Oshawa - In last month's blog, we previewed our newest monthly feature, the Durham Business of the Month (D-BOM).  At the beginning of each month we will feature one of the community's greatest businesses and/or entrepreneurs from Oshawa, Whitby, Clarington, Ajax, Pickering and across all of Durham Region.

For our inaugural feature, we wanted to spotlight a business with longevity that was privately owned and a staple of our community for many years.  Not an easy task.  In this day and age, corporations with global reach are the mainstay, and the "mom and pop shop" is holding an ever decreasing role. This month's enterprise has been conducting its business consistently and in the same location since 1922.  We are proud to announce as our first Durham Business of the Month, Wilson & Lee.

Wilson & Lee Ltd. - Music Store

Wilson & Lee, Ltd. is a music store located at 87 Simcoe St. N in Oshawa at the southeast corner of Simcoe St. and William St.  The storefront is an eye-catcher with a vast array of guitars shining in the main window which draws you inside.  Just two steps in, you are overwhelmed with a feeling of retro-comfort.  The store itself is welcoming and intentionally mirrored by the sales staff as you wander from department to department.

Wilson & Lee, along with their selection of musical instruments, also sells sheet music, music books (both instructional and pleasure), compact discs, and a huge collection of vinyl LPs.  Wilson & Lee also caters to its clients with a huge special-order business for the items it does not carry in-store.

As mentioned earlier, Wilson & Lee began in 1922.  The enterprise started when William George Wilson and his sister-in-law, Mary Lee decided a business venture together.  The business today is co-owned by brothers Bill and David Wilson, grandsons to William George.

While perusing the storefront, I had the privilege of speaking to current owner Bill Wilson.  He began working in the store in 1953 by sweeping floors and doing all the jobs no one else wanted to.  In 1989, Bill and David bought into the business and have been operating the business ever since.  Their success, he believes, is the genuine and sincere connection the staff has with each of their clients.  In fact, they have been successful in this modern, "online" world without a website, Facebook, Twitter, or even a computer!  Although Bill did mention that a computer was on the horizon for the near future.

Bill Wilson - co/owner, Wilson & Lee

Although primarily a music store, Mina Gibson, an employee for over 25 years, introduced the idea of diversifying the business into selling VHS movies, including difficult-to-find limited releases of films not often found.  That idea was adopted and been modernized for today's technologies including a collection of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs.

Wilson & Lee - since 1922

Wilson & Lee is a business that deserves special recognition for its longevity and they manner they connect with their customer base.  We get the impression that each customer is on a first-name basis with the staff and makes for a pleasant experience over and over again.  We are proud to name Wilson & Lee as our first Durham Business of the Month.

• Business:  Wilson & Lee Ltd.
• Address:  87 Simcoe N., Oshawa, ON L1G4S3
• Phone:  905-725-4706
• Owners:  Bill and David Wilson

• Year Opened:  1922
• Business Type:  Musical Instruments, Sheet Music, Music Books, Compact Discs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, Vinyl LPs
• Number of Employees:  6

• Website:  N/A
• Facebook:  N/A
• Twitter:  N/A
• Google+:  N/A
• Pinterest:  N/A
• Linked In:  N/A

Durham Region - In 2012, real estate in Durham Region proved to be a good investment with an average price increase of 7.37% across the region.  Whitby (including Brooklin) enjoyed the largest growth with an 8.50% increase in home price from 2011.

In total, 10,521 homes were sold in all of Durham region which includes:  Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Whitby.  In 2011 there were 9,799 homes sold; an increase of 7.37% in volume.
The average price in Durham region now stands at $336,968.11, up from the average price of $317,272.73 in 2011.
Another record was set in Durham region in 2012; the value of all real estate transactions.  Over $3.5 billion in real estate value was traded in 2012, surpassing the previous record of $3.1 billion the year previous.
Low interest rates and a strong economy are accredited for much of the success the real estate industry has enjoyed in recent history.

