Experienced and Savvy Investors Buy in December to March Winter Months

Tags

Investors Buy in December to March Winter Months

Experienced and Savvy Investors Buy in December to March Winter Months

Why do a Large Number of Experienced and Savvy Investors Buy in December to March Winter Months?

For a few personal reasons, some people have no time limit (expiration of apartment lease, etc.)and so they really wait until they find something they love to do before purchasing like marrying, which can come at any time, including the snowy winter months as well.

Also, if a property has not sold over the busier season (spring and summer), owners as well as realtors tend to drop the asking price a little to attract more investors to the property. So sometimes, you can get a better deal on a property in the winter months as opposed to the months where the most investors are searching the housing market. Investors think that there is a possibility of better deal to be had….but, many times it is not so….you need right investor agent who can navigate thru this surfing and searching.
There is one good reason is that there are fewer sales and fewer investors in these months so some investors see that as a great time to get a deal. Some houses do not show up in the realtor search as it is in the batches on system for group of years like under 5yrs, under 10 years & so on, so those comes up as soon as the new year starts, also the possible search criteria also changed altogether.

If a seller has placed a conditional offer on a new home and theirs is still not sold by the winter, you may also have an easier time negotiating as they have deadlines to sell their home, so the Investor have an opportunity.

Each selling and purchasing decision is based on a variety of different motives. It’s often case by case and so does just like credit ratings its all depends on individuals.

Don’t be fooled though, some of the statistics I have seen have shown that December is also a good time to sell, and recent years you can verify mls.ca stats, winter months are not bad producing months as well, Because fewer inventories on the market mean less competition, and if investor is in need and do not want to wait despite realtor try to wait for new match property comes up in market. Sometimes good houses do not sell because the competition is fierce and even though they may be priced and war of price so hot, to-gather competitively, they fail to sell because if excess inventory levels. Over major portion of the houses listed in GTA last year in December sold. This made it the number: one month to sell if you want to have an edge on the market inventory if you think and plan properly and willing to take risk with good experience agent and with lots of ice over the head.

Some of my clients save up and buy this time of year. Most investors do not want to be bothered over the Christmas season but investors know that offers at this time of year are scarce at best. This is the time of year when those of us agents that represent investor investors are the busiest. Feel free to contact me if you wish to explore the investor market, there are a lot of great deals out there right now that my clients are snapping up! Would you like to wait or go depends on your choice.

Another good reason is that in winter months only serious sellers remain in the market just like serious investors and price the property accordingly well to sell and ready to make a deal before spring market competition starts. Negotiations take place well when both parties are motivated. An experienced Realtor can get you a great deal in winter.

Always hire the proper agent: www.vijaygandhi.com and save you a lot…

Scarborough RT to close between 2015 and 2019 | Scarborough TTC riders will be stuck with buses for 4 yrs.

Tags

rapid transit, Scarborough RT, SRT, stc, TTC

Scarborough RT to close between 2015 and 2019 | Scarborough TTC riders will be stuck with buses for 4 yrs.

TTC ridership in parts of Scarborough is expected to plummet after the 2015 Pan American Games as the obsolete rapid-transit line is shut down for four years of construction, warns general manager Gary Webster.

Dozens of extra buses will be added to the route between Kennedy Station and Scarborough Town Centre while the updated light rail system is built, but Webster thinks people are likely to return to their cars until the LRT opens in 2019.

“We’re going to drive people away from transit, there’s no question,” he said, noting that a parallel bus service that’s operated for years alongside the SRT has never been embraced by riders.

Meanwhile, Webster said the full length of the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT won’t be done until 2022, although Metrolinx maintains it can be finished by 2020 and is considering a public-private partnership to speed things up.

To any constituents who are angry they’ll be stuck with buses during that time, local Councillor Chin Lee says: Be careful what you vote for.

Lee said he had an understanding with former TTC chair Adam Giambrone that the planned Sheppard LRT should be complete before the SRT — which is on its last legs — was torn down.

“He agreed with me on that,” said Lee. “Unfortunately, the subway advocates were a very vocal group and the mayor listened to them.”

The Transit City plan, which included a Sheppard LRT linking with the SRT at its northern end, was cancelled in favour of the mayor’s subway vision. And the Eglinton light rail plan, connecting seamlessly at the southern end, was moved underground, which takes significantly longer to build.

“Just be careful what you ask for and think of all the implications, not only just the short term,” Lee said.

