Charming Property in Shelburne

Stunning property nestled in prestigious Sylvanwood Estates with gorgeous pond & mature trees. Close to 3.55 acres. Meticulously maintained property.
Click here for more information

6879 Postmaster Ridge

Gorgeous semi-detached in prime Meadowvale Village. Close to parks, major highways, Heartland Shopping Centre, conservation, public & private schools.

Stunning open concept with finished basement and third floor loft. Custom cabinets in Master Room. Backing onto premium Early Settler Row. Great family neighbourhood!

Call Rashna at 416-554-7253 for further information or view pics at www.RashnaCares.com

Meadowvale Village Public School Fall Fair - 2011

We had a great fall fair at Meadowvale Village Public School last month. Thank you to those who visited my booth. It was great seeing all the children picking out their favourite airbrush tattoos. What a great day!

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Thanksgiving Food Drive - 2011

Thank you Meadowvale Village Residents for your generous contribution of food items for our community Thanksgiving Food Drive. We got drenched on Sunday but we collected so much food! Thank you volunteers!!

Meadowvale Village Detached

Welcome to this 4 bedroom detached located right next door to Sanford Farms. Great open concept floor plan with a gorgeous cedar deck/gazebo ($50k backyard) with hot tub. Superb entertaining backyard.
Offered at $654,900. Stunning views of Sanford Farms, deer sightings and wildlife in this great little cul-de-sac setting.
Click here for photos. Call Rashna at 416-554-7253 for additional information

Carding Mill Semi-Detached

Here's a great semi-detached listing in Meadowvale Village. Close to the park, conservation, public & private schools. Steps from million dollar homes! Access to public transit and highways make this a perfect location. Heartland Shopping Centre is minutes away.

This home has hardwood through-out with a great open concept floor plan. Basement is finished with a 3 pce bathroom. Great home! Great location!

For additional information click here for my website.

First Impressions

Real estate may be about location, location, location, but it's also about looks. Upgrading curb appeal is proving to be a good investment when selling a home. Potential buyers often decline to look at the interior of a home if the exterior has overgrown hedges, dead grass and garbage bins on the porch.

• Coordinate colour when painting the garage door, trim and front door.



• Upgrade porch lights



• Visual appeal is important...potted flowers, hanging baskets



• Fix cracks in the pavement



• Update windows/doors if necessary

A home must present itself favourably because first impressions count!

Make Buying a Home Smooth Sailing

Here are the basics to ensure smooth sailing on a home purchase:

1. Find a good REALTOR - Someone who knows the area


2. Determine what you can afford - Get a pre-approved mortgage


3. Make a wish list - What kind of home or neighbourhood are you looking for?


4. View the right properties - Pick those that closely match the criteria on your wish list


5. Make an offer - Your REALTOR can help you make an offer that gets you the home you want at the right price


6. Get a home inspection - This is a must


7. Get the paperwork done - Your REALTOR, lawyer and lender will typically handle all the transaction paperwork for you


8. Prepare for the move - Find a good mover!
   
   Call Rashna at 416-554-7253 to make your home buying experience a smooth one.

Neighbourhood Food Drive

Thank you Meadowvale Village residents for your generous food donation for our 20th Meadowvale Village Food Drive. All the food was donated to the Mississauga Food Bank.

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers who braved a cold food drive weekend...we had snow and rain and abnormally cold temperatures...but this didn't deter you from collecting food door to door.

Meadowvale Village residents will be helping thousands of families across Mississauga.

I am so grateful for everyone's participation in making this great cause a huge success.

Meadowvale Village/Winston's World

Our neighbour's were out of town for a week and we volunteered to look after their dog, Dexter. He's the little guy on the left.

Now Dexter is an absolutely cute, full of energy little bundle! I was leaning on the idea of getting another dog but I've kind of put that aside. Don't take me wrong, I love Dexter. You see one of the neighbours in the area cautioned me not to get another furry friend. Why? I asked...Well...the response: 2 different schedules, 2 different personalities and put that together and you have a lot of work. So March break week was quite hectic. We were thrilled to have Dexter over. He would wake up at 7am and Winston would want to sleep in until 9:30am but he reluctantly woke up to play with his buddy. As you can imagine, poor Winston was suffering from lack of sleep - he would hide upstairs under the bed so that he could catch up on his sleep in the afternoons.

We had double the tennis balls under the couch, the water bowls would turn upside down with their crazy antics. Yes it was fun to watch and clean up!

We had to watch our Winston to make sure he wouldn't devour all of Dexter's food. Beagles love food! But all in all, it was a memorable experience and Dexter was a good boy. I know that I'm not ready for another pup in the house. After all, Winston loves his naps and me too!

And if we really miss having 2 dogs in the house, all we have to do is go next door and bring home our dear Dexter for a couple of hours!

Average Selling Price Up In February

According to MarketWatch, the average selling price for February 2011 transactions was $454,423, which was more than five per cent higher than the average selling price reported in February 2010.
We still have a lack of inventory in the market place which is encouraging competition between home buyers to promote continued price growth.
Click here for a detailed report

So now we have shorter amortization periods effective March 18th and tougher mortgage qualification criteria along with a cap on the limit for homeowner financing. What's going to happen to our housing market?

Our housing market is changing every quarter. There are scores of bidding wars these past few months on semi-detached homes in Mississauga. We didn't quite see this kind of activity last fall. First time homebuyers are having to pay much more beyond their comfort level.

I've experienced a significant number of buyers heading towards Milton for semi-detached and detached homes as Mississauga is too beyond their comfort level for pricing.

