Searching for a Home

When you make a decision to search for a new home, and are actually serious about purchasing a home, it is time to take the necessary steps for the search.

There are several ways to go about searching for a home, which includes searching the internet, reading the newspaper and of course, talking to a real estate agent.

Is your REALTOR® MerrilyMobile on Facebook?

With the holidays upon us and the snapshot of our year quickly developing before our eyes, for many, reflection sets in. At Holiday gatherings we find ourselves catching up with friends and professional colleagues and it seems that on the forefront of many  minds are the economy, the real estate market and social media marketing.

Business Plan

Thanksgiving has come and gone and, while there’s shopping to do and parties to attend; Christmas isn’t here yet, so you have a few weeks to really process what changes you’ll make or strategies you’ll keep for ’11.



Now is also a great time to establish your marketing plans as we all know the holidays tend to slow down business.  Think of this as a two week break to reflect over the past year and consider the future of your success.  Whether it’s a focused two hour time slot each morning or three full days, commit this much needed time to regroup and gear up... you’ll hit the ground in 2011 running!

Cutting Your Heating Bills This Winter

It's that time of year again.  The time where the days are getting short, the air is feeling crisp and a jacket is a must. 

If you’re like most of us, the winter increases in utility costs encourages you to see if you can cut back on costs a little. Remember, when it comes to minimizing your heating costs, efficiency is the name of the game. Here are some quick tips that can help you keep those costs under control.

Mortgage Brokers Can Save You Money

 Choosing the right mortgage can be overwhelming. Although going to your bank might be the logical move, you don’t know if this will net you the best mortgage plan for your budget, lifestyle and prospects. And searching by yourself can give you the feeling that there is just too much to know.

That’s why mortgage brokers seem to have become an increasingly popular channel for consumers to find the right mortgage for them. According to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals Fall 2009 Canadian Mortgage Industry Snapshot, 23% oall mortgages in 2009 were handled by a mortgage broker, including 32% oall new mortgages.

Understanding What You Already Know

Reality TV has “The Worst Handy Man” and I suspect that other “Worst of” TV programs might be possible too! Experience shows that “DIY” (Do it Yourself) disasters happen because people underestimate the work done by others.

I have been studying Real Estate for a few years now and in addition to my training for legal contracts, building concepts, marketing methods, Government requirements and negotiating principals there are some important aspects of applied common sense gained from experience.

One primary challenge that presented itself to me, immediately after spending two (2) years in school to learn the basics of the Real Estate industry was that there are a lot of people who decide they can do it themselves because they think it is easy to do.

Other seemingly standard every day tasks, like driving a car and picking suitable clothing have also spawned “Reality TV” programs showing what NOT to do.

What about Real Estate? How difficult can it be?

No one individual listing is particularly challenging when considered on it’s own but putting everything together creates quite a challenge.