ENDULGE IN ART OF DECORATION THIS SEASON WITH MOST AMAZING TIPS

That most magical of seasons has almost approached. It’s time to deck the halls again. And that also includes giving the exterior of your home a makeover. You can make the outside of your home as ready for the holiday as the inside with the following most amazing ideas.

As you explore your festive options, you’ll find there’s a lot more out there than the old string of multi-colored lights. It only takes a little imagination to liven things up dramatically. Here are some of the ways to inspire your holiday spirit.

WINTERY WALKWAY

The famous quote goes, “You’ll never get a second chance to create a good first impression”. The same rule applies to your house. If you’re hosting any holiday party this year, why not light up the stairs or path to your house with candles placed in old wine bottles or, even better, protected from the wind in glass hurricane lanterns. Rocks, red berries, pruned evergreens and magnolia leaves add a festive touch and make an excellent first impression.

LIGHT UP THE TREE

Bring the stars down to earth with the delicate and lovely lights. Get over the same, repetitive way. Rather than copying everyone else in your neighborhood and just throwing a string of lights over your tree, try decorating a few balls or cones instead with twinkly white lights and placing those in the branches. The cones in the image are made from old tomato cages! They add a touch of seasonal brightness even in climates that might not have any snow.

EYE CATCHY WREATHS

Christmas Wreaths can adorn any part of your home, be it inside or outside. An eye-catching wreath is the best way to make the outdoors of your home merry and bright. There are so many options when it comes to these festive decorations. If you’re feeling crafty you could make your own wreath like the one above, composed of different size yarn balls, or you could purchase a ready-made evergreen wreath and add some small embellishments like this small cluster of yarn balls seen on the image.

SNOW MEN

Snow, Ice and Christmas often go together. We live in a place, where spotting a snow men is not so common, hence our love for making snow people, out of things that aren’t snow is not much unusual. Easy to make terracotta snow man can be done in a day and doesn’t leave a pile of brown slush on your porch, even when it gets warm. Similarly, picket fence snow men also offers the same benefit, doesn’t melt and can be reused again.

WOOD LOG ILLUMINARIES

Luminaries have a long, multicultural history. But at the center of all the traditions is one simple notion -- lighting the way in the dark of winter. If you have Aspen (or other tree) logs laying around, you can use them for a nice arrangement like this. Perfect for your cabin, cottage, ranch, house, condo, apartment or flat. Perfect for any place you call home.

 

WINDOWSCAPES

If you live in a loft, you don’t tend to put a lot of accent on decorating your windows for Christmas. If you live in a house there is a whole different story! Windows are always important and decorating them is a great idea, something that cannot be overlooked. Use cut-out reindeer, stars or snowflakes and attach them to the inside of your window frame to protect them from the elements. Make sure to choose neutral shapes or silhouettes that read well from both inside and outside.

LIGHT IT UP WITH CHRISTMAS BALLS

Christmas light balls are extremely popular outdoor Christmas decorations that are unique in appearance. Many times found in holiday light shows, botanical gardens, and other elegant displays. Light balls are actually easy to make with just a few supplies. All you need is a chicken wire, small wire cutters, a measuring tape, gloves, and LED mini lights.

Don’t hold back your great plans of real estate investment this festive season, as there are some real good deals waiting for you!! AJ Lamba Team provides complete assistance to all your real estate needs and queries. Call us today and have the best ever experience to your home purchase/sale.

WATCH OUT FOR REAL ESTATE TRENDS IN CANADA HOUSING MARKET 2016

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) recently jointly released their Emerging Trends in Real Estate report.

The annual report identifies what investors should look out for in the Canadian and American real estate markets over the following year, drawing on a vast number of sources. ULI, a nonprofit and research organization, and PwC, the global advisory firm, publish the report every fall.

For the purposes of the 102-page report, ULI and PwC surveyed and interviewed over 1,400 industry experts from investors and fund managers to developers and consultants.

Frank Magliocco, PwC’s national real estate practice leader, outlined in a statement some of the changes the Canadian market is undergoing.

“From Canada’s aging population creating opportunities in market sub-sectors like healthcare, to technology transforming the demand for space, the way investors do business and construction itself, industry players that recognize these opportunities will benefit from an evolving market,” he explained.

Here’s a rundown of the trends outlined in Canadian portion of the 37th annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate report.

