Buyer Information - Your Victoria Real Estate Agent - Buying a Home in Greater Victoria

Homebuyer Guide: From Dream to Keys in Hand Introduction Embarking on the journey to homeownership is an exciting and significant milestone in life. Whether you're a first-time buyer or seasoned homeowner, the process can seem daunting. Fear not! This comprehensive guide is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the homebuying journey with confidence and clarity. You can read our full Home Buyer Guide here. Step 1: Assessing Your Financial Readiness Before diving into the world of real estate listings, it's essential to assess your financial readiness. This step will guide you through creating a budget, saving for a down payment, and understanding your credit score's impact on mortgage eligibility.  If you would like to apply for a mortgage, you can contact me to get started. For a list of recommended Mortgage Agents you can visit this page. For tips on improving your credit score you can visit here. Step 2: Setting Your Homeownership Goals What does your dream home look like? In this step, we'll help you define your homeownership goals by considering factors such as location, property type, size, and amenities. You'll learn to distinguish between must-haves and nice-to-haves, setting realistic expectations for your home search. Step 3: Exploring the Market Armed with your budget and wishlist, it's time to explore the real estate market. From online listings to open houses, we'll discuss effective strategies for finding properties that meet your criteria and narrowing down your options.  You can search options with limited information here (but gives you a full set of active MLS listings) You can search more detailed information on MLS properties for sale in your area here. You can search new construction and pre-sale homes that may not yet be on MLS here. Find out how to use the MLS Matrix system & Your Relationship with a Real Estate Professional.  You can be set up on this priority system - if you have not already been set up please let me know and we can send you a link. Get to know the schools in the area, if that is important for you.  Visit this link for information. Here's how to view crime statistics/maps for the Victoria area. You can learn about the various neighbourhoods in the Greater Victoria area here. BC Secondary Suite Incentive Program Understanding Leasehold Interests New Rules for Short-Term Rentals Step 4: Making an Offer Found the perfect home? Now it's time to make an offer. This step will walk you through the negotiation process, understanding purchase agreements, and navigating potential contingencies to ensure a smooth transaction.  Here is a link to a video that will explain more about understanding the contract of purchase and sale. Step 5: Securing Financing Understanding mortgage options and securing financing is a crucial step in the homebuying process. We'll cover different types of mortgages, the pre-approval process, and tips for finding the right lender for your needs. Step 6: Home Inspections & Insurance Before closing the deal, it's essential to conduct home inspections and appraisals to ensure the property's condition and value. Learn what to expect during these processes and how to interpret the results.  You can find out more about home inspections here. You can find out more about insurance and inspections here. You will also want to have a real estate lawyer review Title for you before removing subject conditions to be sure nothing on Title will be of concern.  You can find more about choosing a real estate lawyer here. Strata Home Owner Resources Step 7: Understanding Purchase Taxes Understaning the taxes will be important as they can impact purchase cost and carrying costs.  In BC there is a Property Transfer Tax which you can find out more about here.    There is also a Vacancy Tax which you can find out more about here. Flipping Tax and Property Tax Exemptions you can find out more information here. Newly built home exemption GST/HST New Housing Rebate First Time Buyer Tax Incentive Step 8: Closing the Deal Congratulations, you've found your dream home! In this step, we'll guide you through the final steps of the homebuying process, including closing costs, signing paperwork, and receiving the keys to your new home. Conclusion With this guide as your companion, you're well-equipped to embark on your journey to homeownership with confidence. Remember, buying a home is a significant milestone, but it's also an exciting adventure filled with endless possibilities. Happy house hunting! About Real Estate and Mortgage Agent Diana Winger Read Testimonials about Diana Winger

MORE

Testimonials - Meet Diana Winger

      We loved working with Diana to get our condo in Victoria. She was very informative and responsive throughout. She had lots of resources to share and frequently checked in and helped us narrow our search criteria. She collaborated with another agent to help us with viewings and had great recommendations for mortgage brokers and lawyers. Overall it went very smoothly and we love our place.   Michael  & Raffy   Diana was one of the most thorough and professional realtors we have had the pleasure to work with. She literally left no stone unturned. From calling a strata council (tracking down members that were out of the country), to phoning owners of previously listed homes, to taking the time to educate us on the actual value of different properties, she made sure we got the very best home for our money. VC McGill   We blew into Victoria on November 4, 2016 looking to buy a retirement property. It was the lowest inventory of properties on record. Renting wasn't even an option. We'd sold up back east and were living in a motel with our cat. We met Diana on our first day of looking at open houses and she went to work finding us a place to live. We saw a lot of her for the next little while. We moved into our new home on December 1st. Great job. You won't find a better realtor in Victoria.  