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4 Ways To Increase Enjoyment For Summer Living On Your Wood Deck

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In summer, your deck may be the most used “room” in the house. Here are some practical ways to add extra utility and enjoyment.

  1. Ongoing maintenance. While wood is beautiful, it needs help to retain that beauty. Refinish your deck every couple of years with quality stains and sealants. Eliminate areas or objects that allow moisture to collect. Remove furniture and debris for winter.
  2. Add privacy and beauty. If you feel exposed on your deck—or if you’d like some shade from the sun—consider planting shrubs and small trees along the perimeter. If you can’t plant directly into the ground, use containers—but remember they’ll need regular watering.
  3. If your railing is failing. Sometimes wood railings are the first part of your deck to decay. This can be a safety hazard, as well as reducing visual appeal. Consider upgrading your railing to metal, cabling or glass. The price is higher, but maintenance costs will be less, and your deck will seem even more like an extension of your interior space.
  4. Grow what you eat. Eating on the deck is even more fun if the greens, herbs and tomatoes were grown right on site. Place containers in sunny spots that are easily accessible to the kitchen. Use saucers to keep water from pooling on the deck. And make sure you don’t exceed your deck’s weight capacity.

What’s Your Credit Score?

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If you are shopping for a house, you are also shopping for a mortgage, unless you’re wealthy and have a few hundred thousand dollars sitting in the bank.


One of the first things that will come up when applying for a mortgage is your credit score. Your credit score is the measure that lenders use to assess your financial health and decide whether or not to approve your mortgage application.


The Big things that you need to know about your score are:


  • You’ll need a score of 600 or better to be approved for a mortgage

  • If you score 680 or better you have AAA status (and that’s good)

  • Anything higher than 680 is really good and will get you the best rates.


There are 2 companies in Canada that are credit reporting agencies



It’s a good idea to know your credit score. If you want, there are free apps available that you can use to get an instant result. Try this one out, it won’t affect your credit rating, and does a whole lot more that just a credit score.


Check out today's low mortgage rates

Take advantage of these low rates to save on your home purchase.

See Todays Best Rates

Things That Affect Credit Score


Let’s go a little more in depth now.


Each of the credit reporting agencies calculates your credit score a little bit differently, but both use the following factors:


  • Past Payment History - Have you had any late or missed payments, overdue accounts, bankruptcy, etc. These will lower your score.

  • The Amount of Credit Used - How much of your total credit are you using. Ex - if your credit card has a $2000 limit, and you have $1500 charged on it, you are using 75%.

  • Credit History - Are your credit accounts brand new. Older ones that have been maintained are valued higher for credit scores.

  • New Requests for Credit - How often are you applying for credit? Checking your own score will not hurt you, but applying and getting refused will lower your score.

  • Types of Credit - Revolving or Installment - It’s good to have a mix of both. An example would be a credit card, a car or personal loan, and a line of credit.

Credit Scores and Your Mortgage Application


Your credit score will allow you to get approved. But, the higher your score, the better the rate will be that you get approved for.


So knowing your score, and working to make it higher, will definitely benefit your application.


Prime lenders like the big banks and large mortgage institutions will positively give you a mortgage if your score is about 700. They will also give strong consideration to score between 600-700.


If your score is 599 or lower, you are going to have to go to other lenders. Trust companies, and other institutions that work with people who have “bruised credit”. It doesn’t mean you won’t get approved, but you won’t qualify for the best rates. This might be a good opportunity to take out a shorter term, with a higher interest rate, then switch over after a year or two when your score is higher.


Do you have bad credit?

Find a broker trained to help you.

Speak to a Broker Now

You Can Improve Your Credit Score


It’s not the end of the world if your score is not 600 or above right now. There are ways that you can improve your score.


  • Keep using credit, but make sure you pay it off every month

  • Always make your payments on time, even if it’s just the minimum. If you are really desperate one month, make sure to call your creditor and let them know. They will work with you if you are honest and open with them

  • Keep your credit use to 35% or less. Example - if your card has a $1000 balance, don’t put more than $350 balance on in for more than a month or so.

  • If you have an old card - don’t cancel it. Just put it away and don’t use it. Long credit histories will help your credit score.

  • Don’t apply for credit too often - the more times you apply for new credit, the worse it looks for lenders.










5 Reasons To Use a Mortgage Broker

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A lot of people are either confused or just don’t know what Mortgage Brokers, or Mortgage Associates do.

I know that I used to think that I had to go to the bank, make an appointment, try to fit it all in during “banker” hours, and wait on pins and needles to see if I could get approval for my mortgage.