As he finished speaking to reporters, the mayor’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, said: “I totally disagree with those comments, 100 per cent,” before returning to the budget committee meeting.

The SRT, with its cars resembling a mini subway train, opened in 1985 to much fanfare. Today, it moves up to 5,000 riders an hour at peak periods.

The TTC will put between 20 and 30 extra buses on the road to accommodate the closure, but it’s likely to take significantly longer to get from point A to point B on a bus.

Left-wing Councillor Gord Perks said the mayor has let down the people who elected him. “Scarborough voted for a transportation plan that was supposed to get them more. Now they’re finding out they’re going to get dramatically less,” he said.

source: http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/1043474–srt-to-close-between-2015-and-2019

comment
gtarealtyagent |6:23 PM | Dec 07, 2011

@ STC lots of condo get built as the commuter get way out from there to DT toronto, can you imagine…………no SRT means to them?, please discuss… Alert a moderator

please leave your concerns and comments here:

 

Huge Surge in Bank of America Foreclosures … Worries Arrives if….@#$%

Tags

bank of america., capital gain, judicial foreclosures, loans mortgage, mark hanson, notice of default

Huge Surge in Bank of America Foreclosures

Bank of America is ramping up its foreclosure processing, sending out far more notices of default to borrowers in August than in previous months, well over 200 percent more month-to-month.

A notice of default is the first stage of the foreclosure process in non-judicial foreclosures states, that is, where foreclosures do not go before a judge.

The notice of default is usually sent when a borrower is 90 days or more overdue in payments, but that timeline has been extended significantly during this housing crisis, due to the so-called “robo-signing” processing scandal and the sheer volume of troubled loans.

Mortgage and housing analyst and strategist Mark Hanson alerted me to unusually high legal default filing activity, and his research points to Bank of America [BAC  7.00    -0.05  (-0.71%)   ] as the primary driver.  I contacted a Bank of America  spokesman, who responded:

“It appears the numbers you noted to me this afternoon generally track with our own numbers for key categories.  It should be noted it’s driven more in key states like California and Nevada than overall, and certainly the progress we’re seeing is limited to non-judicial states. Judicial states continue to move very slowly, with key states like New Jersey only beginning to start processing foreclosures again this month.”

The foreclosure numbers are down very slightly year-over-year, but only because August 2010 was one of the highest foreclosure months on record, and of course was just before the “robo-signing” scandal was uncovered. Delays in processing have artificially lowered the foreclosure numbers over the past year, so this new surge is likely addressing loans that have been long delinquent, but unaddressed.

In other words, the foreclosure pipeline is filling again.

RealtyTrac, a widely followed foreclosure sale and data site, is also confirming a surge in overall notices of default in its August numbers, to be released later this week. They do not cite Bank of America specifically, which bought Countrywide Financial, taking on millions of troubled loans.

“We’ve been seeing REO [bank-owned property] sales, and processing of loans through foreclosure. This increase may simply be the lenders and servicers starting the next cycle.  August traditionally is a high month for foreclosure actions, so part of the increase might be seasonal,” says RealtyTrac’s Rick Sharga. “Could be any number of reasons – but with 3.5 million delinquent loans, this had to happen sooner or later.”

Mortgages

30 yr fixed 4.14% 4.04% 30 yr fixed jumbo 4.79% 4.86% 15 yr fixed 3.36% 3.37% 15 yr fixed jumbo 4.06% 4.19% 5/1 ARM 2.93% 2.82% 5/1 jumbo ARM 3.18% 3.09%

Find personalized rates: Bankrate.com

The question of course is, is this a one month catch-up purge or will it continue at high levels for a while? And if the latter, will other banks follow suit quickly? Because if other banks see Bank of America pushing more loans to foreclosure, which will inevitably means more properties heading out for sale, they may want to get in before that glut of properties pushes prices down even further.

“This proves once again that “credit” as measured by legal defaults and foreclosures is not necessarily about borrowers missing payments, rather about what the servicers chose to do about it,” notes Hanson.

source:http://www.cnbc.com/id/44503938

Mortgage Advertising in this Digital Age- Accurate or Misleading

Tags

Accurate or Misleading, Mortgage Advertising in this Digital Age

With mortgage advisors increasingly using the web to advertise their services, it’s becoming more and more important to ensure the information being posted is accurate and not misleading.

This applies to all kinds of mortgage-related advertising, be it rates, promotions or specific services being offered.

