Just a quick message to let you know that I haven't been active on my blog for the past month or so because I have been dealing with injury and illness. I had an accident over the holidays that has left me off my feet for about 12 weeks.
Hopefully, I will be back on my feet shortly and will be back to the blogsphere.
I have another Realtor who is taking on my workload while I am off, so please feel free to still contact me with any questions.
Thanks,
Rebecca
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Suburban sprawl and sustainability.
Air rights become increasingly important as the population increases. When there is no more room to build, the only option becomes to build upwards into the sky. The ongoing pull of suburbia is incredibly land intensive. Each person now requires more space to live than they did 50 or 100 years ago. With the ever increasing amount of space needed, where do we go from here? Once the land runs out, the only place to go is up.
At the early part of the 20th century, families were larger and homes were smaller than they are today. We now have our 2.5 children and dog living in 2000+ square feet of space on tiny postage-stamp size lots where we can practically touch our neighbours from our window. Why do we suddenly need soo much more indoor space than our parents or grandparents did? Why do we not care as much about the outdoor space around us?
Perhaps we need this space to hold our increasing amount of "stuff"; the overwhelming amount of material goods we now "need" to live our modern life. Perhaps it is because most families buy their groceries and do not need gardens to grow their food. Perhaps it is the government policies and development propaganda that tells us this is what we should want. Whatever the reason, the trend is concerning for many.
We separate the land use in suburbia, with areas for shopping, schools, work and residences all spread out and far away from each other. This increases our need to use our cars to get around, even if it's just to pop over to the store for some milk. Studies have found that those living in suburban areas are more likely to report high blood pressure, arthritis, headaches and breathing difficulties than those living in less sprawling areas. There is also increased use of polluting fossil fuels as people must commute to work, or use vehicles to visit friends, go to the store or get around the community.
Every year I see new developments springing up where farmland used to be and it is very concerning. Southern Ontario has some of the most prime farmland in the province, and it is slowly but surely being replaced by the ever growing population, with little thought to the future. If we want to continue our suburban sprawl, we must do it in responsible and sustainable ways. We must begin to look to the future and redesign these areas with the health of the community in mind. Farms feed us; we need them to survive. If we must build suburban spaces, we should also look to build more green spaces or community gardens within these spaces. Mixed use spaces are recommended, but what else can we do?
Urban areas are expanding at about twice the rate that the population is growing. Interestingly, many developers continue to expand suburbia, expecting the government to foot the bill for infrastructure like roads and sewer lines- increasing our taxes, while making substaintial profits for themselves. Part of the problem is the policies in place for development that focus primarily on profit, and not on the health and sustainability of communities. Redeveloping land currently in use to better suit the needs of the population instead of spreading out further and further is one way. Taking time to plan new developments in more mixed and sustainable ways is another. We are doing a lot of action and very little thinking. If we do not learn from our history, we will continue to make the same mistakes. It is time we took a close look at the housing industry and made regulations to ensure the health and sustainability of our population.
At the early part of the 20th century, families were larger and homes were smaller than they are today. We now have our 2.5 children and dog living in 2000+ square feet of space on tiny postage-stamp size lots where we can practically touch our neighbours from our window. Why do we suddenly need soo much more indoor space than our parents or grandparents did? Why do we not care as much about the outdoor space around us?
Perhaps we need this space to hold our increasing amount of "stuff"; the overwhelming amount of material goods we now "need" to live our modern life. Perhaps it is because most families buy their groceries and do not need gardens to grow their food. Perhaps it is the government policies and development propaganda that tells us this is what we should want. Whatever the reason, the trend is concerning for many.
We separate the land use in suburbia, with areas for shopping, schools, work and residences all spread out and far away from each other. This increases our need to use our cars to get around, even if it's just to pop over to the store for some milk. Studies have found that those living in suburban areas are more likely to report high blood pressure, arthritis, headaches and breathing difficulties than those living in less sprawling areas. There is also increased use of polluting fossil fuels as people must commute to work, or use vehicles to visit friends, go to the store or get around the community.
