RAHB’s Latest Updates
Accuracy of Street Name Spelling
Accuracy of listing data, including street names is very important. If you come across any inaccurate information such as a misspelled street name, street type and/or direction, you are encouraged to report the information through the Report Error link in Matrix.
The Report Error link is available in Matrix on each REALTOR® Full display at the top of the page.
This link when selected will open window where the listing address, MLS® number is auto-populated. Under the area labeled “Concern”, type in the inaccuracy with the street name or listing data and click the “Submit” button. Any errors reported remain confidential. Each day MLS® staff follows up on all Report Errors that are submitted and any necessary changes to street names or listing data will be corrected.
Should you have any questions regarding the “Report Error” link, please call the MLS® Help Desk at 905.667.4650.
RAHB Board of Directors 2020
Please welcome your three new Directors who were elected this morning at the Annual Election Meeting:
- Donna Bacher
- Stephanie Pinet
- Conrad Zurini
They will be joining the following Directors to form the 2020 Board of Directors.
- Kathy Della-Nebbia, President
- Hank Balfoort
- Jaqueline Norton
- Andrew Robertson
- Julie Sergi
- Brian Shaw
- Nicolas Von Bredow
- Bob Van de Vrande
Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019
On November 19, Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019 was introduced into legislation. If passed, Bill 145 will:
- Permit personal real estate corporations;
- Protect multiple representation; and,
- Enable specialist certification.
RAHB is encouraging all members to e-mail your MPP asking them to vote YES in support of Bill 145.
|
MPPs in the RAHB Market Area |
||
| Burlington | Jane Mckenna | jane.mckenna@pc.ola.org |
| Oakville – North Burlington | Effie Triantafilopoulos | effie.triantafilopoulos@pc.ola.org |
| Flamborough — Glanbrook | Donna Skelly | donna.skelly@pc.ola.org |
| Hamilton Centre | Andrea Horwath | andrea.horwath@ontariondp.ca |
| Hamilton East — Stoney Creek | Paul Miller | paul.miller@ontariondp.ca |
| Hamilton Mountain | Monique Taylor | monique.taylor@ontariondp.ca |
| Hamilton West — Ancaster — Dundas | Sandy Shaw | SShaw-CO@ndp.on.ca |
| Haldimand | Toby Barrett | toby.barrett@pc.ola.org |
| Niagara West | Sam Oosterhoff | sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org |
What are the most important changes?
There are many reforms in the legislation that will improve protection for Ontario buyers and sellers:
- Adding clarity for buyers and sellers so that they know whether they are represented by a brokerage, or if they are self represented;
- Requiring new disclosures to buyers and sellers to support informed decisions;
- Additional regulatory powers that will give RECO more tools to get the worst offenders in the industry out of the business; and
- Making it easier for RECO to levy fines against real estate salespeople for certain violations of the legislation.
Why did the government introduce this legislation?
The real estate industry has evolved in many ways since 2006 when the last significant changes were made, so it was time to revisit the laws.
What will happen next, and when will the new rules come into effect?
There are several steps that need to take place before the rules and laws can change. It is also possible that the proposed rules may be amended through the process. The new rules could come into effect as early as 2021.
RAHB REALTORS® Release November 2019 Statistics
The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 955 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area were processed through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in November 2019. November sales are down from October and September, but up from November 2018 by 5.5 per cent. The average price for residential properties increased by 5.6 per cent from November 2018 to $591,334.
