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PREPPING YOUR HOME FOR SALE Photo by  Sidekix Media  on  Unsplash Maximize Curb Appeal Getting them through the front door starts at the curb. Manicure the lawn, trim the trees and shrubs. Pull weeds and plant some colorful flowers. Clear the walkways. Fix peeling paint and wind up that hose. Paint the address number on the curb. Make Repairs to Visible Blemishes Is there something that’s an eyesore, but an easy fix? If looking at it bothers you, it could bother a potential buyer and reduce the appeal of your home. Replace burnt out light bulbs, fix that loose door handle, make needed paint touch-ups. Make a Buyer’s Entrance Inviting Freshly paint the front door with a color that contrasts the house. Add a new welcome mat. Hang a fresh wreath on the door. Let the Light Shine In Removing heavy window coverings to let in the natural light we all crave. Add lamps to brighten up darker areas to add more cheer. Remove the Clutter This serves two purposes....

TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOARD'S DECEMBER 2019 & YEAR-END STATS Toronto Real Estate Board President Michael Collins reported that December 2019 residential sales reported through TREB's MLS® System by Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® were up by 17.4 per cent year-over-year to 4,399. Total sales for calendar year 2019 amounted to 87,825 – up by 12.6 per cent compared to the decade low 78,015 sales reported in 2018. On an annual basis, 2019 sales were in line with the median annual sales result for the past decade. "We certainly saw a recovery in sales activity in 2019, particularly in the second half of the year. As anticipated, many home buyers who were initially on the sidelines moved back into the market place starting in the spring. Buyer confidence was buoyed by a strong regional economy and declining contract mortgage rates over the course of the year," said Mr. Collins. While sales were up in 2019, the number of new listings entered into...

BUYING A HOUSE ON A BUSY STREET Jumping into the real estate market, the first thing you will learn about the house hunting process is that there are trade offs.  There is no way to buy a home without compromising about something. It does not matter what your budget is, what location you are looking for, there will always be a trade off.  Most people do not like to live on busy streets. In fact, there is more than a 50% chance that if a house is located on a busy street, you won’t want to see it. This is especially true if you have young children and/or pets.  But is living on a busy street such a bad thing?  Right Where The Action Is   If you love the hustle and bustle of life and want to be close to the action, living on a busy street is exactly where you want to live. You won’t have to walk far to get to the night life or whatever amenities you are hoping to have in your neighbourhood. And by amenities we’re talking more businesses to work for, ...

Buying A New Build AUGUST 28, 2019  | Buying a new build property usually entices a certain kind of home buyer. They have a vision of a dream home and nothing previously created will suffice. They want a custom design, not inherited. They want everything in their home to reflect their own personal taste; no memories of past residents carved into the walls. It will be new, shiny, and all theirs. If this sounds like you, here are some things you should know about buying a new build. Investigate The Developer’s Reputation Developers maintain their success by the quality of their work. If someone has had an awful experience with a certain developer, the word will quickly spread throughout the internet. It is important to be able to decipher when something is an isolated experience or if the developer’s behaviour is patterned. See if you can find out if your developer sells to investors. Some developers are able to sell as many units as possible to investors in...