Every year I see new developments springing up where farmland used to be and it is very concerning. Southern Ontario has some of the most prime farmland in the province, and it is slowly but surely being replaced by the ever growing population, with little thought to the future. If we want to continue our suburban sprawl, we must do it in responsible and sustainable ways. We must begin to look to the future and redesign these areas with the health of the community in mind. Farms feed us; we need them to survive. If we must build suburban spaces, we should also look to build more green spaces or community gardens within these spaces. Mixed use spaces are recommended, but what else can we do?
Urban areas are expanding at about twice the rate that the population is growing. Interestingly, many developers continue to expand suburbia, expecting the government to foot the bill for infrastructure like roads and sewer lines- increasing our taxes, while making substaintial profits for themselves. Part of the problem is the policies in place for development that focus primarily on profit, and not on the health and sustainability of communities. Redeveloping land currently in use to better suit the needs of the population instead of spreading out further and further is one way. Taking time to plan new developments in more mixed and sustainable ways is another. We are doing a lot of action and very little thinking. If we do not learn from our history, we will continue to make the same mistakes. It is time we took a close look at the housing industry and made regulations to ensure the health and sustainability of our population.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New FINTRAC regulations
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) now requires all real estate sales representatives to report suspicious transactions and keep detailed records of their clientele. This means that your sales representative will ask you for government issued identification when you make any real estate transactions. They will also be obligated to report any large cash purchases, or any suspicious activity where they suspect money laundering or terrorist activity. They must also make records of all deposits, or any third party involvement in a real estate transaction.
These regulations have recently been beefed up to fight the "war on terror" and are becoming ever more stringent. Real estate professionals have been sent very little literature on the new regulations and which activities to watch out for. This new regulation has not been followed by instruction on how to check identification, making it difficult for agents to properly implement. There is also no regulation on private sales, which are becoming more popular with the advent of the internet.
I believe this regulation was hastily brought out and is not being properly implemented. It makes sense to check identification for large transactions. I had to show ID the last time I rented a DVD; why not for a purchase worth hundred of thousands of dollars?
My biggest problem with this regulation is that real estate agents never learn how to check identification properly or how to spot suspicious activities, yet can be held liable for not reporting or ensuring that we are receiving valid identification. We can be charged up to $2 million dollars, and spend 5 years in jail for not reporting or keeping valid records. If this is the case, we should be taught what to look for, and how to look for it properly.
These regulations have recently been beefed up to fight the "war on terror" and are becoming ever more stringent. Real estate professionals have been sent very little literature on the new regulations and which activities to watch out for. This new regulation has not been followed by instruction on how to check identification, making it difficult for agents to properly implement. There is also no regulation on private sales, which are becoming more popular with the advent of the internet.
I believe this regulation was hastily brought out and is not being properly implemented. It makes sense to check identification for large transactions. I had to show ID the last time I rented a DVD; why not for a purchase worth hundred of thousands of dollars?
My biggest problem with this regulation is that real estate agents never learn how to check identification properly or how to spot suspicious activities, yet can be held liable for not reporting or ensuring that we are receiving valid identification. We can be charged up to $2 million dollars, and spend 5 years in jail for not reporting or keeping valid records. If this is the case, we should be taught what to look for, and how to look for it properly.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thinking of becoming a landlord?
Rental properties can be great investments, but they can also be huge headaches. A rental unit can help you bring in extra income that can go towards paying down your mortgage. The rental income amount can actually even help you qualify for an increased mortgage amount. They are great investments if you get good tenants who pay on time and keep the place well maintained.
How can you protect yourself from the headaches of being a landlord? Your most important job happens BEFORE you take on a tenant. As a landlord, you have the right to check the potential tenant's credit rating, and rental history. Your relationship is a financial one, and so you should know if they are not paying their bills on time. Take pictures of your apartment BEFORE you rent it out showing the exact condition of the place. This will help you if damages do occur upon tenancy and help you recoup the damages in court.
Your full rights and responsibilities are outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act (available at http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/06r17_e.htm). Make sure you know what you are legally liable for and get proper insurance to cover you. Here are some highlights for you:
- You must keep the property in good repair and up to health, fire and safety standards.
- You have the right to inspect the property, but you must give 24 hour written notice to the tenant to do so.
