Saturday, December 25, 2010

CANADIAN HOUSING MARKET STRONG, BUT VOLATILE?

A recent report has placed Canada among only six other advanced countries that have posted gains in their housing sectors. But that growth has largely been the result of monetary stimulus that will slowly be siphoned off next year.

A recent report has placed Canada among only six other advanced countries that have posted gains in their housing sectors. But that growth has largely been the result of monetary stimulus that will slowly be siphoned off next year.

Canada’s housing market is still performing better than many of its counterparts, most notably the U.S., but the market still remains quite volatile, according to the Global Real Estate Trends report issued by Scotia Economics Dec. 23. 

And while home prices on average were 5% above those in 2009, most of that price growth took place in the first quarter. Average inflation-adjusted home price appreciation rose 16.6% in the first quarter, but dropped to 1.5% in the third.

Scotia Economics expects Canada’s historically low interest rates, which will most likely continue until mid-2011, will be an “extremely powerful inducement” for both first-time and move-up buyers and should lead to a “decent level of sales.”

But there is a significant risk that the market will falter in 2012 when interest rates rise and home prices hit their peak.

Job creation could also be sluggish going into 2011. Over the past year, public-sector hiring has made up a third of all the newly create jobs in Canada, according to Scotia Economics.

Given austerity measures being carried out in other Western countries, Canada may not be too far behind. Britain, where half a million public-sector employs will be laid off, commenced its rigorous cuts to social programs with a total public debt of roughly £1.7 trillion pounds, or more than £27,000 per capita, according to the Economist global debt clock. Canada’s total public debt stands at roughly $1.3 trillion, or more than $37,000.

Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien embraced austerity in the early 1990s when he took over a government plagued with deficits left by his predecessor.

Roughly 40,000 public sector jobs were cut and federal spending was reduced by 20%.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Deciding when to sell

In real estate, timing influences your home’s selling price. Working with a REALTOR® can help make timing work for you.

A buyer’s versus a seller’s market?
When lots of people are looking for homes but not many are for sale, it’s a ‘seller’s market’, because the seller has something everybody wants. When there are lots of homes for sale and not many people buying them, it’s called a ‘buyer’s market’ because buyers have more power of choice.

How quickly do you need to sell your home?
In a seller’s market, top price and a fast sale can go hand-in-hand. In a buyer’s market, more sellers are competing for your potential buyer. If you have to sell right now, consider lowering your asking price a bit to speed up the sale. A REALTOR® can help you figure out the right price-to-speed ratio.

Seasonality. Do home sales get frostbite?
It’s true. Winter sales tend to be slower, and spring sales are more brisk. Regardless, there are always people looking to buy, and seasonality is only one of many factors to consider.

What if you’re also buying a home?
If you sell your existing home for a ‘low’ price, you’re probably also buying at a low price. If you are upgrading to a larger home, this actually works to your advantage. If you’re downsizing from a bigger home to a smaller home or a condo, you need to pay a bit more attention to the market.

To buy first or sell first? The eternal question
Many people are able to time their sale and purchase so they happen on the same “closing date”. As a buyer, you can make your offer “conditional” on the sale of your existing home, to make sure you’re not left paying for two homes. As a seller, you can try to extend the “closing period” to give yourself more time to find your next home. A REALTOR® can provide advice and counsel during these kind of negotiations.

What if you find your new dream home before you’ve started to sell your old one?
Talk to your existing mortgage lender about “Bridge Financing”. This is when your lender (the bank) agrees to lend you the down payment for your new dream home, while you still cover the mortgage on your existing property.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

SOLD!

