Brantford ON Pre-Construction and New Homes for Sale

Unlocking Your Dream Home: Pre-Construction and New Homes for Sale in Brantford ON  In the ever-evolving world of real estate, the quest for the perfect home often leads potential buyers to explore innovative options. One such avenue gaining prominence is the realm of pre-construction and new homes for sale. These offerings provide a unique opportunity for homebuyers to shape their dream living spaces from the ground up. In this blog post, we will delve into the exciting world of pre-construction homes, exploring the advantages, considerations, and the journey of turning a blueprint into a personalized haven. Understanding Pre-Construction Homes: Pre-construction homes are properties that are available for purchase before they are built or completed. This approach allows buyers to secure a property at a pre-determined price, often benefiting from more favorable rates compared to purchasing a fully constructed home in a competitive market. By investing in a pre-construction property, buyers can also enjoy the advantage of customization, tailoring their homes to suit specific preferences and needs. The Benefits of Pre-Construction Homes: a. Financial Advantages: Pre-construction homes typically come with lower initial costs compared to existing properties in the market. This financial advantage is coupled with the potential for property appreciation, offering a lucrative investment opportunity. b. Customization Opportunities: One of the most exciting aspects of pre-construction homes is the ability to customize the living space. From choosing floor plans to selecting finishes, fixtures, and color schemes, buyers can actively participate in the creation of their dream home. c. Modern Design and Technology: Pre-construction homes often feature the latest in architectural design and technological advancements. This ensures that buyers not only invest in a property tailored to their tastes but also enjoy the benefits of contemporary living. Navigating the Process: a. Research and Due Diligence: Prospective buyers should conduct thorough research on reputable builders and developers. Examining their track record, completed projects, and customer reviews can provide valuable insights into the reliability and quality of their work. b. Understanding Contracts and Timelines: It's crucial for buyers to carefully review and understand the terms of the purchase agreement, payment schedule, and construction timeline. A clear understanding of these aspects helps manage expectations and avoid potential pitfalls. c. Working with a Real Estate Professional: Enlisting the services of a knowledgeable real estate agent specializing in pre-construction homes can streamline the process. These professionals can guide buyers through the intricacies of the transaction, ensuring a smooth experience. New Homes for Sale: Beyond Pre-Construction: In addition to pre-construction homes, buyers can also explore newly constructed homes for sale. These properties, though already built, offer the advantage of being brand new, often featuring modern amenities and energy-efficient technologies. Exploring the new homes market widens the array of options available to buyers seeking a turnkey solution without the wait associated with pre-construction. Investing in a pre-construction or new home for sale is a thrilling journey that combines the excitement of personalization with the promise of a fresh start. As the real estate landscape continues to evolve, these options empower buyers to not only find a house but to actively participate in the creation of a home that reflects their unique vision and lifestyle. Whether opting for the customization potential of pre-construction or the immediate gratification of a new home, the key lies in thorough research, careful consideration, and the guidance of experienced professionals. So, embark on your journey to homeownership with confidence, and let the blueprint of your dream home come to life. Pre-Construction and New Homes for Sale in Brantford ON    Search MLS for New Homes for Sale in Brantford ON

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Bank of Canada Cuts Policy Rate for First Time Since March 2020 | Home Sales, New Listings Both Rise in April

View this in your browser Brantford Regional Real Estate Association MLS® home sales, new listings both rise in April The number of homes sold through the MLS® System of the Brantford Regional Real Estate Association totaled 217 units in April 2024. This was a gain of 11.9% from April 2023. Home sales were 2% below the five-year average and 6.1% below the 10-year average for the month of April. On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled 634 units over the first four months of the year. This was up modestly by 3.1% from the same period in 2023. