Movies under the stars in Burlington

Enjoy family night with Movies Under The Stars in Burlington

Every Thursday this summer, from July 11 to August 22, bring your lawn chair or spread a blanket and get ready to spend a night under the stars with your favourite family movies as the City of Burlington and Tim Horton's presents free Movies Under The Stars in neighbourhood parks all across the city.

Projected on a 25 ft. screen, all movies will begin at 9 p.m. Residents are also encouraged to come early and enjoy activities before the show.

The awesome movie line up for the summer of 2013 includes:

On July 11, at Nelson Park (4235 New St), dad Dracula tries to keep his daughter Mavis from growing up in Hotel Transylvania.

On July 18, at Kiwanis Park (494 Townsend Ave.), share Greg's summer adventures in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Days.

On July 25, at Optimist Park, located at 2131 Prospect St., laugh along with Alvin and his buddies in Chipwrecked.

On August 1, at Emerson Park, located at 2390 Sutton Dr., it's prehistoric fun with The Croods.

On August 8, at Lowville Park, located at 6207 Guelph Line, be amazed by Oz The Great and Powerful.

On August 15, at Mohawk Park (240 Kenwood Ave.), Gru grows a heart in Despicable Me.

On August 22, at Burloak Park, (5420 Lakeshore Rd. E.), the movie is TBD.

Here are some tips for enjoying the ultimate viewing under the stars:

Bring your own lawn chairs and/or blankets.
Come early to reserve a spot and enjoy fun family activities.
Parking and restroom facilities are available on site.
Rain delays and/or cancellations may occur, so make sure you check the weather before you head out.
Instead of driving, the City of Burlington is encouraging residents to walk or take public transit to enjoy a night of family-oriented fun.

Movies Under the Stars in Burlington are No Pets events.

For more details, call 905-335-7659 or visit www.burlington.ca/events.

Enjoy one of Burlington's fabulous outdoor patio's

Burlington boasts an array of great patio options, some with gorgeous lakefront vistas and some nestled in quaint alcoves.  With summer here at last, there's nothing better than drinking and eating al fresco! Whatever your taste, there's a patio to match - here are a few to choose from:

A mainstay for Burlington's nightlife lovers, the Rude Native, (370 Brant St., www.rudenative.com) is one of a few area restaurants that features an amazing rooftop patio. Check online for live music nights.

Another perennial favourite for professional minglers is Emma's Back Porch (2084 Old Lakeshore Rd., www.emmasbackporch.ca). With this local mainstay celebrating its 20th year, Emma's patio, perched on the edge of Lake Ontario, is a rite of passage and a must-do every summer.

The gleaming new Shoeless Joe's (1250 Brant St., www.shoelessjoesburlington.com) is the hot ticket in town, not only for the dozens of high-def televisions scattered throughout the restaurant or the barely dressed servers, but because it boasts a heated patio that is beyond compare. It's the newest place to see and be seen.

The patio at Tin Cup (1831 Walkers Line, www.tincupsportsgrill.ca/burlington) may not overlook the shoreline but it's a great spot to hang out nonetheless, especially for the apres-golf crowd.

Paradiso's patio (2041 Pine St., burlington.paradisorestaurant.com) has a relaxing downtown atmosphere.

If you're looking for a pub experience, try the Queen's Head (400 Brant St., www.thequeenshead.ca). With one of the biggest patios in downtown Burlington, the Queen's Head hosts live music every weekend.

The Dickens (423 Elizabeth St., www.thedickens.ca) boasts a great patio with a lively atmosphere every night into the wee hours, and The Poacher (436 Pearl St., www.thepoacher.ca) is another popular downtown pub with a patio.

If you love a well-made martini as much as you love a nice patio, head to The Martini House (437 Elizabeth St., www.martinihouse.ca) and peruse the martini menu as you enjoy the outdoors.

For an always lively and fun crowd, the patio at Joe Dog's Gasbar Grill (531 Brant St., www.joedogs.com) never disappoints!

The patio at The Alex (480 Brant St., www.thealexrestaurant.com) overlooks the heart of Brant Street, making it great for people watching, while the Beaver & Bulldog (2020 Lakeshore Rd.,  www.beaverandbulldog.com) has a spectacular view of Lake Ontario.

While at Spencer's at the Waterfront ( 1340 Lakeshore Rd., www.spencers.ca) you may even feel like you're on a cruise ship with the patio seating offering a different vantage point of Lake Ontario.

Although not on the lake and the outdoor patio has limited seating, another of my personal favorites is the Carriage House (2101 Old Lakeshore Rd., www.thecarriagehouse.ca).  Service is great, menu varied and food is delicious.

I really do hope you have a chance to experience at least one of these great venues over the next couple of months and be sure to let me know which is your favourite!

April 2013 Real Estate News - Local Real Estate Market Moving Toward Balanced Market

Although Real Estate sales activity has been quieter so far this spring than it has been for the past three years, RAHB - the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington - reported  that the average sale price in March for all property types was 10.8% higher than the same month last year. RAHB also reported a 9.7% decrease in the number of listings compared to last year.

According to Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) Chief Economist Gregory Klump, "the cooling off of the housing market resulted from tighter mortgage rules and guidelines coming into force in mid-July last year. Until we get well into the summer months, year-over-year comparisons to months in the first half of 2012 are predictably going to be down significantly but not necessarily be indicative of further deterioration."

View the Hamilton-Burlington and Oakville March market stats.

This Month In Real Estate (Canada) is a monthly Keller Williams video news series that offers an inside look at the national real estate market.

How to avoid costly renovations that may not pay back

Choose home renovations wisely

The sights and sounds of hammering and demolition fill your home and this can be an exciting thing, or in some cases lead to renovations gone wrong! So many times home projects that you thought would be a smart investment end poorly with little opportunity to recover the costs when the time comes to sell your home. It may leave you wondering, “What was I thinking?”