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Durham Region Average Real Estate Prices

Statistics provided by:  Toronto Real Estate Board
Statistics interpreted by:  Stephen Young, Realtor, Keller Williams Energy, Brokerage

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Free Mortgage Calculators for Durham Region Home Buyers

As a professional real estate agent, one of the most popular questions I am often asked is, "What is the best tip I can offer a potential home buyer?", and without a doubt the answer is:  Get pre-approved as soon as you make the decision to purchase a home.
There are so many reasons to get pre-approved and I would like to illustrate the benefits of each one.

1.  Defining Price Parameters - Obtaining a pre-approval with a bank, lending institution or mortgage broker will set the proper boundaries to what price range you should be looking.  Too often a potential home buyer "feels" the price they can afford justifying it by their income, potential raises in their employment, etc.  When one is borrowing money, lenders are only interested in the facts of the present day, and the recent past.

2.  Saves Time - A pre-approval eliminates homes that don't fit the financial criteria.  There is nothing more disheartening than losing a great real estate opportunity because the Buyer was not qualified initially.  Getting pre-approved takes very little time with your mortgage specialist.  With today's advances in technology, much of the process can be achieved through your computer and internet connection.

3.   Advantage at the Bargaining Table - When your "Home Savvy" Realtor is negotiating on your behalf, a valuable weapon is the pre-approval.  Shortening the financing condition, or removing the condition entirely, is often a benefit to the Seller.  It shows prudence, confidence and strength and could be the factor that gets not only the deal accepted, but perhaps at a better price.  This past season, dozens of our Buyers found themselves in multiple-offer situations.  Having that pre-approval gave them the upper-hand that many others did not.

Our personal finances are a very secure and tender issue with most people.  You might be unwilling to share this sensitive information initially.  Mortgage calculators can give you a good idea of where you stand financially before speaking to your representative.  Here are some mortgage calculators, brought to you by our good friends at The Mortgage Centre:

• Rent vs Buy Calculator - this calculator will tell you whether you're better off renting or buying
• Maximum Mortgage Calculator - this calculator will tell you the maximum mortgage amount and monthly payment you can qualify for based on your income and existing expenses
• Mortgage Qualifier - with this calculator, you can put in the house price you have in mind, along with your expenses, and the calculator will show you how much income you'll need to qualify
• Mortgage Payment Calculator - this calculator will show you how much your payments will be and the total amount of interest you'll pay over the life of the mortgage
• Mortgage Isolator Calculator - with this calculator,  you can isolate and change your payment frequency, amortization, mortgage amount, interest rate or payment size to see what effect it will have on the other variables

Most likely, your greatest financial assets are your holdings in real estate.  Many of my clients, customers, and blog readers are considering their first home.  Being proactive on the pre-approval, gives you the greatest advantage on obtaining the home of your family's dreams.  As always, contact a professional mortgage specialist for more details.  We at the Home Savvy team have many reputable, knowledgeable representatives eager to assist you.  Contact us today.

Boston Red Sox acquire Toronto Blue Jays Mascot "Ace"

Following the hiring of former Toronto Blue Jays' manager John Farrell, 1st-base coach Torey Lovullo, and 3rd-base coach Brian Butterfield, the Boston Red Sox today acquired Blue Jays' mascot "Ace".

Ace, who had also been scouted by the St. Louis Cardinals, is said to be looking forward to the responsibility as he has actually never portrayed anything other than a bird and is up for the challenge.

Rumor also has it that the Red Sox are interested in former Rogers Center concession salesperson Wayne McMahon (ICE....COOOOOOLD.......BEEEEEEEEEEEER), who is currently a free agent.

GetStephen: For Sale 182 Glovers Rd., Oshawa, ON

On the market!

