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If you live in an apartment, condo or your backyard simply doesn’t have enough space, container vegetable gardening may be the solution for you. Everyone can have their own vegetable garden, even those of us with balconies instead of yards. Even those who do have the space turn to container gardening for many reasons.

Advantages of Container Gardening
Container gardening allows for a lesser instance of plant disease and root rot if done properly, as well as virtually eliminating weed infestation. It also gives you heightened control over moisture and sun exposure. Because you can move your container anywhere you choose, you can correct sun exposure on extremely hot and dry days by simply relocating your garden.

How to Start Your Container Garden
First, you’ll need to decide what you’ll be growing in your small space. If you’ve decided on herbs or vegetables, choose something that you like to eat frequently and that will work with the amount of space you have available.

After you’ve chosen your veggies, you can decide on the type of container that will best suit your gardening needs. There are many different types of containers: planter boxes, large plastic pots, hanging baskets, growbags, barrels, etc.  Here are some important factors to consider:

• If you are growing root vegetables like potatoes or carrots, you will need a very deep container.
• Wood containers may rot unless you use a more expensive wood like cedar. Do not use treated wood as the chemical will leech into your yummy veggies.
• Plastic containers can break down pretty quickly due to the constant barrage of water, UV rays and fertilizer.
• Clay pots tend to dry out very quickly as they are extremely porous and absorb water.

Whichever container you purchase from the green house should allow for drainage; if there are no holes, be sure to drill some that are about ½” across and then layer a bit of newspaper or landscaping cloth on the bottom before you start planting. This will keep soil in while allowing excess water to escape. Also, your container should have a nice wide opening – narrow openings are not conducicve to proper aeration or easy harvesting.

Care for Your Container Garden
Depending on which vegetables you have chosen, pick the location that’s best for proper sun exposure on a normal basis. As stated before, you can move your container if absolutely necessary but you won’t want to do that all the time. The soil you choose for planting must contain an even mixture of peat moss, soil, sand and compost. Before you fill your container, wash it with a biodegradable or natural cleaning agent, rinse, drain completely and then dry it. After the initial planting, be sure to water your new garden on a regular basis and fertilize each time you water. (Container gardens often need a bit more watering than an in-ground garden simply because of the efficient drainage system.) Be careful not to use chemical fertilizers, but rather natural means such as manure. It is usually readily available at your local greenhouse and will ensure excellent plant growth.

No matter how small the space you too can have your own delicious, convenient and weed-free vegetable garden.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is currently researching Edmonton Greenhouses.

When you decided to build a new home, the next question is obvious: where will we build? In cities all over Canada, new developments are cropping up every day. So how do you choose which neighbourhood is right for you and your lifestyle? There are several factors to take into consideration: from walking paths to shopping centres, here’s how you can make your decision an easy one.

Be flexible. New developments are everywhere these days and professionals and families alike are rushing to secure lots. But before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself what the traffic situation is like and how long your commute will actually be. If your new development has been squeezed into a suburb, the traffic situation and transit situation may already be a dire one. Consider moving a bit further away to a hamlet or smaller city that has access to a freeway. Your commute may be shorter than if you were in the city.

Does the neighbourhood have the perks you are looking for? If you love jogging, cycling and outdoor activities, purchase real estate in a neighbourhood that encourages this type of lifestyle. Ask about walking paths and nearby parks. If you have a family and there are no playgrounds nearby, inquire about whether or not one is scheduled to be put in. Driving 20 minutes to the nearest park isn’t much fun.

Are the amenities nearby the ones that will benefit you the most? If you aren’t willing to drive for half an hour to get to the nearest supermarket, don’t look in areas that aren’t self-sufficient. Make sure the schools, shopping centres, restaurants and movie theatres are close-by if that’s important to you or your family. Some families choose new houses in areas with nary a school in sight, forgetting that rush hour traffic can be a beast when you’re trying to drop the kids off at a school that’s in a different area.

Is the area “under construction”? Make sure when you look for your home that you are fully aware of any future developments, construction or planned area redevelopment.

Choose the home that suits your life. If you are a single executive with no plans to start a family in the immediate future, you may not want to purchase a home in a family area. Family-oriented neighbourhoods can be a bit louder, especially in the summer when the windows are open. If you seek solitude, check out “professional” or “executive” neighbourhoods for the best fit.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is currently researching real estate in Leduc Alberta.

Only a few residents attended a recent public hearing regarding a proposed secondary suite bylaw for West Vancouver.