Follow the links below for:
- Residential Market Activity for RAHB Area
- All RAHB Residential Market Activity and HPI Report (17 pages)
- RAHB Residential Market at a Glance
- Social Media Stats Kit
- Stats Map for Entire RAHB Area
- RAHB Commercial Activity
- Residential + Commercial Activity for RAHB Market Areas
- Historical Chart
Burlington
- Residential Real Estate Market Activity Table for Burlington
- Burlington Market Activity and HPI Report (72 pages)
- Burlington Area Map
Halidmand
- Residential Real Estate Market Activity Table for Haldimand
- Haldimand Market Activity and HPI Report (58 pages)
- Haldimand Area Map
Hamilton
- Residential Real Estate Market Activity Table for Hamilton
- Hamilton Market Activity and HPI Report (197 pages)
- Hamilton Area Map
Niagara North
- Residential Real Estate Market Activity Table for Niagara North
- Niagara North Market Activity and HPI Report (31 pages)
- Niagara North Area Map
CREA WEBForms® 2019
More than 40,000 members have already created a transaction using CREA WEBForms® 2019. As CREA moves closer to retiring WEBForms® Legacy, they are eager to support members as they transition to the new platform.
If you haven’t yet made the switch, take a moment to learn more about the decision to upgrade the platform by watching this video from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) Vice President and Technology Committee member Cliff Stevenson.
To further facilitate this transition, CREA is planning a couple of adjustments to help members take the plunge:
- On December 4, 2019, CREA will be flipping the landing page experience for all users. That means, as of December 5, 2019, everyone who accesses WEBForms® will land in the new CREA WEBForms® 2019 environment. Rest assured you will still be able to go back to the legacy version until the official cut-off on January 2, 2020.
- On December 16, 2019, WEBForms® Legacy will be switched to “Read Only Mode”. This means that members will still be able to access and edit existing transaction kits, download forms and migrate kits, but it will no longer be possible to create new transaction kits in Legacy. Preventing new transaction kits from being created in a system that is two weeks away from going offline is a safeguard against a member creating a transaction kit one day and not having access to it the next.
- Finally, before the end of the year, CREA will be issuing a maintenance release for CREA WEBForms® 2019. This release will include the convenient “Dynamic Paging” feature, meaning members will no longer need to start with multi-page schedules or use the “add page” function; pages will be added automatically as needed.
Getting started is easy and often takes less than an hour. In fact, you can dip your toes with these videos outlining the basics in just five minutes.
- Migrating old transaction kits from the legacy version of WEBForms® to CREA WEBForms® 2019. (Note: your transactions will be editable, but forms will migrate over as flat documents.)
- Creating a Basic Transaction (outlining the quickest way to create a basic transaction.)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the CREA Member Support Team at support@crea.ca or 1-888-237-7945. The CREA WEBForms® 2019 Member Support Team has extended its hours and is now available from 8 a.m. to midnight (EST) on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (EST) on weekends.
Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown in Burlington
The Burlington City Council Planning and Development Committee is holding a discussion on the re-examination of the downtown policies in the adopted Official Plan on December 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and reconvening at 6:30 p.m. at Burlington City Hall in Council Chambers.
At the meeting, City staff will:
- Provide an overview of the project.
- Present a report, PB-89-19: Taking a Closer Look at Downtown: Concepts Discussion, that highlights the themes, principles and land-use concepts developed to show two possible concepts for how downtown Burlington could accommodate growth and development in the future.
- Share a preliminary review of the public feedback received to date and preliminary directions.
Accessory Suite By-law Amendments Proposed in City of Hamilton Wards 1, 8 & 14
A report proposing to amend the accessory suite by-law in Hamilton temporarily for wards 1, 8 and 14 is going before the Planning Committee on December 3. You can find the plan within the agenda on page 179 here: https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=210060.
RAHB will be presenting a delegation at this Planning Committee meeting, and will keep members informed of any outcomes.
Black Friday Sale at the Realty Shoppe
BLACK FRIDAY SALE in the Realty Shoppe! Enjoy a 10% discount, on November 29 only, on Realty Shoppe products purchased in person (some restrictions apply and while quantities last).
Welcome New Members
We extend a warm welcome to RAHB’s newest members who joined our association between November 5 and November 26, 2019!
Mike Kong
Bay Street Group Inc.
Akash Gupta
Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd.
Daniel Tobias
Chase Realty Inc.
Jeffrey Smith
EXP Realty of Canada Inc.
Robert Charles Craig
Allyson Hunt
Michael Taylor
Keller Williams Edge Realty
Elvis Klapcic
Kayne Neville
RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.
