Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase of your life. It’s a time when you’ll want to get things right and not miss any important details. Use this list to make sure you are doing what you need to be doing to protect yourself and your family from costly surprises in the future.

A lot of sellers have the misconception that it’s a good idea to price their homes according to the listings they see of similar properties. But these sellers aren’t privy to the actual selling price of the property. With expectations that are higher than actual market value, they can end up…

There are many obvious luxuries in buying a condo: The security of being in a community environment, the total hands-off building maintenance, and perhaps an incredible high-rise view or great location in an enviable neighbourhood. But when buying a condo, there are also important factors to…

One of the most important steps in getting your home ready for sale is often the most overlooked. People can spend so much time and money on the kitchen and bathrooms, they forget about the exterior of the house.

One of the most important steps in getting your home ready for sale is often the most overlooked. People can spend so much time and money on the kitchen and bathrooms, they forget about the exterior of the house.

Selling a house is a tedious job. A quick sale means less stress: you don’t have to be on call to get your house ready for visit after visit. It also means you carry the cost of running and maintaining the house for a far shorter period of time. These days, if you want your home to sell quic…

Selling a house is a tedious job. A quick sale means less stress: you don’t have to be on call to get your house ready for visit after visit. It also means you carry the cost of running and maintaining the house for a far shorter period of time.

You know what they say in real estate: Location. Location. Location. It’s the most important factor in your decision to buy a home. Choosing the right neighbourhood has an impact on how much you’ll be able to walk and whether or not you have smooth access to public transportation. If you hav…

There are a growing number of “green” homes on the market. But what does that label actually mean? Over the years there have been organizations aiming to make their mark in the green homes sector by defining standards in sustainable design, sourcing, discarding of materials, and site usage.

There are a growing number of “green” homes on the market. But what does that label actually mean? Over the years there have been organizations aiming to make their mark in the green homes sector by defining standards in sustainable design, sourcing, discarding of materials, and site usage.

Any buyer looking for a property wants to know exactly what they are getting. Luckily, the law protects this interest. According to the real estate brokerage act, every property you buy in Quebec comes with legal warranty unless stated otherwise. This warranty is essentially a promise from t…

One of the most important steps in getting your home ready for sale is often the most overlooked. People can spend so much time and money on the kitchen and bathrooms, they forget about the exterior of the house.

Buying a condo is easy. The trick is to buy a unit that will hold its value when it comes time to sell again. Here is a handy list of characteristics to look for when making that initial purchase.

When it comes time to sell a property, you’ll have to fill out the ‘Declarations of the Seller of the Immovable’ (DS). It’s a mandatory form residential sellers must complete along with a brokerage contract in order to have their house listed on Centris.ca. It’s six pages long with questions…

More and more people are turning to Airbnb for rental income. Some are creating a full-time or part-time side-business while others use it as a way to cover housing or condo costs while away on vacation. The potential income can outweigh a traditional lease by double or even triple in a mont…

Lachine is one of the oldest pioneer villages in Canada. Rich in history and culture, it’s also rich in vintage real estate properties. You can find homes dating back to 1765. Its neighbourhoods serve as the divide between the West Island and downtown so it’s perfectly located to get to the …

Stress is one of the biggest issues that plagues people during the real estate buying and selling process. Problems with a house, irregularities with the certificate of location, money issues, fear of not finding the right home, not being sure where to start, the feeling of being crunched fo…

Buying a condo is a different process from buying a house. There is much more to consider and it’s imperative that you do your research. When you buy a condo, you are also buying into how the property is run and the management company. You’ll have to deal with the other owners and you should…

Here is a list of smart, environmental upgrades that will add value to your home and help save you some money. Before you start on any project, be sure to check for municipal, provincial, and/or federal grants.

Buying a condo is a different process from buying a house. There is much more to consider and it’s imperative that you do your research. When you buy a condo, you are also buying into how the property is run and the management company. You’ll have to deal with the other owners and you should…

Quebec’s population is aging and, these days, it’s likely our elders will live longer. Almost 20 per cent of Quebeckers were retirement age or older in 2016. That number will grow to more than a quarter of the population by 2036, according to the Quebec Institute of Statistics. Given this tr…

A lot of people think that they will save money if they buy a property without the help of a real estate broker. They think they’ll negotiate a better deal because they are saving the cost of fees.

When most of us think of buying our first home, we have a picture of it in our minds. It may have a traditional white picket fence or a modern black door. As much as visualization can be a great place to start, there’s much more to consider. Buying a home is probably the biggest investment y…

A lot of people enter the real estate market without understanding all of the costs involved in a deal: a building inspection, land transfer tax, notary costs, adjustment costs at the signing, insurance, immediate renovation costs…

Buying a new property can be an emotionally charged process. It’s important to do some preparation before you start looking. After all, don’t you want to make a good decision that will bring you happiness rather than heartache for years to come?

When doing renovations, people rarely think about long-term resale value. Most families just want a really nice place to live and they work to create their forever home. However, life can be unpredictable. So, while it is joyful to make a dream home, those dreams need to be balanced with an …

When doing renovations, people rarely think about long-term resale value. Most families just want a really nice place to live and they work to create their forever home. However, life can be unpredictable. So, while it is joyful to make a dream home, those dreams need to be balanced with an …

A lot of sellers don’t put enough emphasis on fixing up their homes when they put them on the market. Even sellers with recently renovated homes need to do this work. There is stiff competition and every detail is important to help you sell fast and for top dollar. So, if you want to sell yo…

When you decide to put your house up for sale, you can guarantee you’ll incur expenses before the sale. Here’s a list to help you plan. These might not all pertain to you, but you can bet at least some of them will:

There are so many people who want to make it rich in real estate. They've either read books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad or they’ve taken an inspiring course on making it rich quick. In the midst of all this excitement, people often don't realize the amount of work, time, and the resources involv…

When you make that first visit to a real estate broker, you will be asked: “Have you been to the bank?” or “Have you talked to a mortgage broker?” It’s surprising how many people reply defensively: “Why are you asking? I have the money!”

New real estate investors often think of repossessions as a way to get started in the business. A repossession happens when property owners can’t pay their mortgage. The bank takes over the property and sells it to recoup its money. The idea that an investor can make big money buying and sel…

Buying a condo is easy. The trick is to buy a unit that will hold its value when it comes time to sell again. Here is a handy list of characteristics to look for when making that initial purchase.

Buying a condo is easy. The trick is to buy a unit that will hold its value when it comes time to sell again. Here is a handy list of characteristics to look for when making that initial purchase.

Since last April, listings have been down by 13 to 25 per cent and sale volume and prices are up across the board. This means that in the Greater Montreal real estate area, we are in a seller’s market with a real lack of choice for buyers. For instance, in February 2017 on the West Island, t…