Julie Kinnear's Blog: All Categories

We're supposed to have a really cold snap in the next few days and you might be feeling drafts inside your snug home.  Here are some ways you can improve your home's energy efficiency and cut costs!

• Caulk, seal & weatherstrip your home to prevent heat loss
• Install a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature at different times of the day & night, automatically
• Replace or clean your furnace filter regularly to help the unit run more efficiently
• Keep your blinds & drapes open during the day to allow the sunlight to radiantly heat your home.  At night, close them to prevent heat from escaping

Are you tired of the same old dining & entertainment - looking for something culturally interesting and different to do?  Our friend & client Rosemary Leach is getting ready for Toronto Art Expo at the Metro Convention Centre, March 6th to 9th...and she's offering FREE tickets for the gala opening Thursday March 6!!  There will be 350 other artists there as well.

To check out Rosemary's work, please visit www.rosemaryleach.com  If you really love her work, Rosemary's offering you a chance to become a patron of the arts by helping to host a private show in your home and is offering one of her beautiful paintings in exchange!!  If you're interested in hosting a private show, please contact her through her website.  Your chance to roll with high society… Read Full Post

With thousands of Realtors in the Toronto area, selecting the right one to represent you in the sale of your home can be confusing, especially when each one seems so convincing. When it comes time to making one of the most important decisions in your life make sure you're not risking precious time and money. The key is knowing the right questions to ask when you are choosing a Realtor.

   1. Do your past clients and other contacts refer your services to their families and friends on a regular basis? What percentage of your business comes from repeat and referral sources?
   2. Can I get out of the listing agreement at any time if I am not happy with the service being provided? Without any penalties?
   3. Since 80-90% of all homes are sold by another…

There are three broad categories of home ownership: freehold, condominium and cooperative. I know that all my colleagues know exactly what these basic definitions are, but maybe you find it useful to have it all at one place.

Freehold Home:
Freehold homes offer the most privacy and freedom of choice of any other type of home. As owner of the entire structure and grounds, homeowners are free to decorate and renovate as they please. But with that freedom comes a lot of responsibility. All of the maintenance (indoors and out) is the sole responsibility of the owner, which can be costly in terms of both money and time. Freehold ownership is the most common type of home ownership.

Condominiums:
Condominiums are typically a less costly alternative…

Here's a small selling tip. It is important to determine what it may cost you to discharge your mortgage on selling, as there are a number of costs involved.

• Can you port your mortgage?
• What does "porting your mortgage" mean?
• What do buyers need to qualify to assume your financing?

For these answers to these questions, you can read the fine print on your mortgage and discuss your options with your banker, financial consultant or mortgage consultant.

Find your Property Assessement - assessed value of any property in Ontario on-line.

You can now find the assessed value of any property in Ontario on-line, if you know the municipal address or assessment roll number. Go to the Ontario Property Assessment Corporation website at…

And, finally, here are the last questions I was asked by my clients.

      If I just want to get in to see some houses, why do I need a Buyer Representative?
      A Buyer Representative does a lot more for you than just open up a house! In our consultative role, we listen carefully to your deepest needs & values so we will know how best to help you find the best property. We negotiate with your best interests in mind, acting as an intermediary between you and the seller & insulating you from costly mistakes. Finally we handle the (literally hundreds!) of transactional details so that you don't have to.

      Is a Buyer Representative's service free to me?
      Yes! The Buyer Representative is typically compensated by the listing agent for the…

This time I'll try to answer questions on bidding wars, conditional offer, closing time and more. As always, let me know if you have any suggestions on more frequently asked questions I could answer here.

Last time we began answering some of the frequently asked questions I receive from my clients. Here is the second helping.

• How does the new Toronto Land Transfer Tax affect me?

  This depends on your circumstances - for instance first time buyers will receive a rebate on the tax for purchases up to $400K. For others, the tax matches the existing provincial tax. Check out our comprehensive article for all the details on the Toronto Land Transfer tax

   

• How do I go about finding open houses?

  If you are a client of the Julie Kinnear Team, we will send you a comprehensive list of all the open houses happening in Toronto's desirable neighbourhoods every single weekend! If you're just browsing, feel…