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Move-in-Ready vs. New Construction Homes: 4 Important Things to Consider

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Move-in-Ready vs. New Construction Homes: 4 Important Things to Consider

Buying a home is a huge investment and one of the most important steps in life.   There are many decisions homeowners need to weigh carefully, starting with the choice of move-in ready or new construction homes. Whether you are into Passive Real Estate Investing or actively involved, that decision is the crux of the home buying process and determines many choices afterward.

1. Money Talks

When it comes to buying a home, money is of course a really big thing. If you’re considering constructing a home, it is even more important. Building your own home will be more expensive than purchasing a move-in-ready home. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to break the bank to build your dream home. With adequate budgeting and smart choices, an affordable new construction project can be attainable.

There are many professionals involved in the construction of a new home and smart hiring will go a long way. Homeowners want to look for strong references and prepare a good contract with a builder that will look for ways to reduce costs of materials and other items. References are also key when choosing subcontractors and making estimates for other aspects of the homebuilding process, such as the plumbing or electrical system.

Beyond the normal cost of works and building materials, there are several hidden costs that are worth budgeting for. For any homeowner considering building, anticipation is key.

It is worth considering the cost of upkeep associated with a move-in ready home compared to a newly built one. Remodeling or replacing appliances may have to be done sooner rather than later with a preexisting home.

On the other hand, the maintenance costs of a newly built home are often lower, as all of the systems and appliances are up-to-date and energy-efficient. Hazardous materials like asbestos or lead won’t be an issue either. Finally, homeowners will often see better resale profits on new homes than on preexisting one.

2. The Time Commitment

Building a home is an exciting, but time-consuming undertaking. It can take anywhere from four to twelve months to complete construction on a home. In the meantime, many homeowners have to move into temporary housing and put their belongings in storage. For some homeowners, this option simply isn’t viable. Families with children, for example, might prioritize a quick move into a preexisting home.

Another convenience of buying a home is mature landscaping. You won’t have to wait years for the gorgeous oak tree in the lush front yard. With a move-in ready home, you’ll have a mature lawn from day one that you can alter as you wish.

3. Freedom of Personalization

Building a home involves hundreds and hundreds of decisions, from floor plan to front door. Every color, finish, and material must be approved, inside and out. But the end result can be a dream home worth every decision.

Some people are thrilled at the opportunity to customize every aspect of their new home and indeed, this is what draws many people to new construction homes. It is a chance to truly take control of your space and personalize everything to perfection.

Additionally, homeowners constructing a new home have the opportunity to purchase the newest technology. Energy efficient systems, home theaters, and home-wide monitoring networks are just a few of the emerging trends in home technology. If you value the freedom that comes with that kind of in-depth personalization, then construction might be the route for you.

On the other hand, some people find that their dream home already exists. Or they create their dream home after moving in, through interior decorating or remodeling. Ultimately, the convenience that comes with buying a preexisting home can outweigh the customization of building a new home.

4. Location, Location, Location

Sometimes, a homeowner’s desired location can make the decision to buy or build clear for them. Homeowners looking to be close to town may find that there is no space for building or that the cost of land is prohibitive. A family with their hearts set on a good neighborhood with top-notch schools, for example, may opt for a preexisting home. However, a retired couple looking forward to their golden years in the country might lean more towards to building their own home.

When looking for a location to build upon, homeowners will need to juggle permits, municipal systems, site preparation, and more. Some relish the opportunity to carve their own path on new land, whereas other homeowners find the ease of buying a lot in a master-plan community preferable. In addition to infrastructures such as sidewalks and roads, these developer-prepared communities may also have amenities such as walking trails and parks.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why a homeowner would choose to build a home or buy a preexisting one, ultimately coming down to practical and personal considerations. It is both a financial and emotional decision that can make your future brighter. Dream homes are bought and built– it’s up to you to decide which your new home will be.

How to find the perfect home improvement project on MLS

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How to find the perfect home improvement project on MLS

Home improvement certainly adds a lot of value to your home if done properly. If you are looking for a DYI home improvement option, it has its own challenges. It can often be hard for homeowners to draw the line between projects they can do themselves and ones meant for the pros. With so many YouTube and Home improvement channels around showing lavish and out-of-budget projects, what other platform can you utilize to get real tangible and realistic ideas to upgrade your home. The surprising answer is MLS listings. Yes, with thousands of new homes in the market every day, you get tonnes of home improvement ideas through the MLS listings.  Listed below are Home Improvement Ideas on a Budget to create a unique and new look.

