Archive for October 2016
Get Your House Winter Ready
Severe weather elements can put a strain on the outside of your home. Getting it ready for winter can help avoid costly repairs and could indirectly keep your insurance premiums low. “There are a few simple steps that homeowners can take to prepare their homes for winter,” advises Tracy Laughlin, Vice President, Personal Lines, Ontario…
Read MoreGTA Realtors® Release Q3 Condo Report
TORONTO, October 24, 2016 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that condominium apartment sales reported through TREB’s MLS® System in the third quarter of 2016 were up by 22.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis to 8,014. Over the same period, new listings for condominium apartments were down by 13.3 per cent.…
Read MoreGTA Realtors® Release Q3 Rental Market Report
October 24, 2016 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that the number of lease agreements signed for condominium apartments listed on TREB’s MLS® System was down by 4.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis to 9,164 in the third quarter of 2016 compared to 9,629 a year earlier. Over the same period,…
Read MoreDoes Breaking Your Mortgage Make Sense?
With mortgage rates settling at historic lows, chances are you’ve considered breaking your current mortgage and renewing or refinancing now before rates begin to rise. Perhaps you want to free up cash for such things as renovations, travel or putting towards your children’s education? Or maybe you want to pay down debt or simply pay…
Read MoreLawsuit Confirms Buyer Beware Doctrine, by Lorne Shuman
Written By Lorne Shuman Many realtors, buyers and sellers have heard of the Latin phrase “Caveat Emptor” or buyer beware. A recent Superior Court decision confirmed this principle in dismissing a lawsuit commenced by buyers of a residential property. The facts of the case are as follows: The plaintiffs, Eric and Louise Brown, purchased a…
Read MoreMid October 2016 Sales Statistics
October 19, 2016 – Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 4,460 home sales through TREB’s MLS® System during the first 14 days of October 2016. This result represented a 15.5 per cent increase compared to the first two weeks of October 2015. Similar to September, the strongest annual rate of sales growth for the TREB market…
Read MoreTips for Creating a Multi-Purpose Home Office
Today’s home offices must be able to multi-task as efficiently and effectively as the people who work in them — and that’s something you should keep in mind when making renovation plans. “We see fewer and fewer buyers requiring a dedicated home office when setting their search criteria for buying a new home,” writes Gwen…
Read MoreFall Fireplace Facts
One of the perks of winter is relaxing in front of a crackling fire on a cold, snowy night. Before you get too comfortable, take the time to make sure your fireplace system is operating safely and efficiently. The first step is to have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional. Not…
Read More10 Fall Cleanup Tips You’ll Be Thankful For Come Spring
1. Clean Out Debris Fallen leaves and weeds are the perfect place for pests to settle in for the winter. Clear out flower beds to keep them away. Pay special attention to rose beds, if you have them, as their foliage can foster disease over the winter. 2. Beware Rogue Branches Trim up any large…
Read MoreThe Skinny on Canada’s New Mortgage Rules
Earlier this week, Ottawa unveiled major initiatives to slow housing activity both by potentially discouraging foreign home purchases and, more importantly, by making it more difficult for Canadians to get mortgages. As well, the Finance Minister is limiting the degree to which mortgage lenders can buy portfolio insurance on mortgages with downpayments of 20% or…
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