Archive for September, 2007
Hilary’s article on 50+ Real Estate, Published in the Oakville Beaver
September 17th, 2007 Categories: Fifty-five plus, Real Estate News
I wrote an article which appeared in The Oakville Beaver a couple of weeks ago. Here it is:
50+ Clients Have Unique Real Estate Needs – Realtors Specialize in Counseling Mature Property Owners
Today about 32% of Canada’s population are over 50 years. And this 50 plus group as a whole is the fastest growing demographic segment in society, with 44% owning at least one home.
Seniors today can expect to live 15-20 years longer than earlier generations. As life spans increase so also the options for how to spend the later years, and the challenge of planning retirement carefully so funds can last as long as they do.
What are some of the things Realtors with the SRES designation are learning about working with this segment?
1. Mature clients want to be counseled not sold. They value a “high-touch” approach.
2. Seniors need time to make decisions. Decisions to sell the family home and downsize or move to other forms of housing will be made more slowly.
3. Many family members may often be involved in the decision and all family members need to be comfortable that the Realtor is acting in the very best interest of their loved one. Family members may also be concerned about the inheritance.
4. One of the keys to assisting seniors is helping them to feel empowered in the decisions they are making. As people get older there is a sense of loss of control which can make it harder to make any decision. Realtors can help to “empower” their clients by carefully explaining and presenting all the options that are available or providing suggestions as to what to do with the items in the home that may not fit or be suitable for the new situation they are contemplating.
5. Of great benefit and reassurance to seniors is recommending other trustworthy professionals like a financial advisor, lawyer, accountant, and providing a “one-stop team service approach” for the family.
6. Boomers and their parents need to be encouraged to make investigations and decisions about their “next steps” prior to an urgent need arising to precipitate a change.
7. Many seniors are extremely tech-savvy and comfortable with using the Internet. Others are not.
8. There are many sub-markets in this segment of the population, each with differing needs and wants. Like all people, seniors should not be stereo-typed or pre-judged. The Brondesbury group, A Canadian research firm, has identified several lifestyle categories that retirees fall into: Happy homebodies, social butterflies, super shoppers, go-getters, community minded, travelers, worker bees (those returning to work after retirement).
9. Once mature clients find professionals they can trust, they are generally more loyal than Generation X and younger cohorts.
10. Mature clients enjoy long-term relationships, and are not fast-close one time customers, which is often the case with clients under forty.
This article was written by Hilary Shantz, MBA, SRES, Sales Representative, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Oak Park office. For more information about real estate issues impacting seniors , see Hilary’s new blogsite www.the oakvillebuzz.com or contact her at 905-599-3311, hshantz@cogeco.ca
My broker also posted this announcement in the Oakville Beaver about my new SRES designation.
Click here for other articles on 50+ real estate.
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First Home in Burlington, Congratulations Kevin and Barbara!
September 17th, 2007 Categories: Burlington Beat, Client Stories and Testimonials, First Time Buyers, Oakville Real Estate News, Real Estate News
When people purchase their first home, it’s like having their first child. It’s scary, exciting, they have a lot of questions, and value advice of trusted professionals and other friends who’ve been through it.
Brian Harvey, an Oakville renovator, referred Kevin and Barbara to me. We saw the home in the morning and put in an offer without delay that afternoon. There were multiple offers but we won out!
I like the town house you chose, with its private backyard and Engelman’s ivy growing on the back fence. We met a few of the neighbours and they all seem nice and have lived there a long time. The home inspector gave it “above average condition” rating. We could see it was good value for the price.
Kevin and Barbara, you were fun to work with and I am pleased that you can look forward to moving into your very own home before Christmas! I will come by to visit and have some eggnog!
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Hilary Helps Oakville Kitchen Design Company Move Into Custom Home Renovation
September 16th, 2007 Categories: Client Stories and Testimonials, Fifty-five plus, Oakville Events, Oakville Real Estate News, Real Estate News
Dave Blair and Bob Murphy own MDL Designs, a Custom Kitchen Redesign and Renovation business in Oakville. Last summer they asked for help in adding to their business model a new branch of home renovation for resale. I explained how the numbers would work in order to make a profit, the risks involved, and the streets and areas in Burlington and Oakville that might be suitable. We looked at quite a few “renovation candidates”.
