Condominiums and the law. You may be wondering how significant this topic may be to you. Well, let me start by saying that if you live in a condominium or plan to purchase a condominium you must abide by the Condominium Act, the condominium declaration, condominium by-laws and the condominium rules. Sounds like a lot? Well it is. The four documents that I mentioned above tell you what are your rights and responsibilities under condo laws. It comes as no surprise that Mississauga, particularly the Square One area, is home to a plethora of condominium’s. I myself reside in a condo here in the square one area. I have lived in several other condominium’s in my lifetime and let me tell you, they all operate differently. 1. Condominium Act This act was established in 1998 and it basically tel... 03/08/2015

Have you ever wondered what are the top 3 reasons why real estate deals fall apart? I have found from experience that even after a deal is signed you are never in the clear. Here are my top 3 reasons why real estate deals fall apart. 1. Poor Financing The home buyer must obtain a mortgage to finance his/her purchase. They are typically given 5 days to fulfill this condition. Well, if the buyer has bad credit, insufficient income, a small down payment, etc , the deal can fall apart. A good agent will always advise their clients to secure financing first, before making an offer. With financing in hand, the buyer is forced to shop within their means and the offer is more likely to get accepted and become solidified. 2. Low Appraisal The purpose of the appraisal is to determine the value of... 03/05/2015

Have you ever wondered what are the top 5 questions to ask a realtor? You’ve taken the time to compile a list of agents that you will be interviewing in order to assist you in selling your home. So now is the time to ask the right questions. I have compiled a list of questions that I have been asked from my clients while being interviewed to list their homes. Any consumer looking to buy and sell a home must ask the following questions to their realtor. 1. Are you a full time or part time agent? When making the decision to buy or sell a home, you want to work with a realtor that is full time. They will give you all of their time and attention as opposed to an agent who sells real estate on occasion. A part time agent typically has another job and various commitments that come before real... 03/04/2015

What is a timeshare and what are the pros and cons of timeshares? Let’s begin by defining a timeshare. Atimeshare is a type of property ownership in which you share ownership of a single property with a group of people. You are bound to a specific place and time each year. There is also another type of timeshare ownership that is based on a points system. In this case, you purchase timeshare points that can be exchanged for the use of a variety of destinations and resorts. So why a timeshare? Well it’s probably because you just got back from vacation and you can’t wait to go back and visit that island again.You had such a great time that you want to go back over and over again. Before you decide to purchase a timeshare, here are a few things you should know. You need to know what the pr... 03/03/2015

Marijuana grow-op’s are places where marijuana is or was grown for a period of time. Also known as “grow-op’s, the size of the operation can range from one marijuana plant to thousands of plants. So you might ask, well what does this have to do with me? If you are a buyer, you should ensure that the home you are about to purchase was never used a grow-op. The majority of grow-op’s are typically operated out of a home. And since they have been operating out of homes, this may contribute to poor air quality caused by mould growth and lingering chemical residues in the unit where it was found. This can lead to serious health risks for you and your family. How do you know that the house you are about to purchase was or was never used as a grow-op? You have a few options. First, a good realt... 03/02/2015

It comes as no surprise that there is a large amount of rental units in the south peel region. Nowadays, more and more residents are turning to rental units as their preferred choice of accommodation. I mean why wouldn’t you rent? You pay your monthly rent; and you pay your hydro bill every month. You don’t have to worry about a mortgage, property taxes or any additional expenses. So where is the landlord in all of this? You may have an arrangement where you share the unit with your landlord or your landlord lives off-site. Either way, your landlord is cashing those post-dated cheque’s every month. What if your landlord starts making unusual requests? Now what? You can contact the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario. The objective of the board is to inform landlords and tenants about t... 03/01/2015

Why are the residents of Mississauga not investing? This is the question that I ask myself from time to time. So I’ve taken the time to ask my past clients and present clients this question. The most common response that I’ve gotten in return is, “what if the real estate market crashes?” Residents of Mississauga and elsewhere are quick to think that if the real estate market crashes they will lose everything. This very saying has no truth to it at all. I have come across many residents in the city of Mississauga that are looking to invest. They ask me for advice and my answer to them is very simple. Start investing and avoid looking for excuses. If you’ve got the money to invest then do it. What are you waiting for? Conversely, you have investors that make excuses and are looking for a ... 02/25/2015

