Agent Blogs

Mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that pays the balance of your mortgage to the lending institution if you, the person listed on the mortgage, passes away.  Insurance from lenders usually covers the exact amount of your mortgage.  Your coverage decreases as the mortgage is paid... [ more ]

Once you own a home constant maintenance is needed to keep your home and investment in good condition and often helps you avoid more the costly crisis management approch to home maintainence and repairs. Spring is the perfect time to moniter and clean and routine maintenance in and around the... [ more ]

Sorry to bring the bad news but if you are a commissioned sales person or self employed for more than 3 years...the time of reckoning is upon us!!!  For those of us in the above category, we now need to prove our income and do an averaging process to qualify for mortgages the same as if... [ more ]

the changes announced today REGARDING MORTGAGES will be effective April 19th 2010 and are as follows. for refinancing....the maximum withdrawal to become 90% from 95% for investment buying purposes: the downpayment will now be 20% ONLY IF YOU ARE INVESTING...NOT FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS for... [ more ]

RED DAY   RENEW-  ENERGIZE- DONATE Make a difference in your city This will be Keller Williams Second Annual Red Day Event  - where all our agents and support staff will be in our various communities across North America supporting a variety of people and organizations .... [ more ]

Reproduced from the OREB board Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,499 residential properties in March through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,161 in March 2009, an increase of 29.1 per cent. Of those sales, 327 were in the condominium property... [ more ]

Flat Fee Real Estate in Ottawa I have to admit I am getting a little annoyed at all the negative press we as an industry have been getting in the news turn on the  TV, radio or open  print media …and realtors are blood sucking scum who sit around doing nothing and collect... [ more ]

Hi Sam, Thank you for your question. The answer to your question is yes, BUT there are installation requirements and you may or may not need to have a permit prior to the installation of such system. It depends on the type of system installed. Any installation of a solar hot water system in... [ more ]

  In the ten years I have been helping my clients buy and sell their homes in Ottawa area I have been through the full spectrum of Buyers markets and Seller markets. The house buying/selling process can be an emotional roller coaster for many people. The added stress of a market that... [ more ]

We make a lot of garbage in this province, nearly nine million tonnes per year. That's about one tonne per person every year. Imagine that in your backyard. YIKES !!!! When my clients are getting their homes ready for market they always end up with items they no longer want or need. I think... [ more ]

Currently in Ottawa we are experiencing a Sellers market. I don’t like this type of market. There should not be winners and losers in real estate and there are always one or more buyers who end up very sad and discouraged. Buyers are competing for homes and removing conditions like... [ more ]

I recently took a course with Genworth Finical one of theideas the instructor presented that has stayed with me she said, “The Best Birthday Present You Should Give Yourself Is To Check Your Credit Report – With Equifax Canada Or Transunion Canada Credit Bureau.” EVERY YEAR... [ more ]

  by Malcolm Morrison, THE CANADIAN PRESS February 25th,2010 TORONTO - Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make and if you're like the vast majority of Canadians, you used a lot of borrowed money to experience the joys of home ownership. Because you have... [ more ]

Rubble foundation is a type of foundation that uses loose stone or rubble masonry (rough unfinished stones). It has been used for thousands of years and it is considered a more environmentally friendly than the typical concrete footings/foundation commonly used today. Less concrete is used in... [ more ]

If you have never checked out the Appraisal Institute of Canada   RENOVA and you are thinking of doing some renovations - GO TO THIS SITE http://component.aicanada.ca/e/resourcecenter_renova_all.cfm  Created by the Appraisal Institute ,this interactive site is designed... [ more ]