How Hamilton-Burlington Home Owners Can Save Hundreds of Dollars With a Free Online Home Energy Audit

My local electric company offers its customers a free online home energy audit in order to help them discover great ideas on saving energy. The electric company has been promoting the service very hard on their website and in its monthly mailings. So, I have to admit that I was intrigued by all the hoopla and decided to see how I could potentially save some money on my energy bill. The energy audit report was a free comprehensive, personalized evaluation of my household’s energy usage. The report tried to provide me with a better understanding of how I spend my energy dollars and where money is leaking out of my home.




Over the course of twenty minutes, I answered a multitude of questions about my family’s energy usage, home’s age and materials, details of our home like year built and square footage, our heating and air conditioner personal usage habits, etc. so the company and its computer algorithms could come up with an energy plan for my family.

An energy audit like this provides you with energy-saving tips customized for your home, cash rebate information about upgrades you can make to your home, specific information about your home’s efficiency needs, your energy costs as compared to similar homes in your area, and a breakdown of the household’s electricity usage. The results of your audit can give you the ability to use information to help make important decisions about your family’s energy usage.

Here are a few of the money saving tips that my home audit suggested…

Tune up your heating and air conditioning system – $50 (potential annual savings)
Heating duct repair ($200)
Energy efficient windows ($150)
Switch to CFL light bulbs ($30)
Install a programmable thermostat ($80)

Extra bonus - Be sure to check out federal and provincial tax incentives when you install energy efficient products in your home. You can qualify for hundreds of dollars of rebates on the price of the goods you buy to make your house more green.

Bottom line - The online home audit was free! You can’t beat that. For the one my electric carrier provides its customers, at the very least it will give you a few ideas on money saving tips that you may not normally think about. Maybe there are a few home improvements that you have been putting off or maybe there are a couple that you did not even know were options. That’s the great thing about free online tools like this.

www.JIMMYSINGH.ca

How Colors Evoke Your Everyday Mood ....

A Change in Season Reflects a Change in Mood


Change is in the air. Fall is here and winter isn't far away.The change in temperature serves as a signal to start focusing more on the indoors to get ready for winter.If your mood is affected by change of season ..try adding some color in your room.The easiest places to start, is in the room where you spend a majority of your time or changing your bedding and curtains is often all it takes to make a dramatic difference.


Creativity

Orange expands your thinking. It reduces self-consciousness and allows you to express yourself with confidence. Use it in your home when you want to feel younger. It is the color of laughter and celebration. Try an orange...mouse pad, child's room wall, bordered notecard.


Order
Deep blue encourages efficiency. It will purify your thinking, so you can cut through the clutter and discover what is most important in your life. It helps you integrate the big picture with the little picture. Wear dark blue when you need to make a decision. Try a deep blue...oversize tray, wastebasket, desk lamp.

Prosperity
Green increases wealth. The primary color in nature, it corresponds with life's riches. It is the color of fresh starts and growth. It will encourage you to honor your unique talents and manifest them in the material world. Try a green...checkbook, desk chair, front door.


Spirituality
Light purple is spiritual. It will help you connect to a higher plane. Purple encourages a fresh perspective on emotional issues. By reminding you that we are all connected, it will deepen your sense of humanity. Use it in your home to enhance compassion and to experience friends as family. Try a light purple...cashmere throw, yoga mat, journal.

Calm
Blue gives a sense of peace. It dissolves tension and promotes tranquillity. Light blue especially brings ease into the home and harmony into relationships. Wearing or surrounding yourself with it helps calm aggressive tendencies and eliminates discord. Try a light blue...headboard, piece of coral, painted ceiling.

Energy
Bright red will fortify you. It is a stimulant. It promotes courage and fearlessness. Use this color when you want to increase self-confidence. But too much red can make you feel overly excited or agitated. A little goes a long way. Try a bright red...dish of candy, picture frame, coffee-table book.

Concentration
Yellow increases your focus. It is known for enhancing intelligence and mental agility. It can help stimulate conversation and clarify thoughts. Try a yellow...No. 2 pencil, bookmark, pad of Post-it notes.

Love
Pink opens the heart. Gentle and soothing, pink is the color of love. It promotes tenderness and is a comfort in times of emotional transition. Use it in a room when you are trying to increase receptivity and understanding. Try a pink...cell phone cover, lightbulb, rosé wine.


