Superior craftmenship through out
• 3 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story "Stucco" - 
MLS® $529,900
Greely, Ottawa - Superior custom built executive home on a landscaped lot with no rear neighbours well located in popular Greely! Visually spectacular sun filled design is a perfect family home. Features light gleaming hardwood throughout both first and second levels. You will love the incredible gourmet kitchen, boasting granite, Stainless appliances, huge walk in pantry, quality cabinets .Impressive family room with soaring ceilings and two floors of windows plus fireplace Entertainment sized traditional formal living room and dining room. Relax in the lovely large master bedroom with sophisticated luxurious en suite bath. The lower level is completely finished. The garge is a handymans dream with a work shop area water, storage and enterance to basement. Amazing craftsmanship and details from top to bottom don’t miss this gem in a country setting just minutes to the city.
Property information
Over the ten years I have been in real estate many things have changed – the biggest one being the internet. We as realtors used to be the keepers of the big book of houses for sale, now with a couple of clicks you as the buyer have access to hundreds of houses on the net.
I tell my clients the fist showing does not happen when the buyers comes to view your home – it happens in the comfort of the buyers home –on the internet. If your house does not look amazing guess what the delete button tells the rest of the storey.
That is why it drives me crazy to see such poor quality photos on the net – could you not take the dirty dishes off the counter, straighten the mat – remove the cat – open the blinds- fluff the pillows because yes the little things count . And for goodness sake realtors spend a little money and hire a photographer!
Your home needs to put on its best look –virtual guest are coming! That’s why we bring in the professionals !
When experience matters and caring counts call Karen
We have fabulous bungalow for sale located at 2210 Lockhead Road on 5.76 acres with lots of trees. Just a couple of km from 416 an easy commute to the city . Well maintained and cute as a button with fantastic views check it out online ,he MLS number is 739184 - it is only $284,900! We will be hostingI an open house this weekend on Sunday October 4th from 2-4 pm ..............if you are looking for that little piece of country living with the benifits of being a short drive to Ottawa thismay be just the house for you.
Open House Etiquette
Before I begin I want to say thank you to 80 % of the delightful, polite, interesting people I have spent my Sunday afternoons meeting, greeting and chatting about real estate to.
This is for any one who falls in the other 20%...........
1) The Seller – and their Agent have invited you, a complete stranger into their home – and not just into the foyer but into their bedrooms and basements – closets and all the nooks and crannies you would never expect a guest in your home to go- take off your shoes – unless told not to.
2) Smile (takes very little effort) and say hello – agents don’t bite. Introduce your self it is the polite thing to do.
3) Sign in when ask – out of respect for the Seller – if you are concerned that you will be called then tell the Agent or write do not contact me. . Do not glare at the agent as if we are asking for your bank card and pin number. Please don’t squirm and hesitate and look as if this: Name _________________
Address _______________
Phone _________________
Was this:
In a region where there is an electric field, the electric forces do +8.0 x 10-19 J of work on an electron as it moves from point X to point Y. Which point, X or Y is at a higher potential? What is the potential difference, Vy - Vx , between point Y and point X? W = qV If W is positive, either both q and V are positive or both q and V are negative. Since electron ha a negative charge, V should be negative in this case (W is positive). Thus final potential must be less than the initial potential. Thus X is at a higher potential.
4) Please do give us feedback on the house
What do you think of the price compared to other similar houses?
What do you think of the condition, location?
We do not require your decorating comments unless constructive and helpful. We do not require in site into possible construction issues unless you have legitimate questions and are interested as a buyer in the home. That your Uncle Harry does not believe in sky lights and has told you never to buy a house with sky lights does not need to be announced in a loud voice to other visitors at the open – as some home owners love their sky lights. As do the sellers of the home you are in.
4) Children – I love to see them if they are yours and you are responsible. Let’s face it at a certain age open houses are just not that much fun. And after the first couple they loose the fun factor quick .It is up to you the parent to let them know this is not a visit to the local dollar store so jumping on furniture.,picking up every item that looks interesting to a child is not acceptable. As an agent I feel terrible telling a parent to please don’t allow little Suzie to jump on the couch. And the antique that Zack is playing with is actually quite fragile………and yes I have had to do both.
