Canadian real estate insights

Responsibilities of House Owners

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:00:19 -0700

I'll never tire of using the famous saying from Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility," in everyday life. You can apply it to many areas of our lives simply because it's so truthful. When you look at politics and politicians, all the wars, arguments, corruption, and wasted lives and resources, this responsibility seems forgotten. But it doesn't mean that if we're not politicians, army commanders, corporate directors, and other bigwigs, we don't have a big responsibility. Let me give you a classic example of a great responsibility: being a parent. This is maybe the most important and common kind of serious responsibility that we have and that sadly many people don't take as seriously as they should.

Another hugely important and widespread responsibility is owning real estate. Owning a house is one thing, but keeping it in good shape is quite another. So to put it simply, it's a responsibility for your own well-being (and the well-being of your family). However, this doesn't mean that your duties start and end with cleaning your house from time to time. It may not look bad from outside, but without a proper home inspection from time to time (either by yourself or a hired professional), it won't be long until some sort of a problem appears and your home turns into a run-down spookhouse.

Not all problems are visible — especially when it comes to material fatigue, rusty pipes, and other problems with plumbing and leakage. Sometimes nothing may visibly leak through the material, but only into the material, rotting wooden joists and beams in your attic or basement. That's why you should always keep an eye out for your property and never underestimate the need for some roof and gutter maintenance. If you ignore these problems, they won't disappear. The damage will only grow as well as the repair costs. Plus, if you eventually decide you want to sell your residence, who would buy a house with several serious unresolved defects?

I don't want to scare you any further, but when I saw this nice infographic about house security and residential burglaries in Vancouver, I was simply astonished. Astonished by the human stupidity. If you take a look at the statistics provided in the article and infographic, you'll see that 60 per cent of all residential break-ins occur during daylight hours and 50 per cent of them occur through unlocked doors! Unlocked doors, seriously? Whenever I move to a new place, one of the first things I do is to change the locks, and I never choose a cheap option. And what's so bad about an alarm system that so many people are still refusing to have one installed? There are still some people who even like to keep a spare key under the doormat, on the door frame, or in another obvious place near the entrance. Or even worse, some folks don't even lock their home when they leave, just begging burglars to come in. These behaviours are beyond my comprehension. Just imagine yourself in this situation: you're taking care of your house, doing regular inspections, repairs if needed, keeping your home cozy, and then making that huge misstep by not taking house security seriously enough. It would be a waste, wouldn't it? Remember that alarms, security cameras, and other measures that let you sleep better are a lot cheaper than buying and repairing your stuff after a break-in.

April (not Only) in the Real Estate World

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:21:06 -0700

After a cold yet calm March, April has come on fiercely and brought with it many more changes than just warmer weather. In last few days, we've witnessed some grim events like the bombing at the Boston Marathon, the deadly Texas explosion disaster, and the death of prominent former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, known as "the Iron Lady," who shaped the world from 1979 to 1990. People in Great Britain and around the world are once again divided in their opinions on the latter. You could see newspapers with headlines "The Woman Who Saved Britain" and "The Woman Who Tore Britain Apart" next to each other in the newsstands.

Let's turn to Canada and our beloved real estate sector. If we look at the Toronto market report or at least at the all-encompassing and easily understood Vancouver housing market infographics, we'll see a bittersweet trend. On the one hand, the spring finally hit the real estate market, increasing the numbers of both new listings and sales of residential properties, with both coming into better balance. This stabilizes residential prices. On the other hand, home sales were still below typical March prices, with an 18 per cent decline compared to March 2012 in Vancouver and a 17 per cent fall in Toronto.

Looking at the specific numbers, there were 7,765 residential transactions in Toronto this March and 2,347 sales in Vancouver. Many real estate experts — ranging from the REBGV (Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver), the TREB (Toronto Real Estate Board), and the CEO of Royal LePage — agree and suggest that there are still many buyers on the market who are only postponing their transactions due to bad mortgage rates. Moreover, no further price falls are expected. Of course, we'll have to wait until next month to see if these suggestions prove true.

