Brampton’s real estate market is projected to soar in the next three to five years, according to a recent study made by the Real Estate Investment Network. The city of Brampton placed fifth in the “Top Ontario Investment Towns 2011-2015 Report,” with Hamilton being in the top spot.
This is good news to everyone pondering to invest in real estate in Brampton, whether as a home seller or home buyer or as an investor in commercial property. The report was based on data from government agencies like Statistics Canada, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, MLS and local economic development offices, among others.
This is not so surprising considering the steady economic growth being enjoyed by the city, consistently ranking among Ontario’s top 10 in the last 10 years. Factors considered for the REIN report included: new infrastructures built to handle growth, new jobs created, rippling effect on the overall economy of the city, contribution of political leadership, and transportation improvements.
The good news does not stop here for home buyers and home sellers. It only gets better with the availability of Brampton’s low real estate commission agent. Property investors would reap the benefits of a booming market projection and savings from a Brampton discount real estate agent. Who does not want a two-fold advantage?
In another development, Mt. Pleasant Village and Mattamy Homes were recently recognized at the Building Industry and Land Development Awards. Mt. Pleasant Village was cited for being a unique community that connects residence and work in the same neighborhood. Meanwhile, Mattamy Homes, a secondary plan of Mt. Pleasant Village, covers 875ha which includes 147ha of restored Natural Heritage System Lands. Upon completion the community is projected to house 40,000 people. This on-going real estate development proves very promising to those looking to buy their first homes, or to invest in real property. First-time home buyers not only benefit from tax rebates, but also from Brampton’s discount real estate agent.
Both news weigh significantly in making major investing decisions. Both highlight the advantages of community living in Brampton which boasts of a robust local economy. The vision of seven minutes travel time from home to work is very appealing when it comes to the concept surrounding Mt. Pleasant Village. Also the development promotes the preservation of nature, an essential consideration in urban growth and development. It helps to know that all these good news is bolstered by the presence of Brampton’s low real estate commission agent who can help and guide home buyers, home sellers and investors.
This comes with my full service package. Below is a summary of only some of my services:
Full service package includes:
1. Listing uploaded on the MLS and public MLS
2. Photos taken by a professional photographer
3. Full colour Feature Sheets for potential buyers
4. Flyers sent to appropriate areas
5. 10 years of full time experience
6. Advertised on the 1st page of Google
7. I reply to all emails within 14 minutes
8. Open houses (if appropriate)
9. Stunning virtual tours at no extra cost
10. and much much more..
Call me at 647-834-6834 to get started
Get a free home evaluation here
This offer is only from me. This is not a standard Remax rate. Other Remax agents might be charging more or less.
Disclaimer: Different commission rates, fees, and listing and marketing services may be offered by other REMAX franchisees or sales associates in Canada.
1. I provide full MLS service for a fraction of the cost
2. I don’t cut corners when it comes to quality. See sample pictures and virtual tour.
3. I have been selling homes in Brampton for the past 10 years. See my track record here.
4. You get the #1 company in North America (Remax) for the price of a discount company
5. I reply to all emails within 14 minutes
6. I’m not a “pushy salesman”.
7. I come from a family of real estate agents
- Father a real estate agent with Remax for 16 years
- Brother a real estate agent in North York
- Mother a Mortgage Broker (to qualify all potential buyers for your house)
8. 1st page of Google for important keywords (creating massive exposure for your listing)
9. “Easy Exit” listings. If for any reason you are not satisfied with my services you can cancel
the listing at anytime. No fees/penalties will be charged.
I work for Remax so it’s full service. You can get more details on my marketing plan here but one key difference is that I have a professional photographer come in for pictures and a virtual tour. See sample.
Please take a few seconds to look at the sample photos and the virtual tour here. Research shows that listings with virtual tours get clicked on 4 times more then regular listings. Can you see how having a virtual tour for your house might make it stand out from the rest?
The only thing not included is newspaper advertising. Newspaper advertising was very effective before the Internet. Now people can see all listings with coloured pictures on the public MLS. Over 90% of MLS deals involve 2 agents. If newspaper ads were effective there would be a lot more deals where there was only the listing agent involved.Also keep in mind that buyer agents do not flip through magazines and newspapers to find properties for their clients. They use the MLS. Ofcourse I don’t expect you to just take my word for all this. So please take a look at some of my recent sales in Brampton and hopefully by the end you too will think I’m the right person to sell your house.
See some of the Brampton homes I’ve sold here.
All the sales you see there were sold at 3.5% commission (1% going to me and 2.5% going to the buyer agent). You are free to speak with any of my past clients. Here are some
client testimonials. It is INDEED full service.
Fill out the home evaluation form on the side and I will get back to you within 14 minutes.