5) Be honest about your reasons for the visit – I am a neighbour, I am just browsing , I love this neighbourhood and we are curious as to value, I am thinking of buying – We are thinking of selling- My agent is holding an open and I had to leave my house. We welcome you in – the neighbour can tell us why they like the “hood” and what they like about the schools. The browser has been to every open in the last year and is a wealth of information. We really appreciate knowing where to put our efforts and when not to.
6) This is an open house not an inspection or a private viewing. Do not test water pressure, flush toilets – open every cabinet and look in the fridge.
7) Do not bring food or pets into the open house walking around dripping; letting crumbs fall or holding little puppy dog assuring me there will not be any accidents is not a good thing. Yes again from experience – I once had a family come in and sit at the kitchen table with their MacDonald’s take out order.
8) Act like what you are a guest in some ones home and put your self in the Sellers shoes they will appreciate it and so will their Agent.
Thanks and if you come to one of my opens smile and introduce your self – I will be there to welcome you!
Before I begin I want to say thank you to 80 % of the delightful, polite, interesting people I have spent my Sunday afternoons meeting, greeting and chatting about real estate to.
This is for any one who falls in the other 20%...........
1) The Seller – and their Agent heaver invited you a complete stranger into their home – and not just into the foyer but into their bedrooms and basements – closets and all the nooks and crannies you would never expect a guest in your home to go- so take off your shoes – unless told not to.
2) Smile (takes very little effort) and say hello – agents don’t bite. Introduce your self – it the polite thing to do.
3) Sign in when ask – out of respect for the Seller – if you are concerned that you will be called then tell the Agent or write do not contact me. Communication such a good thing. Do not glare at the agent as if we are asking for your bank card and pin number. Please don’t squirm and hesitate and look as if this:
Name _________________
Address _______________
Phone _________________
Was this:
In a region where there is an electric field, the electric forces do +8.0 x 10-19 J of work on an electron as it moves from point X to point Y. Which point, X or Y is at a higher potential? What is the potential difference, Vy - Vx , between point Y and point X? W = qV If W is positive, either both q and V are positive or both q and V are negative. Since electron ha a negative charge, V should be negative in this case (W is positive). Thus final potential must be less than the initial potential. Thus X is at a higher potential.
4) Please do give us feedback on the house
What do you think of the price compared to other similar houses?
What do you think of the condition, location?
We do not require your decorating comments unless constructive and helpful. We do not require in site into possible construction issues unless you have legitimate questions and are interested as a buyer in the home. That your Uncle Harry does not believe in sky lights and has told you never to buy a house with sky lights does not need to be announced in a loud voice to other visitors at the open – as some home owners love their sky lights. As do the sellers of the home you are in.
4) Children – I love to see them if they are yours and you are responsible. Let’s face it at a certain age open houses are just not that much fun. And after the first couple they loose the fun factor quick .It is up to you the parent to let them know this is not a visit to the local dollar store and jumping on furniture. And picking up every item that looks interesting to a child is not acceptable. As an agent I feel terrible telling a parent to please don’t allow little Suzie to jump on the couch. And the antique that Zack is playing with is actually quite fragile………and yes I have had to do both.
5) Be honest about your reasons for the visit – I am a neighbour, I am just browsing , I love this neighbourhood and we are curious as to value, I am thinking of buying – We are thinking of selling- My agent is holding an open and I had to leave my house. We welcome you in – the neighbour can tell us why they like the “hood” and what they like about the schools. The browser has been to every open in the last year and is a wealth of information. We really appreciate knowing where to put our efforts and when not to.
6) This is an open house not an inspection or a private viewing. Do not test water pressure, flush toilets – open every cabinet and look in the fridge.
7) Do not bring food or pets into the open house walking around dripping; letting crumbs fall or holding little puppy dog assuring me there will not be any accidents. Yes again from experience – I once had a family come in and sit at the kitchen table with their MacDonald’s take out order.
8) Act like what you are a guest s home and put your self in the Sellers shoes they will appreciate it and so will their Agent.
Thanks and if you come to one of my opens smile and introduce your self – I will be there to welcome you!
Fact: an energy-efficient home saves its owners money every day, by reducing the cost of utilities needed to run that home. Newer windows and better insulation allows less heat to escape; low-flow showerheads and toilets use less water. A side benefit, of course, is that energy-efficient homes produce ewer harmful emissions and use less fossil fuel.
With many people concerned about saving money on energy costs and being considerate of the environment, you can provide a great service to your clients (whether they’re buying or selling) by informing them about the federal government’s ecoEnergy Retrofit program. This grant program can be invaluable to homeowners who want to lower their current energy costs, or who are thinking of putting their home on the market soon, and who know that many buyers are attracted to efficient homes.
