Well, get ready for it. Here it comes. The humidity, and the heat.

After the past few days, this could be an indication that we are headed into a hot humid spring and summer. Regardless, of whether we are or not, we should be ready it, and get our houses ready for it.

How Can You Reduce Heat and Humidity in Your Home?

One way to keep your house cool is to keep the humidity level below 60%. If it does, mold could start developing. If you’ve got issues, you’ll begin to see and feel it on paper products, like books, photos and posters, just to name a few. As it worsens, your clothes and furniture will feel moist. You could see mold start creeping up the wall, from the floor, where the air is the heaviest and contains the most water content.

Remember that your concrete basement floor is always colder then the warm moist air around it. Cold air is heavy and warm air is light, which explains why your second floor or attic is always hotter than your basement. When warm air meets cold air it will turn to condensation, resulting in sweat on your cold water supply lines and toilets on the hot, humid days.

Also, if you have a tile floor in the basement it could sweat and create water on the surface. Be careful. It could be slippery. If you don’t remove that moisture out of your basement OR crawlspace, you will get mold. Mold is there before you even see it. It is a health hazard that can cause allergies and illness.

So, How Do You Control the Moisture?

Here are just a few things you can do to improve your living and building health of your home.

Get the air moving in your basement or crawl space, and dry it out. Buy a couple of portable fans
and put one at each end of the basement. Keeping them on low will work fine, unless it’s really humid.

1. If it is really cool or moist in your basement or crawlspace, turn the heat on a little bit to equalize the
   temperature within the house.

2. Turn on the furnace fans to draw some of the cold air out of the basement, to the upstairs. This helps limit the use of more expensive air conditioning too.

3. Install a humidex. It’ll cost $500 and it controls the humidity in your home. It acts just like a dehumidifier, but costs less to operate and you won’t have to empty the holding container.

4. Buy an energy star rated dehumidifier and hook it up to a floor drain.

5. Open basement windows a window little bit to allow for fresh air. Just remember to close them to avoid accidental flooding.

6. If it gets warm enough to turn on the air conditioner, it’ll cost you a little more but it will cool your home and remove a lot of the moisture out of the air.

Other Things to Consider, to Keep Your Home Cool

1. Make sure your attic/roof has adequate ventilation.

2. If you are going to re-shingle, your roof, choose a lighter colour that absorbs less heat.

3. Plant trees and plants to block the hot, summer sun. It’ll provide outdoor shade, and keep your home cooler on the inside.

4. Limit your use of incandescent lighting because most of the energy used is wasted in heat. Use care with CFL bulbs though. They are toxic when they break.

5. Shade your air conditioner to keep the hot sun off it. This can increase your units efficiency, but be careful not to restrict airflow, or you may end up with problems.

6. Close your windows and window coverings during the day.

7. Open your blinds and windows during the cool of the evening. Try to get a cross breeze going.

8. Place a fan near the window, rather than in the window. Watch for rain, because the fan may draw the rain into the house.

These are just a few things to do that will help you stay cool.

When you are ready to sell your home or buy one, bring me a long and I will give you some great tips as to how to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

I would love the opportunity to help you or your referrals out.

What is Title Insurance?

When you purchase a home, it's wise to purchase title insurance too. The ensures the home's title is researched to make sure the seller has the right to sell the house; for example, that no one else has a claim on the house.

The title examiner will look closely at all available public records of the house, including past deeds, wills, and trusts, to make sure the house is free and clear to sell.

Ultimately, if the title is clear, you can buy the house. If not, any legal problems need to be cleared up.

Protection for You and Your Lender

Title insurance protects you and your mortgage lender if a problem occurs with the title, at any point during your ownership. It can be a problem that didn’t show up in the title examination, something the examiner missed, or an error in the public records. Let’s say a long-lost heir claims a right to the house after you’ve bought it. Title insurance will cover the cost of untangling the legal problem.

Two Types of Title Insurance

• A lender policy, usually issued for the mortgage amount, covers the mortgage lender. If you must go to court with the long-lost heir, the policy will cover the costs. If the long-lost heir is indeed the legal owner of the house, the policy will pay the mortgage back to the lender.

• An owner policy covers the price of the house and pays the owner for losses incurred due to title issues. If, for example, the long-lost heir wins the court case, your owner policy will reimburse you for the loss of the property. Typically, the buyer pays for title insurance. It’s usually a one-time fee; part of the closing costs.

What’s Not Covered?

Title insurance doesn't cover any defects found in the property after closing, and some policies won’t cover problems related to easements, mineral rights, and liens.

Do You Need It?

Most lenders require you to purchase a lender policy, but not all require an owner policy. Of course, if you’re paying cash for a property, title insurance is optional. On the other hand, it's always a good idea to protect your investment.

This article was provided by www.worldreferrals.com

There's a lot to think about when it comes to buying, selling, or renting your home. They are all so intertwined together. Today we are going to talk about the SELLING END OF THINGS. If you are a potential seller, you may decide to rent your property out to tenants, instead of selling. Maybe you want to keep it for future income. Or you may want to avoid capital gains at this time.

Having the income from a rental unit, each month, is nice. If you have a mortgage on the property, the tenant will help you pay it down. Also, it isn’t a great idea to leave your property vacant if you won’t be living there, so tenants can keep your home free from theft and vandalism.

Keeping your house and renting right now may be a good idea in today's economy, since you MAY get more for the property in the future. Rentals are a good investment overall.

Are You Ready to Be a Landlord?

Being a landlord can be challenging, but if you know the pros and cons ahead of time, and you are ready to mitigate the risks, it can also be very worth your while.

