1 Year Old 2 Story Home for Sale Close To Downtown London Ontario - 10/31/09 09:54 AM
Contemporary 2 story perfect for any family in a new subdivision named Carling Village and located at 165 McMahen Street in London Ontario and listed for $268,814.
Hardwood on the entire main floor, upgraded underpad throughout, electric fireplace in livingroom. Fully finished lower level with 3pc bath.
Upgraded handrailings baseboards and casings. Oversized master bedroom with double sink in ensuite, his and hers closets, and vaulted ceiling. Appliances included Fridge Stove and diswasher. Bonus Cold Cellar in basement not often seen in new homes.
Ideal location close to downtown, and steps away from Loblaws and Carling Heights Optimist Centre. Builders Warranty … (4 comments)

This Brokerage Has 750 Listings…..So they must be the best! (Part 1) - 10/31/09 09:02 AM
I too get asked all the time about the Brokerage Size and as a small independent brokerage, how are you going to market my home? As this article states, look at the individual, not the company.
NOT ALL REALTORS* ARE THE SAME! I can prove it .
Ty
Via Ruthmarie Hicks (Keller Williams Realty):
Does size really matter?  Do the number of listings or the size of the brokerage have anything to do with the ability of the agent to market and sell a home successfully? Is it the brokerage or the agent that is the determining factor?
What Does the Brokerage Bring to … (4 comments)

Common Law Marriages and the Ontario Family Law Act - 10/30/09 11:57 AM
I get asked daily about Common Law Marriages and the effect it has on home ownership. This article by Brian should help clear some of the cobwebs, I hope!
Via Brian Madigan LL.B. (Royal LePage Innovators Realty):
Common Law Marriages and the Ontario Family Law Act  
By Brian Madigan LL.B.True common law marriages are just like every other marriage. However, they are very rare.Oddly, the expression "to live common law" refers to a marriage of presumption in England. If two people (definitely opposite sex at the time) lived together continuously for a period of 7 years, it was then assumed that they … (0 comments)

OPEN HOUSE IN LONDON ONTARIO OF A BANK SALE IN HAZELDEN NORTH - 10/30/09 10:21 AM
OPEN HOUSE IN LONDON ONTARIO OF A BANK SALE IN HAZELDEN NORTH
                          2 Story, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, finished basement, pool, double car garage all for $412,900!
Open Saturday October 31 from 2-4PM and Sunday November 1 from 2-4 PM
WHERE? 416 Stonehaven Place which is located off of Riverside Drive and Hartson Road in London Ontario.
For more pictures and info, go to www.enveloperealestate.com
… (0 comments)

Use of Surveys for Subdivisions in Ontario - 10/30/09 10:05 AM
This is a follow up on Surveys in Ontario, especially for subdivisions and written by Brian Madigan
Via Brian Madigan LL.B. (Royal LePage Innovators Realty):
The Use of Surveys for Subdivisions in Ontario  
By Brian Madigan LL.B.Ontario Land Surveyors are called upon to prepare three kinds of surveys for the division of property by subdivision:1) M-Plan,2) Registered Plan,3) Condominium PlanUpon registration in the Land Registry Office, these surveys divide property into lots or units and set out boundaries for the firsttime, after appropriate approvals have been obtained.Another type of survey, namely the Reference Plan or R-Plan is used to assist in the … (3 comments)

The Four Basic Types of Survey in Ontario - 10/28/09 07:43 PM
This information was supplied by Brian Madigan in Toronto and I thought I would pass this along as it really explains surveys in Ontario.
Ty

Via Brian Madigan LL.B. (Royal LePage Innovators Realty):
The Four Basic Types of Surveys in Ontario  
By Brian Madigan LL.B.Ontario Land Surveyors are called upon to prepare four basic types of survey:"1)Plans of Subdivision (M-Plan, Registered Plan, Condominium Plan) Upon registration in the Land Registry Office, these surveys divide property into lots or units and set out boundaries for the first time, after appropriate approvals have been obtained.2)Reference Plans (R-Plans) These are deposited plans and … (2 comments)

New bungalow in North London for sale - 10/28/09 07:35 PM
… (0 comments)

Hazelden North London House Bank Foreclosure Sale - 10/28/09 02:19 PM
BANK FORECLOSURE: Solid 2 storey brick executive Wasko built home in beautiful Hazelden North situated on a quiet cul de sac off of Riverside Drive.
Inground pool by Pioneer pools with all the toys and a quaint pool shed/change area. Rear yard is completely fenced with a wrought iron fence around pool. A very nice deck for entertaining.
The large gourmet eat in kitchen has an island bar, 9' ceilings, pot lights, hardwood floor and a double sided fireplace. In the other side of the fireplace is a large den or family room. Kitchen area is bright with a patio door … (0 comments)

