The HOLY GRAIL is BS

I am blessed in life because I have a beautiful family, I have a wonderful wife and two great boys. My family is complete so far and I am very balanced and happy with life. I am lucky to have a positive attitude wired into my thinking, I've always been this way.

I too am blessed with many friends who seem to care about me. It's only 9am on September 17th 2010 as I write this and I've already had about 20 birthday greetings and emails and wishes, I'm very lucky and fortunate to have such great friends who think about me and care about me, it's a nice feeling.

In 52 years of hindsight, I think that this is the case because I love to help people and if you love to help people unconditionally, then they will like to help you back. I don't expect this, it just happens.

One thing that happens as you get older, you feel that you have earned the right to talk and tell people things. This must be why old people tell such long and boring stories. I hope to tell stories, and they are usually long, but I want them to be motivating, not boring! lol

So here is my story for today, now that I've reached the ripe old age of 52, I can tell you a motivating story.

What the heck, this is a blog and I can write what I want, can't I? :-)



A friend of mine wrote me yesterday and said that he ran into a friend who summed up his day nicely with "Well, this is just another day of searching for the Holy Grail"

Many subscribe to this philosophy, but not me. I don't believe in the Holy Grail. I think the Holy Grail is BS.

If you want something bad enough, you make it a goal and then you work towards it, that's the Holy Grail for me. I have many Holy Grails, about 50 big one's and 100's of little ones.

If you think that winning the lottery will allow you to reach your Holy Grail, you are dreaming and you will be very disappointed in life.

If you need or want something bad enough, you will likely just have to change something in your lifestyle to reach the goal! There is no Holy Grail

So, bottom line is that I don't think that way,

I don't feel there is a holy grail or a pot at the end of the rainbow, my mission is to work every day and do the things necessary every day and over time those things will accumulate and continue to add to the pile and the pot just gets bigger and bigger - we have short and long term goals and things we would like to accomplish and as we accomplish those task and reach those mini goals I get to reach my mini "Holy Grail" ." very often and this brings pleasure and satisfaction almost daily

the Equation of Life is

actions x time = long term accomplishments

what you do every day x time = your long term results

in anything and everything and every aspect of your life, work, wealth, relationships, everything

notice it's actions, you actually have to do something, not just sit around and hope!

You can dream and visualize, but eventually you have to start working and do something that takes you towards your goals and mini Holy Grails

The other great thing about the equation of life is that it's absolutely infallible, if you do it - it will happen, your end result goal is absolutely certain to occur if you work at it every day

It does not matter how old you are or where you are in life, if you want to accomplish something then you have to do something towards that goal and over time you'll reach that goal

Every day of my life as far back as I can remember - I constantly reward myself. Sometimes it's just silly little rewards and other times it's big rewards like trips we go on as a family and the boat we just bought and things that I like, but regardless, I ALWAYS reward myself someway every day for what I have done every day. It's a nice feeling, it's selfish, but it too keeps me going.

So, what's my point in all this? You have to act differently to get a different result, otherwise you will have the same result.

I think you should have many Holy Grails, not just one and you must work at it every day to reach your Holy Grail

(isn't that the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!)

I'm hopeful that YOU can find one little thing in what I say or do and that helps you towards reaching your goal and maybe you should reward yourself with some little things so that you can feel that you have accomplished something every day that takes you toward your holy grail and then you can sleep very well every night!

So here's to your health and your inner thoughts and goals and may they all align so you can have a healthy and happy life!

All the Best!
Mark

RE: Current Mortgage Interest Rates in the GTA

These are the current posted and attainable mortgage interest rates in the
GTA

TERM POSTED Attainable RATES*
6 Month 4.65% 3.95%
1 Year 3.70% 2.50%
2 Year 4.20% 3.20%
3 Year 4.75% 3.34%
4 Year 5.44% 3.49%
5 Year 5.79% 3.59%
7 Year 6.49% 4.70%
10 Year 6.80% 5.10%
Variable Rate 2.30%
Prime Rate 3.00%













* Rates may vary and are subject to change without notice OAC.
Rates Last Updated: Friday, September 17, 2010
I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829 CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com
Mississauga4Sale.com

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The Truth - Saving is the key to wealth!

Regardless of what anyone has told you, this is the truth:

Saving is the key to wealth - The rich are not rich because they earn a lot of money; the rich are rich because they save a lot of money.

If you do not spend less than you earn, and if you do not save the difference, you cannot build the wealth you desire.

You have to have a system. The easiest system is a percentage system.

Let's say you use the 10% system.

