You’re shopping for a new home. You visit a property that looks great from the outside, but when you go inside to explore the rooms, you’re disappointed. The kitchen is cluttered and “feels” small. The living room seems too wide. The master bedroom doesn’t look comfortable at all. Should you strike this home off your list of possibilities? Maybe. Maybe not. You se...Read More

  While many areas of the economy have contracted, the housing market has stayed remarkably strong. But can the good news last? When COVID-related shutdowns began in March, real estate brokers and clients scrambled to respond to the shift. Record-low interest rates caused some lenders to call a halt to new underwriting, and homeowners debated whether or not to put their houses on the mark...Read More

Why is it so important to know how much you can afford to spend on a home? Two reasons. First, you don’t want to buy a property and then find out, after you’ve moved in, that you can’t financially maintain it. That would mean having to resell it under stressful conditions. Second, you don’t want to settle for a property that’s less than ideal, when you really cou...Read More

When buyers view your home, they ask themselves whether they like it. Assuming that the answer is “yes”, they try to determine how much work would be required before they could move in. It’s not uncommon for a buyer to be interested in a property but be turned off by the perceived amount of work required. In fact, this can sometimes discourage a buyer from even making an offer...Read More

If you want to buy a new washing machine, you simply go into a retail store and pay the listed price. Pretty simple. However, it doesn’t work quite that way when it comes to real estate. Although a home will usually have a “listed price”, you must make an “offer” for that property and then the seller must accept it. In fact, if there are other buyers interested in ...Read More

  Imagine the first place you lived as a young adult. Now imagine trying to fit your life today into that space. Not pretty, right?   For most of us, our housing needs are cyclical. A newly independent adult can find freedom and flexibility in even a tiny apartment. That same space, to a growing family, would feel stifling. For empty nesters, a large home with several unused bedrooms ...Read More

Chances are, there is a characteristic of your property that everyone remembers, appreciates, and maybe even envies. It could be a spacious kitchen with an island and upgraded appliances… or a stunning backyard with a wrap-around deck and beautiful landscaping… or rustic hardwood floors that contrast with elegant, high-end ceramics.   Whatever it is about your property that pe...Read More

? Renters for a Weekend or a While: What’s the Best Use of Your Investment Property? The residential rental market is now the fastest-growing segment of the housing market. In the United States, the demand for single-family rentals, defined as either detached homes or townhouses, has risen 30 percent in the past three years. And in Canada, rental units now account for nearly one-thi...Read More

The late comedian George Carlin used to have a routine called, “A place for my stuff.” He was referring to the idea that, besides being a place to sleep and eat, the purpose of a home is essentially to store all the stuff you accumulate over the years. That may or may not be true. But, if you’re like most homeowners, you probably have a lot of stuff in your home… stuff ...Read More

  Take Advantage of Your Home Equity: A Homeowner’s Guide   Homeownership offers many advantages over renting, including a stable living environment, predictable monthly payments, and the freedom to make modifications. Neighbourhoods with high rates of homeownership have less crime and more civic engagement. Additionally, studies show that homeowners are happier and healthier t...Read More