Meadowvale Village Public School Fall Fair

Come and visit my booth at the Fall Fair on September 25th at Meadowvale Village Public School. I'll be sponsoring the ever popular airbrush tattoo event.

Fair begins at 11am until 3pm. It will be a fun filled family day!

See you there!

Beautiful Detached In Meadowvale Village

Here's a fabulous 5 bedroom detached in quaint Meadowvale Village. Boasting over 3,000 sq ft with a main floor den. Listed at $679,000 it's exceptional value in the Village.

Great views of Sanford farm from the balcony, child safe court location, hardwood floors on the ground floor, stainless steel appliances, nicely landscaped with pond/deck.

Meadowvale Village is close to Conservation, Public & Private schools, Major Highways, Parks & Heartland Shopping Centre. A fabulous deal in Meadowvale Village.....I wonder who's going to be the lucky buyer!

Click here for interior photos

Contact Rashna at 416-554-7253 to view the home

Summer Flew By!

Here we are into mid-September already. You may have noticed I was rather quiet with my blogging during July and August...What can I say? I was having too much fun! I had a great summer visiting London & Paris...with a few weeks left...we made a "RASH" decision to drive to New York and yes we did that too! With 3 weddings to attend and summer barbecue invites...I'd say I'm still recovering from a crazy whirlwind of a summer!

That being said...I love the fall. It's my favourite season of the year. Love the fall colours and Thanksgiving Food Drive, Fall Fair at Meadowvale Village School, Halloween and so much more. It's going to be a BUSY season! Here comes the beginning of the fall market....buyer and sellers get READY! Call me for an update on the housing market. You can reach me at 416-554-7253 or send me an email: rashna@rashnacares.com.

Neighbours's Night Out

Neighbour's Night Out is a community safety initiative organized by Safe City Mississauga that promotes crime prevention, awareness and public safety programs. The kick-off celebration will feature live music and a variety of information booths with representatives from community partners such as Peel Regional Police and Crime Stoppers.

This is a great event to learn important information about keeping our homes, families and neighbourhoods safe. Click here for more information about Safe City Mississauga.

Don't forget to visit my booth as I'll be sponsoring the extremely popular children's airbrush tattoo event. I look forward to seeing you this evening!

When: Tuesday June 15, 2010
Time: 6:30pm-9pm
Place: Courtneypark Branch Library

6884 Postmaster Ridge

Postmaster Ridge is a quiet street located in Meadowvale Village. Steps to the park and close to Conservation, Highways, Heartland Shopping Centre and Schools.

A stunning semi-detached is for sale on this street, three bedrooms, hardwood on the ground level, lovely private backyard with deck & hottub. It's tastefully decorated - designer decor and Ralph Lauren paint colours. Finished basement and new berber carpet. Great home with great neighbours.

Click here for photos

If you're looking for a semi-detached in the area, don't hesitate to see this one. It's one of the best streets in Meadowvale Village! Call Rashna at 416-554-7253

RE/MAX voted as most trusted brand

Reader's Digest magazine voted RE/MAX realtors the designation of Most Trusted Residential REALTOR in Canada...Click here for further information

Postmaster Ridge

6885 Postmaster Ridge just sold in Meadowvale Village! This gorgeous home is situated on a quiet street close to the park, conservation, schools, hwys and Heartland shopping centre.

If you're looking for a home in a great neighbourhood, give me a call at 416-554-7253 and I can help you with the buying process.

Click here for my website

Street Hockey Returns!

Now that it's getting warmer with the exception of a few cold days last week...it's great to see the kids out with street hockey. Here's the Carding Mill Street hockey gang! I think Winston is watching somewhere on the driveway!

Don't you just love cul-de-sacs! My boys played over the weekend. One came in with a splinter on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Says one "Mom can you get it out so that I can go jump on the trampoline next door." Of course Winston, our dog, really likes to watch them play outside. If he can hear them play outside...he'll scratch at the front door!

From the trampoline to the pool to street hockey and then a little tennis, oh maybe a little soccer and hold on: there goes the basketball...into the hoop! Let's see what else is there...reading? Try sitting them down to read on a nice day! Boys!

The Competition Bureau and CREA

If any of you have been following the battle between The Competition Bureau and the CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association) regarding unfair competition and the Multiple Listing Service....you probably have some questions or thoughts on this....

