Gorgeous views, surrounded by nature, green space and water behind your home and knowing the fact you’ll have no new houses going up in your backyard are among the desirable bonuses to living on a golf course. 

In Burlington, we are blessed to be surrounded by dozens of golf courses, three of which are right within our city limits. It is no surprise that golf course real estate is highly sought after and within our gorgeous city, this is no exception.

Before you jump into owning your golf course home, you should determine if this is the right choice for you.

4 thing to consider if you are thinking of moving to a golf course home.

1) Do you golf?

You do not need to be as dedicated as Tiger and the answer does not need to be a definitive yes, but understanding the game will really help you if you choose to live on a golf course. It will help you decide if your family would better suit living on the tee box, the fairway or nearer to the green. Also, sometimes golf courses offer discounted rates to people who live  on the course, which is always a bonus!

2) Do you mind backyard foot traffic?

You must remember that for 6 months of the year (the months when you will want to be outside) that you will have a daily stream of golfers walking by your home. There are of course fences and shrubbery that you can erect to gain more privacy, but that will not always stop a golf ball from winding up in your yard. The good thing is, unlike backyard neighbours, the traffic of people is always changing.

3) Flying golf balls

You need to check with the golf course and your insurance company in terms of what’s covered on your policy if a golf ball breaks a window, or winds up damaging something else on your property. All families are at differing stages of life, which is why it is important to know where on the course you feel comfortable living. If you want a swimming pool and have young children for example, you may want to be nearer the green or tee box, where the golf ball not be sailing 300 yards through the air.

4) Do you crave beautifully landscaped views?

One thing is for certain; in season, golf courses will always look beautiful. Golfers pay big money to play, so the courses must be kept to a pristine daily standard. Th water and excess tree hazards add to the natural beauty and attract an abundance of wildlife. If you value having a backyard that overlooks green space and you don’t like dealing with backyard neighbours, this may be the right choice for you!

Contact us to help you find your new golf course home in Millcroft, Tyandaga or near Burlington Golf and Country Club

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.

Today I led my team through a full day retreat-style conference. I asked them to bring forth their vision boards, plans and goals for 2015. We had a great day of sharing, laughing and of course talking business.

One of the biggest things I stress with my team is for each of them to be themselves wholeheartedly. I just love when I see clients and agents be the “right match” for each other!

It makes the whole home buying / selling process much for enjoyable and smooth for everyone involved.

One of the best ways I like to keep my team motivated is by asking them questions and getting them to step outside of themselves and take a look at why they do what they do; how they get motivated!

Here is a top ten list I adopted from
Denise Hart of The Motivation Mojo System

1. Read personal development books | Spend at least 15 minutes daily reading something that will help develop your potential
2.  Discover your creative wellspring | Do something each week that you designate as being creative for you (maybe singing in the shower!)
3. Be honest with yourself (& others)
4.  Believe in your capacity to create and THRIVE!? | You must believe you are entitles to thrive in your life! Believe it and it will come true!
5.  Listen to Inspiring music | Keep music that moves you nearby to keep your mood on a high note
6. Create a motivating Community | You are the average of the 5 people around you. Take command of who they are
7. Keep your agreements with yourself and others
8. Trust Yourself | If you don’t trust yourself, others won’t either
9. Define you purpose | Ask yourself: What do you feel you were meant to do in life?
10. Practice Reciprocity | What you give out is what you will receive back

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.

Choosing what city you want to live in can be a task in itself, but once that has been decided, how do you narrow your focus and zero in on the perfect neighbourhood to suit you?

Where we live is a reflection of who we are and in essence, who we will grow into. Location, aesthetics, surroundings and community all play a huge role in determining our experience.

So, how do you choose in a sea of so many options and neighbourhoods?
Where do you start?

1) Buy a house right outside of a cool neighbourhood

Great areas often have a halo effect; meaning it will soon develop into the land around it. The houses directly in your preferred neighbourhood have already appreciated and buying a home just beyond those borders will most likely follow suit. You will get most of the same benefits without the top price tag.

2) Buy a home nearby a plaza/shopping area

This will not only make your life easier, but will be a great feature to highlight when you are looking to move in the future.
Convenient access to shopping or bus routes is very beneficial especially if you are ever considering renting out your house.

3) Choose a neighbourhood and house you can grow into

Where you decide to live must suit you and your family at the time. If you have young kids then moving into a retirement neighbourhood isn’t the best idea. People thrive when they are surrounded by others who match common beliefs and stages in life. Chances are if move your young family into a kid-friendly neighbourhood, the children on the street will grow up together and you’ll remain living amongst families who resemble yours for year to come.

