First time home buyers

First time home

buyers By Theresa Grant - Real Estate Columnist Ah, the first-time home buyer. A special breed. Joyful, optimistic, eager yet hesitant at the same time. Given the price of real estate these days, first time home buyers come in all different age ranges. Years ago, your typical first timer would be in their late twenties to mid thirties. Now it’s not uncommon to find first timers in their forties and fifties. There is also a situation that qualifies some as first-time home buyers even if they have owned a home previously. If you have owned a home previously but have not owned a home in the last five years, you qualify as a first-time home buyer. Younger first timers need a little more guidance than their older counterparts to know the right questions to ask and what should be top concerns when walking through a potential contender for their first home purchase. That may be simply that older home buyers may have lived in newer and older houses and know what they may contend with a homeowner. We think back to the houses we grew up in and remember certain characteristics of that house and can compare and ask questions based on that. Some however, grew up in apartments and that gives them a different set of questions and concerns. It is always recommended regardless of how many times you’ve purchased a home that you have a home inspection from a qualified home inspector. That can provide you with peace of mind when it comes to anything that may be hidden from plain view. Problems with moisture or foundation are good examples of something that may be hidden or somewhat hidden for the average person just taking a walk through the property. Some things that a first-time home buyer may overlook can seem common and others may wonder how that could not be addressed or overlooked however, when you are out looking at homes certain things can just escape you. This can be due to excitement or being completely enamoured with a property. I find that some of my first time homebuyers will get into a property and be completely taken aback at the fact that they have qualified for such a nice place and may overlook some pretty important facts. On the whole, house hunting can be somewhat overwhelming, and it doesn’t hurt to bring a detached person with you to point out things that you may be overlooking or that simply didn’t occur to you. I remember going through a property with home buyers and the houses were so close together there was really no where to put the snow. When I asked the potential home buyer where they would put the snow, they responded with shock and dismay because it was mid June with no though to where one might put the shovelled snow. First time homebuyers are gearing up for a busy 2025 and will make up a huge percentage of home buyers next year. With this in mind, if you are planning on buying a home next year as rates are expected to continue to drop, it may be a good idea to have a list of questions with you. As well, make a list of things that are important to you like electrical outlets in certain rooms so you can remember to check them. A friend, parent or sibling is always a welcome additionon tours and can prove very beneficial. How ever you want to approach it, a little preparation can go a long way in the house hunt. Questions? Column ideas? You can email me at newspaper@ocentral.com