Preparing your Mississauga home for a showing to prospective buyers is the key to a successful sale. Studies show that the moment a buyer walks into your home is the exact moment as to whether or not they will purchase the home. Therefore it is essential that your home is spotless and appealing to the human eye. Here is a list of 10 points that I feel are crucial in assisting a home owner prepare their home for showings. 1. Get rid of clutter Clear off all the counters in your home. Old newspapers and magazines that are sitting around must go. Empty out your closets as well. Any clothing that is occupying the closet floor should go. At the end of the day you want to create a free flow of traffic in the house without obstructions. 2. Wash windows and screens Once you clean the windows an... 02/24/2015

“How safe is that neighbourhood?,” is one of the first things buyers ask and some real estate agents can’t answer. As agents, we are limited and can’t give an expert response. However, we can do the homework for the homebuyers and offer a polite suggestion. We can go online and research the area. We can look up local reviews and view crime statistics over the last few years. But that’s not enough! Suggest to your client that they take a walk in the neighbourhood and observe its characteristics. Here are a few things that I feel are crucial to look for when assessing is the neighbourhood you’re moving to safe. 1. Listen to your intuition If you feel something is not right, then chances are you are right. Go into the neighbourhood and eat your lunch in the local park. If you feel safe whi... 02/23/2015

I was once a first time homebuyer and heard a lot of home buying credit myths. I was terrified in purchasing a home. My friends and family members were quick to give advice about the home-purchasing process. As a result, I encountered several home buying credit myths that temporarily stopped me from buying a home. That advice reinforced some of the most common home-buying credit myths. Let’s take a closer look. Myth #1: You need perfect credit to purchase a home. It is true that an individual’s credit score has an impact on the mortgage loan approval process and the resulting interest rate. However, perfect credit is not needed to secure approval for a mortgage loan. While credit scores can range, the higher your credit score, the more options you will have to find a mortgage with bette... 02/22/2015

As a real estate agent, we put ourselves at risk on a daily basis. We don’t even realize it. Meeting new clients, showing properties, hosting open houses and chauffeuring clients are all activities that may compromise our personal safety. In my opinion, real estate is considered a high-risk profession. Real Estate agents have no formal training when they meet new clients for the first time or they are showing a vacant home. As a real estate professional, we are constantly putting ourselves at risk. The industry is an open field for criminals. Below are some of the most common tasks that real estate agents face on a daily basis. I have included some tips of how to safely execute these simple tasks while being proactive at the same time. 1.Entering Vacant Homes Vacant homes are typically ... 02/17/2015

Gangs today are mobile – they move around. No neighbourhood is safe from gangs. A gang may hang out in a certain area or neighbourhood and claim it as their own (ex: shopping mall, corner store, park, school). The area is sometimes referred to as the gang’s ‘turf’ or ‘hood.’ Gangs bring fear and violence to our communities. Property may be vandalized and marked with graffiti. This makes some residents afraid to leave their homes. Vandalism, stealing and frightening customers can ruin businesses or force them to move away, taking jobs and money out of the community. Gangs can also increase the criminal activity in a community. Gang members are known to commit more violent crimes more often than criminals who are not in gangs. As well, gang members commit more serious crimes over longer c... 02/16/2015

Just Listed - 2Bed, 2Bath Luxury Condo - Absolute Towers. Upgraded Bright Corner Unit With Walkouts To Balcony. Featuring 9 Ft' Ceiling. Kitchen Boasts: Extended Cabinets and Backsplash. New Flooring In Living Room. Priced At Tremendoudly To Move Quickly! 2Bed, 2Bath Luxury Condo. Asking Price: $298,000 Call: 416-268-9344 Before It's Gone....   02/15/2015

