Comments on: There’s no such thing as the perfect home http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home Toronto's new weekly city magazine Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:43:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: SRP http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45977 SRP Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:31:17 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45977 You offend too easily, coreen. It's called a figure of speech. You offend too easily, coreen. It’s called a figure of speech.

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]]> By: SRP http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45976 SRP Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:28:25 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45976 Read the article again. Slowly, if that helps things sink in better. Read the article again. Slowly, if that helps things sink in better.

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]]> By: SRP http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45975 SRP Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:26:49 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45975 If someone were to take umbrage to Mr. Fleming's figures, or provide a counter-point as to why a perfect home may indeed exist, more power to 'em I say. Unfortunately, 80-90% of the comments on here do absolutely *nothing* to contribute to the conversation. As an avid reader of the Grid, it's incredibly disappointing to see such thoughtless bile constantly being spewed by its readership. Mr. Reality Check is merely giving the vast majority of the commenters a taste of their own medicine. It may sound elitist, but then frustration breeds frustration. Let's see your smarts, Grid readers -- if you have any. If someone were to take umbrage to Mr. Fleming’s figures, or provide a counter-point as to why a perfect home may indeed exist, more power to ‘em I say.

Unfortunately, 80-90% of the comments on here do absolutely *nothing* to contribute to the conversation. As an avid reader of the Grid, it’s incredibly disappointing to see such thoughtless bile constantly being spewed by its readership.

Mr. Reality Check is merely giving the vast majority of the commenters a taste of their own medicine. It may sound elitist, but then frustration breeds frustration. Let’s see your smarts, Grid readers — if you have any.

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]]> By: SRP http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45972 SRP Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:17:31 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45972 And you're clearly a troll. And you’re clearly a troll.

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]]> By: Mike Holmes http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45376 Mike Holmes Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:34:46 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45376 I find it incredibly annoying when realtors representing buyers "urge" them to buy a POS house that they are not comfortable with. And if you don't, apparently you are not a serious enough buyer. Which is what it sounds like David is doing here. Whose realtor are you? Buyers or sellers? Oh wait, the people who pay you, aka the seller. As a buyer you must trust your own instincts and do your homework so you know what you're getting into. I agree that there is no perfect house (unless you have a bazzilion dollars), but there is an almost perfect house for you. I am house hunting right now. And I specifically asked for older homes that need work, because that's all I can afford. I have a great licensed contractor who will fix it for me. I've seen some horrible houses so far that are "renovated" but all done incorrectly. The seller expects me to pay for a renovation that will have to be ripped out anyway. I'd rather buy the dump because at least I know what I am getting myself into to a certain extent. But even then, it depends on what needs to be fixed. I'd love to find a home where all that's needed are some wiring updates, 3 new windows and flashing. Unfortunately, most homes less than $500,000 need at least $20,000 in must do fixes to make the house safe. We saw one house facing Greenwood park and my partner found asbestos wrapping around the vents. We asked the seller's agent and he got pretty defensive. He said we could cover it with duct tape. And then he said contrary to Mike Holmes, no one has ever died of asbestosis. Really champ? Not even when its floating all over this "renovated" home through the air ways? At the last house I saw, my realtor tried to give me interior designing advise on how I could add a bench to the mudroom at the back of the house. The mudroom was added incorrectly, framed badly and all the wood on the outside was rotting. Inside the seller had painted it all white to make it look good. It's an easy fix for me but honestly, its comments like that that make realtors look like snake oil salesmen. Why not just say, oh yeah I notice the mudroom is rotted, you might have to replace that but its a good space to have and leave it at that? Don't buy anything you are not comfortable with. And if your realtor tries to encourage you too much, fire him or her and get another one. I find it incredibly annoying when realtors representing buyers “urge” them to buy a POS house that they are not comfortable with. And if you don’t, apparently you are not a serious enough buyer. Which is what it sounds like David is doing here. Whose realtor are you? Buyers or sellers? Oh wait, the people who pay you, aka the seller. As a buyer you must trust your own instincts and do your homework so you know what you’re getting into.

I agree that there is no perfect house (unless you have a bazzilion dollars), but there is an almost perfect house for you. I am house hunting right now. And I specifically asked for older homes that need work, because that’s all I can afford. I have a great licensed contractor who will fix it for me. I’ve seen some horrible houses so far that are “renovated” but all done incorrectly. The seller expects me to pay for a renovation that will have to be ripped out anyway. I’d rather buy the dump because at least I know what I am getting myself into to a certain extent. But even then, it depends on what needs to be fixed. I’d love to find a home where all that’s needed are some wiring updates, 3 new windows and flashing. Unfortunately, most homes less than $500,000 need at least $20,000 in must do fixes to make the house safe.