Food Trends of a Hasty Lifestyle

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:40:15 -0700

There's no doubt that working in the real estate industry is far from easy. Stressful situations abound, with ungrateful clients, withholding information regarding the state of a home, people breaking contracts, or the classic nightmare called the housing bubble. But don't worry, this article is not supposed to depress anyone (any further). Now, I am going to point out a very obvious thing: with an empty stomach, everything always looks bleaker than it really is. At least in my case. And everyone who's worked in the real estate business at least for a while knows how hard it sometimes is to get a minute to grab a bite — not to mention to have a properly scheduled breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I know that it's not only an issue of real estate professionals. In today's world, everything is moving faster than before, with people living hasty lives yet always arriving everywhere at the last possible minute. We are stuck in airports and traffic jams, or turning our home upside down to find our cell phone, wallet, or kid's textbook, and then we're running late to work or school without a single second to spare.

On the one hand, it's true that you don't need to ask a researcher to know that after a big, tasty meal you feel good, yet your productivity falls due your body focusing on digesting processes. On the other hand, without nutrients we wouldn't be able to work properly at all — especially not with our minds. One of the (partial) solutions to our ever-busy, hasty lifestyle is so-called brunch — a mixture between breakfast and lunch that substitutes both of these meals. I've discovered some really good brunch places in Vancouver, or to tell the truth, one of my friends showed me some good brunch places to eat at. It's a clever business solution, eaten around eleven o'clock, saving you the time you would need for breakfasts and a big lunch and satisfying your stomach.

Still, call me a conservative, but I think that everyone needs to eat a classic big, tasty meal (be it lunch or dinner, the choice is yours) at least twice a week. Not only because you need nutrients or because you just simply love these satisfying meals, but also because it's one of those occasions at which you can sit down with your family or friends and enjoy some good food while swapping news from the last few days. And even if you're a good cook, there is always a time when you want to eat out somewhere and try something new. Experimentation is a very important thing to keep our lives rich — food (especially) included!

Owners of one of the popular restaurants in Toronto came up with a very interesting idea: to make their whole menu consist of raw food and ingredients. I am not joking; they serve amazing and healthy dishes filled with vegetables, dishes, zucchini strip noodles, special desserts, and fresh juices they make on their own. A lovely way to broaden your horizons deliciously. One of the other contrasting options is to visit a contemporary or Indian restaurant, or if you choose this special Toronto restaurant, both in one. Have you ever felt that you would really love to enjoy Indian cuisine but that it is too spicy for you? I felt that way, but the combination of the traditional Western kitchen with Indian fare is one of the ways to both adapt and appreciate Indian cuisine.

And what is your tactic when it comes to calming your growling stomach and trying something new at the same time?

Spring Fever and Added Value

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 03:15:37 -0700

Even though winter doesn't want to release its grasp and the weather still fluctuates between cold and even colder, spring is subtly trying to say "I'm here!" It looks like we'll be having snow on Easter. We'll see if that affects real estate sales in any way. I hear you say that it won't have an effect. Probably not, but still, even the real estate market hibernates a bit through winter. If you look at February real estate market numbers, you'll see that there was a decline again. However, Toronto Real Estate Board president Ann Hannah reminded us that 2012 was a leap year and that a single day really matters. As this Toronto market results infographic shows, the year-over-year decrease is 15 per cent, but if we do a 28-day comparison, we get only a 10.5 per cent decline. A pretty big difference for a one day, isn't it?

Even if the weather won't affect sales directly, it surely affects our spring cleaning. Cleaning the interior of our home is no problem. In a cozy and familiar place, there is no problem making everything tiptop, but when I look through the window and see the bleak, windy weather, I'm pretty discouraged to go out and take care of spring garden works. Spring fever is taking its toll. To tell the truth, I would rather read a book or try one of these whisky bars and deal with the garden later, when the weather is more bearable. The guide to Toronto whisky bars made me realize how creative real estate agents can get. They offer not only MLS listings, but also cover unusual topics on many cultural events, establishments, and courses in their home city and even housework tips. I think it's a really great move, because by providing such unique content, you're adding value to your website, which could grant you not only better searches but also a longterm reader base. And when a reader needs to sell or buy a house, she already knows from reading your articles that you know your city by heart and that you can provide the services she needs in the best way possible. It's like having a favourite author in a magazine with whom you share opinions and preferences, so you know from his article whether you'd like a book or a movie he's reviewing.

