Monday, December 14, 2015

Government of Canada Announcement changes to downpayment rules effective February 15, 2016

Greetings from Fabulous Mississauga!

The Government of Canada Announced a change to the downpayment rules effective February 15, 2016

The minimum down payment will remain 5% for any real estate purchase up to $500,000.  Once you are over $500,000, the downpayment must be 10%, but only on the amount exceeding $500,000. 

For example:  If you are purchasing a home for $800,000, you'll need 5% for the first $500,000 and 10% on the remaining $300,000 making the minimum down payment on this purchase $55,000. 

You will still be able to purchase a home up to $1,000,000 with 5% down until February 15th.  Purchases over $1,000,000 still require 20% down.


I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com





Thursday, November 05, 2015

Ontario Property Taxes - Estimations - Real Estate Humour

Everyone talks about Location, Location, Location when it comes to Real Estate

There is no doubt that the location of your house will determine it's market value for TAX ESTIMATION, the only EXCEPTION is that it also depends upon who is looking at the value of your home!


Your House As Seen By:





Yourself...



and this is how your house looks from the perspective of



Your Buyer...





and this is how your house looks from the perspective of

Your Lender...







and this is how your house looks from the perspective of

Your Appraiser...







and this is how your house looks from the perspective of

Your Ontario Tax Assessor...



Read more about:Homes for Sale


Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com


Homes for Sale






Tuesday, November 03, 2015

Women as explained by Engineers

WOMEN AS EXPLAINED BY ENGINEERS

Part I




























Part II


Part III





















Part IV

























Part V



































Read more about:Homes for Sale




















Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,










Mark










A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com











Homes for Sale






Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Skinniest house sells in NYC


This house sale caught my eye, if the square footage calculations are correct, the value for this slice of New York is $2753 per square foot.  

Average price for a 3 bedroom 1900 sqft home in Mississauga is about $400,000 or about $210 per square foot.  

Wow, that means it's 10 times more expensive to live in New York!

This is the full article:

The sale of 75 1/2 Bedford Street, NYC's skinniest house, has made it to public record.

The nine-and-half-foot-wide house of indeterminate mid-1800s construction date was asking $2.75 million when it hit the market   at the end of August, and it saw one chop to $2.499 million   before it found a buyer.
That buyer's identifying information is sadly obscured behind a corporation (with, clue, a P.O. Box in South Florida), but we do at least now know the 999-square-foot property's final sales price  : $2.175 million.
A profit for seller Stephen Balsamo, who paid $1.6 million for the house -- after a bidding war -- back in 2000. And a bit of a deal for the buyer, who got a roughly 13 percent discount off the most recent asking price. (More of a deal considering an early '08 estimate that pegged the value of the house at $2.5 million.)... read more...
I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? | Best Mortgage Rates | Current Home Prices | Search MLS | Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

(
BUS 905-828-3434
2
FAX 905-828-2829  ÈCELL 416-520-1577
E-MAIL : mark@mississauga4sale.comWebsite : Mississauga4Sale.com

Monday, October 26, 2015

Spectacular Australian Natural Phenomenon

This power point presentation below is so incredibly beautiful and amazing
to view and read about. Nature is amazing!

Someone sent me this presentation as a large file, but it's easier to click
the link below to view it on your computer. When you click the link, choose
open, unless you want to save it.

The presentation is here for you to download:

http://www.pipistrel.si/file/download/232_aeb8eb940c98/gloriamatutina.pps

The file is 1,5 M large, but worthy of downloading because the photos are truly stunningly beautiful!

Enjoy
Mark

Friday, October 23, 2015

The "Tech Support" Scammers Called HTG (So We Had Fun with Them)

hi!

This may be old news, but read this if you want to see how intricate the scammers are, no wonder they
are successful

http://www.howtogeek.com/180514/the-%e2%80%9ctech-support%e2%80%9d-scammers-called-htg-so-we-had-fun-with-them/

Mark

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Bank of Canada leaves prime rate at 0.5% on October 21 2015

Hello from fabulous Mississauga!

How about those Jays and their win today? It was so exciting to see them win the 5th game today against the Royals, let's hope they can continue!

