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Market Conditions Promote Price Growth in April - Sutton Group Releases May's Monthly Newsletter
Published Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 05:44:00 GMT
. . .
Ontario First-Time Home Buyer Programs - Which Ones can you Benefit From?
Published Date: Mon, 06 May 2013 16:38:00 GMT
FTHB – what does it mean?
Are you a First-Time Home Buyer in Ontario? There are many programs in place for you – you will find them here! FTHB is short for First-Time Home Buyer. FTHB’s make up a large portion of the market today; with as little as
5% down you can buy a home albeit home prices have risen over the years
making the 5% a challenge. When you partner with a mortgage professional, you have access to
lenders who offer zero-down mortgages and for some, this makes sense.
You need to understand all of your options and that is the key, you need
options! As a FTHB there are many programs available today that will save you
money, it is so important to take advantage of these because you are
only a FTHB once! We are surprised at the lack of knowledge about all
of the programs and incentives available and unfortunately, many FTHB’s
miss out. • RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan – able to withdraw up to $25,000 per person from your RRSP tax-free to put towards a down payment *There are many qualifying factors such as minimum age, if you or
your spouse have ever owned a home together or separately so it is
important to know the facts. These programs are in place to help with
the cost of purchasing a home at the time of closing and at tax time. To speak to an Agent call 416-896-3333 For our list of Affordable homes and Condos under $350,000 Click here
Here are some of the programs available if you qualify*:
• Land Transfer Tax Rebate – up to $2000 in Ontario plus up to a maximum refund of $3,725 if buying in Toronto
• First-time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit – this works out to a rebate of $750, the credit must be claimed within the year of purchase.
There is a lot of information when buying a home if you are a First-Time
Home Buyer , in addition to these government incentives, it makes sense
that home buyers seek the advice and guidance of a mortgage
professional who will explain all of the options, terms and work out a
budget so that home ownership is an enjoyable experience.
Toronto’s condo boosters see a market revival - Is There Potential in a 500 Sqft condo Investment?
Published Date: Thu, 02 May 2013 17:41:00 GMT
Despite falling resale condo figures in this city in recent months, Ms. Shim
believes that the outlook for condos in Toronto remains strong. And to
those who think the units coming on stream in Toronto are too numerous and too
tiny, she points out that urbanites in their 20s and 30s are just happy to
occupy a rung on the property ladder. “Get in the head of the people actually buying,” she tells those who wonder
how anyone can live in 500 square feet. The market analyst and marketing maven
is feeling enough brio to launch a new research firm called Housing Lab. Ms.
Shim recently talked about the motivation of buyers during a talk billed “The
Condo-fication of Toronto: The good, the bad and the ugly”, at University of
Toronto. Some are young professionals who find the competition in the rental market –
where the vacancy rate is hovering just above one per cent – intense. “The rental market’s on fire,” she
says of a market that inspires bidding wars for some units. So, rather than
compete, these children of the boomers are buying their own place. Other buyers are investors who plan
to rent the units out. “These are not people who are
flipping. These investors today have long-term thinking,” she says. “It has
provided de facto new rental stock.” The “bad” infiltrating the condo market comes from so-called value
engineering. Some developers are finding their costs so expensive that they
have to be very hard-minded in order to turn a profit. “You’re sitting down with a budget and have to make hard decisions.” Other knocks against the market include some ill-conceived schemes for
retail stores at ground level. In some cases, there are not enough people
living nearby to support the businesses and the space sits empty. As for the ugly, Ms. Shim points to the NIMBYism of people who don’t want to
see more high-rise towers. She says the “not in my backyard attitude” reflects
a fear of condo-fication, but she thinks the density is necessary and the new
construction revitalizes older neighbourhoods. At the residential builder Daniels Corp., vice-president Martin Blake says
the company is going ahead with planned launches of new condo projects. Daniels
typically targets the first-time buyer more than investors. The company also
offers rent-to-own schemes. Unlike many developers, Daniels sometimes builds first and then sells the
units. “It takes away the uncertainty of the new condo marketplace.” In the resale market, condo sales have been sluggish since last summer when
the federal government tightened the rules surrounding mortgage lending. In March, condo sales on the Toronto Real Estate Board’s multiple listing
service in the 416 area code dropped 19 per cent compared with the same month
last year to continue the trend of falling year-over-year numbers. Nicholas Bohr, an agent, agrees with Ms.
