TOP EASTER GIFTS FOR KIDS KELLER WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, BROKERAGE
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appy Spring! Our team has worked so hard during the first quarter helping almost 20 clients with their Real Estate needs, whether it was buying their new home (not an easy feat) or selling their current home. We worked tirelessly to stage each sellers property to be able to take full advantage of the lack of inventory, making our clients homes stand out amongst the competition.
As we gear up now for a busy Spring season, we are seeing more inventory enter the market giving buyers finally more options. With inventory rising, market dynamics may be shifting from recovery mode due to covid to a more traditional seasonally active market. Please enjoy our April newsletter filled with plenty of investment opportunities for your clients, new development projects coming our way and market trend reports showing our first quarter market results. Who do you know that is looking to buy, sell or rent in Mississauga, Oakville, Toronto, Burlington, anywhere in the surrounding GTA, in Florida or other USA markets. We, together with our team of industry experts, would be honored to work with you in getting you or your referrals the best deals. Reach out to us today, we are never to busy for you or your referrals. Theresa Baird - Broker Realty Group
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SOLD 140 Dunlop Street East, Suite 804 in Barrie
SOLD 80 Port Street, Suite 510 in Port Credit, Mississauga
SHOULD YOU RENT TO OWN IN TORONTO
LIVING IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
The pros and cons of renting to own
Homes available in Florida
SNEAK PEEK 5233 Dundas Street West in Etobicoke
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WHY IS REAL ESTATE A GOOD INVESTMENT Looking at the reasons to invest in Real Estate
THE FEBRUARY MARKET REVIEW
MONEY MATTERS
A look year-over-year at housing prices across the GTA
Downpayments explained by Andre Persaud, Mortgage Agent
SOLD
THERESA RECOMMENDS
3086 Highvalley Road in Oakville
TOP EASTER GIFTS FOR KIDS A selection of the most wanted Easter gifts
SOLD
1407 - 1 Hurontario Street in Port Credit, Mississauga
The Perfect Cobb Salad
HOW TO DYE AND DECORATE EASTER EGGS Get ready to decorate!
SNEAK PEEK 385 Prince of Wales in Mississauga
SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A RENT-TO-OWN HOME IN TORONTO?
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Written by Corben Grant on March 24th, 2022 and seen on www.cnaadianrealestatemagazine.ca
ith home prices in the Toronto real estate market continuing to rise, many people have been looking at alternative ways to reach their homeownership goals. There are many new and creative ways people have found to make their dream of homeownership a reality.
There is one option, that has been around for a long time and can still be viable for buyers – that is buying with a rent-to-own agreement. With a rent-to-own program, potential buyers can easily turn their existing rent payment into a down payment for a home. While making a rent-to-own program work for you is entirely possible, it will depend on your particular circumstances and needs. This article will go over how rent-to-own programs work and whether or not you should use one in the City of Toronto.
Why consider a rent-to-own agreement? A rent-to-own home purchase has a few benefits over a traditional home purchase. For one, if you do not already own a home, there is a good chance that you are renting the space you live in. Rent-toown allows you to continue renting while saving a portion of your monthly payment to go towards a home purchase. In this way, your savings become part of your monthly expenses and you are forcing yourself to save, which can benefit those who have bad spending habits.
Rent-to-own is also appealing if you love where you rent and would like to keep living there with the added benefit of property ownership. If your landlord offers it, you can make the space you rent truly your own. Rent-to-own can also be an excellent option to get into the market. When it comes time to buy, you already know which property you are buying and you don’t need to go through the effort of a competitive housing market. You also have the benefit of knowing exactly how much the purchase will cost,
which can make planning your saving efforts even easier. Rent-to-own can also give buyers a chance to delay their home purchase which can offer an opportunity to improve your credit score or financial conditions before it comes time to buy. How does rent-to-own work? A rent-to-own program is essentially a way to save for your initial down payment on a home automatically. A portion of your monthly rent payments goes towards a fund that will eventually serve as the down payment for the property you are renting. In the meantime, the property owner maintains ownership and covers expenses like property taxes and home insurance. Once you have saved enough to afford the down payment, you can mortgage the property and begin paying monthly mortgage payments instead of rent. Generally, you will agree on a contract length with the property owner which can last from one to five years. TWO KINDS OF RENT-TO-OWN AGREEMENTS There are generally two kinds of agreements used when setting up a rent-to-own plan. The first is a lease-option agreement. With a lease option, you lease the home for a period and retain the option to purchase once you have saved enough, though the purchase is not an obligation and you can decide against the purchase with little or no penalty. In contrast is the lease-purchase agreement – you are obligated to purchase the home at the end of the leasing period or face penalties. The penalties in question will depend on the contract signed but can include a loss of deposit or accrued rent credit.
