This time of year is about reflection, connection, and the joy of coming together with loved ones. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply enjoying the season in your own way, we hope it brings you peace, happiness, and cherished memories.

For those we’ve had the pleasure of working with, thank you for trusting us with such an important part of your life. For those we’ve yet to meet, we hope our paths cross in the year ahead. Helping families find the right place to call home is what drives everything we do, and we’re honoured to be a part of this journey.

May your holiday season be bright, and may the year ahead bring you happiness, health, and success.

Warm wishes from our family to yours.

What’s in the bag: The Essentials

• 14 Clubs
• (At least) Six golf balls: If you’re golf game is a little loose like mine, maybe keep your stash 50/50 between new and used. Personally, any fewer than six balls in my bag and I’m dripping sweat while clutching my driver.
• Three headcovers for woods and hybrids
• A dozen or so tees
• One golf glove

Accessories

• Bag tag with your name: It certainly helps at the bag drop, especially for group outings).
• 2 towels: a big one for clubs and a small towel to keep in your back pocket for the green is handy on dewey mornings.
• Divot repair tool
• Ball marker: if you don’t have a lucky coin by now, you’re doing it wrong.
• Mini-Sharpie: Or else how will you truly know if it’s your Pinnacle in the fairway?
• Protective pouch: For watches or other items that could scratch when in a golf bag.

– Driver adjustment tool

First Aid

• Sunscreen
• Lip balm (especially for the desert or mountain courses)
• Band-Aids (for blisters)
• Bug Repellent
• Bottle (or travel pack) of painkillers
• Packaged foods (nothing that will spoil)

Foul weather preparedness

Optional depending on the season and forecast. If you don’t want to keep it all in your bag, consider keeping these items together in a smaller, easy-to-access bag.

Wet weather

• Set of rain gloves
• Rain club cover
• Rain jacket
• Pair of rain pants
• Umbrella (This is the subject of much debate: I say for links or cart golf, you don’t need it, but if walking a parkland, yes).
• Waterproof baggie: Good for valuables, phones, wallet, etc.

Cold weather

• Set of winter gloves
• Under shirt or arm warmers
• Jacket
• Handwarmer packs
• Wool cap that covers the ear

Social golf novelties

These items are particularly useful for social golf and buddies trips.

• Koozie: We don’t condone “packing in” your own booze but B.Y.O.Koozie is essential.
• Insulated Cup: Yeti and Tervis do good work.
• Softcover cooler bag: Some courses provide their own, but many don’t.
• Pack of business cards: Because you never know who you’ll be paired up with.
• Some cash in small bills. For tips, beverage cart and bets.
• Bottle opener

Tech

Now we are getting into some novelty items, some of which can cost as much as your driver.

• Bluetooth Speaker
• Rangefinder (or wearable GPS unit).
• Mobile Swing analyzer/trackman: In some cases, this could simply be an app on your phone.
• GoPro and selfie stick
• Portable phone charger or Extra USB cord for golf cart: More and more golf carts are installing USB outlets, but I’ve realized it’s pointless if you leave your USB in the car.
• Driving range training aid: The Orange Whip seems to be a pretty common sight these days in golf bags, or alignment sticks.

Alright, be That Guy if you must and pack:

• Iron covers: But seriously, I think they’ll be fine without them.
• Ball retriever: If you’re using one, you probably don’t even play new balls to begin with.
• More than 14 clubs: Because aren’t 14 enough?
• Banana: Be warned, everyone forgets about the banana in the golf bag.

Lastly, we all have a few items we keep in our bag that are rare. Whether they are personal medical, nostalgic or miscellaneous. Personally, I keep a collapsible dog dishes and poop bags in mine since my munis allow dogs.

So, let’s check in on the weight of my now that my LS is fully packed (perhaps absurdly so) for my next round:

Weight empty: 3.5 lbs.
Weight fully-loaded: 23.6 lbs.
Carry weight: 19 lbs.

Okay, That should do it. That’s all you need to play a round of golf.
What did I miss?