Shim that the condo lifestyle is so desirable to some that certain types of
buildings will always be sought after. While many buyers in the past considered
a condo just a pathway to their goal of owning a detached house, that’s no
longer true in many cases, he adds. “I like to label it as a stepping stone but for a lot of people it’s a
lifestyle,” he says. “Some people don’t like to live in a house. They want to
live in something new and something sexy and even to change it every couple of
years.” Mr. Bohr says marquee condo buildings by prime builders still remain in high
demand. But owners who are trying to sell a unit in a building where there are
many other similar units for sale will need to be more patient. “Prices are based on future expectations,” says Mr. Bohr. “Some are coming
down and some builders make condo purchases a good investment,” he says. In the buildings where there are more competing units for sale, real estate
agents also need to be more inventive, he adds. Mr. Bohr recently printed up 300 cards and had them delivered to tenants in
a rental apartment building across the street from a condo tower. “Why rent
when you can own across the street?” the flyer asks, suggesting that
prospective purchasers get in touch with a mortgage broker. Mr. Bohr also invites residents of the entire building to a wine-and-cheese
open house before he puts a condo unit on the market. He hopes that owners will tell their friends and family about the new unit
for sale in their building. He can also garner first impressions about the
staging and price. “It’s a great way to get some buzz. They can give great feedback,” he says. Christopher Bibby, an agent with Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., says
that buyers of resale condo units are being choosy about neighbourhoods and
buildings. Units in buildings that are not in high demand might take a month to sell –
even with a realistic asking price and savvy staging. But for a sought-after building such as a “hard” loft conversion, buyers are
often waiting and watching for units to come on the market. Mr. Bibby recently
sold a loft in the popular Candy Factory building for an amount above the
asking price. Two buyers stepped up with offers. “If agents are doing their job, they’ll come the first day and that’s what
happened here. For Condo Deals in your Area check out our Hot Under 300k Deals here! Take a look at the Five Star Amenieties in 15 Legion! http://www.searchtorontohomes.com/15legioncondos
11 Most Popular Home Improvements - and What Home Buyers are Willing to pay More For
Published Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:23:00 GMT
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11. One or more fireplaces Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 40% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,400 Some 40%
of home buyers without a fireplace said they would spend additional money for
at least one and cough up an extra $1,400. The fireplace, while always popular,
was less necessary when several TVs were going in the house all at once, said
Errol Samuelson, president of Realtor.com. But he speculated that having a home
with fireplaces may become more popular in the future as people spend less time
watching TV and more time on tablets and e-readers. These people may find the
fireplace a good place to cozy up and use their devices, he said. 10. Eat-In kitchen Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 40% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,770 The
people who are most interested in an eat-in kitchen tend to be in the 35-to-54
age range, with 30% of those prospective home buyers indicating this is “very
important” in a house. Meanwhile, just 21% of those under 35 years of age and
20% over 55 feel the same way. More people, especially those who are raising
families, want kitchens that look into family entertainment rooms. Some have
even made it a family hangout by placing big-screen TVs and other electronics
in the kitchen. 9. Home less than 5 years old Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 40% Amount
willing to pay extra: $5,020 Some
people simply want a newer home. For those willing to pay more for a newer
home, the median that people would dole out was more than $5,000. Although this
is a lot of money compared with most features, that money could be a wise
investment in the long run. Maintenance costs are considerably less in newer
homes compared with older homes, Samuelson pointed out. He also noted that
newer homes tend to be much more efficient, attracting people who are
environmentally conscious. 8. Stainless steel appliances Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 41% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,850 Like most
features, stainless steel appliances are most important to people between the
ages of 35 to 54, with 23% considering them to be a “very important”
investment, compared with just 16% of those under the age of 35 and a mere 11%
of those over the age of 55. From a cost perspective, stainless steel appliances
are not necessarily the best investment. Samuelson noted that stainless steel
wears out far easier than most other common materials. Also, the children in
the house can also get their fingerprints on the appliances, requiring more
cleaning. However, Samuelson said people are primarily driven to buy stainless
steel appliances because they are more attractive. 7. Kitchen island Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 48% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,370 Kitchen
islands are most important to people ages 35 to 54, with 24% of them indicating
that it is a “very important” characteristic. Just 19% of people under 35 and
13% over 55 considered this feature important. Brendon DeSimone, a Realtor and
real estate expert with Zillow, noted that kitchen islands often come in handy
for those who are raising a family. It provides additional room to put out food
for the family and allows the kitchen to become more organized. Although the
desire for a kitchen island is high, those who do not have one but want one are
only willing to shell out $1,370, less than most other features. 6. En suite master bath Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 49% Amount
willing to pay extra: $2,030 The en
suite master bathroom tends to be more important to people ages 35 and older.
