Kent Colquhoun
496 Albert Street, Suite 8 N2L 3W4 Waterloo, ON, Canada

Haha! Safer to enjoy this type of outdoors than the great outdoors as it will soon by blackfly and mosquito season

Right?! Crazy how supply and demand can really raise prices!

Anyone else feeling this right now? LOL

LOL! Can any of my real estate friends relate?

Oh no! These minor adjustments to make things fit don’t typically bode well for safety.

Welcome, Spring! This bright new season brings with it a sense of rejuvenation and motivation. You’ll likely undertake a spring cleaning of your home after it has been closed up all winter. But, did you know that it’s just as important to carry out a spring checkup on your mortgage? Contact me today for your complimentary review!

There are no words to fully describe what’s going on here! What happened?!

There are some common mortgage terms that are often used without being clearly explained. ‘Amortization’ is a good example. Your mortgage amortization is the total amount of time it will take you to pay off your entire mortgage loan. The maximum is 25 years if you’re making less than a 20% down payment and up to 30 years if you have at least a 20% down payment.

Problem? What problem?! We’ll just notch out a section of this support beam and tada!

Nearly 48% of Canadians aged 25 to 35 currently own their home, and a quarter of these homeowners purchased a property during the pandemic, says a recent demographic survey by Royal LePage. Thinking of buying? Let’s talk about your financing options, including first-time homebuyer incentives and rebates that may help get you into a home sooner.

Yikes! This underlines the importance of getting someone to check on your property periodically while you’re away

New-home buyers in Ontario received enhanced protection as of last month when the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) was introduced as the province’s new-home building industry regulator. HCRA is responsible for: Regulating and licensing new-home builders and vendors Enforcing professional standards ... Implementing a formal complaints process Investigating illegal building practices Maintaining a directory of Ontario builders and vendors Thinking of buying a newly constructed or custom built home? Let’s talk about your financing needs.

As household conversations evolve around where and how we want to live and even work, it’s only natural to ask if the market has already gone too far too fast and wonder if you’ve missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to find your forever home? No you haven’t missed the opportunity if you plan on buying and holding on to it for a reasonable period of time. Two driving factors are: low interest rates for longer; and a pandemic that has shone the spotlight more clearly on lifestyle decisions.

It turns out, size does matter. Or, rather, the misrepresentation of a home’s square footage, as a court ruled in favour of a first-time homebuyer in Stouffville, Ontario, after a seller and real estate agent failed to properly disclose the home’s size. An appraisal came in at 1,450 square feet, while the buyer has been told several figures ranging between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet. This discrepancy resulted in the rescission of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale and the return of the $50,000 deposit.

Can I use your washroom? Sure. It’s at the top of the stairs. You can’t miss it. LOL What’s the strangest bathroom you’ve ever seen?

I’m sure my real estate partners can relate. You never know when a camera is watching your reactions LOL But maybe they need to know what’s wrong so they can sell quicker. Yay or nay?

Even as Canadian policymakers ramp up COVID-19 restrictions, economists are becoming more optimistic about the country’s outlook. Strong fiscal support, the start of vaccinations and a growing pile of savings in consumers’ accounts have caused forecasters to revise their views of Canada’s recovery. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg this month see output expanding by an average 5.4% annualized in the final three quarters of 2021 much higher than the 3.8% forecast in November.

I’m sure my real estate partners agree! That’s why getting pre-approved for a mortgage is important. It will help you understand what you can comfortably afford to spend before even heading out home shopping.

EEK! That awkward moment you realize the homeowner’s image is on the shower curtain LOL

With more people spending time at home, renovations are high on the list for many households. I may be able to help you free up funds to finance these projects. Let’s chat. Here’s where to get the best value out of your renos.

The concept of virtual staging isn’t new, but it has seen a rise in popularity since the pandemic forced people to limit their in-person interactions. Virtual staging software allows real estate professionals to prep a property for sale from the safety of their own home. How do you feel about this option? If done well, does this help you make a decision about buying a property?

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in the ground and it’s the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. It’s found in every home in Canada, but testing is the only way to truly know if a home has dangerous levels. As Canadians continue to spend more time at home, now, more than ever, it’s important for buyers and sellers to test their homes for radon. People confined to their homes during the pandemic could be exposed to high radon levels.

DOH! Time to disassemble this kitchen and begin again!

Nothing mars a beautiful home interior more than mould. Its reputation carries with it more than just an unsightly appearance it can cause serious illness and, if left unchecked, can result in costly repairs. Here’s how to prevent mould and what to do if you find it in your home.

Three new COVID-19 financial aid programs are now available to eligible Canadians: 1) Canada Recovery Benefit Maximum 26 weeks 2) Canada Sickness Benefit Maximum two weeks for those in quarantine or self-isolation 3) Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit Maximum 26 weeks for those unable to work while caring for loved ones with COVID-19

A Yukon builder is opening what he calls a landscape hotel a set of small cabins nestled in a wooded area of Whitehorse. A small crew moved everything on their shoulders to build units in the elevated forest lot. What do you think? Would you stay here?

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

This goes out to my real estate partners. High five if you can relate LOL

Mortgage Professionals Canada released its second report in a series of four Rapidly Evolving Expectations in the Housing Market from Chief Economist Will Dunning, tracking shifts in Canadians’ expectations about the housing market. This second report continues to have four major sections that focus on consumer opinions and expectations: How COVID-19 has affected employment and income Impacts on expectations about homebuying... Attitudes and expectations on topics related to housing markets and mortgages Opinions about the mortgage deferral program The third and fourth reports will be released in late October and early December.

You know you’re in trouble when you’re not sure which professional to call in! But, the key here is professional.

When buying your first home, extra costs can often creep up. Between moving expenses, legal fees, inspections and taxes, purchasing a property involves a lot more than just saving for your down payment. Fortunately, there are five programs available to help first-timers save some money.

How many real estate pros feel like being THIS honest about a listing sometimes?! Cheers to all the hard work you spend preparing even the toughest listings for sale!

Home buying and selling has seen a head-snapping shift during the COVID-19 era, as both parties deal with the demands of physical distancing, virtual showings and previously unheard-of safety considerations. One thing that hasn’t changed is the competition: Most major Canadian markets are as buoyant as ever after a brief slump and in defiance of gloomy forecasts about the impact the pandemic could have on real estate activity. But the nuts and bolts of the process how buyers and sellers interact and how realtors work with both looks dramatically different than it did a few months ago.

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it LOL Just comment got it when you do

With as many as one in five homeowners deferring mortgage payments due to COVID-19, banks need to act now to avoid a crisis among borrowers in Canada, says a mortgage industry spokesperson. Paul Taylor, CEO of Mortgage Professionals Canada which represents more than 11,000 brokers, lenders and others in the mortgage business told the Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources last month that 16% of borrowers in Canada have applied for some sort of deferral program for their mortgages, deferring at least one payment since March.

Make sure that the home you’re buying isn’t a real estate flip gone wrong! Home inspections uncover a lot of deficiencies associated with people trying to make a quick buck through real estate.

Canada’s mortgage stress test level has fallen for the third time since the pandemic began now sitting at 4.79%. This offers homebuyers more buying power, and every bit helps. Have questions? Let’s chat.

There are just so many questions about what went wrong here?!