Transitions-Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Real Estate Blog

The U.S. real estate market continues to be plummeted by the sub-prime mortgage fall-out and the question I get asked most often by home-sellers these days is "Will we be affected negatively by what is taking place in the U.S.A.?"

I assure anyone I'm conversing with that Canada's real estate market and economy is alive and thriving.
The Canadian employment level is at an all-time high and current interest rates are very stable and appealing to home-buyers. There is an abundance of buyers and a shortage of listings, particularly for first-time buyers.

The sub-prime mortgage fall-out which the U.S. is experiencing, will not occur here as, contrary to that in the U.S., high-ratio mortgages (80% of the property value or higher) from Canadian financial institutions must be insured.
Additionally, sub-prime mortgages represent only 5 % of the Canadian mortgage market as compared to 22 % or more in the USA. To understand what is taking place in the U.S.A., take a moment out to watch this video from 60 minutes which aired last night.
In the article, take a close look at the map and it will give you an idea of just how all-encompassing this debacle has become.

Canadian real estate values, although their rate of increase has slowed slightly, continue to rise and will likely continue to do so over the next 2-3 years.
At that time, we may begin to experience a leveling off of prices once the impact of the coming recession in the states begins to take hold on our manufacturing and export market.

The truth of the matter is that the sub-prime mortgage write-down in the U.S. is currently at a point of over 100 billion USD.
That amount is expected to triple before they begin to see a change in a positive direction.
When we are dealing with figures as high as this, the global economy will feel the waves and along with it, Canada's economy will be impacted.

Canada is in an excellent position, globally, with vast reserves of highly valued and in demand resources such as oil and minerals. Our labour force is strong and our educational system is one of the best in the world.

Canada's strong commodity markets will continue to grow and this will bring a steady rise in property values for the four western provinces.

With close to 80% of all of Canada's exports destined south of the border, a major economic slowdown in the USA will mainly affect the central provinces and the greatest leveling out of real estate values will be felt in Ontario and Quebec.
However, I anticipate Ontario's property values will continue to rise in the coming years due to the steady growth of the population and the balancing from Canada's commodity and energy sectors.

It's an excellent time for buyers to purchase right across Canada with low interest rates, a steady inventory of reasonably priced properties and an economy which will continue to remain strong and show significant growth in the coming years.

©2008JoSmith

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com

 

There's no need to come down with cabin fever in the unusually snowy weather we've been experiencing in the Quinte and Belleville area this winter. Our communities abound with activities and events for every different age group and interest.

On January 28th George Thomson will be giving a presentation on ferns, one of the most ancient and beautiful plants seen widely throughout the Quinte area forests and natural areas.

The Victorians brought them into their homes and it's a tradition we continue to this day.
To learn more about ferns, make sure to attend the Quinte Field Naturalist's meeting at Bridge Street United Church, 60 Bridge Street East in Belleville. The meeting is held in the Sills Auditorium and begins at 7:30pm.

Cormac McCarthy's novel No Country For Old Men, has been made into a magnificent film and it is playing from January 28th to 31st at the Empire Theatre in Belleville, beginning at 7:30pm each evening.
View the trailer of this adventure filled tale and make sure to schedule an evening out in comfort at the Empire to see it sometime this week. Admission is $9.50 for adults and $7.00 for seniors and children.

Have you always wanted to learn more about the birds of the Quinte Region? Here is your opportunity to take a 6 week course with Terry Sprague at the Quinte Conservation Office on Old Hwy 2 just west of Wallbridge Loyalist Road.

The course will be focusing on the identification of birds through various means and will feature films by renowned naturalists John and Janet Foster. The course will be held every Tuesday evening at 7-9pm from January 29th to March 4th. The cost is $75. To register, email Terry.


The Young Player's Company will be presenting The Mikado on January 30, 31 and February 1,2 and 3rd at Sir James Whitney Auditorium beginning at 7:30pm with Sunday's matinee beginning at 2pm.
Tickets are available at the door for $10 or may be purchased in advance at the Quinte Arts Council. Greenley's Booksellers, O'Connor Jewellery and Frequent Steps.