Mike Nichols           I was so lucky to have Diana on my side when on the hunt for a new house! When looking at potential places, she would ask the most practical and logical questions, always giving me good things to think about. Structurally, she wouldn't miss a thing either, and when it came time to negotiate, I was glad I had her on my team. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a realtor!  Shelby Clark      Diana became our realtor 10 years ago. She has helped us with two important purchases and we may ask her again in the future...Diana is a good realtor; she is always well prepared and well organized, knows the market in Victoria and understands what makes a house a good house. What makes her an excellent realtor is that she lets her clients figure out which property is the most suitable for them. She is patient, understanding, encouraging and offers artfully discreet guidance. Thank you Diana, we would not have been able to do it (again) without you! Kate & Csaba        In a very tough sellers market Diana managed to sell our condo for our asking price even though every other realtor we spoke to told us it was not happening. Very impressed!! Works really hard. - Caitlyn Redford        Diana helped me work through the challenge of purchasing a home in Victoria. She was always professional, with an excellent knowledge of the market, yet warm and personable which made it easy to communicate. She was ready to assist when I needed help, but never pressured me to make a decision. It was a pleasure working with her and I would choose her again in the future. I highly recommend her as the No. 1 agent for any real estate transaction. Marlene Laszlo        Diana brought us through our home sale from start to finish with positive results. She started supplying information on market assessment long before we were actual clients. She valued our input and offered ideas during a volatile market with positive results. Much of this was due to her marketing and assisting us with sale preparations to have the home show positively. Even after the sale was complete Diana continued to go the extra mile and ensure our well being was taken care of. I highly recommend Diana to new and seasoned people looking for real estate services!! Thank You!! Mike Bratt      Diana was an amazing realtor. She was always well prepared and knew her stuff, possessing a really firm understanding of the market and its ever changing conditions. She provided a wealth of knowledge in assisting with the sale of our home. She was always open and available to speak with us at virtually any hour, and very responsive to questions and concerns. Most of all she is genuinely a wonderful human being who is passionate about her work, her community, and the planet itself. This translates into someone you know you can trust to do the best possible job she can for you. It also means that we now consider Diana a friend. So great to get to know her and so thankful we chose her to represent us in the sale of our home! - Simon & Marni Springer        It was a real pleasure working with Diana! This was our first time looking to buy, and also new to this area and she was exactly who we were looking for. Buying a home is often very stressful; however, she was always one step ahead of the game and ready to drop everything to help us find our nest. Diana is extremely knowledgable and well prepared, but most importantly she was very honest with us, which is what we like to see in a Relator. It was our good fortune to work with this wonderful woman! Wade Boettcher        You appreciate the value of your real estate representative when you are faced with challenges. Diana maneuvered us through the process securing the new location and needless to say we have utilized Diana in dealing with other properties and expect to do so again if the opportunity presents itself. Rita & Ron        I was referred to Diana Winger for my real estate transaction and was thrilled with the service I received. I used Diana’s services to assist me in the purchase of my current home in September 2008. Diana led the transaction completely. I was impressed with her ability to listen to my desires and limitations and find a property which met my requirements. Diana was extremely professional in all of our dealings, discussing details of properties in a way which made me proud to have her working on my side. Her ambition and determination lead me to this house I call home. Her ability to communicate is outstanding. She is excellent at coaching you through the negotiation process and assisted greatly in achieving the deal I desired. She is extremely patient and was very diligent in keeping me abreast of properties as they came on the market. I was particularly impressed with the amount of preparation Diana would put into preparing information for me. Her strong analytical background was not only valuable in discussing pricing specifics, but in providing reason to the emotions which come in making a purchase of this size. Expect Diana Winger’s service to be outstanding. She is an excellent agent to assist you in buying or selling property. Her simple passion for the business and drive for success will ensure your satisfaction in your next real estate transaction. