Frank Steinhausen, Broker
FSteinhausen@REMAX.net
RE/MAX Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
Phone 905-428-6533
Fax 905-668-1850
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Archive for September, 2007
Am I glowing?…Health and Durham Region’s Nuclear Power Generating Stations
September 26th, 2007 Categories: Buying real estate, Durham Region, Pickering, Real Estate
Close your eyes and you can probably picture, Homer Simpson dropping a green glowing rod into his pocket and heading for home. If you are considering a move to Pickering, Ajax, or anywhere in Durham Region, someone is going to ask you, sooner or later, “when do you start to glow?”
Durham Region is home to two of Canada’s seven nuclear power generating stations. TWO! We must be glowing.
To ally fears, or fuel them (you be the judge), Durham Region Health Department released their results of their study of radiation and health. They reviewed cancer rates and birth defects in Durham Region compared to demographically similar regions in southern Ontario. Their conclusion: we don’t think long term exposure to low levels of radiation has any effect.
Weeding through all the scientific literature, local health data and information on public radiation dose, the Health Department found very muddy water indeed.
The first fear we need to ally, is that living within 10 kilometres of either 
Pickering NGS or Darlington NGS does not expose you to more radiation than if you flew to Florida a couple of times each year. In fact, the OPG monitors radiation levels so closely in this area that they know that you are actually exposed to less. Really, baring a Chernobyl-like disaster, it is not the short term exposure to radiation, like having a chest x-ray that concerns us. It is the long term effects of raising a family here that has been investigated.
When compared with Halton and Simcoe Region, the incidence of cancers and birth defects can not be conclusively related to living beside the Pickering Power Plant. Looking at the historical data, there are too many confounding factors like smoking, socio-economic status and migration that muddy the results.
Is it safe to raise your family with a view of Pickering or Darlington NGS? The Durham Region Health Department says yes. As safe as living on a farm in Tavistock or Caledonia. I know that I don’t glow yet.
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The Case of the Disappearing Offer to Purchase: Phantom Offers in Durham Region
September 19th, 2007 Categories: Durham Region, Real Estate News, Selling real estate
Just when we thought that real estate agents have had enough black eyes, the Toronto Star published two highly visible articles on how real estate agents might not be above board on the legitimacy of all the offers being presented, in a multiple offer situation. Apparently, some agents are driving up prices of homes by suggesting that there might be more offers than there actually are.
Why would real estate agents do push prices up?
It might be suggested that they do this to get more commission—the higher the sale price, the more money they make. That could be true. It seems that there are a lot of people looking for easy dollars from the huge proliferation of get-rich-quick (in real estate, on the internet, in stocks) filling up my in-box. Real estate agents are after a quick buck. Of course, the seller also benefits from the higher price, but let’s not look there.
Wait a minute. What about Freakonomics?
Last year, and still this year, a huge selling book called Freakonomics 
suggested that real estate agents don’t care about the extra $200 they get when your home sells for $10,000 more. They want to take the money and run—no concern for your pockets.
So which is it?
I am sure that there are some questionable real estate agents that are out to make a fast buck or to make the most bucks—ethics be damned. Just as there are snake oil salesmen that are looking to sell you the next big trend.
For me, real estate is my career. It feeds my family. It lets my son and daughter play hockey and my youngest do gymnastics. I will not sacrifice my family, my livelihood for the sake of a deal.
If I can get you more money, I will. If the final price on the offer is legitimately the best for your home, I will tell you. Your goals and mine are the same. To get you the best price, in the shortest time, with the least inconvenience to you and your family. Both our families win.
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Crystal Ball Gazing: Are Real Estate Market Predictions Worth Their Weight?
September 14th, 2007 Categories: Buying real estate, Durham Region, Oshawa, Pickering, Real Estate News, Selling real estate
It’s been said that a weatherman is the only person that can be 
wrong, do his job badly and still keep it. Trendspotters in the real estate market could be in the same category. With all the gadgets and gizmos, I keep hoping that the weather predictions will get better, especially for my hurricane-season Florida trip. Throwing humans into the mix to predict what is going to happen next in the real estate market, might be a job for Nostrodamas.
What do the experts at CMHC say is going on in the real estate market:
- Things look good for Ontario. The Ontario housing market is running at a good pace with the number of existing home sales increasing along with the average price, when you look at the summer of 2006 compared to the summer of 2007.
- Toronto is holding its own. The greater Toronto area resale market is healthy with 17% more sales than last year and an average price increase of 5%.
- Oshawa, not so much. Oshawa has more sales than last year, but the average price has fallen 1 1/2%. The rest of Durham Region, as we walk farther from Toronto, through Pickering, Ajax, and Whitby, we would expect to see things somewhere in between. Pickering showed a 2% increase in price over last year. One reason for the difference in the market status is, as the region moves away from the healthier diversified job market of the GTA to the stumbling manufacturing-laden job market of Oshawa, prices soften.
