Searching for the right home takes some very serious considerations as it’s in most cases one’s most expensive investment. The single best piece of advice I would give to anyone looking at purchasing real estate is to Invest Time in choosing the right professional to serve you. Often I’ve heard people having trusted friends and family members help them in purchasing real estate. For all intends and purposes they try very hard. However, the resulted outcome has more often then not been disappointing.

If the choice of a realtor is correctly executed then it will save you time, minimize stress and often save you money. I offer anyone who doesn’t know me a free consultation in my office with no obligation. If they find I’m the right professional to serve them then that’s great. If they find that they are unsure then that’s fine too.

I often find consumers tend to go online in searching for a home and spend many, many hours searching on their own. Why do that when that’s part of my job. Do what you do best and enjoy time with your loved ones.

By using an array of techniques available to me this allows me to profile what my clients are looking in a home in a short period of time. Therefore, allowing me to pinpoint properties which meet their criteria. Keeping abreast of changes in real estate and technology allows me to add additional value when serving my clients.

I am very knowledgeable with the City of Toronto along with surrounding areas such as: Durham region: Pickering, Claremont, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Court ice. YorkRegion: Markham, Unionville, Vaughan, Woodbridge, Maple, Newmarket, Aurora, Thornhill. Peel Region: Brampton, Mississauga Halton Region: Oakville.

Here is a snapshot of what I recommend to buyers:

Determine your wants and needs

This is the single most important step. By asking a series of in-depth questions, I establish what you are looking for in a home. These questions go beyond the commonly asked ones, such as, “How much do you want to spend?” and “What neighbourhood do you want to live in?”

Pre-qualify

This shows you how much you can afford. Purchasers often realize they can afford more than they imagined. I connect you to financial professionals who minimize the time spent on this important process.

Know your costs

There are always additional or hidden costs in purchasing a home. I can assist in estimating these costs ahead of time, so you’re not faced with unpleasant financial surprises at closing.

Match dreams with reality

I perform a detailed analysis of properties available to locate those that match your desires. I have developed exclusive software to assist in this matching process. The result is that you spend far less time looking at properties that simply don’t meet your needs.

Offer to purchase

When we find the property that you want, I work with you to write your offer to purchase. I then represent you with the seller and negotiate the best price for your new home.

A few years ago, there weren’t as many choices when it came to buying a home as there are today. Today, the housing market is saturated with homes for sale. Perfect homes can be found on every block, in every neighborhood. And homes are being sold for a fraction of what they are worth.

It is definitely time to buy a home. But the sheer amount of options available can make it difficult to choose which home to buy. You cannot possibly view all of the homes that are for sale. Even if you narrowed your search to a small area, you would still be overwhelmed by all of the options available. In order to ensure that you make an offer on the house that is perfect for you, you need to create a short list. Here’s how:

First and foremost, you should have a good idea of where you want to live. If you’re unsure which neighborhoods are the best, ask. Study up on the school systems in your area and figure out where property values are rising most rapidly. The information you gather will help you decide which neighborhood to look in. Before you contact an agent about purchasing real estate in Toronto, you need to browse all of your options. Free home guides and the internet are a great place to start. Look at all of the listings in the area where you want to settle. Get a feel for what’s out there and how much houses are selling for. Make a list of all of the things you want in a house. Be sure to break your list down into “must haves” and “wants.” If you need 3 bedrooms, do not look at homes that are less than three bedrooms. If you would like to have a pool, put homes with a pool on top of your list but do not limit your list to such homes. Once you have a list of possibilities, drive by all the homes that you have on your list. If you don’t like what you see when you drive by a particular piece of real estate in Toronto, mark it off your list. Culling your list in this way will prevent you from viewing a lot of homes that you don’t want to see. It will save you time, and it will save your agent time. Never put homes on your list that exceed your budget. You will be tempted to upsize your order.