Opinion: The Mayor’s Fear-Mongering and Lies Have Gone Too Far

Opinion: The Mayor’s Fear-Mongering and Lies Have Gone Too Far By Lisa Robinson The propaganda machine at the City of Pickering is in overdrive, spinning a narrative of fear and intimidation to justify their increasingly authoritarian decisions. The recent video released by the Mayor and the corporation of the city is not only laughable but deeply insulting to anyone with a shred of critical thinking skills. Let’s dissect this farce for what it is: a blatant attempt to silence dissent, consolidate power, and rig the democratic process. First, let’s address the Mayor’s glaring inability to keep his story straight. In a statement to Global News, he admitted that the city planned to move to virtual meetings for a year starting this summer due to council chamber renovations. Yet, in the same breath, the city releases a propaganda video claiming the shift to virtual meetings is necessary because of threats and fear for safety. Which is it, Mr. Mayor? If the chambers were under renovation all along, why weaponize the narrative of fear to justify this move? The contradiction is glaring, and the manipulation is appalling. Now, let’s tackle the absurdity of the fear narrative itself. If the Mayor and council were genuinely terrified for their safety, would they bring their wives, children, and even the Mayor’s 8-year-old granddaughter to council meetings? Let’s not forget their enthusiastic attendance at public events, store openings, and photo ops – all without a police presence. It’s clear they don’t believe their own fabricated story. This is nothing more than a cheap ploy to garner sympathy and support for their oppressive agenda. And that agenda? It’s as transparent as it is dangerous. Pickering’s council has been tirelessly lobbying Premier Ford and Minister Calandra to amend the Municipal Act, giving them the power to remove an elected official and bar them from running in subsequent elections. Let’s call this what it is: election tampering. It’s an attempt to eliminate political opponents and rig the democratic process to maintain their grip on power. This is not governance; this is authoritarianism dressed up in the guise of public safety. Adding insult to injury, when I brought forward a notice of motion to move our 2 PM executive meetings to 7 PM to promote public engagement, the Mayor shut it down, saying he’d rather have all meetings during the day. Public transparency? Not on this council’s watch. The Mayor himself has been caught watching Monday night sports during council sessions, demonstrating just how seriously he takes his responsibilities. It’s no wonder he’s pushing for online meetings – they offer a convenient way to mute dissent, turn off mics, and avoid accountability. The hypocrisy here is staggering. While pretending to care about public safety, this council is actively perpetuating a toxic environment of fear and intimidation. They’ve sent trespass notices to grandmothers, stationed 14 police officers at meetings with low attendance, and painted critics as dangerous threats. It’s the classic “boy who cried wolf” fable, only now it’s taxpayers who foot the bill for this sham. Meanwhile, actual crimes in Pickering go unattended as police are diverted to guard council chambers against nonexistent dangers. Finally, let’s not overlook the timing of this shift to virtual meetings. Conveniently, the Mayor is now off on a month-long vacation. What better time to avoid scrutiny and public engagement than when you’re sipping cocktails in some far-off destination? It’s a disgraceful display of arrogance and contempt for the people of Pickering. The people deserve better than this circus of lies, fear-mongering, and self-serving manipulation. It’s time for accountability. The Mayor and council must be held responsible for their blatant disregard for democracy, their misuse of public resources, and their shameless attempts to silence those who dare to speak out. Pickering, you deserve leaders who fight for you, not against you. I’m Councillor Lisa Robinson, and I will not be silenced.

Jobseekers Need to Learn to ‘Move On’

Jobseekers Need to Learn to ‘Move On’ By Nick Kossovan Everyone knows ghosting and rejection are inherent parts of job searching. Yet, job seekers waste vast amounts of energy and time lamenting what they can't control. There's a prevalent sense of entitlement that employers owe job seekers, which goes against the universal truth that nobody is owed anything, be it a job, to make a living or even happiness. Job searching, regardless of the economic climate, has always required resilience. The key to resilience is having realistic expectations, such as understanding that employers you don't work for don't owe you anything. Having a 'F*ck it!' mindset that empowers you to move on quickly, so you find sooner rather than later that employer who 'gets you' and is willing to hire you is how you foster resilience. · Ghosted: You didn't get the job. Move on. · You didn't hear from an employer after submitting your resume: There were candidates with more relevant experience and were a better cultural fit. Move on · When a networking reach out attempt fails: A stranger isn't willing to drop everything to help you. Move on. · Not taking down a job posting: Some people never take down their Christmas decorations. If a job can be left open for a significant amount of time, assume it isn't critical. Do you want a non-critical or non-essential job? Move on. Wishing how hiring should be won't get you a job. Getting frustrated and angry at how an employer designed their hiring process won't get you a job. Getting upset over being ghosted—it wasn't the employer who ghosted you; it was an employee whose behaviour doesn't speak for an entire company who ghosted you—won't get you a job. Life is too short to spend time and energy dwelling on "what could have been" and "whys." This is especially true regarding things out of your control, such as how an employer designs their hiring process or runs their business. The most common false belief I repeatedly see people hold, and which causes much of their frustrations and anger, is that they can change other people's behaviour—as if it's their place to do so. While it's natural to feel disheartened, it's crucial to understand that wallowing in the many disappointments you'll experience throughout your job search and believing you can control other people's behaviour hinders your progress. When you invest your heart and soul into an application only to be met with silence or rejection, it's easy to spiral into self-doubt. Consider why you're giving a hiring manager—a stranger—influence over your self-esteem. Hence why I recommend embracing a 'F*ck it!' mindset as a defence against rejection eroding your confidence. I've been rejected many times more than I've been accepted. I've learned the hard way, a running theme throughout my life, that if I permit it to do so, repeated rejection triggers a cycle of negative thinking that paralyzes me, regardless of whether I'm searching for work, submitting my writing, or reaching out to someone hoping to form a relationship. Dwelling on past disappointments sabotages future opportunities. There are many reasons why quickly moving on, as opposed to wallowing, playing the "I'm a victim!" card, getting angry, or venting on LinkedIn and other social media platforms—which is never a good look—benefits your job search. 1. There's no shortage of opportunities. In several previous columns, I've mentioned that opportunities are all around you, with one caveat: they're attached to people. In 2024, employers are turning to their employees for referrals since job postings result in avalanches of applications, predominantly from job seekers who spray and pray. This underscores the importance of networking rather than applying to online job listings. Clinging to rejections, being ghosted, or whatever is frustrating you is wasting mental energy you could be using to speak to people who may be able to refer you to job openings where they work. Starting right now, shift your focus away from past disappointments—forget about them, what's done is done, you can't change the past—and focus on future possibilities aligned with your skills and aspirations and start making it a point to meet people, because you never know what opportunities they may be attached to. 2. Much of the hiring process is out of your control. In the same way that you can't control the behaviour of others, you can't control how an employer hires. Many factors influence hiring decisions, notably internal politics and team dynamics. Instead of internalizing these setbacks, remind yourself of your skills, experiences, and past achievements. 3. Not quickly moving on is counterproductive. Dwelling on why you were ghosted or didn't get the job—instances in which you'll never know the actual reason—drains your energy, energy better spent on proactive measures to enhance your candidacy for future roles. The key to a successful job search is to keep moving forward and stay focused on what you can control, such as optimizing your LinkedIn profile—arguably the most critical tool in a job seeker's arsenal—resume and expanding your network to take advantage of all the opportunities around you. _____________________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

