Elke's Real Estate Newsletter - Real Estate Update

Get Elke's latest Real Estate Newsletter and keep up with important changes taking place in the real estate market, locally and nationally. These changes affect you if you are buying or selling a home. Keep up-to-date on interest rates, zoning and tax laws, new ways to market your home to enhance its value, and more....

Articles available in my Real Estate Newsletter are:

February 2008:
• Home Selling Tips For Spring Buyer's Market
• Sellers Must Work in Their Own Best Interests
• Carbon Monoxide and Your Family
• Trend Report Inspires Renovations
• Canada's Tax Grabs 'Unfair and Unjustifiable'

January 2008:
• Six Signs That You're Ready To Buy
• Oil & Taxes Keep Real Estate Hot
• Considering Your First Condo?
• The Economics of Happiness: What Do You Value?
• Shopping for a Furnace Leave You Cold?

December 2007:
• Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?
• Kitchen Trend Report Inspires Kitchen Lovers
• Canadian and U.S. Housing Markets Moving in Opposite Directions
• Canadian Builders Go Green in a Big Way
• How to Handle Low Ball Offers

November 2007:
• Financial Literacy and Wealth-building: It's About How Much You Keep
• EQuilibrium Housing: YIPI! Solar with First Nation Ingenuity
• Winterize Against Pesky Intruders
• Dollar Parity & Cross-border Real Estate Shopping
• Don't Let Home Heating Wear Out Your Wallet

October 2007:
• What Does Insured Mean To Me and My Property?
• See Beyond House to Appreciate Home
• Builders Getting Better in Canada's Largest City
• A Canadian Family Portrait: Changing Social Trends
• It's A Good Time For A Home Inspection

September 2007:
• Extend Your Real Estate Reach Beyond Your Means
• There's No Stopping Canada's Housing Market
• Canadians Embrace Longer Mortgage Amortizations
• From CraveFest to Real Estate: Community Performance Is Key
• Population Demographics Require Twenty-First Century Interpretation

August 2007:
• Staging Takes Center Stage
• Canadian Actuaries Urge Government to Make Mortgage Payments Tax Deductible
• Ancillary Buyer Spending Fuels Economies & Job Creation
• Over-Cooked Hype Hikes Kitchen Costs
• The Bagua Map: Creating Positive Energy In a Home
• Grilling Without Fear
• Media Attention on Highrise Child Falls Masks the Real Home-based Threat

July 2007:
• Avoiding 7 Costly Mistakes of Selling Your Home
• It's Still Condo Mania in Canada
• Secrets About Buying A Second Home
• Going Green Can Be Deceptively Easy
• When Should Homebuyers Jump In?

June 2007:
• Torn Between Two Houses?
• Secrets to a Successful Move
• Strategies, Not Plans, May Slash Mortgage Interest Costs
• Cottage Buying Benefits from Broader Horizons
• False Affordability Can Undermine Home Ownership

May 2007:
• Canadian House Prices Will Double in the Next 20 years, Says Economist
• Subprime Mortgage Crisis Not Likely to Spread to Canada
• What's a Boomer?
• Squeezing More Savings Out Of Energy-Efficient Home Electronics
• Executors May Add Another Front to the Inheritance Battle

April 2007:
• Real Estate Remains Major Wealth Contributor
• Unveiling The Next Generation of Energy Efficient Canadian Homes
• Tax Considerations for Canadians Interested in US Ownership
• Tips To Help You Sell A Vacant House
• Builders Demand Accountability from Canadian Cities

March 2007:
• Tax Benefits of Real Estate Ownership
• Own or Rent? Study Shows Location and Discipline Key
• Putting Zeal In Your Curb Appeal
• Sundays Are Tax Time Until April 30, 2007
• How Aging Canadian Boomers Will Impact Housing Demand

February 2007:
• Increase the Odds of Selling Your Home by Cleaning Out Clutter
• Stop Dreaming About Real Estate Ownership
• The Top Homeowner Scams of 2006
• Financial Assistance to Improve Substandard Accommodation
• The Royal Canadian Legion, the Gift & Our Housing

January 2007:
• New Year's Resolutions For The Home
• Quality Lighting Essential To Canadian Homes
• Canadian Household Spending up 5.1 Percent
• Sellers Could Lose Waiting for Buyers to Make Offers
• Canadian Condominiums Rejuvenate Communities on Many Levels

DECEMBER 2006:
• Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?
• Interest-Only Mortgages Challenge Home Equity Management
• Increase Your Odds of Selling Quickly, Think Paint
• Anticipation is Power as Markets Shift
• Are You Still Responsible After Selling?

