Frank Meyers, a farmer in Trenton, Ontario, made the news last week about his 7 year fight to stop Canada’s National Defence Department’s plan to expropriate his farm, which has been in his family since before Confederation, in 1798. His case is a good example of how difficult it is to fight when the Government wants your land. The Defence Department wants Frank’s land to build a new training and administrative campus for the Canadian Special Forces Command.
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RBC is now cutting its two-, three-, four- and five-year fixed mortgage rates each by 10 basis points. In an emailed statement, the bank said that some mortgage lenders have recently been pricing at lower rates, prompting it to move.
Read MoreReal estate contracts must be properly signed and accepted. This applies when offers are transmitted via email communication as well. Careless errors or omissions can cause a contract to be cancelled.
Read MoreFrom the news: “In the opening days of 2014, John Quarrie and Lindsey Robins decided to spend a bit of time looking for their first house. They looked at one house on a Friday evening and 24 hours later were the victors in a bidding war on a different property.”
Read MoreFor the last number of years, it was almost a given that if you bought a pre-construction condo, you would be able to sell it at a profit when the building was finished several years later. I am now seeing examples in my own law practice where there is no such guarantee.
Read More2014 has started with an icy chill and the weather has made it difficult for both home buyers and sellers to get around. None the less this year is expected to be robust and surpass 2013 sales figures both in volume and in pricing.
Read MoreSince writing about changes coming to the home inspection industry, I have received countless emails from home inspectors, real estate agents and buyers. Buyers complained after closing about problems with their home that were not caught during the home inspection. This included serious mold behind one of the walls in the basement, a defective fireplace and a furnace that was working but would soon require to be replaced. Some buyers blamed their real estate agents, stating that they only recommended an inspector who would approve the home quickly.
Read MoreBuyers often need to request an extension to their closing date. The main reasons are as follows: The buyers have not yet sold their current home; or The buyers’ financing has fallen through or the buyers have not complied with all of the lender’s requirements…
Read MoreToday anyone can call themselves a home inspector in Ontario. That is a scary proposition since most consumers depend on the opinion of a home inspector before making one of the biggest purchases of their lives. There are over 1500 home inspectors operating in the Province yet there are no mandatory training or technical standards for them to meet. The results are often a leaky roof, cracked foundation or outdated electrical wiring or plumbing that was missed and which ends up costing unwary consumers thousands of dollars to repair after closing. In extreme situations, consumers have lost their homes. Many inspectors do not carry errors and liability insurance, meaning that if they make a mistake, even if you win a lawsuit, you may recover nothing later.
Read MoreI am a little “Old School” in that I believe in the power of a referral and/or personal references. Despite many marketing efforts, almost all of my business is derived by referrals. Treat people right! When possible I like to extend a referral back. Below are friends, family and clients that have recently started ventures in the last few months. No doubt they will be successful. Hope you can spread the word.
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