Let Spring Cleaning Come Naturally

Did you know that your home can sparkle this spring without using any chemicals?  Choose from a wide array of eco friendly cleaners on the market or simply make your own with household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.  Here are a few tips to help you become a natural when it comes to spring cleaning: 

The Bathroom

Want to bring out a natural shine to your sinks, toilets, and tubs?  Create a gentle scouring paste by mixing 4 tbsp baking soda with 1 tbsp water. Generously sprinkle either table salt or baking soda into the sink or tub and use the cut end of half a fresh lemon as a scrubby-pad. Rinse with hot water and your ceramics will be gleaming! Undiluted lemon juice can also be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.

The Kitchen

Vinegar, a natural antibacterial, has a high acid content which makes it an effective alternative to caustic cleaners for the kitchen.  Mix together 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new spray bottle and you have a natural solution that will clean stovetops, appliances, countertops (except marble), and floors.  For troublesome stains, add a touch of baking soda to the mix.

To help remove finger marks from stainless steel appliances use a microfibre cloth or try a dab of baby oil on a clean cloth.  For microwaves, put a few slices of fresh lemon in an uncovered bowl of water and cook on high for about three minutes.  Grease and dirt should wipe away easily. 

Windows

Let the sunshine in by washing away winter’s grime.  Fill a bucket with 25 per cent vinegar and 75 per cent warm water.  Put on rubber gloves and soak an old cotton towel in the solution.  Rub on windows, and then scrunch up some old newspaper to buff up a shine.  If there are any streaks, simply finish off with a dry cloth.

Fabrics and Carpets

Have a stubborn fabric stain?  Dab white vinegar onto the stain followed by a mild soap solution such as all natural dishwashing liquid and water.  Rinse with a clean damp cloth and blot with a dry towel.  Salt can also be used to soak up fresh carpet stains such as red wine, coffee or ink. Simply pour salt on the wet stain, let dry, and then vacuum. Natural ingredients can not only get rid of stains, they’ll help eliminate odours from fabrics too!

GTA REALTORS® REPORTING MARCH MID-MONTH HOUSING STATISTICS

TORONTO, MARCH 17, 2010 – Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,353 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) during the first two weeks of March.

This represented a 70 per cent increase compared to the 2,562 sales recorded during the same period in 2009 when resale transactions had dipped markedly due to the recession. The mid-month sales total was also 16 per cent higher than the previous March midmonth high reached in 2006.

“The spring-like weather in the first half of March brought the first green sprouts of the recurring spring market. Every year, monthly sales climb steadily through May,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour. “People are buying homes because they are confident in the current economic recovery and mortgage payments on the average priced home remain affordable.”

The average price for March mid-month transactions was $440,153 – a 20 per cent increase over 2009. New listings within the Toronto Real Estate Board boundaries were up 34 per cent to 8,540.

“Look for double-digit annual price increases to cease later in 2010, as new listings rebound from the low levels experienced in 2009,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “Increased listings will give buyers more choice, resulting in less upward pressure on home prices.”

March 8, 2010 – March 14, 2010

Here’s a look at the Real Estate Market in Vaughan over the last 7 days:

Vaughan Real Estate Market Overview

There were a total of 212 homes listed in the 10th week of 2010 and a total of 70 sales. The breakdown of new listings includes 37 condos, 28 townhomes, 18 semi’s or links and 129 detached homes with 30 being priced under $500,000, 89 priced between $500,000 and $1,000,000 and 10 priced over $1,000,000.

The breakdown of sales includes 10 condos, 12 townhomes, 7 semis and 41 detached homes with 8 selling for under $500,000, 28 selling between $500,000 and $1,000,000 and 5 selling for over $1,000,000.

Here is the breakdown for week 10:

Condos

• 37 Condos Listed
• Low: $248,900
• High: $539,900
• 7 Condos Sold
• Low: $240,000
• High: $380,000
• Low Days On Market: 7
• High Days On Market: 26
• Low % Of Asking Price: 97%
• High % Of Asking Price: 104%

Townhomes

• 28 Townhomes Listed
• Low: $344,900
• High: $518,000
• 12 Townhome Sold
• Low: $350,000
• High: $492,800
• Low Days On Market: 3
• High Days On Market: 31
• Low % Of Asking Price: 97%
• High % Of Asking Price: 104%

Semi-Detached (includes Linked Homes)

• 18 Semis Listed
• Low: $372,000
• High: $549,850
• 7 Semis Sold
• Low: $347,000
• High: $448,000
• Low Days On Market: 2
• High Days On Market: 37
• Low % Of Asking Price: 99%
• High % Of Asking Price: 111%

