(NC)—Eerie sounds, spooky lights and jack-o'-lanterns aglow – extra efforts at Halloween will keep visitors coming back for both tricks and treats. However, to keep the fun going it's important to plan your home's scary set-up with safety in mind.
Decorations for special events, most often involving candles, such as those found in jack-o'-lanterns, account for an average of 800 home fires ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 15, 2009
Credit giant's debit arm aims to lure market with a wave
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Visa Canada plans to showcase the first-ever "contactless" debit cards in the country during the high-profile Olympic Games in Vancouver early next year, says a leading supplier of card readers.
The move, believed to be a North American first, comes amid a wave of concern among merchants and small-business owners about ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 9, 2009
Latest innovation poised to rock industry
(NC)— It's been described as refined natural marble tile. It's five times stronger than regular marble and precision engineered to create the most sought after marble tile collection in the industry. It's called Accolade Premium RF and it's the next generation of marble tile.
Using the same innovative concepts that have brought engineered hardwood ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 8, 2009
(NC)—Over the last few years, designers, builders and architects have been preaching the benefits and strengths of quartz as a premium surface material and now most savvy homeowners across the country have caught up to this hot trend. Unique in combining depth and colour consistency with low maintenance and unrivaled durability, quartz has emerged as the preferred countertop material in homes ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 8, 2009
(NC)—Before you claim the proposed First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit, there are some things you should know about qualifying:
Neither you, your spouse or common-law partner lived in a house that either of you owned in the year of purchase or any of the four preceding years.
• If you are a person with a disability or are buying a house for a relative with a disability, you don't have ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 7, 2009
The last thing that a bank, credit union or insurer wants is to take back your house.
All the insurers have programs in place to help you keep your house during troubled times. Whether it's no payments for a period of time or reduced payments, they all want to work it out.
Most if not all financial institutions have skip-a-payment plans or can capitalize overdue payments.
Once you get behind ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 3, 2009
When you are applying for a mortgage. The best way to ensure smooth underwriting is to make sure that your beacon score stays above 600. This is key for financial institutions and high ratio insurers, especially for self employed individuals.
- No late payments
- No judgements
- Create capacity
- Keep property tax current
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 3, 2009
There is compensation costs involved with breaking a mortgage and it is not always in the best interests of the borrower to do so, despite recent media attention around all time lows for interest rates.
Compensation equals the greater of 3 months interest or interest rate differential.
This means that if you are currently 2 years into a 5 year mortgage with an interest rate of 6% and you want to ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 3, 2009
Re: HGTV Show – “Realtor vs. Realtor” Some of you may be aware that HGTV premiered a new show last Wednesday evening (September 30) called “Realtor vs. Realtor”. The premise of this “reality” show, according to the promotional spots, is that two real estate agents are “pitted” against each other to help a “desperate buyer” ...
Posted by Carol Ireland
on October 2, 2009