Here's what I think: There are already a number of discount brokerages offering flat fee to post the listing on MLS. Should agents feel threatened by this current Competition Tribunal? No! Because a real estate agent brings experience, professional staging, negotiation, open houses, virtual tours, marketing along with neighbourhood knowledge and market trend knowledge. Wouldn't you want your home...one of the biggest assets in your financial portfolio sold by a paid agent. What incentive would a flat fee discount brokerage receive to work on attracting the highest number of buyers in looking at your home. Private sellers may not see Fair Market value if there is no incentive on real estate agents to bring their buyers in.
Buy and Sell your home with a Professional. Call Rashna at 416-554-7253

Click here for a Complimentary Market Evaluation

Beautiful Detached in Meadowvale Village

In the heart of Meadowvale Village lies this beautiful detached home. This is an exclusive listing. A gorgeous 3000 sq ft home, stunning interior and exterior, hardwood floors on the ground level, built in stainless steel appliances, beautifully landscaped, tastefully decorated and the list goes on.....Call Rashna at 416-554-7253 for further information.

Click here for a Complimentary Market Evaluation of your home

Hot Market in Meadowvale Village

Many homes in our neighhourhood have sold for more than list price. Now is the perfect time to sell. A lack of inventory and multitude of buyers makes for a perfect market setting for sellers.

Buyers on the other hand have to dash out and see that home once it's on the market so as not lose an opportunity to register an offer on the home. Many homeowners are requesting offers on a scheduled date hoping to create a mulitiple offer situation.

Great time to upgrade! There's a huge lack of semi-detached homes available for sale in our area. Buyers, buyers flurrying in and out of open houses. Where were they last January 2009? That's when market conditions created a buyer's market! Remember: Real estate always goes up and it's always Location, Location and Location!

Meadowvale Village Food Drive

What a fantastic food drive! Our Easter neighbourhood food drive was extremely successful. The rain held off! Our volunteers were enthusiastic and persistant. I am so proud of all my volunteers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A big thank you to our neighbours for their food donations. All food was donated to the Mississauga Food Bank.

Click here for past food drive events

Mississauga Food Bank

Meadowvale Village Food Drive

Let's hope it doesn't rain over the weekend as our Easter Food drive starts at 11am on Saturday March 20th until March 21st. Whether it's raining or snowing we're going to be collecting food door to door. All food collected will be donated to the Mississauga Food Bank.

Check out our Xmas Food Drive photo to the right. We always have fun! Winston, our beloved beagle just didn't want to wear his santa hat!

Click here for further information on the Mississauga Food Bank

If you would like to volunteer contact Rashna. Community hours are available for high school students. It's a rewarding experience to give back to our community and a great experience for the children.

It's quite a challenge to organize the food drive, however, with family and volunteer support, we manage to have a tremendously successful food drive each time. We tackle 1500 homes in Meadowvale Village. It all began in December 2004 with our Xmas Food Drive. I visited the food bank at the time to advise them of our food drive and I was shocked how many were there to pick up food. I decided to organize the food drive for Xmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. It's only three weekends a year of volunteering and it's a cause that is very dear to me.

I look forward to this experience each time and watch the children who started volunteering in 2004 continue helping with the food drive and the amazing transformation from being extremely timid in knocking on doors and making new friends to being role models to the younger children. These children are amazing. Full of energy, willing to help and never complaining if it's too cold in our December food drive.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making our Meadowvale Village Food Drive a huge success year after year.

There's No Place Like Home

There's nothing like a chai latte with one of my close friends at Second Cup. I love going there. I never manage to get a seat near the fireplace because someone always beats me to it! I'm hooked on those cherry almond pastries. They are so delicious!

Anyway friends help one another and here in Meadowvale Village, I am blessed with great friends, great neighbours and there's no other place like it. If you ever run out of milk and sugar, there's always a neighbour to ask. I love this Village and rave about it. When visitors ask me about the neighbourhood during open houses.. I can't stop talking about it. But then that is probably a good thing!

