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More Homes Built Faster is Just an Act

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The Ford Government's proposed legislation gaslights Ontarians and relies on trickle-down economics

Background

It's no secret that Ontario is facing a housing shortage. After decades of neglect, the number of new homes being built in Ontario has fallen seriously short of the population growth. Even with 100,000 new home starts in 2021, which is the highest number of home starts in 30 years, Ontario's new housing developments can't keep up with Ontario's swelling population.

On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, Premiere Doug Ford and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark announced new legislation entitled the 'More Homes Built Faster' Act, which they anticipate will be enacted by the summer of 2023.

Part of a larger plan to address the housing shortage, the More Homes Built Faster Act makes dramatic changes in the approval processes for developers, the planning responsibilities of various stakeholders when planning new developments, and municipal input and control regarding planning, parkland, and approvals.

So is there a bright side to this proposed legislation? There are glimmers, although even those must be taken with a grain of salt and crossed fingers. Let's take a deeper look at the critical parts of More Homes Built Faster.

The "Good"

There is no arguing that the Act attempts to encourage the creation of more affordable housing by offering exemptions from specific fees for affordable and non-profit units. The More Homes Built Faster Act also eliminates the need for sight plans for small developments (fewer than ten units). It standardizes the rent or price of affordable units to 80% of market value. But don't be fooled. Yes, they talk about affordable housing, but there is more talk about 'attainable housing,' which has yet to be defined.

Additionally, they are limiting requirements for affordable units to 5%, with a maximum commitment of 25 years. Twenty-five years might seem like a long time, but when we are talking about a long-term, sustainable, affordable housing plan, 25 years is far too short. Many other comparable legislations across the country set the limit at 99 years.

Another move the proposed legislation makes is a shift in the municipal approval-making process. This means, for example, giving the City of Brampton control instead of the Region of Peel. Giving lower-tier municipalities control over their approvals should hopefully speed things up, but more importantly, give municipalities more input and control over what is happening in their communities.

The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) is considerably backlogged with cases. The Act proposes that cases be prioritized based on whether they will help create more housing, that timelines and expectations are set for the OLT regarding stages of a claim, and the limitation of third-party appeals. The intention is to speed up the processes involved with the OLT; whether it will do so remains to be seen, and it may come to the detriment of third parties such as community groups.

The best part of the More Homes Built Faster Act is the consumer protection it offers when purchasing a home in a planned development. We have all heard stories about friends or relatives who have put down a deposit on a home or condo, only to have the builder back out and take their money with them. Fortunately, the proposed legislation includes significantly higher penalties in this and other similar situations, including dramatically increased fines, licensing suspensions or revocations, or possible jail time. In these scenarios, some money from fines will be paid back to the victims.

The Bad

The term gentle density sounds, well, gentle. It means removing restrictions and allowing homeowners to have up to three rental units on one piece of residential property: two in the primary building and one in a secondary structure. This Act would supersede municipal bylaws that prohibit these units. Not a bad idea, right? They have also removed the requirements for minimum floor space for a residential unit and conditions for more than one parking space per unit. This will lead to severe problems down the line, from tiny, unliveable spaces, to increased pressure on local infrastructure.

Heritage Sites are going to be more challenging to protect. The More Homes Built Faster Act repeals previous legislation preventing Heritage Sites' removal or demolition. Municipalities must post their register of Heritage Sites online including their list of un-designated Heritage Sites. Any un-designated sites must be evaluated, designated, or removed from the register (losing any protections). Additionally, the Minister of Municipalities and Housing can review and change the status of a Heritage Site for any reason, regardless of when it was designated.

Lastly, Site plan approvals have historically included at least some measure of the aesthetic. This process is now only focused on health and safety to speed up the approval process. For subdivision approvals, public meetings are no longer required to approve a draft plan. And the Minister has the power to enact regulations when established rental housing is going to be demolished or converted during redevelopment.

The Ugly

Green space is an integral part of any community. The benefits are well-researched. However, it seems like the More Homes Built Faster Act is minimizing green space in favour of more housing. Parkland fees for developers have been capped, and the maximum amount of land required for parkland has been capped and is even less for high-density housing. Municipalities must spend or allocate 60% of their reserve funds each year. Developers can now decide what part of the land they want to be used for parks. These changes will take a heavy toll on parks and green spaces in new communities, having long-term repercussions for residents.

Parkland fees aren't the only community-based fees for developers that are taking a hit. Community benefits and development charges are also being capped. 'Attainable housing,' which has yet to be defined, will be exempt from these fees, as are affordable housing and non-profit housing. Also, fees will no longer include the costs of studies, including the background studies needed (or were needed) to green-light development. There is also a discount for purpose-built rental units. Great incentives for developers, but who will cover the costs that municipalities won't have the money for? Premiere Ford and Minister Clark seem to think these savings will trickle down to home buyers, but there's a missing link. Where is the money going to come from to upgrade and maintain infrastructure?

