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Ontario Human Rights Code – Housing as a Human Right
Adequate housing is essential to one’s sense of dignity, safety, inclusion and ability to contribute to the fabric of our neighbourhoods and societies[3]. As the Commission heard in this consultation, without appropriate housing it is often not possible to get and keep employment, to recover from mental illness or other ...
Continue ReadingChanges to Non-Resident Taxes in Ontario Real Estate
In addition to all the usual taxes residents have to bear owning real estate; all non-residents selling or buying Canadian real estate are required to undergo some additional tax burdens made to deter non-resident investors from speculating in the housing market and ensure governments collect their due taxes. Without proper ...
Continue ReadingPricing Psychology and Selling your Home
Have you ever seen a product at a store and thought, “Whoa. That price is outrageously high. It’s just not worth it!” Conversely, you might have also reacted to another product with, “That’s awfully cheap. The quality must not be good.”Welcome to the psychology of pricing! According to research, people tend ...
Continue ReadingWhat You Need to Know About Canada’s Underused Housing Tax
In effect since January 1st, 2022, the UHT is an annual 1% federal tax on real estate owned by any non-resident, non-Canadian, and considered vacant or underused. In some situations, this also applies to Canadian owners. The Underused Housing Tax Act (UHT) requires individuals impacted by this tax to file an ...
Continue ReadingGovernment Programs for Home Buyers and Regulations for Property Owners
A home is usually the single largest investment that most people make in their lives. Achieving your dream can be made easier by taking advantage of various Government Programs for home buyers and property owners. Some of the programs are targeted to first-time buyers, while others apply more generally. Other ...
Continue ReadingPatent and Latent Defects in Real Estate
When you buy a property, you buy any latent defects. This is why it's important to properly inspect a property before making an offer to purchase. Patent Defects A patent defect is a defect that is obvious enough that it should be discovered during a reasonable inspection of the home. The legal ...
Continue ReadingEverything You Need to Know About Industrial Real Estate
What Is Industrial Real Estate? When most people think of real estate, they naturally think about the places where they spend their time: their homes, their offices, their favorite retail store, or their favorite restaurant/bar, but when people hear “industrial real estate,” they might picture giant, brick chimneys pumping out foul-smelling ...
Continue ReadingHow to Make your Home “Picture Perfect” for Viewings
Have you ever had a formal photo shoot? Perhaps you’ve had one for work or arranged one for your family. If so, chances are you dressed up and made yourself look your best. That’s the right mindset to be in when selling your home too. You want to make every room ...
Continue ReadingScam Alert: Fraudsters Are Targeting Real Estate Deposits Through Email
RECA is warning consumers and licensees about a recent scam where a fraudster intercepted legitimate real estate communication, which resulted in a buyer sending their deposit to a fraudulent email address. What Happened During an active real estate transaction, a fraudster gained access to the communication stream between a buyer’s licensee and ...
Continue Reading10 Things to Do Before You List Your Home for Sale
1-Know why you really want to go. Some reasons are obvious, such as the need to sell if your moving to another city or putting in an offer on a new home. Other needs may be less definite, such as outgrowing your space or concerns about cash flow. By working with ...
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