Opt for bold paint colors. Tired of the boring white walls in your home? It’s time for a paint upgrade. What paint color should you choose? You could go with trendy interior colors like pale pink, turquoise or olive green. Or you could use the color of existing furniture to determine the complementary color that brings balance to the room. Don’t want to go big with paint? You can always add a simple accent wall for a smaller pop of color.

Ditch the paint for wallpaper. If you don’t want to paint your walls make a statement with wallpaper. Consider adding bold patterned wallpaper featuring palm leaves, floral motifs or geometric patterns to a family room, home office or kids room or stick with solid colors and more neutral patterns for a more subtle Home Improvement update. Looking for a DIY option? Make your own wallpaper by using stencils and your favorite colors.

Include unique wall paneling. An easy and budget-friendly Home Improvement idea is to upgrade your walls with paneling. Create a rustic look in your kitchen or bathroom by installing shiplap or wooden planks on the walls. Or give bedroom hallway and living room walls and makeover with wainscoting board and batten or beadboard.

Add crown molding to walls. Upgrade the look of a plain room by adding crown molding to cover the gap between the walls and ceilings. White crown molding paired with a neutral paint color will give your room a finished look. You can paint or stain crown molding or even use Peel and Stick crown molding for a budget-friendly option.

Spruce up the ceiling. Don’t forget about improving your ceiling. There are plenty of options for this DIY home interior upgrade. You could add faux wood beams with beadboard or shiplap for a farmhouse-style look in the kitchen or dining room. You could go with surface mount tile or tin for a more retro feel in a bathroom. Or you can simply paint ceilings with an accent color to create contrast and depth in a bedroom.

Go with new flooring. One way to spruce up your home on a budget is to install new floors. For this Home Makeover idea, think about using sheet vinyl flooring, laminate flooring or ceramic tile. Sheet vinyl flooring is durable and water-resistant. If you want to look that resembles hardwood, use laminate flooring, which doesn’t fade from exposure to the sun. Or if you want flooring that’s easy to clean; up for more traditional tile floors.

Glam up your staircase. In most homes, the stairwell is the first thing you see when you walk in. So why not give your stairs a fresh new look? Make a bold statement by painting the stairs black and white or with a striped runner. Use patterned wallpaper or peel and stick flooring to break up the look of all white steps or swap out an outdated Bannister with trendy wrought iron posts, two toned railing or dark wood balusters.

Upgrading your home doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. A variety of projects for all price ranges and levels of skill and enthusiasm can improve your home’s value. After all home is where the heart is!

How much CFM do I need for my Kitchen?

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How much CFM do I need for my Kitchen?

How much CFM do I need for my Kitchen?

Before starting, let’s understand what is CFM? CFM stands for Cubic Feet per Minute. CFM measures the volume of air, in cubic feet, for each minute it moves. CFM is a good measure of how much air goes through the blower via your Range hood. When deciding how much CFM you need for your range, the first thing you need to take into consideration is the type of range and output you have.

For an electric range, multiply the width of your stove in inches by 10 to get the minimum CFM for your Range Hood. For example, if your cooktop is 36 inches, you’ll want at least 360 CFM .

Gas ranges, grills and barbecues are a bit different because they produce a lot more heat and fumes. The amount of heat emitted from a gas cooktop is measured in British Thermal Units or BTU. If your owner’s manual doesn’t tell you the total BTU of your cooktop, you can find it by adding the BTU of each burner together, then dividing that number by 100. For example, if you have two burners that each put out 10,000 BTU and two burners that put out 15,000 BTU, your total BTU for your stovetop would be 50,000. 50,000 divided by 100 equals 500. So you’ll want a minimum of 500 CFM for your range hood over your gas stove.

Grills and barbecues have higher BTU than an indoor gas range, but the calculation is the same. Now take the minimum CFM number you just got and you have a decision to make. There’s a quick way and a more precise way to know how many totals CFM you’re going to need for your new hood. We’ll cover them both the quick way, just add 200 CFM to your minimum CFM number you just calculate it and you’re good to go.

