Buying a home is a big step in the right direction. However, if you’re buying a home in Alliston, you should follow the ten steps below to make sure you’re ready to buy the perfect home.

1. Get your money and credit situation together before you do anything else

A big part of buying a home in Alliston is being able to pay for it in the first place; unless you have a massive hoard of cash sitting around, you will need a mortgage.

In order to increase your chances of getting approved — and to get lower rates — you need to maximize your credit rating and show some stability for your personal finances (this means refraining from moving your money around too much).

2. Get a pre-approval before you shop

Knowing how much a lender will loan you in the first place will help you establish a concrete budget that will clearly define what homes you can afford.

3. Make sure that your property lines are clearly defined

You don’t want a dispute with your neighbors over ill-defined property lines, so make sure that you find out exactly where they are.

4. Understand that ‘timing the market’ does not work

The real estate market does not have ‘optimal shopping periods.’ That is a myth (you cannot anticipate when and how the market is going to change) so don’t bother waiting around for a specific time frame to shop.

5. Assess what you will have to pay in addition to your mortgage

HOA fees, condo fees and property taxes can blindside an unsuspecting homeowner. Make sure that you find out what these are and see if they will fit your monthly budget.

6. Don’t make an emotional purchase

It is easy to fall in love with a house for reasons that you cannot fully understand. Do not make the mistake of purchasing a home based on these feelings, because once that romanticized view fades, you will discover that the purchase wasn’t very practical.

7. Have a look around the neighborhood

When buying a home in Alliston, you aren’t just moving into a house. You are becoming a part of a community, so make sure that you will feel comfortable living in the area.

8. Get your home professionally inspected

A home that is cosmetically perfect can have some serious underlying issues; the only way to find out is to have it inspected by a professional.

9. Don’t go for more than what you really need

Many home buyers make the mistake of purchasing a home because it has a lot of square footage with plenty of extra amenities. However, if you are not using those amenities, you will regret spending the extra tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars they costed.

10. Make an offer based on the facts

An offer should be based on two factors: your budget and how much you think the house is worth. Do not let anything else influence your decision.

Buying a new home is an exciting, life changing experience. However, just like buying a used car, you need to take a closer look at the home before you make a purchase. Here are 10 of the most important things that you need to check before buying a home:

1. Make sure all windows work

Window replacements can be expensive. To make sure that you won’t have to worry about dealing with a window replacement at an inopportune time, make sure that they work before buying a new home.

2. Run the heating and cooling system

A broken heater or a cooling system is a big problem. As such, it is imperative that you make sure that both the heating and cooling systems work.

3. Look under the carpets

Carpets absorb a lot of moisture and they are prime locations to foster mold and mildew growth; mold can make a house unsafe to live in. You cannot always tell whether or not a carpet has suffered mold damage by looking at its surface, so be sure to lift it up and look underneath of it.

4. Check the walls for water damage

Water is the most destructive force that a home can encounter. When water invades parts of a home, it can do so much damage that entire walls will need to be replaced. As such, it is important that you keep an eye out for water stains and corrosion.

5. Open the cabinets

Mold and mildew love to hide inside of cabinets, so be sure to take a good look inside the home’s cabinets.

6. Look for large cracks

Extremely long or wide cracks could signal some serious structural problems. If you see cracks, have a qualified inspector take a look before purchasing the home.

7. Check the electrical panel

Damaged wires and missing connections not only signal electrical problems within a home, but they are also a fire hazard. That is why it is important for you to open the electrical panel and make sure that everything is okay.

8. Make sure that the plumbing works

If your plumbing doesn’t, then you could have a big, expensive problem on your hands. Make sure that your faucets are running and all of your toilets flush with no problem.

9. Inspect the home’s downpipes

You need to make sure that your storm drains work properly, because if they don’t, it could lead to flooding. Storm water soak wells, a critical part of a storm drain system, are very expensive to replace, so pay close attention to these.

1. Be on the lookout for sagging ceilings

A sagging ceiling could signal problems ranging from improperly installed insulation to major water damage. Make sure to look out for this before buying a new home.

Unique 2-Car Attached Singles in Full Bloom on Scott Drive!

Our Previn Court Homes Community is a growing family in progress. Completing our Phase 1 is the most exciting build at present. Our Footings have grown into Unparalleled Quality Foundation Walls this week!

