The Matthew House Makeover is Currently scheduled to be aired  on the W Network

Thu, Apr 01, 2010 - 10:00 PM E/P
S8, Episode #212 Matthew House  Candice and her team create a warm and welcoming new living and dining room for refugees who have escaped persecution to start a new life at Matthew House, a shelter for refugee claimants.

My Inuksuk that is.

For the past several weeks he stood silently along the edge of my other blog. Basking in the golden glow of the setting sun. He was a constant reminder that Canadian Athletes were striving for the gold at the 2010 Olympics and a testament to a record number of gold medals at the games. Now it is time to go, time for a reminder of another significant event in our lives.

I'm Cheering For My Father - A Great Hockey Fan

As  kids we never missed watching a hockey game from the time we got our first TV when I was 11. Tonight as I watch the Canadian team in the semi finals for the mens division I am sure I will hear him cheer, shout, moan, and groan.

Although he has been gone for many years now I still can't watch a hockey game with out thinking of him. He was the greatest fan of Saturday Night Hockey I know.  Although he was a Canadian he loved the Detroit Red Wings but his His favourite games were the Habs / Leafs.

Dad I will be cheering for you tonight

GO CANADA GO!!!!

Uxbridge Ontario - Google Street View Has Arrived

Street View has arrived in Uxbridge take a walk along the streets of Uxbridge check out the stores and services that are available. Walk the pleasant tree lined streets in the older part of town. Check out the location of the school your children will be attending when you move here from out of town.

Take a few moments and walk about Uxbridge Ontario.

This link opens a street view window into the Heart of Downtown Uxbridge from here you can wander at will through the streets of Uxbridge.

Are You comming to town for an event and you need directions ... get directions and do a dry run using street view to get you there.  

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday announced prudent changes to mortgage insurance rules intended to come into force on April 19, 2010:

• All borrowers must meet the standards for a five-year fixed rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term;
• The maximum amount one can withdraw in refinancing their mortgage will be reduced to 90% from the current 95% of the value of one's home;
•  Non-owner occupied properties will require a minimum down payment of 20%.
• There were no changes to down payment requirements or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.

These changes are seen by some as an indicator that interest rates will soon be going up. The changes being implemented will help to help reduce the risk of homeowners who qualify under existing rules with low floating interest rates getting into difficulty as the rates begin to rise.

Family Day in Uxbridge.

Uxbridge has several FREE activities for you to participate in on family day this year.

February 15th, 2010

• Goodwood Community Centre skating and snowman contest (judged at 4pm)
• Uxbridge Arena Free Skating 12pm to 2 pm
• Uxbridge Kinsmenn Club - Elgin Pond Family Skate Day 12pm to 5 pm - free hot dogs drinks and music (donations accepted to go to the Uxbridge Youth Centre)
• Uxbridge Legion Snow Sculpture Contest (rear parking lot) 10am
• Uxbridge Legion 12pm to 1:30pm FREE BEEF BBQ
• Uxbridge Pool Free Swimming 10am to 12pm
• Uxbridge Youth Centre Pizza and and an Xbox tournament 12am to 8pm

Of course some of these will depend on the weather but check them all out for an inexpensive fun filled family day right here in Uxbridge.

Saturday was a great day as the volunteer crew worked away under the supervision of the Devine Design team. 

An amazing amount of work has taken place in a very short period of time. With the help and under the direction of the Devine Design team. Past Residents and Volunteers stripped the living and dinning room of all furniture, tore out a wall and the old flooring. Next some new wiring was installed, some existing plaster repaired and some drywall installed and taped. Having done a few renovations over the years Barrie and I volunteered and helped with the tapping on Thursday. Friday was trim day and final putty coat for the plaster repairs and drywall taping.

Today it was time for the master painter form the Devine Design team to work with the volunteers to get all the painting done so that tomorrow the floor can be laid. This clears the way for the Devine Design team to come in on Monday to do their magic....the finishing touches and start setting up for the reveal on Wednesday. We have been asked to stay away until the reveal....I can't wait to see the reveal, it will be so exciting to see what Devine Design has done for us.  The place of hope at the end of the Refugee Highway we offer certainly will have been kicked up an whole bunch of notches.

I am not able to post a lot of pictures, or tell you about everything that is going on, as this is an ongoing project not due to be aired on TV till later this year, The picture below is some of the volunteer paint crew from the Olive Branch Church in Markham.  

As I worked away with today's team of volunteers I thought of the unsung heroes of Matthew House who help out in many different ways on a day to day basis. Working quietly behind the scene they ensure we continue to offer "Hope at The End Of The Refugeee Highway".

To All The Volunteers And Supporters A Very Heartfelt " Thank You"

I consider it a privilege to serve on the board of directors of this unique charity.