Health
Green is also the color of healing. It represents nourishment and helps steady the body, balancing your equilibrium and encouraging stability. Use it to rejuvenate yourself, to promote physical and emotional well-being. Try a green...cast-iron pot, set of kitchen bowls, bath towel.

Happiness
Yellow and orange add life. These colors help dispel darkness and allow us to see the brighter side of things. Always remember, an array of color is key to happiness: You need the full range of it to feel balanced and fully alive. Try a yellow or orange...kitchen towel, throw pillow, coffee mug.

Sensuality
Deep red inspires passion. It helps awaken the libido. Use it to move you through inhibitions and emotional blocks that prevent you from expressing yourself. It will remind you to live life fully and to love your body. Try a deep red...ottoman, lampshade, accent chair.

Rest
Aqua inspires trust. This is the color to use when you need to relax. Wear or surround yourself with it if you have difficulty sleeping, dreaming, or meditating. Try an aqua...duvet, sleep mask, painted floor.

Jimmy Singh, B.E.,S.R.E.S., is a Sales Rep. with Remax Escarpment Realty inc in Hamilton/Burlington, and has been selling real estate in the Greater Hamilton Area. He also manages investment property as part of his business and has helped numerous clients invest in and profit from property investments.

Jimmy can be reached at:
905-575-5478 (Hamilton); 905-639-5258 (Burlington) or by email at jimmysingh@remaxescarpment.com
On the web visit :www.jimmysingh.ca

What is a Renovation Mortgage?

What is a Renovation Mortgage?

There are many homes offered for sale that have great potential but are in need of repairs or renovations. These homes are generally sold at prices that represent excellent value. While the value of these homes is attractive, financing the necessary work has often been difficult. Wouldn't it be nice if it were possible to buy that "fixer-upper" at a great price, immediately have it renovated into your dream home, and do it all with one manageable mortgage, and a minimum down payment?

Well, it's possible with a CMHC "Purchase Plus Improvements" mortgage. Now you can purchase a home, renovate it the way you like and pay for it all in one mortgage payment at first mortgage rates. All of this can be done by putting down as little as 5% of the "as improved" value.

For example, if you purchased a home for $120,000 and wanted to do $30,000 worth of renovations, CMHC will insure a mortgage based on 95% of the "as improved" value. In other words, with a down payment of $7,500 (5%) CMHC will insure a mortgage of $142,500. The key for this working is that the cost of the renovations has to be reflected in the "as improved" value of the house. In this example, CMHC would have to agree that the house would have a value of at least $150,000 after the $30,000 worth of proposed renovations were done.

The insured loan will be based on the lower of either the purchase price plus the actual cost of improvements or the "as improved" market value.

Remember, however, that in the case of 90-95% financing is only available if the lending value does not exceed the price ceiling for your area. Price ceiling are either $175,000 or $300,000. To determine which ceiling limit is applicable in your area, send me an e-mail.

How Does It Work?

When you have decided to make an offer on a house, make that offer conditional on getting a CMHC "Purchase Plus Improvements" Mortgage. Since the offer will be conditional on arranging this type of financing you are not at risk in the event that CMHC feels that the cost of the proposed renovations are not fully reflected in the "as improved" value. Next, have a qualified contractor put together a description and a cost estimate for the proposed repairs or renovations. Bring your "contractor's Estimate" along with the "offer to Purchase" . For more information on this mortgage and others, please contact me.

Jimmy Singh, B.E.,S.R.E.S., is a Sales Rep. with Remax Escarpment Realty inc in Hamilton/Burlington, and has been selling real estate in the Greater Hamilton Area. He also manages investment property as part of his business and has helped numerous clients invest in and profit from property investments.

Jimmy can be reached at:
905-575-5478 (Hamilton); 905-639-5258 (Burlington) or by email at jimmysingh@remaxescarpment.com
On the web visit :www.jimmysingh.ca

10 DO'S AND DONT'S FOR ONTARIO COTTAGE BUYERS BY THE WATER

Owning a vacation or recreation property can be an extremely rewarding experience! Ontario has some of best vacation and recreation real-estate available in Canada
Before you buy one , here are 10 Tips to give your shoreline a makeover and help protect environment .

1. Hardened shorelines accelerate erosion, eliminate the shoreline's "filtering" ability, degrade habitat.
Work with an expert to "soften" your shoreline; improve erosion protection with native trees, shrubs, grasses and beach logs.


