For the average person, trying to anticipate what’s coming next in the real estate market is like trying to predict the weather in April. And deciding whether to invest in real estate in today’s market can be even more confusing. Our real estate experts share great advice on the risks and rewards of residential rental properties and what to watch for when making the leap to becoming a landlord. 

“Owning real estate is becoming very difficult for many people,” says Mitchell Raleigh from Engel & Völkers Oakville, “but savvy investors see the current market as an opportunity and are getting creative.”  And by creative, Mitchell means how they spend their money and what they do with the property. 

Types of Rentals

Today’s investors will need to consider what sort of rental unit they want to purchase and how they will make enough money each month to cover their mortgage and expenses. If they’re limited to a 20% down payment, they may need to think outside the box to create more cash flow. 

For example, a $1 million home today will require a $200,000 down payment with a monthly mortgage of approximately $5,100 at 6% interest over a 25-year amortization period. As an investor, consider whether you can create a basement apartment. Or if the home can be converted into a duplex or triplex. Factor in all your renovation costs while making your decision about a property.

“Look for areas where there are new developments,” advises Mitchell. “Some areas are up-and-coming, so get in now while prices are still reasonable. Put in the sweat equity and fix a place up. Can you renovate and add a second dwelling to maximize your ROI (return on investment)?” Mitchell stresses the importance of planning and doing your research. An investment property is a massive purchase requiring time, effort, and a long-term plan. 

Short-term rentals are still popular, depending on your location. In some municipalities, the bylaws state that a short-term rental is only legal in your primary residence. In other words, you are legally allowed to rent your home for a short period if you are away, or you can rent a room or separate unit like a basement suite. 

Risks to Consider

As much as a rental property can be quite lucrative, it does come with risks. Be sure to buy in an area you’re familiar with or spend time researching. 

Determine how available you will be for repairs and renter turnover. Short-term rentals require more frequent cleaning and maintenance, so you must decide whether to manage this yourself or hire a property management company. The first option costs time, while the second costs money. 

Buying without a long-term strategy can also create risks for the investor. “This is not a climate for flipping houses,” explains Mitchell. “You’re not going to see the return if you need to sell quickly. In this market, you need to plan for the long term.”  

Rewards to Explore

Housing prices are much lower than a year ago, and interest rates are predicted to drop, so the best time to buy is now. And with a variable mortgage, as rates go down, more cash flow becomes available. 

Rental properties provide a steady monthly cash flow and significant income in the long term. Rental income is taxable, but you can deduct rental expenses, mortgage interest, insurance, and maintenance costs. 

“While annual appreciation cannot be guaranteed, historically real estate appreciates over time and has created significant wealth for many Canadians,” Mitchell says. 

The prospect of buying rental property can seem daunting, so surrounding yourself with the right team is the key to success. Be sure to engage with a realtor and a mortgage broker who understand the rental market and discuss significant purchases with your financial advisor. 

All decisions come with a level of risk, but with risk comes great reward.

By Julie Achtermeier

Spring is a popular time for home sellers to put their properties on the market. The warmer weather, blooming flowers, and longer days make it an attractive season to showcase your home. But before you open your doors to potential buyers, it’s important to prepare your home for spring showings. Here are some tips to help you get your home ready for the spring market.

1 Declutter and Deep Clean: Before you list your home, take the time to declutter and deep clean. Clear out any unnecessary items, organize closets and cabinets, and deep clean every room. A clean and clutter-free home is more appealing to potential buyers.

2 Boost Your Curb Appeal: The first impression is crucial, so make sure your home’s exterior is in top shape. Clean the windows, power wash the siding, paint the front door, and add some potted plants or hanging baskets. A well-maintained exterior can entice buyers to take a closer look at your home.

3 Bring in the Light: Open up the curtains and blinds to let in natural light. Replace any burned-out light bulbs and consider adding some new light fixtures or lamps to brighten up dim areas. A well-lit home can make a big difference in how a buyer perceives the space.

4 Stage Your Home: Staging your home can help buyers visualize themselves living in the space. Remove personal items, such as family photos, and add some decorative touches like fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit. Arrange furniture to create a welcoming and functional space.

