In February, Queen’s Park tabled a bill to mandate the licensing of Ontario home inspectors.

The new legislation among many things will effectively:

• Make it illegal to perform a home inspection without a license. Although some home inspectors who meet specific criteria may be grandfathered.
• Will give the province powers to make regulations “prescribing certain types of inspections to be included in or excluded from the definition of ‘home inspection’”
• And allow the government to make regulations stipulating what types and amount of insurance home inspectors must carry including errors, omissions and commercial general liability.

There is a professional home inspectors organization the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors which exits to enhance the technical skills and professional practice of home inspectors while promoting public awareness. However it doesn’t have a licensing mandate.

The OAHI philosophy is that home inspectors aren’t created in just a single course. Professionals that have a combination of experience, education and know-how in a variety of technical fields make the best home inspectors.

Since 1994, the OAHI  has done a great job of controlling the wild-west of home inspection, advocating for the home owner, the real estate sales professional and the home inspectors themselves.

What is the role of a home inspector in a real estate transaction?

Whether you are buying, selling, investing in real estate a home inspection can save you a lot of heartache and in some cases several thousand dollars.

While home inspections can vary for a number of reasons (townhouse vs condo vs single family dwelling) all home inspections cover the basics, which includes an inspection of the:

• exterior/interior condition of the home
• building foundation
• roof coverings & support structure, flashings & gutters
• basement/attic
• insulation quality
• garage
• Plumbing/HVAC/electrical

What are the advantages of a home inspection?

For the Seller:
A pre-purchase home inspection can help prevent buyers from walking away from a deal because of deficiencies. It also helps a seller comply with the full-disclosure real estate laws by demonstrating transparency and that nothing has been overlooked.

In a seller’s market, where transaction turnarounds are quick having a having a home inspection completed prior to placing it on the market can work in your favour in a number of different situations:

• If the buyer doesn’t have time to do their own home inspection before the offer date, they may pass on the house.
• If the buyer has already done a home inspection on another house but lost the competition, they may fear losing again to the highest bidder, pass on getting a home inspection and pass on your house.
• There are times when a home inspector can make themselves available during the marketing of the home to answer any questions. This might be useful in older homes that may require renovations.
• There is the opportunity to fix any problems before putting the home on the market and having it on the record that those repairs were completed.
• It avoids having a stream of home inspectors representing different buyers parading through your house.

For the Buyer:
Most home buyers understand the advantages of having a home inspection adding it as a condition on the offer to purchase.

It’s wise to choose a home inspector based on reputation, credentials and professional affiliation like the OAHI. Using a local home inspector familiar with the neighbourhood and it’s issues also has advantages. Your real estate sales professional may recommend different home inspectors they have worked with previously.

A completed home inspection not only provides a detailed breakdown of your home but information on when to anticipate major upgrades such as putting on a new roof.  This allows you to budget or plan for future financial investments.

Having a pre-purchase home inspection simply makes sense. It’s part of the due diligence for any purchase and it makes life easier for both the buyer and the seller.

If you have questions about home inspectors, be sure to speak with your real estate sales professional – your advocate in purchasing or selling a home.

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

From viewing houses to signing the offer, your real estate sales professional is with you every step of the way.  A large part of their role is explaining the various steps in involved in either buying or selling a house.

Grounding yourself in real estate know-how is always a good idea and not just for new buyers.  Things change and if it’s been 25 years since you purchased your home, it might be wise for you to brush up on real estate terms and information.

What follows is very basic information on The Offer to Purchase. It may address some of your questions or introduce new ones that you should discuss with your real estate agent.

______________________________________

The Offer to Purchase is the first step in your real estate transaction. In broad legal terms, the offer is a promise to enact on something, in this case the purchase of a property. While there may be verbal communications about the offer, counter offers and possibly acceptances, it’s not until the offer is written and properly signed that it becomes a legal and binding real estate contract.

Major Types of Offers:

Firm Offer: As the name suggests, a firm offer has no conditions. It indicates that the buyer is certain and suggests they have done their due diligence on the sale. For the

seller, this is the ideal type of offer. Barring extenuating circumstances, without conditions of sale, the buyer is unable to back out of an accepted offer.

