Earth Day is coming up next month, so here is a question along environmental lines: If a tree falls in your yard, who has to pay for its removal? A tree belongs to the property owner whose land the trunk is on. If it straddles two properties, it belongs to both owners. Any owner of… Continue reading If a tree falls….
Low Interest Rates: Here to Stay?
According to a recent survey done by CIBC, almost half of Canadians believe that today’s low rates will remain unchanged over the next year (a notable increase from the same poll two years ago when only 24 per cent of Canadians believed interest rates would remain low). What do you think – are rates going… Continue reading Low Interest Rates: Here to Stay?
Toxic walls
In most agreements, you will see a clause called “UFFI”. This stands for urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, and is a material that is carcinogenic and hasn’t been used at least since the 1980s. The clause in the agreement will state that, to the best of the seller’s knowledge and belief, there is no UFFI insulation in… Continue reading Toxic walls
Getting Ready for House Shopping
With the warm weather over the weekend, many people that are hoping to purchase a home this spring are starting to get “that itch.” To go look at houses and see what’s already out there on the market. But do you know how much you can afford? Have you spoken to a mortgage professional to… Continue reading Getting Ready for House Shopping
Tax time
With tax time coming up shortly here in Canada, I thought I would revisit a topic: when do you have to pay HST on a house? The short answer: always, unless there is an exemption. One major exemption is for resale homes; as long as it has been used for residential purposes, there is generally… Continue reading Tax time