Property taxation is a major source of funding for the municipality, school boards and county, which require the funding to support their programs and deliver their services to the public. Depending on what kind of property you hold and what amenities it has, you could be paying substantially more or less than your neighbours.

If you are living in Toronto, unfortunately you are probably paying much more than you would be elsewhere. A multi-residential home in Toronto costs 1.7265482% in taxes. The same building in New Tecumseth costs 1.495112% in taxes. Now factor in a much smaller cost of land.

It goes on. If you’re a business owner, you pay 2.7665397% if you have a general commercial building. In New Tecumseth, you pay between 2.248089% (occupied) and 1.573663% (vacant) in taxes.  If you have industrial properties, you pay a flat 2.8273363% in taxes, but in New Tecumseth, it’s between 2.830112%(occupied) and 1.839572% (vacant).

A fraction of a percentage could equal the loss of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Flexible Payment Options

Right now, New Tecumseth allows you to pay property taxes in the following manner:

• In person at the Administration Centre, 10 Wellington Street East, Alliston; by cash, cheque or by INTERAC.
• Mailed to 10 Wellington Street East, Alliston, Ontario L9R 1A1 (cheques only)
• After hours payments may be deposited by cheque only through the slot on the south door of the Administrative Centre at 10 Wellington Street East, Alliston, Joint Operations Centre, 6558 8th Line, Beeton and at the Tottenham Community & Fitness Centre, 139 Queen Street North, Tottenham.
• Through telephone/internet banking, ABM’s (automated bank machines) and at the counter of most financial institutions, as long as the micro-encoded tax stub accompanies the payment.
• Payment through the internet.

Property Tax, with No Real Property

As well as having to pay a higher rate of taxes, your home will also be limited. If you’re living in Toronto, odds are good you don’t have your own backyard or place to entertain guests outside. In the depths of summer, it’s patio and barbeque weather, and a yard (either front or back) is ideal for having friends over. In winter, it’s ice rink and snowball weather, and having a yard gives you and your family the opportunity to do it yourself and avoid the lines.

Additionally, paying less taxes obviously will reduce costs, freeing up your finances for other things, like further improving your house or taking vacations.

Interested in Buying Property in Alliston?

Buying a home is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make in your life, which will impact how comfortable your family is both in the house and financially in the future.

At Previn Court Homes, we know this decision is an important one, and we strive to create beautiful homes that will provide long term value.  Since our inception over 35 years ago, we have constructed in excess of 1500 homes in Canada, and in the process made the dreams of 1500 families come true. Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

Every year, so many people are drawn to the lights, the sounds, the people of downtown Toronto. As the song says “Things will be great when you’re downtown!” Unfortunately, many people are getting a sharp wake-up call due to sudden and unexpected rent hikes and a high cost of living.

Downtown condo realtor Andrew la Fleur estimates condo rents in the core have jumped 10 to 15 per cent just in the last year. Although an estimated 32,000 new condo units have been built in the Toronto over the last five years, construction hasn’t been enough to keep up with demand. Tighter mortgage lending rules and high house prices have forced many would-be buyers to rent longer, which is leading to a shortage of strong rental properties.

Escape Toronto Traffic

There are also the other issues of city life, from nightmarish traffic to the risk of crime to pollution. Traffic jams are an increasingly large problem, and the TTC is struggling to meet the demands of the citizens. If you own a car, you have to pay extra for parking, on top of paying your already high rent. For too many, this is too much and they are forced to make very tough decisions. Many choose to stay, struggling with debt, but others opt-out, giving up on downtown living in favour of something less stressful.

Consider Alliston in Simcoe

So, is it time to move out and up? The town of Alliston in Simcoe county is just ninety minutes away from Toronto, and enjoys beautiful scenery, affordable property prices and lower property taxes, making it an ideal candidate for those working in Toronto who are looking for something stable and secure. There are two public elementary schools, two Catholic elementary schools and one high school, with two parks, several pools and numerous residential areas, so young families can rest assured that they will be well taken care of throughout the year.

Commonly called the “potato capital of Ontario,” Alliston can boast of thousands of acres of farmland and is now the home of Honda Canada manufacturing, with three major factories, and numerous other businesses are proud to call Alliston home. In the 2011 census, the town grew by 23%, more than 4 times the average in the county of Simcoe. Many of them commute to and from Toronto, to avoid the costs and stresses of everyday life there.