Here’s how the ecoEnergy Retrofit program works:
The process begins with an energy audit of the home that must be conducted by a Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) licensed inspector. The Ontario government offers a subsidy for the audit, which costs an average of $300.
After the audit is complete, homeowners receive an itemized report that lists the retrofits that will improve their home’s energy efficiency, and advises them how much of a grant they would receive for each improvement. For example, installing a high-efficiency furnace comes with a grant of up to $500, while installing new windows is worth $30 per window. The program also includes grants for emerging technologies such as solar heating systems and water recovery (“grey water”) systems.
In addition to the grants offered by the federal government, the province of Ontario provides matching grants for many energy retrofits, and consumers can fill out just one form to apply for both provincial and federal grants.
Homeowners have eighteen months from the date of their audit to complete as many of the suggested retrofits as they wish. Once they are done, they may submit their grant application. The maximum grant from the federal government is $5000, and it is a one-time grant, so all of the improvements homeowners plan to make must be completed before applying for the grant.
In addition to the immediate cost benefit of the grants, homeowners who retrofit their homes will experience an average savings of 23 per cent annually on their energy bills, according to NRCan.
For more information about the ecoEnergy Retrofit program, visit http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/.
|
(copied from the OREB weekly newsletter)
Earth Hour is around the Corner March 28th from 8:30 to 9:30. PM
Five reasons you should participate.
1) You may have to speak with your partner, spouse and your children. You find out that you enjoy the conversation.
2) Google is not the answer to all of your questions- you can live with out it for one hour.
3) You may be able to take pleasure in the night sky – genuine stars in authentic high definition (not cable ,not Hollywood)
4) Talking with your friends in person using your vocal chords and not your thumbs – does not make you some kind of freak. No phones, no messenger, no face book. Feel the fear and do it anyway (you can set goals and achieve them -no texting msn ete. For one hour)
5) Candle light makes every one more beautiful. Not that we need it – but a glass of wine, conversation and candle night. Sounds like a great start to a Saturday night
You can register online at the City of Ottawa link below- tke an hour with out power. Think about climate change. Get your family friend and neighbours involved.
Earth Hour – Do your part. Register online with the city of Ottawa
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/environment/community/earthhour/index_en.html
Ten Signs It's Time to Sell Your Home
1. The kids have all graduated from college. You and your husband finally have time to yourselves...then they move back home!
2. You have three spare rooms in a four bedroom house.
3. You have to shuffle your cars each morning to leave for work.
4. You spend more time driving to work than you do with your family.
5. You spend more money each month for storage than you do for your mortgage.
6. Your neighbor found a loophole in the homeowner's association rules and is raising donkeys.
7. You keep hearing faint voices telling you to "get out" and they're getting louder.
8. You think about renovating all the time - but dont do it.
9. The dog's house doubles as a guest room.( Atl east they do not stay long)
10. You have to take a number to use the bathroom.
In case you desire a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on selling your home send me an email By the way, if you know of anyone who is thinking of buying or selling, I'd be happy to consult with them too.
First Time Buyers – Read the return Policy on your House Receipt.
Or why you should interview three agents!
(Or just one great agent like me – just kidding)
Most of us will not buy more then a handful of houses in our lives. Unlike that fabulous yellow (spring’s hot colour this year) designer jacket that suits you perfect and turns out not to meet your fashion criteria at all but thankfully comes with a 7 day return policy.The return policy on the wrong home purchase is non existent.
In order to return it you have to sell it – and that is expensive. For example you have purchased your first home at $225,000. After hard work and saving you were able to put down a 5% down payment of 11,250. So you are left with a mortgage of 213,750.00 …Right or wrong – we will see.
Three months in you have cleaned, painted put up your art work placed your furniture and bought some chic home accent pieces with the cash from returning the yellow spring coat that is not such a hot color any more and you are very happy – fairly happy. Okay you really find the place dark and the kitchen layout is really not functional. The commute to work is longer then you thought………….. you regret you decision. Lets move and do a better job this time (beware of the emotional buy).