“It kind of goes to the ‘home is my sanctuary’ mentality,” Samuelson said.
This, along with a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, has become more
important in the past 10 years or so. Many people are eager to make their
bathroom more “homey” by doing things such as installing televisions on the
wall. The fact that many master bathrooms have two sinks is also an appealing
option for married couples, Samuelson added. 5. Hardwood floors Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 54% Amount
willing to pay extra: $2,080 Some 25%
of buyers under the age of 35, and 28% of those between 35 and 54, considered
hardwood floors “very important” when looking for a home. Only 17% of people
ages 55 and up felt the same way. In previous generations, homes with carpets
were considered better in order to conserve energy, DeSimone said. Even today,
older people are more likely to feel more comfortable with carpeting because
the insulation makes the home a little bit warmer. But for younger people
looking to have many guests at the house and for people with children, hardwood
floors are desirable because they are easier to clean than carpets.
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4. Granite countertops Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 55% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,620 Among
homeowners between the ages of 35 and 54, 24% viewed granite countertops as
“very important,” compared with 18% of people under 35 and 18% of people over
55. Although just one in every five prospective home buyers said granite
countertops were very important, 55% of those who bought a home without such a
countertop said they would pay extra for it. Both DeSimone and Samuelson agreed
that the granite countertop is more of a style issue than anything else. “There
has been more emphasis on the beautiful kitchen these days, and granite
countertops are a part of that,” Samuelson said. 3. Walk-in closet in master bedroom Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 60% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,350 A
whopping 60% of homeowners were willing to pay extra for a walk-in closet in
the master bedroom, with 44% of people between the ages of 35-54 viewing this
feature as “very important,” compared with just 35% under the age of 35 and 36%
of people 55 and older. DeSimone said the walk-in closet is desired for two
main reasons: space and status. The space is very desirable for people as they
get older and acquire more clothes, allowing people to be more organized.
Having a walk-in closet in the master bedroom is also a status symbol. When
giving a house tour, DeSimone said, people want to say, “hey, check out my
closet,” in the same way they say, “hey, have you seen my new kitchen?” 2. New kitchen appliances Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 69% Amount
willing to pay extra: $1,840 About 69%
of homeowners said they were willing to spend more money for new kitchen
appliances. Unsurprisingly, people who are looking to buy a new home find this
far more important than people who are eyeing previously owned homes. People
who are the first to live in a specific house tend to want everything to be new
in the house because they consider the house truly “their own,” DeSimone said.
People also do not want to have to deal with the stress of broken appliances.