Each week brings an exciting change of these Unique Attached Singles. Our Award Winning Oxford Design Model Home is one of our Revised plans for Scott Drive proudly named the Preston. Our existing neighbours across the street are quite anxious to see the renderings become a reality. It is nice to have the confidence of closing dates of early 2015. These new Unique Single Attached Designs boast all the extensive Unparalleled Quality Features of a Previn Court Home.

• BRICK & STONE
• 9’ Ceilings Main Floor / Rounded Corners
• 30/Lifetime Designer Shingles on Steeper Roof Lines
• 8’ Front Door with Choice of Designer Glass Inserts
• 8’ Steel Insulated Garage Doors / Maintenance Free Aluminum Exterior Railing/Posts
• 8’ x 8′  Patio Doors
•   
• From  Snow to Running Shoes we are springing the 2 minute walk to our residing Gibson Hills Trails.  Come visit us and explore all of our surrounding Amenities.  Imagine – Stress Free Living!

If you are moving to the Ontario area and are trying to choose between Beeton and Alliston, there are a number of things to consider. Both of these areas are wonderful places to live, but there are some factors that make one the better choice for buyers looking for new homes in Beeton. Here are some of the things that you should consider when browsing homes for sale in Beeton and Alliston.

The Price Point

One of the things to consider when buying a home are the prices of the area that you are considering. When it comes to these two areas of Ontario, it is easy to see why people choose Alliston over Beeton so often. Home prices is Alliston are consistently lower than that of Beeton. For the same type of home, you can expect to pay 25-35% less in Alliston, which comes out to be a significant amount of money.

Available Homes For Sale in Beeton and Alliston

Alliston not only has lower prices on homes on average, they also have more homes to choose from. A quick look at any real estate website for the area will show that the number of available homes in Alliston outnumber Beeton three to one. Since there are more houses to choose from in Alliston, the odds are much better of you finding your dream home, complete with all of the features that you want.

Alliston Has Better Schools

Alliston has a great educational system, with two Catholic elementary schools, the Holy Family and St. Paul’s schools, and then two public elementary schools, Ernest Cumberland Elementary and Alliston Union Public School. Alliston also has Banting Memorial High School, which is a public high school.

Better Shopping in Alliston

There are some great places to shop in Alliston, and anyone wanting to buy a home there will want to have great stores nearby. There are terrific department stores in Alliston, electronics stores, pharmacies, health and beauty shops and many shopping centers that have several stores close by as well as Alliston malls which make shopping a breeze.

When it comes to choosing a place to buy a new home, Alliston is the clear choice. There are more home choices in Alliston, and you’re going to pay less for the same home, and you’ll enjoy all of the amenities that Alliston offers like great schools and shopping besides. Alliston should be your choice for a new home rather than Beeton.

Home ownership is goal many people strive to achieve. Purchasing a house requires financial responsibility and emotionally maturity. However, many individuals may feel owning a home is out of reach for them do to the high cost of houses and uncertainty in the economy. But there are many avenues where a potential first-time buyer may find assistance in making what can be the most important purchase of their lives.

Save and Buy

The Canadian government operates the Home Buyer’s Plan. This program allow individuals to borrow a maximum of $25,000 from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) for a home purchase. If a husband and wife are making the purchase together, they both may borrow $25,000.

First-time buyers must meet certain qualifications to participate in the Home Buyer’s Plan.

• All parties involved in the purchase must not have lived in a self-owned home in the previous five years.
• The buyers must have a written contract to build a new home or purchase an existing structure at the time they apply for the program.
• The buyers must have the intention of using this particular home as their primary residence.

Buyers have 15 years to repay these funds to their RRSP. The repayment must begin the second year after the withdraw is made. If the total amount is not repaid with the allotted time frame, the remaining balance will be considered taxable. This taxable amount must be included on the following year’s income tax return.

Tax Assistance in Ontario

First-time home buyers in the province of Ontario may qualify for a refund of the land transfer tax. The maximum amount of this refund is $2000 and certain conditions must be met to receive these funds.

• The applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
• The applicant must not have owned a home or had financial interest in a home in any location throughout the world.
• This same rule applies to your spouse but only applies during the time you are legally married to each other.
• Buyers may apply for the land transfer tax refund at the time of the home purchase registration. They may also opt to apply for this refund within 18 month of the home registration date.

Other Canadian provinces have tax refund programs similar to the this money saving opportunity.