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) tracks price trends far more accurately than is possible using average or median price measures. The overall MLS® HPI composite benchmark price was $687,600 in April 2024, a modest gain of 1% compared to April 2023. The benchmark price for single-family homes was $714,700, up modestly by 1.1% on a year-over-year basis in April. By comparison, the benchmark price for townhouse/row units was $574,300, essentially unchanged, down just 0.3% compared to a year earlier, while the benchmark apartment price was $369,000, a slight gain of 0.6% from year-ago levels. The average price of homes sold in April 2024 was $754,356, an increase of 6.8% from April 2023. The more comprehensive year-to-date average price was $710,299, a small gain of 2.9% from the first four months of 2023. Yard Appeal Ideas for The Biggest ROI Summer is coming up and you don’t want to miss your chance to make the most of your yard! To help you enjoy your space this year, I have broken down some of the top yard appeal ideas with the biggest ROI giving you the most bang for your buck and can increase your home’s equity and curb appeal at the same time! • Embrace Sustainable Landscaping: Incorporating native plants, drought-resistant foliage, and xeriscaping techniques not only reduces water consumption but also creates an eco-friendly landscape. Consider installing a rain garden or a drip irrigation system to conserve water and enhance the natural beauty of your yard.  • Install Outdoor Structures: Adding functional outdoor structures like pergolas, arbors, or gazebos can provide shade, define spaces, and add architectural interest to your yard. These structures can serve as focal points and create inviting outdoor living areas for entertaining or relaxation. • Upgrade Your Lawn: A lush, well-maintained lawn instantly elevates the appearance of your yard. Invest in professional lawn care services, aerate and overseed to fill in bare patches, and regularly fertilize and water your lawn to keep it healthy and green. Consider alternatives like artificial turf for low-maintenance options.• Incorporate Water Features: Incorporating a water feature such as a fountain, pond, or waterfall adds visual interest, tranquility, and a sense of luxury to your yard. The soothing sound of running water can create a serene ambiance and attract wildlife, enhancing the overall appeal of your outdoor space. • Enhance Privacy: Increase the comfort and enjoyment of your yard by enhancing privacy with strategic landscaping, fencing, or screening options. Planting tall hedges, installing lattice panels, or adding trellises with climbing plants can create secluded areas and block unsightly views while adding beauty and greenery to your yard. By implementing these additional ideas alongside the ones you've already outlined, you can transform your yard into a welcoming oasis that not only enhances your enjoyment but also offers a significant return on investment. Brantford Expositor - Capacity crowds head to Brantford's new Woodman pool Brantford Expositor - 'Coming soon' signs installed at future Costco store site in Brantford Brantford Expositor - New youth space opens at Brantford Public Library Brantford Expositor - Outdoor concert series returns to the Bell Homestead in June Brantford Expositor - Grand Erie board to tender construction of new West Brant elementary school Brantford Expositor - Free mobile cancer screening tests coming to Civic Centre Brantford Expositor - Brantford streets named in honour of two fallen soldiers Brantford Expositor - Oak Park Road - Colborne Street West connection back on city's agenda Brantford Expositor - New childcare centre opening in St. George Brantford Expositor - County of Brant prepares for 'The Downtown Dig' in Paris Brantford Expositor - New $4.1M addition planned for Paris elementary school Globe and Mail – One interest rate cut won’t be enough to lift Ontario’s battered cottage market Hamilton Spectator – Hamilton housing market stalls in May as sales drop and listings soar Financial Post - Interest rate cut unlikely to provide immediate relief for housing market In a move widely anticipated by economists, the Bank of Canada announced a 0.25 per cent interest rate cut Wednesday, and while the reduction is a step towards easing borrowing costs, industry experts caution that it will take time before any significant impact is felt in the housing market.   Dr Sherry Cooper - Bank of Canada Cuts Policy Rate for First Time Since March 2020 What the Bank of Canada rate cut means for mortgages, consumer loans and investments (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Is today’s Bank of Canada rate cut “one and done” for now? (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Canada sees slowest mortgage growth in over 20 years, with financial strain growing: CMHC (Real Estate Magazine)Finally, interest rates have dropped. Five ways your REALTOR® is there to help Global News – Can a single rate cut make waves in Canada’s housing market? What to know Financial Post – What the Bank of Canada rate cut means for mortgages, loans and investments Globe and Mail – Royal LePage president predicts ‘material lift’ in home sales after BOC rate cut Globe and Mail – Federal government creates $530-million fund for Canadian cities to adapt to climate change Average Canadian rent hits an all-time high of $2,202 (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Commercial real estate trends shifting toward purpose-built rentals: Re/Max report (Canadian Mortgage Trends)       What to Know at Renewal Is your mortgage coming up for renewal this year or in 2025? Do you know about all the incredible options renewing your mortgage can afford you? If not, I have all the details here on how to make the most of your renewal! Get a Better Rate: Did you know that when you receive notice that your mortgage is coming up for renewal, it's the best time to shop around for a more favorable interest rate? At renewal time, it's easy to explore other lenders for a preferable interest rate without breaking your mortgage. With interest rates expected to start coming down next month, reaching out and exploring the market could