Mandatory energy audits?

Under the proposed new Green Energy Act, Ontarians won't be able to sell their homes or condos without first getting an energy audit, which costs roughly $300. Audits should still qualify for the up to $150 subsidy under the Green Energy Act.

The legislation won't require sellers to take any action on the audit results, it's merely intended to inform potential buyers of the property's energy efficiency, and create some more jobs in the energy auditing field.

As the proposal is being debated and fine-tuned, Energy Minister George Smitherman has also hinted that buyers may end up footing the audit bill.

As a prospective buyer, and someone with a bit of a green tilt, I think mandatory audits, regardless of who pays for them, would be a great move. I'd prefer to have a picture of my energy costs and know what work would need to be done to cut my bills before making an offer on a property.

But critics, and there are many, share a different view. They argue the audits are just a thinly disguised new tax in an already overtaxed industry, and that this measure would further drive down prices at a time when many homeowners are already feeling squeezed.

What do you think? Is this a positive step in a green direction, or another stress on the real estate market? Or is it both?

Read more on this topic:
Green audits have critics seeing red
Home sellers face $300 'green audit

A money-back guarantee incentive to buy?

Nearly 60 per cent of Yourhomers say a money-back guarantee wouldn't spur them to buy in this grim economic climate.

The deal from the Brownstone Group of Companies offers prospective buyers their money back, plus interest, if they lose their jobs.

Fifty-nine per cent of the respondents in last week's poll said this offer wouldn't be enough to sway their opinions on the market, while nine per cent said they didn't know.

About a third (32 per cent) of those who voted said the offer would tempt them to open their wallets.

This week, we ask about splurging and saving. With the current economic gloom and doom, are there any home products that you'd be willing to splurge on? If so, what are they? Read Vicky Sanderson's tips on when to splurge and when to save, then cast your ballot.

I'll pass on the results next Saturday, and let you know what's at the top of my list!

And, for some Saturday morning reading, I recommend Colin and Justin's latest bedroom makeover and Sonia Day's tips for bringing spring inside by forcing branches.

POLL: Make your condo a double?

Last week's poll, inspired by clever condo buyer Mehmet Bagriacik, who expanded his condo at The Met vertically, asked readers if the ability to combine units vertically would make them more likely to purchase in a condo building.

Almost 60 per cent of respondents said this customization feature would make the building more attractive, while roughly 40 per cent said no. About 2 per cent voted in the "I don't know" category.

The new poll takes a cue from the story about the Brownstone Group of Companies' money-back guarantee, which offers prospective buyers their money back, plus interest, if they lose their jobs during the build. In the current economic climate, would this offer be enough to assuage your fears and persuade you to buy? I'll give you the results next week.

In the meantime, I recommend checking out Colin and Justin's brilliant basement renovation, which comes complete with a simple art project for the Family Day weekend. And, you still have time to create that romantic Valentine's Day setting — visit our story by interior designer Tara Dalla-Nora for all the deets.

Is now the time to buy?

Looking at the recent headlines in real estate, it's easy to get confused whether now is the time to make a purchase in the Toronto market.

With prices slipping, the housing market in a "correction", the new renovation tax credit and low interest rates, proponents are saying now's the perfect time for new buyers to enter the market, or for existing homeowners to upgrade — so long as you plan to hold on to the property for a little while.

Others say prospective buyers should hold off, as the market has further to fall, with many predictions forecasting the beginning of a rebound in 2010.

And, the other side argues that with all the current economic uncertainty, it is a shaky time to enter the market and people should hold off for more stability.

Meanwhile, housing starts fell in January and the city has plans to bump taxes for homeowners by four per cent.

What do you think? Should renters like myself be pumping up that down payment fund? What advice would you offer to new buyers?

Read more on this topic:
Canadian new home prices slip again
The take on the tax hike
Homeowners face 4% tax hike
Loss of confidence swamps housing market
Housing starts down 11 per cent in January
New tax credit for home improvements

Would you buy a haunted house?

Our Oct. 25 story on the family driven out of their Meaford home by inexplicable events garnered a lot of attention - and inspired last week's poll question, which asked readers if they would purchase a home connected to stories of ghosts, hauntings or other unexplained happenings.

The majority of readers - at 61 per cent - said no, while 26 per cent said they would and 13 per cent said they would consider the purchase.

Of course, this question assumes prior knowledge. As we learned from Bob Aaron's column, it's buyer beware when dealing with stigmatized real estate.

Personally, I think I would have difficulty buying a home connected to such stories - if I knew about it.

Living in older homes in both Halifax and Toronto, I'm accustomed to creaks and weird noises, and am not concerned by the fact that people have likely died in them. But I don't know any details, and I like it that way.

Being aware of a murder in the home or hearing stories of strange events would create a whole different situation. I would end up questioning every creak - has someone broken in? What's that noise? - and it would just create a very uncomfortable living situation.

Whether the stories had any truth to them or not, the power of suggestion would wreak havoc on me on nights at home alone.

And, in the case of weird occurences, like slamming doors and power outages, the practical side of me would also ask whether there are structural or wiring issues causing the problems, which could be expensive to fix.

So, even with a good deal, I'm not sure if I could handle the purchase of stigmatized real estate - mentally, emotionally or financially.

Real estate listing mapper

For people who want to peek into what's on the market - or love to know what homes in their neighbourhood are selling for -  Zoocasa, a new Canadian real estate mapping site, offers hours of amusement.

The site plots out data - gleaned from listings and agent and broker feeds, so it's not a totally comprehensive list - on an interactive Google map, from where you can click, zoom and snoop to your heart's content.

You can search by clicking (which could take a very long time), address, neighbourhood or city, and get the lowdown on schools, shops and hospitals in the area. One click on a property tab will call up all the property details from the original listing.

I spent more than a few hours browsing this site this week, first hunting for my dream home, then for something I could afford, then for the most expensive homes ... and so on. If you can dream up a criteria, you can probably filter the search.

The site's not a broker, so it won't help you actually make a purchase,  but it's a good place to get a sample of what's on the market, the average prices and what's going on in the neighbourhood.