Mar

31

What exactly is MLS?

Filed Under Brampton, Buy, Homes, Real Estate, Sell, Stats And Reports | Leave a Comment

mls.jpg

If you’re either thinking of selling or buying a home, you’ve probably talked to friends or real estate agents and everyone seems to be saying the same thing. Put your house on MLS! But what exactly is MLS and why the big fuss? No, it’s not Major League Soccer.

MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. It is a website that is run by the Canadian Real Estate Association and can be found by simply visiting www.mls.ca. MLS.ca is a tool that realtors from around the country and on various real estate boards use to market properties that are for sale. How does this benefit you as a seller or a buyer?

As a seller, your home will be marketed on the largest real estate listings database in Canada and exposed to potential buyers from across the globe. To give you an idea of how many people visit MLS, there were approximately 2.86 million unique visitors in January 2008, according to Comscore stats. MLS.ca is absolutely the best place for buyers to search for a home. Homes can easily be found according to cities and the criteria that is selected during the search. Every property listed on MLS will have vital details on the property for sale, and most provide photos of the home as well. MLS will also let you quickly and easily locate a Realtor.

Once you become familiar with MLS.ca, you’ll note that each property for sale has it’s own code number, known as the MLS Number. This number is useful to keep handy if you’re working with a real estate salesperson. If you want to book appointments on any homes, all you have to do is give the corresponding MLS number to your real estate representative, and they can easily book a time for you to visit the home.

Almost all Realtors will provide you with full MLS access when you list your home. Be sure to ask! MLS is an absolute must-have when you’re selling your home.

Popularity: 53% [?]

Mar

30

The Brampton Real Estate Blog has won an award.

Filed Under Brampton, General | Leave a Comment

bloggyaward.jpg

The fine people over at BloggyAward have been kind enough to award me the Bloggy Gold Award for best blog of the month. They rated my site on visual aesthetics, user friendliness, reading enjoyment, and useful info. I am truly humbled that the Brampton Real Estate Blog stood out amongst the crowd of candidates. There are so many other fantastic sites that were in the running - I highly suggest you check them out if you’re looking for some great reads.

A special thanks to Noemi for her personal review of the site, and much gratitude to BloggyAward for their kind words!

Popularity: 59% [?]

Mar

27

Some things you’ve always wanted to know if you own a home in Brampton.

Filed Under Brampton, By-Laws, Homes, Real Estate | 4 Comments

flower.jpg

By-laws, rules, and regulations. It seems like anything you want to do around the house requires some research into city ordinances first. Here are some questions and answers for some common questions you may encounter during your time as a home owner. As always, you can find more information on the City of Brampton’s website.

Have a great day!

Is there anywhere in Brampton I can let my dog off leash?

Yes. The leash free zones are located in White Spruce Park on the West side of Heart Lake Road just South of Sandalwood Parkway and the second location is in Chris Gibson Park at the intersection of McLaughlin Road and Flowertown Avenue. The leash free zone is open from dawn till dusk. Dog owners using the area are required to have their dogs spayed or neutered, vaccinated and licensed. Animals that are showing signs of animal or human aggression are not permitted in the park. If your dog has a history of biting it is not allowed in the park. As of July 1, 2000 it is mandatory for pet owners in Peel Region to have their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies. Children under ten years of age are not permitted for their own protection. Please follow all rules, remember to “stoop and scoop” and enjoy the leash free area.

Who can I speak to about trees and streetscape?

Contact the Community Design, Parks Planning and Development Division, Open Space Design and Construction within the Planning, Design, and Development Department at 905-874-2334 to speak with a Landscape Architect.

Someone is cutting trees down in my neighbourhood. Whom do I call to see if this is permitted?

The City has two by laws that govern the removal of trees. A Woodlot Preservation By Law was passed in 2005 that governs, under a permit structure, the regulation of tree removal within woodlots greater than 0.2 ha in size, and provided certain other conditions are present. More information is available at here. The Woodlot Preservation By Law does not apply to woodlots that form part of a subdivision or site plan application. Modifications to such woodlots are administrated through the standard development application process.