Sunningdale Neighbourhood Houses in London - 10/27/09 03:00 PM
The Sunningdale neighbourhood is situated in North London bordered by Fanshawe Park Road West, Richmond Street, Sunningdale Road West and Hyde Park Road and includes Medway Park and Hyland Estates.
A very short drive to the Masonville shopping area and dining and the big box stores in Hyde Park. Easy access to the University of Western Ontario (UWO or Western), it's hospital and nearby  research centre.
5 minutes to downtown London and quick access to great beaches along Lake Huron such as Ipperwash, Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend, Bayfield and Goderich.
The houses and condos in Sunningdale are tastefully laid out with … (0 comments)

NO or Know? - 10/26/09 01:55 PM
                                 Know or No? 
Have you been on a listing presentation and the homeowners said ‘no' to you? Have you been farming an area, not getting results, ‘no' one is calling you? Have you had a buyer say ‘no' to you? What about an offer to purchase which is quite close to asking price and you got a ‘no' for a reply?
In my experience, I have found that they are not saying ‘no', they are saying they don't ‘know'!
If a listing presentation is rejected, did the homeowners say ‘no' to me or was it because they didn't ‘know' … (2 comments)

Condos in Sunningdale, A London Ontario Upscale Neighbourhood - 10/26/09 01:06 PM
     The Sunningdale neighbourhood is situated in North London bordered by Fanshawe Park Road West, Richmond Street, Sunningdale Road West and Hyde Park Road and includes Medway Park and Hyland Estates.
A very short drive to the Masonville shopping area and dining and the big box stores in Hyde Park. Easy access to the University of Western Ontario (UWO or Western), it's hospital and nearby  research centre.
5 minutes to downtown London and quick access to great beaches  along Lake Huron such as Ipperwash, Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend, Bayfield and Goderich.
The houses and condos in Sunningdale are tastefully laid out … (0 comments)

Top 10 Homes For Sale In London Ontario - 10/25/09 11:11 AM
                                            Top 10 Homes For Sale In London Ontario
There are  3500+ houses for sale in London Ontario and area.We have chosen 10 each of these in 6 price ranges.
With so many to choose from, even we can get confused! But not that much that we can't dedicate our resources and energy to locate and match a home that meets your needs.
This list of homes for sale in London cover homes from $100,000 to over $450,000 and everything from bungalows, ranches, 2 storey homes, semis' and more.
In neighbourhoods of London like Sunningdale, Uplands, Westmount, Byron, Lambeth, Oakridge, Hazelden, South London, Summerside, Cleardale, … (2 comments)

Top 10 Condos For Sale In London Ontario - 10/24/09 06:02 PM
If you are just starting to look for a condo in London or are thinking of selling your condo in London Ontario, being informed can save you thousands of dollars and a ton of stress .
I have been doing this Top 10 for 5 years now and the response has been outstanding. In this Top 10 Condos in London you will get FREE pictures and price ranges of the most common condo styles available, such as townhouses, apartment condos, attached condos, detached condos and freehold condos. You will also get a brief description, so when you're driving by these condo neighbourhoods you know … (3 comments)

$1,350 Tax Rebate On Home Improvements - 10/23/09 11:58 AM
Are you ready to take advantage of the $1,350 Tax Rebate On Home Improvements provided by the Canadian Federal Government?         
Over the weekend I was helping a client purchase a home here in London Ontario and one of their concerns were some repairs that this home required. The estimated repairs were around $5,400 and I asked if they were aware of the home renovation tax credit and other incentives provided by various government agencies?
    And yesterday, I went on a listing interview (which was successful) and in suggesting some minor upgrades which would maximize the selling price, my new clients were not aware of … (0 comments)

Thinking about buying or selling a house in Hazelden North? - 10/22/09 03:27 PM
Are you thinking about buying or selling a house in Hazelden North, a subdivision in west London of upscale homes with all the amenities?
Today I was researching the real estate market in Hazelden for a listing that I will put on the market in the next few days and I thought I would pass along a few tidbits.
The average house that sold in Hazelden this year sold for 97% of the asking price of $395,710 and was evenly split between 2 storey homes and ranches. The average time it took for a home to sell was 28 days!
                                                 … (0 comments)

The Ability to Sell Any Home Rests On The Three P’s - 10/21/09 09:17 PM

The Ability to Sell Any Home Rests On the Three P's, and they are:
Price, Product and Promotion.
The seller usually has control over the price. The seller eventually decides what price he or she will accept for their home.
The seller definitely has control of the product (the property). The seller controls the neatness, cleanliness and general maintenance of the property while being listed.
 The REALTOR* has control of the promotion.
Missing one of the 3 P's can be quite harmful. If the home is overpriced, it won't matter what kind of promotion the REALTOR* does or the show ability of … (7 comments)

