Person calculating closing costs for the sale of a Durham Region home

One of the biggest mistakes that first-time home buyers make is failing to budget for closing costs. In fact, even experienced home buyers can overlook expenses related to the sale of a home that go above and beyond the purchase price. Both buyers and sellers are required to pay closing costs, so it is important to know what to expect before entering into a home sale.

What Are Closing Costs?

Closing costs are upfront expenses that you must pay when finalizing a home purchase. They typically cover legal and administrative costs and are separate from your down payment and mortgage fees. 

Closing costs in Canada can be anywhere from 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price of the home. So if your new home costs $400,000, the closing costs could be…

403 Views, 0 Comments

What's Going On With Interest Rates: A Video Explanation

Mortgage Broker Miriam Gobran from The Lending Suite and our Realtor, Brooke Lynn Napier talk about interest rates, what that means for the current Real Estate market, and what that may mean for home buyer and sellers. 

Although interest rates are on the rise, the prices of homes are steadily declining. This makes it a great time for home buyers to lock in their mortgage and purchase their dream home, before prices and interest rates rise even further. Our experienced Realtors and in-house mortgage brokers are readily available and easily accessible to discuss your Real Estate needs, and provide further insight into what your mortgage may look like. 

Need help? Feel free to reach out…

283 Views, 0 Comments

Courtice, Ontario rock welcome sign

The small Durham Region community of Courtice is located in between Oshawa and Bowmanville, and, like the latter, is part of the Clarington municipality. 

Courtice is known for its quaint, suburban atmosphere. This community is composed of both residential areas and untouched farmland, specifically in the southern and eastern regions. A large part of the appeal of Courtice, Ontario is its safety and livability, all while being located roughly seven kilometers outside of downtown Oshawa—the largest municipality in the Durham Region.

It’s urban meets rural, and Courtice is a great alternative to life in the bigger cities in the area. Families in particular like this community for the large, beautiful homes, quiet streets, and high number of…

707 Views, 0 Comments

Snowy residential street in Greater Toronto Area

The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder! If you’re a Durham Region resident, you know that winters can be tough. From freezing temperatures to heavy snow, a lot of us aren’t looking forward to the season ahead… but we can be prepared for it!

Before the snowstorms and the freezing rain, before scraping ice off your windshield and shoveling the driveway in the morning, there are few things you can do around the house to help with the oncoming winter weather. Here are our best tips for winter home maintenance.

Check All Windows

As a general rule, you’ll always want to check up on your windows. Drafts can cause your heating bill to skyrocket—so you’ll want to take a look every once in a while.

Ensure your windows are…

996 Views, 0 Comments

Beautiful luxury suburban home with landscaping

Even in the hottest real estate markets, selling your home is never truly easy. There are a lot of steps in the process, and by extension, a lot of things that can cause you some stress. 

If you’re thinking of selling your home, one of the biggest questions you may worry over is, “Will my property actually sell?” Here are a few things you can do to increase the exposure of your Durham Region property—and ensure that it not only sells, but that it sells for the right price. 

Go Digital!

Welcome to the digital age! Now more than ever, people are using social media as a marketing tactic, whether it be for a small business or even selling a home. 

If you’d like to increase the exposure of your Durham Region home for sale, consider posting…

346 Views, 0 Comments