Conditional Offer: Probably the most common type of offer, the buyer agrees to purchase a home as long as a number of pre-set conditions are met.

Multiple Offers: Receiving more than a single offer is the ideal situation for the seller. It’s the responsibility of the real estate sales agent to wade through the pros and cons of each offer in search of the best one. While price plays an important role in accepting an offer, stipulated conditions can also be a factor.

Inside The Offer:

All real estate offers of purchase start with the basics including: the date, legal description of the property and the names and addresses of both the buyer and seller.

But it also includes:

The Price: This is the amount the buyer is willing to pay for the property. Sellers shouldn’t be surprised when the price is not the exact asking rice but higher or lower than the listing price.

Expiration Date: Nothing lasts forever and sometimes an expiration date will encourage a seller to move a little quicker.

The Deposit: Every offer includes the amount the buyer is willing to put down. It is then applied against the purchase price when the deal closes. Your real estate sales professional will recommend and help you decide on an appropriate deposit size.

Conditions: In most cases, the buyer will establish a set conditions that must be satisfied before the offer is considered legally binding. Although I’ve had my fair share of somewhat strange conditional requests there are some standard ones such as:

• subject to a satisfactory home inspection,
• buyer obtaining financing or insurance (home, title insurance)
• standards certificate for such items as a well or sceptic tanks
• receiving or having conducted a current survey
• finally some buyers may subject the offer on selling their own home first.

Inclusions and Exclusions: This is a list of items that can range from appliances to light fixtures to window coverings. If things aren’t included on the list, it’s incumbent on the buyer to remove everything before the closing date.

Closing Date: This is the day of possession, when the property is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer and funds are transferred.

Accepting The Offer:

There’s no rule that the first offer has to be accepted. And it’s quite normal to make counter offers if you aren’t happy with what’s been presented. This is where your real estate agent’s market knowledge and expertise really shines. A seller and buyer may go back and forth several times during the negotiation process before the final terms and conditions of the sale are set.

Once an offer is accepted, signed, and the conditions are met, the offer to purchase becomes a legally binding contract.

In Between The Offer & Possession:

At this stage the lawyers become involved. Beyond reading the actual contract lawyers for both sides are responsible for the transfer of the property from the seller to the buyer. Even the mortgage is transferred from the buyer’s lawyer through a trust account to the seller.

Your lawyer will also advise you about land transfer taxes and legal fees and if you are selling, they will ensure that you are properly compensated for any prepaid utility bills or expenses.

Additional costs:

Beyond the purchase price there are some extra expenses. You don’t have to wait to consult your lawyer, an experienced real estate agent will be able to help estimate costs for the following:

• Fees for the lawyer/ real estate sales professional /mortgage broker if appropriate
• Appraisal Fees/Survey costs
• A high-ratio mortgage insurance premium
• An interest adjustment for the mortgage
• Reimbursement to seller for the unused portion of any prepaid property taxes or utility bills
• Land transfer tax

Your real estate sales professional is your advocate. They act on your behalf and in your best interests. So if you have questions, make sure that you ask them.

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

An interesting question cropped up the other day from a gentleman who has owned his house for 30+ years, mortgage free. He was wondering if there was an insurance that protected him from any type of mortgage fraud. Title insurance is the answer. The following article on title insurance not only covers all the details but it’s written in layman’s language, anyone can understand it.

David Larock is an independent full-time mortgage planner and industry insider. He handles purchasing, refinancing and mortgage renewals. He also writes and breaks down complicated issues, with humor and aplomb. 

With Dave’s permission we are reprinting his entire article.  And do make sure you read it to the end for the humourous bits.  Enjoy…  Karen

Title Insurance: How It Works & Why You Should Buy It

Your property’s title provides the legal proof that you are its owner. It describes your rights to the land and any limitations thereon (for example, it probably says that your local telephone and power companies have the legal right to construct, repair, replace and operate wires on a section of your property). This official record gives the names of the legal owners, lists any registered mortgages and/or liens, describes any easements, and provides many other important details.

Given the negative impact that any errors or misrepresentations on your title can have on your property’s value, buying a little insurance protection is a no brainer – especially when you compare a one-time premium cost of about $350 for a $500,000 home, to the potential cost of a major title defect.

