The Secret...and Your Home?

By now, most of you have heard of "The Secret". But what does it have to do with your home?

The Secret is based on the Law of Attraction - the belief that what you focus on will come to you.

If you have seen The Secret DVD, you may recall the story of one of the teachers, Dr. Assaraf.

Many years ago, he created a 'vision board' - a collage of pictures that represented the things he wanted in life, including the home he wanted to live in.

Over the years, he relocated and his vision board ended up in a storage for five years.

Finally, he and his family ended up in California, bought and renovated a place for a year and were getting settled in their new home. His son entered his office and noticed a few boxes sitting by the door and was curious about their contents.

Dr. Assaraf was trying to explain that his 'vision boards' were inside, and showed him the board he created five years prior.

He was shocked to see that the picture of the house he had put up so many years ago, wasn't just like the home they were in now. It was the SAME house.

He had bought his dream home and hadn't even realized it.

Why is this important? For a few reasons.

I've had different clients...ones who have a strong long term vision of the home they want and a plan to get it.

And then there are the ones who continually focus on the negative...they'll never get approved for a mortgage, they can't find a home they love, they don't deserve to live in a certain home etc...

There is a big difference between those clients. One ends up in a home that they love, the other never seems to get there.

You may have some limiting thoughts that you didn't even realize were happening!

My wife used to think that she didn't deserve to be in a great house until she reached a certain age or point in her life. That she somehow shouldn't have a home nicer than what her parents had at her age.

Now, I'm not suggesting you buy a home that you cannot afford. Focus on the process of getting to that home.

Here is a little bit of homework you can do to make your dream home a reality:



1. Describe your dream home in vivid detail...
- where is it located?
- what is the view like?
- how many bedrooms?
- how big is that plasma tv in the media room? (sorry, this was mine)
- is it full of character or contemporary in design?

2. Does this home exist?
If so, get a picture and put it up at your desk or on your fridge - somewhere you see on a daily basis.


3. Visualize.
I'm not suggesting you light up the incense and start humming with your legs in a pretzel (but please do so if this works for you). But take a moment to focus on visualizing yourself in this home and owning this home on a daily basis.

4. Eliminate all negative thoughts associated with your ability or likelihood to have this home one day.





Trust me, this does make a difference.

If you want to take the next step towards your dream home, contact me and my gift to you and anyone you refer to me will be a copy of 'The Secret' so you can learn more about it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to attracting great clients and helping them find their perfect dream home. :)

Regards,
Mark
(416) 728-2499

The Secret...and Your Home?

By now, most of you have heard of "The Secret". But what does it have to do with your home?

The Secret is based on the Law of Attraction - the belief that what you focus on will come to you.

If you have seen The Secret DVD, you may recall the story of one of the teachers, Dr. Assaraf.

Many years ago, he created a 'vision board' - a collage of pictures that represented the things he wanted in life, including the home he wanted to live in.

Over the years, he relocated and his vision board ended up in a storage for five years.

Finally, he and his family ended up in California, bought and renovated a place for a year and were getting settled in their new home. His son entered his office and noticed a few boxes sitting by the door and was curious about their contents.

Dr. Assaraf was trying to explain that his 'vision boards' were inside, and showed him the board he created five years prior.

He was shocked to see that the picture of the house he had put up so many years ago, wasn't just like the home they were in now. It was the SAME house.

He had bought his dream home and hadn't even realized it.

Why is this important? For a few reasons.

I've had different clients...ones who have a strong long term vision of the home they want and a plan to get it.

And then there are the ones who continually focus on the negative...they'll never get approved for a mortgage, they can't find a home they love, they don't deserve to live in a certain home etc...

There is a big difference between those clients. One ends up in a home that they love, the other never seems to get there.

You may have some limiting thoughts that you didn't even realize were happening!

My wife used to think that she didn't deserve to be in a great house until she reached a certain age or point in her life. That she somehow shouldn't have a home nicer than what her parents had at her age.

Now, I'm not suggesting you buy a home that you cannot afford. Focus on the process of getting to that home.

Here is a little bit of homework you can do to make your dream home a reality:



1. Describe your dream home in vivid detail...
- where is it located?
- what is the view like?
- how many bedrooms?
- how big is that plasma tv in the media room? (sorry, this was mine)
- is it full of character or contemporary in design?

