Let's crunch some numbers!

Figuring out your GDS (Gross Debt Service) and TDS (Total Debt Service) ratios can really help you understand what you can afford. Here’s a quick breakdown:

GDS shouldn't be more than 39%. It's all about your housing costs (think mortgage, property taxes, heating, and maybe condo fees) versus your gross income.

TDS includes all that plus your other debts (like credit cards, car loans, etc.) and should stay under 44%.

Want to play with the numbers and see where you stand? Check out CMHC’s handy calculator!

cmhc-schl.gc.ca/consumers/home-buying/calculators/debt-service-calculator

Here are six home improvements that are not only attractive to homebuyers today but that will yield the highest return when you are ready to sell.

1.    Energy Efficient Upgrades. Upgrading your insulation or replacing your doors and windows with more energy efficient equivalents are some of the most valuable renovations you can do. Not only can they add value to your home but will also decrease your monthly utility bills.

2.    Kitchen / Bathroom Remodels. A beautiful kitchen and updated bathroom are on the wish list of many homebuyers. While some kitchens and bathrooms may need a complete overhaul, even minor renovations such as new countertops and taps can be enough to increase the value of your home.
 
3.    Fresh Coat of Paint. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to liven up a home. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral tone, both inside and outside, is the most inexpensive way to update your home and ensure you attract more buyers.
 
4.    Exterior Improvements. Replacing an old garage door, upgrading your front door, adding low maintenance landscaping, removing old awnings or adding a deck are all high-ROI renovations in the long term.
 
5.    Finished Basement. Finished basements add useable space for things like a home gym, entertainment/bar area, game room or kids’ playroom. Be sure to use water resistant materials, test and repair any water damage while finishing your basement.
 
6.    Home Office. With the current trend toward work-at-home schedules, converting a spare room to a functioning home office will be attractive to many homebuyers today.
 
For a complimentary consult on how to improve your home’s value, please reach out anytime! 

In the complex world of real estate, hiring a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent can be a game-changer for home buyers. In this article, we'll explore the five compelling reasons why enlisting the expertise of a real estate professional is a smart decision when embarking on your home-buying journey.

To save time, money and energy.
When you contact multiple listing agents, you may need to disclose sensitive information about your budget and preferences multiple times, making it challenging to coordinate and streamline your home search efficiently. It may lead to a more disjointed and stressful home-buying experience. A dedicated buyer agent will listen to your needs and understand your goals.

To educate you on current market conditions so you don’t overpay. 
You may miss out on valuable information about other properties that could be better suited to your needs if you're only in contact with individual listing agents. As a buyer, you’ll want to know that you are paying a fair price. Your agent will educate you on current market conditions to help you understand fair market value based on comparable listings and sales of similar homes before making an offer on any given property.

To protect your interests in a realestate transaction.
In a real estate transaction, it’s important to understand that the listing agent is bound by contract to work in the best interests of his/her sellers. Your buyer agent works exclusively for you ensuring your interests come first.

To fearlessly negotiate on your behalf to achieve the best price and terms for you.
Negotiation of what is likely one of your largest purchases requires expertise, experience and skill, period. The best negotiators are masterful communicators who will not only help you decide what to offer, what to include and what not to, but also help you decide when it’s time to walk away. 

To bring calm and joy to your homebuying experience.
A great real estate professional will provide you with key market insights, sound advice and save you endless hours of time and money — all while helping reduce the stress of a large decision so you can relax and enjoy the experience! 

Need help finding your dream home? Contact us today!

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s important to be prepared so that when you find a property you like, you can make a good offer. With that in mind, here are some of the most common arrangements you may need to make for your home search. 

• A pre-arranged mortgage. Getting the financing arranged in advance is essential for two reasons. First, it helps to determine how much you can afford for a new home. Second, having a pre-arranged mortgage will make your offers more credible. So, if you’re thinking of moving soon, talk to your lender or mortgage advisor right away. 

• A professional home inspector. Depending on the state of the market in which you’re shopping, it’s usually advisable to have a professional home inspection done on a property you’re interested in buying. You don’t want to buy a home only to discover an issue that requires an expensive repair. 

• A sitter. Whether you have pets, children, or both, it’s a good idea to have a reputable sitter available, especially if you anticipate a long day or two viewing properties. Make those arrangements now, so when you’re ready to search for a new home, the question of “Who will look after the kids?” won’t be an issue. 

