St. John's Real Estate ments

Go Ahead; Give Your Self a Real Treat This Month!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:16:00 GMT

The month of October can be a spooky month, maybe even a scary month with monstrous problems. Yikes!! Well maybe not, but words like that seem to be popping up everywhere as kids and adults alike look forward to Halloween.

In fact, according to the USA Today recently, Adults spend more on themselves to celebrate Halloween than any other day during the year. I get that. Especially if they want to hang out with the kids to go trick or treating, or to a Halloween party of some kind.

Speaking of our friends to the South, real estate has continued to be a hot topic and surely guiding some of the recovery efforts. Is this the best time to buy your vacation property or rental property?

Many homeowners and home buyers are truly scared. Scared to death of how in the world they are going to get out of their house and into their next one. MSNBC recently reported that home sales hit a 15 year low last month in the U.S. This is great news for some (a real treat) and terrible news for others (the trick).

Buyers can absolutely find a home and pay what homes were selling for in 2002. That should have every home buyer looking hard so as not miss out on a great real estate deal. For those wanting to sell, they are selling because they must and that means being extra careful to avoid the pitfalls of selling in today's market in order to get the most amount of money with the least hassle.

As a result of working with hundreds of families over a 10 year time span, we have developed a special program to help buyers locate the home that will bring immediate joy to their life while insuring they are getting the best home at the best price with the least hassle. And for home sellers, we insure their home sales at a price agreeable to them or we'll buy it.* Now that is a how you turn a trick into a real treat.

WE NEED YOUR HELP...

If you or anyone you know is considering making a move to a new home, we would like to offer them a FREE No Obligation to Move Consultation to discuss just how they can make their move, get what they want and do it with the least hassle.

As a special Treat for the month of October, we are offering home owners a Free Special Report called 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Up to Your Next Home in Today's Market! This free report is provided to any buyer or seller we meet with during the Month of October to help make their next move a lot less scary!

Any one you know considering making a move, wanting to buy or sell their home, please refer them to me without hesitation or delay! They will receive the service guarantees I detailed above and you can rest assured your referrals will be rewarded.

If you missed the last couple months Market Watch letters, we are on a mission to donate $100,000.00 to Janeway Childrens Hospital Foundation! They do great work in helping kids struggle to recover from debilitating diseases. We will donate $250 of our income on every referral you send us to Janeway Childrens Hospital Foundation.

Over the last decade of helping thousands of families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you! So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help - you can rest assured that not only will they get the award winning service we are known for and the guarantee to back it up, but that a solid portion of the income we receive from the transaction will go toward a very worthy cause (Kids and families in Dire Need!)

It's easy to refer your friends, neighbours, associates or family members considering making a move. Simply go to www.yournewfoundlandhome.com. Of course you can always call me direct as well at 709-770-7355.

I hope you and your family are well and this month of tricks and treats is full of, well, treats.

With all our appreciation,

The Homelife Advantage Realty Team

709-770-7355

P.S. Remember we love honoring our past clients like you. Read all about that at www.yournewfoundlandhome.com

Go Ahead; Give Your Self a Real Treat This Month!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:08:00 GMT

WE NEED YOUR HELP...

I hope you and your family are well and this month of tricks and treats is full of, well, treats.

With all our appreciation,

The Homelife Advantage Realty Team

709-770-7355

P.S. Remember we love honoring our past clients like you. Read all about that at www.yournewfoundlandhome.com

Bowring Park in St. John's: Tuesday Travels #8

Your Newfoundland Home . — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:01:00 GMT

It's safe to say that virtually every person living in any St. John's home in the 80 years or more has visited Bowring Park at one time or another. No trip to the city is complete without a walk through its scenic boundaries. Unlike any other place in Newfoundland and Labrador, Bowring Park showcases exactly why you’d want to keep checking the latest real estate listings in St. John's! Winter, spring, summer, fall — every season of the year the park continues to attract thousands of visitors along its footpaths. You’ll want to come back often and do it all!

Before the area came to be known as the Bowring Park we know now, it was obtained from the Newfoundland Government in 1847 by William Thorburn. He turned the 50 acres into a successful farmland. The Crown Grant Land was later leased to the Neville family who formally named the property Rae Island Farm. In 1911, an established shipping firm, The Bowring Brothers, bought the land and commemorated their 100th business anniversary by offering St. John’s a recreational park as a token of appreciation to the local community, and construction began the following year. The park was officially declared open on July 15, 1914 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught.

The Bowring Brothers commissioned landscape architect Frederick Todd of Montreal to head up the project, but it is said that the design and layout of the park was truly brought forth by fellow landscape architect, Rudolf H. Cochius. Cochius lived and worked in the park for several years before and after the opening. The land was chosen for its rich natural beauty, the perimeter beset by two rivers, the Waterford River and the Southbrook River. While the park was opened in 1914, it continued construction up until 1921 when it was formally given over to the city, and has continued to be under the care of the municipal government ever since. Development continued in the following decades to include some of the many fantastic features we get to enjoy today.

Bowring Park is home to a number of unique trees, shrubs and flowering plants. The original greenhouse, built in 1947 was turned into a Conservatory that hosts a number of traveling botanical exhibits and a popular butterfly exhibit. Walking trails, bike paths and bridges were built along the two rivers which converge at the Duck Pond, a picturesque place to enjoy feeding the ducks, swans and pigeons that inhabit the area.

There are a number of areas for leisure and sport activities. Crossing the vehicular bridge, families can take a refreshing dip at the park’s swimming pool, and young people come to enjoy the nearby skate park as well as the playground. Tennis courts, lawn bowling, and large open spaces such as the Bob Whelan Field provide ample opportunity for frisbee or football. In winter the sloping field is the perfect location for sledding.

Past the outdoor pool is the fountain pond, a wonderful site surrounded by a trail for walking and benches for relaxing. It was recently reconstructed through the efforts of The Bowring Park Foundation, Husky Energy, and the City of St. John's. The pond is turned into a lovely skating area in the wintertime. South of this pond is Cabot Theatre, an amphitheatre constructed to commemorate Cabot’s 500th anniversary of his discovery of Newfoundland.

There are a number of statues and monuments around the park. The Fighting Newfoundlander honours the Newfoundland Regiment who fought bravely in World War I. The Caribou is a further tribute to these brave soldiers and is a replica of the original located at Beaumont Hamel, France. The Peter Pan statue located by the Duck Pond is in memory of Sir Edgar Bowring’s granddaughter, Betty Munn, who tragically died at the age of four, along with 94 other passengers, when the SS Florizel capsized during a violent storm. The statue serves as a fitting celebration of childhood.

There are still many more beautiful areas to explore while visiting Bowring Park. It truly is a gem in the middle of busy St. John's, so be sure to stop in with a handful of birdseed to feed a duck or two, or with a picnic lunch in tow. You’ll be sure to want to stay awhile.

Shopping at Stavanger Drive: Tuesday Travels #7

Your Newfoundland Home . — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:23:00 GMT

Photo credit: http://golfandgear.ca/.
Need a St. John's shopping fix? Want to find everything you need in one easy location, but find the idea of spending a day at the mall overwhelming? Enjoy getting lost amongst aisles and aisles of the latest fashions and newest products? Big box shopping centers might be the answer for you! Such stores have become very popular for their wide range of goods and services and most often allow for a larger selection than can be found within the stores in a traditional mall. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the boxes don't come any bigger or more inviting than they do at Stavanger Drive. With just one visit, you'll quickly see one more reason real estate in St. John’s East is in high demand!

Located in the east end, Stavanger Drive is home to a large selection of big box stores, catering to a variety of needs and markets. From finding the finishing pieces for your home, to trying on the perfect pair of shoes, to picking out your very first pet, Stavanger Drive has you covered. If you are looking for general merchandise, you’re certainly no stranger to Wal-mart or Zellers as your go-to stores. Cost-co offers a wide array of products, mostly in bulk and offers free samples to try usually around meal times. Membership is required but that won’t stop you from being able to try out their delicious poutine or a smoked meat sandwich. Kent, Canadian Tire, Rona all offer home building supplies for the builders of the family in search of a new project. A walk through any one of those places might even give you the inspiration you need to finish off your summer deck, or plant a blossoming garden.

For the perfect touch to any home decor or kitchen, you’re sure to find more than a few treasures at Bombay, Bowering, Pier 1 or Paderno. Electronics expertise is supplied by Future Shop, The Source and the recent addition, Best Buy. Henry’s is a little photography specialty store in the area also worth checking out. You’ll discover crafter’s heaven within the aisles of Michael’s; creative types could gladly spend hours within just browsing, but one of their decorating classes might also spark your interest. Home office supplies, and dare I mention upcoming back to school deals can be found at Staples. There is no shortage of places to shop for clothing and accessories. You’re sure to find a great selection for any occasion amongst Old Navy, Reitmans, Winners, Smart Set, Claire’s, Mark’s Work Wearhouse, The Shoe Company, Addition Elle, or even, Thyme Maternity.

