real estate –

Distinctive Advisors Inc.

 Menu

your.team@distinctiveadvisors.com

416 925 3140

Distinctive Real Estate Advisors Inc., Brokerage | Distinctive Real Estate Advisors Inc., Mortgage Broker License #12592

Tag Archives: real estate

The Spring Market is almost here – Why should you list and how?

The spring market is right around the corner, and if you’re thinking of listing your home, right now is the time to get started.

With April, May and June showing the highest historical averages of home sales in the GTA, that is the time to have your listing on the market. But why start now? Because listing your home right is a bit of a science.

TREB Toronto MLS Avg Resale Price 2013-2016

Not only are these months the busiest in Toronto real estate, but they are the spring months where homes command the best price. So if you’re looking to sell your home, now is the time to start.

Here are a few tips of how to get started:

Hire a Great Realtor

Interview several realtors and make sure they’re a good fit with what you’re trying to achieve with the sale of your home. We know a few if you don’t!

A realtor will be able to help you price your home and will be able to see your home as objectively as the buyers in the market: something you ought to consider if you’re looking to command the best price. Realtors will also help connect you with the best professionals in the marketplace to help you get your home market-ready. This doesn’t happen overnight, so start early if you’re looking to sell in the spring.

Get small repairs done around the house

You know the towel bar that fell off the wall a few months ago? Or the ding in the drywall from moving furniture? This is the time to fix all of these things. Larger repairs like a new roof or furnace can be negotiated with the sale price of the home, but smaller repairs can cost very little money and can make or break a sale.

Even if the repairs required on your property are insignificant in cost and effort, home buyers can be distracted from the value and beauty of your home and will focus on the small things – making them negotiate harder on price or walk away all together for a home that is in “move-in condition”.

Paint vibrant rooms in neutral tones

Bright yellow rooms might help you feel alive on dreary days, but when you’re listing your home, you’re trying to appeal to the masses. Many buyers have little vision and cannot picture themselves living in a space that is very customized to the taste of the homeowner. So paint it grey or another neutral tone and help the future buyer of your property feel right at home.

Consider hiring a stager

Stagers can make all the difference when it comes to selling your home. They are well-versed in what people like and how to make your space look as large and versatile as possible. Spending a few hundred dollars on a stager to command a few thousand more on your list price, or to sell your home more quickly, is a wise decision. This is one area where many people are penny-wise and pound foolish, so make your listing stand out and don’t fall into this trap.

Spring cleanup for curb appeal

Some buyers won’t even come into your home for a tour if the outside isn’t appealing to them. As the winter leaves us, make sure your home continues to look its best. This will increase the number of calls your agent gets off the for sale sign as well.

Hire a pressure washing company to wash the exterior of your home and your windows, sweep your driveway and plant a garden when the warmer weather is upon us. If your garage door or front door need a coat of paint, put one on. These are the small details that help future buyers picture their children playing outside and their families coming to visit their new home.

 

Distinctive Advisors is here to help you get the best price for your home in this busy spring market. With tight supply of Toronto homes, this is a great time to list. Contact us today to start getting your home ready for the spring market.

City of Toronto to Increase to Land Transfer Tax — Effective March 1, 2017

On February 15, 2017 the City of Toronto Council approved changes to the Toronto Land Transfer Tax that mean additional Land Transfer Tax (LTT) costs for some home buyers with a closing date on or after March 1, 2017.

The changes are:

  • Added an additional LTT of 0.5% of the value of a residential or non-residential property from $250,000 to $400,000 (an additional $750)
  • Added an additional LTT of 0.5% of the value of a residential property above $2 million
  • Added an additional LTT of 0.5% of the value above $400,000 of a non-residential property
  • Increasing the maximum allowed First-Time Home Buyer Rebate to $4,475, up from $3,725
  • Amended the first-time home buyer rebate program eligibility rules to restrict rebate eligibility to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada

TREB Efforts Achieved Significant Concessions — First-Time Buyers Protected

Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) undertook a comprehensive campaign to oppose the proposed changes. As a result of these efforts, significant concessions were made to the proposals that went forward for City Council’s consideration as follows:

  • Under the original proposal, first-time buyers would have been forced to pay an additional $475 in Toronto LTT. However, TREB pushed for an increase in the rebate from $3,725 to $4,475, meaning first-time buyers will not face an increase.
  • Many first-time buyers would have lost eligibility for the first-time buyer rebate entirely, meaning a total LTT increase of $4,475. TREB pushed back and all first-time buyers will be eligible for a rebate.
  • As a result of TREB’s efforts, first-time home buyers will NOT see any change.