The proposal is positive news for some. According to the district director of planning, permits and lands, Bob Sokol, West Vancouver has 230 registered secondary suites, but unregistered secondary suites could be as many as 800. Sokol believes the bylaw would encourage homeowners to register their suite which would improve safety standards.

Sokol said with property registration, occupants would have better health and safety regulations and property management staff would inspect suites.

Currently, secondary suites can be registered for an annual $350 fee. Homeowners also need to live in the house to maintain their rental. The new bylaw proposed however, would enable homeowners to rent suites without needing to live in the house. Owners would then pay $450 annually and provide a contact number to a North Shore property manager.

For Gordon Ward-Hall, a resident of Fulton Avenue, the proposal isn’t so positive. Ward-Hall said the program was set to help homeowners in the house pay for mortgages, maintenance and taxes; he believes changing the program will change the goals of the program.

Councillors will be revisiting the amendment in the near future.

North Vancouver Real Estate

Calgary housing affordability was at its best in 2010’s fourth quarter—the first time in nearly six years. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) gauges affordability as pre-tax median income needed to meet mortgage payment, property taxes and utilities on bungalows, two-storeys and condos.

Bungalow measures improved 4.8 per cent over 2009’s first quarter to 34.9 per cent. Two storey home measures were 37 per cent, an increase of five per cent, and condo measures were 22.4 per cent, an increase of 2.7 per cent.

Housing sales increased toward the end of 2010, helping to balance market conditions, but according to senior economist Robert Hogue, housing prices weakened continuously which contributed to affordability.

Hogue pointed out that current market affordability could increase demand which would impact housing affordability. Mortgage costs are expected to rise as well.  In February 2011, post-mortgage rates increased for the first time since November 2010. For five year fixed-terms, rates increased 0.25 per cent to 5.44 per cent.

Inflation and food and oil costs could also push the Bank of Canada to increase the overnight lending rate as early as May. Thirty-nine forecasters predicted rates will rise to 1.25 per cent on May 31.

Until then, though, Calgary’s market remains affordable and inviting for home buyers.

Calgary Homes For Sale

Real estate in Vancouver is a great industry to become involved in by exploring the options open on the real estate market. Vancouver is a fresh, young city boasting creative events, incredible opportunities and a wealth of memorable and exciting experiences. The year 2011 opens up a world of new real estate choices and investments for the interested buyer. Located near the ocean, Vancouver offers a plethora of locations and neighbourhoods to suit anyone. From bustling urban centers to the tranquility of suburbs, for families, individuals, couples to first time buyers and seasoned pros, the city of Vancouver offers up a variety of not to be missed chances.

Condominiums or condos are a fantastic choice for those who want to experience the joy of owning their own home, while living with the security and financial stability condos can offer. A condo generally refers to an individually owned apartment that makes use of common facilities within the same building. These common facilities can include heating systems, hallways, access to elevators, and exterior spaces. These common spaces are typically governed by an owner’s association, occasionally referred to as a strata, who are jointly responsible for rules and care of the entirety of the building.

Condos and apartments are different in a basic legal sense only as one can’t define the contrasts physically or via visitation. The differences lie within the ownership of the space. A condo is generally placed within a large building, and then those units are sold off to varied individuals who then own them. An apartment building is typically owned by the developers, who then rent off the spaces within to tenants.

The spatial boundaries of a condo are laid out in the Declaration, a legal document that is kept on file with the local governing authority. For the most part, these boundaries list as property of the condo owner things like the drywall encompassing the space. This ensures that the owner is able to change things within their home, without affecting the outside common areas. Typically, a list of by-laws are put in place such as noise control, shared spaces pet control and other regulations for owners to follow. Often these buildings will offer a common green space, as well as balconies from which one can house flowers, a small patio set, or a small potted herb garden. Common green spaces are quite frequently kept up by landscapers hired by the building itself, so one never has to worry about cutting lawns, plant bed care or watering while still enjoying an evening stroll about the grass. The worry free aspect of green space upkeep can be an incredibly alluring benefit to condo living.

The year 2011 seems to be offering a buyer’s market in Vancouver with regards to condominiums. A wide variety of prices are listed at reasonable rates for the interested buyer, all with the added benefit of living in an amazing, popular city. Don’t miss the opportunity to own your own home while experiencing the worry-free environment that condos can offer.

Buying a home is a fairly standard process and barring unforeseen circumstances, should go smoothly if you have a comprehensive checklist of things to expect and do.

You may want a condo, or you may only qualify for a “high-risk” mortgage – those are details that you, your realtor, your mortgage broker and your family can delve into at the appropriate time; the details may be different from person to person, but the main ideas the same.

