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Intersting Irish Story Please read and Spread. SHAH AHMED RE/MAX SASKATOON

Shah Ahmed — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:50:00 GMT

Irish Luck - Remember to send it back!

I want this back. It DOES work.
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools

and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'

'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.

'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.

I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill .. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

It's National Friendship Week. Send this to everyone you consider A FRIEND.

Pass this on, and brighten some one's day.

AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH: You had better send this back!! Good Luck!

I hope it works...

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

and may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows your'e dead.

OK, this is what you have to do... Send this to all of your friends.

But - you HAVE to send this within 1 hour from when you open it!

Now.....Make A wish!! I hope you made your wish!

A One-Weekend Garage Makeover by SHAH AHMED RE/MAX SASKATOON

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:28:00 GMT

A One-Weekend Garage Makeover

Garages are the most hardworking spaces in your home. Investing a few hundred dollars in garage organization tools during one weekend will pay off in savings of both time and money.

A clean and organized garage saves you time by keeping essentials in clear view, so you can find what you need without tripping over items or causing an avalanche whenever you pull something from the bottom of a pile.

You'll also save money because your sporting goods and tools will last longer when they’re stored safe from moisture, heavy weights and dust. Even your car will be protected from falling skis.

Step 1: Aim for spotless clean and clutter free
Start by cleaning out the junk. Release the clutter of your garage by selling or throwing away the things you never use. Getting rid of unneeded possessions makes more space for the ones you do need and use. Once that clutter is dwindled down to the necessities, organize it by category: athletic supplies, lawn and garden tools, carpentry tools, etc.

Step 2: Use suitable storage units
Take a look at what’s left and decide what storage elements would work best for you.

The essentials include:

Closed storage: Make sure to include at least one closed-door, lockable unit. It's essential for keeping poisons like antifreeze, plant food or pest control products and sharp tools behind a locked door.
Open shelving: Shelves are best for frequently used items which you need readily available and within reach. Vented metal styles, wood slats, or vented plastic minimize the volume of dust that can collect.
Hooks, clamps, and holders: These allow you to make use of vertical space, getting big items like bikes, trikes and paddles, rakes and brooms off the ground and out of your way. • Bags: Most wall-mounted garage organization systems include clamp-on mesh bags that make it easy to store soccer balls, basketballs, tennis balls, etc.
Boxes and bins: Group irregular items and place them in big bins so you can put them under a shelving unit or work table. Group them accordingly so items are easy to find: bags of soil, grass seeds, etc. Boxes and baskets can also hold smaller items neatly on shelves.

Step 3: Paint and stain.

The floor can be transformed with acid stain for concrete or a heavy-duty floor paint. If you plan to park your car on your newly painted floor, lay a sheet of cardboard down to catch drips of oil. The garage walls can be painted as well, especially if they still look like they're part of a construction site. Don't feel like you have to limit yourself to the traditional white walls. Get creative!

Step 4: Make it your second home

Another major decision to be made prior to purchase is what kind of work areas you will need, and what kind of counter tops are appropriate for those areas. For instance, if you want to use garage space as a hobby area, you might want a sink area or solid surface counters. If you enjoy woodworking, you might need a wooden counter top. Figure out where these areas will be located and roughly sketch out how the area should look. Imagine yourself standing at the work area and think about placement of things you will use. Thinking through this process will certainly make the space more user-friendly.

Ready to get your garage in order? Following those tips will help you find a place for everything and allow you to transform that dusty garage into something spotless in a short time.

Tax-Deductible Moving Expenses BY Shah Ahmed - REMAX SASKATOON

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:23:00 GMT

Tax-Deductible Moving Expenses

Have you recently moved to a new location? Do you know that you can deduct certain moving expenses on your next tax return, including transportation, packing and storage costs.

Many people never realize these tax benefits because they don't know what can be deducted. If you are preparing to move, it's best to be informed beforehand so you know which receipts to keep. You may find it worthwhile during a move to pay for various services that are tax-deductible rather than doing them yourself. A typical move involves a number of costs including hiring a company to transport personal effects and furniture, hotel stays and meals (if the move involves driving a long distance to a new home), and service fees to disconnect and reconnect utilities. In addition, renters who leave on short notice may have to pay the cost of breaking a lease.

Homeowners will incur closing costs and commissions on the sale of their home as well as legal and other fees on the purchase of their new home. This article provides information regarding tax deductible moving expenses.

To claim moving expenses on your taxes, your move has to meet the following conditions:

You moved to your new home or new apartment to start a job or a business, or to attend full-time post-secondary courses at a university, college or other educational institution
Your new place of residence is at least 40 km closer to your workplace or school than your previous home.
You moved from one place in Canada to another place in Canada.

Two groups are eligible to deduct a portion of their moving expenses: students moving away from home to attend school and people moving to a new area for a job or relocation by their employer. There has been a challenge to the rules regarding eligibility for the self-employed as you'll read later in this article.

Students

Students must fulfill two main qualifications: the distance between your home and school must be at least 40 km (by the shortest public route) and you must be a full-time student. A full-time student is defined as someone who regularly attends a college, university, or other educational institution in a program at a post-secondary school level (whether in Canada or not) and is taking at least 60% of the usual course load during each semester.

As a student, you can only deduct eligible moving expenses from award income (scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, prizes, and research grants) that you report on your return. Your moving expenses must be greater than your award in order to deduct any moving expenses. As Revenue Canada's website reads, "If your moving expenses are more than the award income you report for the year, you can deduct the unused portion of those expenses from the award."

