It’s an exciting time – the old house is sold, the new one is ready, and all that’s left is the move…..oh wait – not quite yet! There’s all that legal “stuff” to deal with now….signatures….titles to be given…and pages and pages of documents that need to be signed before the key is in your hand!!! And to top it all off – who really knows a good real estate lawyer?

MacKay & McLean provides the professional services of a large Regina law firm, with the intimate attention of a small firm. The legal process can be daunting and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. MacKay & McLean is with you every step of the way.

MacKay &  McLean are TRUSTED REGINA LAWYERS

Here Robert shares a tip on Needing a Lawyer:

Most real estate transactions involve $100,000's of thousands of dollars. Could you afford to lose that kind of money? Even if you could afford it, would you want to? I imagine not.

The banks require that a lawyer act on your behalf and theirs, mostly theirs. They usually will not do a transaction, e.g. they would likely refuse to advance mortgage proceeds on a purchase transaction without a lawyer ensuring that they are protected. Why? Lawyers reduce risk.

For example, imagine spending all the time and effort into finding the perfect property, then handing over two, three or four hundred thousand dollars, or more, and not actually owning the property that you thought you paid for.

Or, imagine getting the title to the property but shortly after getting notice that you are now responsible, i.e. liable, for the previous owner’s debt(s).

While every transaction is unique, generally, lawyers help ensure that:

The common perception is nothing ever goes wrong in real estate transactions. However, it is not true. Approximately 35% of all claims against lawyers arise from real estate transactions. So, what can you do? You can hire any lawyer you want to, so make your life easier, reduce your risk and hire someone whose primary area of practice is in real estate.

Beefy Tomato Macaroni Soup:

BEEFY TOMATO MACARONI SOUP

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups beef broth
• 26.46 ounce can Chopped Tomatoes
• 26.46 ounce can Strained Tomatoes
• 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons steak seasoning
• 3 cups cooked elbow macaroni
• salt and pepper, as desired

Directions:

• In a large sauce pan or soup pot, brown ground beef, onion and garlic until ground beef is no longer pink.
• Season with salt and pepper while browning.
• Add broth, chopped and strained tomatoes, Worcestershire, brown sugar, basil and steak seasoning.
• Bring to slight boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add cooked macaroni and heat through and serve.

Wireless Lighting Controls:

One of the newest lighting solutions is wireless lighting controls. Wireless lighting controls are a great way to save money while being environmentally conscious. They allow you to wirelessly control lighting and small appliances in your home.

Imagine using a wireless, hand held remote to control overhead lighting, small appliances, outdoor lighting, holiday lighting, thermostats AND lamps. Imagine being able to time when your lights will turn on and off during the day. Envision being able to dim the lights down low or turn them up to full strength whenever you wanted. Picture a light that was smart enough to know when you entered and exited a room and turned the light on and off automatically. How convenient would that be?

Everyone can benefit from wireless lighting controls. It is convenient, efficient, economical, and provides an element of safety and security.

• Do you find it difficult to get up and down and wish there were an easier way to turn lights and small appliances on and off?
• Do you wish the bathroom light would turn on automatically when you entered?
• Do you wish that you could turn on your security lights from bed if you heard an alarming noise?
• Do you wish that you could preset your lamps, security lights, or holiday lights to come on at a specific time?
• Do you wish you could set the mood to entertain your guest with whatever intensity of light you desired?
• Do you wish you could turn the light off in the baby’s room without disturbing them?
• Do you wish you could turn the lights off from bed after you finish your book or your television show?  

You don’t have to wish anymore. Being able to control your lights when you want is no longer a dream, it is a reality.

Lights, Camera, Action!
Lighting Control Stations allow you to control a variety of whole-house lighting scenes from one central control station. They give you the ability to create a variety of moods with one easy touch of the button. Different scenes can be accessed by remote as well as the keypad. Lighting control stations make it easy to set the mood for whatever the occasion without walking through the whole house to set every individual light.

Time is on Your Side
Timers are an easy way to reduce your energy consumption. Timers can be used either indoor or outdoor. They are great for outdoor lighting, holiday lighting, and to leave preset while you are on vacation. Timers provide convenience and safety while saving you energy and money.

Sense and Sensibility
Room Occupancy Sensors enable lights to come one whenever motion is detected and turn off when motion ceases. Motion sensors are especially useful in bathrooms and bedrooms. They are especially useful in children’s rooms as children often forget to turn lights off after they leave a room or cannot reach the light when they enter. Room occupancy sensors are yet another great way to save energy and money.

Dim and Dimmer
Dimmers give you the ability to intimately control your lighting system. Lighting dimmers allow you to adjust the intensity of the light to meet each individuals needs. You may want to dim the lights to have a romantic dinner or you may want to brighten the lights to see better while working. Dimmers affect the warmth, depth, and ambiance of the room while providing energy efficiency.
Dimmers can be used in any room from the kitchen to bedroom, bathroom or office. Dimmers are a quick and easy way to make a big difference in the visual presentation of your home.

Finding the shortest and safest route to any of your dreams requires planning and only with a carefully thought out financial plan can you be sure to make the most of your resources and to protect against risks along the way. At Worby Wealth Management, Chris will do his best to help you achieve those dreams with a plan that is tailored to your specific needs and based on your individual situation.

Let Trusted Regina Financial Adisir Chris Worby of  Worby Wealth Management help you live your dream!

Using a Safety Net:

Worby Wealth Management a Trusted Regina Financial Consultant talks about your Emergency Fund.

Say in the same month you have your water heater go, your car needs $2500 worth of work and you have to take an emergency trip to see an ailing relative. Where is that money going to come from? Many people know we should save a few months’ worth of expenses for the ‘just in case’ times but very few people know how to.

