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Tips And Tricks

Ontario Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit

March 4, 2013
Canadian Money

Summary The Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is a permanent personal income tax refund for seniors and the family members who live with them. Those who qualify can claim up to $10,000 worth of home modifications on their tax returns and receive back 15 per cent of eligible expenses. A household that spends $10,000...
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Canadian homebuyers more experienced, financially prudent moving forward.

January 22, 2013

Tighter mortgage lending rules, in conjunction with the fallout of the US housing meltdown and the European debt crisis, have triggered a shift in the Canadian homebuyer mix and mindset.  The new Canadian real estate consumer is experienced, fiscally-responsible, and ready to move forward over the next 24 months. That’s the takeaway from the...
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What is my home worth? Interactive real estate series

November 5, 2012

Rent-To-Own Pros and Cons

November 1, 2012

Here’s how it works: A landlord rents the home or condominium under a basic home lease. For an extra payment, the tenant receives an option to buy the home at a later date, for a set price. Let’s say the home is worth $250,000. The parties agree the tenant will have the right, but...
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Chattels and rentals – Know what’s included in a sale

September 27, 2012

You love the house inside and out. It has great finishes, roomy spaces and lovely lighting. But don’t assume that what you see is what you get. Buyers are often caught off guard when they find out that the furnace, heating ducts, water heater, alarm system or other things they thought were “part of...
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Condominium Assignments FAQ

April 28, 2012

General Questions 1. What is an assignment? An assignment is essentially a sale of a contract or right to acquire property. An assignment is a transaction whereby the original purchaser (the “Assignor”) of a property sells, and thereby transfers, their interest and obligations under the original contract to a new purchaser (the “Assignee”). The...
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Managing Expectations

February 25, 2012
Managing Expectations

 A colleague and I recently had a discussion that I would like to share with you about a phenomenon she refers to as “HGTV syndrome”. It causes Buyers to assume that most properties are fitted with the spectacular finishings seen on so many of today’s popular home makeover shows. As a result, managing Buyers’...
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TREB President’s “You Should Know…” – Mortgages

February 10, 2012

MLS® Home Price Index

February 5, 2012

Types of Homes

July 5, 2011
Types of Homes

Once you have determined what you are looking for in a new home, it is important to understand the types of homes that are available to you. Statutory warranty coverage may vary depending on the type of home you buy. The most common forms of housing can be grouped into three types, and each...
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Dealing with real estate stigma

June 29, 2011
Dealing with real estate stigma

By Barry Lebow When I tell people that I specialize in litigation relating to real estate agency and to real estate stigma, even Realtors ask me to explain what I mean by stigma. Stigma is the effect that lingers after the cure. In real estate it can be something as simple as, “How clean...
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Real Estate Board sued over access to Listings

June 21, 2011
Real Estate Board sued over access to Listings

It never ceases to amaze me how people on the Government payroll can continue to use their unlimited resources and access to public funding to pursue personal agendas and to try and make a name for themselves. Your article mentions that Melanie Aitken, Commissioner of the Competition Bureau alleges that “the 31000 member organization...
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TITLE INSURANCE ONTARIO

May 15, 2011
TITLE INSURANCE ONTARIO

What is “Title”? The word “title” is a legal term that means you have legal ownership of property. You obtain title to property when the owner signs the deed (transfer document) over to you. Title is then registered in the government’s land registration system. What is Title Insurance? Title insurance is an insurance policy...
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Getting Your Keys on Closing Day

May 2, 2011
Getting Your Keys on Closing Day

A) IF PURCHASING FROM A BUILDER As soon as the purchase transaction has been completed (usually by registration in the LAND REGISTRY SYSTEM on the closing day) the keys are typically released at the applicable construction trailer or sales office, if the property is not a condominium. If the property is a new condominium,...
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How to Budget for Home Maintenance

April 28, 2011
How to Budget for Home Maintenance

It’s important for Realtors to remind home buyers that all homes-old or new-need ongoing maintenance. First, buyers should understand the 1% rule. This rule postulates that normal maintenance on a home is about 1% of the value of the home per year. For example, a $250,000 home would require $2,500 per year to maintain....
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Buying A Home

March 28, 2011
Buying A Home

Finding the perfect home doesn’t happen in one day. There are a number of things you can do to simplify the process, including defining financial parameters, potential neighbourhoods and the desired features in your next home. Do you need an extra bathroom, a garage, a fenced backyard, or lower utility bills? Do you want...
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What Can Go Wrong When Buying a Condo

March 25, 2011
What Can Go Wrong When Buying a Condo

1) Surprise Closing Costs A builder’s agreement to purchase a newly constructed condo (in contrast to the simplicity of a resale condo) contains pages of fine print which are NOT standard for each builder since each has it’s own pet clauses. The “adjustments” chargeable on closing (in addition to the upgrades ordered by a...
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Select the right neighbourhood

March 22, 2011
Select the right neighbourhood

– The process of buying a home involves many crucial decisions and few are as important as the location you choose. Identifying a great neighbourhood before it becomes well known can make an already solid investment even more lucrative in the long term, but with gentrification well underway throughout the majority of Toronto, spotting...
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