• Measurements. Imagine buying a home, moving your furniture, and then finding out the king-sized bed won’t fit into the bedroom or the furniture doesn’t lay out properly in the living room. That’s why it’s important to take measurements, especially of larger items. 

The more prepared you are, the more successful your home search will be. 

Are you thinking of selling your home this year? If so, you might be paying extra attention to housing market news covered by the regional and national media. 

While that news can be helpful information, it can sometimes say little about what’s happening in your particular neighbourhood. In fact, it’s possible for there to be a balanced market nationally or regionally, while at the same time your street may be experiencing a hot seller’s market! 

That’s why it’s important to understand what’s happening in your local “micro” housing market when you’re selling your home. 

What do you need to know about your local real estate scene? Here are a few questions to ask yourself: 
•    Is our neighbourhood a seller’s, buyer’s, or balanced market right now? 
•    If we list our home now, will there be any competing listings in our area? If so, how many? 
•    How long is the average listing in our area taking to sell? A week? A month? 
•    How much are properties like ours in the neighbourhood selling for? 
•    How desirable is our neighbourhood? How many buyers are actively looking to move here? Are there currently buyers eager to purchase a home like ours? 
•    What are the demographics of buyers looking to buy in our neighbourhood? 
•    How important is it to fixup and stage my home if I decide to sell? 

Getting these local insights will be far more helpful than the national news when you put your property on the market. So, find out what’s happening right here, in your neighbourhood. 

How do you do that? Call me today. 

When preparing your property for sale, you want to make it as attractive as possible to buyers. After all, the more buyers like what they see, the higher the probability you’ll get good offers. 

That’s why it’s advisable to clean, declutter, decorate, fix, and improve as much as possible. 

But, how far should you go with fixing and improving? For example, should you tear down the old deck and build a new one? Or, should you leave it as is? 

Should you paint the main floor? Or is it okay to leave the faded finish and few wall dents just as they are? 

Those can be difficult questions to answer because many factors come into play. 

• What is the traditional return on investment for that home improvement? (In other words, how much will you get back when you sell?) 

• To what degree will the fix or improvement help sell your home faster and/or for a higher price? 

• If you don’t make the fix or improvement, will those deficiencies be likely to dissuade buyers who would otherwise be interested in buying your property? 

• What are the current market conditions? Are there other listings in the area competing with yours? 

• How much will the fix or improvement cost? Is it affordable, given the benefits of having a listing that’s more attractive and move-in ready? 

Once you have answers to those questions, you’ll have a clearer idea of whether to fix it or leave it as is. 

I can help you get those answers. Call today. 

If you’ve been thinking about selling this year, one question that might be top-of-mind is, “Should we list now?” You may be wondering whether you should wait until the summer or fall — or even next year — in the hopes that you’ll be able to get a little more for your home.

That “now or later” question is common and can be tough to answer.  On the one hand, there might be a time in the future when the stars align and conditions are perfect for selling your property. On the other hand, those stars may never align so idyllically. 

To determine if you should sell now or later, you’ll need answers to the following questions:

• Is my home ready to sell? If we were to list in a few weeks from today, would we be able to get the property ready?

• What are the advantages of waiting until later to sell? 

• How much would we likely get for our home if we were to sell today?

• If conditions are predicted to become better later in the year, how much more could we get for our home? Is the extra money worth the risk of waiting?

• Are there other reasons for delaying listing our home?

Once you have those answers, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision regarding whether to sell now or later.  Need help? Call today.

These days, people are more environmentally conscious. When it comes to their homes, that often starts with being more thoughtful about heating and cooling so they’re consuming less energy. With that in mind, here are some tips for making your home more eco-friendly:

1. Install a smart thermostat. Modern thermostats come with various features that help you manage heating and cooling, so you use less energy. For example, you can program a thermostat to adjust temperature during the workday and then turn on heating or cooling an hour before you get home.

2. Take advantage of non-peak times.  Many utilities (electricity, water, etc.) offer price breaks at non-peak periods. For example, washing your clothes later in the evening might reduce your water bill. Ask your utility providers about available price-saving programs.

3. Buy energy-saving products.  A wide range of products are available to help you lower energy consumption, from shower faucets to kitchen ranges. The next time you’re shopping for an appliance or fixture, ensure it has eco-friendly features.

4. Replace worn insulation. A one-inch crack in window insulation can cause your home’s HVAC system to work harder. That’s why experts advise that you check the insulation around doors and windows once a year and repair or replace it where necessary.