1. Investors acting with caution

Instead of a real estate bubble burst, ULI and PwC expect to see market activity flow from west to east and towards less speculative investments such as warehouses, malls, and fulfilment centres. “More than anything else, it seems that respondents believe that the Canadian market is due to take a breather rather than take a dive,” according to the report.

2. A shortage of “top-tier” properties for some

Top-tier properties are selling, but buyers like pension funds and real estate investment trusts are throwing their weight around, according to the report. That’s led smaller-scale purchasers to turn towards older, less-coveted properties that require more renovations and upgrades to see a return on investment.

3. The Changing face of office leasing

Given the shortfall of highly sought after properties available to non-institutional buyers, some are simply turning to the properties they already own to improve yield. This has had an effect on the nature of leasing, the report suggested. With landlords’ heightened expectations for returns on current holdings, office spaces are being split up and leases are getting longer. Meanwhile, tenants are allocating less space per employee and foregoing high-end amenities, opting for value instead.

4. The US dollar as a source of some optimism

With uncertain economic conditions in China and Europe, Canadian firms are looking stateside for a boost in investment, even though US recovery from the Great Recession hasn’t been particularly strong. Regardless, the US dollar is outpacing the Canadian dollar, and this could prove beneficial for markets here at home. The eastern market’s industrial real estate markets could reap the benefits of this in 2016, the report predicted.

5. The influence of lower oil prices

Oil prices are identified as one of the housing-market factors to watch for the rest of the year. The Emerging Trends report suggests this will continue for 2016. While large-property-holdings activity has been stagnant in Alberta, the drop in oil prices may spur growth in other regions.

In particular gas pump savings could have a ripple effect. Businesses and consumers spending less on fuel might choose to direct those savings elsewhere, bolstering retail, for instance. The end result may be strengthened commercial and industrial real estate markets.

6. Foreign investors eyeing Canadian real estate

Global investors continue to see Canada as a safe haven for their capital, and the lower Canadian dollar only adds to the country’s appeal. Many respondents expect foreign investment to continue to flow into Canadian real estate — not only into the hottest markets in Vancouver and Toronto, but also into Montreal and even Saskatoon, where interest in farmland and development land is rising.

7. Heightening housing affordability concerns

Housing affordability is a key issue in the run up to the Canadian federal election. It’s also a trend to watch in the nation’s housing market, according to The Emerging Trends in Real Estate report. It identified a number of factors that it said are currently driving up housing prices. For instance, in Ontario, greenbelt legislation resulted in a plan to conserve 1.8 million acres of land, affecting land supply. In addition costs associated with development applications and construction are stoking home prices once units hit the market.

8. More and more renters

With housing affordability a concern, attitudes towards renting rather than owning are changing. This shift is spawning a new demographic that the report calls “permanent renters” for some markets. A growing portion of the Canadian population ditching home-ownership aspirations and instead seeking rental units will provide new opportunities for investors.

9. Suburbs’ resiliency 

Canada is urbanizing. Still, the suburbs are going strong. As home prices continue to reach new heights in Canada’s hottest real estate markets causing some to look to rentals, others will seek ownership in the suburbs. Improved suburban transit infrastructure will further ignite this interest outside of city cores.

10. The disruptive force of technology

Shopping for a home? There are apps for that. As in virtually every other market, technology is transforming real estate. For instance, the report noted that Google Maps doesn’t just help users get from point A to point B: investors can use Streetview to scope out an area in seconds. Meanwhile, E-commerce start-ups are seeking office space, igniting commercial real estate markets. Retailers are increasingly looking for places to house inventory rather than to sell goods to customers from because online shopping has taken off. More broadly, technology is shaping the built form of cities themselves as it impacts the design and construction processes.

Source: PwC

THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU CLICK: ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS

With few days left for Christmas, and shopping on the go, here is what you have to know on Online Shopping. Recent survey, suggests that Canadian consumers have been shopping online more frequently this year and plan to hit the web for more of their gift buying this December.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November 27th and November 30th, 2015) has already marked the start of the holiday shopping season for many Ontarians. With a growing number of consumers choosing to shop online, it's the perfect time to brush up on safe online practices before you order a product or service.

Follow these five steps to help make the online shopping experience a positive one.

Never use a public Wi-Fi network for online transactions.

