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
The City of Kelowna in BC recently approved a new process for secondary suites in single-family homes. The new process makes it easier and cheaper for homeowners to build legal secondary suites in the hopes that it will provide more affordable housing in the city.
What's a secondary suite? It's a private, self-contained unit in an existing home. Also known as "mortgage helpers" or "in-law suites", ...
Posted by Aliza Fung
on October 16, 2012
I just saw a frost warning for parts of Southern Ontario which reminds us that the cold season is really upon us. Days are shorter and the autumn leaves line our streets. It seemed like yesterday people were still enjoying sunny days in the park, but Fall is fully upon us. Before it gets too cold, take some time to make sure your home is ready for the chilly months ahead.
CMHC has a fairly extensive ...
Posted by Aliza Fung
on September 28, 2012
People that handle commercial leases frequently, know that virtually anything is up for discussion in a lease negotiation. Good negotiators know that in a good deal, everyone wins. If you negotiate well you won’t get everything you want, but a successful negotiation can save you thousands of dollars that can be reinvested in your business or enjoyed as profits by you and your family. ...
Posted by Martha Marton
on September 11, 2012
Whether you are considering buying a new home or refinancing your existing mortgage, important personal information and documents will be required by lenders. This checklist gives an overview of the necessary documentation that most Canadian lenders require prior to approving and funding a mortgage. By providing these documents in a timely fashion, you will help to ensure ...
Posted by Jason Neumann
on August 27, 2012
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is visual investigation of a home’s structure and components to find malfunctioning or unsafe issues within.
Some of the possible components to be inspected are:
heating system
central air
interior plumbing
electrical
energy audits
visible insulation
walls
ceilings
floors
roof
attic
windows
doors
basement
foundation
mold ...
Posted by Paul Baron
on August 9, 2012
In today's market, this is a common question many home owner's ask themselves. There are many different reasons why a home may not sell. Ask yourself these questions:
How well did my home "show"? This could be anything from carpeting showing traffic-pattern wear, to laundry being hung out to dry. When you walk in the door, does it smell fresh and clean or does it smell like a dorm ...
Posted by Scarlett Klee
on August 2, 2012
There are six key components to the elements of an offer.
They are:
Price
Depending on the local market conditions and information provided by your Real Estate Professional, the price you offer may be different from the seller's listed price. It can often take some negotiation to come up with a price that you and the seller are happy with.
Deposit
Your deposit shows good faith and will ...
Posted by Sukhwinder Bhaura
on July 20, 2012
So I'm driving in Cooper's Crossing and I see a bird fly out of a vent from the house on the corner. Well, I keep watching the house because I drive by 4 to 6 times a day, during school days. Then after 2 days of this I can't help but think that this house will burn down with this nest in a dryer vent! Now I'm worried and would feel horrible if in fact the house did burn down! I go to talk to ...
Posted by Veronika Ellwand
on July 13, 2012
New mortgage rules will take effect next Monday. I've been reading a lot of the news articles about the changes and I think it's important to clarify a few points.
25 Year Amortization Period
For government-backed insured mortgages, a 5% down payment is still the minimum requirement. If you put a 20% down payment on a home, then you will not need mortgage insurance and will not be limited to the ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on July 5, 2012