In today’s market, many homeowners have considered “going it alone” and selling their homes without the help of a REALTOR® to “save the commission.” However, once they realize how complex and intimidating a real estate transaction can be, many people reconsider and enlist the services of a REALTOR®. There are more than 145 steps to complete a real estate transaction. It requires an organized, step-by-step approach that many homeowners just don’t have the time, skill or experience to carry out.
A REALTOR® provides a variety of services including help in setting a listing price within current market guidelines. They develop a marketing plan, offer recommendations and advice to make your home more attractive and “saleable,” and act on your behalf during negotiations to ensure your interests are protected.
Another advantage of working with a REALTOR® is the far-reaching market exposure your home will receive through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®). This co-operative marketing system relays information about your home to a vast network of REALTORS® and therefore, potential homebuyers in your market. The greater the exposure your home receives, the more likely you are to find a buyer willing to pay your price.
Selling your home is not a simple procedure. It involves large sums of money, stringent legal requirements and the potential for costly mistakes. A REALTOR® is committed to spending the time it takes to help you sell your home in the least amount of time and for the best possible price.
A REALTOR® must disclose to you in writing, who exactly they represent in any real estate deal. A REALTOR® may represent a buyer or a seller; they may also represent both buyer and seller in the same transaction. Your listing REALTOR® is, in law, your agent. An agent owes his or her client the duties of utmost care, integrity, confidentiality and loyalty. Make sure you discuss agency with your listing REALTOR®.
The process of selling a home with a REALTOR® starts with the Listing Agreement. It’s a contract between you and the brokerage company that the agent represents. It is a framework for subsequent forms and negotiations. It’s important the agreement accurately reflects your property details and clearly spells out the rights and obligations of all parties. Both you and the listing agent sign the listing agreement and each receive a copy. The agreement binds both parties to its terms and conditions.
Generally, in the agreement you appoint the brokerage company as your agent and give its representatives the authority to find a purchaser. The duration of the agreement is indicated, and the compensation is specified. The agreement also sets out the listing price, and accurately describes the property you are selling. That will include the lot size, building size, building style and materials, floor areas, heating/cooling systems, room sizes and descriptions.
This is when you must also decide what you are taking with you and what you are leaving with the house. Generally, unless stated otherwise, fixtures remain with the property, while chattels — things which are movable — aren’t included in the sale. If necessary, what stays and what goes are listed under “inclusions” or “exclusions.”
Finally, the Listing Agreement also details the financial conditions of the property, including the mortgage balance, mortgage monthly payments and the mortgage due date. It should also provide information about annual property taxes; and references for any easements, rights of way, liens or charges against the property.
Ask your listing REALTOR® about disclosure, which is a seller’s obligation to disclose facts about properties for sale. The buyers will need to know material facts about the property – that is, anything that could materially affect the sale price or influence a buyer’s decision to buy it. A major cause of post-sale disputes and lawsuits center around defects and disclosure, but most disputes can be avoided if proper disclosures are made. Intentionally withholding information about a property when selling it can have serious legal consequences.
Another advantage of listing with a REALTOR® is that only a REALTOR® is able to place your listing on the MLS® or Multiple Listing Service®. When you decide your listings will be on the Multiple Listing Service®, the information about your property is shared with all other REALTORS® through the MLS® system, and all REALTORS® have the opportunity to sell your property. This type of cooperative effort will result in the listing agent offering compensation to the selling agent. Your property gains more exposure, because it reaches the majority of the real estate professionals in your community.
There’s another benefit of dealing with a REALTOR®. Through REALTOR.ca, the national property website, participating local real estate Boards can also advertise listings to potential buyers across Canada and around the world.
Another major issue for anyone selling a property is how much to ask for. Although you may have an idea of how much your house is worth, it’s important to have your home valued by a professional on its own merits. Be careful not to price your property too high or too low. If it’s too high, there’s no sale; too low and you lose on your investment.
A REALTOR® has the research and expertise to provide a market assessment of what similar properties in your area have sold for. They can also provide information on market history, such as the number of properties sold in your community the previous month or year.
A REALTOR® also has a number of marketing tools and options to promote your property. First is the REALTOR.ca web site, which attracts more than a million unique visitors a month. It shows the details of your home to local, regional or national buyers looking for a property in your community.
Your REALTOR® may also recommend an open house as a marketing strategy. There are two types: first is an agent’s open house, where sales representatives from the listing company will be invited to view your house. If you have signed an MLS® agreement, other REALTORS® may also be invited. Remember, each of these REALTORS® may have a prospective buyer. The second type of open house is a public open house, where members of the public are invited to walk through your home and have a look. It’s an efficient way to show your home to many potential buyers at once. The listing agent will act as host, answering any questions.
You and your listing agent will pick the time and date for an open house. In order to give the agent access to your home, you may wish to keep a key at his or her office, or in a lockbox. It’s also a good idea to ensure that any valuables are put away in a safe location, then leave while the open house is underway. If you do stay, be sure to keep out of the way, and turn off any TVs or radios to let the agent and the buyer talk in peace.