If you want to be a little more thorough, don’t just add the extra 200 cfm but follow these next steps instead. Keep your minimum CFM number handy because we’ll use it again shortly. Now we’re going to factor in the size of your kitchen. Determine the volume of your kitchen by multiplying its length, width, and height together. For example, if your kitchen is 18 feet long, 14 feet wide and 9 feet tall. multiply 18×14 by nine and you get 2268 cubic feet. Larger kitchens will need to move more smoke and unwanted air to keep the air clean and harsh cooking odors at bay. As a rule for ventilation, a range hood needs to have the power to exchange your kitchen air 15 times per hour. To get that number, multiply your kitchen cubic feet by the air exchanges. For example, 2268 cubic feet by 15 air exchanges equals 34,020 cubic feet per hour. Now divide that by minutes in an hour. 34,020 cubic feet divided by 60 minutes per hour will give you the CFM needs of your kitchen space. In this example, you’ll want a minimum of 567 CFM . Compare this number to your minimum CFM number that you calculated earlier, circled the larger of the two and let’s move on. We’re nearly done. Then calculate the additional CFM needs of your ductwork. For each foot of ductwork, increase your CFM by one. For each turn in your duct, increase your CFM by 25 and if you use a roof cap, increase your CFM by 40. An example if your ductwork consists of 12 feet of pipe, two turns and a roof cap, you’ll add 12 CFM for the 12 feet of pipe 50 CFM for the two turns and 40 CFM for the roof cap. Now take the CFM number you circled earlier and add your ductwork number to it. In our example, we’ll add 102. 567 plus 102 equals 669 CFM. Once you’ve finished this calculation think about your cooking routine. If you enjoy using your stovetop frequently or do a lot of Asian cooking, frying, barbecuing, boiling or searing, add another 200 CFM to the total you have. In our example we do a lot of searing and frying, so we’re going to add an additional 200 CFM which looks like this.

669 CFM plus 200 equals 889 Total CFM to make shopping for a hood easier, round up to the nearest 100 CFM. So we’ll round up to 900 CFM . And that’s it. That’s the more thorough way to calculate the CFM you’ll need for your new hood. Now all you have to do is find the right range hood for your kitchen.

Truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated as of January 15, 2022

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Truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated as of January 15, 2022

A Canadian truck driver who is either a Citizen, PR or Indians under the Indian Act who is not fully vaccinated can’t be denied entry into Canada. This rule comes into effect from January 15, 2022.

Any Truckers entering Canada via Road will now have to be fully vaccinated or will be denied entry. This was announced by Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino in a joint statement.

To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller and to enter Canada, foreign national truck drivers must:

have received at least two doses of a vaccine accepted for travel, a mix of two accepted vaccines

  • or at least one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine

have received their second dose at least 14 full days before they enter Canada

  • For example: if a driver received their second dose anytime on Saturday, January 1, then Sunday, January 16 would be the first day that they would meet the 14-day condition.
  • Have submitted all required Covid-19 info to ArriveCan App.

This decision has invited mixed reactions from people some of them who support it while others remain concerned about the confusion and country’s already reeling supply chain system.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance has said between 10 and 15 per cent of cross-border commercial drivers could be lost if the mandate takes effect.

What’s Open and Closed in Mississauga Effect January 5 on New COVID-19 Measures

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What’s Open and Closed in Mississauga Effect January 5 on New COVID-19 Measures

Cities are taking drastic measures to tackle the growth of new Variant of Covid 19. To arrest the spread, the City of Mississauga has introduced some strict measures adjusting it’s programs and services. This is definitely frustrating for residents but on the same time these measures are necessary to curb the spread of Omicron.

Here are some of the updates on what services are affected and what’s closed and open.

Community Centres and Cultural Facilities:

  • All City-owned indoor recreational amenities, fitness centres, courts, pools, and arenas will be closed and associated programming paused as of the end of day on January 4, 2022 until new direction is given by the province (including all registered programs, drop-ins, leagues and memberships).
  • Community Centres, Living Arts Centre and Port Credit Arena will remain open for general building access such as washrooms, access to leased/retail space, warming, and shower access.
  • Daycare and childcare operations in community centres will remain open.
  • Virtual programming will continue.

Meeting and Event Spaces:

  • All indoor meetings and events booked at City facilities will be cancelled unless the venue is used for a religious service, social services, film and television production or health and safety training. These gatherings will be subject to provincial capacity limits.

