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JUST THE FAX (HALIFAX!) |
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| Tuesday, 07 February 2012, 01:35:38 PM | With interest rates likely to remain low, some homeowners see borrowed cash as a means to kick-start a major home improvement. Yet many critics blame easy credit as the cause of unreasonable consumer debt. If you're thinking of securing a loan to improve your home-even at a very low interest rate- you should consider the following advice to ensure you don't put yourself at unreasonable financial risk:
- Do not rely on renovations to immediately improve the resale value of your home.
- Look into alternative means of financing, so that you do not use your home as collateral for a renovation loan.
- Budget the pace of your payments to contractors, keeping track of progress (including performance guarantees and contract obligations) so that you are not paying out borrowed money for work that is not yet completed.
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| Thursday, 26 January 2012, 05:45:15 AM | | | Quinpool Road is getting a few new residents. Have you been wondering what's going to happen to the Perks that recently closed it's doors? Apparently both Starbucks and Second Cup vied for the well located building on the corner of Quinpool and Vernon. The winner of the bid was Second Cup, which will be opening it's new location this Spring. You can have a coffee at Second Cup after visiting the new gourmet hamburger joint, Relish. Relish is going to take over the old Blockbuster building. It's a franchise out of New Brunswick offering burgers with yummy toppings like avocado, brie cheese, and much more (I really hope jalapenos).
Can't WAIT!
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| Monday, 09 January 2012, 12:39:20 PM | | |
If you haven’t been out to the Halifax Skating Oval, you’re missing the best thing to happen to the city since I moved here in 2003. I live directly across the street from the Halifax Common and have the amazing opportunity to view the skaters by the hundreds everyday. There are actually people skating before I wake up in the morning and by the end of the day, it’s swarming with people of all types. Some were skeptical, thinking that the hype would fizzle out over the months. Even a wind chill as low as -22 didn’t keep Haligonians off the ice.
Click here for video.
I am looking forward to finding out what kind of impact this resource will have on Real Estate values in the area. If you’re planning to open a business in the area, I think you have a GOLDEN opportunity. If you’re purchasing residentially, I think that your opportunity is the same (especially if you’re considering a Common view atArmoury Square). The only challenge in the area is parking, which is becoming more of a problem since the Oval arrived. I know that many streets surrounding the Common have 1 hour parking restrictions. This is a problem not only for residents, but for skaters as well. I think that the city will be forced to make some changes within the year. For many living in this area, however, owning a car is not necessary, as downtown, grocery stores, and Spring Garden Road are just a few blocks away.
Trendy Central Halifax is growing and I’m looking forward to seeing it thrive.
Click here for Skating Schedule.
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| Posted on Tue, 25 Oct 2011, 09:12:06 AM in Safety | | |
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Halifax Regional Police is hosting a crime prevention series across its jurisdiction throughout October and November. The series will provide simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of being a victim of crime and improve the quality-of-life in your neighbourhood. Each session will include a main crime prevention discussion but will also feature the area Community Response Officer providing useful tips on how to prevent residential break and enters and thefts from vehicles.
The topics include:
- Good Neighbours, Great Neighbourhoods and Common By-Law Issues
- Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying
- Scam Savvy-Preventing Graud and Identity Theft
- Common By-Law Issues
- Seniors’ and Personal Safety
Click HERE for the schedule.
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| Tuesday, 18 October 2011, 09:43:47 AM | | | St. Joseph’s Square
Have you been wondering what’s happening with the latest potential development in the North End?
St. Joseph’s Square will include 83 private residences (condos) with 12 townhouses and commercial space. With the potential influx “Ship Building Jobs”, this project will be a valuable asset to our historic North End. Or will it? This building is to be constructed at the corner of Russell and Kaye, extending to a commercial entrance on Gottingen. Because this is very near the Historic Hydrostone Market, the question of how this building will fit into this unique neighbourhood will be raised by residents. The developer, ECL Properties, has indicated that care was taken to maintain the townhouses in the design to create an illusion of a low-rise identity, compatible to the surrounding neighborhood, and to also enhance the pedestrian environment. Originally the plan was for 11 stories, but ECL has reduced the planned height to be 8.5 stories.
ECL Properties was the developer for another popular building in Halifax, The Martello, luxury condos located above Park Lane Shopping Centre.
It will be interesting to follow the development of this project.
Comments are welcome! What do you think? | |
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| Posted on Mon, 22 Aug 2011, 08:36:51 AM in Green Ideas | | | DON’T YOU JUST LOVE TO BE PAID TO SAVE?
