of $1,000, but not more than $10,000.
Individuals will be able to claim the HRTC on eligible expenditures made in respect of dwellings that are eligible at any time after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010 to be their principal residence or that of one or more of their other family members under the existing tax law.
In general, a housing unit is considered to be eligible to be an individual’s principal residence where it is owned by the individual and ordinarily inhabited by the individual, the individual’s spouse or common-law partner or their children.
In the case of condominiums and co-operative housing corporations, the credit will be available for eligible expenditures incurred to renovate the unit that is eligible to be the individual’s principal residence as well as the individual’s share of the cost of eligible expenditures incurred in respect of common areas.
Individuals who earn business or rental income from part of their principal residence will be allowed to claim the credit for the full amount of expenditures made in respect of the personal-use areas of the residence. For expenditures made in respect of common areas or that benefit the housing unit as a whole (such as re-shingling a roof), the administrative practices ordinarily followed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to determine how business or rental income and expenditures are allocated between personal use and income-earning use will apply in establishing the amount qualifying for the credit.
Expenditures will qualify for the HRTC if they are incurred in relation to a renovation or alteration of an eligible dwelling (including land that forms part of the eligible dwelling) provided that the renovation or alteration is of an enduring nature and is integral to the eligible dwelling. Such expenditures would include the cost of labour and professional services, building materials, fixtures, equipment rentals and permits.
Expenditures will not be eligible if the related goods or services are provided by a person not dealing at arm’s length with the individual, unless that person is registered for Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax purposes under the Excise Tax Act. Any eligible expenditure claimed for the HRTC must be supported by receipts.
ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Grants
The new budget also proposes an expanded ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program, and Natural Resources Canada is currently working to finalize the details.
The new expanded program includes a $300 million increase over two years for support to property owners looking to make their homes more energy efficient. It is estimated that additional funds will extend the reach of the current program to an additional 200,000 homeowners.
Under the current program, ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes provides home and property owners with grants of up to $5,000 to offset the cost of making energy-efficient improvements. ecoENERGY Retrofit grants apply to a host of measures that reduce energy consumption and provide for a cleaner environment, from increasing insulation to upgrading a furnace.
Only homes that have undergone a residential energy efficiency assessment by an energy advisor certified by Natural Resources Canada will be eligible for grants.
Detached homes, row housing, duplexes, triplexes and mobile homes on permanent foundations and some small apartment buildings of three storeys or less may qualify for ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grants.
The ecoENERGY Retrofit grant is based on the type and number of energy improvements that have been made and how much the efficiency of the home has been improved. The grant is based on how effective that upgrade is in saving energy, not on the cost of the upgrade.
The maximum grant one can receive per home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000; whereas the total grant amount available to one individual or entity for eligible properties over the life of the program is $500,000. The average grant is expected to be more than $1,000 and will yield an average 25% reduction in energy use and costs.
RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan Increase
The budget proposes a $5,000 increase to the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan, meaning first-time homebuyers can now withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSPs for a down payment – tax- and interest-free.
Tax Credit for First-Time Homebuyers
Also proposed in the new budget is a $750 tax credit for first-time homebuyers to help with closing costs, such as legal fees, disbursements and land transfer taxes.
The tax credit is based on an amount of $5,000 for first-time homebuyers who acquire a qualifying home after January 27, 2009 (ie, the closing is after that date). The credit for a taxation year will be calculated by reference to the lowest personal income tax rate for the year and is claimable for the taxation year in which the home is acquired.
An individual will be considered a first-time homebuyer if neither the individual nor the individual’s spouse or common-law partner owned and lived in another home in the calendar year of the home purchase or in any of the four preceding calendar years.
A qualifying home is one that is currently eligible for the Home Buyers’ Plan that the individual or individual’s spouse or common-law partner intends to occupy as the principal place of residence no later than one year after its acquisition.
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Feb. 4, 2009
low mortgage rates, refinance, for sale, real estate, chris newell
| Refinancing to Take Advantage of Lower Rates |
With interest rates falling as of late, refinancing your existing mortgage and switching to a lower rate may save you a lot of money – possibly thousands of dollars per year.
Imagine what you could do with the savings – anything from renovating or investing to going on a much-needed vacation or putting money towards your children’s education.