After a two-year hiatus, we’re excited to say that the National Home Show is back! Returning with all your favourite onsite experiences, speakers and local renovations experts, plus a few surprises, The National Home Show in 2022 is going to be the best one yet! If you’re like us and can’t wait, we’ll be previewing some of the amazing content, companies and products you’ll find onsite over the coming months. Can’t wait until April? We’ve got you covered with tips from our experts, exclusive specials, and a directory of our incredible vendors!

This is an amazing show where you can get so many different Ideas and Concepts for your current home or your next home that will come along!

Click here to see all of the vendors and get your tickets.

This Runs from April 15th-April 24th Do Not Miss Out!!!!

When it comes to investments, you will be hard-pressed to find a safer or more successful vehicle than real estate. It’s one of the few things you can buy that will almost certainly appreciate in value over time. In fact, housing prices have been climbing steadily. If you purchased a house in 2000, you could likely sell it in 2022 for twice as much. 

This is excellent news for anyone who bought their property even a few years ago. Of course, one of the ways to maximize your purchase is to find renters, even if it’s just one room in the house. The regular income you receive can cover the cost of your mortgage and then some, which builds up your nest egg even further.

Maximizing Your Investment

That’s why countless homeowners converted basements, top floors and other parts of their homes into rental units. It helped with the monthly household costs and increased the value of the property.  

While renting part of your home or owning multiple properties could be a great way to earn extra income, there may be a time when you want to cash out of that investment. Perhaps it’s time to look for a new property to invest in. Maybe you’d like to sell the home to fund your retirement or cover the cost of schooling for a career change. 

Whatever your reason for selling, the timing has never been better. Housing prices soared in 2021 and have increased even more in the first few months of 2022. 

However, if you want to sell a house with tenants, there are a few rules and laws you need to know about.

Every landlord should familiarize themselves with the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board. Staying on the right side of the law will protect your investment and save you countless hours of wasted time and headaches throughout the process. 

A few basic guidelines will help keep you in compliance with Ontario law when selling your rental property:

Selling Does Not Void a Written Lease

As a landlord, you can sell the property whenever you choose. However, you cannot sell the house as a way of evicting a tenant with a written lease agreement. When selling the home, you must advise the potential buyer that there are tenants. The new owner must honour all terms of the lease. In other words, the tenants come with the property. 

You Must Provide Adequate Notice to the Tenant

When a lease expires and is not renewed, it transitions into a monthly term. At this point, you can ask the tenants to leave, but you must provide 60 days’ notice to allow them to secure new accommodations. If you want to wait until you have an offer on the home, you’ll have to negotiate with the buyer for enough time before the closing date to allow for this notice. 

Notice Of Landlord Entering the Premises

As the landlord, you have the right to enter the tenant’s unit, provided that you give them 24 hours’ notice. This includes giving notice whenever you or the Realtor® want to show the home to potential buyers. Renters must comply with the owner’s request, but they do not have to prepare the house other than maintaining the basic cleanliness agreed upon in the rental contract. If the showing gets cancelled, you should also notify the tenants. The tenant will often want to be on-site during these walk-throughs, but their presence is not required. 

Rather than give notice every time you have a showing, you might consider negotiating a set block of time with your tenant that suits everyone’s schedule. For example, you will showcase the house every Tuesday and Thursday from 2 – 4 pm, unless otherwise notified.

Commit to Selling Before Advising your Tenants

Sharing your thoughts on selling before you are fully ready may hurt you in the end. It can damage your relationship with your tenant and make things awkward if you decide not to sell after all. Preparing a house for the market takes time. There will almost certainly be minor repairs and upgrades you’ll want to make. If your tenant hears a rumour about a possible sale, they may move out before you’re ready. Wait until you have the sign on the lawn, then let your tenants know that you will honour your end of the agreement. Be open and honest with timelines once your house is on the market.

Target the Right Buyer

Targeting the right buyer will save you a lot of time when selling an investment property and help you make more money from your sale. A home with a tenant may be a turnoff to a buyer who wants to move their family in right away. The best buyer for your situation may be another investor looking to add to their portfolio. Since up to 25% of all homebuyers are investors, you still have a large pool of buyers to market to. 

Want more advice about buying or selling an investment property? Here is some more must-have information for you: 

• The BRRR Investment Strategy
• Is it Better to Sell or Rent Your House
• Three Creative Tips to Make Your Old House Look Brand New!