We saw one house facing Greenwood park and my partner found asbestos wrapping around the vents. We asked the seller’s agent and he got pretty defensive. He said we could cover it with duct tape. And then he said contrary to Mike Holmes, no one has ever died of asbestosis. Really champ? Not even when its floating all over this “renovated” home through the air ways? At the last house I saw, my realtor tried to give me interior designing advise on how I could add a bench to the mudroom at the back of the house. The mudroom was added incorrectly, framed badly and all the wood on the outside was rotting. Inside the seller had painted it all white to make it look good. It’s an easy fix for me but honestly, its comments like that that make realtors look like snake oil salesmen. Why not just say, oh yeah I notice the mudroom is rotted, you might have to replace that but its a good space to have and leave it at that?

Don’t buy anything you are not comfortable with. And if your realtor tries to encourage you too much, fire him or her and get another one.

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]]> By: Adam http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45315 Adam Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:19:45 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45315 I just find it interesting how Mr. Reality check is slamming the readership of this magazine, yet is commenting on this article. It's not as if he opened up his laptop and !Bang! The Grid was there luring his eyes to every word. You, Mr. Reality Check are part of the demographic you love to hate. You might want to educate yourself on the actual demographic of the publication before running your mouth like an idiot. I just find it interesting how Mr. Reality check is slamming the readership of this magazine, yet is commenting on this article. It’s not as if he opened up his laptop and !Bang! The Grid was there luring his eyes to every word. You, Mr. Reality Check are part of the demographic you love to hate. You might want to educate yourself on the actual demographic of the publication before running your mouth like an idiot.

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]]> By: Skeptic http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45195 Skeptic Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:24:40 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45195 Cause those economists, real estate experts and financial gurus really proved their worth during the economic collapse none of them saw coming. What qualifies you to tell anyone anything you elitist jerk. Cause those economists, real estate experts and financial gurus really proved their worth during the economic collapse none of them saw coming. What qualifies you to tell anyone anything you elitist jerk.

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]]> By: Lloyd J http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45140 Lloyd J Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:29:51 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45140 Having bought (and sold ) several houses over the last twenty years, I agree with Mr. Fleming in that there is no such thing as a perfect house. However "When you consider the price of an average Toronto home today", you should realize that you are buying at a very expensiive time. If you are "investing" in a home, consider that housing in Toronto has never been more expensive (compared to average incomes) than it is right now. Canadians have never been more indebted than they are right now. The average price of a house in Canada is now double what it is in the USA . The USA crash happened in 2006, and six years later, prices have not even come close to recovering. Japan has been in a housing slump for over twenty years. Yes you read right. In a mountainous country the size of a postage stamp, with a population of 128 million, Tokyo, population 13 million, houses have lost 80% of their value from peak since 1991. Of course you may have heard about bubbles bursting in Ireland, Spain and this year it looks like France is going to be the crash poster boy. Think it can't happen here? Many think we are starting the fall already. But please, don't ask a real estate agent. That's like asking a Toyota dealer what the best kind of car is. You've heard the saying about investments; "Buy low , sell high." Do you really think that house prices are low? Do you really believe they can go higher? Having bought (and sold ) several houses over the last twenty years, I agree with Mr. Fleming in that there is no such thing as a perfect house.
However “When you consider the price of an average Toronto home today”, you should realize that you are buying at a very expensiive time.

If you are “investing” in a home, consider that housing in Toronto has never been more expensive (compared to average incomes) than it is right now. Canadians have never been more indebted than they are right now. The average price of a house in Canada is now double what it is in the USA . The USA crash happened in 2006, and six years later, prices have not even come close to recovering.
Japan has been in a housing slump for over twenty years. Yes you read right. In a mountainous country the size of a postage stamp, with a population of 128 million, Tokyo, population 13 million, houses have lost 80% of their value from peak since 1991.
Of course you may have heard about bubbles bursting in Ireland, Spain and this year it looks like France is going to be the crash poster boy.
Think it can’t happen here? Many think we are starting the fall already.
But please, don’t ask a real estate agent. That’s like asking a Toyota dealer what the best kind of car is.

You’ve heard the saying about investments; “Buy low , sell high.”
Do you really think that house prices are low? Do you really believe they can go higher?

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]]> By: Vlad http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45138 Vlad Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:26:58 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45138 What's your point? What’s your point?

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]]> By: KJ http://www.thegridto.com/life/real-estate/theres-no-such-thing-as-the-perfect-home/#comment-45137 KJ Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:12:27 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=123624#comment-45137 David Fleming is clearly yet another snake oil selling sh1t for brains realtor. David Fleming is clearly yet another snake oil selling sh1t for brains realtor.

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