All Blog Entries by Nutan Brown

Adding a pool to your home can be a great investment both for your family and the financial benefits when it comes time to sell. If you're thinking adding a pool to your home, here are a few things to consider 

Costs

While having a swimming pool can add enjoyment and value to your home, you have to consider the costs involved. The price of installation will vary depending on many factors including size, access, type, and landscaping, but typically it can cost anywhere from $75,000 to $200,000. You will also have regular maintenance fees, which can cost about $2,000 - $3,500 per year. It's possible to lower these costs by opening and closing the pool yourself or by keeping your pool heater off, but there will still be fees associated with…

When it comes to buying or selling a home, you probably have an understanding of the role a real estate agent will play. But what about the role of a real estate lawyer? With so much money on the line, it's important to have all your legal bases covered. Here's how your lawyer helps to ensure a smooth transaction.

Real estate lawyers typically review all the legal documents and issues regarding the transaction. This ensures that ownership is properly transferred and recorded while protecting your legal rights.

A real estate lawyer is important for both the seller and the buyer, although their roles differ depending on which side they are on.

Role of a real estate lawyer for a buyer: 

•        Review Agreement of Purchase
•       …

Buying a home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. But there are a few things to keep in mind once the deal is done. Here are some of the first things to do after buying a home.

Do A Deep Clean

Once you get the keys to your new home, spend the first few days cleaning everything from top to bottom. Even if the previous home owners did a detailed clean before packing up, you'll still want to go through and double check everything yourself. You could also hire a cleaning company to do this, if it’s in your budget.

Change The Locks

You don't know who might have a key to your new house, so it's a good idea to change the door locks after moving in. This step is often overlooked, but one that you shouldn’t skip in order to ensure…

The Toronto housing market has shown signs of balancing out as May home sales dropped 38.8% and prices rose by 9.4% compared to last year, according to the latest TRREB report.

May was the third consecutive month that home sales dropped, with 7,283 total sales compared to 11,903 in May 2021 and 7,989 this past April.

 

The drop in sales can be attributed to higher borrowing costs caused by the interest rate hikes, coupled with inflationary pressures that weighed on spending.

The average home price hit $1,212,806 in May, up by almost 10% compared to $1,108,124 during the same month last year.

Realtors have noticed that homes are not being snatched up as quickly as they were earlier in the year. Bidding wars have also cooled down. With fewer…

Spring is here! Before you kick back and enjoy the nice weather, you'll want to make sure your property is in peak condition. Here are our top 5 spring cleaning chores to get done this year.

Touch Up The Lawn

After a long winter, your lawn might be in need of a little touch up. This could involve pulling weeds or spreading grass seeds in dead patches. You may also want to add some fertilizer to your lawn to ensure the grass is green and healthy all year long.

Fence and Deck Maintenance

Inspect your fence and deck to make sure there aren't any cracked boards or panels. You'll also want to check under the deck for signs of rodents or other pests that could have taken up residence during the colder months.

Inspect the…

Outdoor upgrades enhance the look of your property and can even add value to your home. If you want to refresh your yard and build equity at the same time, consider these 4 easy outdoor home improvements to make this spring.

Upgrade Your Front Walkway

A well designed walkway makes your home feel more inviting. Depending on your budget, you can choose to use anything from gravel to brick or stone. Allow the path to wind through your gardens and add a sitting area along the route. Additionally, you can include solar-powered outdoor lighting to illuminate the path at night.

Repaint Your Front Door

Another way to make your home more inviting is by repainting your front door. A fresh coat of paint or stain will give your home…

There were signs of cooling in the Toronto housing market last month as sales dropped by 41.2% compared to the same time last year.

According to the latest TRREB report, there were 8,008 sales across the region, down from 13,613 during the same time last year. This represents a 27% drop compared to the previous month of 10,939 sales - an unusual trend in spring, which is traditionally the busiest season in the real estate market.

The board attributed this decline to homebuyers who are taking a break from the market as interest rates climb and reduce their buying power.

"It certainly appears that the Bank of Canada is achieving its goal of slowing consumer spending as it fights high inflation," TRREB President Kevin Crigger said in a release.…

Saving for a down payment can be difficult. Sometimes it can take years to save up enough money to secure your perfect home.

To help ease the burden of this expense the Canadian government has created a Home Buyers’ Plan program, which essentially allows you to borrow your own funds from an RRSP to purchase a home.

First-time homebuyers can withdraw up to $35,000 from their RRSP to increase their down payment. If you are buying with someone who also qualifies for the program, then you can double that amount to $70,000.

In order to qualify for the Home Buyers' Plan you must:

• Be a first-time homebuyer
• Have a written agreement to purchase or build a qualifying home
• Be a resident of Canada when your RRSP funds are withdrawn and…

Earlier this month it was announced that the Canadian government will ban foreign investors from buying homes in Canada for two years in an attempt to cool off the housing market. This includes all home types, from condos to detached houses.

There are some exceptions to this ban however. For instance, it will not extend to foreign nationals purchasing a primary residence in Canada, permanent workers, foreign workers, and students.

The Canadian government also announced several other measures to further cool the housing market. These include a $4 billion investment to help municipalities with the planning and delivery of housing projects, and a $1.5 billion commitment over two years for as many as 6,000 new affordable housing units.

There…

The Toronto real estate market saw a slight dip in home prices last month, but don't expect a buyers' market anytime soon.

According to the latest TRREB statistics, the average home price in Toronto reached $1,299,894 last month, up 19% from the same month last year - but down 3% compared to February 2022. These numbers suggest that some heat has been taken out of the market.

Despite a slight dip in month-over-month prices, it is still a tight sellers' market. Potential buyers waiting on the sidelines for prices to cool may not get the relief they need to make a purchase.

According to the real estate board’s chief market analyst Jason Mercer, “I don’t see 2022 moving to a buyers’ market where you could see prices flatlining or dropping on a…