5. Manage passive heat. It’s no surprise that a window letting in the sun will make a room warmer. So, take advantage of this free energy source. Let sun into rooms on cool days, so your furnace doesn’t have to come on as often. Do the opposite on hot days.

I’m well-connected in the local home industry. If you need any advice or recommendations, call today!

I recorded this video for you, about what the real estate market has done since Covid and with this year's rate increases. Click below to watch it!

Imagine you’re shopping for a new car and you have a specific budget in mind. Do you think you’ll consider vehicles that fall below that price range? Probably not. In fact, they might not even come up in your searches. 

On the other hand, would you consider buying a car that’s priced above your budget? You might, as long as it’s not too much more expensive and has features that make the purchase worthwhile. 

As you can see from that simple example, the list price plays an important role in major purchases, including homes. 

That’s why you want to be strategic about setting the list price of your property when you sell. 

Just like that car, pricing your property significantly lower than its actual market value can be troublesome. Sure, a temptingly low price might bring in more buyers looking for homes in that price range, but it also might send the wrong message to the marketplace about your home. 

Also, if the list price is well below market value, your listing might not come up on the radar screens of some buyers because they’re seeking homes at a higher price bracket.

On the other hand, if you set the list price too high, many otherwise qualified buyers won’t even bother to see it. They’ll wonder why your home is so much more expensive than comparable properties that have sold recently in your neighbourhood. 

Ideally, you want a list price that’s going to send this message to the market: “Here’s a property that’s in your price range, has some wonderful features, and is worth seeing.” 

Setting the right price can be tricky, but when you do, it will help bring in the right type of buyers. 

Want more advice on selling your home? Call today. 

Where do buyers form the most lasting impression of a home for sale that they visit? On the main floor! 
When buyers view a property, they often spend a lot of time on the main floor, thinking and imagining. They visualize cooking in the kitchen, having family dinners in the dining room, and entertaining guests in the living room. They even mentally calculate how their furniture will fit! 

So, making the main floor look great to buyers is crucial when selling your property. How do you do that? 
An effective technique is to walk your main floor the way a buyer would. Start at your front entrance. Stand there for a moment and look around. Get a sense of the impression a buyer is likely to get from that perspective. 

Next, walk to the kitchen area, because that’s where buyers often venture next. Again, linger a while and look around. Does the kitchen look clean and seem as spacious as possible (given its size)? 
Finally, check out the other rooms on the main floor, including the washroom, if there is one. Gauge how you feel and the impression you form as you visit these spaces. 

Once you’ve done that mock tour, write down ideas that jumped out at you for improvements. Those may include uncluttering some areas, rearranging the furniture, adding or taking away items, etc. 
This is a simple but powerful technique for improving how your main floor looks to buyers. 

Call today for more staging ideas that will make your home sell faster and for a good price. 

Living in a decluttered home will definitely improve your life. Here are some tips on how to do it free and easy!

Start small and stay consistent
Start with one closet or area and get it completely decluttered. Chances are acknowledging your accomplishments will give you the energy to tackle your next area. In no time you will have a clutter free oasis and an improved lifestyle.

Have a sorting method
Sometimes we ruminate too much over what to keep, toss and donate. Don’t get bogged down into too much time spent wondering what you want to keep. Here is an effective rule of thumb that will help you make decisions quickly: keep the items that you have used in the last three months and items you consider heirlooms or keepsakes. Tackle each area by placing each item in your hands and ask yourself these simple questions, “Do I still use this item? Is this item an heirloom or keepsake? Is the item in usable condition? Would someone else use this item?” Keep all items you still use and value. Toss items that are unusable, soiled or broken. Donate all good condition items you do not use. Once you have mastered this sorting method, you will be shocked how easy it is to get your spaces clean and organized.

Donate
Once you have returned all your usable items, keepsakes, and heirlooms back to their storage areas, it’s time to donate. If you haven’t already, simply put all these items in sealed cardboard box or bag and label “Donation”. Some organizations like Diabetes Canada will pick up clothing & small household items donations free of charge. All you have to do is schedule a pickup. It is that easy! Improving our lives and the lives of our family, friends and community is a worthwhile and joyful journey. Start your journey today!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home today, no doubt you’re wondering one of two things: Is this a good time to buy? Or, is this a good time to sell? 

While it’s important to note that real estate prices and market conditions are influenced by a variety of factors including location, type, condition, interest rates, consumer confidence, unemployment rates, deficits, population growth and affordability – the most used predictor is the law of supply and demand.