The reality is that it can be a lot easier, and you have a lot of options that most people don’t realize exist for consumers in the mortgage market.

I decided to try a different option and gave a mortgage professional a call. The process was easy and I liked it so much that I decided to take the Saskatchewan Mortgage Associates training, pass my licensing exam, and become a mortgage associate.

I like to think of myself as the old Remington guy, Victor Kiam, from the commercials for Remington razors. If you remember the commercials, he said “I liked the shaver so much I bought the company”. I didn’t buy the company, but I did become an associate.

Here are 5 great reasons to use my services, or the services of a Mortgage Broker.

  1. My services are free – no cost to you (*On Approved Credit)!
  2. You will have access to the interest rates the banks don’t want you to know about! Brokers send lenders millions of dollars of new business each month, they always offer the deepest discounts which are passed on to you IMMEDIATELY – whether you are purchasing, refinancing or renewing
  3. I shop the market to save you time – Calling me is like calling over 50 different Banks, Credit Unions and Trust Companies.
  4. I am available on your terms – day, evening and weekends
  5. Minimize your mortgage payments with me and you could win up to $100,000 in our Minimize Your Mortgage Sweepstakes* Click here for complete details. *Win the value of your mortgage up to $100,000

Mortgage rates and products are constantly changing, and the Canadian market is more competitive than ever before. By working with me, you can access all your mortgage options with just one phone call and one application. I work on your behalf to find the Right Mortgage for your situation, and as an independent brokerage, I can place your mortgage with whatever lender is the best fit for you.

Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you will ever do in your life. Start the process of with pre-approval, and you’ll know exactly what you can shop for.

Yorkton Real Estate Update – March 2017

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March has seen a slight increase in listings and sales compared to February 2017. Here are your numbers for March of 2017 for the city of Yorkton.


16 Single Family Homes Sold


4 Homes - Under $100,000

4 Homes - $100,000’s

7 Homes - $200,000’s

1 Home - $300,000’s


2 Condos Sold


1 Condo - $100,000’s

1 Condo - $200,000’s


1 Acreage Sold in the $500,000’s.


Have a great spring!

Do You Need a New Roof?

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Every homeowner is eventually faced with the big decision, is it time to replace the roof? Are the issues and damages okay to just repair, or does the whole roof need to be replaced?


It’s a decision that we all know is going to cost money, and if you’re like me, you can always find a better way to spend your hard earned bucks.


But your roof is one of those things on the house that can’t be neglected.


If your roof is over a certain age, is it okay to patch it up or how do you know when it is time for a new roof? These are all common questions that homeowners everywhere have to deal with at some time or another.


Your roof isn't like other renovations you make to your home. The condition of your roof affects every room in your house. The amount of energy loss through heat or air loss is highly contingent upon the condition of your roof as well. For these reasons, it is important to take roofing issues seriously and err on the side of caution whenever a true decision needs to be made.


Are you just missing a few shingles?


A few loose or missing shingles is generally nothing to worry about too much. Shingles are easy to replace so repairing problems like this are quite easy and in most cases can be done by yourself as long as extreme caution is taken.


If you have a lot of shingles missing from a large area, this might be a sign that your roof is beyond the help of a few minor patch jobs and needs to be replaced. Also, if there are granules of shingle material in your gutters, this is a sign of advanced wear and means that it is time to replace your roof.


Are there actual leaky spots that are causing issues inside?


A few minor leaks can also be patched, but they need to be done immediately and properly. The slightest amount of water can spread and cause really bad, and expensive, problems very quickly. Dark or discolored spots are signs of more significant water damage.


It is highly recommended that you consult with a professional roofer to get leaks patched so the problem does not worsen.


Does it appear that the roof is sagging or bulging?


Sagging or bulging spots on your roof is a very, very bad sign that your roof needs to be replaced, and soon. These are the signs that your roof could be on the verge of caving in.


For issues this serious, do not delay in calling a roofing professional and having your roof replaced as soon as possible. A big hole in your roof is going to be a lot bigger of a problem, and so is the expense of the damages if that does occur.


How long has it been since the last roof replacement?


Typically, if your roof is over 20 years old, it is either time for a new roof or it is getting very close. There are certain roofing materials that are exempt from this rule, however. Tile, metal, or concrete roofs almost never need to be replaced except in the event of extensive damage. Of course, it takes a lot to damage a metal or concrete roof.


Keeping up with routine maintenance and performing regular inspections can extend the life of your roof. Make repairs and patch issues as soon as you can after they occur and you can prevent them from becoming more serious issues down the road.