“They don’t want to come home after a horrible stressful day at work and find
the dishwasher isn’t working or the fridge is making noises.” 1. Central air conditioning Percentage
of home buyers willing to pay more: 69% Amount
willing to pay extra: $2,520 Nearly
seven in 10 homeowners said they would be willing to pay more for central air
conditioning—the same as new kitchen appliances and more than any other
feature. Central air conditioning was considered “very important” by more than
60% of people in all age groups. Samuelson noted that although people were
willing to shell out approximately $2,500 for the feature, that is far less
than what it would actually cost to install central air conditioning. “There is
a difference in people’s preference and what they are willing to pay for,”
Samuelson said. “They may want the steak but are on a macaroni budget." For More Tips or to Book a Free Staging Consultation Call our Sutton Dream Team 905-896-3333 / 416-896-3333 Find out how much your home is worth with a Free Home Evaluation
This Weekend Only - $10,000 Cash Back - Waterlilies Townhomes in Oakville!
Published Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:36:00 GMT
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Good News For Realtors: Toronto Real Estate Board Listing-Service Case Dismissed
Published Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:10:00 GMT
In Toronto’s hot housing market, buying and selling homes with a
real-estate agent doesn’t come cheap — and it’s not easy to buy or sell
without one. It doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon. This week, Canada’s Competition Tribunal dismissed a years-long case
in which the country’s Competition Bureau accused Toronto’s giant
real-estate board of unfairly keeping a stranglehold on certain
real-estate data, including previous selling prices for homes. The Competition Bureau said the Toronto Real Estate Board, which
represents 36,000 real-estate brokers and salespeople throughout
Canada’s largest city, was tilting the lucrative market in its favor,
putting consumers at a disadvantage and preventing upstart firms from
successfully entering the market. The real-estate group, which operates the Multiple Listing Service
system, argued it was protecting the privacy of home sellers and buyers.
Its website, mls.ca, includes real-estate listings and prices, but
doesn’t include previous selling prices for homes. In the greater
Toronto area, only real-estate agents have access to those numbers. A Competition Bureau spokesman told Real Time Canada that officials
are still reviewing the tribunal’s decision and haven’t decided whether
to file an appeal. To schedule your free home market evaluation click here. Remember, when buying a home your Realtor is typically paid by the seller - making their services FREE for you! Find an agent that works in your area today 905-896-3333 / 416-896-3333
CRA Scrutiny Over Some Condo Flipping and Assignments
Published Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:45:00 GMT
The Canada Revenue Agency is taking hard look at people selling condos for big profit after long boom. Some sellers of new
Toronto condos are seeing years of price gains in a booming market taxed
away. Canada Revenue Agency auditors have added penalties to taxes for
those who claimed their condo as a home, but soon changed their minds
and sold. The CRA has yet to
disclose how many sellers have been affected. But Toronto tax lawyer and
text author David Sherman and other tax experts, accuse auditors of
unfairly ignoring some legitimate explanations for sales. Meanwhile,
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty wants the CRA to collect more than $500
million extra from suspected tax cheats this year. “The auditors have
applied a rare 50 per cent penalty for ‘gross negligence,’ even on those
who had never owned a condo previously,” says Sherman. Sam Papadopoulos, a
CRA spokesman, said the agency chooses areas to audit based on “current
and emerging risks to the tax base.” The CRA is looking at real estate
because of the recent condo boom “for which we have discovered
non-reporting of taxable income – builder GST/HST housing rebates and
capital gains/income in sales of real property.” He added that auditors
look at such things as the seller’s intention, the type of property
they sold, the frequency of purchase and sales, why they sold and how
the purchase and sales fit with the person’s ordinary business. He said
auditors do not receive bonuses to encourage them to perform more