We love working with investment properties and landlords! Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to helping you find your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

As a team of passionate Burlington real estate professionals, we know better than most just how fantastically diverse and eclectic our local community is.

With an ever-expanding population of about 185,000 local residents, the City of Burlington is always developing and evolving. And, one of our favourite things to do is explore and re-explore each neighbourhood, community, and pocket of the city that makes Burlington so unique.

If you’re on the search for a new home in Burlington but haven’t settled on exactly where just yet, let our Burlington neighbourhood guides below make the perfect brief introduction for you.

Downtown Burlington

Of course, we couldn’t talk about Burlington neighbourhoods without mentioning perhaps the most well-known of them all, Downtown Burlington. This is the picturesque Burlington neighbourhood that’s scenic waterfront vistas and populous amenities and attractions make it onto the front of most of Burlington’s postcards, billboards, and advertisements.

If you’re used to a big city or want to be close to the action, this is the neighbourhood in Burlington for you. Not only is it one of the most naturally beautiful as it sits right up against the glistening shoreline of Lake Ontario, but it’s comprehensively action-packed too, with just about anything you could ever want or need right at your doorstep.

From the city’s best bars, restaurants, cafes, shopping, and entertainment, along with some of Burlington’s best views, everything is right here in Downtown Burlington.

As far as the homes here go, the landscape is developing at a rapid pace, with a huge number of new lakeside condo buildings having been constructed in the recent past with even more to come, catering perfectly to the smaller family or singles and couple crowd.

Coming from out of town? We’ve helped so many newcomers settle into life in Burlington we’ve lost count. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you do the same, visit our Help Me Relocate page here.

Alton Village

If you’re a buyer that requires a bit more square footage than a condo in the sky in Downtown Burlington but doesn’t necessarily want to compromise on scenic vistas, then the neighbourhood of Alton Village is for you.

Located up towards the north end of the city, Alton Village is a family-oriented, largely residential neighbourhood that touts sweeping views of the Niagara Escarpment and all of its glorious surrounding green spaces.

This not only offers the perfect natural backdrop, but also a sense of security parents have grown accustomed to when allowing their children to run, laugh, and play outside in the community.

And, with public amenities like the Burlington Public Library, Dr. Frank Hayden Secondary School, and the Haber Recreation Centre close by as well, it has all the makings of one of Burlington’s best neighbourhoods for families. Not to mention also being right next door to Norton Community Park, the largest open green space in the area.

If you’re on the hunt for the best Burlington home for your unique lifestyle, you’ll have a great chance of finding it on our listings pages here:

• Homes For Sale
• Search All Listings

Roseland

Much like Downtown Burlington, the neighbourhood of Roseland is located right along the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario, though the neighbourhood itself is more of a happy medium between downtown and the more residential, family-friendly area of Alton Village.

Because Roseland is one of Burlington’s older neighbourhoods, this community is known for its sizeable homes and lot sizes despite being located so centrally within the city — right beside Downtown Burlington, in fact. For this reason, Roseland is a perennially desirable neighbourhood for Burlington buyers.

Roseland is also full of historic charm that’s hard to find in other, more recently built neighbourhoods in Burlington too, with many of the neighbourhoods structures constructed back near the beginning of the previous century. Here, you can expect older heritage homes, generously wide streets, ​​and lots of lush greenery including canopy-lined streets and sprawling front lawns.

As for the homes, it’s not all old-world here — there’s a great mix of newly renovated homes in Roseland too to suit the needs of the modern homebuyer. Whatever style of home you’re looking for, the neighbourhood Roseland is a great place to look for larger single-family structures perfectly suited to family life.

Eager to find out more about Burlington’s many amazing local neighbourhoods? Visit our Burlington Neighbourhoods page here for more information.

Aldershot

Over on the far western border of the City of Burlington is where you’ll find the neighbourhood of Aldershot, another covetable Burlington neighbourhood sat directly atop the shores of stunning Lake Ontario.

As you might’ve guessed, Burlington’s unfettered access to Lake Ontario is one of the city’s major draws for locals and newcomers alike, so it only makes sense the neighbourhoods with the best access to the lake are among the most desirable for buyers.