The Dangers of Listing Your Home Too High

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As the spring market fires up, new listings are starting to pop up on the market daily. If you are serious about selling, pricing your home competitively will help you sell it quicker and closer to your original price.

So what happens when you overprice your home?

Your home sits on the market longer.

When you put your home on the market, you want it to spark interest. When your home first goes on the market, it should be appealing and at a price point similar or better to comparable homes in your area. If the home is not priced right, it may be ignored, or worse, noticed by buyers and placed into a “wait and see” category.

Longer on the market equals more expenses.

Every month your home remains on the market, you are paying mortgage interest, utility bills, insurance, and taxes. With a high price, there is no negotiating up. If there are no takers month after month, you are giving money away that you should not have to.

Perception

When your home first goes on the market, it will be considered by any number of buyers as long as the price is comparable to others and as long as your real estate agent sells it correctly. It may or may not be what everyone wants, but is at least perceived in a neutral way.

The longer the home sits unsold, the more negatively it is viewed. It must be too expensive to sit for so long, or have something wrong with it. Real estate agents working for buyers may steer them away from your property, or tell them to wait for a drop in price. And when you do drop your price, some may see you as an easy target.

One of the questions that almost all buyers ask their agent is “How long has the home been on the market?”. They are asking this question for one reason and one reason only – how flexible is the seller going to be. It is safe to assume if your home has been on the market a while the potential buyer is going to feel like they can negotiate more. It is human nature to think this way because, in most instances, it’s the truth.

Financing

Sometimes, you may be lucky enough to get an offer at your optimistic price. A buyer may agree with you that your home is something special, and worth paying for. However, if the buyer requires financing, the bank may not approve the sale of the home due to the high price.

Online Search Problems

Most buyers use the Internet in their initial home search. Screening homes online involves putting in certain criteria into a search to screen out unwanted homes. It may seem a small thing, but when you price your home too far above the comps, you remove yourself out of these searches. If a buyer is pre approved for a home between $250,000 – $300,000, and yours is $350,000, it will not be seen.

You Help Sell The Competition

High priced homes help sell the competition. If there is a home in the neighbourhood that is comparable to the higher priced home, the buyer will most likely put in an offer on the lower priced home.

How to avoid this?

A good real estate professional will give you honest advice on where your home should be priced. Always ask for comparables on what has sold in your area to help in your decision making.

Happy Selling!

What Everybody Needs to Know About Real Estate Trends

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It’s easy to get caught up in the news about real estate trends. TV, newspapers, bloggers and others report about house prices in the east, west, cities, and how they are increasing or how the bubble is about to burst etc.

Don’t let yourself get all caught up in this.

In this modern information age, you can learn just about anything on a particular subject. While access to information is usually a positive development, things can get a bit crazy if you get overloaded with it. Look long enough and you can find two pieces of information offering exactly the opposite views on a subject. Obviously, that doesn’t really help you make a choice.

In real estate, the information offered in the media is usually uniform. For the past many years, everyone with a pulse has reported the real estate market has been hot. Now, many of these same pundits are suggesting the market is cooling off. Some are even predicting a crash in the market.

As a potential buyer or seller, how can you evaluate the information being reported in the media?

The simple answer is you should ignore it.

The problem with these reports is not the accuracy. Instead, the problem is they are reporting national trends in real estate.

National trends, while accurate, have little or no application to our specifics in little old Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Consider the following if you do not believe me. The real estate market for the last few years has been reported as hot, hot, hot.

In Yorkton, however, the market has actually just shown a moderate increase over that time. If you were considering buying or selling in Yorkton, the information being provided for national trends likely would not apply for making smart decisions here in Yorkton.

The only real estate trends that matter are those in your local markets. Never rely on national data for local decisions. National data is skewed heavily on huge market gains in Toronto and Vancouver where the market is just plain silly.

If you are considering buying, you have to be very careful when considering real estate trends. If it looks like a seller’s market in your area, you may make the mistake of not buying. Even in a seller’s market, buying a home is better than renting.

Every day you are in the home is a day you are growing your personal wealth through equity accumulation. Don’t stay out of the market simply because you feel it isn’t the right time.

Evaluate your personal information closely. Maybe it’s just time to buy that house, or you are moving and you have no choice, you need to sell. Make your decisions for price based on the market where you live. It doesn’t matter how much your house would be worth in Canora, in Saskatoon, or in Regina. It’s worth what the market says it’s worth where you live.