5 Make Necessary Repairs: Take care of any needed repairs before listing your home. Fix leaky faucets, replace cracked tiles, and repair any damaged walls or ceilings. A well-maintained home can be a selling point for buyers.

6 Highlight Spring Features: If your home has features that are particularly attractive in the spring, be sure to highlight them. A deck or patio for outdoor entertaining, a garden or flower beds, or a view of nearby parks or waterways can be a selling point for buyers. 

In conclusion, preparing your home for spring showings can help attract potential buyers and sell your home more quickly. By decluttering and deep cleaning, boosting curb appeal, bringing in light, staging your home, making necessary repairs, highlighting spring features, and providing a fresh scent, you can showcase your home in the best possible light. A little preparation can go a long way in making your home stand out in the competitive spring real estate market.

One of the most important aspects of owning a home is increasing its value. This not only helps you gain equity in your property, but it also makes your home more attractive to potential buyers if you decide to sell in the future. While there are many ways to boost the value of your home, some home improvement projects are more effective than others. Here we share the best home improvement projects for increased home value.

Kitchen Remodel: The kitchen is the heart of the home, and upgrading it is one of the most effective ways to boost home value. A kitchen remodel can include anything from updating cabinets and countertops to adding new appliances and fixtures. The key is to create a functional and modern space that will appeal to potential buyers.

Bathroom Remodel: Similar to the kitchen, a bathroom remodel can have a significant impact on your home’s value. Upgrading your bathroom with new fixtures, lighting, and tile can make the space more attractive and functional, which can lead to a higher resale value. 

Outdoor Living Space: Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular in recent years. Adding a patio, deck, or outdoor kitchen can create a space for entertaining guests and relaxing outside. This type of upgrade can increase your home’s value and appeal to potential buyers who prioritize outdoor living.

Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Making energy-efficient upgrades to your home can save you money on utilities and increase your home’s value. Installing a new HVAC system, upgrading insulation, or adding solar panels can make your home more efficient and eco-friendly. 

Curb Appeal: First impressions are crucial when it comes to selling a home, and curb appeal is one of the most important factors in creating a positive impression Upgrading your landscaping, adding a fresh coat of paint, or replacing an old front door can make your home more attractive and increase its value.

Whether you’re planning to sell your home soon or want to invest in your property for the long term, these upgrades can make your home more attractive functional, and valuable. Consider consulting with a real estate agent to help you plan and prioritize your home improvement projects to ensure you get the best

Bee populations across North America have declined for several years, causing experts to raise the alarm about the future of the world food supply. Whether it’s commercial honey bees or bumblebees in the wild, several environmental and weather factors are causing a concerning drop in populations. 

What’s happening to the bees?

In 2022, beekeepers in Kitchener, Ontario, reported a devastating loss to bee colonies due to a tiny parasite called the varroa mite. Last year’s early spring in Ontario meant the mites went through several reproductive cycles, feeding on the bees’ blood and protein reserves and spreading viruses throughout the colonies. Warmer winters and earlier spring seasons mean Varroa mites will continue to pose a real threat to commercial beekeepers. The University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre is testing natural methods to control the mites without harming the bees, but research is ongoing. 

Researchers at the University of Ottawa published a study in 2020 in the journal Science noting that bumblebee populations in North America and Europe have declined 46 and 17 percent, respectively, due to extreme temperature fluctuations. The research found that regions with the most drastic bee declines also experience worse heat waves and substantial variations in climate. 

Why are bees important to our ecosystem?

Colonized honey bees play a crucial role in Ontario’s agricultural sector, prompting Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to work with beekeepers to maintain the health and viability of honey bees. Research, education and outreach, along with inspection monitoring programs provided by government initiatives, can help address the commercial honey bee sector. 

Wild bees, on the other hand, are critical to maintaining natural habitats. Pollination creates plants that create food and shelter for wildlife, produce fuel and biomass, moderate temperature, and deliver oxygen. In Canada, bees are the most common pollinators, but we also rely heavily on butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, beetles, and hummingbirds. As homeowners, there’s much we can do around our homes to help protect wild bees, bumblebees, and other pollinating insects and birds. 