Other positive today for the Toronto and Canadian people who have debt is that the Bank of Canada left the prime rate at 0.5%  

This means that the Bank Prime Rate stays at .75% and the borrowing rate that you and most Canadians receive stays the same before the announcement at 2.70%

If you want to read the entire press release from the Bank, please use the link below:


Have a Great Day and GO JAYS GO



I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Record Setting Month in GTA for Average Prices and Sales of Single Family Residential Sales

Once again, last month was another very strong month for sales and prices in the GTA.

The Average price for last month was $602,607 (it was $609,236 the previous month) and this represents aver a 10.3% increase compared to the same month last year- see graph of prices here

Sales volumes were 7,568 (it was 9,880 last month) and this is UP 5.7% from the same month last year

The Bank of Canada Prime Lending Rate now stands at 2.70% steady (since July 2015) read more

Read more about what happened last month at see last month results and prices here



Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) Average Prices and Graph

For more information please contact A. Mark Argentino

A. Mark Argentino, Broker, P.Eng.,
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
2691 Credit Valley Road, Suite 101, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 7A1
BUS. 905-828-3434
FAX. 905-828-2829
E-MAIL: mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website: Mississauga4Sale.com

Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Bank of Canada keeping the target overnight interest rate at .5%

The Bank of Canada announced on September 9th that they are keeping the target overnight interest rate at .5% and this means that the bank rate stays at .75% 
see a graph of historical interest rates here:
http://www.mississauga4sale.com/rates.htm
This is the full press release below:
The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 3/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/4 per cent.
Inflation has evolved in line with the outlook in the Bank’s July Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Total CPI inflation remains near the bottom of the target range, reflecting year-over-year price declines for consumer energy products. Core inflation has been close to 2 per cent, with disinflationary pressures from economic slack being offset by transitory effects of the past depreciation of the Canadian dollar and some sector-specific factors. The dynamics of GDP growth in Canada outlined in July’s MPR also remain intact. The stimulative effects of previous monetary policy actions are working their way through the Canadian economy.
Canada’s resource sector continues to adjust to lower prices for oil and other commodities, with some spillover to the rest of the economy. These adjustments are complex and are expected to take considerable time. Economic activity continues to be underpinned by solid household spending and a firm recovery in the United States, with particular strength in the sectors of the U.S. economy that are important for Canadian exports.
Increasing uncertainty about growth prospects for China and other emerging-market economies, in contrast, is raising questions about the pace of the global recovery. This has contributed to heightened financial market volatility and lower commodity prices. Movements in the Canadian dollar are helping to absorb some of the impact of lower commodity prices and are facilitating the adjustments taking place in Canada’s economy. While the overall export picture is still uncertain, the latest data confirm that exchange rate-sensitive exports are regaining momentum.
Meanwhile, risks to financial stability are evolving as expected. Taking all of these developments into consideration, the Bank judges that the risks to the outlook for inflation remain within the zone for which the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate. Therefore, the target for the overnight rate remains at 1/2 per cent.


Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) Average Prices and Graph

For more information please contact A. Mark Argentino

A. Mark Argentino, Broker, P.Eng.,
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
2691 Credit Valley Road, Suite 101, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 7A1
BUS. 905-828-3434
FAX. 905-828-2829
E-MAIL: mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website: Mississauga4Sale.com

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Bank of Canada Announces another rate cut to 0.5% as of July 15

As of July 15, 2015 the Prime Rate was cut to 0.5%

The Bank of Canada announced a drop in the prime rate to 0.5% on July 15 at the latest press conference,

The Bank of Canada is cutting its key interest rate for the second time this year, citing a larger-than-expected first half contraction and a “puzzling” stall in non-energy exports.

The central bank lowered its benchmark overnight rate by a quarter percentage-point Wednesday to 0.5 per cent, blaming faltering global growth, disinflation and low prices for oil and other commodities.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Thursday, June 11, 2015

Million dollar homes in Canada are not as common as you think

Hello from Beautiful Mississauga!