I met them at Tim Hortons the first day “their” house came on the market, and said “I think this might be it!”. It was a bungalow in South Central Oakville on a deep private lot, which they could renovate for a downsizer.
I am excited to see them finish the renovation! The kitchen cabinets will be installed tomorrow.
A letter from Dave:
Dear Hilary,
For Bob and I, the decision to buy our first “fix and flip” investment property meant finding a realtor we could trust., who could provide guidance about the market, how to evaluate potential properties, the areas to look in, and all the financial considerations.
We are excited to have found our prize property!
We found you to be hard working, sincere and committed. You supplied us with potential listings daily and returned phone calls and e-mails promptly. At no time did we feel pressured to make a decision if we were not sure about a property, and all of your advice had our best interest in mind.
Bob and I are excited about our plans for renovation and the new direction we are taking in our business by combining renovation and investment.
We look forward to purchasing our next property through you before long! We will not hesitate to recommend you to friends and business colleagues.
Sincerely,
Dave Blair, Co-Owner, MDL Designs Ltd.
Congratulations Dave and Bob! you are fine craftsmen. Your growing success is well-deserved. I saw from the get-go your passion for excellence, reliability and integrity.
Here are some kitchens by MDL Designs, check out their website at www.mdldesigns.com.
“Making Dreams Come True is What I Do!” Why not give me a call to chat about your goals and dreams?
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Moving to Oakville? Compelling Reason #3 - Location! Location! Location!
September 14th, 2007 Categories: Why Move to Oakville?
Located on Lake Ontario, halfway between Hamilton and Toronto, Oakville allows for an easy commute to downtown Toronto.
The Go-Train commuter system has stops in Bronte, Central Oakville and Clarkson on the border of Mississauga. Residents can get to downtown Toronto on the express commuter train within 20 minutes.
Residents of Oakville also benefit from close proximity to Niagara Falls, the Niagara wine region, and the unique beauty of the Niagara escarpment.
For access to international travel, Oakville is 20 minutes away from Pearson International Airport and 30 minutes from Hamilton International Airport.
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Moving to Oakville? Compelling Reason #2 - Charm of Oakville Downtown Area
September 14th, 2007 Categories: Downtown Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
This is one of my favorite photos of the main street in Downtown Oakville. Reminiscent of the colors of Provence, it was taken by my photographer friend Ashley.
The Town of Oakville was founded in 1827. Residents take pride in preserving Oakville’s history and traditions: Heritage Buildings, Heritage Walkng Trails, Heritage Tours. Stroll along the Town’s downtown streets and you will see a mix of converted 19th century buildings which accommodate over 400 fine shops and restaurants with a variety of cuisines to suit every palate.
Oakville is proud of its British heritage. You’ll see a lot of fish and chip shops, English pubs and hear a few British accents as you wander through town.
Our family enjoys having Saturday morning brunch at Cafe de los Libros followed by browsing through the adjoining bookstore.
Throughout the year there are many festivals, such as the Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival in August. Our whole family enjoys this annual event, eating BBQ ribs from the Butchery, having an ice cream cone from Circus and sitting in the Town square on a folding chair listening to live music.
Royal LePage participates each year in the annual Santa Claus Parade, which is a fun way to celebrate the yuletide season. My colleagues and I are usually in the parade handing out candy canes.
Like what you hear and see so far? How about giving me a call to give you a real live tour of Oakville neighbourhoods and perhaps see a few Oakville homes for sale?
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Moving to Oakville? Compelling Reason #1 - Oakville is The Riviera of Ontario!
September 14th, 2007 Categories: South East Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
Oakville is a vibrant and prosperous municipality within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The GTA is Canada’s largest metropolitan area with a total population of about 5.3 million.
Some 150,000 people call Oakville home. Sometimes given the moniker “The Riviera of Ontario”, Oakville boasts a picturesque lakefront with two marinas. Nestled along the shoreline of Lake Ontario are many luxurious waterfront properties, many with riparian rights, that have been the dwelling-place of choice of prosperous Canadians for many years.
Here’s a photo of Oakville Harbor where Sixteen Mile Creek flows into Lake Ontario.
