Van Benthem Real Estate Group
482 Preston Street K1S4N8 Ottawa, ON, Canada

#MotivationMonday Contrary to that little voice, failure is actually a good thing. You learned something. You did something. It boosts your empathy.... It makes you humble. It is motivating. You never know how life is going to turn out, and failure isn’t always something horrible that happens for no reason just to keep you down. See more

Who can relate?

The work never stops and we are here for it!

Understanding closing costs... This market has us all .....it’s best to be prepared. So we have come up with some things that may be of value to couples, families, or anyone who is looking to purchase a home in the future. Down Payment: This one is quite obvious. A down payment on your new home can be as little as 5% to as much as you wish. Putting 20% down avoids a Mortgage Insurance Fee, commonly known as a CMHC Fee. Mortgage Processing Fee: This usually covers lender ...appraisal and application fees and may also include fees for lender’s insurance if required. Appraisals are typically $350-$400. Home Inspection: This is usually completed before closing, these are an added fee to budget for typically between $300-$500. Legal Fees: Legal costs will always vary, and include title searches, registration of the mortgage, obtaining title insurance, deed registration, and anything else that may be required to complete your transaction. Other Things to Consider: We show a lot of houses to our clients in the surrounding Ottawa area and other costs can include Septic Inspection $500-$700, as well as water probability test $80 (you can also get your test done through the municipality which is free but it is a longer turnaround time). Lawyer Legal Fee: $800.00 $1,200.00. Title Search: $150.00 $180.00 Registration of Deed: $71.30 Registration of Mortgage: $71.30 Execution Certificates: $33.00 $55.00 Title Insurance: $250.00 $350.00 Office Expenses: $40.00 $50.00 Land Transfer Tax: Fees based on purchase price General rule of thumb is that you should budget 1.5% of the purchase price to cover all associated closing costs excluding your down payment. See more

#RecipeOfTheWeek Bacon Wrapped Chicken INGREDIENTS * Chicken Breasts... * Bacon * Brown Sugar * Seasoning - Kosher Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder * Oil Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 375F and have ready a rimmed baking sheet lined with nonstick aluminum foil. Combine the sugar and all of the spices in a small bowl and set it aside. 2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Then, on a work surface, drizzle them evenly with oil and rub all over until evenly coated. Season each chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar-spice mixture (totaling 4 tablespoons of seasoning) and rub/pat all over once more to adhere. 3. Start at the tapered end of the chicken breast and begin tightly wrapping it with a slice of bacon, everso slightly overlapping as you loop it around, and adding a second slice of bacon as necessary. 4. Transfer the chicken to the prepared pan and distribute the remaining brown sugar-spice across the top of them, and pat the adhere. 6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Allow to rest 5-10 minutes, serve, and enjoy. See more

#TackyTuesday - Can you imagine how many tiles it took to tile this bathroom . Tongue twister .

#MotivationMonday - Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success. Got get it

#JustSold - Wishing Brian a big congratulations on the sale of his investment property. Hard to believe we did this deal 10 years ago. Thank you after all this time for trusting us still with your business.

#OttawaMarketUpdate - March Resales Go Out Like A Lion. Housing stocks scarcity is a NATION-WIDE issue.

#RecipeOfTheWeek Avacado Hummus Ingredients * 1 (15 oz) can chick peas, well drained... * 2 medium ripe avocados , cored and peeled (13 oz before cored and peeled) * 3 Tbsp olive oil , plus more for serving if desired * 1 1/2 Tbsp tahini * 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice * 1 clove garlic , peeled * Salt and freshly ground black pepper * 1/8 tsp cumin * 1 - 2 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro leaves , for topping Instructions Pulse chick peas, olive oil, tahini, lime juice, and garlic in a food processor until smooth, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I did a scant 1/2 tsp salt and about 1/8 tsp pepper), add cumin and avocados and pulse mixture until smooth and creamy, about 1 - 2 minutes longer. Serve topped with more olive oil if desired and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve with veggies, and pita chips. See more

#TackyTuesday - Cringe ! Our OCD is going crazy with this one!

#MotivationMonday - Mondays are the start of the work week which offer new beginnings 52 times a year! Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier and healthier life.

Happy Easter! Have a beautiful, safe, and sweet long weekend.

#RecipeOfTheWeek Steak Marinade * 1/4 cup olive oil * 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce... * 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar * 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce * 1 Tablespoon minced garlic * Salt and pepper, to taste Instructions: Whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl. Place the steak in a large ziplock bag or bowl, then pour the marinade on top and seal the bag/bowl. Let marinate in the fridge for at least an hour, but around 4 hours is ideal. The longer the steaks marinate, the more flavor they will have! You can omit the balsamic vinegar, and if you are looking for something sweet try adding 2 table spoons of brown sugar. See more

#MotivationMonday Don't panic, problems are normal. Problems are a good source of nutrition . Achieving impressive results often comes with a lot of challenges and unexpected turns. Don't run away from breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day.

Stay in and stay safe. This year has been testing and trying for all of us. We can all get through this together.

Throw back Thursday! Kate thinks I looked like JT back in the day.

#TackyTuesday Looks very private

A, B, C, or D? Definitely D for me.

#TackyTuesday Hop, skip, and a jump.

Located in Sandy Hill This gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home has been completely renovated. You will be taken away at how gorgeous this home is. just one block over from Range Rd. Community park and a brisk walk to downtown. Features: Spacious open concept floor plan w/ hardwood on main level. Kitchen has custom cabinetry and quarts countertops. Custom stairs and railings will take you to the 2nd floor where you will find 3 well sized bedrooms and a brand new full bat...hroom. 3rd floor boasts an amazing loft space. Basement is completely finished with a brand new bathroom. To find out more info about this property. $824,900 MLS: 1219759 See more

#MotivationMonday Any time you encounter a task, ask yourself one question: can I do it now? If the answer to this question is in the affirmative, then there is no need to wait for a later time. Do what you've always wanted to do, and make those dreams a reality. You don't need anyone's permission.

LIVABILITY factors are based on surrounding small businesses, arts and culture, green spaces, housing and more. How do you relate to these livability factors?

Did you know that Buyers are expected to live in their homes for a medium of 15 years?