If you’ve been sitting on the fence about selling your home, it’s just about time to hop off. The fall is when we typically see a number of buyers coming out of the woodwork after summer holidays. This year, we have more buyers than ever looking, which, when combined with low-interest rates, less competition, and other factors, makes it an ideal time to sell for maximum dollar.

Here’s 4 reasons you should list your home in the fall:

1. There’s less competition: A healthy real estate market typically has approximately six months of inventory for sale. However, according to the REALTORS Association of Hamilton-Burlington, there is just shy of three months inventory. This means there are not enough homes to satisfy the number of buyers looking at this time of year – making it an ideal time of year for properties to stand out from the noise.
2. Interest Rates: With the Bank of Canada expected to raise interest rates again in 2018, many buyers are looking to take advantage of still-historic low rates in the fall market.
3. Landscaping: With fall comes beautiful scenery as foliage turns to brilliant colours. Many homes look their best in fall, with fall mums and stunning leaf colours acting as natural outdoor stagers.
4. Pre-Holiday Buyers: Many buyers that are looking at homes right now are very serious, as they are hoping to close in late November so they can be moved and settled before busy holiday season sets in.

If you’re considering selling, give the Woolcott Team a call at 905-689-9223 to learn what your home worth and more about the advantages of selling in the fall.

Homeownership is sometimes viewed by those looking to enter the market as expensive and rife with hidden costs. However, owning a home shouldn’t be a scary experience, as there are many Canadian government grants designed to help Ontario homeowners.

What many potential buyers and current owners don’t realize is that there are a lot of different Canadian government grants designed specifically for them. Whether to assist in buying a first home, help with energy costs or make a renovation possible, there’s grants for almost anyone who either already owns or is entertaining the idea of buying a home.

The First Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit

This government grant can give buyers a tax credit relief of up to $5,000 from the federal government and applies to first time home buyers and anyone with a disability buying a home that has special conditions to help them with their disability.

The RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan

This is another great way to enter homeownership. Facilitated by the federal government, it allows first-time home buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 in a calendar year from their RRSP to help finance the downpayment on the home. The advantage to using the Home Buyer’s Plan is that the withdrawal is not taxable so long as it is repaid within 15 years.

For current homeowners:

There are a number of options we recommend but before we do, we want to stress the importance of proper AC preventive maintenance as a means to save globally on electricity and resources. Through the Save on Energy program, qualified owners can receive a rebate up to $600 on a new ENERGY STAR® certified central air conditioner, getting the air conditioning installation Brisbane. Enbridge also offers its customers a $100 rebate if they purchase and install a qualifying Smart thermostat. If you just need to repair your A/C contact Oak Island Air Conditioning heating and AC service San Diego.

Other options include free winter proofing for some homes built before 1980 or a rebate of up to $5,000 through Union Gas’ Home Reno Rebate.

If you want to find out more about other advantages of home ownership, contact us at the Woolcott Team today at 905-332-9223!

When beginning your home search, there are many factors to consider. One thought that is consistently top-of-mind for many buyers is location.

“A lot of buyers come to us, either from the area or out-of-town, wondering what area is the best for them to buy in,” says Drew Woolcott, broker of record, Re/Max Escarpment Woolcott Realty Inc. “The fact is each buyer is different and no one neighbourhood works for each buyer as they are all in different stages of life.”

Woolcott recommends buyers sit down and write out the features that are necessary and work with their real estate agent to determine which neighbourhoods meet their criteria most closely.

Below are a few of Woolcott’s top items for buyers to consider when selecting their dream home location:

Family Friendliness: “Many buyers often begin their search when they’re recently married or thinking about children,” says Woolcott. He recommends looking into available parks, what schools are in the area and public transportation.

Walk Score: A Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100 that measures the walkability of any address. If being able to talk to get coffee, go to the gym or pick up groceries by foot is important to you, select an address with a high walk score. Walk Scores for all Canadian addresses can be found at www.walkscore.com.

Amenities: “We tend to see buyer’s forget about the importance of having amenities nearby,” says Woolcott. “It’s often once they move in that they begin looking for the closest library or grocery store, only then realizing it may not be as close as they’d like.”

If you are planning on buying this fall, contact us at the Woolcott Team today at 905-332-9223 to learn more on how to find your dream home location!

By Charlie Robson 

I’ve been a condo owner for the majority of the time I’ve been a homeowner. It’s not for everyone, but if you want to lock the door and leave, not worry about the garden getting overgrown, or the snow getting shovelled, then it might be the right type of home ownership for you. But there is more to condo ownership than just the space you live in, and it’s important to understand what you are buying into. Whether you’re shopping for a townhouse or apartment style condominium, you are not only looking at the space you live in, but also the Condominium Corporation that runs the property, because as an owner you are a shareholder in that corporation.

What’s in a condo fee?

Every condo owner is responsible for paying a monthly fee, which consists of a share of the operating expenses for the building or complex, and a contribution to the corporation’s reserve fund. The reserve fund is a big savings account where money is held to fund future expenditures when equipment and systems reach the end of their life cycle and need to be replaced. Your proportionate share is based on the square footage of your suite or townhouse, along with any parking spaces or storage lockers that may also be owned with the suite.

When shopping for your condo it’s key to look at what’s included in the monthly fee, so you can compare apples to apples. Generally corporations include building insurance and common elements maintenance in their operating expenses, but from there what is included can vary greatly. Fees can also include some or all of your utilities, property management, security, cleaners, and additional facilities that you have access to. Generally speaking, the lower the fee, the less that is covered.

Who’s managing your money?