Finally, let's talk about conservation and the environment. Provincial lands are to be used for development. Building in wetlands will not be required if it is part of a planned development. Conservation authorities will be limited to commenting on natural hazards and flooding as part of the planning process, preventing them from considering factors like pollution control and land conservation. Yes, housing needs to be built, but at what cost to our natural resources?

The Good News

The good news is that More Homes Built Faster is only a bill, and it's only on its first read in the legislature. For a bill to become law, it must go through multiple stages in Ontario. It starts with the first reading and then goes to a committee. The committee reviews it and can take things like expert opinions, witness or impact statements, or peer-reviewed studies into account before they make suggested changes and vote on whether it will be reported to the house. If they vote yes, the revised Bill is reported and ordered for a third reading. The third reading is the final version of the Bill, which is then debated and voted on. If it passes, it receives Royal Assent from the Lieutenant Governor and becomes law.

We are a long way from there.

The housing crisis is a real problem. But an issue decades in the making will not have a quick fix. It's also not as simple as 'just build more houses.' This plan tells Ontarians that the problem is just that there haven't been enough houses built since the 90s instead of addressing the real issues of poverty, homelessness, and social welfare. Unfortunately, when you look at the problem from a place of privilege and refuse to take other people's views into account, you end up with solutions like this one.

So speak up, Ontario! Tell your MPPs what you think about this Bill. Share your opinions on social media. Talk about it with your friends and your family.

Because every single voice matters.

Who Is Actually Benefiting From the New Homes Built Faster Legislation?

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 16:06:59 GMT

A closer look at the announcements from the Ontario Government made on October 25, 2022

What Was Said

In case you didn’t watch the 40+ minute stream of Premiere Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark , let’s go over some of the key points.

Ontario is in a housing crisis. We don’t have enough housing for the population. What is available is often at a price that many Ontarians can't afford. With the population continuing to grow, the number of housing units needed, whether rental units or family homes, needs to grow much faster than in the past ten years.

The Ontario Government has promised to build 1.5 million homes in Ontario in the next ten years to address the housing crisis. To do that, they have introduced the More Homes Built Faster legislatio n , which, if passed, will come into effect sometime in the summer of 2023. In addition, the Ontario Government has a Housing Supply Action Plan, which includes More Homes for Everyone and More Homes More Choice.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing outlined the groundwork they hope to achieve with these policies.

• Reducing bureaucratic costs and the red tape that delays construction and increases the prices of new homes.

• Actively promoting more home development near transit stations.

• Helping Ontarians create ‘gentle density’ housing.

• Protecting new homeowners.

• Discovering new ways to support renters in becoming homeowners.

• Allowing the use of provincial land to build attainable housing.

As a list of actionable items, it seems pretty great. However, the execution of those actions is shaky.

According to Minister Clark, one of the leading causes of sky-high prices for new developments is approval delays, which means much of the More Homes Built Faster is focused on ‘streamlining’ approval for new developments. They have addressed this in two ways: by capping and limiting the development and parkland charges, and reducing approvals needed for a site plan before the developer can break ground.

Both the Premiere and Housing Minister mentioned increasing ‘gentle density’ by allowing the building of three units on a single piece of land. To do this, no bi-law amendment needs to be made.

The last two critical points are that fines will be increased for developers who take advantage of buyers, with the money from the fines going to the victims, and that the Non-Resident Speculation Tax was raised from 20% to 25%.

Is It Possible?

There is no doubt that Ontario needs those 1.5 million houses. However, reducing red tape and speeding up the approval processes is only a tiny part of the story. Although whether these additional factors have been taken into account is unclear, it’s essential to realize that significantly more issues must be considered.

Let’s assume that the Ontario Government successfully aims to streamline the processes for approval and reduce the red tape. That saves new buyers in new developments some money, which is fantastic. But that’s assuming two things: that the houses get built and that other factors don’t mitigate the price drop.

Let’s take a look at the job market right now. We are facing a labour shortage. Premier Ford points out at the beginning of the announcement that currently, Ontario has 380,000 jobs that remain unfilled. Building houses takes a specific skill set, as well as manual labourers. Are there enough available specialized individuals to fill those jobs? If not, how are you going to get them? All of the options cost money and time. Who is going to pay that difference?

Material costs have increased significantly over the past two years. Anyone who has tried to do any home renovation knows things are expensive and hard to get. Wait times for simple construction items are long. There is no way to know when that will ease up. So who will pay those extra costs for the delays due to not having the suitable materials on time?

The availability of land is probably not an issue between building high-density housing (condo buildings, apartments, etc.) and the land already owned by developers. So 1.5 million homes isn’t an unreasonable target. But with municipalities being limited on development charges, they won’t necessarily have the funds to maintain and upgrade the infrastructure to handle the additional wear and tear due to the increase in population.

How is This Going to Affect the Housing Market?

The short answer is it won’t.