On January 30th, author Mary Thomas will be presenting her third novel, Turning Point: The Story of Anna Jameson - And the Rebellion - in Upper Canada, at the Belleville Public Library's Brown Bag Lunch.

The lunch begins at noon and takes place in the John M. Parrott Art Gallery. To enter the world of Upper Canada in the days of yore, be sure to attend.

For a fun-filled evening of laughter don't miss The Dance Party of Newfoundland when they come to the Empire Theatre on Friday, February 1st. Shows sell out across the country so reserve your tickets today.

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com

Canada, big, beautiful and looking good with a great future for investors, both personal and business.
Of the G8 countries, Canada boasts not only some of the most attractive, desirable real estate, it can also still be purchased at a VERY reasonable dollar and in many areas, well within the reach of the small investor.

Cast across this vast country are a myriad of the world's last vestiges of clear, clean, freshwater lakes and rivers. Vacation and recreational homes can be found in every province with water-frontage selling for an average price of $380,000.00 in 2006. That figure has steadily risen in the past year.

With a strong, healthy economy and an abundance of in-demand commodities, forecasts into the next 2-3 years show Canada's real estate prices continuing to rise.
Waterfront cottages and vacation homes are showing the strongest and steadiest rise in price as buyers and investors from around the globe flock to Canadian shores in search of their own little piece of paradise.

With thousands of pristine, blue lakes dotting the landscape, Ontario is prime Canadian cottage country and waterfront properties are disappearing at break-neck speed.
Tightening of municipal reins on the severing of waterfront lots, has pumped up the demand for waterfront to a feverish pitch as buyers anxiously watch for a waterfront lot to build their dream cottage/vacation home on.

Added to the fever is the fact that we are becoming more and more a planet of citizens who work from home.

As people shift their offices from the downtown core to their primary place of residence, they are moving out of the city in droves and buying a waterfront home or a cottage that they can live in from spring til fall when they head south before winter hits.

Others are purchasing recreational homes and turning them into year-round residences complete with high-speed internet service via satellite.

The majority of my family members balance their time between their lakefront properties and their homes in the centre of a city or town and this has been a traditional lifestyle for a very large number of Canadians.

With prices rising as they are, and waterfront becoming scarcer, more investors than ever before, from around the globe, are seeking recreational property in Ontario.

In addition, it's a dream of many Ontario families to own a recreational property for summer use and many are now realizing that dream as they take on second jobs, or move into smaller primary residences in order to purchase their 'home-away-from-home'.
The eastern townships of Ontario still have many opportunities for recreational property ownership at a reasonable cost, well within the reach of the average family/investor in Ontario.

If you are an investor or someone who is considering purchasing your own waterfront utopia, the Royal Lepage Recrational Property Report for 2007 is an excellent place to start as you consider the locations that fall within your desires and means.

As a lifelong resident of Ontario, I have a great deal of knowledge when it comes to Ontario cottage country and welcome any inquiries you may have as you begin your search.



There are many legalities and issues to be aware of when purchasing a waterfront property and choosing a REALTOR® who is experienced and knowledgeable in the purchase and sale of waterfront homes and land, is paramount.

Staying abreast of the properties that become available as we head into spring, will grant you a better chance of making a wise investment choice when it comes to buying waterfront in Ontario. If you would like to kept aware of the waterfront properties that meet your desires and means as they become available, feel free to contact me.


I will arrange to have all new listings emailed, faxed or mailed to you as they appear on the market. This just may be the year that you find your own shangri la away from the hustle and bustle of the city or make a very wise investment choice that will bring great dividends in years to come.

©2008JoSmith

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com

It was winter and the back yard appeared to be many small rolling hills of picturesque, sparkling white beauty.
Little did we know, when we decided to purchase our first home so many years ago, that those small hills were actually piles of trash that the current owner had not been bothered to take to the local dump during the course of her ownership of the property. As they say, hindsight is golden.

