Best Ways to Invest in Canadian Real Estate in 2020 When we think about investing in real estate, the first scenario that comes to mind is most likely owning our primary residence in the hope that its value will increase over time. But there are so many other ways to invest in real estate today, including options for all budget levels. Each approach carries a different level of risk, and as with any investment you’ll want to do some due diligence to make sure you’re spending... [read more]

If you're house hunting, you're probably getting snowed with advice from well-meaning friends and family members on which neighborhoods are hot, how so-and-so is selling a place you have to see ... and plenty more. That's all fine if you have an insatiable appetite for info, but what if you're a bit more discerning about the tips and tricks you want delivered your way? We asked home buyers and real estate agents to share not just any old advice, but... [read more]

Home Staging and Hiring a Stager Dressing a House for Success Home staging is about illusions. It's how David Copperfield would sell a house. It's magical. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it. Instantly! Contrary to what you might think, it's about more... [read more]

Repairs—or the lack of them—can affect a sale   You're ready to list your home for sale...then you look around. Maybe you've spent time and money updating the exterior of the house but the interior is still in serious need of attention. Maybe there's dry rot, or maybe it's just outdated.  What to do? Should you spend more time and money on fixing it up or just try to sell it as... [read more]

Nearly all home buyers hire a professional home inspector to take a close look at their new house before closing. You can speed things along by analyzing the condition of your home and making necessary repairs now before the house is under contract. Whole-home inspections cover numerous systems within the house, but there are a handful of hot-spots that concern buyers the most. Mold and Mildew at the Home Inspection Mildew stains and odors... [read more]

At first glance, you might wonder why a seller would be showing a home, especially when that seller is represented by a real estate agent. However, situations in which the sellers are showing a home can happen in many instances that are all fairly common. For example, a seller might be living in the home and there when the buyer and the buyer's agent show up to see the home. Of course, everybody knows the seller should immediately leave the home when a buyer appears on the... [read more]

Even if your house looks immaculate, there are few things that will exterminate (with extreme prejudice) any kind of positive first impression than an off-putting smell. Whether it's eau de cat, last night's attempt at Nepalese cuisine, or just an overall mustiness, bad odors are bad news—especially if you're trying to sell your home. After all, as Debra Johnson, a home cleaning specialist with Merry Maids, points out, “If you... [read more]

Which Home Repair Jobs are Most Important? Quick fixes before selling a home always pay off, but which home repairs bring the biggest return? Many sellers, trying to do the right thing, often make repairs that are not required. They tend to make the repairs they would want, which are not necessarily what a buyer expects. Specific answers to this often-asked question largely depend on a variety of factors such as:                    ... [read more]

Your home isn’t just a place to live. It is also probably the biggest and most important investment you will ever make. To help you protect that investment and find a safe, comfortable place for your family to call home I am providing these important and valuable information. Take a look at the following list of some of the things you should look at before you buy a home, to make sure you won’t end up having to pay for a lot of expensive repairs: ■ Brickwork and chimney... [read more]

Wondering "how much is my house worth?" Putting a price tag on a home you're trying to sell is a tricky thing. For one, it's your home, crammed full of memories, hopes, and dreams—and all that stuff can cloud your thinking and lead you toward the wrong price. There are consequences: Shoot too high, and your home could languish on the market for months and maybe not sell at all. Price it too low and you could bilk yourself out of a whole lot... [read more]

If you're wondering how to sell your house fast, you probably don't have a whole lot of time for chitchat. You have zero time to spend researching the current housing market and pondering how it'll affect your home sale. You just want the guidance—plain and simple—that will help you find a buyer as fast as possible. Well, here's the good news: It is possible to sell a home fast, and the experts say it comes down to a few key to-do's to take... [read more]

GTA REALTORS® Release November Stats December 5, 2017 -- 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... [read more]

TORONTO, ONTARIO, August 3, 2017 –  Toronto Real Estate Board President Tim Syrianos announced that Greater Toronto  Area REALTORS® reported 5,921 residential transactions through  TREB’s  MLS®  System in July 2017. This result was       down by 40.4 per cent on a year- over-   year basis, led by the detached market segment – both in the City of Toronto and   surrounding regions.While... [read more]

In the unfortunate circumstance that a homeowner is past-due on their monthly mortgage payments, they pave the way for a “foreclosure” on their property. In today’s market, banks and other lenders do not turn to foreclosure to take away the homes of homeowners who are in arrears. Instead, they perform a "Power of Sale" which is wholly different from a Foreclosure. What is a Foreclosure? Foreclosures are laborious, grueling, and costly to both the... [read more]