News
NEW PRICE – 12998 Fifth Line, Halton Hills (Limehouse)
April 14th, 2012http://www.brazeauteam.com/listings/12998-fifth-line-halton-hills-limehouse
Previous price – $798,000
New price – $749,000
Affordability of the Full-Day Kindergarten Program
February 15th, 2012The following is taken DIRECTLY from today’s report by the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services, entitled “PUBLIC SERVICES FOR ONTARIANS: A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY AND EXCELLENCE”. (The Drummond Report)
The full report can be read here http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/reformcommission/index.html
Affordability of the Full-Day Kindergarten Program
In recent years, the government has devoted significant attention and resources to early learning. In 2009, the government committed to implementing full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds with an investment of $200 million in 2010–11 and $300 million in 2011–12. Dr. Charles Pascal was appointed as the Premier’s special advisor on early learning8, and was asked to provide recommendations for implementing a full-day early learning program.
Dr. Pascal’s 2009 report, “With Our Best Future in Mind,” recommended the development and implementation of a coherent approach to early childhood development and education, including FDK for four- and five-year-olds. Dr. Pascal also recommended before- and after-school programming for kindergarten students, funded through parent fees.
In September 2010, FDK was launched in nearly 600 schools across Ontario. The rollout has continued in 2011 with an additional 200 schools, and about 900 new school sites have been announced for the 2012–13 school year. A framework for the extended-day component of the program has also been set; school boards offer the program either independently or through on-site third-party partners, in areas where there is enough demand.
The Commission appreciates the research and analysis performed by Dr. Pascal. There is substantial evidence that investments in early childhood education produce significant socio-economic benefits in the long term. The Pascal report offers a plan that reduces gaps in child development policy, supports student achievement, and promotes better long-term economic, health and social outcomes.
However, consideration must also be given to the demands placed on the education system by the program, and the resources required to meet these demands. Costs associated with new staff, classroom supplies, transportation, other school operations, capital and stabilization for the child care sector will result in a mature program expense of over $1.5 billion per year.
Given the current fiscal climate, the Commission is concerned that the timing is not appropriate for a new program with a cost of this magnitude. The costs of FDK were incorporated into the March 2011 Budget and the 2011 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review in November. But as we have discussed elsewhere, not enough offsetting restraint was secured in other spending to ensure that these fiscal plans would achieve the overall deficit objective.
The Commission considered recommending the suspension of further implementation of the FDK program, with a progressive redistribution over time of the funded sites to communities with the lowest socio-economic status within each board. However, such an approach would create inequalities, and would pose additional challenges for families, schools, boards and government.
Recommendation 6-11: Given the difficulties with such an approach, and the prohibitive cost of the program overall at this time, the Commission recommends cancellation of the full-day kindergarten (FDK) program, without prejudice to schools that already had FDK before the introduction of this government strategy.
The Ministry of Education should carefully develop phase-out provisions so that a child who had a full day in junior kindergarten would not move to a half day in senior kindergarten, and so that purpose-built spaces are appropriately utilized for child care.
Recommendation 6-12: If the government decides to continue the implementation of the full-day kindergarten program, then the Commission recommends delaying full implementation from 2014–15 to 2017–18 and reducing program costs by adopting a more affordable staffing model, involving one teacher for about 20 students, rather than a teacher and an early childhood educator for 26 students, to help moderate salary expenditures for the program by about $200 million. The government should not confirm full implementation of the program without assurances from school boards, teacher federations and support-staff unions that negotiated annual wage increases by 2017–18 will not be higher than the current trends in the broader public sector, and that the class-size increases and reductions in non-teaching staff contemplated by the Commission by 2017–18 will be achieved.
This approach would also help ease the oversupply of teachers in the labour market and reduce costs associated with correcting the current undersupply of ECEs.
It’s Movember!!!
November 1st, 2011
It’s Movember, the month formerly known as November, which is dedicated to growing moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men’s health. I have joined the movement and will be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My Mo will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds prostate cancer.
Why am I so passionate about men’s health?