No Home Is an Island

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:09:51 -0800

The famous poem Meditation XVII by English poet John Donne goes:

No man is an Island,
entire of itself,
every man is a piece of the Continent,
a part of the main…

Even Peter Gabriel adds his bit:

No man is an island,
no man is a sea…

And they’re both right! Every human being not only needs the company of others, but is also part of many complex relationships and communities, which could intertwine or overlap (family, friends, peers, lovers, social status, religion, subculture, sports affiliation, ethnicity, race, and so on). And we’re all affected by our surroundings. We’re sculpted and shaped not only by our family, friends, education, or work, but also by our neighbourhood and environment. And the same can be applied to our homes, whether we live in a house or a condo.

Sure, the place we live is a the most important, but it’s no island either. There are probably other homes surrounding it, or gardens, driveways, and streets — perhaps industrial buildings that let our home stand in their shadow or green forests with lush trees and bushes inviting us for a nice walk. Not to mention the social infrastructure you need for your everyday life — from functional public transit to shops, schools, hospital, recreational facilities, and so on. But how do we get a sense of these important features before buying or renting a new home? You can always visit the neighbourhood, but one or two visits is far from enough to experience and really get to understand a neighbourhood, its routines and inhabitants (don’t forget to include animals, especially if there’s a forest nearby). It’s a thankless task — especially if you’re choosing between several homes.

But luckily we live in the Internet age and can search for a lot of information easily. Some realtors provide a school catchments search, for example, but recently I’ve noticed a growing number of photo essays, and photo essays can say a lot about a city or a neighbourhood. Looking at Shaughnessy neighbourhood photos or Toronto winter parks photos can make you say, “I want to live here!” Even shots like these of Vancouver night lights can help you decide whether this gorgeous but hectic city is right for you.

These realtors know what they’re doing. Being able to promote your city and chosen neighbourhoods through photos of its landmarks and activities means you’re ahead of your competition by not only knowing what your city has to offer, but also by being able to bring it to life before your customers’ very eyes. You have to know how to show homebuyers that properties are no more solitary islands than clients themselves.

Healthy Food vs. Unhealthy Food vs. What We Like to Eat

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:11:45 -0800

I am not going to preach about what kind of food is healthy and what is unhealthy; there are many more competent to do so. The irony lies in the fact that they hardly ever come to the same conclusions, and even if one person claims that one food is healthy because of several well-written arguments, a few months later, someone else's results prove that it's exactly the opposite and the food is not healthy at all.

The best advice I can give is to take it easy and diversify your food as much as possible — and to eat in moderation. I know that "Everything in moderation" isn't groundbreaking, but it applies to eating habits more than anything else. I am very far from being vegan, but this vegan challenge book intrigued me. Not that I am eating no meat at all, but I realized that I eat very little meat lately. A bigger challenge for me would be limiting dairy products, because I basically can't imagine my everyday life without them. This change of eating habits is still worth a try though — even if just for a while to vary my everyday menu.

Speaking of which, if you don't have much time to cook by yourself to enrich your menu and you happen to be in Vancouver, a good way to experience vegan or vegetarian meals made with true finesse is by visiting by one of the top organic restaurants in Vancouver. And if for no apparent reason you need more than just a great meal, there are some pretty weird restaurants in Vancouver. It's hard for me to say if they are weird in a good or a bad way, but they surely are the most unusual restaurants in Vancouver I've ever heard of. Though I don't think I want to go to a special restaurant to be willingly insulted…

Even if vegan and vegetarians food may seem promising for our bodies, I can't deny that I love to eat buttery pancakes, saucy or crispy meat, a good cake with a milky topping, gelatin, or whipped cream on top. The Internet is full of recipes and ideas for many great desserts and meals from around the world, but learning the basics by yourself is usually the biggest step. If you are as avid a gourmet as I am, earning a new cooking trick or two ± or perhaps whole new baking technique — is never a bad idea. In my opinion one of the greatest cooking achievements is to look into your fridge or pantry and see a whole new recipe. Taking one of the popular cooking classes in Vancouver is the best way to achieve this culinary knack.

I don't think we can just throw food into good and bad categories — nothing is black and white in life. Changing our diet often can help us discover and enjoy many great tastes, and with moderation we can keep ourselves in shape — not to mention that forcing ourselves to eat something we simply don't like is not the answer. You only live once.

