Real Estate Blog

11 Tasks to Do When Shutting Down the Cottage for Winter

No one wants to say goodbye to their cottage for the winter, but as the days get shorter, the air gets crisper and the leaves continue to blanket the ground, it’s the ideal time to do just that. While some cottages can be used year-round, many are three-season only. These are the ones that need to be prepped for the winter months so you can head back without issue once the warm weather returns!

Just like your home, your cottage requires proper care and maintenance to ensure it can be used and enjoyed for many years to come. This is why it’s well worth the time and effort to shut it down properly, so you can hopefully mitigate any issues by the time you return in the spring. 

If you’re a cottage owner, be sure to check these 11 tasks off your…

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National Home Sales Forecast to Edge Back Further

With interest rates on the rise, home sales have continued to cool. In some parts of the country, home prices have fallen from their peaks reached earlier this year, are flat in some regions, and are still climbing in others. The issue of not enough homes for sale has not gone away.

Some 532,545 properties are forecast to trade hands via Canadian MLS® Systems in 2022, a decline of 20% from the 2021 annual record. The downward revision from CREA’s June forecast was mostly the result of a downward revision to sales activity in Ontario, along with smaller revisions in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.

The national average home price is forecast to rise by 4.7% on an annual basis to $720,255 in 2022. That said, much of that increase reflects how…

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Are Higher Fixed Mortgage Rates Here To Stay?

One question many Canadians are asking is are higher fixed mortgage rates here to stay? At the September policy meeting, the Bank of Canada (BoC) raised interest rates by 75 basis points, bringing the benchmark rate to 3.25 per cent, maintaining its hawkish approach to monetary policy. The central bank signalled that it would be prepared to keep pulling the trigger on rate hikes until there is sufficient evidence the consumer price index (CPI) is showing signs of coming down.

Although the Canadian annual inflation rate has eased from its 30-year high of 8.1 per cent in August, officials conceded that this was driven mainly by gasoline prices. The national economy endured “a further broadening of price pressures, particularly…

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A Look at Financial Help and Incentives for First-Time Homebuyers

Despite recent softening in the housing market, home ownership in Canada is expensive and can be intimidating if you’re a first-timer. Luckily, there’s financial help and incentives for first-time homebuyers, which can help offset the cost of purchasing a new home. You don’t need to feel as if you have to do it all alone – read below to see what incentives are available.

Incentives for First-Time Homebuyers

Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) offers an alternative way of securing funds for a down payment for first-time homebuyers. If you have a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), you may withdraw up to $35,000 from the account to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself or a related person…

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Happy Thanksgiving

RE/MAX Infinity would like to take this opportunity to thank every client, business associate, and Realtor® that helps contribute to our success. 

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart" - Helen Keller

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

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Where You Should (and Shouldn’t) Store Things in Your Home

The changeover to fall and winter is often a little melancholy in Canada as we bid adieu to the fair weather months and hunker down for winter. The storage battle is sometimes a challenge, particularly if you’ve added something like new outdoor furniture,or if you have leftovers from a summer renovation project. 

The garage, basement, and attic are all go-to seasonal storage solutions—we know this. In the crunch to get everything put away, it’s tempting to simply stick it where it fits. That could be, unfortunately, a setup for disappointment. 

The garage, basement, and attic are three distinct environments and the things they store best aren’t always interchangeable. To help you make sure everything in storage survives the winter, check out our…

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What’s Mortgage Pre-Approval? Canadian Real Estate Questions Answered.

To get pre-approved for a mortgage, do I just have to be really nice to the broker?  You have questions about Canadian real estate. Read on for answers.

Though you’re probably that aware posting selfies with the house you’re interested in buying and tallying “likes” has nothing to do with pre-approval. But you may have other questions about the Canadian housing market, mortgages, offer conditions and negotiations and selling. It can all be a little overwhelming, and sometimes you need help.

That’s why RE/MAX Canada decided to hit the streets and talk with Canadians, to see what real estate questions they may need answers to.

How Much do People Really Know About Canadian Real Estate?

How much does the average person…

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Prepping Your Home for a New Puppy

After a long search you’ve finally found the perfect furry friend to bring home. Your world is about to change in the best way as flapping ears, a wagging tail, and a droopy tongue become your new normal. Before bringing home your new puppy or dog, there are important changes to make to ensure your pet is safe and happy in its new space, and that your home doesn’t get completely destroyed!

Flooring

When it comes to floors and dogs, hardwood and carpet both have their pros and cons. Hardwood is good because it’s easy to clean paw marks, accidents, and shedding fur. The downside to hardwood is it can be easily scratched by long nails. Waxing floors often, clipping pet nails, and taking long walks with your puppy can help extend the life of…

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What Reno Gives the Best ROI?

Will the carpet in my bathroom increase or decrease my property value? Let’s just say if you’ve asked that question then you’re in the right place to find out what’s relevant in the current Canadian real estate market, whether you’re browsing, buying, or selling.

RE/MAX® has been around since carpeting in bathrooms (please, no!) was a thing. Our 50 years of experience has taught us a thing or two about Canadian real estate. Don’t worry if you can’t keep up with everything there is to know about home-buying, selling and staging a property. That’s why we’re here – to clarify all your questions. And you can be sure that there are many, many questions.

So, How Much do People Really Know About Canadian Real Estate?

RE/MAX…

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How to Create a Homeowner’s Journal

Once you become a homeowner, you can forget about calling the landlord or superintendent if something breaks—you’re now responsible for maintenance and repairs. Let’s face it: there’s a plethora of tasks and projects to stay on top of to keep your home in top shape, everything from replacing the furnace filter and cleaning your gutters, to testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and winterizing your lawn. You also have lots of important paperwork to keep track of, such as warranties and manuals for your household appliances and systems. The best way to stay organized is by creating a homeowner’s journal. Here’s how to get started so you don’t find yourself drowning in random reminder notes.

What is a homeowner’s journal? 

Simply…

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