I just read this article in the Financial Post, the million dollar homes are not as common as you would think

Enjoy!
Mark


The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals has analyzed data of some 1,400 home sales over the past 27 months and reports the following:
  • Only 1 percent of homes across the country — including condos, semis and detached homes — sell for $1 million or more.
  • Only 2 percent of detached homes across the country sell for $1 million or more — and the vast majority, 83 percent, sell for under $500,000.
  • Only 3 percent of homes in Ontario — the province with the largest share of million-dollar homes — sell for $1 million or more.

 This graph below shows average prices in GTA for single family homes:
 Read more about average prices in the GTA
Even in Metro Vancouver, a city where buying real estate has been compared to gold hoarding, nearly 70 percent of all sales clock in below $800,000.

That is: The average detached home may now run you $1.4 million, but most people are buying townhouses, which average between $300,000 and $800,000, or condos, which tend to fetch between $200,000 and $600,000.


Read the entire article at this page: million-dollar homes are not the new normal.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Toronto versus Vancouver Real Estate Prices as of June 2015

Hello from Beautiful Mississauga

I was reading about real estate prices and comparisons between Toronto and Vancouver.  Suddenly, Toronto rose quicker than Vancouver last month.

Some of the figures were:

In the Greater Toronto Area

  • year-over-year monthly home sales rose 6.3 percent to 11,706 in May
  • while home prices climbed 11 percent to $649,599
  • Detached homes outpaced the average, up 13.9 percent in the GTA to $829,792
  • Detached home prices were up 18.2 percent in the downtown core to $1,115,120


In Metro Vancouver

  • year-over-year monthly home sales rose 23.4 percent to 4,056 in May
  • while home prices climbed 9.4 percent to $684,400
  • Detached homes again outpaced the average, up 14.1 percent in the metropolitan area to $1,104,900
  • Detached home prices were up 14.4 percent in Vancouver West to $2,554,900.



I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com
  • Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months?  Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
    www.mississauga4sale.com/internet-evaluation.htm
  • Power of Sales and Foreclosureswww.mississauga4sale.com/Power-Sales-Bank-Sales-Alert-Request.htm
  • If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
    www.mississauga4sale.com/popupquestion.htm
  • See seasonal housing patternswww.mississauga4sale.com/TREBprice.htm

Monday, June 08, 2015

June 2015 Market Watch Report for Toronto and GTA - sales figures are in for last month

Hello from Beautiful Mississauga!

The Toronto Real Estate Board released its latest figures for the Toronto and GTA real estate marketplace.
  • The Average price for last month was $649,599 (it was $613,933 the previous month) and this represents aver a 11% increase compared to the same month last year- see graph of prices here
  • Sales volumes were 11,706 (it was 8,940 last month) and this is UP 6.3% from the same month last year 
  •  The Bank of Canada Prime Lending Rate shocked the experts and lowered the rate to 2.75% in January 2015 read more


Read more about average prices and read the TREB full price and data report below.


This is the press release from TREB

All the best!
Mark



A New Sales Record for the Month of May


June 3, 2015 -- Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced 11,706 sales reported by Greater Toronto REALTORS® in May 2015. This result was up by 6.3 per cent in comparison to 11,013 sales reported in May 2014. For the TREB market area as a whole, sales were up for all major housing types. However, in the City of Toronto, where the supply of low-rise listings has been constrained, sales were down for detached homes.


“During my tenure as TREB President over the past year, it is clear to me that ownership housing remains top of mind as a quality long-term investment for GTA households. This is why, despite a shortage of listings in some market segments, we experienced a record number of sales reported through TREB’s MLS® System for the month of May,” said Mr. Etherington.


Record May transactions, coupled with a dip in the number of homes available for sale, resulted in strong price growth. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark was up by 8.9 per cent year over year in May. The MLS® HPI uses benchmark homes to estimate price growth. This allows for an “apples to apples” comparison of price growth that is not affected by changes in the mix of sales activity.


The average selling price for all home types combined in May 2015 was up by 11 per cent annually to $649,599. The higher annual rate of average price growth compared to the MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark points to the fact that the proportion of high-end home sales continued to be greater compared to 2014.


“Tight market conditions, especially for singles, semis and town homes in the GTA, have resulted in strong price growth regardless of the price metric being considered. With no relief so far on the listings front, expect similar rates of price growth as we move through the remainder of 2015. At this point, a number of months where listings growth outstrips sales growth would be required to satisfy pent-up demand,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.


