The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for September 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for August 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for July 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for June 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for May 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for April 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

We host open houses to promote our listings to as many potential buyers as possible. It’s also an opportunity for some who are thinking about selling their home to meet and “interview" us to see how we market our listings to their fullest potential, and learn about our services.

Open houses are generally conducted on Saturdays and/or Sundays from 2-4 p.m. However, depending on the circumstances, we also may host weekday evening events from 5-7 p.m.

Each and every one of our open houses are conducted in a friendly and professional manner. However, it’s important to note that we do run a tight ship and we do keep a close eye on visitors. To this point, we follow the advice provided by Joe Richer, Registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). He advises that it’s prudent to keep a log of all visitors who attend an open house. Most sellers feel more comfortable when they know who the strangers are that visited their home and that those with questionable motives are discouraged from entering.  With this protocol in place, we typically ask all visitors to show photo identification and complete a registration form which adds a level of security and comfort to the seller. We always explain why we are asking for identification and visitors can opt in or out (when signing the registration form) of receiving real estate information from us.

Some visitors refuse to provide photo identification. That is their right; however, it is also the seller’s right (via their salesperson) to refuse entry of anyone into their home who does not provide valid identification. We never like to turn anyone away and hope that all open house guests understand that we would do exactly the same thing if we hosted an open house to promote the sale of their home! Security and safety matters!

Interesting fact… I attended high school with a gal who was most unlikely to commit a crime. In 2006, and again in 2010, she and her husband were arrested and charged with theft. When police visited their GTA home they discovered over $500,000 in stolen goods, including items stolen from open houses! If you want to read the full story, let us know and we’ll send it to you.

As a rule of thumb, we generally allow two parties at a time into a home. This allows Dave and I to give our visitors our full attention. Therefore, visitors may encounter a sign at the door asking for your patience while we attend to other guests. We love to meet the neighbours (who may be just curious about home values), passers-by, potential buyers who have agents, and potential buyers who prefer to shop around by themselves.

Some kindly Do’s when you attend an open house.

*  please remove shoes

*  please provide photo ID for safety and security of the seller and the listing agent

*  please respect any requested Covid-19 protocols

*  please be prepared to be “softly” guided through the home

*  please be respectful to other guests

*  please ask us about the home and neighbourhood - we know the house and the hood!

Some kindly Don’ts

*  please comply with our (homeowner’s) house rules

*  please don’t take photos or videos without asking permission

*  please, keep your children with you, and don’t let them jump on beds or play with anything

*  please leave your pets at home

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board has recently published its market report for March 2023. Let's take a closer look at some of the key metrics and our expert takeaways you need to know about:

The scheme typically involves a number of shady individuals who scour public records for properties that do not have a mortgage registered and may be listed for rent. Imposters, using stolen identification, pose as tenants in order to rent the home. From there, other imposters use the stolen identities of the homeowners to either mortgage the home or sell it.

If a home is sold, it is sold quickly and, according to CBC investigations, the money received from the sale is moved through fraudulent bank accounts and then out of the country in the form of cryptocurrency or gold bullion. The same is true for fraudulent mortgage money.

Imagine receiving a monthly mortgage statement in the mail for a home for which you had no mortgage, or learning that your home has been sold without your knowledge! Victims of title fraud lose the right to mortgage their own home or sell the home until they re-establish their title rights through the courts, which can be a lengthy and costly process.

“Title” is known as legal ownership of a property. Title insurance can help protect homeowners from fraudulent claims on their property and typically covers legal fees that would be required to restore the true homeowner’s legal title. Title insurance also protects buyers who unwittingly purchase a home that has been fraudulently sold to them. In this scenario, although the buyers would not be entitled to the property, they should get their money back.

As Realtors® it boggles our minds how these criminal schemes happen. It is certainly brazen. 

On a personal note, my daughter narrowly escaped a fraud scheme when she found a flat to lease in London, UK. An imposter, posing as the owner of the Air BnB flat, attempted to lease it using forged identification, utility bills and passports! The forged documents looked real except for one minor flaw that was noticed by my daughter’s UK boyfriend and was reported to authorities. This can be a very quick and lucrative scheme as the fraudsters bank first and last month’s rent from the unsuspecting tenant, leave the Air BNB and move on to their next target. The owner of the Air BNB and the duped tenant know nothing of the scheme until the tenant shows up to occupy the unit which is unavailable for rent. The tenant is out of pocket for quite a sum of money, may have insufficient cash to cover the deposit on a replacement rental, and could have nowhere to live.

We are not experts on any of the above, and can only advise our BLOG readers to be vigilant in protecting their identities; to talk to their real estate lawyers about title insurance and be cautious as landlords or as tenants.

Please feel free to reach out to us any time if you think that we can assist you in any way with your real estate goals.

It’s a new year and you may be thinking of a renovation or a refresh of your home. If you are considering selling and want to create an updated look without huge costs, a trending paint colour is a quick and simple option.

The right colour can make a big difference in your space. Tried-and-true white is still trending - I personally love Sherwin Williams “Origami White” and, preferring a monochromatic look, chose it for both my kitchen and walls in my condo. Soft greys are still trending - usually a safe choice and there are bolder colours trending in the top paint colours of 2023 such as Benjamin Moore’s “Raspberry Blush” or Sherwin William’s “Redend Point”. Would you go bold?

Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

I have to admit, if I discover a bold coloured wall in a client’s home we are about to list for sale, I ponder, “should it be painted more neutral?” However, recently we listed a home with burnt orange coloured walls that gave the room a rustic, New Mexico look - cactus and all - and it worked to set the mood of the room and is right on trend this year with earthy, more natural tones.

Let us know which colours you would choose. We are interested in discovering what home owners are choosing to do with your space - are you a follower of trends or do you boldly roll with your own inspirations. It  must be difficult for some to buck the trends when every designer and real estate agent tells you to “paint in neutral tones” to appeal to the masses.

Viva la Paint - it can be transformative and defines the spaces we live in - the choice is yours!

If you don’t wish to tackle painting yourself, we’d be happy to provide references for trusted professionals.

Please reach out to us for more information or assistance.