Is rent-to-own available in Toronto? There are no laws in the City of Toronto or the province of Ontario that would prevent anyone from pursuing a rent-to-own purchase. However, the decision to put a home up for sale in this manner is ultimately up to the seller. In Toronto, this can get complicated as it has been a very hot market. In such a market, it doesn’t really make sense for an owner to sell a rental that is providing them with cash flow through rental income. If they were to sell in this manner, there would need to be something more in it for them than what they could make by simply selling the property outright. For this reason, depending on the market conditions in the city, it may be hard to find a rent-to-own listing at any given time. If you do find something, you need to make sure to do your due diligence and figure out exactly why the landlord is selling this way. In this case, your most viable option would be to work with a rent-to-own company to pursue a home purchase. A rent-to-own company can help you with the purchase of a property and will serve as the property owner until you can afford to mortgage it. This provides you with more options but will also come at a higher cost than a simple home purchase. WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM RENT-TO-OWN? Higher rent First of all, your landlord still expects you to make a rental income while you are still leasing the space so don’t expect to pay the same rent you would in a comparable apartment with a standard lease. Generally, your rent-to-own pay-
ments will be higher. However, you have the added benefit of knowing that this increased rent payment is going towards purchasing a valuable asset. Potentially limited options You should also know that rentto-own will somewhat limit your options on the market. For one, not every property owner will be willing to offer rent-to-own so it’s entirely up to the property owner to decide to enter into such an agreement or to sell to a rent-to-own company. There are companies that specialize in rent-to-own homes that will allow you to choose a home on the market within certain limits that they then purchase on your behalf and rent to you until you can afford to take on the mortgage yourself. The houses you are able to choose will be based upon what kind of mortgage you can afford which can still be a limiting factor. May require a down payment In some cases, it’s possible to enter into a rent-to-own agreement with no money down, however, most rent-to-own companies will want to know you are serious about buying and are financially responsible, so they will expect some level of down payment. This will usually be less than a traditional mortgage down payment – typically in the range of 5% or less of the purchase price. Consider the property carefully You should be aware of the property you are buying before you get into a rent-to-own agreement as you are essentially agreeing to buy property years in advance. Once you take ownership, all of the concerns such as maintenance will fall on you. If the building you rent is in poor shape now, it may not be worth
buying it five years down the line when it has deteriorated further. You should also be aware of whether or not you are responsible for maintenance in the time before you take ownership as is the case with some rent-to-own plans. This can present a problem if you are already putting a significant amount of your money towards your monthly rent payment and need more money for maintenance. Not a substitute for a mortgage Once you save your down payment with a rent-to-own plan, you will still need to take out a mortgage for the home. Make sure that you will be financially stable enough to be approved when the time comes, otherwise, you may not be able to purchase the home you have been saving for and can face penalties depending on your contract. IS IT CHEAPER THAN BUYING? Rent-to-own will generally not be cheaper than buying and can, in many cases, be more expensive. This is especially true if you lock into a price and the market shifts so you are buying for more than the home is even worth. This can go the other way too – you may end up buying for less than the home is worth. However, due to the consistent appreciation of home values in Toronto, this situation is less likely. Furthermore, since you will still need to be approved for a mortgage after your rent-to-own lease has run its course, it does not offer you any particular benefits in terms of how much of a home you can afford. Depending on the agreement you reach for your rent-to-own scheme, there may be associated fees and costs involved that would not be paid in a traditional home sale. Finally, if something goes wrong with your rent-to-own program and you are forced to move or not purchase the home, in some cases, you can lose out on a significant amount of money. Overall, rent-to-own should not be seen as an outright cheaper way to buy a home. You should really decide if it’s right for you based on the other benefits of these types of purchases. IS IT A GOOD INVESTMENT? Rent-to-own is not, strictly speaking, an investment at all. Eventually, you will have the right to purchase the property, and at that point, your home can be seen as an investment. However, until you actually take possession of the home, you are basically just building savings. This means that while your money is held in a rent-to-own program, you are not able to invest it to grow elsewhere nor is it sheltered from factors like inflation. This means you could potentially save faster by simply doing it yourself and investing your money but you may be subject to investment risk and market fluctuation. IN CONCLUSION A rent-to-own home is a valid option for those who are looking to get into homeownership as soon as possible but may need some extra time to save or improve a bad credit score. It can make saving and achieving a down payment nearly effortless for those who have trouble saving. However, rent-to-own programs also have their own limitations and are only one of many options to help homeowners achieve their goals. If you are in need of an alternative path to homeownership, be sure to carefully weigh your options and do your due diligence before you enter into a potentially costly and lengthy contract.
SNEAK PEEK
5233 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Fabulous 1 bedroom plus den, 1 bathroom suite with 720 square feet plus balcony. Easy access to all highways and minutes to Toronto or the airport. Close to shopping (Sherway Gardens and the new Farm Boy location), and near public transit. If you’d like more information before we go live on MLS don’t hesitate to call our team at 647-298-0997.
THE GTA 2022 FIRST QUARTER MARKET OVERVIEW
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3086 Highvalley Road, Oakville BRONTE CREEK EXECUTIVE This fabulous executive, freehold townhome in the highly desirable Bronte Creek neighbourhood sold in just a few days. Our Sellers are thrilled and now we get the pleasure of helping them find a new home! If you’re thinking about buying or selling reach out to us today. We’d love to help!
TOP EASTER GIFTS FOR KIDS
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Written by Maya Polton and Katrina Cossey updated on February 23th, 2022 and seen on https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-easter-gifts-for-kids-5115139
hether you celebrate Easter, which lands on April 17 this year, as the coming of spring or a religious holiday, it’s a joyful time to get together with family. Easter egg baskets are often the talk among kids and their friends thanks to all the exciting goodies inside.
Before deciding what goes into your kiddo’s Easter basket, consider the type of gift you’d like to get. Would you prefer an Easter-themed gift, or are you searching for a gift that can be used in all seasons? Also double check the age recommendation and size of the gift to ensure it is safe and can fit in
the basket, if needed - unless you want to skip the basket altogether and let the gift stand on its own. If you want to limit your kiddo’s holiday candy consumption, you can skip the jellybeans and chocolate bunnies altogether and opt for small toys, springtime gear, and cute little books instead.
