The fall season is finally here with the leaves changing colour and falling off the trees, coupled with the cold temperatures.

I hope you and your family had an safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. I had a great time over the holiday visiting my family and friends in Toronto enjoying plenty of food and their company.

In my experience and speaking with other realtors, when it comes to attracting buyers to buying homes, I have learned that today’s homebuyers are attracted to specific top features in a home that they want and are willing to pay more money for. The top features are:

• Open concept floor plans – This feature provides a homeowner with the ability to interact with their guests even if they are in a different room. This home feature is popular with families with young children as an open concept allows the parents the ability to watch their children even if they are not in the same room or area of the home.
   
• Updated kitchen – Many home buyers today are not interested in remodelling a kitchen themselves or don’t have the money to pay for it. I have seen too many times homeowners making the mistake of spending tremendous amounts of money on kitchen renovations which, in turn, did not attract today’s homebuyers. There are many ways to update your kitchen at a low cost without breaking the bank that will attract today’s homebuyers, such as a fresh coat of paint, re-staining or refinishing kitchen cabinetry, new kitchen cabinet hardware, new light fixtures, new plumbing fixtures and a new sink.
   
• Updated bathroom – Many home buyers will not choose a home that has a bathroom that is outdated and dirty. Here are some low-cost bathroom upgrades that would appeal to today’s homebuyers: new vanity, new medicine cabinet, new plumbing fixtures, new bathtub/shower surround, updated light fixtures and clean and organized linen closet(s). 
   
• Outdoor space – Many of today’s homebuyers prefer to choose a home with specific outdoor features, such as landscaping, pools, fire pits, balcony, gardens and outdoor kitchens.
   
• Home technologies – Many of today’s home buyers are very “tech-savvy” especially millennial home buyers who are 28 years and under.  Home technologies that can help increase the appeal of a home are: programmable thermostats,  which can be controlled by a smartphone, tablet, or another mobile device; whole home speaker systems; key-less locks that can be accessed via Bluetooth, and timed irrigation systems.
   
• Energy-efficient appliances, furnace, air conditioning and windows – These features that appeal to today’s homebuyers who are not looking for a home that is environmentally-friendly and safe, but a home that will help save money on their utility bills.

Have fun reading the newsletter!

Michael Arthur.

         While real estate also follows a cycle, it tends to be a much more gradual one.  Investing in revenue properties offers us limited immunity from fluctuation. 

         This means that you don’t tend to see the massive ups and downs of the stock and commodity markets.  It’s a much gentler ride, and tends to provide very solid returns on investment over the long run.  This is another reason I prefer real estate investing over other kinds of investments.