Detached Homes (under $500,000)

• 30 Detached under $500,000 Listed
• Low: $399,000
• High: $499,900
• 8 Detached under $500,000 Sold
• Low: $390,000
• High: $496,000
• Low Days On Market: 1
• High Days On Market: 23
• Low % Of Asking Price: 91%
• High % Of Asking Price: 110%

Detached Homes ($500,000 – $1,000,000)

• 89 Detached between $500k – $1,000,000 Listed
• Low: $509,000
• High: $999,500
• 28 Detached between $500k – $1,000,000 Sold
• Low: $505,000
• High: $799,000
• Low Days On Market: 1
• High Days On Market: 45
• Low % Of Asking Price: 91%
• High % Of Asking Price: 107%

Detached Homes ($1,000,000 and up)

• 10 Detached over $1,000,000 Listed
• Low: $1,089,000
• High: $2,490,000
• 5 Detached over $1,000,000 Sold
• Low: $1,025,000
• High: $1,475,000
• Low Days On Market: 4
• High Days On Market: 132
• Low % Of Asking Price: 85%
• High % Of Asking Price: 110%

See the weekly review from last week
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Looking for a more detailed report on Vaughan Real Estate including a list of homes for sale or sold in your neighbourhood?

See The Video & Get Your Copy of the Vaughan Real Estate Report

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Create a patio oasis on a budget

(NC)—Turn your patio into a summer oasis without breaking the bank with these five simple steps from Hilary Farr, designer and host of W Network’s Love It or List It.

Lighting

You can transform your garden into a romantic or festive summer oasis inexpensively and easily. String up outdoor lights: use your soft white LED outdoor Christmas lights or try eco-conscious solar powered or paper lanterns. For a more exotic look, invest in a few standing torches. If you have a permanent shade structure or patio roof, install a chandelier to create an elegant outdoor extension of your home.

Outdoor Rug

An easy and inexpensive way to bring the warmth and intimacy of an interior room outdoors is with a patio rug. Choose a vibrant or earthy shade to accent the colour palette of your outdoor space. Look for a sturdy stain-resistant material that can withstand weather damage, mildew and direct sunlight.

Revive Patio Furniture

Instead of replacing your white plastic patio chairs, make them look new again by using Vim Cream to remove dirt and tough stains. Add a finishing touch with new chair covers or colourful throw pillows.

Invest in Greenery

To create a secluded getaway feel on your patio, add “green” walls with potted outdoor plants. Use large decorative containers or plant flowers and bushes at the edge of the concrete slab or terrace. By adding stones or a pathway from the garden you create depth and the illusion of more space.

Bring the Barbeque Back to Life

It’s not as hard as you think to get your barbeque ready for grilling season by giving it a good cleaning. Use Vim Cream to easily remove tough grime on the grill and grease tray. Apply oil to cast iron cooking grills to protect the coating and to decrease sticking.

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A fresh start, warm weather and opportunity

As we approach the traditionally busy spring season, we can anticipate an increase in activity. There are a number of reasons why spring usually shapes up to be an active period of the year for the resale housing market. Families often coordinate their moves with the school calendar, purchasing in spring to provide for a late summer closing.

Others are simply motivated by every spring’s promise of a fresh start. Many buyers are also prompted to begin their search when the snow has melted, making streets and properties more accessible. Sellers meanwhile, choose this time of year as it affords the opportunity to extend household fix-ups to the outdoors, contributing to improved curb appeal and saleability.

Typically the summer months afford many of the same benefits as the spring market, without the fast pace. Last summer’s activity though, was markedly stronger than previous years, reflecting both pent up demand from the recessionary months prior and an emerging all-season attitude toward real estate in our city.

During the fall months another spike in activity is usually seen. Typically, the fall market reaches a crescendo in October, when between 6,000 and 8,000 homes change hands, in comparison to more than 9,000 transactions that often take place at the height of the spring season in May.

Throughout the winter months, we generally see more moderate activity. This can benefit buyers, who have the opportunity to achieve an attractive purchase price from motivated sellers. There are however, also advantages for sellers. Buyers who are searching for a home at this time of the year tend to be serious about making a purchase and as such, ineffectual showings are not the norm. Houses often look their holiday best throughout the winter months as well, which can yield favourable returns.

Often changes in our personal lives dictate the time of year when we enter the real estate market and when this is the case, you can count on a Greater Toronto REALTOR® to counsel you on achieving the most favourable outcome in your transaction.

Tom Lebour is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 28,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.