There are many things to consider when you've begun to seriously consider the purchase of your first home, and preparing through research and asking questions ahead of time, will not only save you an abundance of time and money down the road, it can also make the difference between calling your first home 'home sweet home' or your first initiation into a property ownership nightmare.

Preparing now will make the whole process smooth and enjoyable and you'll have something to celebrate in the years to come as you settle into your own private sanctuary.

You've been browsing the internet for homes for sale in your area and reading the local real estate newspapers and have found some properties that you can picture yourself living in.
Can you afford to own one of these properties?

Your first step towards Ontario home ownership should be to meet with a real estate sales representative who will be able to give you a list of recommendations for mortgage pre-approvals and advise you as to the current mortgage rates you can expect to pay should you purchase at this time.

Real Estate Sales Representatives are in regular contact with mortgage brokers and bankers and know who is offering the best rates and the best buying incentives. Often a REALTOR will be able to locate a better rate for you than your own bank is willing to give you.

When considering which real estate sales representative to call, go with someone who you feel comfortable with.
You may have met them at an open house or gotten to know something about them through reading their online articles or viewing their website or perhaps a family member or friend has recommended someone to you.

It's very important to feel that you can trust your real estate sales representative to take care of your needs and to be fully present for you during the entire transaction. Asking to see letters of testimonial from previous clients is an excellent way to guage the level of service you can expect to receive.

The right Sales Representative will guide you through every step of the transaction and be there to answer all of the questions you might have or concerns that may arise.

They'll provide you with pamphlets on mortgages and home-buying, maps of the areas you're interested in, recommendations on trustworthy and dependable professionals who you'll need along the way (such as lawyers, home inspectors, mortgage professionals, etc), listings of suitable homes and will be there with you as you preview every home that meets your requirements.

They'll point out potential problems with particular properties, advise you as to the desirability of the areas you wish to search in, and prepare and guide you through all of the legalities of your agreement of purchase and sale when you've found the house that's right for you.

They'll make sure you're protected on the contract and will advise you as to which clauses should be included in the purchase contract and will be there every step along the way to make sure each condition is satisfied as required.

Choosing a REALTOR® is the most important decision you'll make in the homebuying process next to the actual choosing of the home itself, and choosing carefully will make all the difference between a smooth and enjoyable home search or one littered with pitfalls along the way.

If you're considering buying your first home in the Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga regions of Ontario, I'd be more than pleased to meet with you and discuss your desires and questions as you begin on the exciting road to home ownership.

Other Articles in This Series:
Land Transfer Tax Rebate-Rebates For the First Time Homebuyer in Ontario, Canada

©2009JoSmith

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Brekland Realty Group, Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.Oakville-BurlingtonHomes.com

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Your Choice Realty , Mississauga, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com

 

It is said we remember moments in our lives, we do not remember days or weeks or years.
Every time I hear the word 'leadership', I'm taken back to the stuffy 10th grade classroom I was sitting in and see, once again, my teacher's face as he approached my desk and handed me some forms so many years ago.

He announced that I had been chosen from amongst all 10th grade students in my high school, to attend the Ontario Camp Leadership Centre at Bark Lake in the Haliburton Highlands of Ontario.
I sat in shock as I took the package from him and asked him what this meant.

He told me that it had been determined that I had the skills to be a leader and had been chosen by all of the teachers to attend Bark Lake Leadership Camp for a few weeks in the upcoming summer to learn leadership skills. It was completely paid for by the government of Ontario, so there would be no cost to my parents, and the only stipulation was that after taking the 3 week course, I was to return home and use my newfound knowledge to teach and guide others.
I was honoured, and yet at the same time, I was uncertain if I had the ability to do what was being asked of me.
I expressed my concerns to my teacher and he said to give it some thought and talk it over with my parents.
If I decided not to go, they would choose the next student on the list.

