Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a hot, cold or neutral market, inventory almost always rises in the spring because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during April, May, and June. If your home has been languishing on the market since the holidays, take it off the market. Give it a chance to "cool down" for a few weeks before putting it back on the... [read more]

Everybody likes to save a little money. So when Rossana was ready to sell her condo a few years ago, she figured she could save some cash by selling it herself — without using a real estate agent. After all, her property was in a hot real estate market and she thought: "How hard could this be?" Rossana, a busy mother of one, had become overwhelmed juggling her daily responsibilities in addition to managing her rental condo. She had grown tired of being a landlord and... [read more]

  Twenty-six per cent of single Canadians are considering purchasing a home on their own, with Atlantic Canada leading the pack at 34 per cent Fifty-two per cent of single Canadians said economic uncertainty and expensive home prices are the biggest factors impacting their decision not to purchase a home on their own As Canadians’ household debt ratio creeps higher across the country, single Canadians who are interested in buying a home on their own (26 per... [read more]

All sold information now available. Did you know you can now view sold data on my website?   Visit realintro.com/debbiedimascio and click on browse listing on the side menu, then click on the Sold Listings tab and follow the instructions to view sold prices on listings in your neighbourhood.    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.           [read more]

In a fire, do you have minutes or seconds to escape? What’s more dangerous: flames or smoke? Separating fire myths from the facts can save your life. Myth 1: In a fire, flames cause the most casualties Reality: Typically, it’s the smoke that injures or kills. In as little as three to five minutes, smoke can fill a house and create complete darkness, even during daylight. Thick smoke, full of toxic by-products (carbon monoxide and fumes from the materials used to make your... [read more]

Toronto and Vancouver luxury condo market bolstered by local buyers, downsizing retirees and Millennials Single-detached luxury homes sales in the $3+ million range in Toronto and Vancouver drop by 44% and 45%   Sales of single-detached homes priced $1-2 million have declined in Toronto and Vancouver, down 35 per cent year-over-year, according to the 2018 RE/MAX Spotlight on Luxury Report. In contrast, the luxury condo market in the $1-2 million range remains popular,... [read more]

Whether you’re moving on up or just moving on, this is an exciting time in your life with new challenges and new horizons ahead. There’s just one thing holding you back: the old house. Though full of wonderful memories, it can really hold you down if you can’t rid yourself of the property in time and at a good value. There are ways to make sure this doesn’t happen by attracting plenty of buyers to your open house with serious intentions to close, and at your price.... [read more]

Whether it be money owing or embezzlement - protecting yourself can be a lot of leg work but don't forget about common sense as well. The Globe and Mail and Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine has said it best with laying out these Top 6 Real Estate Scams - and how to avoid them.   Read below to be in the know! https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/mortgages-and-rates/top-6-real-estate-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them/article13108985/ [read more]

“Location, location, location” is the mantra of smart homebuyers and successful real estate investors alike, and with good reason. Location is the one thing you can’t change about your home, and it affects virtually every other aspect of your life. Where will you socialize and who with? Will your kids have access to great schools and extra-curricular activities? How much time will you spend commuting to and from work? All biggies, when it comes to liveability. So,... [read more]

No matter how much you love your home, there’s always a chance that one day you’ll want to upgrade or downsize. You may decide that your current neighborhood is too far from your family members, or you might have a child entering school age and decide you want to move to a more desirable school district. Whatever the case, it’s possible that you’ll want to sell your home down the road, and every homeowner wants to get the most value during a sale.   There are... [read more]

There are many hazards in your home that you may not recognize.            Children are surely the ones able to find hazards you may not see yourself. Always keep an eye on your littles ones and know what they are up too - It sounds simple and obvious but sometimes distractions can get the best of us.   Having a house safe from potential injuries is the best household for kids. Using preventative measures avoids any injuries such... [read more]

Looking for a new favorite restaurant in Burlington? Look no further! We have put together our favorite restaurants for you to try! From Vegan to Burgers to Mexican to Breakfast, these food you don't want to miss! 1. Son of a Peach 2. Lettuce Love Cafe 3. The Works 4. Boon Burger 5. Martini House 6. Barra Fion Tapas & Barrel 7. Max’s Bistro 8. Table 34 9. Pepperwoods 10. Burro 11. Jakes Grill & Oyster House 12. Stone House... [read more]