You’ll get a fine supply for all of your pet’s needs at Pets Unlimited, and while you’re there make a pit stop with the kids to pet the bunnies. Many restaurants are conveniently located in the area such as McDonald’s, Subway, Tim Horton’s, Swiss Chalet, Boston Pizza, and Pizza Delight. You’ll find Dominion grocery store as well if you are looking to pick up a few things to make a meal at home. Services, such as PC Medic and Aberdeen Dental round off your visit.

For years, shopping in St. John's was a challenge for anyone wanting the latest fashion or home styles. But not any more. Stavanger Drive contributes to a different shopping atmosphere in old St. John's, so check it out... it might have more in store than you bargained for!

Think St. John's road are bad? Meet the world's most dangerous roads and hiking trail!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:35:00 GMT

A favorite topic everywhere from Tim Horton's lineups to open line radio shows is the condition of roads in and around St. John's. The harsh weather, heavy traffic, and stretched budgets combine to make potholes an all-too-familiar landmark throughout the Capital City, and even across the province.

But in case you've ever muttered that we have the "worst roads anywhere," we suggest you think again. As bad as things can be in any city, few places on the planet can come close to...

The World's Most Dangerous Road

That honour goes to North Yungas Road, in Bolivia, which runs 70 km between La Paz and Coroico in the Bolivian Andes. The road amazingly rises over 3.5 kilometers as you drive around incredibly sharp and narrow hairpin curves, often with an 800-meter drop just inches away. Add heavy fog, torrential rains, mudslides, and no pavement, and oh, did we mention there are no guardrails? Peer over the edge on a day when there are no clouds below, and you'll see the wrecks of cars and trucks that will never make it to their destinations.

After seeing up to 200 people dying there each year, the road was finally closed to most traffic when a new, safer road was completed. But don't despair; if you really wanted to try the road for yourself, it's still open to tour buses, hikers and bikers. Let us know when you get back; we'd love to see the pictures!

Just in case you're not easily scared or impressed though, things are about to get even more dangerous. St. John's has some of the best walking trails in North America. The Grand Concourse, is a beautifully groomed network of trails connecting every major green area in St. John's, Mount Pearl, and Paradise. For those who enjoy a bit more rugged outing, the East Coast Trail offers breathtaking views of the coastlines along the entire northeast Avalon.

No matter how rugged the East Coast Trail gets though, it never comes anywhere near as terrifying or deadly as...

The World's Most Dangerous Trail

Welcome to the, ummm, scenic trail to Mount Huashan, in Xian, China. As you can see in the photo on the right, the only thing between you and certain death are a chain and three planks sticking out the side of a sheer rock wall. Hang on for dear life, and hope that you didn't pick a day when snow, rain, or ice make the walk even more… interesting.

_____________________

Want to see more? Click here to see some of the "best" that Siberia, China and Nepal have to offer. You'll never complain about St. John's potholes again.

And there they are: Sure cures to any complaints you might have for things being too rough around here. What do you think? Would you try either of these just for the sake of testing the limits of your bravery? Or the lack of your common sense? Let us know your thoughts. Or even better, why not send along a picture or two of your own favorite roads or trails, whether in the St. John's area or anywhere else in the world. We'd love to see where you've been!

Torbay Real Estate: Five Things to Love!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Torbay homes for sale have been in high demand for the past several years now, and no one living in the area is surprised. Actually, one look at the Torbay MLS listings will show you that Torbay is actually the second-fastest growing community in Newfoundland and Labrador. But exactly what is it that keeps pulling people into this hillside community, just minutes from St. John's? Well, after bringing you Five GREAT reasons to live in St. John's! and Mount Pearl Real Estate: Five Things to Love!, we thought it was time to shine the spotlight on Torbay real estate. So get comfy and read on as we bring you:

Torbay Real Estate: Five Things to Love

1. Incredible Scenery

You don't even need to turn off the main road through Torbay to be wowed by the spectacular ocean scenery. The too-blue-to-be-true ocean. The gentle green slopes giving way to dramatic, plunging cliffs being pummeled by huge, crashing waves. It's a photographer's paradise. But just in case you do want more, you'll find plenty by driving just a minute or two in almost any direction. Middle Cove. Outer Cove. Marine Drive. Pouch Cove. This is the type of scenery that tourists fly halfway around the world to find. But if you were in one of the new homes in Torbay you'd find it any time you looked out your window or went for a drive.

2. Community Festivals and Family Fun

The Town of Torbay is a fun place to be, no matter what the time of year may be. Each July, the Hillside Festival celebrates Torbay’s heritage and culture. Every year is unique, but you're likely to find everything from a children’s fun day, boat tours, community barbecues, and community dances, to Heritage Walks through the Town, neighbourhood softball challenges, seniors socials, and a fireworks finale. Through it all you'll also get lots of live music, including popular local performers sharing their talents at the Hillside Dance.

Then, each November through February, WinterLights has brightened the winter days and nights with fun and community-oriented social events such as social events for both kids and seniors and a special needs Christmas party, as well as food-bank drives and clothing drives. Each week features something for residents, with a focus on both having fun and giving back to the community.

Even outside these festivals, there's lots to do in Torbay. How about skating at the new Jack Byrne Arena, craft fairs, dance workshops, arts and crafts events, hockey games, a Santa Claus parade, and much more? For more information see the Town of Torbay Website.

3. Country living, just minutes from City life

Torbay once seemed to be well outside St. John's. Not any more. Thanks to the Outer Ring Road, an oft-upgraded Torbay Road, and the fact that St. John's keeps growing outward, Torbay is now just minutes away from any part of St. John's. The town is especially close to St. John's International Airport and Stavanger Drive (the largest shopping area in Newfoundland and Labrador). Access to other communities in the region is also improving, given the new bypass road connecting Torbay, Flatrock, and Pouch Cove. if you love country life but big-city comfort, you'd have to be Hannah Montana to get any closer to having the best of both worlds!

4. Great business potential

With such great access to the province's biggest airport and road systems, and with all that available land, it's not surprising that Torbay is actively encouraging new businesses to call the town their home. Torbay has a low tax rate and also has an economic development department that encourages business growth through such programs as Small Business Week, development of a potential Business Park, business/professional development seminars, and enhancement of the current commercial area. Torbay's community of more than 70 businesses ranges from Liddy’s Bar, which is said to be the oldest operating drinking establishment in North America, to Metal World, with its huge fabrication facility serving commercial and industrial clients in Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world.

5. Great real estate demand

Wish so much to offer, MLS listings in Torbay will often feature homes for higher budgets. However, there is generally great value to be found no matter what your price range might be, if you're willing to spend some time looking for just the right fit. Torbay features homes that cover the full range of sizes and styles, both old and new and beautifully blending traditional Newfoundland and Labrador with cutting-edge executive stylings. Torbay is a great place to live and raise a family if you're looking for rural living with urban convenience. For more detail on exactly what Torbay real estate can offer you, please let us know. We think you'll be very impressed!

And there we have it... the best that Torbay real estate has to offer. Or is it? Did we miss anything? Leave a comment below if you think we slipped up somewhere. What do you love about Torbay? We'd love to hear from you!

St. John's MLS trends indicate a buyer's market! But what's a "buyer's market"?

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:33:00 GMT

St. John's real estate has been a hot commodity for the past few years. Prices kept climbing for a long time, and for a while in late 2009 through early 2010, MLS listings in St. John's and area always seemed to be moving faster than KFC's Double Down sandwiches. Definitely heart-attack territory.

What a difference a few months can make. While it took a while for most people to realize it, the latest CHMC figures show that for the past six months or so a buyer's market has emerged in eastern Newfoundland. Buyer's market? You've heard the term, but what exactly is a buyer's market, anyway?

Glad you asked! Given the amount of money that you're investing when buying a home in St. John's, Mount Pearl, Torbay, or anywhere else for that matter, it's good to know what such terms actually mean. So let's take a closer look.

Put as simply as possible, a buyer's market is one in which more people are selling homes than buying. That means some of those homes stay unsold longer, and sellers then start dropping their prices in order to get them sold. It's also called a soft market by many people, but the bottom line is that it's great for buyers but bad news for sellers.

According to what we've just said, the number of listings, the number of sales, and the average price would all be indicators of a buyer's market. So how do those figures look for real estate in St. John's and area? As you can see on the right in the figures from CHMC, the number of active listings in the area is now at the highest level since before the start of 2008. That doesn't necessarily mean it's a buyer's market; if the number of sales were also at high levels, then it could actually still be a buyer's market. Unfortunately for sellers, that's not at all the case. As you can see in the second graph, the number of sales (represented by the red bars) have dropped steadily. That's a pretty powerful combination to create a buyer's market, which brings us to the third graph...

