What to look for during a first showing

Steven Ho Buyer

1. “Size:” One of the most important things to look out for during a first showing is the size of the home, and figuring out whether the size is suitable to the buyer’s needs. Buyers should find out “how many square feet the house is, how many bedrooms it has, and if the bedrooms are in fact the desired size”. …

What’s the difference between Power of Sale and Foreclosure?

Steven Ho Buyer

I often get asked about Foreclosure properties (Power of Sales). After 2008 and the housing crash south of the border, many people think that they can get a deal on properties in foreclosure. Although this may be true in the states, this is not necessarily the case in Canada. If you are considering buying a power of sale home, please …

New Homes Vs. Resale Homes

Steven Ho Buyer

New vs Resale Should I buy new construction or a resale home currently on the market? This is an age-old debate as there are pros and cons to both options. There is no right or wrong answer, the choice is for you to make depending on what is important to you. Hopefully this can shed some light and help you determine …

10 Ways To Prepare For A Stress Free Move

Steven Ho Buyer, Seller, Tips

1. Counsel the kids. Communication is important for any relationship. To provide closure for the kids and reassurance that they can continue to participate in the activities that they enjoy is important. Whether they play baseball or skating, hobbies, lessons, clubs they’re enrolled in, show them where they can continue that in the new neighbourhood. For the smaller children, let …

Credit: Knowing Your Score And How It Works

Steven Ho Buyer

Mortgage rates and products are constantly changing, and the Canadian market is more competitive than ever before. By working with a Mortgage Professional (Broker), you can access all your mortgage options with just one phone call, one application. A mortgage professional works for you, on your behalf, to find the right mortgage for your situation with whatever lender is the …

21 Interview Questions for a Realtor

Steven Ho Buyer, Seller

The general consumer feels like real estate agents aren’t worth the commission that they charge and to their benefit, I don’t blame them. With almost 36,000 registered real estate agents in the GTA with the Toronto Real Estate board, not all of them are really worth what they charge. Like in any other business, there are good agents and there …

9 Steps to Owning your Own Home

Steven Ho Buyer

The benefits to owning your own home: The satisfaction of owning your own home. Say goodbye to your landlord. Start building equity. Owning your own home can be exciting and stressful.   The 9 steps to Home Ownership: Step 1: Make a decision of whether you want to own a home or not How long do you want to live …

How To Find A House You Can Call Home

Steven Ho Buyer

Now that you’ve made your decision to buy a home, whether it be buying a home in Mississauga, Milton, Oakville, the search process is now a shopping adventure. Determine what you want or don’t want in your house, neighbourhood, etc. Do you want to buy a house in Streetsville? Lorne Park? What kind of Mississauga homes for sale are appealing …

How To Find A Real Estate Agent

Steven Ho Buyer, Seller

A good real estate agent can help the real estate transaction be an enjoyable experience. Good real estate agents aren’t as easy to find as it seems. 20% of the agents do 80% of the business. How do you define a “good” real estate agent? The best agent for you doesn’t necessarily mean that they make the most money, work …

Helpful Tips For Buyers

Steven Ho Buyer, Tips

Bi-weekly and weekly payments Most mortgages have the option to allow payments to be made on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This option may be desirable for two reasons. The first is it can save you money as you can expect to pay off your mortgage about 4 years sooner. This can save you dramatically over the life of your …