Facebook Valentines Contest

By / February 7, 2013 / Events

Enter our Valentines contest to win a dozen red roses!

Just go to our Facebook Pages and enter our contests.

You can enter on both pages, before midnight on Monday, February 11th, 2013 for a chance to win. The winner will be announced on the morning of February 12th. We will contact the winner and arrange to have the flowers delivered to you or your special Valentine on February 14th. Thanks everyone for entering, good luck and have a Happy Valentines Day!

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Homes Sales Taking a Dip? Not at Re/Max Escarpment

By / January 22, 2013 / Press Release

If you want to get your home SOLD, LIST WITH RE/MAX ESCARPMENT!

The average home price was up in December but sales and listings for the month were down from the year before, according to numbers released by the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington Monday.

The average sale price in the two cities was up 6.5 per cent over December 2011 but the sales of residential properties were down 14.2 per cent.

The biggest drop came in condo sales, which fell 23.2 per cent.

“The number of sales in December was down not only in comparison to the previous year’s December sales but also when compared to December sales over the last decade or so,” said RAHB CEO Ross Godsoe.

“On average, over the last 10 years, December sales are usually closer to 630 units.”

Instead, there were 452 homes sold last month.

Listings were also significantly lower. Residential listings fell by 10.7 per cent over the year before and the end of month listing inventory was lower by 15.6 per cent.

In Hamilton, residential sales were down 16.3 per cent (410 to 343) and listings were off almost 17 per cent (390 to 324). The average price was up just over 4 per cent to $281,643.

Burlington’s sales were down 18.7 per cent (134 to 109) and listings fell 14.1 per cent (99 to 85). The average home price climbed 9 per cent to $449,751.

RAHB president Bruce Moran said a positive indicator for the month was that the average number of days on the market dropped from 58 days to 55 days in December for freehold properties and fell from 60 days to 52 days for condos.

But he cautioned against reading much into December’s figures because the numbers are volatile thanks to the effects of Christmas and the weather. The month is typically one of the slower for sales and Moran says it rarely indicates anything about what the next year will bring.

“December is tough to gauge anything against. It’s the toughest month to say anything about.”

RAHB is expecting to release its 2013 forecast in the next couple of weeks.

Moran says he believes there is growing interest in Hamilton, especially among those in Toronto.

“There is a lot of activity and a lot of development because people are seeing value in Hamilton. Our image is better.”

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Where to go when you have to go?

By / January 10, 2013 / Home Decor

Bathroom design by Forum Phi Design

A bathroom adds value to a home doesn’t it? It depends. On what you may ask.

Take a home with an unfinished basement that is only used for storage or laundry, for example. If you only have one bathroom in your home and the above grade levels in your home do not allow the space to install a powder room then a bathroom in the basement is a good investment of your home improvement funds. A powder room is a better choice than a full bathroom with a shower/bathtub. People generally do not like showering in an unfinished basement and therefore installing a shower does not give you a "good bang for your buck". If you plan on finishing your basement with a recreation room or office then the powder room makes even more sense. If however, your plans are to create a bedroom/guest bedroom then a full bathroom becomes the better choice and it will add value to the basement bedroom.

A powder room on the main living level of your home is a very good selling feature for any home and becomes a terrific selling feature in older neighbourhoods where a main floor powder room is less common. If you have a bedroom on your main living level then a full bathroom becomes very desirable and adds value to your home. If there are no bedrooms on the main level then a full bathroom is less desirable, and in fact may be viewed by buyers as a waste of space or a negative feature of your home.

On the second level of a 1.5 storey homes where there are typically no bathrooms, finding space to install a powder room such as in a closet is a very attractive feature and adds value.

In conclusion, a powder room at the very least is best on every level of your home. Also, if space allows; a full bathroom is preferred over a powder room on the bedroom level(s) of your home.

*To look at the whole house where this bathroom photograph was taken, click on this link...Forum Phi project

 

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Acorn Squash with Balsamic Vinegar

By / November 17, 2011 / Recipes

Click here to download the acorn squash with balsamic vinegar recipe (PDF)

 

Ingredients for baking the squash:

  • 1 large or 2 small acorn squash
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt for dressing
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon or so Reduced Balsamic Vinegar thickened for drizzling *
  • 2 tablespoons or more crumbled cheese (aged goat cheese or drained fresh ricotta)
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds toasted in oven or dry frying pan

 

Directions for baking the squash:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. With a sharp vegetable peeler or paring knife, strip off the peel from the protruding ridges of the squash. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out all the seeds and fibers.

Place each half cut side down; trim the ends, then cut semicircular slices of squash, all about 1 inch thick. Put all the pieces in a pile on a large non stick baking sheet or parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Drizzle the 2 tablespoons oil over the squash, sprinkle on the ½ teaspoon salt, and toss to coat with the seasonings, and then spread the pieces out to lie flat, not touching.

Bake about 20 minutes, and then turn the pieces over. Bake another 15 minutes or so, until the squash is just tender all the way through and nicely caramelized on the edges.

Let the squash pieces cool on the pan until you’re ready to serve. Arrange the pieces in a symmetrical design or in a casual pile on a large serving platter or on individual salad plates, with two or three slices per portion.

Refresh them with drizzles of 2 teaspoons olive oil and sprinkles of 1/8 teaspoon salt. Scatter the almond slivers over, and then streaks or swirls of warm balsamic reduction. Finally, crumble bits of cheese all over.

 

*Ingredients for Reduced Balsamic Vinegar

  • 1 500 ml bottle of quality balsamic vinegar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 4 whole cloves

 

*Directions for Reduced Balsamic Vinegar

Pour the balsamic vinegar into a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and place over moderate heat.

Stir in the honey, drop in the bay leaf and whole cloves, and bring to a low boil. Adjust the heat to maintain a steady simmer, and allow the vinegar to reduce slowly.

After 1/2 hour or so, when it has lost more than half of its original volume, the vinegar will start to appear syrupy, and you should watch it closely.

Cook the sauce to a third of its original volume (when it will measure 2/3 cup). Pour the syrup through a small strainer into a heat-proof bowl or measuring cup.

Discard the bay leaf and whole cloves. Drizzle on the Reduced Balsamic Vinegar over the squash while warm.

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Summer Salad

By / August 16, 2011 / Recipes

Click here to download the summer salad recipe (PDF)

  • 4 medium beets - scrubbed, trimmed and cut in half
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 tablespoons real maple syrup
  • 1 (11 ounce/312 g) package mixed baby salad greens
  • 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 ounces/60 g of goat cheese

Place beets into a saucepan, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and then cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. Drain, cool, and then cut into cubes.

While the beets are cooking, place the walnuts in a skillet over medium-low heat. Heat the walnuts until warm and starting to toast, and then stir in the real maple syrup. Cook and stir until evenly coated, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice concentrate, balsamic vinegar and olive oil to make the dressing. Place the baby greens into a large salad bowl and sprinkle the candied walnuts and beets over the greens and top with dabs of goat cheese. Drizzle the salad with the dressing. Serve and enjoy!

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