Needless to say, clean counts with open houses. A general rule is that clean, uncluttered and well-lit spaces look larger and more attractive. People will naturally want to buy a house that is clean and well cared for.
Sometimes a home doesn’t sell right away. Avoid the urge to pull your home off the market… be persistent! Generally, there are three reasons why a home may not sell as fast as others. First is location; second is condition; third is the asking price. Naturally, you can’t change your home’s location, but you can fix the condition of your home and you can, of course, adjust your price. Throughout the listing process, you need to be constantly comparing your asking price against those of similar properties in your area. It may be time to adjust the price of your home.
Review your selling strategy regularly with your listing agent: Is your house being shown regularly? Are you receiving the feedback from prospective buyers? Are you in touch with the marketplace? Is your property competing well? If not, what else can you do?
Once a buyer is found, you’ll be receiving an offer that will detail how much, specify any conditions that may apply or be attached by the buyer, say when the buyer would like to take possession, and when the offer expires. As an act of good faith, the buyer will make a deposit with the offer.
You don’t have to accept the offer as is. You may wish to make a counter offer that comes part-way to meeting the offer’s conditions. The counter offer is one more step along the way to negotiating the final terms and conditions of the sale. The offer, once signed by everyone, is a binding contract. Make sure you understand and agree to all of the terms in the document. You may want to have it reviewed by your lawyer before signing.
Before closing, especially if the buyer makes it a condition of sale, you may be asked to provide a current survey, or a “real property report,” showing the location of the house is on the property owned by you and that there are no encroachments. You may also have to prove that you have title to the property (the buyer’s lawyer will check this out when he or she conducts a title search to see if there are any liens on the property, easements, rights of way or height restrictions). Especially in rural areas, you may also be asked to provide a certificate for a well or septic system, stating the system meets local standards.
The buyer may also make the purchase conditional on an inspection by a qualified engineer or inspector.
Then on or before closing day, lawyers representing you and the buyer will set up a trust account for the money coming from the sale and will pay off any mortgages you owe on the property. After these are paid, you will receive any money you have coming from the sale. You must deliver the property deed or transfer documents, mortgage details and keys to your lawyer. Your lawyer will register the mortgage discharge and transfer the deed at closing,
Your lawyer should also ensure that you receive compensation for prepaid expenses such as, property taxes, electrical or gas bills, or if applicable, any heating oil left in your tank. Some lenders will make it possible for your mortgage to be portable, so you can take your mortgage with you when you move to your new home.
Here, your responsibilities under the listing agreement end. You’ll have paid your listing agent the agreed-upon compensation. This can be done by your lawyer who can arrange the payment from the proceeds of the sale. In some provinces, including Quebec, notaries perform the same role in the real estate transaction as lawyers do in other provinces. If you have any questions, check with a REALTOR®.
The sale of property is a complex business transaction. There are distinct advantages to having a REALTOR® who is well-educated, knowledgeable, and experienced. A REALTOR® also has access to an array of services, including the Multiple Listing Service®, which can provide you with instant, thorough and accurate property information.
Courtesy: CREA
Find low real estate commissions on my site. 1% commission to listing broker. All details here.
(The comments contained on this site are for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.)
Almost a record breaking March! Infact, it was the second busiest March every recorded on the MLS, second only to March 2010.
Average price was up 5% from one year ago. Condos and semi detached homes were the best selling items.
Brampton statistics for March 2011
810 homes sold in Brampton
1,347 new listings came on the market in Brampton
Average price in West Brampton was $354,490
Average price in East Brampton was $378,901
From January 1st,2011 to March 31st, 2011 there have been 1,720 sales in Brampton
Detailed statistics for West Brampton
Detached homes average price: $402,361
Semi detached average price: $320,878
Condo townhouse average price: $273,000
Condo apartment average price: $200,321
Detailed statistics for East Brampton
Detached homes average price: $476,266
Semi detached average price: $341,199
Condo townhouse average price: $206,592
Condo apartment average price: $176,699
If you wish to receive statistics from any previous months you can send me a quick email.
If you are thinking of selling, consider hiring a Brampton real estate agent that offers full service for low real estate commissions.
Importance of Home Inspections
When you are buying a home you want to know how you can save in the process of embarking on a huge financial investment. A Brampton home inspection done by a professional home inspector will help you make informed decisions which could mean big savings.
At first glance home inspections may be viewed as an “extra” or even “hidden” cost by the home buyer. But that is not the case when you examine the advantages of getting a Brampton home inspection. When the deal is all sealed and done you will see that the benefits will far outweigh its cost.
Knowing the structural problems of the property gives the home buyer the leverage to negotiate for a lower price. It also protects you from buying a property that would need huge sums of money for repairs.