Although many students will not earn award income and will therefore not be able to deduct moving expenses, tuition fees themselves are a tax deduction. If a student has a part-time job, tuition can reduce taxes paid on those earnings. Students who meet the qualifications and have received award income can deduct the costs of travel, shipping and transportation of belongings, as well as items listed below under 'Expenses you can deduct'.

Employees

If you are moving for work (e.g. a company relocation or new job), are employed and establish a home at least 40 km closer to a new job than your old home, then you qualify to deduct moving expenses. Similarly, if you are self-employed, and you establish a home at least 40 km closer to your new operational business than your old home, you also qualify to deduct moving expenses.

According to Revenue Canada, you must establish your new home as the place where you and members of your household ordinarily reside. For example, you have established a new home if you have sold or rented (or advertised for sale or rent) your old home.

Employed and Working from Home: an Exception to the Rule

Until recently, employees who work from home and move have faced some restrictions regarding moving expenses. In the court decision Gary Adamson v. the Queen, Mr. Adamson had incurred moving expenses as an employee who was required to provide his own office in his home.

Expenses you can Deduct:

transportation and storage costs (such as packing, hauling, in-transit storage, and insurance) for household effects, including items such as boats and trailers;
traveling expenses, including vehicle expenses, meals, and accommodation, to move you and members of your household to your new residence (you can choose to claim vehicle and meal expenses using the simplified method);
costs for up to 15 days for meals and temporary accommodation near either residence for you and the members of your household (you can choose to claim meal expenses using the simplified method); and
the cost of canceling a lease for your old residence, except any rental payment for the period during which you occupied the residence.

When your old residence is sold as a result of your move, eligible moving expenses also include:

legal or notaries fees for the purchase of the new residence, as well as any taxes paid (other than GST/HST or property taxes) for the transfer or registration of title to the new residence, if you or your spouse or common-law partner sold the old residence, and
the cost of selling your old residence, including advertising, notarial or legal fees, real estate commission, and mortgage penalty when the mortgage is paid off before maturity.

Expenses that are not Deductible:

expenses for work done to make your home more saleable;
any loss from the sale of your home;
expenses for house-hunting trips before you move;
the value of items movers refused to take, such as plants, frozen food, ammunition, paint, and cleaning products;
expenses for job hunting in another city (such as traveling expenses);
expenses to clean or repair a rented residence to meet the landlord's standards;
expenses to replace personal-use items such as tool sheds, firewood, drapes, and carpets;
mail-forwarding costs (such as with Canada Post);
costs of transformers or adaptors for household appliances; and
costs incurred in the sale of your old home if you delayed selling for investment purposes or until the real estate market improved.

Remember to keep receipts and documents supporting your claims, you do not have to include these documents in you tax claim but Canada Revenue Agency may want to see them at a later date.

Keep in mind that this article is for information only. The tax laws are frequently modified. We recommend that you visit the Canada Revenue Agency's website for specific details about which moving expenses you can claim or consult a professional accountant to maximize your tax return.

How Will the New Mortgage Rules Affect the Canadian Market?

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:22:00 GMT

How Will the New Mortgage Rules Affect the Canadian Market?

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently unveiled new mortgage rules aimed at stopping housing speculators and ensuring homebuyers can adequately handle their debts when interest rates inevitably rise. Mr. Flaherty stressed that Canada's real estate market is healthy, and that the new rules, which take effect April 19th, would stop “negative trends” from development.

"There's no clear evidence of a housing bubble, but we're taking proactive, prudent and cautious steps today to help prevent one. Our government is acting to help prevent Canadian households from getting overextended, and acting to help prevent some lenders from facilitating it," commented Minister Flaherty.

"The underlying message is that Canadians should be prudent in the obligations they take on because we can all expect that mortgage interest rates will rise over time," Flaherty added.

Here is a quick look at the changes which apply to government-backed insured mortgages:

1. Borrowers must now qualify based on a five-year fixed rate even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term. The government’s rationale for this change is that it will help borrowers prepare for higher rates, although it may squeeze the purchasing power of home buyers. It remains unclear whether borrowers must qualify at the five-year posted rate or the five-year discounted rate.

2. The maximum amount Canadians can withdraw in refinancing their mortgages will be reduced to 90% of the value of their homes, instead of 95%. This change will help ensure home ownership is a more effective way to save. The impact of this change is expected to be minimal as relatively few homeowners withdraw equity from their homes to this extent.

3. A minimum down payment of 20% will be needed for government-backed mortgage insurance on non-owner-occupied properties “purchased for speculation,” which realistically means rental properties. While this measure is intended to hamper the speculative buying of properties by reducing the leverage of buyers, it will also impact those buying real estate for general investment purposes.

How will these changes affect the Canadian real estate market?

For most consumers, the changes are unlikely to make it harder to get a mortgage but it could reduce the size of the mortgage an individual consumer can negotiate with a lender. And they might have to look at buying slightly less expensive properties.

People buying real estate for investment purposes including those looking for rental properties may find it harder to get into the market as they have to shell out more money form their own savings.

Undoubtedly there will be a rush of mortgage applications to beat the April 19th deadline. However it is expected some lenders will start to implement these guidelines before April 19th.

Some volatility is expected in the housing market in the short term as home buyers rush to beat the April 19th date. After that, the activity will likely fade because so many buyers moved up their purchases. This could end up softening the sharp year-over-year price increases that have been characteristic in many cities recently.