Being a home owner definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. Lets just say decorating your home for the holidays is obviously an advantage. Who doesn’t want to bask in the beautiful colours and themes of the holiday brought upon us? We sure do as Easter is filled with pastel colours, blooming flowers, friendly bunnies and of course chocolate!   Here are a few tips to transforming your home into a perfect little Easter basket:   Colours This Easter be sure... [read more]

Here are tips for gardening this Spring: When starting your gardening this Spring, don’t forget about planting bushes and shrubs! These nursery plants can create a stunning landscape and even improve the resale value of your home without spending a fortune.   Consider the Gaps in your Yard Determine where you want the vegetation to be. Do you want a full flowerbed? Are you looking to cover the floor in your garden? Keep in mind the size and height the plants you are... [read more]

While some experts may debate over how valuable open houses are to the sale of a home, the reality is that the success of your open house is directly proportional to the level of effort you put into preparing for your event. Here are some tips on how to get the most from your open house.   Doing the Dirty Work Everyone thinks they have great taste, and it can be hard to notice unappealing things in a home that has been yours for years. Cleaning, repairing, and decluttering are... [read more]

You are probable one of the many people who think selling your home is a stressful endeavor. Well, we’re here to give you some advice to ensure you have a less stressful move!   Give Yourself Time As we all know, special dates and events sneak up on us faster than we can anticipate. Think about giving yourself 8-12 weeks – everything can be done with less stress if you just give yourself time! So take control of the time you are given! Instead of wasting away those... [read more]

"Tips for protecting buyers and renters: Research other properties in the area to gauge if the property is priced appropriately for the market. Does the price seem realistic for the number of bedrooms and location? Keep in mind that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Watch out for overly flowery descriptions and extensive lists of features as these are often signs of a realtor marketing a property, and not that of a landlord trying to rent out a house or... [read more]

  RBC introduces free credit scores and first digital simulator in Canada to help Canadians understand their credit.   RBC collaborated with TransUnion to introduce CreditView Dashboard to all online banking clients. With CreditVeiw, you will see what credit products you have on file, your credit score, and even a digital simulator to help you understand how credit works. You can simulate financial scenarios and by entering a few numbers and details the credit score is... [read more]

On Thursday, August 10th , local real estate leaders, RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc., Brokerage hosted their 5th annual BBQ Fundraiser in support of the CMN.   [read more]

"The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 2,013 new listings were processed through the RAHB Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in July, which is 17.8 per cent higher than the same month last year, 9.2 per cent higher than the 10-year average and the most new listings in the month of... [read more]

Mark Cullen is an expert gardener who is helping us do our bit to make our neighbourhoods greener and cleaner. He gives the 20% who react to global warming news, and hopefully a few others, some suggestions on how to help make an impact. From cutting up citrus fruit to converting your power when using leaf blowers and lawn mowers there are many steps you can take to give the enviroment a break.    Check out the link below to read more about how you can help the environment... [read more]

10 questions you'll want to ask your Mortgage Specialist: 1. What mortgage amount do I qualify for? 2. What is the best type of mortgage for my needs? 3. Is my mortgage approval firm? 4. How much should I be prepared to put on my down payment? 5. Can I take advantage of any tax breaks for my mortgage? 6. Should I consider a fixed or variable mortgage? 7. Can my lender lock in my rate while I'm waiting for the deal to close? 8. How might my legal costs... [read more]

No washer? No dryer? No furniture? Don't have any surprises when moving into your new home, this means not assuming anything! Ensure when buying a home your real estate representative determines which items will stay in the home and which will not. If you are unsure about whether or not you will have the item when moving in, ask! When making an offer, have your agent include written terms with as much detail and clarity as possible, this includes make, model, colour, serial... [read more]