I am biased, but not alone, in calling Oakville “the most beautiful town in Ontario”. Not unlike the town of Carmel in California, affluence, aesthetics, sophistication and small town friendliness combine to create a unique and desirable community.
This is a photo of sailboats moored at the Oakville Marina.
We receive a lot of tourists each year, 1.4 million visitors annually and $81.5 million is generated for our local economy through tourism. See www.oakvilletoursim.ca. for more about visiting Oakville.
Like what you hear and see so far? How about giving me a call to give you a real live tour of Oakville neighbourhoods and perhaps see a few Oakville homes for sale?
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Discover Your Own Way and Live it with Passion!
September 13th, 2007 Categories: Lighten Up
At age 10, I started to learn the piano. Mrs. Tavares taught me scales and arpeggios and how to pass the Royal Conservatory Exams.
Then several years later, I got a new teacher, Mr. Richter, a fiery, Hungarian pianist who felt the music in his bones. He taught me to color outside the lines, musically. To interpret the music. He gave me permission to turn off the metronome and make the piece my own.
Boy could he put passion and emotion into Chopin’s Nocturne!
Learn the basics, and then find your own path, your true voice.
So what’s the application to real estate? Doing what everyone else is doing is not going to get us very far. As I read somewhere “You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting another REALTOR”…, there are a lot of us out there!
If you are a REALTOR, following high-paid gurus, pre-written scripts is OK. It would be like my first piano teacher Mrs. Tavares. You can pass the Conservatory exams… But then, you need to give yourself permission to soar and discover your own unique way. Figure out your own path. Find your true voice.
For non-realtors, if you’ve been in your profession for a while, you can rekindle a passion by redesigning your life and how your work fits into it, so that you are mostly doing the things you love, and using the best gifts you have been given. Feeling like a square peg in a round hole in your work life, redesign it!
Discover your own true genius!
No two people or snowflakes are created the same. Decide to discover your own true genius. We each have a few strokes of it!
“Change up” the way you think about your work, the way you approach it, so it becomes uniquely “you”.
I ended up working for a bank after finishing my MBA. But being a left brain, creative, idea person, banking was not a good fit for me. I enjoyed uisng my analytical skills, and all that working in mortgages and finance comes in handy now, but corporate life and a regular 9-5 job doesn’t allow me to soar.
What are the things I love to do?
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I like helping people, clients, friends, just people in general.
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I love getting to know people and what makes them tick. Sharing with them my journey and learning from theirs. For me that is play, not work.
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I love to write, and want to get better at it.
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I like to find out new things every day.
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I don’t like a lot of routine and repetitive tasks.
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I like problem solving and I approach each client with that attitude: How do I solve their problem? Find a solution to what they are seeking? How do I help them realize their dream? Who can I call on to help me deliver what they need? Another realtor? Financial advisor? Stager? Decorator? Mover? Legal expert? Counsellor?
You have your own list of things you love to do: write it down! Then figure out a way to incoporate the things you love into your life and work.
And play your music with passion today!
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Hilary Gets Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) Designation
September 13th, 2007 Categories: Fifty-five plus, Real Estate News, South East Oakville
I am now an SRES desginee, one of the first realtors in Canada to receive specialized training for helping mature clients -Boomers and Seniors – with their real estate needs.
This is a picture of my friends and neighbours Bill and Maggie Frazier, taken when they had us over for dinner a few weeks ago.
Bill retired this month, congratulations to you both on entering a new chapter of life!
Bill says “I was having fun working but my retired friends were having more fun, so it was time to join them!”
Royal LePage has partnered with CARP, the Canadian Association for the 50+, to offer specialized training to Realtors wishing to provide a higher level of professionalism in meeting the needs of mature clients.
This year the first class of Realtors to receive the SRES desgnation and training was offered in Toronto. Realtors from across Canada came to learn how to understand and counsel boomers and their parents. I was one of them.
SRES designees benefit from membership in SAREC, the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council. SAREC in turn provides Realtors with on-going research, support, and learning provided through workshops, special events, newsletters and their website www.seniorsrealestate.com.