Advertising by mortgage professionals is governed largely by:

• The Competition Act
  • Civil cases involving false or misleading advertising can carry up to a $750,000 fine for an individual on a first order, and up to a $1 million fine for each subsequent order. Corporations could face fines up to $10 million on a first order, and $15 for subsequent offences.

• • Criminal cases, where intent is proven beyond a reasonable doubt, carry unlimited fines set by the court and/or 14 years in prison on an indictment. A summary conviction carries a maximum $200,000 fine and/or one year in prison.
• The Canadian Code of Advertising Standards
  • The three clauses of the CCAC that apply to broker advertising are #1 (Accuracy and Clarity), #3 (Price Claims) and #4 (Bait and Switch).
• The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals’ Code of Ethics
  • Rule 8 of the CAAMP Code of Ethics: All Members shall apply, set and maintain standards of honesty, truth, accuracy, fairness and propriety in advertising and shall comply with the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, as established from time to time by Advertising Standards Canada.
• Provincial laws related to the mortgage broker industry and consumer protection.
  • In Ontario, for example: Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006 (point 27), as well as the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
  • In Alberta, the Real Estate Council of Alberta specifically outlines rules with regards to false advertising, and more specifically a page dedicated to internet advertising.
  • In B.C., the Mortgage Brokers Act prohibits brokers from making “false, misleading or deceptive statements in any kind of advertising”. Section 14 of the Mortgage Brokers Act reads: “Examples of misleading advertising include providing sample monthly repayment figures for mortgage loans requiring no repayment of principal without identifying that the payments represent only the interest, or advertising payment amounts for mortgage loans with unusually long amortization periods that do not specify the amortization period. Advertisements containing repayment figures should contain an indication of the amortization period used to determine the repayment figure. Likewise advertisements for interest only mortgages should specify that the repayments do not include any principal amounts.”

This may come as a surprise to some, but mortgage advisors are governed by the same advertising rules that apply to large corporations in Canada. The onus is on the professional, to ensure any representation you make to the public in any media is accurate and not misleading in any way, including special offers on rates.

False or misleading advertisers face perhaps the biggest compliance risk under the Competition Bureau’s Competition act.

The advertising rules in the Competition Act are of general application, meaning they apply to mortgage professionals and anyone else. The Bureau has the power to investigate cases on its own accord, or based on complaints from consumers or fellow brokers.

Any broker involved in advertising their business or rates, be it online or via more traditional advertising methods, should take note that laws were recently stiffened and resulted in fines increasing, in some instances 100-fold. This seems outlandish, but a company alleged to have made false or misleading advertising could be investigated by the Competition Tribunal, culminating in a hearing before the Competition Tribunal or courts and a fine of up to $10 million for a first order, and $15 million for each subsequent order. For individuals, the fines can reach $750,000 for a first offence and $1 million for each subsequent order.

“Making a false or misleading representation, whether as a broker or any other advertiser, has very serious consequences”. “Whether you meant the misrepresentation or not, if it’s out there you’re subject to that risk.”

If it’s proven that you made a misrepresentation to the public “knowingly” or even “recklessly”, the case becomes criminal and in a worst case scenario you could be open to heavy fines at the discretion of the criminal court, jail time and even a class action lawsuit for damage arising from the misrepresentation.

“If a competitor or a consumer has a real issue with false or misleading advertising, a complaint to the Competition Bureau with a request that it investigate is one option”. But it’s certainly not the only recourse.

Across the country there are a number of provincial laws that provide protection against false and misleading advertising. The Ontario Consumer Protection Act is one example, which has a complaints and investigation process. Maximum fines for non-compliance reach up to $250,000. The Act also provides for directors or officers of companies convicted of an offence (who failed to take reasonable care to prevent the company from committing the offence) to be liable for fines of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day.

Trade associations on the other hand, such as the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, do set out guidelines and advertising standards but have much less power of enforcement.

In terms of official complaints that have been made to CAAMP regarding inaccurate or questionable advertising practices, there have only been eight out of the roughly 130 complaints filed last year. That was confirmed by CAAMP’s Vice-President of Education and Professional Affairs, who also serves as the organization’s ethics investigator.

As per him complaints about false or misleading mortgage rates from CAAMP members, for example, is not something that he has had to deal with on a regular basis.

One such complaint came from someone accusing another mortgage broker of advertising rates that the complainant believed to be too low and unattainable. It turned out the mortgage broker had given up part of his commission to lower the rate @#$%..

While there have been several complaints related to brokers offering rates that appeared too low (like the one above), brokers will sometimes use points they accumulate or even part of their finders fees in order to buy down the rate.but point is that do they disclose to their clients????