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have further questions – I would be happy to serve as a reference for Diana. Wishing you the best of success, Jeremy        Diana helped me and my family found our first home in Victoria. She is Very professional and Extremely efficient. Diana answered all our questions almost instantly every time. Thank you D! :) Lorena H 2019 Lorena H      Diana was recommended and I am so happy she was! Trust is such an important factor in this field and Diana meets all the professional criteria! In addition, she is a joy to work with and has a complete focus on the details. Elizabeth Benham      We met Diana in 2009, when we made the decision to relocate from Edmonton to Victoria. We contacted her to help us with finding an appropriate house. Since the beginning of our relation, Diana was always very helpful and very professional, providing us with very good advice. She sent us all the available listings meeting our criteria and made few appointments for us to fly from Edmonton for viewing the properties. At the end of 2009, we made the decision on a property we still love and moved to Central Saanich in early 2010. We would recommend Diana with no hesitation. Sanda and Dan        I found Diana Winger to be energetic, enthusiastic and dedicated to making sure I received the best price for my condo. It sold in 2 days for over asking price. She also worked hard to negotiate a good price on my new condominium for under asking price! With all the busyness of moving, she was great at keeping me on track for all the next steps required. I had originally planned to try to sell my place on my own, so I could save money. She convinced me to give her a chance and I'm so glad I did! I would have accepted a far lower offer. Her welcome basket and rebate cheque were also very appreciated! I would highly recommend Diana Winger to anyone looking to buy or sell, or both! Cindy Tibbits        Diana is one of a rare breed, she is understanding, honest and amazingly supportive! We owe her so much for taking the time with us and giving us great advice which helped us sell, then find our dream home. Best realtor I have ever met or worked with and would strongly recommend her services to anyone! Thank you again for everything - we are so truly happy here!! What you did for us was amazing! Xo Heidi      I enjoyed working with Diana, she is a hard working agent who sold my home efficiently and I recommended her to my family. Diana had a vision for a successful completion of my sale and her focus and determination never waverd. Clients are fortunate to have her as their representative. Diana made it happen! You can count on Diana.  Norma  We used Diana and Ivan to find our first home in Vic. They made moving to the Island from Vancouver as easy as such a big undertaking can be and we liked that our values aligned and we could trust that they had our best interest at heart. Happy to recommend them and grateful for their help! Mac A      Diana was our agent 5 years ago when we bought condo and we hired her again to sale condo this Year.   Tatjana Budimcic      We got to know Diana November, 2014. She was professional and knowledgeable. On the property of our interest, she provided detailed information on the property, a thorough analysis of the market and an informative comparative listings in the neighbourhood, all of which helped us make the decision. Throughout the dealings, we were impressed with her, her her dedication and her willingness to work together. Even months after the purchase, she did not hesitate to assist us when our neighbour raised issues. Our experiences with here was a delight. We would recommend her to any potential buyer with the highest confidence and trust.  Max Fang      I hired Diana to sell my home. I tried to sell it previously with a different realtor & company, but was unsuccessful. Working with Diana was amazing. She went above the call of duty to help sell my house, guiding me every step of the way. She advertised the house well, and ran quite a number of open houses, both for local agents and buyers. She is timely, efficient, and appropriate in her dealings with offers and shepherded me through the closing process in the same manner. You can tell she has a lot of experience in this field as she handled every situation with ease. I would highly recommend Diana to other sellers, and buyers as well. Jo Cambly        Diana helped us to sell recently our condo, the same one she helped us to acquire a few years ago, and because we were then so content with the acquisition we used her services again, bringing us the same degree of satisfaction. This is because her friendly nature, her professionalism and her dedication. Always available, ready for clarifications, patient, excellent understanding of the real estate market and excellent advisor. Thank you. Tony Nicolau      Diana is a very professional agent that helped me to find what I "really" needed and in this "2017 crazy Real Estate Market" she really achieved an awesome result. I met her the first time before Christmas 2016 and more than a Real Estate Agent she became almost a "friend", taking care of me and my family. I would recommend Diana to people looking to buy the property where they need to live. Thank you Diana.  Antonio      We found Diana to be very conscientious as she helped us with the sale of our houses, making sure we understood the terms in the contract. Betty and Irwin Cunningham        I met Diana at an open house she was hosting and decided to have her list my home and help me find a new one. Right from the start of the process Diana has been a stellar agent! Her knowledge of the market and especially the technical side of all things—web, computer, graphics, photography, etc. is nothing short of brilliant. I have dealt with two previous agents before but Diana has been the quickest to respond to emails and phone call—she always has an immediate reply. Diana's attention to each detail, along with her integrity plus wanting to ensure the client is comfortable throughout the process, demonstrates her high professional character. As a result of Diana's astute marketing ability my home sale and new purchase took place quickly. Absolutely no hesitation in recommending Diana—she is a gem. Plus she answers emails immediately - what a bonus that is for clients !!  