I am honoured to have been asked by the CBC along with Quique Escamilla to have a live concert recorded for future broadcast. Very excited and I have a great band for the occasion, incredible players, would love to see you all there for moral support and so would Quique!
This would not have happened without you! Thank you!!!!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011
The RLP Shelter Foundation Gala!
Amazing night at the Shelter Foundation Gala! Thanks to everyone who attended and made the fundraiser such a great success! Thanks also to an incredible band and to Don Naduriak who helped me produce the musical part of the event and who was wonderful accompanying me on piano.
Also Joe Sealy, Don Englert, Duncan Hopkins, Brian o'Kane Mark Kelso
Thank you guys, you were Amazing!!
Also Joe Sealy, Don Englert, Duncan Hopkins, Brian o'Kane Mark Kelso
Thank you guys, you were Amazing!!
Friday, 18 November 2011
5 more ways to avoid buying the wrong house by Mark Weisleder
I love Mark's insightful articles, here is another one:
Last week I wrote about six important things that will ensure you buy the right
house at the right price, using your head, rather than your heart.
Here are five more things to keep in mind.
1. Understand bidding war rules
The main reason you overpay is panic while you are caught up in a bidding
war. In advance, find out first what the house should sell for. Many sellers
deliberately list for a price below market to attract a lot of buyers. Do not tip
your hand. If you give your offer too early in the day, the seller’s agent will call
everyone to try and encourage a bidding war. Bring in your offer around 7 pm
and make the irrevocable period no more than four hours. Put the pressure on
the seller, not on yourself.
2. Ask the seller hard questions
Ask the seller or the sellers agent if they know about an problems with the
house, things like basement flooding, mould or roof leaks, even if the leaks
have been repaired. Then ask if they know about the neighbourhood that would
have an impact on your purchase. Tell them you are relying on this information.
Watch how they answer. Most sellers will refuse to sign property disclosure
statements, but they are required to respond truthfully to these questions if you
ask them directly. If the seller refuses to answer or acts suspiciously, then you
need to discuss this with your home inspector and your real estate agent and
either adjust your purchase offer or walk away.
3. Basement apartments must be legal
If the home contains a basement apartment and the income is important to
you, make sure that it complies with zoning and the fire code by-laws. If it doesn’t, then all it takes is one complaint from a neighbour and you may be
forced to spend thousands of dollars to make it comply after you buy.
4. Check about your insurance premium early
Find an insurance agent right away and if possible, check what it will cost to obtain insurance as soon as you sign your agreement and before you waive
any conditions. An insurance agent can check the history of claims in the neighbourhood and can let you know about claims for sewage back-ups or
vandalism. This is important information that any buyer should have before deciding to waive their conditions and complete the deal.
5. Look into after sale warranty protection
More companies are entering this market, where for a fee of up to $500 per year, buyers can obtain after sale warranty protection on their furnace, air
conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems as well as on all major appliances. This is needed since no seller will warrant these items after closing.
Check out the deductibles and what may be excluded from coverage under these policies as they are all different, yet they can provide peace of mind and
only one number to call when you have a problem later.
If you follow these simple steps and buy with your head instead of your heart, chances are you’ll get the house you want at a price you can afford, with no
unwanted surprises later.
Mark Weisleder is a lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industry.
Last week I wrote about six important things that will ensure you buy the right
house at the right price, using your head, rather than your heart.
Here are five more things to keep in mind.
1. Understand bidding war rules
The main reason you overpay is panic while you are caught up in a bidding
war. In advance, find out first what the house should sell for. Many sellers
deliberately list for a price below market to attract a lot of buyers. Do not tip
your hand. If you give your offer too early in the day, the seller’s agent will call
everyone to try and encourage a bidding war. Bring in your offer around 7 pm
and make the irrevocable period no more than four hours. Put the pressure on
the seller, not on yourself.
2. Ask the seller hard questions
Ask the seller or the sellers agent if they know about an problems with the
house, things like basement flooding, mould or roof leaks, even if the leaks
have been repaired. Then ask if they know about the neighbourhood that would
have an impact on your purchase. Tell them you are relying on this information.
Watch how they answer. Most sellers will refuse to sign property disclosure
statements, but they are required to respond truthfully to these questions if you
ask them directly. If the seller refuses to answer or acts suspiciously, then you
need to discuss this with your home inspector and your real estate agent and
either adjust your purchase offer or walk away.
3. Basement apartments must be legal
If the home contains a basement apartment and the income is important to
you, make sure that it complies with zoning and the fire code by-laws. If it doesn’t, then all it takes is one complaint from a neighbour and you may be
forced to spend thousands of dollars to make it comply after you buy.