“Essentially the broker can substitute the rate the borrower is paying.”

Most advertising-related ethics complaints are dealt with by way of a simple warning and a settlement is reached before further actions have to be taken.

If an individual is accused of outright lying, it would first have to be proven before the issue can be brought to the ethics chair, who then makes a recommendation on how to proceed. If serious, the complaint could end up before an ethics hearing, which is heard before three individuals from CAAMP’s National Ethics Committee.

But again, with more than 12,000 members and only 130 complaints last year, CAAMP official said the industry can boast a fairly good track record. “I think people are realizing they need to be careful when it comes to their advertising,”

“I think it’s generally an annoyance with other agents” that tend to generate complaints. “Generally advertising that tends to be unprofessional annoys other agents.”

For consumers looking for a channel to file complaints against mortgage advisors, Advertising Standards Canada would likely be their first choice.

“If a customer felt aggrieved, it’s a simple and logical place to go,” he said. While ASC has no power to impose fines, or force a company to pull or change their deceptive advertising, that if an advertiser fails to voluntarily comply with the decision of an ASC Council, ASC will, among other things, advise the exhibiting media (e.g. broadcasters and newspapers) of the advertiser’s failure to cooperate and request the media no longer runs the advertising in question.

Asked if there is an exception mortgage advisors can fall back on in the case of unintentionally posting false rates or failing to keep their rates updated, “Intention really has nothing to do with whether there has been a contravention of the false or misleading advertising provisions of the Competition Act, only whether the Competition Bureau proceeds down the civil or criminal track.”

And, of course, in determining the size of your possible fine $$$$$$$$$!

Have A Question? Submit Your Question Below

And We’ll Get Back To You Right Away

Housing market stabilizing: CMHC

Click here to see the Active Listings currently for sale in key Toronto GTA neighborhoods.  If you see anything of interest and would like further information or to arrange a private viewing, please call or e-mail us and we’d be glad to provide our unparalleled service to you.

This blog communication is for public awareness and public responsibility, for client and customer benefit and best intrest in mind.

Vijay Gandhi is a Re/max Real Estate sales Personnel & Independent mortgage planner- industry insider & CENTUM Agent. If you are purchasing, refinancing or renewing your mortgage, contact Vijay or apply for a Mortgage Check-up to obtain the best available rates and terms.

Have you considered a 50/50 Mortgage?

As always, if you have questions about the 50/50 mortgage product and whether it’s right for you, or other mortgage-related questions, I’m here to help!

Whether you are planning to buy-sell-lease-invest your first home or your investment, contact us today! We’d love to hear from you!
Please leave a detail message; I will get back to you soon as possible…
Thanks for visiting my web sites:
vijaygandhi.com , icxforsale.com & torontomortgagetrends.com
Mortgage Rates Are At Historical Lows. Easy OnLine Application. Apply And Get The Best Mortgage Rate!   Variable Mortgage  2.1%   5 Years Fixed  3.49%    Prime   3.00%
*condition apply/sub. to availability
Contact us:

Vijay Gandhi,
Sales Representative- REALTOR^®
RE/MAX Dynasty Realty Inc. Brokerage*
Mortgage Agent – Lic.# M10001947
CENTUM Metrocap Mortgage Corp. Lic.#11074
C: 647-267-6338 (Direct-Leave message or text)
O: 416.335.4335 | 905.471.0002 (page me-Have me)
F: 905.471.7441
E-MAIL: vtgandhi@yahoo.com , vgandhi@remax.net
WEB:  www.vijaygandhi.com , www.icxforsale.com
BLOG: https://gtarealtyagent.wordpress.com/

“YOUR PERSONAL REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGE ADVISOR^® FOR LIFE”
Please call me TODAY for a No Obligation Buyer Consultation or Pre-Listing appointment!
The referral of your friends & family is the greatest compliment you can give me. Thank you for your trust.
Please, forward my name, phone number & e-mail address to your friends, relatives, clients..

Happy Family Day (Canada) to all clients and B2B friends

Happy Family Day (Canada) to all clients and B2B friends

from http://www.vijaygandhi.com

This publication contains general information only and should not be construed as legal or professional advice. For legal or professional advice specific to your real estate transaction or situation, you should seek the services of a competent professional.

 

This blog communication is for public awareness and public responsibility, for client and customer benefit and best intrest in mind.

