Refined Realty, Brokerage / Laura Plant Real Estate

10/12/2026

Happy Thanksgiving! May you be blessed with love, laughter and a full belly.

09/30/2026

09/15/2026

A buyers’ market is indicated by greater supply than demand, so sellers need to be more competitive to attract buyers (ie. typically with pricing).

However, this is a generalization – or average – across “the” market as a whole. There are always exceptions to every main trend though. This can occur in smaller geographic pockets, specific build styles, streets or even single homes. Supply and demand are affected by economic factors on a large scale, of course, but they can also drive individual sales in different directions. There are many sellers that have seen quick success in this market. A unique, upscale home can attract a lot of attention. A desirable geographic location can experience more growth than other areas.

So, if you hear ‘it’s a buyers’ market’, don’t assume that all sellers are having a tough time and that 'it's a bad time to sell'. There are many that are selling very quickly close to, at, or even over, asking price.

Fair pricing for the current market, good presentation and marketing, and having a property type that's in low supply and high demand can all make for a quick sale achieving desired results.

At the end of the day, there are many sales that just cannot be predicted with 100% certainty. If there’s one thing that’s been made apparent over the past year, it’s that this market has seen a lot of opposing outcomes for different consumers. Many buyers have had their pick of no-pressure, negotiable prices, but there are still others that have faced multiple offers and bidding over list price. One home may sit for months and then a similar one on the same street sells in a day. There can be so many specific factors affecting buyers’ decisions that it’s often hard for even the most experienced realtor to know which seller will get lucky with that right buyer that’s been looking for just that home and which seller will sit on market despite all factors indictating a quick sale. Things can fluctuate in different directions and in different locales from week-to-week and month-to-month.

Unsure of your potential plans to sell? Reach out and let's discuss. Perhaps we can decide on a plan geared to your specific circumstances and goals.

09/08/2026

Packing/moving tip: save those Amazon sleeves for protecting vases, glasses and other breakables!

09/02/2026

After carefully and patiently searching far and wide, we finally found THE ONE - this beautiful, custom-built, luxury home featuring an abundance of versatile spaces, and stunning, high-quality finishes! I'm so glad this family stuck it out and patiently negotiated the market - buying and selling - and I'm excited for them to finally, thoroughly, enjoy their next chapter. ❤️🏡🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

09/01/2026

Cool! 💧

💧 A refreshing new addition to downtown Tottenham is now open!

Mayor Richard Norcross, Members of Council and Town staff recently gathered to celebrate the official opening of Tottenham's new bottle fill station at the corner of Mill Street and Queen Street.

A special thank you goes to the Town's Public Works team, whose hard work helped bring this project from concept to completion. Their efforts have created a convenient new amenity that provides free access to safe, high-quality municipal drinking water for residents and visitors.

The station supports healthy hydration, encourages the use of reusable water bottles and helps reduce single-use plastic waste in our community.

Stop by, fill up and stay refreshed! 🚰♻️

newtecumseth.ca

09/01/2026

If you've found a serious contender in your property search but you're even somewhat unfamiliar with the street and/or local area, consider taking a quick drive-by at different times of day and on different days of the week (if distance permits). You may find, on a Tuesday evening or Sunday morning, it's a wonderfully quiet neighbourhood, but what could other days and times hold?

- RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (Is it a busy street for vehicular traffic - a commuter thoroughfare - in the morning and at dinner time? Do you have concerns about congestion, parking, safety and/or noise?)

- SCHOOL TRAFFIC (Is there a school nearby increasing pedestrian and vehicular traffic (including school buses) in the morning and mid-afternoon? Might this be convenient if you have a school-aged child, but completely unappealing if you don't?)

- ROWDY NEIGHBOURS (Could there potentially be groups of neighbours that are fond of getting loud and misbehaving at Friday or Saturday night parties? Perhaps you'd like to be invited, or maybe this would interrupt your desired peace and quiet!)

- LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS (Are there noises you witness (a train, a factory, lots of barking dogs, etc)? Are there things you notice in the dark (poor street lighting)? Are there things you notice in different weather (ie. unplowed streets after snow, flooded streets after rain)?)

A little time spent observing now can eliminate surprises and disappointments after moving in!

Even talking to a neighbour or two if you find them outside could give you some insight into any positives and negatives of living there.

08/25/2026

It's important to know that things can change between getting pre-approved for a mortgage and what you actually get final approval for.

A pre-approval is an initial estimate of how much money a lender is likely to loan you so that you can shop for a home with a good level of confidence. A lender or broker typically does a general review of income documents provided by you, checks your credit and offers a loan limit along with an interest rate quote that is typically held for 90 to 120 days.

A mortgage commitment is offered when you formally apply for the mortgage for a specific property. The lender does a more thorough review of current income and credit status, details specific conditions to be met at closing, and bases the loan on the appaised value of the specific property being financed. If the appraisal doesn't support the amount being financed, they may turn down the loan (regardless of what you were pre-approved for). If your overall circumstances have become less favourable in terms of income, debt or credit standing, they may turn down the loan. They may approve a smaller loan but then you would have to come up with more cash to purchase that property...or find a lower-priced property. Keep in mind, these changes that affect eligibility aren't just important up to a firm purchase date but all the way up to closing date!

As you look for a home, keep your lender or broker apprised of any changes in your circumstances so you are always working with the appropriate budget, and there is less likelihood of encountering surprises and disappointments when you (a) find that home to buy and (b) try to fund it upon closing.

08/20/2026

Lighting is so impactful - not just when selling a home but also in how it aids you and comforts you in your own life. Of course brightness is important, but choosing colour temperatures (kelvins) depending on your needs, preferences and overall lifestyle, can really make a positive difference in your spaces. Can't figure out which bulbs to buy and try (and don't want the hassle)? Try these convenient temperature-selectable ones I found that allow you to try out different levels in your spaces and set the ones you like! Then you can always move them between spaces and/or change the levels as your needs change!

08/11/2026

You've probably heard many claims about what's allowed and not allowed when it comes to leasing. What tenants can and can't do. What landlords can and can't do. I hear and read many widespread beliefs that are either sometimes true and other times not true. There's not one simple answer. Other things I hear or read are completely false.

I am very experienced in leasing transactions and am very well-versed in the RTA. Let me help you navigate the laws, expose the myths, and protect yourself when getting into a lease contract. There can be a lot of push and pull in negotiating leases. It's better to have an agent representing you on your side only, rather than having one agent represent both sides.