Looking at the St. John's real estate market since the start of 2008, we can see that buyer's markets existed in the early winter months of both 2009 and 2010. This is fairly common; the number of people wanting to buy a home and move everything during the winter months is relatively low, which means sellers have to work harder and bring prices lower in order to find a buyer. You can see in 2010 thought that the demand did not pick up significantly as the weather warmed up. Why not? Another good question; you're on a roll today! Let's jump back up to the second chart for at least part of the answer...

As can be seen from the blue line in that chart, average home prices were going through the roof, growing by over $60,000 in just two years! That kind of price increase will discourage or completely prevent many people from buying. This will eventually introduce a correction to the prices. As fewer people are buying, sellers need to lower their prices in order to move their properties. The fact that the increase continued for so long is a strong indicator of just how strong the St. John's housing market was during that time. But inevitably, market forces had to catch up, and that's what's happened in recent months, as the price of the average home now seems to be stabilizing at about the $250,000 level.

So here's a question... if prices were rising, wouldn't more sellers be out there trying to move their properties to get great value? Yet another great question! Yes, in theory that could happen, but it clearly did not in this case. We see St. John's MLS listings dropping while the prices rose. Any guesses why? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

The answer is that people selling will usually then also need to buy, unless they are moving away or had more than one home to sell. The same high pricing that would have kept others from wanting to buy would also discourage these people from doing the same. Most would therefore rather keep their homes until they feel they can buy another at a better price.

There is one other factor that can help create a buyer's market: low mortgage rates. A low rate will of course make it easier to finance a home, and that will naturally result in more buyers taking the plunge. Once again, the interest rates are looking very favorable for buyers, as can be seen in the fourth chart, and the CHMC release calls for those low rates to continue throughout the rest of 2010.

So there you have it: our basic explanation of a buyer's market, with real-life examples from today's real estate market in St. John's. Any questions? Comments? Did we oversimplify anything anywhere? Let us know... even if you don't own your own home yet, the floor is now yours!

Think St. John's homes for sale are big? Check out the world's most expensive house!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:15:00 GMT

It's okay to admit it... you've driven around St. John's or Mount Pearl at least a few times, admiring some of the homes in King William Estates or Admiralty Wood. There are some beautiful houses out there both old and new, and it seems like they just keep getting bigger.

However, you're not likely to see any around St. John's that matches one home just completed in Mumbai, India. The 27-storey billion-dollar home is home to Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India and fourth richest man in the world, along with his wife and their three children. How big? Would you believe it has more floor space that the Palace of Versailles? How about a staff of 600?

Looking at properties in other places can certainly help put local real estate values into perspective. In case you've ever felt land prices are high around St. John's, you might be shocked to hear that land in the Cumballa Hill neighbourhood of South Mumbai starts at about $10,000 USD per meter!

So what exactly will you find at a billion-dollar home? Sure, it's easy to spend a lot of money when planning a new home, but a billion dollars? That's got to be a bit of a challenge. Well, among other things, the Ambanis chose to spend it on:

A health club with a gym and dance studio
A swimming pool
A ballroom
Nine elevators
A 50-seat cinema
Solid-gold chandelairs
A four-storey hanging garden
Three helipads on the roof, and
A parking garage for 160 cars.

For more pictures, check out the whole story at the Overseas Property Mall or watch the video below. Then let us know what you think. A little bit over the top? Or exactly the summer home you'd build out on Nine Island Pond if you were the world's fourth richest person?

We're afraid we don't have any St. John's MLS listings that are quite this size, but let us know if we can help you find something just a little bit more modest. If nothing else, we'll treat you so well that you'll at least feel like royalty!

New home construction in St. John's enjoying a good year... so far.

Your Newfoundland Home . — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:24:00 GMT

If you've driven around St. John's much at all in the past few months, you probably already know that 2010 has been a good year for new home construction, and real estate in general. Housing starts from January through September in the St. John's area are up by more than 12% from the same time a year ago.

According to the latest Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) report, there were 1,328 new home construction starts during the period, whereas the first nine months of 2009 saw only 1,083. Certainly to anyone familiar with the local economy, this is not a complete surprise; St. John's has been one of the bright lights across the country and even around the world.

However, the news is not all perfect. CMHC notes that the number of starts in the region in the month of September dropped to 151, from 157 in September 2009. CMHC Senior Market Analyst Chris Janes explained that, with increased number of newly-built houses available for sale, new home construction has begun to slow, to be more in line with current economic conditions. He says new- home demand was steady during the first six months of this year, but has been slowing in recent months and will continue to slow throughout the remainder of 2010.

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, there were 1,432 housing starts for the first nine months of the year in urban centres with a population over 10,000. This 12.9% increase from the same period in 2009 is almost identical to the increase seen in the St. John's area. It's good to know that the better times are being seen beyond the overpass!

How about you? Have you noticed new home construction activity increasing in your area? Did you see things where you are slowing in September?

A St. John's Thanksgiving: Seven Reasons to Give Thanks!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:15:00 GMT

It's the Friday afternoon leading into Thanksgiving Weekend. Of course, we're always filled with Thanksgiving as we drive home on a Friday afternoon. But at this time of the year we stop to think about all that we have to be thankful for. And for most of us, there's a lot! Friends. Family. Health. Justin Bieber. The list goes on and on.

For those of us living in and around St. John's though, there is an especially long list. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the most beautiful and safest places on the planet. Even with the terrible damage that we were dealt by Hurricane Igor recently, we are still free of the absolute, long-term devastation that has hit New Orleans, Pakistan, Turkey, and so many other places around the world. So even in the worst of times, we are still, quite simply, blessed to be here.

So in light of our good fortune and this being Thanksgiving, we offer seven reasons to give thanks in St. John's this Thanksgiving Weekend:

1. Great People

Newfoundlanders are famous around the world for our humour and kindness, and you don't have to be in St. John's very long to know that that's true. If you had to be stuck anywhere, there's no better place to be than stuck in St. John's, surrounded by a bunch of Newfoundlanders!

2. The Outdoors

This is one good-looking rock that we're on. Blue ocean, breathtaking hills and cliffs, trees that look great in any season... we could go on and on. Oh and the fresh air! People coming in on a plane smell the difference while they're still walking down the jetway between the plane and the airport terminal. It's marvelous! And thanks to the Grand Concourse and East Coast Trail, you can get out there and experience our outdoors up close and personal.

3. Johnson Family Foundation

We're keeping this list pretty general for the most part, but it's hard not to appreciate the gifts we've been given from the Johnson Family Foundation. The Grand Concourse. The Johnson GEO CENTRE. The clock tower at MUN. The walls and walkway around the Signal Hill parking lot. Statues around the city. That's millions and millions of dollars in money that could have stayed in their pockets that are instead given to make this a better city in which to live and visit. Thank you, Mr. Johnson!

4. A Strong Economy

Not many people anywhere on the planet have been giving thanks for the economy for the past year or two, but we can. Newfoundland and Labrador has been one of the world's brightest spots from a business point of view. The oil and gas industry has kept things moving, and a number of our other sectors have fared well too. After centuries of hardship, we are indeed fortunate to be doing as well as we are.

5. Amazing Arts and Entertainment

If there is any one thing that defines the spirit of St. John's, it is probably our arts and entertainment. From George Street to the LSPU Hall to Great Big Sea and countless other acts that have sprung up over the years, we entertain like no one else can. We didn't invest music and laughter, but... Oh wait... maybe we did!

6. Memorial University, CNA and Great Private Colleges

We've already mentioned how well our economy is doing, and a big part of that success is the foundation laid by Memorial University, the College of the North Atlantic, and other colleges here. Their research projects and skilled graduates have created clusters in the oil and gas industry, ocean technologies, and other fields that are unsurpassed anywhere on Earth. We're that good.

7. World Peace

Okay, we admit that we can't celebrate world peace yet. There is still a lot of trouble all around this planet of ours. Here in Newfoundland and Labrador though, we're as close to world peace as anyone is. So let's be thankful for what we have, and let's say thanks to those who serve in the military to help make other areas as peaceful as ours.

There you go. We could have gone on with another seven or even 700, but thought we'd keep it simple. How about it? Did we miss any? What are you most thankful for this weekend?

Send your comments, then back away from the computer and go spend a great weekend with family and friends. Play safe, enjoy the food, and stay thankful. This is one great place we live in!

Real Estate in St. John's CMA

Your Newfoundland Home . — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:23:00 GMT

St. John's CMA. Greater St. John's. St. John's and area. We've all seen the terms, but what exactly do they mean? What are the real estate conditions there? You'll know more than most once you read this post!