Vijay Gandhi is an Re/max Real Estate Sales Rep. &  independent mortgage planner- industry insider & CENTUM Agent. If you are purchasing, refinancing or renewing your mortgage, contact Vijay or apply for a Mortgage Check-up to obtain the best available rates and terms.

 

Have you considered a 50/50 Mortgage?

As always, if you have questions about the 50/50 mortgage product and whether it’s right for you, or other mortgage-related questions, I’m here to help!

Whether you are planning to buy-sell-lease-invest your first home or your investment, contact us today!We’d love to hear from you!
Please leave a detail message; I will get back to you soon as possible…

Thanks for visiting my web sites:

vijaygandhi.com , icxforsale.com & torontomortgagetrends.com

Mortgage Rates Are At Historical Lows. Easy OnLine Application. Apply And Get The Best Mortgage Rate!
*condition apply/sub. to availability

Vijay Gandhi,
Sales Representative- REALTOR^®
RE/MAX Dynasty Realty Inc. Brokerage*

Mortgage Agent – Lic.# M10001947
CENTUM Metrocap Mortgage Corp. Lic.#11074

C: 647-267-6338 (Direct-Leave message or text)
O: 416.335.4335 | 905.471.0002 (page me-Have me)
F: 905.471.7441
E-MAIL: vtgandhi@yahoo.com , vgandhi@remax.net
WEB:  www.vijaygandhi.com , www.icxforsale.com
BLOG: https://gtarealtyagent.wordpress.com/
“YOUR PERSONAL REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGE ADVISOR^® FOR LIFE”
Please call me TODAY for a No Obligation Buyer Consultation or Pre-Listing appointment!
The referral of your friends & family is the greatest compliment you can give me. Thank you for your trust.

Please, forward my name, phone number & e-mail address to your friends, relatives, clients…

 

Buyers market? Some first-timers agree..

Buyers market? Some first-timers agree says RBC poll

 

Almost half of first-time homeowners in Canada say it’s now a buyers market, pointing to a pick up in activity in coming months, according to an online survey conducted by RBC.

About 46 per cent of buyers who purchased a home in the past two years say it’s a buyers market, while 43 per cent of those who intend to buy for the first time said the same.

“That could be an indicator that there is higher home buying activity to come and rates do remain near historical lows,” said Marcia Moffat, RBC vice president of home equity financing Canadian banking, RBC

The property market, which bounced back to record levels in the first half of the year on the back of record low interest rates, has cooled off sharply in recent months. A combination of rising interest rates, the harmonized sales tax in British Columbia and Ontario, and new mortgage regulations all helped take some steam out of the market.

RBC expects prices to rise about eightper cent this year, with gains coming mainly from the first half, before slowing to about 1.4 per cent next year, Chief Economist Craig Wright said.

The RBC poll found 85 per cent of first-time buyers considered buying a home a long-term purchase with only 15 per cent planning to sell in the next two years. As well, 93 per cent plan to buy for their own use and not for investment purposes.

“Most first-time buyers are not planning to buy and flip, that’s good news,” Moffatt said, adding it indicated there was little speculation in the market.

When it comes to financing choices, the research showed the first-time buyer opted for certainty with 59 per cent choosing a fixed rate mortgage. Of those planning to buy in the next two years that figure came down to 49 per cent.

A combination of the two mortgage options, part-fixed rate and part variable, is gaining popularity with 31 per cent of future buyers saying that would be their choice, compared with just seven per cent of those who bought in the past two years.

source:http://www.mortgagebrokernews.ca/news/buyers-market-some-first-timers-agree-says-rbc-poll/75606

7 of the Strangest Homes on Earth – i enjoyed it so sharing with you

Tags

7 of the Strangest Homes on Earth

7 of the Strangest Homes on Earth

//

From shipping container homes to houses built into caves, these are some of the strangest — and smartest — homes out there.

1. Shipping Container Home
Not just for resourceful squatters, container architecture is taking the world by storm. Recycled freight containers bring efficiency, flexibility and affordability to innovative green buildings, from small vacation cabins to movable cafes, schools and skyscrapers.

With its modern lines and appealing spaces, the award-winning Redondo Beach House by De Maria Design turns heads. The luxury beachside showpiece was built from eight prefabricated, recycled steel shipping containers, along with some traditional building materials. According to the architects, the modified containers are “nearly indestructible,” as well as resistant to mold, fire, and termites. Seventy percent of the building was efficiently assembled in a shop, saving time, money and resources.

Related: Check out photos of vacation homes, student housing and even a coffee shop made from shipping containers!

