Tara D'Oliveira and guests discuss real estate, homes, communities, style, decorating, activities & living in and around Durham Region. Tara is a Realtor with Royal LePage Credit Valley Real Estate.

Wednesday

New Listing in Port of Newcastle Ontario


Ever wonder where there is a lovely place to live that's not far from Toronto? If you like living by the lake, have a boat, or wish you had one, this is the place for you...Port of Newcastle, Ontario.

Beautiful home for sale at an affordable price: www.tarahome.com

Everything you could possibly want for you and your family.

Tuesday

Becoming an entrepreneur now?

I enjoyed the article that Ian Kennedy wrote in Whitby This Week about the benefits of becoming an entrepreneur. I like this type of thinking. I'm used to entrepreneurial business because as a child my Mom and Dad had run many businesses separately and together including house flipping, lingerie stores, night clubs, children's clothing home parties, home renovations, and now real estate which I joined. Now is a great time to think about starting your own business whether it's online, at home, or a store front, the option is atleast there for you. I am always excited about new businesses, so send me a message about your new venture in Durham Region and I will be happy to post it to my blog.

Ian's article called Create Your Own Good News includes a list of of how to start a new business: www.newsdurhamregion.com

Purchasers are savvy about mortgage debt


Not only are home purchasers savvy these days but they are also optimistic. As CMHC reported, approximately 90 per cent of Canadians believe that home ownership is a good long-term investment. I can't agree more, of course. The study revealed that home owners have been smart about making bulk payments to their mortgage principle debt and want to become mortgage free before the end of their amortization period. We should all be thinking this way. Always check your mortgage contract to see what your pre-payment priviledges are, it's worth making the extra payment when you can.

Source: CMHC

Right time to buy a home?

Taking your personal situation into account, this could be the best time to buy the home of your dreams. There are many desirable homes for sale in Durham Region right now and mortgage interest rates are still very low and affordable. As reported by the Durham Real Estate Board's President, Deborah Khoury, "Inventories are still relatively high compared to the same time last year...," which could mean that the home you've been dreaming of may very well be for sale at a reasonable list price. We'd love to help, let us know what we can do for you! Search homes now.

Source: Durham Real Estate Board

Friday

Fashion Show for Charity



Looking for a great Ladies' Night Out? Here's one. ENVY Boutique in Downtown Brooklin is hosting a Fashion Show Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research at On The Rocks restaurant in Whitby. ENVY Boutique has super fashionable clothes and On The Rocks has tasty food, so this is a good combination. Details:





  • Thursday, November 13
  • Doors open at 7pm / Show at 8pm
  • $10 (all proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research)
Purchase tickets at ENVY Boutique, Axxis Hair Salon or On The Rocks. Your ticket includes a free glass of champagne. Come out to see Axxis Hair Salon, hear great music and even participate in an auction. It's all for a good cause, so let's help!

Monday

Clarington Tourism gets going

This is great for small businesses in Clarington. A new organization called Clarington Marketing Minds is being established with help from the former executive director of Taste the County of Prince Edward County which began in 1999 and saw off-peak season tourism rise by 300 per cent by 2005.

It costs $100 per membership, is open to all businesses and includes recognition and web promotion on the tourism web site for Clarington Marketing Minds and tourism workshops. Sounds like a good opportunity.

For more information and contact details see the article in Clarington This Week.

Thursday

Big Retail Proposal for Brooklin

I like Brooklin, I live here and am pleased to hear we may get more retail...including a new grocery store-Yes!

Brooklin Downtown Business Association representative would prefer this not be permitted because it may take away from the business of the downtown retail on Baldwin. I am a proud supporter and continuous shopper of my Brooklin businesses, including clothing, baked goods, spa, massage therapy, yoga, hair styling, preschool, toys, take-out, eco-products, butcher, and home decor. I didn't realize that less than 15 per cent of residents shop in Brooklin, for non-food shopping. What a shame. I urge my fellow residents to try Brooklin first.

In the end, it's up to the individual to choose where they will shop. Perhaps more opportunities for shopping will lead to us staying in Brooklin for all of our shopping needs.

For more information about this proposed development at Thickson and Winchester, read the article in Whitby This Week.

Tuesday

Brooklin, Ontario

Have you had a chance to visit the Village of Brooklin? It is a beautiful growing community in the north end of Whitby.

Shopping has become a great treat. Be sure to visit Pipsqueak Toys on Roebuck Street before Christmas, they have a lot of unusual and retro toys too. If it's YOU time you're looking for, try Envy Boutique on Baldwin Street, it has stylish clothes you would normally have to go to Toronto for. Plus much more to enjoy.

Did I mention, it's a great place to live? Get more information and search for a home in this friendly community.