This post will explain who buys title insurance, how it works (with some unique insights into its details), and we’ll wrap-up by sharing a couple of amusing stories about what is definitely not covered by title insurance.

If you use mortgage financing to purchase a Canadian residential property, then your lender will almost always require you to buy title insurance to cover their original mortgage amount. (The only alternative would be to pay for a land survey, which is more expensive, and combine it with a lawyer’s opinion of title, which adds more cost and is also getting harder to find these days.) You will be charged for this lender policy as part of your closing costs and it will run you about $200.

To insure your title for the full amount of your purchase price, you also need to pay for buyer’s title insurance, and this costs about $150 more (for a $500,000 home). Alternatively, because title insurance has become so popular, some companies now only sell blanket policies that provide joint buyer and lender coverage.

Not all policies are created equal. For example, some will index your total coverage amount to inflation, which means your maximum payout will grow with the rate of inflation using a set formula. Be sure to ask about the features included in the policy recommended by your lawyer.

While buyer’s title insurance is an additional discretionary expense, I think it’s well worth paying for. You are covered for a host of potential losses for things such as fraud, survey errors, encroachment issues, existing undisclosed liens, as well as any other issues that prevent you from having clear ownership of your property.

Also, if anybody challenges your title, or if you have to defend your title, say against a neighbour’s renovation that encroaches on your property, your title insurer will cover the costs of defense (up to the policy’s stated maximum amount).

And it gets even better.

Most title insurers include a policy rider for “building compliance” coverage, which basically means that if you buy a property that was renovated without proper permits, and if the changes were not in compliance with current building code regulations, the title insurer will compensate you for the cost of correcting any issues.

Most people aren’t aware of this clause, and it is currently under review by the insurers because about half of the claims made under this portion of the coverage are for amounts of $100,000 or more. In fact, some title insurers are already limiting coverage to $30,000 in specified areas (like Greater Sudbury, for example).

Another good feature to look for is “legal services coverage”, which protects you if your lawyer makes a mistake during the buying process. With this coverage, your title insurer will rectify the error and reimburse you for any losses, thereby eliminating the hassle and cost of you suing your lawyer to recover any damages.

Identity theft protection is an optional feature also worth considering. Anyone who tries to steal your title needs your detailed personal information, and once they have it they can open accounts in your name for credit cards and other types of loans, which will quickly destroy your credit rating. This rider covers you for the costs of defending and restoring your good name (which are substantial), for losses pursued against you by creditors, and may even reimburse you for any wages lost for time taken off work to participate in this process.

You can also buy title insurance for a property you already own. The rules are a little different, because any pre-existing conditions cannot be as easily determined, but a lawyer can spell that out for you in detail.

In 2005-06, many existing homeowners who didn’t have title insurance decided to buy coverage during a wave of mortgage fraud that made a lot of headlines. The prime targets were home owners with free and clear titles (meaning their properties had no mortgages or liens).

The fraudsters stole personal information and forged documents to transfer ownership of title before taking out a mortgage on the property and disappearing with the money. The home owners were none the wiser until the lender’s missed-payment notices started showing up in their mail boxes. When faced with that kind of nightmare, it’s not hard to understand why many existing home owners started looking for protection.

While title insurance covers you against most risks associated with your rights of ownership, it is not all encompassing. For example, it does not cover environmental hazards (soil contamination, asbestos), any zoning bylaw or building code violations that you create yourself, or any native land claims, to name a few exemptions. If you have any questions about what is included with your insurance, again, check with your lawyer.

When researching this post, I asked a couple of insiders for examples of the most outrageous claims they’d encountered over the years. The two most bizarre were a couple who claimed that their house was haunted (unlawful possession?) and a man who wanted compensation because his neighbour’s dog kept pooping on his lawn (he felt this was impeding his “right to the enjoyment of his property”). I guess it never hurts to try.

Property and title transfers sometimes include a land survey. When they don’t, many people assume that title insurance eliminates the need to pay for an updated one (which can cost you from $500 to $800) but there are actually two schools of thought on this.