 

  

 

 

 

 

2. Treehouse
Not your average treehouse. Perched high in the forest of Okinawa is a unique creation by master Japanese treehouse builder Taka, author of Treedom: The Road to Freedom. The “Plexiglas portal to the universe” is an attraction at the rustic Beach Rock resort, a popular stopover for young Japanese backpackers and those who want to get away from the ordinary for a while. The treehouse was built in 2005, and weathered a typhoon the following season.

Related: See photos of a treehouse school, complete with a main lodge and guest rooms.

 

 

3. Floating Home
As with many architectural designs coming out of Dubai, this houseboat is stunning. The 220-square meter home was cleverly designed by Dubai-based architectural firm X-Architects. Set on two catamaran beams, this two-story structure is encased in glass windows, allowing sunlight to flood the interior. It’ll take the average person more than a few bank loans to get his hands on the swish fittings and up-market features of this chic and spacious floating home, even if it’s just to rent for a week!

Related: Don’t miss Brad Pitt’s floating home!

 

4. Cave Home

People have been hollowing out caves to make their homes for many thousands of years. We all need shelter from the elements, and it didn’t take long for our ancestors to run out of available real estate in natural caves.While many of these ancient structures are still standing, and a few are still inhabited by contemporary residents, there are also people experimenting with the benefits of modern cave living. And what may surprise you is that many of these homes are well appointed, with modern conveniences, good ventilation and even spectacular views. Most of them cost less than conventional housing.

Tucked into a 17,000-square-foot hole left by a sandstone mine in Festus, Missouri, is the spacious, beautiful home of William “Curt” Sleeper, his wife Deborah and their three kids. The home includes three bedrooms, oak flooring, goldfish pool and even a laundry room.

Related: See photos from inside this cave home — it will blow your mind!

5. Green Modular Home

“Modular” is no longer a dirty word. These homes are stylish, forward-thinking — and green.

The eye-catching, quirky Vail Grant House from Pugh + Scarpa Architects is constructed from prefabricated structural concrete insulating panels (SCIPS) made by Green Sandwich Technologies. All panels are 60% recycled material, including wire mesh made from recycled auto parts and fly ash, a byproduct of coal burning.

Related: Flip through photos of more cutting-edge homes located in New Orleans and L.A.

 

6. Straw Home
This enchanting Hobbit-like home is partially dug into the hillside in a Welsh village, and is a lovely example of deep care for the environment. It took the inventor, Simon Dale, and some helpful friends four months and £3,000 to complete, and features straw bales in the walls, floors and roof to guarantee maximum insulation and a cozy ambience. Simon comments on his creation: “Being your own architect is a lot of fun and allows you to enjoy something that is part of yourself and the land rather than at worst a mass-produced box designed for maximum profit.” He adds, “Building from natural materials does away with producers’ profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.”

Related: See photos of modern straw homes built in the U.S.

 
7. Oddly-Shaped Home
Perhaps what Gaudí would have envisioned if he were asked to decorate a sea shell, the Nautilus in Mexico City was completed in 2006 by architect Javier Sensonian of Arquitectura Orgánica. Sensonian practices what he calls “bio-architecture,” and has designed buildings shaped like snakes, whales and other living things. The Nautilus was built for a young family that wanted something that felt more integrated with nature, and it is filled with lush vegetation. The front door blends into the colorful mosaic façade.

interesting article from http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home-garden/articles/archive/shine-thedailygreen/2386637

4 Types of Home Renovation: Which Ones Boost Value?

Tags

4 Types of Home Renovation: Which Ones Boost Value?, Boost Value?, Home Renovation

“Fix it and flip it” is a phrase often associated with real estate investing. The idea behind the concept is that the completion of a few choice remodeling projects will add significant value to the price of a home. With this in mind, many homeowners undertake major renovation projects before putting their homes up for sale with the idea that sprucing up the place will result in big bucks. More often than not, these upgrades fail to pay for themselves. Read on to find out how to renovate strategically and which renovations really add value to your property.

The Difference between Investors and Owners
Updating an investment property is generally a sound strategy because successful advocates of the fix-it-and-flip-it philosophy buy run-down homes at bargain prices and save money on the repairs by doing most of the work themselves. A little sweat equity goes a long way toward making a real estate investment profitable.

Investors carefully choose their remodeling projects, focusing on those that will result in the most value for the least amount of effort and cost. Part of the process includes paying attention to the other homes in the neighborhood to avoid over-improving the property. If none of the other houses in the area have crown moldings and Corian counter tops, adding these amenities is unlikely to result in a significantly higher selling price.

