Unless you are rabid fan of the New York Giants or the New England Patriots — the conference champs who will square off in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, Feb. 5 at the Lucas Oil Stadium — there really are better places to watch the NFL title game.

Like, a tricked-out, beer-tapped man cave!

Homes with “man caves” — or rooms with giant TVs, sports memorabilia, wet bars, and comfy couches — have grown in popularity over the years and have become the go-to place on big game days. Or, dare we say big movie nights?

Just in time for the big game, we found some homes for sale with man caves that offer the ultimate place to watch on Super Bowl Sunday. So, sit back, pop a cold one and pass the chips and dip while we tour a few man cave beauties we found.

The Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Homeownership Assistance Program is now available!

The IAH Homeownership program provides 5% in down payment assistance to eligible applicants in the City of London and Middlesex County to assist them in purchasing a home. Qualifying home buyers can also receive another 3% of the cost of the home to assist in paying “closing costs” such as legal fees, disbursements and registration on title.

Eligible purchasers will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis until the government funds are depleted or by the provincial deadline of March 31, 2012; whichever comes first.

How do I qualify?

You may be eligible for the program if you meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Must be at least 18 years old
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• Must be a renter in London or Middlesex County
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• Must not currently own a home or residential property in whole or in part, including recreation or cottage property
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• Cannot be living in a spousal relationship (including same-sex) with a person who owns, in part or in whole, a residential property including recreation or cottage property
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• Must agree not to lease the home or individual rooms in the home and must agree to occupy the home for the duration of the IAH Loan Agreement
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• Must be preapproved for a mortgage at a recognized financial institution and demonstrate that they can sustain a mortgage
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• Have a maximum household gross annual income of $55,000 or less
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• Have a signed purchase and sales agreement for a qualifying home not exceeding $145,000
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• Must have a home inspection on the property which has been completed by a Registered Home Inspector or an Associate Member of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors
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• Household assets cannot exceed $20,000
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• The home must be purchased in the city of London or Middlesex County

Funds are limited.  Apply early!

The Homeownership Assistance Program is a partnership between the government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of London through the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Program.

By Stewart Blair

Prudential Family Realty; Brokerage

You may love your home, but that doesn’t mean that everyone coming through the door will feel the same way. What may be “charming” to the seller may seem off-putting to a prospective buyer. Many sellers attempt to stage their home themselves and, in doing so, create mistakes that can actually sidetrack the sale of their homes.

Here are some of the biggest staging mistakes, according to professional home stagers.

1. Getting too personal: Home staging is meant to create a neutral canvas that will appeal to the majority of buyers. Staging is all about de-personalizing the space, and creating more of a luxury hotel or a model home look that will appeal to most everyone. This is not the time to bring in your unique style and create a look that appeals to just you.

2. Using dark colors: If painting, you should choose a nice, neutral and warm color, such as beige tones, grey tones, or light blue or pale greens. You’ll be amazed at the transformation a few coats of fresh paint will make on your home.

3. Not taking advantage of natural light: People love natural light, so blocking off any light with heavy curtains or furniture can hurt your sale, especially if the home has attractive views. Anything dated in a home is a turn-off to a potential buyer and window treatments are one of them.

4. Thinking more is better: Scale down your furniture. The size of the furniture needs to be in balance with the scale of the room and the other furniture in it. Remember that the purpose of furniture when selling a home is to define the purpose of the room and to show what will fit where. It is not meant to show that you can provide seating for 15 in your living room and every seat has a side table to rest drinks on.

5. Leaving pets at home: You need to remove all traces of animals from the house and make sure “Fido” or “Sunshine” is away during showings. Having a pet could kill a sale before someone even steps into a house.

6. Neglecting the outside: People care about the outside space just as much as the inside, so add flowers, make sure the lawn is mowed, the yard is tidy and add a few backyard accessories for the kids.

7. Only dealing with “main” rooms: People are quick to stage living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, but don’t forget to spruce up the garage, basement and closets as well.

8. Forgetting fixtures: When staging a home, it’s important to ensure all lights are burning with fresh bulbs, and that all fixtures are working.

Remember, staging a home means showcasing the property’s many features, not concealing its flaws. Make sure your house is in good condition and use staging to cast the home in the best light.

Stewart Blair can be reached at519 933 6198. Prudential Family Realty; Brokerage is an independently owned and operated broker member of BRER Affiliates, Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing Opportunity.

