REAL ESTATE BLOG

These decadent truffles may look impressive but they’re incredibly easy to make! They’re also the perfect last-minute holiday gift! Here’s all you need: Ingredients 8 ounces of high quality 60% chocolate ½ cup of whipping cream 3 crushed candy canes Break up the chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl. Next, heat up the cream in a saucepan and pour it over the chocolate until it melts. Finally, whisk until shiny and then pour into a shallow pan and...

The holiday season is usually the busiest time of the year for our small businesses as they rely heavily on the Christmas rush. Competition from big box stores and online retailers has been especially intense this year so our local, hard-working businesses need our help now more than ever before. Many small businesses have responded to the pandemic by setting up online stores and curbside pickup options. If you’re a last-minute shopper, there’s still plenty of time...

Our homes have been working overtime lately as they’ve been converted into makeshift offices, schools and gyms since last March. The pandemic has had a huge impact on home trends as we’ve had to reevaluate and adjust the use of our space. Here are a few popular home trends to keep an eye on in 2021: Zoom Room Now that so many of us are working from home, buyers are demanding a dedicated workspace that offers natural light and is preferably soundproofed. Private Plan Open...

There were 351 residential homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® in January. This was an increase of 24.9 per cent compared to January 2020, and an increase of 1.4 per cent compared to the previous month. The previous 10-year average number of residential sales for January is 286.   “January’s home sales were more active than what we typically see this time of year,” says Nicole Pohl,...

We’re spending more time at home than ever before so creating more living space for extra privacy is on everyone’s mind. Basements are a great option but low ceilings and limited light can sometimes make it a hard spot to retreat to. Here are a few ways to brighten things up in this often-overlooked space: Fresh Coat Paint the walls a light shade and the ceiling even lighter to help give the illusion of added height. Lighten Up Recessed LED lights work really well in...

Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas reveals the latest smart home innovations. Here are a few items that were featured at this year’s virtual event: Can’t Touch This! A variety of new touchless doorbells were launched as well as touch-free faucets, paper towel dispensers, light switches and toilets that flush all by themselves. Who Let the Dogs Out? Remote-controlled pet doors with live video streaming and two-way communication allow you to let your pet in...

It’s a bit difficult to travel these days so now’s the perfect time to get out and explore our amazing city! One of the best ways to discover some of the hidden treasures that K-W has to offer is to take a self-guided walking tour as they’re a great way to learn about our area while enjoying some fresh spring air and exercise! The City of Kitchener has designed a variety of self-guided walking tours that cover areas such as Downtown Kitchener, Mount Hope...

There were 597 residential homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® in February. This was an increase of 27.8 per cent compared to February 2020, and an increase of 66.7 per cent compared to the previous month. The previous 10-year average number of residential sales for February is...

Although nothing is ever certain when it comes to real estate, it’s expected that 2021 will continue to be a strong seller’s market as there’s a limited supply of homes to satisfy the growing demand of buyers. As a result, multiple offers are common which means homes often sell quickly and for well over the asking price. If you’re a buyer who’s struggling to navigate this challenging market, here are a few ways to ease some of the...

People are putting a high value on storage these days so every square inch counts! Here are a few easy ways to add more storage space to your home: Hallway Helper Space is often tight in the entryway of a home so hang an organizer over the back of your hallway closet to hide items such as hats, scarves and the dog leash. Store More Vertical organizers such as rolling carts or shelves that slide into skinny spots are an easy and inexpensive way to boost storage space. Sleep...

This April 22nd will mark the 51st anniversary of Earth Day! It was created back in 1970 to celebrate our planet and raise public awareness and now, Earth Day is celebrated in over 190 countries. Traditional Earth Day events in K-W usually involve getting together with others in the community to clean up garbage or plant trees. If your neighbourhood hasn’t organized anything this year, you can still celebrate the natural world by taking action at home. Here are a few...

In March, the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) posted the highest number of monthly home sales in the board’s history. There were 993 residential homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® System) of KWAR in March. This was an increase of 72.7 per cent compared to March 2020, and an increase of 66 per cent compared to the previous month. “This is the first time we’ve sold more than 900 homes in a single month,” says...

We love our furry little friends but they can sometimes be a bit messy, especially when it comes to pet hair. Vacuuming only does so much as pet hair tends to embed itself in carpet fibres so to get to the root of the issue, you need a secret weapon! A simple window squeegee is all you need! Its sticky rubber strip is like a magnet that will instantly drag out all of that extra hair which can then be easily vacuumed up. This handy pet hair hack works particularly well on areas that are...