Flora the Animated Bunny by GUND and seen on Amazon or on Walmart websites Great for all ages, Flora is a plush bunny made for fun. When you press Flora’s fluffy feet, this adorable stuffy comes alive. Your tot can play an interactive game of peek-a-boo when they press Flora’s left foot or press
the right foot and Flora will sing “Do Your Ears Hang Low” while waving her ears in time with the music. Ready to play right away, Flora comes with three AAA batteries.
Infantino Lil Nibble Carrot Teether Seen on Amazon or on Walmart websites Spring babies will love this BPAfree silicone teether, perfectly sized for an Easter basket. Crafted just for little hands, the teether has built-in handles and varied textures that help with developmental growth while soothing baby’s tender gums. Along with teething relief, mouthing and chewing toys can assist young babies in building muscles to support sound production and speech development. The Tale of Peter Rabbit Seen on Amazon or on Barnesandnoble.com “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was published more than 100 years ago and continues to be a beloved children’s book today. The classic story follows Peter Rabbit into Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden where he encounters trouble. Give this book to the child in your life to read as an Easter tradition each year.
Cubcoats Benne 2-in-1 Stuffed Animal Hoodie As seen on Amazon and QVC websites Your kiddo will be instantly obsessed with this cute plush bunny that transforms into a comfy cotton hoodie in seconds. Adorned with adorable bunny ears, the cozy pullover sweatshirt features a kid-friendly zipper so their tiny fingers are protected. Available in toddler and big kid sizes, the hoodie is made of pre-shrunken fabric, so it won’t get ruined in the wash. Toomies Hide & Squeak Eggs by TOMY As seen on Amazon and Walmart websites Celebrate the season with the cutest carton of toy eggs. Suitable for kids 18 months old and up, this toy will help them improve color and shape recognition. The eggs easily crack open to reveal six squeaking chicks that chirp when their heads are pressed down.No batteries required for this simple and fun toy. Party America Egg-Shaped Sidewalk Chalk As seen on Amazon and Walmart websites This spring they’ll love playing outside with a six-pack of Easter egg-shaped chalk, perfect for all ages. Six vibrant colored eggs easily fit into a kid’s hand, so they can create all kinds of springtime and Easter decorations all over your sidewalk (and anywhere else you’ll let them!). Mubarek Bunny Kids Night-Light As seen on Amazon and Walmart websites We love this bunny night-light’s remote control, which allows kids to pick the color of their light, set a timer, or adjust brightness. Parents and caregivers will appreciate using the USB recharging port instead of having to switch
out batteries or find an outlet. Made from soft silicone, it’s easy to clean and durable. Easter Eggs Slime for Kids As seen on Amazon website Whether they’re making it or playing with it, kids love slime. Safe for children ages 5 and up, this kit makes around 30 soft slimes for kids to enjoy by themselves or with friends and siblings. Simply mix the powder and water together, watch the concoction come to life, and then make dinosaur molds or play on the large (and included!) playmat. LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Chick Building Kit As seen on Amazon and Walmart websites Little LEGO heads will love this 82 piece Easter Chick BrickHeadz set, recommended for kids 10 years old and up. The cute chick hangs out among colorful Easter flowers, leaves, and two Easter eggs. Perfectly sized for Easter baskets, this set can be mashed up with other BrickHeadz to create crazy characters. Meri Meri Stacking Bunnies As seen on Amazon.com and on Maisonette.com We love these adorable stacking bunnies for little ones to enjoy or as Easter decor for parents and
caregivers. Beautifully crafted
from wood and dainty gold foil, these sweet bunnies feature soft, felt ears and a pom-pom tail, allowing children to feel different textures. Five bunnies are included for kids to stack and to play with as a cute little rabbit family.
Peep On a Perch As seen on Amazon and on Walmart websites If your kiddos are missing their Elf on the Shelf since its post-Christmas return to the North Pole, you can introduce them to Peep on a Perch - just in time for a new Easter tradition. Perfect as a pre-Easter gift, the peep keeps a watchful eye on children and their acts of kindness so that it can report back to the Easter bunny. A plush peep toy is included with the hardcover book, so you can place Peep anywhere you (or your children) want Little Blue Truck’s Springtime Board Book As seen on Amazon and on Walmart websites Your little reader will love celebrating spring’s arrival by reading a sweet board book. Kids will enjoy getting a chance to open each of the book’s flaps to meet all of the sweet baby animals that are just born on the farm. A simple rhyme scheme will keep little kids engaged and help reinforce counting and animal identification. Little Likes Kids Camping Outdoors Go Fish Game As seen on Amazon and on Nordstrom websites Created by a Black-owned business, this camping-themed Go Fish game is an entertaining celebration of the spring and summer seasons. The pocket -sized pack of cards is appropriate for kids 3 years old and up and easily fits in an Easter basket. The game will help cognitive brain development, learning, and memory while teaching kids to play together. Diversity in the artwork will allow kids to see themselves in the game. Modern Easter Craft Kit Made by Kit Made
Seen on Walmart website Celebrate the return of spring with an Easter-themed craft kit. Perfect for ages 6 and up, the kit includes everything your crew needs to make Easter-inspired gifts and goodies to decorate the house or share with friends and family. Super Smalls Talent Show Butterfly Hair Clips View on Supersmalls.com Get your child’s hair ready for spring with a sparkly set of eight butterfly hair clips. They can wear them all at once for a chic look or adorn their hair with just one or two for a more subtle style. Each butterfly clip has multicolored gems with shiny blue, yellow, green, red, and pink sparkles.
