My thoughts on the BREAKING NEWS: National Association of REALTORS® Reaches Agreement & Brantford Statistics in this weeks blog....

My thoughts... Consumers have a choice currently, whether to work with an agent or not, and ultimately even negotiate the fee for service.  In our current system consumers are free to choose who they hire or if they hire anyone. They can choose to have representation, no representation or limited multiple representation (not allowed in BC.) In addition, Realtors can choose what fee they will charge to provide representation.  It was once believed that allowing the seller to compensate an independent buyer agent to represent the buyers interest was a step in the right direction for true buyer agency.  Previous to this, it had been that the agent of the seller was also, indirectly the agent of buyer.  In what has been proposed in the settlement, we will be taking another step forward by no longer allowing a seller to compensate the buyer agent. Only a buyer can compensate their own agent, however, the seller CAN pay other closing costs via MLS co-operation offerings and this impacts the overall cost of purchase. Changing how representation services are paid for will impact the structure of purchase. I suspect mortgages may end up being adapted to allow buyers to afford representation or mortgage amounts being offset by seller offerings of other closing costs.  Buyers who want representation, and Lenders who prefer they have representation will also want to protect themselves from self-represented purchases.  The collective value of the MLS system and co-operation of Realtors offers value in its ability to match up home buyers and sellers and co-ordinate all what goes into such a transition.  Buying and selling a home can be a huge undertaking and a lot of moving parts to make it happen. If people could figure out how to do this on their own, they would have.  Technology create efficiencies that improve the home buying and selling experience, and utilizing all tools and resources in making expensive decisions is likely still going to be happening regardless of who pays for what. Arguably the buyers are paying for it indirectly in our current structure by the fact that it impacts overall purchase / sale price decisions. In addition, I feel it is important to note, the real estate profession is a difficult one to enter and sustain and only a small percentage of real estate professionals make it past 5 years in the industry. If it was easy, the success rate would be high, not low.   Changing the structure of the paperwork and improving transparency is good for everyone, in my opinion. The consumers will still need to make the same choices ultimately. At the end of the day people will still hire professional negotiators to represent their interests, they will still negotiate the fee and pay for that representation. The market forces determine what the market will bear for that service, as it does even now.  We have ample competition offering various options to consumers. Will be interesting to see this all play out both in USA and in Can…. break out the popcorn! 🤓🍿 Read the press release by accessing the link from the blog post CURRENT INTEREST RATES First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES Tips to Improve Your Credit Score You may be eligible for the New to Canada program that can assist with the purchase of a home with just 5% down on homes under $500,000. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS CBC News - Ontario minister says help is on the way for homeowners stuck with 'fraudulent' liens Toronto Star - Number of households missing mortgage payments soars alongside consumer, business insolvencies Toronto Star - 'We were sold a big lie': Hamilton tells Ancaster resort residents their tiny homes are illegal London Free Press - London begins first new public housing project in 50-plus years CBC Kitchener-Waterloo - Region of Waterloo one step closer to tackling affordable housing crisis Cambridge receives $13M in federal funding for housing (CTV News) Real Estate Magazine – Decline in affordable homes: MPAC data highlights shift in Ontario's property landscape CBC Toronto – How one Ontario city is using modular cabins to help with 'unprecedented' homelessness crisis Hamilton Spectator – Brant Land Trust acquires two unique properties in Brantford and Brant County The Record – 'It's like a tsunami of bad events that are happening to people,' lawyer says of housing crisis London Free Press – 1,000-plus new London apartments nearly ready, but it's not enough: Builders London Free Press – 20 empty acres. A 142-unit townhouse proposal. Lots of unhappy neighbours Brantford Expositor - Brant realtors see early start to spring market  CBC News Bank of Canada holds key interest rate at 5% again, saying it's still too soon for rate cuts The Bank of Canada has held its key interest rate at five per cent again, saying that it's still too soon to consider rate cuts while underlying inflation persists. Real Estate Magazine Canadian real estate market sees doubling of home prices over past decade Canada’s real estate market has seen much change over the last 10 years, thanks to interest rate changes, economic fluctuations, immigration increases, the impact of a global pandemic and more.   Bank of Canada rate cut watchers starting to look past the summer (Financial Post) Variable or short-term fixed mortgage? Where experts see the ‘sweet spot’ (Global News) Value of Canadian farmland rises 11.5% in 2023: report (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Equitable Bank’s mortgage arrears rate triples amid surge in renewals (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Average asking rent prices reach $2,193 in February, up 10.5% from 2023 (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Rising water: Quebec lender ending new mortgages in flood zones 'just the beginning (CTV News) Demand is soaring for prefab homes. So why isn’t Canada seeing rapid growth? (Global News) BoC Interest rate decision could bring homebuyers back to the market (The Globe and Mail) Globe and Mail - Canada Infrastructure Bank, First Nations banks strike $100-million loan deal to build projects faster Globe and Mail - What does it look like to tackle homelessness? Lessons from a city that tried Financial Post - 'All but rules out a cut in April': What economists say about the Bank of Canada's hold Financial Post - Bank of Canada rate cut risks igniting housing market CBC News - Bank of Canada worries a rate cut now could overheat the spring housing market Real Estate Magazine - Home inspections focus on detecting major risks for your clients Real Estate Magazine - Hope for first-time homebuyers: Equal opportunity in select Canadian markets despite savings disparities Real Estate Magazine - Canadians pause homebuying plans amid rising borrowing costs: Royal LePage Real Estate Magazine - How natural hazard and its catastrophic loss impact housing affordability, supply and demand Real Estate Magazine - Budget-friendly home staging tips: Transform the space without breaking the bank First National saw revenue rise 29% in 2023 despite drop in residential mortgage volumes (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Increasing productivity to address Canada’s housing crisis: Where are the gains? (CMHC) Canada poised for a 'very hot' housing market this spring (The Intelligencer) January sees drop in income required to pass mortgage stress test (Calgary Herald) They’re back: The GTA is seeing bidding wars once again (Real Estate Magazine) Globe and Mail – Best ways to renovate your home with a $10,000 budget Toronto Star – Renters have harder time accumulating wealth than homeowners: RBC economist Toronto Star – HUDAK: How to build homes families can afford Canadian Mortgage Professional – How big an impact does housing affordability have on quality of life? Canada’s next wealth divide? It’s renters versus homeowners, RBC says (Global News) What to know about refinancing in today’s real estate market (Real Estate Magazine)   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 Housesforsale365.com   |   SearchBestMortgages.com  