The City also has a Tree Preservation By Law that administrates the removal or alteration of individual trees on private property. For more information on this, please contact the Urban Forestry Section in the Community Services Department at 905-874 -2913.

Is providing air conditioning in a rental unit a requirement under the City of Brampton by-laws?

No, there are no by-laws stipulating that air conditioning must be provided in a rental unit.

What are the requirements for fences around pools?

There are several requirements for fences around pools or ponds that are capable of holding 24, or more, inches of water. For complete information, please consult the Pool Fence By-Law.

It is important to note that no water should be placed or remain in a privately owned outdoor swimming pool unless the fence surrounding the pool and gate to obtain entry into the pool area have been inspected and approved by the City.

To obtain a permit for a pool fence/gate and to arrange an inspection, you can contact the City Clerk’s Office in person or by telephone at (905) 874-2123, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

How high is a hedge allowed to grow?

In accordance with the Minimum Maintenance By-Law, a hedge must be kept trimmed and from becoming unreasonably overgrown in a manner that may affect safety, visibility or passage of the general public. Adherence to hedge dimensions becomes particularly important when a hedge flanks or is otherwise adjacent to a driveway, that is, a driver’s view must not be obstructed by the hedge when pulling into or out of the driveway.

Depending on the hedge dimensions, it may be considered a fence and, therefore, would have to meet the standards outlined in the City’s zoning by-law. A fence on the side or rear of a property can be 1.2 metres (6′ 6″) high; a fence in the front yard may be 1 metre high.

For further information about fences and fence heights (particularly if you live on a corner lot) you may contact the City of Brampton Zoning Department at (905) 874-2090, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

What are the zoning regulations concerning how wide a driveway can be?

Zoning regulations require each property to maintain a percentage of the front yard with landscaping as defined in the zoning by-law. Since these percentages vary across the City, you should contact the Zoning Department at (905) 874-2090, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm to determine the applicable regulations in your neighbourhood.

Are there any restrictions over where on my property I can put a garden?

A garden must be two feet away from the property line so the drainage on the property is not disrupted.

Also, if you are adding more than one inch of fill to your property or you are changing the grade of your property, you are required to obtain a Fill Permit by contacting the Works and Transportation Department at (905) 874-2500, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

Is there a Brampton by-law against having a clothesline?

There are no Brampton City by-laws governing clotheslines, however, there may be requirements within your local neighbourhood. Be sure to check the deed restrictions that you received when you purchased your property and/or consult a real estate lawyer for further information/clarification.

What are the requirements and limitations of erecting a shed on my property?

The requirements and limitations of erecting a shed vary depending on the size of your lot. Generally, you may have one shed which must be less than 10 square metres in size. The shed must also be set a minimum of 2 feet back from the property line.

If your lot is larger than average, please contact the Zoning Department at (905) 874-2090, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm to ascertain if the restrictions are different from those for average size lots.

My neighbour’s dog makes a mess on my grass and my neighbour refuses to clean it up. What can be done?

Although the “stoop and scoop” laws outlined in Traffic By-Law 93-93 prevent pet owners from permitting their pets to foul City property, there is no City by-law that governs the soiling of private property. As such, your neighbour is not contravening a City by-law by allowing his dog to mess on your lawn.

However, you may still submit a complaint about your neighbour’s dog by calling the Brampton Animal Shelter at (905) 458-5800. An Animal Control Officer will be dispatched to your neighbour’s to investigate and discuss the situation and, if it is found that Dog By-Law 7-92 has been contravened (that is, dogs must be leashed or otherwise under control of a person at all times, except when the dog is on the property of its owner or has prior consent of the owner of the land on which the dog is found) the Officer will issue a ticket.

My neighbour is parking his/her car on the grass in front of his/her house. Can he/she do that?

