Thank You For Choosing Us!
Thank you so much,๐ Mason, for choosing the team!๐คฉ โ
Cottage Insurance Is Getting More Difficult
With all the fires, cottage insurance is getting more difficult in and around Winnipeg in certain areas.๐ They are not offering insurance in certain postal codes, and no insurance means no mortgage.๐ณ So, unless you have cash, it means that you can't buy a cottage. ๐ซค
Why? Lenders have a clause in their mortgage that you have to have insurance.โ And lawyers can't give you the keys or issue the mortgage until they have the proof that you have home insurance. Which means you can't close on the deal without that insurance.๐
If you are thinking of buying a cottage, this means having a bit conversation about the location you are thinking of buying in, as many areas may be off the table.๐
The Best Quote Of 2025?
This quote has been blowing up everywhere, and for all the right reasons. Time is one of the most expensive commodities we all have; it is something that you can never get back and the one item that I find deserves the most respect. To respect other people's time, show up on time, and know how much time you are taking from them.
All at the same time, knowing not all can afford you, are not worthy of your time or attention. This may go down as the best quote of 2025.
Thinking Of Selling This Winter? Itโs Time For Outdoor Photos!
Time is ticking,โฑ and if you are thinking of selling this winter,โ๏ธ it is time for us to take the outdoor photos NOW, before the leaves start falling and your beautiful gardens need to be ripped up.โ
Book an appointment with us so that we can start prepping and making sure we capture your yard now by a professional before the snowโ is there when you want to sell.
DM me for the appointment link.
Have You Ever Heard Of Winnipeg Gumbo?
Winnipeg soil is different, and most people who live here know this; most people moving here don't know this.๐ง Almost all people buying a home here need a lot of education on our soil and how to handle water management to protect their foundations. We all hear horror stories๐ฑ of cracked and leaking foundations, but a lot of it is preventable had a homeowner maintained proper grading. It can happen to many homeowners, years of neglect, but it is also happening more as our climate is changing.๐ We are having dryer summers, longer falls with freeze/melt cycles, and also having more melts in the middle of winter. All of this plays into the health of your foundation. ๐โโ๏ธ
Reach out if you want more tips on how to take proper care of your gumbo and foundation. ๐
Beyond Happy For The Sweetest Family
Beyond happy for the sweetest family ever and the massive success that was this sale. I sat down with them and figured out the dates and realized that everything was going to happen while I was away. I said, "ok, all these dates work, just letting you know that I will be on holiday and my team will be handling everything." I always get a bit scared when I have to say this, but they just smiled and said ok.
From there, Sandeep shot the video, I handled the listing remotely from my camper van, and Sabrina met with them to go over offers. From beginning to end each person on our team had a part in it and these sellers had their part in the incredibly hard work that they put into prepping their home.
Thank you for choosing us, thank you for trusting us, and huge congratulations to you on the sale!
HRV Systems Are Commonly Misused
Did you know the HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misused appliances in homes today?๐ค Letโs clear the air with some essential maintenance tips!
1. Clean it regularly: The filters and the core of your HRV need to be cleaned consistently to keep the system running efficiently.๐ A clean HRV not only improves air quality but also extends the life of your unit.
2. Set it correctly: Understanding the outside temperature๐ก and the ideal indoor humidity level is crucial. Properly setting your HRV ensures that your home maintains optimal humidity๐ฆ levels, which is key to a healthy living environment.
Why it matters:
โข Healthy Home: Proper humidity prevents mould growth and keeps allergens at bay, promoting a healthier environment for your family.
โข Longevity of Your Home: Maintaining the right humidity helps preserve your windows, prevents shifting and cracking, and protects your homeโs structural integrity.
โข Breathe Easy: A well-maintained HRV ensures that your home โbreathesโ properly, providing fresh, clean air all year round.
Regular HRV maintenance is a simple yet powerful way to ensure your home stays healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient. Donโt neglect itโyour home will thank you!๐
Practice Paying Your Mortgage
Letโs say your rent is $2000/mo and youโre considering a $2500/mo mortgage payment.
Before shopping for houses, spend 3-4 months practicing that payment.
When you go to pay your rent, immediately put $500 in a separate account. Itโs gone with your rent.
How does the rest of your month feel?
Are you still living your best life or do things feel tight?
Adjust accordingly.
Bonus: now you have more $$$ saved for a down payment, closing costs or any other costs associated with buying your next home.
How Can You Save Thousands On Your Mortgage?
If you add on extra to your mortgage payments, you can save yourself thousands๐ฐ of dollars and years off your mortgage, and it doesn't always have to be a lot of extra money.๐ฒ Some mortgages will let you do it once in a while, mine will let you set it up for 9 monthsโ at a time, and then I would have to restart it again.
Some mortgages have more pre-payment privileges than others, higherโฌ๏ธ dollar amounts, different restrictions and options. Look into your financial situation to see if you can add on a little every month to save yourself throughout your mortgage. ๐
Divorcing And Selling Your House
Divorce.
