This morning, while on my way to an appointment, a woman who was obviously in a hurry, and not paying attention, crashed her car into the back end of mine while I was waiting for the traffic light to change.  You could say that I got my morning joltbefore I even had a chance to get my coffee !!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          By the time that it took me tounfasten my seatbelt and get out of the car, she was already out of hers and declared triumphantly that there was no damage.  I looked quickly, saw a very small scratch, not... 05/20/2008

What do you expect from your Real Estate Salesperson? When you list your home for sale, what do you expect from a Real Estate Salesperson?  I know you expect your home to appear on MLS,  I know you expect an Open House, but do you expect to be kept up to date on enquiries made to the Salesperson, do you expect to be able to reach your Salesperson when you need him/her? When you list your home for sale with me, I ensure that: your lawn sign is secured and properly maintained your home is properly  and sufficiently photographed your home is advertised in every issue of the Valente Property Guide until it is sold you recieve weekly feedback from showings your home is advertised in the Windsor Star your home is advertised on the Real Estate Cable Channel your home is featured on my Home Pag... 05/17/2008

In today's Windsor Star article, written by Dalton Chen, it is reported that Money Sense magazine considers the City of Windsor the 21st best place to live out of 154 surveyed communities !!!  The city was ranked on the weather, air quality, housing, income, unemployment, crime and it's amenities.  Windsor's best score was in the time it takes to save up enough money to make a down payment on a house and our terrific weather.  Multiple sources including Stats Can, Environment Canada, Canadian Medical Association were used to compile the data which was then used to create the annual list.  Ottawa ranked #1 and the small port city of Port Alberni, British Columbia placed last. Congratulations Windsor !!! 05/15/2008

The most important reason why a home owner would sell their house privately is to save the commission.  According to NAR (National Association of Realtors), 51% of those who were surveyed did not want to pay a commission fee.  In 2006, it was reported that 12% of sellers chose to sell their house without the assistance of a Realtor.  In choosing this option, the home owners also chose to: have no access to MLS advertising have no access to the additional 100's or 1,000's of local Realtors who will assist in the sale of their house at no additional cost try to determine a realistic listing price with no comparables to work with try to determine the difference between a qualified buyer and a "looker" struggle through the many complicated contracts on their own be available 24/7 for questi... 05/13/2008

 Businesses and industries who must report to FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) are required, as of June 23, 2008, to "know their clients" and asking for I.D. is one way to do that.  The Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) requires financial institutions and others covered by the legislation to identify customers who conduct financial transactions.  The Act also requires them to keep records and identify their clients.  Clients are required to provide valid identification such as a birth certificate, a driver's license, or similar type document.  There are other requirements that might prompt the business you are dealing with to ask you for more information about the transaction you are conducting.  For instance... 05/07/2008

Here is a summary of the Real Estate Statistics provided by the Windsor and Essex County Real Estate Board for the Month of April 2008. Sales month-over-month in April decreased by 2% over April of 2007.  However, listings taken in the month increased by 6% AND year-to-date listings fell as well by -4 % Prices were higher from a year ago from $161,147 to $163,694.  Overall, the market is flat and the same as it was last year.  Supply decreased pretty well the same as demand (listings vs. sales) and the average sales price increased ever so slightly.  My opinion is that we’ve just about hit ROCK BOTTOM in Windsor and it’s about time to BUY.  Grandma always told me to buy low and sell HIGH… Until next month, I wish you all the best, -Sash Overall Market April 2008 in Windsor and Essex Co... 05/01/2008

Most renters don't stop to think just how much they are losing by not turning their rent dollars into a mortgage payment.  They believe that, because in many cases their utilities are included in their rent payment, that they are further ahead than a home owner who must pay these as well as property taxes and home maintenance costs.  So let's do some quick calculations and take for example a monthly rent payment of $800.  After 10 years you will have paid $96,000 with no return on your money.  Real estate may appreciate over time but rental payments do not.  If you took the rent payments and applied them towards an investment that after 10 years earned you a conservative 5% return, you would earn $28,225.  In my opinion, the true cost of renting during those 10 years then becomes $124,2... 05/01/2008