The economic implications of this rule change are unlikely to be severe, and we expect the housing market to slow its ascent without crashing down.

Canadian Housing Market Continues Its Healthy Upward Trend

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:16:00 GMT

Market Watch – March 2010
Canadian Housing Market Continues Its Healthy Upward Trend

The Canadian housing market continues its healthy upward trend across the country, with significant increase in both number of sales and sale value. This trend is expected to continue through to early Spring as we approach the upcoming changes to mortgage qualification rules.

Buyers in Ontario and British Columbia are aware of two key changes that could impact their purchasing ability. The new mortgage rules coming in April, plus the Harmonized Sales Tax in July.

“The upcoming changes to mortgage qualification rules and impending mortgage rate increases may prompt some buyers to enter the market earlier and cause some additional slowdown in the third quarter,” said Larry Westergard, president of the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton.

Below is a brief summary of sales activities in some areas across the country:

Ontario - A Great Start to 2010 for Ontario Housing Market

Toronto, March 3, 2010 - Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,291 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in February, representing a 77% increase over February 2009. The average price for these transactions was up 19% year-over-year to $431,509. Sales and average price increases represent both increased demand for ownership housing and the base year effect, which involves a comparison of economic recovery this year to a period of economic decline last year.

“Increases in existing home sales and average price were noted across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in low-rise and high-rise home types. Similar rates of growth were experienced in the City of Toronto and surrounding 905 regions,” said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Tom Lebour. “This suggests that first time, move-up and down sizing buyers are all active in the existing home marketplace.”

New listings also increased in February, climbing 24% compared to the same month last year.

“Annual growth in new listings is expected to continue. New listings growth will start to outstrip sales growth as we move through 2010,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “As the market becomes better supplied, we will see more sustainable single-digit rates of price growth.”

Ottawa, March 5, 2010 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,118 residential properties in February through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 787 in February 2009, an increase of 42.1%.

Of those sales, 323 were in the condominium property class, while 795 were in the residential property class.

“Last month’s sales were near the top of the usual range for this time of year, as opposed to February of 2009, which was the end of the brief slowdown we saw in Ottawa’s resale housing market due to global economic conditions,” said Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) President Pierre de Varennes. “So far in 2010, OREB Members have sold 1,838 properties, putting us well ahead of the 1,316 properties sold in the first two months of 2009. Inventory remains low and the homes that are listed are selling quickly, keeping Ottawa in a seller’s market for the moment,” he added.

The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in February in the Ottawa area was $317,030, an increase of 15.8% over February 2009. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $265,938, an increase of 30.3% over February 2009. The average sale price of a residential-class property was $337,788, an increase of 15.6% over February 2009.

British Columbia – Stronger than expected Fraser Valley home sales during Olympics

Surrey, March 2, 2010 – Not even the most engaging Olympics in Canadian history could completely slow the appetite for house hunting, according to the most recent statistics from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.

The Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) recorded 1,204 sales in February, an increase of 23% over January’s sales and an increase of 77% over the 682 sales during February of last year.

Deanna Horn, president of the Board explains, “Although the phones were quieter and we did experience less traffic at open houses, we were surprisingly busy given how much everyone, including REALTORS® were enjoying the Games.”

“Buyers are aware of two key changes that could impact their purchasing ability. The new mortgage rules coming in April, plus the Harmonized Sales Tax in July, so the ‘Olympic effect’ we were expecting wasn’t as deep.”

The Board’s MLS® received 2,879 new listings in February, an average of 144 per business day, providing buyers with 14% more selection than they had the previous month. The number of active listings in February was 8,485, 12% fewer than were available during February last year.

Horn adds that the combined strength of listings and sales currently is stabilizing Fraser Valley home prices. “Overall, we’ve seen modest price gains for the last three months. The benchmark price for all residential types combined increased less than 1% from January to February.

“When you have a healthy level of inventory, it puts less upward pressure on prices and creates a stable, balanced market.”

In February, the benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes was $508,136, an increase of 11.3% from the February 2009 price of $456,683.

The benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses in February was $324,708, a 9.8% increase compared to $295,731 in February 2009. The benchmark price of apartments increased by 7.8% year-over-year going from $228,091 in February 2009 to $245,879 in February 2010.

Alberta - Stability in Edmonton Housing Market continues through February

Edmonton, March 2, 2010 - Prices for residential property sold through the Edmonton Multiple Listing Service® changed marginally through February. Sales activity, however, was up dramatically when compared to last month or the same month last year.

The average single family dwelling price was $369,573 for February up just 1.4% from January; 5.6% from a year ago. Condominium prices dipped 3.8% in the month from $240,686 to $231,530. Duplex and rowhouse prices were up 3.3% to $315,390.

“While prices remained stable through February the increase in sales activity indicates that there is a demand for housing in the Edmonton area,” said Larry Westergard, president of the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. “Listings also increased in February leading to a bigger month end inventory of homes and relaxing concerns that inventory may be too low to handle the spring buying season.”

In February, housing sales were up 33.9% compared to January with 1,184 residential sales. Total residential sales were also up 7.6% from last February. There were 2,505 residential listings added during the month resulting in a 47% sales-to-listing ratio and a month-end inventory of 5,449 homes. The average days-on-market was down 10 to just 47 days.

Total sales through the Edmonton MLS® System (including residential, commercial and rural properties) in February were valued at $416 million (up 10.5% from last year).

.....................................
Information in this report is collected from the Real Estate Boards operating in each area. The average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

Condominium Occupancy Fees Shah Ahmed - RE/MAX Saskatoon.