Okay lets look at the numbers over the past year values went up 2% in the area – so
$225,000 + 2% = $4500.You ask $228,000. (Because the market is shifting we will be)
Your Mortgage 213,000.00 (you a small principal reduction)
You paid 5,878.00 (in CMHC Fees 2.75% – added to mortgage)
Your penalty 3,500.00 (three months interest penalty to get out of current term)
TOTAL 222,378.00
And you have not even looked at lawyers real estate fees ……….so before some one says sign here press hard ****** STOP
Ask questions - Interview three agents – ask the right questions – what can you do for me if I don’t like my house in six months? –( I have a policy in place. )As of yet I have not had to use it .
What’s the right questions………..watch for my next post.
For complete details you can google CRA - home renovation tax credit
A great credit - for any one with an eligble project with work performed and goods aquirred that will after January 27th 2009 - before February 1 2010. A new line will be incorporated in the 2009 personal income tax return to allow you to claim the credit. Becareful to look over exactly who is eligble for work performed it has to be in relation to a renovation or alteration to an eligible dwelling (or the land that forms part of the eligible dwelling) must be of an enduring nature and integral to the dwelling, and includes the cost of labour and professional services, building materials, fixtures, rentals, and permits.
An eligible dwelling is a housing unit that is eligible to be an individual's principal residence or that of one or more of their family members, at any time between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. In general, a housing unit is considered 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.
An eligible dwelling is a housing unit that is eligible to be an individual's principal residence or that of one or more of their family members, at any time between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. In general, a housing unit is considered 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.
The credit will only be available for the 2009 tax year and applies to eligible expenditures of more than $1,000, but not more than $10,000, resulting in a maximum credit of $1,350 ($9,000 x 15%).
An eligible dwelling is a housing unit that is eligible to be an individual's principal residence or that of one or more of their family members, at any time between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. In general, a housing unit is considered 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.
| Eligible | Ineligible |
|---|
- Renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement
- New carpet or hardwood floors
- Building an addition, deck, fence
- Purchasing a new furnace
- A new driveway
- Painting of interior or exterior of a house
| - Furniture, appliances, and audio and visual electronics
- Curtains and draperies
- Purchasing of tools
- Cleaning carpets
- House cleaning
|
The following expenditures will not be eligible for the HRTC:
- the cost of routine repairs and maintenance normally performed on an annual or more frequent basis;
- expenditures that are not integral to the dwelling, and other indirect expenditures that retain a value independent of the renovation;
- expenditures for appliances and audio-visual electronics; and
- financing costs.
As an agent when I sit down with Buyers and do their personal needs analysis –a nice neighbourhood., good community , schools and parks consistently ranks very high in whats important to buyers.
Having said that – I am always amazed at how few people take any time to check out the “hood” other then a drive through and a quick internet school check. It is important to know the community you are going to call home.
It’s a great idea once you narrow down your choices in area to do your homework. Make an appointment at the school take a tour, talk to the principal it’s the best way to get first hand knowledge of the school and how your child’s particular needs will be met. If you can’t go in person at least speak to the school by phone.
Take your kids to the local park. How does it feel – these are the children who live in the area are there any parents about? Talk to people. Go for a walk after work; visit the closest grocery store, the closest pub, the nearest library. Ask if there is a community association – a strong community association reveals much about an area.
Do you take transit to work? Take OC Transpo – to your chosen areas after work. Is the commute time acceptable? Do this before you have found your dream house, if you do it after you will talk yourself into what is acceptable. Thinking of moving outside the city and commuting in to Ottawa? You should drive to and from the area to your place of employment several times in different weather conditions before making a final decision.
Start your homework today
www.cityottawa.on.ca City of Ottawa
www.occdsb.on.ca for Ottawa Catholic School Board
www.ocdsb.ca for Ottawa-Carleton Public School Board
www.ecolecatholique.ca French Catholic School Board
www.cepeo.on.ca French Public service Board
Buying a home can be a very emotional – event. The very emotions that make you save hard for the down payment and lead you to your house search may also cause you to make a poor decision when it come to making that first purchase. You are a first time buyer with all the dreams and desires of home ownership.
Your agent has shown you several homes all have been disappointing from one aspect location, condition size. (This is when you find out there can be vast difference between the home shown on the internet and the real life house) You walk through the door and wow you fall in love – this is it, it’s perfect. Emotions soar, plans of furniture placement, you see family and friends around the table eating drinking everyone is happy. You are vulnerable.