Perhaps your home is financed through a first and second mortgage. If so, reviewing your options to combine the two could also result in having more money left over at the end of each month.
With the high cost of holiday gift-buying and entertaining now behind you, this may also be the perfect time to get 2009 off to a fresh start by refinancing your mortgage and freeing up some money to pay off high-interest credit card debt. With access to more money, you will be better able to manage your debt.
By refinancing now and paying off your debt, you can put yourself and your family in a better financial position. It’s very important to not rack up your credit cards after refinancing, however, so set your goals and budgets, and stick to them.
There are penalties for paying out your existing mortgage loan prior to renewal, but these may be offset by the extra money you could acquire through a refinance.
Also keep in mind that by refinancing you may extend the time it will take to pay off your mortgage. That said, there are many ways to pay down your mortgage sooner to save you thousands of dollars. Most mortgage products, for instance, include prepayment privileges that enable you to pay up to 20% of the principal (the true value of your mortgage minus the interest payments) per calendar year. This will also help reduce your amortization period (the length of your mortgage), which, in turn, saves you money.
You can also change the way you make your payments by opting for accelerated bi-weekly mortgage payments. Not to be confused with semi-monthly mortgage payments (24 payments per year), accelerated bi-weekly mortgage payments (26 payments per year) will not only pay your mortgage off quicker, but it’s guaranteed to save you a significant amount of money over the term of your mortgage.
If, for instance, you have a $100,000 mortgage, an interest rate of 5% and an amortization period of 25 years, your monthly mortgage payment would be $581.60 and your total payments for a year would be $6,979.20 ($581.60 x 12).
To understand the savings accelerated bi-weekly mortgage payments can make, take the monthly mortgage payment of $581.60 and divide it by two ($581.60 ÷ 2 = $290.80). Next, take that payment and multiple it by 26 to arrive at your total payments for the year ($290.80 x 26 = $7,560.80).
As you can see, by using the monthly mortgage payment plan, you’ve made payments totalling $6,979.20 for the year, while using the accelerated bi-weekly mortgage plan you’ve made payments totalling $7,560.80 – a difference of $581.60.
Basically, with accelerated bi-weekly mortgage payments, you’re making one additional monthly payment per year.
Using this example, you would reduce the amortization on your $100,000 mortgage from 25 years to just over 21 years and your total savings on interest over the life of the mortgage would be just over $12,000.
As always, if you want to talk about your refinancing options, I’m here to help.
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Feb. 4, 2009
Countertop trends: Quartz tops Granite as strongest rock in consumer reports
(NC)-Consumers in the market for a premium countertop surface are discovering early in their search that quartz, and not granite, has become the highest rated and most popular option available.
That's because quartz countertops have emerged as the new worry-free, elegant alternative to high-maintenance granite for architects, designers and homeowners alike. They're stronger than granite, require no resealing, are highly resistant to scratches and stains, and come in a huge variety of colours.
In fact, Consumer Reports Magazine rated quartz as the top performer among countertop materials such as granite, ceramic tile, stainless steel, laminate, marble, limestone and concrete when it came to resisting prime kitchen hazards such as stains, heat and scratches.
According to the recent Freedonia Group Report on countertop industry trends, there has been a definite shift in the marketplace over the last few years as quartz has become the fastest growing market segment in the industry with 13 per cent growth compared to granite's five per cent.
Quartz surfaces are growing in popularity because they have the appearance of natural stone, but unlike granite, these surfaces never need to be sealed. Quartz is a nonporous material, which means it will not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria. This is why leading brands such as HanStone Quartz surfaces are certified NSF 51 (with the National Sanitation Foundation).
"HanStone quartz countertops have an aesthetic that can emulate the look of granite, but are also available in unique colours and surface effects not found in natural stone," explained Mark Hanna, President of Montreal-based Leeza Distribution Inc., one of North America's leading distributors of HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces (leezadistribution.com). "The benefit of quartz is that it doesn't have any of the drawbacks associated with materials such as granite."
What is quartz?
Quartz is silicon dioxide and it occurs as individual crystals and fine-grained masses in a large variety of forms, patterns, and colours. It is naturally hard and scratch resistant.