Heather Belsito
Pat Belsito
Kevin Fehr
RE/MAX Escarpment Golfi Realty Inc.
Guy Dalton
Brittney Kooy
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.
Ana Harriott
Real Estate Homeward
Benjamin Olenick
Right At Home Realty Inc.
Lalit Batra
Kate Copley
Royal LePage Macro Realty
Yvonne Mychailyshyn
Royal LePage State Realty
Upcoming Open Houses for GRIDS 2 and MCR
Notice of Open Houses
The City of Hamilton is holding a second round of Open Houses related to GRIDS 2 and MCR. The dates and times can be found below:
|
Date |
Location | Time |
| Tuesday, November 26, 2019 | David Braley Centre
Auditorium 100 Main St W, Hamilton
|
2 – 4 pm
6 – 8 pm
|
| Thursday, November 28, 2019 | Battlefield House Museum & Park (Cellar at Grand)
77 King St W, Stoney Creek
|
2 – 4 pm
6 – 8 pm |
| Monday, December 2, 2019 | Dundas Town Hall
Auditorium 60 Main Street, Dundas
|
2 – 4 pm
6 – 8 pm |
| Wednesday, December 4, 2019 | St. Naum of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Church (Hall)
1150 Stone Church Road East, Hamilton |
2 – 4 pm
6 – 8 pm |
The Open Houses will focus on the following topic areas:
- Residential Intensification and Greenfield Area Density Targets;
- Employment Land Review; and,
- Evaluation criteria for future growth options.
What are GRIDS and GRIDS 2?
In 2006, City Council approved the first Growth Related Integrated Development Strategy (GRIDS). GRIDS is an integrated planning process that identified a broad land use structure, associated infrastructure, economic development strategy and financial implications for growth options to serve Hamilton for 30 years. GRIDS planned for growth up to 2031.
GRIDS 2 is an update to the City of Hamilton’s growth strategy that will plan for growth in employment and population; as well as, how this growth will impact Hamilton’s infrastructure and how it can be accommodated. It is projected that Hamilton will see an increase in 40,000 jobs and 100,000 people. GRIDS 2’s growth strategy is planned for the years 2031 to 2041.
What is MCR?
A municipal comprehensive review (MCR) is a process that brings together the City of Hamilton’s Official Plans and updated Provincial Plans into conformity. Many of the studies that are required as part of the MCR is also part of Hamilton’s growth strategy – GRIDS 2. As a result, MCR must be completed concurrently with GRIDS 2.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s New Federal Cabinet
Trudeau’s federal cabinet has grown by two spots reaching 36 members this term. Below is a full list of the new cabinet. We have noted the cabinet ministers who are from RAHB’s market area at the top
RAHB-area cabinet ministers:
- Karina Gould: Minister of International Development
- Filomena Tassi: Minister of Labour.
And the remainder of Trudeau’s new cabinet is as follows:
- Chrystia Freeland: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Minister Affairs.
- Anita Anand: Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
- Navdeep Bains: Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
- Carolyn Bennett: Minister of Crown-Indigenous relations.
- Marie-Claude Bibeau: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food
- Bill Blair: Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
- Bardish Chagger: Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth.
- Francois-Philippe Champagne: Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Jean-Yves Duclos: President of the Treasury Board.
- Mona Fortier: Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance.
- Marc Garneau: Minister of Transport.
- Steven Guilbeault: Minister of Canadian Heritage.
- Patty Hajdu: Minister of Health.
- Ahmed Hussen: Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
- Melanie Joly: Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.
- Bernadette Jordan: Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
- David Lametti: Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
- Dominic LeBlanc: President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.
- Diane Lebouthillier: Minister of National Revenue.
- Lawrence MacAulay: Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of Defense.
- Catherine McKenna: Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
- Marco E. L. Mendicino: Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
- Marc Miller: Minister of Indigenous Services.
- Maryam Monsef: Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.
- Bill Morneau: Minister of Finance.
- Joyce Murray: Minister of Digital Government.
