Thoughts & Happenings

Like the old saying goes, “What goes up must come down”; while the new mortgage rules have pretty much eliminated the possibility of an American style housing crash, the boom period for a lot of GTA real estate is coming to an end. There are many homes on the market right now that are going for anywhere between $500k and $700k, so if you’re an owner now may just be the best time to sell your home.

Before you start looking at luxury Oakville homes for sale and Oakville real estate in general, you’re going to need to know what kind of home is right for you. Are you looking for a condo overlooking the lake, a co-op or do you want a nice traditional detached house? You’re going to need to know what you’re looking for before you start looking – it’s easy to be overwhelmed with options. Each type of home has its advantages and disadvantages, so let’s check them out and figure out which one is the right one for you.

No matter where you move in Oakville (or anywhere else), you can run up against nosey neighbours, sticklers that can get under your skin, neighbours that scream at one another all hours of the night, weirdoes that make you wish they were sticklers and everything in between. You can’t let weird neighbours get between you and your dream home, and here we’re going to go over everything you need to know to handle them!

It’s not uncommon that a couple can’t come to an agreement on where they’re going to move next – one of you wants to move to Oakville (excellent choice!), while the other wants to live right in the middle of Toronto or closer to work. What can you do? Short of just living separate lives in different homes, you’re going to have to come to an agreement. Even if you want to live in the same city but can’t decide on what Oakville luxury homes for sale you want to buy (or even bid on), you’re going to need to sit down and make a list.

In a strange twist, more and more Baby Boomers are looking at smaller homes instead of condos – with so many moving within the next five years, does this mean the condo market will get a whole lot cheaper? Only time will tell, but if you’re a Boomer you might want to consider a condo when hunting for Oakville luxury real estate.

Condo insurance, renter’s insurance, it all does the same thing – protect the inside of your Oakville real estate and the contents of your home. If you have HOA fees that you pay every month, you’re only covered when it comes to the exterior or structure of your home. If you want to be able to get the most for your money and know you’re protected, you’re going to want condo insurance. Each company will offer something a little different, and you’re going to want to make sure that you know what you need to look for.

What is an exclusive listing? Does it benefit buyers, sellers, or the brokers? Often an exclusive listing is just a way to make sure that you don’t “step out” on your realtor; after all, this works hard to sell your home, they’re going to want to protect themselves. In the end, an exclusive listing also motivates your agent to sell your property quickly, this can be a good or bad thing depending on the situation. Here we’re going to talk about everything you need to know to understand these listings, how they work, and if they right for you. Let’s get started!

Even if you’re not buying a home for the first time, it’s important to understand the importance of first-time homebuyers on the Canadian real estate market. First-time home buyers aren’t buying in the major markets, they are looking at places like Oakville! Many Gen-X’rs, Gen Ys and others are looking to their future in the suburbs. With more and more trying to escape the city (I don’t want to raise my kids in a condo.), the future will happen here!

It’s spring, the light is starting to filter in, and you’re starting to notice the thin layer of winter dust all over everything – but who wants to clean? Keeping on top of things throughout the year will help you save time and money. It all starts with designing an easier to clean home, from flooring, surfaces and even a central vacuum system, you’ll need to keep an eye out for improvements. Not only does it make your life easier, but can help you sell your home too. Let’s get started; after all, why work harder than you have to?

When it comes to Oakville real estate, you probably CAN price your home too low. It’s March, and that means it’s the best time to sell – but only if you do it right! Our first inclination is always price it at just the right price… but what if there is no magic number? Everyone is different, and you’re going to be very careful about how you price your home. Always remember, there’s affordable and then there’s cheap. You don’t want to be cheap, be the home that everybody wants. Let’s get started, and see how you can price your home at just the right price.