826 Calder Rd
Mississauga, Ontario L5J2N5
Map Coord: 478-36-S
$997,000
· Detached · Rooms: 8 · Bsmt: Full
· Backsplit 3 · Bedrooms: 3 + 1 · Heat: Gas/Forced Air
· Exterior: Alum Siding/Brick · Washrooms: 3 · Apx Age:
· Lot: 102.2 X 186 Feet · Kitchens: 1 · Apx Sqft:
· Garage: Attached/2 · Family Rm: Y · Pool: Inground
· Drive: Private · CAC: Y · Parking Spaces: 4
· Central Vac: Y · Laundry Lev: Main · Waterfront:
· MLS#: W1982783




Opportunity Backing To Rattray Marsh! Panoramic Views From Most Rooms. Located On Peaceful
Cul De Sac. Centre Hall Plan . Impressive Foyer With Skylight And Marble Floors, Huge Dining
Room Off A Large Well Equipped Eat-In Kitchen, Stately Living Room With Fireplace, Family Room
Has Views Of Marsh And Walkout To Pool And Extensive Interlocking Patio, Automatic Awning,
Cabana. Beautifully Landscaped Perennial Gardens With Lighting And Sprinklers.

Dress up your home for the holidays: Creative twists give the outside a new look



It’s easy to get in a rut with the same holiday decorations each year. Why not do things differently this season, beginning at the front door?
Updating your outdoor display doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. Some designers suggest keeping things simple: perhaps a different colour scheme, in harmony with the surrounding landscape, or a few personal tweaks to the traditional.
“Even if a single wreath is the extent of your decorating, make it yours with special ribbon,” says New York designer Philip Gorrivan. “It’s the first thing guests see, and creates a lasting impression.”
Try making wreaths of pine cones or magnolia blossoms sprayed with high-gloss lacquer, he says. “They look chic and modern yet reference the past.”
Sally Wilson, partner with husband John Kelsey in Wilson Kelsey Design in Salem, Mass., suggests starting with a new colour theme. “For a refreshing change from cherry red, try rich burgundy, or elegant white and/or gold with forest green,” she says.
The key, she adds, is not to go overboard: “Wreaths on every window, coloured lights framing the stair banister and outlining the roof — it can look like you didn’t know when to stop. Plus it waters down your focal point, the entrance.”
Gorrivan suggests photographing the front of the house and making a large print before getting the ladder out. “Play around with paper patterns of the garlands, trees, torches, whatever you plan to use, cut to scale,” he says. “This way you can verify balance, proportion and colour combinations.”
An example of balance: “If you have double front doors, place wreaths on both of them. Otherwise they’ll look lopsided,” Wilson says.
When wrapping garlands around posts or columns, she adds, “Keep the spaces between them uniform. And go for an odd number of loops, more interesting than even.”
For many designers, outdoor displays are a chance to let your creative side shine — to play with items that say something about you or where you live.
“If kitsch is your thing and you live near the beach, why not put Santa on a surf board and drape the hedge with lights shaped like pineapples?” says Los Angeles designer Mark Cutler. “What’s important is that you like it ... and everything is in proportion and balanced.”
In warmer climates, where traditional greenery can look out-of-place and homes are often contemporary in style, Cutler likes door wreaths of olive branches, palm leaves and herbs.
“Add baubles in natural colours — terracotta, olive, soft white — or use a square rather than a round wreath. More in keeping with the architecture,” he says.
“Palm trees look festive with their trunks and fronds swirled in small white lights,” says Cutler.
Unabashedly fake, silver tinsel trees also look fun in hot climates, he says. “Buy a ‘grove’ of them in different sizes at Kmart.”
Pam Flowers, principal of PK Flowers Interiors in Aledo, Texas, goes for a southwestern feel with big bunches of red chili peppers, dried-flower wreaths sprouting from old leather cowboy chaps, and even lit-up farm equipment.
“Make the most of what you have” is a Gorrivan mantra. Popular on apartment terraces, for instance, are bamboo gardens. “Don’t replace them with evergreens,” he says, “Swag them in white lights.”
Those with lawns might put a small cluster of outdoor trees in the front yard. “Position them securely in tree stands and anchor with heavy gauge wire. Then decorate au naturel with suet cakes, cranberry chains and popcorn balls,” he says. “It’s a treat for the kids, as well as the birds.”
One of Cutler’s favourite traditions is to hang white ornaments from an oak tree in front of his house, with a red one added each year for daughter Ruby. “It adds to the family spirit of the holidays,” he says, “which is, of course, what it’s all about.”
Speaking of family, don’t forget the doors you use most frequently.
“If you use a side door, try a flat-back basket filled with pine, berries and cinnamon sticks,” suggests Wilson. “If you enter the house through the garage, hang a wreath beribboned in colours similar to those used in front.”
And if you’re feeling a little more ambitious, try to bring your outdoor and indoor decorations in sync: “Extravagant or simple, carry the same theme and colours from outside in, from room to room,” says Gorrivan. “It’s easy on the eyes and makes a complete statement.”

