Courtesy of Chuck Farrauto

YOUR HOME GUIDE

Chuck Farrauto Sales Representative Office: 905-389-3737 chuckfarrauto@realtynetwork.biz Taking Care of Business

431 Concession St Hamilton, ON L9A 1C1

THE TERRACOTTA TREND

2026 | ISSUE 6

Terracotta has grown in popularity and use for decoration. Celebrated for its sun-baked warmth, rich texture and incredible versatility, this clay-based ceramic is the perfect way to infuse your home with vibrant, high-energy colour that bridges the gap between indoor comfort and outdoor living. While classic terracotta is famous for its earthy orange-red hues, today’s trend embraces a much bolder spectrum, from fiery sun-drenched shades to saturated pinks and deep rustic reds, with these eye-catching colours breathing new life into contemporary design. Ready to embrace this vibrant trend? You can incorporate bold terracotta into your space by selecting shades that harmonize with your existing colour scheme, incorporating terracotta details such as decorations, art, linens and curiosities to carry the colour throughout the room, and combining terracotta with natural materials like wood for a softer appeal. You can also use terracotta plant pots instead of plastic ones for better drainage, coordinate outdoor planters with warm-toned flowers like Mountain Agoseris, Butterflyweed, Scarlet Painted Cup and Red-eyed Susan. Install a terracotta backsplash for authentic traditional charm, construct rustic garden paths, fences and dividers using terracotta bricks, and apply terracotta-coloured wall paint and accents to add warmth and depth. Did you know the word comes directly from the Italian terra cotta? It literally translates to “baked earth” or “cooked earth.”

Soy-Ginger Glaze GRILLED VEGGIE KEBABS WITH

INGREDIENTS:

Glaze: • ¼ cup soy sauce • 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup • 1 tbsp sesame oil • 1 tbsp grated ginger

Veggies*: • 1 red onion • 2 bell peppers • 2 zucchinis • 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 4 minced garlic cloves • ½ tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Chop up the vegetables into 1” chunks. 2. Whisk all glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. 3. Thread the vegetables onto skewers. 4. Brush skewers generously with glaze. Save a small amount for basting later. 5. Preheat the grill to medium (180°C). 6. Grill for 8–10 minutes, turning and basting occasionally until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred. *Make it yours: swap in mushrooms, pineapple chunks, eggplant or corn on the cob!

REJUVENATING SOCIETY AND GIVING US HOPE FOR THE FUTURE ARE BEST NURTURED BY THE GOOD DEEDS THAT WE DO FOR OTHERS.”

DR. ROBERTA BONDAR

The rise of porch pirates, individuals who illicitly seize delivered packages from residential doorsteps, has become a significant concern for modern homeowners. This crime of opportunity is often underreported, yet thieves’ tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Porch Pirate Prevention: • Secure deliveries by installing heavy-duty, bolted-down lockboxes. • Deter thieves using motion-activated LED lighting and visible security signs. • Use strategic landscaping (like planters or shrubs) to hide packages from the street. • Redirect packages to secure third-party pickup locations (lockers, retail points) or your workplace. • Require a signature upon delivery for high-value items. • Use carrier apps to reroute packages mid-transit if plans change. • Coordinate with neighbours to accept packages on your behalf. • Position security cameras to cover street-level approach paths, rather than just the porch itself. If theft occurs, documentation is essential for reimbursement. Keep all digital invoices, tracking histories, delivery confirmation photos and product serial numbers. Immediately file reports with the retailer, the carrier and your financial institution.

