Property tax is a real estate ad-valorem tax, calculated by a local government, which is paid by the owner of the property. We may not love them but it is one of the carrying costs that come with homeownership. Property taxes are charged by the municipality you live in, and are used to pay for many city services such as garbage and recycling collection, sewer protection, road maintenance, snow re...Read More

For those new to buying and selling real estate, the language can often add layers of confusion. Here are six terms that you should know before starting the process.   Buyer’s Realtor/Selling Realtor There are usually two realtors involved in a transaction. Buyer’s agent who represents you and the listing agent who represents the seller.   Multiple Listing Service (MLS)...Read More

Before entering the real estate market, it is always best to be well prepared. The same thing goes for when entering a bidding war. The most successful clients in a bidding war are the ones who are prepared for battle as they say. Here are some tips that can lead you to success.   Pre-Approval The first step is to speak with your mortgage specialist to find out how much you can afford. The ...Read More

In the real estate market, it isn’t uncommon to hear about bidding wars and bully bids. These tactics are not my favourite but it is important for both buyers and sellers to know about.   Bidding Wars   Bidding wars are when a realtor and the seller have aggressively priced their property and have chosen a day to convey all offers. This is done in hopes that multiple buyers bid o...Read More

In real estate, a deposit serves two purposes: Provides security to the Seller; and a deposit ensures that the Buyer has a stake in the agreement.  What is a deposit in real estate and when is it due?   The deposit is good faith that is put down by the buyer once you have a successful agreement in sale. This amount is put towards your down payment and closing costs. Unless otherwise s...Read More

Home buying can be defined as one of the biggest purchases in someone’s life and besides the cost of the home itself, there are a few other closing costs associated with home purchasing. Here are four closing costs to keep in mind when purchasing a home.   Land Transfer Tax Land Transfer Tax (LTT) is paid by everyone who purchases property. The LTT is a marginal tax that is paid to ...Read More

There are many times when home owners find the perfect home; however, sometimes the home may need a lot of TLC to truly make it your own. I know that this was the situation for my wife and I. We found our perfect home but the home had no improvements or upgrades done to it in the last 50 years. After all the costs, fees, etc associated with purchasing the home, we were strapped for “renovat...Read More

At times it can be hard to differ a myth from fact especially in the real estate market. There are many myths out there and I will be debunking the three biggest ones out there right now.  Myth # 1 I have to pay commission to my agent for finding me a home. Fact My services are FREE to buyers. In a standard sale the buyer does not pay commission. It is up to the sellers brokerage to dete...Read More

Making money off of an investment property can be done with a few simple ways and I break it down in this latest Real Estate Minute. 1. Positive Cash Flow You want the rent to pay for more than the cost of the mortgage. A positive cash flow is when rental income exceeds or covers the rental expenses associated with a particular rental property. As long as you’ve invested wisely, and have c...Read More

In this piece, I am sharing my top secrets on how to buy in aggressive real estate market like Toronto, Hamilton and Mississauga. Here are my top three tips.     10 % to 20 % Over Budget When looking for a home, my advice is to shop 10% to 20% over your budget. Reason being is that one in three homes today are overpriced. I know this sounds counterintuitive. However, in many cases the ...Read More