- Mary Ng: Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade.
- Seamus O’Regan: Minister of Natural Resources.
- Carla Qualtrough: Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.
- Pablo Rodriguez: Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
- Harjit Sajjan: Minister of National Defense.
- Deb Schulte: Minister of Seniors.
- Dan Vandal: Minister of Northern Affairs.
- Jonathan Wilkinson: Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
- Jim Carr: the Prime Minister’s special representative for the Prairies.
Below is an overview of the promotions, demotions and cabinet rookies.
Promotions
| Promotions | ||
| Name | Previous Title/Job | New Title/Job |
| Chrystia Freeland | Global Affairs Minister | Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs |
| François-Philippe Champagne | Infrastructure Minister | Global Affairs Minister |
| Jonathan Willkison | Fisheries Minister | Environment and climate change files |
| Seamus O’Regan | Indigenous Services | Natural resources |
| Pablo Rodriguez | Heritage Minister | Government House Leader and cabinet point personal on all matters Quebec |
Demotions
| Demotions | ||
| Name | Previous Title/Job | New Title/Job |
| Bardish Chagger | Government House Leader | Portfolio of diversity, inclusion and youth |
| Kristy Duncan | Minister of Science and Sports | Deputy House Leader |
| Ginette Petitpas Taylor | Minister of Health | Deputy Government Whip |
Cabinet Rookies
| Cabinet Rookies | ||
| Name | Previous Title/Job | New Title/Job |
| Anita Anand | Law Professor at the University of Toronto | Minister of Public Works and Procurements |
| Steven Guilbeault | Environmentalist from Montreal | Heritage files |
| Mona Fortier | Director of Communications for La Cité Collégiale | Minister of Middle-Class Prosperity and Associate Finance Minister |
| Marco Mendicino | Federal Prosecutor | Immigration Minister |
| Marc Miller | Lawyer for Stikeman Elliott LLP | Minister of Indigenous Services |
| Deb Schulte | Local and Regional Councillor for the Vaughan City Council and York Regional Council | Minister of Seniors |
| Dan Vandal | MP for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital | Minister of Northern Affairs |
If you have any questions regarding the government relations efforts of RAHB, please contact Wendy in the RAHB Office at wendys@rahb.ca or 905.529.8101 x295.
Bill 145 the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019
On November 19, Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019 was introduced into legislation. If passed, Bill 145 will:
- Permit personal real estate corporations;
- Protect multiple representation; and,
- Enable specialist certification.
RAHB is encouraging all members to e-mail your MPP asking them to vote YES in support of Bill 145.
|
MPPs in the RAHB Market Area |
||
| Burlington | Jane Mckenna | jane.mckenna@pc.ola.org |
| Oakville – North Burlington | Effie Triantafilopoulos | effie.triantafilopoulos@pc.ola.org |
| Flamborough — Glanbrook | Donna Skelly | donna.skelly@pc.ola.org |
| Hamilton Centre | Andrea Horwath | andrea.horwath@ontariondp.ca |
| Hamilton East — Stoney Creek | Paul Miller | paul.miller@ontariondp.ca |
| Hamilton Mountain | Monique Taylor | monique.taylor@ontariondp.ca |
| Hamilton West — Ancaster — Dundas | Sandy Shaw | SShaw-CO@ndp.on.ca |
| Haldimand | Toby Barrett | toby.barrett@pc.ola.org |
| Niagara West | Sam Oosterhoff | sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org |
How Do I Update My Personal Photo on REALTOR.ca®?
To add or update your personal photo on REALTOR.ca®, follow the steps below:
- In Matrix from the blue “Tools” tab select “CREA Member Tools”.
- Select “Update My Profile”.
- Click “Choose File”.\
- Locate your photo on our computer, and click “Open”.\
- Click “Save”.\
Should you have any questions, please call the MLS® Help Desk at 905.667.4650 or support@rahb.ca
- Click “Choose File”.\
Ontario REALTOR® Party Conference & Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019
From Sunday, November 17 to Tuesday, November 19, delegates from RAHB went to Toronto for OREA’s ORP Conference to hear some dynamic speakers and meet with elected officials from within RAHB’s market area. Below are some photos from the conference, as well as information regarding the new legislation that was introduced at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.
