4 Easy Steps To Your Dream Home! Its that time of year again! The spring market is right around the corner... a perfect time to buy real estate. Now is the time to start preparing for a Spring move. With a 30, 60 or 90 day closing date options, it’s easy to shop now and move later. I want to help you find your ideal home. Here are 4 easy steps to help get you into your perfect home ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on January 28, 2011
The Government of Canada announced yesterday (January 17th, 2011), three signifiant changes to mortgage financing, designed to address concerns about increasing levels of household debt. The following measures have been decided:
AMORTIZATION PERIOD: Reduce the maximum amortization period to 30 years from 35 years for new government-backed insured mortgages with loan-to-value ratios ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on January 19, 2011
Most Ontarians confused about HST and Resale Homes
An Ipsos Reid survey commissioned by OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association) released in October reveals that 56% of Ontarians mistakenly believe that the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) applies to the full purchase price of residential resale homes. This is not correct. In fact, the HST is only applied on the various fees associated with ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on November 16, 2010
Up, up and away! This week the bank industry made an unexpected move with Royal Bank of Canada and TD Bank making announcements of interest rate increases. Before now, it was predicted that interest rates would not go up until closer to September of this year. Needless to say, this new announcement has shook things up yet again in the real estate ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on March 30, 2010
What does the HST Tax mean for YOU?
I recently attended a For Sale By Owner open house and got into a discussion with the homeowner about the new HST tax. As we talked she commented how we were going to "make a killing with the new HST tax". We? I asked. She thought that the extra tax was going straight into the Realtors pocket. Ha,ha that just about floored me. I calmly explained that ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on March 19, 2010
Snow... Spring... Snow... SPRING! It appears that winter can't make up it's mind. This time of year it feels like Spring will never come. Well, we all know that the season's will change and we are closer to the end of winter than the beginnning (thank god). It's only a matter of a few weeks before birds will be singingin, the leaves will be blooming and the sun ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on February 26, 2010
Attn: Homeowners: Time's running out for your Home Renovation Tax credit...
It's almost February 1st, 2010... the deadline to take advantage of the Home Renovation Tax Credit. The Home Renovation Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit based on eligible expenses for improvements to your house, condo or cottage. It can be claimed on your 2009 income tax return. It applies to ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on January 19, 2010
If you can find 3 minutes in between working, posting on peoples walls on facebook and checking your blackberry... please take a few moments to read my latest blog entry. I was sitting in my office today thinking about what to write about, then it dawns on me, the most basic question facing our generation of future homebuyers... "Why should I care about real estate?". Please, ask yourself ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on January 13, 2010
Saving For A Down Payment
One of the first things to consider when buying a home is how much you want to put down for a down payment. Here are some tips on how to get from renting to relaxing in your new home or condo!
How much should I save? Well, the size of a down payment varies with the purchase price of the home. Depending on the type of mortgage, down payments normally range from ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on November 13, 2009
Distracted driving law on the horizon... Bill 118, banning drivers from using handheld devices while operating a vehicle on the road, will become law on October 26th, 2009. The legislation will prohibit drivers from holding devices such as cell phones, smartphones, iPods or other portable MP3 players, or portable games while driving.
Viewing display screens on devices not required for driving ...
Posted by Mike Graham
on October 5, 2009