That evening I showed my parents the package and, after careful discussion, the decision was made that I was being called to do this, and therefore I should accept the responsibility and attend.
From that day onward, the word 'leadership', never meant the same to me again.
It was now my responsibility to be a leader, as I had been chosen.

It's a big responsibility to place the title, 'leader' on someone, and once someone accepts that they are considered a leader, their lives are completely changed .

Mary Parker Follett, a 1920's business guru, summarized a leader in this way, "The person who influences me most is not he who does great deeds, but he who makes me feel I can do great deeds."

In discussing leadership, it comes back to this time and time again. We lead by empowering others, by bringing them a sense of independence and competency, by instilling self-confidence in others and by showing them 'the way'.

John Quincy Adams said "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

We do not lead by tearing others down in the hopes of getting ahead of them or by making an example of their shortcomings. We lead by building others up and pointing out their achievements to the world.

It is the same here on Active Rain. It is the responsibility of those amongst us who consider themselves to be leaders, to not write blogs pointing out where others have fallen down, or what others are doing wrong or how they should be blogging or running their business; rather it is the responsibility of the leaders amongst us to lead by writing positive posts that point out what other bloggers are doing that is successful and noticeable.

It is also the responsibility of the leaders in Active Rain and in the business world to lead by 'doing' and by 'sharing' the knowledge that each has.

One doesn't become a leader by trying to get ahead of others, one becomes a leader by walking beside others and helping to show the way.

• Being a friend to those around you, and giving credit to those who've helped or encouraged you, shows humbleness and humanity.
  A great leader must show that he/she is of the people and not 'above' the people. By being 'of the people', you will be welcomed amongst others and not shunned at the gate.
  
  
• Admitting failure and not being afraid to take chances in charting un-mapped territory, shows you do not value yourself above your fellow man and are willing to do all the jobs of the organization or group, because, you are 'amongst the people', not above them.
  Gandhi was known to do menial jobs such as cleaning the washroom, in the camps he was staying in. No man is better than any other and great leaders know and understand this.
  When you think of yourself as 'better', you alienate those around you. Vulnerability has amazing power in it.
  
  
• Consider not only your own personal integrity at all times, but also consider how 'ethical' you are.
  Integrity is speaking the truth even when it will not benefit you.
  Each human has within themselves, a built in 'truth detector' called an 'intuition' or 'instinct'. Not all humans pay attention to this truth detector, and those who wish to seek unjust power over others have learned ways to program the minds of those they wish to control by side-skirting this 'trust detector'.
  It is known, however, that those with integrity establish trust by speaking the truth.
  
  Out of integrity comes 'ethics' or 'doing the right thing'. People will gratefully and freely look up to you if you are not only a person of integrity, but also a person of high 'ethics'.
  Ethics involves taking into consideration the effects on others of one's own actions, and seeking 'first to understand' others, before acting.
  
  
• Have a game plan for your life, as well as for your business.
  People respect, admire and learn from those who exhibit organizational skills and the determination to see their goals through.
  Those who are willing to share with others their goal making and attaining strategies, and help others to determine and achieve their own goals, show quiet and non-competitive leadership skills that others feel safe to be around.
  
  
• Show that you are open to the ideas of others and that even though you may not want to incorporate their ideas into your own life, you will not tear their idea down or make it lesser than it is.
  Leaders realize and accept that all people have gifts within themselves and, if a person trusts you enough to show a part of their gift to you, respect and encourage that gift in them.
  By so doing, you are empowering a person to utilize and trust more of their own internal gifts and it is in this way that communities, nations and the world move forward in a positive fashion.
  
  In the same way, look for something in each person you meet that you sincerely 'like' about that person.
  By focusing on that quality, you will find yourself liking the person and they in turn, will sense your approval and reveal their innate beauty to you.
  Innate beauty is not external, it is an internal part of the universe that is within each person and is the centre of their power.
  When you are a catalyst for the revelation of this internal beauty within others, you are helping not only that person, but all people with whom that person comes into contact with from that point onwards.
  There is great power in loving others.
  
