This is an age-old expression. It seems to fit into today’s Real Estate market. Let me explain how. A quick online search will show that we are going through a time where homes are becoming more and more expensive with first-time buyers are being shut out of the market. However, is that really the truth? If you look on www.realtor.ca or Pinterest you will see large homes, homes that are stag...Read More

When it comes to mortgage rates in Canada there are a few factors currently at play that might be seen as concerning. The bond rates are edging upward. Why is that important? Typically, in Canada, when the bond rates start to increase, the mortgage rates follow them and shift upwards. The forecasted average for Canada’s 5-year is 1.25% by the end of 2021. For context, at the end of 2020, it ...Read More

It is less than 2 weeks out from our Federal Election and one of the issues facing Canadians is Real Estate. I took a dive into all three parties and looked at what they are promising to fix the problems. Once you strip out the promises that are more about attracting votes and less about creating change, we will find that much of what is being talked about is more flaky pastry than filling. Here ...Read More

Having helped Buyers and Sellers for over 35 years in Durham Region, I have seen trends that repeat themselves, over and over. One trend our area has seen is an influx of Buyers that move to Durham from the west, specifically, from Toronto. I think we all know why Buyers are settling in Oshawa, Whitby and Clarington, however, indulge me for a minute to share what I have learned from my experienced...Read More

Over the past 3 decades I have seen the buying or selling process turn people to the dark side, saying some very uncomplimentary things about Agents, Buyers and Sellers (depending on which side of the transaction they are on.) Grumpy-pants, ticked off, evil-eye stares, eyes rolling or heads shaking, no matter a Buyer's or Seller's market, people find reasons to be ticked off. Not at what t...Read More

When is a bully offer worth considering? What is a bully offer? The first time I heard of a bully, or a softer-sounding name “pre-emptive” offer was in 2015. This was the run-up to a really active Real Estate market that cooled in 2017. This was when Realtors began to put properties on the market and accept offers at a certain date and time. An example would be when a home hits the ma...Read More

I remember buying a coffee for a very successful Real Estate broker when I first started my career. I learned one of the greatest lessons in investing from that coffee meeting. It was around 1989 and the market was heated with multiple bids and for the first time, people “flipping homes.” (flipping, meaning buying a property with the sole purpose of quickly reselling it for profit.) T...Read More

The first offer was $6,000 over the asking price. The young couple had hearts racing with excitement knowing they had a strong offer. The home sold for $60,000 over ask. They “wised up” quickly, and when they found the next home they wanted to live in, they offered $60,000 above asking with no conditions. There were 54 competing offers. They didn’t even come close to the asking p...Read More

Over the past week, I sold a townhome locally and felt it would be interesting to go through how the sale unfolded and share what a Listing Broker, at times has to deal with to get a sold sign on a property. The townhome was something called a “Parcel of Tied Land.” (POTL) This is a new classification in Durham Region that simply means a series of townhomes with an interior road l...Read More

I have ranted a bit over the past couple of years about mortgage insurance. It is necessary, expensive and, well really, really expensive. However, without it, many Buyers in Canada could not purchase a home. A savvy person would think that when you pay for insurance, it protects you from something. In the case of mortgage insurance, as a Buyer, you pay the premium, and it benefits the lender. Th...Read More