Most quartz countertops are manufactured with up to 93 percent quartz mixed with pigments and resins. This prescribed mixture results in a product that is non-porous, exceedingly durable, and more than twice as strong as granite.
The top rated quartz surface in the industry by designers, architects and developers a like is HanStone, because it contains a higher quartz content than the norm and includes clear and multiple quartz colours, bringing greater depth, dimension and style to its surfaces.
HanStone is also accredited with Greenguard environmental certification for low emitting products. The Greenguard certification is becoming an important requirement for consumers looking for premium countertops following recent news reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has been receiving increasing calls from radon inspectors and concerned homeowners about granite countertops emitting dangerous levels of radon and radiation. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
As a result more and more consumers are looking for healthier options for their countertops such as HanStone for its Greenguard certification to ensure their countertops emit low to no emissions of toxic chemicals into their home environment.
Credit: www.newscanada.com
Jan. 31, 2009
Beware of Invisible Hazards Lurking In Your Home
(NC)—When you hear the word pollution usually the first picture that comes to mind are large clouds of smoke billowing from factory smoke stacks or a line of countless vehicles spewing exhaust fumes. In fact, the majority of people still blame poor indoor air quality on outdoor air pollution. But this is simply not true.
Did you know that outdoor air pollution only counts for a fraction of indoor air pollution? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of the average home can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air.
Invisible pollutants produced by common household substances, plus dust and excess humidity that get trapped in today's houses, can increase your risk of chronic respiratory illness and your home's risk of serious structural damage.
Today's well-insulated homes often lack the ability to "breathe" freely. Trapped, stale air and excess humidity can lead to mold build-up, unpleasant odors, condensation on windows, and even structural damage to your home.
Pervasive irritants such as dust, dust mites, cigarette smoke and other pollutants commonly found in household air may increase the risk of chronic respiratory illness, allergies, sinusitis, frequent headaches, coughing and asthma.
According to the Canadian Lung Association the most effective ways to control humidity and remove excess moisture and pollution levels from your home, apart from source control, are ventilation and filtration of circulating air.
The air exchanger manufactured by Venmar Ventilation is the first system to offer a unit that integrates heat recovery ventilation technology with HEPA filtration at an affordable price.
"With our system you can get the best of both worlds," says Gagnon. "It works to provide fresh air through ventilation and at the same time ensures the best indoor air quality by trapping airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, pet dander mold and bacteria through its HEPA filter with antimicrobial protection. The HEPA filter traps and removes up to 99.97% of airborne allergens and assists in distributing fresh air throughout the home." More information on the benefits of ventilation is available at www.venmar.ca.
- News Canada
Jan. 29, 2009
Do You Have Equity in Your Home?
If you have some equity in your home, or you have ready access to $25,000, you need to take that money and put it to work for you. You need to build your financial wealth.
In the Millionaire Real Estate Investor Workshop we delve right into the true meaning of the term ;financial wealth' and what it can do for you and why you need to build it. We also introduce you to the models and systems used by 120 millionaire real estate investors, so that you can learn from their mistakes, gain their habits, and take a quicker, straighter path to financial wealth.
I was doing some research for a new investor client today, and came up with some incredible opportunities available in Milton right now. Let me give you the details:
| Purchase Price |
$225,000 |
| Downpayment |
$22,500 |
| Property Taxes |
$1,800
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| Monthly Principal, Interest, Taxes |
$1,077 |
| Property Management |
$107 |
The numbers in the table are based on commonly-available mortgage rates as of the date of writing. The one expense not included is the insurance coverage, because that can vary depending on the coverage you get and your relationship with your insurance company.
As noted, these properties are currently available today, and will give you a positive cash-flow on a consistent monthly basis.
A further note is that we may be able to get you into the properties on a no-mortgage, $5,000 down basis. This method would be great for someone with minor blemishes on their credit, or someone just beginning to save their downpayment to buy.
Whether you would be interested in either scenario, give me a call at 905-208-7002 to schedule a meeting to discuss how we can get you into these opportunities, either as your first step to becoming a Millionaire Real Estate Investor or as a new home owner.