First, to define the basics, as explained in Wikipedia¹, a CMA is a Census Metropolitan Area, which means a large city or "urban core" and any surrounding, closely-connected "urban fringes." In St. John's that would of course include Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South (CBS), Paradise, Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, and Torbay.

You may have already noticed that we have looked at Mount Pearl real estate in past posts, and will be exploring real estate in the other municipalities in future posts. However, as we move out beyond those, it gets a bit harder to predict which communities are also considered to be part of the package. Again borrowing from Wikipedia, the full member list of the St. John's CMA, along with the population of each in 2001 and 2006, is listed here:

Municipality	2001	2006
St. John's	99,182	100,646
Mount Pearl	24,964	24,671
Conception Bay South	19,772	21,966
Paradise	9,598	12,584
Portugal Cove-St. Philip's	5,866	6,575
Torbay	5,474	6,281
Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove	1,872	1,978
Pouch Cove	1,669	1,756
Flatrock	1,138	1,214
Bay Bulls	1,014	1,078
Witless Bay	1,056	1,070
Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove	949	915
Bauline	379	364

Did you notice that virtually every community showed growth from 2001 to 2006? Those figures have climbed even higher since then. While the 2006 total shown in the table was 181,098, by 2009 the total population was estimated to have grown to 187,700. This made the St. John's CMA the fastest growing in Atlantic Canada. The only municipality in the area not experiencing growth from 2001 through 2006 was Mount Pearl. This may be a surprise to many, since "the Pearl" was long known for its very high growth rate. The problem came largely from that city's borders being limited by those of St. John's, and in particular the Southlands area. In fact, it is the only community on the Avalon with literally no room to grow. Nevertheless, Mount Pearl has seen several major developments within its existing borders, and we can expect to see the population rise again in upcoming measurements.

So how does this affect real estate in St. John's, Mount Pearl, or any of the other areas in the CMA? As might be expected, it means these are busy days! According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) figures, housing starts in the CMA in August 2010 (the most recent month recorded) were up, totaling 179, versus 151 in August 2009. 2010's total starts were also up, with 1,177 in the St. John’s region up to the end of August, as opposed to 1,026 for the same period last year. The level of demand and resulting high prices will hold some back from buying, but overall the market is certainly strong.

How about you? What part of the St. John's CMA are you in? What signs do you see around you of the market being strong? If you would like more information, please be sure to contact us. At Your Newfoundland Home, we look forward to helping you find Your Newfoundland Home!

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_CMA

Pleasantville Development: Look What's Coming for CFS St. John's!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:44:00 GMT

Our St. John's Real Estate Roundup recently looked at Pleasantville, in light of the ground being broken on the new development there. This morning, Happy City St. John's pointed their Facebook fans to a Defence Construction Canada (DCC) newsletter article highlighting the new base that will be built in Pleasantville. We were impressed, and thought we'd share the story!

This is indeed a pretty impressive development, bringing together the offices that are now spread across 13 aging buildings all around Pleasantville. Instead of that old mix, we will now see a very modern, $117-million four-storey multi-use facility that will include offices as well as vehicle maintenance garages, warehouse space, a gymnasium, medical unit and mess hall. If you're environmentally minded, you'll be happy to know that the building will meet the LEED® Silver standard for energy efficiency.

Of course, if you have been in the Pleasantville area lately, you may have noticed things already starting to happen there, but given the size of the project, the doors won't open for a while yet. The new building is scheduled to open in November 2013. And as impressive as the facility is, there will still be more to come. A Military Families Resource Centre will also be built, and significant work will be done to improve the surrounding roads to handle the new traffic flow. Plus, of course, the entire area will be transformed, given Pleasantville's major new real estate development. Overall, this will be one of the most significant St. John's real estate developments in the city's entire history.

The DDC is a Crown corporation created in 1951 solely to handle construction projects for Canada's Department of National Defence (DND). They've handled many major developments since then, and now also are responsible for project, environmental services and operational support services. Given the size of many of these activities, it makes it all the more impressive to note that the new Pleasantville structure is the largest contract in the DDC's history for the development of a single building!

Photo credit: Defence Construction Canada

St. John's Real Estate Roundup #2: St. John's East

Your Newfoundland Home . — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:32:00 GMT

Our St. John's Real Estate Roundup this time around visits St. John's East, long-time home of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in the greater St. John's area, and in all of Newfoundland and Labrador. New home construction has been going on in this area for hundreds of years, back to the days when the "old money" of centuries past first started settling into this harbour city. And while those earliest homes are now gone, thanks to the great fires of old St. John's, the ones that remain from the past 100 years or so are still impressive even by today's real estate standards.

St. John's East is where the seat of governments both past and present can be found, as can hundreds of stores, restaurants, winding walkways, and lovely lakes — or "ponds" as they're called by anyone who truly comes from Newfoundland! Let's take a closer look at the rich real estate appeal that can be easily found throughout the area. Oh, we should mention that, to best capture the appeal of the area, we may mention a few things here that technically fall slightly outside what is normally considered to be St. John's East.

St. John's East Homes

Beautiful homes stand out virtually everywhere you look in these neighbourhoods. You'll find breathtaking century-old Victorian-style homes on the streets of old St. John's, like Kings Bridge Road, Circular Road, and Monkstown Road. Just a little north of there, close to Churchill Square's shopping, you'll fall in love with the tree-lined and tree-named streets like Pine Bud, Maple, Chestnut and Beech. And still a bit further north, you'll be captivated by the newer neighbourhoods like King William Estates with their spectacular sprawling homes and even some waterfront properties. The homes of St. John's East are especially irresistible during the Christmas season, as the mix of bright lights and frosted trees give a storybook appeal to every street.

St. John's East Condominiums

Condominiums have become increasingly popular in recent years and, not surprisingly, St. John's East is where you will find several new developments as well as many of the province's more established condos. In fact, there is enough activity in this area that we are now putting together a full blog post featuring the main condominiums, both existing and new. So for now, we'll leave you with just that teaser, but if you would like more information now, please contact us directly. St. John's condominiums are one of the most exciting areas of real estate development today!

St. John's East Golf Courses and Parks

Old and new blend together everywhere through St. John's East, and so we start our tour of St. John's golf courses and parks by visiting one of the oldest regularly held events on the entire continent. Quidi Vidi Lake is home to North America's oldest annual sporting event, the Royal St. John's Regatta. The quiet shores of Quidi Vidi are transformed into a mass of 50,000 people on the first Wednesday of each August. For the other 364 days of the year though, it is a beautiful spot for a stroll on the shores and boardwalks, and is also home to a popular dog park.

Within a pleasant walk of Quidi Vidi Lake is Bannerman Park, one of the province's crown jewels, with its historic buildings like the Colonial Building (a national historic site that was the seat of Newfoundland's government from 1850 until 1959), and the neighbouring Government House. The Park is surrounded on the other three sides by statuesque Victorian homes and bed and breakfasts. Bannerman Park is also home to a swimming pool, playground, and baseball diamond, and each year hosts special events like the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival and St. John's Peace-a-chord.hundreds of beautiful trees and sprawling grassy fields. Several of those old trees were unfortunately felled by Hurricane Igor in September 2010, but the Park is still a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

Also not to be missed is the immense Pippy Park, one of the largest urban parks in Canada. Stretching across some 3,400 acres (1,376 hectares) the Park features Newfoundland and Labrador's largest serviced campground, walking and skiing trails, protected habitat for many plants and animals, and two golf courses! The 18-hole Admiral's Green is a Graham Cooke championship-designed course that has hosted the Canadian Pro Tour, the Canadian Junior and Juvenile Nationals, and the Canadian Ladies National Championships. Snuggled beside Admiral's Green is the Captain's Hill 9-hole course. Nearby, the YM-YWCA will soon open an impressive new facility, making Pippy Park even more irresistible.

Even besides the 27 holes in Pippy Park, golf courses are a major feature of St. John's East. The long-revered Bally Haly Golf and Curling Club is home to another Graham Cooke course as well as a four-sheet curling rink, and is considered by many to be the birthplace of Newfoundland and Labrador golf.

Yet two more 18-hole courses — the Osprey and Black Duck — can be found at Clovelly Golf, found in the northeast end of St. John's. Both courses were also designed by Graham Cooke and offer spectacular appeal to anyone looking for a superior golfing experience. Overall, the value of St. John's real estate is significantly enhanced by the range of parks and golf courses available within a few minutes' drive from any part of the city.

And finally, you cannot mention parks in St. John's East or anywhere in the region without including the Grand Concourse. The Concourse's 125 kilometers of walkways and sidewalk routes connect every major green space throughout St. John's, Mount Pearl and Paradise. It is considered to be one of North America's finest walkways systems, and even if you are one of the very few people who never use it, you can still be thankful for the extra property value that comes to any home nearby its many paths.