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:58:00 GMT

Condominium Occupancy Fees

Whenever you purchase a new condo, there is a period of time between when you take occupancy of your unit and when you take ownership of your unit. This is known as the ‘occupancy period’ or ‘interim occupancy’. During this period you will be requested by the developer to pay occupancy fees or ‘phantom rent’ as it is also known.

The Condominium Act requires condo developments to be constructed to a substantial level prior to registration of the condominium plan. Title to a unit cannot be transferred until the condominium is registered.

Thus, with newly built condominium apartments, there are two “closings”. The “interim closing”, occurs at the time of occupancy and the “final closing”, occurs at the time of final registration.

The process works something like this; the developer undertakes to build a condo development by submitting a site plan with the Municipality. When the Municipality registers this site plan it becomes a “Registered Site Plan”, setting out exactly what the developer is promising to deliver.

The developer then sells the suites as “pre-construction”; based on floor plans, brochures etc. Once the developer sells enough units, say 60% or more, they start the construction while continuing to sell the units.

When construction is completed, the municipality verifies the building to be in accordance with the registered site plan and issues the “Occupancy Certificate”. The developer start to contact all the buyers notifying them of their occupancy date, at this stage your unit is ready and liveable; you take possession of it, but not ownership. This is the first or “Interim Closing”.

Since the buyer’s down payment is deposited into the lawyer’s trust account, the developer does NOT receive any money until the building registers (final closing), a process that normally takes 4-6 months.

Until such time you must pay the developer “occupancy fees” for the right to live in the unit. The amount of the occupancy fees is roughly equivalent to the interest on the amount outstanding on the purchase price. For example, a $300,000 condo with 25% down means you must pay monthly occupancy fees roughly equal to interest payments on $225,000.

When the municipality completes its process and registers the building, the second or “final closing” take place. This is where the purchasers receive title to their property and their mortgage payments starts, and this is when the developer gets his money.

During the occupancy period the buyers undertake a portion of the developer’s mortgage, also called “Phantom Mortgage”, which is equal to their proportionate share of the overall condo.

The occupancy period is normally 4-6 months, but the higher up you are in the building, the shorter the occupancy period will be. So if you buy a unit on the ground floor, you can expect a long occupancy period. If you buy the penthouse, you will likely have a very short occupancy period.

There is no way to say absolutely how long the occupancy period will be. In most cases the length of the occupancy period depends on the experience level of the developer. Experienced developers who are familiar with process and have diligent lawyers working behind the scenes for them know how to build and how to register a building as quickly as possible.

It is in the developer’s best interest to register the building as quickly as possible and to have the occupancy period as short as possible. This is because they don’t get their money from the banks until the building is registered and all the unit owners have their mortgages commence.

The “Occupancy Fee” is made up of three components and is roughly equivalent to the:

interest calculated on a monthly basis on the unpaid balance of the purchase price
the monthly maintenance fee contributed for the unit; and
a factor for property tax

In total it will be about the same amount as if you took a mortgage. But you cannot get a mortgage because there is no “Title” to the property, thus banks cannot issue a mortgage.

Occupancy fees will be paid to the developer when you purchase a new condo, it does not apply for re-sale condos.

The purchaser can avoid paying the interest portion of the occupancy fee should he/she elect to pay the full balance of the purchase price owing on the date of occupancy. However, in order to do this, the purchaser or his lawyer must request this during the 10-days rescission (or cooling off) period.

In all the cases it is left to the developer to include or exclude any of the above components in the occupancy fee, as long as this is made clear in writing and disclosed in the developer’s disclosure documents.

WillowGrove School Saskatoon Public & catholic combined school.

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:10:00 GMT

Five new schools will be built in Saskatchewan, including new joint public and Catholic schools in Saskatoon’s Willowgrove neighbourhood, Premier Brad Wall announced Thursday.

Also announced was a new middle school will be built in Warman, new schools to consolidate St. Patrick Elementary School and St. Joseph Middle School in Swift Current, a replacement school for Ecole St. Thomas Elementary School in Lloydminster, and a major renovation to Regina’s Ecole St. Andrew Elementary School.

"This is the largest number of new schools announced in a single day in Saskatchewan history," said Wall.

"These new facilities will improve the lives of roughly 2,900 students and will represent a total investment of $95 million when they are completed."

The new Willowgrove schools have been on the Ministry of Education's capital request list since 2005 under the "critical space shortage" category. The public school division had initially planned to build a joint building with the City of Saskatoon, and the Catholic school was to stand alone. But last June, the government told the Catholic division its request would get speedier consideration if it built a joint public-Catholic school building.

Optimistically, a source told The StarPhoenix, the announcement means construction contracts could be ready for tender by early 2011, with the earliest possible school opening being fall 2013.

All six projects are now in the approval-in-principle stage and receive a total of $6 million dollars from the government to complete detailed plans and specs, which must be finished before construction can start.

In addition to those major projects, $5 million is being advanced to support facility maintenance projects in Churchbridge, Melfort, Loon Lake, Imperial, Rosthern, Swift Current and Lucky Lake.

Regina and Saskatoon Public School Divisions will also receive additional financial support to complete facility audits.

In the past two years, the Saskatchewan government has committed more than $300 million towards 28 major school capital projects and close to 400 smaller projects in schools across the province.