With Alliston, it’s possible to have your cake and eat it, working in downtown Toronto while living affordably with much more freedom than city life offers.

Are You Interested in Buying a Home in Alliston?

Are you tired of living in downtown Toronto? Are you considering buying a home in Alliston? We can help. With over 35 years of experience, we have built homes for over a thousand families, including detached, townhome, and unique attached single units, and we can help you find the perfect home for you.

Contact us to let us know your desired number of bathrooms and bedrooms, as well as your budget, and we’ll send you priority updates and special offers on our beautiful new homes.

 OUR SPECTACULAR 3RD PHASE 40′ LOTS HAVE ARRIVED!!!!          STUNNING BRICK AND STONE HOMES  2310 sf  – 3050sf FROM $459,900   IMAGINE…A COMMUNITY WHERE SCHOOLS, SHOPPING, RESTAURANTS, TRAILS…ARE ALL WITHIN STEPS FROM YOUR HOME. 

GET READY! OUR 3RD PHASE WILL BE COMING SHORTLY!  LARGER LOTS, LARGER HOMES. 40′ AND 50′ LOTS.  PRE REGISTER NOW FOR UPDATES.

IMAGINE…A TRULY UPSCALE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN WALK OR BIKE WITH YOUR FAMILY TO SCHOOLS, TRAILS, PARKS, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS…

If you’ve ever been looking for a new place to live, then you’ve no doubt had this question cross your mind:  To rent or to own?  It’s a loaded question and the opinions you get will be pretty divided.

The only way to really know what to do is to look at the pros and cons objectively.  Let’s examine the advantages of both options, as well as the challenges you may face.

Round 1:  Freedom

The question you need to ask yourself is how much freedom you want. When you’re renting, you’re at the mercy of your landlord.  Depending on the location and type of dwelling, you may face restrictions.  However, if you wanted to live somewhere new, moving out isn’t a complicated process – it just means waiting until the rental agreement has expired.

Naturally, buying puts you at the opposite end of the spectrum.  It’s your property and you can generally do as you please.  You won’t have to worry about someone constantly watching over you and you can make the space as unique as you’d like.  Of course, this means that you’ll want to consider the value you are adding to the home when making any adjustments.

Round 2:  Cost

If you’re made out of money, you really don’t need to worry about renting or buying.  For most of us, however, it’s a legitimate concern.  Renting can seem attractive because of the simple nature of forking over rent, whereas buying a home will be a bigger strain on your wallet and the process is much more complicated.

When comparing buying and renting, a great tool to employ is the price-to-rent ratio. It weighs the cost of purchasing a home with the annual cost of renting one.

To figure this out simply take the sale price of your home and divide it by the annual cost of renting. The resulting number is your price-rent ratio. A P/R ratio above 20 usually means that owning that house will cost you more than renting it monthly.

Round 3:  Investment

While you may feel like you’re saving by renting, you aren’t making an investment.  This is where buying has an edge.  Purchasing a home isn’t going to make you rich overnight, but since you own the property, it’s yours to sell in the future.  Any additions you make can raise the value, and as the market and your area change with time, so to does the resale value of your home.

Renting doesn’t offer the same benefits and the best you can hope for is rent staying the same.  This is the ideal scenario as many people who rent can attest to steadily increasing rates.

In the end, it’s all about what you need.  Buying may seem more costly but it’s a decision that can give you more long term freedom and stability, while renting suits those looking for a quick (and potentially temporary) accommodation.

Interested in Buying the Right Home for Needs?

If you’ve decided that buying a home is the right choice for you, the next step is finding a home that’s the right fit for you.  Buying a home is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make in your life, which will impact how comfortable your family is both in the house and financially in the future.

At Previn Court Homes, we know this decision is an important one, and we strive to create beautiful homes that will provide long term value.  Since our inception over 40 years ago, we have constructed in excess of 1500 homes in Canada, and in the process made the dreams of 1500 families come true. Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

If you’re on the verge of choosing one of the many new homes in Alliston or anywhere else you no doubt have people giving you tons of advice.  With so much unsolicited input, the right course of action is often a little muddled.

Here are a few examples of advice that you should totally disregard.