St. John's East Shopping

Shopping is a prime consideration when moving to any new home, and very few places in Newfoundland and Labrador come close to matching the range of shopping that you'll find in St. John's East. The largest concentration of large and high-end stores in the province can be found in the Stavanger Drive area. Big names like Costco, WalMart, Zellers stand out, surrounded by other well-known specialty stores like Future Shop, Staples, Old Navy, Lazy Boy, Michaels, Paderno, Princess Auto, and many others. Restaurants also dot Stavanger Drive, offering you favourites like Pizza Delight, Boston Pizza, Swiss Chalet, Tim Hortons, McDonalds, and more.

Nearby, Torbay Road has seen an ever-increasing number of stores and restaurants open their doors. Most can be found in a series of small strip malls on almost every corner from Stavanger Drive down to the large Howley Estates complex that features Sobeys and several smaller stores and offices. Elizabeth Avenue then offers another stretch of stores leading to the iconic Churchill Square, home to several well-established boutiques and restaurants. If you're looking for great shopping, it's hard to imagine it getting any better than what you'll find in St. John's East.

St. John's East Attractions

While some of the favorite attractions for people in St. John's East may actually be slightly outside the area, there is no denying that people there are never more than a few minutes away from some great things to do. To mention just a few, the Johnson GEO CENTRE is one of Canada's top museums, offering a fascinating underground look at the story of our planet, as well as a new, state-of-the-art 3D theatre and a world-class exhibit of The Titanic Story. Nearby, The Rooms is home to the province's archives, art gallery and museum, all housed in a spectacular structure overlooking old St. John's.

Another popular attraction in the area is the Fluvarium, located on the banks of Long Pond, just north of Memorial University. Here visitors travel downstairs to get a speculator panoramic view of life under the surface of the pond and Nagle's Hill Brook. It's a popular destination for schools, tourists, and local residents.

There are many other attractions to see, and we invite you to visit the City of St. John's Website for more information.

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So there you have it. What was hoped to be a brief introduction into St. John's East ended up developing into a pretty long blog post! But we have still barely scratched the surface of all that there is to know. If you would like to learn more about the real estate appeal of this or any neighbourhood in the area, please contact us. We look forward to hearing your particular interests, and helping you find your own Newfoundland Home in St. John's East!

Photo credit: City of St. John's

Hurricane Igor hits St. John's, Mount Pearl, and other areas

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:29:00 GMT

St. John's and Mount Pearl are warming up to a beautiful, sunny day as these words are being written. However, far from enjoying it, many people are working to recover from Hurricane Igor. They're tackling flooded homes, downed trees, damaged cars and fences, and no electricity. Outside the immediate area, many others are also facing isolation, due to roads and even major highways being washed away.

Hurricane Igor wreaked some of the worst devastation on eastern Newfoundland that the island has ever seen from a storm. VOCM News reported that the weather station at Bonavista received 135 millimetres of rain on Monday morning and probably would have recorded more but the rain gauge overflowed. On the south coast, St. Lawrence received 239 mm (more than 9"), while St. John's West was hit with 134 mm (about 5 1/2"). This is one of the worst on record for the province, with only two other storms in the past 10 years coming close. As VOCM also reported, in 2001 Hurricane Gabrielle delivered 230 mm near Cape Race, and in 2007 Hurricane Chantal hit the Argentia area with 200 mm.

The winds were also significant, hitting 137 km/hour (about 85 mph) at St. John's International Airport, and 172 km/hour (about 107 mph) at Cape Pine, near St. Shott's on the southern tip of the Avalon Peninsula. Up to 50,000 people lost electricity, with about 75 hydro lines being downed. However, the greatest damages were caused by the rain and resulting flooding. Photos and videos of the damage are now showing up on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other sites. You can also see several photos on VOCM's Website, at http://www.vocm.com/photogallery.asp?id=87&mn=7 and also see dramatic damage from the south coast on the attached video.

If you're among those who escaped the worst damage, there will certainly be ways you can help those who were not so fortunate. Check on your friends and neighbours. Maybe you can help move items from flooded homes, or store some things for other families until they have things back in order. Perhaps you can store food in a freezer or refrigerator until power returns. Newfoundland is famous for its helping spirit and care for others. Now is a good time to show others that we have not forgotten those values.

Photo credit: VOCM News

St. John's Real Estate Roundup #1: Pleasantville

Your Newfoundland Home . — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:59:00 GMT

Hey we're starting something new today: the St. John's Real Estate Roundup (just in case you didn't catch that in the title). We're going to feature a neighbourhood or subdivision in each one, and highlight some of the main benefits that the area offers. And the honour of being the first neighbourhood to be included in the Roundup goes to...

Pleasantville.

Pleasantville?? That hasn't been an area with a lot of real estate activity since the days of Roosevelt and Churchill, when the area was known as Fort Pepperrell. Those were busy days indeed, when some 5,500 American troops sailed into St. John's harbour to make the area their base. However, the last of the American military moved out in 1961, and the area settled into life as Pleasantville, a quiet mix of government offices, a few stores, a number of residences and, from 1966 until 2001, one sprawling children's hospital, the Dr. Charles A. Janeway Child Health Centre. Over time, many of the buildings started to look older, and the area became more and more quiet.

Things are about to change, however. As the Happy City St. John's Facebook page mentioned today, a ground-breaking ceremony will take place this week for a new development that will transform Pleasantville into a busy spot once again. The Canada Lands Company (CLC) is driving the vision to change the former base into a mainly residential area that would see a mix of townhouses, single-family homes and apartments or condominiums. They'll be within walking distance of Quidi Vidi Lake and the Royal St. John's Regatta, and should also have a spectacular view of some great fireworks displays every now and then. Some commercial development may also take place to help transform the area into a thriving local neighbourhood.

This drawing below shows how the area is expected to look when complete. For more information, check out the details on the CLC Website. Their map unfortunately puts Pleasantville closer to Harbour Breton than St. John's, but other than that, there's some good information there.

What do you think? Good idea or bad? Are you happy to see the area turn into a busy neighbourhood, or did you have a quieter option in mind? Is Pleasantville headed in the right direction?

Mount Pearl Real Estate: Five Things to Love!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:39:00 GMT

In our quest to give you useful real estate insights, a few weeks ago we featured a post on Five Great Reasons to Live in St. John's. It wasn't hard to come up with five; St. John's has a lot to offer. But of course, other places also have good reason to boast, and make wonderful places to live. So we thought we'd take a closer look at Mount Pearl real estate, to see what was there that might also be of interest if you were looking for a great place to raise a family. Once again, we found lots.

Mount Pearl, a city of about 25,000, is just a stone's throw to the west of St. John's... and yes, there have indeed been a few thrown over the years. But lately the two cities seem to be getting along quite well, and each has its own strengths and boasting points. Here are five that we think give Mount Pearl real estate extra value...

1. Lower Home Prices

According to MLS data for August, 2010, the 12-month average price for a home was $232,876 in Mount Pearl, and $261,684 in St. John's. That's a savings of about $30,000 by choosing that home in Mount Pearl. If you're looking to get the most home that you can for the dollars you have available, the Pearl is indeed a pearl.

2. Lower Taxes

Taxes are lower in Mount Pearl than in St. John's. How much lower? You'll spend about 8% less on your residential property tax than you would in St. John's, as seen in the table below. Business taxes are actually about the same between the two cities, although Mount Pearl is again a bit lower. But the tax rate for commercial property is significantly lower, coming in at about 23% less than it would be in St. John's. Hey, if you live in a store, you could save quite a bit!

	St. John's	Mount Pearl
Residential Property	10.1 mils	9.25 mils
Commercial Property	16.3 mils	12.5 mils
Business Tax - General Commercial	16.83 mils	16.75 mils

These lower taxes, and of course the growing population in the City and surrounding area, have helped drive an explosion of new stores, restaurants and businesses in Mount Pearl over the past few years.

3. Exceptional Municipal Services

If there's any one thing that most people readily identify as being different between the two cities, it's probably the municipal services. Garbage collection doesn't usually show up on one of those "seven things I love about you" lists. But in Mount Pearl, the bulk garbage probably would. Trucks pull up to your curb every April, June and October to take away all those items that you would otherwise have to truck off on your own or pay someone to take. This system is efficient, available at no added cost, and much appreciated by anyone in Mount Pearl who has ever had to throw out a water heater, clear out a garage, or remove a drum set from the neighbour's teenagers.