Bella Tunno Be the Sunshine Wonder Bib Seen on Bellatunno.com Welcome the spring sunshine and keep baby clean all at once with this adorable, genderneutral silicone bib. The waterproof, soft, pliable design has an adjustable neck and a catch pocket, and it folds up for meals on-the-go. In addition to rocking an adorable bib, you’ll be doing good - this company will donate two meals for every product sold. Cindy’s Bath Creations Easter Basket Bunny Glycerin Soap Gift Idea Seen on Etsy These bunny soap bars are a clean addition to any Easter basket. From birthday cake to summer lemon, there are more than 50 delectably sweet scents for parents and caregivers to choose from. The soaps are handmade with beautiful detailing, and come in over a dozen
color options, so you’re sure to find the right pick for the kiddos in your life. Inflatable Bunny Rabbit Ears Ring Toss Game by JOYIN As seen on Amazon and on Ridgedepot.com Inflatable toys can be bouncy and soft enough for kids of all ages to play with. The whole family can join in on the fun with this ring toss game that’s perfect for heading outdoors and enjoying the spring weather. Simply toss one of the 12 rings onto the bunny ears for a fun activity on Easter and beyond. The Roxy Grace Company Easter Bath Bombs Seen on Etsy Even if your child isn’t a fan of the marshmallow Peeps treats, they’ll fall in love with these adorable bunny-themed bath bombs. We love that these bath bombs are handmade with natural ingredients, like baking soda and coconut oil, so they’re nontoxic for children. Each package contains six bath bombs in various colors, making them a beautiful Easter basket addition. Sunny Days Entertainment Bubble Leaf Blower Seen on Amazon website and on Kohls.com Celebrate the return of spring by heading outdoors to blow some bubbles! Everyone in the family can play together with this gadget designed to look like a real leaf blower. While it does require batteries, it comes with a 4 ounce bottle of bubble solution, so you’ll have one less thing to add to your shopping list.
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According to the founder of Butler Mortgage, it’s about time and he believes it’s going to happen. Monumental home equity gains have persuaded buyers in the market not to sell the homes they live in and instead finance their new purchases using existing home equity.
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“They’re going to do something to prevent people from acquiring or retaining rental properties,” Ron Butler surmised. “It used
1407 - 1 Hurontario Street, Mississauga SUNSET CHARMER IN THE VILLAGE!
Congratulations to our lovely clients on the sale of their home! We know the buyers are going to love living here. We are always available to help guide you through the process of selling your home as well.
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804 - 140 Dunlop Street East, Barrie CAREFREE LIVING! This property in Barrie is now sold. If you or anyone you know are looking for a home anywhere outside of the Toronto area, we can connect you with a Realtor® to find you the house that is perfect for you. We are trained in global real estate sales so the TB Realty Group is a great resouce for you. Call us today.
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510 - 80 Port Street, Mississauga LAKESIDE LIVING AT ITS BEST Although we would love a crystal ball to help guide us through this market, instead we have years of experience helping our clients buy and sell homes every week of every year. With this experience, we are able to sense the shifts in the market. This advantage has benefitted our clients time and time again. Our seller’s most recent sale is a great example of this. It was our pleasure to help our clients achieve their real estate goals and we are incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such wonderful people. Our sellers are thrilled with the recent sale of their condo and now they’re able to start envisioning their next adventure! The buyers of this condo are also excited to have found their perfect condo closer to their children. Definitely a Win-Win for all!
Living in the Sunny South Thinking of moving to Florida? Here are several homes that the Realty Group has available.
Property Listings Courtesy of John R Wood Properties and Kevan Patel, Central Florida Realty Management
Claire Ann Drive in Orlando - Villa Valencia Apartments was converted to a Condominium Community 5 years ago. Here is your chance to own a well-maintained rental or second home in the amenity rich gated community right by the University of Central Florida which has a student population of over 60,000 and the Central Florida Research Parkway which is the largest research park in Florida that has over 35 national employers including Siemens, Lockheed Martin and the Department of Defense. This 2nd floor unity has tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms and carpeting in the living and bed-
Vineland Place in Lake Mary This 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom 2 storey townhome is located int he gated Chase community in Lake Mary. The home features an open floor plan with carpet throughout the first floor living area and tile in the kitchen and bathroom areas. The kitchen features plenty of cabinet storage, a breakfast bar, large pantry and all the appliances. Very well maintained gated community in the popular Lake Mary area with low HOA fees!
Lewfield Circle in Winter Park Want to own real estate in the beautiful Winter Park neighbourhood. Now is your chance! This is the lowest priced property in the area. Conveniently located close to Winter Park Hospital, Park Avenue, Rollins College and more. The ground floor 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo is in the well-known Stratford Condominium Community with tile floors in the kitchen and bathrooms and carpeting in the bedroom and living room. This community has a tennis court and two swimming pools. Great rental demand due to proximity to top schools and employers.