2. Removal or rearrangement of natural debris leaves your shoreline vulnerable to erosion.
Resist the urge to "tidy up"; let organic debris like beach logs and fallen trees act as a natural seawall.


3. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides reduce water quality, are deadly for fish and other wildlife.
Landscape with low maintenance native plants. Mow lawns high using a mulching mower.


4. Cleared "manicured" lots lack shade and privacy. Loss of native plants leads to more erosion, runoff and work for you!
Prune trees, rather than removing. Plant native trees and shrubs to reduce erosion and absorb runoff.


5. Harmful household chemicals and cleaners damage septic systems and degrade water quality.
Use environmentally friendly products and cleaners, or alternatives like baking soda and vinegar.


6. Malfunctioning septic systems and improper waste disposal degrade water quality; can lead to beach closures for swimming and shellfish harvesting.
Repair and maintain your septic system (consult an expert). Compost house and yard waste.


7. Runoff flows over solid surfaces, accelerating erosion; excess silt degrades habitat for fish and other aquatic critters.
Repair solid surfaces with porous materials. Redirect gutter runoff into porous or vegetated areas, away from shore.


8. Inappropriate beach access, such as steep stairs, destabilizes banks and leads to increased erosion.
Share beach access with neighbors, maintaining a narrow winding trail. Avoid accessing steep banks.


9. Private docks, piers and boat ramps destroy eelgrass beds and habitat for fish and other wildlife.
Use public docks and boat launches where possible; consider replacing your dock with a low impact private access option (e.g. a mooring buoy).


10. Poorly maintained engines leak oil and other petroleum products and wste 25-40% of fuel.
Use a well-maintained electric or push mower, and a 4 or 2-stroke boat motor that meets or betters EPA 2006 guidelines.


Whether you are looking to Buy or Sell Vacation or Recreation Property by water, Call Jimmy today to provide the resources and help so you can make an informed decision.

Jimmy Singh, B.E.,S.R.E.S., is a Sales Rep. with Remax Escarpment Realty inc in Hamilton/Burlington, and has been selling real estate in the Greater Hamilton Area. He also manages investment property as part of his business and has helped numerous clients invest in and profit from property investments. Jimmy can be reached at:
905-575-5478 (Hamilton); 905-639-5258 (Burlington) or by email at jimmysingh@remaxescarpment.com
On the web visit www.hamiltonhomesinfo.ca

Luxury housing sales edge higher..Remax Report

Luxury housing sales edge higher

Purchasers take advantage of buying opportunities in Ontario-Atlantic Canada, says RE/MAX.
Luxury homes sales continue to accelerate as economic recovery takes hold in major markets in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, according to a report released by RE/MAX. The RE/MAX Upper End Report found that momentum is building in St. John's, Saint John, Halifax-Dartmouth, Ottawa, Kingston, Greater Toronto, Hamilton-Burlington, and London as purchasers realize that the best buying period in recent history is about to come to a close. Sales are already on par or ahead of last year's levels in 50 per cent of cities surveyed, while the remaining markets are set to reach 2008 figures by year-end.

"Twelve months of healthy home buying activity have clearly been crammed into five short months," says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. "It's hard to believe that the transition in the market began in May. We've seen steady upward momentum since that time, with solid year-over-year gains posted each and every month."

Pent-up demand and greater affordability have been the catalyst. Increased selection in all markets - except Greater Toronto - as well as record low interest rates have also helped fuel move-up activity from Ontario to Newfoundland.

Leading in terms of sales appreciation is London, Ontario where the number of homes sold, priced in excess of $500,000, has climbed 11 per cent from January to September 2009, compared to one year ago. Greater Toronto and Ottawa both reported a one per cent increase in the number of homes sold in the top end during the same period. Within the GTA, Richmond Hill/Thornhill is particularly heated, with sales up 24 per cent over 2008 levels, followed by Mississauga - up 10 per cent. St. John's, Newfoundland is on par with year-ago figures.

Of the six markets reporting a year-over-year decrease in sales, four are off by just a handful of transactions (10 units or less), including Halifax-Dartmouth (off eight units), Kingston & Area (off three units), Toronto - West End (off 10 units), and Oakville (off five units). Activity in the remaining two markets-Saint John and Hamilton-Burlington-is on the upswing, with the gap between 2008 and 2009 narrowing each month.