Create your bee-friendly (pollinator-friendly) garden

We can all help attract bees and other pollinating insects and birds to our gardens by following a few simple steps:

• Plant clumps of Ontario native flowering plants at different heights in your existing garden. Native plants are four times more likely to be visited by pollinators.

• Group single species of plants together, so collecting pollen or nectar is more efficient for pollinators. 

• If space is limited, plant a window box or container garden of pollinator-friendly herbs or use plants of varying heights, such as wildflowers, flowering vines, and potted shrubs. Oregano and thyme planted around potted shrubs or trees act as food for pollinators and provide shelter for bees.  

• Choose bright-coloured and fragrant flowers that bloom at different times from spring to fall, creating many opportunities for pollinators throughout the season. 

• Make a bee bath by filling a bowl with large rocks and shallow water.

• Eliminate the use of pesticides, including pollinator-friendly plants treated with systemic pesticides. Ask your local nursery if their plants are pesticide-free.

• Leave mulch-free space around your garden for ground-nesting bees.

• Build a bee hotel by filling a wooden box with dried hollow stems from old flower stalks or bamboo canes. Holes should vary in diameter between 2mm and 10mm. Place your bee hotel in a sunny spot (ideally morning sun) and take it down every autumn. Store it in a cool, dry location for the winter.

With some effort and research about native plants in our area, we can all help provide a healthier environment for bees and pollinators while enjoying a more colourful and exciting garden.

By Julie Achtermeier

Many first-time homebuyers have been forced to sit on the sidelines throughout the pandemic, unable to break into a market with record-high prices and outrageous bidding wars. To cool the overinflated market, the Bank of Canada raised interest rates in 2022, making it even harder for new buyers to afford the tighter stress test (they currently have to afford a rate increase of 2% or a mortgage rate of 5.45%, whichever is higher) and a higher-interest mortgage. But, as we learned during the pandemic, sometimes adversity requires a shift in mindset.  

Young adults today need to be equipped with $100,000 or more for a down payment for their first home, so we’re seeing a new trend of the young adult home buyer receiving financial assistance from parents or grandparents to make up the difference. Parents feel that home ownership is important and want to see their children enter the market, so they are using the equity in their homes to gift children the down payment as an early inheritance. 

Duncan Harvey from Berkshire Hathaway Home Services West Realty in Oakville says it’s unusual to see a young adult buying a home on their own today. “The approach to home ownership is very family oriented compared to a few years ago,” explains Duncan. “Parents and grandparents are active participants in  a young adult’s first home purchase. They are using family wealth or gifting an early inheritance to help with the down payment.” 

Many parents of first-time home buyers are tapping into the equity of the family home and using a line of credit to help with the down payment. “When down payments can be $120,000 or more, even two adults with good jobs are going to struggle to save that money.” Most collateral lines of credit are about half a point over the prime rate and are repayable on a flexible schedule, making it an excellent option for families. There are also options to re-mortgage the family home or take out a reverse mortgage.

Duncan also shares that some families are allowing their adult children to rent a portion of their house and are putting the rent into a savings account for a down payment in a few years. 

“The mindset with many older millennials has been that they could rent forever and maintain a nomad lifestyle, but that’s changing,” Duncan says. 

As rental prices continue to rise and the value of home ownership increases, more and more families are working together. In some cases, adult children have moved back home to save money, or parents have sold the family home and are buying a new home with living space for both parents and adult children. Homes with separate living quarters, specifically with a separate entrance, remain a hot commodity. 

And while generational wealth continues to be the go-to option for young adults, several incentive programs were recently implemented to help first-time home buyers. Federally, the government now allows you to withdraw up to $35,000 from your RRSP as part of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP). And the CMHC, in partnership with the Government of Canada, implemented the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, which allows you to save up to $40,000 tax free to buy your first home.

Provincially, the government has also recognized the importance of providing housing relief to encourage young people to stay in Ontario. We witnessed a significant exodus during the pandemic as Ontario became too expensive, and many people moved out of the province, taking their valuable working skills with them. First-time homebuyers will get a break from land transfer taxes and some builders also exempt first-time home buyers from development charges.

