It was reported today that in October, new house prices have shown a small dip in Toronto, Victory and Calgary, however the trend across Canada in geenral is still upward.

In oil rich Calgary where the trend has been up up up since November 2004, there was a slight decrease of 0.5 per cent on Septembers values.

On an national basis the index shows that new house prices rose by only 0.2 per cent in October, this is the lowest increase since July of 2005 and may finally indicate that Canada’s housing market is finally cooling a little.

For the latest information specific to your area you should consult your local Toronto Real Estate Agent Alan Read-Chua

We’ve been asked the question about how Google treats duplicate content and penalties for it. We have no 100% answer as we believe we can make cases for the myth and cases for the fact, so here’s how we see it.

If you are posting an article that has been posted on another site, on another server and with a different name for the page, it is unlikely that you will receive a duplicate content penalty for the page, if this wiss the case millions of news pages and feeds from around the world would all be penalised, but as we all know they still get listed and ranked by Google and the major engines.

However, we do believe there are cases where if you are hosted on the same IP address, with exactly the same page name, and if any parameters are the same that you will be placed in Googles supplemental index. At this point all we know about the supplemental index is that Google only considers these results if there are no results in their main index. Another thing we have noticed is that once you are in the supplemental index, the cache isn’t updated very often, if at all and that it is therefore very hard to get a page out of it. Duplicate content on the same site ends up the same way.

There would apeear to be other reasons that you may end up supplemental but we will discuss those at a future date.

Rob Parker is a real estate internet marketing expert with Leaf Tech Web Inc. who specialise in real estate search engine marketing and real estate web sites.

With the fluctuation in interest rates of late, and the rising property market, homeowners have become more aggressive in seeking out the best possible terms from a lender. The advantage of a mortgage consultant lies in the opportunity to search a large segment of the mortgage industry for the best terms, rather than negotiate personally with only one or a few lenders. As a result, the popularity of mortgage brokers is growing. Last year, almost 50% of all mortgages placed in Canada were through a mortgage broker.

A mortgage broker can also be a source of information and an unbiased help in wading through the myriad of options available in the mortgage industry today. Wondering about the advantages of refinancing? Want more information on the Home Buyers Plan? How about advice on adjustable term mortgages? Having problems getting a mortgage because you’re self-employed? Or maybe you need special help arranging financing for an investment property. These are the kinds of issues a mortgage broker can help with, and usually at no cost to the buyer.

ProfessionalReferrals is an on-line provider of high-quality referrals to professionals within the Financial Services industry. We operate an on-line library of articles and information designed to provide a consumers’ guide to the financial services marketplace. Our on-line advisor network is available to members of the public to find and contact professional advisors in their neighborhood. we specialise in Mortgage advice in Canada 

You can help yourself accomplish this by polishing its appearances and function. Its a fact, you can’t turn a Chevy into a Cadillac, but you can clean up a Chevrolet to the point that it outshines an old caddy. Basically, the better your home looks, the more likely a buyer is to see its potential and make an offer.

A large majority of sellers previously lived in the home are selling. When we see the same thing everyday, we tend to overlook our faults, or clutter. In order to get the best first impression to prospective buyers, you shave have fresh eyes give you their input. Have a few agents come by your property and tell you what you can do to spruce up your home. Most agents are more than willing to offer their advice, so it doesn’t hurt to ask.

When a buyer comes to your home, realize that they have probably already been to other homes similar to yours. The question is, does yours stand out? A great way to find out for yourself is to pretend you a buyer for a weekend or two. Tell a local agent you’d like to learn more details on the local market. Compare homes like yours and see if anything stands out.

Agents are always stressing the importance of “curb appeal.” When a potential buyer drives up the road and their agent points at your home, there is an instantaneous judgement made. When fixing up your home for selling purposes, its most important to start with areas the buyer sees first. The lawn and driveway make the first big impact. Does your lawn have any dead patches or weeds? An inexpensive solution is to pre seed.

Also, consider adding flowers to brighten up the front of your home. For under $100 you can go to your local building supply store and buy pots of various colorful flowers. Most homes have some bushes and trees in the front. If you don’t regularly maintain plants and bushes, they will take over your property. Get out the shears and electric hedgers and regain control of your yard, if necessary. Hiring a professional to do the work will usually lead to professional results, as well.

A brand new coat of paint will begin to look dull after only the first year. Homes should typically be repainted every 5 years or so. No matter how great the UV filters are in it, the sun causes it to get dull over time and eventually flake. If its been over a year since your last repainting job, it would be wise to hire a painter. You can have it done professionally for a decent price, depending on the size of your home. If you suck it up and do it yourself, it will save you a bundle. The cost of basic paint and supplies is around $100.

Most people don’t think about the windows unless their broken. If your homes over 10 years old, chances are you have aluminum or metal flashing. If the front windows make your home look outdated, the easiest thing to do is paint the flashing. This works well if its wood. Sometimes the only way to make a good impression is to replace those old windows with modern vinyl or double pane.

Does your include a nice front door? Is the handle and lock modern and shiny? Make sure your doorknob is a good brand with a secure locking mechanism.

Make sure the interior is roomy. Clean efficiently and get rid of any clutter. Have your carpets cleaned, or replaced if necessary. Air out the home especially if there are previous smokers or pet owners in the home.

Have an agent came through your home and make any suggestions, they are likely to find things you have overlooked.

This article was Published by Joe and Colleen Lane, Realtors®. The Lane Real Estate Team services Tri City Wa Real Estate, Kennewick Wa Real Estate, Pasco Wa Real Estate, Richland Wa Real Estate, and surrounding Southeastern Washington Communities.

To find out more about the best way to sell a house in Mississauga contact Mississauga real estate agent Bruce Witchel

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 4 1/4 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged, and the Bank Rate remains at 4 1/2 per cent.The Bank’s outlook for Canadian economic growth and inflation in 2007-2008 is essentially unchanged from that set out in the October Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Global growth has been strong, commodity prices have remained high, and employment growth in Canada and the United States has been sustained. Some recent indicators suggest that output growth in Canada and the United States in the fourth quarter of 2006 may be a little weaker than previously expected. Inflation in Canada has evolved broadly in line with the Bank’s expectations.

All things considered, both total CPI and core inflation in Canada are still projected to converge at 2 per cent in the second half of 2007. In line with the Bank’s outlook, the current level of the target for the overnight rate is judged at this time to be consistent with achieving the inflation target over the medium term.

The principal risks remain those identified in the October MPR. The main upside risk relates to the momentum in household spending and housing prices. The main downside risk is that the U.S. economy could slow more sharply than expected, leading to lower Canadian exports. The Bank judges that, overall, risks around the inflation projection are roughly balanced. The Bank will continue to pay close attention to the evolution of risks, together with economic and financial developments in the Canadian and global economies. A full analysis of economic developments, trends, and risks will be outlined in the Monetary Policy Report Update, to be published on 18 January 2007.

Press Release Published by the Bank of Canada

Primarily this should mean that mortgage interest rates within Canada will remain unchanged over the Xmas holidays.