On the one hand, if you know about a title issue before purchasing a property, and if that can be proven, you will lose your coverage for that defect. Because of this, ignorance is bliss (it’s counterintuitive, but, if you don’t know about an issue, then in most cases, your title insurance will protect you). On the other hand, insurance coverage may not remedy an issue to your complete satisfaction, and learning as much as you can upfront is the best way to be sure of what you’re buying, especially when there is such a large amount of money involved.

To cite a quick example, imagine that you bought a house with a double garage and found out that half of the garage encroached on your neighbour’s land. Title insurance would pay to take down half of the garage, and it would compensate you for any reduction in your property’s appraised value, but you would still be missing half of the double garage you thought you were buying in the first place.

Or what if you plan on building an addition in the future? Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have exact details about the easements and set back restrictions?

Bob Aaron, a lawyer and prolific writer on real- estate-related legal issues, wrote a very good column on this issue for the Toronto Star, called “Make Land Survey Part of Any Deal”, and I highly recommend that you read it.

In summary, title insurance is a relatively inexpensive way to protect your title against a wide range of potentially costly issues. Older, renovated homes have the highest number of claims and involve the highest dollar amounts so if you are considering this type of property, title insurance (and an updated survey) are essential to your protection and peace of mind.

As with other forms of insurance, levels of coverage vary, so be sure to ask your lawyer to give you a description of what is covered and for what cost. If you already own a home and have coverage, check with your title insurer before paying out-of-pocket to resolve any issues. Unless your house has ghosts, in which case, call an exorcist.

Hope you enjoyed the article. Dave is quick to point out that while he is able to explain the concepts and highlight some key areas on Title Insurance, he recommends that you not make any decisions about buying a title insurance policy or making changes to it with consulting a lawyer.  And I agree.

Dave The Mortgage Planner can be reached at Integrated Mortgage Planners | dave@morplan.ca

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

I’ve had this conversation, many a time, with many a home seller. And I’m sure other real estate sales professionals have as well.

Not all renovations increase the final selling price of a home. A $30,000 kitchen renovation for example, doesn’t necessarily translate into an extra $30,000 to the bottom line. Before embarking on renovations, take a moment to discuss options with your real estate sales professional, sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference.

In fact there are many smaller home improvements that can directly affect a home’s ‘saleability’.

Upgrades Should Be Energy Efficient

Recent studies suggest that energy efficiency has become an important selling point for millennial home buyers. With skyrocketing fuel and utility costs, all the little bits add up to a whole lot.

While SMART controlled home technology and Energy-Star appliances are a real boost to a home, there are many other upgrades that can be done that when taken together directly affect fuel and utility costs making a home more affordable.

Consider:

• Replacing kitchen and bathroom fixtures with low-flow faucets and replacing older toilets with high-efficiency models.
• Replacing water heaters with a tankless water heater that will reduce the gallons wasted while the shower heats up.
• New and clean windows really add a difference. But go one step further and consider double or triple paned windows. It will increase a home’s energy efficiency by preventing hot air from escaping in the winter and keeping cool air inside the home in the summer.
• Even upgrading incandescent bulbs to energy efficient devices like compact flourescents or LEDS will make a difference.

Environmentally friendly, renewable and sustainable aren’t just buzzwords. Homes decorated with natural finishes (such as bamboo floorings) and coverings are having an impact on buyers.

Update The Small Stuff

If you don’t address the small repairs, you run the risk of losing a potential buyer.

Good materials aren’t always expensive if you shop carefully and place them where they will have the most impact. Upgraded cabinet hardware, a fresh coat of paint that looks professional or light fixtures with interesting lighting options will catch a buyer’s interest.

And making things seem bigger than they are – like closets. Regardless of the size, nothing perks-up a closet like a built-in closet organizer. Even the tiniest of closets will appear larger and more efficient when equipped with an organizer.

Transform Old Rooms
Into Specialty Rooms

A well organized and attractive laundry room doubling as a multi-purpose room is making a come-back and moving out of the basement. Or, if your basement is unfinished can part of it be into an exercise room or home theatre?

These are just a few ideas to share with your professional real estate agent. It’s about identifying those updates that you can handle easily and will make a difference on the sale of you home. .