From the Ottawa Citizen

For more than four years, a couple I know were landlords to another couple in their basement apartment. It wasn’t a positive experience.

The tenants violated the no-smoking agreement and were chronically late with rent cheques.

“We began to feel more and more bullied by them (and) their negativity, even as we tried to meet their requests,” the landlords said. “The constant sound of them yelling and cursing at one another made our own living space unpleasant.”

When the tenants moved out, the landlords were shocked at the damage and filth left behind. Today, they’ve reclaimed the space for a home gym and are breathing easier.

It doesn’t have to be this way. An income property can be a terrific investment, but protecting that investment requires finding a responsible tenant.

How can you give yourself the best possible odds of leasing to a “keeper”? In short, with references, credit checks and your instincts. Right off the bat, make it clear in your ad that applicants will be carefully screened. This alone will scare off most people with a less-than-stellar rental history.

References from an applicant’s previous landlords are key, but try to verify that the reference is a bona fide landlord and not a friend or relative playing the part. Ask very specific questions. Unfortunately, some landlords are reluctant to speak ill of a tenant because they’re so anxious for that tenant to leave.

Pay attention to time frames in the applicant’s rental history — if there are gaps or frequent moves, ask why. Employment and personal references should also be thoroughly checked out. And, while it may feel awkward, asking for photo ID is completely legitimate.

In addition to supplying you with the applicant’s credit history, information from a credit check can be used to ensure that the applicant is being straight in regard to their rental history and job situation.

Many landlords rent to family, friends and friends of friends because it seems like a safer bet than renting to a stranger. You may decide to forego the credit checks and references for people with whom you’re very close, but it’s important to be extremely clear about your expectations and to have them written in a contract.

Even so, if you shrink at the thought of telling your best friend to turn down the stereo at night or that you can’t take one more late cheque, you might be better off listing in the classifieds.

As for “friends of friends” — that’s how the couple above found themselves in their unhappy situation. Word of mouth can be a good way to get leads on tenants, but it’s no substitute for checking references.

From the start, there are clues to an applicant’s suitability. Does he have a pleasant telephone manner and show up on time? Does she bring all the background information you asked for? Don’t fall for elaborate excuses for not having first and last month’s rent or give the place to someone because her sob story wrings your heart. Trust your instincts: Pay attention to niggling doubts, even if everything looks great on paper.

What to do if, despite all due diligence, your tenant turns out to be the wrong fit? Landlords can evict tenants for failure to pay rent, illegal activity, damage to property or repeated noise complaints. The process often involves applying to the provincial landlord and tenant board, which will hold a hearing to determine whether eviction is in order. This may seem like a bit of a hassle but, in most cases, it’s a fair, effective and civil way to resolve the situation.

One final tip: Maintain a clean, attractive rental space. To have your pick of tenants, you have to show them something worth signing for.

However, I do appreciate that it’s easier said than done. Most of us have strong ties to our homes, and they invariably get in the way of the ultimate goal, which is to sell. I am often surprised by how sellers can unknowingly hinder their sale by making decisions based on emotion rather than on data. Here are the five rules you should follow to help you detach from your sale.

1. Choose your Realtor wisely.

Don’t choose a Realtor because he or she looks friendly from the park bench advertisement. I tell people to act as though you’re hiring a CEO for your company. Meet with at least two or three and let them know you’re doing so. You need a Realtor you respect and one who has a solid plan for you.

Bar none, this is the most important piece of the puzzle because the right Realtor will guide you through the rest of the sale process. Tell them explicitly that you’re interested in maximizing your profit and that you want their unvarnished opinions.

Your best friend or brother-in-law may be a Realtor, but keep in mind this doesn’t necessarily make them the best candidate for the job. In fact, it probably makes them the wrong candidate. They may have trouble being frank with you or you may be irritated when they are — either way, this isn’t a desirable scenario. The last thing you want is to jeopardize a relationship.

If you should decide to act as your own sales agent, the one thing you will need is heaps of time (for research and showings), oodles of objectivity and extremely thick skin. Be prepared to deal with low offers, as potential buyers tend to offer less when faced with a private sale.

2. Set your price wisely.

There is no question that you love your home, and you feel it’s worth a great deal.

But ask for too much and you’re likely to scare buyers away. Your house will linger on MLS until you’re forced to hang that dreaded “Reduced” banner, telling buyers that you’re desperate for offers and prompting them to wonder what’s wrong with your home.

