Below are some definitions of commonly used terms regarding real estate and mortgages. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Ottawa area or anywhere in Ontario for that matter, you should familiarize yourself with some of the terms. Contact me for any questions! The main information provided for these definitions…
You’ve cut back on Starbucks, taken a second job and borrowed money from mom and dad. Well done! You are ready to put down a wad of cash to cover the 20% down payment on your first property. But don’t make first-time homebuyer mistakes, like trusting your bank to look after you. In reality, the…
Like any big life decision or major purchase, buying your first home demands careful consideration, planning and preparation. However, not everyone has the patience and time to do the research. Some mistakes can and should be avoided especially if they end up costing home buyers a lot of money. Read on for a list of the most…
The price of a house is perhaps one of the most crucial factors in the home buying process, though it can be so easy to oversee its weight once the house hunt begins. $10,000 of cushion can become a $30,000 compromise in a small matter of time. You need to evaluate your budget and establish…
You are a lucky new homeowner! Congratulations! You have searched and finally found your dream home. You have secured your mortgage and gone through real estate brokers, home inspections, lawyers and shopped around for insurance. You’ve done your homework on closing costs and signed a ton of paperwork. This has been a busy and exciting…
According to many people, selling the house in the winter is a hassle. Some even say that it is the worst time of the year to sell a home. Given the severity of winter here in Ottawa, with snow storms and cold weather, it is definitely a challenge, but not for the determined ones! During…
Record Low Interest Rates, Record-High House Prices We now have mortgage trends that make it an ideal time to buy your dream home. We have reached ultra-low interest rates. It has never been easier or cheaper to pay off the interest rates on your mortgage. The five year fixed rate mortgage is tempting to first-time…
Everyone’s dream is to one be the proud owner of a home, however, that dream can quickly turn sour if first time home buyers do not know what they are getting into. Buying a home takes time, patience and sometimes luck. Before going for it and signing off on all the paperwork, read up on…
The Keret House In a four-foot-wide crack between two building in Warsaw, Poland, architect Jakub Szczesny has designed the world’s thinnest house. He build a series of vertical spaces into the void between two existing buildings that represent two historical epochs and made it a functional living space. There may be micro-apartments in San Francisco and…
A major question that keeps resurfacing today is “Should I Rent or Buy?” The answer, however, is not as simple because it truly depends. Most people find this as a no-brainer and go with buying because real estate is a good investment that has potential for high return. Although we have record-low interest rates, high…
