City or suburbs? 4 factors to help you choose
So here you are, ready to become a homeowner for what might be the first, or the umpteenth time! You have an important decision to make: will it be life in the suburbs or life in the city? [...]
Buying a home or condo upon retirement
You’ve spent many years preparing your finances for your retirement… have you given any thought to the lifestyle that best corresponds to your new aspiration? Are you thinking of buying a small country home in a bucolic area [...]
Couplehood: 7 tips to survive the home-buying process
Buying your first home is the stuff of dreams – but it can also be stressful. Think of the negotiations you’ll have to have with the broker. Think of the renovations you’ll have to do… or skip, if [...]
How to lower the amount of taxes you pay on income properties
Everyone wants to pay less taxes! Is there anything that can be done concretely at the end of the year to soften the blow? There are major differences between owning your personal residence and an income property that [...]
What if your contractor declares bankruptcy?
You purchased the condo of your dreams off-plan, but the contractor let you down. What happens in that situation? What recourses do you have? What precautions can you take to protect yourself? Although bankruptcy cases during construction are [...]
New condos: don’t forget the contingency fund
Brand-new condo managers are nowadays more aware of the necessity of having a well-stocked contingency fund. Nevertheless, the battle to raise awareness is far from over especially with the smaller condominiums, and a more coercive legislation still needs [...]
When is the ideal timing to purchase a home?
For some time now, you visit real estate websites, read articles and ask your family and friends about their own house-purchasing experience. In short, the thought of buying your first brand-new home is making its way. But, what [...]
Urban condos are making an appearance in the suburbs!
From Laval to the South Shore and even further from the Montreal area, promoters are describing their projects as “urban condos”. Urban condos in the suburbs – something of a paradox, wouldn’t you agree? For many, living in [...]
Soundproofing: 4 Tips to Reduce Noises with a Minimum of Effort
Noises are a source of many conflicts in condos. It is even a very important reason for many formal notices. The problems are present often in old buildings. “Soundproofing is particularly bad in housing towers transformed in condos” [...]
5 keys To Understand Soundproofing Evaluation
1. Sound reduction is evaluated by two different indexes: The Sound Transmission Class (STC) that includes airborne sounds such as television, music and discussions. To give an example, a normal voice is perceived at an STC of 50, [...]