Libraries:

  • Will operate with contactless pick up only. Current hours will remain unchanged.

Entertainment and sporting events:

  • All ticketed events at recreational and cultural venues, including the Paramount Fine Foods Centre and the Living Arts Centre are cancelled and ticket holders will be contacted with further information.
  • The box office at the Living Arts Centre will remain open for refunds only.
  • Theatre rentals are available for rehearsals and recording or broadcasting of a performance only.
  • The City is talking with the Mississauga Steelheads and Raptors905 about whether scheduled games without spectators will continue. More information will be provided when available.

Food Services:

  • All food services operations in City facilities will remain closed.

Museums:

  • Mississauga’s museums will remain closed.

Outdoor Sports and Recreational Fitness:

  • The outdoor skating rinks at Celebration Square and Woodhurst Heights Park as well as community operated outdoor rinks will remain open.
  • Washrooms and outdoor recreational amenities open during the winter will remain open.

For more information regarding City service impacts, please visit mississauga.ca/covid19.

GTA sets another record for Home price in 2021

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GTA sets another record for Home price in 2021

Greater Toronto Area home prices were up by almost 25% in 2021 amidst Covid 19 and low inventory. As per the new numbers by TREB, a record 121,712 sales were reported. These numbers were 28 higher than 2020.

“Despite continuing waves of COVID-19, demand for ownership housing sustained a record pace in Growth in many sectors of the economy supported job creation, especially in positions supporting above-average earnings. Added to this was the fact that borrowing costs remained extremely low. These factors supported not only a continuation in demand for ground-oriented homes, but also a resurgence in the condo segment as well,” said TRREB President Kevin Crigger.

“Tight market conditions prevailed throughout the GTA and broader Greater Golden Horseshoe in 2021, with a lack of inventory noted across all home types. The result was intense competition between buyers, pushing selling prices up by double digits year-over-year. Looking forward, the only sustainable way to moderate price growth will be to bring on more supply. History has shown that demand-side policies, such as additional taxation on principal residences, foreign buyers, and small-scale investors, have not been sustainable long-term solutions to housing affordability or supply constraints,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

One sales trend that stood out in 2021 compared to 2020 was the resurgence in demand for homes within the City of Toronto. Overall sales in the “416” area code were up by a substantially greater annual rate (+36.8 per cent) compared to sales growth for the surrounding Greater Toronto Area (GTA) suburbs combined (+23.6 per cent). The marked recovery in the condominium apartment segment was a key driver of this trend.

Highlights:

  • The average Selling price is at all-time high of $1,095,475 – an increase of 17.8% compared to the previous 2020 record of $929,636.
  • A record 121,712 sales were reported through TRREB’s MLS® System in 2021
  • The year 2016 had previously recorded all time high sales of 113,040 which was shattered in 2021.
  • Condominium sales were also high this year compared to drop in 2020
  • The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was up by 31.1 percent year-over-year in December.
  • The average selling price was up by 24.2 percent annually to $1,157,849.
  • Detached homes showed a growth of 28.8% in 2021 in the GTA compared to 2020
  • Semidetached were up 25.6% as compared to 2020
  • Townhouses were at 29.4%
  • Condo apartments sales resurged at 18.5%
  • Durham Region recorded the highest growth of 42.33% while City of Toronto was lowest at 23.23%. Peel region showed a growth of 33.39%

Ontario hospitals brace for rising COVID-19 admissions

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Ontario hospitals brace for rising COVID-19 admissions

As cases of Omicron surge across the country, hospitals are seeing their resources pushed to the max and are reeling under severe pressure. The Omicron Cases across Canada are climbing to staggering new heights. With limited testing, the actual numbers are even higher. This is putting a lot of pressure of Healthcare workers who have been working diligently to take care of people from this highly infections and deadly virus. Still healthcare workers are trying to remain optimistic. The disease caused by this variant does appear to be milder, which means hospital stays could be shorter and ICU admissions have been lower in other countries battling Omicron. The hope is this wave will pass quickly.

In new development, the William Osler health system which overseas Brampton Civic Hospital and Etobicoke General Hospital has declared a code orange. As per the officials, they are seeing levels of illness within their healthcare workforce, higher than any stage in the pandemic. This has affected the functioning of their staff, various units including the emergency departments across our sites. And so as a result of that, the Management has made the difficult decision to use the code orange to highlight and communicate the gravity of the situation that our healthcare system is facing.

