In summer, outdoor spaces can become extensions of our living space. If you have a garden or patio, adding some comfortable furniture, sources of light and other outdoor accessories can help transform your outdoor space into an inviting place to relax and unwind. Here is our list of outdoor living essentials that you need to […]
February 1st, 2021, The Ontario government established the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) to enhance the professionalism of the new home building industry in Ontario and to increase consumer protection. The establishment of a separate regulator for new home builders and vendors will ensure that new home builders and vendors are held to professional standards and […]
Welcome to the lovely area of Oak Ridges. Home of Lake Wilcox, Sunset Beach and Bond Lake. This a lovely community to buy a property and raise your family: The East Humber Trail: The East Humber Trail is a recreational walking & hiking trail. It passes through a variety of vegetation communities and land form […]
Over the last few months, we’ve seen our world transform at the hands of a global pandemic. We’re living in very different times where meeting face-to-face isn’t really an option. Despite the new reality, the priority of taking care of our personal finances is one thing that hasn’t changed. When it comes to getting a […]
Tips On Starting Your Own Home Vegetable Garden Have you ever considered starting your own garden? With summer finally here, there’s no better time to do so than now! It can be a daunting task at first but it’s not that bad once you get a start on it. If you’re still debating whether or […]
The Canadian real estate market is adjusting to tightened restrictions on doing business as properties continue to swap hands in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of March’s activity began in the first two weeks of the month before the State of Emergency order was put into place. In fact, we had a head […]
So you’ve fallen in love with a new home and have decided to make an offer. But before you do, speak to your real estate agent about getting a home inspection. Having a professional home inspector go through the property and assess its current condition will give you a better sense of whether you want […]
Following the surprise emergency 50 basis point (bp) rate cut by the Fed, the Bank of Canada followed suit yesterday and signalled it is poised to do more if necessary. The BoC lowered its target for the overnight rate by 50 bps to 1.25%, suggesting that “the COVID-19 virus is a material negative shock to […]
Minister Morneau Announces New Benchmark Rate for Qualifying For Insured Mortgages The new qualifying rate will be the mortgage contract rate or a newly created benchmark very close to it plus 200 basis points, in either case. The News Release from the Department of Finance Canada states, “the Government of Canada has introduced measures to […]
Whenever you purchase a new condo, there is a period of time between when you take occupancy of your unit and when you take ownership of your unit. This is known as the ‘occupancy period’ or ‘interim occupancy’. During this period you will be requested by the developer to pay occupancy fees or ‘phantom rent’ […]
Did you buy your first home in 2019? If so, the Federal Government has a program that just might put $750.00 back in your pocket, or half of that, if only one of the two people on title is a first-time home buyer. To confirm whether or not you meet the criteria be sure to […]
The following will help you identify the potential for roof failure. CURLING The upward curling of shingle tabs makes them highly susceptible to wind and ice damage. This is a problem on older roofs where moisture build-up in the attic affects the underside of the shingle. BROKEN SHINGLES Damage can be caused […]
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS NOTE: On November 14, 2016, the Ontario government increased the first time buyer deduction from $2,000 to $4,000 (on first $368,000 of price) on purchases closing after January 1, 2017. Eligibility requirements for refund/deduction for first time buyers for Ontario Land Transfer Tax are: 1) Purchaser must be 18 years or older 2) Must […]
As of January 27, 2009, first-time home buyers may be eligible for an income tax credit for their closing costs. However, “first-time home buyer” can be misleading. Please consider the following: WHO: An individual is considered a First-Time Home Buyer if neither the buyer, or his/her spouse or common law partner owned and lived in […]