Saturday 17 September 2016

Why should you invest in URL Condos?


Why invest in Waterloo?




  • 4th largest urban center in Ontario
  • 210th Largest in Canada
  • 1 Hour and 15 minutes from Toronto
  • Google has moved in! 
  • Expected Population in 2031 701,000
  • Waterloo’s LRT ION – Rapid Transit 






Justin Trudeau endorses Waterloo in a clip of his speech at the World Economic Forum      





Go through these following articles from the media to realise, why Waterloo is the hot cake for real estate investment!

  World’s largest hardware technology hub to be built in Kitchener-Waterloo


Startup city: The high-tech fever reshaping Kitchener-Waterloo





STEPS TO UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO & TECHNOLOGY PARK 






The media continues to refer to Waterloo as "Silicon Valley North" and with 500 new technology start-ups in 2015 alone, there is a good reason. In 2007 the average price for a home in San Fransisco, California was $784,200 USD and in Mountain View, California (Silicon Valley) the average price for a home was $790,400 USD.
Today, the average price for a home in San Fransisco is $1,060,400 USD and in Silicon Valley the average price for a home is $1,430,200 USD, outperforming San Fransisco the major market by 40%.
Silicon Valley has proven to be a much more resilient market because high growth tech companies have continued to move into the area and grow even during challenging times. With Waterloo's strong economic base of high-growth technology companies, we see "Silicon Valley North" as a resilient market, with the potential to outperform other major local real estate markets.
With URL's incredible location directly across the street from Wilfrid Laurier's new Global Innovation Exchange and just steps to University of Waterloo and Technology Park (employing over 3,000 young professionals), we have no doubt that this is going to be an excellent investment for you.



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Friday 9 September 2016

Home Buying: Tips for Spotting the Upgrades


Home Buying: Tips for Spotting the Upgrades

Posted by Debbie Drummond on Wednesday, September 7th, 2016 at 3:11pm.


The home buying process involves visiting multiple listings and determining which fits both your lifestyle and your budget. While many homes in the same neighborhood may share similar or almost identical floor plans, it's the finishes and upgrades that can make one stand out from the others. Rely on your real estate professional and the following tips for spotting the upgrades and deciding which top your list of must-haves when buying a home.

Hardwood vs Carpet Pros & Cons

Whether you prefer hardwood floors or carpet, the flooring throughout a home often becomes a deciding factor when weighing the pros and cons before a decision is made to purchase. On average, hardwood flooring and certain tile will be a more expensive feature. To spot the higher end upgrades in flooring, keep an eye out for the following:
  • Natural stone: in particular marble (usually in entranceways and bathrooms)
  • Mosaic ceramic tile: intricate and/or large patterns increase the floorings value
  • Exotic hardwood: Brazilian teak, tigerwood, and acacia are popular
  • Hardwood patterns: chevrons, medallions, and inlay increase value
  • Reclaimed hardwood
Linoleum, vinyl, and laminate flooring often are the at the lower end of the flooring cost scale. However, some laminate flooring can have the same high-end look as hardwood. If you have your heart set on real wood floors, be sure to ask your real estate agent to confirm with the seller the actual type of flooring in the home.

Kitchen Update or Remodel?

If the kitchen boasts all new stainless steel appliances, new lighting, and freshly painted cabinetry, it's had an update. However, an older home with an open concept kitchen, farmhouse sink, quartz countertops, and ceramic flooring is more likely to have had a full remodel. On average it costs about $20,000 to remodel a kitchen and that number can increase if walls have been removed and plumbing, gas, and/or electrical lines had to be relocated.
According to Consumer Reports, marble, soapstone, and concrete are three of the most expensive choices for countertops surface materials each ranging approximately $50 to $150 per square foot installed. Quartz and granite typically range from $40 to $100 per square foot installed while laminate comes in at about $10 to $40 per square foot installed.

