I don’t know about you, but I don’t like overpaying. Yes, there are times when we might overpay for things because we NEED them right away or REALLY want them, but don’t you usually shop around to get the most bang for your buck or is that just me? What about when it comes time to […]
True or false: If you receive 6 offers for your home and sell it for well above list price, you made out like a bandit and should be jumping for joy. You’re probably thinking “That’s so obvious! What do you take me for?” Well, sorry to tell you this, but “true” isn’t necessarily the right answer. […]
Pre-inspections are becoming more and more common. If you’re not sure what a pre-inspection is, it’s a home inspection done by a seller before a home goes on the market. It has several benefits. First, depending on the area and the type of home, buyers may expect to see a pre-inspection. If one isn’t available, […]
People often ask “What’s the best time of year to buy a new home?”. There’s no correct answer to this question because many factors that affect the market change from year to year. But I’ve noticed a few trends over the past several years that seem to indicate that there are some good deals to be had in November and June. […]
When people talk about the residential real estate market softening, there are two extremely important factors which they often overlook. These factors play a crucial role in determining prices and are so influential that I find it hard to believe they’re overlooked so frequently. Please don’t make this mistake when YOU’RE trying to gauge the market so you can determine the best […]
Margaret and Pierre had been looking for a new home for a while when they finally found one they liked (names, prices and other details have been changed to protect everybody’s privacy). It wasn’t perfect, but it had some very nice features. It was nicer than most similar homes, but at $995,000, its price reflected […]
It’s summer time again – sunshine, heat, long days, ice cream (my personal favourite)……and plenty of articles about the demise of the real estate market. It seems that this happens every summer. Recently, the Globe and Mail reported that “In Vancouver, the seller’s market recedes” (July 5, 2012). On another day, the headline read “Housing bubbles: Messy […]
Two very similar properties recently sold in a central Toronto neighborhood. One sold for $1,700,000 and the other sold for $1,295,000. Does that make sense to you? It doesn’t make sense to me, but I understand how it can happen. You should understand how it can happen, too, so you can determine the best list price for […]
……Slaughtered. I first heard this expression when I was practicing law. I must’ve found it to be quite catchy because I still remember it. Basically, it means that you shouldn’t be TOO greedy. It’s okay to get your share and probably okay to get a little more than your share, but if you try to […]
At some point during every hot spring real estate market in central Toronto, the tide turns a little. There are still crazy bidding wars, but fewer homes receive multiple offers and some homes take a little longer to sell. Whether this is a result of buyers getting tired of bidding, sellers getting greedy and setting […]
I just attended my 25 year law school reunion. That may be why I’ve been thinking of school lately and why this edition of the newsletter is in the form of a case study. There is much to be learned from real life situations. Ted and Tina were getting divorced and decided to sell their […]
Last night my clients offered on a nicely renovated house in Allenby. They loved it, but so did 21 other potential buyers. That’s right. There were 22 offers! Fortunately, the sellers chose my clients’ offer over all the others and they got the home of their dreams. While luck always plays a part in these […]