Jan. 26, 2009
5 Top Blunders of Internet Home Buying
How to avoid the common pitfalls of online real estate searching
Posted January 7, 2009
While the painful real estate swoon appears likely to extend well into 2009—at least—the number of Americans using the Internet to find the home of their dreams is poised to keep on climbing. According to the 2008 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 87 percent of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes in the past year. That's up steadily from 84 percent in 2007, 80 percent in 2006. But despite its mounting popularity, the Internet home-buying process can present a host of pitfalls. To help make your online real estate searching more effective, here's a look at the top five Internet home-buying blunders and what you can do to avoid them. Read the 5 Top Blunders HERE
Jan. 21, 2009
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Living Your Passion - By Jan Hornford
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There is a saying "Follow your heart and the money will follow". A part of me has always believed this to be true and another part wonders how to do this exactly! I find myself asking the question "How do you follow your heart and honour your responsibilities?" I do not think that these two things are mutually exclusive; I believe that they can and do exist in harmony and can feed and support each other. We have all heard stories of people who have taken risks to follow their passion and been successful. We have also heard stories of people who did the same and struggled or lived out of their car for awhile before they found success. So what do you do? What do you do when you are in that in between place living in your car? How do you make a change that will allow you to follow your heart and not end up in your car?
Following Your Passion
I do not think you have to make a radical change to start living your passion. It is not necessary to take such drastic action that you put your or your family at risk, financially or physically, in order to follow a passion. I think you can start by taking small steps and making choices that align with your passion rather than following what you or others thinks you should be doing.
Small Steps
I think before you can live your passion you have to know what that means for you. That is the first step. What are you passionate about? How will you know you are living your passion? What does that look like and feel like to you? Once you are clear on what this looks like then you can start making choices to bring your passion more fully into your life. You can make choices that are aligned with or support your passion, one small step at a time.
Obstacles on the Path
In my experience, I have found that a number of things can get in the way of making choices that support your passion. Sometimes I find myself doing things that I think I should be doing. You know that voice that says "This is a great opportunity…everyone says you need to do this in order to get established…this job will show people you have arrived!" Sometimes I find myself doing things out of fear…fear of failure or fear of making a wrong choice. It is amazing how the mind can rationalize just about any decision. Sometimes I can see so many sides of an issue and it just leaves me feeling even more confused! It is amazing how things can get so clouded that it is difficult to know what the right choice is. It can be hard to hear that still small voice of the soul.
Taking the "Wrong" Path
I have to admit that I have found myself on the wrong path any number of times. By that I mean that I have made choices that turned out not to be right for me. In retrospect I slap my forehead and say "Man you should have seen that one coming! How come you didn't know? It is so obvious now" You know what they say about hindsight! I believe that sometimes you have to take the wrong path to fully realize it is the wrong path. The wrong path brings learning that helps you get really clear on what your heart and soul truly wants. This learning simply means that it was not so much a "wrong" path as another step in your journey.
You know it is the right path if it brings you joy, if it makes you feel alive, if you feel enthusiasm and lightness in you body and soul. You know it is the wrong path…well you just know don't you! You know by the heaviness of heart, by the dread, by the absolute lack of enthusiasm you feel when you go to work. When I am on a wrong path is when I start to feel a yearning, a pull to what I really want.
There is great wisdom in knowing for sure what you do not want as it can help you to see what you do want.
Sometimes I have found that I needed to walk this "wrong" path because there was something I needed to learn. I truly believe that there are no mistakes, only learning. If you find yourself on a wrong path consider what it is you can learn from the experience. I have learned that life unfolds with grace and there is wisdom and insight to be gained on any path. I have found that even when I was on the wrong path, I was still moving in the right direction. It is probably better not to speak of right and wrong paths at all but of evolving paths.
Coaching Questions
What are you passionate about?
Are you living your passion?
How do you know?
Can you think of a time when you were on the "wrong" path?
What did you learn?
How has that knowledge served you?
Can you think of a time when you were on the right path?
Did this path reflect a passion?
Action
Make a list of your passions. Choose your top 5. Are you living these passions?
What do you need to do to more fully live your passion? Do you need to make more time for your spouse or children? Do you need to get some information about a course or career?
Choose one passion that you would like to bring more fully into your life.
Consider how your life would look like when you are living this passion. How would you feel? How will you know you are living this passion? Write this down in one short sentence. It is your Passion Statement.