How did CMHC do last year at predicting this year’s market?
I’m not sure if any of the trendspotters are looking to be weathermen, they could look into it.
In their Fall 2006 report CMHC expected Toronto to have an 11% increase in sales and only a 3.8% increase in price. In Oshawa, they were hoping for a smaller increase in sales and 1 1/2% increase in price.
Knowing their past history, we can ask CMHC to pull out their crystal ball and tell us what they think 2008 will look like.
They are expecting to see similar growth in the real estate market with the average price continuing to increase at a pace that is greater than inflation–good for your investment. Oshawa is expected to have a slower increase (2.3%) than Toronto (4.2%).
If CMHC are true to the breed of a conservative Canadian, we will expect the real estate market around the GTA to perform well in a balanced market.
Want a hot tip? Look at Sudbury.
It’s had an almost 20% price increase over last year and is expected to continue to record a double digit price increase next year.
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Under 10 Girls Strikers Brought Home Lots of Hardware This Soccer Season
September 14th, 2007 Categories: Area interest, Durham Region, Pickering
It would have been easy for the Under 10 Pickering Girls Strikers to be cocky going into the Lake Simcoe Soccer Club Tournament on September 8, 9. These girls won this tournament last year without having a goal scored against them. They finished their Central East Soccer League season in first place in the Under 10 Girls West Division. They had come off a championship win in the CESL Cup Tournament two weeks before this. The girls would like to book end the season this year, as they did last year. Last year, they were COVI and LSSC tournament champs and this year, they won the COVI tournament at the start of this year’s season. That only left the LSSC trophy to go. The Pickering Strikers also knew that every other team in the tournament wanted to go home with the champion’s trophy. Each game of the tournament had to be played full out to come out on top.
During the round robin play, the Strikers wowed the West End Wild Cats with a 3 - 0 shut out in the first game. Kailey Steinhausen, Nicole McMillen and Jamila Thombs scored big and Madison Taylor earned a well-deserved shut out.
Anticipating a physical game against the Erin Mills Eagles, in the second game, Pickering held their own with a 3 - 1 win. Defensive players Stephanie Tannis, Ashna Ganeshan, Fiona Leung, and Nikalya Rodney kept the Eagles away from the net, only allowing a goal off a penalty kick. Steinhausen, McMillen and Tannis put the ball into Erin Mills’ net.
The final round robin game solidfied the Strikers place in the finals with a 6 - 0 win over the Bradford Eagles. Megan Doll earned a hat trick; Jamila Thombs put 2 on the board and Sara Scholefield scored one goal.
The final championship game was against the Whitby Roadrunners whom the Pickering Strikers met in their league play. A 1 -1 nail-biter first half with a goal by Sara Scholefield hept the fans at the edge of their seats. Scholefield ended the anxiety with 2 more goals in the second half giving the Strikers the LSSC Champions trophy for the second year in a row.
The Pickering Striker team for the tournament included Kailey Steinhausen,
Shalena Ackerman, Megan Doll, Sara Scholefield, Ashna Ganeshan, Nicole McMillen, Nicole Laing, Fiona Leung, Stephanie Tannis, Nikalya Rodney, Madison Taylor and guest players, Jamila Thombs and Julia Gonsalves.
The Under 10 Girls Pickering Strikers are excited to move into Division One play in the Under 11 season next year, with the help of the coaching staff: Gene Gesauldo, Krish Ganeshan; Bill Scholefield, manager; and Shannon Gesauldo, trainer.
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Best of Breed: Winning the Central East Soccer League Tournament for Pickering
September 14th, 2007 Categories: Area interest, Durham Region, Pickering
The tournament had the air of deciding the best team in the CESL, even though the end of the weekend would lead to a trophy champion instead of a division champion. The Under 10 Pickering Girls Strikers thought that a win would put them on top, as did their parents. This tournament was set up as elimination games between each team that played against each other all summer. One lose and the winner goes on.
Half of the teams were eliminated before the tournament began with a game in July. Durning that game, the Pickering Strikers eliminated the Pickering Warriors with a 9 - 0 shut out. Eight teams in total moved on to the tournament weekend. And the Striker girls were ready to finish on top.
Coming off a win that put them in first place in the West Division of the Under 10 Girls, CESL. Pickering wanted to show that they were also the best in the east.
The Strikers first game was against a tough Darlington Fusion. The Pickering girls seemed surprised by the ferocity of their opposition. To compliment Madison’s outstanding goal keeping, luck was with Pickering as Darlington hit 3 goal posts and a cross bar to keep the game close. Goals by Megan and Sara put the Strikers into the next round, eliminating Darlington with a 2-1 decision.
With a little rest and energy bars, the girls were ready for the semi-finals round against the Oshawa Kicks Fury.