It is easy to believe – because you want to believe. The 7 year iron clad rental contract for the furnace is no problem. The six buses that stop every 15 minutes at the end of your drive way is handy – and so convenient. STOP- take a deep breath – it is never the last house. Look very carefully and make sure the choice is yours and you have not been
SOLD a house – you may not want in 6 months. [:'(]
It’s raining in Ottawa – and last night at about 3:00 am I got up to go check my basement for evidence of flooding. If you have experienced a flood once you certainly don’t need a second experience. I was thinking that over my morning coffee and went to my favorite site CHMC and found this list for any of you – who may find yourselves with an unwanted indoor swimming pool.
Karen Cayer – your Ottawa Real Estate blogger
PS I love the warmer whether – but hope for the cold to come back to save the beautiful ice sculptures
The article from CHMC………………………..
After a flood, it’s important to restore your home to good order as soon as possible to protect your health and prevent further damage to your house and belongings. Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, this handy checklist will help you organize the clean up.
Immediate action is important. Your house and furnishings are less likely to grow mold if they are dried within 48 hours.
Before You Begin
- Put your own safety first. Avoid electrical shock. Wear rubber boots. Keep extension cords out of the water. Shut the power off to the flooded area at the breaker box. Ask your electrical utility for help if needed.
- Record details of damage, with photos or video if possible. Contact your insurance agent immediately and register with your municipality—your municipality may have resources you need, such as future financial assistance.
- Set up a step-by-step action plan to:
- remove all water, mud and other debris
- dispose of contaminated household goods
- rinse away contamination inside the home
- remove the rinse water
- clean and dry out your house and salvageable possessions.
- Be prepared to make difficult decisions about what to keep and what to throw out. Household items that have been contaminated by sewage, or that have been wet for a long time, will have to be bagged, tagged and discarded according to local regulations.
- Assemble equipment and supplies:
- gloves, masks (N95 respirators) and other protective gear
- pails, mops, squeegees and plastic garbage bags
- unscented detergent
- large containers for wet bedding and clothing, and lines to hang them to dry
- you may also need to rent extension cords, submersible pumps, wet/dry shop vacuums, and dehumidifiers or heaters.
- Store valuable papers that have been damaged in a freezer until you have time to work on them.
First Steps
- Remove standing water with pumps or pails, then with a wet/dry shop vacuum.
- Remove all soaked and dirty materials and debris, including wet insulation and drywall, residual mud and soil, furniture, appliances, clothing and bedding.
- Hose down any dirt sticking to walls and furnishings, then rinse several times, removing the remaining water with a wet/dry shop vacuum. Rinse, then clean all floors as quickly as possible. Flooring that has been deeply penetrated by flood water or sewage should be discarded.
- Work from the top down. Break out all ceilings and walls that have been soaked or that have absorbed water. Remove materials at least 500 mm (20 in.) above the high-water line. Removing only the lower part of the wall applies if action is taken immediately after the flood or wetting event. Gypsum board walls that have been exposed to high humidity or standing water for a prolonged period of time should be removed in their entirety and discarded. Ceiling tiles and panelling should be treated like drywall.
- Wash and wipe/scrub down all affected or flooded surfaces with unscented detergent and water. Rinse. Repeat the process as needed. Concrete surfaces can be cleaned with a solution of TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) in water (one half cup TSP to one gallon of warm water).When using TSP, which is highly corrosive, wear gloves and eye protection.
Bleach is NOT recommended
The presence of organic (humic) materials, the pH (acidity/alkalinity) of the water, the surface material and contact time affect the effectiveness of bleach for disinfection. Since these factors are not generally controlled, bleach cannot be relied upon for disinfection.The most compelling reason for advising against bleach is that fumes are harmful but in addition, overuse of bleach will result in increased releases of chlorinated effluents which can be harmful to the environment.
- Surfaces that are dry and/or have not been directly affected by the flood water should be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Further cleaning of concrete surfaces can be done with TSP. Washable surfaces can be washed with unscented detergent and water. Surface mold on wood can be removed with a vacuum-sander. Do not sand without simultaneous vacuuming.Wood that looks moldy after sanding may need to be replaced.
- After cleaning the surfaces, ventilate or dehumidify the house until it is completely dry. Rapid drying is important to prevent mold growth. When the outside weather permits (low humidity and moderate temperature), open doors and windows and hasten the drying process with fans. If the outside weather is not suitable and you notice that drying is not happening fast, use dehumidifying equipment, renting extra units as necessary.
