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Category Archives: Home Buyer’s Resources

Home Buyer’s Resources

Mortgage Pre-Approval: What Lenders Want To Know

A mortgage pre-approval is an important first step in the home-buying process. Having a pre-approval in hand tells you how much you can spend on a home, and it locks in the current low interest rate for up to 120 days, so you can shop the market knowing you’re insulated from rate hikes in the…
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Five Ways to Feel at Home Fast

The buying process is over, and the moving truck has delivered your household goods to your new property. Now it’s time to unpack and turn your new house into a home. Here are five tips to get you through the labour-intensive process a little easier: Divide the work You have friends and family who are…
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Demystifying the First Time Home Buyer Incentive

As Canadians continue to struggle with high housing prices, the federal government has stepped in to help carry the weight of those hefty mortgage payments with the First Time Home Buyer Incentive. Trudeau has earmarked $1.25 billion in funding to the program over the next three years. The First Time Home Buyer Incentive took effect…
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Niagara Realtors Launch Niagara Open House Portal

Check it out! niagaraopenhouses.ca This newly launched site created by the Niagara Association of Realtors provides an interactive map and a simple search bar that allows users to search for upcoming Open Houses by city, price range, home features and/or MLS® number. Selecting a property opens a new window and contains full details about the…
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Tech Tools to Empower the Average Buyer

The 21st century homebuyer is powerful. They’re well equipped, informed and ready to fight for their dream homes. Still, with all the tech tools the buyer has at hand – nothing beats having an experienced, knowledgeable real estate agent in your homebuying corner. We rank the ways today’s buyer can better prepare to partner with…
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Town of Pelham ‘Love My Hood’ Program

Did you know? The Town of Pelham offers a 'Love My Hood' program that includes a special Took Kit and up to $300 in funding to encourage Pelham Residents to hold neighbourhood gatherings, activities and projects that help neighbours get to know one another? This community building initiative is designed to provide resources, support and…
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What to Look For, Room by Room

When viewing a home for sale, many buyers look at the property from a “macro” perspective. They ask themselves questions like: “Is it large enough?”; “Are there enough bedrooms?”; “Is it in a nice neighbourhood?” While those questions are important, it also pays to consider a potential new home from a “micro” perspective. Here are…
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5 Ways to Get Involved in Your New Community

The boxes are unpacked, the house is set up and everybody's settled into their new routine after the big move. Life is beginning to feel a bit more normal. But now that you're here and the immediate tasks have been taken care of, you want to get involved in your new community. What do you…
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How to be a Smart Home Shopper

Lately, viewing and selecting a home to purchase has become an extremely fast-paced experience. You see a home you like, you're attracted to some of its key features and, before you know it, you have to make a a quick decision to put in an offer. However, if you haven’t taken the time to consider…
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How to Avoid Home Buying Horrors

7 mistakes to avoid when buying a home prepare so that you don’t have nightmares later 1. Make sure your lender has done their appraisal of your home Just because you are pre-approved for financing, it does not mean you will get your money on closing. There are always more lender conditions to satisfy, whether…
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GUEST POST via ‘The Mortgage Guy Niagara’: Understanding Penalty Payments

Many borrowers choose a five year term for their mortgage product as it suits their home-ownership plans as well as locks in a consistent payment which makes monthly budgeting easier. Did you know that statistically, the average borrower will refinance, move, renew, pay-down or pay-off their mortgage in 3.5 years? This means, the average borrower…
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Say NO to Another Home Owner TAX!

Preventing the spread of municipal land transfer taxes (MLTT) is the focus of a new advocacy campaign at the Ontario Real Estate Association. The association launched the issue-based campaign in April to demonstrate the negative economic impact of the MLTT, based on the findings of new research studies. Currently allowed only in Toronto, this tax…
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Government Programs for Home Buyers

CMHC Purchase Plus Improvements RRSP Home Buyers' Plan 5% Down Payment Program HST New Housing Rebate Land Transfer Tax (LTT) Rebate Program Government Programs for Home Buyers A home is usually the single largest investment that most people make in their lives. Achieving your dream can be made easier by taking advantage of various Government…
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How To Pay Your Mortgage Off Early!

If you're like many people with a mortgage, you're probably looking for ways to pay it off sooner. Below are some great tips to help you reduce your principal and eliminate your mortgage debt faster, so that you have more money in your bank account for retirement, investments or a relaxing tropical vacation. If you're…
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Was the Property You are Buying ever used as a Grow Op?

OREA renews call for grow-op registry Ninety-six per cent of Ottawa residents agree they want to know if the home they’re planning on purchasing was formerly used as a marijuana grow-op (MGO) or clandestine drug lab, according to a study by Ipsos Reid for the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA). The poll found that almost…
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The Evolution of Real Estate Marketing

Business marketing has been transformed by the internet. The real estate industry in many ways has been a trailblazer for what is now impacting our local small business community. According to recent studies, over 91% of all home searches now begin on the internet. Property listings must to be online, and findable, when buyers are…
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Downsizing in Niagara

Aging boomers are a primary real estate demographic throughout North America. This important market segment has an even greater impact in Niagara because our Niagara census metropolitan area currently has the fourth largest percentage of seniors in all of Canada.

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Expert Advice- Why Experience COUNTS!

I was chatting with a friend the other day and we got talking about real estate “horror stories”. For each one that came up I offered my advice concerning how a prudent and well seasoned Realtor would have prevented each of the situations from happening. My friend commented that I sounded just like Mike Holmes…
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We Help You “Find it Local”

  As real estate professionals, it our primary goal to provide our clients with the most thorough information possible when it comes to finding a place to live. Each and every day John and I actively promote the value of our vibrant Niagara lifestyle and demonstrate our  deep personal commitment to helping our local communities thrive. In…
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