The deer in the farmer's field, the kids that come to the door selling those yummy chocolate covered almonds, the kids playing street hockey, the early morning and late evening joggers, the food drive, the school fair, Halloween night, Xmas lights, gorgeous patios and front yards with beautiful hanging baskets, the "whose grass is greener" chatter, our neighbourhood doggies going for their walks, the Heartland shopping centre, conservation, parks, hwys, schools and of course watching our speed limit especially on Old Derry Rd. Yes ...I've seen a few people caught! Oh there's just so much here. Yes! Home Sweet Home. Better than Kansas....Sorry Dorothy!

Click here for http://www.rashnacares.com/

Phyllis To The Rescue!

It's that time when the hubby goes out of town on business and I'm left with the kids, the work, the house and the laundry and of course dinner. Well....here in Meadowvale Village we have Phyllis who has been catering for many years.

I tried her vegetarian lasagne which I picked up on Saturday night. It was so good that my son turned to me and said "yeh...this is definitely better than yours Mom" I didn't even ask him how it was. Anyway I'm truly happy. Not at least bit offended about my lasagne. Now I know who to call for catering. When it's too crazy of a work schedule...call Phyllis or just don't feel up to cooking...call Phyllis. Her number is handy on my fridge. Yes and oh yes...some of those summer backyard parties...I know that I won't be stressed.

The wonderful thing about the lasagne was that it was so fresh and just the right amount of vegetables. Not drowning in sauce or hiding under layers of cheese. Perfect!

Phyllis...I'll be calling you! Can't wait to try out other dishes...I'll keep you posted. Here's her number at Panini Cafe: 905-696-6801

Click here for RashnaCares.com

Winston's World

I believe it was around July 2007 when my sons, Deven and Dylan started asking if they could get a dog....so here were their promises:

• I will train the dog
• I will clean up after the dog
• I will stop nagging you and telling you that I am bored
• I will have company
• I will do chores in the house without an allowance!
• I will be out walking the dog AND think of all the fresh air and exercise I'll get.

Okay so the list went on and on. However, my eldest son did corner me because I told him that if he took on dog walking for a year ( walking the neighbours dog) then that would prove some sort of responsibility. SO of course after the year was up, he asked me again and proved his case. I thought he would have forgotten. I guess this kid's going to become a lawyer! I then advised him that if we dogsit then that would also prove the responsibility. So along came Mia, a sweet natured boxer & terrier mix. Our neighbour was going on holidays and asked us to look after Mia...we graciously accepted. What perfect timing I thought. This was sure going to be a summer to remember. A dog to look after for a whole month! Deven promised to get up at 6am everyday to walk Mia. Surely that won't happen I thought. Well, Deven did surprise me. He got up everyday for an entire month and walked Mia. They were inseparable. We loved Mia so much that it was hard for us when the neighbours came and took her home. Sometimes she would sprint down our street on her walks to see if we were around.

On our family trip to Tremblant in 2008, stuck indoors on a rainy day we happened to watch the Wesminster dog show and this cute little dog named "Uno" became the first beagle to win best in show . The kids got quite interested and we took over Amit's ( my husband) laptop and googled and gathered information on Beagles. Those adorable floppy long ears and sweet face just got to my heart. Beagles are high-energy, carefree, stubborn and strong willed. If you don't give them enough exercise then that build-up of energy may release some of the mischievous nature in them. Perfect fit for the family!

My husband was having a panic attack as he thought it would be too much for us to handle a dog. I decided I wanted one as well. Perhaps it would be nice for the kids. I convinced Amit, my husband and he reluctantly agreed. I think he was missing Mia.

So along came Winston, our dearest and youngest member of the family. The little guy was 8 weeks old when we picked him up from the breeder. I read beagle books, all about training, asked my friends in the neighbourhood about vets, best food etc... Yes...he was really stubborn with the training but our dog trainer kept us focused and told us not to give up... We trained Winston in the middle of winter. I would advise others to get a dog during the spring as all those trips outdoors training a dog can be extremely tiring. We managed to get through the winter of 2009 and trained Winston. We were on shifts for training. I was the morning shift, Deven the afternoon shift and Amit was evening shift. Dylan our youngest said that he was exempt due to his age plus being -30 he said it was not a good idea for him to go out in the cold. Hmn! Smart Kid!

Winston gives us so much happiness, love and he's just a wonderful dog. After owning a dog, I totally understand how owners talk to their dogs when walking them, all about the unconditional love they provide, how you'll do anything to look after their health and buy those treats and toys without even thinking! Training is a must and if you do decide to get one, do your research as to what breed is best for your lifestyle, factor in vet costs and remember patience is a must.