First, you need to make sure you are making the best decision for you and your family. That is, can you afford to keep the property? Consider all your possible expenses such as the mortgage payment, municipal taxes, home and/or liability insurance. Always make sure you have a buffer to cover financial emergencies.

You should also ask yourself if you're ready for interruptions in your family life when tenants lock themselves out or if there is an emergency at the property. If not, consider hiring a property manager.

Ensure the Best Tenants are Renting Your Home

Then make sure you find the best tenant possible for your property. Here are some things you can do to get to know them:

• Make sure that you look at the potentials renter’s credit history (for this, you’ll need their written consent).

• Check the past two landlord references. This is very important, unless they never rented before.

• Ask for at least two personal references, that are not related. These will help you get a sense of the tenants' character.

• Speak with their employer. Ensure that their  job is stable and their income will cover their living expenses (or your will be paying them yourself).

• Most important of all, trust your gut instinct.

Keep Your Renters Happy

Don’t forget to consider the cost though. You’ll have regular maintenance to upkeep the property. Remember a happy tenant is usually a longer-term tenant, so you’ll want to keep things in good repair. Also, each time a tenant moves out it will cost you money for cleaning and repairs.

Do your best to make the home as nice as possible, within your budget. It is a good idea to go into the home at least twice a year and check for maintenance issues like leaky taps, clean out the eaves trough, and check for mold in the basement. You may also have to do the grass cutting, yard work or snow removal, depending on your rental agreement. Be sure to keep open lines of communication with your tenant.

We’ve had great experiences with rental properties. They can be a great investment! Just be prepared to be in it for the long haul. In today’s market, it’s a great time to buy. That means, on the selling end, it takes a little longer and you might not get the price you are looking for. More than likely, this will change in the future. Real estate cycles always prove to increase over the year. When it dives, it always comes back. It just takes time.

If you need help deciding if renting your home is right for you, or if you'd like help to get your place rented, just give me a call or email today. Also, check out this video on becoming a landlord.

I just came across this humorous anecdote I clipped from the Creemore Echo in 2003 and it’s sooo relevant in the business of building today.

The earth was wicked and overpopulated.  The Lord instructed Noah to rebuild the Ark and save two of every living thing, along with a few good humans. 

“Here’s the blueprint,” said the Lord.  “You will need to hurry, for in six months I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.”  Right on schedule six months later the rains started coming down. 

But when the Lord checked in with Noah, he was weeping in his flooded yard, and there was no Ark.  “Noah,” He roared; “Where’s the Ark?”

Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah.  “Things have changed.  I needed a building permit.  I’ve been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.  My neighbours claim that I have violated the zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limit.  We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. 

Then Transport Canada and the Department of Highways and Hydro wanted a bond posted for the future costs of moving power, trolley, and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea.  I argued the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of this! 

Getting wood was another problem.  There’s a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the potted owl.  I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls, but no go!”

“I started gathering the animals, but then an animal rights group sued me.  They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will.  As well, they argued the space was too restrictive and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in so confined an area.”

“Environment Canada decided that I could not build the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. 

I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew. Meanwhile, the trade unions want me to hire only union people with ark building experience. 

To make matters worse, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency seized all of my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally as well as with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least ten years to finish this Ark.”  Suddenly, the skies cleared, and the sun began to shine.  A rainbow stretched across the sky! 

Noah looked up in wonder.  “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world, Lord?” he asked.

“No,” said the Lord.  “Your government already has!”

Editor's note:  This modern fable was recently shared with the Big Heart Seniors and sent on to the Echo by Edith and Bob Veale.

Author unknown. 

Good question. Well, one way to quickly determine your answer is to ask whether you have least 5% down payment and closing costs for a house?

If not, renting is a good option. It may beat living with mom and dad for the rest of your life! Even if you love them very much.

Most financial institutions and private lenders will not lend 100% of the purchase price. You need to show a financial interest in the home, so that the lender feels confident that you are not just going to walk away if money gets a little tight. If you are not able to buy this way, there is the rent-to-own option. However there is still a down payment required and interest rates will be higher.

Some of the types of renters are:

1. Folks without the 5%

2. Retired folks that are not interested in owning any longer

3. Folks experiencing financial difficulty (This can happen to ANYONE)

4. Seasonal renters, for ski seasons or summer holidays

5. Young couples or families, not sure about where life is taking them

6. Those who relocate, (i.e. the military, new jobs, etc.)

7. People who just don't want the responsibilities of owning

8. Students

These are just a few benefits of renting :

1. You do not have the liability of ownership

2. You do not have to maintain the buildings or grounds

3. You do not have the fix anything that wears out or breaks. (Unless, of course, you broke it!)

4. You do not have to cut the grass unless it is in your rental agreement

5. You do not have to do the snow removal unless it is in your rental agreement

6. If something happens to the building you do not have to deal with it

7. If the building needs upgrading, it is not your expense

8. You are not responsible for paying the taxes

9. You are not responsible for paying the building insurance

10. You do not have to come up with 5% down to live there

11. You may only need the home for a short term and don't want to have the hassle of selling

12. You may be retiring and only need it for a few years, before going into a retirement community

13. You may not be able to find just the right house, instead of buying the wrong house, rent short-term

These are just a few reasons why renting may be the best option for you. Homes come up for rent on the market all the time as do folks looking for rentals. I get calls for both periodically. There are many ways to get the word out you are looking to rent a home.

I can help you start looking for your next rental home. Whether you are looking in the Clearview, Creemore, Stayner, Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, or Mulmur township, I can help you get the ball rolling. It can take some time to find the one. Start as early as you can, so you don't miss out on a good deal.

I do property management too. If you need help deciding whether to buy or rent, or if you need help finding rentals or renters, give me a call today.