Everyday Savings Tips by SHAH AHMED

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:47:00 GMT

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Everyday Savings Tips

There are several practices you can partake in on a daily basis to help conserve some of your hard-earned cash. You may find the following list will help you have more money left over at the end of each month to put towards anything from home renovations to your children’s education to investing:

Find a credit card with a lower interest rate. There’s no sense collecting air miles or other such points if you find you’re having difficulty paying off your monthly bills. Credit cards are, after all, only useful if you avoid paying interest on unpaid monthly balances. And there’s not much point in paying 20% interest when you don’t have to. If you start shopping around among several credit card providers and discover a better rate than your current provider is offering, ask your credit card provider to lower your rate since you’ve found a better deal elsewhere. They may be willing to negotiate when they risk losing your business.
Throw away your bank card and leave your credit card at home. ATM charges can add up and it’s hard to live on a budget if you keep paying for things on credit. Or, try only using your bank card once between pay cheques. That will help you budget your money accordingly.
Do your food shopping at discount stores. Discount stores may be more crowded and offer less selection than your local higher-end grocery chain, and you’ll have to pay a quarter for the cart and bag your own groceries, but you’ll see a payoff at the cash register. If you’re shopping for a larger family, try buying in bulk.
Start packing your own lunch. Not only is restaurant food expensive, but how many times have you ordered ‘just anything’ off the menu because you were really hungry? By packing your own lunch, you’ll not only save money, but you’re also likely to save in the calorie department as well.
Bring a coffee maker or kettle to work. With coffee ranging anywhere from $1 to $5 a cup (depending on cup size, exoticness of brew and the franchise from which it is purchased), some people are dropping anywhere from $20 to $200 a month just to stay caffeinated. Don’t believe it? Try this: bring your own coffee to work, make it yourself and put the money you would have spent in a jar on your desk. At the end of the month, empty the jar and see how much you’ve saved.
Cancel your gym membership. Go for a walk or run around your neighbourhood or office instead. After all, spring is almost upon us. If it’s muscle you’re trying to amass, then start doing push ups in your bedroom, invest in a chin-up bar and start walking up and down multiple flights of stairs. You don’t need to spend $50-$150 a month to stay active.
Got kids? Forget shopping at Baby Gap. Buy children’s clothing at discount retailers or department stores. Better yet, call everyone you know with young kids, bring them all together and swap anything from shoes to strollers to clothes and toys.
Find free or low-cost activities for your kids. School board parenting centres and city recreation programs are good places to start.
If you’re getting $100 a month from the government for child care, try your best to keep banking it in a high-interest savings account for your child’s future. Saving can be hard, especially in these times, but a few dollars a month can go a long way over the course of 20 years.
Itemize your monthly expenses and allocate money for each by placing it in marked envelopes. If you only want to spend $50 this month on entertainment, then put $50 in an envelope marked “Entertainment” and use it to entertain yourself. Once the money’s spent, that’s it.
Instead of an expensive vacation to the tropics this year, why not try a "staycation"? A trip to the theater or a local sports venue is infinitely less expensive than a sunburn and you’ll be infinitely less depressed when you return to work the next day.
Review your monthly plans for phone, wireless, Internet and television services. In general, households are paying significant sums for features that aren’t even being used. That includes everything from digital TV channel packages to wireless voice and data plans. Paying $30 a month for six gigabytes of data for your iPhone might seem like a good deal, but not if you’re only using 50 megabytes to occasionally check your e-mail and surf the web. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a better deal from your current provider if they want to keep you as a customer – particularly if you subscribe to multiple services and have done some comparison shopping. If long distance phone calls are costing you a fortune, you might want to think about signing up for one of those $5 a month zero-cent per minute long distance plans, especially if you’re currently paying 25 cents a minute on your cell phone.

How do you cut back to save money...? Any tips for the rest of us...?

Thanks,

Should I Purchase My Home Now or Wait for the Market to Stabilize? Shah Remax Saskatoon 306 3412739

Shah Ahmed — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:59:00 GMT

Should I Purchase My Home Now or Wait for the Market to Stabilize?

Many people are debating whether they want to buy a property now or whether they should wait. They are getting mixed messages from the media about the market conditions and the state of the economy. Reports are indicating that the real estate market is rebounding. However, we are still hearing negative news about businesses folding and job losses. So is now a good time to buy?

The decision whether to buy a home now or wait is very tricky at the moment. On the one hand you have very low mortgage rates as the Bank of Canada had cut the interest rate several times in the last few months to try and get the banks lending again. Deals as low as 2.75% are being advertised to entice new customers into the market and get the chain moving again. Also, property prices have dropped in the last year and there are many good deals to be made.

On the other hand, there is still the question whether housing market prices will hold or drop further. Potential buyers are wary about taking on such a huge borrowing to find that the dream house they have just bought may be worth appreciatively less in six months’ time.

House prices are cyclical. A low market is always a good time to buy even though it may be several years before the market rebounds. The property market will rebound. If you are in a position to buy a house and can afford the repayments, buy now. Waiting to buy could result in paying much higher prices in a rising market.

Are you really ready?
It is also important to consider how long you will be in the home that you are about to purchase. Once you buy the home, it may be very difficult to resell right now. If the market continues to drop and you end up moving and selling in a year, you may have been wiser to wait a bit longer. So that is something that you want to make sure that you consider when making the decision to purchase a home.

Of course, if you have a long-term plan to be in the home, the fluctuations and potential decrease in value in the near term doesn’t need to get you down, as the only price that matters is the price you are able to sell for when you need or want to move.

Another thing that you need to think about is if you can afford the home that you are considering buying. While prices have dropped recently, you want to make sure that you find a home that is going to fit your budget. As a precautionary measure you should also budget for the fact that the cost of living might rise even further, and that being able to afford these increases will be important.

