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By Joe Richer Registrar Real Estate Council of Ontario Fri., July 13, 2018 I just submitted an offer for a house, and I want to get started on renovations ASAP. Can I bring my general contractor to a pre-closing visit? A pre-closing visit is a personal inspection that you arrange through your real estate salesperson to have one last look before you take possession of a property. Such visits are made possible by a clause in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS), and are usually open only to the buyer(s) and their real estate salesperson or broker. If you want to invite contractors, designers, home inspectors or even friends or family members, it’s a good idea to obtain the seller’s permission first. Completing a pre-closing visit is an important step towards purchasing a home. Be attentive, and don’t treat it as a casual walk-through. This is your opportunity to verify that the seller has initiated or completed agreed-upon repairs identified … [Read more...] about Wait until you take possession of your new house before breaking out the hammer and crowbar: Ask Joe
Sell my house quickly
Selling before buying lets you set your price, but starts the countdown to closing date
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By Joe Richer Registrar, Real Estate Council of Ontario Sat., June 30, 2018 What are the pros and cons of selling before buying? My wife and I are thinking about purchasing a bigger house. The ideal situation for most consumers in your situation is to buy and sell simultaneously, so the closing dates align and you have only one moving day. Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. I strongly advise you to think carefully about your needs, financial status and tolerance for risk, and ask your real estate salesperson for advice. As I mentioned last week, the big advantage of buying first is that you can take your time finding a home that’s right for you. The disadvantages are financial in nature: you’ll have to obtain the money to put down a deposit and absorb the cost of bridge financing, if necessary. You could find yourself in the unenviable situation of paying the expenses — including financing costs, insurance and utilities — to … [Read more...] about Selling before buying lets you set your price, but starts the countdown to closing date
A Hong Kong architect thinks ‘tube homes’ made from concrete pipes can be a solution to the world’s housing crisis
source Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider Hong Kong has one of the worst housing crises in the world, and has been ranked the least affordable city for housing for the last eight years. Hong Kong architect James Law has designed a low-cost solution to the problem: stackable, retro-fitted water pipe “tube homes” called “O-Pods” that could be rented cheaply to young people. Law sees the design as an “open-source” solution for housing crises around the world. The first O-Pod development is being built in Shenzhen, China and due to open in July. Hong Kong has one of the worst housing crises in the world, with property prices so high that a single parking spot sold for $664,000 last year and all but the wealthiest are stuck renting tiny apartments with an ever-proliferating range of colorful names: micro-flats, nano apartments, coffin … [Read more...] about A Hong Kong architect thinks ‘tube homes’ made from concrete pipes can be a solution to the world’s housing crisis
How 29-year-old Hope Hicks, Trump’s ‘real daughter,’ became the youngest White House communications director in history — now ensnared in its biggest scandals
caption Hope Hicks. source Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Hope Hicks is President Donald Trump’s 29-year-old White House communications director. But before joining Trump’s 2016 campaign, she had no political experience. Hicks was born in Greenwich, a town of 60,000 on the southwest tip of Connecticut that’s a favorite spot for hedge-fund headquarters. She was a model, actress, and lacrosse player as a child, before getting her English degree at Southern Methodist University. Hicks didn’t intend on playing such a large role in a presidential campaign, instead falling into the gig through a job at the Trump Organization. Now she’s the youngest White House communications director in history. And Hicks has been with Trump – to use his words – “from the beginning.” White House staffers may even called her his “real daughter.” Recently, Hicks has become ensnared in two high-profile … [Read more...] about How 29-year-old Hope Hicks, Trump’s ‘real daughter,’ became the youngest White House communications director in history — now ensnared in its biggest scandals
Daymond John reveals how he started a $350 million business out of his mom’s house, became a ‘Shark Tank’ star, and gained a new perspective after beating cancer
Daymond John grew his clothing line FUBU from a few sewing machines in his mother’s house into a $350 million company. In 2009 he became one of the original celebrity investors on the hit TV show “Shark Tank.” He’s invested millions in a variety of companies, written books, and opened a coworking space in Manhattan. His newest title, “Rise and Grind,” looks at examples of people who succeeded despite the odds. Daymond John grew up in Queens, New York, where he dreamed of making clothes for the coolest, most famous rappers. That dream became a reality in the 1990s when FUBU became one of hip-hop’s hottest brands. He started off with nothing, turning his mom’s house into a factory, using graffiti as marketing, and talking his way on to the sets of music videos. John built FUBU into a global brand that brought in $350 million in annual sales at its peak. In … [Read more...] about Daymond John reveals how he started a $350 million business out of his mom’s house, became a ‘Shark Tank’ star, and gained a new perspective after beating cancer