Activity on 2 Storey Homes in North London - 10/20/09 02:02 PM
Activity on 2 Storey Homes in North London
‘What are 2 storey homes selling for in North London' is a question I get asked weekly. Trying to compare apples with oranges may be simpler, but here is a formula that I use which then would enable me to break it down by specific neighbourhood, then street, then house, then amenities.
The average 2 storey house in North London sold for 98% of the asking price of $313,077 and the average time it took to sell a North London 2 storey house was 50 days!
A breakdown of neighbourhoods is as follows: … (1 comments)

52 Weeks to Earn $100,000+ in Real Estate Sales Week 2 Session 1 - 10/19/09 01:27 PM
52 Weeks to Earn $100,000+ in Real Estate Sales
Week 2, Session 1                                                                   
 You should have been quite busy last week getting your name out there and looking for business. (If you say you are still getting a list ready & thinking about the area you want to market), stop right there!
Action will produce results! Success leaves clues! Look around and see what successful REALTORS* in your area do. They market, they market first, they market consistently and I will repeat myself, THEY know the difference between advertising and marketing. There is a huge difference, especially in costs!
                   … (3 comments)

What is the Action on Condos in London, Ontario - 10/19/09 12:41 PM
What is the Action on Condos in London, Ontario  What are condos selling for in London, Ontario? As I write this on October 19, 2009, I see that the condo market is doing quite well in London.
  The average days it took for a condo to sell in London up to September 2009 and the days on the market for October has shown an improvement of about 7 days.
In North London January 1, 2009 to Sept 30, 2009 47 days. October 1-19 42 days
In South London    "                  "             "             "      51 days                "         44 days
In East London       "                  "             … (2 comments)

Prepare Your Home to Sell - 10/17/09 08:51 AM
                                A great way to prepare your home for sale is to go visit a few new home sub-divisions and go through the model homes. It doesn't matter what size the homes are. What you will find are some wonderfully (but sparsely) furnished homes that anyone could live in- with the emphasis on "anyone". They are anonymous. There may be a hockey stick in the boy's room, but no family photos on the wall.
     There may be "personality" - but no person.
     The reason you want to make your home "anonymous" is because you want buyers to view it as … (8 comments)

Bungalow For Sale in London Close to Cleardale Public School - 10/17/09 08:31 AM
… (2 comments)

Avoid These 81/2 Buyer Traps When Buying Real Estate Part 2 - 10/16/09 05:04 PM
Avoid These 81/2 Buyer Traps When Buying Real Estate Part 2
 In part 1, we covered, bidding without sufficient information, buying the wrong home and unclear title. Lets' cover the rest:
 Inaccurate Survey 
Before the purchase is completed, a survey or title insurance should be a must. Most lenders will not issue a mortgage without a survey or title insurance. Again, a good REALTOR* will have a clause in the offer to protect you and make sure you discuss this with your lawyer.
Unexpected repairs  
Don't expect every seller to disclose every physical detail that will need to be … (0 comments)

Parents, Grand Parents and Real Estate - 10/15/09 03:19 PM
                                              Has the trading of real estate changed over the years either than the prices? Considering the internet, cell phones, faxes and virtual offices, I'm sure we all agree it has.
 Real estate however is still a personal business, a face to face meeting and mutual agreement of 2 parties to purchase and sell a property. That being said, let's overhear a conversation about changes.
 One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandfather replied,
… (4 comments)

Avoid These 81/2 Buyer Traps When Buying Real Estate Part 1 - 10/14/09 11:19 AM
Avoid These 81/2 Buyer Traps When Buying Real Estate Part 1 
Shopping for a home is an emotional experience. It's also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details. Some buyers, (and their agents), however, caught up in the excitement of buying a home tend to overlook some items. Their home purchase then turns into an expensive process! These errors generally fall into three areas:
Paying too much Losing a dream home to another buyer Buying the wrong home  When you have a systematic plan before you shop, you'll be sure to avoid these costly errors. Here are some … (0 comments)

Think like a Buyer When Selling Your Home - 10/13/09 11:20 AM
Think like a Buyer When Selling Your Home  
Of all the things homeowners control when selling their home, the condition of the property is one of the most important.
A crucial part of marketing any product is the presentation of the product. The same is true for real estate. In order to compete effectively with other sellers, homeowners must present their homes to the marketplace in an attractive, desirable condition. When you bought your home, you probably comparison-shopped. Well, buyers still do that today. According to The National Association of Realtors, the average purchaser looks at 10 to 20 properties … (3 comments)

