Marion Goard, Sales Representative, Keller Williams Edge Realty, Brokerage

Many of you are aware that the Province of Ontario's COVID-19 State of Emergency measures are effective today (January 14). The real estate market continues to be an essential service, however, I wanted to take a second to outline the restrictions and how they will impact my wonderful clients. Masks will continue to be worn during all of my interactions with clients, both indoors and outdoors. Open houses are presently restricted. As such, virtual open houses will continu...ed to be offered as an option when necessary. I will continue to leverage virtual tools to the greatest extent possible with clients. In-person showings are still permitted, however are limited to two individuals only and their respective real estate representative. Property showings will continue to be scheduled in advance, PPE will continue to be worn, and my clients and myself will continue to diligently disinfect surfaces and hands before and after showings. If you're someone who has had renovations in your home begin before January 12, you are permitted to continue with them. However, those that have not begun their planned renovations before this date are not permitted to start. The Government of Ontario has not stated when the new measures will be lifted. While the entire real estate market is certainly working through some unique and challenging circumstances right now, I want to reinforce that your health and safety is incredibly important to me. I want to remind you that I have your best interests at heart and will remain committed to servicing you and your needs in the best way possible. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Well, if the last year has shown us anything about real estate, it's that the market is anything but predictable! That said, if I can give one piece of advice to anyone who's considering making a move in 2021, it's to get a head start on your goals NOW! I always encourage my clients to start thinking about their real estate plans in advance. Doing so allows us to put a plan into place now and address their questions ahead of time so that when the time comes, we can swiftly pu...t their plans into action. Here are two important tips to consider if you're thinking about buying and/or selling in 2021: Have a call with your real estate representative now. Truthfully, it's never "too early" to raise your questions, discuss your plans, and understand the process that's involved with buying or selling, and what may be required of you. If you're thinking about buying, now is a great time to communicate your needs, what's on your wish list for your future home, identify your requirements for your preferred neighbourhood, and more. Meet with a mortgage specialist in advance. Most buyers have no idea what they can afford and what type of mortgage they'll be approved for, which can make determining your search criteria difficult. When you connect with a mortgage broker or specialist, you'll get a better sense of your budget and may even be pre-approved for a mortgage in advance so that you can better understand your budget and the price range you can shop within when the time comes. As always, I am here to help and/or answer your real estate questions reach out any time!

Do you know what a Master Accredited Senior Agent (M-ASA) is? The primary goal of a M-ASA is to assist seniors in coming to the best decision for their circumstances, which may or may not involve the sale of their home. Among many things, we believe that seniors and their families have the right to: The highest standards of professional service from a realtor... Work with a professional whose mandate is to help them come to the best decision for them, even if it means the senior stays in their own home Work with a professional who will take the stress, guilt and anxiety out of the decision Work with highly trained, experienced realtors who understand the challenges that seniors and their families are going through With over 60,000 realtors in Southern Ontario, I am 1 of only ~30 Master Accredited Senior Agents focusing on senior transitions. With my training and expertise, I have access to a full complement of resources, an extensive network of exceptional specialists and who can present seniors and their families with solutions. Interested in learning how I might be able to assist yourself, or an elderly loved one, with their next move? Never hesitate to reach out I'm happy to answer any of your questions.

There’s no question about it the pandemic has shifted the real estate market in some hugely historical ways. One thing in particular is the drastic change in home buyers’ preference needs as they adapt to new conditions. More and more home buyers are looking for properties that can accommodate at-home work, virtual school, exercise, and more entertainment options. Market activity is also showing that home owners in busy metropolitan cities are also flocking to the suburbs ...not only for more property, but also as a result of the technological advances that are allowing people to work remotely a new trend that may actually stick-around after the pandemic. So, if you’re thinking of selling in the not-so-distant future and if you've got an under-utilized room in your home, consider turning it into an office, home gym, school room, or a multi-purpose room to meet current home buyer needs and attract better offers on your home.

I’d like to extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy, joyous, and healthy holiday. Regardless of how you plan to celebrate the holidays this year, I hope it's filled with warmth, joy, peace, good health, and happiness. There's no question this year was a challenging, difficult one for many of us. And, I'm sure your holiday traditions this year have been implicated as a result. Not being able to see all of our loved ones as we would under "normal" condi...tions will certainly be hard on all of us. I do hope you still find ways to make it memorable and meaningful in spite of this. I am hopeful for a better, brighter, happier, and healthier 2021, and I not only wish you a wonderful New Year, but I look forward to seeing you in 2021. Happy holidays to you and yours!