7 Steps to Your Dream Home
1. Find Your Broker and Realtor
Finding your realtor and mortgage broker should be an easy task, but it may require a bit of research. The qualities of the best realtors and mortgage brokers are:

• Great references (word-of-mouth is key)
• Proven track records
• Willingness to build a relationship and have
• Repeat clients
• Located near to the area you are moving to

2. Pre-Approval
You and your mortgage broker will be old friends by the time this process is through. After calculating your current debt, monthly salary, and other odds and ends, your mortgage broker will get you pre-approved for your mortgage. This will give you the approximate amount you can spend on your home. There’s no point in shopping for a house you can’t afford. When calculating your monthly mortgage budget, make sure to take into consideration that you will also be paying for:

• Property taxes
• Home Insurance
• Condo fees (if applicable)
• Utilities
• Monthly living expenses
• Miscellaneous items

You may want to reduce your budget after calculating your monthly expenditures versus your incoming cash flow.

3. House Shopping
This is the often stressful, but definitely fun part of the experience. Now that you have a budget, you will want to create your list of “must-haves”; the deal-breakers in your new home. These are necessities for you or your family as well as items you feel will add to your quality of life: number of bedrooms, proximity to schools and shopping, fireplace, garage, air conditioning, etc. Once your realtor has your budget and your Must-haves” list in hand, he or she will be able to find you several houses in your neighbourhood of choice to view. Don’t be afraid to visit as many houses as it takes to find the perfect dwelling.

4. Making an Offer
After you choose your perfect house, you can then make an offer. Your realtor can advise you on the right price to come in at. Your offer will be subject to financing which means that the seller has to make sure that you have been approved for the cost of their house. As the buyer, you will also have conditions on your offer such as an agreeable possession date and a property inspection, as well as any other conditions you feel are fair. You may want to change your price if the property inspection is sub-par or rescind it all-together.

5. SOLD!
If your offer is accepted, all conditions are met, and your mortgage broker and financial institution have worked together to secure the monies needed to purchase the house, you will have a visit or two to your lawyer’s office to sign on the dotted line and agree to transfer of ownership on a specific possession date. Your broker or financial institution will have a home appraisal done as well to make sure that your prospective abode is worth the price you’re paying. You will also be working closely with your mortgage broker to create the best mortgage payment schedule (monthly, biweekly, weekly) based on your monthly income and current mortgage rates.

6. Moving Day
As your date of possession nears, you will have to start organizing your move. About two months out you should arrange a moving company or truck rental. Go with a company that has good recommendations within your community. This is also the perfect time to go through all of your possessions and have a garage sale or donate items to a charitable organization.
Your moving checklist should include:

• Complete school transfer paperwork (if you have children)
• Submit a change of address form to your local post office
• Scheduling a service disconnection and reconnection at your new address
• Pack items that aren’t used regularly

Before you go, decide on which items you will want to transfer to your new home yourself and confirm your truck about a week before moving day.

7. First Payment
Your first mortgage payment will be at the end of your first month in your house. Your payment schedule will have been previously determined with your mrtgage broker. Now is the time to organize, meet your neighbours and get acquainted with your new neighbourhood.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She researches and writes on a variety of topics including mortgage information and Sherwood Park Mortgage Brokers.

The popularity of home offices has boomed in the past decade due to the technological advancements made and ease of data transfer and communication. There are many more people starting home-based businesses and employers willing to let family-conscious employees work from home. It is becoming standard practice to build houses with a specific home office space. There are many considerations when creating a home office space; essential details that can elevate, or conversely, decrease your productivity and motivation.

Phase 1: Planning
The first step is to measure the space and figure out exactly how much room there is to work with. Draw a rough diagram of your room and note where the jacks, outlets and windows later use.

Then, sit down and make a list of all of the essential elements the office will need. Some examples are:

• Main office furniture: desk, filing cabinets, chair
• Computer and accessories
• Phone and fax machine
• Shredder, waste basket, recycling bin
• Supplies
• Book cases
• Meeting table
• Chairs for visitors
• Whiteboard
• Media or Entertainment system (for video editing, presentations)
• Stereo system
• Couch and table for reading, researching
• Job-specific requirements (e.g. drafting table, projection screen, etc.)

When making the list, be sure to include enough storage space – a cluttered office is not a good space to be working in. Also, give yourself enough space to work.

Add the main elements from the list to your rough diagram to plan out the space. This is the time to take into consideration of where your power sources are and any windows.

