The largest single asset most people have continues to be a home of their own.

A recent survey found that the equity we have in our homes outweighs the value of our investment portfolios, on average, by a ratio of 3 to 1. With stock prices still volatile, many families remain focused on preserving and protecting the equity in their homes.

Therefore, home improvement and home maintenance have become extremely important to home sellers. Deferred maintenance definitely lowers a home’s value.

The three most common areas of deferred maintenance that affect a home’s selling price are:

* Water damage
* Pests
* Roofs needing repair or replacement

Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a bumper crop of vegetables or a garden of colorful flowers in containers. For the overall appearance of your garden, your plant container is as important as what you grow in it. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just the beginning. Container gardening is only limited by your imagination. Consider the following guidelines when choosing your container:

* Plastic pots may deteriorate in the sunlight, and terracotta pots dry out rapidly. Glazed ceramic pots are excellent choices but must have several drainage holes in the bottom.
* Wooden containers are susceptible to rot. Redwood and cedar are relatively rot-resistant and can be used without staining or painting. Avoid wood treated with creosote or other toxic compounds since the vapors can damage the plants.
* Small pots restrict the root area and dry out very quickly. The size and number of plants you grow should determine the size of their containers. Deep-rooted vegetables require deep pots.
* Make sure your pot has adequate drainage. Holes should be 1/2-inch across. Line the base of the pot with newspaper to prevent soil loss.
* Set containers on bricks or blocks to allow free drainage.
* If you choose clay pots, remember that clay is porous and water is lost from the sides of the container. Plants in clay pots should be monitored closely for loss of moisture.

Don’t forget to plant a container of herbs, especially if you enjoy cooking as well as gardening. Small trees also may enjoy pot life–ask your local nursery which kinds of trees would be best.

Enjoy your mini-garden!

When we begin looking for a home, we often get wrapped up in the important details like style, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and square footage. But we don’t always consider the quality of life issues that may impact our ability to enjoy the home. Here are some other things you should keep in mind:

* Transportation is an important consideration that’s often overlooked. Consider traffic jams and gas prices, and assess public transportation options and commute times.
* Public safety has loomed larger as a factor in our quality of life. Proximity to police, fire and emergency medical services has become more important.
* Off-street parking is a factor in many areas. Is there a garage? How many cars will it hold? Is there parking available when you have guests or entertain?
* Recreational facilities such as playgrounds, parks, and pools are important to many people. Are they nearby? Is there a fee for these amenities?

Be realistic. There are no perfect homes. Decide what’s most important to you, and make sure you find a home that has the essential features that you require. Be prepared to compromise on some of the items on your wish list.

Buying a home is much more permanent than renting. Purchase a home that you are prepared to keep for a while. Select a home that will be reasonable to maintain, in terms of both utilities and repairs.

When you begin planning to sell your home, there are several important documents to have handy:

* Deed: Contains the property’s full legal description and lists all the people with title to it.
* Tax records: List what current property taxes are.
* Utility bills: Inform prospective buyers of how much it costs to heat or cool your home. It’s good to have actual cost information readily available. And receipts or documentation for any energy-saving features you have installed can be an excellent selling feature.
* Records of repairs or improvements: Document what was done and when, plus how much you paid. If improvements required a permit, have the permit available too.
* Mortgage information: Your current statement should show current balance and contact information for the payoff balance.

Many people take vacations or weekend trips throughout the year. But an empty house, condo or apartment can be a tempting target for would-be burglars.

By using these 9 tips to secure your home before going on vacation (or away for a long weekend) you can help ensure your vacation has a happy ending:

1. Make your home appear lived-in while you’re gone.

2. Use electrical timers to turn on a radio and lights at different intervals.

3. Install secure locks on all the outside doors and windows.

4. Stop deliveries of mail and newspapers.

5. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house while you’re away. Be sure to leave them a phone number where they can reach you in an emergency.

6. Schedule someone to mow your lawn and maintain your yard.

7. Leave your blinds in the same position they would be if you were home.

8. Never leave a house key hidden outside your home.

9. If you will be gone for an extended period of time, put your valuables in a bank safe deposit box.

An important aspect of getting a home loan is saving money for your down payment. You have many choices to make your home more affordable to you.