Matthew House is a small shelter for refugees in down town Toronto that welcomes refugees who arrive with nothing but the shirt on their backs and no where to turn. You may have heard me talking about it, sharing some of the amazing stories.  Our core value is to offer ‘a place of hope at the end of the Refugee Highway', by offering shelter and food, help completing confusing refugee application papers, medical and counseling referrals, orientation to life in Canada, assistance in finding apartments, offering monthly drop-ins, and summer camp.

SNO*FEST

Georginais offering some FREE EVENTSto help you enjoy this upcoming Family Day Weekend.

Saturday February 13th, 2010 ... 10am to 3pm

De La Salle Park

FREE admission, sleigh rides, snowmobile rides, face painting, snowshoeing, dog sled rides, special exhibits, kids games, and prizes.

While lake drive will be closed from DeLaSalle Blvd to Brule Lnwy during this event you may want to drive east along Lake drive and view the Ice Fishing Activities out on the frozen Lake Continue on to the scenic Hedge Road and stop at the Briars for Lunch. After Lunch continue on East and stop to tour the grounds of the historic St Georges Anglican Church

To claim Your tickets text me with the email address you used to log into my Listing Web Site

Life Lease

A growing housing option for seniors in Ontario is a unit in a life lease building. A few years back I had the opportunity to see first hand what a life lease was all about.

I initially became involved with the process here in Uxbridge as a member of a group who were looking into alternative housing solutions for seniors in Uxbridge. I continued to work with members of the group who felt it could be done as a development rather than the more conventional way at the time (a church or organization sponsored project) which often takes years to get off the ground. Participating in this project was an exciting endeavor for me as I was very interested in options for Seniors who wanted an independent lifestyle but no longer wanted the work involved in the up keep of a home.

The following is a primer on life lease housing

A "Life Lease" is a form of housing designed primarily for seniors that allows them to live independently in a retirement community setting. It has also been described as the "right to occupy" wherein individuals purchase the right to occupy a dwelling unit for the rest of their life, or until such time as they no longer wish to occupy the dwelling. Unfortunately Life lease arrangements are not covered by Ontario's Condominium Act, or the Residential Tenancies Act. The relationship between the life lease sponsor (developer) and resident (purchaser) is defined in the life lease agreement and is governed by contract and common law.

These life lease agreements determine the level of input into management, and conditions of occupancy and sale of the dwelling unit. Unfortunately purchasers often choose life lease housing based on its location, price, amenities or sense of community. As a result, many purchasers may not fully understand what they are purchasing. The contents of agreements entered into by sponsors and purchasers can vary widely. The variation provides sponsors and purchasers with  flexibility in designing life lease housing projects that suit the needs and desires of a seniors' community. On the other hand the lack of a standard legal, financial and governance structures for life lease projects can pose significant challenges for purchasers, as well as legal and real estate professionals involved in the life lease transaction.

Life leases projects have a number of characteristics in common with both condominium ownership and rental housing and are generally set up by not-for-profit or charitable organizations (the Sponsor). These projects generally provide amenities as well as limited services for residents. The attraction for seniors to a life lease is the opportunity to move from a their home into a housing project where there is companionship, programs or services in keeping with a retirement lifestyle and at the same time the ability to maintain some form of equity in real estate ownership.

Most life lease projects in Ontario follow the basic structure of a "market-value" model where Purchasers pay full "market value" for the right to occupy the life lease unit. When the occupancy ends, the resident or their estate will sell the life lease interest for whatever the market value is at that time. Significant variation may exist in how individual life lease projects are developed and managed. Each project establishes its own agreement, which determines the governance of the housing project, the occupancy conditions and sale of the unit.

A few of the key components of a life lease project are: They are generally developed or sponsored by community-based, not-for-profit organizations. The project sponsor and purchaser enter into a life lease agreement detailing the unit price, conditions of occupancy and what happens when the occupancy ends. Life lease housing projects may include high- or low-rise apartment buildings, semi-detached or townhouses, and detached houses. Prices are generally comparable to condominiums. The length of occupancy varies in individual life lease agreements. In many agreements, the resident maintains the right to occupy the unit for the duration of their life (or until no longer capable of living in the unit). Residents pay property taxes and monthly maintenance fees for building services and utilities. These fees cover maintenance, reserve funds, administration, building insurance, landscaping, etc. At the end of occupancy, units are resold. Sponsors often retain administration fees of 5% to 10% of resale value.

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist I understand it is sometimes a difficult time for a person when it comes time to give up the family home. Unlike a normal real estate sale you are not just dealing with the buyers or the sellers of the home. You are dealing with the family dynamics often with several adult members of the family who may have conflicting views with what is best for mom and dad or even with what mom and dad wish to do.

If you are a senior or have a family member who is and is thinking of selling or buying
please give me a call to
Discuss Housing Options for Seniors

Please give me a call

Kathy Clulow

905.852.6143