A lot of this legislation is for the benefit of the developers, not new home buyers. Skipping environmental protection in favour of simply looking at flooding and erosion impacts isn’t good for anyone. Capping development and parkland charges limits municipalities and will mean failing infrastructure and less green space. And when has the mantra of ‘faster, more, and cheaper’ ever created a quality product?

The Ontario Government's plan will have a negligible effect overall, especially now when there is lower house demand, ever-increasing interest rates, and the highest inflation rate in 39 years. Nothing will change, and developers will likely not begin new projects until there is better affordability for buying a house.

Moving Forward

Things seem a little bleak right now, with interest rates at the highest since 2008, inflation making everything more expensive, and the housing market slowing down. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. So if you can, hunker down, make a budget, and reach out to your local agencies for support.

The Mayer-Harman Team will keep you updated on the latest developments in real estate news.

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer Harman Team - Part 4: Smart Pricing

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

Find out how we help you determine the sale price of your home

The Mayer-Harman Team Uses Smart Pricing

We believe that not only should your home be priced appropriately, but you should know exactly why your house is set at that price! This is why we use Smart Pricing. Smart Pricing is our way of determining the most competitive sale price for your home!

What Exactly is Smart Pricing?

Determining the value of your home is not guesswork. We conduct a thoroughly researched market analysis, which we share with you, to help determine the realistic amount your home will sell for in the current market. It's important to note that Smart Pricing isn't about asking for the most money. Instead, it's about listing at the price that will make your home most likely to sell.

How We Determine the Smart Price

There are a lot of factors that go into determining a Smart Price, so let's go through them.

• Location : The location of your home will have an enormous effect on the price of your home. Your location means which town or area you are in and where you are within that town. Are you closer to amenities? Are you on the water? All of these things will be factored in when we look at your home's location to determine the Smart Price.

• Size : The size of your home is one of the more apparent factors when determining the Smart Price. However, there are other things to consider. How is the space being used? What sizes are the rooms? Is it an open concept? These are things that buyers are interested in and that we take into consideration.

• Style : Style, in this sense, doesn't refer to how you've decorated your house. Instead, it's talking about the structural type of your home. Is it one story or two? What kind of windows does it have? Is it all original, or is there an addition? How old is your home? What is the kitchen layout? There are general trends in what people are looking for and more specific trends in more targeted markets, such as seniors. Every answer to each question gives us more information to determine the Smart Price

• Condition : The condition of your home is critical in determining the price and the presentation once it's on the market. Things we would look at are, will the roof need to be replaced in the next five years? Is there pet damage to the flooring? Is the electrical up to code? How old is the furnace? These are the kinds of things that we would discuss with you after the pre-listing inspection. If you fix the troublesome areas, that will generally indicate a higher Smart Price.

• Community Amenities : Looking at the broader community is also part of Smart Pricing. We consider things like recreational activities available, waterfront, grocery stores and other shopping. These types of things will bring potential buyers to the area.

• Buyer Supply : There is a delicate balance between housing and buyer supply. Smart Pricing is essential to ensure your home is competitively priced so that it stands out from the pack when buyers are looking.

• Financing Options : Financing options are available in terms of mortgage types for the buyer. For example, could there be a vendor take-back mortgage on your home? What are the interest rates and financial stress tests? These types of financial options influence your home's pool of potential buyers.

The Market and Smart Pricing

When we look at your home, we can compare it to similar homes in your neighbourhood and what they have sold for recently. Those homes are an indicator of what potential buyers are willing to pay.

We also look at homes that are already on the market. So not only do we look at the prices, but also how long they've been on the market. We also check expired listings, giving us an idea of what an overprice would be.

Each of these factors is considered when determining a Smart Price for your home.

The Smart Price Ends With You

There will likely be a range of home values, and your home will fall somewhere in between. We work with you to determine the price and are transparent about why we advise you on a specific price. When all is said and done, and we present you with the competitive market analysis, you have the final say in the price we set for your home.

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned for the next part of our series: Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 5: The Results of Overpricing your Home

Missed the previous instalments of this series?

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 2: Real Estate Technology

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 3: Getting Ready to List Your Home

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer Harman Team - Part 3: Getting Ready to List Your Home

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

It's more than just putting it on the market!

Getting Ready to Sell

Listing your home is a big step, and here at the Mayer-Harman Team, we want to ensure that your home is ready to shine.

To do this, we have several different steps that we go through to ensure that we can photograph and market your home in a way that will have buyers eager to come to take a look!

Getting Ready to Sell: Staging Consultation

Staging is an essential part of getting your house ready to sell. When a home is professionally staged, it will potentially sell 73% faster than an unstaged home. Therefore, one of the first things we do is a staging consultation. This means that a staging professional will tour your home while making notes about what could be adjusted or changed to improve the buyers' perceptions of the space.

Something to remember: staging is meant to present your home in a specific way. The suggestions for changes are to create a delicate balance between looking great and staying neutral. This balance allows potential buyers to see certain spaces in a specific way.

