A house is more than a home; it's a story waiting to be told. In this episode, Des checks in with veteran home inspector Richard Gaughan in a deep dive into the evolving dynamics of property evaluation.  Amidst a market that once raced past such precautions, they explore how buyers and sellers are now embracing the protective reassurance of detailed home assessments.  Richard's 30 years of expertise reveal not just changing trends, but the intricate dance of inspections, renovations, and real estate savvy—all brought into a narrative that demystifies the once-daunting aspects of asbe ..read more

In this episode we dive into the innovative business model of Openroom, founded by Weiting Bollu. Openroom is revolutionizing the rental market! It’s an online database that has the names of tenants and landlords who have been found at fault by the Landlord and Tenant Board. Openroom helps with the due diligence that all landlords and tenants should go through before agreeing on a residential lease, and in just one year has hosted almost 2 million searches. With a backlog at Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board of 8 months to a year, Openroom helps landlords and tenants avoid this often cost ..read more

Make real estate investment your new reality. Desmond and real estate guru Todd C. Slater explore the path to investment success for the average person. They look at the significance of defining your investing "why," the strategic approach to financial readiness, and the smart utilization of home equity to kickstart your investment journey. Des and Todd walk you through the practicalities of choosing investment properties, focusing on markets outside the metropolitan areas for better affordability and returns. From discussing market shifts and highlighting the power of real estate as a tool ..read more

Desmond and his guest Tim Hudak of OREA explore the complexities of Ontario's housing market, starting with a focus on the affordable housing report.  A few years ago, the Ontario government announced an ambitious plan to address the housing crisis, aiming to build 1.5 million homes over the next decade.  Despite challenges such as COVID-19, supply shortages, and rising costs, progress has been made, with the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) analyzing the government's efforts in implementing the task force's recommendations.  Beyond housing, the conversation touches on ..read more

In this episode Des interviews Ashley McInnis, a real estate agent who built a laneway house in Toronto.  McInnis shares his experience with the process, from obtaining permits to dealing with construction and financing. He explains the project cost around $350,000 for the laneway house itself, plus additional expenses for renovations to the main house and landscaping, totaling around $500,000.  Despite the high cost, McInnis believes it's a good investment, offering a flexible space that can be used for family, work, or rental income. He also discusses the challenges of navigating ..read more

The Naughty Agent series in this podcast discusses cases of disciplinary action taken against real estate agents in Ontario. In this episode the first case involves an agent who responded to a Kijiji ad from a woman looking for a place to rent. The agent made sexually suggestive remarks to the woman, charged her $700 to strengthen her rental application, and advised her to falsify documents. The deal fell through, leaving the woman without a place to live. The second case involves an agent who double-ended a property sale, representing both the buyer and the seller. The buyer discovered sign ..read more

The Leslieville neighbourhood of Toronto is coping with a “Safe Injection Site” (also called Supervised Consumption sites). Journalist Derek Finkle of the National Post lives in the community. He says the site, which opened in 2017, has drastically changed the neighbourhood, attracting drug dealers and leading to increased crime and drug use. The situation escalated in summer 2021 when a stray bullet from a gunfight between drug dealers killed a local mother. Despite residents' repeated warnings and pleas for action, the city and province only began to listen after the tragic incident. Finkl ..read more

Well buying someone a home or commercial property is a dynamite gift but let’s be realistic. Maybe something a little more realistic?   Tamara Grierson of Staging Life shares her ideas for holiday gifts for the home. She discusses different types of decorations, including artificial and real Christmas trees, and offers tips for making them look festive. Tamara also suggests various gift ideas, such as closet organization systems, garage upgrades, and personalized artwork.    Listen For03:01 Gift Ideas for the Home 19:01 Accessories for the Home 25:35 Outdoor Gifts and Landscapin ..read more

Des and Jennifer discuss recent disciplinary decisions by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) against real estate agents.  Three cases:  one where an agent contacted sellers whose houses were on the market and tried to convince them to terminate their current contracts and list with her another where an agent representing a buyer listed a property for lease before the buyer owned the property and a third where an agent and her husband bought a property privately, assigned the agreement to a numbered company without notifying the sellers, and failed to disclose that she was a ..read more

Higher rates have slowed overall sales but prices in markets like Toronto have increased by about 3% since last year.    Those not buying or selling but whose mortgages are up for renewal are facing challenges, with some being forced to sell or risk losing their homes.    In this episode Des and Jason Georgopoulos of Dominion Lending Centres discuss strategies for managing these tough times, including re-amortizing mortgages to 25 or 30 years for lower payments, taking out short-term second mortgages, and using lines of credit for interest-only options.    They al ..read more