Phase 2: Design
When thinking about the design of the home office try and choose colours and accents that not only showcase personal preferences and personality, but also make it easy to be motivated, calm and productive.

• Lighting is also a very important factor – be sure to take not of how much natural light is in the space already, and compliment that with stanp-up lamps, reading or desk lamps and a main light fixture in the center of the room.
• The office furniture should encompass all work needs. The desk should have enough table space for a computer, phone, lamp, keyboard, mouse, and elbow room to move. The look and feel of the furniture should reflect personal style as well as office needs; for example, traditional personality may be best reflected in beautiful wood furniture.
• The chair should provide good back support, swivel, have adjustable height and roll. Comfort is of the utmost importance.
• Creative and motivational pictures, wall hangings or murals are a great way to accent your room, as are special details like candy dishes, diplomas, awards, gadgets and any other unique design elements that are brought in.

Phase 3: Implement and Reflect
After all of the choices have been made and the furniture and other pieces are being brought in, take a step back and consider the following:
Flow: is the furniture placed in such a way that no one will be tripping or walking around big pieces of furniture?
Lighting: Is there enugh light created by the chosen light fixtures? Is the window properly covered or will the bright afternoon sun be an issue with sight or computer glare?
Space: Is the office functional? Is there enough space to move and work without causing clutter? Are the storage needs met?

Remember that above all, the main objective of home offices is to keep people balanced, happy and productive. Be sure to plan, design and implement accordingly.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance author and web publisher. She is currently researching interior design and furniture stores in Edmonton.

Your master bedroom is the one place that you can go after a long day and relax completely… right? If you’re shaking your head, you may be in need of a master bedroom makeover. The mood of the room and the bedroom furniture should be just right – the paint should soothe and lull you to sleep. The comforter should call your name and lure you into its embrace. If there’s no lulling, soothing or luring happening in your house, you can simply follow these steps and create a space you can’t wait to curl up in.

1. Plan
Planning your bedroom is the first essential step to your sleepy oasis. When thinking about your bedroom you first need to collect ideas and brainstorm your favourite looks and the way you want your bedroom to feel. An easy way to do this is by looking through design magazines or online furniture outlets to gather decorating ideas and look at pictures of bedroom furniture that you are fond of.

You will also need to measure your space to ensure no furniture returns or odd furniture placements.

2. Purpose
Take a minute to decide on the purpose of your master bedroom. Will it be your cozy, curl-up space? A night-time getaway with a TV and sitting area? Will you put your sewing table in the corner for quick seam stitch-ups? Your bedroom can be as simple or as multi-purpose as you make it, but this should be decided before you start picking out bedroom furniture.

3. Theme
The theme of your bedroom is extremely important. It helps tie all of the colours, furniture lines and lighting together, and will ultimately help you make logical decisions about all of your choices. Think about whether you want a casual, continental or country bedroom. What about a romantic, relaxing or Victorian theme? Choose a theme that best reflects your (and your partners) personality. Once you have done that, you can start thinking about which elements of the theme you would like to incorporate. (Bedrooms are best with simplified themes that utilize the most important elements as beautiful accents to your room, not as a main feature.)

4. Colours
The coulours that you choose for your master suite should be warm and inviting. Some people prefer neutrals while others will choose a bold colour – the choise is up to you. Just remember that your colours should reflect your theme and you can always bring in accenting colours through fabrics, decorative pillows and bedding.

5. Bedroom Furniture
After you have measured and thought about theme, you can start browsing for your furniture. There are several things to consider while you are shopping.

• Decide if you want matching pieces or an eclectic mix.
• Make sure the night stands have enough storage space.
• Choose furniture that fits into your theme. For example, a “Romantic” theme might call for a beautiful, modern canopy bed with rot iron detailing, while a relaxing oasis may call for a soothing, fabric covered headboard.
• Don’t overcrowd your room.
• Choose the furniture that fits your needs; make sure you have enough space for all of your bedroom accoutrements.

6. Lighting
When decorating their bedroom, many people often forget the very important detail of lighting. Lighting a room properly can completely change the way your furniture and skin tone look, the warmth or the room and the subtlety of accent colours. Make sure your room has enough lighting to suit your needs – choose bedside table lamps if you like to read, or a standing lamp if you have a sitting area. The main light fixture will be a focal point, so choose wisely and make sure it fits with the overall flow of the room. Another consideration could be whether or not you also need a ceiling fan for warmer climates.