audits. Canada has three tiers
of tax treatment for real estate sales — no tax on a principal
residence, tax on half a gain from selling a recreational, rental or
other investment property, and full taxation for making a business of
buying and selling — known colloquially as flipping. Lawyer James Rhodes of
TaxationLawyers in Kitchener says some auditors are alleging sellers
are making quick flips if the time between the registration of a condo
and its sale is short. This is even though they may have bought the
condo years previously, before construction started. “If someone signed a
purchase agreement 10 years ago to buy a condo, but then sold it the day
after the condo was finally registered, the CRA would say that person
sold the condo as a quick flip because they only owned it one day,” he
says. “The CRA doesn’t seem
to care that a person’s circumstances might have changed over the ten
years, such that they don’t want to live in the condo anymore.” One of Rhodes’ clients
was single when he bought a condo in downtown Toronto in 2005. By 2009
he was engaged, and his fiancée wanted to be closer to her work in
Guelph. So, he sold it, soon after it was registered. An auditor decided
that the sale so soon after registration was suspicious, and so was the
original choice of a two-bedroom apartment: “There is no reason to
purchase a two bedroom condominium for one person,” he claimed. Rhodes says his client
was assessed with over $100,000 of business income, resulting in a tax
bill of roughly $50,000. He also faced a $25,000 penalty. “I estimate the cost to take this to the Tax Court (of Canada) will be around $10,000 to $15,000.” A married chartered
accountant waited five years for a new 935-square-foot condo unit to be
built at Bloor and Jarvis Streets. But she decided after living there 15
days in 2011 it was simply too cramped. “We would have had to
turn the entire second bedroom into a closet,” she explained. “My
husband would have had to watch television in the living room.” They changed their
plans, kept their old family home, but claimed the condo as a principal
residence for the time they owned it. (It is permissible to claim
different homes as one’s principal residence, just not two at the same
time.) A CRA auditor has
ordered her to pay $72,000 of tax, and a $36,000 penalty, on a $150,000
price gain. She had already looked into CRA practices and wrote March 18
to ask Minister of National Revenue, Gail Shea, to order an
investigation. To read about more Toronto Market Updates click here See what all the fuss is about! Have a look at New Toronto Condo Developments or call us direct 416-896-3333
Time for a Career Change? Real Estate Agents Ranked Happiest Job of 2013
Published Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:40:00 GMT
Having a job as a real estate agent “will bring a smile to your face,” according to CareerBliss.com. The site recently ranked the happiest jobs of 2013. "Real estate agents have definitely weathered quite a financial storm over the past few years," says Heidi Golledge, CEO and co-founder of CareerBliss. "But right now, rates are between 2 percent to 3 percent and inventory is low, making it a real estate agent's dream as new homes hit the market and are getting multiple offers in the first week. Real estate professionals say that the way they work and the rewards they are seeing with a growing market have helped boost overall happiness for those in this career." The firm evaluated 65,000 independent job reviews and made its rankings by taking into account the occupations’ work-life balance, compensation, growth opportunities, company reputation, job control, and work environment. Each occupation was given a “bliss rating.” The following are the top eight jobs ranked as happiest by CareerBliss.com. Meanwhile, CareerBliss says the most unhappy in the jobs are teachers, nurses, and attorneys, mostly attributed to the higher pressures in these jobs. Source: “Real Estate Agent Tops List of 'Happy' Careers,” The Street (April 10, 2013) Start Your Career at Sutton Today - Find out How Quickly You Can Join Our Team Launch My Sutton Career Call Our Mississauga Team 905-896-3333 or Toronto Office 416-896-3333 While Sutton is among Canada's most recognized real estate brands, our We believe we can give you a better deal! Real Estate Agent Ranked 'Happiest' Job
costs are less and are splits and commission policies are more flexible
and generous. That's important!
April Newsletter
Published Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:21:00 GMT
. . .