If you have the funds available for a down payment and you are eligible for a mortgage, and feel comfortable about your job security, and currently meeting the rising costs of living fairly easily; then the time is probably right for purchasing property. It is still a buyer’s market, so find your dream home, negotiate your best deal and jump in. Buying property now is one of the best times in the last hundred years to get a bargain.

Don’t Cry Over Spilt Motor Oil posted by Shah. REMAX SASKATOON "www.shahahmed.com"

Shah Ahmed — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Q: I have a spot on my flagstone patio that was caused by spilled motor oil. Any idea how I can clean it? --Scot C.

A: You can typically remove oil from stone by making a poultice to draw the oil out. First, clean the spot thoroughly with hot water and a strong soap such as *** and Span, using a nylon-bristle brush on the spot. This will remove as much of the residual oil as possible.

Next, you'll need to purchase some fuller's earth. This is a clay product that is used in things like kitty litter, but is also very effective in the absorption and removal of oil. It comes in powdered form, and is available from some cosmetic and chemical retailers, or online. Mix the fuller's earth with hot water to form a paste about the consistency of peanut butter, and spread it over the stain. Cover this with a piece of plastic sheeting that has some holes poked in it so the poultice can dry, and leave it on the stain overnight. Scrape up the residue the next day with a plastic scraper, then rinse with clear water. You may need to do this more than once.

Keep the poultice isolated to just the stained area, keeping it off the surrounding stone as much as possible. I would also try this on a piece of scrap stone or in an unobtrusive corner to make sure of how the stone will react before doing it in the middle of your patio.

Understanding Title Insurance By SHAH AHMED Saskatoon Realestate Agent 306 3412739

Shah Ahmed — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:01:00 GMT

Understanding Title Insurance

Title Insurance gives homeowners protection should someone else claim a legal interest in their property. It also protects homeowners against loss resulting from pre-existing municipal work orders, survey issues, certificate of location defects, unpaid taxes by previous owners and a number of other covered title risks such as Title Fraud.

What is Title Insurance?
When you purchase a home you're actually paying for title to the land: you acquire the right to occupy and use the space. Part of the price paid will be for the improvement, or the actual home, but the major cost of most property is the land itself. You obtain title to property when the owner signs the deed (transfer document) over to you. Title is then registered in the government’s land registration system.

Prior to closing, public records are "searched" to determine the previous ownership of the property, as well as prior dealings related to it. The search might reveal, for example, existing mortgages, liens for outstanding taxes, utility charges, etc., registered against the property. At closing, the buyer expects the property to be free of such claims, so normally they must be cleared up before closing. For example, the seller's mortgage will be discharged and outstanding monetary expenses (such as taxes and utility charges) will be paid for (or adjusted for) at closing.

If the title is restricted by rights and claims of others; this could in turn limit your use and enjoyment of the property and even bring financial loss. However, such issues may not be discovered or remedied before closing. Title insurance will protect you against these situations.

Do I need Title Insurance?
Title insurance is not a requirement in some provinces. To fully understand what type of protection title insurance can provide you, talk to your lawyer, title insurance company or insurance agent/broker to determine whether or not you should purchase title insurance or if other options exist. Once you get all the facts, you can make an informed decision based on your specific situation and needs.

Who is protected with Title Insurance?
Title insurance policies can be issued in favour of a purchaser (on new/resale homes, condos and vacation properties), a lender, or both the purchaser and lender. Lenders will sometimes require title insurance as a condition of making the loan. Title insurance protects purchasers and/or lenders against loss or damage sustained if a claim that is covered under the terms of the policy is made.

What does Title Insurance cover?
For a one-time fee, called a premium, a title insurance policy may provide protection from losses, such as:

Unknown title defects (title issues that prevent you from having clear ownership of the property);
Existing liens against the property’s title (e.g., the previous owner had unpaid debts from utilities, mortgages, property taxes or condominium charges secured against the property);
Encroachment issues (e.g., a structure on your property needs to be removed because it is on your neighbour’s property);
Title fraud;
Errors in surveys and public records; and other title-related issues that can affect your ability to sell, mortgage,
or lease your property in the future;
Your title insurance policy will protect you as long as you own your property, and will cover losses up to the maximum coverage set out in the policy. It may also cover most legal expenses related to restoring your property’s title.

For a risk to be covered, generally it has to have existed as of the date of the policy. As with any type of insurance policy, certain types of risks might not be covered, for example, native land claims and environmental hazards are normally excluded. Be sure to discuss with your lawyer what risks are covered and what are excluded.

How long is the insurance coverage?
Residential title insurance coverage lasts as long as you own the property. Most residential title insurance policies extend coverage to your heirs through a will, to a spouse in the event of a divorce, or to children when the property is transferred from parents to children for nominal consideration.

In the case of title insurance covering a lender, the policy remains in effect as long as the mortgage remains on title. A lender covered under a title insurance policy is insured in the event the lender realizes on its security and suffers actual loss or damage with respect to a risk covered under the policy. Lenders are usually covered up to the principal amount of the mortgage.

The premium for title insurance is paid once (at the time of purchase). Generally speaking, in Canada the purchaser of the property pays for the title insurance, though there can be situations where the seller pays for it. Some policies automatically cover both the purchaser and lender; others will cover both for a small additional fee.

