REAL ESTATE WITHOUT THE NOISE

Is now a good time to buy a house?Buying a house right now makes sense for some people and not for others.In this episode, three Ontario realtors answer one question honestly: would we buy a home in today's market?The hosts share recent purchases in their own families.They talk about what buyers can find in Caledon, Brampton, Toronto and cottage country.They also explain why even experienced realtors feel scared before they sign.You will hear a lawyer's advice on new build rebates and why waiting could shrink the benefit.Key takeaways:1. The right time to buy is when your job, your money and your head all line up.2. Trade-up buyers may sell for less than they hoped, but the bigger home they want has come down too.3. Buy because you need the home, not because someone says you will make money.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.Thinking about a move? Talk to your lender and your realtor first, then decide with all the facts.Reach any of us using the details below.Host Contact InformationConnect with Evelyn, Ruth or Sandy about your next move. For podcast questions, guest inquiries or topic suggestions, contact the show directly.Evelyn LopesREALTOR® | RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., BrokeragePhone  905-965-5902    Email  [email protected]  evelynlopesrealtyteam.comRuth BallantyneREALTOR® | RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., BrokeragePhone  416-779-8732    Email  [email protected]  www.ruthballantyne.comSandy CasellaBroker | eXp Realty, BrokeragePhone  416-467-8627    Email  [email protected]  sandycasella.comContact the [email protected]  youtube.com/@realestatewithoutthenoiseListen  Apple Podcasts | Search Real Estate Without the Noise on Spotify.______CHAPTERS0:00 Would we buy a home right now?0:52 Yes, and one of us just did1:27 Trade-ups, first condos and what your home is worth now3:29 What buyers can find: condos, acreage and cottages6:38 Why buying feels scary8:38 Buying when others said don't11:46 Realtors get scared too: the 10-day cooling off story13:52 Buying at the top: a 1989 purchase17:57 Buying for a reason, not for hype18:52 There is never a perfect time22:13 What is happening in Caledon and Brampton26:08 New build rebates: act sooner28:33 So, is it the right time to buy?   XXXPOD.12B.11 (SEP.13) DisclaimerThe content shared on Real Estate Without the Noise is intended for informational and educational purposes only.The views and opinions expressed by Ruth Ballantyne, Sandy Casella, and Evelyn Lopes are their own and do not represent the positions of RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., eXp Realty, or any affiliated brokerage or organization.Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes legal, financial, mortgage, or investment advice. Real estate markets vary by location and change over time. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any real estate or financial decisions.Market data, statistics, and information referenced in episodes are believed to be accurate at the time of recording but may not reflect current market conditions.Past performance of the real estate market is not a guarantee of future results.Real Estate Without the Noise is produced independently. Any reference to third party products, services, or organizations does not constitute an endorsement.Always work with a licensed real estate professional in your area who understands your local market and your personal circumstances.

