Blog Articles
How to Prevent Flooding in Your Basement
Sep 13, 2022
Basement floods and leaks can be both damaging to your home and costly to fix. Water damage can destroy your personal belongings, it can ruin your flooring, appliances, drywall, and if not dried properly, it can result in a mold problem. So, what can homeowners do to prevent water damage to the basement? Today, we are l ...
See MoreRyan Out Loud - This Week in Housing (September 24th, 2022)
Sep 23, 2022
Benchmark Interest Rate hiked to 3.25% In an effort to control inflation, the Bank of Canada raised it's trendsetting interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point on Wednesday. The Bank of Canada has raised interest rates four times since late September, as the world's 10th-largest economy tries to battle a financial crisis. Surges in ...
See More10-06-2022 - What is a Vendor Take-Back Mortgage?
Sep 26, 2022
We're going to break down a little bit of a vendor take-back mortgage and why people use them. What is a Vendor Take-Back Mortgage? A Vendor Take-Back Mortgage is simply when the seller of a property provides some or all of the financing for the buyer. The seller or the property owner essentially becomes the bank and they hold t ...
See MoreMistakes to Avoid When Paying Off Your Home Early
Sep 27, 2022
In our previous blog we looked at some ways you can pay off your home early: How to Pay Your Mortgage Off Early You could increase the size of your mortgage payments, do accelerated mortgage payments, make lump-sum payments, shorten your amortization period when you refinance or pay it off in cash. But there are mistakes that can b ...
See MoreRRSP Home Buyers' Plan
Sep 27, 2022
Coming up with a down payment for a home can be a challenge. We all saw prices rise in our area to levels never seen before, pushing many aspiring homeowners to the wayside. The good news is, if you've been contributing to an RRSP, you may be able to take advantage of a plan to help first-time home buyers with the Home ...
See MoreWhat's going on this weekend in Sarnia? September 30th to Oc...
Sep 28, 2022
The Sadies at Refined Fool Brewing Co. | September 30th | 8pm - 11pm The one and only SADIES are coming BACK to our London Rd taproom to blow your mind and the roof off. You do not want to miss this intimate and amazing performance. In support of their most recent album COLDER STREAMS. Tickets are $30 each + tax & fees Opening Act: TBA &nbs ...
See MoreSeptember 2022 Housing Market Update for Sarnia-Lambton
Oct 06, 2022
Current active listings: 710 Sales & Sales Volume: September 2021: 162 sales, and $78 million in volume. September 2022: 132 sales, and $66 million in volume. Number of Sales by Price Range: 11 sales: $0 - 200,000 37 sales: 200,000 - 400,000 42 sales: 400,000-600,000 40 sales: 600,000+ Averag ...
See MoreThis Week in Housing (October 14th, 2022)
Oct 14, 2022
Low-Speed Vehicles The City of Sarnia is considering permitting low-speed vehicles (LSVs) to operate on city streets and would like public input on the matter. Electric LSVs have a top speed of 40 km/h and are ideal for shorter trips within an urban area. blackburnnews.com/sarnia-seeking-feedback-lsvs Mayoral Candidates ...
See MorePreventing Fire in the Home
Oct 19, 2022
When a home is affected by fire, the results can range from financially costly to tragic. Many people have friends or acquaintances who have lost their homes, possessions or their lives to fire. Let's do our part and check out some preventative tips. It's important for everyone to know their role in fire safety. Homeowners, landlords and ...
See More6 Ways We Protect Our Clients' Interests
Oct 20, 2022
When you're on your own buying or selling, you're missing out on some of the biggest perks of working with a real estate brokerage; agency. Our clients gain some big advantages over those trying to do so on their own. But how do we protect our clients' interests? Here are 6 Ways We Protect Our Clients' Interests. ...
See MoreEight Ways to get Your Home Ready for Winter
Oct 26, 2022
The winter season is drawing near which means sub-zero arctic-like temperatures, icy conditions, and a whole lot of snow. That's why it's time to start thinking about how to protect your home from any potential damage the frigid temperatures and snow may bring. Taking charge now, before it is too late, may help you avoid a home insurance claim late ...
See MoreHow to Choose the Best Down Payment
Nov 02, 2022
How much money should you put down as a down payment? Let's break it down for you and give you some tips on how to choose the right amount. Down Payments in the 5%-20% Range. 5% is the minimum amount that you can put down on a home in Canada for your principal residence. It's also the amount ...
See MoreWhat's going on this weekend? Nov 11th - 13th
Nov 09, 2022
What's going on this weekend? November 11th - November 13th November 11th | FUSION at Degroots BACK IN PERSON! Lambton County Developmental Services (LCDS) is pleased to celebrate FUSION: Food, Wine & Craft Beer Show, presented by Pembina Pipeline Construction, with you! This year we have tons of amazing celebrations pl ...
See MoreOctober 2022 Housing Market Update for Sarnia-Lambton
Nov 10, 2022
Active listings: 638 Sales Count October 2021: 148 sales October 2022: 125 sales Sales Volume: October 2021: $77,400,000 October 2022: $57,000,000 Sales by Price Range: 2 sales: $0 - $200,000 56 sales: $200,000 - $400,000 43 sales: $400,000 - $600,000 22 sales: $600,000+ Average Sale Price: O ...
See MoreWhat's going on this weekend? November 18th -21st
Nov 17, 2022
November 18th | Disney's Beauty & The Beast | Imperial Based on the smash hit 1991 Disney animated feature and dating back to a late 18th-century classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is impriso ...
See MoreWhat's going on this weekend? December 2nd - 4th
Nov 30, 2022
What's going on this weekend? December 2nd - 4th Christmas on the Farm | Friday December 2nd Join us for a free celebration of the holiday season with Christmas on the Farm. Old favourites are back alongside some new attractions to delight all ages including roasting chestnuts; horse and carriage rides; ice carving demonstrations; crafts; storyt ...
See MoreOpen vs Closed Mortgage
Nov 30, 2022
Most homeowners need a mortgage loan to be able to finance the purchase of a home. But did you know there are many types of mortgages? Today, we're going to give you a breakdown of two popular types. This is Open vs Closed Mortgages. Open Mortgages Open mortgages offer more flexibility to the borrower and the freedom to make add ...
See MoreThe Benefits of Buying a Fixer-Upper
Mar 30, 2023
If you're considering buying a home in Canada, you might want to take a closer look at fixer-upper homes. Here are some reasons why investing in a fixer-upper property could be a smart choice. Lower Price Tag One of the most significant benefits of a fixer-upper is the cost. These properties are often priced lower than move-in-ready homes ...
See MoreHow to Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Feb 07, 2023
Improving the energy efficiency of your home doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. By making a few simple changes to your habits and completing some DIY projects, you can create a more comfortable home and save money on your energy bills. 1. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets to reduce water usage. This simple change can ...
See MoreThe Mortgage Process
Feb 23, 2023
The mortgage process involves several steps, which can generally be divided into the following stages: 1. Pre-approval Before home buyers begin the process of shopping for a home, they should obtain a pre-approval from a lender. This typically involves submitting a loan application and providing some documentation of the borrowe ...
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