Owners, on the other hand, often take a less strategic approach to remodeling when sprucing up their homes prior to putting them on the market. As a result, they can end up putting significantly more money into the project than they will get back out of it when they sell.

To make the most of your remodeling projects, it pays to keep four types of projects in mind: basics curb appeal, value added and personal preference.

The Basics
the basic are the things that buyers expect when they purchase a home. This includes a roof that doesn’t leak, functioning gutters and downspouts, a dry basement, a good furnace, solid floors, walls that are in good repair, retaining walls that work and all of the other common-sense items that you expect to find in a home.

In upscale properties, this includes air conditioning, a certain number of bedrooms, bathrooms and garages, and any other amenities that are common to the neighborhood, such as a swimming pool.

Adding these items to a home that lacks them doesn’t add value; it merely brings the property up to the standard level of the rest of the homes in the area. Money spent on these items is unlikely to be fully recovered, but should at least result in ensuring that the home sells for a price that is comparable to other homes in the area.

Curb Appeal
Items that add curb appeal help the property to look good when prospective buyers arrive. While these projects may not add a considerable amount of monetary value, they will help the place sell faster. Curb appeal items include a nice green lawn, attractive landscaping, fresh paint inside and out, new carpet and new appliances. If you know that a prospective buyer is due to arrive at a certain time, baking an apple pie just before the arrival is an easy way to set the stage, make your house smell good and create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

__________________________________________________________________ 
You can find the Residential/Commercial/multiplexes/investment listings on webs sites as under
 www.vijaygandhi.com
 www.icxforsale.com

Learn more:
The next Bank of Canada interest rate meeting is September 8 ,2010.
____________________________________________________________

Adds Value
the projects that add considerable value are big favorites of fix-it-and-flip it advocates. While most of these efforts will not recoup their costs, some will come close. Projects that offer the most bangs for the buck include new siding, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, new windows, decks and the addition of living space. The National Association of Realtors cites siding, kitchens and windows as some of the most beneficial projects, often recouping 80% or more of their costs during resale.

Personal Preference
Personal preference projects are nifty items that you want but that other people may not like or be willing to pay to get. In most areas of the country, these include amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, hot tubs, wine cellars, basement game rooms and ponds. There’s certainly no harm in adding these items to your house, but don’t expect potential buyers to be willing to pay a premium to get them when you are ready to sell.

House and Home
Regardless of the project that you are considering, remember that your primary residence is not just a house, it’s your home. If you plan to live there for many years to come, add amenities that you want to have regardless of their impact on resale. When it’s time to sell, do the basics to get the property up to par for the neighborhood and add some curb appeal, but don’t bother undertaking an extensive array of projects strictly in an effort to increase the value of the property. Even with the projects that are known to add value, the chances are good that you will spend far more money than you will get back in return.

intended as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need legal advice, please speak to a lawyer.

If you have any questions/suggestion or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me for buying or selling and also I will be happy to assist you negotiating your investment needs.

You can find the Residential/commercial/multiplexes/investment listings on webs sites as under

www.vijaygandhi.com

www.icxforsale.com

Vijay Gandhi,
Sales Representative- REALTOR^®,
RE/MAX Dynasty Realty Inc. Brokerage*
C: 647. 267. 6338 (Direct-Leave message or text)
P: 416.335.4335 | 905.471-0002 (page me-Have me)
F: 905.471.7441
E: vtgandhi@yahoo.com , vgandhi@remax.net
W:  www.vijaygandhi.com , www.gtarealtyagent.com , www.icxforsale.com 

Please call me TODAY for a No Obligation Buyer Consultation or Pre-Listing appointment!

Do you have the right to use a mutual driveway?

Tags

mutual driveway, shared driveway

There was an article in the Toronto Star recently about a couple who purchased a home in Toronto. After closing, they objected to their neighbour continuing to use a driveway located on their property in order to access the garage at the back of the neighbour’s house.   

Many older properties in older neighbourhoods do not have parking at the front of the house, but in the rear. In this case, accessing the garage required driving down a driveway sandwiched between their house and the abutting owner’s house.

According to the new owner, there was no right of way registered on title relating to use of the driveway. On the other hand, the neighbour alleged that he has been using the driveway to get to his garage for 33 years. Who’s in the right?  

The new owner had a survey commissioned after closing which didn’t disclose any right of way. The survey did disclose that the driveway was located -mostly, although not entirely- on the new owner’s property.