As with many facets of life in a post-pandemic 2023, we must shift our ideas and mindset to embrace new realities. Real estate is no different.

By Julie Achtermeier

Duncan Harvey

Branch Partner & Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services West Realty

905.510.5995

duncan@bhhsoakville.ca

Many first-time homebuyers have been forced to sit on the sidelines throughout the pandemic, unable to break into a market with record-high prices and outrageous bidding wars. To cool the overinflated market, the Bank of Canada raised interest rates in 2022, making it even harder for new buyers to afford the tighter stress test (they currently have to afford a rate increase of 2% or a mortgage rate of 5.45%, whichever is higher) and a higher-interest mortgage. But, as we learned during the pandemic, sometimes adversity requires a shift in mindset.  

Colette Cooper from Royal LePage State Realty reminds us that it’s all relative. “While mortgage rates may be higher, we pay that mortgage on less expensive homes,” says Colette. “That $1.2 million home last year is now listing at around $900,000, so the costs balance out. There’s no question the market has stabilized, and new opportunities are available to buyers.”

According to Reisha Dass from RE/MAX Real Estate Centre, parents and their children need to change their mindset about saving for the future. “We need to be conditioned to invest in our futures,” says Reisha. “Our kids can learn how to create a side hustle when they’re young and save a portion of their money in a joint account with their parents. As parents, we can set up automatic withdrawals from our baby bonuses or a portion of our pay cheques into a separate account to invest in real estate or tangible assets that will grow over time.” Reisha firmly believes that children need to learn about saving money sooner to be better prepared when they get to working age. And with down payments being so much larger now, starting earlier is essential.

“We have to teach our kids to think bigger,” explains Reisha. “A down payment feels like a lot, but our kids can do it if we change how we speak to them about money. Do the math, learn where to cut back, and set goals for saving.” 

Young adults today need to be equipped with $100,000 or more for a down payment for their first home, so we’re seeing a new trend of the young adult home buyer receiving financial assistance from parents or grandparents to make up the difference. Parents feel that home ownership is important and want to see their children enter the market, so they are using the equity in their homes to gift children the down payment as an early inheritance. 

In Colette’s experience, “we are seeing parents lending adult children, on average, $40,000 to $70,000 towards a down payment by tapping into the equity in their homes through a line of credit.” 

Most collateral lines of credit are about half a point over the prime rate and are repayable on a flexible schedule, making it an excellent option for families. “Some parents are delaying retirement to help their children, but most can move forward with their plans now that there are new incentive programs for first-time home buyers,” says Colette.  

Several incentive programs were recently implemented in co-operation with OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association), the provincial government, builders and banks to keep people buying homes in Ontario. Colette explains, “Ontario became so expensive that people were moving out of the province, and we were losing too many valuable workers. These new programs specifically help first-time homebuyers to buy homes.” 

First-time homebuyers will get a break from land transfer taxes and can withdraw up to $35,000 from their RRSPs as part of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP). Some builders exempt first-time home buyers from development charges, and the CMHC, in partnership with the Government of Canada, implemented the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive.

As with many facets of life in a post-pandemic 2023, we must shift our ideas and mindset to embrace new realities. Real estate is no different.

By Julie Achtermeier

Colette Cooper 

Broker

Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage

905.648.4451

colettecooper@royallepage.ca

Reisha Dass

Broker

RE/MAX Real Estate Centre, Brokerage

905.389.6734

info@reishadass.com

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the annual tradition of spring cleaning. While many people associate spring cleaning with deep-cleaning tasks like scrubbing floors and washing windows, there are many other tasks you can tackle to give your home a fresh start. Here are some tasks to help you get started with your spring cleaning early.

DECLUTTER

One of the most important tasks for spring cleaning is decluttering. Go through each room in your home and get rid of anything that you no longer need or use. This can include old clothes, books, and household items. Donating or selling items can be a great way to declutter while also helping others.

DEEP CLEAN CARPETS

Over time, carpets can become dirty and dingy. Spring is a great time to hire a professional carpet cleaner or rent a carpet cleaning machine to give your carpets a deep clean. This will not only make your home look better but will also improve indoor air quality by removing dirt, dust, and allergens.