Write out 3 small actions you can take this week that will help you to live your passion statement.
Each week, continue to make choices and take action that will support your passion.
About the Author:
Jan is a Master Certified Retreat Coach whose passion is to help you reconnect with the heart and soul of who you are. Through customized coaching retreats Jan's trademark is getting you out of your usual environment and way of being to access your personal power and wisdom. Jan is the author of 5 self-help e-courses, two self-led e-retreats, and a number of articles.
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Jan. 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 January 2009 |
CONTACT: Jeremy Harrison
613 782-8782 |
Bank of Canada lowers overnight rate target by 1/2 percentage point to 1 per cent
OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada today announced that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-half of a percentage point to 1 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is correspondingly lowered, and the Bank Rate is now 1 1/4 per cent.
The outlook for the global economy has deteriorated since the Bank's December interest rate announcement, with the intensifying financial crisis spilling over into real economic activity. Heightened uncertainty is undermining business and household confidence worldwide and further eroding domestic demand. Major advanced economies, including Canada's, are now in recession and emerging-market economies are increasingly affected. Energy prices have fallen as a result of substantially weaker global demand.
Stabilization of the global financial system is a precondition for economic recovery. To that end, governments and central banks are taking bold and concerted policy actions. There are signs that these extraordinary measures are starting to gain traction, although it will take some time for financial conditions to normalize. In addition, considerable monetary and fiscal policy stimulus is being provided worldwide.
Canadian exports are down sharply, and domestic demand is shrinking as a result of declines in real income, household wealth, and consumer and business confidence. Canada's economy is projected to contract through mid-2009, with real GDP dropping by 1.2 per cent this year on an annual average basis. As policy actions begin to take hold in Canada and globally, and with support from the past depreciation of the Canadian dollar, real GDP is expected to rebound, growing by 3.8 per cent in 2010.
A wider output gap through 2009 and modest decreases in housing prices should cause core CPI inflation to ease, bottoming at 1.1 per cent in the fourth quarter. Total CPI inflation is expected to dip below zero for two quarters in 2009, reflecting year-on-year drops in energy prices. With inflation expectations well-anchored, total and core inflation should return to the 2 per cent target in the first half of 2011 as the economy returns to potential.
Against this background, the Bank today lowered its policy rate by 50 basis points, bringing the cumulative monetary policy easing to 350 basis points since December 2007. Guided by Canada's inflation-targeting framework, the Bank will continue to monitor carefully economic and financial developments in judging to what extent further monetary stimulus will be required to achieve the 2 per cent target over the medium term. Low, stable, and predictable inflation is the best contribution monetary policy can make to long-term economic growth and financial stability.
Information note:
A full update of the Bank's outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, will be published in the Monetary Policy Report Update on 22 January 2009. The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is 3 March 2009.
Jan. 19, 2009
Valentine’s Day Luxury for Less
(ARA) – Valentine’s Day inspires some of the most expensive and luxurious gifts. But in an economic downturn, what do you do when you have champagne taste, but a beer budget?
Luxurious doesn’t necessarily mean expensive and with some creativity you can give lavish gifts on a limited budget. Some of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts are jewelry, gourmet food and personal indulgences and all of them can fit into a small budget.
A Toast to Love:
Many couples pop the cork on a celebratory bottle of champagne, but a bottle of the real French spirit can run you a costly $40 to $120 or more. Instead, look for domestic sparkling whites or an Italian Prosecco, an inexpensive, crisp sparkling white wine.
Gourmet Chocolates:
A heart-shaped box filled with chocolate is almost cliche. When it comes to chocolate, it’s quality, not quantity, that counts. A small box of gourmet chocolates in trendy flavors like curry, cardamom, black pepper, red wine and goat cheese will make much more of an impact than a big box of boring generic chocolates with mystery filling. If you’d like to try something different, try a small tin of caramels with sea salt.
Jewelry:
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but a piece of classic and stunning pearl jewelry for Valentine’s Day is an affordable, unexpected and appreciated surprise. Freshwater pearl earrings or bracelets give a high-end look for a budget price and you can celebrate the colors of the holiday with a gorgeous pink or lavender cultured freshwater pearl necklace. PearlParadise.com offers freshwater pearl earrings starting at just $19. Make a unique statement and show her she’s the only one in your life with the symbolic and exotic Tahitian pearl pendant from PearlParadise.com.
