Why Move to Oakville, Milton or Burlington? Halton Region Safest in Greater Toronto Region says Maclean’s Magazine
March 23rd, 2008 Categories: Burlington Beat, Client Stories and Testimonials, First Time Buyers, Halton Real Estate, Oakville Real Estate News, Why Move to Oakville?
“Halton Region is a very safe place to live” says Maclean’s Magazine.
I was doing an open house yesterday afternoon in the new area of Bronte Woods and met two families from GTA land, one from Leaside and another that owned a home in downtown Toronto, both planning to relocate to Oakville, “for lifestyle and affordability”.
This is definitely a growing trend, and not surprising, given the relatively higher price of detached homes in Toronto, high property taxes, and now the new municipal land transfer tax which has placed an added financial burden on home-buyers.
Given the many wonderful benefits of living and raising a family in Halton, we will certainly see this trend continue.
But back to the subject of this post.
I noticed an article in The Oakville Beaver last week which said that Maclean’s Magazine recently profiled Halton as the safest place to live in the Greater Toronto Area.
Maclean’s rankings were based on 2006 per capita crime rates for murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault, robbery, break and enters, and auto theft from the Canadian Centre for Justice Studies.
To read more about why Halton is so safe, click here to access the Oakville Beaver article.
The article also says that Halton is the fourth safest region in Canada. Good news for our families and for the value of real estate in Halton. Let’s keep it that way!
LOOKING TO MOVE TO OAKVILLE, BURLINGTON OR MILTON? IT’S A GOOD DECISION! CALL HILARY AT 905–599–3311 TODAY TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR DREAM HOME.
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Bright’s Gallery of Burlington Moves to Collingwood and Hilary Hooks Up with Real Estate Blogger Marg Scheben-Edey
March 23rd, 2008 Categories: Blogs, Blogging and the Blogosphere, Burlington Beat, Fifty-five plus, Food for Soul and Spirit, Lighten Up, Oakville Real Estate News
Our family spent a ski weekend up at Blue Mountain in Collingwood over March Break. (If you were noticing I didn’t post for a few days, that’s why.)
Having just received a note from Oakville resident and neighbour of mine, Peter Bright, that Bright’s Gallery of Burlington is relocating to Collingwood this spring, I decided to check out the new gallery site, right in the Village at Blue where we were staying.
Best of luck in your new venture Peter. I am sure visitors and locals will appreciate the fine collection of Canadian artists that you profile in your gallery.
This weekend was also an opportunity for me to meet Marg Scheben-Edey of ReMax in Collingwood who has been an inspiration to me as a Canadian blogger and REALTOR.
By the time we met in person on Monday in Collingwood, we were like old friends! That’s the kind of connection that real estate bloggers have with each other.
Marg has a zest for life, a razor-sharp mind and a warm and easy-going personality.
Marg and her husband John grew up in West Oakville. Marg recalls when the land behind their Pinegrove Road house (now Speers Road) was a strawberry field and they would ride horses across the QEW to their friend’s farm on Burnhamthorpe Road. The Edey’s have been living in the Collingwood area for the last 22 years where they raised their two kids.
Our family of four were treated to a tour of Collingwood in Marg’s van.
Development in the area since I was up here last, quite a few years back, is mind boggling! It is certainly the vacation and retirement destination for many in the Golden Horseshoe and GTA.
(I chatted with a lady in one of the Village stores who had just moved up here with her husband, having traded their fast paced life in Southern Ontario for the slower recreational lifestyle of the area. She sold me a very delicious piece of home-made praline fudge.)
“No bird soars too far on its own wings” is one of my mottoes. Staying connected to people like Marg helps me to keep growing and innovating in my business.
By the way, Marg and I are hoping to help get a “Canadian Real Estate Bloggers Conference” going so that real estate professionals on the vanguard of using the internet can exchange ideas and learn from each other.
Any Canadian REALTORS interested in this? Let us know.
Check out Marg’s blog. If you’re looking to buy property in the South Georgian Bay area, she’ll take good care of you.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE SPRING MARKET! TO LIST YOUR HOME IN OAKVILLE OR BURLINGTON, PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL HILARY (905) 599–3311 TODAY!
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All the Mouth-Watering Sushi You Can Eat at SAGA SUSHI in Burlington
February 25th, 2008 Categories: Burlington Beat, Food for Soul and Spirit, Places to Eat
We have had only one other experience with an “all you can eat” sushi bar. It was a place in Mississaua which dished up quantity sushi but the quality had been sorely lacking.
So we didn’t have our hopes set too high when we decided to try SAGA SUSHI in Burlington, which opened just a few months ago.
Our 16–year old Nathan could easily consume a double portion of the usual sized sushi dinner and I could probably do the same, so the thought of unlimited portions was very appealing.
Our family of four, including two teenagers, thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
The restaurant decor was modern and appealing. Staff were friendly and good-natured and served us promptly, especially considering every table was full. It was a Saturday night. We were there from about 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m., and there was a perpetual line-up at the door. (Not sure if they allow reservations.)
We had miso soup, lots of eel, egg, salmon and white tuna sushi. Then we tried several of the different rolls. The crispy roll was very good. We had teriyaki salmon and teriyaki chicken, barbecued eel and some tempura. It was fun to have the freedom to order exactly the kind of sushi we like, and to try out new things, like the dumplings, Japanese curry and seaweed salad.
Sushi, main course, salad, soup, dessert (green tea and mango ice cream) Japanese tea, Coke, Sprite were all consumed with abandon. The fee was $20.00 per person with no extra charge for dessert or drinks. Hard to beat if you are a sushi lover. (Don’t go if you are on a diet.)
We will definitely be back.
Saga Sushi, 2011 Plains Road East (corner Brant and Plains), Burlington, Ontario. Telephone: 905–633–9988
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Santa Brought Me a New Home for Christmas! / Burlington Real Estate Agent
December 24th, 2007 Categories: Burlington Beat, Client Stories and Testimonials, Halton Real Estate
It’s Christmas Eve and Kim has signed off today on an almost new Branthaven home in Burlington.
Burlington based Branthaven Homes are synonymous with quality and craftsmanship.
The kitchen has dark cherry wood cabinetry, with brushed nickel knobs, a sunny window seat, breakfast counter.
A fully finished basement with walkout to a private patio, two spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms. Upgrades everywhere, including quality berber carpeting, 9 inch ceilings, high efficiency furnace, water conserving toilets, stylishly contoured dark wooden banisters. Walk to Go to transit, and a stones throw from Starbucks, and other amenities. 
Brian Kuch, home inspector from Global Property Inspections and Boris (my assistant bee) gave the home two thumbs up: “This home is in mint condition”.
Congratulations Kim! Happy Birthday!
I look forward to seeing you in your classy pad in the New Year.
It was fun getting to know you and to have the chance to sell your home and help you relocate to Burlington.
Kim’s testimonial:
Dear Hilary,
I found you to be very patient and professional, even when times were extremely hectic and unstable.
I truly appreciate your dedication and commitment to my home selling and searching process, as I am sure all your clients do.
I know there are sacrifices you make to provide such great service to your clients, and you always seem to be available to us. Your negotiation skills and market knowledge allowed me to find and finally get this amazing home!
Many thanks and have a great Christmas!
Kim
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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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