Check out Winston's World here

Spruce Up Your Home

Times change and trends evolve and it's time for a "little upgrading" for your home. Here are some simple remedies to create a stylish home:

Repaint the walls:

Colour use is underestimated. The effects are subtle and significant. Colour sets the mood tone and can turn a room into very appealing or uncomfortable. Remember that natural daylight shows the truest colour. Go beyond your comfort zone and pick, for example, chocolate browns. When selecting a colour, consider the mood of a room, artwork, furniture pieces and flooring.

Replace Flooring

Consider refinishing hardwood to remove scratches and dents. Hardwood always looks stylish and is available in various colours. Bamboo floors are harder than wood floors and offer a unique looking floor. Laminate floors are resistant to stains, scratches and dents. It's easy to install but can't be refinished. Linoleum is low maintenance and hypoallergenic. Porcelain tile is stronger than ceramic and available in variety of colours.

Add some Decor

Perhaps you need to add some pieces like a new sofa or dining table to update the look. Perhaps some modern paintings and new candles/mirror on the mantle. A little change here and there can do wonders to a room. Try it out!

Click here for more information on Rashna Chotai

Remax Press Release Highlights

Low inventory levels set stage for heated Spring market in most major Canadian centres says Remax.

The supply of homes listed for sale has been reduced drastically, housing values are on the upswing and banks and governments are moving in unison toward stricter lending policies.

The overall pressure on sales and price is significant across the board and is not likely to subside unless more inventory comes on-stream.

Recent revisions to lending criteria will add fuel to the fire in the short term. Buyers will step up their plans for home ownership in the next month or so.

Real estate from coast to coast has roared back to life and markets are once again firing on all cylinders.

Click here for the full report

More Inventory Please!

Seriously....there is indeed a huge lack of inventory of homes for sale in Meadowvale Village.

This area is always in demand in a normal market with a good balance of buyers and sellers. But now we have an issue where lack of inventory is pushing up prices to unbelievable levels in this area!

Currently, I have three buyers looking for a home in Meadowvale Village but nothing is available. If you or someone you know are planning on selling, please contact me. My buyers may be the perfect match for your home. Call Rashna at 416-554-7253.

Click here for RashnaCares.com

Mold is Everywhere

I recently attended a presentation on Mold by a home inspection company. I hate mold but it does fascinate me!

But just to backtrack a little...last year my clients conditionally bought a detached property downtown. It turns out that the attic had "mold". Lots of it! Some home inspection companies refer to it as "black substance". All due to incorrect ventilation in the attic. My clients decided not to buy the home as it would be costly to remove the mold professionally. The health effects of mould can range from being insignificant to causing illness.

I finally found a lovely home for them downtown in this overheated market. By the time we made it downtown, most of the homes would be sold well over list. Lucky for them and determination on our side, an open house was cancelled and we were there at the right time!

Another recent mold incident: A few weeks ago I was emptying some boxes in the basement. These boxes were unopened for two years and I was quite curious to see what was in them. I found a few books of sentimental value. But right at the bottom along with a strong musty smell was some black stuff: MOLD! Yikes!

Sentimentality out the window.... I threw out everything. I was actually quite happy to be rid of the stuff but it was difficult for my husband. We corrected the moisture level in the basement to prevent this from ever happening again...not to say that we have any more of these boxes in the basement. That was a great opportunity to get rid of a lot of junk.

Mold can grow on almost any substance based on moisture and a food source being present. Mold can grow on wood, paper, carpet and foods.

I recently bought pita bread from the local grocery store and I opened it up the same day: MOLD! I was quite upset as it ruined my craving for a falafel. And yes I made sure I checked the expiry date before buying it. I returned the pita bread because I wanted them to be aware of this issue and they gladly refunded my money but I couldn't eat pita bread for a while after seeing that gross green mold.

So enough of my mold stories..I could go on... Mold exists everywhere - indoor and outdoors. When buying a home...determine if there are any concentrated amounts of mold as this can cause damage to the building as well as health issues.

The most mold prone areas are bathrooms, closets, laundry rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. I would also include basements as I'm sure there are others who have unopened boxes in the basement with improper air circulation. Dehumidify in warm months since air entering will have a higher moisture content.