Another Tax Credit

The Home Buyers Tax Credit allows first-time buyers to deduct up to $5000 on their annual tax return. The percentage allowed is based on the lowest tax rate in a given year. To receive this tax credit,, certain criteria must be met.

• You or your spouse must have purchase a qualified home prior to January 27, 2009.
• You or your spouse must not have lived in a different home owned by by yourselves in the previous five years.
• These and other programs offered by the Canadian government can help many people realize their dream of home ownership.

Self-staging your home to attract buyers is not as hard or expensive as you may think. You don’t need special training to put in a bit of sweat and hard work to make your home inviting to prospective buyers. Sometimes it is actually harder for homeowners to stage their home due to emotional and sentimental issues than it is to spend the time and money to get it done. This could very well be a reason that professional stagers are hired. They are impartial to your belongings and sentimental items, they have no issues parting with something you have not touched in years but cannot seem to get rid of. Professional staging can be pricey and not fit in your budget, it is relatively inexpensive to DIY your staging.

Do these 5 things to make your home appealing to buyers

1. Add New

New paint, new switch covers, new lighting in levels (lamps, bulbs, feature lights), accents and accessories. The rooms should look fresh, clean, light, open. Replace old window dressings with sheers or light enhancing blinds that allow plenty of natural light in

2. Curb Appeal

Do not forget or shirk on the outside of the home. This is the first impression the buyers have of the home. Make it inviting, pretty and clean. Power wash the exterior of the home, the driveway, sidewalks, patios and decks. Tend the landscape: mow the lawn, trim bushes, add mulch for a very cheap finished look. Group potted plants near entrance in a trio if you have space. Ensure that the house numbers are clean and visible. Wash the front door or repaint it a bold color. Change or clean the door hardware. Wash outsides of windows if you did not power-wash.

3. Final Touches

Bring in fresh flowers or use branches in a tall vase in a corner. Bake cookies or boil cinnamon sticks before a showing. Use accent mirrors near lamps to make spaces look larger and to add to the lighting effects. Dimmer switches can also help set lighting moods.

4. Pack, remove, declutter, clean!

In the end you will remove or discard about 80-90% of your stuff. Buyers do not want to see anything personal, any clutter, any photographs, boxes of junk, packed closets, etc. If you have to rent a storage unit then do it. Take one room at a time: sort, discard, store, remove, rearrange. Think minimalist, basic furniture and a few nice pieces of art and knick-knacks. Clean and deodorize everything, deep clean, brighten up. Take down old window dressings, blinds, curtains.

5. Move Furniture

Remember minimalist. Pull the furniture away from the walls, create focal settings: reading area, writing table, relaxing/entertaining area. Living rooms should have as little furniture as possible, arranged in a cozy setting away from walls. If the room is large have distinct separate groupings. You want the rooms to look like an expensive hotel or model home. Nothing personal, no family photos that will distract buyers attention from seeing their own belongings in the space.

When it is time to move out, selling your home is not the only option. A great way to both retain your valuable property and gain a solid income from it is to transform it into an investment property.

Optimizing the potential money that you can earn from your new investment property, however, is not as simple as posting an ad on Craigslist. In order for this to work, you must treat your property like a new business; here is how you should approach such a business endeavor

1. Determine what additional investments you will have to make

There may have been several problems that you were willing to tolerate that a potential tenant will not. As such, you must audit your home for any issues that could be deal breakers. Major recurring plumbing issues, wall damage and roof leaks are just a few examples of things that you may need to take care of.

You will also need to determine whether or not you will be furnishing the property or not. Adding furnishings to an investment property can make it more attractive and allow you to increase the rent, but this requires you to tackle interior design (which is something that you might not want to deal with).

2. Start preparing for tax season as soon as you start

Investments such as the ones discussed above won’t hurt your wallet as much as you would think. Since every dime you put into your home-turned-investment-property was spent in the name of business, you can write most (if not all) of it off on your taxes. You can even write off the cost of loans.

To learn more, consult an accountant as you make investments in your property.

3. Consider hiring a property manager

Managing an investment property on your own can be extremely difficult, especially if you won’t be living nearby. A property management firm will make sure that everything runs smoothly, so that you can spend more time working, spending time with the family or expanding your investment property empire.

4. Actively search for red tape and hurdles

Government and HOA regulations may require you to take a very specific approach to start renting out your property. Be sure that you are aware of everything beforehand (your property manager should know about all major housing regulations in your area).

