We can’t resist commenting on the story which recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal regarding Colby Sambrotto, the founder and former CEO of forsalebyowner.com. It seems the founding father and lifelong evangelist of the concept of selling your home without a real estate agent was forced to hire a broker to sell his home after failing at what he preaches others should do.
After ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on April 16, 2012
March Sales Down Slightly
April 2, 2012
In March, local real estate sales decreased 4.8% over those of previous year, with 623 detached homes and 147 condos exchanging hands over the course of the month. Detached were slightly down by 3.7% and condos by 13.3%. “So, while last month’s figures are nothing to get excited about, they are also nothing to be concerned about. Slow and steady ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on April 3, 2012
Your physical diet has a large impact on your health and energy levels. If you eat fresh, healthy, high-quality foods of all kinds and avoid the foods that are bad for you, you will have more energy, be generally resistant to most diseases, sleep better, and feel healthier and happier. Your mental diet largely determines your character and your personality and almost everything that happens to you ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on March 30, 2012
This came to me from the London neighbourhood Watch. It seemed like it would be worthwhile sharing it with you.
Make sure that the outside world knows you are home - make your presence known.
Answer your door with it closed and locked. Learn to speak through the closed door. It’s not impolite; it is safer. Never open the door to strangers.
Bring ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on March 2, 2012
What comes first the House of the Mortgage?
Most people get it backwards. They shop for a home. They make the emotional decision of buying the home of their dreams. THEN, they try to structure the financing for it.. Try to apply logic in how they pay for it.
I am always fascinated by mortgage underwriting “standards” when they don’t even take into account some very large variables ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on October 20, 2011
First, interview two or three Mortgage Professionals and choose one you like and trust. As underwriting guidelines for lenders become more stringent, we need to re-examine what a good mortgage application looks like. As home buyers begin their search for a home, there are a few items they should be aware of that they can do to help get their loans approved (with the best possible terms), and, at the ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on October 6, 2011
Real Estate Corner…
London and St. Thomas Realtors Association
Single Family (increase year to year) LSTAR October 4, 2011
Area
Condo
Bungalow
2-storey
Ranch
Townhouse
Detached
North increase
211,662
2.9%
$223,683
0.6%
342,964
3.1%
333,844
2.6%
192,686
1.2%
$304,484
1.1%
South ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on October 4, 2011
This blog was adapted from a similar one for the Property Wire Article of the same name.
As realtors, when it comes to spotting a property’s warts, you’re caught between a rock and a hard place. Recommend an inspection that falls short, is not thoroughly thorough, and your clients won’t be happy with you. Recommend the gold standard of inspectors and the chances are that much more ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on September 16, 2011
Market Watch
Market rebounds strongly in August 2011
Home sales were up 21.7% in August, with 620 detached homes and 143 condos exchanging hands last month for a total of 763 transactions. The average number of homes sold in August over the past decade is 753, and that calculation factors in peak years of 2005, 2006 and 2007. In other words, as far as August goes, we’re more than ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on September 2, 2011
Bruce Smith of the Casb Management Group Inc. is a Canadian based company providing business financing under operating division, Advantage Business Financing and residential, commercial and construction mortgages under Centum Future Mortgage Group. For more information on our financial or consulting services, or to apply for financing online, go to www.casbmanagementgroup.com
Debunking the ...
Posted by Colin Hendry
on August 24, 2011