Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Hello Everyone:

Great news! 

My blog is now available on my website www.asifkhan.ca and also through my Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax. 

Blogs are the newest and best way to keep informed.  You will receive immediate notification of any issues relating to Real Estate, my take on current events, home maintenance tips, and much more.  You may also sign up for my blog directly through www.posterous.com/asifkhanremax or

My Business Directory is also available at www.asifkhan.ca.  Click on ”Businesses I Refer” and check out our featured businesses/services.  You’ll find everything you need right here!  If you have a business you would like to refer, we can look into it for you.  Please click on “+ Add Your Business” and fill out the contact information.  We will do our best to research all additions to the Directory and check references. 

Here’s what’s happening in March:

Once again, we are assisting Unionville Meadows Public School to raise funds so that their students can purchase the necessary tools to further enhance their education.  We are helping to sell tickets to the Toronto Marlies game on Sunday March 7^th at 4pm.  Tickets are $20 each ($38 regular), and $5 will be given back to the school.  Please help us support the school.  Children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way!  If you can attend with your family or friends, please purchase a ticket or few.  If you would like to donate towards the event, please contact me.  The deadline for tickets is March 4^th! 

Visit us at the Markham Home Show and attend one of my seminars and learn how to pay off your 25 year mortgage in 8-10 years.  This is attainable for everyone, and at our seminars during the Home Show we will show you how.  There is no magic or tricks involved, just a different way of handling the same payment that you are making currently.  The show runs from March 19 – 21 and the Stage Schedule will be announced soon.  Watch the Markham Economist Newspaper for details.  Visit me at the Home show in Building 1, Booths 118 and 119!!  I will have free admission tickets for anyone pre-registering for my seminars at the show. 

Also, on March 21^st, we will be at the Toronto Marlies game, featured on CBC television!  Visit me in Marlies Alley for a chance to win a Caribbean Cruise for Two! 

March 24^th I will be speaking at The Royal Bank about Investing in Real Estate.  If you are a beginner, or seasoned investor, you will want to be here!  Seats are complimentary but limited, so please contact RBC (McCowan & Hwy 7) at 905-474-4069 to register. 

Dates to remember for March are as follows:

March 4^th Deadline to order Toronto Marlies Tickets to Support Unionville Meadows Public School

March 7^th Toronto Marlies – Unionville Meadows Public School Day

March 19^th – 21^st – Markham – Stouffville Home Show

March 21^st Toronto Marlies – Asif Khan Dream Team Partners Day (on CBC Television)

March 24^th Royal Bank Seminar – Creating Your Future

Another new feature is that you can now Google me for any of my information.  Just go to Google and type in Asif Khan ReMax .

I look forward to seeing you at one of the March events.  Please let me know how you are liking my blogs and the changes that have been made to my website and communications.

Best Regards,

Asif

Asif Khan, Realtor

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Google me: Asif Khan ReMax

Follow me on Twitter  www.twitter.com/remaxallstar

Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax

The Bank of Canada announced they will keep the key lending rate at a historic low.

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/no-rate-change/#clip271311

Asif Khan, Realtor

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Follow me on Twitter  www.twitter.com/remaxallstar

Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax

The Canadian Press

Date: Tue. Mar. 2 2010 12:42 PM ET

OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada is keeping interest rates at historic lows for a few more months, while sending out signals that the economy is rebounding strongly and could trigger inflationary pressures.

The central bank's more positive take on the economy follows Monday's outsized five-per-cent fourth quarter growth announcement and sent the loonie even higher.

"The level of economic activity in Canada has been slightly higher than the bank had projected in January," the bank said Tuesday morning before markets opened.

"The economy grew at an annual rate of five per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, spurred by vigorous domestic spending and further recovery in exports."

The "slightly higher" language may be an understatement, as the bank had projected growth of only 3.3 per cent for the last three months of 2009.

The bank also noted that "core inflation" has been slightly firmer than projected, although it added that some of the price increases were due to transitory factors.