101 Ways To Decorate Your House And Make It Your Home

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If you’re like most people, you need some inspiration to decorate your house and make it your own. I’ve scoured the internet to find you over 101 ways to make your house a home you can be proud of.

There is a big difference between a well-decorated space and a home. You want your home to be both. Luckily there are lots of little tricks you can use to make your home more inviting, homey, and impressively decorated. You can have exactly what you want in your home décor.

Let’s Get Personal – 20 Ways to Add Personal Touch to Modern Interior Decorating

First of all, always have personal touches such as family photos, your favourite art, or even art that you have created yourself. You can even frame your own children’s art for a super chic yet personalized and inexpensive touch.

20 Ways to Add Personal Touch to Modern Interior Decorating via Lushome

Colour Makes You Happy – Top 10 Tips for Adding Colour to Your Space

Top 10 Tips for Adding Colour to Your Space. Via HGTV

Stark white walls or too much beige tend to give your home a sterile and uncomfortable feel. Don’t be afraid to experiment with pops of colour.

Design Balance in Room Decorating

Symmetrical decorating can make a space more visually pleasing as well as comfortable to live in. Balance your furniture and décor in each room. As a really simple example, avoid putting all of the heavy furniture on one side of the room, but instead balance out the room by distributing pieces as evenly as possible.

Design Balance in Room Decorating. Via The Spruce

Make It Comfortable – 6 Designer Tricks to a More Comfortable Home

6 Designer Tricks to a More Comfortable Home. Via House Beautiful

Part of making your home feel more like home actually has more to do with the feel of things than it does the décor itself. A nice cushy rug or carpet, comfortable sitting areas, and plenty of pillows will help any room be more comfortable.

Embrace the Dings – How to Mix Old and New Styles

Older furniture, especially pieces that have been passed down through your family, is going to have some minor imperfections and dings. Embrace the dings in these pieces that give the furniture character. For really bad or unattractive dings you can always do a little refurbishing.

How To Mix Old and New Styles. Via Chatelaine

Show Off Your Collections – 45 Ways to Creatively Display Your Collections

45 Ways to Creatively Display Your Collections. Via Country Living

Your house is your home, and it should reflect that. If you collect snow globes or ceramic teapots, don’t be afraid to display them as part of your décor. Your home should show off who you are.

Organize Your Clutter – 19 Creative Storage Ideas for Small Spaces

Very few people truly live in sterile, perfectly clean environments. There is going to be a little bit of clutter here and there. Your house is where you live. It is okay that it looks lived in every now and then. Place creative storage like baskets around to hold the stuff.

19 Creative Storage Ideas for Small Spaces. Via Better Homes and Gardens

Home Decor With Confidence: How To Make Bold Choices

How To Make Bold Choices. Via BuildDirect

Your home décor is there for you to show off who you are and what you like. Feel free to get creative and make bold decisions. Add accents of bright colour and patterns here and there or display some cool art piece that you really love.

Light it Up – 10 Ways to Bring Natural Light Into Your Home

Lighting makes or breaks every design project. Spend the time and effort to explore which lighting options are going to be the best for your home. In just about every situation, natural light is the best choice, so experiment with how you can make the most of your natural lighting.

10 Ways to Bring Natural Light Into Your Home. Via Scandinavian Home Staging

By using simple décor ideas like these you can turn your house into a home. With some forethought and attention to detail you can make your home exactly what you want it to be. The most important thing to remember is that it is your home and your own opinion is the one that matters most.

12 Super Simple Ways to Organize Your Laundry Room

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The laundry (utility) room is a multi functional room in most houses.

Typically it’s where your appliances like hot water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers, and freezers live. Cleaning equipment and supplies may also be stored in this space.

Organize and decorate your laundry room to make it pleasing to look at functional as well.

Use these laundry room storage ideas that add functionality and organization.

  1. Keep all of your items you need regularly within easy reach. Items used less frequently can be put on a higher shelf or in a different part of the room.
  2. Store your laundry soap in smaller containers and refill as needed. Keep the large bulky detergent containers out of the way and smaller easier to manage container within reach.
  3. Use storage bins. Label them clearly so you know where everything is and it’s easy to find.
  4. Have a laundry bag for each type of laundry. Darks, whites, delicates, heavily soiled items, etc.
  5. Attach a table to the wall that can be folded down when needed and back up after. Use it for folding. This can be a real space saver.
  6. Use a portable drying rack that can be folded and stored when not in use.
  7. Attach an ironing board to the wall. Keep your iron stored in a handy place so you can iron things as soon as you pull them out of the dryer.
  8. Add a pole or a hook over the door for hanging your freshly ironed items on that you can just grab and put in the proper closets on your way.
  9. Keep extra clothes hangers in a storage bin in your utility room. These should be an easily accessible item in the room. Have mesh bags with your cleaning supplies as well for any delicates that need to be washed.
  10. Separate your utility room into specific areas. Keep the laundry in one space and pet supplies in another, and crafting supplies in another.
  11. Store lost socks in a bag, in the laundry area. Eventually, its mate will show up.
  12. Don’t forget the trash can for collecting lint from the lint trap, dryer sheets if you use them, and any other trash you come across when emptying pockets (used tissues, love notes, etc.).