RAHB delegates (RAHB President Bob Van de Vrande, GR Vice-Chair Dave Zalepa and GR Chair Margaret Reid) had the pleasure of meeting with NDP leader Andrea Horwath, MPP. RAHB provided Ms. Horwath with information about RAHB, as well as information regarding the modernization of REBBA, 2002.
Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019
Personal Real Estate Corporations.
We have been fighting for them for almost a decade.
For far too long, REALTORS® have not had access to the same tax treatment as most other regulated professions in Ontario and that is finally changing.
The Government of Ontario has just introduced legislation that will modernize the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 (REBBA). The Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2019, is a game-changing piece of legislation that, once passed, will allow REALTORS® to form Personal Real Estate Corporations.
This is a historic day for Ontario REALTORS® and the buyers and sellers they represent.
In addition to permitting Personal Real Estate Corporations, the Act promises to:
- Fix the broken real estate disciplinary system – the provincial regulator, RECO, will have greater ability to suspend or revoke licenses and pursue investigations of the worst offenders.
- Create higher education standards– implement specialty certifications for REALTORS® that will allow Ontario consumers to identify REALTORS® who have training or expertise in a particular area of real estate.
- Maintain a consumer’s right to choose the REALTOR® they know and trust– continue to permit the practice of multiple representation.
The Act will bring forward a number of other key changes to reflect real estate in Ontario today. OREA will be sharing the details of all the changes with Ontario REALTORS® shortly.
For more information from OREA, please visit https://www.orea.com/News-and-Events/News-and-Press-Releases/Press-Releases/November-19-2019.
RAHB Annual Election Information
In accordance with RAHB Bylaw Article 14 – Notices, Section 1.02, please find below your electronic copy of the Notice of Election Meeting for the December 4, 2019 Annual Election Meeting.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Michelangelo Events and Conference Centre
1555 Upper Ottawa Street, Hamilton
Registration 8:30 a.m. | Meeting: 9:30 a.m.
Candidates for the 2020 RAHB Board of Directors
How to Vote Online
To view the candidate videos and to vote, please click the below button:
Online Voting & Candidate Videos
RAHB Annual Election Meeting & Guest Speaker
This year’s Election Meeting will feature CMHC’s Senior Analyst, Anthony Passarelli, who will be speaking on the Housing Market Outlook report that was released on October 24, and providing specific information on the Hamilton-Burlington area.
This is exclusive to RAHB members only, and is free for members who attend and participate in the election meeting. There will be a $10 + HST charge to your RAHB account:
- If you pre-register for the meeting and CMHC Housing Market Outlook, but do not attend, and do not cancel prior to Wednesday, November 27, at 4:30 p.m., OR
- If you attend the CMHC Housing Market Outlook only.
On the agenda:
- Hot breakfast
- Presentation of Scholarships in Memory of Karan Barker
- Election Meeting
- RAHB Year in Review
- Special presentation by CMHC’s Anthony Passarelli
- Installation of 2020 Board of Directors
If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn in the RAHB office at carolyni@rahb.ca or 905.529.8101 x236.
Hope to see you at the Annual Election Meeting!
OREA Forms Webinar Series – Taking the Mystery out of Forms
OREA will be hosting a forms webinar on November 27, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. (45-minute presentation + Q & A period). The topic is: Ask Your Forms Questions – We Answer.
Standard Forms are vital tools for enhancing Member professionalism adding integrity in trading activity of a Member. At OREA, we understand Forms are an essential part of any real estate transaction and they can be difficult to understand and use.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions in this special 45-minute session, entitled ‘Ask Your Forms Questions, We Answer’. You can submit questions in advance relevant to helping you in your daily business, simply email StandardForms@orea.com .
This Webinar is led by Cassandra Agnew Walker, Head of Standard Forms joined by Lou Radomsky, Forms Legal Counsel.
