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Home buyers looking for green element, survey says
July 25, 2024
Environmentally friendly home improvements have become a huge factor in home buyer shopping lists, a new survey suggests, and will likely yield a solid return on investment come selling time.
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of the 1,266 Canadians asked in the latest Eco Home Survey by real estate company Royal LePage said they will look for ...
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Say goodbye to mold
July 24, 2024
The word mold can strike terror in the hearts of home owners. It can cause health problems, especially for the ultra sensitive person. But consider this. Our homes are more tightly sealed than ever. They are warm and many of us add moisture either with humidifiers or everyday water uses. It's the perfect setup for mold.
Mold is a fungus with ...
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Disclosure: What Sellers Need to Know
July 21, 2024
States are cracking down on sellers' obligation to disclose known material facts about properties for sale—especially conditions not readily apparent, such as a cracked foundation. A material fact is anything that could affect the sale price or influence a buyer's decision to purchase a home.
The major cause of post-sale disputes and lawsuits ...
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Making an attractive home-purchase offer
July 18, 2024
It's easy to assume that negotiating is adversarial. You, the buyer, are on one side -- the side that wants to buy a property for the lowest price possible. The opposition on the other side is the seller who wants to sell for the highest price possible. You're locked in a tug of war to see which side will win.
It's more productive to look at a ...
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Ottawa population to hit 1.13 million by 2031
July 17, 2024
With urban sprawl and Greenbelt development once again hot topics, the city's planning and environment committee will be asked Tuesday to approve new population projections for Ottawa.
A recent staff report has forecast the City of Ottawa will have 1,136,000 people, 496,000 households, and 703,000 jobs by 2031.
The Greater Ottawa-Gatineau ...
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WHAT ABOUT YOU?
July 11, 2024
It's the unthinkable but losing your home to a disaster can and does happen every day. If you have a mortgage, you are required to have insurance. The mortgage company needs to make sure their investment is properly covered. But what about you? Is your coverage sufficient for your needs? Here are some of your choices:
Replacement Cost Insurance ...
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Cottage succession: Avoiding the bites and burns
June 21, 2024
Inheriting a cottage is an enviable situation. However, there are potential pitfalls that go beyond black flies and sunburns.
Unexpected costs can be significant, including probate fees, capital gains tax and land transfer tax.
Elaine Blades, director for estate and trust products and services at Scotia Private Client Group, says there are ...
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Green leads in nature-friendly housing
June 9, 2024
Most people associate "cutting edge" with technological advances. At Adera's Green development, the term also relates to building and living integrity.
"We began three to five years ago getting involved with environmental 'green' programs." says Norm Couttie, vice-president of Adera. With the Adera-developed building on University of B.C.'s ...
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Quiet zone
June 8, 2024
Simple steps during construction deliver the joys of peace.
There's a certain kind of mania that sets in during home renovations or new construction, and unless you resist it, you'll probably end up with a much noisier house than you bargained for.
Building sound-resistant construction features into walls and floors seems so insignificant in ...
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Net Zero bonus
June 6, 2024
A dozen demonstration homes across the country to prove benefits of going green.
Imagine a house that can monitor the outside temperature and weather forecast before deploying the window awnings or divert excess heat coming off the rooftop solar panels to run the clothes dryer.
That house, called EcoTerra, opened last week in Quebec, the ...
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