Home Improvement
Who’s Job is it?
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Low water pressure, no water, water has funny taste
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Noise complaints
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Street parking
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Garbage, recycling, collection calendar needed
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Hazardous waste & special pick-up
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Street not plowed/salted
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Litter & debris removal
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Drain backed up
Ever wondered who resolves these types of problems? The following charts for each GTA municipality provides contact numbers for these city services.
Toronto:
Peel:
SOLD – 217 – 323 Richmond Street East
This is a rare opportunity to invest in this unique, boutique style condominium in the heart of downtown Toronto.
HST vs Real Estate Explained…
Here is an update regarding HST and its impact on real estate that I thought may interest you.
The government is following the lead of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador by harmonizing the 5 per cent GST and the 8 per cent PST into one blended tax – the HST or harmonized sales tax – that will add 13 per cent to a wide range of items and services that weren’t covered by the provincial levy in the past.
The Harmonized sales tax looms on the housing horizon. This tax is coming into effect on July 1st 2010. The HST will apply to new homes and to all home closing costs, thereby increasing the cost of everything.
The effect of this harmonized HST tax on real estate transactions is as follows:
1. Rents on leases are exempt.
2. Resale homes are exempt.
3. The new tax will apply to ‘new housing’ – there will be a rebate of 75% of the provincial component for new homes priced under $400,000.The rebate would be reduced for new homes priced between $400,000 to $500,000 range, and would not be available for homes priced at more than $500,000. On all new housing over $500,000, the full HST tax of 13% will apply.
4.Sales of used owner-occupied homes are usually exempt. In most cases, the GST/HST does not apply to the sale of an owner occupied home since the owner is not a builder. Only homes sold by builders are taxable.
5. Newly build AND resale home sales, there will be an increase in ‘professional service’ costs – real estate commissions will increase with the current GST tax going from 5% to an HST tax at 13%. Also increased will be the costs of: home inspection, mortgage insurance premiums, legal costs, title insurance, landscaping and house cleaning services, cost of labour for installations or repairs, additions, renovations, driveways, fences and swimming pools!
Greater Toronto REALTORS® report 8,107 Resales in April
May 6, 2009 — In April 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 8,107 sales – down seven per cent from April 2008. While April sales remained lower than last year, the resale housing market gained momentum on a month-over-month basis. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales in April, at 80,900, was up 26 per cent from March and up twothirds compared to January’s ten-year low.
March Resale Housing Results Bring Positive News
April 6, 2009 — In March 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 6,171 sales – down seven per cent from March 2008, representing the smallest year-over-year decline in the last five months. The average price for March transactions was $362,052 – down less than five per cent from the same month last year. Market Watch March 2009.
Saving Money while Saving the Planet
An excellent two page report put out by Carson Dunlop indicating the various ways that you can make your home more efficient, saving you money both in heating and cooling costs in addition to the government rebate programs.