The number of appointments increased 8.2% last week over the previous week. Our Sold/ Appointment Index rose to 16.3 appointments on average per property sold during the week. It looks like buyers are coming off the fence and getting familiar with the market once again. Hamilton price ranges remained steady, and for the 2nd week in a row, the $1-2M was bumped out of the Top Price Ranges in Burlington.   [read more]

  Debbie DiMascio, Sales Representative Debbie has over 25 years of experience in the real estate world. She brings to the team the knowledge & negotiation skills that are essential in our day to day tasks. Debbie's hard work & dedication is a true testament to the DiMascio Group.   Cathy Erskine, Sales Representative Cathy is a full service realtor who takes her responsibilities seriously. Her background in Marketing, Finance & Computers is an... [read more]

As we complete the end of the first half of 2017, we have decided to take a new tactic with our monthly #MarketInsight report. We want to provide you with useful and historical information that will help your clients understand the market, and where in that market RE/MAX Escarpment fits!  From our 3 year historical charts of New Listings and Total Unit Sales, to a snapshot of appointments, unit sales, new listings and Year-To-Date unit sales in reference to the total unit sales in the... [read more]

This year's top 3/10 places to live in Ontario are: 1. Ottawa 2. Burlington 3. Stratford   Burlington scoring well when it comes to crime rates, weather, wealth and incomes. Burlington is also even considered a "top place" to retire and a welcoming place for new Canadians.   See the full list of Top Places to Live in Ontario: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7406224-burlington-ranked-second-best-city-in-ontario/ [read more]

Is Canada's milestone 150 birthday leaving you wishing you could continue the celebrations past July 1st? Here is a subtle yet inconic way to continue celebrating Canada's milestone 150 birthday. 1. Muskoka Chairs 2. HBC Point Blanket 3. The Vancouver Candle Co. 4. Group of Seven Artwork 5. Moose   Read more about adding these 5 decor pieces to your home to continue celebrating Canada's milestone... [read more]

Are you feeling as though your home is cramped & unable to entertain guests to the best of your ability? A family from Burlington certainly did. This family of 2 adults and 2 children had made functional additions to their home to utilize space by renovating their kitchen and revamping their dining area. As practical as the home is now, it is just as glamorous.    Read more about this home make... [read more]

The Toronto Star published an article featuring First Time Home Buyers who recieve help from their family with a down payment.    Below are a few stats about these First Time Home Buyers from thestar.com article: "Nearly one in five first-time homebuyers recieved help with a down payment from a family member, according to a survey conducted by the federal housing agency" "Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said 18 per cent of first-time buyers polled said... [read more]

"Hamilton housing prices set another record in May, rising 23.49 per cent from the same month a year earlier, according to the Teranet-National Bank house price index, which tracks price changes in the same properties over time."   Along with Hamilton - Barrie, Oshawa, Peterborough, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Brantford and St. Catharines-Niagara also showed "persistent uptrends".   Read the CBC article below to keep in touch with Hamilton's... [read more]

"Hamilton area bucks trend as GTA home sales plummet in May. Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area plunged 20 per cent last month compared with a year ago, according to the latest data from the country’s largest real estate board."   Read more about this on thespec.com: http://m.thespec.com/news-story/7352938-hamilton-area-bucks-trend-as-gta-home-sales-plummet-in-may         [read more]

Check out this article about the everchanging home sales and how the have prices have cooled off for the second year in a row!  http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7306993-canada-bucks-global-trend-of-cooling-luxury-home-sales/   [read more]

Features and benefits of an investment property mortgage   The RBC Investment Property Mortgage can provide financing for up to 80% of the appraised value of your rental property.   A Mortgage Solution to Meet Your Needs Offering competitive rates and a range of terms, the RBC Investment Property Mortgage may be the ideal solution if you're considering: Acquiring a rental portfolio of one or more properties to build income and equity Converting your... [read more]

Are you informed on how to select the the perfect agent for you? Selecting the right agent for you is crutial when buying or selling your home as we want you to be certain through the process. As we all know, just because what you see on the internet doesnt necessarily mean that's exactly what your going to get. Agents understand the market conditions and can give the best insights when comparing different properties. Your agent can help you be... [read more]