RECO, the Real Estate Council of Ontario (the regulator for Ontario’s realtors), has a quiz up on their website to test your knowledge of buying or selling real estate. Many of the questions indicate what the right answer should be, but there are some good points and...
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Spooky stuff
Here’s a question I get asked all the time: do you have to disclose if you think there is a ghost in your house? The short answer is no. While there are currently some cases working their way through the courts about disclosure of past murders, stigmas do not have to...
Pushing your boundaries
If you live in an urban subdivision built in the past ten or 15 years, chances are the borders of your property are exactly where they appear to be – right down the fence line and to the edge of the street. There is an extremely low likelihood that part of your deck...
Another use of Powers of Attorney
I’ve written before about using powers of attorney to sign documents if you will be away for a closing. Here’s another good use: dealing with your condo while you are away. Often people choose condo living because of a high-travel lifestyle. Condos can be complicated,...
Are you ready?
I’m stealing today’s post from Ask Ross, a blog about all things mortgages. Here are his top 5 signs that you are ready to buy a house: You have a reliable source of income. Home ownership requires paying regular bills, and being prepared for unexpected expenses. If...
Is a house a good investment?
Conventional wisdom is that it is always better to buy than to rent, and that a house is always a good investment. That may not be quite true. There are lots of great reasons to buy, but probably almost as many not to. And buying as an investment is another ballgame...
Buying tenants
If you are thinking about buying a house that is currently rented out to tenants, there are a few things you need to know. First, if you are going to be keeping the tenants, you will want to see their rental agreements while the offer is still conditional. You do not...
Paying your deposit
Here are some tips on paying a deposit on a real estate purchase: The deposit is not paid until the offer is accepted, and you can usually agree to pay it within 24 or 48 hours of acceptance. It does not need to be certified funds. Refusing to pay the deposit does not...
The start-to-finish guide to buying a home
It’s no secret that I love the website Lifehacker. There are all sorts of great tips and advice over there. A while ago, I came across this article (http://lifehacker.com/the-start-to-finish-guide-to-buying-a-home-1663317601), and wanted to share its top points....
Selling privately? Be careful
I am a big believer in realtors. I think that, most of the time, they are conscientious and committed to helping their clients, and they make my job easier. Most of the time, you will not pay upfront for a realtor’s services. You get the benefit of all of their work,...