4) Choose a home that is near highway/GO train access

Traffic volumes are ever-increasing. Whether you leave your city much or not, having nearby access to get into and out is a big plus. With the vast majority of people commuting to work, a huge bonus when selling your home is to advertise how conveniently located you are in terms of travel.

5) Know what suits you

Whether you love the countryside, or the downtown core, try to picture your life in the area you re looking. Knowing what type of surroundings and conveniences you value willkeep you focussed during your home search. Thinking about how the area could develop in the future and if that changes how the place currently is. Ie. if the countryside is developed or the downtown erects all highrises.
Let us help you find your ideal neighbourhood!

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.

1. Looking for a new home.
2. Finding an agent that puts your needs first.
3. Packing up all your belongings.
4. Trying to choose the right: city, house, neighbourhood, school catchment area.
5. Saying goodbye to your old house. Remembering the fun you had there; the laughs, the good times, the memories.

There are so many layers to moving and if they are not dealt with in an effective manner, your exciting move to a beautiful new home could turn out to be troublesome!

1. Take your time to get organized

Once you decide it is time to move your family, allow yourself plenty of time to figure things out. Start looking at new homes as soon as you can. Whether it is on HGTV, MLS or in person, start looking at homes. Make yourself a list of must haves and know what you are after so when you hire an agent there is no time wasted. If allowing for extra time isn’t a possibility, organize your timelines accordingly and stick to them as much as you can.

2. De-clutter and throw stuff away! 

So many people these days seem to hold onto an onslaught of boxes full of things they don’t need. There is no sense in bringing stuff you don’t use to your new home. Hire a bin, or better yet, pack it all up and donate it to the salvation army or local church. You’ll feel much lighter in your move and you wont have as much to pack. Moving to a new home is a fresh slate, taking the bare minimum with you is the best way to make new memories and start fresh.

3. Eat well and get enough sleep

Ordering take-out every night may be the easy way out, but eating the right nutrients to help combat stress and short tempers is imperative. Stress also dehydrates us, so guzzling extra H20 is a must. With moving there is ALWAYS TO MUCH TO DO! But here’s a tip we all know, but seem to forget; Getting a good nights sleep or even taking a quick nap will make us feel more energized, allowing us to be more efficient and get more done! Take it easy on yourself. There is lots to do but it can actually be enjoyable if you stress less and learn to go with the flow.

4. Involve the whole family

If you have kids, it is important to answer their questions about the move honestly. Help them plan their goodbyes to their old friends and the familiarity you are leaving behind. Show them their new school, the new house, the new neighbourhood. Once you are settled in the new house, help your kids meet some of the neighbours and get them acquainted with their surroundings. Find new local stores to frequent, discover new nature walks nearby and put your family’s touch on your house to make it feel like home.

5. Get people to help you move

Ask friends or family who live near you to help you move. Most people don’t move too many times in their life, so asking for a helping hand isn’t usually the end of the world. If friends and family are not available to help, hiring a moving company is a great way to help ease the stress. Usually the movers do all the heavy lifting and you act as an organizer directing the crew where to deposit your things.

Work with us and we’ll help ease your stress of moving!

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.

My team and I are so excited to announce that we have introduced a fabulous new technology!

Karen Paul & Associates are the first agent team in Burlington to offer this amazing feature!

We have teamed up with SilverHouse who provides exclusive 3D Walkthrough Real Estate videos.

The full motion video is shot on state-of-the-art HD Matterport cameras and digitally edited to give the viewer an extremely realistic home tour.

It’s like Google Maps’ Street view technology, but inside the home.

Take a tour of our first 3D Walkthrough home

This revolutionary 3D video will assist both buyers and sellers and vastly change the digital home tour process.

Andre McKenzie, who is the owner of SilverHouse, a boutique digital marketing firm, is one of the early adopters of Matterport Technology. 

“We are always staying ontop of the current technology trends so we can service our clients better every year. In 2014, we added a drone and now this. We always like to be one step ahead,” says McKenzie.

Since SilverHouse first launched the 3D digital technology last month, they are already in high demand.

“We have got people calling from Florida, from all over the U.S. and pockets all over GTA wanting to book us for work,” says McKenzie.

This revolutionary 3D technology is shifting how people can showcase the best their home has to offer, with viewers interacting from the comfort of their own homes.

First developed in California, SilverHouse is one of the first companies in Canada to offer this technology.