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

xmas
Click here to View your Christmas eCard
  Here's wishing you all the joys of the season. I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Eva Elliott
Re/Max Realty Enterprises Inc.
416.371.4130
www.evaelliott.ca

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Holiday lighting checklist: Twinkle and sparkle the safer way


     Decorative lights add warmth and ambiance to holiday gatherings, but these festive lights should always be hung with care around the holidays.

CSA International, a leader in testing and certification, has created the following checklist to help Canadians avoid common seasonal dangers and keep the holidays glowing bright.

• Out with the old: Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections.

• Size 'em up: Unplug light strings before replacing bulbs and check to ensure replacement bulbs match the voltage and wattage of the original. Make certain that bulb reflectors are the correct size for the light string.

• Spot the mark: When purchasing light strings, extension cords and electrical decorations, look for a certification mark such as one from CSA International that provides assurance that the products are tested and certified to the applicable standards for safety and performance. Also, ensure that outdoor light strings, cords, spotlights and floodlights are certified by CSA International and marked for outdoor use.

• Don't be tacky: Never hang decorations from fire sprinklers, or allow them to obstruct exit corridors or exit signs, fire extinguishers and hose cabinets. Never tack or staple lighting strings or extension cords to a wall or cubicle. When hanging lights outdoors, keep electrical connectors above ground, out of puddles and snow and away from metal eavestroughs. Use insulated fasteners rather than metal nails or tacks to hold light strings in place.

• Safe storage: After the holidays, wrap and store lights and decorations in their original packaging, as they likely contain manufacturer's instructions on replacement bulbs and details for proper product use. Remove outdoor lights promptly after the holiday season to avoid damage caused by extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.

• Watch the flicker of candles: Do not use open flames or candles on or near flammable materials such as wreaths, trees or paper decorations.

• Designate those decorations: When decorating the tree, place breakable ornaments on the higher limbs to protect children and pets. Remember to always use flame-resistant decorations.

• Don't get juiced: Before working with outdoor wiring, turn off the electricity to the supply outlet and unplug the connection.

• Fresh or fake, be safe: If you buy a real tree, make sure it's fresh. Fresh trees will be less likely to dry out and become a fire hazard. Artificial trees with electrical lights should have a certification mark on them and should be made of fire-resistant material.

• Pardon the interruption: Whenever possible, connect all outdoor lighting into receptacles protected by eatherproof ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). These can provideprotection from electric shock by sensing ground leakage and cutting electrical power.

Compliments of www.newscanada.com

Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?


When you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in "showtime" condition. And that could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken.
It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are too busy, buyers may be also, and you may find your efforts unrewarded with not enough showings. And what if you do get an offer? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides, you can give your house a rest, and it will have better momentum after the holidays. Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?
But wait! Most top Realtors agree that taking your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake. The house surely isn't going to sell off the market! What is the advantage of that? So you're busy. Let your Realtor do the work. You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let your Realtor take care of things.
The holidays are a wonderful selling period. Why? Because most people take off work sometime during the season. The husband and wife are both off and want to see houses. Most agents like the holidays because the buyers have more time, and they can look at homes together.


Before you take your home off the market, consider the following points:

  • Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious. Agents believe the home market is no more affected at Christmas than during other "busy" periods. If that were so, the market would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations, and autumn back-to-school activities.

  • Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look, and that negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children, or they may have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year isn't a consideration. Finding the right home at the right price, however, is.