Don’t worry, I got this

We’ve all got that one friend, hookup or family member that can help us with any handiwork in a pinch.  The problem is relying on them versus an expert.

Of particular importance is the home inspection.  While it can be tempting to have someone you know and trust check things, a professional has experience on their side, focus and most of all, they’re impartial.

There’s another benefit to hiring for the inspection:  second opinions.  If you’re concerned, a second set of eyes may be able to catch something not found during the first pass.

The second expert most often forgotten is the one we hope we don’t have to see often:  a lawyer.

Lawyers are there for clarity’s sake.  In this case, you’ve got a complex agreement that has to be signed off on detailing all the conditions of the sale.  Sure, you could try, but a lawyer can make you actually understand it.

They’re also there to stand up for you.  Lawyers can represent your interests and make sure they’re recorded in an agreement.  Do you want to be responsible for a forgotten backyard leaking underground oil tank?  Get a lawyer on it and you won’t be.

Dollars and sense

The other thing that’s not surprisingly the cause of unwarranted advice is money.  Some people who survive the home buying experience suddenly think they’re Donald Trump and everyone else might as well work on Wall Street.  The thing is, a lot of what usually makes sense in terms of money doesn’t work that way when it comes to closing on a home.

Let’s talk financing for example.  It’s common for all the people offering you their two cents to say that you won’t have to:

• Spend your own money – There’s a misconception out there that you should just lean on credit, loans and a mortgage.  If you have the money though, why would you want to add a long-term expense and pay interest?
• Get a mortgage online – Go for a low rate they say.  Too bad hardly anyone qualifies for their super low rates, which often end up being a lure for new customers.
• 0 Down Mortgage – This doesn’t account for closing, maintenance, fees and any adjustments or repairs.

Get the right advice, right from the start

When you’re sitting there looking at the options for new homes in Alliston or wherever the search leads you, take people’s advice with a grain of salt.  If you go about it with a clear head and hire the experts to help, you won’t regret the investment later.

At Previn Court Homes, we know this decision is an important one, and we strive to create beautiful homes that will provide long term value.  Since our inception over 40 years ago, we have constructed in excess of 1500 homes in Canada, and in the process made the dreams of 1500 families come true.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

If you’re buying new homes in Alliston or elsewhere, you should know what to look for to make sure you’ve made the right choice.  Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

If you know what signs to look out for though, you won’t have any surprises once you’re settled.

Where the action happens

Out of all the rooms in your new home, the ones that should be scrutinized the most are where all the action happens.  No, it’s not the room you’re thinking of.  The rooms that see the most use in your home are the washroom and kitchen.  They’re also the ones that can rack up some pretty costly repair bills.

Let’s start with the kitchen.  It’s important to make sure your appliances are not only modern, but good.   Take the model names and do some research online.  Find out if anything comes with a warranty while you’re at it.  The more you know, the better off you’ll be.

The next thing you should do is follow the water.  Look at pipes and sinks and make sure there’s no leaking.  Then, look for any cracks or chipping in your tiles, tub, sink, stone and walls.  If they look like they’re in good shape, it’s time to talk maintenance.

Upkeep

Your house, even when it’s new, starts to wear down.  You don’t have to worry about this for years typically but if there’s a defect or damage, the process will be the same, if not worse than a used home.

The roof for instance, is definitely one place you can afford to be picky.  A bad or poorly set up roof can result in damage and leakage.  If you can, have a look and try to spot any abnormal shingles.

Besides the roof, you should have anything that controls climate or is key to the structure inspected.  This includes:

• Heater
• Air Conditioning
• Basement/Foundation
• Insulation

There are other potentially problematic areas you can inspect but another way you can protect yourself when buying new is in writing.

I hereby declare

Making sure your new digs are tip-top is definitely a good thing but you can’t neglect the little details.  One of the mistakes new homeowners often make is not understanding their agreements.  Have these legal documents looked over by legal professionals and you’ll be able to understand them clearly.

It pays off if your agreement gives a clean bill of health to aspects of your home that fall apart.  Now you’re covered.

Similarly, when inspecting your space, find an expert.  After that expert is through, find another one and get a second opinion.  Not only could you save money, you now have a more complete picture.

The key is to pause before signing off and settling in to your new property.  If you analyze everything and cover all the bases, you can rest easy knowing you made a safe investment, whether it’s homes for sale in Alliston or tucked away in a skyline.

