When You Need Answers, We Give You Facts!

I received a phone call the other day from a past client.

She owns her primary house and rental property as well.

She wants to refinance both properties and leverage the appreciation for other things.

If possible, another cash flowing investment property in Hamilton.

She reached out to the same lender I connected her with years ago.

She said, “I trust him and his advice and I would never take my business elsewhere”.

What a great compliment that is. I made sure he knew how she felt.

With what’s happening with the market at the moment, the bank ordered an appraisal on both properties, which she had to pay for.

Not like a year ago when banks waved that fee and only did a desk or drive-by appraisal which is not a full appraisal like they “need” now. Things have changed for everyone involved in the transaction.

So she gets the appraisal back and her property has appreciated very well,since she purchased it years ago..

She questioned the value she was given because of what she knew her neighbours had sold for months back.

So I did some research and pulled up the recent properties sold in her neighbourhood.

I shared with her the most recent sales and I compared them to her property.

To gain a better perspective on prices I even compared properties that sold 8-12 months ago as well.

We discussed how banks look at refinancing and how the current market is now, which has banks being a bit more restrictive than before.

Banks know the value of real estate and will always lend against it, to a maximum of 80% loan to value.

I was happy to be able to give my client the facts that she needed to understand her situation.

I always say, “You don’t know what you don’t know”, so It never hurts to ask.

I am always here to help answer any questions, share information or connect you with my large network of professionals.

It all starts with a simple conversation.

Chat with me anytime by calling me at 647.801.4425 or email me at Kevin@CRESI.ca.

You can also visit and learn more about the C.R.E.S.I. Group of Companies by visiting www.CRESI.ca.

Thoughts on the Handling of Non-Payment of Rent Applications at the Landlord Tenant Board

It’s time to address a critical issue — the handling of NON-PAYMENT OF RENT applications at the LANDLORD AND TENANT BOARD LTB).

Currently, the board is backlogged with 53,000 cases, and the majority of these are non-payment of rent applications (N4). According to the Landlord and Tenant Board’s 2022-2023 annual report, there were a total of 64,450 landlord applications, with 37,690 being N4 non-payment of rent applications. This is completely unacceptable! The sheer volume of these cases demonstrates a broken system that is not serving the needs of landlords or tenants, further contributing to the housing crisis in Ontario.

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How to Turn $150K Into a $200K Down Payment: A Playbook for First-Time Buyers

Buying a first home is a huge milestone,​ but for many Canadians, saving for the down payment can feel like an uphill battle. Rising home prices and borrowing costs have made this a significant challenge—but with the right strategy, there’s a way to help your clients stretch their savings further.

The Secret Weapons: RRSP and FHSA

These government programs are tailor-made for first-time buyers.

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House Prices Are Low, Now Is The Right Time To Invest In Real Estate

“Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful’ 

 ~ Warren Buffet

This quote fits in with how the state of the real estate market is going. Right now, home prices are lower and the interest rates are higher. This is causing uncertainty and some people will not buy. You can be certain in this, prices and interest rates will continue to go up and down. No market situation is forever. People will always need a roof over their heads, that is FOREVER!  

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