The presence of mold is a sign that there is too much moisture in your home - this should be corrected right away. Click here for CMHC information on detecting and cleaning up mold

Do preventative maintenance checks in hidden areas, under stairs, closets, crawlspaces, garages and attics.

Should You Put Your Lonely Sign On The Lawn?

Many homeowners have failed to get top dollar for their home, or priced it too high and watched it sit for months on end. Buyers then tend to think there is something wrong with the home.

Our job as Realtors takes on estimating the value of the house, preparing it for sale, marketing the house, showing the house, negotiating and closing the deal.
We watch the market everyday and where the market warrants it, we can holdback on offers to generate multiple bidding.

Lack of negotiating experience and lack of important information in the selling process can result in possible lawsuits.

Realtors bring value to the table, knowledge of the real estate market and are involved in home sales much more frequently. We are bound by strict ethics. Leave the selling to a Realtor whose experience and knowledge will bring you top dollar for your home.

Who is Rashna Chotai? Click here

National Home Show

The National Home Show presented by Re/Max opens on February 19-28th at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. More than 700 home and garden specialists will be offering renovation and decorating ideas.
Don't miss it! It promises to be a great show! Click here for more information on the Home Show

Dedicated Villagers

We are truly blessed to be living in one of the finest areas in Mississauga and surrounded by neighbours who are truly committed to keeping our village safe.
Andrea and Steve are "dedicated villagers". Steve contacted our Councillor, George Carlson to bring up some issues happening in our park at Historic Trail & Old Derry Road.
Steve has been clearing beer bottles from the grass near the playground and parking lot and fast food junk many times. Passionate about maintaining safety and protecting our village, Steve requested a step up in police patrol in our park.
Councillor George Carlson acted promptly to ensure that security has been stepped up for this area.
All concerned residents should call the 24 hour Parks Watch line at (905) 615-4060 rather than personally confront suspicious persons inside the park.
Please contact me if you come across any incidences in the park areas that are not being dealt with and we will ensure it gets looked after. It is up to all of us to keep our village beautiful and safe.

Reduce the Stress of Selling

Selling a house can be a stressful process for the entire family. Good advanced planning will certainly help reduce it.

As a Realtor, I can help you determine whether any repairs, improvements or minor touch-ups should be done, so that your home will sell faster and at the best price possible.

Once the property is on the market, plan some outings with the family during open houses and other viewing times. These are great opportunities to check out amenities, parks and local restaurants in the area that you are interested in moving to.

Consider hiring a maid service on a short-term basis. The home selling process can be a busy time and this will relieve a lot of stress.

If you want to make the home selling process even easier...Call Rashna at 416-554-7253

The Village

Nestled on Early Settler Row in the "Prestigious Neighbourhood of Meadowvale Village", this gorgeous custom built home is awaiting a new owner. Conservation lands, Outstanding Private and Public schools, Parks and close proximity to Heartland Shopping and Highways make this a perfect location.

For complete details of the subject property and additional photos Click here

For a complimentary market evaluation of your property. Click here

Be Aware of the new HST

Ontario implemented to harmonize its 8% provincial retail sales tax (RST) with the 5% federal goods and services tax (GST) to create a single, value-added HST at a 13% rate . Buyers of new homes in Ontario will be affected by the HST effective July 1, 2010.

New Housing Rebate

According to the Ontario Ministry of Revenue's publication titled "Additional Information for Homebuyers and the Housing Industry", the new housing rebate ensures that new homes with a purchase price up to $400,000.00 would not be subject to an additional tax amount compared to the RST currently embedded in the prices of new homes.

The plan is to rebate 75% of the provincial component of HST paid for new housing to be occupied by the purchaser, or a member of the purchaser's immediate family, as a primary place of residence, up to a maximum rebate amount of $24,000.00.

Grandfathering rules

Sales of new homes where the agreement of purchase and sale was entered into on or before June 18, 2009 will not be subject to the 8% provincial portion of the HST where both ownership and possession of the homes are transferred after June 2010.

Every purchaser should review their agreement of purchase and sale with a lawyer. You don't want to find out a few days prior to closing that you don't qualify for a housing rebate.




Who is Rashna Chotai in Meadowvale Village? Let's google her.