Make the right choice, right away

Whether your buying new homes in Alliston or further out, keep your eyes open and make the decision that best suits your needs before your wants.

At Previn Court Homes, we know this decision is an important one, and we strive to create beautiful homes that will provide long term value.  Since our inception over 40 years ago, we have constructed in excess of 1500 homes in Canada, and in the process made the dreams of 1500 families come true.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

Buying new homes in Alliston and elsewhere can be tricky if it’s your first time.  Paralysis by analysis is common and for good reason – there are tons of details to keep track of.  Sometimes though, knowing the most common things people do wrong is enough to keep you on the right track.

1.  Being a know-it-all

One of the typical things people get wrong on their first purchase is trying to do too much.  Real estate websites are increasingly detailed and it’s easy to forget what realtors are for with so much at your fingertips.

Markets are complex and only an agent guiding you through it can reveal subtle nuances that may not be reflected on the online price.  Turning your back on experience only leaves room for error.

2.  Not looking closely

Ignoring your home inspection is inviting nasty surprises, period.  Homes can be filled with deficiencies, either because the home is old or because it was built incorrectly.  As time goes on, components give in to wear and tear, requiring expensive repairs.

One of the biggest benefits of buying a new home is that it saves on all the maintenance.  No matter what you do, don’t skip the inspection unless you’re okay with the eventual repair bill.

3.  Being too understanding

New homeowners don’t actually realize how important they are.  Being okay with say, a delay on your home, isn’t something you should do.  Since roughly 2006, critical home dates are now part of the contract and purchasing agreement for your home.

This means it’s not okay for builders to string you along.  Don’t forget that if you’re slammed with a delay notice you’re entitled to ask for compensation for the extension or even back out.

You don’t want to be one of the many people who waited forever on a developer with no intention of finishing on time.

4.   Dotting I’s, Crossing T’s

The contracts and agreements are the most important components of your new purchase.  Don’t just give them a read. Legal advice can save you in situations like this.

When it comes to a new home, the builders have the right to change anything including floor plans, additions, features and even keep the real square footage a mystery.  It’s important that you get everything, yes, everything, in writing.

A lawyer can confirm what you’re actually getting and help make sure the details are accounted for with no random variables kicking around.

5.  Getting emotional

Don’t let your emotions get the better of you.  If a place seems great but it’s way over budget, don’t put your financial future in jeopardy.  If you’re taking a tour of the house, don’t ruin the seller’s impression of you by complaining about what you see.

Make the right choice, right away

Whether your’re buying new homes in Alliston or further out, keep your eyes open and make the decision that best suits your needs before your wants.

At Previn Court Homes, we know this decision is an important one, and we strive to create beautiful homes that will provide long term value.  Since our inception over 40 years ago, we have constructed in excess of 1500 homes in Canada, and in the process made the dreams of 1500 families come true.

Take a tour of our incredible models, or contact us today for more to let us know your needs in terms of bathrooms, bedrooms and budget.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MORTGAGE RATES ARE EXTREMELY LOW.  BUYING A HOME IS MORE AFFORDABLE THAN EVER. BANK OF MONTREAL HAS A 3 YEAR FIXED MORTGAGE AT 2.14%. NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN YOU BUY A NEW PREVIN COURT HOME, BANK OF MONTREAL WILL GUARANTEE YOUR RATE FOR 18 MONTHS. NOW THAT’S PEACE OF MIND, KNOWING THAT THE RATES WON’T GO UP FOR THAT LONG OF TIME PERIOD, PLUS IF THE RATES GO DOWN WITHIN THE 18 MONTHS YOU WILL RECEIVE THE LOWER RATE. BMO WILL ALSO OFFER AN EVEN BETTER RATE WITH A QUICK 90 DAY CLOSING. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SWEET DEAL. CONTACT OUR MORTGAGE SPECIALISTS FOR FUTHER DETAILS.                                                                     

MICHAEL WOLLENBERG: TOLL FREE 1-800-316-1432, CELL 705-345-0073, E-MAIL Michael.wollenber@bmo.com

DONNA WISEMAN: 705-326-3731 CELL 705-345-0073 E-MAIL donna.wiseman@bmo.com                         

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