Altessa Way in Bonita Springs - This 3 bedrooms and den coach home lives like a villa with a 2 car garage. Fantastic great room home, wonderful lanai and tranquil setting with no neighbor to one side and only the birds and trees swaying in the breeze. The position of this coach home offers you southwest exposure with perfect sunlight throughout the day. Tile on the diagonal in all living areas and the lanai, crown molding enhances each rooms volume ceiling, granite kitchen countertops, S/S appliances, neutral colors throughout, wood floors in the den and only a few steps to the community pool for complete resort relaxation. Additional guest parking is next to your garage. Easy to entertain in this grand space at the best bundled golf community in southwest Florida. Only 6.8 miles to the white sandy beaches of Bonita Springs and 8.6 miles to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. This premium location is West of 75 and perfectly positioned between Naples and Bonita Beach Road in a pristine residential area. Bike ride to the New Oakes Farms Market.
WHY IS REAL ESTATE A GOOD INVESTMENT By Helana Mulder - written on March 17th, 2022 Article and photos seen on https://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca
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hen someone mentions the word “investing,” what comes to mind? While some may immediately say stocks and bonds, others know that real estate is an extremely popular and profitable form of investing. Especially in the past several years, investment properties have become more and more common as individuals choose to rent over buying a home.
Becoming financially stable and building up your wealth portfolio through real estate is a major step that many individuals have been taking for years. Investing in any sense of the term involves some learning and risk-taking, even real estate investing. INVESTING: KEY POINTS In order to fully break down whether real estate is a good investment, there has to be an understanding of investing in and of itself. Investing is the act of pooling money, time, and resources in order to generate income or reward. Risk and reward are two foundational pillars of investing. Where low risk will often yield low rewards, high-risk investments can see high rewards. One of the most important and basic recommendations for investing is to diversify your investments. As the saying goes,
you should not put all of your eggs in one basket, but rather, spread them over a variety of investments like stocks, bonds, real estate, trusts, etc. Regardless of what you choose to invest in, understanding these principles can help you grow your portfolio and start making money. WHAT IS REAL ESTATE INVESTING? The average price of a home in Ontario in 2010 was sitting at about $300,000. In 2021, just over 10 years later, that price rose to roughly $800,000. That is an increase of 166% in ten years. This is the basic foundation of real estate investing: buying low and selling high. Buying your own home may seem like a daunting and expensive task, let alone buying investment properties. However, real estate
investing is quite accessible and measurable, making it a popular form of investing for many individuals. When you begin investing in real estate, there are a few key things you need to know about the different paths you can take. There are a few ways that you can begin investing in real estate ranging in cost, risk, and liquidity. It’s important to understand your options and what is the best route for you and your financial goals. WHAT IS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST? One of the easiest and cheapest ways to get started in real estate investing is with a real estate investment trust (REIT). A REIT is similar to the structure or model of mutual funds that are traded on the stock market. It’s a corporation that pools
together the funds from various investors and uses that to buy property in the housing market. The corporation focuses on income-producing properties in order to see more rewards and cash flow for the investors. Each investor has the opportunity to make dividends without having to deal with mortgage payments and managing the property.
ing real estate involves having enough cash available for a down payment. This amount can range depending on the type of property you are purchasing. A single-family home in a popular neighbourhood will likely have a higher down payment than a condo.
One of the most common and effective forms of real estate investing is to own rental properties and become a landlord. This involves purchasing apartments, condos, single-family homes, or creating ensuite apartments in your home that are available to rent to tenants.
Like mutual funds, REITs are traded publically on the stock market and are far more liquid than other types of real estate. As well, they are a great way to generate some steady income and build your investment portfolio.
When you start investing, you want to find properties that not only make great investments but are also within your budget. This is where you can take advantage of REITs. As home prices continue to soar, down payments become more and more expensive. REITs can allow new real estate investors to break into the industry without needing a lot of money.
When you purchase an investment property that is to be rented out, you can use the monthly rent payments from tenants to cover the monthly mortgage payments and pocket some extra cash. This is a form of passive income that has become extremely popular for homeowners.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED? While you might think you need a large amount of cash to get started in real estate investing, there are actually some more accessible options that don’t require breaking the bank. Buy-
OTHER FORMS OF REAL ESTATE INVESTING While REITs are a great starting point for real estate investors, there are other methods of real estate investments that can help you build wealth and build equity.
As mentioned before, with the average home price reaching over $800k, many people are turning to rental properties as their primary residence. Taking advantage of this by owning more properties available for rent can be an extremely strong and profitable investment. As well, you can also have your
tenants pay the mortgage on the other properties and boost your credit score. PROS AND CONS OF INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE Many businesses and stocks rise and dip in popularity, but land has inherent demand. Even if the market cools and there is low demand, there is still a strong chance your property will sell and make you money in the long run. Owning land and real estate can increase your net worth and can have several tax advantages. Investing in any sense of the term has some pros and cons that need to be weighed in order to make the right decisions and investments that suit your goals. PROS One of the biggest advantages of real estate investing is that it is very likely to appreciate over time. While there is a potential for another housing market
crash like the one in 2008, it’s more likely that your real estate investment will grow in value over time. This is where the investment style of “buy low, sell high” really comes into play. BUY LOW, SELL HIGH For example, most investors also view their principal residence as an investment. If this is the case, you can buy a fixer-upper, take advantage of low-interest rates, and do some renovations or build an addition. These things can help increase the property value and enable you to “sell high” when the market is hot. As the real estate market boomed this past summer, many investment property owners were likely selling some of their residential properties while the market was hot. Buyers were offering over asking prices for many properties because there was so much demand and little inventory. This is where real estate investing can make investors quite a bit of profit.