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Happy International Woman’s Day! Bank of Canada left the rate alone, but fixed rates are dropping already & good news for the Brantford economy.

View this email in your browser CURRENT INTEREST RATES You may be eligible for the New to Canada program that can assist with the purchase of a home with just 5% down on homes under $500,000. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS Search for home in Ontario real estate market ‘humbling’ for first-time buyers (Global News) Toronto home prices inch up as buyers adapt to mortgage rate landscape (Yahoo Finance Canada) Hamilton housing market 'relatively balanced' in February (The Hamilton Spectator) New report finds Hamilton homes worth less than $500,000 'essentially gone' (The Hamilton Spectator) Brantford Expositor - City to mark International Women's Day Brantford Expositor - Done deal: SC Johnson staying in Brantford Brantford Expositor - Norfolk Home & Lifestyle Show attracts 2,500 people Brantford Expositor - City looking to unlock potential of Brantford airport Brantford Expositor - Event celebrates local women in business Brantford Expositor - Brant bumps taxes by 8.7% for 2024 Brantford Expositor - City provides free parkade parking during Bulldogs games Brantford Expositor - Brantford councillors approve housing plan for Arrowdale Brantford Expositor - The grand canyon': Huge crater on Erie's shore underlines erosion threat The Bank of Canada has left its benchmark rate unchanged at 5.00%. Read the full bank statement here B.C., Ontario mortgage-holders increasingly missed payments in Q4, Equifax says (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's First-Time Home Buyer Incentive program ending March 21 (Simcoe) Rate cuts are on the way, but not this week, economists say (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Mortgage renewal in 2024? Experts weigh in on how to get the best rate (Yahoo Finance Canada) How natural hazard and its catastrophic loss impact housing affordability, supply and demand (real Estate Magazine) Canadian real estate market sees doubling of home prices over past decade (Real Estate Magazine) First-time homebuyer incentive program ending, CMHC says (Global News)Home sales up in major metro areas as buyers bet on rate cuts later this year (Canadian Mortgage Trends)   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 Housesforsale365.com   |   SearchBestMortgages.com  

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BC announces home-flipping tax, plus aid for first-time buyers, property transfer tax changes and refunds. Market Continues Recovering. New Ferries & More.

