Gary O'Brien - Lean On Me

Cashback At Onyx, MLS Sales and Listings at CityGate, Buyer and Seller Tips

Gary O'Brien — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:38:00 GMT

As 'Onyx' at Mississauga Square One City Centre nears completion, time is running out to take advantage of cashback incentives on the remaining inventory. Let me know if you'd like an update on what's available, price ranges, etc, in this cool new condo ... Buying new? Expect the unexpected and make sure there's a little extra in the kitty for overlooked closing costs ... Thinking of selling? Sometimes it's hard to know where to begin when getting the place ready. Let me share some tips ... MLS Snapshot; Taking a look at recent listings and sales at City Gate, 220 Burnhamthorpe ... And if you're looking for things to do over the weekend, check out Mississauga's museums. Read more ...

Communities and Condos For the 50+ Set

Gary O'Brien — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:45:00 GMT

In an earlier post I wrote about emerging housing trends for the 50+ / Active Adult / empty nester crowd. Following up on that theme - recent news out of Vancouver Island reports 40% of houses sold in their area were purchased as retirement homes. What are your local options? Here's a sample of mls sales and listings for Active Adult neighbourhoods & condos between Alliston and Mississauga. Continue reading ...

Condo Update, What's New In Square One Condos? Mississauga Community Events, and Celebrity Homes

Gary O'Brien — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:24:00 GMT

As a follow-up to a couple of previous blogs revolving around new condo development ( June 10/10 / June 12/10), this week you can add Pinnacle Grand Park to the list. I had a chance to tour the new presentation centre the other day, and caught a sneak peek at what will eventually be a tasteful and prominent addition to Mississauga's new city centre. In the world of celebrity abodes, what was once Marilyn Monroe's home has gone on the market. In a tight spot? Check out how to completely transform a 344sf apartment into twenty-four rooms. The latest mls sales and listing info is available for Living Arts Dr so I'll have a brief summary of activity. And in the 'things to do' department, our crack team of researchers has come up with a couple of events that may be of interest. Continue reading ...

This Ol' House, Shelburne Market Stats, Local Events

Gary O'Brien — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:24:00 GMT

Houses come in many different shapes, sizes, moods, and personalities. Every house has it's own story to tell - a story that develops and evolves over time as one family moves out, and the next moves in. Also this week, Farmer's Markets, and a review of mls sales and listings in the town of Shelburne. Continue reading ...

Mississauga Condo Values, Contests, First-Time Buyers, and Community Events

Gary O'Brien — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:04:00 GMT

Name That Condo - leave your stamp on the city. Fernbrook/Cityzen is giving you a chance to put your two cents worth in and come up with a catchy name for their new condo development at Yonge & The Esplanade. And you can win $5000 in the process ... The Toronto Real Estate Board reminds you that, as a newcomer to the housing market, you may be eligible for the First-Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit ...Working On Your 2nd million? Perhaps you've been considering taking advantage of the opportunities in the U.S. Well, you're not alone ... Trends: Boomers? Gen X? OMG that's so last century. Get ready for GenY ... Local Content: Community radio in Mississauga and things to do ... Cool Condo Values In Mississauga: a look at mls listings and sales at 4080 Living Arts Dr (aka 'The Capital'). Continue reading ...

Canadians Continue To Invest In U.S. Real Estate and, Getting Ready For Generation Y

Gary O'Brien — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:05:00 GMT

There were plenty of headlines this past week regarding news in the world of real estate. Items included a story on Generation Y as forecasters attempt to determine future housing trends. Also prominent was a research study on foreign investment in the U.S. housing sector that finds Canadians at the top of the list once again. Looking for things to do around Dufferin County this summer? The Dufferin Museum is hosting an exhibit tied in with this year's Canadian Open Fiddle Contest in Shelburne, Ontario. In Orangeville, a group of local business people is proposing a new multi-use sports facility for the town, and the Spotlight is on the Orangeville condo market this week with a summary of mls activity. Read more ...

