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Family Day is Monday February 19th, which means there's a long weekend ahead! There's plenty of activities and events going on in the capital this week and weekend to choose from. Don't wait until the last minute, plan your fun-packed weekend now!

Click here to see the full list of events and activities.

 

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The Winter Olympics have begun! Cheer for Canada while staying up-to-date with the latest news, updates, and photos surrounding the Olympics.

Click here for your Olympic Updates.

 

College students, and living options

 

If you’re the parent of a college/university age student, and you haven’t considered it yet, perhaps now is the time you will. As spring is just around the corner, it’s time to think about what investments you can make, and an investment that shouldn’t be overlooked is buying a home. More specifically, buying a home for your college-aged student to live in during school. Should you purchase a home in your students’ university/college town for them to live in during their schooling? What are the benefits, and drawbacks of investing in a second home? Would this investment bring you a profit? These questions, and many others are part of considering getting a home for your student to live in.

 

Why buy a home for your student?

College and university are expensive endeavours no matter what you do, but with a little planning, you can find ways to cut corners and minimize costs. One of the ways that can be done would be by purchasing a home for your student to live in while they’re in school. By buying a home, you have a hand in your students’ quality of life, and are involved in their living situation (in terms of sketchy roommates, and sneaky landlords). Your student can learn the responsibility of owning a home, without burdening all of the financial costs (as they would have roommates), as well as ensuring they have a stable living situation, that has fewer costs than finding an apartment to rent throughout their school years.

 

What are the benefits of buying your student a home?

There are a multitude of benefits that come along with buying a home for your student to live in including, but not limited to: having stability in their housing, fixed expenses, and the rental income that can come from having roommates. If you have more than one student enrolled, having a place they can both live is easier than having them both go apartment hunting. Their friends can become their roommates (and your tenants), which can allow the mortgage to be paid, and then some.

 

Depending on the size of the home, the income from having tenants along with your children, is that their rent will not only cover the mortgage, but any other maintenance related expenses that your student would need to pay for, or work for, such as the cost of snow-removal. Having a fixed bill payment each month will allow your student to further understand how bills are paid, what the true cost of living is, and how to properly budget. There are so many benefits in the option of buying a home for your student to live in, but a major benefit is removing the costly expense of moving, and storing furniture year after year. In many university towns, students who return home for the summer need to leave their current lease, and pay for 4 months of summer when they won’t be living there. Many students need to store furniture for the summer, which is an additional expense, as well as the gas, time, and travel expenses that come along with moving multiple times.

As students continue to live in your second home, its value will increase, and when your students finish school, you can have the option of selling this home at a profit.

 

Of course, there is always the question of “What if they don’t stay there?” – perhaps your student may be interested in travelling abroad, or changing schools later on – but that doesn’t take away from the investment you’ve made. If your student chooses to study abroad for a year, you will have tenants in place already and the house will continue to build equity. Investing in a home is always a sound decision that holds a variety of opportunity for you, and your student.

 

The investment is always best returned to those who intend to hold onto the “second nest” for longer than their children are enrolled in university/college, as it gives them time to build more equity and increase the value/profit that may come from the sale of this home.

 

Who can help?

In the same manner you would contact your Realtor to look into purchasing a home near you, contact a Realtor to discuss the area, opportunities for growth, and what the rental community is like in that city. It is also an option to purchase a home in Ottawa that is closer to campus for your student to live in – purchasing a second home as an investment is an option that exists regardless of where your student decides to go to school. If your student is going to school out of town, contact a Royal Lepage Realtor in their soon to be “home” to use their extensive knowledge of the housing market, and area in order to make an informed decision. Realtor’s can even help you find tenants for your second nest, should you need them to!

 

 

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Just purchased a home or are in the process? Sometimes it can be a challenge to figure out how to make your new home reflect your taste and personality. If you're looking to make your house showcase you and your lifestyle, try incorporating intriguing, bolder design choices.

Click here to see the 22 daring designs you should try in 2018.

 

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Ottawa Citizen, Stephen Moranis, Postmedia News 08.15.2016

It’s the most common hazard that home buyers overlook: disagreements between homeowners that can turn entire neighbourhoods into war zones. These can happen anywhere, of course; but they’re especially common in tonier, wealthier communities, where people are more inclined to lawyer up, and where small contrarian disputes can escalate quickly.

