When buying any commodity, new is often better than used. In the housing market, though, your best opportunity can come from an old home or, as in Ottawa, where the inventory of new homes is overstocked, you may be able to purchase a new home for the same price buyers paid years ago. Here are […]
Buying Old Versus New Properties – Pros and Cons Read More »
When you decide to buy your first home, the initial excitement is often quickly followed by fear of the unknown. After viewing many attractive properties online, you have no idea where to start. Eventually, though, with the invaluable assistance of a real estate agent, you can purchased your dream home at a great price.
Why Appreciate Your Real Estate Agent Read More »
When it comes time to purchase a new home, where should you go for financing? You may have a relationship with a bank from past transactions (RRSPs, savings accounts, car loan), so it’s the first option that comes to mind. But, mortgage brokers are licensed specialists who have access to many lenders and mortgage
Financing Your Home Purchase – Mortgage Broker or Bank? Read More »
What a difference a day makes! An extra day in February saw 46 sales on that day (February 29th) as per the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s news release March 3rd. See the full Ottawa Real Estate market snapshot for February and the full story from the Ottawa Real Estate Board below. With spring around
Real Estate Snapshot February 2016 Read More »
We all want to save more money, but doing it requires a plan. And, the best approach to saving depends on the stage of life you’re in because each phase has unique financial commitments. Although individual circumstances vary, these generation-specific suggestions will point you in the right direction. Millennials (19-35) Millennials, born
Saving Strategies for Every Age Read More »
The efforts of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) and the Progressive Conservatives were recently rewarded when the provincial government decided they would NOT be expanding the municipal land transfer tax program. Liberals keep election promise In an unexpected announcement during the legislature’s question period, Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin ended concerns
Don’t tax my dream campaign succeeds Read More »
This propertyinvestment.com post from Nila Sweeney is an excellent primer for those who want to start a property portfolio. First, check your finances to see how much you can invest and get mortgage pre-approval. Then, define what success means for you, as well as the level of risk you are comfortable with, and
8 steps to getting started in property investment Read More »
This post from Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com, explains what Millenials can do to help themselves along the path to home ownership. For example, a high debt burden will restrict their ability to qualify for a mortgage, and the amount they can get, so they need to limit their total debt payments (student loans,
An Economist’s Letter to Millennials Who Can’t (Yet) Buy a Home Read More »
In this Redfin.com post, home inspector Dylan Chalk underscores the importance of a home inspection by identifying how they can prevent a potential sale. The most common reason is the home is not what it appears to be, especially in the case of a “flipped home”, one purchased and updated with the intention of
The 3 Most Common Reasons a Home Inspection Kills a Deal Read More »
If you’ve reached the time of life where you are contemplating downsizing your home, the first question to ask, according to this Realto.com post, is what kind of lifestyle do you want after downsizing? By defining how you want to live, you can narrow your search and focus on housing that will meet those
Is It Time to Downsize? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions First Read More »