"A considerable shift is underway in the upper end," explains Polzler. "The price correction that we witnessed earlier in the year is over and prices have since firmed up. Conditions are more balanced across the board or leaning toward seller's territory once again. The one exception is the Greater Toronto Area -- now largely a seller's market -- with bidding wars making a comeback amid tight inventory levels. The strength of the luxury segment is evident. This is now a real estate market with all sectors working in tandem."

Highlights:

Upper end sales started to move upward as positive indicators of economic recovery began to emerge. The momentum is expected to continue as Canada edges closer to positive periods of GDP growth in Q4 2009 and in 2010.

Locals are fuelling luxury sales in the majority of markets surveyed. Activity among out-of-province and international purchasers has waned from one year ago, although their presence in still evident in some markets.

Sixty-one properties in Canada are currently priced over $10 million, with 18 of those located in Ontario. The priciest Ontario home is nestled in Toronto's prestigious Bridle Path area, listed at $23 million.

Three hundred properties currently listed for sale are priced over $5 million in Canada.
In Atlantic Canada, there are 22 listings in excess of $2 million - 13 in Nova Scotia, five in New Brunswick and two in Prince Edward Island. The most expensive property in Atlantic Canada is a $7.75 million estate on a bluff fronting the Atlantic Ocean on PEI's north coast.For complete report please e-mail jimmy.


Jimmy Singh, B.E.,S.R.E.S., is a Sales Rep. with Remax Escarpment Realty inc in Hamilton/Burlington, and has been selling real estate in the Greater Hamilton Area. He also manages investment property as part of his business and has helped numerous clients invest in and profit from property investments. Jimmy can be reached at:
905-575-5478 (Hamilton); 905-639-5258 (Burlington) or by email at jimmysingh@remaxescarpment.com
On the web visit www.hamiltonhomesinfo.ca

3 FACTORS THAT MAKE BASEMENTS WATERPROOF....

3 FACTORS CAN MAKE BETTER BASEMENTS...


The three fundamental cures for basement problems are: removing the water from the outside, using granular back fill or a drainage layer against the foundation wall and insulating on the outside of the basement. Any one could stop or prevent a problem, all three of them together is the best way to build a house.

-- To prevent water leaking into the basement, first ensure that rain gutters and landscaping do not funnel water toward the house. Basement walls should be damp-proofed on the outside at the time of construction or anytime you have to dig around the basement. But damp-proofing only resists water flow and true "water proofing" is expensive and difficult to achieve and maintain. If you have a problem and cannot get to the outside of the basement wall, you could coat the inside with a waterproofing concrete sealer, it stops the water from getting into the house but leaves the concrete saturated and open to potential freezing problems. If you use a more expensive sealer like Xypex, this will, over the course of several years, actually waterproof the wall all the way through by growing crystals to fill the pores of the concrete. But if the wall shifts and cracks again, the waiting water will still come in. If you have the courage to undertake the expensive job of digging down to the foundation, weeping tiles should be repaired or installed to help reduce the water pressure on the wall, regardless of which damp proofing or water proofing techniques you use on the outside of the wall.

-- If you do dig down around the basement, you should fill the hole with granular back fill, not the original dirt you dug out. Granular fill serves two important functions: it allows water to drain quickly to the weeping tiles and it does not permit the capillary action which causes ice lenses to develop -- hence no ad-freezing. Now despite our knowledge that this solves basement problems, few people do it because the backfill is expensive and you have to get rid of the original, usually very poor quality soil that you dug out. So today we have things called drainage layers -- either insulation with drainage characteristics, or air gap membranes. The air gap membrane looks like a plastic sheet with little egg carton indentations. This provides an air space between the soil and the wall so that if any water gets into this area, it will simply drop to the bottom and drain away with no water pressure on the wall. They work exceptionally well.
However, without functioning weeping tiles, drainage layers of any kind could collect lots of water and form a crushing ice block. As well, top soils should be more dense than the fill lower down to act a bit like an umbrella and insure better passage of water through the area than into it.

-- Exterior insulation leaves the earth just as cold as interior insulation does, but it keeps the basement wall warm. Insulation generally presents a flexible and slippery surface to the dirt (or plastic can be added for this purpose) preventing ice lenses from grabbing hold. Exterior insulation, with either a drainage function incorporated into the insulation or an air gap membrane added over the top, is the best way to build a basement.