2. Does this home exist?
If so, get a picture and put it up at your desk or on your fridge - somewhere you see on a daily basis.


3. Visualize.
I'm not suggesting you light up the incense and start humming with your legs in a pretzel (but please do so if this works for you). But take a moment to focus on visualizing yourself in this home and owning this home on a daily basis.

4. Eliminate all negative thoughts associated with your ability or likelihood to have this home one day.





Trust me, this does make a difference.

If you want to take the next step towards your dream home, contact me and my gift to you and anyone you refer to me will be a copy of 'The Secret' so you can learn more about it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to attracting great clients and helping them find their perfect dream home. :)

Regards,
Mark
(416) 728-2499

March MarketWatch - Q1 Report

It's good news and more good news this month!

Average prices moved up three percent in March over 2006 to $365,285 which is ahead of inflation and good for home owners. "But not so rapidly that first-time home buyers will be pushed out of the market," said TREB President Dorothy Mason.

"The GTA continues to have strong employment numbers and a healthy economy," Mrs. Mason added. "Housing activity is solid and prices are steadily on the rise, so it remains an excellent time to be in the market."

Sales activity continues to be strong, getting the spring market off to a healthy start.

Every three months, I'm creating a trend report so you can see average prices over a quarterly period.

Check out the Q1 stats for your neighbourhood below...


Neighbourhood Watch - Q1: January to March 2007

E02 -The Beach (coxwell, danforth, victoria park)
Detached: $570,817
Semi-detached: $414,750
Condo: $370,223

E03 - Danforth North (DVP, victoria park, danforth)
Detached: $404,628
Semi-Detached: $373,046
Condo: $159,153

E01 - Danforth South & Riverdale (DVP, danforth, coxwell)
Detached: $423,133
Semi-Detached: $383,040
Condo:$323,407

C04 - Bedford West & Lytton Park (allen, 401, yonge, eglinton)
Detached: $808,511
Semi-Detached: $604,212
Condo: $244,901

C09 - Rosedale (yonge, st.clair, bayview, bloor)
Detached: $1,102,741
Semi-Detached: $839,704
Condo: $429,847

C03 - Forest Hill (allen, eglinton, yonge, st.clair)
Detached: $938,015
Semi-Detached: $505,864
Condo: $530,938

C12- Lawrence Park/Bedford East (yonge, 401, leslie, eglinton)
Detached: $1,663,716
Semi-Detached: n/a
Condo: $438,715

Source: Toronto Real Estate Board March 2007 MarketWatch - for the full report, click here.

March MarketWatch - Q1 Report

It's good news and more good news this month!

Average prices moved up three percent in March over 2006 to $365,285 which is ahead of inflation and good for home owners. "But not so rapidly that first-time home buyers will be pushed out of the market," said TREB President Dorothy Mason.

"The GTA continues to have strong employment numbers and a healthy economy," Mrs. Mason added. "Housing activity is solid and prices are steadily on the rise, so it remains an excellent time to be in the market."

Sales activity continues to be strong, getting the spring market off to a healthy start.

Every three months, I'm creating a trend report so you can see average prices over a quarterly period.

Check out the Q1 stats for your neighbourhood below...


Neighbourhood Watch - Q1: January to March 2007

E02 -The Beach (coxwell, danforth, victoria park)
Detached: $570,817
Semi-detached: $414,750
Condo: $370,223

E03 - Danforth North (DVP, victoria park, danforth)
Detached: $404,628
Semi-Detached: $373,046
Condo: $159,153

E01 - Danforth South & Riverdale (DVP, danforth, coxwell)
Detached: $423,133
Semi-Detached: $383,040
Condo:$323,407

C04 - Bedford West & Lytton Park (allen, 401, yonge, eglinton)
Detached: $808,511
Semi-Detached: $604,212
Condo: $244,901

C09 - Rosedale (yonge, st.clair, bayview, bloor)
Detached: $1,102,741
Semi-Detached: $839,704
Condo: $429,847

C03 - Forest Hill (allen, eglinton, yonge, st.clair)
Detached: $938,015
Semi-Detached: $505,864
Condo: $530,938

C12- Lawrence Park/Bedford East (yonge, 401, leslie, eglinton)
Detached: $1,663,716
Semi-Detached: n/a
Condo: $438,715

Source: Toronto Real Estate Board March 2007 MarketWatch - for the full report, click here.