Gloria      If I did not have Diana Winger as an agent, I would have never found a house, her dedication for me was and still is 100%. During two years of searching, Diana would travel hours out of her way just to view a home with me, because we were in different towns, we would even travel to other towns to view. Diana's team extended from quality tradesman to supportive brokers, currently I am locked in at very low mortgage rate, and am happy with my home. Through all the obstacles of being outbid tens and tens of times, sale conditions, and dealing with other shifty realtors, it was a success. Diana Winger has also become a friend and I can trust her, will definitely be going with her again when I renew. Aaron L      When the house was sold, we had our first open house the day of ( or day after) the for sale sign went up and there was 3 offers that day and we wound up getting more than the asking price. I was impressed and very satisfied with the way it all went.  Paul Brule      Recently we moved from Alberta out to Victoria and we are very grateful to have found Diana Winger as our realtor. Diana was professional, understanding of our needs, patient, and simply a pleasure to work with. She was honest and always available to help us out with our house purchase, and in fact even helped us out with our move including a lovely house warming gift!!!!!  Darwin and Merelee      Diana is a knowledgable realtor with integrity and a real desire to find you the home you want/need. ..above all Diana is extremely patient with her clients and their goals....I have no hesitation in recommending Diana to anyone as I am a happy condo owner thanks to Diana..  Heather Caldwell Hi Diana, Thank you and your team for getting the results we wanted quickly and your professionalism. Kind regards, Jan & Larry        Diana was a fantastic realtor for myself and my partner. She was so patient with us as we took forever to find our perfect home. She always made herself available for us was very responsive to any questions we had. Diana went above and beyond as a realtor. We LOVE our place and would not have it if Diana has not thought of sending a mail-out to this building. As a result of her efforts we are in a home that we never thought we would find in our price range. We would recommend Diana to anyone! Corie         Diana went above and beyond what I would expect from a realtor. When I sold my place and when we bought our new place, she was dedicated, patient, knowledgeable, and helped us find exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommended. Jordan         Diana is a very experienced and knowledgable realtor who knows exactly what she is doing. She is very responsive and on top of matters. Very on the ball. - Bernadette        Diana provided my partner and I with excellent service. She is knowledgeable, hard-working, provides great resources and information and is overall a wonderful person to work with. We are so happy with the home that we found! Thank you so much Diana for your time, patience, knowledge and upbeat attitude - we so appreciate you! - Kari Sloane        Diana Winger is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! !! You will never find a more caring, experienced, dedicated, hard working Realtor on the island. I worked with Diana while searching for my forever home, and found her to be relentless in our search. Diana will go above and beyond to help you. She is a true professional that knows her stuff. She can help you find what you want, even when your not sure what that is. I am an ex Realtor myself, and know the work involved, and she is by far a cut about the rest. I just love her, and you will too. Sandra Collins      Diana was patient and always responded to my calls and emails promptly. She made sure to give me lots of information on every property I might be interested in to help me make an informed decision. She is great at what she does and I am recommending her to everyone who is looking to buy or sell a property. - LLM        I wanted to express my gratitude to Diana Winger for selling our home in Victoria. After using two other real estate agents with no success, we were fortunate enough to find Diana. I knew at once after reading Diana’s newsletter that she would be the one to sell our property. She worked diligently and actively to sell the property and kept us informed every step of the way. My only wish would have been to have found Diana sooner. I can’t recommend her enough and will be using her again in the future. Burt Burt      Diana was honest, thorough, hard working, and fun. We really enjoyed our experience with her and would highly recommend her to anyone wishing to buy or sell a home in Victoria. We would definitely use her again in the future.  Carson and Merrin      Diana is wonderful! We have used her twice and I know that she worked hard in our best interest. I am 100% confident without her knowledge and skill we would have not been the successful bidder on our current property. I recommend her to anyone looking for a realtor.  