Once the stager has finished touring your home, they will sit down with you and go over their suggestions and answer any questions you might have. You will receive a follow-up email that will include the list you discussed with the stager and a summary of what you discussed, if needed.

Getting Ready to Sell: Pre-listing Home Inspection

A pre-listing home inspection is essential in getting your home ready to sell. By thoroughly inspecting your home and investigating trouble spots, the inspector can give you an idea of what needs to be fixed or corrected before listing and what could be left for the new owners to deal with (with full disclosure, of course).

Some of our clients worry that this home inspection might prevent them from listing. It won't. If the inspector discovers your house has a leaky roof, and you don't want to spend the money to fix it, then make a note that that will probably affect the sale price of your home.

This inspection does not replace the assessment that is commonly written into offers. Instead, it prevents any surprises from coming up when you're well into the sale process and have a ton of other seller-related tasks on your plate.

Getting Ready to Sell: Coordination of Contractors and Repairs

We offer cleaning services to every home before putting it on the market. This service is never a comment on you or how clean you keep your house. Instead, it is a chance for cleaning professionals to come in and find those nooks and crannies that seem to get away with being a little dusty.

By having professional cleaners come in, you can be confident that sellers won't be put off by rogue cobwebs or a forgotten dusty lamp when they come to view your home. You never know what buyers are going to focus on!

Getting Ready to Sell: Staging

When it's crunch time, and you're about to put your house on the market, it will be time to stage your home. Once you have completed your list (or let us know if you haven't), the staging crew will come and set up their furniture and design elements. This process takes around 4-6 hours, depending on what needs to be done.

Once the staging is complete, we recommend you take some pictures of shared spaces where things might get moved so that you can put items back before showings.

Getting Ready to Sell: It's Up To You!

Each of these services is optional, though highly recommended if you want your house to sell quickly and for top dollar. There is potentially a lot of work and investment on the seller's part before putting the house on the market. However, we know you will see better results if you put in that extra effort.

Stay Tuned

Check back for our next article Selling Your Home: The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 4: Smart Pricing

Missed the other posts?

Selling Your Home: The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 1

Selling Your Home: The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 2: Real Estate Technology

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer Harman Team - Part 2: Real Estate Technology

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 15:00:00 GMT

How we are using cutting-edge real estate technology to help sell your home

Technology is Changing the Real Estate Industry

There has been a dramatic shift in the real estate industry and how things are done as technology becomes part of our daily lives. Property management, communications with clients and other professionals, and marketing have all benefited from the innovations in real estate tech. It saves everyone time, money, and resources, making the process easier for our clients!

So what makes us different? Well, some essential tools are now standard in real estate. For example, digital photography, online listings, and paperless communications are all expected when interacting with an agent. However, here at the Mayer-Harman team, we work hard to use leading-edge real estate tools to provide you, our client, with a seamless experience and ensure that you are getting the best offers on your home.

Technology Before You List

Professional Drone Photography and Videography

We employ talented photographers, whose expertise and professionalism always produce a quality product. Using unique techniques to get the perfect shots of your home, you can be confident that we will be able to present your home in its best light.

Pre-Home Inspection

We think you must know what's happening with your home before listing it. To do that, we highly recommend a pre-home inspection. The companies we use utilize thermal imaging to make sure that you are aware of any potential issues ahead of time. This non-invasive technology can help the inspector detect problems such as electrical and water damage. It will also tell you where you might be experiencing heat loss or where there is poor insulation. All of this information is important to have before you list.

3D Virtual Tour & 3D Floor Plan

Buyers want to get to know a house before they spend the time to go through it. That's why we produce a high-quality digital walk-through of your home that allows potential buyers to see what your home looks like and lets them get the feel of your home. They can click through each floor of your home while looking around 360'.

This 3D virtual tour also comes with a 3D floor plan that allows the seller to see the layout of your house and use it to navigate through the walk-through by selecting whichever room they want to see.

We ensure that potential buyers see just enough to make them want to come and see your home for themselves!

Marketing Your Home

Graphic Design & Marketing Materials

We spend a great deal of time and effort on ensuring that your home's marketing materials are high-quality. In addition, we work with graphic designers to put together print materials and social media campaigns.

For each home, we create a video that showcases your home and the community you live in, which we know is vital to potential buyers. In addition, we create a dedicated website for your house, which includes all of the materials we have put together to make your home stand out!

Artificial Intelligence & Geographic Marketing

We run targeted ad campaigns to ensure the right people see what your home offers. For example, potential buyers searching for homes in your area whose price range matches your sale price or whose features list matches your home's features will see our ads for your home.

These ads run on Google and Facebook, ensuring that many people will see them and help increase the traffic to your home's website or listing. And, as with anything else on the internet, traffic equals sales!

Behind the Scenes

Customer Relationship Management

Our relationships with our customers are important to us. This is more than just a business arrangement. You become part of the Mayer-Harman Team family when you buy or sell with us! We genuinely care about you long after our business is complete.