* On average men live 4-5 years less than women
* 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
* 25,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year in Canada
I invite you to support me by donating to me http://mobro.co/JosephBrazeau. You can even go old school and write a cheque payable to Movember Canada, reference my name and Registration Number 1983242 and send it to:
Movember Canada, 119 Spadina Avenue, PO Box 65, Toronto, ON M5T 2T2
If you’d like to find out more about the type of work you’d be helping to fund by supporting Movember, take a look at the Programs We Fund section on the Movember website: http://ca.movember.com/about
Thank you in advance for supporting my efforts to change the face of men’s health. All donations are tax deductible.
Joseph Brazeau
A New Addition!
October 6th, 2011
We, at The Brazeau Team, are very proud to announce that Jennifer Brazeau-Barg (Joseph’s sister/Virginia’s daughter) has joined our team.
Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a degree in Psychology and holds a Master of Divinity degree from McMaster University. Jennifer is joining us with a variety of work experience in Ministry settings, from Third World missions with women and children, to Hospital Chaplaincy, as well as speaking, teaching, writing and programming.
Jennifer and her family currently reside in the rural community of Carlisle and will be a wonderful asset, not only to the Brazeau Team, but to Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty.
Volume Down, Prices Up
May 26th, 2011The spring real estate market in urban Milton has been interesting to say the least.
Here are some statistics for you.
2010 – 60 day period (April and May)
- Resale Homes Sold = 420
- Average Sale Price = $391,082.00
- Average Days On Market (includes conditional period) = 16
2011 – 60 day period (April and May)
- Resale Homes Sold = 387 (Down 8% over same period in 2010)
- Average Sale Price = $410,307.00 (Up 5% over same period in 2010)
- Average Days On Market (includes conditional period) = 18
Stats were compiled from the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board.
The Effects of HST
June 8th, 2010July 1st is Approaching Quickly!
Nineteen years after the implementation of GST, we are now entering a new era – HST. In Ontario, as of July 1st, 2010, this “harmonized sales tax” will be a combination of the 8% provincial sales tax and the 5% GST, resulting in a 13% tax. But how much will this “new” tax actually affect us?
Most goods are already subject to both PST and GST. These items will not be affected by HST. Where HST will hit us the most is on services that we currently only pay GST on. Some of the areas that we currently pay 5% tax on that will be changed to 13% include: electricity and heating, internet access, services from a contractor, air, bus and rail travel, gasoline, gym memberships, golf green fees, children’s lessons (with the exception of music lessons), haircuts, funeral services, legal fees, new homes over $400,000 and real estate commissions. (For a full list of what is affected and what is not, refer to: http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/pdf/taxable.pdf .)
Note that resale homes will not be subject to HST. Where you will experience HST in a residential real estate transaction is on the services associated with it: legal fees, appraisal fees, home inspection fees, moving costs, high ratio mortgage insurance premiums and real estate commissions.
Impact of HST on the Sale of a Home
Example 1: Between January 1st , 2010 and May 31st, 2010, the average sale price for a resale home in Milton was $390,000. The table below indicates the additional costs that you would pay on the sale of a home with the price of $390,000. The implementation of HST will result in $2,219.84 of additional taxes. (This works out to be 0.57% of your original purchase price.)
| Cost (Before Tax) | Current Tax Paid | Total New Tax Paid | Difference | |
|
Mortgage Insurance Premium(1) |
$10,188.75 | $815.10(2) | $1,324.54 | $509.44 |
|
Legal Fees |
$1,000.00 | $50.00 | $80.00 | $30.00 |
|
Real Estate Commission(3) |
$19,500.00 | $975.00 | $2,535.00 | $1,560.00 |
|
Home Inspection Fees |
$400.00 | $20.00 | $52.00 | $32.00 |
|
Title Insurance |
$480.00 | $24.00 | $62.40 | $38.40 |
|
Total |
$31,568.75 |
$1,884.10 | $4,103.94 | $2,219.84 |
Notes:
(1) CMHC premium of 2.75% for a mortgage with a 5% down payment on a $390,000 home.
(2) Currently only PST is paid on high ratio mortgage insurance premiums.
(3) Based on 5% real estate commission.