The province of Ontario is reporting a large spike in hospitalizations. Today 2,081 patients were admitted patients with COVID, up from 1,173 on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, reports of outbreaks in vulnerable settings like seniors homes and hospitals are also spiking leading to infecting Ontario seniors at record rates. Cases among those 60 or older have skyrocketed since the New Year.

Arrest warrant this Hamilton Women after hitting two police officers

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Arrest warrant this Hamilton Women after hitting two police officers

Hamilton Police has issued a photo of this 19 year female Hannah Pietrantuono of Hamilton female suspected of injuring two officers during a RIDE lane on New Year’s Eve. The women was driving a Hyundai Santa Fe and hit 2 police officers during a RIDE check-in the southbound lanes of the Claremont Access, Hamilton. As the officers were speaking with two drivers, a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe drove through the RIDE lanes, striking two officers. The officers were knocked unconscious and sustained serious injuries. The officers remain in hospital recovering from their injuries.

The investigation has confirmed that the 2020 Santa Fe was involved in an earlier incident in the area of Fennell Avenue East and Hoover Crescent where Hamilton Police approached a driver who was unconscious at the wheel. When officers went to make the arrest, the driver placed the vehicle in drive and struck a cruiser before fleeing. The vehicle was last seen driving southbound on Upper James.

Investigators have now determined that the same suspect is responsible for both incidents and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of 19-year-old Hannah Pietrantuono of Hamilton. She is described as female white, 5’9, 143lbs with brown hair.

Pietrantuono faces the following charges:

  • Criminal Negligence Cause Bodily Harm (x2)
  • Failure to Stop after Accident Causing Bodily Harm
  • Fail to Comply with Probation (x2)
  • Impaired Operation
  • Dangerous Operation
  • Flight from Peace Officer
  • Failure to Stop after Accident
  • Resist Arrest

Police urge Hannah to seek legal counsel and turn herself in at any Hamilton Police station.

To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com.

Omicron Impact – Ontario moves to online learning, bans indoor dining

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Omicron Impact – Ontario moves to online learning, bans indoor dining

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced new public health measures Monday, which include moving schools online, a ban on indoor dining, and capacity limits for businesses as the province struggles to contain the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

“As we continue with our provincial vaccine booster efforts, we must look at every option to slow the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Putting these targeted and time-limited measures in place will give us more opportunity to deliver vaccines to all Ontarians and ensure everyone has maximum protection against this virus.”

Highlights:

  • All Ontario schools will move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17, subject to public health trends and operational considerations.
  • Indoor gathering now limited to 5 people
  • Outdoor gathering allowed for a max of 10 people
  • Businesses and organizations are required to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
  • Capacity at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies is now limited to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance.
  • Retail settings, including shopping malls, permitted at 50 per cent capacity.
  • Indoor dining closed for Restaurants, Bars and other food or drink establishments.
  • Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
  • Closing indoor concert venues, theatres, cinemas, rehearsals and recorded performances permitted with restrictions.
  • Closing museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals.

Brampton City Council approves the budget of $1.1B with fourth consecutive tax freeze

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Brampton City Council approves the budget of $1.1B with fourth consecutive tax freeze

Brampton City is one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Canada. The city council approved the city’s 2022 Budget which was $1.1B, consisting of a $780M Operating budget (maintenance, utilities, reserves, staff salaries) and a $341M Capital budget (purchase, major repair and replacement of assets: roads, buildings, etc.).

The City Council decided to freeze the tax for the fourth consecutive year bringing respite to the residents of Brampton. Here are some of the highlights of the City’s budget.

Total Budget of $1.1 Billion approved out of which $780 allocated to the Operating Budget consisting of maintenance, utilities, reserves, staff salaries.

An amount of $341M allocated towards the Capital budget which includes purchase, major repair and replacement of assets: roads, buildings, etc.

$22.6M for roads resurfacing, reconstruction and other improvements

$19M for new buses; majority of which will be electric

$13.4M for downtown Brampton revitalization initiatives

$100M over three years for Riverwalk project ($9.3M in 2022) for flood mitigation and unlocking of economic potential in surrounding area, including downtown

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