If you enjoy being close to the water but far from the hustle and bustle of one of Canada’s most rapidly-expanding cities, then Aldershot offers the perfect happy medium right here in Burlington. While this naturally gorgeous community in Burlington’s west end is as far away from the city centre as you can get (while staying lakeside, that is), that’s not to say living in Aldershot is an inconvenience at all.

In actuality, Aldershot is home to many valuable Burlington amenities, including the eye-catching grounds of the Royal Botanical Gardens, the vibrant shopping district along ​​Plains Road West, and even the Aldershot GO Station, which offers convenient public transport services for commuters.

In terms of the homes, there are an enormous variety of types and architectural influences here in Aldershot, many of which date back to the middle of the 20th century. From ranch and cottage-style homes to mid-century bungalows and the like, the choice is yours when living in Aldershot.

No matter which Burlington neighbourhood suits your lifestyle best, we’re confident can help you find the ideal home for you there. Find out more about our buying process on our buyer-related pages below:

• Buying With Us
• Find A Home

Have you been wondering whether or not selling your home in the winter is a good idea? From a real estate perspective, listing your home during any time of the year has its advantages and disadvantages, and the winter market is certainly no exception.

While some might urge you to wait and list in the spring, others might tell you the winter market is full of untapped potential. Ultimately, however, the decision is yours to make, and all you should focus on is understanding the pros and cons.

To help you form your own opinions about selling your home in the winter and help you decide on how you want to approach your upcoming sale, here are five things to know about listing in the winter.

1. The Market Is Slower

Traditionally, winter isn’t necessarily among the real estate market’s busiest of seasons. When it comes to the sheer amount of activity and transactions, those tend to happen during the spring or fall (if you follow the statistics).

However, that doesn’t mean the winter and summer markets don’t see any activity at all — they’re just generally a little bit slower. And it’s easy to understand why especially during the winter months.

Generally speaking, most homeowners and prospective buyers find that, during wintertime, most of their thoughts are preoccupied with things like the holiday season, taking vacations to warmer climates, and, well, keeping warm. House hunting and moving aren’t usually high up on the list of priorities for most during this time of year, which is why the winter real estate market tends to move noticeably slower.

Not sure whether selling your home or renting it out is the better option? We’ve covered everything you need to know about that on our post here: Is It Better To Sell Or Rent Your House?

2. Fewer Listings = Less Competition

While the market might be less populated with eager buyers during the winter (not necessarily advantageous for sellers), there is a silver lining. When selling your home in the winter, your listing will also face much less competition from other homes for sale.

Just as there are fewer buyers populating the market at this time of year, there are also fewer sellers listing their homes for sale too. That means those homes that are listed for sale have a greater share of the market and are more likely to receive greater attention from those who are looking to buy.

So, if you’re thinking about selling your home in the winter but aren’t sure if your listing will get the traction it needs in order to sell, the upside is that all you need to do for your home to head to the top of the food chain is to make sure it’s among the most appealing. While that’s certainly easier said than done, it’s also certainly much easier to do so when there are fewer listings competing with yours for the top spot.

When it comes to successfully selling your home, timing is everything. Get our insight on the best time to sell by reading our related article, Is Now The Right Time To Sell Your Home?

3. Hosting Showings Can Be Messy

Of course, along with winter comes the season’s messy weather, which is one of the main reasons why most prefer to wait out winter before taking on a move — and to a further extent, visiting any homes.

It’s extremely rare for a real estate transaction to be completed without a buyer visiting a home in person at some stage before the deal is complete. While non-local or international buyers sometimes do purchase properties based on photos, videos, and information online (in addition to their real estate agent’s best judgement, of course), that’s not a situation you should bank on when selling your home in the winter.

The only alternative is to host home showings and private visits from potential buyers throughout the winter, which can get pretty messy considering Ontario’s average amounts of snowfall and precipitation over the winter months.

While this shouldn’t completely deter you from selling your home in the winter, it’s definitely something for sellers to note, and there are a few things you can do to combat the mess. Mandatory shoe and coat removals are a start, as well as diligently cleaning areas near your front door and foyer too.

Ensure you receive top value from your home sale by preparing it for success before you list it on the market. Find out what you should do ahead of time here:

• Top 3 To-Do’s Before You Sell Your Home
• 5 Best ROI Home Improvements For Sellers

4. Buyers Tend To Be Serious

Although the messy winter weather and the generally lower levels of market activity aren’t necessarily ideal, we can once again find a silver lining to selling your home in the winter because of those conditions.

