Lest We Forget

Suburban Sprawl

“The annual cost of owning an extra car for 35 years could buy more than $570,000 of RRSPs — more than the vast majority of Canadians in their 50s have saved for retirement,” Suburban Sprawl: Exposing Hidden Costs, Identifying Innovations. 
Dave Thomas, a University of Ottawa-based 
research network and author of a

new report called Sustainable Prosperity writes about the big move to the suburbs becoming increasingly more expensive for reasons such as the amount it costs to run your car, not only to get to work, but to reach other necessary destinations such as the grocery store.
There are some interesting facts and figures in this report which describes a point of view many don't consider. 
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Hallowe'en!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Summer continues

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¡Felices Pascuas! Happy Easter!

Happy Valentines Day / Feliz Día de San Valentín

2012

 

Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!

Toronto house prices hit new record- The Toronto Star

The Toronto Star's Susan Pigg  reports on Toronto's house prices:

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The Toronto housing market slipped back into sellers’ territory in November, helping propel prices even higher to a record average of $481,305.
That’s a 2.1 per cent increase from October and, when adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, almost 10 per cent more than the average GTA home was worth a year ago, according to figures released Thursday by the Canadian Real Estate Association.
In fact, November sales across Canada were 7 per cent above the 10-year average for the month, resulting in the fourth highest level of sales on record for what’s typically the slow season, CREA noted.

A sold sign sits on the corner of Toronto's Manning Ave. and Ulster St.

Tara Walton/Toronto Star

While no one is uttering the dreaded B-word — bubble — as did Britain’s venerable magazine The Economist when it recently warned Canada’s housing market may be 25 per cent overvalued, the warning is clearly of concern among the country’s housing experts.
“With interest rates expected to remain low for longer, the housing sector will no doubt be closely watched for signs of excess,” say CREA’s chief economist Gregory Klump.
“That said, current trends for resale housing and new home construction suggest that tightened mortgage regulations are working as intended and fostering economic stability in Canada.”
A record November of sales in Halifax-Dartmouth, up a seasonally adjusted 34.7 per cent, helped offset a 10.5 per cent decline in sales in Toronto where 7,773 homes changed homes.
New listings across the GTA were down 4.4 in November while prices climbed by 9.7 per cent.
Despite economic turmoil in the rest of the world, Canadians continue to see real estate as a sure thing: A total of 432,048 homes have traded hands across Canada between January and the end of November, up 2.1 per cent from the same period last year, CREA says.

Ten tips for getting a fair price on a home - The Globe and Mail

An article from The Globe and Mail on September 7, 2011, by Amy Fontinelle:

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Whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market, all homebuyers have one thing in common: they don't want to get ripped off. But how do you know if you're getting a fair deal on the home you're prepared to place an offer on? Read on to find out how to evaluate the price of any home so you can make a sound investment decision.

Realtor standing with family in front of new house Getty Images/OJO Images

Research recently sold, comparable properties
A comparable property is one that is similar in size, condition, neighbourhood and amenities. One 1,200-square-foot, recently remodeled, one-story home with an attached garage should be listed at roughly the same price as a similar 1,200-square-foot home in the same neighbourhood. That said, you can also gain valuable information by looking at how the property you're interested in compares in price to different properties. Is it considerably less expensive than larger or nicer properties? Is it more expensive than smaller or less attractive properties? Your real estate agent is the best source of accurate, up-to-date information on comparable properties (also known as “comps”).

Check out comparable properties that are currently on the market
In this case, you can actually visit other homes and get a true sense of how their size, condition and amenities compare to the property you're considering buying. Then you can compare prices and see what seems fair. Reasonable sellers know that they must price their properties similarly to market comparables if they want to be competitive.
 
Look at comparables that were on the market recently but didn't sell
If the house you're considering buying is priced similarly to homes that were taken off the market because they didn't sell, the property you're considering may be overpriced. Also, if there are a lot of similar properties on the market, prices should be lower, especially if those properties are vacant. Check out the unsold inventory index for information about current supply and demand in the housing market. This index attempts to measure how long it will take for all the homes currently on the market to be sold given the rate at which homes are currently selling. (For further reading, see Selling Your Home In A Down Market.)
 