  • Relocating families often don't have a choice when they can leave for their new destination. Although 68% of transferring families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These families are that much more motivated to get their families settled in before either the January semester begins, or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect.

  • At Christmas time, our culture focuses on family and the home. Preparing for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most enjoyable periods of family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of seasons lets them better picture their own family life in the attractive environment you have created.

  • When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard. If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress your buyers. Get the family team on board to do a five-minute blitz pick-up every morning to keep holiday messes to a minimum.

  • With many motivated buyers in the marketplace, you may find you have more showings than you would if you sold your home during a busier time of the year.

  • If you do get a contract, you can arrange the terms to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, you can put in the closing date of your choice. Most people can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time. Possession and closings are very negotiable. 
  • Monday, December 6, 2010

    When Is The Best Time To Sell Your Property?

    There are a couple of periods during a year when it is a good time to sell a house and a couple of periods when it is definitely not a good idea. In this article we'll look at both periods and discover WHY it is a good or bad time to sell.
    Ask an estate agent, of course, and they will tell you any time is a good time sell. That's because they are after your business - especially during those 'quiet' periods when they traditionally suffer for business.
    However, a bit of common sense will tell you that that is not the case.
    Good Times To Sell
    Regardless of the time of year, the best time to sell your property is when the market is full of buyers. They will try to outbid each other for the houses on offer and push prices up right across the board. You can take advantage of this by marketing your home at this point.
    However, it is a rare year when this happens for a full 12 months. The seasons generally determine the best times to sell and achieve a quick, profitable sale.
    The best season in a year to sell is Spring. It is a time for fresh starts, new beginnings and the time when most people get the urge to look for a bigger, better home. The weather is improving, gardens are looking nicer and your property will be looking its best in the better light.
    In addition, with the kids back to school after the Christmas break parents are freer to start house hunting.
    From February right through to June the market will be much, much busier than at any other time of the year and it is the ideal time to put your property on the market.
    It's not always possible to for a homeowner to put their property up for sale in the Spring so another good time to sell is a couple of months in Autumn. This isn't as good a time as the February-June window, but it is still decent.
    Again, the kids are back at school after the Summer holidays and parents can focus on the house hunting. The weather is still acceptable and some people want to move before it turns nasty.
    The best months are September and October, though you may be ok in the first couple of weeks of November. After that, the market will die off very fast.
    Bad Times To Sell
    Winter is an obviously bad time to try to sell your home. The combination of the weather, school holidays and money spent on gifts means that potential buyers dwindle to almost nothing.
    November and December are terrible months for the housing market and it only really begins to pick up towards the end of January.
    Perhaps surprisingly, Summer is also a bad time to try and sell, especially in August. You might think with the good weather it would be the ideal time but because of school holidays and those without children jetting off on holiday themselves there is very little activity.
    Spring, or at a push early Autumn, is definitely the best time of year to sell your property. So call me today and lets talk about when we can put your property for sale in Spring. 