Pay yourself first, take the first 10% from your paycheck and bank it, invest it, squirrel it away, skim it, transfer it to another bank, take the cash and put in a savings deposit box, whatever you like, I don't care what you do with it, but put it away somewhere and just watch it grow over the upcoming months and years. It's that simple. And that difficult. Just do it.

To your success!
Mark

Buying a Townhouse investment property in the Erin Mills Town Centre Churchill Meadows Area

Hello,

I thought that I would share with you the email that I just sent a client who is looking to purchase another investment townhouse property in the area of the Erin Mills Town Centre and Churchill Meadows (see the map below showing the boundaries of the area I am referring to).

The reasons he wants to purchase another townhouse in the Erin Mills Town Centre area are the same as my reasons for owning investment properties in the area, that is; great amenities, easy to rent, good rent, draws quality tenants, good future potential, townhomes are the lowest price to get into market, low maintenance fees compared to a high-rise condo and more.

This is the email I sent to him, he was asking about what the state of the market is, what the next three months should bring and if there any "good deals" on townhomes currently for sale on the market.

I wrote to him:

The market continues to do well, in spite of the negative press. The stats of late are typical of June, July and August, no worries, but with interest rates increasing people are a little more cautious. The market is not 'on fire' the way it was in the spring, but most properties are still selling, some big price reductions here and there, but nothing significant yet.

See the link below, there are two townhomes at 2955 Thomas that are 'typical' 2 storey or 3 storey townhouses, otherwise, everything is as you say, well over $300k

Click here
http://www.torontomls.net/PublicWeb/CL.asp?link_no=32913113.495304

to view Properties of Interest (this link will only work for 2 weeks, up to about end of September 2010)

At 5659 Glen Erin that about 1.5 years ago had units for sale at $240k now has a unit for sale at $314k, just nuts.

These new price levels seem that they are here to stay. As you pointed out, prices are at $345k and more for McFarren, on at $358 and another at $385k at McFarren are both sold conditionally.

I too was hoping for a 'good deal' sometime in the summer, only one at 3150 Erin Centre, but it faced Erin Centre and was at the corner of Erin Centre and Oscar Peterson and it was the only 3 bedroom that sold for a hair under $300k

Notice that the 'Last Status" on many of the listings is PC meaning a price change, meaning they have dropped their price recently. This is an indication of a normal to softer market, but the prices are still high.

I'm not sure what Oct, Nov and December will bring. I don't think interest rates will go up again. If there is a recession or slowdown out there, it's certainly not in the GTA or Mississauga real estate sector.

The townhouses at 2955 Thomas are about the only townhomes that will carry with the rent. Passing on those at the price they are at could be a mistake in hindsight. There are some typical 2 storey units in that complex, but not listed right now.

Please let me know if you have more questions or would like to see inside any of the properties above.

Thank you,
Mark

So there you have it, the current townhomes for sale in the Erin Mills Town Centre and Churchill Meadows area in a nutshell!
Mark

TREB MLS Sales to new listings ratio, monthly with three previous years for comparison

This chart plots the monthly MLS sales to new listings ratio for the current
year and the previous three years. The recurring season trend can be
examined along with comparisons to previous years for each month. Then the
sales to new listings ratio moves higher the annual average price growth
generally increases, often at a rate well above inflations. The the sales
to new listings ratio moves lower the annual average price growth generally
declines and can become negative.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

Shift in GTA home prices August 2010 compared to 2008

This chart shows the percentage of sales in each price range from August 2008

This chart shows the percentage of sales in each price range from August 2010

This is a graphical representation showing the percentage of homes that sold
in each price range.

Note the shift when you compare this month to 2 years ago, quite
significant!

Enjoy!

Mark

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you
with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

GTA more homes on market and number of sales down housing market indicators

this chart shows housing market indicators and indicates that year over year
that the number of sales is down by about 22%, the number of active listings
is up by 25% and both of these indicate that there is far greater inventory
on the GTA market this August compared to August of 2009

TREB MLS new listings monthly time series with trend line

This chart plots the monthly MLS new listings since January 1995
The blue line shows the actual new listings on the market.
The brown line is the trend computed using a 12 month moving average, which
exhibits no seasonal variations or other irregular fluctuations. A
substantial change in actual new listings must occur to change the direction
of the trend.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

TREB MLS Average resale home price monthly with three previous years for comparison

This chart plots the monthly MLS average home price for the current year and
the previous three years. The recurring seasonal trend can be examined
along with comparisons to previous years for each month.
I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

TREB MLS New listings monthly with three previous years for comparison

This chart plots monthly MLS new listings for current year and the previous
three years. The recurring seasonal trend can be examined along with
comparisons to previous years for each month.
I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate