Please don't hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you're just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it'd be great to hear from you!

K-W OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATIONS

There’s so much to do in Kitchener-Waterloo during the month of October!

October is a busy month for K-W with a variety of pumpkin patch farms and Halloween-themed activities taking place in and around the Region.

Our biggest event of course is Oktoberfest where downtown Kitchener is transformed into a bustling Bavarian village!

This year, the festival has extended its run over three weekends starting on Friday, September 23rd and running until Saturday, October 15th. The official keg tapping will also be taking place in downtown Kitchener on Friday, October 7th.

The Bingemans location will feature an expanded patio and outdoor stage with live music from Kim Mitchell, The Tonic Band, and Germany's Dorfrocker.

There’s also Kinderfest which is the region's newest fall festival which happens on October 1st - 2nd. This new event, which is also at Bingemans, offers fun for the whole family including carnival rides, pumpkin cookie decorating and musical entertainers.

The various festhalle events are of course a big part of the Oktoberfest experience but there’s also a variety of family and cultural events to enjoy. Celebrating friends, family, community and fun is what the ultimate Oktoberfest experience is all about – Prost!

INSPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Buying a home can be very emotional, especially if it's love at first sight.

Imagine that you’ve finally found your dream home and you’re feeling on top of the world!

Your mind’s made up and you just want to put in an offer as quickly as possible so you don’t lose it to another buyer.

Now, think about how you’d feel once you’re all moved in only to discover that your dream home’s nothing but a money pit.

Hidden surprises are the last thing you want to deal with but it’s easy to overlook potential problems when you find a home you love as most buyers tend to focus on the positive features.

Over the last few years, the frantic pace of the Kitchener-Waterloo real estate market forced many buyers to forgo a home inspection so that they could submit a stronger offer, but now that things have slowed down, it’s no longer as much of an issue.

Taking the time to have the home professionally inspected will help you see the full picture as home inspections help identify both existing and future problems.

There's no such thing as a perfect house though so don't be alarmed when minor issues arise. Look at it instead as a learning experience as most inspectors will discuss the home’s systems and how they should be maintained.

Home inspections aren’t just for buyers though. Sellers often have inspections completed before they put their property on the market so they're not caught off guard and forced into a vulnerable position at the negotiating table.

Knowing the condition of a house is key when it comes to selling real estate so it's important to be fully aware of any existing problems beforehand so they can be dealt with accordingly.

Not everyone chooses to have a home inspection but if you want to potentially avoid buying a home riddled with problems, it’s a worthwhile investment.

Just be sure to choose a certified home inspector who comes highly recommended and confirm that the cost includes a detailed written report. The knowledge and peace of mind you'll gain will almost certainly be well worth the expense.

THINK OUTSIDE THE LUNCH BOX

A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to school lunches!

It’s frustrating when the lunch you lovingly pack for your kids is either traded or comes home uneaten. Here are a few fresh lunch ideas that they’ll look forward to:

Mix It Up
Variety is key so keep them guessing with fun items such as turkey tortilla pinwheels, apple butter bagels or greek pasta salad.

Do the Dip
Mix up custom dips such as greek yogurt with a dash of mild hot sauce and serve with sliced carrots, cucumber or celery.

Keep It Healthy
Use healthy ingredients like dates or dried fruits in baked goods such as banana bread. Just be sure to make extra for the freezer!

Compartmentalize
Instead of a boring lunch box, pack things up in a bento box so that each part of the lunch is spread out into different sections.

Make Their Own
Kids love to assemble things so try putting in all the fixings such as cheese, veggies and mayo so that they can build their own creations.

There are so many quick and easy ways to jazz up the contents of a lunch box. A little creativity goes a long way to help ensure your children's lunch is lovingly packed with fresh food that will keep them happy and healthy.

REAL ESTATE WISDOM

Real estate has its ups and downs but in the long run, it’s a very solid investment.

If you’re looking for a new place to start building memories, reach out so that we can discuss your next move!