Closing costs in Ontario run between 1.5% and 4% of the purchase price, and every dollar is due in cash on closing day.On a $750,000 home, that is roughly $11,000 to $30,000 on top of your down payment.In this episode of Real Estate Without The Noise, Evelyn Lopes, Ruth Ballantyne and Sandy Casella sit down with licensed mortgage broker Monica Falco of M2 Mortgage Team and Capital Home Lending.You will hear how the statement of adjustments works, why lawyer quotes can look so different, and why the tax on mortgage default insurance counts as a closing cost.They also cover new build closing costs, extra inspections on country properties in Caledon and the NW GTA, and the 1.5% lender requirement.Key takeaways:Closing costs are real, they are due in cash, and they cannot be added to your mortgage.Find your numbers before you fall in love with a house.Build your team early: a realtor, a mortgage broker and a lawyer.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.Know your number before you make an offer, and send this episode to someone who is house hunting right now.___0:00 The most dangerous number in your home purchase1:00 Meet Monica Falco, mortgage broker2:00 Why buyers forget closing costs3:30 The costs that catch buyers off guard5:20 New condos and the 10 day cooling off period6:00 The tax on mortgage default insurance7:10 When to talk about closing costs with buyers8:45 You cannot finance closing costs9:30 The statement of adjustments, explained12:15 Country homes and extra inspections13:15 How to calculate closing costs before you offer14:30 The 1.5% lender requirement15:50 Why your team matters17:30 Has a deal ever fallen apart over closing costs18:40 Pre-construction and new build costs19:45 The grading deposit you can get back21:00 How buyers adjust when the number is a shock22:00 Banks versus brokers24:00 Three things to remember25:00 Thank you and where to find the show____CONNECT WITH REAL ESTATE WITHOUT THE NOISE Evelyn Lopes, RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. | Caledon, Orangeville, Erin, Guelph, NW GTA | [email protected] | 905-965-5902Ruth Ballantyne, RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. | Brampton and surrounding areas | [email protected] | 416-779-8732 Sandy Casella, eXp Realty | Etobicoke, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, GTA West | [email protected] | 416-467-8627 Our guest:Monica Falco, Founder, M2 Mortgage Team | Principal Broker, Capital Home Lending #12347 | 647-204-8621 | [email protected] | www.m2mortgageteam.ca | Instagram: m2.mortgageteam Show email: [email protected] Listen and watch: YouTube: youtube.com/@realestatewithoutthenoise  DisclaimerThe content shared on Real Estate Without the Noise is intended for informational and educational purposes only.The views and opinions expressed by Ruth Ballantyne, Sandy Casella, and Evelyn Lopes are their own and do not represent the positions of RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., eXp Realty, or any affiliated brokerage or organization.Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes legal, financial, mortgage, or investment advice. Real estate markets vary by location and change over time. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any real estate or financial decisions.Market data, statistics, and information referenced in episodes are believed to be accurate at the time of recording but may not reflect current market conditions.Past performance of the real estate market is not a guarantee of future results.Real Estate Without the Noise is produced independently. Any reference to third party products, services, or organizations does not constitute an endorsement.Always work with a licensed real estate professional in your area who understands your local market and your personal circumstances.

The Real Estate Cycle: How to Spot the Recovery Before Everyone Else, with David SoUnderstanding the real estate cycle can help you buy, sell or refinance with more confidence and less fear.Mortgage broker David So has watched the GTA housing market rise and fall since 1989.He joins Evelyn, Ruth and Sandy to walk through the four phases of the cycle and the signals that show where the market is heading.Prices in the GTA are down about 20% from the peak.That peak came after back-to-back jumps of 18%, 28% and 31%.David believes we're now moving into the recovery phase, where supply tightens, new building slows and smart buyers start looking for value.The hosts agree, and they're seeing multiple offers come back on homes that are priced right.In this episodeThe four phases of the real estate cycle and the signs of each oneWhy the market doesn't flip from recession to recovery overnightHow leverage works when your home value compounds on 100% of the priceDavid's why, how, when, where and what approach to buying a homeMortgage qualifying today, CMHC insurance and alternative lendersHow parents are gifting down payments, and the tax benefits for kidsListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.If this episode helped you, follow the show and share it with someone thinking about their next move.Connect with Your HostsEvelyn Lopes | RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. | Caledon, Orangeville, Erin, Guelph and NW [email protected] | 905-965-5902Ruth Ballantyne | RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. | Brampton and surrounding [email protected] | 416-779-8732Sandy Casella | eXp Realty | Etobicoke, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and GTA [email protected] | 416-467-8627Show contact: [email protected] Our Guest: David SoSince 1989, David So and Canadian National Mortgage Corporation, operating as The Mortgage Centre, have helped thousands of families across Ontario's Golden Horseshoe and GTA buy, refinance, and move forward with clarity.Contact David SoDavid SoYour Mortgage Broker ... for life"Your best interests. Our tailored solution. Lasting Trust."Canadian National Mortgage Corporation, o/a The Mortgage CentreLicensed as Broker since 1989Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, FSRA license #10223301-1550 South Gateway Road, Mississauga, ON L4W 5G6Phone/Text: (416) 410-6663, ext. 31 | (416) 410-MONEYEmail: [email protected] | [email protected]: davidso.caBook an appointment online: https://form.jotform.com/260956510219255FREE Mobile Mortgage Calculator: https://www.mccapp.ca/app/mccdavid-so?lang=enEP.11.16  DisclaimerThe content shared on Real Estate Without the Noise is intended for informational and educational purposes only.The views and opinions expressed by Ruth Ballantyne, Sandy Casella, and Evelyn Lopes are their own and do not represent the positions of RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., eXp Realty, or any affiliated brokerage or organization.Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes legal, financial, mortgage, or investment advice. Real estate markets vary by location and change over time. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any real estate or financial decisions.Market data, statistics, and information referenced in episodes are believed to be accurate at the time of recording but may not reflect current market conditions.Past performance of the real estate market is not a guarantee of future results.Real Estate Without the Noise is produced independently. Any reference to third party products, services, or organizations does not constitute an endorsement.Always work with a licensed real estate professional in your area who understands your local market and your personal circumstances.