Not sure what your home requires to get top dollar? Give me a call, I’d be happy to answer any of your questions.

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

The newly-elected federal Liberal government is increasing the minimum down payment requirements for higher-priced homes in Canada. As of February 15, 2016, Canadian home buyers will see changes to the rules regarding government-backed mortgages.

Under current rules, Canadians with a down payment less than 20% of the purchase price are designated ‘high ratio mortgagees’. It was considered a high ratio because the ratio of what is owed (the mortgage) to the total value of the home is greater than 80%.

Currently home buyers are required to have a minimum down payment of five per cent of the total cost of the home in order to qualify for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Insurance. Mortgage lenders insist on CMHC insurance when they are providing a mortgage of more than 80% of the homes values – or a high ratio mortgage.

What Will The New Mortgage Rules Look Like?

The 5% down rule remains the same for any mortgage less than $500,000. However, starting in February CHMC will require a 10 per cent down payment on the portion of any mortgage it insures over $500,000.

So, someone looking to buy a $700,000 home would need to have a minimum down payment of $45,000, which is what you get when you add five per cent of $500,000 and 10 per cent of the remaining $250,000.

Besides the new down payment restrictions, the federal government introduced other lending restrictions and together, they represent the most sweeping changes to the housing market since 2012, when the Conservative government last moved to tighten mortgage lending requirements.

Last Mortgage Rules Update With Conservative Government

Under the Conservative government, the finance minister tightened mortgage rules four times between 2008 and 2012. Among the changes, the federal government:

•  Required a minimum down payment of at least 5 per cent for a mortgage to qualify for government-backed insurance. Previously, borrowers could get CMHC insurance on mortgages with no money down.
• Scrapped government-backed mortgage insurance on home equity lines of credit.
• Dropped the maximum amortization for mortgages to 25 years from 40 years.
• Capped the maximum home price that could qualify for government-backed mortgage insurance at $1-million.

The CMHC known mostly for insuring mortages is Canada’s national housing agency. Their website states that it contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provide support for Canadians in housing need and offer objective housing research and advice to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry.” CMHC consider prudent risk management, strong corporate government and transparency are cornerstones of its operations. In addition to their website, the CMHC is active on social media and has a newsletter.

Are you concerned that the new mortgage rules will affect you? Give me a call, I’d be happy to answer any of your questions.

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

Condo living is on the rise. Just drive into Toronto, or even downtown Burlington, and you’ll notice the landscape has drastically changed. More high-rise condominiums are being built throughout Canada as there is an increasing demand for homes requiring little maintenance.  With the rising cost of single family homes along with longer work days, the turn-key advantage that condos offer are attracting many of the millennial generation who are now entering the property market.

There are many types of condo buildings with a wide range of amenities to suit various interests and lifestyles.

Here are four steps to follow in finding the right condo for you…

1. Think Ahead

It is often said that life changes every 3 years. If you are buying the condo as a young, single professional, that is fantastic, but try to look a few years ahead and see where you want your life to go. Look at what is being built around your condo. Are there other towers going up? What is the parking situation? Are there parks, schools, grocery stores nearby?

2. What does the building offer?

Does having a fitness facility on site matter to you? Would you like to have a security/ concierge service? Are you keen on having access to a pool or outdoor rooftop area? What type of view are you after? Would you like to have a balcony? Ensuite laundry? Underground parking?

3. Investigate nearby Amenities

Do you have access to transit? What shopping centres are nearby? Do you require the amenities to be within walking distance? What is your proximity to the major roads that get you into and out of the city? Even if these factors are not overly important to you, think of them in terms of resale value for the next buyer. Also consider the neighbourhood and locations in which you are looking. How much do the different areas and buildings vary in price?

4. Cost and Value

As much as we can never guarantee if a property will increase, looking at market value and the history of similar condos in the area, and what they sold for is a good idea. ?Knowing your budget ahead of time will help you determine what you can afford and what price range you should be looking at. Your budget will also help narrow the list of what you’d like to have and what you can realistically afford. Staying within your budget and having the ability to negotiate on price are things we help our clients with all the time to help them get the home of their dreams.

Whether you are looking at buying a condo in Toronto, Burlington, Hamilton, or anywhere else in the GTA, we would love to help you! Call us today to see how we can help you find the condo of your dreams! 

