Starting from scratch

Millions of immigrants come to Canada and quickly discover that getting established financially isn’t easy

Overview

Last year, Canada welcomed more than half a million newcomers to our country as immigrants, international students and temporary foreign workers. The number one source for new permanent residents is now the Philippines, followed by India, China, the U.K. and the States. Canada may be the best country in the world to live in, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to get established. People come to Canada dreaming of obtaining greater financial security and opportunities for themselves and their families, but they often spend years struggling to build up credit, find a decent job and grow their wealth.

In the pages that follow, we…

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Generation X Driving Increased Demand for Recreational Properties

Quintessentially Canadian Cottage-Life: Royal LePage finds foreign buyers account for few recreational property transactions

Retirement-bound boomers seek peaceful retreats

Toronto, ON, June 23, 2016 – Generation X buyers of cottages, cabins and chalets across Canada outnumber Baby Boomers by almost two to one, according to the Royal LePage 2016 Canadian Recreational Housing Report released today. Still, planning for retirement living is among the most common reasons potential buyers give for the purchase of a recreational property.  The annual report compiles information from a cross-Canada survey of real estate advisors who specialize in recreational property sales.

The survey found that 65 per cent of advisors polled indicated that…

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Young adults more likely to live with parents now than any time in modern history

For the first time in modern history, living with parents has overtaken other living arrangements for 18-34-year-olds, according to a Pew Research Center report released Tuesday.

In 2014, 32.1 percent of young adults lived in their parents’ homes, edging out all other living arrangements, including marriage or cohabitation, living alone, or living as single parents or with roommates.

The change is fueled by a steep decline in the portion of young Americans settling down romantically over the past 50 years.

Since 1880, when the Census Bureau started keeping track, the most common arrangement for young people was to live with a spouse or significant other. That peaked in 1960, when 62 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds did so. Now, that number has…

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10 things to consider for any real estate investment property

I often get asked how to invest in real estate and what should investors should be looking for in an income producing property.

It can be overwhelming for a first-time investor, as the real estate investment industry is riddled with various scenarios and situations that can decimate your returns. While the returns can be lucrative, proceed with caution.

Toronto realtor Matt Smith has shared with me his extensive experiences in helping investors both acquire and manage single-unit condominium investment properties. These are a very popular vehicle for investment in both Vancouver and Toronto, where both supply and demand for these units seems to be endless. In Toronto’s Downtown Bloor Yorkville area alone, there are currently eleven projects, all…

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Taxing foreign investment in real estate: Let's be open and honest

There is no question that home affordability in cities like Vancouver and Toronto has become unattainable for most of us.

There is a significant supply problem which has not been adequately discussed and resolved.

With the news that foreign investors will now be taxed an additional 15% of the purchase price on residential properties in Vancouver, it looks as though a Canadian “Wall” is being built against free trade and immigration, as even the Ontario Finance Minister is suggesting that he is looking very closely at what his British Columbia counterpart has done. This is in addition to the additional taxes of current land transfer tax of 1% to 3% of the purchase price and the yet-to-be-disclosed new tax that will be applied to owners of…

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A summary of tips for multiple-offer situations in Kamloops

Multiple offers are a very real occurrence in the Kamloops real estate market right now. 

We are hearing about the low inventory of houses in Kamloops which is leaving buyers missing out on their choice of house due to losing a multiple offer bidding process. A good realtor who is on the ball and gets you into seeing the properties as soon as possible is a great asset but when there are a number of hard working agents in Kamloops sometimes it can come down to the offer itself and the negotiating ability of your Realtor.

So what can you do if you find yourself in multiple offers that will increase your chances of making the sale happen for you? You will want to secure the property but not over pay for it, by balancing the below tips and getting your…

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How Brexit could affect Canada’s real estate market

It may be a way to attract foreign investors away from already hot markets like Vancouver and Toronto

Britain’s decision to leave the European Union last week plunged governments worldwide into a pit of economic and political uncertainty. The ripples of the referendum will have an unmistakable impact on global economies and, by association, on global real estate markets. But only temporarily.

Interest rates will remain low

The immediate impact of the post-Brexit vote on Canada’s economy will be pressure to keep interest rates at historically low levels, explained BMO chief economist Douglas Porter and senior economist Robert Kavcic in a report last week. This is, in part, because other segments of our country’s economy would feel the impact of…

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Real Estate Referrals - I am never too busy for your referral.

What exactly is a real estate referral anyway?

Referrals are one of the pillars of my business. It is also one of the biggest compliments one can receive!

Over the years much of my business has come from referrals. Giving prompt, efficient and sincere attention to the needs of all my clients has earned me the reputation of being a realtor that customers and fellow realtors can trust and rely on.

Many of my friends and clients refer people they know to me, people who are looking to sell or wanting to buy a property in the near future. Word-of-mouth is a very integral part of my business, so I thank you for the vote of confidence!  You can be rest assured any…

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Finding the right real estate agent. How do we accomplish it?

Finding the right real estate agent can make a huge difference in the process of buying or selling a home. 

Because searching for a home, or selling a home, may be the largest single financial decision you make, interviewing three agents is a wise exercise for you to undertake.

Which Agent Will It Be?

If you had been attending open houses before you reached this point, you have already been interacting with agents and met some that you are already considering. You had probably eliminated several before you left the open house. You may consider other agents you are acquainted with in the community. The agent you choose must be able to wear many hats. Because this process often takes time, that will be spent with that person, bear that fact…

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A Kitchen SELLS A House..

A Kitchen SELLS A House..

Home Staging Tips for the Kitchen

Kitchens are the first things you’ll hear about when you ask someone what they’re looking for in their dream house. A kitchen can sell a home or keep a home from selling. The importance placed on kitchens is a good reason to take the staging of your kitchen seriously. You want to show your kitchen in the best light possible. These home staging tips for the kitchen should help you get started.

Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen

We spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. All of the baking, grilling, and deep frying can leave marks on your kitchen by adding dirt and grease to places you might not consider when doing your usual cleaning. Clean the baseboards, areas under the cabinets, top…

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