Minimum Maintenance By-Law 104-96 prescribes the standards for properties situated in the City of Brampton.

Amongst other things, this by-law states that “No vehicle shall be parked in the front yard, rear yard, interior side yard or exterior side yard except on a paved or appropriately finished surface”. As such, a car parked on the front lawn of a house is in contravention of the by-law.

Queries and concerns can be submitted at the Enforcement and By-Law Services Division, in person, by telephone, by mail or by email, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Enforcement Officers perform enforcement-related duties 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

For services available 24×7 and other vital services relating to matters of an urgent nature, you may call after hours at (905) 458‑3424.

Do I need a permit or permission from the City to cut down a tree on my property?

You do need a permit or permission to cut down a tree on private property. Cutting down, damaging or otherwise destroying trees on private property is subject to the guidelines described in the Tree Preservation By-Law 38-2006. In accordance with this by-law, you must have a permit to destroy or damage trees on private property that are not exempted by their size, type or position (on the property).

Cutting down, damaging or otherwise destroying trees on a woodlot is governed by By-Law 70-2001 relating to woodlot/trees. In accordance with this by-law, you must have a permit to destroy or damage a tree on a woodlot.

Damaging or cutting down a tree that is on City-owned property is prohibited by City of Brampton

Traffic By-Law 93-93 and Parklands By-Law 161-83. If you have questions or concerns about trees that you think may be on City property, please call the Urban Forestry Section of the Parks and Recreation Department at (905) 874-2906, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

I am living in a semi-detached house and my neighbours’ cars are encroaching on my driveway. I’ve spoken to them about it and they just don’t care. What can I do?

Unfortunately, there are no relevant City by-laws pertaining to matters of this nature. This is a civil matter between two landowners that should be addressed at that level.

Is it legal for a vehicle without license plates to be parked in a driveway?

Minimum Maintenance By-Law 104-96 prescribes the standards for properties situated in the City of Brampton.

Amongst other things, this by-law states that “No vehicle which is in a wrecked, discarded, dismantled or inoperative condition or is unlicensed shall be parked, stored, or left in the yard…”. As such, an unlicensed, unstickered or inoperative car parked in a driveway would be in contravention of the by-law.

Queries and concerns can be submitted at the Enforcement and By-Law Services Division, in person, by telephone, by mail or by email, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Enforcement Officers perform enforcement-related duties 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

For services available 24×7 and other vital services relating to matters of an urgent nature, you may call after hours at (905) 458-3424.

What can be done about loud music or barking dogs?

Minimum Maintenance By-Law 104-96 prescribes the standards for properties situated in the City of Brampton.

Amongst other things, this by-law states that “a person shall not, within the City of Brampton, make, create, cause, or cause or permit to be made, noises likely to disturb the inhabitants…unusual noises…”.

Queries and concerns can be submitted at the Enforcement and By-Law Services Division, in person, by telephone, by mail or by email, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Enforcement Officers perform enforcement-related duties 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

For services available 24×7 and other vital services relating to matters of an urgent nature, you may call after hours at (905) 458‑3424.

It is important, following submission of a noise complaint, that you and/or your neighbours submit future and other incidences of noise from the offending party noting type of noise, date, time and duration. This information could become valuable in future court proceedings.

What is the weed by-law in Brampton and how does the City deal with a weed complaint?

By-Law 121-90, states that “Every owner in the City shall cut the grass and weeds on their premises and remove the cuttings whenever the growth of grass or weeds exceeds twenty centimetres (20 cm) in height.”

During the summer months, the Enforcement and By-Law Services Division has a team of staff dedicated to monitoring and investigating grass and weed issues in Brampton. A citizen or an Inspector may submit a weed or unkempt grass/lawn-related complaint. This complaint could ultimately result in the offending property owner being charged for lawn maintenance services in addition to an administration fee. If these costs are not paid, they could be added to the owner’s property taxes.

