Real Estate Insider: August 2018 News Report

Readers, can you believe it's the end of August already? And that means that Fall is just around the corner along with big changes in store! This month we've found some valuable reads, including 7 home projects to do before Winter, buying at a discount in a seller's market, the advantages of living in Windsor-Essex, and 5 important things to know about the new Cannabis Act!

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With the rapid increase in automation in today’s society, some people think Realtors will be obsolete in the next few years, but we disagree! Read why a computer cannot replace the value that a Realtor provides! >>

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Capital Gains Tax is something everyone dreads. A lot of people are aware that their principal residence is exempt, but if you have multiple properties you should read this article to make sure you are getting the most money out of your properties when it comes time to sell! >>

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There are many advantages of living in Windsor-Essex, perhaps one of the most significant is NO LAND TRANSFER TAX! Read here how much you would have to pay living in other places in Canada (sorry Vancouver). >>

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Having a hard time deciding whether to buy a property for yourself or invest in a rental income? Why not do both! A duplex might be the perfect way to get your foot in the door. Read the pros and cons of buying a duplex you plan to live in. >>

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While some chores seem to be manly for aesthetic purposes, many can save you thousands in the long run. Learn about the 7 home improvement projects to put on your list before winter! >>

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Discover the “5 C’s of credit in action” and see where you might fall. >>

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For the fourth time this year the Bank of Canada has raised its interest rates due to strong economic growth, but with concerns over Trump and NAFTA negotiations, some people aren’t so sure it’s a good idea. Read here about some of the implications of the recent spike. >>

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Real Estate Lawyers.ca is back at it with 5 things to know about the new Cannabis act! Watch this video to be more prepared for October. >>

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We are no doubt in a seller’s market right now, but that doesn’t mean you always have to pay top dollar for a property! This article gives a few tips and tricks to increase your odds of buying at a discount. >>

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“A rising rate guide to mortgages, HELOCs, GICs, savings and more”. >>

2017 Real Estate Trends: Trump

Did you hear the US has a new president?  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard about incoming president Donald Trump.  The unlikely victory by the polarizing figure has sparked protests across the US and the world.  No doubt, this a volatile time.  Regardless about how you feel about him and his term as president, there is change coming.  Today, we are going to discuss how some of that change could affect our real estate market.

Disgruntled US Citizens Moving North Of The Border

During the campaign season, you heard over and over from non-republican voters that they would consider moving to Canada if Trump became president.  Although this sounds great, I don’t think we will see a material population of Americans trying to move to Canada.  There are too many logistical issues such as immigration, etc that would prevent it.  Overall we don’t expect to see much impact from this.

Immigrants Choosing Canada Over The US

As two countries with lots to offer immigrants, Canada and the US sometimes battle over the most skilled applicants.  With Trump being viewed unfavourably by much of the world, these cream of the crop immigrants may choose Canada over the US.  This could be good for growth in Canada and therefore our real estate market.

Focusing On The Economy & Jobs

The emphasis on much of the policy Trump is expected to be putting forward centres around jobs and the economy.  He doesn’t really mind if he ruffles feathers in the process of gaining or keeping jobs in the US.  We’ve already seen announcements from different manufacturers about moving jobs back to the US or deciding the keep them there instead of moving to a lower cost jurisdiction.  Most of this rhetoric is aimed at low cost producing countries such as Mexico or China.  Canada is a higher cost producer and has a pretty balanced trade relationship with the US.  Therefore we do not see Canada as a trade target of the Trump Administration.  If we see a resurgence in manufacturing in the US, that could benefit our economy by proximity and inter-country companies building components in both countries, making it mutually beneficial.  As a border town, this could benefit our local manufacturing sector and therefore our real estate market.

General Uncertainty

Markets and companies don’t like uncertainty, which without a doubt, the incoming Trump administration has brought about.  People like to invest in stable economies.  During this period with Trump, Canada could look very attractive as a place to invest for companies and real estate investors.  Our real estate market could benefit from this perceived relative stability.

The times they are a-changing.  Those are some of the takeaways we see from the changing landscape under Trump.  What are your thoughts?