I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com
  • Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months?  Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
    www.mississauga4sale.com/internet-evaluation.htm
  • Power of Sales and Foreclosureswww.mississauga4sale.com/Power-Sales-Bank-Sales-Alert-Request.htm
  • If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
    www.mississauga4sale.com/popupquestion.htm
  • See seasonal housing patternswww.mississauga4sale.com/TREBprice.htm
  • Would you like me to send you a desk or wall Calendar?
    www.mississauga4sale.com/Calendar-Order-Form.htm
 


Saturday, June 06, 2015

Graph of the Latest Real Estate prices in Toronto and GTA

Hello from Beautiful Mississauga!

See the latest news at this page:




I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement May 27 2015 no change to Prime Rate

Good morning from Beautiful Mississauga!

The Bank of Canada announced today that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 0.75 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/2 per cent

This announcement of no change in the rate was expected by many economists.

Mortgage rates should remain where they are now, pending Bond Yield updates in the next weeks.

Read the entire report at this page:

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2015/05/fad-press-release-2015-05-27/


I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com
  • Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months?  Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
    www.mississauga4sale.com/internet-evaluation.htm
  • Power of Sales and Foreclosureswww.mississauga4sale.com/Power-Sales-Bank-Sales-Alert-Request.htm
  • If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
    www.mississauga4sale.com/popupquestion.htm
  • See seasonal housing patternswww.mississauga4sale.com/TREBprice.htm

Thursday, May 07, 2015

Another record setting month on the Toronto Real Estate Board for Residential Real Estate Sales

Greetings from Fabulous Mississauga!

We just experienced another record setting month on the Toronto Real Estate Board for residential real estate sales.  The number of sales was 11,303, 17% higher than same month last year.  Average prices are also at all time highs.

  • The Average price for last month was $635,932 (it was $613,933 the previous month) and this represents aver a 10% increase compared to the same month last year- see graph of prices here
  •  Sales volumes were 11,303 (it was 8,940 last month) and this is UP 17% from the same month last year 
  •  The Bank of Canada Prime Lending Rate steady at 2.75% read more





Below is the full price and data report from TREB for last month

Record Sales in April 2015

TORONTO, May 5, 2015 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 11,303 sales in April 2015.

This was the highest sales result on record for the month of April and represented a 17 per cent increase in comparison to April 2014. While sales increased strongly on a year-over-year basis, new listings were up over the same period by a more moderate five per cent.

“The record April result clearly points to the fact that a growing number of GTA households view ownership housing as a high quality, long-term investment. This is evidenced by the strong sales growth we have experienced in Toronto and surrounding regions for all major home types.

First time buyers and existing homeowners remain very active in today’s market,” said Mr. Etherington.

The overall average selling price, which accounts for all homes reported sold by GTA REALTORS® in April 2015, was up by 10 per cent year-over-year to $635,932. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark, which estimates the price of a benchmark home with the same attributes from one period to the next, was up by 8.4 per cent over the same period.

The fact that average price growth outpaced growth for the MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark, suggests that a greater share of higher-end homes changed hands this year compared to last.

Irrespective of the indicator used, price growth in the GTA was strongest for low-rise home types. However, the better supplied condominium apartment segment also remained healthy with price growth above the rate of inflation.

“Demand for ownership housing was very high relative to the number of homes available for sale in April. This situation is not expected to change markedly as we move through the remainder of 2015. Until we experience a sustained period in which listings grow at a faster pace than sales, annual rates of home price growth will remain strong,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Director of Market Analysis.


All the Best!

Mark

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.comMississauga4Sale.com
  • Thinking of selling your home in the next 3 to 6 months?  Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?
    www.mississauga4sale.com/internet-evaluation.htm
  • Power of Sales and Foreclosureswww.mississauga4sale.com/Power-Sales-Bank-Sales-Alert-Request.htm
  • If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up
    www.mississauga4sale.com/popupquestion.htm
  • See seasonal housing patternswww.mississauga4sale.com/TREBprice.htm
  • Would you like me to send you a desk or wall Calendar?
    www.mississauga4sale.com/Calendar-Order-Form.htm