The video

the video By Joe Ingino B.A. Psychology Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States By now you have read or seen it in the media. City of Pickering Mayor, released a video attempting to justify cutting access to the public by claiming that some un-recognized, alt-right group is creating an environment of danger to council members and staff. That this same group has cause havoc during public open meetings and brought about a sense of hostility to the municipal meetings protocols. This causing a sense of fear among council and staff. On the surface, you have to take it at face value that if this is true. It is awful. How can any group bring forth such chaos. By watching this video. It becomes obvious that the video is not about some alt-right movement. But instead it is frame after frame attempt to discredit a fellow council member. The barrage of clips denouncing the actions of one council member in my opinion are not grounds to make such claims as that the city is under siege and that there is any danger over the horizon. The video is nothing short of an attempt to mislead the public and create a sense of fear mongering. Just about every municipality across the Region get their share of upset callers, at times with a threatening over tone. Are we to shut down all access to government? The video also attempts to create a sense of fear mongering and false assumptions that Pickering has been selected by this un-disclosed or identified alt-right movement the Mayor so seems to fear. If such fear is real. Why have not one police report been filed? In reality after following City of Pickering council for the past two years. All, I noticed is that the people of Pickering demand answers and every time they are faced with hostility from the City. Including the mayor that now is crying wolf. This is wrong. The City prides itself on being inclusive, diverse and promote equality. When by their actions they are exclusive, selective and dispense their version of equality based on how the City will benefit politically. I have been a municipal critic for the past 30 years. This video is a real poor example of the Mayor attempting to create fear where there is none. He is the instigator. He is the one that shuts people down during public meeting and subsequently people react. So he has taken the practice... OF SHUT UP SIT DOWN OR ELSE to a new height. Ever since STRONG MAYOR POWERS has come to play. The ego has swollen and it is ‘do as we tell you or you will be removed and issued a NO TRESPASS notice.’ This is where the problem lies. Surely, this type of abusive attitude is being noticed across Canada. Surely, many people from many backgrounds have taken notice. The video released by the mayor in my opinion is contradiction to the City own City Code of Conduct policy. Where is the integrity commissioner? Oh wait, they are paid by the city. This video, I think was a huge mistake by the mayor as it shows his dislike for one particular member of council. The video clearly is an attempt to discredit her integrity in the community. To make a false association that this councillor has ties to a group that he has failed to prove. The video shows the level of abuse by the mayor as he clearly violates his own City Code of Conduct and openly displays his misogynistic attitude towards a fellow member of council. Peace does not come about by the escalation of hostility and this is what this video is.