You’ve found a great suite or townhouse. As an owner, shareholder, and financial contributor, you want to know when you purchase, that the corporation is well managed and properly funded.

Every condo corporation is managed by a volunteer board of directors who have been voted in by owners at the corporation’s annual general meeting, and in most cases they are aided by a professional property management company. They are responsible for setting the budget, and managing expenditures.

When you purchase a condo, you can include a condition in your offer that allows you and your lawyer to review what’s called a status certificate, before you’re completely locked in – and you should! This is to give you a snap shot of the corporation’s financial health. Your lawyer will read this, but you should too, and be prepared to discuss any questions with your lawyer, so they can follow-up with the property manager for more information.

Rules, Rules, Rules

The board of directors is also responsible for enforcing the declaration, by-laws and rules of the condo corporation. These are the governing documents for the condo corporation and are also included with the status certificate. While some of these documents contain a fair bit of legal jargon it’s important for you to read ALL of them and discuss anything you don’t understand with your lawyer, because these are the rules that you will be expected to live by when residing in the building or complex, and also outline what is your responsibility as an owner versus what is the responsibility of the corporation.

You Have a Vote

As a condo owner you have a vote. Clearly explained in the simple condo owners guide found on https://mirvishgehry.ca/, the facts are outlined as such: your corporation will hold an annual general meeting each year where you can vote on various matters, including who is on your board of directors. Many boards will hold several other meetings throughout the year, to keep you informed, get your input, answer your questions, and present opportunities for you to vote and have your say. Stay in tune with what is going on in your community by attending these meetings. You’ve made a financial investment in your community, so give feedback and suggestions to your board as well.

For more expert tips on buying a condo, contact us at Woolcott Realty today!

The Home Buying Process Team

Buying a home is a process that involves a team of individuals with specific areas of expertise. Often the first person you work with is the real estate professional to help secure the perfect property but the team extends far beyond this.
You will need to secure financing which will involve working with a bank or mortgage broker to find you the rate and terms. Once approved, you will have confidence to purchase in the price range you can afford. It is a good idea at this point in time to consider a lawyer to work with. You want to consider one that specializes in real estate law. Their help is essential especially as you draw nearer to the closing date.
Once you have a successful offer on a property, numerous experts come into play especially if your offer contained conditions on financing or inspections. First of all, you will want to send the accepted Agreement of Purchase and Sale to your lender so they are able to complete your mortgage approval.
Secondly, if your offer is conditional upon a home inspection, you will want to arrange this as quickly as possible. The inspections are valuable tools for buyers as it helps you better understand the condition of the home and what repairs may be required. A qualified and experienced home inspector will examine the major systems in the home including electrical, plumbing, roofing and ventilation, condition of the hot water heater repair and cooling, as well as the foundation and structure of the home. If the property is in the country, a qualified professional in the septic and well industry may be required to address these systems.
When choosing an inspector to work with it important to consider their experience, training and any associations they belong to.It is up to you to decide whether the results of the home inspection are satisfactory. If the inspection reveals deficiencies you are not comfortable taking on, discuss this with your real estate professional as termination of the contract may be an option. On the other hand, if you are pleased with the outcome of the financing package and all of the inspections then, you are in a position to make the sale firm. This is when you will see a sold sign on the property.

As you can see there are many details to consider while moving through the process of buying a home and having an experienced team of experts can make the difference. An experienced real estate professional is a valuable resource to guide you through the steps and help you find the experts that you will need. Contact Woolcott Real Estate to get started on your home buying needs.

So you’ve begun the process of house hunting and you’ve developed a clear image in your mind of what you want your Burlington dream house to look like – that’s great. While knowing what you want is a good thing however, being overly picky about things that don’t really matter, can make finding your dream home much harder – and if you do happen to find your dream home, you will likely pay a premium for it.

The truth is, there are certain things like stucco maintenance that you can’t overlook, but others that are ok to overlook. If the previous homeowner’s taste in certain décor is not what you’d like, they are easy and relatively inexpensive to change.

Let’s have a look at some of the things that are ok to ignore during house hunting.

Paint Colours

The previous homeowner was a grandmother who had all the wall painted pink and purple. Or perhaps one of the bedrooms is a clear example of a DIY sponge paint job gone wrong. That’s okay! Paint is easy to change and if the house is otherwise to your liking, you shouldn’t let an undesirable paint colour stand in the way of you making an offer.

Hardware and Light Fixtures

Little things like door knobs, cabinetry hardware and light fixtures can have a big impact on the overall look of a room. But if you don’t like them, they are a minor thing to change. When home hunting, if you find there is something about a space that you don’t like, try to define exactly what it is.

If you can see yourself liking a room more with different light fixtures, or hardware then force yourself to ignore the outdated fixtures as you make your decision.

The Age of the Home

When it comes to home buying, newer isn’t always better. Besides having some great character, older homes have often been built with quality materials and craftsmanship. On the other hand, many newer homes have been built quickly with less expensive materials and poorer construction.

Lack of Curb Appeal

Are you looking at a home that has bushes by the front porch that look like they haven’t been trimmed in years? Or is the flower bed overrun with weeds?

That can actually be good news for you! Poor curb appeal can lower a home’s asking price. And if you decide to buy, it won’t cost you too much to have that shrub removed or to put in a whole new patch of lovely flowers.

There is a saying that you shouldn’t sweat the small things – and all of the items mentioned are small and easy to change if you don’t like them. Things that you should never ignore when house hunting are bad neighbours who don’t take care of their property, bad smells in the home and bad layouts. All of these can be difficult or impossible to change.

Knowing what you can ignore as well as what you should not ignore, will help you in your decision making and it may even help you land your dream home for a better price.