7. Accents
This is where you tie it all together and complete your look. The accents in a room often make or break the look and should be chosen with care. First, make a list of everything you need. Some purchases to think about are:

• Curtains and blinds
• Bedding – duvets, comforters, throw blankets, pillowcases, etc.
• Decorative pillows
• Wall hangings and picture frames
• An area rug for chilly wood floors
• Mirrors – a stand-up mirror for a full-length view is optimal if you have the space.
• Shopping for your accents is where you can truly bring the elements and theme of your room together.

With some planning, shopping and your own personal touch, your bedroom can become the room of your dreams.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance author and web publisher. She is currently researching interior design and furniture stores in Edmonton.

There is good news coming from the real estate market out of Vancouver for 2011. You will not find the experts pronouncing great growth for this year, but there is a common thread running through many of the predictions that 2011 will be a solid stabilizing year. This prediction of stability is comforting after the crash of 2008 and the massive rebound of 2009 and then the decline of 2010. The Vancouver area should not experience in sharp decline as when the housing bubble burst in 2008. Nor will the area experience large increases in sales that occurred in late 2009 and early 2010.
In 2010, Metro Vancouver’ west side real estate market was strong and did show some growth. The growth was largely due to an increase in the number of sales of higher priced single detached dwelling homes. Average price of homes on the west side approached the $700,000.00 average selling price. The increase did drive many first-time home buyers out of this market. Sales are not expected to grow as rapidly in 2011, but neither is there any prediction to see in major declines.
The Fraser Valley area real estate market saw sales drop 11 percent in 2010 from what they were in the year 2009. Average detached dwelling price was at $500,000.00. The 2011 prediction is for growth in home sales in this area as the economy improves and more job growth occurs.
The Victoria area real estate market saw a 12% decrease in 2010, but sales are expected to rise by 6 % in 2011. The average price of detached single homes was at $495,000.00. This area is trending much the same as all locations in the Vancouver area.
Home prices in the Metro Vancouver and Victoria areas have been trending at record setting levels during 2010. There will be a slight cooling of these markets due to likely mortgage rate increases. The cost of carrying home rising will reduce the demand for detached dwelling homes. The bright side is that there is no sign of any crashing or bubble bursting.
The 2011 Vancouver real estate market will register gain and losses on both ends of the spectrum. Because there are fewer homes for sale, sellers will gain a stronghold to leverage the prices they want for their homes. Sellers could be the real winners in the 2011 market. The losers are going to be the first-time home buyers. With rising prices, even low interest rates will not be enough to put many first-time buyers into homes unless they have supplemental incomes.
Vancouver has the second highest cost of living of anywhere in Canada. The city and area still remain as an extremely desirable area to live. The popularity of the area and quality of life will continue to grow well into the future. Stability in the real estate market will give both buyers and sellers a chance to catch their breath and do some serious long-term planning to achieve their objectives.
Be wary of some of the internet predictions you will find concerning the real estate market. There are fantastic stories of major collapse and homes losing half their value. There are other stories that shout the market will be a bull market and you should rush in and invest all that you have and more to take advantage of the times.
The best thing to do is obtain a qualified and competent real estate agent. Choose your areas and home choices wisely. Stay within your budget without over-extending yourself financially. If you keep your feet on the ground, 2011 should be a great year to purchase real estate in the Vancouver area.

After eight straight disappointing months of versus-year-ago shortfalls, single-family home sales in Calgary are trending upward.  Per MLS statistics provided by the Calgary Real Estate Board, 787 houses sold in January, as opposed to 762 in January 2010.

However, the condominium category is not keeping pace with the growth, as the 297 condos that sold in January are down 81 units from the 376 that moved a year ago.

January sales prices for both categories increased over the previous year: the average sale price of a single-family home was $454,287 versus $441,217.  The average condo sale price of $287,954 versus $282,639 a year ago.  The rise in the average condo sale price is attributable in part to the record-setting sale of an Eau Claire penthouse for $4.1 million.

Average sale prices for houses and condos rose slightly versus December 2010, as well.  The average sale price for a single-family residence and condo were $441,341 and $282,788, respectively.

The CREB is seeing growth in sales for single-family dwellings priced at $350,000 and below. Commenting in a press release, President Sano Stante suggested that heightened buying at this price level might represent an influx of first-time homeowners.

Stante went on to predict a gradual recovery of the real estate market this year.  He said that sales would increase at a modest rate during the first quarter, but would begin to pick up in the rest of the year.

Mortgage rates are expected to remain at their current levels throughout the year, per Sante.  He said that the stability of the rates, as well as that of property prices, might bring in buyers who were reluctant to enter the market during 2010.

Calgary Properties