H.S.T. and Residential Real Estate There is much confusion over the applicability of the HST to residential purchase and sale transactions. This column will address this issue. On resale homes, the typical form of Agreement of Purchase and Sale requires the Seller and the Buyer to indicate whether HST is either included in the purchase price or in addition, if applicable. Normally, the sale of residential homes and condominiums are exempt from HST. The Seller will not have to collect... [read more]

My Real Estate Agent has offered me the choice of signing with them either as a client or as a customer. Which one should I choose?   Consumers sometimes use the terms “client” and “customer” interchangeably, but there’s a big difference between the two, and I’m glad you’re asking questions. If you’re relatively inexperienced in buying and selling properties and you want some expert guidance and advice, I strongly recommend signing... [read more]

Buying with an Agent When you’ve decided to buy a home, you might debate on whether or not to hire a specific real estate agent to help you in your search. What an agent can do for you If you don’t know what a buying agent can do for you, here are some key benefits to keep in mind: Full-time support The best houses often sell in a matter of hours—sometimes before they even hit the Realtor.ca system. You might have a busy schedule, but a full-time agent is always... [read more]

When you purchase a brand new condo and finally get the keys to your suite, many buyers are surprised to find out that their new home is not theirs yet. Although this is an exciting phase in the new home ownership process, it is actually not the “ownership” phase.  It’s called “interim occupancy” and it allows a builder to finish construction while also organizing an orderly move-in process for what could be hundreds of buyers. And with so many moving parts,... [read more]

Set Your Savings Goal Having a specific number to work toward will make saving easier. Think about the kind of home you’d like to own and neighbourhoods you’d like to live in, and do some research on prices. Engaging with a realtor at this point can help you get a good idea of what’s available and what the trends are in terms of prices. Once you have an idea of how much you want to spend on a home, you’ll need to decide how much of a down payment to aim for. The... [read more]