These conflicts end up becoming embarrassing, upsetting and expensive, occasionally leading some residents to consider selling and moving on. So much for that friendly block party.

It’s a shame. The neighbourhood you once thought was charming and peaceful becomes the one where your neighbour plays loud music all the time, their dog barks constantly, and their high-powered leaf blower becomes the final straw for you and your family.

But how could you have known all this before you moved in?

It is advisable to meet your neighbours and familiarize yourself with the neighbourhood before you purchase, especially if it is a recreational property like a cottage or ski cabin. It is imperative that you get a sense of things before you close any deals. That said, not everything is foreseeable, and any number of neighbour issues are still likely to arise when you’re a homeowner. So here are a few helpful tips in trying to address and resolve these disputes.

1. Communicate with your neighbours before you plan to do significant work to your home such as additions, major renovations or a complete rebuild. It is best to canvass their support first-hand. Too often, neighbours will object to your plans and it can become adversarial. This may result in seeking additional approvals from government regulators and tribunals, which can be timely and costly. Your neighbour’s consent is the best way to proceed with any plans for change. One high-profile neighbour dispute case had the judge ruling that the neighbours needed “a rather stern kindergarten teacher“ and not a court for their goading, shouting, 24/7 surveillance, middle-finger flipping, alleged parking with the intent to annoy, and recording of insults and profanities.

2. Animals and pets can be an irritant to you and your neighbours, especially if your neighbour is keeping chickens, sheep or pigs in their backyard. Local bylaws generally spell out what is allowed. Make sure that you clean up any dog messes and try to keep your cats under control, although it can be hard to stop them marking out their territory on your neighbour’s property. If your animals become too noisy, don’t let them bark or howl all the time but try to attend to them. Many neighbours are scared of animals. You must respect this and keep those noisy and excitable dogs away from them.

3. Join the neighbourhood watch program in your area. This allows you the advantage to get to know people and reassure them that you are a good neighbour. Showing an interest in what is happening in your community allows you to gain their trust as someone who cares about the neighbourhood and is less likely to cause problems.

4. Keep your children under control. Ensure that you know where they are and what they are up to. If they are disturbing your neighbours by being noisy or messy, try to nip it in the bud. Make it clear to your neighbours that you care about what your children are up to, and that they can come to you with any concerns.

5. Keep the noise down, especially if you are planning a party or having people over late. It is wise to let your neighbours know in advance, especially if things are likely to carry on into the wee hours. You might ask them to join you, and then they can’t complain. It is all about being considerate and reasonable and thinking about what would annoy you too.

6. Parking manners are important. Try not to block the access to your neighbour’s property with cars, bicycles, or even the kids’ toys. Do not use other people’s common parking spaces unless you have no choice, as this can lead to bad feelings. Be sure to inform your visitors where they can or cannot park outside your house. And if anything’s unclear, talk about it.

7. Always introduce yourself to new neighbours. When you are the newbie on the street, remember that everyone is curious about you. The best way to reassure them is to introduce yourself. Smile and say hello when you see people around, as the friendly approach is the best way to endear yourself to your neighbours. This ensures that if they need to speak to you about anything, they are more likely to feel comfortable doing so and less likely to go behind your back. Getting to know them will also make the neighbours more likely to look out for you.

8. Boundary and property line disputes are one of the biggest causes of neighbour discord. Many times these matters go to court and they are one of the most popular reasons for neighbour complaints. One of the first things to do is check the property title deed and look at the survey and do this with your neighbour who will be affected. Fences and hedges probably cause the greatest number of arguments, whether it’s existing ones or newly proposed ones. Issues arise over who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of fences. If you are proposing a new fence, be sure to discuss it with the neighbour in advance as to the exact location, style and materials, as well as the possible sharing of costs.