Can my friends and I set up a tent and camp in the park behind our house during the summer?

Camping in a City park is a contravention of Parklands By-Law 161-83. Only permit holders for special events are authorized to be in a City park after 11:00 p.m.

My children always run after the ice cream truck when it drives down the street ringing the bell or playing music. Is the ice cream truck permitted to do this?

As well as presenting an unsafe situation for children, selling ice cream or any other products from the road is a contravention of Traffic By-Law 93-93. Enforcement Officers patrol and lay charges against owners of these vendors for this contravention of the by-law.

If you would like to submit a concern or complaint, you may do so at the Enforcement and By-Law Services Division, in person, by telephone, by mail or by email, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Enforcement Officers perform enforcement-related duties 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

For services available 24×7 and other vital services relating to matters of an urgent nature, you may call after hours at (905) 458‑3424.

My neighbour does not clean up after his dog and leaves a mess on the boulevard in front of my house. Can he be charged and does a sign need to be posted for a conviction to be registered?

Although signs may help in educating the public about “stoop and scoop” laws, posting a sign is not necessary for a charge to be laid against a person who contravenes Traffic By-Law 93‑93 by allowing his pet to foul City property. Further, the City’s Parklands By-Law 161‑83 stipulates that all animal owners clean the parkland (the definition of which includes City parks) of excrement from their animal.

If you would like to submit a concern or complaint, you may do so at the Enforcement and By-Law Services Division, in person, by telephone, by mail or by email, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Enforcement Officers perform enforcement-related duties 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year.

For services available 24×7 and other vital services relating to matters of an urgent nature, you may call after hours at 905‑458‑3424.

Who has authority to issue tickets?

Brampton Parking Enforcement Officers have been enforcing the City of Brampton parking by‑laws since the mid‑1970’s and have full authority to issue tickets for parking violations.

In this capacity, Parking Enforcement Officers possess the same degree of authority as a Police Officer.

In addition, some private agencies are also authorized to issue parking tickets on private property in Brampton.

When can I set off fireworks?

In the City of Brampton, we respect the holidays of the many cultures in our community and provide opportunities for the safe use of consumer fireworks on Canada Day (July 1), Diwali (Oct. 21 in 2006), New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) and Victoria Day.

Thanks to the City Of Brampton for providing this information on their website. Again, if you have any further questions or concerns, I urge you to check out their website first before calling the city. They have a ton of useful information posted online.

Popularity: 71% [?]

Mar

26

Are you looking for a ‘power of sale’ home in Brampton?

Filed Under Brampton, Buy, Homes, Photography, Real Estate, Sell | 6 Comments

img_8097.jpg

Here are some quick photos I took of a real estate listing I have in Brampton. This house is under power of sale. The home is a corner lot, 3 bedroom & 3 bathroom detach with a one bedroom basement apartment equipped with a second kitchen and a bathroom. There is hardwood throughout the house except for new carpeting in the basement. Both main washrooms have been updated, one of which is an ensuite in the master bedroom. There is also a main floor laundry room, something you’ll be hard pressed to find in older homes. An entrance from the garage also leads into the house.

The lot is relatively large at 70 x 100 feet, and there is an inground pool in the backyard. Because the house is under power of sale, it is being sold as is. If you’re interested in looking at this home, feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to send you the full listing information.

In the meantime, I’ll have some more real estate articles up soon. It’s been a busy week, but I’ll be posting some new articles soon. Thanks for being a part of my Brampton Real Estate Blog! :)

img_8079.jpg

img_8083.jpg

img_8086.jpg

img_8089.jpg

img_8092.jpg

img_8095.jpg

Popularity: 53% [?]

Mar

20

Want to buy or sell a house in Lakelands Village in Brampton?

