Buying property isn’t cheap and involves more than just the cost of the property. Associated fees can start to add up so, for some tips on how to cut down on your closing costs, read on.

1. Comparison shop lenders. Besides shopping for the best interest rate, also research the vendors each lender uses for things like the survey fee, title search, and title insurance. Compare prices on these vendors and ask to switch vendors if you find a better price.
2. Shop around for different real estate lawyers.
3. Compare home insurance quotes.
4. Negotiate with the seller and find out if they will cover some of the closing costs. This is only likely to happen with a property that has been challenging to sell.
5. If you are a first-time home buyer, investigate incentives.
6. Try to close at the end of the month to reduce the amount of interest applied before the first mortgage payment.
7. Ask lenders if they offer any incentives for choosing to borrow with them – such as cash back or waiving fees.

While some closing costs are fixed, such as taxes, there are several ways you can reduce the amount of your closing costs, so you can walk into your new place with a little bit more in the bank than you would otherwise.

Securing a trouble-free tenant is every landlord’s wish, and to do that requires treating the position of landlord as a professional job. As a landlord you should:

• Familiarize yourself with your area’s landlord-tenant laws.
• Tend to anything broken or hazardous and ensure the appropriate number of working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed in the appropriate places (Pro tip: swap the batteries every daylight saving time).
• Research what comparable properties in your area are renting for to determine a fair rent, factoring in all your property-related bills. Increase the rent annually to the legal amount to keep up with the market.
• Use a government-issued lease agreement template and include any additional rules you have. Consider having a real estate lawyer look it over.
• Screen potential tenants by doing an interview, credit check, calling work and landlord references, and checking work history.
• Make sure your property is insured and encourage your tenant(s) to get their own insurance.
• Report rental income on your taxes and take advantage of relevant tax credits.
• If you want to rent your condo, check if it’s permitted and what the condo rules are to ensure you are covering all the bases.

With proper due diligence, you stand a greater chance of enjoying a passive income, without a big headache.

If you are thinking of sprucing up your property with a fresh coat of paint, the first thing that comes to mind is the colour. But to accomplish the look you are trying to achieve, an equal amount of thought should go into the type of paint sheen you will use, which is how much light reflects off the paint. For a rundown of the most common sheens read on.

Matte or Flat – With no reflective properties, this is a good option for touch-ups since they are less visible. Keep in mind it’s less durable, and will be damaged if treated with a cleaner, so it’s best used in low-traffic areas.

Eggshell – This sheen is soft like an eggshell, hence the name. It’s good for medium-traffic areas like entryways, hallways, and living rooms.

Satin – A popular choice for its increased gloss and better durability over lower sheens like eggshell, making it easier to clean and good for busy areas.

High-Gloss or Semi-Gloss – These sheens are shiny, sleek, and very durable with high moisture resistance, making them good for high-traffic and humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms. However, their shine shows imperfections the most. For maximum shine and durability, high-gloss is the best choice.

If you are torn between what sheen to choose, you can always mix them to get a little of both.

If you are planning a vacation this winter, in order to make sure things go smoothly, it’s wise to prepare your home before you go away. Here is a helpful pre-vacation home checklist:

• Don’t tell everyone about your vacation or post about it on social media – the fewer people who know your home is empty, the safer.
• If you are in a house, ask a neighbour to keep an eye on things, bring in your mail and help with any outdoor maintenance needed while you are away. Provide them with a key and your contact information in case they need to reach you due to an emergency.
• Consider keeping a couple of lights on, setting lights up on timers if you have them, or controlling them remotely with your smartphone.
• Unplug unneeded devices to save power and to prevent an electrical fire.
• Keep your thermostat at 15 °C (59°F in the US) to avoid pipes bursting in cold climates.
• Turn off the water supply to prevent water damage.
• If you have smart technology linked to your phone, you can check on your home with security cameras, turn on and off the TV, and open and close blinds, to make your home appear occupied.

The first day of winter will be arriving this month and depending on where you live, you may start spending more time indoors. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t bring the outside in. House plants are a great way to do that, and they have benefits for you as well, such as:

• Reduced anxiety – One study used two groups that each transplanted a house plant and then did a computer task. Findings showed that at the end of transplanting, participants had a noted decrease in blood pressure compared to when they did the computer task.
  
  
• Improved productivity – Another study found that when plants were added to a windowless lab, college students worked 12 per cent faster.
  
  
• Increased happiness – People who spent 5 to 10 minutes in a room with a few house plants were reported in an experiment to feel happier than people who spent time in a room with no plants.
  
  
• Sharpened attention – When elementary-aged students were placed in separate classrooms, one with a real plant, one with an artificial plant, and one with a photo of a plant, a study found the students in the room with the real plant showed improvements in attention and concentration in brain scans.

So, if you are thinking of getting house plants, or adding some to your collection, check online for the many options available.

Before Old Man Winter arrives, now is the time to consider how you can save on your heating bill. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Seal air leaks around windows and doors.
2. If you don’t already have one, install a programmable or smart thermostat to program the temperature for different times or control remotely.
3. Open the curtains or blinds during the day and close them at night to keep the heat in. 
4. Close doors in unoccupied rooms.
5. Change your furnace filters regularly and schedule an annual HVAC inspection to keep it running efficiently.
6. If you have a ceiling fan spin it clockwise on the lowest setting to help trapped heat move down. 
7. Use a humidifier. Moist air feels warmer than dry air.
8. Ensure your vents are clear to allow the air to flow freely.
9. Wear warm clothes and use lots of blankets when resting.
10. Get cookin’. The warmth from the stove and oven will help warm your home.
11. If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed when the coals are completely done burning, and use a draft stopper to cover the fireplace opening.
12. If you have an attic or crawl space, make sure it is well-insulated, which can save you an average of 15 percent on your heating bill.

With a little thought, you can stay toasty while saving money this winter. Happy saving!