Most sellers focus on the day the house hits the market. The real work happens before that, in the weeks nobody sees. In this episode of Real Estate Without The Noise, Evelyn Lopes, Ruth Ballantyne, and Sandy Casella walk through what actually moves buyers before a house is ever listed. They cover the five senses test buyers run without realizing it, why smell is the one thing sellers can never judge in their own home, and how curb appeal buys or costs you a buyer before the front door even opens. They also get honest about renovations. Paint is the best return you will ever get. A brand new kitchen, almost never. And they tackle the biggest pricing myth in the business: that you should always leave room to negotiate. The truth is the opposite.Connect with the hosts:●        Evelyn Lopes, RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. — [email protected] — 905-965-5902●        Ruth Ballantyne, RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. — [email protected] — 416-779-8732●        Sandy Casella, eXp Realty — [email protected] — 416-467-8627Show contact: [email protected] Markers ●        0:00 Cold open: what's costing sellers the sale before it even starts●        1:20 The five senses test buyers run without realizing it●        6:45 The smell problem no seller can judge for themselves●        12:10 Curb appeal and the first ninety seconds●        18:30 Renovating for return versus renovating for ego●        24:15 Flooring, ceilings, and the mistakes that break a house's flow●        28:00 Access and showings: the flexibility that actually sells houses●        31:40 Why overpricing costs you the first two weeks, and why that matters most●        35:10 Before we go: one insight, one warning, one mindset shift from each host DisclaimerThe content shared on Real Estate Without the Noise is intended for informational and educational purposes only.The views and opinions expressed by Ruth Ballantyne, Sandy Casella, and Evelyn Lopes are their own and do not represent the positions of RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., eXp Realty, or any affiliated brokerage or organization.Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes legal, financial, mortgage, or investment advice. Real estate markets vary by location and change over time. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any real estate or financial decisions.Market data, statistics, and information referenced in episodes are believed to be accurate at the time of recording but may not reflect current market conditions.Past performance of the real estate market is not a guarantee of future results.Real Estate Without the Noise is produced independently. Any reference to third party products, services, or organizations does not constitute an endorsement.Always work with a licensed real estate professional in your area who understands your local market and your personal circumstances.

Three realtors. Over a hundred years of combined experience. And not one client who's ever called back regretting a purchase. In this episode, Evelyn Lopes, Ruth Ballantyne, and Sandy Casella sit down to talk about why buying and selling a home is emotional, not logical, and why that's actually a good thing. They dig into why people move, using a simple technique of asking why again and again until the real reason shows up. They talk about the difference between buyer excitement and seller grief, why win-win negotiating protects you long after closing day, and why more online listings haven't made house hunting any easier. There's a personal story about renovating a home after a divorce, a client who took six months to sell her late mother's house, and the moment a door opens and you just know. If you've ever wondered why a house you didn't plan on buying ended up being the one, or why waiting for the "right time" rarely works out, this conversation is for you. xxx.POD.09 DisclaimerThe content shared on Real Estate Without the Noise is intended for informational and educational purposes only.The views and opinions expressed by Ruth Ballantyne, Sandy Casella, and Evelyn Lopes are their own and do not represent the positions of RE/MAX Realty Services Inc., eXp Realty, or any affiliated brokerage or organization.Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes legal, financial, mortgage, or investment advice. Real estate markets vary by location and change over time. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any real estate or financial decisions.Market data, statistics, and information referenced in episodes are believed to be accurate at the time of recording but may not reflect current market conditions.Past performance of the real estate market is not a guarantee of future results.Real Estate Without the Noise is produced independently. Any reference to third party products, services, or organizations does not constitute an endorsement.Always work with a licensed real estate professional in your area who understands your local market and your personal circumstances.