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

One of the most successful women in the real estate industry has taught me a ton!

Barbara Corcoran, whom many of you know from the popular TV show, Shark Tank, has built a phenomenal business over the last 40+ years. Starting out in the industry at the ripe age of 24, Barbara borrowed $1,000 from her then boyfriend to make her vision come to life. And boy did she!

After reading her book, Shark Tales; How I turned $1000 into a Billion Dollar business, I realized that I had followed many of her steps through my own discovery over the years. This woman is fantastic for our industry and I recommend all agents (especially women!) to read her wise words.

Here are Barbara’s 7 tips for real estate success

1. “Perception creates reality. If you want to be successful in real estate you have to look bigger, better, stronger than the competition.” — If you look the best, you probably are the best.
2. “There are two kinds of people: expanders and containers. Expanders are good at recruiting, PR, advertising, having fun. Containers are good at computer systems, hiring people, policies.” — Goal for new hires is to identify these personalities and use them appropriately.

3. “Anything not changing ain’t working. Target things in your business that have not changed in a while. My greatest salespeople wanted to do more and make changes all the time. I was re-inventing the Corcoran Group all the time and doing things like video tours back in the 80s.” — We have recently unveiled new strategies with our videography — telling the stories of our properties and our company. Our videos are high-definition for online consumption…not the VHS that Barbara was forced to work with in the 80s.

4. “Fun is good business.” — The Key 2013 was fun for both the attendees and our staff. As a company, we are never afraid to have a good time. Our clients and coworkers would attest, we work (very) hard, but always make time for play.

5. “There is no such thing as balance. Put a line between home and work. When I am at home, I am 100% at home.” — This is a personal decision. I know that people are more productive at work when they have time to focus on their personal life. However you choose to balance home and work, make a point to have time for both.

6. “I am a great failure. All of my successes come on the heels of failure. Great salespeople are great at empathy and great at failure.” — Note to self…hire salespeople who are great at failure.

7. “Push people to be more confident at thinking on their feet.” — This is perhaps the advice I will take most to heart. As a company, we are growing quickly, and we expect our staff to take ownership of their roles. So, I will be pushing people be proactive, independent, and efficient in their tasks for the coming year.

Reference Barbara’s Top 7 tips HERE

I would love to hear from you! Are you a business owner? How many of these tips do you implement in your line of work?

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.

Karen Paul & Associates | Real Estate
905-333-6234 | karenpaul.com | info@karenpaul.com
Burlington • Oakville • Hamilton • Milton • Niagara

Simplifying our lives, allowing us greater peace of mind, and saving us money, smart homes are the way of the future.

There are of course varying degrees of smart homes. From houses you can control with your smart phone to a more extreme version – homes you control with your thoughts alone.??Advanced smart home technology allows you to customize your home anytime, from anywhere.

Imagine, laying on a beach in Florida and switching your lights on to appear you are home. Activating your alarm system has never been easier and you can see in real time whether your loved ones have switched the alarm on or off, with the touch of a button on your iPhone.
more

Saving on your heat/air conditioning bill

It is no secret that heat and air conditioning can become quite costly, especially if the system is running all hours of the day. The majority of people spend upwards of 8-10 hours outside of the house everyday. During these hours, the heat or air does not need to be pumping. Turning down the temperature even 5 degrees will help. The same goes for overnight.

Security System

Homeowners can virtually check up on their homes from wherever they are in the world. Providing this peace of mind can make a world of difference. From your smart phone, you can confirm that your alarm was set, and not breached. This gives you the power to monitor, control, secure and customise your living space with a touch of your smartphone.

If anything happens to your home, you are notified at once. Also, you never have to worry about forgetting to lock the back door or losing your keys – it’s all at your fingertips! Set the comfort for your home?You can control lighting, temperature settings, locks, everything down to individual connected appliances.

Whether it’s making sure your place is warm and cozy when you come home in winter, or setting those lights just right for movie night, turn what you need on and off, up and down — and then get back to what you were doing in the first place.

I would love to hear from you. Do you own a smart home? What are your favourite features? How has owning a smart home improved your life?

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.