Even more loved though is the snowclearing. The streets in Mount Pearl can be a wonder to behold after a major blizzard, and many a driver has commented on the noticeable difference as you drive from one city into the other. While a number of factors contribute to this, the bottom line is that residents and drivers generally have lots of praise for Mount Pearl's snowclearing teams.

4. Great Youth and Recreation Programs

For many families, these programs may actually rate higher than snowclearing as things to love about Mount Pearl real estate. The City has great sports and recreation programs and outdoor basketball courts and ball fields in virtually every neighbourhood. They are also in the process of building a new ice surface at The Glacier, and have plans in place for a long-overdue new swimming pool. The Mount Pearl Sport Alliance does an exceptional job of keeping things coordinated and supporting a wide range of sports organizations.

5. Deep Water Port

Mount Pearl has a major deep water port that handles some of the largest freight vessels on the Atlantic Coast, while also serving as a major destination for the cruise industry. It's not unusual to see four or more major ocean liners in the Port of Mount Pearl on the same day, while private yachts sail past in the crystal clear waters of the harbour.

Okay, okay. Totally made that up. The Port is actually Powers Pond, and the largest cruise ship there this year was a duck. But hey, it's one good-looking pond, surrounded by a beautiful trail and boardwalk, and free canoeing and kayaking there on many summer evenings, thanks to the excellent staff from the City of Mount Pearl's Department of Community Services. Walkways are all over Mount Pearl, most of them connected as part of the fabulous Grand Concourse and the T'Railway. Both those systems also make their ways through St. John's and Paradise, making it possible to walk for days throughout the three communities.

So there you have it... five things to love about Mount Pearl real estate. Did we miss any? Are there any that you disagree with? Let us know... we'd love to hear your "Pearls" of wisdom!

St. John's and Avalon Peninsula Fun for the Labour Day Weekend!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:10:00 GMT

So by now everyone in St. John's and all Newfoundland and Labrador has heard the bad news... Hurricane Earl has blown away the GooGoo Dolls and everyone else scheduled to play at the big concert that was scheduled for this Sunday in Mount Pearl. That's really a shame; it promised to be one fantastic day.

But hey, we're Newfoundlanders, and we're known for making the best out of whatever lies before us. So don't lose that smile; just change your direction a little bit and enjoy something else with the family. We mentioned the Johnson GEO CENTRE's new 3D Theatre in our last post, and still recommend it as a fantastic treat. But in case you want more, here are four other great possibilities for Labour Day fun, all in St. John's or not tooooooooo far away! (Special thanks to Destination St. John's for making these known to us)

Dabblers and Divers!

This Saturday and Sunday, the Fluvarium Kids Club presents "Dabblers and Divers!" It's a great chance to learn about ducks, just as they're getting ready for their fall migration, through games, storytelling and crafts, including some outdoor activity. The sessions run for about 45 minutes or an hour each, starting at 1:30 pm.The programs are free once you've covered the regular Fluvarium admission, which makes it even more irresistible!

The Fluvarium is at 5 Nagle's Place, Pippy Park, snuggled up on the shore of Kent's Pond. For more information, call 754-3474, or check out the Fluvarium Website.

Cape St. Mary's Performance Series

On both Saturday and Sunday, you can head out to the always-captivating Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve for the latest in their series of music, storytelling, readings, sounds and visual art. You'll enjoy some great music, storytelling readings, sounds and visual art. It all takes place at the Interepretation Centre at Cape St. Mary's, and you can check out the details by emailing info@capestmarysperformanceseries.ca or by checking out their Website.

Random Passage Sunday Series

In case you can't get to the performance at Cape St. Mary's, or if you just want more, head to New Bonaventure in Trinity Bay on Sunday for the Random Passage Sunday Series. They'll have Newfoundland musicians, writers, historians, scientists, naturalists,and other people there to present informative and entertaining sessions on the area's history, culture and environment. For more information, call (709) 464-2233 or check out their Website.

St. John's Haunted Hike: Sinners & Spirits Tour

So the littlest ones are tucked into bed on Sunday or Monday evening, but you're still wanting to take in some more fun? Call a babysitter, and then head out with the older ones or a few friends to the St. John's Haunted Hike - Sinners & Spirits Tour! This longstanding attraction is the province's best known haunted hike experience. You'll hear of tales of terror, duels to the death, false love, torture and more, all told in old fashioned storytelling while you huddle together and walk the darkened streets of old St. John's. This is a fantastic evening of chills and thrills, and it all starts at 9:30pm at the West Entrance to the Anglican Cathedral, on Church Hill in St. John's. Find out more, if you dare, by emailing NLhauntedhike@nf.sympatico.ca or by visiting their Website.

There you go! Something for everyone, even without the big concert in Mount Pearl. So get the gang together and have your best Labour Day yet. Hurricane Earl may do his best to dampen spirits, but there's always a fun time waiting for you around here. Happy Labour Day, everyone!

Photo credit: http://newfoundlandtravels.com/random-passage-film-set/

Video: A Living Room Makeover with $250 and Two Hours!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:12:00 GMT

St. John's is home to a booming real estate market these days. But when selling your home, no matter what the market conditions are, you'll want to get the very best price that you can. Staging your home, or getting it ready to present to potential buyers, can help you do exactly that. By decorating your room or even just moving a few things around to highlight its best features, you can make your home more irresistible, and able to pull in a higher selling price.

Even if your home is not for sale, it can be well worth your time to give a room a makeover. Assign a budget and timeline, start looking online or in magazines or on TV for inspiration, and then dig in and see what you can create. The results can often surprise you, putting you into a whole new room in just a few hours.

That's what happened when Realtor Magazine gave one woman $250 and just two hours to redo a living room. How did it go? Watch the video below to see the room before and after, and maybe to pick up a few ideas for your living room. Then leave a comment to tell us about your room makeover project. Send a few pictures or even a video. Who knows... maybe we'll feature you next time!

[NOTE: Sorry to any of you watching on Firefox for Mac. Point2 apparently has a problem that prevents the video below from being watched on that browser. Please try us again on Safari or some other browser.]

Wrap Up Summer with Three Family-Fun Events in St. John's and Mount Pearl

Your Newfoundland Home . — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:40:00 GMT

How's that for a happy and sad title? Family fun is always good, of course, but it's hard to believe that we're within sight of the Labour Day weekend. Sure enough though, another summer is getting ready to pack up and move out, and turn off the heat on the way out.

However, it's not over yet, and neither is the fun. If you're looking for a few ways for the family to share some laughs in St. John's or Mount Pearl before school starts up again, we've got three great ideas for you. Some are indoors and some out. Some in the daytime and some in the evening. But all are fun and waiting for you to join in! So let's get started...

Lunchtime Concert with Duane Andrews

The City of St. John's wraps up its Lunchtime Concert series in Harbourside Park at 12:30 pm this Friday, August 27, with a performance by Duane Andrews. Have you been to one of these yet? If not, be sure to get to this one, and make a note in your calendar to start earlier next summer. This Friday, Duane Andrews brings you jazz, guitar, and Newfoundland music with a twist. It's a fantastic way to spend an hour, right on the spot where John Cabot arrived in 1497, looking for George Street.

Johnson GEO CENTRE 3D Theatre

It's not often that something completely new and different comes around, but this qualifies. The GEO CENTRE was already one of the coolest spots in the province — actually, in the entire country! But now it's better than ever, thanks to their new 3D theatre. It uses the latest in Dolby 3D technology, and features some pretty impressive high-definition movies. Until the end of October, choose from Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure, Forces of Nature 2D, and U2 3D. Yep, that's U2 as in the band. Next best thing to actually getting to their concerts. So check the GEO CENTRE's schedule to make sure you're there for the movie you want to see.

Rockin' the Upper East Side

Admit it: you probably didn't quite believe the lineup when you first heard about this concert. It has to be one of the biggest music events ever to come to Newfoundland. GooGoo Dolls. The Fray. Ke$ha. Lifehouse. And those are just the headliners. It all happens on Labour Day Sunday, September 5, at Glacier Concert Park in Mount Pearl. It may be a bit intense for the younger ones. Hey, it may even be a bit intense for the older ones! But it should be a lot of fun, and a fantastic way to wrap up Summer 2010.

So there you go. Three great ways to kick up your heels and have fun with the fam before summer 2010 is a memory. But hey, St. John's and area will usually see a fantastic September as well, with very nice temps and lots of sunshine, so there's no need to dress in black and close the curtains yet. There's still lots of fun ahead... but we'll save that for another post.

In the meantime, how will you be spending these last days of summer? Did we miss anything? What are your end-of-summer suggestions? Let us know where you'll be, and maybe we'll see you there!