Once you have located your new home, you can begin the fun part - moving. Whether you’re moving two streets away from your current home, from one side of town to the other, or clear across the country, you have two options – either professional movers or doing it yourself. There are pros and cons of both choices. You must decide how much you can afford to spend, and what option you feel works best for you. Let's review the options.  Professional Movers • Professional movers costs and experience vary. There are those on the less expensive end of the system, consisting of two to four people with a truck, up to the executive level of packing and using a huge semi-truck to delivery your belongings. Usually, what you pay for is what you get. • Most moving companies provide sturdy, reinforce... 04/07/2008

Attention Active Rain Bloggers Video Creation Copy At any given time, three general factors affect the sale of your house: the current real estate market, conditions, the location of your property, and the competition. These three factors are always in flux. Interest rates rise and fall; neighborhoods lose or gain cachet; similar houses suddenly arrive on the market; and the pool of active buyers changes. No one can control these factors, and you can’t wait until all the conditions are absolutely perfect to sell your home. Smart sellers don't put themselves at the mercy of these factors – they maximize conditions to their advantage. Let's review the three factors mentioned above: market, location and competition.  The Market Packaging will make your property stand out from the competit... 04/03/2008

Here is a summary of the Real Estate Statistics provided by the Windsor and Essex County Real Estate Board for the Month of March 2008. Sales month-over-month in March decreased by 7% over March of 2007.  Listings taken in the month also decreased by -20% AND year-to-date listings fell as well by -9% Prices were higher from a year ago from $159,727 to $169,961.  Overall, the market is flat and the same as it was last year.  Despite the slight drop in sales activity, it is offset by less active listings on the market.  That seems to explain the slight increase in price. Overall Market March 2008 in Windsor and Essex County 2008 2007 2006 %INC/DEC [ 2007 - 2008 ] Total # of Listings [Month] 1085 1350 1392 -20% Total # of Listings YTD 3543 3879 3959 -9% Total # of Expired Listings [Month]... 04/02/2008

Selling your home can create mass confusion. Timing is everything in real estate; however, some also believe one season is better than another. If you ask a real estate professional when you should sell your home, most will say, "Now is the best time.” Real estate today is a year-round business, and most agents will agree that they do nearly as much business in December as in June. If that is the case, then how do you decide which is the best time of year to list your home? Each season has it’s own characteristics. Let's review each one. The Truth About Spring According to most real estate professionals, spring is the busiest time of the year for buyers and sellers -- spring offers the opportunity to showcase their home at its best. There's always something nice about listing your home... 04/02/2008

Some houses on the market sell before a sign is posted in the front yard. Others just don’t sit there an collect dust. You've had your house on the market and right now for months... Why isn't your home selling? There could be several reasons that a house doesn't sell quickly. Here are the Top Ten Deadly Mistakes Home Sellers make and the reasons why their homes don's sell...: DEADLY MISTAKE #1- When you’re ready to hire an agent, interview several before making your final decision. If one agent thinks your house can sell for $20,000 more than the others, stay clear. More than likely, that agent just wants your business, will wait a few months for the house not to sell, then, convince you to lower the asking price to what you probably should have asked for in the first place. DEADLY MI... 04/01/2008

"No matter what I do, I just can't sell my home," you exclaim! Most homes can be sold in today’s market in a reasonable amount of time, generally within two or three months. And most sellers receive their asking price. There are typically nine steps in selling a home. If you’re having trouble, review the following. Perhaps, it will assist you in identifying the problem correctly. * STEP 1 - ANALYSIS: The critical element is to correctly predict the price that your home is worth in current market conditions. When the expected value of your home is wrong, you're asking for trouble right from the start. The typical problem is that a home is priced too high for the market. This is the case for the majority of homes currently for sale. It is either the fault of the agent, the seller or both... 03/27/2008