We are all busy people, and our brains can only hold so much information! Of course, we would love to be able to remember every person's birthday and house anniversary, but that is not our superpower. So, we have invested in software that helps us out. It reminds us of birthdays and anniversaries, so we can reach out and help you celebrate!

Looking Forward

We are always on the prowl for innovative real estate technology that can help us make your experience easier. Real estate technology is growing and changing every day. There are so many avenues to explore, and we're game!

Stay Tuned

Check back for our next blog: Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 3: Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 1

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 15:00:01 GMT

The Mayer-Harman Team works with you to sell your home!

What You Can Expect From The Mayer-Harman Team

The Mayer- Harman Team believes that when we work with our clients, we can achieve extraordinary results!

Achieving these results means working closely with you and finding out what you want and need. Then, using this information, we work hard to help you make the best real estate decisions possible.

By focusing on being knowledgeable, working collaboratively with you, and providing excellent professional client-based service, we want to make this a great experience for you.

Our Goals to Help You!

The Mayer-Harman Team has three main goals for serving our customers. They are:

• Help you achieve Real Estate objectives now and in the future.

• Produce extraordinary results quickly and consistently.

• Provide your family, friends, and colleagues with the same outstanding results!

We believe there is a right way to sell real estate, and the Mayer-Harman Team is committed to proving it by outperforming our competitors with every sale.

What Makes The Mayer-Harman Team Different

The Mayer-Harman team doesn't just put your home on the market and hope for the best. Instead, we actively work to ready, list, and promote your home to get you the best deal possible.

So what does that look like? Check out the graphic below:

These descriptions only give you a vague idea of what we do for our clients. It also doesn't tell you why we do what we do. But, it does show you how selling your home with the Mayer Harman Team is a wrap-around service, providing you with the answers you need when you need them.

Doing What's Best For You

In the end, the Mayer-Harman Team wants you to be comfortable and happy with your real estate decisions. So we won't push you to spend more than your budget or over-price your home. Instead, we take your lead on what services you want, and if you choose to opt-out of something, that's totally up to you.

Stay Tuned

Check out our next blog in this series, Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 2, where we will discuss the leading-edge technology, we use to help sell your home.

Interested in selling your home?

Giving Back - A Map To Altruism in Dufferin

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:00:00 GMT

After a weekend of being thankful, some community agencies and ways to support them are here. They have many ways to give back to your community!

What Giving Back is All About

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and be thankful for the abundance we share within our families and communities. After being grateful for what we have, it's also a great time to start thinking about giving back and helping those in need.

Whether we celebrate the long weekend with family or friends, whether we celebrate with food or in other ways, there is something special about Thanksgiving that brings people together.

However, while we are grateful for what we have, other community members continue to struggle.

It's hard to know how to help. Sometimes we don't know what community services there are or who to contact about helping. Or, sometimes, we can only think of the more prominent or popular services. So we have put together this list to make giving back to smaller or lesser-known services easier!

The Services

Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services

Who They Are

When tragedy strikes and the initial shock has worn off, Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services ( CDVS ) is there 24/7 to support the victim. They offer crisis intervention and short-term support, followed by assistance and information about practical options for what comes next. Whether the support comes in person or by phone, crisis responders are well-trained volunteers who are always there to help.

Donate

Giving back via donations to CDVS is simple. Through CanadaHelps, you can provide a financial contribution once or monthly, with secure payment options.

Volunteer

Volunteering for CDVS is an application process. The commitment is a minimum of three 12-hour shifts a month and is limited to folks who live in Dufferin or Caledon regions.

Connect

Learning about and sharing information by mouth or social media is a great way to give back. Not only are you spreading the word that the service is available, but you're also letting victims know that they're not alone.

Choices Youth Shelter

Who They Are

Choices Youth Shelter is a not-for-profit community agency in Orangeville, Ontario, that serves youth ages 16-24.

In addition to providing shelter to youth experiencing homelessness, Choices Youth Shelter provides a judgment-free space where at-risk youth can access services and programming.

Choices Youth Shelter is far more than just a place for youth to go. Their dedication to connecting the youth accessing their services, helping those youth connect with other supports in the community, and their determination to help youth 16-24 identify and work towards their goals shows that they are actively making the world a better place.

Donate:

Monetary Donations

You can make a financial donation through Canada Helps, which offers the option of a one-time or recurring donation, or a PayPal donation directly to Choices Youth Shelter.

Item Donations

Choices Youth Shelter also has a wish list of items they need. Some items include blankets and comforters, fresh fruit, and deodorant. Check out the complete list on their website.

Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering, send an email using their contact page, letting them know how you can help.

Connect

Hosting a fundraising event is a great way to get the word out to the community about the fantastic work Choices Youth Shelter does while supporting them financially.

If connecting on social media and sharing information is more your speed, you can find them on social media, you can find them on these platforms:

Hospice Dufferin

Who They Are

Hospice Dufferin provides programs for folks diagnosed with a life-limiting illness from diagnosis to end of life and for family members to help them through the process, including grief.