Kim Simmons      We have been impressed with Diana from our first interaction. Diana is knowledgeable and she took a genuine interest in our needs. She was so responsive and pointed things out that we would have never picked up or thought of. She took me around the neighborhoods, schools and even showed me places of interest. Diana was well prepared every time we met and was able to quickly understand what we were looking for. We had to act quickly on the house we liked and Diana took care of everything and guided us through until the sale was completed. I can honestly say, if it was not for Diana we would not have been able to buy our dream home.  Leonie Mulholland      Dee sold my house in 2012, she was efficient and dedicated to the job, and easy to work with. She did a great job sellimg my house at a time when it was hard to sell homes in Victoria.  Rebecca Van Sciver      Erin Brooks We would like to thank Diana for a job well done for selling our home. Within 10 days of listing, we had a sold sign up and received our asking price! Her excellent service, frequent communication, professionalism and dependability, made the sale process so much easier for us. We were very pleased that every phone call to answer our questions or calm our concerns was returned so quickly. Her attention to detail as well as her knowledge of the current market assisted us in understanding what people in this area were looking for in a home. Diana went above and beyond and we would certainly recommend her services to anyone that is looking to buy or sell a home!  Ray & Erin Brooks      Diana was truly the best realtor we have ever used. She was up to date with her knowledge and made us feel very comfortable buying our first home in BC. Diana was professional and showed true compassion towards the little things that I was worried about along the way. She was able to address our concerns in an timely and effective way. Buying a builders home can be stressful making sure it’s done right. Thanks to Diana she communicated our concerns with both our lawyer and builder on behalf of us. She simply was amazing to work with and is considered a great friend now. I would highly recommend Diana to family and friends for her outstanding work. Thank you Diana for working so diligently for us we really appreciated everything you did for us.  Brian & Elizabeth Young      Diana was great to work with, it made my home purchase fun, relaxed and yet thorough and professional. Very hard working and great insight into the local market!  Michael      You're the hardest working REALTOR I know!   Geoff Phipps      Diana is a professional, knowledgeable and helpful real estate agent. She is also and an honest and really lovely person. We bought our house sight unseen from out of province, Diana navigated us though all the many challenges and continues to be helpful in so many ways. I would highly recommend Diana to anyone looking to buy or sell a property. Lana MacInnes      I would highly recommend Diana Winger as a real estate agent. I had been looking for a place on and off for about three years. It was not until I met Diana at an open house that I decided to have her represent me, after being quiet frustrated in my search. I was very grateful for her professionalism, hard work, but more than anything, her gift of really hearing her clients and meeting their needs. I love the place I bought in Saanichton and it's exactly what I had been looking for! She is passionate about her work and truly feels it is her calling to bring buyers together with a home that they'll love. Louise        Diana made my home purchase in Victoria a breeze. She knew the market, understood my housing needs and looked after all the details. On top of that she is a warm and personable individual and a great communicator. I highly recommend Diana Winger. John      Working with Diana Winger was the difference I needed in selling my condo. She always made me feel as though my property was her priority and stayed committed to getting me the best return possible on my investment until the end. For me her positive attitude, persistence, and knowledge of the real estate market was vital in making me feel like I had made the right choice to sell my home. Beyond her strong work ethic, her compassionate ethic towards animals made me feel like I was interacting with more than just a real estate agent, but a good person and friend. Thank you! Jordan      Coming from another province to the Victoria area, Diana was the perfect realtor for us. Not only does she have extensive area knowledge, she took the time to understand our needs and didn't waste our time showing us properties we would not consider. Diana was able to help refer us to local lawyers, notaries, inspectors as well as trades in the area. Every organization or person she referred was stellar. She was quick to respond to any questions we had as well as follow up with us to ensure we had everything we needed. I couldn't ask for a better realtor than Diana!!  Shannon & Eldon Neustaeter      Diana is an exceptionally effective realtor as well as a special person whose enthusiasm shines through every interaction. She provided direction and support under difficult circumstances. Always available and responsive, she achieved a successful outcome in record time.  Chris Coppin      Diana was super nice and helpful in our process of finding our first home. We are so grateful to have her and we’ve been in our dream home for 4 years.  Sunday      Diana has more than met my needs she is very patient, knowledgeable about the market, very thorough and does alot of additional background work to provide important details on listings I was interested in. I felt very comfortable with her and her expertise in taking good pictures and spending alot of time with strata details. She is persistent but not pushy and is very accommodating to arrange showings and answering calls and emails. My experience with Diana as selling and buying agent was very positive and I would gladly use her service again.  