Real estate investments are a way for investors to take advantage of capital gains, diversify their investment portfolio, and increase their net worth. Real estate is also within the tangible asset class, adding another level of diversification. It also means that your investment can’t disappear overnight as other forms can. Your control means that even if the market is dipping, you can hold onto your property and continue to make money off your tenants’ monthly payments. STEADY CASH AND MORE CONTROL Another benefit of investing in a rental property or retail space is a steady and consistent cash flow. If you have a property that you rent for $3,000/month and the monthly mortgage payment on the property is only $1500, you are banking $1,500 passively every month and roughly $18,000 in rental income yearround. Making the most of your
rental income can help you continue to grow your portfolio, build wealth, and manage the monthly payment on your mortgage. Real estate not only appreciates over time but is a way in which an investor can work towards building wealth and equity. Finally, real estate investing puts you in the driver’s seat. Having more control over the success of your investment can significantly help you profit off investments. With stocks, there are many factors out of your control and there isn’t much you can do to influence the success of the businesses or organizations you invest in. On the other hand, investing in real estate means you can control your spending and profits through key decisions. CONS As we’ve seen, a high reward can often be accompanied by high risk, while low risk brings a lower reward. Every investment that yields some sort of profit involves some sort of risk or disadvantage, even when you invest in real estate. BECOMING A LANDLORD When you purchase an investment property, you are taking on some risks and obligations that can bring unexpected costs and frustrations. Being a landlord can sometimes mean dealing with disrespectful tenants, paying to repair any property damage, and managing the property as a whole. You will also have to spend time finding tenants for your rental property, showing the property, and keeping up with tenant applications. This is an opportunity cost that you will have to consider when you invest in real estate. While you can hire a property manager, this also involves money coming out of your pocket.
LARGER UPFRONT COSTS AND LIQUIDITY As real estate prices continue to rise, owning investment properties require more and more money for upfront costs. With down payments, mortgage insurance, legal fees, property taxes, and other costs, buying land can be extremely expensive. This reality can make it entering this market for investment purposes difficult. Especially with the risk that one can lose money when investing, owning investment real estate is not possible for many investors. One other drawback of investing in the real estate market is that it is a long-term investment. It’s not very liquid, meaning you can’t turn it into cash right away if an emergency comes up. Most of the time, investors aren’t going to buy real estate and then sell it within a month just to make some quick cash. There’s a bit of a waiting game that comes with this type of investing. This is where market research and understanding audience insights can help you take advantage of the market and make the most of your investment property. THE FINAL CONSENSUS Making the most of your real estate investments requires a good amount of understanding and patience. The housing market can be both predictable and unpredictable at times, which is why conducting market research is so important.
DO YOUR RESEARCH Read about the market in the area that you want to buy property in. Consider what kind of renter or buyer you are targeting when you eventually put your house on the market. Understand the associated legal fees, tax benefits, and property taxes that come with investing in real estate. Right now the demand for houses is high, meaning it may be smart to take advantage of this hot market and sell one of your properties. With the market expected to cool due to rising interest rates, it’s best to consider your options in order to make the best decision. Investing in real estate presents advantages and disadvantages that one has to consider before jumping into the game. While it can be extremely profitable, it also requires quite a bit of available cash to get started. As well, the reward also comes with low liquidity, patience, and more work needed than simply investing in the stock market. It is also recommended that you work with professional real estate agents, mortgage lenders, property managers, and financial planners when investing in the housing market. These professionals can assist you in making decisions within your budget that suit your specific financial goals. Investing in the housing market, when done right and done wisely, can yield great results and offer the pride that comes with owning property. Regardless of whether you invest in real estate or not, diversifying and managing your various investments is integral to your success.
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By Andre Persaud Mortgage Agent, Lic. #M14000772
n the last couple of weeks I have seen a couple appraisals come in light, so I thought this would be a useful ‘Tip’ for you in this shifting market.
I don’t want this to alarm anyone as this is still a rare thing to happen. In the last 6 months our team has processed over 100 mortgages, and I have only had 3 appraisals come in light, but two of them were in the past two weeks. In this time period where the market seems to be shifting a bit, I’m getting a lot of questions about what happens if an appraisal comes in low. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE APPRAISAL COMES IN LOW? When an appraisal comes in low, the client must cover the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price. FOR EXAMPLE: Client buys a property for $600,000, and the appraisal comes in at $560,000. Client would have to pay $40,000 to cover the difference and make a down payment of at least $31,000 on the $560,000. So they would need to have $71,000 ($40,000 + $31,000) When to be concerned about an appraisal coming in low. This usually only ever comes up in multiple offer scenarios, but it is still rare even then.
There are 2 scenarios when the appraisal coming in light can have a drastic affect on the mortgage approval. When putting exactly 5% down, or putting exactly 20% down. Here’s why. 1. Putting 5% down (or the minimum down payment under the new guidelines). EXAMPLE: If a client is buying a property for $500,000 and only has $25,000 to put down and no way of getting any more money, there is cause for concern because they cannot put less than 5% down. Purchase Price: $500,000 Appraised Value: $480,000 Why is this a concern? The client would have to use $20,000 to cover the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price, and would need to put at least 5% down on the $480,000. After spending $20k to cover the difference, they would not have enough money left to cover the 5% x $480k = $24,000. The client would need to have $44,000 ($20,000 + $24,000) in this scenario. 2. Putting 20% down.
