Selling a Property with a Rental Suite - What issues are there?
Posted by Steve Harmer on
Your rental suite may be a big plus when it comes to selling your home, but there are issues to consider.
Selling a home with an income-generating rental suite has many advantages to potential purchasers, thus giving you, the seller, an edge on the competition in today's evolving real estate market. In general, a rental suite is qualified when the secondary accommodation has its own separate entrance, a kitchen, living area and a bathroom with either a shower or bathtub.
But what type of suite does your property contain? Is it a legal authorized suite, an authorized illegal suite or an illegal unauthorized suite? Let's explore the differences.
A legal, authorized suite is a suite that meets the conditions of your local municipalities zoning…
6198 Views, 0 Comments

Mortgage rates weren’t supposed to make record lows in 2015, not if you asked economists and the Bank of Canada two years ago. But they did. And despite all the chatter about the first U.S. rate hike since 2006, Canadian rates could do it again in 2016.
A buyer who fails to close on a purchase may be risking more than just the deposit - you could be looking at damages, says lawyer Richard Bell
Condo living definitely has its perks. You can take advantage of amazing locations in the heart of urban centres close to public transportation. You can be a part of a community and you don’t have to spend your days doing yard work or home maintenance. But, best of all, you can enjoy convenient amenities like fitness centres, party lounges and pools, all at your doorstep. Sounds great, but how does this affect your bottom line? When purchasing a condo you want to consider your monthly strata fee.
“There are costs that just don’t exist anywhere else,” says Phil Soper president and CEO of Royal LePage Real Estate Services, Toronto. There are often costs involved in buying a home that many first time home buyers have never heard of, particularly if they didn’t do their homework or seek good advice during the transaction.
That’s where a realtor can come in handy, says Elton Ash, regional vice-president of Re/Max Western Canada, Vancouver.
“You’re paying a realtor for a service,” says Soper. “That service goes well beyond simply sales service. The realtor should be willing to take the novice purchaser through the entire process, including a summary of all the costs and steps necessary to…
The gap between variable rate mortgage and fixed rate mortgage products has narrowed in recent years. And while fixed rate mortgages are starting to rise they offer certainty in a monthly payment. On the flip-side, variable rate mortgages remain low, but are the riskier of the two choices – so how do you choose?
Your income, lifestyle and risk tolerance will weigh heavily on your decision and will inevitably determine which product suits your circumstance.
Risk versus reward
The appeal of variable rate mortgages (also called adjustable rate mortgages) is that the interest rate is typically lower than that of fixed rate mortgage products. However, the main drawback is the risk involved. Without warning, interest rates could increase…
I’ve seldom been on a Listing Appointment, where the seller is thrilled to hear the truth about where their home should be priced. There’s a reason for that, and that’s because sellers have an EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT in their homes and it pains them to hear the FACTS about today’s market!
Houses