Protection and peace of mind
Title insurance can help ensure that a closing is not delayed due to defects in title. And, if an issue relating to title arises with respect to a risk covered under the policy, the title insurance covers the legal fees and expenses associated with defending the insured's title and pays in the event of loss. It is important to keep in mind that title insurance does not replace legal advice when purchasing property.

If your home is important to you, don't overlook this important piece of insurance.

Call with confidence and the most trusted name in

Saskstoon Real Estate. RE/MAX Saskatoon Agent

Shah Ahmed.

Saskatoon Agent.

306 3412739

Buying a Home? Take Charge and Be in the Pilot Seat By SHAH AHMED Saskatoon Agent 306 3412739

Shah Ahmed — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:57:00 GMT

Buying a Home? Take Charge and Be in the Pilot Seat!

Does the idea of buying a home seem overwhelming to you? Do you ask yourself questions like: How much can I afford? How can I find the best loan? Should I buy a new or a resale home? Should I use an agent or look at homes on my own? You probably have many other questions too.

Buying a home is one of the major decisions that you will make in life, and is one of the largest financial transactions in your lifetime. Although there is much to consider when buying a home, if you do your research and approach the home buying process with confidence, you will most likely buy a house that you will be proud to call home.

Below are the three most important things to remember no matter where you are on the road to home ownership. If you follow them closely, you will be happy with the end result!

1. Understand the home buying process.
When buying a home, there is nothing that is complex that can't be easily explained to anyone. If you don't apply for a thirty year mortgage once a week, don't take the first one that comes along. You'll need to do your research, learn some new terms, apply some new concepts, and take the time to understand the entire process. If something happens at any point that you don't understand, simply ask for a full and complete explanation from someone you trust like your real estate agent, accountant or your lawyer.

2. Become the most important person in the process.
In the world of real estate sales, YOU are the most important person in the home buying process. It's easy to think that everyone else carries more weight than you but that's not the reality. The seller owns the house and has all the money and the real estate agent tries to sell the house for the seller. However, you, the buyer, are the one person in the transaction that makes it all happen. This entire process could come to a stop if you decide not to buy. So why not take command of this process?

3. Surround yourself with a team of professionals that you trust and make them work for you.
A good realtor, mortgage specialist and a property lawyer are some people that you can count on to help you. They all save you time and money. They know your community, they know what is important when buying and selling a home, and they know all the intricacies of the process, from finding a home, to negotiating a price, to closing a deal and to ensuring the paperwork is done right.

As you can see, if you approach home buying with intelligence and confidence, you are more likely to buy a house you’re happy with and know that you made the right decision. When you start to walk down this road, take charge from the first step and be in the pilot seat to ensure your satisfaction. Remember, YOU are the most important person in this process!

Call Shah Ahmed Trusted name in Saskatoon Real Estate.

306 3412739 RE/MAX Saskatoon

House Sales Continue to Trend Upward June 2009 posted by Shah Ahmed 3063412739

Shah Ahmed — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:38:00 GMT

Market Watch - June 2009
Housing Sales Continue to Trend Upward

Figures released by real estate boards around the country are showing a positive upward trend in sales driven by improved affordability and less uncertainty about the future.

"Home sales have bounced back from the extraordinarily low levels recorded during the winter months," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "Improved affordability and less uncertainty about the future are the main factors driving home sales higher."

“We're now seeing greater balance in the housing market than what we have over the last while," says Linda Smardon, President of the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®. “The bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow, which helps maintain stability in housing prices," she adds.

Below is a brief summary of sales activities in some areas across the country:

Alberta - Housing sales continue to trend upward

Calgary, June 1, 2009 – According to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board, 1,584 homes was sold in the Calgary metro area in May. This is a 23% increase on sales in April.

“The spring market has received an added boost from a growing number of first-time buyers entering the market,” says Bonnie Wegerich, President of the Calgary Real Estate Board.

In the month of May, homes in Calgary metro priced at $400,000 or less accounted for nearly 70% of all home re-sales. “We are seeing the first year-over-year gain in single family home sales since last September,” says Wegerich. “A pent up demand has been building—with many first-time home buyers now taking advantage of affordable prices, record low interest rates and federal government housing incentives,” added Wegerich.

The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in May 2009 was $436,427, showing an increase of 2% from April 2009, when the average price was $426,311, and showing a decrease of 9% from May 2008, when the average price was $479,564. The average price of a Calgary metro condominium was $275,212, showing a 1% decrease from April 2009, when the average price was $277,953, and a decrease of 12% over last year, when the average price was $311,816.

“The gap between supply and demand at the end of last year was pushing prices down,” says Wegerich. “But since December we have seen five consecutive months of increases in home sales, while inventory continues to trend lower. The gap has narrowed and prices are stabilizing.” Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of May totalled 2,235, up 11% from the 2,010 new listings added in April 2009, and showing a decrease of 35% from May 2008, when 3,432 new listings came to the market.

British Columbia - Home sales continue to climb

Vancouver, June 11, 2009 – The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reported that Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) residential sales in the province rose 3% to 8,270 units in May 2009 compared to the same month last year. It was the first year-over-year increase since December 2007. The month of May also posted the highest number of residential sales since April 2008, on a seasonally adjusted basis, and was the fourth consecutive month of rising home sales.

"The combination of stronger consumer demand and fewer homes for sale is stabilizing home prices in many BC markets," added Muir.

Year-to-date, MLS® residential sales dollar volume was down 31% to $11.7 billion over the same period last year. A total of 26,359 units were sold in the first five months of 2009, down 26% from 2008, while the average MLS® price declined 7% to $443,252.