313 Pine Avenue, Oshawa

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood Open House

$204,900 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Lot: 6,567 sqft Location 313 Pine Ave. Oshawa, ON L1J 2H4 Canada To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Stephen Young Keller Williams Energy Real Estate Brokerage 905-723-5594 GetStephen@live.ca http://www.GetStephen.com Listed by: Keller Williams Energy

Our recent listings 313 Pine Avenue, Oshawa Award Winning Home! Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Canadian Homeowners: 1 simple tip to save THOUSANDS!

I had an fascinating conversation with a mortgage broker the other day about renewing current homeowners renewing their mortgages, and what he had to say, SHOCKED me!  He gave me some statistics that the Canadian Mortgage and Housing conducted and I couldn't believe it.

FACT #1:  89% of homeowners remain with the same lender.

FACT #2:  68% of homeowners just accept the renewal from their current lender.

So what is the problem?  The original lender must be offering the best rates, right?  Sadly, the answer is likely "no".

Often, the original lender will offer you a "much better rate" as a "preferred customer" for your loyalty to the company and will be able to save you tremendous savings from the posted rates.  This is all true, but they can do better.

This can be best illustrated with an example:

example:  $250,000 mortgage, 5 year fixed term, 25 year ammortization, paid monthly

The lenders "posted" rate may be 5.29%, which is quite common in January 2012.  As a cherished and preferred customer, they might offer you a rate of 3.79%.  WOW!  Where do I sign!?  Right?

Hold on!  The problem is that an even better rate can be easily obtained, and it only takes a phone call to a mortgage broker.

In January 2012, rates of 3.29% can easily be found, through more than one lender.  Yes, HALF a percent difference than your "preferred customer" rate.  So you might be thinking, does it really make a difference?  Here's the math:

Rate                                           3.79%                          3.29%

Monthly mortgage                  $1286.75                     $1220.63

           Monthly savings:           $66.12

           Five year savings:      $3967.20

Using the figures in the example above, a homeowner can save just shy of $4,000.00 in five years by simply making a phone call and merely shop around.  Most brokers do not charge a fee for inquiries or advice and there are no legal costs when transferring a mortgage at the end of a term. 


If you agree with me, you can contact me at GetStephen@live.com or at my office at 905-723-5944.  I urge you to make a phone call to a local mortgage broker right away, especially if you are up for renewal soon.

The agent that inspired me to write this blog is John Greenlee at The Mortgage Centre.  He can be contacted at jgreenlee@durhammortgage.com or at 905-436-8010.

Happy savings!

Stephen Young
www.GetStephen.com

Hot new listing in Oshawa!

Incredible Semi-Detached in Oshawa

Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Open House

$209,900 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Lot: 3,000 sqft Location 992 Florell Drive Oshawa, ON L1H6W5 Canada To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Stephen Young Keller Williams Energy Real Estate Brokerage 905-723-5594 GetStephen@live.ca http://www.GetStephen.com Listed by: Keller Williams Energy

Nearby properties for sale

Tips on How to Cope with the Heat

Stop Lebron!

First of all, I apologize to all NBA fans.  This is not an article regarding the defensive strategies of how to keep Lebron James and Dwayne Wade off the scoreboard.  The 2011 heatwave is upon us, and here are a few tips to keep yourself and your families cool.

It may not seem like much in some parts of the world, but 36 degrees Celsius is pretty darned hot to Canadians, and that is what weathermen are forecasting for Thursday.

For those without the luxury of air conditioning, or spend much of the time outdoors I have come up with a few ways to keep comfortable despite the humidity.

Mmmmmm, now I'm thirsty!

1.  Drink water and keep some nearby.  It may be tempting to grab a soft drink or a beer, but caffeine and alcohol actually promote dehydration.  Stay away!

2.  Exercise in the early morning or at night.  Just the thought of a mid-afternoon workout makes me feel exhausted.

3.  Don't use the stove/oven.  Why add extra heat to your home?  Salads and sandwiches will do just fine, thank you.

4.  Wear light coloured clothing.  Light colours reflect light and heat while darker colours attract it.

5.  Wear cotton and linen clothing.  Synthetic blends trap the heat inside and don't allow your clothing to breathe properly.

