For Sale : 54 Antorisa Avenue, Vaughan, Luxury 2750 sqft home.

This Is A Beautiful 4 Bedroom, 4 Bath Detached Luxury Home Situated In A Very Sought After Neighbourhood In Vaughan. 9Ft Ceiling In Main Area. Kitchen Is Fully Upgraded As Well As Appliances, 3 Full Bathrooms In The Upper Level. Primary Room Has A Spa Like Ensuite. Hardwood Flooring Throughout The Entire Home. Upgrades (Not From The Builder): Custom Made Closets, Entrance Door With Iron Pickets 42", Pot Lights And Rough-In Speaker System Throughout The Entire Home, Outdoor Speakers Roughed-In. This Lovely Home Is Around The Corner From Schools, Parks And Easy Transit. Perfectly Move-In Condition.

Housing Meeting with MP Salma Zahid

 

Last Friday Ram Rajendram and I got the opportunity to meet the Member of Parliament - Salma Zahid  as part of the TRREB -Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s Government Relations Committee. We had a great conversation on the housing market and on TRREB’s and OREA’s (Ontario Real Estate Association) position on housing. It was a great opportunity to see and understand different point of views in regards to Real Estate. It is great when Real Estate Boards and Associations can share ideas and concepts for better housing with members of the parliament.  @salmazahidmp @thereal_trreb #trrebcommittee @oreainfo #CanadaHousing #MemberoftheCanadianParliament #ScarboroughCentre #OREA #TRREB #Realtors @suttongroup_heritage @suttongroup #GRCCommittee @crea-aci #ProudREALTORS #canadaianrealestate #scarborough #TorontoRealEstate #ProfessionalRealtor #PlacesToLive #HomesForEveryone #TorontoHousing #TorontoRealEstateMarket 

Don't Give up Home on Purchasing your First Home - It is still possible ...

Don’t give up hope, even with this strong real estate market, people are purchasing homes. It has been a few years in which we have had low interest rates and lots of inventory, so purchasers got use to things being a bit easier. We seem to be just going back to the way it was when I started as a professional Realtor, where it was a huge goal to purchase a home, and in which it meant that you had to work hard and make adjustments to get there.  I am still seeing many people purchase the first home. But it might just be that you don’t live exactly in your desired neighbourhood, it might be that you do have to pick up more hours at work or a weekend job, or it might be that you keep your expenses extremely low to build up your downpayment. But it is possible to have your own home and have one of the best investments in your life.  Contact me with any questions or to review possibilities. Your AMIGO in Real Estate. #RealEstate #Realtor #FirstTimeBuyer #OwningYourOwnHome #Homes #Housing #Mortgages #SellingHomes #CasasEnToronto #RealEstateAgent #DurhamRegionRealEstate #TorontoHomes

306 Humber Ave, Oshawa

306 Humber Ave. Oshawa

Only $279,900

3 bedroom detached bungalow in a very sought after area of Oshawa, close to the Oshawa Mall, parks, schools, and public transit.  Finished basement with a separate entrance. Large Eat-in kitchen. New furnace.  Run this one won’t last.

Mortgage Rates might Drop

There seems to be pressure on mortgage rates moving downward. At our office meeting this morning we received information that we might see mortgage rates drop this year instead of going up as first predicted.

Oshawa Real Estate Still Booming

Multiple offers and over asking sales, look  like will be the norm in Oshawa. There seems to be a huge pent up demand, waiting for what ever comes on the market. This will only get stronger as we get closer to the Spring Real Estate market. Most markets are very active but the Oshawa Market seems to be standing out. 

Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program for the City Of Toronto

Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program
January 7, 2015 -- The City of Toronto offers a Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program to assist owners of heritage properties with the cost of maintenance and conservation.

The program is currently in transition due to staff recommendations that were adopted by Council on July 8, 2014.

Only properties that received a Heritage Property Tax Rebate for any of the 2010, 2011, 2012 or 2013 tax years may apply for the 2014 tax year. Their applications will be processed under the program as previously administered. These applications must be completed, submitted with all required information, and received by 4:30 P.M. EST, Friday, February 27, 2015 to be considered.

New for 2015, eligible properties must be classified commercial and industrial, where a minimum of 50% of the current value assessment (CVA) is attributable to commercial or industrial taxes. Other conditions and requirements apply. Properties that are not eligible for the tax rebate program may be eligible to apply to the Toronto Heritage Grant Program.

