Archives for Buyers

What Canadian home buyers need to know NOW about the upcoming changes to Mortgage rules

November 24, 2017 | Comments Off

Confused by the upcoming changes to the mortgage rules? Don’t panic. Our very own Kent Browne, Owner and Broker at Royal LePage Team Realty, sat down with Mortgage Broker York Polk of Mortgage Alliance to discuss all these changes in order to help you, our clients, understand how they may affect you. What home buyers need to know before 2018 As of January 1, 2018, Canadian homebuyers will have to meet stiffer requirements in order to qualify for a mortgage with a federally regulated mortgage lender. Why are the Mortgage Rules changing? As Canada’s financial “watchdog” OSFI believes these new
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Choosing a Brokerage when Buying or Selling a Home

April 19, 2017 | Comments Off

When it comes time to buy or sell a home, finding the brokerage to work with is a very important step to take. You need to find a company that will work with you to make this the most positive experience possible. “At Royal LePage Team Realty we commit to delivering high quality, industry leading and innovative real estate products and services on a complete cost-effective basis. Our business relationship will be characterized by the highest degree of honesty, credibility and fair dealing. We are committed to setting the pace in service excellence. We commit to delivering a level of
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“Oh I Forgot to Tell You…”

March 27, 2017 | Comments Off

Picture this, you have just taken possession of your dream home. You did your due-diligence; the property passed the home inspection with flying colours and your research shows the neighbourhood is safe and has great schools. You are chatting with a new neighbour only to find out that your brand new home was once the site of a violent crime or a drug operation, or that it is thought to be haunted! Would this bother you? What can you do? Did the previous owners fail to disclose something that they were legally obligated to? When selling a home, known physical
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Getting Ready to Buy in the Spring Market

March 13, 2017 | Comments Off

Maybe you are a first-time home buyer, or maybe you will be selling a home and looking for something new, either way the spring real estate market is fast and approaching and you want to be ready. This is an exciting time of year in the real estate industry and for everyone buying and selling homes. It can be a little crazy though, so here are some tips to help you be prepared. It’s not too early to start getting ready. Get Mortgage Pre-Approval You will want to start off by setting up a meeting with a mortgage broker or
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Why Move? A Look into Canada’s Homebuyers

February 28, 2017 | Comments Off

How many times have you moved (so far) in your lifetime? Once? Twice? For a brief time while in school? Work? Or have you moved far too many times to even count? What about those times that you have moved from one place to another, were they on your own? Were they with your family? Your partner? A few friends? And did you live in these homes for long enough to consider it a home? Sure, the vast majority of us may answer differently to each of these questions, but we do share one common factor: the overall experience. Truth
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The Bank of Mom and Dad: Living as Millennials

February 21, 2017 | Comments Off

It’s no secret: the cost of living is expensive. Regardless of who we are and what we do, we live and breathe steep living costs day in and day out. It’s a fact of life: if we’re not saving our pennies, we’re spending them; if we’re not paying off one bill, we are another. It’s the never-ending cycle of our (financial) lives. Enter: mom and dad. For the vast majority of us, mom and dad means home; and home is where the heart is, after all. It’s become a common trend among many baby boomers to take part in
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Canada Celebrates 150 Years!

February 13, 2017 | Comments Off

The milestone has arrived – our country’s 150th year. What better time than now to stand proud and represent our Nation as a united community? We are very fortunate to be living in Ottawa – our Capital. We’ve certainly come a long way since our founders first settled here 190 years ago. Originating as Bytown, Ottawa was initially built to house labourers who had been recruited to help build the Rideau Canal. Times have changed between then and now. We are no longer considered the “town that fun forgot” nor are we solely known for being “the highway to Montreal“.
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Canada’s Housing Rules in Full Swing

January 11, 2017 | Comments Off

Happy New Year, folks! 2017 has finally arrived, and for the real estate world, change is in sight. As most of us already know, 2016 brought forth a lot of chatter about several significant changes (decided upon by our government) toward our country’s mortgage and housing rules. Those who will primarily be affected by these implementations will be anyone who, is not only looking to perhaps qualify for government-backed insured mortgages, but also those who may be looking to purchase their first home and/or are looking to refinance their existing mortgage. Having said that, the Government of Canada has been
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The Perks of Buying a Home in the Winter

December 7, 2016 | Comments Off

There is a great majority of people who think that winter is not the best time to shop for a home. Contrary to popular assumption however, buying a home over the winter months may, in fact, be something worth considering. Sure, there might arguably be less homes for you to choose from, but the sellers might also be more motivated – playing to your advantage. You see it’s likely that, “the sellers will want to get the deal closed, especially for tax purposes. It’s the end of the year and they want to tie up loose ends. This is
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Using a Buyer’s Agent

November 28, 2016 | Comments Off

Royal LePage offers optimal customer service in order to deliver the best possible results to its clientele. Contrary to the way real estate was (years ago when real estate brokerages represented only the seller), you now have the option of being represented by a buyer’s agent, who’s responsibility is to protect you, your family, and your best interests all while providing you with the essential information needed in order for you to make an informed decision when it comes time to buying a home. A buyer’s representative will locate the best homes that fit your needs. This will
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Eric Ritterrath