One way to lose money even when you’ve made 5000% on your home

Joe and his wife are both 84. They bought their house in 1956 for $14,000. Demand for their almost 60-year-old bungalow in midtown Toronto is strong. A week never goes by without some realtor or developer knocking on the door or leaving a note asking the couple to sell. The cold calls offer a dazzling […]

The newly rich: How your world changes when downsizing creates a windfall

You may never have imagined yourself sitting on a financial windfall and wondering what to do with it but many older Canadians who have lived through the housing market’s finest hours are facing just that. If the investment in your family home has paid off handsomely over your lifetime, there might come a time to […]

Canada’s top court declines to hear Toronto realtor case appeal

Canada’s top court said it won’t hear an appeal of a case on whether Toronto’s main realtor group must give wider access to their historical price data. The Ottawa-based Supreme Court published the decision on its website Thursday. The Toronto Real Estate Board blocks its 35,000 members from publishing sale prices on their internal websites, […]

Young urban condo buyers: Why not rent instead? – Consult with a Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Question for all the young adults buying condos these days: What are you thinking? Rent that little box in the sky and save your money for a house later on. Don’t buy something you’re going to grow out of in a few years. “When you run the numbers, renting is probably a bit cheaper,” said […]

Six things to know about real estate deposits – Consult with a Vancouver Mortgage Broker

When you make an offer on a house you have to put down a deposit. Here are some things to keep in mind. By: Mark Weisleder Real Estate, Published on Fri May 16 2014 Here are some answers to common questions about deposits when you are buying a house. When must a deposit be paid? In Ontario, the […]

How to house-hunt with your head, not your heart: Eight steps to smarter house hunting

Contrary to popular belief, home is not where the heart is. Home is where the head is – and if you don’t use your head when house-hunting you could find yourself wishing you’d never said “I do” to that not-so-dream home. Though it’s sometimes appropriate to let your heart take the lead, finding the right […]

5 tips for a safe ‘open house’ event – Consult with a Vancouver Mortgage Broker

(NC)—Hosting an ‘open house’ is an effective real estate sales tool that your agent will likely recommend, but how can you be sure your security will be kept in check? “Ask your Realtor questions about how to prepare for visitors,” says Carla Bouchard, a broker with Royal LePage Metro. “Make sure that you understand what […]

How to Choose your Vancouver Real Estate Agent – from your Vancouver Mortgage Broker

How to Choose your Vancouver Real Estate Agent – from your Vancouver Mortgage Broker Realtors are trained and licensed professionals, but like any professional they are not all the same. Whether you are buying or selling a home in Vancouver, their services can be invaluable. Although you might be tempted to go the FSBO (For […]

Preparing an Older Vancouver Home for Sale (Part 2) – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

(Part 2) Preparing an Older Vancouver Home for Sale – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker When you’re selling an older home in Vancouver, you can bet that any prospective buyer is going to want to see that the home has seen its share of TLC put into the maintenance of the home. You can […]

Preparing an Older Vancouver Home for Sale (Part 1) – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Preparing an Older Vancouver Home for Sale (Part 1) – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker Selling an older home in Vancouver may require a few renovations to make it look more appealing to potential buyers. Styles have changed considerably so it can well be worth your while to reflect those changes. You can take […]

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