Should you have questions about the Toronto Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program, you can contact Gary Miedema from Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services directly at gmiedem@toronto.ca or (416) 338-3278.

FREE DOWNPAYMENTS in Peel Region

FREE DOWNPAYMENT: The Region of Peel might once again be offering free downpayments to qualified applicants for 2015.

What is the Home in Peel Affordable Ownership Program?

The Home in Peel Affordable Ownership Program is designed to provide low-to-moderate income residents who are currently renting a unit in the Region of Peel (Brampton, Caledon or Mississauga) the opportunity to qualify for down payment loan assistance to buy a home in Peel Region.

This program will assist eligible applicants who have a total gross (pre-tax) household income of $80,000 or less to purchase a resale home in the Region of Peel that does not exceed a purchase price of $295,000.

Participant Eligibility

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older
Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status
Applicants must not own or have an interest in another residential property in Canada or elsewhere
The home must be the sole and principal residence of the purchaser
The applicant must currently be renting in Peel and looking to buy a sole and principal residence
The applicant must have a total gross (pre-tax) household income not exceeding $80,000
The applicant must be able to obtain a mortgage pre-approval from a bank/lender that is approved and insured by a mortgage default insurer such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and must submit it with their application
Participants may not include anticipated rental income from a portion of the property in order to obtain a mortgage
The applicant must be able to pay all additional closing costs
The applicant must supply all necessary documentation to the Region of Peel within the required timeframe

http://www.peelregion.ca/housing/home-in-peel/apply/qualifications.htm

*** Currently the region is waiting for confirmation of funding to confirm that it will be available for 2015, They are expecting a response around March, it is on a first come first served basis, so interested parties need to be constantly looking at the web site.

The Spanish Realtor in the East of Toronto!

If you are looking for an expert in Real Estate in the East of Toronto do not hesitate to call Cristian Vergara!
He will introduce you the right individuals when it comes to mortgages, home inspections, lawyers and any other connections you might need in the east. 
Plus he will make your selling or buying decision a breeze with the right personal advice at all time.

Home for sale in a divorce will get best price with united front

Consider buyer optics when selling your house

By: Joseph Richer Registrar Real Estate Council of Ontario, Published on Fri Oct 17 2014

My spouse and I are getting divorced and I want to sell the family home. I owned it before we got married, so why does my spouse need to be involved?

Splitting assets during a divorce can be a complicated matter — and selling the family home is no exception. While your question revolves around selling your home because of divorce, the answers could also be useful for a failed business partnership that involves the sale of real estate.

One of the first steps you may want to take is hiring a lawyer to help you through the process. Having expert advice will help inform you of your options and rights, and guide you towards choices that are appropriate for you.

If your spouse does not agree to sell the home, you’ll need the guidance and advice of your lawyer to understand what options are available to you.

If selling the family home is the chosen path for you both, there are a few factors you should consider before you decide which approach to take.

Is the divorce amicable or contentious? Are you and your spouse committed to working together to get the home sold? Or is it a contested divorce where communication is strained or conflicted?

The first option is for both you and your spouse to be represented by a single brokerage. As far as optics go with buyers, this will look like a typical sale and not one that could be taken advantage of. Doing so may help showcase your home in the best way possible to attract buyers and negotiate a favourable selling price.

If working together comes with challenges, you can ask to work with two representatives from the same brokerage — with each of you working with a different real estate agent.

Alternatively, you can each be represented by separate brokerages that would have to agree to work together to co-list your property.

Regardless of which option you choose, it’s important to remember the basics of selling a home. Take the time to meet with several real estate professionals and ask them about their experience and proposed strategy for selling your home. Remember, this is going to be that objective person you both have to be able to work with for a positive result. Just don’t expect them to be the peace keeper.

It’s also a good idea to be upfront about your situation. You’ll want to establish clear expectations about how the sale will be handled and the involvement levels of both you and your spouse.

When it comes time to sign the listing agreement, be sure that all the details you discussed verbally are put into writing. Ask your agent to include in the agreement a detailed breakdown of services they’ll provide; be sure it covers your needs.

You’ll also want to ensure that you understand all of the clauses included in the agreement, before signing. If something is unclear, ask questions and take the time to properly understand the entire agreement. If you have two brokerages involved with the sale, you’ll want to clearly define the responsibilities of each brokerage. For example, which one will be responsible for conducting showings to prospective buyers?