Nova Scotia - Average price of homes rises to new record in April

Nova Scotia, May 22, 2009 – The average price of residential properties in Nova Scotia climbed to its highest level on record in April 2009. According to statistics provided by the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®, the average price for residential properties sold through the MLS® system in Nova Scotia was $206,668, a 5.4% increase over April of 2008.

The national average price was down 3.2% year-over-year. The average price in Halifax-Dartmouth, where homes are more expensive than in other markets in the province, rose by 6%. The increase in average price was greatest in the Annapolis Valley region at 15%, followed by the South Shore at 11%.

“The pricing trends indicate that consumers still have confidence in our housing market,” says Linda Smardon, President of the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®.

The number and value of sales were down in April 2009 when compared to April 2008. A total of 857 houses traded hands via the MLS® system in Nova Scotia, a 27% decline in sales activity. The value of all MLS® residential property sales in Nova Scotia decreased by 23%.

New listings posted their fourth consecutive year-over-year decline in April 2009, down 7% from year-ago levels.

“We're now seeing greater balance in the housing market than what we have over the last while," says Smardon. “The bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow, which helps maintain stability in housing prices," she adds.

Active listings continue to rise in Nova Scotia, but year-over-year gains are slowing as new listings trend lower. The number of active residential listings increased by 9% which is the smallest year-over-year increase in 11 months.

Ontario - Record-breaking number of resale homes sold in May

Toronto, June 2, 2009 – Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 9,589 sales in May which is almost 2% up from May 2008—the first annual increase since December 2007.

“The resale housing market in the GTA has remained resilient in the face of challenging times globally,” according to TREB President Maureen O’Neill. “Many home buyers have taken advantage of extremely low mortgage rates.”

The average price for May transactions was $395,609—down less than 1% compared to the same month last year.

“The average resale home price has moved in line with last year’s level because of tighter market conditions experienced this Spring,” stated Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “Home sales have increased strongly relative to new listings, bolstering home prices.”

Ottawa, June 3, 2009 – Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,969 residential properties in May through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,896 in May 2008, an increase of 3.9%. That number also represents a 19% increase over the 1,594 sales recorded in April 2009.

Of those sales, 348 were in the condominium property class, while 1,621 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class includes any property, regardless of style (i.e., detached, semi-detached, apartment, etc.) which is registered as a condominium, as well as properties which are co-operatives, life leases and timeshares. The residential property class includes all other residential properties.

“This was the best May on record for residential resale home sales in Ottawa,” said Board President Rick Snell. “Homes in every price range are selling well, from starter homes to luxury properties. Homebuyers and sellers are showing a lot of confidence in the Ottawa real estate market,” he added.
The average sale price of residential properties, including condominiums, sold in May in the Ottawa area was $312,045, an increase of 5.3% over May 2008. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $231,351, an increase of 4.6% over May 2008.

The average sale price of a residential-class property was $329,368, an increase of 4.7% over May 2008. The Board cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing trends over time but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold.

Saskatchewan economy continues to lead the country. (Shah Ahmed 306 3412739)

Shah Ahmed — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:41:00 GMT

Saskatchewan continues to have the lowest unemployment rate and the strongest year-over-year job growth in Canada.

Still, the global recession is beginning to have an impact on employment in this province.

According to the latest employment report released today by Statistics Canada, there were 511,000 people working in Saskatchewan in March. That's an increase of 10,900 compared to March 2008, but a decrease of 3,300 since February of this year.

Every other province in Canada except Nova Scotia has seen the number of people working decline over the past year. In total, Canada lost 306,400 jobs over the past year.

Saskatchewan's unemployment rate is now 5.2 per cent - the lowest in Canada. Regina has an unemployment rate of 4.0 per cent - the lowest among major Canadian cities - while Saskatoon is tied with Winnipeg and Ottawa for third-lowest at 5.1 per cent.

"The good news is - there are a lot more people working in Saskatchewan than there were at this time a year ago, and Saskatchewan's economy continues to weather the economic storm much better than every other province in Canada," Premier Brad Wall said. "However, I have always said that Saskatchewan is not immune from the global economic downturn and there have definitely been some job losses in recent weeks," Wall said. "That's why our government moved quickly to provide an ‘economic booster shot' by speeding up spending on construction projects. This should start to have a positive impact in the next few weeks as construction season swings into high gear."

There are 2,600 more aboriginal persons working in Saskatchewan in the part year, an increase of 7.9 per cent, and 8,900 more women working in the province, an increase of 3.8 per cent.

Wall said there are still many Saskatchewan employers looking for new workers. "This morning, there were nearly 6,500 job openings posted on the Saskjobs.ca website," Wall said. "Saskatchewan is still the best place to be in Canada if you're looking for work."

House sales in Saskatoon is also getting better and better every day. People are confident about Saskatoon housing market. Builders started putting spec houses on the ground.

Shah Ahmed -Experience the Real Difference-

306-3412739

Saskatchewan's population boom not slowing down

Shah Ahmed — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:34:00 GMT

March 26, 2009

Saskatchewan's population grew to 1,023,810 people on January 1, 2009, an increase of more than 15,000 people from January 1, 2008.

New figures released from Statistics Canada today show that Saskatchewan's population grew by .29 percent in 2008. The only provinces with faster growth rates were Alberta and British Columbia.

Saskatchewan's population has grown by almost 3 thousand people since October 1st of last year, and all signs are pointing to continued growth in the first quarter of 2009.

The population growth should result in a continued strong housing market in the province.