  
• Be very cautious of negativity, no matter where you might find it.
  Negativity is a powerful force as it activates centres of our brains that disempower and discourage us. It is important to surround yourself with positive people and environments, and also to be your own censor when it comes to what things you read, watch or listen to.
  There is a great deal of negativity that exists in order to embroil you in confusion, and therefore waste your valuable time and energy.
  If a negative person wishes to disempower or argue with you, quietly thank them for their time, and excuse yourself from their presence. Their negativity is not about you, it is about them and you will help them far more by leading away towards peace and positivism, then by allowing yourself to be engaged in an argument with them.
  
  
• Seek change and innovation in all you do.
  We grow forward by experimentation and learning from our failures. I heard a saying the other day and it's engrained in my psyche 'Winners are those who make things happen, losers are those who let things happen.'~Phil Erramehe, Ph.D.
  If you are a person of integrity, ethics, empathy, knowledge and leadership skills, is it not imperative that you be in the former category and make things happen?
  All of the gifts of integrity and knowledge and skill in the world mean nothing if one does not act and share these gifts with the world.

When those around you see you carrying out actions with integrity, ethics and compassion, they will feel comfortable around you and look up to you.

You will attract those who you are meant to lead, just as you are attracted to those who are meant to lead you.

On every path in life, sometimes you will be a leader, sometimes others will lead you. The most important consideration at all times is to trust and follow the leader that lays within your core.

By listening to that 'core leader', you will know when to lead and when to follow, and at the same time will be drawn to, or draw to you, those who are meant to lead or follow you.

In our business capacity, we are not only expected to be leaders, we are leaders, and others are drawn to us because of our leadership qualities.

What kind of leader are you?

©2008JoSmith

 

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com

Residents of Ontario, Canada, who have never owned a home before, can now heave a small sigh of relief if they're thinking of embarking on the path that leads to home ownership.
The McGuinty government has just introduced a tax relief measure for first time home-buyers who are buying their fist home anywhere in Ontario, Canada.

Effective December 13, 2007, if you have signed an agreement of purchase and sale to buy your first house in Ontario, you may be eligible to apply for the land transfer tax rebate.

 You may apply for the rebate as long as your offer to purchase your first house was accepted and signed by the seller after December 13th, 2007.

In order to qualify for the Ontario Land Transfer Tax rebate, you must be 18 years of age and have never owned a home or had an interest in the ownership of a home, anywhere in the world previously, and your spouse may never have owned a home previously either, while you were his/her spouse.

A variety of property types are eligible and the main stipulation is that the property must become your principle residence within 9 months of taking ownership.
Please read here for a complete list of the types of houses/properties that qualify for the land transfer tax rebate in Ontario.

The refund application must be filed within 18 months of the conveyance taking place. For details on how to apply for the land transfer tax rebate, read the following article that has been issued by the government of Ontario.

Please note that as of May 14, 2008, this legislation has become  law and first-time home-buyers may now apply for this refund at  the time of registration.

This is a significant step towards helping first time buyers purchase a home in Ontario, as the land transfer tax can amount to a fairly sizable amount.
The maximum rebate which can be claimed is $2000.

Here is a simple calculator for determining what your land transfer tax will be on your home purchase and therefore the amount you can expect to have rebated.

Land Transfer Tax Calculator for Ontario

If you have any questions with regards to purchasing your first home, or with respect to the land transfer tax rebate, please do not hesitate to contact me. Buying your first home is one of the most exciting times in your life, and if I can make the transition to home ownership easier for you, I'm more than pleased to offer my assistance.

If you are considering buying in the Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga area, and do not currently have a real estate sales representative who you are working with, I would be happy to provide you with my first time home-buyer's package and set you up to receive all suitable listings as they become available (this would cover all mls listings that fall within your guidelines).

It's the perfect time to purchase your first home. Interest rates are low, house prices are still reasonable and with the new land transfer tax rebate, you'll now have additional funds to spend on the other expenses that are incurred with home ownership !

