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You want to sell your home. You are ready but is your house ready? Here are some step-by-step instructions and tips for ensuring that your house is at its best and more than ready for the real estate market. Clean, Clean, then Clean Some More… People will judge whether or not they want to live in a home primarily by what they see. If they see a dirty house, they’ll wonder about its condition and […]
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Cleaning your home is the first step to showing it in its best light. Buyers look into every nook and cranny. You should go through your home as if you were a potential buyer and look at it with critical eyes! If it is dirty, clean it. If it is broken, fix it. If it is noisy, silence it. If it is not working, repair it. Here is a checklist to help you plan your […]
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Whether you are moving to a whole new city or just a new neighborhood, its never easy! The faster you get to know your new neighbourhood, the sooner you will feel at home again. There are a couple of ways you can get to know your new surroundings. Here are some of our favorites! Maps and guidebooks Although you might think a guidebook is for tourists, you would be surprised how helpful these can be […]
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When you move into your new apartment you may want to revive your rooms with a fresh coat of paint. Even if it is just a coat of crisp white paint, it can make your apartment look brighter and new. Depending on the current conditions of the walls when you move in, your landlord may take on the responsibility of painting for you, but if not, here are some things to know if you are […]
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Cutting costs is not easy and can be frustrating if you are trying to save up for something special. Maybe you want to put money aside for a trip, school, a big purchase or just create a security blanket in the bank in case of emergency. Regardless of your reason to save, here are some great ways to make it happen! Create a Budget Creating a budget is the first step to saving. Knowing where […]
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Why create a budget? It is easy to let spending get out of hand, an extra drink at the bar, splurging on a long weekend get away or indulging in the new iPad that you just don’t need. No one ever said you should count pennies but being smart about your money is always a good thing. Having a budget can mean finding a way to put money aside for an important purchase or creating […]
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Home Staging is the preparation of a home inside and out for viewing by potential buyers in advance of its being listing on the real estate market. The purpose of Home Staging is to bring a home’s best features forward, and assure a favorable presentation. Staging a home can help potential buyers see themselves in it as their home. This has value as only about 5% of potential buyers can visualize changes to a home, they […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Once your offer to purchase has been accepted you should see your lender to verify and update your financial information. Your lender may request a property appraisal and/or a land survey. In addition, title insurance may be required. Your lender will then go over available mortgage options. There are two primary options: Conventional Mortgage: A conventional mortgage is a mortgage loan that is equal to, or less than, the lending value of the property. The […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Land Transfer Taxes (LTT) are provincial taxes levied on the exchange of real estate, and are the responsibility of the purchaser. Usually the LTT is a percentage of the property value. All provinces have a land transfer tax except Alberta and Saskatchewan (who instead levy a much smaller fee). Note that Ontario, Toronto, B.C. and PEI there are LTT rebates for first time homeowners. Also, keep in mind that Toronto is an exception as it […]
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Is it mandatory? Mortgage loan insurance, also known as mortgage default insurance, is mandatory in Canada if you have a high-ratio mortgage. In other words, if the down payment on your mortgage is between 5% and 19.99% you will require mortgage loan insurance. If your down payment is at least 20% mortgage loan insurance is generally not required. However there are exceptions, therefore you should always check with your mortgage lender. What is mortgage loan […]
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Are you searching for a new house? Are you unhappy with the real estate agent that you’ve used in the past? Are you moving to a new city and looking for another home? We have all the tips you will need to help you find and select the real estate agent that is right for you and your needs. Here are a few general considerations to get you started Start by finding out which agents […]
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So you are considering moving and don’t know if you should you buy or rent in your new city? This article has been written to assist you further when answering the age-old question of should I buy or rent my home. While it is certainly wise and essential for you to calculate the costs of both approaches, the numbers are not everything. Before getting started, an important caveat is that it is difficult to explore […]
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There are many expenses that will be incurred when purchasing and moving into a home. Awareness and a little bit of early planning will help avoid any unpleasant surprises. Here is an overview of typical expenses, broken down into two parts: those incurred before or during the purchase process, and those incurred once you have purchased the home and are preparing your move or have just moved in. 1. Costs incurred during the purchase process […]
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When purchasing a resale home, or a new home, you should consider having it inspected by a professional home inspector. A home inspection is often an important condition of the Offer to Purchase. If this is the case, a home inspection must take place in order to close the sale. Qualifications of a home inspector In Alberta and British Columbia, the provincial government must license home inspectors. In British Columbia home inspectors need to be […]
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Are you considering selling your own home or working with a real estate agent? Many sellers feel that real estate commissions are too high. On a $300,000 home, those commissions can add up to $15,000 or more. In theory, you can save thousands of dollars if you sell your own home. But do you have the time or skills to sell your own home? We will provide you with some important guidelines that may help […]
