Selling your home

There are distinct advantages to having a Realtor® acting for you in buying or selling a property. With careful selection, you can benefit greatly from the skills of a knowledgeable and sincere Realtor®. There are a number of approaches to finding a good real estate agent. For example, friends, neighbors, and relatives may have the names of agents that they have dealt with and would recommend. Open houses also provide an opportunity to meet Realtors®. Newspaper ads list the names and phone numbers of agents who are active in your area. “For Sale” signs provide an agent’s name and phone number. And real estate firms in your area can be located through the Yellow Pages. Any of course, the Internet is one of the most popular methods of research

Mortgage rates weren’t supposed to make record lows in 2015, not if you asked economists and the Bank of Canada two years ago. But they did. And despite all the chatter about the first U.S. rate hike since 2006, Canadian rates could do it again in 2016.

But interest rates won’t be all that’s changing in the coming 12 months. Here are four mortgage trends you need to watch in 2016.

More missed payments?

Seemingly every year the government throws new rules at the mortgage market, lending gets tighter and the housing market gets safer. But one thing Ottawa can’t control is world economics. Despite manufacturing gains from a cheap loonie, global growth is slowing. That and plunging oil means more Canadians could be out of work, and when people lose

Most purchase and sale agreements come in standard formats, with standard clauses, and are drafted by the builder or real estate board. There are generally spaces throughout the agreement for additional, customized clauses to be added.

It is recommended to have a lawyer review your offer to purchase before you sign it. Regrettably, relatively few people do this, because they either don’t realize they should, perceive it to be an unnecessary or costly legal expense, or could cause delay that could cause a purchase to be lost to someone else, or otherwise kill the deal.

Alternatively, rather than seeing a lawyer before submitting an offer to purchase, some people may wish to insert a condition that states the offer is subject to approval as to form

You’ve had this feeling before. You’re not totally sure how things are supposed to happen. A million questions are bubbling on your lips. You know your goal, but you need some guidance on how to get from start to finish.

Only this time, you aren’t a first-time buyer. You are on the other end of the equation: you are a first time seller.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. Do I really need an agent to sell my home?
2. How do I pick a real estate agent?
3. How does the listing contract work?
4. What do I have to disclose?
5. What do I need to do to get my home ready for sale?
6. How does the offer process work?      
7. Once I have a firm sale, what are the next steps?
8. What are the final costs of selling?

Lets look at the answers....

When the time comes to sell your home, you may be tempted to sell it yourself. There is only one reason for doing so, and that is saving on a real estate commission. Other motivation could be a personal challenge or learning experience, but basically the desire to save money is the main motivator. You may indeed save money, but on the other hand, the saving could be an expensive illusion.

Based on my  professional experience, there are some general disadvantages of selling a home yourself, as opposed to using a carefully selected and experienced Realtor. The following remarks are not intended to dissuade you from attempting to sell your own home, but rather to place the process in a realistic perspective. These comments apply whether you are selling

Swimming Pools.. Good idea?

I know its still winter but are you looking for a home with a pool? Here are some facts!!

Sparkling blue water, especially when it's lit up at night – what's not to love about a swimming pool in your backyard? If you have one, you may feel blessed. If you don't, and are considering adding one, hang on a minute.

Who Wants a Pool?

According to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, middle-aged buyers with teenagers at home comprise the biggest market segment for homes with swimming pools. This makes sense when you consider how dangerous an un-fenced pool is for families with toddlers.

Another segment of home buyers who may find a pool desirable are younger couples who entertain frequently. There has been a lot

The Canadian Real Estate Association has updated its forecast for 2016, with two provinces expected to lead the way.

“Since CREA’s last forecast published in September, housing markets in British Columbia and Ontario have strengthened further,” CREA said in its updated housing forecast. “As a result, CREA has raised sales and average price forecasts for these provinces.”

National sales for the rest of the year have also been revised higher.

Home sales in Ontario are expected to rise by 9.3%, which would be higher if prices in the GTA were more affordable, CREA said.

“British Columbia is projected to post the largest annual increase in sales activity in 2015 (+21.4 per cent), while Alberta (-21.4 per cent), Saskatchewan (-10.8 per cent), and Nova

Whether you purchased your home four years ago or 40, selling for the first time can be tricky. Here are some important points to consider when you list your home for sale.

Selling a home is nothing like buying one. Whether you’ve been in the home for four years or 40, first-time sellers need to consider some important points before getting started.

You need the right agent

Unless you’re offering the home For Sale by Owner, you will need to sign an agreement with a real estate agent and their brokerage. You’ll also have to pay a commission. Because the agreement contractually ties you to your agent for three to six months, choosing the right one is more important this time around. Unlike when you were a buyer, you can’t simply come in and out

Two out of three adult Canadians do not have a will. One out of four Canadians will die suddenly. You can’t take the risk that the Canada Revenue Agency or your provincial government will end up with your money because of poor tax planning and lack of a will. However, there are some classic pitfalls to avoid when preparing your will and doing your estate planning.

# 1 – Not Having a Will or Not Updating your Will and Not Also Having the other Two Key Documents Many people do up a will and forget about updating it. So much can change in terms of your circumstances, assets, beneficiaries and wishes that you need to review your will on an annual basis at a set time, eg. your birthday, the first of the new year or some other memorable time. Also review

Spring is the busiest selling season when it comes to real estate and the latest headlines show that even with the significantly lower price of oil, homes in Toronto and Vancouver are selling like hotcakes. (Real estate in other cities across Canada have already experienced a cooling market, prompting confirmation of the predicted soft landing I discussed back in December.)

But if you’re in the market to sell your home this spring—whether you’re in a soft, balanced or seller’s market—do you really need to refresh, clean and stage your home? If you accept the studies regarding retail sales then the is: Yes.

According to a March 2015 study published in the International Journal of Marketing Studies, “cleanliness, scent, lighting and colour,” were all