5. Get the price right

Now that your former home is ready to rent out, it is time to find your first tenant. Since this is a business endeavor, you will want to get as much money out of it as possible; likewise, you want to ask for a rate that will attract people.

A great way to determine the best rate for your property is to look at what similar properties are renting for. Be sure to account for square footage, location and amenities when making your determination.

Now that you know how to convert your home into an investment property, it’s time to take action. Feel free to contact us to learn more.

House hunting can be a challenging task – you need to find a home within your budgets, with the features you want, in a location that works for the needs of your entire family. We’ve put together this list of eight easy ways to get rid of the headache and start enjoying a new home in Alliston.

1) Start Using Apps

Yes, apps – those fun little programs for smartphones and tablets. Several creative groups have produced applications that can help you better understand what you really want from a house. As always, however, practice good downloading techniques and investigate any application before downloading to be sure it’s legitimate.

2) Make A List

And check it twice – write down everything you truly care about in a house, including details like location, number of guest rooms, number of bathrooms, and the presence (or lack) of a yard. However, you should be realistic when you’re making this list. The perfect home tends to be custom-built, because individual tastes can vary so widely. Don’t forget that you can modify the home after purchase – you don’t need an exact match, merely a home that’s close enough.

3) Get Preapproved

Don’t even start looking at houses until you know what type of house you can afford. A professional assessment from a licensed mortgage broker can help you figure out the best price range.

4) Consider Going Lower

You don’t need to spend the maximum amount of money your budget allows – imagine how much you could improve the interior if you spent $50,000 less on the house and put that money towards home improvement instead!

5) Get Comfortable

You’re probably going to look at several homes in one day while you’re house hunting, so dress for comfort instead of style. Wear good shoes, check the weather, and don’t be afraid to take a break if you need some time to wind down. If you’re touring a neighborhood in Alliston and examining multiple homes, you can also use the trip to examine the rest of the area and search for trails, parks, and other features that may interest you.

6) Use Your Checklist

The list you made with tip 2? Bring that along with you. Or, better yet, bring several copies, and check off the details of each house as you examine it. This will help you be sure that the home you settle on has as many of the features you want as possible.

7) Be Prepared to Make an Offer

If you find a home that truly matches what you want, then you should be ready to make an offer. Getting pre-approved (you did follow Tip #3, didn’t you?) can vastly simplify this process and ensure you can afford the offer you make.

8) Relax

Really! Buying a home is a life-altering event that will affect you literally every day for years to come, so don’t push yourself into a deal that won’t work for you. Take a few deep breaths, relax, and don’t rush too much.

Soldier Course  – A soldier course is a row of bricks all oriented in the same
direction which have been placed on their sides so that the long,
narrow side of the brick shows.
Soffit – The underside of an architectural structure such as an arch or
overhanging eaves.
String, Stringer – A timber or other support for cross members in floors or ceilings.
In stairs, the supporting member for stair treads, usually a notched
2 X 12 inch plank.
Subfloor – Plywood or particleboard placed over floor joists as a surface for
application of the finished floor.
Survey Pin-  Metal spikes driven into the ground to mark exactly where the
corners of a property are located.
Thermopane –  A “thermopane” or double-paned window has two panes of glass,
separated by a trapped air space. The trapped air acts as an
insulator, reducing heat loss through the glass.
Tie-Rod Hole – A hole that remains in the foundation once the form tie rods are
removed.
Transom –  A crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fan
light above it.
Tub Skirt – An upward or downward vertical extension of a bathroom fixture.
Weather Stripping – Rubber strips used around all exterior doors producing a
weatherproof seal.
Weeping Tile – A porous pipe used for underground drainage.

Arches –  A curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically
supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.
Bearing Wall – A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.
Breaker Panel –  The electrical box that distributes electric power entering the home
to each branch circuit (each plug and switch) and composed of
circuit breakers.
Brush Coating – A cement coating that is applied to the exterior surface of the
foundation wall for aesthetic purposes.
Caulking  – Sealant applied to the edges of windows, doorframes, and in
areas to create a waterproof seal.
Damper – Slats on a floor register or flap inside ductwork that can be moved
to allow airflow to be adjusted.
Downspouts – A pipe, usually of metal, for carrying rainwater down from the
roof’s horizontal gutters.
Eaves Trough –  Gutter on the bottom edge of roof to collect and convey rainwater
to the ground.
Fascia – Horizontal boards attached to rafter/truss ends at the eaves and
along gables. Roof drain gutters are attached to the fascia.
Flashing – Plastic or metal liner behind brickwork conducting water to the
outside of the wall.
Float Rod – Metal or plastic rod in toilet to which float is attached; it is
adjustable and used to regulate water levels in the tank.
Flush Ball  – Flush lever lifts this device on the toilet to allow water to flow from
the tank into the bowl.
Flush Ball Valve – This is an opening in which water flows from the toilet tank to the
bowl.

