Brampton Celebrates the First Day of Summer The celebrations begin today, the first day of Summer (June 21, 2008) For more information, see the following link: http://www.city.brampton.on.ca/media-releases/08-033.pdf Enjoy the activities! Thinking of moving to Brampton, or moving around Brampton?  Pleae check my website for the latest listings and market information.  Give me a call...I'm here to help!Sara Kareer(tel) 905-450-8300(toll-free) 1-888-450-8301(web) www.SaraKareer.com 06/21/2008

I'd like to share these home inspection tips that my colleague Jim Walker provided for one of my recent newsletters.  I've invited him to join ActiveRain, so hopefully we'll "see" him soon! Here are some important things to look for in your own home or when you are thinking of buying a new or resale home.  90% of all visible moisture in a basement comes from outside, not through  walls. Slope the land outside to make water flow away from the foundation.  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recommends that  every home should have a dehumidifier in operation in the basement,  especially during the summer. Air conditioned air sinks into the basement  and condensation is more likely. So is mold.  South-facing windows need effective sun blocking blinds or curtains during  the summ... 06/18/2008

For any homeowner or Realtor in the GTA, CRDA (Canadian ReDesigners Association) members can offer you significant savings on portable storage units and paint products to help get those listings ready for sale.  Our members in other regions across the country can also provide these discounts where facilities are available.     06/18/2008

You're planning to sell your home and have spent much time decluttering closets and basements, painting and primping your rooms and now it's almost time for the big day.  Your Realtor is coming to take photos and do a virtual tour for your debut on MLS ! The exterior of your home is usually the first image seen by thousands on the Internet and the many more that drive by.  How can you make it stand out from the crowd?  How can you make a great first impression that draws the buyers in ... wanting to see more? Follow these steps to ensure your property looks HOT ... whether you're selling or not! Landscaping a lush green lawn is always inviting seed or sod early to fill in bald spots water regularly mow grass & edge flower beds regularly replace dead plants trim trees & shrubs back from ... 06/16/2008

Oh it's sad but true, I've seen all of these things recently.  Please do yourself a favour and spring into the current decade.  10 Things to Remove NOW   doilies dusty silk or dried flowers macrame plant hangers or wall hangings plastic, lucite or cardboard photo frames pleated lampshades balloon style window valances wallpaper borders anything brass dead or dying houseplants forgotten seasonal decorations !     ... there, now doesn't that FEEL better? 05/08/2008

The Wellspring Chinguacousy cancer support centre in Brampton officially opened its doors on April 8th.  I'm very proud to say that I volunteered my time and expertise to choose the paint colours for each room.  It was an honour to work with Regional Councillor Gael Miles on this project and to share in her joy of seeing the end result. Read the full article HERE which quotes that  "One of the most noticeable features of the house is the colour palate of marine tones of greens and blues, as well as soft shades of yellows and creams ... wonderful sense of serenity you get when you walk in." 05/08/2008

A good first impression is critical, and a house (like any individual) has only one chance to make that important first impression.  It takes less than 60 seconds for a potential buyer to decide whether or not they like a home.  Sometimes, they won't even get out of the car.  Curb appeal is the first step in the staging process.  The façade and front entrance of a home must be presented in such a way that the potential buyer is drawn in and wants to see more.  Home buyers are busy people who typically work long hours and they now have little time for those "fix-it" projects.  Today's savvy buyer demands "move-in" condition and most buyers actually have little imagination.  If the living room walls are pink and the kitchen is done in a country blue theme, they will have great difficulty ... 04/03/2008

Here is a March update of Brampton Ontario real estate activity. (TREB area# W24)There was 973 active properties for sale in the Brampton W24 area MLS compared to 846 last year in month of March and 245 are sold compared to 285 sold last year in march. Here is the detail view.Property TypeActiveSoldAverage Sale PriceCondo Apartments8026$154,315.00Condo Townhouse7823$193,967.00Detached625123$394,057.00Semi-Detached12653$294,010.00- Semi-Detached house prices are up from $278651 to $294010.- Detached house prices are up from $367194 to $394507.- Condo Townhouse prices are up from $186703 to $193967- Condo Apartments prices are DOWN from $155339 to $154315 Like always if you are in the market for a house in Malton, Brampton, Springdale, Castlemore, Mississauga or any other part of the GTA,... 04/02/2008

Here is a March update of Brampton Ontario real estate activity. (TREB area# W23)There was 1188 (compared to 1145 last year same time) active properties for sale in the Brampton W23 area MLS. In the month of March 330 (472 last year) are sold. Here is the detail view.Property TypeActiveSoldAverage Sale PriceCondo Apartments2910$195,750.00Condo Townhouse7921$227,048.00Detached771192$352,625.00Semi-Detached22684$283,472.00- Semi-Detached house prices are up from $276731 to $283472.- Detached house prices are up from $336915 to $352625.- Condo Townhouse prices are up from $217739 to $227048.- Condo Apartments prices are DOWN from $197800 to $195750 Like always if you are in the market for a house in Malton, Brampton, Springdale, Castlemore, Mississauga or any other part of the GTA, our tea... 04/02/2008

ONTARIO EXPANDS LAND TRANSFER TAX REFUND PROGRAMFirst-time buyers of resale homes to benefit from new tax measure The Ontario government is giving all first-time homebuyers a break on land transfer tax by proposing to expand the Land Transfer Tax Refund Program to include purchases of resale homes, From Dec 13, 2007 first-time buyers of resale homes, as well as newly constructed homes, would be eligible for a refund from the provincial government of up to $2,000 of the Land Transfer Tax paid.This proposal to include resale homes would be effective for agreements of purchase and sale entered into after December 13, 2007.For more details on this program go to Ministry of Revenue Ontariohttp://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/notices/ltt/0207.htmlThinking of Buying?View our listings in Greater To... 03/07/2008