• How much money should be in an emergency fund?

• How to build one

• How to use it for annual ‘fun’ items I’ve heard it said that you should have 3 to 6 months’ worth of expenses handy on a ‘just in case’ basis.

I generally think a dollar amount is a better idea. Think of how much makes sense for you but a good guideline is somewhere in the $10,000 to $15,000 range – that is enough money to deal with most household’s finances for a couple of months in the event of job loss or such but still allows for funds to go towards longer terms goals like retirement.

Building one can be difficult but really, the best way is to set up a high interest rate account separate from your regular chequing account and send money there from every paycheque. Now that you know what your goal amount is, you can target that and, if you want to go from $0 to $10,000 over the course of 4 years, it’s going to be $2500/yr or about $100/bi-weekly. It may take some time to build this up so I often recommend using tax returns or some other once a year source of funds like bonuses to get this done more quickly.

Finally, I get asked how to budget for an annual trip or some such pretty regularly – this fund can help. Say it’s established and you are ticking along just fine at around $12,000 and you have decided this is good for your household. Once that fund gets above that amount, you have spending money! Say you want to take the family to Mexico during the winter every now and then, whenever you have $17,000 (if it costs $5000), you are free to go. Emergency funds, they are helpful and very few people have them. Give me a call or email and we can figure out how to get one up and running for you.

Chris Worby is a Trusted Regina financial advisor and Wealth Management consultant servicing local Regina households and businesses since 2001.

Some of the services that Worby Wealth Management can help you with: 

• Insurance Advice
• Investments
• Wealth Management Services
• Pay Less Tax With Tax Planning 
• Become Mortgage-Free Faster With Financial Education 
• Estate Planning 
• Retirement Planning 

TRUSTED REGINA FINANCIAL ADVISOR Chris Worby from Worby Wealth Management helps you live your dream!

Trusted Regina Real Estate Agent shares a June Home Checklist:

June is here, and it’s time to get in the swing of summer. Whether you are watching your kids say goodbye to another year of school, scheduling a major home improvement project (like painting the house), or just looking forward to some much-deserved time hanging out on the porch, these to-dos will help get your home and yard in shape so you can fully savor the months ahead. 

1. Paint your home’s exterior. If you are planning to have your home painted this year, the warm, dry weather makes summer the ideal time.

How to paint your house 

 

 

2. Check for cracks in the foundation. Take a walk around your home and check carefully for cracks in the foundation — even a small crack that doesn’t pose a structural threat can let in water and pests.

3. Clean the gutters and consider gutter guards. Keeping dry brush and leaves out of your home’s gutters and downspouts is a must to keep your roof in good shape. But did you know there are ways to cut down on or even eliminate cleaning? Gutter guards can be installed over your existing gutters to keep leaves and organic matter out (you’ll still need to clean the guards occasionally), and if you are starting from scratch, you can have a roof designed without gutters altogether.

Browse gutter guards in the Products section

 

4. Stow school gear. Inspect school gear and decide whether to stow it for next year, donate it or toss it. Label and store meaningful artwork and school papers, and get rid of the rest. 
 

 

5. Get outdoor gear ready. Prepare for having the kids home for summer by adding something fun, like a tire swing or new sprinkler attachment. Dig out all the old beach and outdoor gear and check to make sure it’s still in good shape; restock as needed. 

 

6. Repair and seal fences and garden structures. Keep wood fences, gates, arbors and pergolas in good repair for many years to come by adding a fresh coat of paint or clear wood sealant each summer.

Also make sure trees and shrubs are not growing too close to fences — tough branches and roots can cause a lot of damage.

8 Rot-Resistant Woods for Your Outdoor Projects

 

Beach Glass Interior Designs

 

 

7. Streamline the kitchen. Take a day to box up some of the stuff in your kitchen cupboards that you rarely use. Store the box in an out-of-the-way closet for now — but if you find you don’t miss it, consider donating or selling the contents. 

 

Get the 7-day plan for a beautifully organized kitchen

8. Put in screen doors. Screen doors are a must in areas where mosquitoes or flies are an issue. If you haven’t installed yours yet for the season, now is the time.

 

See artful screen doors in Texas 

 

9. Set up a beach-towel drying spot. Instead of tossing wet beach towels directly in the washer, allow them to dry first. The sand can then be easily shaken off, instead of clogging up your washer and dryer.

10. Wash the washer and dryer. Run an empty wash cycle with white vinegar instead of detergent. Carefully clean the rubber areas around the washer and dryer doors, plus inside the doors. If your washer or dryer has sand inside, allow the appliance to dry completely, then vacuum the interior using an attachment.

 

11. Lighten up decor. Making a few simple decor swaps is a great way to welcome the new season. Try lighter pillow covers, a new art print or a piece of accent furniture made from rattan or sea grass. 

 

 

CM Glover

 

12. Switch the direction of fans. If you use ceiling fans and haven’t done so yet, now is the time to flip the switch so cool air is directed downward. 

 

13. Make a summer to-do list. Don’t let the summer slip by without savoring your favorite seasonal pleasures. Sit down now and make a big list of all of the summery things you want to do this year, whether big (camp by a lake) or small (make ice cream).

 

More ways to enjoy life’s simple pleasures

 

14. Enjoy some porch sitting. Make a point of squeezing in a little time to sit on your porch with a cool drink (or a cup of hot coffee) for a few minutes each day. It’s relaxing and a great way to catch up with neighbors as they pass by.

 

Tell us: What’s on your to-do list for June?

 

Contact a Trusted Regina Real Estate Agent