__________________________________________________________________ 

You can find the Residential/Commercial/multiplexes/investment listings on webs sites as under

 www.vijaygandhi.com
 www.icxforsale.com

Learn more:
The next Bank of Canada interest rate meeting is September 8 ,2010.
____________________________________________________________

Generally, if someone has been using a right of way in an open, uninterrupted way for a long period of time, they may have acquired possessory rights to continue using it, depending upon the land titles system which is in place in that jurisdiction. Although it’s possible for someone to enjoy a right of way to use a driveway even if it’s not registered on title, this right can be hard to establish. 

If you’re going to go to the trouble of paying for a new survey, the time to get this done is before closing, not afterwards. Had the new owners done so, they would have known that the driveway was not, in fact, a mutual driveway at all.  From a practical point of view, if the property cannot accommodate parking anywhere else other than the rear yard, it’s not clear if the new owners could simply refuse to accommodate any kind of arrangement to allow access to the backyard. Having had the survey done ahead of time would have given the prospective owners an opportunity to determine if going ahead with the purchase, in light of the driveway issue, was worth it.

This blog is intended as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need legal advice, please speak to a lawyer.

If you have any questions/suggestion or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me for buying or selling and also I will be happy to assist you negotiating your investment needs.

You can find the Residential/commercial/multiplexes/investment listings on webs sites as under

www.vijaygandhi.com

www.icxforsale.com

Vijay Gandhi,
Sales Representative- REALTOR^®,
RE/MAX Dynasty Realty Inc. Brokerage*
C: 647. 267. 6338 (Direct-Leave message or text)
P: 416.335.4335 | 905.471-0002 (page me-Have me)
F: 905.471.7441
E: vtgandhi@yahoo.com , vgandhi@remax.net
W:  www.vijaygandhi.com , www.gtarealtyagent.com , www.icxforsale.com 

Please call me TODAY for a No Obligation Buyer Consultation or Pre-Listing appointment!

DO NOT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR SINGLE LARGEST INVESTMENT OF THE LIFE.

DO NOT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR SINGLE LARGEST INVESTMENT OF THE LIFE.

 

Wouldn’t you like to have your house sold by a professional?

 

Professional agents bring a certain expertise that is indispensable in the complex process of buying and selling real estate. Real estate agents deal with the buying and selling of houses and Real Estate every day, and a REALTOR® knows the local marketplace better than anyone in the area. The number of different strategies and techniques that a REALTOR® will utilize to sell your home is staggering. All of these avenues bring more prospects quicker, allowing you to receive the most for your property. How to attract the most buyers in the least amount of time is the concern of many sellers. Realtors are experts at doing just that.
If you are debating the use of a professional real estate agent, consider the following:

• Do I know how to price my home correctly without the use of an agent?
• Do I know the laws that go along with selling my home?
• Do I have the time to make myself available to prospective buyers?
• Do I have experience writing newspaper advertisements?
• Do I know where to get “For Sale” signs to put in my lawn?
• Do I have the time to have open houses?
• Do I know what to say when showing my house?
• Do I know how to deal with brokers that may be working with buyers?
• Do I have the time, technology, and connections to attract all possible buyers?
• Importantly- for $100 tax problem/legal issue I need tax professionals to help. Can I avoid realtor professional service for hundreds of thousands of equity savings of the life and take chances?

These are all things that need to be thought through before attempting to sell your property. Selling real estate can be a long and arduous process for the beginner. Real Estate professionals are involved with the buying and selling of houses on a daily basis, and are knowledgeable about the most effective ways to market real estate. The object of selling a house is to reach all potential buyers. By using the networks available through a REALTOR®, you can achieve this. A recent study shows that the vast majority of properties are sold through real estate professionals. By attempting to sell your property without a Real Estate sales professional, you are putting yourself at risk of missing out on some of the marketing and networking advantages that a REALTOR® can offer.

We invite you to learn more about us by visiting us. Need more information? Contact us.

(The comments contained on this site are for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.)

If you have any questions/suggestion or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to assist you.

Vijay Gandhi,
Sales Representative- REALTOR^®,
RE/MAX Dynasty Realty Inc. Brokerage*
C: 647. 267. 6338 (Direct-Leave message or text)
P: 416.335.4335 | 905.471-0002 (page me-Have me)
F: 905.471.7441
E: vtgandhi@yahoo.com , vgandhi@remax.net
W:  www.vijaygandhi.com , www.gtarealtyagent.com