Ten years ago, we came home from work one day to find we were the victims of a break and enter. Our front door had been kicked in and the thief (or thieves) had taken our collection of music cds (except for my large jazz collection, which I was thankful for and a little offended by), computer cds, my bicycle, a watch, a pair of black slacks, a pair of black leather shoes, and a gym bag. It sounds funny what they took, but we had abandoned most of our belongings in Taiwan before coming to Canada four months earlier.

The cop was very nice, but he told us that we should expect to be victims of a b&e one more time as on average, people get broken into twice in their lives.

I’ve been on guard ever since.

As a realtor living in Waterloo Region, its my job to help people find homes in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, homes that they are going to be happy and secure in. Also, because of my anticipation of future victimization, I keep my eye on the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Call Activity Report. If you have a good imagination, there’s some good reading here, be it drugs, break and enter, or assault. As a result, I know what streets often appear on the list. I know what streets to direct homebuyers away from. If you’re moving into Waterloo Region, you will be happy to know that our crime statistics are lower than most regions of similar size, but like every city, there is always going to be a bad element.

Here’s a video my buddy Norm Schwegel of Schwegel Insurance sent me. Norm knows all about this sort of thing. He’s an insurance broker and is used to taking calls from regular people like me and you who have become victims of crime. It’s called: How to break into a garage in six seconds.

If you’re interested in talking to me about areas to avoid buying a home in, I’d be happy to share.

Filed under: About me, advice, Around Kitchener Waterloo, Buying Real Estate, just for fun by Keith Marshall
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Condominium living certainly has its advantages. You can lock up and take off on vacation anytime you want, not having to worry about the grass needing cutting or the sidewalk shoveling. You don’t have to think about major repairs like new roofs or windows and dealing with contractors and costs – the condo corporation takes care of all that. Condo living is a lifestyle, and a good one.

My wife and I lived in a high-rise condo (in Taiwan) before the kids were born and plan to live in another as soon as they are off to university. We are condo people. Frankly, I’m a reluctant gardener, I really don’t have the time or see the point of puttering around in the backyard taking care of vegetation that’s just going to die in six months anyway. A lot of people like gardening and that’s great but we don’t and that’s OK too.

Shoveling snow is just a pain.

Now that condo living is in our not to distant future, I’m starting to think about the lifestyle we hope to return to. Maybe you’re thinking of living in a condo too. Here are three things I’m thinking about.

1) Stuff and space. When my wife and I first married, condo living was great for us because we didn’t have much stuff. Now we have a big house full. In articles I’ve read about living in a condo, they say make use of vertical space on walls with shelving units, behind doors with shelves, hooks or racks, and inside furniture like trunks and ottomans – good advice.

2) Design and layout. Personally I like having common living space in the middle of the unit and bedrooms and bathrooms on both sides. Having an open concept kitchen with a breakfast bar opening up into a large living/dining room is popular with most people. Consider how your family uses its space when you think about unit layout.

3) Privacy and noise. In our first condo, although there were nearly 400 units, privacy and noise were never issue because of the way the building was laid out. The building was a series of towers where only two units per floor shared an elevator. So, you probably want to think about where you are in relation to hallways and elevators. Balcony placement, high floor vs. low floor are two other considerations in this general catagory

With so many condo developments happening around Kitchener and Waterloo, finding the one right for you and your family’s lifestyle shouldn’t be too hard. And if you need any help, I could probably do that. I know the condominium buildings that I like around town and I’m watching what’s being built with great personal interest.

Filed under: advice, Around Kitchener Waterloo, Buying Real Estate, condo, real estate trends by Keith Marshall
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For as long as I can remember, Byma’s Tire was on Bridgeport Road in Waterloo in the Zeller’s plaza. It seemed to exist very happily there, between the Everything For a Dollar Store and the Bulk Barn.

And then they moved into a more residential neighborhood. Last year Byma’s Tire closed up the old place and opened up a new garage at the bottom of Westmount Road, where it meets Fischer-Hallman. Since then there have been numerous complaints from people who live in the neighborhood of the noise created by the sound of air-powered wrenches, and the P-A system.

In Waterloo Region, the story is often repeated, be it a tire shop in Laurentian Hills, a mink farm on Charring Cross Trail, a new condo development in Beechwood, or a go-kart track in Clair Hills. In Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, we have run out of space and now as we fill in the gaps, businesses and residents are being forced to share the air, the roads, and each other’s backyards.

Disputes ensue.

Here’s some advice. Before you buy a home, ask your Realtor what’s planned for your neighborhood. Before you buy a home, spend some time in the neighborhood and find out what’s already there.

Filed under: advice, Around Kitchener Waterloo, Buying Real Estate, condo, general news, home by Keith Marshall
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Being a realtor, demographic information is very interesting to me. I’m always meeting new people and I often wonder about our community, how it all fits together.

The City of Kitchener published, on its new website, some data I found to be not boring.  Here are some of the highlights:

By the year 2021 we will have 30% more people living here than in 2001. By the year 2031, we’ll have almost 50% more!

Where do we live?

59% live in single detached homes

27% live in apartments or condos

7% live in semi-detached homes

3% live in townhouses

2% live in duplexes.

1% lives in a shelter

1% lives in some other types of dwelling, (maybe a trailer or a yurt).

There’s more info about transportation and education, etcetera on the City of Kitchener website.

Filed under: Around Kitchener Waterloo, real estate, real estate trends by Keith Marshall
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I worked as a beekeeper one winter on a kibbutz in northern Israel. I don’t think the vocation has changed much in the last 200 years. This weekend we have a rare opportunity to find out.  As part of culture days in Waterloo Region, Joseph Schneider Haus is offering free admission and hands-on ‘Honey-Bee’ themed activities all weekend. Activities will include honey tasting, working with beeswax and cooking with honey.

Joseph Schneider Haus is on Queen Street across from Barra Castle. It was built in 1816, and was home to one of Kitchener’s original families, settlers from Lancaster County – Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonites. It’s a beautiful Georgian farmhouse restored to circa 1850. This museum is part of our local history and certainly worth a visit.

Filed under: 365 things to do in Kitchener Waterloo, Around Kitchener Waterloo by Keith Marshall
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