©2008JoSmith

*First Time Home Buyer's Seminar in Oakville on February 24th, 2010 7-9  FREE Admission - For More Information or to Register Click Here


Other Articles in This Series:
Buying Your First Home in Ontario~Step One, Choosing a Real Estate Sales Representative. 

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group-Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, in Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.Oakville-BurlingtonHomes.com

In the midst of winter, I sit here and think about mustard seeds. How much I enjoy them, their taste, their golden glow and sphericalness and most importantly, their synergistic qualities.

Mustard seeds are a very unique little treasure of the plant kingdom. They have no scent or taste until water is added to them. Then they explode with a mouth-watering and savory tangy taste and scent all their own. Their golden glow oozes into the surrounding medium of whereever they are placed and anything they are added to takes on a unique and addictive flavour.
A mustard seed is very special for without the water of the earth, it is nothing. Without the other ingredients in any recipe, a mustard seed does nothing. And so it is with you and I.

A very famous man once said 'no man is an island, entire to himself' and each human lives in a synergistic relationship with everything that he/she comes into contact with. Without that interaction with other elements of the plant, animal and mineral kingdoms, a human being is but a shell waiting to be filled, a canvas waiting to be painted upon, a mustard seed waiting to shed all of it's golden glow to all that surrounds it.

In my previous career I was a research scientist. As a geneticist/zoologist, I worked mainly in the field of ecological interactions and the dynamics of ecosystems.

Each plant/animal exists within it's own ecosystem and a human being is no different.
On a macro level, there are elements within the ecosystem that impact each sentient creature on a highly perceptible level. For you and I these would be the weather, the food we eat, the other people we have relationships with, the daily activities we bring ourselves to do and so on.
All of these things, and more, impact you during every single moment of your day and determine how healthy, happy and successful you are.

The human animal is unique in the animal kingdom in that it has a very high control over the ecosystem it is immersed in from moment to moment. This is extremely significant as the ecosystems we choose for ourselves are the same ones that will impact the inherent quality of our lives.

What kind of ecosystem do you immerse yourself in daily?

• Do you surround yourself with positive and supportive, respectful people?
• Do you take into your body healthy foods and fluids?
• Do you do your best to avoid stressful activities?
• When you, like a mustard seed, are immersed in an ecosystem, does the ecosystem vibrate in a positive way so that you and all of those around you are affected in a positive way?
  

You, as a synergistic being, use your own inherent and hidden powers and qualities every time you go close to others and release your gifts. You have a hidden power, waiting to be released, just like the golden glow and special taste of the mustard seed when it is immersed in water.

The flavour you leave with others may be one of bitterness or one of sweetness.
Sometimes the flavour leaves one wanting more and missing or looking forward to your presence. Sometimes, the flavour that is you, causes people to avoid you and go elsewhere when you make an appearance.

• Do you know what kind of flavour you are leaving behind or bringing where ever you go?
• Do you take the time to consider it before you put yourself in the presence of other beings in your ecosystem?
• Are you aware that by altering your flavour, by altering your internal thoughts and self-talk and communcations with the universe/Great Mystery, you have the ability to either attract people or repel them?

You also have the ability to make the ecosystem that is immediately surrounding yourself to be one that is synergistic in a good way, or alternatively in a negative way to those that find themselves within it's midst.

At the close of writing this post, I pause. I hit 'draft' and post it.
Something leads me away from my writing.

I follow to where I am being led and am not surprised to find a gem. The gem I didn't know I was searching for and hadn't realized was right here in my very midst at Active Rain~ John MacArthur.
As I read John's powerful and moving post, Warm Embers...cool too long...have sparked again,

I realize that in the analogy of the mustard seed, John is one of the few who realize the sheer power and importance that we each hold within our very being and the magical way that power is released, either for good or for bad, when we come into contact with others in our ecosystems.

Discover this man and his words for yourself, and then pause as you consider what type of mustard seed you might be, and how you colour the ambiance that surrounds you as your essence opens up and sheds it's unique glow where ever you may find yourself.