Once you have created a short list, you can start viewing homes. Set up several appointments to see homes on the same day. Avoid spreading your viewings out through the week as this will waste time. Be sure to tell your agent what you like and don’t like about the homes you see. They may be able to help you adjust your short list so that you avoid seeing homes with similar negative qualities.

A good number of well-intentioned families have put off the thoughts of purchasing a home. They are waiting for a time in the distant future when house prices are stable and job security is no longer a joke. Unfortunately, they are missing out on a great time to buy.

Why is it such a great time to buy? The truth of the matter is that there have never been better deals on real estate in Toronto. Supply is unlimited and demand is at an all time low which means that there are a lot of great deals out there. But just because there are good deals doesn’t mean that YOU should be buying. The following will help you determine whether or not now is a good time for you to buy:

How secure is your job? Are you employed in a field where there are massive layoffs or has your profession weathered the economy quite well? If there are any doubts as to the security of your employment, you should avoid financing a home. You may be able to offset the risk of losing your job, however, if you have a large down payment or if you can afford to purchase insurance that will cover your mortgage payments if you lose your job. Have you planned for the purchase of a home? Don’t purchase a house just because it is a good time to buy. Buying a home takes preplanning and saving. Make sure that you have a solid plan and a down payment before you start looking. Are you planning to relocate soon? In this economy, you will probably not be able to sell your home quickly if you have to move. You may not even be able to sell it at all. So, if you are planning a major move in the near future, it might be wise to postpone your home purchase. Homeownership takes a lot of hard work and regular investments for maintenance and repairs. If a house payment would stretch your budget to the limit, you should look for cheaper homes that do not come with a high price tag. Always make sure that you make enough money to cover your house payment, home insurance, utilities and personal bills with plenty left over to pay for repairs. Are you ready for the responsibility? How much responsibility do you have now? If you live in an apartment, you might want to think about how much work is involved with taking care of the grounds and exterior of a house.

Remember; buying real estate in Toronto is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Being a homeowner is rewarding but there is also a great deal of responsibility involved. If you are ready for the challenge, now is the perfect time for you to buy. If you are not ready, no amount of cheap deals will make it right.

Buying a new home is an exciting time. From the very first moment you see the home you want to make an offer on, you are emotionally attached. The first time you walk through its rooms, you imagine your furniture there; you decorate the spaces instantly in your mind. You can see your family living there happily year after year. Even before the ink dries on your offer, you are planning improvement projects.

Yes, it is emotional. Yes, it is exciting. But what if something goes wrong? Should you blindly hold onto a home and follow through with the transaction just because you love the home? When should you back out of purchasing real estate in Toronto? The following 5 are red flags that you should pay special attention to:

You should seriously consider backing out if there is debt attached to the house. Back taxes and some liens are inherited by the purchaser. You could end up paying more for your home than you bargained for. If there is serious structural damage to the home, you might want to rethink your offer. Some foundation problems are very expensive to fix. Although rare, some homes have to be torn down due to structural issues that cannot be fixed. When you purchase a house, the house is not as important as the neighborhood you buy in. You should always purchase a home in a good neighborhood where property values are rising. Housing prices in impoverished neighborhoods steadily decline. If you purchase such a property, your home will be worth less in the future than it is now. You should always purchase a home where you will have room to grow. Choosing cuteness over space could end up being the bane of your existence later on down the road. Remember, you can always decorate your home to suit your style. On the other hand, it is difficult to add more space to a home and lot that is cramped and limited. It is highly advisable to purchase several professional inspections before you purchase real estate in Toronto. If any of the inspections come back with negative results, you will have a difficult choice to make. You will either have to repair the issues yourself, ask the seller to repair them or back out of the deal.

Once you are emotionally attached to a home, it can be very difficult to call off the transaction. But don’t try to fool yourself. If you can envision a future where you will regret going through with the purchase, back out. There are too many homes on the market. You will find something else. There is no reason to get stuck with something that is less than perfect.

And don’t worry about the legalities of it. There are clauses on every offer that give you a legal way to back out of the contract. If you’re unsure, ask your agent.