[Photo credit: D Sharon Pruitt]

Need extra space? This may be the coolest furniture you've ever seen!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:44:00 GMT

Whether you're actively exploring the St. John's real estate market or are already settled into a home or apartment, chances are good that you're wishing you had more space. It's a need we all seem to share. No matter how many closets or shelves we put in, or how much we think we've cleared out, there just never seems to be as much room as we need. And then, when company shows up, we're suddenly piling things high and hoping no one opens that closet.

That's why we're taking a break for our normal format for this post, to show you a video that we recently saw, that totally amazed us. No, we're not selling this and no we don't get shares if anyone does buy some. We just thought this was too good to not share with everyone we could find. It's a bit on the long side, but keep watching; just when you think you've seen the best stuff, it keeps getting better and better!

So, if you are indeed trying to get the most space possible out of your home, or even if you just like very cool furniture designs, take a few minutes and watch the video shown below. Then leave a comment to let us know whether or not you agree that this furniture is just too cool for words!

[NOTE: Sorry to any of you watching on Firefox for Mac. Point2 apparently has a problem that prevents videos from being watched on that browser. Please try us again on Safari or some other browser.]

What do you think? Best thing you've seen today? Let us know...

Great landscaping: closer than you think?

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:06:00 GMT

Few things can do more to increase the appeal and value of a home than the garden that surrounds it. Stylish landscaping can literally plant your home in a whole new level of surroundings and boost its appeal to potential buyers. Yet, if you drive around and look at homes in St.John's, Mount Pearl or any community, it's easy to see that most homeowners never create gardens that stand out or get noticed. Why not? Time and money are likely challenges; for most people there's never as much of either as we'd like. But landscaping can also just seem intimidating. It's hard to know where to start, or what would be involved, or whether or not we'd end up with results we'd be proud of when it's all done.

Sound familiar? If so, take heart. Virtually anyone can have a nicer garden than they probably ever imagined. Best of all, with a bit of careful planning, it can usually even be done with a pretty reasonable investment of time and money. A key to the whole process lies in getting the right start, and there are some great resources on the Internet that can help. Let's take a look at one of the best...

Better Homes and Gardens is one of the most trusted names in the world when it comes to home improvements, indoor and out. So it's no surprise that their Website is where we'd find Plan-a-Garden, a free and easy-to-use design tool that lets you create your garden layout online, and then drag and drop over 150 different trees, shrubs, and flowers, as well as buildings, sheds, fences, decks, and a pond into your layout. It can be very helpful in understanding how much room you actually have in your garden, and how the various pieces fit together. It's one thing to say you'll have a patio table and chairs, three trees, a trellis and a walkway in your garden; it's something very different to see just how much room each of those will take up, and how they'll look in your particular layout.

Before you start dragging and dropping though, there are lots of articles out there to give you the fundamentals of landscape design and gardening. Better Homes and Gardens again comes through with a great range of titles, including:

And that's just the tip of the iceberg lettuce. GardenGuides.com is another great resource, with articles, discussion areas, and even instructional videos, such as this one:

Different Types of Landscape Plants - Courtesy of GardenGuides.com

There are many more very good resources out there too, but these should be great places to put down some roots and start exploring. Take a look, and let us know whether or not they were any help to you. Gardening in St. John's, or anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador, comes with its own unique challenges, but these Websites should help you see that every challenge is really just a showcase waiting to happen. It's time to tell yourself that some great landscaping really could be closer than you think!

Is there life after the Regatta? Yes, if you like music and fun!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:28:00 GMT

Well another Regatta Day has come and gone. Wow, that was fast, and the rowers were even faster! For 80 years or so, the famous 1901 Outer Cove time of 9:13 seemed not even remotely beatable, but now crews are often disappointed if they can't get close to it. This year saw two teams in that territory, and in the 192 years of the event, very few Regattas saw faster times than were posted this year. Congratulations to the men's Rogers Bussey Lawyers team and the women's M5 team for their championships! You're a big part of what makes living in St. John's such an enjoyable experience.

Now, not even a full day later, a different type of crew has been hard at work cleaning up, and it's already hard to believe that 40,000 people crowded the shores of Quidi Vidi yesterday, walking on a lush undergrowth of discarded tickets and food wrappers. The shoreline is again clean, but in case you're thinking the fun is over, take heart: August in St. John's still has lots to offer, starting... now!

The Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival takes place in Bannerman Park each year on the first weekend after the Regatta. That means it will be August 6–8 this year, with an outstanding slate of entertainers, including Hey Rosetta, The Masterless Men, The Irish Descendants, Ennis, and the legendary Wonderful Grand Band, who have been taking the stage again this year much to the delight of fans from long ago. This year's Festival is the 34th, and from Anita Best's singing of Ode to Newfoundland at 6:15 on Friday, through to the Irish Descendants wrapping it up on Sunday evening, it promises to be one great party!

Besides the main stage performances, the Festival delivers a wonderful blend of entertainment in a number of smaller stages, such as:

the Instrumental Tent,
the Dance Stage,
the Francophone Tent,
the always fun Oral Traditions Tent, and
a new tent this year, the Cultural Diversity Tent!

Plus, for a true highlight of the Festival, don't miss our remarkable young performers taking the spotlight on the Neil Murray Stage.

One other very cool feature of the Folk Festival is the way it includes everyone in the festivities. In the Homemade Jam tent, anyone can bring along a guitar, accordion, set of spoons, or whatever your favorite instrument might be, to become part of the music. Check the schedule for sessions with a focus on accordions, songwriters, story tellers, and of course, Irish music! There are more as well, so no one has any excuse to feel left out at the Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival.

The weekend is already full with everything happening at the Folk Festival, but there's still more fun overflowing into the streets of St. John's. The 7th Annual St. John's Downtown Busker Festival is running on the same days! From 1:00 pm on Friday August 6, until late night on Sunday August 8, jugglers, magicians, puppeteers, comics, and a host of talents too odd to name will be out to entertain at favorite spots throughout the downtown area. So grab the family, the neighbours, and anyone you pass along the way, and head downtown for a truly great time!

So there you go... just in case you thought things settled down after the Regatta, now you know better. The Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival and the St. John's Downtown Busker Festival are just two more reasons why St. John's is a great place to live. From our team here at YourNewfoundlandHome.com, best wishes for a fun family weekend!

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Photo credit: Rick West, as featured on http://www.nlfolk.com/fest2007/photos/mainwebrick/index.html

Five Things You Never Knew About the Royal St. John's Regatta

Your Newfoundland Home . — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:33:00 GMT

If you've ever been to St. John's, even if just for a quick visit, you have undoubtedly heard of the Regatta. With 50,000 people showing up there sometimes, it's been called the world's largest garden party. But no matter how many times you've walked the shores or even rowed the waves, no matter how many hots dogs you've downed and teddy bears you've won — or almost won — there are some things about the Regatta you probably never knew... until now.

With special thanks to Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries' excellent Regatta Website for their wealth of information on the Regatta, we present Five Things You Never Knew About the Royal St. John's Regatta...

1. You may think you're the biggest Regatta fan ever, but do you love it enough to buy a whole subdivision? In 1908 Quidi Vidi Lake's entire north bank — that's the side leading to The Boulevard and Pleasantville — was slated to be turned into a major real estate development. The plan was taking shape and moving ahead, until Sir Edward Morris stepped in to save the Regatta. He partnered with other Regatta supporters and even mortgaged his own Beaconsfield home, raising enough money to buy all the lots of the new development. Total price? $11,129! To make sure developers would not try the same thing again, he turned over the land to the Regatta Committee. And no one ever heard of another controversial housing development anywhere near Quidi Vidi or in all of St. John's again.

2. It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to drink beer at the Regatta, isn't it? Yet, back in the 1820s, it seems that drinking at the Regatta was itself an endurance event. Men would often start drinking days before the Regatta, continuing until several days after. They were of little use to their families or their workplaces for a week or more. By 1828, everyone sober had had enough. The ladies of St. John's boycotted the Regatta, and the business community also spoke up loudly, protesting the lost productivity. Abstinence groups were of course quick to support the outcry. While we have not seen exactly how or when the situation came under control, the menfolk seem to have gradually pulled themselves together, and drinking these days is confined to the Beer Tent.

3. The Town of Placentia is some 130 km (about 80 miles) from the Regatta. It's a beautiful drive on a sunny August day. However, in 1877 cars were still lined up waiting to be invented. So how would a team from Placentia get their racing shell to the Lake? They would place it over their shoulders and walk. And that's exactly what they did, but they then topped the feat by winning against all challengers. The Seven Placentia Giants, as they came to be known, were honoured 100 years later when another team from Placentia paid tribute to them by repeating the feat. Some might say that it was even more remarkable the second time, since cars were indeed invented in the '70s, although finding one that had trunk space for a racing shell was a bit of a challenge.