Dinner for Two:
A romantic dinner for two at a restaurant can easily break the bank. But a candlelit gourmet dinner for two at home comes in at much less and also scores points for thoughtfulness. You can break out the cook book and make recipes from scratch or log on to any number of Web sites and have a three or four course feast delivered to your door.
The Gift of Time:
Time is the ultimate luxury and giving the gift of your undivided attention for an entire weekend, running a relaxing bubble bath or giving a foot massage is the best and most heartfelt gift of all.
Whatever you’re shopping for this Valentine’s Day, don’t wait until the last minute. Shopping ahead can save big money. Look for sales at your favorite stores and surf around for great deals online. PearlParadise.com, for example, offers pearls up to 80 percent off retail price. Remember, putting some thought into your gift and thinking ahead truly shows you care.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Jan. 17, 2009
ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR
Mattamy Homes CEO Peter Gilgan in his Oakville office. (Jan. 12, 2009)
Mattamy Homes: Between Bricks and a hard place
January 17, 2009
Tony Wong
BUSINESS REPORTER
Peter Gilgan shuffles a clump of paper on his large wooden desk. "These are all the bills," he jokes to a photographer.
As the largest house builder in Canada, Gilgan has taken proactive steps to avoid those looming bills as sales slow in the North American real estate market.
His company, Mattamy Homes, laid off 50 staff in November.
In a memo to employees, Gilgan called it "the most difficult and humbling" action he has had to take in his 30 years as a business leader.
"The housing market is certainly not going to be as buoyant as it was. There are different expectations today than expectations from a year or two ago," says the developer, sitting in his Oakville boardroom.
On a crisp January day, Gilgan, 58, is suffering from a cold, but he is genial when greeting guests for a rare interview. Despite the fact he's the CEO of the country's largest builder of detached homes, with more than 40 sales and construction sites up and running throughout North America and more than a billion dollars in annual sales, the chartered accountant has always preferred to remain behind the scenes.
But Mattamy's fortunes are in many ways symbolic of what is happening in Canada's softening real estate industry, especially because of its leadership position.
According to the latest figures from the Building Industry and Land Development Association, total new-home sales in the GTA for the first 11 months of 2008 were down by 35 per cent. For low-rise homes, which Mattamy builds, industry-wide sales were off by 39.1 per cent. New-home companies have slashed prices and given away free trips and cars to entice buyers. Taking a page from the beleaguered car industry, Mattamy introduced "employee pricing" at select American sites last year, extending the same discounts to the public as to their employees.
According to Gilgan's figures, his company is doing much better than the average builder, closing 4,031 homes in 2007 with $1.5 billion in revenue and "just under" 4,000 homes in 2008 with $1.4 billion in revenue. The company has some 1,000 full-time employees.
But all bets are off for this year.
Balance of story is here
Jan. 16, 2009
‘Mac tax’ would cost average Halton household $2.10
Committee recommends region contribute $5 million subsidy toward proposed Burlington-based university campus
By Tim Foran, Metroland West Media Group
News
Jan 16, 2009
Halton residents will pay a McMaster tax over most of the next decade to help finance a campus in Burlington, if regional council approves an administration and finance committee recommendation.
The $5-million subsidy would be paid for through the region’s operating budget starting in 2010, with $500,000 grants going to McMaster University for the first eight years and $1 million in the ninth year. Each of the $500,000 grants would equate to an extra $2.10 in annual property taxes for the average Halton household.
“It’s less than a grande latte at Starbucks,” said James Peters, chair of the Burlington Economic Development Corporation, who urged regional councillors to vote in favour of the grants.
The City of Burlington has already agreed to give McMaster $5 million for the $50 million-plus project, but those funds will come from hydro reserves.
Without the $10-million in municipal funding, McMaster won’t go forward with the project.
