`When you’re looking for a new home, you want to find one in a great neighbourhood – or, at least, in a neighbourhood that is on the upswing. How can you tell if a particular area is improving? Here are some common indicators:  Pride of ownership. Take a walk around the neighbourhood. Do you get a sense that people take good care of their homes? Are the lawns mowed? I...Read More

We are so grateful, happy, and proud for you Mark in buying your beautiful condo! Congratulations, you were so amazing to work with! It honestly was a pleasure getting to know you and working with you to find just that perfect one. I'm sure many memories will be made there. I'm here if you have any questions at any time so just give us a shout. Best of luck to you in your new chapter. #B...Read More

When you suffer damage to your home or its contents, you expect your insurance company to help you out. And, most do a good job of doing just that. Still, it’s a good idea to review your policy with your insurance advisor and find out what’s covered and what isn’t. For example, you don’t want to discover that your policy will not cover the cost of repairing the damage caus...Read More

When it comes to “staging” your home for sale - which basically means ensuring it looks clean and uncluttered - you probably already know the basics: clean the counters, vacuum the floors, mow the lawn, etc. But there are also some less obvious home staging tips that can help to sell your property faster and for a higher price. Here are a few examples. The Kitchen Obvious: The stove,...Read More

Since a minimum credit score is required for most loan programs, the first thing a lender will do is check to see if your score measures up – this is known as a "credit inquiry." There are two primary types of inquiries, a hard and a soft inquiry. A hard inquiry will have a direct and almost immediate impact on credit scores whereas a soft inquiry will not. A hard inquiry is one wh...Read More

Let's talk about conforming loans vs. jumbo loans in the mortgage world. The Guidelines Each year in October, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, collects data on the national median home value and compares that number to October of the previous year. If there is an increase, the conforming loan limit will increase by the same amount. In October 2019, the year-over-year median home ...Read More

No matter how much you love your current home, you may still be dreaming of the day you can buy up into a better home in a better neighborhood. Is that day today or a few years down the road? Here’s a quick way to make that assessment. First, make a list of all the practical reasons why it might be time to move up. Those reasons might include features such as: more bedrooms; proximity to ...Read More

3 Questions Every Homebuyer Should Ask Want to take the pain out of homebuying? Keep your lifestyle priorities top of mind. If you’re planning to buy a new home, there’s great news: More houses have hit the market in recent months. This means you’ve got more options to choose from. Choice is always good, but it can also be overwhelming. The key? Careful, disciplined prioritiz...Read More

Buying a house — whether it’s your first or fifth — can be a bumpy process. Between the financing, the availability (or scarcity) of homes on the market in your price range that meet your needs, the offer process, the appraisal and the inspection, there’s a lot that can go wrong between deciding that you are in the market for a new home and turning the keys for the first ti...Read More

What's the number one hurdle for renters making the leap to homeownership? That pesky down payment. Even with an FHA loan that only requires a minimum of 3.5% down, the thought of setting aside several thousand dollars is daunting (and for some, darn near impossible). A survey from Apartment List highlights the struggle for millennial renters, with 62% citing a lack of down payment ...Read More