For the most part, we can tell that most buyers actively looking for homes in the winter tend to be more serious about purchasing a home. We call this ‘buyer intent’ in the industry, and it’s something you should pay close attention to when selling your home in the winter.

If a potential buyer is willing to brave the elements and come to visit your home when it’s far less than nice out, it’s most likely that this person has a greater degree of buyer intent. They’ll have done their homework about your listing, made time to book a showing, and will probably want to see your property more to identify any reasons why they shouldn’t buy it rather than be convinced why they should.

During the warmer months when it’s easy to waltz into an open house and it’s less inconvenient to attend a home showing, listings can attract higher numbers of casual, non-serious potential buyers. During the winter, however, these types of tire-kickers don’t really hang around much.

Does the winter market sound appealing to you? Learn more about The Advantages Of The Winter Real Estate Market here!

5. January New-Hires Are Great Buyers

Once January rolls around in winter, the month doesn’t only signify a new calendar year, but also a new fiscal year too. For many companies, the start of Q1 and the new annual budget plan typically means there are plenty of new hires relocating to their new company’s hometown.

Of course, this means that there will inevitably be many of those newly-hired residents starting their search for new homes to live in within the local area (if they haven’t already started their search before the new year, that is).

Similar to our point above, the new January hires don’t want to waste much time finding a place to live in their new city, especially if they’re relocating with their families. Trust us, there’s only so long you can put up living in a cramped hotel room or temporary rental with your whole family while searching for a more permanent place to live.

This means that come January, all of those new hires will be accompanied by a high level of buyer intent, and that’s a good thing if you’re planning on selling your home in the winter. Not only will this give you the edge in negotiations, but it will also result in a faster transaction.

Are you determined to sell your home in the near future? With our local real estate expertise on your side, we can help you earn the maximum value from your sale. Learn more about our approach to selling your home here:

• Selling With Us
• Sell Your Home

According to the housing and population statistics, Burlington is one of the most in-demand places to live anywhere in Ontario — in fact, back in 2019, MacLean’s Magazine even voted Burlington as the Best Community In Canada! As local residents and enormous admirers of the city, it’s easy to see why everyone is so eager to relocate to Burlington these days.

However, having the desire to relocate to Burlington doesn’t necessarily make the moving process any easier for new residents, as moving to any new city can pose challenges to anyone — no matter what their lifestyle preferences are like.

So, if you’ve been thinking about relocating to Burlington in the near future but just want to know a little bit more about what to expect when you do, this guide is for you.

The Homes Are Spectacular

One of the best parts about Burlington — and how well-developed the entire city is — is that there’s an enormous variety of homes here to suit everyone’s needs. Whether you’re a single, a young couple, a family, or an empty-nester, you’re sure to find a home that’ll tick all of the boxes on your wishlist here.

For the most part, Burlington’s residential areas are largely made up of suburban-style neighbourhoods, which is where most of the local residents live. Safe, family-friendly neighbourhoods like Aldershot, Brant Hills, Pinedale, and more (there really are too many to list out) are where many families of all ages and sizes call home in Burlington.

Here, there’s a great mix of mostly detached and semi-detached homes, though you can still find townhouses and some condo buildings in these neighbourhoods too.

Whatever type of home you’re looking for, we’re confident you’ll find exactly what you want right here in Burlington. Have a look through the latest Burlington listings below to see what’s currently available for sale, or use our search tool to narrow down the results to your exact criteria.

• Homes For Sale
• Search All Listings

Most of Burlington’s more urban-oriented areas are located downtown on the south side of the city nearer Lake Ontario and include neighbourhoods like Bronte, Longmoor, and Maple, just to name a few. Although there are still plenty of large and impressive single family homes available right along the lakeshore (touting fantastic views), this is where most singles and young couples prefer to live.

Closer to the lake you’ll find a much heavier density of condos buildings and townhouses that are perfectly suited to the young professional or empty-nester.