6.  Wear sunblock.  A sunburn heats up your body, so let's avoid it by wearing a sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

Thanks, Emma for the tip!

7.  Don't wear a hat!  Huh?  You might think this one is a strange entry on this list, however we lose most of our heat through the tops of our heads and by wearing a hat we trap the heat in.  That's why we wear toques in the wintertime.  Need to protect your eyes you say?  The best compromise:  the visor.

8.  Avoid mid-day showers.  The humidity from the shower will make your home feel even hotter than it is.

9.  Stay downstairs.  Heat rises.  Spending your time in the lower levels of your home or the basement can keep things naturally cool.

10.  Avoid big meals.  Eating large meals makes your body work super hard to break it down causing you to feel sluggish and uncomfortable.  More frequent, smaller meals is the answer.

11.  Eat spicy!  Yes, really!  Some of the hottest places on Earth (India, Central America) have some of the spiciest foods on the planet.  Spicy foods (which contain capsaicin) will cause you to sweat without raising your body temerature.  The sweat that it created will cool off your body.

12.  Find some AC.  Take the opportunity to shop in a mall, see a museum, or take in a movie.  There will be plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine when the heatwave subsides.

Coyote Attacks in Whitby

For the second time in as many months in the same area of Whitby, a dog was attacked and killed by coyotes.

The second incident happened on April 22, around 9 p.m., when Durham Regional Police were called to a home in the Thickson Road and Burns Street area. The complainant reported his small dog, described as a maltese-poodle cross, was attacked in the unfenced yard. The owner witnessed the incident and was able to retrieve the deceased dog from a nearby hydro easement property, where the coyotes were last seen running towards.  The dog owner wasn't physically hurt.

In March, a dog was snatched by coyotes in the Dundas Street and Nichol Avenue area.
For more information on coyotes, call the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) office at 905-713-7400, or your local animal services office.

The MNR website gives a number of safety tips regarding coyotes:

1)  Do not approach them. They're usually wary of humans, but they're wild and should not be approached.
2)  Do not feed them. It makes them less fearful of humans and habituates them to food provided by people. Plus, they may return to the area for more.
3)  If you encounter a coyote, don't turn your back on it or run from it. Back away from it while remaining calm. It's a good idea to use whistles and personal alarm devices to frighten them if they do approach or pose a threat.

4)  Secure garbage by properly storing it and maintaining garbage containers. Place trash bins inside an enclosed structure to prevent small rodents.
5)  Put garbage at the curb the morning of the pickup, rather than the night before.
6)  Use enclosed compost bins rather than exposed piles (NOTE:  coyotes are especially attracted to dog and cat waste, meat, milk and eggs).
7)  Keep bird feeders from overflowing as coyotes like fruit, nuts and seeds. Keep pet food indoors.
8)  Close off crawl spaces under porches, decks and sheds. Coyotes can use these areas to raise their young.

If you feel a coyote is posing an immediate threat or a danger to public safety, call 911.

MLS Zoning Realignment: How will it affect you?

It has just be announced that on July 5, 2011, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) will restructure the existing districts as they currently are.  The idea, was to improve the search characteristics of the MLS system already set in place.  Gone will be the existing "coding" system and replaces by a "true geographical region" that Realtors and the public can better relate to.

Current TREB map
 (east)

The current system used by TREB divides regions two ways:

1. By one of four areas Central (C), North (N), West (W), and East (E). 
2. Numbered districts (1-21)



Snip of new TREB map (July 2011)



The new system to be used by TREB will implement "three tiers of address" and will include:

1. Area (Regions/Counties)
2. Municipality (City/Town)
3. Community (Neighbourhood)

As a professional real estate agent working in Durham region, I am extremely excited about these changes.  Instead of living in E16, I live in Durham-Oshawa-Lakeview.  Which one tells the better story?  For your convenience, I have posted maps of all the new Durham region communities on my website.