potentially save you a significant amount of money! Consolidate Debt: Renewal time is also an excellent opportunity to assess your existing debt and decide whether consolidating it into your mortgage is beneficial. Whether it's holiday credit card debt, car loans, education loans, or other debts, consolidating your mortgage streamlines your payments into one, potentially at a lower interest rate compared to other sources. Invest in Renovations: Do you have home improvement projects waiting to be tackled? Renewal time provides a great opportunity to tap into your home equity for renovations, whether it's your dream kitchen, bathroom upgrades, or even investing in a vacation property. Utilizing your equity can bring your renovation dreams to life. Adjust Your Mortgage Product: Not satisfied with your current mortgage product? Whether it's fluctuations in variable rates or seeking a different payment or amortization schedule, renewal time allows you to switch things up. You can lock in a fixed rate for stability or opt for a variable rate if you anticipate changes in interest rates. Adjusting your mortgage product can align it better with your financial goals. Summer is coming up and you don’t want to miss your chance to make the most of your yard! To help you enjoy your space this year, I have broken down some of the top yard appeal ideas with the biggest ROI giving you the most bang for your buck and can increase your home’s equity and curb appeal at the same time!   Diana Winger, REALTOR® CNE, SRS, SRES, ABR Mortgage Agent, Level 1 Valko Financial LTD #13047 eXp Realty | Dominion Lending Centres |  226-705-3369 | 250-588-8839 ON YOUR TEAM! WingerRealEstate.com  |  SearchBestMortgages.com  

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Happy Easter. Canada Population Growth Rate Highest Since 1957! Update on Ontario Budget 2024 | Must See Documentaries | Weekly Real Estate News Update

View this email in your browser CURRENT INTEREST RATES First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES Tips to Improve Your Credit Score IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS Cottage real estate to gain ground in 2024 (Gananoque Reporter) Bidding wars are making a comeback in the GTA’S housing market (The Medium) Pre-construction condo buyers forced to off-load units for as much as $150,000 less than they paid (Toronto Star) Are Ontario’s 2024 budget housing policies enough to address the supply crisis? (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Remote work and how it’s shaping where people are now buying homes in Ontario (Global News) Expanded Ontario vacant home tax on the horizon as housing outlook improves slightly (Global News) Ontario housing starts expected to be lower this year, budget shows (CBC News) Ontario home construction levels up, but still far off pace for 1.5M target (Toronto Star) Brantford Expositor - Grand River Conservation Areas start taking camping reservations Brantford Expositor - City gets federal funding to support pedestrian and cycling network OSFI rejects Competition Bureau recommendation to drop mortgage stress test for lender switches (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Globe and Mail – Investors own 23.7 per cent of Ontario homes, report says Rick Kedzior OREA President: Earlier today, I was proud to represent OREA and join leaders from across Ontario at Queen's Park for the release of the 2024 Ontario Budget. This budget reaffirms the Provincial Government’s commitment to investing in building more homes, infrastructure, and transit across the province.OREA is pleased to see some progress towards several REALTOR®-led solutions from our recent Analysis of Ontario’s Efforts to Boost Housing Supply mentioned in the budget, including: • Improving flexibility on financing for municipal water infrastructure projects, building on last week’s $825M investment into the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund; • A new $99.1M investment into the Site Preparation Pilot Program, repurposing surplus government properties into attainable housing and social infrastructure; and, • A commitment to supporting modular construction as well as transit-oriented development and other key solutions to get more homes built faster. Today’s Ontario Budget is a step in the right direction. But in order to reach the goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031 and solving the affordability crisis, Ontario must continue to take bold action.Read the full statement here.Thank you, Update on Ontario Budget 2024   Today, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy unveiled the 2024 Budget, projecting Ontario's economy to be challenged by ongoing high interest rates. The $214.5 billion budget forecasts a sluggish real GDP growth of 0.3 per cent for the year 2024.   