Keystone – A central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the whole together
G.F.I. Outlet – A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI, GFI) is an ultra sensitive
plug designed to shut off all electric current. Used in bathrooms,
kitchens, exterior waterproof outlets, garage outlets, and “wet
areas”. Has a small reset button on the plug.

Load-Bearing – This is a wall in the house that directly supports the rest of the
structure.
Low E Argon – Low-E argon windows are designed to minimize the effects of the
outside climate on the interior temperature. Between each pane of
glass, low-E argon windows contain argon gas, which is
considerably more effective at reflecting heat than regular air. This
means that unwanted heat is deterred from entering the home and
interior heat is prevented from leaving.
Muriatic Acid – Cleaning agent that can be purchased at most hardware stores.
Overflow Pipe – Tube in the toilet tank that sits upright to prevent the tank from
overflowing if the float rod is not adjusted properly.
Plastic Laminate – Plastic sheeting that is laminated to particleboard.
Quarter Round – A small trim molding that has the cross section of a quarter circle.
Re-pointing – Reapplying mortar between bricks.
Register – Plastic or metal grate connected to heating system, where warm
air is sent into a room.
Risers – Each of the vertical boards closing the spaces between the treads
of stairways.
Shakes – A wood roofing material, normally cedar or redwood, produced by
splitting a block of the wood along the grain line.

Joists – Main supporting wood structure that is beneath the sub-floor

Insulation R Rating – R Values and their metric equivalent, RSI values are a way of labeling the effectiveness of insulating materials.  The higher the R – Value or RSI, the more resistance the material has to the movement of heat. Insulation products that are sold in Canada are labeled with R or RSI values for new construction with different values for different applications.

Ice Dam – This is a build up of ice under your roof shingles at the eave causing shingles to lift.

Hose Bib – Exterior faucet

For a long time , you have been saving money and building up your credit so you can make one of the biggest purchases of your lifetime: you are going to buy a house. But before you start seriously pursuing any real estate, you need to hire a mortgage broker.

But why? Isn’t knowing what type of house you want to live in good enough? Absolutely not; here is why:

1. A mortgage broker will connect you with the perfect lender

Chances are that you don’t have enough cash available to buy your desired home outright. As such, you will need a home loan. There are countless lenders out there vying for your business. The problem is that they are all offering “the best deal you can get” so it can be difficult to discern which one you should be working with.

It is the job of a mortgage broker to make real estate deals work out to the benefit of all parties (especially you); they are also connected with plenty of lenders. This means that they will find the best financing solution out there to suit your needs.

2. A mortgage broker can help someone with bad credit

Having less than perfect credit doesn’t mean that it will be impossible for you to get a mortgage. However, most mortgage lenders won’t touch someone with bad credit. However, as we mentioned earlier, a mortgage broker is connected with every reputable lender in town, and they will know which lenders will offer good mortgage deals to people with low credit scores.

3. Mortgage brokers understand real estate lender jargon

Every real estate transaction includes enough legal and industry jargon to make your head spin. If you don’t have a thorough understanding of this lingo, then it can harm your ability to get a good deal — or even a loan.

Mortgage brokers understand exactly what lenders are saying and how to speak their language. They also know how to present information in way that increases your chances of getting approved for a good deal.

4. A mortgage broker will get you the best rate possible

Even if you have a perfect 850 FICO credit score, mortgage lenders are still going to try to get as much money as they can out of you. A mortgage broker, who only gets paid if a deal that they mediate is closed, will negotiate until the lender to offer you the lowest possible rate.

5. Lenders like working with people they already know

Like the old saying goes, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. The lenders themselves are more amicable towards lending money to a mortgage broker’s clients, as opposed to a faceless stranger who recently filled out an online application.

6. The best way to get a great mortgage deal is to work with a mortgage broker

A good mortgage broker will do everything in their power to get you a good mortgage for your new home — and they have the skills and connections to get the job done.