9. Trees and gardens become a source of conflict between neighbours. If a neighbour does not take care of their garden or property and it impacts yours, causing damage or an accident, then your neighbour may be liable for the costs. This includes roots growing under your property or causing an obstacle. Many a drain problem has been caused by underground roots. Local bylaws regulate tree protection and normally inhibit the injury or removal of privately-owned trees that measure at least 30 centimetres in diameter or 1.4 metres tall. Tree branches that hang over your property line may be trimmed by you. If your tree falls on your neighbour’s property, you are not generally responsible unless you caused the damage. Disputes over blocking out light are best to be dealt with sensitively: you are allowed to prune back hedges if they block your light, but you can’t reduce their height.

It is not surprising to learn that the City of Toronto has over 50,000 yearly complaints submitted to them concerning residential property issues between neighbours. The most common ones are noise complaints, fence heights and driveway boundaries. Occasionally, these matters end up at provincial municipal boards and/or in the courts, resulting in bad feelings and lengthy feuds. As a neighbour you should always try and keep the peace. While reasonable people can disagree, you should always try to compromise and talk things through before getting anyone else involved.

The Winter months in the Capital are arguably some of the most enjoyable for its residents and their families. Christmas has passed, yuletide memories have been made, and we’ve welcomed the New Year with wide opened arms. And with the anticipation of new beginnings in 2018, we take in a deep breath of fresh, brisk air and bundle up to embrace what this year has to offer; including the great outdoors. In fact, with the many winter-filled activities that our City and surrounding areas have to offer this Winterlude season, it’s nearly impossible to sit idle as the cold passes us by. Here are a few activities that you and your family can partake in this winter to celebrate Winterlude’s 40^th birthday year:

 

• Lansdowne’s Winter Garden: beginning February 2^nd and ongoing to the 19^th, Lansdowne Park at Aberdeen Square will be transformed into a “glowing winter garden of sculpted snow and lanterns”. Bring your friends, your families and your hot chocolates as you walk through and enjoy this open space of winter magic.

 

• Confederation Park: quite possibly Winterlude’s centerpiece. Throughout the duration of this year’s festivities, Confederation Park will once again become our City’s central space of enchantment and masterpiece. Open daily from 9AM-11PM (and on February 19^th from 8AM-5PM) the Park’s Crystal Garden will have you in awe as renowned Canadian artists turn simple blocks of ice into magnificent works of art.

 

• Snowflake Kingdom: 350 Laurier Street in Gatineau is now home to the Ice Hog Family – Winterlude’s favourite mascots. Surrounded by a vast winter playground of several activities and Canadian winter traditions (including the legendary Super Slides), the Snowflake Kingdom is the spot for you and the kids! Check out the park’s hours of operation and special events here!

 

• Sens Rink of Dreams: Who’s up for a leisurely skate, a delicious Beaver Tail and a stroll through the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame? If these activities sound like your ideal winter’s day, then City Hall is calling your name. Located directly across from the heart of Winterlude at Confederation Park, the Marion Dewar Plaza at City Hall is the perfect spot for you and the family to enjoy some quality time and create some lasting memories. On-site skate rentals are available!

 

Winterlude officially launches on February 2^nd at 9:30AM at Jacques-Cartier Park North. Be sure to dress warm and bring the family along to meet the Ice Hog Family at Snowflake Kingdom to kick-start 2 weeks of fun-filled festivities! 40 never looked so good!

 

 

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6 more weeks of winter is enough to make some of us seriously contemplate going to a tropical place to wait out the rest of winter. If you can't manage that tropical escape, here are some great ways to get through the last of winter and freshen up your home for the spring.

Click here to see 5 ways to get your home ready for spring.

 

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Bell Let's Talk Day is a day for everyone to come together and work through mental health stigmas. For every applicable text, mobile and long distance call, tweet using #BellLetsTalk, Bell Let’s Talk Day video view on social media, use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter, Bell will donate 5¢ to Canadian mental health initiatives.

Click here to learn about more ways to help.

 

 The Genius Reason to Tape a String To Your Moving Boxes

 

Moving and unpacking can be tedious. Click HERE for a great tip to make it easier!

 

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When the temperature drops and the snow starts to blow, most Canadians beat a hasty retreat indoors. Now that we've had longer bouts of freezing weather, are you starting to notice any drafts and/or cold spots around you home? To win the fight against the seeping cold, you’ll want to take action, and quickly.

Click here to see how.