PARCEL SECURITY

RESILIENT PLANTS

Gardening across Canada can be a real challenge. High wind speeds, fluctuating temperatures, short summers and surprise frosts can kill plants overnight. That’s why leaning on Canadian native plants is such a gamechanger. These plants have spent thousands of years adapting to our local weather, so they don’t just survive — they thrive where other plants struggle, turning your yard into a hotspot for local birds and pollinators by providing the exact food and shelter they need. By choosing local plants, you’re choosing a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that’s already built to handle the Canadian outdoors. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a prairie native that is built for extremes. Beyond its toughness, it provides a stunning visual payoff, turning a deep reddish bronze in the autumn and providing seeds for wintering birds. Canada Columbine and Lanceleaf Coreopsis are known for their resilience, with smaller leaves that help reduce wind resistance. Silverweed (Argentina anserina) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) are dense, low-growing shrubs. Virgin’s Bower, also known as Clematis virginiana, is perfect for vertical interest. This plant’s vines are flexible enough to sway rather than snap.

Word Scramble

What does corn say when it feels embarrassed? Aw-shucks! What’s a dancer’s

Let’s make a sizzling kabob! Unscramble the words below to reveal the ingredients.. Hint: Some of them are from the vegetable kabob recipe, but not all of them.

favourite kind of vegetable? Spin-ach!

1. DRE NOONI 2. AAOPELJN 3. LLBE RSEPEPP 4. CCIHIUZN 5. CRNOA QUASSH 6. REHCYR STAMOTEO 7. MOSRHMOUS 8. AELPEPNIP 9. GLPTGEAN 10. ENWMERLOTA 11. RNCO 12. WTEES TEAPSOOT

What is a zucchini’s favourite game? Squash! How do you fix a broken tomato? Tomato paste! Which vegetable can’t you take on a boat? Leeks! Why did everyone dance to the vegetable band? It had a good beet!

Answer Key 1. Red onion, 2. Jalapeño, 3. Bell peppers, 4. Zucchini, 5. Acorn squash, 6. Cherry tomatoes, 7. Mushrooms, 8. Pineapple, 9. Eggplant, 10. Watermelon, 11. Corn, 12. Sweet potatoes

HAMILTON-BURLINGTON-HALDIMAND-NIAGARA NORTH MAY 2026 STATISTICS

$566,055 rowhouse

$840,166 detached

DOWN 6.6% year-to-year

DOWN 2.1% year-to-year

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

1,228 NEW LISTINGS 542 SOLD LISTINGS

44.1% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

36 DAYS ON MARKET

5.0 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

2,220 ACTIVE LISTINGS

Hamilton, ON, June 2026 – “While this May ranks among the slowest we have seen for sales activity, it is important to look at the fuller picture. Since the start of the year, we have seen consistent month-over-month gains in sales activity, and the 6.5 per cent increase in May continues that positive trajectory,” says Bill Duce, CEO of Cornerstone. “The market is rebuilding its momentum steadily, even if we are not yet back to the levels we have seen in previous spring markets. For buyers and sellers who have been waiting on the sidelines, working with a local REALTOR ® is important to understand the local market dynamics and trends to consider heading into the summer months.” Hamilton-Burlington-Haldimand-Niagara North Area Highlights: • Home sales increased 6.5% month-over-month. • The number of newly listed properties decreased by 3.5% on a month-over-month basis. • The MLS ® Home Price Index (HPI) was $744,000 in May 2026, an increase of 0.8% compared to a month ago, and down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. • Inventory across the market area decreased by 9.4% on a year-over-year basis, but due to an increase on a month-over- month basis, the months’ supply increased to 4.8 months for all property types by the end of May. Statistics reflect market activity in May 2026 | Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS ® | Market values stated are of the average of Hamilton and surrounding region. Hamilton includes: Hamilton West, Hamilton East, Hamilton Centre, Hamilton Mountain, Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Waterdown, Stoney Creek and Glanbrook. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

COMPLIMENTARY MARKET EVALUATION

We now have access to 22 Real Estate Boards in Ontario including Toronto, the largest Real Estate Board on the planet. It only takes a few minutes to do a computer generated ballpark value of your property, or to research valuations in all of these areas. Further, I’m working with associates in the East Coast and British Columbia. If you would like to get an idea of what your property would fetch in this market, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Office: 905-389-3737

Chuck Farrauto Sales Representative chuckfarrauto@realtynetwork.biz

Samantha Lefebvre Sales Representative info@samanthalefebvre.com

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