Hospice Dufferin strives to help their clients live fully and continue to experience the world despite their challenges. They want peace, comfort, and dignity for anyone with a life-limiting illness.

Donate

Give back by providing financial support to Hospice Dufferin. You can donate to them directly on their website or via Canada Helps.

Volunteer

There are many opportunities to volunteer with Hospice Dufferin, from palliative visiting to helping out with the Hike for Hospice Dufferin. Find something that fits you!

Connect

Learning about the services that Hospice Dufferin offers and talking about it on social media is always a great way to help get the word out so people know when to turn should they, or someone close to them, be diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

You can also connect with Hospice Dufferin on social media.

Spread the Word: Giving Back Feels Great!

No matter how you choose to give back to your community, you're making a positive change in somebody's life. Giving back isn't just limited to what we have listed here. There are so many community agencies that need your help and support. Sometimes, it's as easy as sharing a post on social media.

So don't be afraid to engage with community agencies. Find a cause that resonates with you, and go for it! That's what giving back is all about!

What cause are you passionate about? Let us know!

Don't Panic! Real Estate is a Long-Term Investment

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The housing market in Dufferin is still happy and healthy

Don't let the rumours get you down

Some things in life are significant risks: sky diving, participating in a polar bear swim, and antagonizing your mother-in-law. Luckily, one of the most significant purchases of your life doesn't usually come with that "big risk" warning label. Purchasing housing in Dufferin doesn't have to be terrifying, we promise.

There has been a lot of media attention on the current condition of the real estate market. There’s plenty of debate about whether or not it’s the right time to buy or sell your home. We understand how concerning that can be, especially as the prices of everything else seems to be on the rise.

However, we’re here to tell you: don’t sweat the small stuff. Real estate is a long-term investment. Want to know more? Read on for the details.

The small scale: things are changing

If you have seen anything about real estate in general lately, you'll have heard things like "the market is slowing down" or "wait to buy; the housing market will continue to soften." The market is correcting itself after the wild-west-like market we saw in late 2021 and early 2022. As a result, houses are staying on the market significantly longer than they were at just the beginning of 2022 when homes were regularly going well over the asking price after receiving multiple offers in rapid succession.

That’s not a bad thing. While sellers reaped the benefits of a high-demand market, it was fast-paced and stressful, and especially expensive for home-buyers. As the market stabilizes and it’s not an all-out battle between realtors for each home, it feels slightly like a backslide. Who doesn’t want their home to have 15 offers? But that kind of real estate market isn’t sustainable or productive for anyone. A change was inevitable.

Why is it changing so quickly?

The simple answer is that the real estate market responds to the temporary elements that affect it most: the Bank of Canada's interest rate, inflation, and employment rates. The interest rate has increased significantly recently, from 0.25% to 3.25% since March of this year. Many factors go into the Bank of Canada's decisions to increase or decrease the interest rate. The takeaway here is that it fluctuates, as do the other elements. So what we're seeing now could be drastically different from what we see 6 months or a year from now.

Taking a step back: the big picture

Housing prices fluctuate over months or even a couple of years. But when you look at a home's value over time? You almost always come out as a winner.

Take a look at the chart below. The red line represents the Housing Price Index, or HPI, for Dufferin Region. This statistic is calculated based on the price of your "average" home, which means they have excluded extreme prices on both the low and high ends, and then calculated the average. (Learn more about how the HPI is calculated here .)

As you can see, despite a steep drop from the beginning of 2022, Dufferin's housing values have increased steadily and dramatically since January 2020.

Home values now are just slightly above where they were at this time last year. That’s a win for everybody.

Putting it all together: should I buy a house in Dufferin right now or not?

The bottom line here is that while home prices fluctuate in the short-term, you will more than make up for the price that you paid for your home. The time to buy, or sell, is when you are ready, not when the market (or anybody else) says so. Your home is your investment in your future.

We have told clients that we have never heard a person say they regret what they paid for their home. We know this will remain true, even as the Dufferin real estate market finds itself.

Want to know more? Ready to take the plunge? Contact Us

7 Pro Tips for Hiring a Contractor

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:47:14 GMT

Hiring a Contractor

Whether you’re about to sell your home or you just purchased a fixer upper, you may need to do some renovations and find a reliable contractor who you can trust. Where do you start? Here are our top 7 pro tips to help you find a contractor from start to finish.

Determine Your Budget

Make a list of EVERYTHING you want done and highlight your MUST HAVES. Have your potential contractor cost out both lists and you’ll know what you can afford to undertake based on the budget you set out. *Be sure to set aside an amount as a contingency fund just in case something doesn’t go as planned.

Do you need a Permit or License?

Whether your project is interior or exterior, you may need to obtain a permit to ensure that health, fire, structural, and general safety standards are met. If not, you may be subject to financial or legal consequences. Just a little bit of due diligence can go a long way!