Plus, Burlington also has even more secluded parts too! These are generally found in the north end, north of Highway 407, and are much more suited to rural lifestyles. If you love being surrounded by rolling hills, expansive fields, and thick woodland areas, then you can find exactly what you’re looking for in this part of the city.

The Community Is Welcoming

No matter which neighbourhood you find suits your lifestyle best, there’s nowhere in Burlington that won’t greet you with warm and welcome open arms. One of the best parts about living in Burlington is the tight-knit community feel each neighbourhood (and neighbour!) gives off, which makes it so much easier for newcomers to integrate into their new communities.

If you’re in a more suburban neighbourhood, you’ll soon find out that community backyard barbecues, impromptu street parties, and neighbourhood get-togethers are commonplace — especially during the warmer months.

If you’re situated more centrally, it couldn’t be easier to stroll around the downtown core and find an exciting new bar, restaurant, cafe, or boutique store to explore. Plus, the number of events and activities that regularly take place downtown (like the Sound of Music Festival or the Annual Ribfest) always brings the community together.

We get it — Burlington can sometimes sound too good to be true. But with our help, we can show you that it really is one of the best places to live in the entire country. Have a look through our Help Me Relocate page here to see how we can make your relocation dreams a reality.

Getting Around Is Easy

Another fantastic convenience about living in Burlington is how easy it is to get around here. In fact, that’s why Burlington is such a popular destination for commuters to relocate to, as the city is just a few minutes’ drive or GO-rail journey away from major surrounding cities like Hamilton and Toronto.

If you’ve got a car, then Burlington provides easy access to most of the major highways in the Greater Toronto Area, including highways 401, 403, and 407.

If you prefer public transport, there’s also access to the GO Transit system. In fact, Burlington has three GO Transit stations that serve the city at various different places, including the Aldershot, Burlington, and Appleby GO Stations. If you need to zip around the city centre, there are also a number of different bus lines that serve downtown Burlington too.

Or, if you want to travel a little further than a bus or GO Train can take you, both Toronto’s Pearson Airport and Hamilton’s John C. Munro Airport are less than an hour away!

Looking for some more detailed information about Burlington’s many amazing neighbourhoods? Find out which neighbourhood would suit your lifestyle best ahead of your upcoming move in our Burlington Neighbourhood Guides here!

The Schools Are First-Rate

If you’re relocating to Burlington as a family and have school-aged children at home, you’ll be glad to know that Burlington’s local schools are top-notch — and, there’s an amazing diversity of education systems too.

There’s a wide variety of both public and Catholic English-speaking elementary schools here as well as both public and Catholic French-speaking schools across Burlington, all of which have elementary and secondary school institutions. Or, if you prefer to send your children to private school, there are 11 to choose from in Burlington too.

The majority of the public schools in the city are part of the public Halton District School Board, with over 25 elementary schools and six high schools. The Halton Catholic District School Board has 14 Roman Catholic elementary schools and three Catholic high schools in Burlington.

As for their French-speaking alternatives, both elementary and secondary schools are run by either the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde school board or the Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir school board.

So, as you can probably discern, not only does Burlington have plenty of options for children of all different ages, curriculums, and religious beliefs, but there’s also a strong focus on childhood education across the city. There are many bright minds that Burlington produces, and that’s something we’re very proud of here.

Have we convinced you that it’s finally time you make your move and relocate to Burlington? Step one is to let us help you find the perfect home for you right here. First, learn more about our unique approach to buying, then click ‘Find A Home’ to schedule a personal consultation with us. We can’t wait to have you join us here in Burlington!

• Buying With Us
• Find A Home

“Location, location, location” is a real estate saying that most people seem to easily remember, and for good reason. There’s perhaps no more important factor than location when it comes to making a smart long-term investment in the housing market.

However, when it comes time to cash in on your investment and sell your home, perhaps the most important factor is “timing, timing, timing”. Listing your home for sale at both the right time for you and your local real estate market is critical to earning the biggest profits and the most satisfaction from your sale, but knowing exactly when that is can be tricky.

So, if you’ve been thinking about selling your home at some point in the near future but still aren’t too sure when that would be, our guide below is here to help you determine exactly that.

Why Do You Want To Sell?

