Apartment valuations set to keep climbing in Ontario: report By Garry Marr, Vancouver Sun – May 23, 2012 Valuations for apartment buildings reached record levels last year and the forecast for 2012 is for the trend to continue, according to a new report on the sector which focuses on Ontario. The Rock Apartment Report Ontario notes the capitalization rate — …

If you have ever sold a home or are thinking of selling one, you will be presented with an exclusive right-to-sell agreement as that’s the most commonly seen in our industry. There are two other options available that you can consider and the complexity of your sale dictates which one his used. Exclusive Right-to-sell listing This is the most common …

Following are a few thoughts that I had shared on an online forum and thought I share it with you too. Recent stats I saw regarding condos show that there is a vacancy rate of less than 1% for downtown condos. I’ve personally listed new condos in downtown and been bombarded by Renters who want to rent the condo instead …

Feedback matters when selling your home! I have a rigorous process in our office of following up with all the agents that have shown our seller’s property to collect feedback and submit it to the seller on weekly basis.  We start our process by emailing the agent three hours after the showing has been completed through automated means.  This doesn’t …

List to last OR Listings are the gift of real estate Gods! I first heard this saying when I was starting out in this business in the late 90’s and never really understood what it meant.  This is the time when the real estate market was going through a lot of change including the advent of Buyer Representations.  As a …

Money is made and lost during purchase in real estate. A well crafted purchase agreement not only protects the buyer against foreseeable liabilities but also provides grounds for favorable terms to execute the agreement. Following are my top five terms that I ask when representing my buyers for investment property purchases. Please note that I’m not a lawyer and your …

I got another story for you today! I love the open market and what it allows individuals, professionals and businesses to do!  The open market offers freedom and allows individuals to compete among other professionals and businesses and offer innovation in products and services.  This also drives the price lower for the consumer as more entities are competing for the …

Have you ever liked a home that you’ve just seen on your first trip and can’t justify liking it without going out again to see other houses? I’m dealing with it right now! If I had a real estate agent, I would force him or her to take me out and see other places just because, “we have just started …

I’m starting a new home search! This will not be the first home I’ve ever bought but its definitely a first experience to buying a home to live in exclusively. I’ll explain! The first home that I ever bought was with my brother and the whole family was to be living in it. We still own that house in Brampton …

I know these are harsh words but hear me out! I recently had the pleasure to represent a buyer during the negotiation of their new investment property. The property had four residential units which were all occupied by tenants with the longest one, a sweet old lady, there for over 10 years. This information wasn’t disclosed on the listing nor …