EXAMPLE: Purchase: $500,000 Down: $100,000 Appraised Value: $480,000 This can be cause for concern because when putting 20% or more down, we use different guidelines to qualify a client. When putting 20% down it becomes easier to qualify for more because we can go up to a 30 year amortization and we do not need to involve CMHC or one of the other insurers. If we drop to even 19% down, we are restricted to a 25 year amortization and we must get approval from the insurer as well as the lender. The client would have to use $20,000 to cover the difference, leaving them with $80,000. This would mean that they are only putting down $80,000 on the appraised value of $480k. So 16% down. Why is this a concern? The client may have qualified for this amount because we were using a 30 year amortization. Now that we have to use a 25 year amortization and add in an insurance premium, does the client still qualify?
What I sometimes do to combat this is run the initial application with 10% or 15% down. However, I will not automatically do this unless advised by the client, that they have concerns surrounding the appraisal. PLEASE tell me before making your offer. It is a lot more work at the pre approval stage, but I don’t mind as it saves us the stress later on. LAST EXAMPLE: Purchase: $500,000 Down (30%): $150,000 Appraised Value: $480,000
You just have to think, if the appraisal comes in low, can the client simply drop their % of down payment and not cross from above the 20% or 5% mark, to below those marks. 3. When NOT to be concerned: Putting 30% down. There is no cause for concern here as the client has more than enough to cover the $20,000 difference, and they are still left with $130,000 of cash in hand. They would be putting down 26% of the $480,000 appraised value so they would leave their original approval as is with the
30 year amortization and no CMHC premium. I hope I did not make this too confusing. I think I’m better at communicating this in person or over the phone. Please feel free to call me to go over specific deals.
Andre Persaud SAFEBRIDGE Financial Group Broker License #10524 P: 416-559-8856 F: 1-416-850-5352
Lindsay was presented with the Rookie of the Year Award by our Company Keller Williams Real Estate Associates for her outstanding achievement in sales during her first year as a Real Estate Agent. Lindsay began her Real Estate career as our administrative Assistant to our team and we all knew that her dedicated attention to every detail while fulfilling that role would set her up perfectly to be a successful Realtor. Lindsay, your passion and dedication to serving our clients fully has earned you this amazing award. Our clients love you! We look forward to having year two in your business be as exciting as your first year was. Congratulations to you and thank you for being such an integral part of the TB Realty Group. I am super excited to share with our clients, family, and friends that our team at The Realty Group has been given the TOP Team Award by Keller Williams Real Estate Associates, our brokerage. We love the company we work for and cherish the support we are given. It has been an honour to serve our clients, many of who have been repeat clients and their referrals. Thank you all for helping us to make 2021 such a great year. We learned quickly to adapt to all the changes that Covid forced on us and we never stopped finding our clients the homes they wanted when they were ready to make the move. Technology helped us make everything in our process smooth and efficient.Thank you to the team as well; Lindsay Meadwell, Samantha McGrath, and Julia Baird-Oryschak for making it such a great and successful year.
Theresa Baird - Broker Lindsay Meadwell | Samantha McGrath | Julia Baird-Oryschak Real Estate Agents
The Power To Move You
Photo by Ethan Calabrese
The Perfect Cobb Salad
THERESA RECOMMENDS FOOD AND DRINKS
By Delish Editors seen on www.delish.com on July 1st, 2019
T
o make the “perfect” Cobb salad, you MUST use homemade dressing. And it’s so easy, there’s really no excuse. Just throw some red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil into a mason jar and shake it out. There’s no need to stress over the vinaigrette emulsifying - the mason jar does all the hard work.
In terms of Cobb salad, you can take a lot of different routes. Our recipe is filled with crispy bacon, hardboiled eggs, chicken breast, and creamy avocado. For the chicken, you can poach it, grill it, bake it, or cook it in an Instant Pot. Or you can replace it with grilled steak or sautéed shrimp. Protein-wise, there’s a lot of room to play. But the blue cheese is kindaaaa nonnegotiable.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
STEP ONE In a jar, shake together vinegar, mustard, and oil and season with salt and pepper.
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 head romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered 12 oz. cooked chicken, diced 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 avocado, thinly sliced 4 oz. crumbled blue cheese 5 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tbsp. finely chopped chives
STEP TWO On a large platter, spread out lettuce, then add rows of hard-boiled egg, chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, and cherry tomatoes. STEP THREE Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with dressing, and garnish with chives. Preperation time: 30 minutes total Serves between 4-6 persons
How to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs
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Article and photos on www.eggs.ca
t’s that time of year! The Easter Bunny is about to make his rounds. Have you decorated your Easter eggs yet? Get the whole family involved with these easy steps to Easter Egg decorating.
Prepare Easter egg dye. You can buy Easter egg dye in many craft stores and prepare it according to the package, or make your own. It only takes a few minutes and a couple of ingredients. Here’s how: Mix 1 teaspoon vinegar with 1/4 teaspoon of food colouring. Pour the dye into 3/4 of a cup of water. Use a different cup for each dye, and be sure there is enough water in the cup to cover an entire egg.
INSTRUCTIONS Step 1 Wash eggs and hollow them using a pin and the blow-out technique (this is a job for the grown-ups). Hollowing the eggs allows you to keep them for next year, and ensures if you break
one, you won’t have a big mess to clean up. Note: You could also hollow your eggs after they have been dyed and dried. Here are the steps for hollowing an egg. Use tongs, a spoon, or your
hands to gently place the eggs in the dye. Remember, the longer you leave an egg in the dye, the deeper the colour will get. Allow eggs to dry completely (you can use a cake rack or a
GLITTER EGG
Sprinkle sparkles over a freshly -dyed egg for a glittery finish. WAX PATTERN EGG carton). You can also thread a wire in the hole of a hollowed egg to lower it into the dye and to help keep it submerged. See the process for dying eggs here. Step 2 After the eggs have dried, repeat the same process with another colour, if desired. Again, allow eggs to dry completely.