As professional Realtors®, understanding why our clients want to sell their home is invaluable information for guiding our approach to each individual sale. Depending on what your motivations for selling your home will change everything from how we prepare for sale, what pricing plan we take, how we approach negotiations, and how quickly we need to act on everything.

The most important thing to remember here, however, is that there are no right or wrong answers on why you might want to sell your home — and in fact, there are a ton of different reasons we encounter with clients every day.

One of the most legitimate reasons to list your home for sale is that you simply don’t love living in it anymore. When buyers first buy a home, the honeymoon phase can last a while, but once it wears off, the real issues with living in a space begin to appear (and can become hard to ignore).

Just because you don’t want to live in your current home anymore doesn’t always mean it’s time to sell. If becoming a landlord sounds somewhat appealing to you, read through our article “​​Is It Better To Sell Or Rent Your House?” here.

You might find your home is too small for your current lifestyle. Or, certain design deficiencies might be starting to get on your nerves. Perhaps the neighbourhood has changed since you first moved in. Or, maybe you’re just in need of a change of scenery.

Whatever your reasoning is, if you feel your current space just isn’t working for you, it’s best not to ignore these signs and let your personal problems with your home fester for too much longer. If you’ve been running into any of the issues with your home we noted above, it probably means you’re ready to part ways with your home sooner rather than later.

If being a landlord doesn’t sound like your thing, selling your home is the way to go. Find out more about how we’ve helped countless sellers just like you in the Burlington area sell their homes by reading about our selling process on our Selling With Us page here.

Your Reasons For Buying

If you’ve got quite a few reasons why you’re thinking about selling your current home, then there’s a good chance you’ve also got a few reasons why it makes sense to buy a new one too — not to mention a few key items on your new home wishlist.

Sometimes deciding whether or not it’s a good time to sell your home comes down to the reasons why you want to buy a new one, which can include a fair few factors. One of the most common is related to size.

If you’ve got a growing family at home and often find yourself wanting for even just a little bit of extra square footage, then those issues aren’t going to go away anytime soon (at least, not until your kids leave for university, that is). On the flip side, if you’re at the stage where your children are moving out for school or into their own homes, downsizing into a home with a smaller footprint is also a great reason to buy a new home.

Another reason you might need to enter the market is due to a drastic lifestyle change. Things like shifts in medical requirements, marital statuses, or career changes can have enormous impacts on your day-to-day life and living situation. And on the topic of career changes, a substantial wage increase might also be a motivating factor for you to invest in a new appreciable asset that will earn you more wealth over time.

Even if you want to move simply because your tastes have changed and you want to live somewhere with different architectural or design influences, that’s equally as justifiable as any other reason to buy a new home too.

While the thought of buying a new home is exciting, actually going about it can feel much more disenchanting. Start looking for your next home the right way with the guidance and expertise of our experienced team on your side. Learn more about our home buying process through these pages below:

• Buying With Us
• Find A Home

What’s The Market Like?

Of course, much of your decision-making process when determining the best time to sell your home will come down to the current condition of your local real estate market too. Certain types of housing markets make for more favourable conditions for selling your home than others, and could stand to earn you more money from your sale in the long run.

At the moment, most of Ontario’s residential real estate markets (and Canada’s, for that matter) are highly advantageous for sellers as we’re currently in what’s known as a Seller’s Market. Simply put, a Seller’s Market is when there is more demand from buyers for homes than there are homes for sale on the market.

Naturally, that means that competition for homes between buyers is heightened and should — with the right negotiating tactics on your side — consequently drive up the value of your home through multiple competing offers. That means if you’re based in Ontario and are thinking about selling your home soon, don’t hesitate. Now’s a great opportunity to take advantage of the market situation and buyer demand and list your home for sale.

However, if you aren’t in Ontario or in a Seller’s Market, or you simply aren’t prepared to list your home for sale just yet, don’t feel like you’re disadvantaged. Ultimately the best time to sell your home is when you’re ready. All of the most successful and lucrative sales happen when there’s an atmosphere of cohesion and confidence between sellers and their real estate representatives, which can only happen once sellers are fully convinced they’re ready to sell their homes.

Are you eager to make your next real estate move and list your home for sale? We’re ready to help. Take advantage of our hot Seller’s Markets in Burlington and across the GTA now, simply click Sell Your Home here to book your free consultation with us today.