Jimmy Singh, B.E.,S.R.E.S., is a Sales Rep. with Remax Escarpment Realty inc in Hamilton/Burlington, and has been selling real estate in the Greater Hamilton Area. He also manages investment property as part of his business and has helped numerous clients invest in and profit from property investments. Jimmy can be reached at:
905-575-5478 (Hamilton); 905-639-5258 (Burlington) or by email at jimmysingh@remaxescarpment.com
On the web visit :www.jimmysingh.ca

Benefits of New On-Demand Tankless Water Heater?

Hot water usage in Canadian households consumes between 15 and 30% of a home's energy demand. Surprisingly, the technology used to heat water is traditional and highly inefficient when compared to the tankless or on-demand technologies now used regularly in Europe and Asia.

Traditional water heaters used by most Canadian homeowners store heated water in a hot water storage tank. As hot water is used up from the storage tank, it gets replaced by incoming cold water, lowering the temperature of the stored water. An electric heating element or gas burner is activated by a thermostat to slowly reheat the water in the storage tank to a specified temperature. The storage tank stores the hot water ready for use and automatically keeps the water hot as the water gets used, or as it cools down through natural heat loss.

By contrast, an on-demand tankless unit has a heating device that is activated by the flow of water. When a hot water faucet is turned on and the water begins to flow, a sensor detects the flow and the heating elements turn on instantly to delivers a constant supply of hot water. The tankless water heater will remain on until the hot water faucet is turned off. As soon as the flow sensor detects that water has stopped flowing, the power to the unit is turned off completely.

There are numerous advantages to using a tankless water heating system, including the following key highlights:

Reduces water heating costs as much as 50%! Tankless water heaters heat entirely on demand, so when hot water is not being demanded, absolutely no energy is being consumed and the stand-by heating loss is completely eliminated.

Unlimited hot water. Tankless heaters never run out of hot water. They can literally run all day long if necessary and they will never stop producing hot water since they heat water instantly on demand-no more cold showers!

Reduces the risk of scalding. Sophisticated tankless heaters allow you to set the ongoing water temperature to a much more reasonable and safer temperature, closer to the actual temperature you will use the water at, thereby reducing the risk of scalding.

More reliable. Since hot water is not stored, tankless water heaters generally handle hard water minerals and sediments much better than conventional tanks. This makes them far less likely to develop corrosive leaks causing expensive water damage in your home. If properly maintained, an on-demand water heater will keep its efficiency throughout the entire lifetime of the unit-up to 20 years with normal maintenance!

Saves space. Tankless water heaters are about the size of a briefcase (electric units). They save valuable floor space that can be used for storage, etc., especially in condos and apartments. The only requirement is that the heater must be installed at least 3 ft. away from a door, window, or vent.

Other points to consider when selecting a tankless water heater:

You should keep in mind that a tankless water heating system will cost more to install than a traditional hot water tank-initially. However, the significant energy savings, fewer repair calls, and the ultimate convenience of having unlimited hot water at your fingertips more than makes up for this cost over the long run.

Determining the correct sizing for an on-demand water heater is crucial and to do so correctly, the peak hot water demand the unit will need to accommodate must be established. On-demand water heaters are rated according to the number of gallons of water per minute that can be raised to the desired temperature.

Also, the volume of hot water that an on-demand heater can deliver is directly correlated to its gas or electricity input. Therefore, if there are several appliances already running on natural gas or electricity, your house supply source my need to be upgraded to handle the increased demand on power. This could affect the cost and set up time of your new tankless water heater.

Comparing the old technology with the new, one thing is clear: a tankless water heater will be cheaper over the long run than a conventional water heater. If a homeowner has a choice between the two, gas or electric, in most cases the tankless gas water heater will be cheaper in the long run than an electric.

Jimmy Singh, B.E.,S.R.E.S., is a Sales Rep. with Remax Escarpment Realty inc in Hamilton/Burlington, and has been selling real estate in the Greater Hamilton Area. He also manages investment property as part of his business and has helped numerous clients invest in and profit from property investments. Jimmy can be reached at:
905-575-5478, or by email at jimmysingh@remaxescarpment.com On the web visit :www.jimmysingh.ca