Example 2: The average sale price for a home in rural Milton between January 1st, 2010 and May 31st, 2010 was $808,000. The table below indicates the additional costs that you would pay on the sale of a home with the price of $808,000. The implementation of HST will result in $4,437.85 of additional taxes. (This works out to be 0.55% of your original purchase price.)
| Cost (Before Tax) | Current Tax Paid | Total New Tax Paid | Difference | |
|
Mortgage Insurance Premium(1) |
$21,109.00 | $1,688.72(2) | $2,744.17 | $1,055.45 |
|
Legal Fees |
$1,000.00 | $50.00 | $80.00 | $30.00 |
|
Real Estate Commission(3) |
$40,400.00 | $2,020.00 | $5,252.00 | $3,232.00 |
|
Home Inspection Fees |
$400.00 | $20.00 | $52.00 | $32.00 |
|
Title Insurance |
$480.00 | $24.00 | $62.40 | $38.40 |
|
Total |
$63,389.00 | $3,802.72 | $8,240.57 | $4,437.85 |
Notes:
(1) CMHC premium of 2.75% for a mortgage with a 5% down payment on a $808,000 home.
(2) Currently only PST is paid on high ratio mortgage insurance premiums.
(3) Based on 5% real estate commission.
Is the sale of your home subject to HST?
If you have a firm deal in place for the sale of your home prior to July 1st, 2010, then you are only required to pay GST on your real estate commissions. (This is because 90% or more of the agent’s services were completed before the implementation of HST.) Note that the closing date of your home need not be prior to July 1st to avoid HST on real estate commissions! However, other fees (mortgage insurance premium, legal fees, etc.) will be subject to HST if the service occurs after July 1st.
Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Garage Sale!
May 14th, 2010
Tomorrow there is a garage sale that is happening all across Canada. Many of the Royal LePage offices are opening their doors (and parking lots) to people to come and buy something with the knowledge that all of the money raised will be going to support local women’s shelters.
Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty is no different. Our brokerage is having a RLP Shelter Garage Sale at all 3 of our locations (Milton, Mississauga and Georgetown).
Please choose one (or all 3) and come out (and buy something) to support a great cause.
Check out the video below.
The Affordability Verdict.
May 3rd, 2010Here is an excerpt from an article by Dan Richards, CTV.ca.
“The affordability verdict
If mortgage rates in December had been at normal levels, the percentage of income to carry a house in most cities would have been well above its long-term average. The good news: In most cities those percentages would still have been well below their highs – prices may be a bit elevated but this doesn’t suggest a bubble or a big drop ahead.”
To read the whole article, please click here to visit the CTV.ca website Housing affordability: the great quandary
Ontario Provincial Government says “No Quarry”!!!!
April 13th, 2010Ontario Provincial Government says “No Quarry”!!!!
THIS IS BIG NEWS!!!!! The Ontario Government has legislated that there will be NO QUARRY!!! Residents of Rural Hamilton (Formerly Flamborough, including Carlisle, Freelton and Waterdown) and Kilbride and all the surrounding areas should (will) be ecstatic.
For six years we have been having to explain, educate and inform the public and prospective buyers and sellers (and their Realtors) of the implications that a quarry would have on property values and sales for LOTS of people (not just those who are immediate neighbours of the proposed site west of Milton, Ontario).
Please go to the StopTheQuarry.ca website to find more details of the Six year fight and the breaking news story of it’s victorious conclusion.
CONGRATULATIONS to F.O.R.C.E.!!!
Check out some of the news stories:
From the Spec – http://bit.ly/95UShW
FINAL FORCE Release April 13 2010
McMeekin Press Release, April 13, 2010
SOLD!!!
April 9th, 2010I was on the listing representation end of multiple offers tonight.
884 Maple Ave. in Dorset Park (Milton) received 4 offers tonight. One clear standout was signed back with minor “house-keeping” changes. The “signback” was accepted by the buyer and the property is now SOLD (conditionally for now).
The sellers took two weeks after our initial visit to do ALL the things our wonderful stager/decorator told them to do (6 pages of tasks) and the sale price is a testimony to the hard work and strong attitude that was embraced by the sellers. The property came on the market properly with a splash and the sellers are ecstatic with the result.
Another living example of how to sell your house quickly for the best dollar possible.
