Knowing what to expect when your house goes on the market can be half the battle of going through the process. Here's a sneak peak at what you can expect when you decide to put your house up for sale:
First things first.
You want your home to show the absolute best that it can - and have it evaluated for the very best price. So clean up! Take a weekend to do a thorough audit of your home, deciding ...
Posted by Barry Chilliak
on March 6, 2013
Have you ever heard of the Home Buyer’s Tax Credit? Well, with tax season almost upon us, it’s a great time to find out what it is and whether you qualify for it if you bought a house in 2012. As per the Canada Revenue Agency, “you can claim an amount of $5000 for the purchase of a qualifying home made in 2012, if BOTH of the following apply:
You or your spouse or common-law ...
Posted by Cheryl Trask
on February 22, 2013
The Nutcracker came to Lindsay one weekend and the memories and imagery this ballet brings to mind evokes one of the happiest memories of my childhood. When I was a little girl, just before the Christmas break, my mom took me out of school at lunch for a very special treat. She didn't tell me what we were doing or where we were going. I had three brothers and one sister, so it was a rare occasion ...
Posted by Dee Girdler
on December 18, 2012
Christmas is just around the corner, which means the tube is full of holiday movies. Since Christmas movies are all based on warm fuzzy family-friendly stories - maybe not Die Hard - they often take place in a big, warm family home. So much work has gone into the productions to make the homes memorable and familiar that we all know the front window of Ralphie's family house in A Christmas Story or ...
Posted by Hans Taal
on December 14, 2012
Deciding whether to purchase a house or a condo has been a dilemma among first time homebuyers.
Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of both choices:
Condominiums
Pros:
Opportunity to live in a high-profile neighborhood; areas where houses are usually unaffordable, such as the downtown core or entertainment district.
Great selection of amenities offered with condominiums; ...
Posted by Home Sweet Home
on December 10, 2012
With popularity of home staging and all the home renovation shows on television these days, it's easy to become overwhelmed at the pressure the industry seems to place on the average homeseller to 'prepare your home for sale'. Let's de-mystify and simplify this process a little bit today...
You've met with a realtor, you like them and want to prepare the home for sale. What does that mean? If ...
Posted by Dee Girdler
on December 3, 2012
Yes, I know, you don't want to face it, but summer's over and fall is here. It's time to put all the warm-weather toys away because there's snow in some places already. If you're one of those people who have been leaving their $25,000 car outside all winter to create room for a $100 tent, maybe it's time for a little garage cleaning and reorganization!
Reclaiming your garage may seem like a pretty ...
Posted by Lazlo Vavrovics
on November 26, 2012
Finding the lowest mortgage rate is definitely an important part of mortgage shopping, but it’s not the only mortgage feature worthy of your attention. The sale of your home could evoke three crucial mortgage features: mortgage penalty fees, assumability, and portability. Today, we will focus on mortgage portability. What is mortgage portability? To port your mortgage is to transfer ...
Posted by Reggie Duque
on November 15, 2012
So much real estate is centred around buying your first home or moving up, but getting a smaller home has a lot of significance as well. There can be many different reasons people downsize, and here are some things to keep in mind when you do!
The first thought that comes to mind has to do with "empty nesters". This basically implies that a couple or a parent is living in a larger home they purchased ...
Posted by Laura Keller
on November 6, 2012
Halloween is fast approaching and although it looks like a wet one for most people across Canada, it's the one night where little ghouls and goblins come out to play.
To make sure everyone has a safe Halloween, consider some of these tips from Health Canada and Safe Kids Canada.
Stay warm: Fall is definitely in the air and when night sets in, so does the cold. It's a good idea to ensure your children's ...
Posted by Aliza Fung
on October 30, 2012