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Deciding if it is time for your family to upsize or downsize is not always a clear choice. There are factors to consider that might push you to take the leap or stay put for a while longer. Whether you are thinking about upsizing so your family can spread out or purging possessions so you can downsize, here are some questions to ponder. 1. ...

My Top 5 Tips to Look at a Property Like a Realtor. My name is Laurel Legate and I am a team partner and realtor with North Group real estate in west Toronto. Let me show you the things I look for. So you see a new listing that meets your needs and the photos look amazing so you book a showing. When you …

February 2022 Toronto Real Estate Market Stats My name is Laurel Legate and I am a team partner and realtor with North Group real estate in west Toronto. Where do I begin? Is a balanced market on the horizon? Not in the near future, but recent stats give us a hint at a very small dip in the this Seller’s market: While sales are …

Are you thinking about building a basement apartment in your home but not sure if this is the right option for you and your family? https://youtu.be/esFaaKrMQmo Well, get ready for the straight goods because I am going to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly about having a basement apartment in the property where you live, so that you can make the …

Do Not Make the Mistake of Hiring the Wrong Contractor for your Home Renovation! https://youtu.be/Ygv6UBq5zoc In this blog I am going to take you through the entire process of hiring a contractor and all the important questions you need to ask to help you make the right decision so you work with someone who meets all your goals and gets you the results you …

Are you trying to decide whether you should renovate your home or buy a new property? In this blog I am going to take you through the tough questions you need to ask yourself to help you decide whether you should renovate your current home or buy a new property to meet your needs, so that you don’t make any of the mistakes we …

July Market Update July 2021 – a story of resilience Summer vacation from home sales? Maybe, but the 2021 market continues to break price and demand records. 🔹What’s happening? Sales pace calmed in July, down 2% from June and 14.9% from the record-breaking July we saw last year.  Prices continue to see double digit growth, up 12.6% from last year The average home price? ...

Easy Ways to Maximize Your Home's Efficiency in the Summer Heat There’s nothing like a heat wave to add an extra cost to your monthly home expenses! With your air conditioner working overtime, it might seem like an odd time to discuss energy efficiency. But there are several easy and inexpensive ways to make your home more energy-efficient, without sacrificing cool comfort. Air seal ...

Best Parks in Long Branch Lake Views. Community. Play. Top Long Branch Parks for Families.  Long Branch has many great parks to enjoy with your family or on your own. I am biased as I live in Long Branch, but the parks in this South Etobicoke neighbourhood are top notch. Here are my favourite parks to enjoy nature,  walk with my Husky and take ...

Real Estate: What Happens to Our Deposit if the Deal Doesn't Close? We Bought a House, BUT The Deal Didn't Close. What Happens to out Deposit? It is one of the questions I get asked most often. What happens to the deposit if the deal does not close? Do we lose it? The answer is not as easy as yes or no. It is ...

June Market Update June 2021 – a story of  June market saw a change from record breaking to robust market conditions. With pent up demand satisfied, new stress test implemented and stalled immigration the numbers settled. There were 11,106 property sales reported last month across the GTA with the average price across all property types coming in at $1,089,536. Both the number of sales ...

Designing a Livable, Low Maintenance Outdoor Space Easy DIY Outdoor Space Upgrades We are getting back to normal and entertaining our friends at home. It is summer and we want to enjoy our outdoor space. Here are a few things you can do to your outdoor space. When it comes to summertime entertaining, your outdoor space is at the centre of the action. But ...

Real Estate: Multiple Offers What I can do for my clients & What my clients can do too. It is NOT always all about price! Here are a few things we can do together to win in a multiple offers. Low Interest Rates + Low Inventory Levels = Sellers Market & Multiple Offers on Properties Know The Market Have your Financing reviewed and have ...

Will Open Houses come back post Pandemic? Or are we done with Open Houses? For a majority of the past 14 months open houses have either been banned or discouraged. Will open houses ever be a thing again? Or will they be gone even after the lockdowns are a thing of the past?   Imagining a time where the world is open and we ...

You Bought a House! Congratulations! Now What? Here is a list of things you do not want to forget after closing day! Purchasing a home in 2021 in the GTA is no easy task, and the work does not end on closing day.   Closing day is one of the most exciting days after you purchase a home. Keys in hand and memories to be ...

3 Ways to Save Money with Smart Home Gadgets Ask Me How Investing in Smart Home Technology can Save you Money & Add More Value to Your Home Most smart home devices were created to make life easier, automating everyday tasks and giving you the ability to take care of your home remotely. But these gadgets are more than just convenience—many can also be ...

March Market Update March 2021 – a story of inventory and market velocity Toronto March Real Estate Market Statistics March completed the GTA’s 2021 Q1 real estate story with results consistent with January and February – record sales numbers, price appreciation and market pace. Comparing March 2021 numbers with the same month last year is, of course, somewhat problematic given COVID-19’s market-halting impact mid-March ...

What to do if Your Basement Floods this Spring? Spring is here and every year thousands of Toronto basements are flooded with water. Especially in South Etobicoke because the water table is so high. Particularly in Long Branch with the underground hidden creek system. When you or a friend or family member find themselves with water in the basement there are a few important ...

How to Remodel Your Living Space for a Pet-Friendly Home  Your furry friends are more than just pets—they’re part of the family! Instead of banishing them to the backyard, why not consider redecorating or remodeling your living space with your pets in mind? Invest in Stain-Resistant Fabrics Forget textiles that are pet-hair magnets like silk or chintz. Instead, invest in furnishings with synthetic fabrics ...

February Market Update High demand absorbs inventory at record pace in February 2021 Toronto February Real Estate Market Statistics February 2020 was our last full month before COVID-19 hit and what many thought, in the early days of the pandemic, could possibly have been our last productive month of 2020. What happened next will be remembered as one of the biggest surprises in GTA ...