Consider market conditions and appreciation rates in the area
Have prices been going up recently or going down? In a seller's market, properties will probably be somewhat overpriced, and in a buyer's market, properties are apt to be underpriced. It all depends on where the market currently sits on the real estate boom-and-bust curve. Even in a seller's market, properties may not be overpriced if the market is on the upswing and not near its peak. Conversely, properties can be overpriced even in a buyer's market if prices have only recently begun to decline. Of course, it can be difficult to see the peaks and valleys until they're history. Also consider the impact of mortgage interest rates and the job market on the economy. (Knowing your mortgage choices is important. For more information, read Shopping For A Mortgage.)
 
Are you buying a for-sale-by-owner property?
A for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) property should be discounted to reflect the fact that there is no 6 per cent (on average) seller's agent commission, something that many sellers don't take into consideration when setting their prices. Another potential problem with FSBOs is that the seller may not have had an agent's guidance in setting a reasonable price in the first place, or may have been so unhappy with an agent's suggestion as to decide to go it alone. In any of these situations, the property may be overpriced.
 
What Is the expected appreciation for the area?
The future prospects for your chosen neighbourhood can have an impact on price. If positive development is planned, such as a major mall being built, the extension of light rail to the neighbourhood, or a large new company moving to the area, the prospects of future home appreciation look good. Even small developments like plans to add more roads or build a new school can be a good sign. On the other hand, if grocery stores and gas stations are closing down, the home price should be lower to reflect that, and you should probably reconsider moving to the area. The development of new housing can go either way - it can mean that the area is hot and is likely to be in high demand in the future, increasing your home's value, or it can result in a surplus of housing, which will lower the value of all the homes in the area.

Brampton Readers Choice Awards

It's that time of year again, the Brampton Guardian has put out its Readers Choice Awards survey.

If you were pleased with the work Guerrero Law did for you or is currently doing, please consider voting for us. The survey closes on Friday, November 4, 2011.

If you live in Brampton, the print version can be found in your Brampton Guardian newspaper, alternatively, you can access the survey online here or click on the Brampton Guardian icon below. The lawyer's section is #79. If you complete the entire survey, you are automatically entered into the draw for a $500 shopping spree at the Bed & Bath Warehouse.

The Beauty of Our Province/La Belleza de Nuestra Provincia

Ontario in all its splendour.

Feliz Día de la Independencia a Chile

También queremos felicitar nuestros compadres de Chile por su Día de la Independencia del 18 de septiembre.

Feliz Día de la Independencia a Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, y Nicaragua

Aunque un poco retrasado, nunca es tarde para felicitar nuestros compadres de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, y Nicaragua por su Día de la Independencia del 15 de septiembre.

Nuevo annuncio de Guerrero Law

Utilizamos este anuncio en la material promocional del festival Toni Reyes este verano. 
Fue inspirado por la historia del logotipo. Checan pronto para leer sobre nuestro logotipo.

Photos from the Miss Chiquitita Pageant

Guerrero Law was pleased to donate to the wonderful Miss Chiquitita Pageant for girls ages 4-10 years old hosted by the Barrie Latin Community Centre on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the Kozlov Centre in Barrie. All the girls did a wonderful job walking the cat walk in their casual wear, dazzling us with their singing and dancing skills and showing us their beautiful formal wear. It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of a crowd, let alone at such a young age!

Here are a few pictures taken by us from the day's events.

 

Artículo sobre Antonio Guerrero en la revista La Guía en Toronto

Antonio Guerrero de Guerrero Law se encuentra otra vez en una de las revistas de Toronto. Esta vez es La Guía que tiene una edición especial sobre México este mes para celebrar la Independencia de México y es ahí donde encontrarán la entrevista con Antonio.

Haz click en cada foto para hacerlo más grande.

Feliz Día de la Independencia México