Analogy, Visualization and Real Estate Infographics

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:09:19 -0800

I've always wondered what are the best ways to introduce something new — not major things or life-changing information, but everyday things like new hobbies, activities, books, films, or items and skills that can help raise our effectiveness (or awareness in some cases) at work or at home. I've come to the conclusion that there are two proven methods to bestow knowledge or a feeling: analogy and visualization.

We can track analogy back to ancient Greece, where the famous philosopher Plato stated that analogy is the best way to explain something or argue for something. For Plato, analogy was a way to connect, to make understand by transferring information from a particular subject (the source) to another subject (the target) with a corresponding expression.

The second option is visualization. Of course, we can't visualize everything, and even if you illustrate something through words like an allegory, it's still likely that the other person won't understand. Every proper visualization has to provide a key for the recipient, so he or she can actually grasp it. For example, there are three helpful infographics regarding Toronto Real Estate December Market Results. Each Toronto realtor works with the same input data, but provides a slightly different output visualization. Which do you think is clearest? Why?

Myths About Used Furniture

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:24:55 -0800

It's funny how sometimes movies, books, and magazines adjust our perception — especially if it concerns something that we don't come in contact with very often, if at all. These myths can be both positive and negative, but usually they are the latter. I think this happens mainly because people need and want cliches so they can feel certain about things without experiencing and evaluating them by themselves. One thing is certain it's much easier. Cliches, however, like many other things, can easily become outdated — if it was ever even relevant at all. It's good to stress that cliches are typically exaggerations of a specific feature, situation, reaction, or a character trait. Ironically enough, they are almost never true until people follow their example (take a look at many film cliches considered romantic) or establish prejudiced views.

I must confess that until I saw this article about The Best Second Hand Furniture Stores in Toronto, I was really sceptical about used furniture. I bet you remember at least two movies or books where the main protagonists encounter old furniture that is simply an overused piece in a bad shape, or if it's a good-looking antique, then there is definitely a scene in which it falls apart. I know that this happens mainly in comedy, which we shouldn't take too seriously, but hasn't this affected your perception of used pieces? So, when I overcame this cliche prejudice, I realized that there is a wide variety of stylish furniture in great shape (sometimes even indistinguishable from new). Whether your preferred style is antique, vintage, mid-century modern, or contemporary, used furniture is really an inexpensive way of building a comfortable interior. If you're lucky, you might also find something that looks like a new designer piece, but it costs only a fraction of what you would pay for a new one.

The Advantages of Christmas Online Shopping

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:44:08 -0800

Christmas is definitely coming. Decorations are starting to go up pretty much everywhere, there are festive songs on the radio and there is no shortage of seasonal ads on TV. According to many, Christmas is ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but for me it is quite a stressful period. I still remember the nightmare of last year's last-minute Christmas shopping - the crowded malls, difficulty of finding free parking spaces, stress and frustration. Facing these kind of challenges made me believe that Internet shopping is the best way to enjoy a more peaceful holiday season.

To make a long story short, I am a firm believer that having Internet at our disposal makes everything simpler and more efficient. Do you need Christmas decorations? Just type "where to buy Christmas decorations" on the Google search form and you'll get exactly what you were looking for. Do you need gift ideas? Just type in "Christmas gift ideas" and you'll solve your gift seek problem in a minute. There's no need to go out in the cold, all you need to do is a few clicks on your mouse.

What's your experience with online shopping? Do you prefer shopping from comfort of your own home or do you enjoy fighting your way through crowds of pre-Christmas shoppers?

Charity Marketing

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:12:04 -0800

I am aware of the fact that many savvy small businesses are affiliating themselves with charities to market their businesses. It is true that people would rather associate themselves with businesses that donate money to worthy causes than any other company. Many people are firmly against this because they accuse these businessmen of "improving their brands, increasing sales and not being commited to their causes". However, are there at least some businesses that offer their influential support to the needy because of their personal beliefs?

I am a businessman myself and I have to admit that my donations make me more than happy. I think it's important to bring awareness to a cause you care about, no matter what your real intention.

All of this came to my mind when I saw Jamie Sarner's charity drive Help Those in Need With a Like on Twitter. He decided to donate $1 to the Daily Break Food Bank for every single interaction on his webiste or social networks. In return, he is giving away a new iPhone 5. I think it is a great idea because those people who need it most do not care if he gets a "Like" or a re-tweet. The important thing is that the charity will get much-needed $3,000 to buy food for hundreds of people.