Karen Cameron      Diana has been an exceptional realtor. She worked incredibly hard to help us find our dream home. She is flexible, but incredibly dedicated to her work. Cannot recommend her enough!  Kirstin Singer      Katalin Hegedus Diana became our realtor 10 years ago. She has helped us with two important purchases and we may ask her again in the future...Diana is a good realtor; she is always well prepared and well organized, knows the market in Victoria and understands what makes a house a good house. What makes her an excellent realtor is that she lets her clients figure out which property is the most suitable for them. She is patient, understanding, encouraging and offers artfully discreet guidance. Thank you Diana, we could not have been able to do it (again) without you!  Kate      “She worked tirelessly to sell our home at the best price possible. Our agent also helped us purchase our dream home at a fantastic price. She was so professional and thorough!” – Margit & Douglas S.        My husband and I cannot say enough positive things about our experience working with Diana to purchase our first home! Taking the jump to make such a huge purchase is incredibly daunting and the real estate process intimidating. Diana guided us through the entire journey, offering valuable pieces of info and advice at each step that we wouldn't have known otherwise. She was always happy to answer all of our (many) questions and helped make the entire process a lot more comfortable for us. Diana went above and beyond our expectations and we will absolutely be recommending her to anyone we know looking to buy or sell. Thanks again, Diana! Megan Burton 2020        Diana is truly a real estate agent that goes above and beyond. She is kind, courteous, knowledgeable, and really cares about her clients. She has your back every step of the way, is an expert negotiator that really knows her stuff, and digs deep to find out everything she can about the properties that you are considering. It was such an amazing experience working with her. She has super quick response times for every question, and is one of the most personable and conscientious people that I have ever met. You really cannot go wrong with Diana on your side. T. S. 2020        Amazing realtor! ! Sold our house more efficiently than any other realtor and then found and negotiated a fantastic deal on the property of our dreams! Would recommend highly!! Heidi Hunton 2019        Diana goes above and beyond as a realtor and as a person. She has helped us with two moves now, and both times she has been absolutely extraordinary! She made it easy and knew exactly what we needed, our level of comfort, and never pushed us towards something that wasn't right for us. She was also amazing with our young daughter and dog. If you are looking for an honest, friendly, and professional realtor, then you can't go wrong under her wings! Eric Hansen 2019        I first met realtor Diana Winger when I attended an open house in another unit in my condominium building and was impressed by her. When it came time to sell my own condo, a year or so later, I remembered the conversation and asked Diana if she would consider working with a second realtor whose services I had used before. I appreciated the fact that they both leveled with me, proposed an asking-price lower than one I had imagined but which would draw potential buyers and make my unit more attractive than others in that segment of the market, and eventually sold the unit for me for above that asking-price. That straightforward determination to create action and a sale, along with her friendly personality, make me very glad I turned to Diana Winger to sell my unit. Chris Thomas        Diana was patient and always responded to my calls and emails promptly. She made sure to give me lots of information on every property I might be interested in to help me make an informed decision. She is great at what she does and I am recommending her to everyone who is looking to buy or sell a property. Bunny Bricks 2018        I found Diana courteous, professional and hardworking in all aspects of buying and selling my homes. Thanks Diana. Tim Waddell        Diana Winger provided Ginette and I with excellent service. She is knowledgeable, hard-working, provides great resources and information and is overall a wonderful person to work with. Thank you so much Diana for your time, patience, knowledge and amazing attitude. We so appreciate you ! Cam & Ginette ♥️ 2020        Diana is a very thorough professional who approaches her work with great honesty and integrity. She works hard to understand all your needs and concerns but above all you can trust her grasp of the marketplace. Cheers, Ken W        We would like to thank Diana for a job well done for selling our home. Within 10 days of listing, we had a sold sign up and received our asking price! Her excellent service, frequent communication, professionalism and dependability, made the sale process so much easier for us. We were very pleased that every phone call to answer our questions or calm our concerns was returned so quickly. Her attention to detail as well as her knowledge of the current market assisted us in understanding what people in this area were looking for in a home. Diana went above and beyond and we would certainly recommend her services to anyone that is looking to buy or sell a home! Ray & Erin        Thanks so much for the amazing amount of work you put into this. Well beyond the call of duty! Maria and Alan      

MORE

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  

MORE