Lenders used to require a down payment of at least 20 percent of the home’s price. These days, however, many lenders offer flexible home loan programs allowing you to put very little down — three percent or less of the home price. For some buyers it’s possible to buy a home with no down payment at all, or to receive help from local down payment assistance programs.

If you decide to pay make a down payment less than 20 percent, your lender may require Private Mortgage Insurance (CMHC), which protects the lender in case you cannot repay the mortgage. Talk with your mortgage professional to find out the smartest deal for you.

You’ll also need to pay for closing costs, which are costs associated with initiating a loan. These can include loan origination fees, discount points, attorney fees, recording fees and pre-paids. They often will total from one to three percent of the price of the home.

Once you have you down payment and loan pre-approval, it’s simply a matter of finding the right house. Please call or email when you’re ready to take this next step towards owning your own home.

Does it seem as if the things in your garage multiply almost overnight? For most people cleaning their garage is an onerous task. Here are some effective tips for gaining space to actually park your car.

• Gather all items you’re not using and have a garage sale, donate the items to charity or take them to the dump.

• Dust the walls and corners; get rid of the spider webs.

• Hang heavy-duty wall hooks for larger items like yard tools, bicycles or exercise equipment that are taking up floor space.

• If you don’t have shelves, consider buying adjustable steel shelves on wheels available at warehouse stores.

• Get boxes and other items off the garage floor.

• Clean the floor and remove oil drips with cat litter and Simple Green detergent.

• Make sure all flammable materials, tools and toxic chemicals are stored out of reach of children.

• Check your garage door to make sure the opener is working properly in reverse.

Keeping your garage clutter-free and clean will allow you to have useful storage and workshop space. While your garage usually won’t make or break a deal when you decide to sell your home, a clean, well-maintained garage may be a tie-breaker by enhancing an overall impression of a well-cared-for home.

Moving is considered one of the top five causes of stress. How you handle your children during and after the sale of your home can alleviate some of their stress and therefore yours.

Here are some 4 tips from the experts to make this a smooth transition:

1. A child should be told about an upcoming move only after you’ve decided to make it. Discussing the possibility before making the decision only causes unnecessary anxiety.

2. Keep children involved in their favorite activities, such as sports, academic clubs or the arts, before the move actually occurs. Children can do the research on the Internet to find out about events, teams and other interesting facts about their new area.

3. Another way to help children adjust to a new environment is to help them become familiar with the area before the move occurs. Take a vacation, or short trip to the area so it is more familiar when you actually do move.

4. One of the most overlooked tips is to have children stay with relatives or friends during the actual packing and loading. Most children don’t do well seeing their possessions packed into boxes and taken away.

The words and expressions used by doctors, lawyers, and other professionals may sometimes sound like a foreign language. Because real estate terms also can be confusing, here is a mini-glossary of some of the most common ones:

* Agency: The relationship that a real estate agent has with a client.
* CMA: Comparable Market Analysis, a home evaluation based on properties that have sold in the neighborhood similar to the property being priced.
* Disclosure: An oral and/or written communication about agency, property condition, or other key factors.
* Earnest Money: A good-faith deposit provided as consideration when a buyer offers to the seller of a property a contract to purchase the property.
* MLS: Multiple Listing Service, information on properties that is shared among brokers belonging to a specific multiple listing organization.
* Purchase and Sale Agreement: A contract from the buyer to the seller offering to purchase the property for a certain price.

When you’re thinking about buying your first home, it’s essential for you to be confident in your decision to buy instead of rent. However, you may not know about the many great reasons to buy a home! Here are just a few of them:

Smart investment
When you invest in a home, it offers the possibility for appreciation in value. The equity becomes yours when you’re still paying off your mortgage. You even get to live in it while your investment matures.
 
Tax advantages
Since both mortgage interest and property taxes are tax deductible, home ownership can save you significant amounts of money every year. Don’t forget about all the great rebates the Provincial government has implemented for first-time homebuyers.
 
Planned housing costs
You decide how much you spend on your home, including repairs and improvements. Unlike renters, homeowners with a fixed-rate loan can lock in their monthly housing costs.
 
Improvements to your taste
You can choose which improvements to make your own property, such as a deck, kitchen remodel, or new paint, instead of needing permission from your landlord.