One of the challenges many Americans face when deciding to buy and sell a home is how to assess the quality of their realtor or real estate agent. Exactly what should you expect from someone with whom you’re trusting your largest financial asset? And on what criteria do others make their judgment when appointing a…
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A clean, elegant kitchen can be a showstopper when selling a property at the lower end of the market. Whether your target market is the first-time buyer or an investor, a great-looking kitchen can capture the imagination. Buyers in this market segment are usually focused on three key criteria – square footage, the number of…
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Property maintenance is not the headache many folks make it out to be. It’s true a house or an apartment needs to be maintained to ensure small problems don’t become big ones. But it’s not going to take over your life! Most owners will keep a casual eye on the state of their property or…
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Canadians will often debate whether riding the stock market rollercoaster or buying property is the better investment. And while we all know real estate values have risen, there’s been precious little data to show the power of property ownership to generate wealth. Until now. A new study from Statistics Canada says that for the past…
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A striking gateway at the front of your home will not only enhance security but could boost your home value by up to 5% when the time comes to sell. Buyers see a gateway as a premium feature if it adds to the attraction of the home and ensures the safety of your vehicles. There…
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After cutting interest rates more aggressively than any Western economy, the Bank of Canada (BoC) has decided it’s time for reflection and has kept the cash rate on hold at 2.75%, ending a 14-month run of cuts. The central bank held the rate at 5% from July 2023 to May 2024 before beginning a series…
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A gauge of property’s true value as an investment can be a vexed question in a debate about whether it’s better to place your money in real estate or the stock market. The old chestnut that you can’t live in a share portfolio is often countered by the observation that you can’t sell half a…
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The first sign of the Canadian real estate market turning the corner has come with a 3.6% lift in the number of home sales and national price averages holding firm. It’s the first time since November that the number of homes sold has increased, says the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The MLS Home Price…
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An intriguing article has been published on the popular real estate website Realtor.com, claiming mortgage lenders are checking the social media profiles of prospective clients. It says lenders are seeking out information on the professional side of your life, trying to substantiate your work history and make a judgment on your track record as an…
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The nation’s ability to build more homes has become one of the most hotly-contested issues in Australian politics. While the new Labor Government has made several high-profile promises on housing, most relate to helping Australians buy their first homes. Underpinning Labor’s pledges, however, is the nation’s capacity to build more homes to meet demand. Our…
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