4. Check about your insurance premium early
Find an insurance agent right away and if possible, check what it will cost to obtain insurance as soon as you sign your agreement and before you waive
any conditions. An insurance agent can check the history of claims in the neighbourhood and can let you know about claims for sewage back-ups or
vandalism. This is important information that any buyer should have before deciding to waive their conditions and complete the deal.
5. Look into after sale warranty protection
More companies are entering this market, where for a fee of up to $500 per year, buyers can obtain after sale warranty protection on their furnace, air
conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems as well as on all major appliances. This is needed since no seller will warrant these items after closing.
Check out the deductibles and what may be excluded from coverage under these policies as they are all different, yet they can provide peace of mind and
only one number to call when you have a problem later.
If you follow these simple steps and buy with your head instead of your heart, chances are you’ll get the house you want at a price you can afford, with no
unwanted surprises later.
Mark Weisleder is a lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industry.
Saturday, 12 November 2011
6 ways to make sure you buy the right house
A year ago I wrote the most common mistake home buyers make is buying
with their heart instead of their head — usually because they panic while
involved in a stressful negotiation for which they are unprepared.
The result is that buyers pay more than they should, or are disappointed later
when they find defects in the home or discover the neighbourhood isn’t quite
what they thought.
So, here’s an updated list of six ways to prepare yourself:
1. Sell or buy first?
We are still in a seller’s market in the GTA, with the number of buyers
exceeding the number of available homes. In this type of market, you should
buy your new home first and then sell your existing home. If you sell first, you
may find yourself running out of time, with no home to move into, as the closing
date nears. This leads to panic buying.
In a buyer’s market, sell your home first as you won’t have as much trouble
finding a new one.
2. Research, research, research
Check police websites for neighbourhood crime statistics. Ask at City Hall if
new developments are planned or whether a new large employer is relocating
to the area. Jobs mean demand.
Walk any neighbourhood you are interested in and talk to people. You will learn the demographics of the area and its facilities. What schools are in the
area and is there a waiting list to get in? Are there activities nearby for children, including parks, libraries and community centres? You also get a sense of
the friendliness of the community and whether there are surprises that no one is going to advertise — vandalism, former grow houses, or the neighbour
from hell.
3. Find the right agent
Do not go into an open house alone, thinking you can save commission. The agent is working for the seller and their job is to get the seller the most money
possible. While focusing on saving a few dollars negotiating commission, you will invariably give away important information about yourself, which will hurt
you later.
Start by asking family and friends for a buyer agent referral. Then study the agent’s own website. Do they offer information that will assist you with your
search? Do they have a team of professionals they can share with you? When you interview them, ask them about their knowledge of the area; in
particular, is it known for sewage backups, termites, flooding or mould. Ask for their own success rate when working with buyers, especially in bidding
wars, and then call those buyers yourself.
4. How much can you afford?
You should never live just to pay your mortgage, or else the rest of your life will suffer. Meet with a mortgage broker in advance to determine how much
you can safely borrow, based on your income and family needs. Buyers should also realize the lender will do an appraisal and if the lender believes you
paid more than the house is worth, they will not give you the full amount of the loan you expect. So, be very careful about stretching yourself to the limit
when you make an offer.
5. Choose a home inspector carefully
The home inspection is becoming even more important, as it is one of the only ways for a buyer to check against unwanted surprises after closing.
Ask for references and call these references yourself, especially the ones who bought older homes, where problems are more likely to occur later. There
are now additional inspections that test specifically for mould or termites. There are video cameras that can tell you the condition of your sewage system
and scanners that can look behind walls. If it is an older home, it is worth this extra investment.
Remember, most inspection firms have a limitation of liability clause, which states that if they miss something that costs you money, they are not
responsible. Ask the company if they have ever been sued by a buyer.
6. Title insurance is a must
Title insurance can be arranged through your lawyer. You will be protected against unpaid taxes or water bills by the seller, as well as problems that are
not known at closing. This includes problems where part of the home or swimming pool is in fact on your neighbour’s property.
However, it is a mistake to believe title insurance will protect you against everything. For example, it won’t compensate you if you thought your lot was 50
feet and a later survey showed it was only 48 feet. That is why you should always ask for an up-to-date survey on the property.
Next week: Five more important things to look for when buying a house.
By
Mark Weisleder- lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industry.
with their heart instead of their head — usually because they panic while
involved in a stressful negotiation for which they are unprepared.
The result is that buyers pay more than they should, or are disappointed later
when they find defects in the home or discover the neighbourhood isn’t quite
what they thought.
So, here’s an updated list of six ways to prepare yourself:
1. Sell or buy first?
We are still in a seller’s market in the GTA, with the number of buyers
exceeding the number of available homes. In this type of market, you should
buy your new home first and then sell your existing home. If you sell first, you
may find yourself running out of time, with no home to move into, as the closing
date nears. This leads to panic buying.
In a buyer’s market, sell your home first as you won’t have as much trouble
finding a new one.