You’re ready to buy or sell a home. Now you are looking to select a company and agent to work with. Finding the right company to help you sell or find your next home is imperative to making the process smooth. A reputable company with a well-known name in the area will give both solutions and credibility. A company that has a track record means they have systems. Their experience has allowed them to do the fine tuning in the home buying and selling process that many younger firms lack. As a result, the transaction time is reduced, a greater product is released and more clients are happy with the end result. For home sellers, the credibility of the company selling their home is essential. When someone drives by or sees the listing in the paper, they know that the attached company to you... 03/26/2008

You are ready to sell your home or purchase your dream home – now how do you find an agent? Most people go by word of mouth or referrals, while others chose someone who sold a home near them or an agent they saw in the local paper. In this article, we’re going to challenge you with some thoughts and equip you with questions to ask that will help ensure that you’ve chosen an ideal agent. When you receive a referral or select the agent you want to use, be sure that you are not using them for any other reason then they are your best solution. A friend, family member or a trusted referral can cost you thousands, if the agent does not fit your needs. With the majority of people using an agent and not being 100% satisfied, this means you must dig harder than you normally desire and make sure... 03/25/2008

You are selling your home, and you want to get the best price you can to maximize your profit. Do you need a Realtor? Can't you sell it yourself and save on the commission?   It's best to have an agent on your side who will coach you through the process, be your advocate in negotiations, advise you on preparing your home for sale - and provide access to the most powerful homeselling tool of all. That tool is the database of homes for sale, locally called the MLS.   What's an MLS? When you hire a Realtor to sell your house you sign a contract to sell the home, and your home is "listed." Locally, most of these are exclusive arrangements, meaning the sale of the home will result in the Realtor getting paid.   A multiple listing service (MLS) is what it sounds like - a collection of thousa... 03/24/2008

Before you can answer the question do you need an agent, let’s place, in detail, what one does for you. In Ontario an agent can represent both a buyer and seller as a dual agent and can individually represent the buyer or seller. Generally, to represent both parties in a single transaction, written consent is needed to be a ‘dual agent’. To be involved with an agent as a buyer or seller, Ontario (and mostly all Provinces) require signed consent, otherwise known as a contract between the agent and buyer/seller. This helps avoid issues in the future. But, be careful… When a contract is signed, you are usually obligated to use that broker.   A Seller’s Agent   A seller’s agent is called the listing agent and is responsible for selling the homeowner’s property during a given time period, i... 03/24/2008

GIANT Reason #1- When selling a home, you want to use the experience of an agent to prevent issues (lawsuits), sell your home for top dollar, and enter into a smooth transaction that does not flip your normal daily routines upside-down.   GIANT Reason #2-  A real estate transaction is complicated. Buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, and deeds and multi-page title documents. An agent acts as your educated guide through this complexity, which helps you avoid delays or costly mistakes that can turn into tremendous headaches.   GIANT Reason #3- The process of selling a home is time consuming. National averages show that homes stay on the market for an average of 60-90 days. Once off the market, the closing can take... 03/24/2008

Real estate agents are paid on commission. A majority of the time, both the buyers and sellers commission are paid from the selling price of the home. Although there is NO standard set commission rate and they may vary widely between Real Estate Brokerages, Commissions are calculated from the percentage that averages between 5-8 percent of the homes sale price. However, there are some firms that charge a flat rate.   The reason for the difference in rates charges is generally tied to the type of marketing done for the home. If the rate is low, less time and capital will be placed into marketing the home. If the rate is higher, more marketing will generally be done. This should be worked out before hand with the buyer’s agent. In essence, though, you will often times get what you paid f... 03/24/2008

 Someone in the group of people looking at your home will be or live with a cook. Therefore, the kitchen, more than any other room, is closely scrutinized. It’s the one room that has triple uses - the hub of activity in preparing meals, dining, and even sorting mail. The kitchen has long been a place for people to just "hang out." This important room has been referred to as the heart of the home.   A recent study shows that as high as 85% of buyers consider the kitchen to be a huge deciding factor in their buying decision.   Even if you don't have the time or finances to complete a kitchen overhaul with custom cabinets, ceramic tiles, and granite or marble countertops, there are some things you can do to spruce up the kitchen that won't cost you a bundle of money. These changes will gre... 03/24/2008