Before putting the egg in the dye, draw a pattern on the shell with a white crayon. The wax in the crayon will prevent the dye from sticking to the egg, leaving a white pattern. RUBBER BAND EGG
Step 3 The eggs are now dyed, but you can continue to decorate them. See here for some fun and easy ways to decorate your Easter eggs. With so many options, every egg will be a unique mini-masterpiece!
AND NOW...WE DECORATE!
Easter eggs can be customized in many different ways. Here are some creative ideas to give your Easter eggs some added creative flair. With some common craft items such as markers, glitter, googly eyes, crayons, pipe cleaners and acrylic paint, you can customize and can do the following decorations.
Apply small stickers to, or wrap rubber bands around the egg before dying; remove once the egg is dry, leaving an interesting pattern.
MARBLED EGG
CHARACTER EGG
Mix 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil into the dye to create a marble effect on your Easter eggs.
Apply acrylic paint to a small piece of bubble wrap; wrap around the outside of the egg, leaving a pattern of perfect circles.
WAX PATTERN EGG
Once dry, paint the egg using acrylic paints and small makeup or craft sponges. You can also sponge paint small designs on the eggs using a stencil. BEADED EGG
Glue small beads, embroidery thread or lace onto the Easter egg for added effects. Apply googly eyes and other accessories to Easter eggs to create cute animals or faces.
OILED EGG
Rub Easter eggs with a little vegetable oil for extra sheen.
DID YOU KNOW? Courtesy of the Forbes Collection
Some of the most expensive and most famous Easter eggs were created in the 1800s by Peter Carl Fabergé, a Russian jeweller. These decorative eggs were adorned with jewels, gold and gems.
SNEAK PEEK
385 Prince of Wales, Mississauga FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY! A beautiful one-bedroom, one bathroom condo, will be coming soon on the market. This incredible building offers enticing amenities, such as a concierge, gym, indoor pool, party/meeting room, rooftop deck, media room and ample visitor parking. This condominium is ideally located in the heart of Mississauga. If you’d like more information before we go live on MLS don’t hesitate to call our team at 647-298-0997.
Our Clients Say It Best... Thank you, Theresa and Lindsay for all your hard work. We truly appreciate getting the quick sale and for your help in negotiating the dollar amount which we are very happy with. Hope you can enjoy some much-needed time for yourselves. Regards, Peter and Nicole I just wanted to let you know how happy I am in my new place because of all your hard work. I would definitely recommend you to all of my friends & relatives! Please feel free to use me as a recommendation anytime in the future. Thanks again for all of your help. Regards, Spence We want to thank you both for the great job you did selling our condo. Your in-depth market knowledge enabled you to see the intrinsic value of the suite which you highlighted with your highly professional staging, professional photos and 3D virtual tour posted on MLS and Realtor.ca to provide maximum exposure. It was highly effective leading to a steady flow of showings to “qualified” buyers and an early sale at virtually full list price. Your expertise was evident throughout the offer process leading to a successful sale within a few short days. We would definitely list with you again and recommend your services to others. Thanks again! Regards, Blake & Lisa
MEET THE TEAM Theresa Baird - Broker Theresa is an award winning professional real estate agent. She has been in the industry for over 20 years, and prides herself on being able to communicate with her clients. Theresa’s aim is to make every client feel like they are the only client – even though she is typically working with 10 or more at a time. Theresa loves meeting new people and getting to know them, which makes her job perfect for her! Theresa enjoys the diversity of her business. She is able to provide clients with excellent service due to her extensive knowledge and experience in the Real Estate market. Theresa is committed to delivering what her clients need. She is a Master Certified Negotiation Expert and works hard to put the most amount of money in her client’s pockets. Theresa will work with you from beginning to end, ensuring that your closing is as stress-free as possible.
Lindsay Meadwell Real Estate Agent Since receiving her license, Lindsay has utilized her knowledge of the industry, along with her hard-working attitude and passion for providing excellent customer service to help several families meet their real estate goals. Lindsay believes in the importance of developing strong client relationships that will last a lifetime.
Samantha McGrath Real Estate Agent Samantha has worked in the Real Estate world for the past 6 years. She began at our Keller Williams Brokerage on-boarding new agents and teaching them our systems and technology. She has acquired her Real Estate license and is now working with the TB Realty Group. She enjoys working with both sellers and buyers.
Carolina Mauti Administrative Assistant After years of working as a successful real estate agent, Carolina is the TB Realty Groups administrative assistant.
Julia Baird-Oryschak Real Estate Agent Julia has worked and trained across the globe and brings her go-to-market strategies, campaigns and domestic expansion skills to the TB Realty Group. After completing her BSc and BBA she has joined the TB Realty Group where she brings her great customer skills and resourcefulness into play.
Dereck Addie Graphics/Photography Dereck has been working in the graphic design field for over 20 years and enjoys the challenges of working with the TB Realty Group.
tbaird.com
REALTY GROUP
647-298-0997 Theresa Baird - Broker Lindsay Meadwell | Samantha McGrath | Julia Baird-Oryschak Real Estate Agents
The Power To Move You 647.298.0997
tbaird@tbaird.com
Keller Williams Real Estate Associates, Brokerage