The governing council continued to reiterate that despite the improved conditions, they would likely leave the overnight rate where it has been since last spring -- at 0.25 per cent -- until at least July.

But some economists weren't buying it and the reaction of the money markets suggested that there may be some pressure on governor Mark Carney to move ahead of schedule.

"They are getting ready to take away the punch bowl," said Derek Holt, vice-president of economics with Scotia Capital.

"I think they are priming the markets for a second-quarter hike."

The next interest rate announcement comes in March, but June would be a more likely time to move, said Holt, if indeed the bank is preparing to act.

The dollar gained almost one cent Tuesday after advancing a cent on Monday and was nudging the 97 cent US level in morning trading.

But most economists agreed Carney is unlikely to act on interest rates until July, noting that Tuesday's announcement repeats the conditional commitment to keep rates at the historic low until the third quarter.

Raising interests would make it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow, slowing economic activity and inflation, but likely giving a boost to the already high-flying loonie.

Bank of Montreal economist Michael Gregory said he expects Carney to hike rates by 0.25 per cent in July, and the TD Bank's Francis Fong agreed modest rate hikes can wait until the second half of the year.

"The recovery here in Canada, and indeed around the globe, yet remains heavily dependent on extraordinary monetary and fiscal stimulus, so early rate hikes such as seen in Australia this morning and over the past few months, would need to be warranted by a rapidly overheating economy," said Fong.

There was no sign of that, despite the greatly improved fourth-quarter gross domestic product numbers. The bank also threw up a few red flags against expecting too much of the economy too soon.

"At the same time," it said, "the persistent strength of the Canadian dollar and the low absolute level of U.S. demand continue to act as significant drags on economic activity in Canada."

That is the message Canadians are likely to hear in Thursday's federal budget as well, when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expected to say that Ottawa will carry on with the second year of its stimulus spending plans.

On the economy, the bank listed the underlying factors supporting the recovery as policy stimulus, increased confidence, improved financial conditions, global growth and higher terms of trade.

Meanwhile, it said the global recovery is being boosted by domestic demand in emerging markets such as China, and in advanced economies, by "exceptional" monetary and fiscal stimulus.

That would all point to ongoing need for the stimulus for at least the first half of this year, according to many economists.

But hawkish observers pointed to what the bank had said in previous reports and pointedly did not repeat this time as an indication it is feeling nervous about the inflationary impact of emergency low interest rates.

Holt noted that the governing council did not give an estimate on when the economy would return to full capacity, when previously it had pegged the third quarter of 2011. And for the first time in almost a year, the council did not stress that it retains flexibility even at near-zero rates, suggesting it no longer considers there is a realistic risk the economy could again dip.

Asif Khan, Realtor

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Follow me on Twitter  www.twitter.com/remaxallstar

Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax

For More Of my BLOGS, please visit www.asifkhan.ca

What an exciting 17 days it has been.  The 2010 Winter Olympics have just ended, however will never be forgotten!  From start to finish, VANOC did an absolutely fabulous job in organizing arguably the best Winter Olympics in history. 

To the people of Vancouver:  Hosting the world in the way you have over the past three weeks, you’ve made Canada proud!  On behalf of my fellow Canadians, I’d like to thank Vancouver, and all of British Columbia for showcasing our great country to the world!  The world now knows who Canada is, and we owe it all to you. 

To the World: thank you for being such gracious guests and for helping to make these winter Olympics the best ever! 

Congratulations to all the athletes.  Competing on a stage that was being watched by the world, you have all achieved success.  We are proud of all of you.  Congratulations!

Leading into the games, there was much talk about Canada’s OWN THE PODIUM program.  For the first time, Canada stood behind it’s athletes with financial and training support.  We made sure our athletes were ready to rock.   However, about a week ago, apparently a few members of the Olympic Committee stated that the Own The Podium program was a failure.  I beg to differ.  Own The Podium IS A SUCCESS!!  Allow me to clarify.