While it's convenient to browse on-the-go, public Wi-Fi connections at places like coffee shops or bookstores do not offer the security recommended for a financial transaction. A strong password-protected connection at home is your best bet for safer shopping.

Make sure the final payment webpage is secure.

Before sharing personal or financial information online, confirm that the final payment web page for your purchase is protected with encryption. Security features are different for every web browser so take the time to learn the basics for the one you prefer to use. The two most common signs of a secure page for any browser are:

•    The web address begins with "https" (for example, https://www.nameofshop.com).
•    A padlock symbol that you can click to see the security information.

Check for additional charges.
 
There may be taxes, duty and other shipping and handling charges included in your purchase, especially when buying internationally. Make sure you understand any additional charges included in the final price and double check the listed currency. If the listed price isn't in Canadian currency, the exchange rate can affect the final price you pay.

Get to know the refund policy.
 
Ontario businesses are not generally required to offer refunds or exchanges, so it's important that you check each business' policy before making your purchase. Look around the web page for FAQs and the terms of the sale, and make sure they work for you.

Save or print the payment confirmation page.
 
The confirmation page summarizes your purchase before you complete it. The business must provide you with an opportunity to accept or decline the terms of agreement and correct any errors. Once you accept the terms of agreement, it acts as your Internet agreement with the business.  

Done with shopping, cookie bakes and decorations?? Waiting for perfect summer time to buy your home? Don’t wait for perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect. This winter explore some best real estate opportunities with AJ Lamba Team. Give us a call today.

Controlling Winter Humidity

We all know that keeping humidity in our home during the winter is important for our skin, throat and overall health, but did you also know that it’s vital to the health of our home? If humidity level dip too low our furniture and house will deteriorate and certain germs will thrive

We need to understand that every home is different, humidity levels can be affected by many factors. The number of people living in the home, the number of showers taken, the amount of laundry done and even a wood burning fireplace contributes to humidity levels if you keep firewood inside to dry out. The number of times a day an exterior door is opened and even cooking all affect your comfort level.

Humidity Levels Are Too Low
During the winter humidity levels drop because cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Homes that utilize forced air heating have an exacerbated problem because furnaces use combustion to create hot air, thus burning out most of the water vapor that existed in the first place. To make matters worse, when humidity levels dip the ambient air feels cooler than more humid environments, and we turn up the heat to compensate.

Low humidity causes static electricity, dry skin and hair, increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory illness, and can allow viruses and germs to thrive. Wood floors, furniture and millwork will split and crack, paint will chip, and electronics can be damaged because of low humidity levels. Adding a humidifier to your home will remedy these problems

Humidity Levels Are Too High
It is possible for homes to have too much humidity, which will create its own set of problems, particularly the issue of condensation. This does not typically occur in older homes, but new, tightly constructed buildings will retain more heat and moisture, which is when mechanical ventilation is important. During the winter you will first notice this at windows: when warm, moist air comes in contact with a cold window, air temperature drops and it can no longer hold the water vapor and condensation results. If a home does not have the proper mechanical and natural ventilation, excess water vapor can travel through walls and ceilings, causing wet insulation, peeling paint, and mold on walls and rot in woodwork. Try these steps to lower humidity in your home:

• Turn down or off humidifier, and use a dehumidifier when necessary – particularly in basements and during the summer.
• Use exhaust fans while cooking and bathing or open a window to exchange fresh, drier air.
• Reduce the amount of water introduced into the home by cooking with covered pots; taking cooler, shorter showers; venting clothes dryers directly to the outside; and reduce the number of plants in the home.
• In tightly constructed homes, use an energy recovery ventilator.

How to Gauge Indoor Humidity Levels:

• Fogging and condensation accumulating on windows, moisture and mold occurring on walls and ceilings is an indication of too much humidity.
• Increased instances of static electricity, dried and cracking millwork and paint indicate low humidity levels.
• Use a digital or analog hygrometer to measure humidity levels.
• If you use a whole house humidification system, use a humidistat to control and monitor humidity levels.

Here are some good guidelines to consider:

The Canadian Lung Association recommends the following:

• That a RH of 30 - 50% maximum for most of the year, because too much humidity can

   promote mould growth.

• If you notice condensation on your windows, consider replacing them with double pane 

  windows, and getting an energy analysis of your home.