NOVEMBER 2006:
• Focus On 'Local' For Real Estate Prices
• Mortgage Industry Changes Good News for Canadians
• All About Price?
• Real Estate Searches Influenced by Creative Communities
• Housing Pilot Program Highlights Needs of Canadian Students

OCTOBER 2006:
• The Sky Isn't Falling on Canadian Homeowners
• Questions to Ask When Selecting a Financial Advisor
• Tips for Selling In a Buyer's Market
• Taking the Pulse of Canadian Builders
• Canadians Give Energy-efficient Heat Pumps a Closer Look

SEPTEMBER 2006:
• What You Should Do Now If You Plan On Selling This Fall
• Don't Overlook a Home's Potential When House Hunting
• Right Paint Choices Are Key To Resale
• Canadians Should Ask, Is My Will Safe?
• A Canadian Home-based Venture: Big Dreams on a Small Lot

August 2006:
• Resources for Tracking Canadian Trends
• Latest Products For Home and Garden
• Interest-only Mortgages: Opportunity or Risk?
• Lazy Lawns Free Canadians to Enjoy Summer
• Does Title Insurance Eliminate Need for Survey?

July 2006:
• Six Signs That You're Ready To Buy
• Spruce Up Your Landscaping Before You Sell
• 7-Ways to Make Money On Investment Properties
• Prices are Sky High in Canada's Surging Market
• Home Buyers & Canadian Garden Societies A Good Mix

June 2006:
• Making Moving Simple and Organized: It Can be Done!
• Sellers and Proper Pet Behavior
• Practical Things to Remember When Home Shopping
• GST Transition Until Canada Day
• Remodeling Tips That Will Impress Buyers In The Future

May 2006:
• Which Repairs Should You Make Before the Sale?
• Children's Life Stages Crucial When Considering Where To Buy A Home
• The Canadian Credit Report: How Will You Score?
• Canadian Energy Price-Hikes Fuel Affordability Trends
• Sweat Equity Home Improvement Tips

April 2006:
• Canadian Pilot Project Examines 30-Year Amortization
• Fresh House: Smells Sell
• Canadians May Not Hold Mineral Rights
• Hold Emotions at Bay During Real Estate Transactions
• Canadian Homeowners Keep Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Check

March 2006:
• Canadian Housing Market Still Shows Strength
• Shopping for a Furnace Leave You Cold?
• Housing Starts Key Indicator for Canadians
• Will the New Canadian Government Keep its Housing Promises?
• Leaving Town? Securing Your Home While Your Gone

February 2006:
• Protect Your Profit From Capital Gains Taxation
• Does Increased Net Worth Tell the Whole Story
• Tax-Free Profit On Canadian Homes
• Getting the Best Deal on a Home
• Canadian Housing Observer 2005 Reveals Key Trends

January 2006:
• Considering Your First Condo?
• Are Pets Soiling Your Chances of Selling Your Home?
• Canadian Household Spending Rises
• Canadian Families at Risk from Lowered Water Heater Temperatures
• Two Canadian Artists Thrive in Have Your Home & Money Too Ventures

December 2005:
• Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?
• Homeowners Warming Up to Bigger and Better Fireplaces
• Ten Fall Maintenance Tips
• Getting Rid of the 'Bad Guys' in the Mortgage Industry
• Buying in the American Sun Without Getting Burned

November 2005:
• Tips for Selling in the Fall
• What Do Mixed Messages Mean for Canada's Housing Market?
• What's Your Home or Renovation Worth?
• Canada's New Unretirement!
• Housing Provides 'Passive' Savings as Canadians' Debt Rises
• Water-Related Insurance Claims Top Fire, Storm, Theft Claims
• Heating Your Home Without Burning a Hole in Your Wallet