Sales Stats For GTA, Spotlight on Absolute, Are New Condos Ready For The Future?

Gary O'Brien — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:31:00 GMT

Things you need to know when purchasing a new condo - be careful you don't invalidate the HST/GST rebate. The electric car may soon become commonplace - will condo buildings be equipped to accomodate them? Breaking ground at the newest addition to Mississauga's new downtown City Centre - Parkside Village, and spotlighting 80 Absolute Ave. The month of June showed a return to normalcy in mls activity around the GTA. How does this affect the value of your condo. Read more ...

Downsized Expectations, Tiny Homes, and Montgomery Village Stats

Gary O'Brien — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 19:46:00 GMT

Have home buyers begun to downsize their housing requirements? How small is too small? Taking a look at mini-houses, and a six month summary of mls activity in Orangeville's Montgomery Village. Read more ...

Florida Condos, Decor Tips, and Appreciating Uniqueness

Gary O'Brien — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:17:00 GMT

A popular topic of discussion often centres around the purchase of a second property - if not a cottage, then a winter home with Florida being one of the more popular destinations. Given the current conditions that exist to the south of us, are there any real estate bargains still to be had? Also, if downsizing to a condo has left you stymied and wondering how to make the most of your space, HGTV has some decor tips for you. And, appreciating the uniqueness of Habitat '67. Read more ...

Advances In Solar Panel Technology. Plus, Things To Do In Orangeville and Dufferin.

Gary O'Brien — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:57:00 GMT

As the technologies of solar energy continue to rapidly advance, I wonder if now isn't the time for governments, being extensions of you and I, to start paying more attention to harvesting the benefits of these new technologies by making them more accessible to homeowners interested in sustainable housing. Also this week, upcoming community events around Orangeville and Dufferin. Read more ...

Condo Values In Mississauga. Help For Sellers.

Gary O'Brien — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:52:00 GMT

Condo Values in Mississauga. Where do you fit into the mix? With so many condos available, how do you cut through the clutter to reach the right buyer for your condo, and do so without leaving money on the table. If you're considering offering up your condo for sale please read on ...

Real Estate News For Orangeville and Dufferin County

Gary O'Brien — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:50:00 GMT

This week, for those of you looking to relocate from Orangeville and Dufferin County, we cast about to find Canada's best real estate deals . We'll also check out some cool kitchen gadgets you might expect to see in the not too distant future, learn how desperate home sellers turn to St.Joseph during tough times, and see what a 90,000sq.ft. $75 million fixer upper looks like. Read more ...

The 'Honey Do' List - Tips From The Home Inspector.

Gary O'Brien — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:46:00 GMT

It's summertime which means it's time to take care of a few odds & ends around the outside of your house. Two items in particular that you may have to address include your chimney and the deck. Speaking of the 'honey-do' list, remember mandatory energy audits? Well, they're still around, they're just not mandatory - yet. Read more ....

Acreage, Ponds, Scenery. Three Country Homes Under $400,000

Gary O'Brien — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:04:00 GMT

Where the stars come to shine. Three special country homes in Dufferin County. Acreage, ponds, Sunday drives through the Mulmur Hills, scenery, the backroads of Melancthon, wildlife, sunsets, peace, lazy walks down River Road. Central to Orangeville, Alliston, Creemore, Mansfield, Shelburne. Kickin' it country style with three special mls listings under $400,000. Continue reading...

Real Estate Update. Collecting The Headlines Vol.1.

Gary O'Brien — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:23:00 GMT

A compilation of the day's headlines from the world of real estate, related items, and local events. Topics of interest include; WalMart moves into Canadian banking; analysis of the real estate market; which cities offer the most opportunity for real estate investments; Statistics Canada reports on Home Ownership; and Caledon's Farmers issue a challenge. Read more on my Blog at www.GaryOBrien.ca.