2. Research, research, research
Check police websites for neighbourhood crime statistics. Ask at City Hall if
new developments are planned or whether a new large employer is relocating
to the area. Jobs mean demand.
Walk any neighbourhood you are interested in and talk to people. You will learn the demographics of the area and its facilities. What schools are in the
area and is there a waiting list to get in? Are there activities nearby for children, including parks, libraries and community centres? You also get a sense of
the friendliness of the community and whether there are surprises that no one is going to advertise — vandalism, former grow houses, or the neighbour
from hell.
3. Find the right agent
Do not go into an open house alone, thinking you can save commission. The agent is working for the seller and their job is to get the seller the most money
possible. While focusing on saving a few dollars negotiating commission, you will invariably give away important information about yourself, which will hurt
you later.
Start by asking family and friends for a buyer agent referral. Then study the agent’s own website. Do they offer information that will assist you with your
search? Do they have a team of professionals they can share with you? When you interview them, ask them about their knowledge of the area; in
particular, is it known for sewage backups, termites, flooding or mould. Ask for their own success rate when working with buyers, especially in bidding
wars, and then call those buyers yourself.
4. How much can you afford?
You should never live just to pay your mortgage, or else the rest of your life will suffer. Meet with a mortgage broker in advance to determine how much
you can safely borrow, based on your income and family needs. Buyers should also realize the lender will do an appraisal and if the lender believes you
paid more than the house is worth, they will not give you the full amount of the loan you expect. So, be very careful about stretching yourself to the limit
when you make an offer.
5. Choose a home inspector carefully
The home inspection is becoming even more important, as it is one of the only ways for a buyer to check against unwanted surprises after closing.
Ask for references and call these references yourself, especially the ones who bought older homes, where problems are more likely to occur later. There
are now additional inspections that test specifically for mould or termites. There are video cameras that can tell you the condition of your sewage system
and scanners that can look behind walls. If it is an older home, it is worth this extra investment.
Remember, most inspection firms have a limitation of liability clause, which states that if they miss something that costs you money, they are not
responsible. Ask the company if they have ever been sued by a buyer.
6. Title insurance is a must
Title insurance can be arranged through your lawyer. You will be protected against unpaid taxes or water bills by the seller, as well as problems that are
not known at closing. This includes problems where part of the home or swimming pool is in fact on your neighbour’s property.
However, it is a mistake to believe title insurance will protect you against everything. For example, it won’t compensate you if you thought your lot was 50
feet and a later survey showed it was only 48 feet. That is why you should always ask for an up-to-date survey on the property.
Next week: Five more important things to look for when buying a house.
By
Mark Weisleder- lawyer, author and speaker to the real estate industry.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Laura Fernandez Music
Laura Fernandez Music
Thrilled to have been asked by the CBC to be recorded live for future broadcast!!!
Jan 12th at the fabulous Lula Lounge!!
Would be thrilled to be surrounded by all my friends!
Thrilled to have been asked by the CBC to be recorded live for future broadcast!!!
Jan 12th at the fabulous Lula Lounge!!
Would be thrilled to be surrounded by all my friends!
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Lula Lounge Latin Jazz series Toronto Downtown Jazz festival
Date: July 3, 2011
Venue: Lula Lounge
Lula Lounge
Latin Jazz series Toronto Downtown Jazz festival
This will be a full band show with an amazing band!
Sunday, July 3rd
7:30 pm
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. W., west of Dufferin
416 588 0307
info@lula.ca
Venue: Lula Lounge
Lula Lounge
Latin Jazz series Toronto Downtown Jazz festival
This will be a full band show with an amazing band!
Sunday, July 3rd
7:30 pm
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. W., west of Dufferin
416 588 0307
info@lula.ca
Latinada -Toronto Jazz Festival
Latinada -Toronto Jazz Festival
Date: July 1, 2011
Venue: Latinada
1671 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6P 1A6
(416) 913-9716
with Don Naduriak
9pm
10 dollar cover
Friday, 6 May 2011
Latinada
TONIGHT!
Latinada
1671 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6P 1A6
(416) 913-9716
with Don Naduriak
no cover
8 pm
Latinada
1671 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6P 1A6
(416) 913-9716
with Don Naduriak
no cover
8 pm
Friday, 29 April 2011
Come see me tonight at the Brampton Folk Club Latin Night
Brampton Folk Club, a Latin Night, with 3 artists each performing a solo set, and then all of us performing together at the end of the night. The artists are myself with Don Naduriak as my special guest, the guitarist extraordinaire Kevin Laliberte and vocalist/percussionist/guitarist Rodrigo Chavez!
It will be a fun night!
Friday April 29, 2011
7:30 pm
St Paul's United Church
Corner of Main and John
Brampton
tickets in advance or at the door:
info@bramptonfolk.ca
647-BFF-FOLK (647-233-3655)
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