The decision to purchase a home is not one that should be taken lightly. Buying a house is a long-term investment that will affect your finances negatively and positively for the rest of your lifetime. With this in mind, you should always maximize your investment potential when you purchase a home. Look for the best deal. Purchase property in a neighborhood where property values are on the rise.

You have probably heard that there are a lot of bargain-priced homes on the market right now. This is especially true if you are thinking about buying a foreclosed home. In some cases, foreclosed homes sell for as much as 50% less than their market value. But before you go right out and buy a foreclosure, there are some points that you should consider:

A lot of foreclosures are located in economically depressed areas and areas where job loss has greatly impacted the local economy. Sure, there are foreclosures in affluent communities as well, but they are fewer in number. Buying in a depressed area could negatively affect the value of your home and your ability to pay for it. It might even affect your ability to refinance and/or sell in the future. Houses are foreclosed upon after people are unable to pay for them. If a home loan has defaulted, you can almost be sure that the land taxes are not paid up to date. In some cases, back taxes transfer with the house. You could end up having to pay the bill. In a similar vein, foreclosed houses are often in disrepair. People do not lose their homes overnight. They do so after a long economic struggle during which repairs are not being made. Much of the foreclosed real estate in Toronto is in need of major repairs. In all likelihood, you will be responsible for making such repairs. The bank has already lost money on the home and will probably not want to invest any more. If you buy a foreclosed home at auction, you might not be able to see inside it let alone have any professional inspections performed. You might find that there are major issues with the home after you have purchased it.

Again, foreclosures can be a great deal, but there is a chance that you will end up spending more money than you planned if there is something wrong with the home. Be sure to ask a lot of questions and leave no stone unturned when purchasing a foreclosure. And do not be afraid to ask questions. Knowledge is power especially where foreclosures are concerned.

The decision to buy a foreclosed home is a personal one. However, having all of the facts greatly increases the chance that you will make a wise decision and keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket. The bottom line: Never buy real estate in Toronto without doing your homework first. Look before you leap!

There has never been a better time to buy real estate. If you’re in the market for a new home, you will be pleased to know that you can purchase almost any home you want, in any neighborhood you desire, for the price you can afford. Good deals are everywhere you look. From foreclosures to bargain priced luxury homes, from rental properties to commercial buildings. You name it; it’s yours for the taking.

Perhaps the only positive thing in the housing market right now is the prevalence of good deals. It is a buyer’s market. The supply of houses far outnumbers the amount of people that are shopping for a new home. This has resulted in ridiculously low prices. While most deals in today’s market are steals, not all of them are good deals. Even if you do find a great deal, there might be something out there better. So, how do you know you are getting the very best deal on real estate in Toronto?

The first thing that you need to do to ensure that you are getting a good price is to look and compare. Study the housing market in your neighborhood or in the neighborhood you want to live in and see how much houses are going for. Look for houses of similar size and quality that have sold recently so that you can get an idea of what the average prices are. Do not base your assumptions about price on what you know that homes have sold for in the past. It’s a whole new market and homes are being sold for a lot less than in the past.

When you start shopping for a home, do not limit yourself. Look at as many homes as you can and compare asking prices. A better deal might be just around the corner, but if you become emotionally attached too early in the game, you might miss out on it.

You should also keep a close eye on quality. Homes that are priced cheaply may have hidden problems that will cost you a lot of money to be fixed. For example: A new roof could cost thousands of dollars. Structural and foundation issues can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix if they can be fixed at all.

Avoid basing your assumptions about a house on cosmetic issues. Ugly houses are often the best bargains. Paint is cheap. You can turn an ugly house that nobody wants to buy into your very own bargain beauty in the matter of a few weeks. And it will not cost you a fortune to do so.

So, if you are looking for a good deal on real estate in Toronto, do your homework; keep your eyes open; and compare, compare, compare. The work you put in today will pay off when you find the house of your dreams for a fraction of your housing budget.