Itโs a hard word to say.
Itโs a hard emotion to feel.
It sucks, to put it plainly.
Weโve recently helped several clients going through a divorce or separation navigate the home sale process.
We know that divorce is already a difficult and emotional time, and we want to do everything we can to make the sale of the home as stress-free and smooth as possible.
Weโve learned a lot about how to navigate a home sale amid a divorce and weโve found that communication and amicability between both parties are key.
We work closely with our sellers to ensure everyone is on the same page and that the sale is handled in a way that feels fair and equitable to everyone involved.
We have "rules" in place on how we communicate and do things with a divorce to ensure everyone is involved, listened to, and a part of the process.
If you or someone you know is going through a divorce and needs help selling their home, weโre here to support you.
Donโt hesitate to reach out to us for questions or to talk more about the process from start to finish.
Kid Boss Market Applications
Today is the day the Kid Boss Applications open!!
DM to get the application form.
Application deadline: August 22nd
All applicants must be under the age of 14
We will only take a maximum of 2 of the same business type, so get creative!
The market will be on November 30th.
What is Kid Boss? It is a market for young entrepreneurs. Each vendor is under the age of 14 and starting their own business! If you or your kid wants to sell something amazing they have been working on, then this is the market for you!
Start Planning Now For That Winter Listing
If you are thinking of selling your Winnipeg home this winter, now is the time for us to start planning.๐
We can start the conversation,โ figure out your goals and timelines and best part... start taking photos and videos of the outside so that we will have consistent marketing materials to have your home shineโจ once the snow hits the ground.
So, DM me, let's set up an appointment, start the conversation and get ready to make your home shine this winter. ๐
House Hack!
Many people get confused about the "2nd home at 20%" part, it isn't if you are picking up and moving your family that you have to pay 20% down, it is when you are buying a rental property. But what if you could also get a rental property at 5% down?
Here is what you do...
You keep your current home as the rental, and buy your next family home at 5% down, and do that a few more times.
You could buy that starter home at 5% down, then you keep it and move up. Then you keep that, move up again and each time you move up it is only 5% down. This way you are acquiring rental properties as you go, as you move up in the real estate world, and doing it all with the least amount down which helps to free up your cash!
Reach out to talk to us if this is something you may be interested in. We can help you determine if your current home would be a great rental property for you.
Parent Of A Soon-To-Be College Student?
If youโre a parent of a soon-to-be college student โ you know the $$$ is staring you right in the face.
We did some research and found that room and board or rent for their child is upwards of $13,000+ per year.
For. A. Room. ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ
Hereโs a conversation weโre having with more adults who are entering the empty nest years and are trying to find a way to make college work to their advantage, too!
โซ๏ธThink about ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ your student will be attending. If itโs local (U of M, U of W, Red River, weโve got the scoop on housing) or if itโs out of the city or province.
โซ๏ธWhat are the ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ available for you to invest in for your student (and friends/roommates)?
โซ๏ธDoes it ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ financially for you or your student to purchase a home and charge rent vs. paying someone elseโs mortgage or outrageous rental rates?
โซ๏ธThink of this as a win-win. Your student is in a home that you chose and feel good about, and roommates are paying the mortgage.
โซ๏ธYour money isnโt going down the drain. You have an appreciating asset that you can keep and continue to rent out years after your student graduates, or you can choose to sell and reap the benefits when the time comes.
Rental rates are rising, tuition is expensiveโheck, everything is expensive. If you can find even one way to help your student ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐, itโs a smart move.
If youโre ready to explore this option further, letโs connect and start creating a strategy for a home purchase near your student's college.
And donโt worry, if itโs out of province, we have ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด referral partners across Canada who can help you make the same great decision.
How Much Is Your Home Worth?
A lot of people are sitting on massive amounts of equity, and they have no idea.๐ฐ Home values have gone up significantly in the past 10-15 years, leaving you with potentially a lot of money in your pockets in the form of equity. This is money you can do a lot of things with if you choose to, you can upgrade, pull out for renovations, or just enjoy the knowledge of how much money you have building up.๐
DM me the word Value and I can help you figure out how much your home is worth and how much equity you have. ๐
What Secrets Hide In Your Basement?
Imperfections on your basement floor can be scary, ๐ฑ and while some things are, some also just have a simple explanation...โ especially in old homes.
If a Winnipeg home has been there for over 100 years, there are a lot of stories to tell; that home has morphed and changed a lot over time.โณ The way that the home once functioned is no longer, and in this case it is the heating system that has taken on a transformation.
Once upon a time, there would have been a huge beast of a boiler in this space, probably 3 people wide and as tall as me,๐โโ๏ธ delivering heat to this home. But somewhere along the line, someone removed it and put in a gas forced air furnace. When they took out the old best, you can see๐ where it once sat on the concrete. It is a story of what used to be, and nothing scary to be worried about. ๐