- The tenant cannot change the locks or bar your entry and there are legal avenues for you to take if they do.
- You cannot ask for anything other than the rent for the last week or month. You are not permitted to ask for a damage deposit.
- It is a breach of the Ontario Human Rights Code to prohibit children in a rental unit. A "no pets" clause is also unenforcable under the Residential Tenancies Act.
- You are required as a landlord to provide an information package detailing basic landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities to your new tenants. It is available at www.ltb.gov.on.ca.
- You cannot require a tenant to provide postdated cheques to you.
- You can only increase the rent by 1.8% per year (in 2009) with written notice 3 months in advance. You cannot increase the rent until the tenant has been living in the unit for more than one year. If the tenant moves out, you are allowed to set a new rent before the new tenant moves in.
It can be very difficult to remove a problem tenant, so the best advice is to pre-screen them before they move in. There are legal channels to help you, but they can take time, and require that you pay up front and sue for damages later. There are many useful resources available, and organizations to help you. Check out http://www.landlordselfhelp.com/frontpage.asp ; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (www.cmhc.ca) and the Landlord and Tenant Board www.ltb.gov.on.ca for more information.
I also have a rental guide for potential landlords. Please ask me for a copy!
How can you protect yourself from the headaches of being a landlord? Your most important job happens BEFORE you take on a tenant. As a landlord, you have the right to check the potential tenant's credit rating, and rental history. Your relationship is a financial one, and so you should know if they are not paying their bills on time. Take pictures of your apartment BEFORE you rent it out showing the exact condition of the place. This will help you if damages do occur upon tenancy and help you recoup the damages in court.
Your full rights and responsibilities are outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act (available at http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/06r17_e.htm). Make sure you know what you are legally liable for and get proper insurance to cover you. Here are some highlights for you:
- You must keep the property in good repair and up to health, fire and safety standards.
- You have the right to inspect the property, but you must give 24 hour written notice to the tenant to do so.
- The tenant cannot change the locks or bar your entry and there are legal avenues for you to take if they do.
- You cannot ask for anything other than the rent for the last week or month. You are not permitted to ask for a damage deposit.
- It is a breach of the Ontario Human Rights Code to prohibit children in a rental unit. A "no pets" clause is also unenforcable under the Residential Tenancies Act.
- You are required as a landlord to provide an information package detailing basic landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities to your new tenants. It is available at www.ltb.gov.on.ca.
- You cannot require a tenant to provide postdated cheques to you.
- You can only increase the rent by 1.8% per year (in 2009) with written notice 3 months in advance. You cannot increase the rent until the tenant has been living in the unit for more than one year. If the tenant moves out, you are allowed to set a new rent before the new tenant moves in.
It can be very difficult to remove a problem tenant, so the best advice is to pre-screen them before they move in. There are legal channels to help you, but they can take time, and require that you pay up front and sue for damages later. There are many useful resources available, and organizations to help you. Check out http://www.landlordselfhelp.com/frontpage.asp ; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (www.cmhc.ca) and the Landlord and Tenant Board www.ltb.gov.on.ca for more information.
I also have a rental guide for potential landlords. Please ask me for a copy!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year to you all!
I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!
If you are considering purchasing your first home this year- now is the time to get started! Go to your bank, and get your credit in order-- so that when mortgage time comes along, you'll be in a good position. Start thinking about what you want in a home. You might be suprised about how easy it can be to own a home. Monthly mortgage payments can be as cheap (or cheaper) than your current rental payments, and it all goes towards building a future for yourself!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I have information packages that can help make the process easier for you, that can be sent to you via email- no hassle or contract required- and free of charge!
I will be back with a regular blog as of next week! Take care!
If you are considering purchasing your first home this year- now is the time to get started! Go to your bank, and get your credit in order-- so that when mortgage time comes along, you'll be in a good position. Start thinking about what you want in a home. You might be suprised about how easy it can be to own a home. Monthly mortgage payments can be as cheap (or cheaper) than your current rental payments, and it all goes towards building a future for yourself!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I have information packages that can help make the process easier for you, that can be sent to you via email- no hassle or contract required- and free of charge!
I will be back with a regular blog as of next week! Take care!
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