The Budget focused on increasing investments in infrastructure, health care and affordability measures for Ontarians. The Ontario government is projecting a deficit of $9.8 billion in the coming fiscal year, almost double what was projected in its fall economic update. Some key housing highlights from the Budget include:   Addressing Housing Supply Crisis: The Ontario Provincial Government is introducing the Building Faster Fund, a substantial three-year, $1.2 billion initiative designed to incentivize municipalities that meet housing targets, thereby expediting housing construction. Investment in Housing Infrastructure: A significant investment of $1 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, specifically allocated to core infrastructure projects. A quadrupling of the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to $825 million, supporting municipal water infrastructure projects crucial for new housing developments. Other Housing-related Initiatives: Extending the authority granted to impose municipal tax on vacant homes to all single- and upper-tier municipalities. Strengthening the Non-Resident Speculation Tax to discourage foreign investors from speculating in the housing market. Committing to invest an additional $152 million over three years in supportive housing initiatives, with a focus on aiding vulnerable individuals. Empowering municipalities to reduce property tax rates on new purpose-built rental housing to encourage the construction of more such units. It is crucial to emphasize that these measures are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at accelerating the construction of homes, with the overarching goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031.   Despite these efforts, recent figures indicate that we are falling behind our targets. In 2023, there were 89,300 housing starts in Ontario. Projections for 2024 indicate 87,900 housing starts, with 92,000 in 2025 and 94,400 in 2026. The numbers fall well below the pace of at least 150,000 new housing starts per year necessary to achieve our province's long-term goals.   This is why we will continue to advocate for policies at both the federal and provincial level aimed at increasing supply, lowering costs, and ultimately helping more Ontarians achieve the dream of home ownership. Policies we believe would help in these efforts include: Addressing housing affordability through blanket missing-middle zoning policies and streamlining the development approval process. This includes allowances for laneway homes, extra suites, and multi-unit housing on single family lots. Allowing the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) to be paid in installments. By doing so, the government can promote homeownership and facilitate a smoother transition to homeownership for those who might otherwise have been discouraged by the upfront and immediate financial costs. Increasing the land transfer tax rebate for first-time home buyers from $4,000 to $8,000, indexed to inflation. Doubling the rebate would not only align with provincial priorities but also offer crucial financial relief to first time homebuyers. This approach supports the expansion of housing supply and helps first time buyers get into the housing market. Revising the provincial HST rebate to align with current home prices, linking thresholds to housing costs. This includes a federal match of the 75% provincial rebate and the elimination of any claw back, as proposed by the Housing Affordability Task Force. Building on MPC’s momentum of advocacy wins, we are pleased to share that the Prime Minister has launched the first of several forthcoming pre-budget announcements. Today’s announcement focused on the housing sector and included the following measures:   Launching a new $15 million Tenant Protection Fund. This would provide funding to legal aid and tenants’ rights advocacy organizations to better protect tenants against unfairly rising rent payments, renovictions, or bad landlords. Creating a new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights, developed and implemented in partnership with provinces and territories. This would require landlords to disclose a clear history of apartment pricing so renters can bargain fairly. We will also crack down on renovictions, create a nationwide standard lease agreement, and give renters more agency. Making sure renters get credit for on-time rent payments. Renters deserve credit for the money they put toward rent over the years, especially when it comes time to apply for a mortgage for their first home. We’re going to amend the Canadian Mortgage Charter and call on landlords, banks, credit bureaus, and fintech companies to make sure that rental history is taken into account in your credit score.   MPC is pleased to see that the federal government has heard our recommendations to facilitate access to home ownership. While more work remains to be done, these measures represent a significant step in the right direction, creating an easier pathway to homeownership particularly for Gen Z, Millennials, and new Canadians with little credit history.   We’re also pleased to see the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister reiterate their commitment to cutting red tape and reforming zoning to help more homes get built faster, and we will be continuing to push for measures that increase and improve the affordability of the housing market for Canadians from coast to coast.   The full announcement can be found here.  This past weekend was especially special because I had a surprise opportunity to meet a mentor of mine named Nimai Delgado.  Getting to meet him, hear his story and get a photo with him really was a lot of fun for me and a memory I will cherish.  He is featured on a couple of NETFLIX documentaries that are definitely worth checking out, I have learned so much from him. You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment- 2024  The Game Changers   Diana Winger, REALTOR® CNE, SRS, SRES, ABR Mortgage Agent, Level 1 Valko Financial LTD #13047 eXp Realty | Dominion Lending Centres |  226-705-3369 | 250-588-8839 ON YOUR TEAM! WingerRealEstate.com  |  SearchBestMortgages.com  

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