Canada looking forward to 2025

Canada looking forward to 2025 by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East The year just beginning could be an interesting one, with turning points in politics, economics and culture, provided that common sense and moral clarity prevails both at home and abroad. Frankly, the geopolitical situation in the world is most concerning. The two regional wars in Ukraine and Gaza have the potential to spread, provoking direct confrontation between NATO and the western democracies in general, versus Russia, Iran, North Korea and China. Ukraine now stands to lose significant international interest and support. In the United States in particular, it has become a distant second (and increasingly third or lower) policy priority with the new Trump administration becoming more and more skeptical about offering further help. The conflict is likely to escalate with unforeseen consequences. In the conflict between Israel, Hamas and Hezbolah there is no obvious way to end the fighting and the collapse of Syria’s Bashar government is adding to the chaos. Whatever the military outcome, a dramatic increase in radicalization is a certainty. On the one hand, the Israeli Jews feel globally isolated and even hated after facing the worst violence against them since the Holocaust. On the other hand, the Palestinians face what they consider a genocide. With scarce opportunities for peace and no prospect of escape, this situation has the potential of developing into a wider conflict in the region. Deep and dangerous political divisions over the conflict permeate the Middle East, engulfing over one billion people in the broader Muslim world, not to mention the United States and Europe. New and problematic situations are developing in the Arabian Sea, in South America between Venezuela and Guyana, not to mention the increasing tensions in the South China Sea. None of these major military conflicts has adequate guardrails to prevent them from getting worse. What is most problematic is that none of the belligerents agrees on what they are fighting over. Upcoming elections in 2025 pose additional challenges in Canada. Fully one-third of the global population will go to the polls this year. However, in terms of world security, stability and economic outlook, the new Trump administration in the US, with its 25% import tariff on the horizon will pose the most consequential challenge by far. In the face of all this turmoil, Canada has generally been missing in action on the international scene. Even worse, our country has sometimes undermined its own international standing. Sitting at the international table requires a moral compass, professionalism, determination and military self sufficiency. A military free-rider will not be tolerated for long. Canada’s decision to act as a self-important virtue-signaller irritates allies who must shoulder our share of the burden, as well as third-world countries who see Canada’s posturing as post-colonial arrogance. On the domestic scene, Canada is facing a challenging year both economically and politically. There is a real prospect of recession and a future depreciation of the standard of living unless drastic measures are taken. The Liberal government seems to have lost its direction. Overwhelmed by the issues, it seems to have no solution for upcoming events, and continues to be influenced by the policies of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The World Economic Forum, which will meet in mid January, continues to try to influence global governmental, industrial and social agendas. Its “Great Reset” envisages a new economic and social order based on a futuristic globalist approach that would reduce national interests through pervasive oversight mechanisms, including central bank digital currencies. In essence, it is encouraging woke social and economic policies in order to implement a new futuristic globalist world order following a trend in line with “deja vue” fake Marxist theories but far more sophisticated and deceptive. Forum chairman Klaus Schwab has assured elite Davos attendees that “The future belongs to us”. Comforting words for those jealously guarding their influence and accustomed to ignoring rules that apply only to the plebe. Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney are on the WEF board of trustees and Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party certainly reflects its centre-left technocratic view. However, the sudden resignation of Chrystia Freeland as Finance Minister and deputy Prime Minister has thrown the governing Liberal Party in turmoil and is challenging the leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau with unknown consequences. On the economic front, Canadians’ personal prosperity, as measured by GDP per capita, is projected to continue to decline this year by more than two per cent. To address affordability and the dismal outlook for long-term productivity, the federal government needs to shift focus from identity politics and climate obsession to economic growth, fiscal responsibility and raising Canadians’ standard of living. In the hope that this year will be a better one and our politicians will put the national interest and the wellbeing of our citizens in the forefront, let us be optimistic. The year has just started. I hope you will take all these thoughts in the spirit they are intended: We have entered a year of grave concern, but let us be supported by the hope that tough times bring out the best in us. Happy New Year 2025!