First Time Home Buyers

Wait! Don't close this window if you are already a home owner.

If you are, great! You know the benefits of homeownership and are probably sitting on a nice pile of equity right now.

But you may know someone who is still renting - maybe a friend, a family member. I truly hope you will pass this information on, because the next two articles are for them.

For those of you who are still renting and don't feel like home ownership is in your near future for whatever reason, read on.

There are two articles below, "How Much House Can Your Rent Buy?" and "New Mortgage Products Put Home Buying Within Reach".

And don't forget to check out the February 2007 Market Watch after these articles.

You'll be suprised to see how close home ownership is a possbility for you or someone you know...

First Time Home Buyers

Wait! Don't close this window if you are already a home owner.

If you are, great! You know the benefits of homeownership and are probably sitting on a nice pile of equity right now.

But you may know someone who is still renting - maybe a friend, a family member. I truly hope you will pass this information on, because the next two articles are for them.

For those of you who are still renting and don't feel like home ownership is in your near future for whatever reason, read on.

There are two articles below, "How Much House Can Your Rent Buy?" and "New Mortgage Products Put Home Buying Within Reach".

And don't forget to check out the February 2007 Market Watch after these articles.

You'll be suprised to see how close home ownership is a possbility for you or someone you know...

How much house can your rent buy?

This month, I'm featuring an article by my mortgage guru, Peter Majthenyi from Mortgage Architects.

This is for all of your renters out there so you can stop building up someone else's home equity and net worth!

If you are a landlord, I apologize. :)

In this article, Peter discusses how new mortgage options can make owning a home a reality...


How much home could your rent buy?

Buying a home is a big financial step, and it’s hard to know when you’re really ready to buy. No wonder that many Canadian renters are still sitting on the white picket fence when it comes to home ownership.

The exciting news is that it could be time to make your move. There’s a few reasons why.

To begin, it’s pretty simple math: if you can afford to rent, chances are that you can afford to buy your own home. Your monthly mortgage payments may be similar to your rent!

That monthly rent cheque doesn’t need to be money out the window; it could be money that’s building you equity in your very own home.

Let’s take a look at how rent and mortgage payments might compare.

If you’re paying $1250 in rent each month, for example, you could be carrying a mortgage of $186,726. If you’re paying $1500, that’s potentially a mortgage of $235,100. Forking over $1750 each month? You could be paying off a mortgage of $283,475!

How are the mortgage payments so affordable?

Firstly, right now you’re benefiting from historically low mortgage rates. Secondly, you now have access to longer-amortization mortgages that lower your monthly mortgage payment. (The examples above were based on that combination: a 5.3% rate and 40-year amortization, plus 3.70% insurance premium, property taxes and heat of $285 per month).

In addition to longer amortization mortgages, interest only mortgages are another option for reducing monthly mortgage payments and maximizing purchasing power.

Think you can’t buy a house because you haven’t saved up a downpayment? Think again.

There are several excellent mortgages available with zero downpayment required. In general, all you need to qualify is a good credit record, and the ability to meet your payments comfortably. Mortgage insurers and innovative lenders believe that Canadians benefit from homeownership – and they’re helping to make it more accessible.

Even if you’ve had past credit problems, new credit repair mortgages can help transition you to a brighter future. That’s more good news for renters!

One more hurdle that some renters worry about is showing enough income to qualify for a mortgage. If you’re self-employed, for example, there are mortgage options available that don’t require you to verify your income. If you have a good credit history and reliable income-earning capacity, then you may qualify for a no income verification mortgage loan.

Still sitting on the fence?

Think about this: every time you sign a rental or lease agreement, you are signing a long lasting contract that has no profit potential whatever – at least, not for you.

When you sign a mortgage loan agreement, not only do you sign onto home ownership, but you also sign up for a great equity-making opportunity too.

Buying a home makes both financial and emotional sense. There are the intangible pleasures that home ownership offers: increased freedom, privacy, and a sense of community, for example.

Then there are the more tangible rewards: for decades, Canadian homeowners have been able to leverage their property purchase into a large financial return.

You’re at a moment of real opportunity right now: this may be the perfect time for you to get on the right side of that picket fence!





If you have been thinking about owning a home, but don't know what is possible, I encourage you to give me or Peter a call to find out. You may be pleasantly suprised!