• Meanwhile, use the window condensation as an indicator that the humidifier needs to be

  turned down, or that your home needs more fresh air ventilation

While this information is reasonably good, it is directed more towards existing homes and does not fully reflect the trend towards tighter homes that have HRV’s and ERV’s and the move away from leaky homes that need humidifiers.

CMHC recommends that humidity be kept low enough that window condensation does not occur. In order to limit window condensation, you need to lower your relative indoor humidity. But what relative humidity level is needed to avoid condensation and frosting on cold surfaces in your home?

If you look at this chart produced by National Resources Canada, a simple double pane thermal pane window will form condensation on it when indoor humidity exceeds the listed minimum's for each outdoor temperature, condensation being a result of high humidities and low temperatures. If you can't raise the temperature, then you have to reduce the humidity. Even at zero, you need to drop your humidity to 40% to prevent that condensation. Dehumidifiers cannot drop that humidity below about 50 - 55%, as you found out, and you have to pay the electricity bill to operate these machines as well.

 Source: CMCH

Diversified Christmas Delicacies in Canada.

To all the food lovers. Here is the list of special dishes which makes us go yummm, whenever we think of Winter and Christmas.  No matter where you come from, you definitely have certain foods that remind you of special times in your life like holidays.

If you were born in Canada, you probably think of Christmas when you hear the words “food” and “holiday” together. Traditionally, Christmas is Canada’s biggest feast-day. Whether it’s celebrated for its religious roots or as a secular (non-religious) holiday, Christmas carries delicious traditions.

Of course, many of them came here from different countries. Immigrants from Britain and Europe brought their religious holiday traditions with them when they settled in Canada. They celebrated Christmas with special dishes handed down for generations in their families. And sometimes they had to change some of their recipes to suit the supplies that were available, changing the European tradition to a Canadian one.

 

Christmas cookies are an example. Shortbreads from Scotland, the Armenian invention called gingerbread, spice cookies brought by Moravian-Americans, florentines from Italy, brandy snaps from England, chocolate meringues from France, and Nanaimo bars from the Canadian province of British Columbia… they all taste like Christmas, because we’ve claimed them for our own.

 Then there is eggnog. A drink from Medieval England, it's now available in Canadian grocery stores every 

fall and winter. You can drink it as it is, sprinkle ground nutmeg on top, or stir in some rum or brandy. It’s also delicious in tea or coffee, or as an ingredient in eggnog-flavoured Christmas cookies!

You can't forget tourtière. A savory, spiced French-Canadian meat pie, it was originally made with passenger pigeon meat. Those birds were so delicious, and defenseless, that they're extinct now; people didn't understand about preserving endangered species in the old days. Today people still enjoy tourtière, made with pork, beef or veal, as a Christmas Eve tradition, and you don't have to be in Québec to love it.

Canadians enjoy many other Christmas treats – candy-canes, mince tarts, Yule-log cakes, hot spiced cider, mulled wine, Christmas cake filled with candies fruit, plum puddings that you douse with brandy and set on fire. But the centrepiece of the holiday is Christmas dinner.

That means a turkey, or sometimes a goose, roasted to golden-brown perfection, with dressing (stuffing) cooked either inside the bird or in a separate baking dish. Every family seems to have their favourite dressing recipe, but even the boxed ones from the grocery store are pretty good. For vegetables, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, squash, sweet potato, turnips - mixed and matched, depending on tastes. Serve cranberry sauce on the side, and cover everything with rich gravy from the roasted bird... then enjoy all kinds of Christmas treats for dessert. It’s a meal to set you dreaming all the year through.

These traditions came from country’s first settlers. But recent immigrants have added even more wonderful foods to Canada’s Christmas table. Tandoori chicken from India, Ethiopian potatoes and cabbage (tikil gomen), black cake or great cake from the West Indies, Chinese moon-cakes and fried dumplings filled with pork and peas... all these and many more are finding their way into Canada’s Christmas food-memory.

If you think about it, Canada has always been about bringing different parts of the world together. Wish you all the joy and happiness of the religious and secular holidays you celebrate... and a Merry Christmas, as you celebrate Canada’s delicious heritage.

Eat, drink and be merry this holiday. But do not let season steal your plans of home purchase and sale. Look out for best deals with AJ Lamba Team and add more joy and warmth to this festival.