Click photo to watch video Real estate experts know the importance of making your home look as attractive and inviting as possible to prospective buyers. That is why you should consider getting some “staging” advice. Being objective about the way your home looks involves looking at it from the point of view of a prospective [...]
(ARA) – With the downturn in the economy over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of homes have gone into foreclosure, offering a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many Americans to buy a home at an unheard of price, sometimes 30 percent or more off the most recent sale price. Buying a home is always [...]
A Toronto tax consultant thinks MPAC – Ontario’s Municipal Property Assessment Corporation – may have over-assessed as many as one third of Ontario single family homes. This could result in paying hundreds of dollars of extra tax over the next few years. The assessment problems are caused by MPAC’s averaging system. They use municipal sources [...]
Luxury home sales hit new highs in 9 or 13 regions across Canada, according to a recent ReMax Canada report. The report was based on information from brokers. A luxury home is usually thought of as one falling within the top 1% to 5% of sales. The luxury price range varies across Canada from $400,000 [...]
Short term economic forecasts from the economists used by the Canadian government to prepare the federal budget have been revised upwards. In December the average growth rate was projected at 2.6% for 2010. They now say it will be 3.1%. Growth in 2011 has been revised downward slightly from 3.2% to 3.1%. Unemployment is projected [...]
New mortgage rules coming into effect this month make it necessary for some home buyers to lock into five year fixed rate mortgages in order to secure the amount they need. Some claim this is forcing them to pay more than they have to. The irony is that the new rules are supposed to protect [...]
According to one adviser the six biggest mistakes made by many first time home buyers are: 1. Not taking care of their credit score. This can make a very significant difference to the interest rate a borrower is charged. 2. Making a big purchase just before or during a mortgage application. This will almost certainly [...]
April 15, 2010 – After letting the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) expire on Mar 28, Congress passed legislation to renew it till May 31, 2010. President Obama signed the legislation into law on April 15. The NFIP provides flood insurance for more than 10,000 communities with homes in floodplains. Many real estate transactions were [...]
If you thought going through a foreclosure proceeding would automatically eliminate your obligation to repay a 2nd or 3rd mortgage, think again. In some cases foreclosed owners are being aggressively pursued by banks and lending institutions to pay back so-called “junior mortgages” – home equity loans. State laws vary, but in some cases it does [...]
Toronto Real Estate Board President, Tom Lebour wrote an excellent article in the Toronto Sun’s Resale Homes and Condos section on green homes savings. Having a Green Home Provides Savings and Peace-of-Mind January 29, 2010 — When it comes to character, you just can’t beat the charm of an older home. Newly constructed homes however, [...]