How Some Agents Sabotage Their Own Listings And You, The Seller, Will Never Know! - 10/12/09 10:20 AM
The most important time for a new listing is when it first goes on the market. When buyers and their agents are searching the Internet and neighbourhoods for something new. When excitement is the highest  What really can happen? For a variety of reasons, the listing agent can make it difficult to show the house. Usually, it is a lack of attention to detail and not a lack of deliberate sabotage. Many agents do not feel a sense of urgency because they know that the house will sell eventually.
 Sellers don't usually have any idea that this is happening. They also … (2 comments)

What To Do When You Can’t Pay Your Mortgage Anymore - 10/11/09 02:26 PM
This blog was written by Marg up in Collingwood, a real estate professional and I hope this article will help anyone with financial challenges.
Ty

Via Marg Scheben-Edey - Collingwood, Ontario (RE/MAX four seasons realty limited):
This is one of those uncomfortable topics that most people prefer not to talk about but the reality is that it happens.  Job loss, illness or other life events can suddenly interfere with the ability to pay a mortgage and it happens to the nicest people.
If times are tough at the moment and you are struggling to pay the bills because of a change … (0 comments)

Beware When Setting Your Selling Price of Your Home Part 2 - 10/11/09 02:20 PM
When Your Selling Price Is Too High, Beware: REALTORS* Talk To Each Other Part 2 of Beware When Setting Your Selling Price of Your Home                                                                                                             
If you start out with a price that is too high, there is likelihood you interviewed other real estate sales representatives. They did not get the listing, of course. They got "beaten" out by someone telling you what you wanted to hear.
If your listing representative routinely engages in "buying "listings, he/she has probably has done this to other agents in the same way. Word gets around that their homes are overpriced and the … (1 comments)

Is Buying a Home in London Ontario a Good Investment? - 10/10/09 09:20 AM
          Is Buying a Home in London Ontario a Good Investment?  As a fairly general rule, London homes and condos appreciate about four or five percent a year. Some years will be more, some less. The figure will vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, and region to region. For example, a 2 storey home in Sunningdale may appreciate more than a 2 storey home in Oakridge.
         Five percent may not seem like much at first. Stocks (at times) appreciate much more, and you could easily earn over the same return with a very safe investment in treasury bills or bonds.
   But, take a … (2 comments)

How To Buy A Bank Owned Home! Via YouTube - This is Funny! - 10/09/09 10:09 AM
How to buy a power of sale (POS) or a bank owned home? As a real estate broker and broker of record and owner of Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc. , this funny video is similar to what can happen in London Ontario Canada.
Even though this video was produced in the United States, if you transcribe the US terms and add our Ontario terms, you'll get an idea of what is going on.
I must make it perfectly clear that not all power of sale and bank owned homes are handled the way depicted in the video. When I represent a … (3 comments)

What is happening With 2 Storey Homes in London, Ontario - 10/08/09 10:49 AM
Every day I get asked:"When is the best time to buy or sell a 2 storey home in London"? After getting as much information as possible about client's needs and wants, it all comes down to price and amenities.              For obvious reasons, sellers of 2 storey homes in London want the higest price as possible and for buyers, they want to buy at the lowest price they can. As a real estate broker, regardless of my market anaylsis of a particular home, reality is still the best indicator of the market place.   
 In London Ontario from October 2008 to October 2009, the average price of a 2 … (1 comments)

Where Are Real Estate Prices Headed in London Ontario? - 10/07/09 03:22 PM
The real estate market in London and area is not the same as it was 6 months ago and it will definitely be a lot different in the next 3-6 months from now!
 Even though London home sales in September were the third best on record; there are 2 indicators of change that is going to come.
 First, the average days on the market in the London area was 28 days compared with 47 days 3 months ago and secondly, homes and condos are selling for 96-98% of asking compared to 92-94% of asking price back in May and June!
 Why?
… (1 comments)

Third Best September Ever For London Area Home Sales - 10/07/09 01:59 PM
In September, 708 homes exchanged hands in the London & St.Thomas area. 572 of those were detached homes and 136 condos. For the year, 5,190 detached homes have sold in the London and St.Thomas area & 1,205 condos sold. The average residential price for London homes has increased by 1.9% with a 4.5% decrease in price for St.Thomas homes. “National sales activity in the third quarter is on track for a significant increase compared to the second quarter,” says Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) President, Dale Ripplinger. “Low interest rates and affordability continue to attract homebuyers to the housing market. Consumer … (0 comments)

 

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