Recent content by selma_hart

I’m less enthusiastic about a pre-offer inspection than sbakker unless you’re given enough time and access for it to be meaningful. Pressure to move quickly can turn it into little more than a walkthrough. Before dropping the condition, price the worst plausible first months: moving costs...

First confirm that the paperwork genuinely says a 20-year fixed mortgage term, rather than a shorter fixed term with a 20-year amortization. Those are very different comparisons. The wording in conversation can become blurred, so I’d use the written payment schedule and maturity date.

What does the inspection say about the expensive systems, and what is the insurance deductible? A maintained-looking house with older cooling, plumbing or roofing components is a different risk from one where no near-term work is indicated. I would also list utility setup or service charges...

Coming back to my earlier question, the inspection findings could settle the disagreement between Diego and sbakker. A clean report plus confirmed insurance supports proceeding cautiously. Several first-year items with open-ended costs support waiting. “Appears maintained” is not enough detail...

Does that figure also sit outside the first mortgage payment, insurance costs and any service charges? Also, what did the inspection actually identify? A maintained appearance matters less than whether there are near-term items with uncertain prices.

Negotiation tactic: submit one clean offer and briefly explain that condition plus ongoing costs place the property below the asking price for you. If the seller counters, then decide on the total price. Trying to make the seller defend each service-charge component could derail an otherwise...

Eighty days plus one or more cuts suggests room to negotiate, but the listing history alone does not reveal how motivated the seller is. I’d compare the original ask, latest ask and sale price while noting any withdrawal or relist. Are you looking within one neighbourhood, or across Toronto? At...

Compare obligations rather than the two labels. For the apartment, request the fee history, what utilities and services are included, reserve information, planned work and any rental restrictions. For the home, price insurance and list every component you alone would replace or maintain. Put...