Get a few estimates

Shop around and get a few quotes for your project but keep in mind, the lowest estimate doesn’t always mean the best estimate. The lowball bid may indicate that the contractor is cutting corners OR desperate for work. The most important factor here is how well you communicate with each other. It’s better to spend a bit more, and get someone you’re comfortable with, especially when things don’t go as planned.

Ensure the Contractor is Accredited

Make sure your contractor has their credentials in order. A great place to start is to ask family, friends, and neighbours who have had positive experiences with a contractor. Or check our list of preferred contractors/vendors that we have vetted and can confidently recommend, and work in the Dufferin and Peel areas.

If you hire workers who are not insured or who don’t have safety certification, you could be held responsible if they are injured on your property.

Set up a payment schedule

Work out a payment schedule ahead of time. For large projects, a schedule usually starts with 10% at contract signing, three payments of 25% evenly spaced over the duration of the project and the final 15% once the job is done—and done right!

Put it in writing

Draw up a contract that details every step of the project: payment schedule; proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation payments; a start date and projected completion date; specific materials and products to be used; and a requirement that the contractor obtain lien releases (which protect you if he doesn't pay his bills) from all subcontractors and suppliers. Once the contract is completed it is a legal document that binds both parties once fully signed.

Remember Patience

Renovating can be trying for even the most patient person so remember to follow these steps from the beginning of your project so you can relax and enjoy the improvements to your home!

So What?

Making sure that you find a skilled and reputable contractor is vital to stay on budget and keep your stress levels down. Most importantly, once you’ve chosen a contractor to work with, maintain productive and positive communication to ensure everything gets done.

How Your Credit Score Affects You Buying A House

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:52:02 GMT

Your Credit Could Be Holding You Back

Your credit score is now the most important factor in determining how much house you can buy, so if you are in the market for a new home, you need to understand how it affects you.

In order to make it easy for mortgage companies to determine the risk of lending to you, they are using a system called credit scoring (also called "FICO" scores).

When lenders look at your credit report, they can instantly see how much debt you have, how reliable you are with bill payments, and if you've had any bankruptcies within the last several years.

With your credit report, lenders get a "credit score" which takes all of this information and boils it down to a number between 300 and 900. The higher the number, the less of a credit risk you are seen to be, and this is how lenders decide which types of loans you will be eligible for.

As with all new things, there is controversy over credit scores.

To be eligible for some types of loans, you require a minimum credit score without any exceptions. And credit scores fluctuate over time. In fact, the mere act of applying for credit can lower your credit score.

How to make sure you have the highest credit score possible

To maximize your credit score, you should avoid applying for any new credit cards or consumer loans.

Don't go to the discount store and take them up on the "No interest, no payments for one year" offer -- and avoid financing a car!

After you buy your home and get your mortgage you can do all of these things, but before then it's a bad idea. Buying things on credit hurts your credit score, and leaves less money for your downpayment.

Lenders also look at this figure to decide how much money they will lend you, and how much interest they will charge you on the loan.

That's why it's best to wait until after you've bought your home to go shopping for furniture and appliances. There is also another reason to wait.

Once you've bought your home, you can get a loan for up to 100% of your home's value to buy anything you want.

If you learn to play by the rules of the lenders' game, you can get the best credit score possible, which improves the odds that you can get the home of your dreams.

Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster With These Tips

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:47:51 GMT

Save Thousands Of Dollars In Interest

There are a few easy ways to make extra principle payments that can save you a ton of money in interest expenses and get you mortgage-free sooner than you thought possible. Here are a few simple strategies you can use:

1. Round your monthly payment up

The results of this simple strategy can save you a fortune and drastically reduce the length of your mortgage.

As an example, if your monthly mortgage payments were $734 dollars a month, but you rounded it up to $800 per month, you would save more than $48,000 in interest payments, and reduce the length of your mortgage by 7.5 years!

2. Make One Time Pre-Payments Using Your Income Tax Refund

This is an easy way to save money and shorten your mortgage. For example, if you have a $100,000 mortgage, and you have a $1000 tax refund this year, you take apply that refund to your mortgage. Over time, this will save you more than $8600 and shave 1 year and 1 month off your mortgage! That's another amazing result from a simple strategy.

3. Choose a 15 Year Mortgage

If you can afford it, you are far better off getting a 15 year mortgage instead of 30. It won't cost you much more, and the interest savings are truly incredible.

If you have a mortgage of $100,000 at 8% interest over 15 years, your monthly payment would be about $200 more, but you'd end up saving $92,083 in interest over the life of your mortgage!

Using these strategies is the easiest way to reduce your interest expenses and shorten your mortgage period.

5 Mistakes That Buyers Make

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:43:27 GMT

Buying a home is a being decision

There is a lot that goes into buying a house, it's a big decision that you shouldn't take lightly. Whether you are a new buyer or an experienced one there are things that you need to know before beginning your search for that perfect home. We here at The Mayer-Harman Team believe in making these decisions easy for our clients and always want to help walk with you through the necessary steps.

Below are some common mistake home buyer have made that could cost you.

