The home as a system

Wake Up Buyers!!! Forget the wall colour and focus on the systems in a home!

Many buyers in the Toronto market are getting too wrapped up in the aesthetics of a home and not taking the time to consider the internal systems and how these systems affect the physical and financial health of the occupants. Most buyers and owners do not realize that often builders are putting materials and systems into new and renovated homes that are to their detriment. Eurodale Developments, winners of BILD Renovator of the Year refuse to do so as exemplified in their latest home renovation at 33 Kelso Avenue.

Brendan Charters and Jim Cunningham co-founders of Eurodale Development chose to take a holistic approach to renovating this house in the Avenue and Lawrence community. They treated moisture and air management through waterproofing and an air/vapour barrier, they created air sealing and insulation upgrades to existing non insulated masonry walls with high density spray foam (to avoid potential mould issues with cellulose based insulation) and also increased efficiencies with a high efficiency boiler to heat floors and domestic hot water. This allows for reduced dependency on the forced air heating system and the elimination of a wasteful traditional hot water tank. Complete air sealing with foam and caulking and tape in areas of air and vapour barriers, as well as new energy star window and door installations were a sizeable replacement to the old leaky units. Once they had a tight home, they addressed air quality with material selections such as formaldehyde free cabinetry and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints to reduce off gassing. The ventilation systems in the home were also improved to ensure proper exchange of air inside the living space.

Due to these upgrades it will now cost the owners substantially less to run the home. It will also be more comfortable as there will be less of the exterior forces of nature able to affect the humidity levels and temperatures inside the space.

 In a hot real estate market like this, location, most commonly referred to as the most important factor in any real-estate deal, may not prove to be everything – you need to start looking at how the house works as a system. The house at 33 Kelso Avenue has both a great location and great system design, making it the perfect combination.

For more details on this listed property check out: www.33kelsoavenue.ca

First time buyer - Will emotions cloud your judgement when buying your first house?

A quick property purchase can have unwanted consequences.

 To help avoid missteps take a look at the following:

• Look carefully at your own finances and don't underestimate the costs
• Be pre-approved for a mortgage and shop around.
• Really think about where you want to live and factor in costs beyond the housing cost e.g schooling, transportation costs, proximity to amenities.
• Do a home inspection.
• Contact a real estate salesperson to introduce you to neighbourhoods and housing options.
• Have a plan before entering into negotiations.
• Read blogs and web sites about Toronto Real Estate.

Video Blog - Buyers Faqs

First time Buyers Series

Toronto Neighbourhoods

Claire Gordon's website - Buyers Guide

Buyers Services

First time Buyers in Toronto - Finding your first home - The Search

Finding your first home in Toronto could be as easy as opening your email. On the other hand searching for your first home can be a frustrating and time consuming experience.

Toronto properties for sale are often listed on the Multiple Listing Service Service(MLS) that can be searched by neighbourhood, price, property size and other features. This can be difficult.

The alternative is to ask for a personalized search and receive new listings as they are posted. These pre-selected listings will actually meet your search criteria and require no other effort than opening your email.

 Claire Gordon's Buyer's Services

First Time Buyers in Toronto Real Estate - Use your RRSP for First Home Purchase

Help for the first time home buyer in Toronto.

Even if your spouse or common-law partner has owned a property previously, you can still qualify as a first time buyer and for the Government of Canada's first time home buyers' programme (HBP) and use your RRSP for your purchase. Check out the rules .

The amount of money that you can withdraw from a Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP) without a tax penalty has been increased. Now first-time buyers can withdraw $25,000 tax-free from a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to purchase or build a new home (up from $20,000).

See Claire Gordon's buyers' guide 

First time Home Buyers in Toronto

Are you ready to purchase your first property? Being familiar with these initial costs: Mortgage Down Payment, Offer Deposit, Land Transfer Tax, legal fees and moving costs is great preparation.

 Try out the mortgage and land transfer calculators and view other tips on my Buying a Home page or view  Claire Gordon Deposit on an Offer: What? When ? How?

First time Home Buyers in Toronto Real Estate - Are you confused?

  How can you define your ideal property and neighbourhood?

•  Establish your price range, define and prioritize your wants and needs .
•  Evaluate your current lifestyle and any impending lifestyle changes
•  List the amenities that are most important to you in a neighbourhood.
•  List the features of a home that you want and fit your lifestyle.

Now the fun part - divide the list into must haves and would like to have and check out the neighbourhoods!!

See video -  Claire Gordon Neighbourhoods

New to Canada ? Buying your first home? What newcomers need to know.

We all have friends, neighbours, work colleagues or acquaintances who are new to Canada. They may not know that the publication:  Buying Your First Home in Canada: What newcomers Need to Know is a downloadable home buying guide in nine languages.

Often newcomers have partners or parents who are not fluent in English and would appreciate home buying information in their own languages. The free guide is in Punjabi, French, Arabic, Spanish,Urdu,Tagalog, Mandarin.

See Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation -  See Buying a Home.
Also see Claire Gordon Buying Guide and  Buyers Services

How will the reduction of the term of government backed insured mortgages affect you?

To Torontonians considering longer mortgage time, changes announced by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will, of course, mean higher monthly payments but also will significantly reduce the total interest paid and build equity faster in your homes.

Changes

• On new  government insured mortgages the amortization period will not be permitted to be over 30 years. 
• Borrowing  amounts to refinance your mortgage will be changed as the maximum amount permitted will be 85 %  of the value of your home, a 5% change.
• Changes also  affect  lines of credit (secured by homes) used for debts unrelated to home purchases. The government has stopped insurance backing of these .

Timeline

• Mortgage changes begin March 18,2011
• Lines of Credit changes  begin April 18, 2011

Claire Gordon - Money matters.

See "Canada’s well-regulated housing sector has been an important strength that allowed us...... and helped protect us from the worst of the recent global recession,” said Minister Flaherty. Department of Finance Canada