Archive for March 2016
Tips For A Successful Closing
By: Lorne Shuman The closing date of your purchase or sale is the culmination of a great deal of time, money and effort for both the seller and the buyer. To make your closing go smoothly it is important that both the buyer and seller be prepared. This column will provide some tips to ensure…
Read MoreShadow Lending, Shadow Flipping, Shadow Protection
Over the last few years, the media has done a great job of telling wild stories about how so-called shadow lenders are seducing Canadians with bad loans, only to foreclose and steal their houses. The term shadow evokes all the right imagery, the back alley deal, thugs with pipe wrenches, extortion, and envelopes full of…
Read MoreCreating a Harmonious Flow With Colour
The colour of a room can create harmony, or a feeling of unease. If there is a sense of calm when you walk into a room, chances are that colour has something to do with it. And if something doesn’t quite feel right, but you can’t put your finger on it, colour might have something…
Read MoreTREB’s Mid March Sales Statistics
March 17, 2016 – Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,569 sales through TREB’s MLS® System during the first 14 days of March 2016. The number of transactions was up by 20.3 per cent compared to 3,797 transactions reported during the same period in 2015. For the TREB market area as a whole, double-digit annual rates…
Read MoreBrighten Your Home & Save Energy
Is your home chilly and dark in winter, or stuffy and dark in the summer? If your home has too small or too few windows, it can be difficult to get the natural light and ventilation you crave, and need for good health. You may look around your digs and think, “this place could stand…
Read MoreResidential Mortgage Rates as of March 17, 2016
Term Fixed Closed Rate 6 months 3.95% 1 Year 2.29% 2 Year 2.09% 3 Year 2.34% 4 Year 2.49% 5 Year 2.49% 7 Year 2.98% 10 Year 3.89% Prime = 2.70% Variable Closed (5 yr) = Prime minus 0.50% = 2.20% Variable Open = Prime plus 0.80% = 3.50% Secured Credit Lines = Prime plus…
Read MoreTransform Your House Today To Stay Safe Tomorrow
While many can only dream of the day they’ll retire, for Baby Boomers that dream is becoming a reality. But retirement doesn’t necessarily mean relocating to a senior community. More and more, adults choose to “age in place,” remaining in their current home, even after retirement. Here are a few ways to add extra convenience…
Read MoreShow Your Curb Appeal
Spring is around the corner, and the real estate market is hot in the GTA. If you are thinking of selling your home this spring, start by assessing your home’s exterior. Real estate experts estimate that 90 per cent of prospective buyers will not look past the front door of a house that lacks curb…
Read MoreSeniors Eligible For Home Reno Credit
Your next renovation could qualify for money back if you are 65 years or older, or live with someone who is. The Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is designed to help seniors with the costs of improving safety and accessibility in the home. If you qualify, you can claim up to $10,000 worth of eligible…
Read More5 Smart Technologies That Your Future Self Can’t Live Without
Just like the smartphone revolution of the 2000s, smart home technology is on track to take over our lives in the very near future. So, in the interest of giving you a head start, here are five pieces of smart technology that you’ll most likely come to covet, crave, and eventually need, on a daily…
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