Selling a Home

Mandatory Home Energy Audits

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Call for Action
Mandatory Home Energy Audits

We need your help.

The Ontario Real Estate Association is urging the provincial government to amend Bill 150, the Green Energy Act, to make home energy audits voluntary.

Mandatory home energy audit reports can cost home sellers thousands of dollars in lost home equity. Those with less than ideal energy audit ratings will face pressure from homebuyers to either spend thousands of dollars to improve the energy rating of their home or lower their sale price.

Your e-mail will reinforce the message OREA will be sending to the Government of Ontario when we appear before the Standing Committee on General Government on April 22nd.

Please tell your MPP that the government should be helping Ontarians achieve their dream of homeownership by amending Bill 150 to make home energy audits voluntary.

Send an e-mail to your MPP on this issue now by clicking here.

Thank you for your help.

Issue Summary
Press Release
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ONTARIO BUDGET TO INTRODUCE HST

Thursday, April 9th, 2009
Content provided from Ontario Real Estate Association News

Ontario’s Budget 2009 dealt the real estate market a significant blow with the announcement of the harmonization of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) with the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Provincial government will, starting July 10, 2010, convert the PST (8%) to a value-added tax structure and combine it with the GST (5%) to create a single federally administered harmonized sales tax. The single sales tax would have a combined tax rate of 13 per cent.

(more…)

ARE YOU READY FOR THE REAL ESTATE ROLLER COASTER ?

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

Are You Ready For the Real Estate Roller Coaster?

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, you’re likely to experience a roller coaster of emotions. It’s important to keep your feelings in check during every situation, especially since many people fall victim to their emotions when negotiating the final offer.Make sure you don’t take things personally. Letting emotions rule judgment usually causes negotiations to fall apart. Now is the time to think of your home as a house, so don’t be offended if someone wants to strip off your wallpaper or paint over the wood trim. Often times, home owners who have invested many years of hard work and personal love into a home are put off by a low offer even though it’s just a starting point.Conditional offers can also try your emotions as they sometimes fall through (more…)

Statistics show ’staged’ homes sell faster and for more!

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Most people decide whether or not they are comfortable in a home within the first few seconds after entering; that is why it is crucial the impression made is a good and lasting one. (more…)