What is your opinion on this topic? Do you think it is a good idea to improve your company's profile through a charitable donation?

Is hosting the big event really worth it?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 03:07:29 -0700

The Olympic Games are generally one of the most highly anticipated events that attract millions of people to the city, resulting in substantially higher number of visitors and huge profits. However, the fact is that there has never been an Olympic Games that has made a profit. At least according to Robert Barney, director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies at the University of Western Ontario. I have to admit that I love sports, however, I am not sure if organizing such a big event, constructing the athlete’s villages, the cost of advertising and everything else related to the games is really worth it. Yesterday I saw an interesting inforgraphic by Toronto Realtor Jamie Sarner comparing Olympic Games in Vancouver and Pan Am Games in Toronto that seems to prove me right. Do you think it is worth getting into $730 million of debt to host two weeks of competitions?

Low Inventory, High Demand

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 04:28:45 -0700

Anybody who is looking for a new home in today's market can easily get frustrated. Inventory is extraordinarily low, which makes multiple-bid situation quite common. Last week, a friend of mine told me he was totally depressed. The reason? Just when he found some interesting Toronto houses that he wanted to start "thinking about" he realized that by the time he got home to discuss it with his wife, there were multiple offers on those properties. At first, I did not believe that the situation would be so bad, but browsing the Internet proved me wrong. Toronto houses really are "goods in short supply". This fact combined with the latest mortgage rules makes it extremely difficult mainly for the first-time buyers as it’s now much more difficult for them to qualify for a mortgage. Even if they qualify, finding a house is just another problem. Isn't is a vicious circle? What do you think? Do you have similar experience?

Hiking in Canada

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:00:25 -0700

Autumn is the perfect time to fill up on energy for the long winter to come and Canadian mountains are the perfect place to do so. Just imagine fall foliage, crystal clear air, no bugs, no mosquitoes, only amazing views of the surrounding nature. I've always been a fan of hiking and I have to admit that some of my most enjoyable hikes have been autumn adventures. Just a few minutes ago I noticed an excellent Vancouver Grouse Grind Guide. I've already gone walking and hiking in so manyplaces, but there are still so many places I haven' been and this is one of them. According to Sebastian Albrecht's article/infographic, it is quite a challenging hike. Has anybody tried it or do you know any other good places to hike around Vancouver?

Real Estate Websites

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:20:06 -0700

The world of real estate is quite close me so it is no surprise that I am a frequent visitor to many real estate pages. To many people the term "real estate website" sounds boring, but the opposite is true. I have been noticing these sites lately and the fact is that they are no longer just collections of listings, their short descriptions and photos. Just take a look at Heather Hadden's ilovetoronto.com, which is a perfect example of a modern website with interesting content. Her blog is divided into several categories and offers very useful information for pretty much everyone. I totally loved a series of articles about rock climbing. I guess you wouldn't find a better guide to Toronto climbing centers anywhere else. I've always thought that The Rock Oasis Climbing Gym is no. 1 when it comes to climbing, but after reading Heather's reviews of Boulderz Center and True North I guess I will have to reassess my thoughts.

Handling difficult tenants

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:03:08 -0700

We've all heard about problems with tenants who refuse to pay rent or are consistently in arrears, the ones who cause damage to the property, or those who behave aggressively towards a landlord. The general rule when it comes to entrusting your investment property is: Always undertake your own personal background check of a person to whom you are about to let the property. If you underestimate this step, your life may soon turn into a nightmare. The worst part is that difficult tenants can cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you are new to property letting or only let one property. Toronto Realtor Heather Hadden wrote a very thorough article that any potential landlord should read to avoid the most common problems.

Sharing backyard in Toronto?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:44:24 -0700

Are you a landowner, who is tired of moving the grass on the lot every while and getting rid of the shrubs and trees which erupt from the soil in a pace you don't want to believe.

Or you are a gardening enthusiast who ended up with a 20 square meter of backyard, not able to plant more than a single tomato plant? Check this article about backyard sharing prepared by Toronto Realtor Julie Kinnear. Backyard sharing is a new and interesting initiative of connecting land owners and gardeners, which brings fruits to everyone - literally!

Do you know the jargon?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:07:48 -0700

Each profession has its own specific jargon. So does the real estate. I guess many readers already know every real-ated word, but thousands of newbies come to our business every month, often thrown into the environment not knowing what the old sharks are talking about.