Sure there might be some growing pains, such as transitioning from the old system and educating the public of all the new AMCs (Area-Municipality-Community), but the bigger picture is that we will now be living in a "community"  and not living in a "code".  Now if only Canada Post would do something with LIJ7Z5.

If anyone wants to know what AMC they will be living in, email me and I will be happy to send you the information.

Stephen Young

10 Tips on How to Start a Flower Garden

Homeowners in Durham Region should be very proud of the beautiful gardens they produce each year.  As a professional real estate agent, I get the priviledge of showcasing some of these homes as they come up for sale.  Here are TEN starter tips on how to start a beautiful flower garden.

1.  The "Decision".

By reading this blog, you are likely already made the decision.  But have you?  Is a garden for you?  People are busier than ever before and gardens require at least some daily and weekly commitments.  Make sure you are committed to doing the work so you can reap the rewards.

  Bigger is not always better.

2.  Choose a Site.

Seems like a no-brainer but your flowers and plants require sunlight in order to grow.  Growing flowers in shaded areas of your property are possible, but you may limit your choices of flowers.  Also, remember that you will need to water your flowers and walking back and forth filling your watering can may be trying on your patience, and your tired feet.  Try to select a location that you will see the garden from the house.  It's difficult to neglect when you see it all the time.

3.  Start Small.

Many would-be gardeners fail because of over-ambition.  Start small.  20-25 square feet is a good start for your first year as a beginner.  At the end of the season, you can re-evaluate and add next spring.



Squirmish?



4.  Soil.



Now that you are committed, and chosen the perfect site, it's time to get down and dirty.  If the site you have chosen has sod, you will need to remove the sod.  Dig down about 18"-24" and remove and rocks that might be in the way.  Add a time-released fertilizer with the soil.  Rake until the soil is even and water.  Don't worry about earthworms.  They are great for your garden by aerating the earth and fertilizing the soil.

5.  Choose Your Flowers!

Finally, the reason you decided to start a garden, the flowers!  Take note of the decisons you made earlier regarding the size, location and your commitment level. This will determine the flowers you choose.  For smaller gardens, select three types of annuals (need to replaced every season), and one or two perennials (regrow each season).  There are thousands of types of flowers you can choose.  Too many to list here.  Go to your local nursery and ask an expert for what is best for your garden and commitment.

They WILL get bigger.  I promise.

6.  Planting/Seeding.

If you start early enough, you can seed, but for your first season I suggest you transplant your flowers from the cells they come in.  Select budding plants as opposed to already flowered.  When you get home, water your baby-buds, and head over to your garden with a trowel and a watering can.  Dig a small hole, pop out the plant from the cell, spread out their roots without breaking any, and carefully set them in the hole.  Cover and firm the soil surrounding it.  Water.  NOTE:  Make sure you give enough room between plants for them to grow without congestion.

7.  Label Your Plants/Keep Records.

As a beginner, I suggest keeping records.  You are going to make mistakes.  Some plants will die.  It is better to learn from our mistakes then to repeat them.

8.  Water Your Garden.

Make sure the soil surrounding your plants is kept moist and well-watered.  That being said, there is a fine line between well-watered and drowning. Use your own judgement.  Common sense will prevail.

9.  The FOUR letter word:  W-E-E-D.

Weeding is necessary, but let's not obsess with it.  A little bit of time each day or two is all that is usually necessary to maintain a healthy and beautiful garden.  Be careful not to get careless and pull out some of your plants or destroy their roots.

Patience for impatiens?  You don't need it.  They're tough to kill.

10.  Enjoy Your Garden.

Is this one obvious?  A garden should be something to be enjoyed on a daily basis, not feel like a chore.  Take pride in all that you have accomplished.  Share it with your loved ones.  Take time to smell the roses.  You might be surprised how simply Mother Nature can humble us.