Do you have the full picture of how municipal and provincial land transfer tax impacts Toronto real estate? Click here to view the breakdown of land transfer tax for Toronto homeowners.

Toronto Land Transfer Tax — What’s New and What’s Coming?

Provincial (Ontario) Land Transfer Tax Changes – 2017

2016 was a big year for changes in the Canadian Real Estate Market. On the heels of the announcement in October regarding changes in the mortgage underwriting rules for first time home buyers (ultimately reducing the buying power of first-time home buyers in Canada, read more here), the province announced changes to provincial land transfer tax which are aimed at helping increase affordability for first time home buyers, effective January 1, 2017.

Here are the changes:

Ultimately these changes are expected to have negative implications on transactions over $2 Million which, in the City of Toronto, represents a large part of the real estate market for centrally-located detached homes.

But Toronto is unique in that, unlike all other municipalities in Ontario, it has a municipal land transfer tax in addition to the provincial land transfer tax.

City of Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax – Proposed Changes

The City of Toronto is currently exploring raising the Municipal Land Transfer Tax in order to meet 2017 budget objectives. The effect would be an additional 0.5 per cent of tax on all buyers.

This could mean a seven per cent increase of $750 on top of the $11,000 for an average priced home purchased by a repeat buyer in Toronto.

Tim Hudak, CEO-designate of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) said that if the city increases the municipal land transfer tax, it would effectively be “clawing back” the additional rebate offered by the province. Hudak says, “Unfortunately, Toronto is proposing to swipe up to 25 per cent of the provincial savings out of the pockets of young couples and put it into city coffers instead.”

Toronto Real Estate Board has launched a website to combat the City on the increase of land transfer tax.

Toronto City Council will finalize its budget in February 2017.

Would you like to be kept informed on the latest in Toronto Real Estate? Contact a member of our team to be kept in the loop or sign up for our monthly real estate updates today.

2016 Change to Mortgage Qualifying Rules for First-Time Home Buyers — Explained

You might remember an uproar regarding real estate in October 2016, but what was that all about?

Without notice or preparation, the Canadian government announced on October 3rd, 2016 several major changes to mortgage rules aimed at curbing high demand in two of the country’s fastest growing markets — Toronto and Vancouver.

Bank of Canada implemented what they call a “stress test” for first-time buyers, forcing them to qualify for their mortgages at the Bank of Canada posted rate or 4.64% rather than the actual mortgage rates, reducing buying power for first-time home buyers across the board.

Why?

This was a very clear message from the Bank of Canada that interest rates would soon start rising, and true to form, they’ve already started. Since first-time home buyers often stretch their budgets and take on more than they can afford (and many lenders don’t prevent this from happening) this is the government’s way of protecting our housing market from a potential crash as a result of rising interest rates.

What’s the actual impact? (view the CBC article here)

Although this may temporarily slow the market in some areas, this move is expected to have positive ripple effects on the economy and is a much needed shifting of the winds for Canada.

In 2016, a mere 33 percent of individuals looking to purchase a home were first-time home buyers and in 2017, stats are showing over 50 percent of people with an eye for the home buying market will be first time purchasers. Even more astounding, over 60 percent of those buyers are under the age of 35. 2017 will most likely be the year that the Millennials begin their real estate takeover and the market will never be the same.

Looking for your first home or know someone who is? Contact a member of our team today to learn how we can help you with your real estate transaction and mortgage financing needs.

« Older Entries

Newer Entries »