Olympic athletes represent the best of the best.  Sports in its truest form, helps to identify the Champion in all of us.  We are constantly surrounded by sports in our everyday lives.  Every sport has its championship game(s).  Golf, Tennis, Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and of course Hockey!  There is always a clear winner.  And this is the Champion.  In golf we have Tiger Woods, or Mike Weir as the champions.  Second or third place does not get you a jacket.  In tennis it is Sampras, Agassi, Federer, or Nadal as Champs.  Any mention of a second or third place winner at the Grand Slam?  Wimbledon?  Now we get to the team sports.  There is only ONE Stanley Cup awarded, and that is to the winning team.  The losing team does not get anything, and previously eliminated teams do not play for a medal.  In baseball, you have to WIN the division to qualify for post-season play.  AND, once again, there is only one winner in the World Series.  The World Cup is no different, neither is the Super Bowl.   Basketball’s Championship – whatever it’s called – (sorry Raptors’ Fans, but this really is HOCKEY COUNTRY) only has one winner too! 

Therefore, I’d like to ask the IOC a question!  Why do you reward second and third place finishes.  I mean, it’s a nice touch and all, but give them an honourable mention.  Now don’t get me wrong, I think it takes a special athlete to compete and win at the Olympics.  These are the best athletes in their respective sports, from their respective countries, but we should be placing greater emphasis on the winners.  That’s what the Olympics is all about.  Champions! 

For this reason, I am going to refer to the Silver and Bronze as “loser” medals.  I have similar sentiments for points awarded to teams for losing in Overtime.  These are points for losing.  That is just not right.  Let’s make a change, and have ONE Winner – THE GOLD MEDAL WINNER.  THE Athlete that is the true champion of the sport, deserves to be honoured as THE Champion.  Second and Third deserve our respect, but not a medal.  Let’s keep track of the Second and Third place finishers in order to break any ties that may result in the Gold Medal standings.  Important thing is that only the Winner should receive a medal for their performance.

Let’s do some quick math.  As per your “old” system, the top three finishers were as follows:  1. USA with 37 medals (9 gold, 15 silver, 13 bronze);  2. Germany with 30 medals (10 gold, 13 silver, 7 bronze); 3. Canada with 26 medals (14 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze).  Therefore, a country like the USA is said to have won the Olympics because they had a more medals.  In fact, they had 9 clear winners, and 28 medals for losing!  A country with more losers, should not finish ahead of a country that had more winners. 

Let’s rank the countries in the order that they should be ranked.  Canada finishes FIRST with 14 winners.  Germany retains their second place rank with 10 Gold Medals.  We have a tie for 3^rd place (and this is where your second or third place finishes can be used as tie breakers) with the USA and Norway.  With 15 second place finishes against Norway’s 8, the USA would be ranked 3^rd, Norway picks up 4^th.  South Korea and Switzerland tied for 5^th place with 6 Gold Medals each, however we’ll give 5^th to South Korea since they had 6 second place finishes to Switzerland’s 0.  This wraps up the top 6.  The rest can be ranked in a similar manner.

Ladies and gentleman, the clear winner of the 2010 Winter Olympics is CANADA with 14 GOLD Medals.  Canada had the most WINNERS!  I hereby declare Canada’s Own The Podium program a tremendous success!!  CANADA OWNS THE PODIUM!! 

Asif Khan, Realtor

Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.

Follow me on Twitter  www.twitter.com/remaxallstar

Become a Fan of "Asif Khan's RE/MAX Dream Team" www.facebook.com/asifkhanremax

Today, more than ever, homeowners need to focus on creating a comprehensive plan for marketing their property. Use this video to learn why RE/MAX ALL-STAR’S Asif Khan is uniquely qualified to help you successfully market your home in today's real estate market.

Dear Clients and Friends:

The Children’s Miracle Network is a charity that is near and dear to our heart.  Over the years, we have contributed a percentage from each transaction towards this great cause!  The Children’s Miracle Network helps many kids around the world each year.  I’m proud to be a supporter, and will continue to support this great cause in the years to come.

Thank you for your support, you’ve helped to make a difference in many children’s lives. 

Sincerely,

Asif