Choosing the perfect tree and getting the decorations down from the attic might be a family tradition — but should you deck the halls when you’re putting your house on the market? Too many decorations and potential buyers could be put off by a personalized house that appears cramped. And yet, a lack of festivity might make your house look like the Grinch. We’re championing a strategic approach that straddles the two — here’s how to attack holiday decorations.... [read more]

When a buyer decides to take responsibility for paying a seller’s existing mortgage, this is often referred to as “assumability”. An assumable mortgage is essentially an agreement between a buyer and seller to take over an existing mortgage debt. The interest rate and the mortgage term all stay the same. There are several reasons why a buyer might want to assume the seller’s mortgage. Perhaps the seller’s mortgage rate is lower than what the buyer has been... [read more]

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) allows first-time homebuyers to withdraw up to $35,000 from their RRSP without having to pay taxes. Afterwards, buyers are expected to repay the funds that were withdrawn under this plan. However, they don’t have to start repaying until 2 years after they took out the funds and up to 15 years to repay the full amount. First, find out what your account balance is and the amount owing by logging into your CRA account and selecting “Go to RRSP and... [read more]

A title search, also known as a property title search, is conducted on homes to retrieve important details before a real estate transaction is completed. These details could include things such as whether the seller is the legal owner of the property, what restrictions or allowances apply to the use of the land, what payments and taxes still remain on the property, and any previous financial transactions linked to the property. A title search is typically performed by a real estate lawyer on a... [read more]

In real estate, square footage is everything. If you want an easy way to maximize every inch of your home—without investing in a costly addition to your property—then you need to pay close attention to how you’re styling the space. You may be unintentionally shrinking your home just by way of decorations alone. Here are seven things to avoid. 1. Clutter - When you have lots of items in your home, it can start to make the space feel closed in. Taking stock of what you have... [read more]

Ladies and Gentlemen of all legal ages Owning a piece of land as a primary residence or an investment is ALWAYS a great "move" . Find a property that's managable and get your depostit down.  Arrange that you rent out a portion of it or all of it just "enjoy it" In time, it will appreciate in value and you will start to build some "equity" . Hang on to it for decades and reap the rewards of your investment when it's time to cash in at... [read more]