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10 Essential Tips to Skyrocket Your Home's Selling Price By Kyle and Franca · January 15, 2025                   Key Takeaways Enhancing curb appeal and making necessary repairs can significantly increase your home's attractiveness and value, creating a great first impression for potential buyers. Decluttering, deep cleaning, and neutralizing color schemes help buyers envision...

Four Common Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid By Kyle and Franca · January 15, 2025                   Key Takeaways Look beyond the physical aspects of the house and consider the location's long-term prospects, including factors like crime rates and school districts, before making a decision. Pay attention to red flags such as home inspection issues, odors, and DIY repairs, as they could...

What Landlords Need to Know About Tenant Screening Recent data from Equifax Canada has highlighted a staggering 54% increase in auto fraud, largely driven by identity theft and fraudulent credit applications. This trend serves as a critical reminder for landlords to remain vigilant when screening potential tenants, as similar tactics can be employed in rental applications. Understanding the Risks Identity theft can manifest in various forms, including the submission of fake documents...

Top 10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers Introduction Are you a first-time homebuyer, filled with excitement and anticipation about owning your own property? Buying a home is a significant milestone in anyone's life, but it can also be a complex and overwhelming process. To help you  navigate the real estate market successfully, we have compiled a list of the top 10 tips specifically tailored for first-time homebuyers like you. From financial considerations to negotiating tactics,...

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Home vs. Renting: Which Choice is Right for You? Introduction Are you faced with the daunting decision of whether to buy a home or continue renting? This is a choice that carries significant implications, both from a financial and personal standpoint. In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the pros and cons of buying versus renting a home, providing you with the necessary insights to make an informed decision that is right for you. Pros of...

No, you haven’t read the title incorrectly.  The phrase “Mortgage Pre-Approval” has 2 distinct, different meanings. I always want you to have a preliminary Mortgage Pre-Approval before we look for a residential home for you to purchase. This 1st type of pre-approval, is really a personal financial pre-approval (not on a specific property), based on your income, asset to debt ratio, credit history and report, amount of your anticipated down payment and other...

Last week, the Bank of Canada hiked the interest rate another quarter point to 1.25%—a seemingly superficial number depending on which part of the country you’re in. The housing demand in Canada’s three largest cities is so great that removing a handful of buyers—as the new mortgage rules and interest rate increase will do—will have a negligible impact. However, in cities like Edmonton and Calgary, they’re recovering markets and this change will be harder...

The Thriving Real Estate Market Trends in Bradford, Ontario: What You Need to Know Introduction Nestled in the heart of Simcoe County, Bradford, Ontario, has emerged as a vibrant and attractive destination for homebuyers and investors alike. The real estate market in Bradford is experiencing dynamic changes, making it a hot topic for those looking to buy, sell, or invest in property. In this post, we'll explore the key trends shaping the Bradford real estate market in 2024 and provide...

Unlocking the Seasons: Debunking the Myth of the Best Time to Buy a House If you're in the market for a new house, you've likely come across the notion that there is a "best time" to make your purchase. Many people believe that certain seasons or months offer better deals, more inventory, or favorable market conditions. However, when it comes to buying a house, the idea of a universally perfect time is more of a myth than a reality. In this blog post, we will delve into the...

Homeownership and Financial Planning: A Guide to Long-Term Financial Benefits in Ontario, Canada Introduction Becoming a homeowner is a significant milestone in your life, especially if you reside in Ontario, Canada. Not only does it provide you with a place to call your own, but homeownership also offers various long-term financial benefits that are specific to the Canadian context. In this article, we will explore the financial advantages of owning a home in Ontario, including tax...

  How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent in Bradford, Ontario Introduction Are you in the process of buying or selling a property in Bradford, Ontario? Whether you're a seasoned investor or a first-time homebuyer in this vibrant town, choosing the right real estate agent is crucial. A skilled and reliable agent who understands the local market can guide you through the complex real estate landscape, helping you achieve your goals and ensuring a smooth transaction. In this...

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Your First Home in Bradford, Ontario Introduction: Congratulations on taking the first step towards owning your dream home in Bradford, Ontario! We understand that buying your first home can feel overwhelming, but don't worry, we're here to make it an exciting and enjoyable journey. In this reader-friendly guide, we'll take you through the step-by-step process of buying a home in Bradford, providing practical tips, insider advice, and all the...

As of January 1st, every borrower needs to pass a new “Mortgage Stress Test” (MST) to qualify for a mortgage loan at a bank. And it won’t matter how much downpayment you have. Even if it’s 20% or over, you’ll still be subject to the MST. Once you pass the test, you’re not required to actually make a 20% down payment  - you can still take advantage of a lower one and a lower mortgage rate. But first you have to pass 'the...

It's definitely going to be a while. Currently the general public can’t access Toronto's past home sale prices without the help of a Realtor. For privacy, it's controlled by the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB). But that might very well be changing. A 2016 Federal Court ruling which ordered TREB to end its strict controls on some housing data has recently been upheld, despite an appeal. Canada’s competition commissioner had argued that TREB’s...

Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 7,374 transactions through TREB's MLS® System in November 2017. This result was up compared to October 2017, bucking the regular seasonal trend. On a year-over-year basis, sales were down by 13.3 per cent compared to November 2016. New listings entered into TREB's MLS® System in November 2017 amounted to 14,349 – up by 37.2 per cent compared to November 2016, when...

Toronto's 2017 May/June market is very interesting: "Inventory" for sale is up (as is every spring); "sales" are down (more for buyers to choose from) yet prices have still increased year over year. There's no real reason for the slowdown in the number of properties sold. It's a 'healthy adjustment that isn't triggered by anything'. The interest rate hasn't changed/increased, and we're not in a recession. So the question is...

Not having your own Real Estate Agent to perform due diligence could land you in a horrible situation and losing thousands of dollars. You may have heard about two recent condo projects in downtown Toronto having been converted into ‘rentals’ with 181 innocent buyers of a  complex on King St. West, near Liberty Village, out as much as $40,000 each.  Another condo project,  “The Selby”, at Sherbourne and Bloor, abandoned their plans, as well. As...

Legally known as the Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST), this new tax is 15% on the purchase or acquisition of an interest in a Residential (only) property in the Greater Golden Horseshoe by individauls who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent Canadian residents. It is also applies to foreign corporations and taxable trustees. This NRST tax is in addition to the Ontario Land Transfer Tax. and, in Toronto, the Toronto Land Transfer Tax.  The legislation,is retroactive to April...

Today’s interest rates are still at an all-time low, which gives you several great opportunities. For current homeowners, paying down mortgage debt is more beneficial than ever with the low interest rates we are continuing to enjoy.  My advice to homeowners is to take advantage of paying down 'the principal' of your mortgage, which can be up to 20% twice a year depending on how the mortgage is structured.   Another option to consider is to...

So often, once we bought our home or have lived in it for a long time, we neglect to continuously take stock of what's inside.  Our  property/building insurance is in place but the value has increased, and we accumulate small and large valuable items that require protection too. When was the last time you thought about the increased value of your property and what’s inside your home? First, I advise ensuring that your real estate property (the building) insurance...