Technology is forever advancing and we love that we can offer our clients great new new features like this 3D home tour!

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.

In the 1990’s, Ontario jumped on the teardown bandwagon, but this trend does not seem to be going away. Driving around Burlington, McMansions have been erected city wide as smaller, outdated homes have become affordable to replace.

Toronto Life Magazine just published their Sale of the week, which was a 93-year old teardown. The house, just one year YOUNGER than the current owner, was listed at $895,000 and sold in a 21 offer bidding war for $1,208,000, 135% of asking.

Sold in just 6 days on the market, this Bedford Park home sparked a bidding war as the desirable lot size has the ability to hold a monster home.

The teardown trend has spread across North America. The economic downturn halted the trend for a few years, but teardowns quickly became a hot topic once the economy stabilized.

If a teardown is not for you, but you’d like to extend, modernize or personalize your home, there are other great alternatives.

A company based in Hamilton has come up with a few ideas to reduce the teardown mentality. SMPL Design Studio claims “Homes built in the 50’s and 60’s have great “bones”, and with some added architectural presence, these homes can remain and simply be built onto to better suit the lifestyle of today.”

Whatever your taste in housing, we can help you find a home that is right for you.
Or a plot of land, where you can design, craft and build your own!

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.

Times drastically change with each generation. With the speed of the Internet and ever-evolving technology, expectations from new first time home buyers have followed suit.

Those who were born in the 1990’s are now the new wave of home buyers. 

This means we need to keep up with this fast generation and see Real Estate from their point of view.

The Real Estate Agent’s Role Has Changed

With MLS.ca, people are researching properties online and doing their own due diligence. A knowledgeable local agent brings an important role to the transaction in terms of advice, professionalism and taking care of all the fine details such as; paperwork, open houses, showings and dealing with lawyers.
The right agent makes all the difference with getting you the best price for your home as a buyer or a seller. Agents often have access to other purchases or sellers in the area and often help connect the two if they are suited. Once you have hired an agent, essentially they do all the work to achieve what you are looking for.

Technology Has Enhanced The Process 

MLS and digital marketing have vastly sped up the Real Estate process. Videos on Youtube and detailed home images on Realtor sites have allowed new buyers and sellers personal access into what is offered on the market. This means everyone can do their own online research (something Millenials know well) before they contact an agent. New buyers and sellers often even choose agents after Googling them on the Internet and watching them on Youtube. Having a professional and up to date website are extensions of who you are.

The Condo vs. House Debate

Those born in the 80’s and 90’s seem to have more of a wanderlust spirit and for many, the thought of settling down and buying a house is intimidating. A great alternative here is purchasing a condo or a multi-dwelling house that could be rented out in the case of an extended vacation. This is the best of both worlds – entering the property ladder, yet still maintaining the sense of freedom. Condos are also highly sought after as they require little maintenance and allow for a more worry-free lifestyle as everything is done for you. This way if the home owner is offered a job abroad, they have the option to keep their current home and rent it out and still benefit from home-ownership.

Everyone on my team is under 45 years old and we love working with the younger generations!

Let us know how Karen Paul & Associates can assist you with your purchase or sale! 

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

It doesn’t take long. Spring will be here before we know it! If you are looking to purchase a home this spring, there are a few things you can do NOW to prepare for your purchase.

1. Set your budget.

Keep your budget realistic. If you haven’t already, approach a bank or mortgage specialist for a pre-approved mortgage. You will be pre-approved based on your salary, but use it only as a guideline. Don’t feel you need to spend the full amount. Staying as close to your budget as possible will help you narrow your focus and keep you on track financially.

2. Create your wishlist.

Start with the end in mind. Knowing what you are looking for will save time in the home search process. Start with the basics, location, size of house and a preferred type of dwelling.  If you aren’t sure what you want, having a list of ‘NOs’ is sometimes just as useful.

3. Choose your location.

Do you prefer the city, the suburbs or the countryside? Your personality and stage of life should help you indicate what is right for you. Once you’ve chosen the where, you need to zero in further. We provide insights in the Burlington neighbourhoods but there’s nothing like driving around to see if there any streets or neighbourhoods that stand out to you? Do you value close proximity to the lake or to the highway? Picturing yourself living in the location will help you decide if it suits you.

4. Visit open houses.

This is a great way to view what is currently on the market. Determining what your money can buy will gain you some valuable perspective. Visiting other homes on the market also shows you your house-hunting competition; how many other families are looking at similar price ranges and houses? If you are not currently working with an agent, visiting open houses is a great way to meet one!