Filed Under Brampton, Buy, Homes, Real Estate, Sell | 2 Comments

lakelandsimage.jpg

As promised, I’ve been working on a guide to the Lakelands Village community in Brampton. Lakelands will be one of my main area’s of focus, as I’m quite familiar with the area as well as the models that were built by Paradise Homes. In case you haven’t heard of Lakelands, it’s a new community built on prime real estate in the heart of Brampton, and boasts a selection of new detached and semi-detached homes. The entire community centers around a man-made lake that’s surrounded by a park - ideal for families. It’s become a popular destination for home buyers in Brampton due to the location, close proximity to amenities, and fantastic models by the builder.

If you’re interested in buying or selling a home in Lakelands Village in Brampton, or want to learn more about the community, I invite you to check my new website - GoLakelands.com. The site is almost to completion, so please give me a bit of time to have it fully functional! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to give me a shout!

Popularity: 40% [?]

Mar

19

Attend a free seminar about basement apartments in Brampton!

Filed Under Brampton, By-Laws, Homes, Real Estate | Leave a Comment

seminar.jpg

It seems like basement apartments continue to be a hot real estate topic of discussion these days. So much that Peel Police and the Landlord and Tenant Board are holding a free seminar for residents interested in learning more about rights and responsibilities surrounding basement apartments. This sounds like a great forum to attend if you’re either a landlord or tenant, and you want to get answers straight from the horse’s mouth.

The free seminar is being held on Thursday, March 27 at the Queen St. Community Police Station, 148 Queen St. East in Brampton, from 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm. Basement apartments will be just one topic, as the seminar will focus on rights and obligations under the Tenant Protection Act. You’ll be able to ask questions at the end of the presentation. Seats are limited, so if you want to reserve yours, call 905-453-2121.

Popularity: 49% [?]

Mar

16

How to find answers to all your mortage and credit questions.

Filed Under Brampton, Condos, General, Homes, Mortgages, Real Estate | Leave a Comment

mortgagefit.jpg

Take a look around. In the U.S., the housing market is crumbling leaving some desperate home owners throwing their keys back at lenders while others are deliberately burning their houses down. Up here in Canada, the real estate market is still going strong and with recent reductions in interest rates, what does this all mean?

If there isn’t a better time than now to get more educated about mortgages, lending practices, and borrowing strategies, I don’t know when that would be. Enter MortgageFit.com.

Let’s face it, finding answers to all your questions is sometimes pretty frustrating. Either you’re given the runaround or the person isn’t qualified enough to give you an adequate response. MortgageFit boasts the world’s largest mortgage community and is comprised of knowledgeable members who can give you free mortgage advice as well as free online quotes. If you have a question on a particular topic, ask away in their discussion forum and rest assured one of their thousands of members will come to your aid. Need answers fast? The site also provides a myriad of articles and references that you can browse at your own convenience, as well as online calculators that help you quantify your needs.

What I like most about this site is that it’s powered by people. Take a quick look through their message board and you’ll find a community alive with questions, stories, and friendly chatter. If you need quick answers on mortgages, credit issues, debt, and other financial issues, I recommend checking out MortgageFit.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Mar

16

More news on illegal basements in Brampton

Filed Under Brampton, By-Laws, Homes, Real Estate, Sell, Stats And Reports | Leave a Comment

illegalbasements.gif

Judging by the popularity of my first article on illegal basement apartments in Brampton, the topic still strikes a lot of interest with readers. And now the debate rages on as Brampton city councillors announce that they’re preparing to look into the subject again in the very near future.

Here are some interesting things to note from statistics compiled from 2007:

  • Deterring illegal basement apartments has proven to be difficult as provincial fines are set at only $100 - $500.
  • Of the 600 complaints filed by other residents last year, most were wrong in their reports. Most cases turned out to involve extended families living within the household.
  • Home owners are legally allowed to refuse city bylaw officers from entering their home, as city workers actually have no right of entry. Of the 600 complaints last year, 75 refused entry to city officials. Firefighters DO have right to entry if they believe there is a safety hazard.
  • Brampton currently employs 10 bylaw enforcement officers to investigate complaints.
  • The number of complaints has dropped this year. There have been 78 this year to date.