High-end Bath Upgrades

A spacious bathroom, whether it's the guest bath or master bath, is a desirable feature when buying a home.High-end upgrades, in particular to the master bath, often increase the room's overall square footage in order to include a water closet, double-sink or double vanities, and an expansive shower and/or soaker tub. Look for quartz, granite, or marble surfaces and high-end flooring that gives the space a fresh and modern look.
Other high-end bath upgrades to look for are new faucets and updated lighting fixtures as well as a state-of-the-art shower head or multiple shower heads with body sprays. High-efficiency toilets also another upgrade not to be ignored. High-efficiency, WaterSense labeled toilets can help reduce yearly water bills by about $90 on average, according to the E.P.A. (Environmental Protection Agency).

Green Home Building Features

Sometimes some of the most desirable upgrades aren't easy to see when doing a walk-through. Always ask your real estate professional what types of green features the home has, including any that have been recently installed. WaterSense labeled toilets are a great start, but also look for:
  • Solar panels
  • Low-emission (Low-E) windows
  • High-efficiency appliances
  • Sustainable building materials
  • Programmable thermostat
If the home has been painted recently, ask if low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint was used.
Spotting the upgrades when searching for that dream home becomes easier when you know what to look for and have the help of a trusted real estate professional. Never be afraid to ask questions because buying a home is one of the biggest and most exciting purchases of a lifetime. 

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Fall lawn and garden care


Fall lawn and garden care

Thursday 25 August 2016

Preventive Medicine for Your Home and Wallet

                Preventive Medicine for Your Home and Wallet
                     By Toronto Real Estate Board
TREB Wire

                                                                  




The purchase of a home is one of the biggest financial investments that most people will ever make, so protecting that investment is paramount. That’s why it’s crucial to stick to a comprehensive home maintenance plan. Constant upkeep of your home will help it run efficiently, save you money and ensure a painless transaction when it’s time to move on.
Today, I’m going to offer you some advice on how you can implement a long-term, low-cost program that could limit the number of repairs you’ll need to undergo when it’s time to sell.
While most of these tips apply to freehold homeowners, everyone should read on to see what applies to their situation. This article also provides a sense of the financial obligations of good home maintenance for first-time buyers.

Regular Improvements
Monitoring your home on a regular basis will help you spot any potential problems before they turn into major headaches. Some suggestions for annual upkeep:
Plumbing
  • Test faucets
  • Clean drains
  • Test main shut off valve & hot water tank pressure valve
  • Clean sump pump
Outside Structure
  • Replace weather stripping around windows & doors
  • Fill cracks with epoxy
  • Recaulk foundation
  • Lubricate garage door
Roof
  • Replace loose shingles
  • Schedule chimney cleaning & roof inspection
Foundation
  • Fill cracks with epoxy
  • Clean up mould & mildew
Electrical
  • Check bulbs, outlets & cords
  • Check detectors & replace batteries
  • Clean lint traps, hood vents and fans
Heating, Ventilation & A/C
  • Replace furnace filters (every 3 months)
  • Schedule annual furnace inspection
  • Cover A/C unit in the fall
Drainage & Landscaping
  • Clean eavestroughs & down spouts (twice a year)
  • Inspect & patch driveway
  • Regrade soil away from home

Long-Term Improvements
Long-term improvements occur less frequently, but may cost a bit more than the average home maintenance routine. Some improvements you may consider working into your long-term budget include:
5 Years
  • Replace sump pump
10 Years
  • Replace hot water heater
  • Install new windows
  • Repaint home exterior
  • Replace smoke, carbon monoxide & radon detectors 
15 Years
  • Replace external doors
  • Replace central A/C
  • Repave driveway
20 Years
  • Replace roof shingles
  • Replace furnace
25-30 Years
  • Regrade property around foundation
  • Replace eaves, soffits & fascia

Other Maintenance Tips
 Consider creating a home maintenance schedule. That way, you’ll ensure you stay on top of your home improvements, and prevent any unnecessary, and potentially costly surprises.
You may want to consider adding a budget for landscaping, fixtures and current finishes. These cosmetic improvements could increase your home’s desirability, and potential value when it comes time to sell.
While this list isn’t all-encompassing, homes are as unique as the homeowners themselves, this list can certainly help guide and ensure your home is more efficient and safe. I hope you’re proud of your investment and wish you continued enjoyment of your home  in the years to come.