Mistake #1

Not knowing what they can afford before making an offer.

The best way to avoid this is to get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know exactly how much you can afford. Usually pre-approvals are free.

Mistake #2

Not knowing who the agent represents.

Unless an agent is working as your buyer representative, they represent the seller. Many people don't realize this.

Mistake #3

Choosing the wrong mortgage.

A bad mortgage can cost you thousands in taxes and interest. Consult an accountant before you choose your mortgage.

Mistake #4

Not finding problems with the home before buying it.

You should always have a professional inspector look at the home before buying it, otherwise you could be looking at huge repair costs later on. Read this guide to avoiding a money pit.

Mistake #5

Not understanding how their credit can impact their ability to purchase or refinance a home.

Get a mortgage professional to help you go over and prepare your credit file before you buy a home.

How To Avoid A Money Pit

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:32:45 GMT

Be on the Lookout for these 6 Warning Signs That Could Mean Expensive Repairs

Many people think that serious defects in a home are easy to spot, but the truth is, often the most serious and costly problems can only be detected upon very close inspection. When you are considering buying a home, look for the following six telltale signs of serious problems...

1. Roof

Leaks are the most common problem with roofs, and are tough to detect from outside. However, from inside an attic, you can often see water marks where there is a leak.

2. Plumbing System

Make sure you are confident that both water systems: the one that brings fresh water in and the one that takes sewage out are functioning well before signing on the dotted line.

3. Electrical Systems

Before you agree to buy you should make sure that you can run all of the appliances you want to and even power tools at the same time without having a power failure. You also want to make sure that the electrical system is safe and does not present a fire hazard.

4. Heating and Cooling Systems

Be sure to thoroughly inspect the heating and air conditioning systems in any home you are considering purchasing.

5. Bad Paint and Signs of Rotting

The paint inside and outside the house can reveal a lot about the condition of the underlying material. Check several places on several walls, using your eyes and a screwdriver for poking.

6. Cracks and other important signs

Cracks in walls, doors not closing properly and uneven floors can all be signs that there is a problem with the foundation. If the foundation is not strong, the entire house could literally collapse, so you should carefully check for these signs. A bad foundation may not mean imminent disaster, but it could be used to bargain for a lower sale price, or you could ask to have the owner repair it before the sale.

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More Homes Built Faster is Just an Act

The Ford Government's proposed legislation gaslights Ontarians and relies on trickle-down economics

Background

The "Good"

The Bad

The Ugly

The Good News

Who Is Actually Benefiting From the New Homes Built Faster Legislation?

A closer look at the announcements from the Ontario Government made on October 25, 2022

What Was Said

Is It Possible?

How is This Going to Affect the Housing Market?

Moving Forward

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer Harman Team - Part 4: Smart Pricing

Find out how we help you determine the sale price of your home

The Mayer-Harman Team Uses Smart Pricing

What Exactly is Smart Pricing?

How We Determine the Smart Price

The Market and Smart Pricing

The Smart Price Ends With You

Stay Tuned

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer Harman Team - Part 3: Getting Ready to List Your Home

It's more than just putting it on the market!

Getting Ready to Sell

Getting Ready to Sell: Staging Consultation

Getting Ready to Sell: Pre-listing Home Inspection

Getting Ready to Sell: Coordination of Contractors and Repairs

Getting Ready to Sell: Staging

Getting Ready to Sell: It's Up To You!

Stay Tuned

Missed the other posts?

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer Harman Team - Part 2: Real Estate Technology

How we are using cutting-edge real estate technology to help sell your home

Technology is Changing the Real Estate Industry

Technology Before You List

Professional Drone Photography and Videography ﻿

Pre-Home Inspection

3D Virtual Tour & 3D Floor Plan

Marketing Your Home

Graphic Design & Marketing Materials

Artificial Intelligence & Geographic Marketing

Behind the Scenes

Customer Relationship Management

Looking Forward

Stay Tuned

Selling Your Home? The Advantages of the Mayer-Harman Team - Part 1

The Mayer-Harman Team works with you to sell your home!

What You Can Expect From The Mayer-Harman Team

The Mayer- Harman Team believes that when we work with our clients, we can achieve extraordinary results!

Our Goals to Help You! ﻿

What Makes The Mayer-Harman Team Different

Doing What's Best For You

Stay Tuned

Giving Back - A Map To Altruism in Dufferin

After a weekend of being thankful, some community agencies and ways to support them are here. They have many ways to give back to your community!

What Giving Back is All About

The Services

Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services ﻿

Who They Are

Donate

Volunteer

Connect

Choices Youth Shelter

Who They Are

Donate:

Monetary Donations

Item Donations

Volunteer

﻿

Connect

Hospice Dufferin

Who They Are

Donate

Volunteer

Connect

Don't Panic! Real Estate is a Long-Term Investment

The housing market in Dufferin is still happy and healthy

Don't let the rumours get you down

The small scale: things are changing

Professional Drone Photography and Videography

Our Goals to Help You!

Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services