Seniors advice

Downsizing has an upside when you are talking about purging your excess when you move to a smaller home. However, it still can feel like an insurmountable task if you are not careful to follow a few simple downsizing strategies.

Emotional Energy

Downsizing is an emotional journey. Perhaps that seems like a silly statement but consider all the items in your home are there because you liked them enough to bring them home. From clothes to kitchen utensils, every item in your home has a story. As you begin to downsize you re-live those stories. As you are working through your possessions, be careful to not take on too many negatively emotional tasks at once. However when you encounter those items start asking yourself if you really want to move those

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There is no question that home affordability in cities like Vancouver and Toronto has become unattainable for most of us.

There is a significant supply problem which has not been adequately discussed and resolved.

With the news that foreign investors will now be taxed an additional 15% of the purchase price on residential properties in Vancouver, it looks as though a Canadian “Wall” is being built against free trade and immigration, as even the Ontario Finance Minister is suggesting that he is looking very closely at what his British Columbia counterpart has done. This is in addition to the additional taxes of current land transfer tax of 1% to 3% of the purchase price and the yet-to-be-disclosed new tax that will be applied to owners of

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What exactly is a real estate referral anyway?

A referral is the act of sending someone to another person for help, advice, etc.  

Referrals are one of the pillars of my business. It is also one of the biggest compliments one can receive!

Over the years much of my business has come from referrals. Giving prompt, efficient and sincere attention to the needs of all my clients has earned me the reputation of being a realtor that customers and fellow realtors can trust and rely on.

Many of my friends and clients refer people they know to me, people who are looking to sell or wanting to buy a property in the near future. Word-of-mouth is a very integral part of my business, so I thank you for the vote of confidence!  You can be rest assured any

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As the population ages, many Canadians will find themselves managing wealth for their parents.

Seniors own an estimated one-quarter of all financial wealth and over the coming years, their children, some of whom may qualify as seniors themselves, will be not only helping them manage it, but will likely also be the ultimate recipients of whatever is left over after their parents have passed on..

By 2036, Statistics Canada estimates that the over-65 cohort will represent more than 25 per cent of the population — more than triple the number of Canadians over the age of 65 in 1960.

Difficulty managing finances will likely creep up gradually, so aging parents may not ask for help, or even realize they need it. Signs such as unopened mail, large cash

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A million-dollar home but a property in a state of neglect and a bare-bones lifestyle that doesn’t fit your wealth.

In today’s housing market where the average price detached home is now $1 million in Toronto and $1.8 million in Vancouver, it’s becoming increasingly common to see seniors living in poverty even though they have enough home equity to lift themselves out of it. Across the country, the average price of a home reached a record $442,857 in 2015 — much of that wealth an untapped resource.

“I’ve seen people who are eating cat food but they own a $1.5 million home,” says David Batori, the broker of record with Toronto-based Re/Max Hallmark Batori Group Inc. ”Some of these seniors just don’t have any idea what their home is worth because they

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'It's just too good of an opportunity to pass up,' former Winnipegger Diane Olson says

It's time to cash in for many Canadians who bought property from 2008 to 2011 in the United States, says Diane Olson, an Arizona real estate agent and former Winnipegger.

"My clients, when they call me, they're ready to sell. It's just too good of an opportunity to pass up," she said.

Substantial foreign exchange gains and appreciation in home value over the last five years have created a "perfect storm" for Canadian homeowners in the United States, she said.

"The houses that were more around $200,000, they're up. They can [sell for] anywhere from $275,000 to $350,000," said Olson. Add to that the loonie trading for about 70 cents U.S. and Canadians are

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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

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Electromagnetic fields...it may sound like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, but they are VERY real.

Opinions differ on the effects and limits of Electromagnetic fields all over the world. In fact, Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can cause symptoms of illness in infants, children and adults, particularly those who already experience low immunity.

"In Israel, it is illegal to sell a house that has more than a 10 mG magnetic field"

If you are sensitive to EMF's, you may experience symptoms like:1

• Nervous system symptoms, like fatigue, stress and sleep disturbances
• Skin symptoms, like facial prickling, burning sensations and rashes
• Body symptoms, like pains and aches in your muscles
• Eye symptoms, such as burning sensations
• Foggy thinking

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Study after study suggests that Canadians are having a tough time paying off their mortgages, as debt levels continue to hit record levels year after year. Why?

Could it be that there are more opportunities to spend? Could it be that some people don't want to pay off their mortgages faster?

Or are some professionals advising alternate investment strategies, suggesting that paying off the mortgage is not the best financial strategy?

BIG MORTGAGES AFFECT RETIREMENT

Rebecca and Darcy are in their mid-50s and are starting to think about retirement planning; they would like to retire in the next five years.

One of their biggest hurdles is a $225,000 mortgage. Currently, their $2,200 monthly payment would have the mortgage paid off in 10 years.

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Your house has a built-in garage and your car is safely tucked away from the elements. But is your family just as safe on the other side of the wall? The garage air may be seeping into your home without you knowing it.

Gases and other toxins
First of all, it’s important to realize that every time you start your vehicle and every time you park it back in the garage, it releases carbon monoxide, benzene vapours and a host of other chemical substances. These contaminants remain suspended in the air in the garage long after the engine has stopped running and the garage door has closed. In addition, they often combine with other vapours—e.g., from the lawn mower, snow blower or chain saw, or any container of paint, oil or fuel stored in the garage. If there

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