Canadian Housing Market Continues to Show Signs of Recovery   As homes selling in expensive markets outpace homes selling in more affordable markets, the national average price will appear to rise, which can skew how the data is interpreted. Watch as Shaun Cathcart, Senior Economist at the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), breaks it all down in the video below.     CURRENT INTEREST RATES IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS The latest in mortgage news: BC government unveils details of its proposed home-flipping tax   Property Transfer Tax Exemptions    Strata Tip of the Week - Does the strata have to provide general meeting notice packages?   B.C. offers homeowners up to $40K to build secondary suites. Here's what you need to know   Are you a First Time Home Buyer who Purchased in the Past 18 Months? Property Transfer Tax Refunds May Be Available To You   First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES   CMHC Predicts House Prices to Increase by as Much as 89% by 2030 Across Canada   What is the Secondary Suite Incentive Program? Are You Considering Weather When Buying a Home? What Does a Sellers’ Market Mean for Buyers Canadian Housing Market Continues Recovering; Home Sales on the Rise Most Canadian mortgage owners concerned about payments, survey finds (BNN Bloomberg) High living costs 'jeopardizing' financial security of renters, mortgage owners: survey (BNN Bloomberg) Millions of Canadians fear delayed retirement, Co-operators poll reveals (Wealth Professional) We could reach 2% inflation by this summer: National Bank (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Mortgage rejections in flood zones (CTV News) Real Estate Magazine – Property tax hikes spark outcry across Canada: Are homeowners being bled dry? Real Estate Magazine – GER: Collaborative solutions for Canada’s housing crisis: Why non-profits are essential Bloomberg – Canadians eager for homeownership, but down payments present another hurdle: report Financial Post – What $1 million will buy you in Canada's housing market Financial Post – Canadians jump into variable mortgages, bet on 'short-term pain for long-term gain' Storeys – Will Canada really need 5.8M new homes by 2030? Storeys – Quality of life worse for renters over homeowners, data suggests Bank of Canada to cut interest rates in half by end of next year: Desjardins (Yahoo! Finance) Identity and mortgage fraud on the rise (CTV News) How barriers to homeownership are impacting young Canadians’ future plans (Global news) National Bank sees delinquencies for its insured variable-rate mortgages rise to pre-pandemic levels (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Financial Post - MCLISTER: Are you ready to start climbing the property ladder? This checklist will help you find out If the 2000s have taught us anything, it’s that buying and holding a quality primary residence is a cheat code for tax-free equity gains.  Looking back at every 12-month span since 1980, home prices have risen an average of 5.78 per cent. That means, if you’re adequately qualified and financially fit, getting on the property ladder earlier in life can put you on the fast track to a secure retirement. Real advice with Rita: Chattel, financing alternative homes, and home inspections 5 key differences between building a home in the country and the city Top tile trends of 2024 Real Estate Magazine – Canadian homeowners face declining property values: Point2 study reveals significant losses Reuters – Canada's extension of ban on foreign real estate buyers labelled political, not practical Financial Post – A deeper dive into the CRA's rules around using a tax-free FHSA to buy a home Financial Post – Sidelined homebuyers just waiting for the Bank of Canada to cut rates Canadian Mortgage Professional – Canadian home prices expected to rise until 2025 Canadian Mortgage Professional – BC announces home-flipping tax, plus aid for first-time buyers The latest in mortgage news: BC government unveils details of its proposed home-flipping tax (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Victoria Times Colonist - Plan for six-lot subdivision along Lochside Trail gets green light Victoria Times Colonist - Developer can’t add two storeys to Esquimalt condo already being built Victoria Times Colonist - Saanich revised OCP opens door to 18-storey residential towers on McKenzie Victoria Times Colonist - Tiny Town container-housing village set to reopen at Royal Athletic Park parking lot B.C. homeowners who sell within two years to face flipping tax (Times Colonist) Victoria Times Colonist - New rental highrise on View Street would be higher than View Towers B.C. premier admits home-flipping tax is no silver bullet (CBC News) Real estate association economist doubts B.C.’s flipping tax is worth the trouble (Canadian Mortgage Trends) Victoria Times Colonist - New B.C. Ferries vessels, expected in 2029, to carry 2,100, run on greener tech B.C. home sales rise in January, nearly 30% above last year: BCREA (Real Estate Magazine)   VICTORIA & VANCOUVER ISLAND HOME SEARCH   Diana Winger Personal Real Estate Corporation eXp Realty | CNE, SRS, SRES, ABRMortgage Agent Level 1 Valko Financial LTD #13047Dominion Lending Centres HomeVictoria.com | Housesforsale369.com WingerRealEstate.com | SearchBestMortgages.com(250) 588-8839  (226) 705-3369ON YOUR TEAM!   Share Tweet Forward

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