Here are 3 types of real estate markets that use the principles of supply and demand to predict success for buyers or sellers.

1.   A Buyer’s Market.  A buyer’s market is when there are more homes for sale (supply) than there are buyers (demand) for them. In this type of market, buyers have the advantage with more inventory to choose from, prices remain stable or sometime soften with sellers more open to negotiating.

2.   A Seller’s Market.  A seller’s market is when there are more buyers (demand) than there are current homes for sale (supply). In a strong seller’s market, sellers are in the driver’s seat. Prices strengthen or increase; homes sell quicker, and, in some cases, sellers get multiple offers.

3.   A balanced market is when there are equal number of buyers and sellers in the market. Homes sell in a reasonable time frame and prices remain stable. This is a healthy real estate market, one that is good for both buyers and sellers.

For more information on what market type we’re in right now, just reach out; I’m always happy to help!

When you hear the word “declutter” do you immediately think about all the time it would take and the aggravation it would cause to get rid of all the stuff that’s cluttering your house? Is your next instinct to close the closet doors and run for the hills? We get it, these reactions are 100% human. The question people are asking themselves is, “will the effort be worth it?” You better believe it is, and in fact experts say that it will not only improve your closet space, it will also improve your entire life.

Let’s take a look at six reasons why your life will improve when you make up your mind that now is the time to declutter.

#1 - Decluttered Living Is Peaceful Living
Reducing aggravating clutter that causes frustration will allow you to find what you need and use daily, quickly and easily.

#2 - Decluttering Reduces Stress and Increases Self-Esteem
Anxiety can rise when we open a messy closet door or take a look in our garages. Science has shown that unnecessary stress and anxiety can lead to unforeseen health issues. Life is stressful enough; our homes need to be calm and peaceful places for us to recharge.

#3 - Decluttering = Donating = A Better Life
For All One of the main reasons why our lives become over cluttered is we have been taught not to be wasteful and throw good things away. Another reason is we just do not know what to do with all that stuff. A good answer to both is donating. Developing the habit of donating not only improves your life but will improve the lives of our community members.

#4 - Positive Habits Lead to a Happier Life
Nothing makes us feel better about ourselves and our lives than breaking a negative habit and establishing positive ones. Since all aspects of improving your life is an ongoing journey, think of living in a clutter free environment in the same way. Trading out storage boxes filled with stuff you do not use for Toss and Donate boxes means you will build your positive habit of ongoing decluttering.

#5 - Clutter Free is Accident Free
It is hard to fully enjoy our home life if boxes tumble down from shelves or we stub toes walking down hallways. When clutter takes over, we find ourselves buying more boxes, adding more shelves, and storing stuff up and out into what should be living space. Don’t wait until a box falls on your head to start your decluttering habit. Put safety first!

#6 - Save Time and Money for the Fun Stuff in Life
Less stuff means more time enjoying life. We can find ourselves in the trap of spending time and money on stuff we do not need, over heading off on an adventure or participating in a family event. Less stuff also means you can get rid of your expensive storage solutions. Whether its additional storage boxes, sheds or storage units — that precious money could be used to enhance your life.

Improving our lives and the lives of our family, friends and community is a worthwhile and joyful journey. Start your journey today!

I always say this: updating your light fixtures is one of the best ways to make sure your home makes a positive first impression. Keep in mind, the light fixture must be the right proportion for the room. How does one make sure of that? Well, there are some general rules.

Rule #1: the size of your ceiling fixture should be equal to the sum of the room size.

Say what???

For example, if your dining room is 12 feet by 12 feet, the width/diameter of your fixture should be around 24 inches, to produce a good visual effect.

In a foyer with extra high ceilings, the fixture can be 2-3 inches larger to compensate for the fact that the height will make it look smaller.

Rule #2: With standard 8 or 9-foot ceilings, stick to a flush mounted fixture. If your foyer is 2-storey high, you can definitely go with a hanging chandelier… which brings me to the next topic: how high/low should you hang your light fixtures?

In a foyer, the bottom of your fixture should hang at least 8 feet above the floor or even higher if you have 2-storey ceilings or if there is a large window above the entry door. In the latter case, make sure the chandelier is vertically centered in the window so it can be seen in its entirety from the outside of your home.

In your dining room, the bottom of the chandelier should hang 30-36 inches above your table. You can play within that range, depending on how tall your chandelier is.

Don’t forget to make sure that the style of fixtures you choose remains consistent throughout and matches the overall feel of your home. A crystal chandelier might look out of place in a chalet style home.