What happens when you combine:

🥨 Oktoberfest energy
🎶 Live music
🍺 Great food
❤️ Community impact

…all while supporting an incredible cause?

You get Shelterfest.

Royal LePage Wolle Realty is proud to bring back Shelterfest 2026 — our annual KW Oktoberfest-style fundraiser in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and local women’s shelters right here in Waterloo Region.

📍 Concordia Club — Kitchener
📅 June 4th, 2026
⏰ 6:00pm–11:00pm

And honestly? It might be our favourite night of the year 😌

❤️ Why Shelterfest Matters

At Royal LePage Wolle Realty, we believe real estate is about more than buying and selling homes.

It’s about community.

That’s why we proudly support the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation — Canada’s largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and domestic violence prevention programs.

Since its inception, the Shelter Foundation has raised more than:
👉 $57 million nationally

Helping over:
👉 50,000 women and children every year

And locally, Royal LePage Wolle Realty has proudly contributed:
❤️ $349,440.83 since 2011

Supporting:

• Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region

• Woolwich Community Services

Shelterfest allows us to celebrate community while directly supporting organizations that provide safety, support, and hope.

🍻 What Can You Expect at Shelterfest?

Think Oktoberfest… but summer edition 😏

Your ticket includes:
🎶 Live music from The Golden Keys
🥨 Delicious Bavarian buffet
🍺 Traditional keg tapping ceremony
📸 FREE photo booth keepsakes
🎨 A hilarious caricaturist
👋 Meet-and-greet with Onkel Hans

And of course:
✨ incredible community energy

Whether you come for the music, the food, the fundraising, or simply the chance to support a meaningful cause, Shelterfest truly brings people together.

🎟 How We Raise Funds

Shelterfest fundraising includes:
✔ Ticket sales
✔ Silent auction
✔ Merchandise sales
✔ Games & tokens
✔ Beer nut sales
✔ Wine & whiskey pull

(Please note: bar sales remain with the venue.)

Every contribution helps make a difference locally.

🎟 Event Tickets

Ready to join us?

🎟 Purchase tickets here:
👉 https://app.galabid.com/shelterfest2026/event-tickets

🛍 Silent Auction

Can’t attend but still want to support the cause?

Our online silent auction is open for bidding:
👉 https://app.galabid.com/shelterfest2026/items?item_type=bidding

❤️ Community Matters

Events like Shelterfest remind us how powerful community can be when people come together for something bigger than themselves.

We are incredibly proud to be part of Waterloo Region and grateful for every sponsor, donor, volunteer, and attendee helping make Shelterfest possible.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you on June 4th 🍻

#WolleShelterfest

Your first home starts with a plan

Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also feel like everyone is speaking in acronyms while asking you to make very expensive decisions. The good news is that you do not need to know everything on day one. You need a realistic budget, the right professionals and a clear order of operations.

This guide covers the main steps for first-time buyers in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. The rules and market conditions can change, so use it as a starting point and confirm the numbers for your own situation before making an offer.

Start with the full cost of buying

Your down payment is only one part of the cash you will need. Buyers should also plan for the deposit submitted with an accepted offer, Ontario land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, an inspection, moving costs and closing adjustments. A practical working estimate for closing costs is often 1.5 to 4 percent of the purchase price, depending on the property and the buyer's eligibility for rebates.

The deposit and down payment are connected, but they are not interchangeable. The deposit is paid shortly after your offer is accepted and becomes part of your total down payment on closing. Keep those funds accessible rather than locked into an investment that cannot be released quickly.

Use the programs that still exist

The First Home Savings Account allows eligible buyers to save for a qualifying first home. The first year of participation generally creates $8,000 of contribution room. Contributions may be tax deductible, and qualifying withdrawals can be tax free.

The Home Buyers' Plan currently allows an eligible person to withdraw up to $60,000 from an RRSP for a qualifying home. An FHSA withdrawal and an HBP withdrawal can be used for the same purchase when all conditions are met. The former federal First-Time Home Buyer Incentive is no longer accepting applications, so it should not appear in a current buying plan.

Ontario first-time buyers may also qualify for an Ontario land transfer tax refund of up to $4,000. Eligibility rules matter, especially when one buyer has previously owned a home, so confirm the details with your lawyer and mortgage professional.

Get properly pre approved

A quick online calculator is useful for curiosity. It is not the same as a reviewed pre-approval. A proper review considers income, debts, credit, down payment, property taxes, condo fees and the mortgage stress test. It should also leave room for the life you plan to live after closing.

Your maximum approval is a ceiling, not a shopping target. Decide what monthly payment feels comfortable before you start falling in love with listings. Homes are charming. So are vacations, groceries and occasionally ordering dinner because the kitchen is covered in paint supplies.

Choose the property with your next five years in mind

A first home does not have to be a forever home. Focus on location, layout, condition and resale appeal. Think about commuting, parking, future family needs, condo rules, maintenance and whether the property gives you reasonable options if your plans change.

In Waterloo Region, a condominium apartment, townhouse, semi-detached home or older detached property may each offer a different route into the market. The best choice is the one that fits both your finances and your actual day-to-day life.

Build your buying team before you need it

A REALTOR® can help you evaluate neighbourhoods, comparable sales, property condition and offer strategy. A Mortgage Agent can test the financing before an offer becomes firm. Your lawyer completes the legal work, while an inspector helps you understand the physical property.

When those professionals communicate early, you make decisions with better information and fewer last-minute surprises.

Your next step

Start with a buyer and mortgage planning conversation. We will review your target price, available cash, preferred monthly payment and the steps between today and possession day.

Contact Charlotte Ferguson, REALTOR® and Mortgage Agent Level 2, or begin at mortgagewithchar.com.