Selling property in 2012 - Know when to sell and when to buy

By Penny Elizabeth Dutkowski, Broker
Well here we are at the start of another year and the opener to what is typically the GTA housing market's busiest time of year. My sales record will prove that an important factor leading to a seller achieving exceptional results is in knowing when to buy and when to sell which  translates into an advantage of several thousands to their benefit. So if you are going to be buying and or selling property this year, consider the following tips before taking the plunge. 

A Little youtube Real Estate Humour - Pushy Real Estate Agent

Enjoy

Apparently The Key to A REALTOR's® Success Is Tight Skin

So claims one let's call her EW of so and so vitality medical something or other in the most ridiculous solicitation ever to land in my inbox. 

Lucky for me, EW, a woman whom I've neither met nor heard of before so profoundly wants me to increase my income and "give me the edge over other Real

Estate Agents" she is offering two exclusive skin tightening and inch loss tightening treatments guaranteed to make me look 10 years younger. A value of $949.00 all for free. Why this generosity? because as she puts it: " I know first hand what it's like to be a Real Estate Agent and I want to help you be the best you can be" without having to undergo expensive, invasive treatment.

Nice! I'll take an edge and exclusivity any time. Except that an invitation to call and book an appointment is followed by: " My staff are aware that this exclusive offer in(sic) only available to Realtors."  

What happened to my edge? Where's the exclusivity since I only have one face?

To prove the effectiveness of the treatments,

Negotiating Big Discounts With A Builder - The Savings They'd Rather You Not Know

By Penny Elizabeth Dutkowski, Broker
Before you even set foot in a builder's presentation centre there are a few things you ought to know when it comes to negotiating the best discounts possible because as soon as you walk through that door your scenario is likely to go something like this.

You behold a gorgeous setting arrayed with eye-popping visuals that include a massive floor display with a 3D mock-up of the development replete with parks, trees, expansive roads. On the walls and displayed on easels are visual aids of various models, elevations and interiors so beautifully and artistically rendered you automatically envision yourself living in the picture. Around the corner is a real kitchen and bathroom both of over-sized proportions. The top of the line finishes draws you in and you're fully and finally hooked. Unbeknown to you though is that while you were staring with wide-eyed longing at the scenery, you were being watched for your reactions to everything.


Along comes the builder's sales rep and before you know it you've made a selection. You talk price and are either told there isn't much room to move or, with mild capitulation s/he agrees to your price then quickly switches to exactly what the builder wants you to negotiate over - upgrades. Don't allow this to be the path negotiations take as you would be handing over a big chunk if not all of the money they expected you would hand over. Instead...

Planned Markham Mosque Stirs Debate Between Residents and Council

A few days ago this flyer landed in my mailbox. Evidently, for its creator(s) the issue is that a mosque does not belong in Markham's 'historic' Swan Lake.

I live in the area a mere 4 minutes away from the planned site and while I oppose the mosque at this site, it is not for this reason because there is no 'historic Swan Lake' argument to be made as there is no evident historicity.

At the heart of the issue is a two storey 28,000 square foot mosque to be built about one kilometer east of Markham Rd. and 16th Avenue beside the Brother Andre Catholic High School. News of the impending project came as quite a surprise to area residents who learned of it via Markham's local newspaper, the Economist and Sun. Opposition to its location was immediate with harsh criticism levied at town council for keeping the application to build such an imposing structure low-key. 

ONTARIO'S HOUSING BUBBLE - IS IT REALLY ABOUT TO BURST?

Since mid 2008, hardly a week has gone by without economic experts predicting that Canada's housing bubble as driven by BC and Ontario will pop and more so, that it needs to asap.

In the last several weeks those same pundits have upped the ante and taken to predicting doom and gloom for Canada's, nay the globe's near economic future. One day they will be correct after all the housing market is cyclical, but is Ontario's market ready to collapse or did the bubble already burst or at least deflate and they didn't notice?

I love crunching numbers and use them to successfully guide my clients on buying or selling particularly for if and when they should. This chart along with other relevant facts will clarify why the housing market has been robust for the last 8 years and barring a global meltdown, where it is 'imminently' heading.

THE COMPETITION BUREAU'S PROTOCOL TOWARD TREB

COMPETITION BUREAU v. TREB

Richard Silver, TREB's president stated that Melanie Aitken never once met with TREB during the time the Competition Bureau was in discussion with TREB about permitting VOWS and that while all of TREB's task force members remained consistent during these meetings the CB's kept changing.

I recently saw this picture with Melanie Aitken and wondered if this is our government office's boardroom or that of a past law firm employer of hers.

It reminded me of the time when in 1990 I travelled to Ottawa as a representative for Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company, one of three sister companies known today as FM Global, to pitch our case against GST on shared services to the deputy minister responsible for implementing the tax. The exercise was a frustrating and daunting task due to the required political protocol.