http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php en perry@homesniagara.com Copyright 2008 2008-06-25T13:59:00-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/how_does_your_garden_grow/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/how_does_your_garden_grow/#When:12:59:00Z With Peas and Corn and Marigolds All in a Row! Did you know that garden centres are reporting a 30% to 40% increase in sales of vegetables and edible plants? Factors behind this surge in home gardens include the high cost of food, interest in the “100-mile diet,” concerns about food quality, and the desire to have greater control over what we eat. Increasingly, people are even planting front-yard vegetable gardens and integrating food plants with decorative plants. It is not unusual to see lettuce, peas and herbs sharing space with roses, all in the context of a beautifully designed landscape. “Tomatoes are red, violets are blue…” Outdoor Design 2008-06-25T12:59:00-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/energy_audits_improve_efficiency_and_help_the_environment/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/energy_audits_improve_efficiency_and_help_the_environment/#When:14:02:01Z Consider a home energy audit. When you make recommended upgrades, you might qualify for government grants. Did you know that the new government-sponsored home energy assessment initiative called ecoEnergy offers federal grants for homeowners who make high-priority retrofits to improve energy efficiency? The first step is to book a residential energy assessment with a licensed energy advisor. One such advisor is the non-profit organization called “Greensaver.” They will conduct an on-site audit and prepare a customized report with recommended retrofits, in order of priority. The report will also show the ecoEnergy grant available for each eligible upgrade. For more information go to http://www.greensaver.org or call 1-888-855-3106 or 1-905-630-7572. Design & Decorating 2008-06-16T14:02:01-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/home_ownership_reaches_all_time_high/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/home_ownership_reaches_all_time_high/#When:15:36:00Z 2006 census says more Canadians have entered the housing market Did you know home ownership rates have reached a record high in Canada? Census data from 2006 shows that 68.4% of Canadians own their home, vs 65.8% in 2001 and 60% in 1971. Low interest rates and strong employment rates helped to spur this growth, in spite of rising house prices. While carrying costs increased alongside house prices, there has been no upswing in arrears or defaults. The forecast is for growth in house prices to moderate while interest rates remain relatively stable. This will continue to support home ownership in Canada.  Real Estate Investment 2008-06-15T15:36:00-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/house_paint_goes_green/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/house_paint_goes_green/#When:19:19:01Z There are options available for those who want to use more eco-friendly paint Did you know that house paint is the latest product to “go green?” Ingredients like VOCs (volatile organic compounds) help paint stick to the surface and dry quickly. However, VOCs are released into the air and can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems and headaches. Manufacturers are working to reinvent paint with low or no VOCs. A natural alternative is milk paint. It is safe, durable, bonds permanently to surfaces, and will not chip. Another “green” alternative is recycled paint. Companies like Boomerang collect and remix leftover domestic paint for reuse instead of disposal. For more eco-paint info, go to boomerangpaint.com, eartheasy.com, or homesteadhouse.ca. Design & Decorating 2008-06-02T19:19:01-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/wine_spectator_touts_niagara_charms/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/wine_spectator_touts_niagara_charms/#When:11:05:01Z This luxury lifestyle publication goes to 2 million + readers Did you know that “Wine Spectator,” the internationally acclaimed publication, recently featured Niagara-on-the-Lake? With over 2 million readers worldwide, this luxury lifestyle publication is considered an opinion leader. Describing our area as “bucolic and charming,” they promote our reputation as “the loveliest town in Ontario” and recommend this as “an ideal time to discover this region.” This article is one more example of the growing perception of NOTL as an exclusive destination and a very desirable place to live. Niagara Insights 2008-05-28T11:05:01-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/niagara_wine_weekend_auction_is_coming_soon/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/niagara_wine_weekend_auction_is_coming_soon/#When:18:33:01Z This is the second year for this excellent fundraiser for SickKids and