    Sunday, December 5, 2010

    Sewer Inspection Saves the Pocket

    To everyone their lives are precious. One must live in a healthy environment in order to lead a healthy life. Sewer Inspection plays an important role in the art of healthy living. Sewer Inspection is essential for personal living, the environments health and also for the quality living of home owners as well as their families. The functioning of sewer system is important to avoid any sort of contamination in the environment that would lead to damage to one's on family as well as to neighbours and friends. The sewer inspection also involves the inspection of drinking water. In the long run there are chances of safety hazards to take place like crumbling tanks absolute collapse causing a complete mess in the house and thus leading to expensive repairs. This is why it is necessary to have sewer inspection in order to avoid unnecessary chaos in future.
    The liquid wastage originates from toilets, bathing places, kitchen, sinks, showers from the residential areas and also liquid waste coming out from factories and mills should be carried out through the sewers. The wastage created by the residential, commercial, institutional and industrial sectors should follow a proper sewage system. This would help in making the environment a better place to live in for the people.
    Need for inspecting:
    There are many cases that cause the failure of premature sewer inspection for example no proper maintenance, misuse, trees being planted in the midst of the fields, but they all can be avoided. Since sewer lines are underground, and the ground tends to be in continuous movement, there are high chances that the pipe might also move. The joints may shift or break, complete collapse of the pipes, tree roots could grow deep into the grounds and into the sewer pipes enhancing the chances of more problems.
    When buying a house it is always seen that the house inspection is done. No one has the smallest thought of having the sewer inspected, which is one of the most important things. If one thinks of this to be a priority while buying the house, then when living in the house can be easier and comfortable as well as saving time and money.
    The treatment of sewer inspection should only be taken up by the professionals. The professionals should carry the right equipments to decontaminate and disinfect the waste or polluted water. They are the ones who can meet all the safety and healthy requirements.
    Few ways how Sewer Inspection can save your pocket:
    • If there is a flood clean-up, the average cost may vary between hundreds to thousands in terms of money.
    • Contaminated sewage can be way more harmful to one's health than to one's pocket.
    • Sewer Inspection prevents the possibility of flood from taking place which would result to spending way more when precaution not taken.
    • Sewer Inspection gives a clean picture of a present status of the sewer lines, thus giving you time to plan out financially how to maintain them.
    Sewer inspection provides mental peace as it helps to avoid the future mess that would have taken place. It warns them when the drainage requires attention, gives repairing opinions that are needed. It also gives them ample time to plan out the expenses and systematically take care of the situation.
    It does not matter if the house you live in is your own or on rent. Inspecting the sewer lines of the house should always be ones priority. Inspecting sewer lines gives the person various opinions to figure out how to go about with the minor problems and repair them. Regular checking's and inspections help in avoiding massive problems and saving a lot of money and valuables. Water drainage may also originate from non-contaminated water sources which when left untreated can become terribly contaminated. Sewer inspection should also be done in places like old age homes. New houses that one is planning to buy such inspection are extremely necessary; this is because such inspection could save one a fortune.

    Sewer Inspection

    A sewer is a carriage system beneath the ground that is used to carry the sewage from houses to disposal tank. In any developing country sewers are usually big pipes that begin with connection of sewage carrying pipes from houses to treatment facilities. Manholes (vertical pipes) connect the main pipes to the surface. A state of the art sewage system is an absolute necessity in any city. The city planner has to keep track about it all the time. A simple sewer generally made off small diameter pipes (most of the time they are of four inches). Operational and maintenance costs are usually high for any sewage system.
    In most of the developed countries citizens are bound to connect there home sewer to the local sewerage system. This makes it more workable and manageable.
    If any person wants to buy an old home, he or she must make a sewer inspection before hand but it is not at the top of their demand basket. Usually, they opt for home inspection for valuation, electricity connectivity and lot of other things, but most of them are completely unaware of this. It is advisable to find out the chinks in the sewage system of the house before buying it. The sewage system needs to be revamped or thoroughly checked if the house is older than twenty years.
    Most common problem related to sewer line is growing of tree roots inside the pipes. Generally tree roots crawl through small openings and grow there after. This can be harmful because the roots can break in further and can cause havoc damage in the system. To counter this issue most of the times chemicals are used that kills these tree growths in the pipe. But this procedure is not always foolproof. Roots can reappear and can cause greater damage to the sewer pipes. If that happens ultimately excavation is the only solution. Houses constructed before the city sewers were made, often relied on cesspools. When the public septic systems were installed in the cities, most of the times the cesspools remained untouched and not connected to the main public septic system. It is almost impossible for a common man to know the nuances of sewage system (whether it is faulty or not). So sewage system inspection is advisable before inking the final deal.
    In North America and Canada, the home that were built in or around 1950, consists sewer pipelines made from a special kind of tarpaper. These pipes are known as Orangeburg pipes. These pipes are not well made. Orangeburg pipes generally breaks down very quickly. If a house has a sewage system consists of Orangeburg pipes that definitely need to be replaced.
    Most consistent problem with the underground sewage system is the high level of difficulty in inspecting them. Now a day's sewage system is highly developed and can take the load of wear and tear of many decades. But they need time-to-time inspection to make sure, everything is running smoothly. To inspect the sewer pipes we need to get into them, but damages can occur where it is practically impossible to see. So, a new inventive technology is being used now a day's. Plumbing companies are using cameras to make a thorough inspection inside the sewer pipes. It is well accepted also in the municipal workers community.
    Usually a sewer camera is attached to a closed circuit TV. The camera is used to make visual inspection where human eyes cannot go. This camera can very easily identify pipes which have been broke down, level of wear and tear in the sewer pipes, blockages caused by elements that are released by the household, growth of tree roots inside the sewer pipes, pipes that are unsettled from their actual position because of the ground shift etc. Since, the sewer camera inspection costs a very few hundred dollars, it is advisable to get it done, rather than spending a lot more money in repairing a broke sewer system.

