If you haven't been paying attention to the news lately, you might have missed information about the Home Renovation Tax Credit. It's part of the stimulus program that the federal government has put into place for this year, as part of the effort to help the economy and shorten the recession. Essentially, it works by reducing your income taxes up to $1,350 for the 2009 tax year.
So, ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on October 25, 2009
So, I've been discovering very interesting things happening in the market - it continues to improve. Today, the Toronto Real Estate Board has released a report to the media showing that the market is still rising. So far in September, the number of transactions has increased by 23% over the first two weeks of September 2008. And prices have increased by 8% in the same time period. So ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on September 16, 2009
So, how much is your home worth? Hmmm, interesting question and the answers will change depending on whom you ask.
To determine a recommended asking and therefore likely selling price, a good Realtor will compare your home to similar homes that have recently sold. What's a similar home? A similar home to Realtors and the public is one that is approximately the same size (square ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on August 14, 2009
I received an interesting email the other day from one of my Seller clients. My client copied me on an email that he sent to a rather unprofessional real estate salesperson who had an appointment to show his home. Here's the email that my Seller client sent to this person - note that I've omitted identifying names, etc:
***
"Dear (unprofessional real estate salesperson):
I am ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on July 22, 2009
As I write this, it's a cooler summer afternoon with rain on the 30th of June - it feels more like a spring day than summer. And that brings to mind thoughts of the "spring" market that we've just experienced.
Well, the market turned out to be pretty decent - a little above last year's numbers (before the economic fuddle-duddle). As of last night, there have been 353 house sales ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on June 30, 2009
So, the end of May has just passed and the market is proving to be rather interesting at the moment. I'm helping some Buyer clients look for homes, and interestingly, multiple offer situations are starting to happen once again. Admittedly, this is in the "hot" area of Leslieville just east of downtown Toronto. But even here in Brampton where I do most of my work, the market is ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on June 2, 2009
I had a really good experience last week with another Realtor (a Century 21 agent of course!) in another city. I met the other Realtor as my buyer client and I had some questions about the house we were considering, and she was completely forthright and honest - the way a Realtor should be!
Normally, I only work in the west GTA i.e. Toronto/Brampton/Mississauga/Milton/Caledon ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on May 26, 2009
Well, it's the last week of April 2009, and the market is growing - just like the spring flowers in the garden! Yep, even in these trying economic times, the market IS improving!
Over the last few weeks, I've experienced more activitiy in the market. Homes are starting to sell a little bit faster, and I've even shown buyers houses and when we've begun to prepare an offer, we've found ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on April 24, 2009
Well, I just completed my first full year in Real Estate and I am really pleased - actually, I want to SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS - that I had an excellent year!
I am humbled and really happy that I was awarded the Masters Silver award from Century 21 Canada for the amount of sales that I completed in my first full year. Plus, I earned the Rookie of the Year award from my brokerage, ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on March 27, 2009
I read the newspaper every morning as I eat my breakfast cereal and drink a cup of coffee. And, I find it interesting how headlines don't always reflect the true nature of the story. But then, headlines are designed to grab your attention, right? Over the last few months, newspaper headlines have been a little scary i.e. the real estate market has "FALLEN BY 40%!!!" and "HOUSE ...
Posted by Jim Datlen
on March 9, 2009