In a very physical match, the Pickering Girls showed their moxi scoring two goals early on forcing Oshawa to push to the offensive. Pickering defenders kept Oshawa away from the net. Two more goals gave Pickering a firm grasp on the game, giving up only one in the 4 - 1 final score.
That meant that Pickering would have to rest up for the finals on Sunday against their division rivals in the west, Wexford Panthers. Pickering Strikers had the psychological advantage having won the previous league game against the Scarborough team. Parents and players were set for a tough, scrapy final round.
The Pickering gilrs came out fighting taking control of the game from the opening kick. Wexford was kept of the defensive and, despite a ripe cherry-picker, were kept scoreless. A tense half for the parents ended with no score. It took another 15 minutes before Pickering could find the net with Shalena scoring off a throw in by Ashna. The minutes ticked by and it wasn’t until Nikayla put the insurance goal in place from a beautiful punt near mid-field that the parents and coaches could take a breath.
Pickering won the CESL Cup Championships.
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Ghosts in the attic, blood on the stairs…Is this Ajax house rentable?
September 14th, 2007 Categories: Ajax, Buying real estate, Durham Region, Real Estate, Real estate investment
Robert Allen and Robert Kiyosaki not withstanding, researching to decide 
whether to become a landlord in the Durham Region real estate world unearthed some interesting information about the market.
The Toronto rental market remains strong. As you move further along the 401, deeper into Durham Region, the market begins to slide. So it isn’t so much as whether this house is rentable as whether there is anyone out there who wants to rent. Durham Region isn’t enjoying strong full-time employment which tends to keep the rental market strong. A three bedroom apartment in north Oshawa, near the university, where friends can share space seems to be the only guarantee for finding a tenant.
What is keeping the tenants away? There are a few factors the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) take into account when deciding on rental market trends. Youth employment tends to encourage young people to stretch their wings into the rental market, leaving the nest. Full-time job opportunities have softened in Durham Region. Less youth are venturing away from home, or they’re heading into Toronto for jobs and apartments.
Opportunities for first time home buyers has also affected the vacancy rate. House prices have shown a slight rise; mortgage rates remain reasonably low; and housing starts remain strong in Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. Many Generation X’ers are opting for home ownership.
Slower migration to Durham Region, due to the slower manufacturing sector, has also affected the rental market. New immigrants tend to be renters.
What does this mean to the fledgling real estate investor? It means you need to be smart about your real estate investment purchases. If current trends continue, the rent you will be able to collect from that 3 bedroom townhouse will likely not increase to match inflation. Keep an eye on your ownership costs as they can eat into your profit and select a rental unit where you can capitalize on the current demand.
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5 steps to converting your Ajax home into a grow-op, or how to recognize one…
September 12th, 2007 Categories: Ajax, Buying real estate, Pickering Village, Real Estate News, Selling real estate
Second only to Mexico, the US citizens import their marijuana from Canada. Looking for a “pot”-ential home-based business, marijuana grow-operations 
have been “growing” in popularity and insidiousness since the early 2000’s, much to the consternation of police and the family-oriented communities.
Here are 5 tips to setting your Ajax home up for hydroponics, or recognize a neighbourhood real estate eye-sore:
- Darken the windows:
Room blackening shades or plastic are needed to keep out the sun and prying nieghbours or police. Since you will have to regulate the growing cycle using high intensity light from 1000 watt bulbs, cover all the windows. Make sure no light from the stadium-style lighting leaks around the window frame, potentially alerting outsiders. - Mask the odour:
Moth-balls, chlorine, manure, and/or air fresheners are often needed to cover the sweet distinctive perfume tha rises from the plants. Careful blocking of vents and air ducts help to keep the smells inside. Don’t open the door to strangers as the scent, and it’s masking can escape bowling over unsuspecting newspaper carriers. - Cut into Power:
Check out a home renovation guide for cutting into the power supply before the electicity meter. The extra juice needed to run the operations doesn’t need to cut into your profits. Opening a hole in the foundation below the electrical box gives access to all the power you need and none of the bills. Watch out for heat-seeking chopters at night looking to detect power hogs. - Prevent water damage:
There might be an opportunity to capitalize on the real estate market by relocating frequently, adding to your profits. The water and extra humidity needed for the hydroponic grow operation can damage the hardwood floors, linoleum and ceilings with water spots. Keep the attic dark so that potential buyers can’t see any mould or mildew that might be taking up residence. - Make the home look lived in:
Leaving mail in the mailbox, papers on the porch and an unkempt yard can bring unwanted visitors. If you act like you live there, the nosy neighbours will just think of you as an eccentric recluse.
The RCMP has more information about recognizing a home that is being used for growing marijuana. Use them, or the Durham Region police to investigate any suspicious homes or behaviour. Together we can keep our kids safe on the streets and the drugs off them.
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