Our advice from our parents "live within your means and spend wisely" holds true for real estate purchases...it's important to stick to your budget and in the event there is a correction in the market then you will be sleeping well at night instead of worrying about the next mortgage payment!

Do I have to pay HST?

Half of Ontarians are confused about HST. Here are some HST highlights:

• The HST came into effect in Ontario on July 1, 2010
• Purchasers of newly constructed homes under $400,000 are not subject to an additional tax burden. Buyers of new homes valued between $400,000 and $500,000 could claim a proportional rebate on the provincial portion of the HST up to a maximum of $24,000
• The new rental housing rebate is similar to the enhanced new housing rebate, for new residential rental properties
• HST is not applicable to to the sale of a residential re-sale home
• Real estate commissions are subject to the 13 per cent HST, as will the cost of a Condominium Status Certificate, although the total certificate cost will remain at $100
• Moving costs, the cost of a home inspection and even home staging will also be subject to HST.

If you need further information, click here for additional information on HST and home purchasing.

Burst Hose Tsunami's

Washing machine hoses are one of the most forgotten maintenance items in a home. Check the hose and connection for leaks as part of a proactive maintenance plan. Replace the hose if necessary...check out the stainless steel reinforced hoses or reinforced rubber in your local hardware store.

1. In the event you find a "burst hose tsunami" in your home...DO NOT PANIC
2. Close the water shut off valve immediately
3. Ask for help from your neighbours!
4. Contact your insurance company or contractor depending on the damage in your home

Here's To A Stress Free Moving Day!

Here are some tips to lower the stress levels on moving day:

1. Take your pet to a safe location such as the home of a trusted friend or family member until the hustle bustle of moving day is over.
2. Have your mobile phone charged up in case someone needs to contact you.
3. Keep your most precious items packed in your own bag - they may get lost or broken in the packing and removal process
4. After the moving crew has finished loading the entire home, be sure to check the attic, basement, garage & garden shed before the truck leaves to make sure no items have been left behind
5. Don't pack vacuum and basic cleaning equipment unless you've hired a cleaning service to spruce it up for the new occupants
6. Be available at all times when unloading. This will assist the mover greatly in determining where to have your furniture placed.
7. The mirrors and pictures need to be protected. The movers may add extra protection to some items, but not all.
8. Make sure the beds are dismantled and set up in the new home as per your agreement with the movers
9. Make sure your favourite refreshments are handy when you arrive at your new home...whether it's beer, wine or tea!
10. Check the mover's bill carefully before you sign. Be sure to keep these and all related papers in a safe location.
11. You made it! At the end of the moving process, relax and enjoy your favourite take-out meal!

Tighter inventory levels helped to make the last decade one of the healthiest on record for Canadian Real Estate. Click here for the RE/MAX Housing Barometer Report which measures sales-to-new listings ratio in 18 major centres from January 2000-December 2010.

Stunning Semi-Detached

Here's a charming semi-detached in Meadowvale Village situated on a quiet street. Steps to the park and close to million dollar homes!

1106 Carding Mill Place is a 3 bedroom semi-detached with finished basement. Close to private & public schools, conservation, Heartland shopping centre & major highways. It's a great street & a family oriented neighbourhood.

Click here for photos. If you'd like additional information, please contact me at 416-554-7253.

Hiring The Right Professional

By hiring the right professional, you can improve your chances of having everything go smoothly. You're more likely to have your home sell quickly and at the best possible price.

You may require the work of a plumber, hardwood installer etc, lawyer for closing the property etc...
How do you hire the right professional?

Experience & Qualifications: Ask certification or training they've received.
Reputation: Ask for client testimonials or reference

Since you'll be relying on the skills and advice of each professional you hire, make sure they are experienced in the fields you need. If you need help in putting your professional team together.....call me!

National Home Show

It's National Home Show time again! The BIG show sponsored by RE/MAX opens on February 18th for 10 days at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

It's a great place to get decor & renovating advice, tips and trends, eco tips, recipes and much more. Click here for stage schedules, celebrity guest appearances, renovation workshops and the Main Stage by HGTV plus great deals on latest products....

I'm looking forward to seeing the 2011 Boulevard of Dreams and the futuristic Glass House built by Concept PolygHome. It's going to be a fantastic show!

Your Shopping List For A New Home

Create a wish list of the features and characteristics you want in a home. There's no sense in looking at properties with kitchenettes when you your wish list includes a full-sized kitchen.

There are features that are nice-to-haves but not must-haves. It's a great idea to create two wish lists. One list would include all the features you would absolutely not do without in your new home and the other list would include those you'd like to have but are not necessities.

Take this list when shopping for a home and it will help make better decisions, save time and will come in handy when you're comparing which home to buy.

Christmas 2010 Food Drive

Thank you to Meadowvale Village residents for a very successful 2010 Christmas Food Drive.

All food items were donated to the Mississauga Food Bank.

The Mississauga Food Bank is the largest food distribution program in Mississauga, Ontario supporting 12,000 clients each month through over 30 member agencies including the city's seven food banks.

Special thanks to our dedicated volunteers! Thankfully the weather cooperated and we didn't have rain or snow...just a little colder but we bundled up!

Residential values expected to climb further in 2011

Curious about the real estate market predictions?

The forecast for residential real estate sales remains static for 2011 according to the REMAX Housing Market Outlook Press Release.
Click below for complete report:
http://www.remax-oa.com/MediaNewsroom/Lists/PressReleases/Attachments/63/REMAX_HousingMarket_2010_RPT.pdf