It’s not a topic people want to really think about, but it’s an inevitability we all will face. Setting up your death dossier a file of documents your heirs will need following your death can prevent frustration and financial pain. While there are about 30 important documents to have prepared and organized in your death dossier, there are three essential documents that your heirs will need to access immediately after your death: updated wills and codicils, trust documents..., and powers of attorney. Swipe through the images in this post to learn more about what each of these documents typically contain and what purpose they each serve. As a Master Accredited Senior Agent and Senior Real Estate Specialist, I specialize in helping seniors and their families through every stage of the decision process surrounding a potential move. Whether you or a loved one are downsizing, moving to a retirement home, or want to explore your options, please feel free to contact me I am always ready to answer your questions.

In a typical year, spring is when home sales spike in Canada. This might be the best time to take advantage of the price increase predicted by the Canadian Real Estate Association, which forecasts the national average price ito rise by 9.1% in 2021 to $620,400. But sales price isn't the only thing to consider when you're planning the best time to sell your home. You might not be ready to sell your home yet because you don't want to uproot your kids during ...the school year, or because you need to tackle some minor upgrades before placing your home on the market. What does this mean? It means that there really is no one month or season that marks the perfect time to sell your home. Instead, the right timeline for you takes into account factors such as when you'll earn the highest profit, personal convenience, and whether your home is even ready to put on the market. If selling your home is one of your goals for 2021, don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected] I am here to answer any questions you have about the process. See more

We've certainly been experiencing some crisp, cold, wintery weather here in Burlington these past few weeks, and with more lockdowns, we may be looking for even more unique ways to stay healthy and active over the coming weeks. Some of you may have already invested in some home gym equipment or resistance bands, or might even be partaking in remote online yoga or fitness classes. Times are most definitely a little different these days. What are you doing to stay healthy indoo...rs? If you know of any local organizations and businesses in Burlington or Hamilton that are making physical activity more accessible, please share them below in the comments.

I’ll be there! Will you?

The start of a new year always compels people to take a fresh look at their goals, from health and career to relationships and finance. And now, with historically low mortgage rates, increased home sales and price growth, and a tight housing inventory, the time is right to also make some home ownership resolutions for 2021. Swipe to learn about 3 simple resolutions that home owners (or aspiring home owners) can consider for 2021! ... Do you, as a home owner (or home owner to-be) have any goals for 2021? See more

Most of us know that we're currently experiencing record-low mortgage rates. In fact, the average five-year fixed rate fell to a record low of 1.99% back in September, down 3.04% at the end of 2019 and 3.75% at the end of 2018. Thanks to these rates, buyers are afforded the opportunity to buy much more home than they could before. And, the good news is that interest rates aren’t expected to rise anytime soon and may hover at these record lows for the next foreseeable few ye...ars. For current homeowners, if you’re locked into a higher fixed-rate mortgage for the next several years, you’re probably wondering if it’s a good idea to refinance. With those additional funds, you could even choose to invest in a second home in a new desirable location. If you’re considering refinancing and have some questions, reach out anytime. I am happy to connect you with a reliable trusted mortgage professional to help address your questions!

Reverse mortgages: a unique financial tool that allows seniors to access the equity already in their home to supplement their income in retirementtax and payment free. Reverse mortgages allow seniors over the age of 55 to receive up to 55% of the current value of their home in either a lump sum or regular payments, but without the burden of monthly mortgage payments. Unlike a line of credit or home equity loan, reverse mortgages have flexible repayment ...options and are typically repaid when the homeowner sells the home, moves out, or passes away. This means that they don’t need to make any payments on the reverse mortgage until the loan is due. They will, however, owe more interest on a reverse mortgage the longer they go without making payments, so at the end of the loan term, it may mean having less equity in the home. The greatest benefit of a reverse mortgage is that it allows seniors to maintain their financial independence and give them more flexibility to help with regular bills, cover healthcare expenses, pay for home repairs or improvements, and repay debts. Canadian seniors have been withdrawing reverse mortgages at a brisk pace over the last several months. In fact, the outstanding balance of reverse mortgages debt reached $4.42 billion back in October up $52 million from the month before that. While the annual growth of reverse mortgages is lower than it has been over the last few years, it’s still huge. Are you, or an elderly loved one, looking for a unique way to unlock some of the equity in your home and have some questions about whether or not a reverse mortgage might be the right option? Feel free to reach out I’d be happy to connect you with a trusted and reliable mortgage specialist in my network. See more