DUST AND POLISH FURNITURE

Dusting and polishing furniture can make a significant difference in your home’s appearance. Use a microfiber cloth or a soft dusting tool to remove dust from surfaces, and then apply furniture polish to give your furniture a shine.

CLEAN AND ORGANIZE CLOSETS

Spring is an excellent time to clean out and organize your closets. Remove everything from the closet, and then sort items into keep, donate, and discard piles. Reorganize the remaining items to make the most of the closet space.

CHANGE AIR FILTERS

Changing the air filters in your home’s heating and cooling system can improve indoor air quality and increase the lifespan of your system. This is an easy and essential task that can be done in just a few minutes. 

In conclusion, there are many tasks you can tackle to start your spring cleaning early. Decluttering, deep cleaning carpets, cleaning window treatments, dusting and polishing furniture, organizing closets, and changing air filters are just a few examples. By starting early, you can make your spring cleaning more manageable and enjoy a clean and fresh home throughout the season.

Austin, TX – NewPoint Media Group is proud to announce its latest investment in the success of real estate agents across the country with the purchase of Indianapolis-based EZAdsPro and their revolutionary Advertising Platform. The transaction is intended to improve the experience of real estate agents who are capitalizing on the high touch, high tech experience offered by NewPoint’s capabilities including its respected publications, Homes & Land and The Real Estate Book.

“Our company is driven by our firm belief that the human touch provided by real estate agents will always be the fundamental element of the largest financial transaction most people will ever undertake: the sale or purchase of a home,” said Eric Loeffel, NewPoint Media Group Chairman and CEO. “While the proliferating real estate search platforms can play a role in people’s research, the challenging process of buying and selling a home will always need the presence of the trusted realty experts we live to support.”

Working from the foundation of its two flagship publications, NewPoint Media Group has been aggressively expanding its suite of digital marketing services to provide real estate agents and their clients a variety of dynamic pathways for their listings to be seen.

“The combination of our active franchisee network in more than 100 markets, their freedom to tailor the publications to their geography and our ability to deliver them by targeted direct mail is the epitome of the high touch approach residential real estate demands,” said Curtis Loeffel, NewPoint’s Vice President. “Add our ability to distribute their listings in high visibility digital locations like the Robb Report and the Wall Street Journal as well as our own high-volume site and you have a 360-degree solution for people in the business of buying and selling homes.”

The addition of EZAdsPro’s intuitive technology is intended to make life easier for NewPoint’s clients as they tailor the company’s array of products for their marketing needs. The company’s “drag & drop” interface reduces the complexity of digital publishing so agents can spend more time on the relationships that drive success.

“We’re delighted to join the NewPoint Media Group team,” said EZAdsPro Managing Director, Perry Rice. “Our blend of digital and print publishing tools are a perfect fit for their real estate agent-focused suite of services.”

NewPoint Media Group leadership’s ongoing pursuit of high-tech, high-touch solutions for real estate agents has been intensified by once-in-a-generation inflation, skyrocketing lending rates and decreased customer buying power.

“With a 50-year track record of supporting real estate agents, this investment sends a clear message that we’re in this for the long haul,” concluded Curtis Loeffel. “Our team is energized and newly equipped, ready to open new pathways that lead to more satisfying home sales with the help of the best real estate agents.”

ABOUT NEWPOINT MEDIA GROUP

NewPoint Media Group draws upon expertise in print, online, and mobile media to create targeted solutions that generate real results for real estate agents and their clients across the country. Known for publishing some of the most recognizable real estate publications across the U.S. and Canada, including Homes & Land and The Real Estate Book, the company combines print, web, mobile, social, direct mail, and email into fully integrated and customized plans that yield sterling results in the residential real estate market. Learn more at https://newpointmediagroup.com/.

It’s one of the hardest-working rooms in the house. The mudroom gets a lot of traffic but not a lot of respect. Why not give this workhorse space some TLC this winter and see how much more useful it becomes?

