Does 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…
Read MoreGTA Realtors® Release September Resale Market Figures
TORONTO, October 5, 2016 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 9,902 sales through TREB’s MLS® System in September 2016. This result was up by 21.5 per cent compared to September 2015. For the region as a whole, strong annual rates of sales growth were experienced for…
Read MoreAir Quality – Keep it Clean This Winter
The efficiency of your heating system is a measure of how snug and warm your home will be this winter, so it makes sense to keep it in peak operating performance. An efficient, well-maintained heating system also contributes to the quality of the air you and your family breathe. In today’s tightly-sealed homes indoor pollutants…
Read MoreTop Trend In Bathroom Renos: Transitional Style
Homeowners looking to update a dated bathroom or drab powder room can draw inspiration from the 2016 Design Trends Survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). According to the survey of bathroom designers, transitional bathrooms are the top trend in bathroom design today, blending the traditional with contemporary to create a clean,…
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