The power you possess, just as in that tiny golden seed, lays within you and amongst all of the plant and animal kingdom, you alone have the ability to choose what that power will look like when it reveals itself and how gently and positively it will nurture all of the life that surrounds you.

©2008JoSmith

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com

The wind is howling outside my window as I type this blog. It's a VERY cold night here in southern Ontario; -23C (-10F) and I'm looking forward to my cosy bed piled high with warm blankets and a good book.

Today was a good day, however I was having anxiety and couldn't pinpoint why.
It may have been an offer I'm working on, however I don't usually get stressed over offers. Then tonight, a comment by Gary Woltal on one of my posts, made me realize what it was I was feeling stressed over. What a kind and gracious man Gary is.

It's the pressure!

There are currently 10 zillion posts on Goals, Plans, Get into Gears, and so on floating around like giant cumulus clouds in the rain right now and everytime I open my AR blog page to see what the new blogs are about, I'm bombarded.
Do we really have to supercharge ourselves right now and take off like such a burst of energy that we end up running out of power before spring even hits? Remember the turtle and the hare story?

I'm more like the Little Engine Who Could or like that old Johnny Cash song about a train picking up speed...I think it was called The Wreck of the Old 97. My Dad used to sing it to me when I was a child and it was one of my favourites.
It always broke my heart when the part came about how they found him in the wreck of the old 97. I don't want that to be me come March so I believe I'll just go along at my own pace and do what I do.

If one prefers to march to the beat of their own drummer, they surely should. We're not clones and what's good for one person, might not be so good for another.

I know I have to implement a lot of things right now~ goal lists, business plans, etc etc, however, I also know that all the lists and plans in the world don't mean a hoot if you don't have a change in lifestyle to go with them.

Making changes means changing your routines and committing to the new actions daily so that they become a habitual part of your day. Without that none of the goals and plans will amount to anything.
It's similar to people who attempt to lose weight by going on a diet. Diets don't work, changes in lifestyle do.

We all march to the beats of our own drummers and none of us should feel like failures if we don't leave the gate off and running like mad hares.
I'm more of the slow and steady kind of gal. I like to observe and make note of things along the way and also to take time to touch base with my inner GPS system to make sure I'm on the right track.

A couple more things before I head off to dreamland.
Charles McDonald wrote a post today about some things he's observed over the last few months in the rain, Careful Agents...
It's sad that there are these kinds of posts being posted (the kind Charles warns about) since it reflects badly on the person posting them as well as creates derision amidst our business.

I avoid posts and blogs that criticize specific people either directly or generally. To me tolerance is a very fine word and if one person likes to have their picture taken with their hair dyed orange or while hugging a tree, more power to them.

The same with the brands they call themselves. We all have the right to be true to our own inner voices and brand ourselves with whatever names we choose. Before we criticize someone else's business practices, we should take a long hard look at ourselves and make sure we are keeping beat with the drum we portray ourselves as carrying.

The operative words here are 'tolerance' and 'live and let live'. As long as someone is not hurting someone else, then let's support and encourage the individual creativity and drumbeats of our peers, colleagues and all of those we may come across.

I admire creativity and uniqueness in the real estate and business world and have always been drawn to eccentric people who are not afraid of being themselves or of letting their lights shine, no matter which turkeys were trying to keep them down.

I'm reading a fantabulisimous new book right now (one of the myriad books I bought for myself when I was out Christmas shopping this past December) by the uber-guru, Tom Peters. It's called 'talent develop it sell it be it' and I'm absolutely loving it.
I'll post more about this tiny gem of a book in the coming days. It has so many lessons that we should all be taking to heart and keeping in mind as we go about our plans and our goals and our uber lists of dos and don'ts. The biggest thing to remember at this time of the year is to be ourselves and take great joy in being who we are. We're good folks, and that's what matters most.

Well, I hear the Pony Man calling so I guess I'll be heading off to bed now. Good night all!

Jo

 

Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage, in Belleville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.QuinteRegionRealEstate.com