    Friday, December 3, 2010

    GTA REALTORS® Report Monthly Resale Housing Figures

    Sales Strong in November
    December 3, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 6,510 existing home sales in November – down 13 per cent from 7,446 sales in November 2009. New listings were also down 13 per cent annually to 8,642.

    On a month-over-month basis, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales increased for the fourth straight month to 88,100. This rate was substantially higher than the July low of 67,900.

    "The GTA resale market has tightened since the summer. Healthy market conditions continued to support growth in the average selling price," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Bill Johnston.

    "Sales through the first 11 months of the year were down only marginally compared to the same period in 2009. We remain on track for one of the best years on record under the current TREB market area," continued Johnston.

    The average selling price for November transactions was $438,030 - up five per cent compared to November 2009.

    "The average selling price in the GTA is affordable. A household earning the average income can comfortably cover the mortgage payments on an average priced home. Expect the average selling price to grow at a moderate pace over the next year," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

    Median Price
    In November, the median price was $366,000, from the $353,800 recorded during November of 2009.

    GTA REALTORS® Work to Eliminate Harmonized Sales Tax Misconceptions

     Concerned that homebuyers are uncertain about the Harmonized Sales Tax's (HST) applicability on real estate purchases, Greater Toronto REALTORS® are reaching out to consumers to eliminate misconceptions. 


    Using social media channels and an ongoing series of newspaper columns, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) is conveying to consumers that the HST does not apply to the purchase price of resale homes.

    "Although the HST applies to newly constructed homes and professional services associated with real estate transactions, the purchase price of a resale home is exempt from this tax," said TREB President Bill Johnston.

    Since resale housing was never subject to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) or the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST), it continues to be exempt from the new HST.

    Conversely, newly constructed homes were previously subject to the GST, meaning that the HST now applies. The provincial government however, provides a rebate of 75 per cent of the PST on the first $400,000 on new homes, to a maximum of $24,000.

    "When considering the purchase of any type of home, it is important to budget for additional costs, like the Land Transfer Tax and property taxes. Fortunately though, the purchase price of a resale home is one area of relief for taxpayers and
    recognizing that a home is many people's single largest investment, this exemption is an important consideration."

    TREB began informing Greater Toronto Area homebuyers of this important distinction prior to the introduction of the new tax and plans to continue driving home the message.


    Some Common Real Estate Questions.


    do i need an agent to make an offer? or i can do that myself

    Theoretically you can make an offer on your own, nothing could stop you from doing that. However, to protect your rights, you might want to consult a lawyer before making an offer to make sure that certain terms are included. While lawyers' charges are based on service rate, it is be more economical to hire a Realtor to take care of everything for you right from the start..

    How can you acquire a home with as little as 5% down? Or is this even a good idea?

    It is possible, but this is considered a high ratio mortgage and it would need to be insured through CHMC at an additional cost. If you have 20% for a downpayment, you may qualify for a conventional mortgage where no mandatory insurance is required.You will, however, need to get approved for a mortgage to see how much you qualify for. Speak with your financial institution or a qualified mortgage broker.

    I found a home I like on 111 Main Ave but I don't know whom I should direct my questions to.

    Call or email me and I'll be able to assist you.

    Feel Free to send me any other questions you may have about buying, selling or rending a home or a condo...