Many homeowners put countless hours each year into home improvements. There are some obvious eyesores that need to be upgraded like used-to-be-trendy faux paint treatments, but then there are those home renovations that sounded like a good idea at the time that may actually end up devaluing your home when it comes time to sell. So before lifting any tools, do your research and find out how the project will affect the value and choose upgrades that will boost your sale price.

Looking back some people ask themselves, “where did we go wrong?” One of the most common mistakes is with redecorating. Any extremely trendy or personality-specific decorating choices can work against you in the future when selling your house. Paint colours that are too bold such as red, orange, purple and black, as well as too many walls covered in wallpaper are usually not the most appealing choices to potential buyers.

You don’t want to do anything that’s too trendy, even if at the time it’s the latest and coolest thing, as it will probably only last short term. Instead, make choices that will last for years. Another big mistake when renovating is purchasing cheap materials to work with. This is just setting up for disaster, as you get what you pay for. Cutting corners in the wrong places will show. Never go for the cheapest!

There are several upgrades that people believe will add value to their home, when in fact it does the exact opposite. Swimming pools and hot tubs are a good example. It seems like a luxury item to add to your home, but many potential homebuyers view them as dangerous and expensive to maintain. Wall-to-wall carpeting is another thing that may be a turn-off for some, as it has been shown that carpeting harbors allergens and dirt.

So as a homeowner sometimes you have to choose between an improvement that you want and one that would prove to be a better investment. Think twice about costly upgrades and renovations that will not add value to your home.

As a Real Estate Professional I can help you determine which renovations are most likely to result in a return on  your investment. Feel free to give me a call at 905-330-5201 or email me at mariongoard@kw.com.

Determining needs vs. wants when searching for a home

When the time comes to begin your search for the perfect home, there's a good chance you have an idea of what you'd like to find inside it. A gourmet kitchen, glistening hardwood floors and a luxurious master ensuite may be at the top of your list. It’s a good idea, however, to establish a list of needs and wants in order to avoid purchasing a home with a price tag beyond what your budget allows.  

Your needs:  These are the must-have features that you can’t live without. For those with children, you will likely need a home with at least three bedrooms. It would be convenient to have an extra bedroom for guests or an office, but you can certainly make do without. When it comes to bathrooms, be prepared to settle for a home with two. You will need one for family use and one for guests; a master ensuite is an added bonus.

The kitchen is one space that many house hunters don’t want to compromise on, particularly the person who does the most cooking. When viewing homes, pay close attention to things like counter space, layout and the number of cupboards. These are factors that will come into play on a daily basis and cannot be changed without major renovation.

Depending on the number of vehicles you own, having ample space for parking is a definite need. There’s nothing worse than driving up and down your street searching for a parking space every night. 

If you have children and/or pets, you will also want to consider outdoor space. A backyard doesn’t have to be huge, but many people consider it a necessity for little ones or pets. 

Your wants: Once you begin your home search, you may find that items you originally considered “needs” can actually be categorized as “wants”.  It’s more important to stay within your budget than it is to buy a home that is loaded with extras. Granite countertops, an island and a marble backsplash would be lovely to have, but remember that you can always add these features down the road when you can afford it. The same goes for hardwood floors, a finished basement and a pool in the backyard. The best part about buying a home you can improve on is the opportunity to earn a return on your investment. 

As a buyer's agent, my role is to guide you through the process of prioritizing your needs and wants, as well as to understand your motivation for buying a home. Before submitting an offer, we'll be sure to review your list so that the home you purchase really does fit the bill!

When you're ready to make a move, let's get together and create your list. It will be an exciting time and you just may be surprised where it may lead you!

Marion Goard
Sales Representative
Keller Williams Edge Realty, Brokerage
mariongoard@kw.com
www.mariongoard.ca
905-330-5201 (direct)

Caring For Your Real Estate Needs!

Financial Spring Cleaning

Spring heralds the will to tidy up and that can include any financial messes you may have. With the picture of the year passed still fresh in your mind, courtesy of those requisite tax returns, it's a  perfect time to review your finances and see where improvements can be made in terms of savings, goal-setting and budgeting for expenses.

Organize your files
If you don't have a file system set up yet for bills, income, bank statements and investments, do it. By this time next year you'll be able to do an annual review much easier. And you'll have a system down to create next year's folders.

Draft a budget
It is essential to understand where your money goes. Spend a month keeping track of your spending by recording every which way cash leaves your hand or bank account. Now, put it all down on paper into categories from rent/mortgage to clothing, food, transport and cable/cell, among other expenses. Make sure you set up an emergency fund for those car/home repairs etc. that unceremoniously pop up.

Review your budget
At the end of every month make sure you are staying on track to meet your financial obligations and to reach your long- and short-term goals. Monthly reviews will keep you disciplined and avoid falling into bad habits.

Review your investment portfolio
Review and if necessary, re-balance your portfolio so that it aligns with your comfort of risk and percentage of cash to bonds and stocks. It is also a great time to increase your contribution amount by even the smallest amount. It will make a difference in the long term.

Lower your interest rates and plans
Now is the time to talk to your credit card company and your Internet, cable and cell phone providers asking for lower rates and plans. Assess whether you really need the plans you have, research the competition and then get on the phone and negotiate a better, cheaper deal with the service provider and credit card company. Even if you manage to shave just $5 off each of those bills every month, that extra money can go a long way to boost your savings account or retirement portfolio.

With interest rates at historical lows, you may also want to take a look at whether there are any opportunities to renegotiate your mortgage. I work with several very competent mortgage specialists and would be happy to connect you with these individuals.