To register, please click the button below.
If you are unavailable on the date of the Webinar, you can listen to the recording at your leisure after the recording is uploaded to orea.com Standard Forms Webinar landing page.
Mark Your Calendar for Future Dates: :
Dec 1: Time to review the 2020 Forms Annual Summary of Revisions file on orea.com
Dec 18: Webinar ‘Annual Update 2020 Forms’, time 1:00 p.m.
As mentioned above, to assist in our November Webinar planning, we encourage you to send Forms Questions or Discussion Points in advance to StandardForms@orea.com.
Scotiabank has Joined REALTOR.ca DDR® Advertising Network
On November 14, users of Scotiabank eHOME will be able to search for homes powered by REALTOR.ca within Scotiabank eHOME. For listings to appear on Scotiabank eHOME, brokerage owners must first adjust their REALTOR.ca DDF® permissions if they have not already done so.
Brokerage owners can update their REALTOR.ca DDF® settings here.
Working with Scotiabank:
- increases national exposure for REALTOR® listings;
- creates an opportunity for high quality leads; and
- reinforces the trusted REALTOR® brand.
Meet the Candidates Chili Cook Off
Meet the candidates running for the 2020 RAHB Board of Directors, and enjoy some delicious chili on Thursday, November 21, from noon – 1 p.m.
There is no need to register – just come!
Come out to taste and vote on your favourite chili, learn about the election process, meet the candidates and ask questions prior to the opening of electronic voting.
Date: Thursday, November 21
Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
Where: RAHB Office (Lower Level Rooms)
505 York Blvd, Hamilton, L8R 3K4
Cost: FREE
Habitat Hamilton & Halton Build Day
On October 30 and November 8, RAHB volunteers participated in a Habitat for Humanity Halton and Hamilton Build Day, respectively.
The October 30 Build Day with Habitat for Humanity Halton was in conjunction with RAHB’s $38,763.35 donation through HOAP, which was funded by RAHB REALTORS®. The Habitat for Humanity Halton Build Day featured nine fantastic RAHB volunteers who worked together to put up drywall.
Also, RAHB was asked by Habitat for Humanity Hamilton to come back to their Waterdown Build Site to help put up a special type of fence that helps to reduce the sound coming from Highway 5. This November 8 Build Day featured seven amazing RAHB volunteers who braved weather as low as -5 degrees!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time in RAHB’s three Build Days to help create stable and affordable housing in Hamilton and Burlington this year.
Debunking First-Time Home Buyer Myths
Below are buttons with resources that you can download to give to your clients to make them feel as prepared as possible. Please click the buttons below to download a list of what to bring to the first meeting with a mortgage specialist, as well as a list of key terms that they may hear when purchasing a home:
The HGTV Effect
Twenty years after it first premiered on September 30, 1999, HGTV’s House Hunters continues to offer an idealized glimpse into a far from the truth process of purchasing one’s first home.
On House Hunters we tend to see either the classic nuclear family that is looking to move onto bigger and better things compared to their first family home or the newlyweds looking to move into a house that reflects their respective parents’ homes. In summary, shows like House Hunters create an on-screen utopia that far from mimics the current housing market; as well as, perpetuates many of the classic myths about first-time home buyers.
More often than not, shows on HGTV have a first-time home buyer couple with a very modest budget accompanied by what can be imagined as a very modest income. While at the same time, this couple wants a granite counter-top, a pool in the back yard, a walk-in closet and finally, enough bedrooms for their growing family — all within their modest budget.
However, this is not the reality for most first-time home buyers today. While speaking with a mortgage specialist from TD Bank, he argued that first-time home buyers today have normalized expectations because of the stress test. Although first-time home buyers are used to living in their parents’ homes, they understand the importance of not being “mortgage poor.”
As REALTORS®, it is important to continue to de-bunk myths perpetuated by the media. A great way to accomplish this is to help your client be as prepared as possible when going to their first meeting with a mortgage specialist.