SAVE ON INSTALLATION OF NEW SOLAR AIR HEATING SYSTEMS
The Province of Nova Scotia provides a rebate on residential and commercialsolar air systems. Conserve Nova Scotia will issue a $500 rebate on NEW residential solar air heating systems. Your system would have to have been installed May 1, 2010 or later.
What is a Solar Air Heating System?
Basically, they act as space heathers and can offset between 1 and 2 baseboards worth of electricity.
What are the requirements?
- The System must have been purchased after May 1, 2010 and installed according to industry best practice and manufacturer’s instructions..
- The system’s make and model must be on the Natural Resources Canada List of Accepted Collectors.
- The Applicant must own the house where the system is being installed.
- There is a limit of 1 solar air heating rebate per eligible Nova Scotia household.
- The rebate only applies to the item relating to the system and its installation.
- Conserve Nova Scotia reserves the right to decline an applicant if it is determined that the system will not meet performance potential, such as poor solar orientation.
- The applicant must provide legible copies of receipts and photos of the solar air system.
- Please note that there are Electrical Equipment Certification Requirements and that Conserve Nova Scotia recommends at least 3 quotes before deciding on a system and contractor.
Useful links and Phone Numbers:
Enerinfo 1-800-670-4636
Conserve Nova Scotia:
Canadian Solar Home Manual | |
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| Posted on Sat, 18 Jun 2011, 08:47:10 AM in Green Ideas | | | Did you know that having inefficient appliances is costing you money? Efficiency Nova Scotia will actually take them off of your hands and PAY you for them. They will properly recycle them, and you can justify that new fridge you’ve been NEEDING for so long! Do you have a second fridge that you NEVER use? Leaving it plugged in all of the time is costing you a pretty penny. Call Efficiency NS and you can MAKE a pretty penny and see it recycled properly. You can make $35 for an inefficient second fridge and $10 for a dehumidifier or a room air conditioner.
Click HERE for more information and to contact Efficiency NS. | |
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| Thursday, 16 June 2011, 08:33:27 AM | Many condominium owners are sometimes confused about the role of the condominium board. First time condominium owners often mistake the condominium board's function as the entity whose only purpose is to impose fines. Although condominiums have become more popular in the last 20 years, many people, including condo owners, are still confused about what are the role and duties of the board of directors.
However, persons moving from one condominium to another may also be confused. The reason for the confusion lies within the fact that may not be so obvious to someone who has not previously owned a condominium. Different condominiums operate under different declarations and bylaws. Each condominium has its own unique culture. Depending on the size of the condominium association, some of the board members may be in more frequent contact with residents and fellow neighbours on a daily basis. However the culture that develops and is established is not entirely something that occurs accidentally. It depends upon provincial law and the declarations and bylaws of the condominium association. Ontario is mandated under the Ontario Condominium Act.
The primary officers of a condominium board of directors are the President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Depending on the bylaws and declarations (and at the time they are written the number of units may be taken into consideration) additional officers would include a Vice President and Directors.
The board President's main responsibilities include setting agendas for the meetings, signing vendor contracts that have been approved by the board, and maintaining a close professional relationship with the association's legal counsel. The Treasurer's duties are comprised of reviewing the monthly financial statements and year end tax documents. Depending on the size of the association, the monthly financial documents are generated by a property management company or an accounting firm hired by the condominium association. The Secretary is responsible for taking meeting minutes and distributing them accordingly to all of the unit owners. Those are the very basic duties of a condominium board of director's three key officers.
There are many other responsibilities shared among a condominium board of directors, especially if the association does not hire an on-site manager. Those duties include overseeing building maintenance issues, meeting with vendors and various city inspectors, handling individual unit owner questions and concerns, upholding established rules and regulations, generating monthly financial and management reports, communication with owners regarding upcoming projects or changes in policy. Additional duties such as managing capital projects or steering such committees as landscaping or decorating are also activities that members who are a part of the condominium board participate in.
Many condominium boards are composed of accountants, engineers, and attorneys who are donating their time by serving as members. When asked what they thought their main function was, many of them said that they wanted to maintain the quality of their living space and protect their investment. That was a universal response, regardless of the association's or board's size.
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| Friday, 10 June 2011, 07:53:07 AM | | | It's this weekend!
Halifax has it's curbside giveaway this weekend. Leave your unwanted items curbside and discover the "Hidden Treasures' of your neighbourhood!
Click HERE for info! | |
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