Home repairs associated with construction problems are costly, and buyers need to identify these problems before purchasing a home to avoid getting trapped into absorbing these expenses. Home inspections will also point out safety issues in the property and recommend steps on how these need to be addressed.
Home inspections will cover the following areas: drainage and water problems, foundation and structure, roof, kitchen, bathrooms, interior structures, electrical, plumbing, insulation and furnace. It will cover inside and outside the property. The home inspection report made after the inspection will outline areas that need to be addressed immediately, as well as those which may be problematic in the future. Consult your Brampton real estate agent for tips.
Home buyers can undertake the repairs themselves or seek the help of a contractor who can do the work for the lowest prices Your real estate agent should then be informed of the costs of repairs which can be used to lower the buying price of the property. Ask your real estate agent for his recommendations or a list of certified home inspectors that he highly recommends. You can trust your agent to help you with this aspect.
However, the home owner may opt to undertake the repairs himself so that the decrease won’t be as big as expected.
In summary the benefits of a home inspection would include: structural and home safety evaluation; and assessment of repair costs.
Since you are looking at these benefits you should be certain that you hire a professional home inspector who has several years of experience. He should be someone you can rely on. Remember that you will have to trust the expertise of this person on what could be your next home. To dispel your apprehensions you can interview the home inspector and ask him questions about his background as an inspector, including his affiliations to any national associations; what would the inspection include?; how long will the job take to finish?; how much is the cost of inspection?; and can you come during the inspection? If the inspector doesn’t want you to witness the inspection this is a big warning sign- so don’t hire this person. Don’t forget to ask how soon he can make the report after he finishes the job.
There are home inspection checklists available online which you could use as a guide when interviewing the home inspector. Check out these lists as well to ensure that you only hire a qualified person for the job. Home inspections can save home buyers money, but it would all depend on how good a job the inspector you hire does.
Hiring an agent who charges low real estate commissions can also save you a great deal of money. Why take the risk of diving blindly into real estate when you can get the services of a professional agent at a very competitive price. You might end up spending more when you attempt to buy a home on your own, or get so stressed out by the whole exercise. Looking for a certified home inspector who can be trusted can prove to be a daunting task. But an agent can help you out with this, and with all the details of the purchase.*
For Brampton real estate questions contact me anytime. I offer low commissions AND full service. 1% commission only to listing broker.
Will the Mere Posting service adversely impact real estate brokers and agents? It’s too early to tell after all it’s only been two months since the consent agreement was inked by the Canadian Real Estate Association and the Competition Tribunal.
Over time pertinent questions would include: did the stand alone service benefit private sellers as envisioned in the spirit of fair competition and were issues accompanying mere posting efficiently addressed? Savings is the primary reason why sellers would only go for this service rather than get the full service of a real estate brokers and its agents.
This service is for homeowners who don’t want to pay the average 3 – 6 percent commission fee charged by agents. In the pursuit of savings, however, homeowners have to realize that there is so much homework they need to do regarding marketing, financial and legal paper work, closing the sale, etc… and it could be quite overwhelming especially for the novice seller to sell the property on his or her own.
The consent agreement outlines the obligations of CREA to its members who only wish to provide Mere Postings to sellers on MLS, and requires CREA not to discriminate against discount real estate agents who only want to offer Mere Postings services for a an agreed flat fee. By allowing its member agents to offer this stand alone service CREA would be promoting innovation in the market and giving consumers more choices.
The agreement defines “Mere Posting” as the “listing on a Member Board’s MLS System in respect of which the Member has chosen or agreed not to provide services to the seller other than submitting the listing for posting on a Member Board’s MLS® System.” The MLS platform, owned and operated by CREA, lists about 90% of Canadian properties bought and sold, and can only be accessed by real estate brokers and their agents.
Before the consent agreement homeowners who want to post their properties on MLS need to get the full service of member agents. This means having to shell out between 3-10 percent for real estate commissions. However, since the agreement took effect in October, last year, private sellers or FSBO avoiding pay outs have the option of listing their properties for a flat fee without getting the full service. Although it’s still too early to assess its impact on brokerages, it’s been foreseen that private selling may enjoy a 15% increase. The estimate appears so minimal to have any huge impact on brokerages.
While some real estate agents don’t see any problems in offering this lone service, there are those who feel that Mere Posting shortchanges the customers because the service is not maximized. There are also views aired that Mere Posting will only benefit the “in the know” and savvy sellers, but would do little for the average private seller.
The contention is that there is just so much involved to selling a property than merely posting it on the web for sale. There is marketing involved, legal contracts, financial agreements, among other things. Charting the impact of this agreement for certain time frames will lend credibility to any opinions offered on the subject later on regarding its effectiveness in promoting fair competition and market innovation.*