If regional council approves the recommendation at its meeting Wednesday (Jan. 21) morning, McMaster spokesperson Ilene Busch- Vishniac said the school plans to start construction this spring on the first part of its project, a $28-million, 93,000-square foot DeGroote Centre for Advanced Management, which will host 800 MBA and executive education students. The combined $10 million from Burlington and Halton would go toward the construction of this facility. The centre was originally planned to be built in Burlington’s downtown, but Vishniac said it abandoned the location for three reasons — including an inability to expand, a desire to be located close to the QEW, and because a “generous donor” has offered a free 4.5-acre parcel of land on South Service Road just east of Walker’s Line. Vishniac declined to name the donor, but the address is a development site of Westbury International. Michael DeGroote is president of the company.
McMaster has also received a $10-million donation for the project by Ron Joyce, cofounder of Tim Hortons.
Along with the business school, McMaster spokesperson Dr. David Price said it plans to build a family health centre in downtown Burlington, which would be the centre of education for family doctors doing their residency at hospitals and clinics.
McMaster also plans to partner with Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital to turn the facility into a teaching hospital, where family doctors could do intensive training in areas such as obstetrics, surgery and pediatrics, said Price.
Funding for post-secondary education and capital projects falls generally under the responsibility of the province of Ontario.
Halton Hills Councillor Jane Fogal voiced her concern at Wednesday’s meeting that the region’s grant could set a precedent and lead to future requests for municipal money from other provincially-funded institutions.
Regional Chair Gary Carr has also led a campaign over much of his term arguing for the province to upload some of the costs for health and social services currently paid for in part by the region. He has also called for the province to speed up funding for new or expanded hospitals in the region to meet Halton’s rapid population growth. After the meeting, Carr defended his vote to approve funding for McMaster, and said it should be viewed as money for physician recruitment, which the region already pays for.
“The region has always done health promotion,” said Carr. “As part of health promotion, this will help us to get the doctors we need.”
Halton currently has a shortage of about 30 family doctors. Burlington, Halton Hills and Milton are designated as areas underserviced by family doctors by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Halton submitted an application for Oakville to receive the same designation last year.
Over the past six years, the region has spent about $1 million on its physician recruitment program, which has managed to attract more than 70 family doctors to the region. However, population growth and the retirement of older doctors who worked long hours means the region has only reduced its shortage by 10.
Neither McMaster nor Halton staff were able to say what the exact impact of a new family health clinic in Burlington would have on the region’s doctor shortage, but the staff report said some studies show up to 75 per cent of doctors stay in the region where they did their residency.
“We think this is taking a major step in getting the doctors we need,” Carr said.
Though Halton’s funding is tied to the business school, the recommendation includes targets that McMaster must meet in order to receive each year’s funding allotment. These include “specific operational targets” for the placement of family medical residents in all communities in Halton. Exactly what that target — the number of family doctors that set up shop in Halton following their residency training — will be is still in negotiation, said Carr. Council will not have firm figures to review before voting on the proposal next week, he added.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Vogal expressed a desire to fund the family health aspect of McMaster’s proposal but not the business school. However, Vishniac said McMaster couldn’t separate the two and one could not go forward without the other.
McMaster is looking to place many of its business programs with a health sciences management focus in the Burlington campus, explained DeGroote School of Business Dean Paul Bates.
McMaster has submitted its Burlington proposal to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities as one of its capital project priorities. The ministry collected such priorities from Ontario universities last year and said it is reviewing the proposals. The province announced a $60 billion infrastructure renewal program in last year’s budget that will begin after its Renew Infrastructure program ends in 2010.
Vishniac said the maximum amount it could get from the province for its Burlington project would be $28 million so it still requires municipal funds. McMaster’s campus is one of two postsecondary proposals in Halton Region. Milton and Wilfrid Laurier University have a preliminary agreement in place for the university to locate a campus in the town.
Laurier spokesman Kevin Crowley said the university has also submitted the first phase of the new campus to the province as one of its capital priorities. The initial project would accommodate 2,500 students and would cost an estimated $258.7 million, said Crowley; Laurier is seeking $241.5 million of that money from the province. About $15 million would be received from the Town of Milton in the form of 150 acres of land for the school, while $2.2 million would come from developers who would cover servicing costs. No other funding has been requested from Milton or Halton, said Crowley.
The first-phase of the Laurier proposal is comprised of a library/learning commons, a central academic building and an administrative building, said Crowley.
Reporter Tim Foran can be reached at tforan@miltoncanadianchampion.com .
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