Recent Blog Posts by Carol Ireland

Cost-effective solutions for every homeowner

(NC)—Completing a renovation project is now affordable for all your home renovation needs. Why? Because Natural Resources Canada is offering ecoENERGY retrofit rebates, as well as additional provincial grants, to offset your home renovation costs for 2010. If you have been delaying renovations due to a lack of time and budget, now you can ease your worries and finish projects to help increase ...

Land Transfer Tax

Land transfer tax applies to all conveyances of land in Ontario. First-time homebuyers may be eligible for a refund of all or part of the tax payable. For agreements of purchase and sale entered into before December 14, 2007, the refund only applies on the purchase of a newly constructed home. For agreements of purchase and sale entered into after December 13, 2007, the refund applies to all ...

Buying A New Home Gets A Little Tougher!

OTTAWA — New federal measures meant to cool the red-hot housing market will make it more difficult for homebuyers to qualify for government-backed mortgages, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty acknowledged this morning. Some buyers will have to settle for less expensive houses or a bigger mortgage as a result of the rule changes brought in by the Conservatives. To give the financial industry time ...

Want a home in the Triangle? Start angling now

If you are in the market for a ski chalet or maybe a year-round retirement home in the Georgian Bay Triangle, a word of advice: Start looking now. The next six months could see a boom in both new and resale properties in areas such as Collingwood and Blue Mountain. What happens after that, however, is anyone's guess. The new harmonized sales tax kicks in July 1, instantly raising prices. On what ...

Reverse mortgages give seniors more flexibility

NC)—There is some good news for seniors who want to improve their cash flow by accessing some of the equity built in their home. With real estate prices rebounding, those wishing to downsize and move into that cute, little condo across town can start thinking about listing their house and packing their belongings. But, those 60 plus homeowners still wishing to stay in their home may consider ...