ADD STORAGE

Creating storage off the floor is a key way to keep the mudroom from becoming awash in shoes and boots. Since you need seating anyway, look for a bench with drawers or a cabinet on bun feet. Add a chaise chair cushion for comfort.

If you have small children, don’t overlook their height. Place hooks for coats and backpacks at their height and they’ll be more inclined to use them. Plus, you’ll get double the storage for coats, scarves and purses.

For even more storage, create a simple bench out of a flat piece of lumber and leave space underneath for shoes. Add a small piece of moulding across the front at the bottom to frame it out and keep shoes corralled neatly so they don’t spill out into the room.

BIN THERE, DONE THAT

Small items tossed willy-nilly can quickly clutter up a mudroom. Add a bin where you can toss magazines and letters when you come in the door. Mount a second bin on the wall to hold caps, earmuffs, gloves and mittens.

Another option is to install some shelving above the coat hooks, and then add bins atop the shelves. Still another choice is to add bins on the vertical. A stacking row of shelves can easily hold baskets or bins so you can get grab scarves, gloves and hats quickly and keep the items you use most often within easy reach.

MAKE IT PRETTY

Just because it’s strictly utilitarian doesn’t mean your mudroom has to be ugly. Add some bead board wainscotting to the walls, an attractive pendant light and a colourful rug to catch dirt and slush before it gets tracked into the house. A big bold poster can liven up the space, and make sure there’s plenty of lighting so you can find what you need easily.

Despite your best efforts, if the mud room remains chaotic and  unsightly, consider adding a sliding door on the outside of the wall to hide the mess.

MAKE IT USEFUL

A mudroom with a place for everything and everything in its place will help keep the whole family more organized. That’s why it’s important to think about the little things that will make your mud room really work. Make sure that in addition to places for coats and scarves, you also include spots to stash keys, sunglasses, umbrellas, baseball caps and other small gear. These simple touches can mean the difference between getting out the door fast and facing the day unprepared.

©2022 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

It’s a tough time to know what the right financial move is at the moment. Interest rates are increasing, while stocks are in bearish territory. It’s easy to forget that there are smart things that you can do right now regardless of the uncertainty.

1 Get rid of your high-interest debt.

Do you have any debt with an interest rate above 7% or more? (If you have credit-card debt, you likely do!) If so, pay it down first. Why? Well, odds are that any returns you make from investing will be less than the interest you pay on your debts, which sort of defeats the whole purpose.

2 Build an emergency fund.

OK, so you’ve paid off your high-interest debt. Time to invest, right? Almost. First, you should stash away three to six months of living expenses in a savings account or somewhere else low risk. That way, if you get laid off or your car has issues, you’ll have enough cash to ride things out without taking on any more high-interest debt. Which would put you back at step one.

3 Maximize your employer match.

At last! It’s time to invest! So, where to begin? If your employer matches your contributions to a Group Retirement Savings Plan (GRSP), start there. You can contribute as much as 18% of your income, and employers typically match 3–6%. For example: if you made $60K and your company matches 5% of your salary – your company will give you an extra $3,000 in income to put toward retirement. Not taking advantage of this is like refusing 5% of your salary.

4 Max out your tax-advantaged accounts.

The Canadian government, as an incentive to encourage us to save for retirement, offers two special investment accounts. An RRSP reduces your taxable income so that you pay less tax now, while also sheltering any income earned in the plan. A TFSA (Tax Free Savings Account) allows you to contribute an annual amount and any income earned in the plan is not subject to tax. If you invest outside these accounts, you’re voluntarily paying more taxes.

5 Pay down low-interest debts.

Once your TFSA and RRSP are maxed out, consider paying down your lower-interest debts, like a mortgage or student loans, since these debts still have interest that can negate your investment gains. It’s hard to be super prescriptive about whether this is the right move for you, because it depends on your debt situation, but definitely look at your interest rates and your investment expectations.

6 Invest in yourself or in your children

If you’ve reached step six, congratulations! Now you can think about what to do with the rest of your money. You can put some into a personal investment account, say. Or save for a new house. Or sock away money for your children’s college or university education.

Following these simple steps will help you save for a comfortable retirement irrespective of the short term economic volatility.