4. On three separate occasions the Regatta has been marred by one or more deaths:

During the 1843 Regatta, William Fogarty got into an argument with the husband of a Jane Flowers. She stood up for her husband by throwing a rock at Mr. Fogerty, at the same time that another bystander punched him once or twice. Fogarty collapsed and died soon after. The two were charged with manslaughter, but modern medical science determined that Fogerty's death was caused by loss of blood to the brain due to "violent excitement." All charges were dropped.
Forty years later, in 1884, a crew of teenage boys from Torbay were heading to the finish line when their boat filled with water. Three of the boys, Samuel Gosse, John Martin, and Mogue Power, drowned, possibly weakened by exhaustion from the race and the cold Lake water.
Thirty-five years would pass before another tragedy struck the Regatta. Ironically, this time it was during the 1919 Regatta, celebrating the return to peacetime after World War I. The Reid Newfoundland crew was also headed to the finish when the boat began to fill with water. Four of the crew abandoned the shell, and one of them, Sgt. Charles Peters, drowned. The Regatta Committee halted the races and took up a collection for widow Peters, quickly raising over $1,000, a considerable sum in those days.

5. In 1988, Regatta Day weather was far from ideal for racing. In fact, three of the four crews that had qualified for the championship race refused to row. Undeterred, the Chief Judge on the course ordered the race to start anyway, even though the Police crew was the only one willing to race. Race they did, and although they had no competition — literally — they put in a very respectable time of 9:29.34. It was the first championship for the Police in 30 years... although some might call it a steal.

So there you have our five little-known facts about the Royal St. John's Regatta. Did you know any of them? Do you have a little-known nugget of your own to share? Enjoy the Regatta, and let us know if you win the big one... whether it's a championship race or a stuffed teddy bear!

The Royal St. John's Regatta: your three-minute introduction!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:04:00 GMT

St. John's is known as a fun-loving city, with more than its fair share of festivals and special events. We covered some of these in our last post, on "Five GREAT reasons to live in St. John's!" But even with such a wide range of things going on, when you talk about things that happen in and around St. John's, it's usually not long before someone mentions "the Regatta." For those of us who have lived here for awhile, it's as much a part of St. John's as Bowring Park or George Street. In fact, each year it is the City's largest single gathering of people into one spot. It's hard to imagine that there could possibly be any healthy and mobile person in the area who has not been to the Regatta at least once.

But for anyone moving to St. John's and looking for fun events and attractions, the Regatta may still be an unknown. We therefore offer this as a three-minute introduction to the Royal St. John's Regatta.

First, to make sure we're all on an even keel, let's start at, well, the starting line. Here are the main things you need to know:

The Regatta is North America's oldest annual sporting event, dating back almost 200 years, to 1816 and quite possibly even earlier.
It is held on the first Wednesday of each August, depending upon suitable weather. Should the winds be too high — a major consideration for this racing event — the entire event is postponed until the next day, or again until suitable weather arrives.
The day is a municipal holiday in St. John's and the surrounding municipalities. The early-August date coincides with municipal holidays in cities across Canada. However, what makes Regatta Day unique is the dependence on the weather. In fact, we're pretty sure it's the only holiday anywhere in North America that is actually weather dependent. That makes it a bit of a challenge for some businesses, but also adds to the uniqueness of the event!
While the size of the crowd will change from year to year, as many as 50,000 show up throughout the day! That's especially impressive when you remember that the population of "St. John's proper" is about 110,000, while "greater St. John's" stands a bit above 180,000.

So what's the big draw? Well, to state the obvious, there are boat races. But even here, the Regatta is unique. According to an excellent Regatta Website produced by Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries, it is one of the last major races in the world where the boats are fixed seat, rather than the sliding-seat models used in the Olympics and almost all other races. It is also the only regatta we know of where the teams have to round a buoy and return to the start line. The races run from early in the morning until late in the evening, with competition gaining popularity in recent years.

For most people though, the Regatta is more about what happens on the shore than in the water. Hundreds of concession stands spring up the night before the Regatta, ready for the swarms of people that will descend all the next day to buy tickets, spin wheels, throw basketballs or darts, and do whatever else they can to win a stuffed toy or other prize. Other booths offer a dizzying mix of hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, ethnic foods, and drinks. And of course, at the end of the pond, the famous beer tent caters to those with, well, more "mature" tastes!

There is so much more that we could say about the Regatta, but we'll hold it at this for your introduction. We have another post in the works though, featuring some things you may not have known about our most famous sporting event. For now, leave us your thoughts. Are you a Regatta regular? What keeps you coming... or away? What's a favourite Regatta memory? We'd love to hear from you...

Photo credit: "Crowds line the shores of Quidi Vidi lake near the CLB booth at the 1985 St. John's Regatta." Photographer: Unknown. Source: Regatta Museum. As seen at http://regatta.nlpl.ca/sites/audiovisual/slideshow.php

Five GREAT reasons to live in St. John's!

Your Newfoundland Home . — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:21:00 GMT

St. John's is known as a great city, with lots to offer whether you live here or are just visiting. But what exactly is it that makes this place so irresistible? We figured it was time to lay out some of the things we keep hearing people talk about when looking for a home in North America's Oldest City. So here we go... five GREAT reasons to live in St. John's!

1. GREAT Things to See

You only need to visit St. John's once to fall in love with the scenery. Stand in awe of breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean from high atop Signal Hill or Cape Spear. Watch whales and icebergs from one of the tour boats that head out each day, or even from up close while ocean kayaking. Visit world-famous Bowring Park and historic Bannerman Park, or stroll along the Grand Concourse, considered by some to be the best walkway system in North America! Feeling more adventurous? Invigorate yourself with stunning ocean views as you hike along the East Coast Trails. Or if you prefer to be awed while staying inside, visit the Johnson GEO CENTRE, The Rooms, the Railway Coastal Museum, the Fluvarium, or the many old churches that make up the St. John's skyline. And no matter what you choose to see, make sure you bring your camera!

2. GREAT People

Okay, this one is a given! Virtually anyone who has ever visited will head home enthralled by the friendliness of old St. John's. Strike up a chat on a sidewalk or at a store counter. Smiles are easy to find, and so is everything else when people are this happy to help. Whether you're asking for directions or just looking to share a moment, you're likely to find the person next to you is eager to share a smile and story.

3. GREAT Music, Fun and Festivals

Is this our greatest claim to fame? Quite possibly yes! Everyone has heard of the nightlife on George Street, but even people who have lived here all their lives might be surprised to realize just how many great events and festivals take place in the city. For music, you'll love the St. John's Folk Festival, Wreckhouse International Jazz and Blues Festival, and the choirs who travel here from around the world to take part in Festival 500. Oh, and don't forget the Sound Symposium: now there's something you haven't heard before! Are you a film buff? Sit back and enjoy the Nickel Independent Film Festival and the St. John's International Women's Film Festival. So you think you can watch dance? The Festival of New Dance brings you the newest talents across a wide range of genres. And for an event that's in a class all its own, mingle with 20,000 friends at the St. John's Regatta, North America's oldest annual sporting event. But we're just getting started. There's plenty more where those came from, and you can hear about them all by contacting Destination St. John's.

4. GREAT Economy

People around the world may be talking about the Great Recession, but you'd hardly know it in St. John's, where the economy has continued to surge ahead even while most others have stalled. The city is an established energy capital, a globally recognized centre of ocean excellence, home to a burgeoning technology industry, and so much more. Actually, we think Wikipedia gives a great summary of business in new St. John's:

"The city's economy is growing quickly, and the city has been identified as having one of the highest proportion of scientists and engineers per capita of any city under one million population in North America. Economic forecasts suggest that the city will continue its strong economic growth in the coming years not only in the "oceanic" industries mentioned above, but also in tourism and new home construction as the population continues to grow. St. John's is also becoming known as an entrepreneurial city, in a 2009 report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; Communities in Boom: Canada's Top Entrepreneurial Cities, St. John's was ranked the best major city in Atlantic Canada, and 19th overall in Canada for providing a good environment for small business development."

We admit it: we're impressed!

5. GREAT Learning

Did you know St. John's is home to Atlantic Canada's largest university? Memorial University boasts a multi-award winning business school, a highly respected medical school, an exceptional engineering discipline, and much, much more. Graduates of Memorial's Marine Institute are eagerly sought by employers around the world. For trades, the College of the North Atlantic also features world-class courses, and even operates a campus in faraway Qatar. Many private colleges also abound, opening up an ever-growing range of career choices. Didn't know there was such a nucleus of learning here? Well you learn something new every day... especially when you learn in St. John's!

So there you go: five GREAT reasons to live in St. John's. There were lots of others we could have added, but we thought we'd hold it at five... for now! What do you think of our list? Are there any great reasons you feel we missed? What do you love about St. John's? Add your comments; we'd love to hear from you!