GTA Home and Reno show February 13th to 16th at the International Centre in Mississauga.   On the second day of the show there will be an expert panel hosted by the Building Industry and Land Development Association, reviewing the benefits of new developments in the different neighbourhoods across the Greater Toronto Area. This seminar is from 10.30 AM till noon.   It will include project renderings and also look at the benefits of community centres, parks and new businesses to meet the residential expansion.   I believe, it will be educational and informative and contribute to the exchange of ideas, about the policies being implemented in the GTA neighbourhoods. Dates + Time   Friday, February 13       10:00am - 8:00pm Saturday, February 14   10:00am - 9:00pm Sunday, February 15     1... 02/13/2015

Safe City Mississauga is a local government program mandated to provide services, programs and information that contribute to the reduction of crime in Mississauga and which help residents and visitors feel safe and secure.   One of the programs offered by Safe City Mississauga is the Neighbouhood Watch. What is the Neighbourhood Watch? Neighbourhood Watch increases community safety by helping neighbours protect themselves, their families, and their property. Safe City Mississauga provides neighbourhoods with signage, a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design audit, a home security seminar delivered by the Peel Regional Police, and window decals to deter criminals.   Nearly all studies show that Neighbourhood Watch areas are associated with lower levels of crime, and research ind... 02/12/2015

MYTH: Affordable housing will drive down property values.Local research in the region of Peel has shown that affordable housing has no negative impact on the price or frequency of sales of neighboring homes. Mixed income buildings can boost the residential real estate market in many areas by replacing the blighted buildings that keep real estate values low. Numerous studies over time from around Canada support the general notion that affordable housing has no negative impact on surrounding property values especially if it is thoroughly and properly integrated into the neighborhood. MYTH: Affordable housing will look like “cheap housing.”Affordable housing must comply with the same building restrictions and design standards as market-rate housing. Builders know that it makes sense to use... 02/11/2015

Closing costs are legal and administrative fees associated with buying your home. It is essential you and your real estate agent go over each of these expenses. This will make the home-buying experience much easier and will avoid any surprises. Closing costs can include: CMHC/ GFC INSURANCE: is an insurance coverage when applying for a high ratio mortgage. A high ration mortgage is one between 5-19% down payment. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation or Genworth Financial Canada are the two insurance providers. The fee charge will depend on the amount of money borrowed and the percentage of down payment. Fees can range from 1.00% and 3.25% of the principal amount of your mortgage. Land Transfer Taxes: These specific taxes vary from province to province. The tax is based on perce... 02/10/2015

At some point in time we’ve all had a nosy neighbour. Remember those times where you would go outside to check the mail, that nosy neighbour is pretending to prune hedges that do not need pruning. You have friends over for dinner and that nosy neighbour is sitting somewhere within earshot, listening in on your private conversations. So how can you deal with that nosy neighbour? As a first step, it would be wise to try and deal with a nosy neighbor delicately; after all you do have to live next door to this person. Send them an anonymous letter explaining that you do not appreciate the unwanted attention that they are paying you. Chances are that you are not the only person they have been annoying. If their nosy behavior continues, drop hints in conversation. Bring up something you saw o... 02/09/2015

We always want the best for our kids. We will spend countless hours researching the best pre-school programs before your child is even born. Once they reach school-going age, determining your child’s educational path can be one of the most challenging decisions parents have to face. Do you opt to go with the Public School System or look at Private School education in Mississauga? In evaluating what will work best for your child, it is vital to consider several factors. Most Public and Private schools have very similar goals for their students. Every school wants to meet the needs of their students and develop well rounded individuals who will become productive members of society. The goals may be similar, but the outcomes often differ greatly Why Private School? A Mississauga private sc... 02/08/2015

Sellers should list their home on a Friday for the best chance of selling it. A recent American study analyzed data for 1.2 million listings in 16 markets nationwide over a 21 month period. The study found that of all listed homes in those 16 markets, those listed on a Friday were 12 percent more likely to sell within 90 days, and homes listed on a Thursday or Friday sold, on average, for slightly closer to list price: 94.4 percent compared with 93.9 percent when homes are listed on a Sunday or Monday. Put another way, that’s a $1,000 difference on a $200,000 home. Homes listed on a Friday were also 18.8 percent more likely to be toured.Homes listed on a Sunday or Monday were the least likely to be toured.Why is Friday the best day to list a home for sale? The theory is that since homeb... 02/05/2015