 Bank of Canada on Tuesday March 04, 2008 droped its key overnight lending rate by half a percentage point to 3.5 per cent to prevent U.S. economic weakness from spilling over into our country.It's the first time the Bank of Canada has cut its key rate by more than a quarter of a percentage point in more than six years.Today's rate cut was the first policy move presided over by the new Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney whi took over from David Dodge, at the end of January.Look for major banks to cut their mortgage rate in very near future. This is very good new for buyers as the monthly mortgae amount will be lower and good for sellres as there will be more buyers in the market.Thinking of Buying?View our listings in Greater Toronto AreaI AM AT YOUR SERVICE! Mandeep BhathalCall me to... 03/04/2008

Here is a February update of Brampton Ontario real estate activity. (TREB area# W24)There was 801 (compared to 743 last year same time) active properties for sale in the Brampton W24 area MLS. In the month of February 232 houses (compared to232 houses last year sametime) are sold. Here is the detail view.Property TypeActiveSoldAverage Sale PriceCondo Apartments7337$162983.00Condo Townhouse6316$202275.00Detached514108$395716.00Semi-Detached10250$292091.00- Semi-Detached house prices are up from $276942 to $292091.- Detached house prices are up from $392845 to $395716.- Condo Townhouse prices are up from $172986 to $202275- Condo Apartments prices are up from $156313 to $162983 By looking at this data from Toronto Real Estate Board it looks like the prices will go higher again for this ye... 03/01/2008

Here is a January update of Brampton Ontario real estate activity. (TREB area# W24)There was 733 (compared to 667 last year same time) active properties for sale in the Brampton W24 area MLS. In the month of January 200 (199 last year) are sold. Here is the detail view.Property TypeActiveSoldAverage Sale PriceCondo Apartments8924$162042.00Condo Townhouse5012$194277.00Detached45992$398931.00Semi-Detached10143$287970.00- Semi-Detached house prices are up from $274638 to $287970.- Detached house prices are up from $384079 to $398931.- Condo Townhouse prices are up from $185960 to $194277- Condo Apartments prices are down from $163632 to $162042 By looking at this data from Toronto Real Estate Board it looks like the prices will go higher again for this year. The mortgage rates are quite lo... 02/01/2008

Great Home backing on to the 9th hole of a Golf Course.  Please see details athttp://www.valuehomes.ca/Listing/ViewListingDetails.aspx?ListingID=1257559 The virtual tour with pictures is at http://www.valuehomes.ca/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?listingid=1257559   12/04/2007

                                                                                                                                                              Brampton Real EstateWhat a great time to sell Brampton Real Estate!                 If you're thinking of selling your Brampton home, why wait for the Spring!  Now is the best time to sell your home.  The competition is less meaning there are less homes for the buyers to choose from.  You will be dealing with serious buyers, not tire-kickers.I  have a few buyers who are looking in specific areas of Brampton and Mississauga and I would love to sell them your house! Don't get lost in the crowd of homes that will flood the Brampton Real Estate market in the Spring.  Stand Out and get top dollar for your property today! If you're serio... 11/22/2007

Today in Peel Region (and across the Greater Toronto Area) we have been hit with our first winter storm.  This is very early compared to last year when our first snowfall arrived in late January!  I was just getting used to the fact that we had plenty of lingering yellow and gold leaves on the trees.  Now that those shades of gold are painted in white, it reminds me of the wide range of color choices available for a pale indoor landscape.  PARA Paints Whites Collection contains a total of 36 samples conveniently broken down into "Bright", "Neutrals", "Warm" and "Cool".  This is a really handy color card to keep in your consultation kit, so pick one up if you have a PARA dealer in your city.Some of my favorites are P1836-4 (Roman White), P2614-4 (Birch Bark), P2603-4 (Parchment) and P834... 11/22/2007

No, that's not the price of a house.  The City of Brampton finally decided to up-date the "Welcome to Brampton" population signs at various highway entry points into the city.  A while back, my blog made reference to the signs which were obviously dated - http://activerain.com/blogsview/86378/Brampton-Facts-HistoryHowever, I find it amusing that by the time these signs were made and erected, a few hundred people moved to Brampton and several hundred more babies had been born.  Silly waste of money isn't it? 11/05/2007

I recently picked up the * General Paint ColorLife cards, a truly beautiful collection sure to inspire you no matter what your style. * General Paint is only available in Canada. They also carry a new line called the Canadiana Historic collection which brings to life the true north and the warmth & charm of cottage country.  It's just perfect for this time of year when all the autumn colors have fallen from the trees and we need to think about wrapping ourselves in comforting colors within our homes. 11/02/2007

The City of Brampton wants home buyers to know that the only legal basement apartments in Brampton -- there are about 3000 such homes -- had to exist prior to November 16, 1995, be registered with the City before January 31, 2006, and be limited to a single unit.  The "mortgage helper" (e.g., renting out a basement apartment as a secondary source of income) can be quite enticing to prospective home buyers.  But there are risks associated with renting out an illegal apartment, including fines, prosecution, and excluded coverage from your homeowners insurance. (Sidebar: while the City doesn't say how many homeowners sought and obtained legal non-conforming status, the City's Enforcement and By-Law Services Division reports that over 70% of the complaints lodged against suspected illegal b... 10/31/2007

A recent article in the Brampton Guardian (October 5/07) indicates that Brampton housing starts show a 32 per cent increase.  This is in comparison to Peel Region as a whole and all areas across the GTA where figures are down 20 per cent.These statistics represent the first part of 2007, compared to the previous year.To read the full story, click on the link below - http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/article/35180 10/06/2007