The Worst Condo Investing Advice, Ever!

The Worst Condo Investing Advice, Ever!

--AUGUST 24, 2016 - 5 MINUTES READ
--Courtsey of Ryan Coyle, Co-Founder CONNECT Asset Management

In real estate, there are wide-ranging opinions on everything. It seems like everyone – even the inexperienced – have an expert opinion on how real estate will perform.
As a result, we’ve heard some pretty bad advice over the years. Some of it is innocent misinformation. Other times it’s completely off the wall. And believe us, we’ve heard some real doozies over the years.
But of all the awful things we’ve heard, there are a few pieces of advice that are head and shoulders above the rest as pure rubbish. Just the absolute worst!
We’ve compiled some of the terrible tidbits we hear. We’re hoping to dispel some of these ridiculous reasons today.

Worst Condo Investing Advice #1:

“The Condo Fees Aren’t Worth It.”
A lot of the poor advice we hear comes from American real estate sites. The truth is that it’s not bad advice. It’s just misguided. For the markets that these American writers are writing about, they’re probably right. Condos aren’t the best choice in some areas of the US.
In Canada — and especially in Toronto — things are a little different. In many US markets, the cost of condos is comparable to the cost of single family homes. Toronto, as you may know, is a different animal.
According to TREB’s last report in June 2016, the benchmark price of a single-family detached home is $826,400. That’s up 18.77% from this time last year!
Condos in Toronto have a benchmark price of $415,326 for Q2 2016. They appreciated at a more sustainable (but still very profitable) 7.1% since that time last year.
Now the majority of the single-family detached homes are VERY old inventory and need major rents and/or upgrades on almost a regular basis. The condo inventory is MUCH newer and come with warranties, so your overhead outside of the maintenance fees is very little if any at all. I’ve owned a beautiful detached home and I can tell you that I spent tens of thousands on upgrades. I’m happy to say I now live in a condo as my primary residence 🙂
At less than half of what a single family home costs, the condo fees are a drop in the bucket. And, those condo fees often pay for great amenities like a pool and an exercise room!

Worst Condo Investing Advice #2:

“Developers Are Building Too Many Condos!”
Toronto has some of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada. And condos, too, share these ultra low vacancy rates.
According to a report published by Urbanation, vacancy rates in rental developments are now at 0.5%. Meanwhile, new condo supply has dropped to a 6-year low. We often feel like a broken record, but all the facts are there. We’re in the midst of one hot condo market.

Worst Condo Investing Advice #3

“Rent, don’t buy — real estate is just a money pit!”
This one’s a real gem. The worst of the worst. Real estate is like other investments. It’s possible to get a lemon. And that’s why you protect yourself. We’ve discussed risk minimization at length, and that’s why we’re here to help you.
With new-build condos, Tarion is there to help protect you against shoddy workmanship. If there’s a problem with your condo in the first few years its built, the builder has to repair it themselves. And pay for the repairs, too!
Imagine you bought a condo for $400,000 two years before it was move-in ready. You live in it or rent it out for five years — while covered by Tarion — before selling. At a conservative 5% appreciation per year (remember, GTA condos have appreciated 7% in the past year alone) compounded annually for seven years, you’d be looking at selling your condo for just over $562,000. Now that’s a great return!
The worst advice you can get is to put your head in the sand and not to invest at all. There’s nothing worse than sitting on the sidelines during the golden age of Toronto condo investing. While nay-sayers are crying that the sky is falling, but they’re missing out on the rising tide of Toronto condos.

Sunday 19 June 2016

Intro to reno: A look at hardwood flooring

eieihome

5 most desirable areas to buy a home within a one-hour drive of Toronto

 Affordable homes can be found in Mississauga, Halton Hills, Pickering, Milton, and Aurora, all near Toronto. These cities offer amenities a...