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Do You Remember When We Ate the Fish in Lake Ontario? New Memorial in Bronte
September 8th, 2007 Categories: Beautiful Bronte Village, Historical Oakville, Oakville Events, Oakville Real Estate News, Oakville Town Planning & Development, Real Estate News
Respecting the Past, Celebrating the Present , Embracing the Future is the Town of Oakville’s motto.
Oakville is a forward-thinking modern town that also cherishes its history and heritage.
This past weekend Wayne and I were strolling along Bronte waterfront with our friends Ashley and Min-Na and enjoying a cappucino gelato. We stopped to admire the new Fishermen’s Memorial Monument.
Unveiled just a few weeks ago, this beautiful granite memorial measures 12′ x 6′ x 2′. The simple dedication reads:
“In memory of the Bronte Commercial Fishermen who ventured onto the lake in good weather and bad to set and lift their nets to earn a living catching fish. Ciscoes, Herring Whitefish Lake Trout. Cleaned at the dockside shanties. Packed in ice and shipped to markets in Toronto, Hamilton and New York City. Twenty-two boats travelled from the harbour at the peak fishing season. As the fish dwindled, so did the boats fishing from Bronte. The last boat left the lake circa early 1950s.”
Not too long ago we, and people as far as New York City, would pay to eat fish from Lake Ontario!
A local Bronte community group took on this project as a labor of love and raised funds from the community in the amount of $54,500 to finance this memorial.
The Village of Bronte became part of the Town of Oakville in 1954. Today Bronte is experiencing renewal and is becoming a growing centre for commerce, tourism and residential development.
It’s nice to know that along with progress, residents see value in preserving the past.
I like the royal blue benches in Bronte Harbourfront Park. They remind me of Portugal and Greece. My friend Ashley took this photo and the one at the top.
More on Bronte waterfront development in upcoming posts…
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Oakville Development North of Dundas: What’s Happening?
September 8th, 2007 Categories: Client Stories and Testimonials, Fifty-five plus, Lighten Up, North Oakville Development, Oakville Real Estate News, Oakville Town Planning & Development, Real Estate News, South East Oakville
What is the Town planning for development north of Dundas?
Last week I was manning the Royal LePage Kiosk in Oakville Place. The mother of a girl on my daughter’s soccer team stopped by. She is an urban design planner so I ask “What’s new at Town Hall?”
“Council approved the North Oakville East Secondary Plan Minutes of Settlement last week”, she said.
I investigated further and found out a few things:
- How big? It will encompass 2,300 hectares of land
- Where will it be? The area to be developed is bordered by Dundas Street in the south, Sixteen Mile Creek in the west, Ninth Line in the east and Highway 407 in the north.
- How many people? When all is complete, it is expected to include about 50,000 new Oakville residents.
- What about the environment? Developers say the plan is innovative and breaks new ground in creating environmentally sustainable communities: walkable, compact and diverse (from a land use perspective) community. ”It will be one of the most environmentally sensitive community plans in North America” says David Stewart, President of Mattamy Development Corporation. “
- What about new jobs? About 25,000 new jobs are being created right in the area, which will reduce the need for commuting.
- What is the Mayor’s vision? “We have created a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable plan that will help create one of Canada’s most green and livable communities, says Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in a recent press release. (Mr. Burton believes North Oakville development will contribute greatly to our town’s stated vision of becoming the most livable in Canada.)
- What will it look like? Plans are for a public open space system that is twice the size of Central Park in New York City. Some 600 hectares of land will be set aside for open space linkages and wildlife corridors.
- When does development start? Word on the street is that ground will be broken before the end of the year.
The picture I am getting sounds appealing. Wayne and I could sell our house in South East Oakville and downsize into a bungaloft in this new community when our kids leave home in a few years.
We could trade down to one car. I will have to ask my clients to drive me around. (I will be the first realtor in Oakville without a car, let alone a BMW.)
I see Wayne jogging in the park, me walking to coffee shops, and to my office in Oak Park. The air will be fresh and clean (goodbye Ford Motor Company, Petro-Canada refinery and that other cement factory down by the lake). I envision neighbours walking their dogs in our very own Central Park…
I plan to check out the Ontario Municipal Board hearings, scheduled to start September 10, 2007. More on this subject in future posts. Please comment if you have any other questions, news or concerns.
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