St Catharines Hospital Foundation Did you know that the 2nd annual Niagara Wine Weekend & Auction is just about a month away? Taking place June 13-15, this event raises funds for the SickKids Foundation and the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation. The goal is to profile our first class vintners while giving back to the community. All-inclusive passes include a Friday VIP reception at Peller Estates, a Saturday afternoon wine garden party followed by a gala dinner and dance on The Commons, and on Sunday, a wineries showcase tour. Weekend entertainment will be provided by artists including The Pointer Sisters and The Temptations, among others. For more information, go to niagarawineauction.com Niagara Insights 2008-05-13T18:33:01-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/new_garden_design_goes_vertical/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/new_garden_design_goes_vertical/#When:12:27:00Z These off-the-wall designs are gaining in popularity Did you know that “vertical gardens” are all the rage? Also known as “green walls,” these verdant vertical displays of moss and ferns are seen indoors and out, in locations from New York to Seoul. Started by the French botanist Patrick Blanc, these green walls also work as air fresheners. For an amazing slide show of green walls around the world, go to http://www.nytimes.com and enter “Green Anchors” in the search bar. You’ll see why one designer says, “I love the symbol and meaning of creating new laws of gravity for the earth.” Outdoor Design 2008-05-05T12:27:00-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/start_your_spring_cleaning_by_reducing_clutter/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/start_your_spring_cleaning_by_reducing_clutter/#When:12:22:01Z You’ll feel lighter and more energized once you get rid of the clutter! Did you know that downsizing your possessions can be extremely energizing – whether you are moving to a smaller place or staying put? Start in one corner of each room and work clockwise. Sort into 4 bins labelled Give Away, Throw Away, Sell and Keep. The Canadian Diabetes Association will pick up your donations. To reduce paper (the worst clutter culprit), invest in a shredder, especially for outdated financial paper.  Go to http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca to learn how long to keep tax-related papers. Sort all your photos and keep just a few from each trip or event. Give the rest away to family and friends. If you want to bring in a pro, you might find a professional organizer at http://www.organizersincanada.com. Maybe this is the year to bring new meaning to “spring cleaning!” Lifestyle & Trends 2008-05-01T12:22:01-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/unique_factors_protect_the_canadian_real_estate_market/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/unique_factors_protect_the_canadian_real_estate_market/#When:12:20:01Z More conservative behaviours among Canadian consumers and lenders reduce market volatility Did you know that the Canadian real estate market has many built-in features that moderate volatility? More than 25% of 2006 U.S. mortgages were “sub-prime” vs. only 3% in Canada. All high-ratio mortgages here, defined as having less than 20% down, are insured by CMHC. Four out of five Canadian homeowners pay their mortgage as quickly as possible; almost 85% make frequent payments to speed amortization; and one-third make lump-sum payments against principal. Real estate speculation in Canada runs at less than half the rate of the U.S. While the U.S. market has swung into negative territory, Canadian real estate prices are holding steady in a “balanced market.” Real Estate Market Performance 2008-05-01T12:20:01-05:00 http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/get_ready_for_the_demographic_powerhouse_called_zoomers/ http://www.perryquinn.com/index.php/blog/entry/get_ready_for_the_demographic_powerhouse_called_zoomers/#When:13:21:01Z The group previously known as “baby boomers” has been renamed as they redefine what aging is all about Did you know that the demographic group previously known as “baby boomers” have been christened with a new moniker – “zoomers” – by none other than Moses Znaimer. It is no wonder this media-mogul-marketer extraordinaire is now focused on this group. Zoomers account for more than half of all consumer spending and more than 70% of financial assets. They are the largest group by far in the market for real estate, travel, health & beauty, home improvement and financial services. The Zoomer attitude is changing the nature of aging – Zoomers are active, often working past the typical retirement age. They engage in a wide variety of activities with zeal – fitness, education, volunteering travelling. Targeting this group is about understanding how they are reinventing what it means to be 50+.  Boomers & Seniors 2008-04-14T13:21:01-05:00