ECO Grants

New in Canada's Economic Action Plan
Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government is expanding the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program by $300 million over two years to help property owners make their homes more energy efficient. Effective April 1, 2009, grant amounts have been increased by 25 percent. Homeowners are encouraged to act now to take advantage of this special, limited-time offer. It is estimated that the additional funds will extend the reach of the current program to an additional 200,000 homeowners.
About the Program
ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes provides home and property owners with grants of up to $5,000 to offset the cost of making energy-efficiency improvements. The grants apply to a range of measures that reduce energy consumption and provide for a cleaner environment, from increasing insulation to upgrading a furnace. The maximum grant for property owners with multiple properties is $500,000.
How It Works
Before undertaking any energy-efficiency renovations, the homeowner hires an energy advisor certified by Natural Resources Canada to perform an energy evaluation on the home. The homeowner selects which improvements to do and implements the recommended energy upgrades, leaving time to ensure that the post-retrofit evaluation is completed within 18 months or before March 31, 2011, whichever comes first. The homeowner calls the energy advisor to perform the post-retrofit evaluation, which will confirm the home's new energy rating. The advisor submits the ecoENERGY Retrofit grant application to the Government of Canada. If applicable, the application will also be forwarded to the collaborating provincial and territorial retrofit program for further financial reimbursement. Approved reimbursements are then sent out to applicants.
Who Is Eligible
Owners of single-family homes (detached, semi-detached and low-rise, multi-unit residential buildings that are no more than three storeys high) are eligible. Additionally, owners of some small buildings less than three storeys high, where at least 50 percent of the floor area is used for permanent residences, are also eligible.
How to Find Out More
For more information, please visit the ecoACTION website.

On March 26th, 2009, the McGuinty government announced its intention to harmonize the goods and services tax with the provincial sales tax.
As a result of this change, provincial sales tax will now be levied on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees and other services related to a real estate transaction.
OREA believes that this tax grab will severely hurt the resale housing market and reduce affordability for Ontarians trying to buy a home.
We encourage all OREA members and their clients to write their MPP to express their outrage at these new taxes and to tell them how badly they will hurt the real estate market in your area.
Send an e-mail to your MPP on this issue now by clicking here.

Depersonalizing is an important step when it comes to selling your home. It means that you need to let go emotionally and this can be a tough process. Now that you have made the
decision to move, you need to commit to that and remove your identity from the house. Focus on turning your home into a "model home". Disconnecting yourself from your house will allow the buyer to emotionally connect and envision themselves living there, not feeling that they are a guest in your home.
Things to think about

Remove all personal and family photos
Remove all memorabilia
Pre-pack books and music that do not appeal to a wide range of buyers
Pre-pack your collections
Do you have belongings that could be potentially disagreeable to buyers?
Remove and pre-pack any items that could be potentially offensive or disagreeable
Store away and organize children’s toys, games and books

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