5. Find a real estate agent with the right fit.

 A good agent can save you thousands of dollars in negotiations and countless hours of paperwork. It is imperative to work with an agent you feel comfortable with and who puts your needs first. Partnering with an experienced professional will help you get what you are looking for!

Let us help you find your new 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.

Winter can be one of the trickiest times of year to sell your home. People tend to hibernate in winter, especially on those minus 30 days like we’ve been having, even leaving the house can feel like a chore.

The great news is with MLS.ca home buyers don’t need to leave their homes as often.

Keep These Tips Top Of Mind When Showing Your Home In Winter…

1) Keep the exterior lean and free of snow and ice

Sidewalks, driveways and doorways should be clear of snow AND ice. While icicles look pretty, get rid of as many as you can, to avoid any falling snow or ice. Make sure to put down lots of salt to avoid any potential falls as well. When there is little to no snow, winter can often produce lots of grime, make an attempt to keep the exterior of your home as clean as possible, especially as the snow melts.

2) Crank up the heat and light the fireplace

On extremely cold days this is especially important. When people walk into your home, you are selling them the experience of living there. The warmth of the home will be one of the first things they notice. Lighting the fireplace will help create a look and cozy feel that will appeal to prospective buyers on cold winter days. It will help them visualize cuddling up with their own families in your space.

3) Show in the daytime if possible

It is always beneficial to show a house during the day to showcase how bright and open it feels. This is especially true in the darker winter months. Even though you may be showing during the day, make sure to turn on all interior and exterior lights. This helps bring more warmth to your space.

4) Price it accordingly

It is often believed that a house will sell for less in the winter market. What you need to remember is that there is less competition in the winter and people are always looking to move. Utilize the season. Less competition could mean more offers on your property. It is not pleasant moving in the winter, but  by the time the house closes (30, 60 or 90 days later) the winter may be over!

5) Marketing materials

Make sure you have some great pictures of your house in the summer months. Show off your flower gardens, pool and how the house looks with leaves on the trees. It is tough to visualize summer in the dead of winter, so make sure you have some great photos which leave nothing up to the imagination.

LET US HELP YOU GET THE MOST MONEY FOR YOUR HOME THIS WINTER!!

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.

“We’re #1 and we’ve just begun,” co-founder and Chairman Gary Keller said.

After another record-setting year of growth, productivity and profitability gains, Keller Williams announced it has become the largest real estate franchise by agent count in the world. The Austin, Texas-based company added a net gain of 17,000 associates in 2014, increasing its worldwide associate count to more than 112,000.

How EXCITING!! Keller Williams announced this achievement last week in Florida at their “Family Reunion”.

What an amazing, transformational time! I had the pleasure of joining the top Keller Williams masterminds who taught us about the revolutions that are sweeping our industry.

There are so many amazing things happening in Real Estate right now!

Some of the GREAT things we learned:

-How to best service the evolving consumer mindset, due to the digital revolution

-Insight into the 2015 social media trends that are emerging, so we can better service our buyers and sellers

-How to achieve success AND have a great work/life balance

-Tips to take our team to the next level by offering our clients exceptional service

-Canada is home to some of the most creative and successful real estate agents in the world!

“Keller Williams truly is a company built by agents for agents,” Davis said. “We’re all agents. And we share the same mindset, values and vision.”

“We have the best systems and models. We have the best training and coaching. We have the best people and culture. And we’re thrilled to have the best leaders to guide us through the next chapters in our extraordinary history,” Keller said.

Moreover, the company shared more than $98 million with associates through Profit Share and Growth Share – an increase of 25 percent over 2013. Since the program’s inception in 1996, the company has distributed more than $573 million in profits with associates. Profit share per agent has almost tripled over the past five years.

 “It’s what you’re doing in your local market that is building your business and making you the real estate expert of choice, and that means more opportunity for you and more opportunities for your family. Keller Williams is committed to creating deeper and more determined pathways for you to succeed faster.”

About Keller Williams Realty:

Keller Williams Realty, Inc. is the largest real estate franchise by agent count in the world, with 700 offices and 112,000 associates in more than a dozen countries around the world. In 2014, Keller Williams was named the No. 1 training organization in real estate and No. 2 training organization across all industries in the world by Training Magazine’s annual “Training 125” list. The company has grown exponentially since the opening of the first Keller Williams Realty office in 1983, and continues to cultivate an agent-centric, education-based, technology-driven culture that rewards associates as stakeholders. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com). For more information about KWWorldwide, please visit kwworldwide.com.