To determine if the outdoor air can help dry the air inside, place a hygrometer in the area to be dried. Let it stabilize then open a window and monitor the Relative Humidity (RH). If it goes down then it means the air is dry enough to assist the drying process. If the RH increases, close the window.
- Carpets must be dried within two days. Sewage-soaked carpets must be discarded. Homeowners can't effectively dry large areas of soaked carpets themselves. Qualified professionals are required.
- Ensure that all interior cavities and structural members are completely dry (which could take weeks) before closing cavities.
What to Keep or Discard
- Discard and replace all insulation materials, and all less-expensive articles that have been soaked, including particleboard furniture, mattresses, box springs, stuffed toys, pillows, paper and books.
- Separate valuable papers. Ask a lawyer whether you should save the papers themselves or just the information on them.
- The frames of good quality wood furniture can sometimes be salvaged, but must be cleaned and dried by ventilation away from direct sunlight or heat. Consult a furniture restoration specialist. Coverings, paddings and cushions must be discarded and replaced.
- Scrape heavy dirt from washable clothes, rinse and wash several times with detergent and dry quickly.
Before Moving Back In
- Do not use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse/breaker panels until they have been checked by your local utility.
- If they have been soaked, consult an HVAC (Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning) contractor to replace the furnace blower motor, switches and controls, insulation and filters. Inspect all flooded forced air heating ducts and return-duct pans and have them cleaned out or replaced. Seek advice from your local utility about a water heater that has been wet. Refrigerators and freezers may need to be replaced.
Flush floor drains and sump pits with detergent and water and scrub them to remove greasy dirt and grime. Clean footing drains outside the foundation if necessary.
Excited at the Prospect of buying, concerned about the market? Whether you are a first time buyer or thinking of moving up or down – we are here to answer your questions.
Our next seminar is
Saturday April 21st 2009 @10:00 am SHARP
Keller Williams VIP Realty
245 Stafford Rd 3rd Floor
Ottawa K2H 9E8
RSVP Karen Cayer direct 613-721-5341
Karen-cayer@rogers.com
Home Buyers Seminar
- Are you thinking about buying your first home?
- Are you thinking about moving to a larger home?
- Are you curious about the state of the Ottawa real estate market?
- Do you know very little about the buying process?
- Do you need a refresher course or have specific questions?
If you answered yes to any of these questions this seminar is for you!
We will cover the topics listed below in a relaxed setting with ample question and answer time. Each participant will receive a complete buyer’s package to take home.
Seminar Topics
- Current market conditions . How does market conditions affect buyers.
- Understanding neighbourhoods and pricing
- Setting your priorities - your top five.
- Why getting pre approved is essential - how to save money on your mortgage !
- Closing cost from offer to close -what happens when
- The offer process - negotiation stategies, deposits next steps
- The 10 commandments for Buyers
Keller Williams has an active and large research department - we dont always get completely Canadian research . This time it is my pleasur to say they have compiled a Canadian version of what is happenng in the market using Canadain facts and stats -
This is a power point presentaion - and has very good information.
http://199.243.167.66/exchange/kcayer/Inbox/Housing%20Trends%20-%20KW%20Research%20for%20Canada.EML?Cmd=open
Getting a Mortgage After Divorce
Keeping your credit intact is not always on the top of your priority list during what may be a very emotional time in your life. In Canada every year more then 70000 divorces take place. Often credit scores are seriously affected during the separation and divorce process for many reasons. You want to keep your mortgage options open.
Do pay all credit card debt. Make the minimum payment at the very least; don't assume the other spouses are making the payments.
Do contact your financial intuitions and find out what your name is attached to and make a financial plan. If you are a co -borrower on any loan, lease , credit line or credit card - you are responsible for that debt. If you are experiencing a messy situation you should be very sure to contact your bank.
Do pay off debt as soon as possible.
Most lenders will want to see a separation agreement. They will take support payments into account on both sides. You will need to meet acceptable credit scores and debt to income ratios on your own. Do your home work and get pre approved. Not just an over the phone qualifying conversation. They will need a credit check, pay stubs and such to give you a clear picture of what you can afford before the divorce is final.
If you don't qualify now - because you don't have a strong credit history, or your credit is not in order, talk to a mortgage broker. They can advise you on how to get on tract and what options you have.
One last item - the family home, this may be something you r emotionally want but is it the best financial move for you? Ask your self that question - equity in a house does not pay bills. Also if you do get the house and have to remortgage or your mortgage is coming up for renewal - do you qualify on your own?