Even in a hot seller’s market, it’s important to properly prepare your home as it will help it sell even quicker and at a higher price! The following tips can be implemented with minimal cost and effort: Curb Appeal These days, outdoor living space is a coveted feature so create a great first impression by cutting the grass, tidying the yard, washing the exterior and cleaning the windows. Grand Entrance The foyer is another area where first impressions are key so remove...

For the month of Feburary we did a few quick polls with our Instagram followers.  Below are the results!  67% of our instagram viewers who answered the poll currently rent compared to 33% who own.  When we askeed our viewers their dream location to live, we got mixed answers including in the country, in major cities, and close to restuaraunts/shopping.  Next we asked our instagram viewers if they prefered a house or an apartment/condominium as their ideal...

Although many local events have been postponed or cancelled due to Covid, there are still some fun ways to connect with our community and support local businesses! If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck this month as the sweetest fundraiser of the year is back! During the month of February, you can support shelter pets at the KW Humane Society while treating yourself to a decadent cupcake or cookie! You can get your whisks at the ready in your own kitchen to help fundraise, or...

During the holidays, most people are in a very giving mood but when the new year rolls around, donations usually slow to a crawl. Local charities, such as food banks, have struggled to keep up with an ever-increasing demand since the pandemic hit last March. To make matters worse, collecting food donations has been a real challenge since their usual fundraising events had to be cancelled. On top of that, food prices are expected to rise by 3-5% in 2021 according to Canada’s Food...

The Support for Learners Program offers parents $200 per child to help offset costs incurred as a result of school closers during the lockdown. The program, which was originally launched last November, was only for children between the ages of 0 to 12 years old but on January 11th, it will be extended for children who attend secondary school. It’s very important to note though that unlike most tax credits, you have to actually register for it before February...

There were 6,492 residential homes sold through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® in 2020, an increase of 9 per cent compared to 2019. Compared to previous years, 2020’s annual sales were 5 per cent above the previous 5-year average, and 11.6 per cent above the previous 10-year average. On a monthly basis, there were 42 per cent more home sales compared to last year, with 351 home sales in the month of...

Real estate is my passion. I love everything about it, but what I love most is meeting new people and helping them find the perfect home! There are various online sites where you can search around for listings but to really enjoy the full experience, you’ll want to get set up on a search that will automatically flag new listings that match your criteria. It’s easy! Just let me know what you’re looking for and as soon as a new home hits the market that matches your...

The Shoebox Project for Shelters collects and distributes gift-filled shoeboxes to women who have been impacted by homelessness. This amazing grassroots organization was founded 9 years ago in Toronto and now reaches out to women all across Canada and the U.S. including right here in Cambridge! Each shoebox is filled with a mix of essentials and luxury items that you can choose from. Shoeboxes aren’t being collected this year, due to the pandemic, but volunteers are still working...

Looking at homes is exciting but before you get carried away, it’s important to sort out your financing as it can save you thousands of dollars and provide you with valuable peace of mind. Getting pre-approved is easy! A mortgage lender will review your finances and credit history in order to determine the maximum amount they can lend you. Depending on your situation, they may even be able to make recommendations that could provide you with more favourable options. In addition, most...

Cats and dogs are usually curious about anything and everything when it comes to Christmas, especially a huge tree with shiny objects dangling from it! Here are a few tips to help keep your pets and your tree safe and sound this holiday season: Safe & Secure Fully secure the tree by placing it into a solid base and fixing it to the wall. Chew Cords Block access to all electrical cords so your pets don’t chew on them. Wat-er You Doing? Tree water can contain fertilizers...

When it comes time to sell your home, you will likely be put in a situation where home updates, repairs, and upgrades are recommended in order to boost the value of your home for maximum returns! Now before tearing down a wall or throwing your money at everything it's important to understand not all home renovations are equal. Below you will find a list of the top 5 home renovations that have significant impact on your selling potential: 1. Improve energy efficiency This...

Obtaining a mortgage can be intimidating and confusing. Similar to the buyer and seller guides, I’ve outlined the mortgage process for you in 4 easy steps! 
 
Step 1: Mortgage Application 
 
Before an application gets filled out, it’s important to first asses yourself financially. Figure out how much money you have and how much you need to borrow. It’s always critical to sort out how much you can afford so that when you apply for a mortgage you will be able to...

Your satisfaction and happiness is something that is very important to me. I understand how hectic it is to sell a house and it can be difficult if it’s not handled properly. To help you through the entire process, I’ve put together five simple steps: Step 1: Decide to Sell When you sell, you want to get as much value as you can for your home. So you might want to consider the timing of the sale because it definitely has an effect on the value. You don’t want to sell...