Decreased consumer confidence in the real estate market has created a decline in home sales worldwide, however the Greater Toronto Area has made a recovery from the economic downturn. The Toronto Real Estate Board reported a 19% increase in the purchase of resale houses from November 2007 to November 2008, and a 3% increase in the purchase of new houses from May 2008 to May 2009, showing confirmation of rising consumer confidence in the investment of funds in Toronto residential real estate. With indications of economic recovery on the horizon, many people are looking at investing in both houses and condos in the Greater Toronto Area.

When adding up the expense of buying a new home, closing fees are additional factors which need to be taken into account. These comprise of appraisal of the real estate, home inspection, mortgage fees, agent commissions, and documentation fees. A large consideration among many in Toronto’s real estate industry, however, is tax, specifically the July 2010 introduction of the HST, or Harmonized Sales Tax.

The HST is being established as a combination of the 5% GST and the 8% PST, and is supposed to be added to new and resale property closing costs, in addition to the purchase price of a new home. This will remove the current exemption from the PST for new property purchases. The Ministry of Revenue has released new documentation regarding the HST, specifically addressing an intended rebate of 75% of the provincial portion of the new unified sales tax, up to a maximum of $24,000. This rebate would be received either at the time of sale, or, as is presently the case with the GST, through submitting a form to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Once a budget has been decided and a target purchase price calculated, the buyer must decide on the type of real estate desired. Both the advantages and disadvantages of single family houses and condos should be analyzed in order to come to the right conclusion for the buyer.

First, the buyer should consider value for money. Generally, a home will have greater equity in the future, and a greater resale value. Rent is often greater for houses than condos. Condominiums generally charge fees that go to an association. Because of this, the return on investment can be bigger on houses.

Location is another issue, determined by the desires of the buyer. A buyer seeking property in downtown Toronto may find it difficult to find a home that matches his or her needs, whereas condos are more plentiful.

A final point to consider is the commitment of time on property repairs. In a home, the maintenance and improvements are the sole responsibility of the owner. In a condo, the corporation takes care of most, if not all, of the building repairs.

The Toronto residential real estate market has a lot to offer new investors, and effective preparation and the in-depth market research can help buyers bypass the problems that are often be associated with a real estate transaction.

Selling or buying a house is never an easy task. However, there are many guides that can help you answer some of the most common questions that come up. When you wish to buy real estate in Toronto, certain things may seem confusing and you will need to clarify them prior to purchasing your new home. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions by people wishing to buy or sell property.

The first question that many people ask is when the best time to sell their property is.  The answer to this question will be determined by many factors when you are in the city. One of the things to consider is the season.  Most people move in late spring or early summer.  Again you will need to consider the availability of similar homes at that particular time because that may mean that with the competition high your asking price may be reduced.  Taking these factors into consideration you will be able to gauge the best time to sell your property.

Another question that is commonly asked is whether you need to put a for sale sign on your lawn when selling home. The truth of the matter is that it is wise to put the sign out when selling property as it announces to all your neighbors and other people in the neighborhood that the property is available. There is no advertising like word of mouth.

The third question commonly asked by people who wish to sell their Toronto real estate is whether to sell a house first or buy one if you wish to do both. In this city, it is advisable for people to get some experience in the market by selling their real estate before acquiring another property. Toronto is a city filled with great diversity and the market can prove to be quite tricky.

There are those who choose to go through different agents in the industry and this might prove very convenient for you. Buying or selling properties is made easier by realtors who offer different assurances and guarantees. For example, many promise to get a house for buyers within a week or two. Others offer market analysis and free evaluations of property. There are many such package deals that you can take advantage of so that all your burning questions can be answered.

When it comes to the question of property appraisals and mortgage payment calculations you may need help from your lender or realtor.  The best appraisers to use though are those with no vested interest.  Make sure that they are not linked to your realtor or lender.  However, if they insist on sending their assessor, as they most likely will, be ready to have your own independent assessor come by for a second opinion of the value of your Toronto real estate.