Jay Banks of Vancouver Homes prepared nice article about the real estate jargon. If you do not understand the words your colleagues are using and are too proud to ask, maybe you should read it!

Want to buy home close to certain school?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 02:51:59 -0700

Familly matters, especially when buying a new home. We all want safe and healthy neighbourhood with quality infrastructure. Good school for our kids is often in the centre of our attention. But how to search in MLS for a home near a particular school? Sure you can look at the map and compare the distance, but that's pretty climsy, isn't it?

Luckily, for those of you living in Vancouver BC, Vancouver Realtor Sebastian Albrecht comes with a new feature on his site - Vancouver property search by by School Catchments. You can simply enter which school you prefer and his automated search function will find you all available properties in that school's catchment. Pretty neat, hm?

Value in flooring

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 14:37:53 -0700

Flooring type is often placed somewhere in the bottom of a mental value list potential buyers and sellers create, when they asses a certain property. And let's admit it, realtors often hardly mention flooring quality when marketing a property.

However, quality flooring does count. Godd flooring increases living quality in the home and lowers future maintenance costs. It's definitely not easy to rebuild flooring in all rooms and you are often stuck with what you have.

So when the time to change your flooring comes, it's clever to choose high quality hardwood flooring. This investment will add up value in your home for many years to come.

EU Summit: What are the implications?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:33:00 -0700

While economic troubles of Europe may seem distant and unimportant, the opposite is truth. Global financial system is tightly interconnected, and since European banking sector is several times bigger than in US, its collapse will have serious consequences for the world economy.

Real estate professionals should be in touch with the recent development in Europe. Toronto Realtor Jamie Sarner follows Implications of Last EU Summit for Canada in his recent article. Enjoy.

More single women buyers?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 05:03:51 -0700

Heather Hadden from IloveTornto.com came up with an interesting article. The 19th Annual RBC Homeownership Poll shows that there are more and more single women coming to the real estate market, something quite unusuall just a decade or two ago. Do you have the same feeling? Do you react to this buyer structure switch? Do you think it is reagional, or country-wide?

New opportunity? US citizens emigrating to Canada

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:44:06 -0700

While Canada has always been one of the world's top destinations for immigrants and our real estate market has been strongly influenced by it, there is a new trend emerging.

US citizens, tired of the dismal economic situation in their homecountry, are coming in rising numbers to Canada to settle down and seek jobs. This offers unusual opportunity to real estate professionals to serve this market segment. Vancouver real estate has been particularly attractive for foreign buyers. Local Realtor Sebastian Albrecht looks at the new phenomena of US buyers in his article about US immigration to Canada.

Where is the most ricky market in Canada?

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:15:43 -0700

Toronto real estate agent Julie Kinnear comes with a commentary about risk profile of Canadian cities, where the most risky markets are Toronto and Vancouver.

Julie collected opinions of several notable analysts and economists. While some of them are afraid of a bubble deflation, especially on the Toronto condo market, other group believes the dangers are mitigated by immigration and demography. This is especially the case of Toronto. When it comes to Vancouver, the situation is bit less stable, since the inflow of foreigners which fed the market with fresh demand has been dropping recently.

All analysts agree that the market is highly unpredicatble.

It's golfing time in Toronto

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:19:18 -0700

Golf is not just a sport, it is a social event, where you meet friends and do business. Being extremely popular in Canada, our cities boast hundreds of golf courses. The Eden of golfing is naturally in Toronto.

If the beautiful weather lures you out to play, but you are not very familiar with Toronto's golfing courses, local Realtor golf Elli Davis has a complex Toronto golf course guide for you, where you can find anything you need to spend some quality time on green.

New Vancouver real estate site!

Alec Kinnear (Canadian Real Estate Insights) — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:17:12 -0700

The busy real estate market in Vancouver, BC, inspired local realtor Sebastian Albrecht to open a new website dedicated to buyers and sellers in Vancouver area.

Calle simply YourVancouverRealEstate.ca, this site has larger ambitions than a standard real estate agent's web. One of the most special features is it's Which Area of Vancouver Should You Live In? quiz, which helps newcomers to locate their ideal neighbourhood in a playful way.

Beside being a top performing realtor, Sebastian is also a record holder of the Grouse Grind run, when he conquered the Grouse Gring 14 times in a single day!