Wouldn’t you ask yourself those same questions in their shoes?

As tempting as it is, don’t assess the home’s value based on what you paid, or on how much money you’ve put into improvements. The more research you do into comparable homes in your neighbourhood, the better you’ll be at gauging its true market value. Attend open houses. Recognize that other homes may have desirable features that yours is lacking.

3. Come from a position of strength — and if you can’t find it, fake it!

To be in the ideal negotiating position, you won’t have to sell by a certain date, and you won’t have a purchase riding on the sale of your home.

Realistically, though, you may have no choice; you may have a new job, a baby on the way or a conditional offer on the home of your dreams. Do what you can to keep prospective buyers in the dark — particularly if you’re getting divorced. Your place should look happily inhabited, even if you’re not living there anymore. You want buyers to think you’ve got all the time in the world, and that you’re waiting to be impressed by an offer.

4. Stage your home

Staging is the perfect word for it. To maximize your return, you’ve got to put personal taste and attachments aside and pretend your home isn’t yours anymore. I find homeowners struggle the most with this task. Ask for advice to get it looking as much like a show home as possible. If your coffee maker doesn’t gleam, keep it in a cupboard. Hide electrical cords. Stow at least a third of your stuff in your mother’s basement. Make it inviting and neutral, and splurge on flowers. All of this will pay off, I assure you.

5. Keep calm and carry on

Don’t take it personally when buyers present lowball offers. Remember, they’re not insulting you; they’re testing the waters. Some sellers are so offended by low offers that they refuse to negotiate. As hurt as you may feel, don’t shoot yourself in the foot. Take a deep breath and talk to your realtor about an appropriate counter-offer.

And once it’s a done deal, feel free to uncork those emotions right along with a splash of champagne.

By Marnie Bennett, The Ottawa Citizen

Home sales in November 2011 dipped 7.1%, due in large part to a drop in condo sales. “Sales of detached homes were down only a marginal 1.8% from the previous November,” says Jack Lane, President of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®. “It was the condo market that was soft. Bear in mind, however, that condo sales for November 2010 were up 16.2% over November 2009, so the bar was set pretty high.

The good news for condo sellers heading into an early Spring market is that there will be pent-up demand; the good news for buyers interested in condos is that there will be plenty of supply at a very reasonable price.” Overall Year-to-Date sales of all house types are down a modest 1.1% from last year.
Listings were up 1.6% in November, at month-end the Association’s inventory of listings stood at 3,414, and the average price for a home (including condo sales) in the Association’s jurisdiction stands at $234,602, up 0.2% from the previous month.

The year to day average price now stands at $232,819 which is up 4.1% over January 2011.
The news from St. Thomas was very positive. Fifty homes sold in London’s Sister City in November, up 22% from November 2010.

Avg home prices across Canada:

St. Thomas – $185,303.
Vancouver – $768,687

Toronto – $472,914
Victoria – $488,454
Calgary – $418,093
Hamilton-Burlington – $323,929
Edmonton – $338,972
Ottawa – $342,078
Kitchener-Waterloo – $323,727
Regina – $285,008
Saskatoon – $294,717
St. Catharines – $253,773
Halifax-Dartmouth – $256,545
Newfoundland & Labrador – $253,337
London St. Thomas – $232,714
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The average price for a home in Canada overall September month-end stood at $357,942.
The best-selling house style in LSTAR’s jurisdiction for November 2011 was the two-storey, followed by the bungalow, then the ranch, then the townhouse condominium.

2 storey – 155 Units Sold – $324,495 ( Avg Price)
Bungalow – 113 Units Sold – $171,227
Ranch – 68 Units sold – $270,178
Townhouse Condo – 43 Units Sold – $150,347

At Prudential we want to help to take the stress out of the move.

Prudential Real Estate has a trusted relocation network, connecting agents from all over North America with one another.

If you are looking for vacation properties in Florida or Phoenix we can connect you with a trusted professional who is an expert in the market you are searching.

All the agents that we will put you into contact with are full time, professional and vastly expierenced.

This service is absolutely free and offered courtesy of Stewart Blair and Jeremy Odland from Prudential Family Realty in London, Ontario.

Please contact us via the website forms or e-mail me at stewart@londonontariorealty.com

Just let us know the folloing

1) Where are you moving?

2) When are you thinking of moving?

3) What are you looking for?

We will connect you with a trusted professional as fast as we can