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When is the Best Time of Year to Sell your Home?
Seasonal factors play an important role in selling a property, but there are other things to consider as well, such as supply and demand and the uniqueness of the local market conditions. No matter when a home goes to market, one should take a few things into consideration that might affect not just the ability to sell the home, but the ability to get the highest price for the home. Timing is everything!
Buyers are increasingly affected by our seasons and that affects their attitude as to when they purchase their home. In Ontario, we enjoy four distinct and beautiful seasons and these changing seasons play a large part in creating good buying conditions.
Winter brings a series of challenges, weather, holiday distractions resulting in a lack of interest from buyers. But do not despair, the reality of the “Spring Market” is really in February and March. According to data; home sales begin in February, with closings peaking through late May, June, July and into August as families settle down for the summer months and prepare children for the new school year. This trend has been consistent since early 2000.
Read more...Downtown post office purchased by Town of Oakville
The Town of Oakville announced that it purchased the post office site at 193 Church Street from Canada Post for $11 million. Canada Post had offered the property for sale through a competitive open bidding process and the site attracted significant interest from numerous private developers.
The town had expressed interest in acquiring this site since the 1990s but Canada Post only made it available for sale this past year. The town will take ownership of the property on April 2, 2012.
Read more...Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Movie Review
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the kind of film we rely on the British to make, since Hollywood often seems incapable of producing movies that don't constantly explain themselves to the viewer, like we are six-year-old children. Indeed, at the screening I attended, I heard more than a few whispered conversations as people tried to follow what was going on. You might call that poor storytelling, but I call it a lack of patience brought on by years of Hollywood coddling. This is a film that definitely rewards the patient viewer.
Read more...Get Great Results from 20 Minute Home Workout
If you are looking for a way to maximize your workouts in less time then HIIT/TABATA training is for you. High Intensity Interval Training or Tabata Training is an exercise methodology that involves short but extremely intense workouts by using periods of high intensity effort followed by short periods of rest.
Each interval only lasts for 4 minutes but those 4 minutes of hell produce remarkable results.
Pick 4 - 5 exercises that target the big muscle groups ie. burpee’s with a pushup, power jump squats with a medicine ball, squat with a shoulder press, climbers, plank jacks etc. Targeting the small muscle groups will have little to no effect. So go big or stay home!
Read more...Do you have a budget related question for Mayor Burton?
Town staff presented Oakville’s proposed 2012 operating and capital budgets to the Budget Committee on January 16, achieving Council's direction to keep the total property tax increase in line with inflation. Town staff recommended a 6.7 per cent increase to the town’s portion of the tax bill for an overall property tax increase of 3 per cent.
The proposed tax increase protects existing program and service levels and would see residential property taxes increase by $29 per $100,000 of assessment. The increase includes previous financial commitments for road pavement improvements, parks maintenance and operating the new Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre.
Read more...Hotelier’s Memoir Dedicated to Son Lost in 9/11
Hotelier Hans Gerhardt shared some of his memories with the Canadian Club of Halton Peel at the Oakville Conference Centre.
He listed some of the jobs he has held, from being a delivery boy when he was 10 years old to being an author today. Between those, there were various other positions, including, dishwasher, waiter, catering manager, hotel manager, fundraiser, reporter and speaker.
The book tells readers about Gerhardt’s life and career in the hospitality industry. He shares personal stories which convey a multitude of emotions, from the heartbreak of losing his son during 9/11 to the fun of meeting celebrities and the reality of daily hotel work.
Read more...Fun and Easy Winter Picnic Ideas
Picnics are synonymous with glorious sunny days, chilled drinks, yummy food and fun activities in a park or by the lake but don’t let the cold stop you from enjoying outdoor activities and the all-important warming snacks.
Although at first glance winter might not seem like the most ideal time of year to have a picnic, it truly is a wonderful season to get outdoors, burn off some energy and shake the cobwebs from your mind. Sledding, skating, snowshoeing, snowball fights and snowman making contests can be enjoyed by all ages and are great activities to not only burn calories but to bring family and friends together for an afternoon of old-fashioned fun.
Read more...Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie Review
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows continues director Guy Ritchie's efforts to turn the famous consulting detective into an action hero. But the more Holmes is moved in that direction, the more he moves away from the things that make the character who he is. Thus, while the sequel is fairly entertaining, it's not as good as the first, and nowhere near many of the other stories in the Holmes canon.
Read more...A Night of Spanish Guitar and Flamenco this Saturday
Johannes Linstead and his Guitar of Fire will set the Oakville Centre Stage on “fire” Saturday January 21st at 8pm. Johannes, Oakville’s own world-renown guitar virtuoso and winner of the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards “Guitarist of the Year” award, together with his group of talented, international musicians from Cuba, Greece, Russia and Mexico will be performing an evening of exciting music of Johannes on wowing the audience with his guitar, together with Afro-Cuban percussion, bass, accordion and Flamenco dance.
With over 500,000 albums sold worldwide, six “Best Album” awards and four “Top Ten” Billboard-charting albums, Johannes is #1 on both the eMusic.com Jazz/Blues charts and World Music charts. He has won “World Artist of the Year” in the T.O.M.A Awards as well as his recent Canadian Smooth Jazz Award. His concert at the Oakville Centre will be an exciting and magical evening not to be missed!
Read more...Whole Foods Market Oakville Launches Health Fair
Whole Foods Market celebrated healthy eating for the New Year with a “Health Starts Here Passport Fair Event”; a weekend to get your eating habits pointed in the right direction! It was a festive, exciting day for both the Whole Foods Market staff and the happy customers who collected their passports and began their shopping experience by tasting nourishing foods in each department and learning about how a few dietary changes can impact on their lifelong health.
As fun as it was delicious and informative, customers used the “Whole Foods Market Health Starts Here” (WFM HSH) Passport as a guide. Healthy foods and recipes were showcased throughout the store at stations by enthusiastic and friendly team staff members and the shoppers walked through the Whole Foods Market visiting all the sample stations. Those who completed the tour and filled in the passport were then eligible to win a Healthy Pantry Makeover $50.00 Whole Foods Market gift certificate, along with a list of suggested healthy pantry products. All customers could taste “good for you foods” and learn how to stock a healthy pantry on a budget!
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