Take a look around your laundry or utility room. Reorganize the space and make your life easier when you’re doing the mundane tasks that need to be done. You’ll be happy you took a bit of time now, and you’ll save a ton of time later.

If you are looking for products or supplies to help your organize your laundry room in Yorkton, check out some of these local retailers.


Castle Building Supplies


Home Hardware


McMunn and Yates


Windsor Plywood


Mortgage Information – Getting Pre-Approved 101

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This guest post was submitted by Andy Young from AYM Mortgage.

As we in Saskatchewan get closer to finally being able to put away the snow brush in our vehicle for the season, we inevitably start thinking about improving our homes. For a few, that could be finally moving out of Mom and Dad’s basement, others may have the desire to own a home and to stop renting, while for some it might just be time to move into a bigger / newer home in a different neighbourhood! In any of these cases, getting your Mortgage Pre-Approved is a key piece to solving the often confusing housing puzzle.

Here is a quick rundown of why you should start the process now. Think of it as getting Pre-Approved 101.

Who Should get Pre-Approved

Anyone who has questions like, “What is my maximum purchase price?” or “What is the minimum down payment needed?” or even, “How much would my monthly payments change if I could come up with more down payment?” All very good questions, but not always something that is easily figured out accurately from an online mortgage calculator. To summarize, a Pre Approval is not just for a first time buyer. It is also a very useful budgeting process for anyone buying any home.

What does getting Pre-Approved actually do

It is a written confirmation from a mortgage professional that a lender has conditionally approved you, the buyer(s), to purchase a home based on the information that was given at the time of application. It allows you to hold a rate for up to 120 days to allow you time to shop for the right home. If a lower rate is available once you do make a live offer, you will get the better of the rates. If interest rates rise during this 120 day period and you make a live offer, you will not receive a higher rate than what was held in the Pre-Approval. It is a great way to protect yourself from rising rates, peace of mind to make a confident offer on a home and to ensure you are buying a home that comes in at budget!

Starting your pre-approval process is so easy.  Get started right now by clicking below.

Let's Get Started

Where can I get Pre-Approved

As a Mortgage Broker, there are numerous ways I can take your Application securely. You can fill out an online application from my website, you can call and provide your info over the phone and/or we can meet in person to go through it. Having a flexible schedule is something I pride myself on, a huge plus of using a Broker. Evening and weekend appointments are very common. I am here to serve you.

When should I get Pre-Approved

As soon as you start thinking about buying. (ie: when you are surfing the local MLS site checking out that home or condo you drove past earlier, wondering if you could afford it!) There is no cost other than your time, so there is nothing to lose. A broker will lead you through all the steps in order to get Pre-Approved. Things like…

  • Your credit. Is it good and /or do you have enough repayment history? If not, I can help fix it.
  • Your income type (Are you salaried / hourly / self-employed or commissioned etc). Are you full time, part time, on a 6 month/1 Year contract? Are you still on probation or planning on changing employers soon? All very important details to know when applying for a mortgage.
  • Amount of down payment you will need to have including legal and closing costs.
  • And finally, what is affordable by the Lender standards and also by your monthly budget. We can help put a number in this previous grey area!

There is no rush, Why get Pre-Approved now

If during the pre-approval process, we uncover a shortfall in any area above, it gives you, the potential buyer, time to remedy the situation instead of finding out in the middle of a live offer. Even if you know you are 6 to 12 months away from possibly being ready, that is the perfect time to get Pre-Approved. Having not only the financial confidence to be able to place an offer, but also the ability to move quickly and timing of an offer on the same day a perfect home hits the market, is crucial.

For more info on Regina mortgage rates, more Pre-Approval questions or to check your own credit score, download my free Mortgage App. If someone you know could benefit from reading this, please feel free to share it. I’m only a phone call or email away and your introductions are greatly appreciated!

Andy Young, AMP Mortgage