There are many moving pieces and emotions involved when selling a home, and that will likely be amplified when selling during a divorce — even an amicable one. Having knowledgeable professionals guiding you through the process will help you navigate a difficult situation.

Joseph Richer is registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). He oversees and enforces all rules governing real estate professionals in Ontario.

If you have any question about selling while going through a divorce, contact me at: www.theamigo.ca

Home Buyers Plan for first time buyers

http://youtu.be/Z5JDUSbfMqE

Great information to purchase a home with government programs

Durham Region Hot Hot Hot

Multiple offers & fast sales continue throughout Durham Region #AjaxRealEstate #WhitbyRealEstate #PickeringRealEstate #OshawaRealEstate. Trying to book homes to show today and a least 1/2 are already sold conditionally. Wow. This is when I tell my clients that they have to prepare ahead of time for what is coming, it does not mean everyone pays more than what a property is worth, it just means that you now need to be much more informed and prepared. Now there are many more things to consider ahead of time, such as:  offer conditions (length and removal) , price, deposits, appraisals, closing dates (costs involved for changing), fixtures, and much more when it comes to the actual negotiating. But no worries this is when a professional and experience Realtor will shine.

The FEEL of the house

I tell clients the FEEL of the property is the most important part of the home buying experience. Over the years I have seen how often the right home seems to carry the right atmosphere for the owners. Many times when things are not going right, for some strange reason many times changing the home and giving everything a shake up, seems to put new positive life and energy into everything. There are lots of superstitions out there that at first seemed to be very odd, but after reviewing a bit further at the history of properties it makes you wonder. Feeling happy in the house is the most important thing.

Door to Door Sales

Have you ever had an aggressive door to door sale person? particularly, those selling water heaters? Here is what Enbridge recommends to do:

KNOW WHO’S AT YOUR DOOR

"Direct Energy does not go door-to-door to upgrade or exchange water heaters" We do not authorize any Utility, Government Agency or any other company to do so on our behalf.

Enbridge Gas Distribution does not sell, rent or service water heaters.

DON’T SIGN WITHOUT THE FACTS

Signing a contract at the door means you are changing service providers. This may jeopardize your current competitive rates and worry-free service including Direct Energy’s exclusive Same Day Service.

DON’T LET JUST ANYONE IN

Only a licensed technician should access your Direct Energy water heater and only by appointment.

***Did you know that water heater contractors can not install a new water heater until 20 days "after" you have signed a contract? Read more details Here

DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING UNTIL YOU HAVE READ ALL THE CONTRACTS (and the fine print)

Hottest Real Estate Market in Toronto and GTA is Agincourt

The Hottest overall area so far this year for houses is AGINCOURT IN SCARBOROUGH at 21.84%, year over year price increase since last year.

Durham Region real estate sales statistics year over year

Durham Statistics: Durham Region has had a price increase from last year of 8.66% compared to City of Toronto of 7.58%.
Inside Durham:
Pickering     8.12%
Ajax            9.28%
Whitby         8.28%
Oshawa        8.35%
Clarington     10.78%

Rental Scams be Careful

Tenants, watch out for Rental Scams on the internet, there is no such thing as a LANDLORD OUT OF TOWN and asking you to send them the deposit and they send you the keys.
This also goes for Landlords, be careful when you put your rental property on Kijiji or Craigslist, I have seen many times then the same property is listed by someone else at are very reduced price. These people take your information from your real ad and create a fake one with better prices and asking the tenant to mail them the deposit because they are out of town. Beware.

Durham Region Price increase since last year

Price increase for Durham Region, since last year:
Durham Region: 7.95%
Pickering: 6.57%
Ajax: 10.53%
Whitby: 6.29%
Oshawa: 8.13%
Clarington: 6.46%
Uxbridge: 10.69%

Price increases in Toronto since last year

Price increase since last year:
Toronto: 7.72%
Leaside: 16.84%
Agincourt: 13.05%
Junction: 13.37%
Some parts of Toronto are as low as 1.7% since last year, so area is everything, and I don't mean the high demand areas.

You don't need new appliances to Sell your property

Thinking of Selling, one of the appliances is not working and you don't have the money to replace. Habitat for Humanity has some great prices on used appliances.