October 2005:
• Four Questions Help Determine Improve vs. Move
• Canadian Architects Valuable Beyond Design
• Canadian Home Ownership Success Story Worth Duplicating
• A Canadian Guide to Cleaning Up Water Damage
• Murphy's Law for Sellers

September 2005:
• Moving Up? What You Need to Consider to Accommodate Your Growing Family
• Slower Canadian Real Estate Markets in 2006, But No Stall Predicted
• Health Canada Proposes New Indoor Air Quality Guidelines
• Relieving the Stress of Packing
• A Continuing Danger to Canadian Homes

August 2005:
• Mastering Moving Basics
• Energy Efficient Housing Takes Another Step Forward in Canada
• Reverse Mortgages Start The Canadian Government Thinking
• Oil Heat's Image Gets a Makeove
• Boomers' TV Watching May Help Environment

July 2005:
• 10 Tips For First-Time Sellers
• Insider Information For Condo, Townhome Buyers
• Should Sprinklers Be Mandatory in All New Canadian Homes?
• Real Estate Professionals: A Great Resource in Global Economy
• Green-Themed, Fused Grid Subdivisions Emerge
• Know The Signs of Foundation Problems
• New Trends in Kitchen and Bath

June 2005:
• Bursting Canada's Housing Bubble Myth
• Co-ops: A First-step Towards Home Ownership
• Health Canada Cracks Down on Lead and Mercury in Paint
• Narrowing Down Your Home Search
• Strong Rural Communities Essential to Canadian Cottagers
• Ontario Law Society Urges Action to Curb Mortgage Fraud

May 2005:
• Canadians Save Billions On Mortgage Payments
• Quality Lighting Essential To Canadian Homes
• First-time Buyers Need More Than CMHC Reduction
• Canadians Crazy About Conversion
• Make Your Home Leave A Great First Impression

April 2005:
• Home Ownership Rate Soars in Canada, But Has The Market Peaked?
• RRSPs: Tax Advantage Or Tax Burden?
• Mortgages Are Improving, But Are Canadian Borrowers?
• Instant Canadian Cottage
• Torn Between Two Houses? What to Consider When Making a Decision
• Canadians Debate How Much Household Debt Is Too Much

March 2005:
• Help Your Kids Adjust When Moving in The Middle of the School Year
• Declare Mortgage Interest Income Warns CRA
• An Emerging Retirement Dream: Business Ownership
• Prepare Now to Sell in The Spring
• Canadians Debate How Much Household Debt Is Too Much
• Counteroffers: What Sellers Need to Know

February 2005:
• Canadian Urban Home Ownership Rising
• Setting The Stage Sells Your Home
• Canadians' Investment Dilemma: The Mortgage Or The RRSP?
• Do Canadians Appreciate Title Insurance?
• Home Inspections and Renovation Tips
• Public Health Essential To Canadian Communities
• Home Inspections and Renovation Tips

January 2005:
• Canada's Housing Boom Leads To Hiring Boom
• When Is the Best Time to Move Your Children?
• Taking Inventory On Safety In Your Home
• Green Roofs Gaining Canadian Acceptance
• It's Your Move
• No Such Thing As Overnight Credit Repair
• Real Estate Resolutions And A Boutique Example

December 2004:
• Tips For A Safe Holiday Season
• Canadian Home Improvements Overlook Universal Design
• Canadians Face Uncharted Paths To Retirement
• Great 2004 But Canadian Markets Softer In 2005
• Home Inspections: Preparing For The Unexpected

November 2004:
• Real Estate Drives Up Canadians' Net Worth
• Don't Judge Tile By Looks Alone
• Are You Moving Into A Healthy Neighborhood?
• CMHC Programs Support Strong Markets
• Canada To Host World Urban Forum 2006

October 2004:
• Optimistic Canadians Will Keep Housing Market Strong
• Canadian Condo Buyers: Understand What You're Buying
• Increase Your Odds of Selling Quickly, Think Paint
• Will Expropriation Be An Olympic Evil?
• Canadian R-2000 Homes Weather Oil Price Hikes
• Do Canadians Appreciate Title Insurance? (note: title insurance does not replace the required survey. Please call me for more details)