Toronto's Real Estate Market is Hotter than Ever for First Time Home Buyers
Published Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:25:00 GMT
First-time homebuyers
Jody and Michael Fegelman have heard a lot of talk over the last year
about Canada’s cooling housing market. All the couple have felt is the
sting of its heat. During their 1½-year
search for a home for their two young children, the Fegelmans have been
on the losing end of three grueling bidding wars. They have paid for a
home inspection on a place someone else got by paying $80,000 over the
asking price. They’ve felt heartache, disappointment and fear that their children Jack, 5, and Lilly, 2½, would be renters for life. “My parents just kept
saying, ‘Wait. Prices are going to come down,’ says Fegelman. “But the
truth is, there is a boom going on in Toronto. I don’t think things will
change or bidding wars will stop.” Over the last four
years, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has tightened mortgage lending
rules in a desperate bid to bring reason to the red-hot housing market,
especially in Toronto and Vancouver where prices have hit the
stratosphere during the last decade, propelled largely by low interest
rates. That, combined with
surging supply of new condo projects, has definitely sent a chill
through Toronto’s highrise housing sector since last summer, but demand
for lowrise houses shows no signs of letting up. Although home sales
were down 11.5 per cent and listings up slightly as of mid March over a
year earlier, unrelenting competition among buyers for too few
properties for sale — especially in the City of Toronto — saw prices
jump six per cent across the GTA, according to the Toronto Real Estate
Board. Semi-detached homes
sold for an average $622,044 in the City of Toronto in mid-March, up a
whopping 12.2 per cent from a year earlier (they were up just 2.9 per
cent in the 905 regions to $398,328.) Detached homes climbed
by 7.2 per cent to an average $909,910 in Toronto, outpaced slightly in
the 905 regions were a 7.7 per cent climb saw average prices hit
$603,797. Townhouses in the 416
region climbed by 8.2 per cent in mid March year over year to $447,460,
compared to an almost seven per cent increase in the 905 regions to an
average $375,420. Even the cooling condo
sector, where resale condo sales were down almost 10 per cent in
mid-March year-over-year and listings have been climbing, saw price
growth of 1.9 per cent in the City of Toronto, compared to just 0.2 per
cent in the 905 regions. “We’re seeing a major
culture shift and a complete redefinition of what’s desirable and the
(housing) market is reflecting that now,” says veteran urban planner Ken
Greenberg. “There is a new North
American dream, and it’s no longer to have the suburban house and the
fleet of cars. It’s living where you can buy your groceries on foot and
you have access to transit.” With the peak buying
and selling period, spring market, just around the corner, Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation is seeing some interesting indicators
as well. “We’re not seeing as
many first-time buyers getting into the market right now because of
affordability, but there is a considerable pool of people who have
bought over the past 10 years and have outgrown their condominiums,”
says Shaun Hildebrand, CMHC’s Toronto market analyst. “There is strong demand for move-up properties fairly close to the core.” The biggest
supply-demand imbalance right now in the GTA is for semi-detached homes
priced between $500,000 and $700,000 in areas like Roncesvalles and
Leslieville, says Hildebrand. Even some areas of
Durham Region, close to Toronto’s border, have seen a tightening of
supply because of first-time buyers looking for more affordable housing
options, he added. At the same time,
demand for downtown rentals unlike anything seen in the last 20 years
has driven rents to mortgage-like levels and is starting to tip the
balance in favour of owning, given slipping condo prices and low
interest rates, says Hildebrand. Despite what sounds
like all good news for the housing market, selling real estate has never
been harder, says veteran broker Sally Cook. And it’s bringing out the
worst in the industry: Underpricing to drive up competition for what
little is out there and holding off accepting offers for days to create a
frenzy of longing. “It’s become
emotionally, physically and financially draining,” for would-be home
buyers, as well as agents, says Cook. “I decided last year to
concentrate my efforts with first-time buyers looking for condos.
There’s lots of inventory and I don’t have to fight over it.” The frustration of
what turned out to be a 1½-year search for a place to call home
convinced the Fegelmans they needed to try something different. On the
suggestion of their agent, Ira Jelinek, they started mining MLS data
earlier this month for houses that had been languishing on the market
for weeks. They were the only
bidders for a derelict semi-detached house in the Vaughan Rd. and St.
Clair Ave. W. area that had listed since October. Originally priced at
$599,000, they were the only bidders and got it for $460,000. That’s because it needs over $100,000 in renovations. “It’s very hard to
cool or control a market when you have so many buyers chasing the same
type of houses,” says Jelinek. “Agents who sell in my demographic, to
people in their late 20s and early 30s, are feeling the effects of this
market, too. “The good thing is,
this will weed out a lot of the realtors who’ll just say, ‘It’s too hard
right now to be an agent.’ This is when the good ones will stick out.” Thinking of buying a Toronto home? Let Sutton Group's expert agents help you out!