Finding good real estate deals can be quite challenging if you have no idea how to go about it.  Savvy investors in the Toronto real estate business have a few tricks up their sleeves that they use to ensure they get the best deals in the market.  You can use these tips as well to increase your chances of finding great a good deal on your real estate purchase.

One of the more common ways to find Toronto real estate is to look in local papers, bulletin boards and small independent magazines and publications.  However, you need to go the extra mile if you are to hear about real estate that is selling before your competition can get the same information.  One of the things you can do is visit the facility where the publication is printed,getting your copy before it is publicly circulated.  To gain the upper hand, go ahead and advertise yourself so that those who are thinking of selling their real estate in Toronto can contact you prior to putting out an ad.

Looking at the legal section of the local newspaper can yield good results.  You can contact attorneys and people who have recently inherited properties and find out if they would be interested in selling.  Visiting garage sales is also an excellent tip as 20% of people who hold them are usually planning on moving out.  Once there, enquire about their house and if any of their neighbors are looking to sell their property.  To increase your chances of success in locating prime real estate in Toronto, focus on large population centers and keep an eye out for the deal you are looking for.

Finding vacant, fire damaged, abandoned or run down houses that have evident city notices is a great way to find a good deal.  Talk to the people living close to these houses as most of them are a good source of information on what is going on with the property.  Additionally, they are interested in having the house restored to its full beauty as it adds to the value of other houses in the neighborhood.  Once you have confirmed that the house is indeed vacant, contact the owners of the property with your offer.  If the owners of the property live outside that area, a quick run through of public property records will let you know how to contact them.

Foreclosures offer a unique opportunity for anyone interested in Toronto real estate to find a great deal for less than the market value.  Talking to local lenders and asking them to call you should they have a foreclosure is one way to get the information ahead of others.  The best way to get local lenders to call you sooner is to pre-qualify with them.  That way they know that you are already approved as a potential buyer of foreclosed properties.  Your local paper will carry information on foreclosure auctions, tax sales and the like and is one of the ways you can find a good real estate deal in Toronto.

Real estate in Toronto has continued to thrive. There are many reasons for this with the main one being that more people are looking to buy their own homes. For residents of Toronto, it can be pretty difficult to know where to start with regards to real estate. Therefore, information on homes available for sale becomes invaluable. The following is a guide for people who wish to acquire Toronto real estate. With the Internet era, things have become pretty easy and your number one source of information should be the Internet.

Online resources for Toronto property listings are immense. It is the most convenient way to find what you are looking for as there are many websites that will act as a guide.  With a quick search, you should be in a position to get information on Toronto properties that will meet your requirements. There are several things that you will have to consider in your search. The first is the location of the property. There are countless sites that will provide a map to any geographical location within Toronto and the GTA. Additionally, you can easily find properties that are up for sale by visiting the websites of real estate firms.

Take full advantage of sites that provide a city-by-city focus on the best real estate deals in Toronto. Realtors who have a lot of knowledge and experience in the industry own many sites, and utilizing these resources will make your purchasing experience less stressful and time consuming. Good sites will provide detailed information on the houses up for sale that buyers can take advantage of. Moreover, the information will come complete with pictures and a full description of the house and the grounds it is built on. Due to the Internet, people all over the world can quickly locate the available properties and purchase it if they so wish.

Most of the time Toronto real estate websites will give financing options as well as online mortgage calculators to work out monthly payments on the house. This is a great place to start as you need to be sure that you can afford the house of your dreams.  Starting with the Internet will connect you with realtors who are near you. These will be an excellent resource for you and will quickly let you know when there are great deals up for grabs in the market.  Once you locate a great deal on the Internet, all you have to do is call the realtor selling the house.  Or, if the buyer is to be contacted directly, then you will be able to quickly do this using the listed contacts.

Starting your search for real estate in Toronto on the Internet gives you a head start as you can then compare the information you get with that of other realtors ensuring that you get nothing but the best deals in the market. Great deals easy to find when you start on the Internet.