New money laundering legislation for Real Estate

April 28, 2008 · Filed Under First Time Buyers, Real Estate Articles and St. John's Real Estate · Comment 

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced changes to Canada’s anti-money laundering legislation, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. The changes will have an impact on how real estate transactions are conducted in Canada. New amendments to money laundering legislation are effective on June 23, 2008.

Basically for the general public this means you will have to provide proof of identification when you sit down to purchase a property. Not really much difference from when you open a bank account, purchase a car or purchase insurance or receive a VISA. Need a Passport? Guess what….you need to show birth certificate and another form of identification. Need a marriage license…..same thing. Real Estate was lacking behind in this area. About time the government stepped up in my opinion.

For the Realtor? We have to Identify our clients. Currently, if you have identified an individual before, you do not have to do so again if you recognize the individual. Once the changes come into effect, if you have doubts about the information collected concerning an individual’s previous identification, you will have to identify that individual again.

If the parties in the transaction are each represented by a different real estate broker or sales representative, you will have to identify the individual or confirm the existence of the entity that you represent in the transaction.

If some parties in a real estate transaction are not represented by a real estate broker or sales representative while other parties are, each real estate broker or sales representative who represents a party to the transaction will have to identify or confirm the existence of the parties that are not represented.

To learn more visit FINTRAC’s website at www.fintrac.gc.ca

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Strategies for Buying Real Estate in St. John’s

December 29, 2007 · Filed Under First Time Buyers and St. John's Real Estate · Comment 

Learn as much about market values as you can. Compare properties, not only the price but the condition of the property. Visit open houses. Arrange private viewings. Ask your Realtor to prepare a market evaluation of the property (this will tell you recently sold prices and active listing prices of similar properties). Email me and I will send you daily active listings as they are listed on the market.

Most offers are subject to two major conditions. 1) Home Inspection and 2) Financing

The Home Inspection is an option that you, as the buyer, can drop, but for the cost of the inspection versus the cost of the house I would not recommend this. I’ve seen time and time again a Home Inspection saving my clients thousands of dollars in unseen defects.
As for the financing, this option is a must. No financing = no mortgage = no house. Read my post from yesterday Arrange Your Mortgage - Get Pre Approved. The way the Real Estate market in St. John’s, Mount Pearl and surrounding areas are booming now, having your pre-approval in place is key.

Armed with this knowledge you will feel comfortable in writing an offer when the right house appears.

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