Natalia Real · Blog

Guides to buying and selling a home in Toronto and the GTA

Everything you need to know about down payments, savings programs, the buying process and more, explained clearly.

Natalia Rendón Barco standing in front of a Coming Soon sign for a property for sale
Buyers · Guide

5 myths about buying a house in Canada as an immigrant (and the reality behind each one)

If you've been paying rent in Toronto or the GTA for years and think buying your first home is out of reach, it's probably not that you lack the mo…

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Illustration of growing savings for a home down payment
Buyers · Finances

FHSA, RRSP and the Home Buyers' Plan: how to gather up to $100,000 for your first home

We talk a lot about saving more to eventually buy a home, but rarely about two tools the Canadian government designed specifically for this. Combin…

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Illustration of growth steps for a home down payment
Buyers · Finances

How much down payment you need for your first home in Ontario

This is the question my clients ask me most before they even start thinking about looking for a home. The good news is that the amount is usually m…

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Infographic of the home-buying process in seven steps
Buyers · Guide

Step by step: here's how the home-buying process works in Canada

When you don't know the process, buying a home can feel like unfamiliar territory, full of terms you're not used to and steps you're not sure what…

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Illustration of the Toronto skyline and a residential area of the GTA
Buyers · Costs

Land Transfer Tax: how much it'll cost you in Ontario (and why Toronto is double)

This is one of the costs that surprises my clients the most, because it's not part of the home's price or the down payment, it's a separate tax pai…

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Inspectors reviewing a property before a purchase
Buyers · Guide

What a home inspection is and why you shouldn't skip it

In a competitive market, it's tempting to skip the home inspection to make your offer look more attractive. But this is one of the decisions I most…

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Illustrated map of the Greater Toronto Area
Buyers · Guide

Best areas of the GTA for Latino families, by budget

One of the questions I get asked most is where it makes sense to buy, not just for lifestyle, but for what your budget can actually afford. Here's…

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Illustration of a credit score gauge with a protection shield
Buyers · Finances

How to buy a home in Canada if you have a short credit history

One of the most common fears I hear is "I haven't been in Canada long, my credit history is too short, I probably don't qualify." The reality is th…

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Valuation of a property in the GTA
Sellers · Guide

How much is your house worth in the GTA (and why an app alone isn't enough)

One of the first questions my clients who want to sell ask me is "how much is my house worth?" And I understand why many start by searching apps li…

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Illustration of costs and commission when selling a home
Sellers · Finances

How much it costs to sell your house in Ontario: commission, legal fees and other expenses

When you decide to sell, the sale price isn't what actually lands in your account. There are several costs deducted along the way, and knowing them…

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Repairs and improvements before listing a home for sale
Sellers · Guide

What to fix before selling your house (and what's not worth it)

One of the most common mistakes I see is spending money fixing things that won't change the outcome of the sale, while letting others that do matte…

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The four seasons and the GTA real estate market
Sellers · Guide

What's the best time to sell your house in the GTA

The timing of when you decide to list your house can matter as much as the price or the repairs you make. Here's how the GTA market moves throughou…

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Meeting between a real estate agent and her clients
Sellers · Guide

How to choose the right agent to sell your house

Choosing the wrong agent can cost you weeks on the market and thousands of dollars in the final price. Here are the questions I recommend asking be…

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Keys to an inherited property in Ontario
Sellers · Finances

Selling an inherited house in Ontario: what you need to know

Selling the home of a family member who has passed away is a different process from a regular sale, with additional legal and tax steps. Here's wha…

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Living room staged before a home sale
Sellers · Guide

Home staging: is it worth it before selling your house?

One of the questions I get asked most by my selling clients is whether it's really worth investing in staging before putting the house on the marke…

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Have questions about your specific situation?

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