Some of the big issues that are created by an excess of illegal basement apartments are property standards, parking, traffic congestion, and overburdening infrastructure such as schools.

If you’re looking for more information about the legalities of illegal basement apartments in Brampton, please check my earlier article linked above. In the meantime, you can check this article that goes more into depth about Brampton’s current stance on illegal basement apartments.

Popularity: 79% [?]

Mar

13

It’s time for a new roof, but how much will it cost me?

Filed Under Brampton, Homes, Real Estate, Renovations, The Numbers | 1 Comment

roofing.jpg

With spring around the corner, some of you may be considering replacing that old roof. The real estate market tends to pick up briskly in the spring, and changing an old roof may be needed if you plan on selling your house. One of the key areas of a home inspection is looking at the condition of the roof. If you’re selling your house and your roof is in rough shape, buyers may ask for money if the inspection indicates a deteriorating or leaky roof.

Replacing a roof usually comes down to two factors: climate and budget. But because here in Brampton we already know we’ll face harsh winters and burning summers, most home owners tend to decide based on budget. Here are the different kinds of roofing available to you, and their respective costs. Just for reference purposes, a square is a standard roofing measurement, and is equal to 100 square feet.

Asphalt Shingles

These are the most common type of shingles you’ll find on houses today. Asphalt shingles will last anywhere between 15-30 years, but they offer the best value for your dollar. Because they come in a wide variety of styles and colours, they’re obviously the most popular choice. These shingles will cost you between $50 - $75 per square.

Laminate Asphalt Shingles

These shingles are much like the regular ones, except they’re made of layers of fibreglass and other materials. This gives your entire roof a textured appearance, and can often look like more expensive roofing like cedar or slate. Expect to pay between $120 - $150 per square.

Cedar Shingles

Cedar shingles are usually chosen more for their looks, and you won’t find them that often on new residential homes. If you intend on installing cedar shingles, know that they can last up to 25 years if they’re properly maintained. These shingles will run you around $300 per square.

Metal

Metal roofing comes in different materials such as aluminum and steel. The great thing about metal roofing is that it’s quick and easy to install. And because metal roofing is so light, it’s often possible to install metal roofing without having to remove your old roofing. This can save you time and money in a crunch. Metal roofing tends to last more than 50 years, and will cost you around $400 per square.

Slate

Slate roofing is rarely used on residential homes due to the high costs. However, this high cost means that the roofing could last well over a 100 years. If you’re interested, slate roofing will cost around $1000 per square.

These costs are only for materials. If you don’t plan on installing roofing yourself, don’t forget to budget for labour costs. Remember to shop around and ask for a number of different estimates. It’s good to compare prices as well as the quality of work. Also, have your roof inspected for leaks and ventilation problems before you install the new roof. It may save you some trouble in the long run if you catch a potential problem early.

Popularity: 68% [?]

Mar

11

More real estate for sale in Brampton

Filed Under Brampton, Buy, Homes, Photography, Real Estate, Sell | 1 Comment

This last week started off tremendously slow with the huge winter storm over the weekend, but then got very hectic as the bad weather disappeared and people started playing catch up with their time. Despite the erratic weather, the real estate market didn’t slow down at all. Here are some photos I took of a home in the north end of Brampton. This particular property is a semi-detached home with 4 bedrooms, 3 washrooms, and an unfinished basement.  As you can tell by the pictures, it shows like a model home and there’s been a lot spent on upgrades.

If you’re interested in getting more information on this listing in Brampton, I’ll be happy to provide it. As always, you can reach me through my contact form.

img_8000.jpg

img_8001.jpg

img_8009.jpg

img_8014.jpg

img_8018.jpg

img_8022.jpg

Popularity: 34% [?]

Next Page →

Bloggy Award

 Subscribe in a reader

  • Brampton Real Estate Links