Hamilton Real Estate Update

Please don't hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you're just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it'd be great to hear from you!

12 Edgecroft Cres. in Upper Stoney Creek-
Conditionally Sold in 2 Days!

88 Gatestone Dr. in Upper Stoney Creek!

273 Queenston Rd-Hamilton Commercial Lease

Hamilton Not Pursuing an Additional Land Transfer Tax
as Of Right Now! No More Tax Please!

From the Hamilton Spectator:

Hamilton not pursuing unpopular land transfer tax idea!
Residents and real estate professionals raised the alarm about the potential new tax ahead of a city meeting.

It turns out even the theoretical idea of a new tax is enough to attract an angry crowd to Hamilton City Hall.

Last year, council asked for a report on potential “revenue tool” — specifically, options other than property tax hikes — to help the cash-strapped city with increasingly dire budget pressures.

The resulting report, which went to councillors Wednesday, gave information on three different tax scenarios: special parking levies, alcohol and cigarette taxes and a local version of a land transfer tax that staff suggest could “reduce dependency on property taxes.”

There were no recommendations in the report, no councillor pitched a motion to consider new taxes and none could be adopted unless the province changes existing laws.

But that didn’t stop dozens of real estate industry workers and homeowners from packing council chambers Wednesday carrying signs declaring “No to a municipal land transfer tax” and “Homes not hurdles.” The idea circulated far and wide online ahead of the meeting and some councillors reported being inundated with emails.

The province already applies a one-time land transfer tax to the sale of each home as part of closing fees, with the amount based on the purchase price.

Toronto is the only city in Ontario currently allowed to apply a second, municipal land transfer charge. Hamilton’s report suggests a local version of that tax could yield close to $117 million a year — which, in theory, could allow for property tax cuts.

Just the idea of exploring such a new land transfer tax spurred an uproar among builders and realtors, however.

A local land transfer tax would be “counterproductive” to the goal of making housing more affordable — and push more home-seekers away from Hamilton, said Julie Sergi, chair of the Cornerstone Association of Realtors, which commissioned a survey ahead of Wednesday’s meeting that suggested a majority of city residents opposed such a tax.

Sergi noted that for an average home sold in Hamilton, this tax might cost the buyer closer to $12,000 — a cost that cannot be rolled into a mortgage.

Regional builders’ association head Mike Collins-Williams argued it would show a “complete and utter disconnect from reality” for council to consider a new tax amid a cratering number of new home builds in Hamilton.

In a phone interview, Tory MPP Donna Skelly also vowed to oppose any request to change the law to allow for a municipal land transfer tax.

“I would be absolutely opposed and do anything I could to prevent it from going any further,” she said.

The Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP, who recently challenged the city to account for its use of 2024 provincial dollars on homelessness, suggested council should look first at its spending before seeking permission for new taxes.

“They’ve got to rein it in.”

Councillors received the information report without taking any further action on any of the theoretical tax options Wednesday. Several vowed to oppose the land transfer tax idea if it is ever formally pitched.

But some councillors also bristled at criticism of the city from the province, arguing a lack of support from Ontario is responsible for many of the fiscal woes of municipalities.

Coun. Maureen Wilson noted cities in Ontario have to come up with more cash for critical needs in social housing and long-term care compared to elsewhere in Canada, where those costs are covered by provincial governments. Ontario downloaded costs for social housing, among other services, to city taxpayers more than 20 years ago.



“It is beyond rich for our local (provincial) representatives to admonish this council for the hard decisions we are forced to make as a result of provincial decisions, provincial inaction and provincial downloading,” added Coun. John-Paul Danko.

Coun. Tammy Hwang, the city’s representative to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, noted the group is pushing the province to discuss a “new fiscal framework” for cities.

“The current way of how we are funding investment and growth on the backs of property taxpayers is just completely unsustainable.”

Matthew Van Dongen is a reporter with the Hamilton Spectator specializing in transportation and the environment.

Negotiating Your Way to Success

The power of negotiation can help you achieve goals that once seemed out of reach!

Real estate agents use negotiation skills to help their clients get what they want, but you can use the same techniques to achieve your goals in everyday situations.

Whether you’re discussing a raise with your boss or setting curfews for your kids, the following tips can help you turn challenging situations into win-win solutions:

Plan to Win
Thorough preparation is the foundation of a successful negotiation, so arm yourself with relevant facts and statistics to help strengthen your position and build your confidence.

Build Bridges
Ask open-ended questions to identify shared interests and goals. This helps build rapport and sets a cooperative tone for negotiations, making it easier to reach an agreement.

Pausing Power
Don’t say anything after making an offer. This gives the other party a chance to think, but more importantly, it pressures them to break the awkward silence with a response.

This or That
When faced with resistance, frame the situation with options. “Would you like to do your homework before or after dinner?” steers the conversation toward a decision rather than excuses.

Feel, Felt, Found
Show empathy by addressing the other person’s concerns. For example, “I understand how you feel. I felt the same way about going to bed early, but I found I had way more energy the next day!”

What If Wins
Introduce hypothetical solutions with phrases like, “What if we did it this way?” This softens resistance and encourages brainstorming, making it easier to find common ground.

It’s Nothing Personal
Negotiations can quickly spiral out of control when emotions get involved. It’s therefore important to remain calm and to try and see things from their perspective.

Negotiating is a skill that can be learned and mastered over time, but even the most seasoned negotiators can struggle when emotions start to surface.

When it comes to real estate, price is usually the biggest sticking point but other factors, such as the closing date or which fixtures are included, can spark unexpected tension. Even a seemingly innocent comment about the seller’s decor can spell disaster.

If you’re negotiating directly with the owner of a cherished family home, emotions can become a major obstacle. Once negative feelings take over, it can be hard to recover and the home of your dreams may be lost to ego, pride or principle.

Whether you’re buying or selling, it’s essential to have a skilled real estate agent in your corner to help manage emotions, navigate complexities and ensure the entire process runs smoothly so that everyone’s happy with the outcome!

Take It to the Bank!

The demand for food donations in the Hamilton area will be greater than ever this year.

During the holidays, most people are in a very giving mood, but when the celebrations are over and the new year rolls around, food bank donations usually slow to a crawl.

With rising food prices, so many people in our area struggle to afford nutritious meals, which is why organizations such as Hamilton Food Share are in desperate need of non-perishable food donations.

There’s also a huge demand for other essential household items such as diapers, pet food, school supplies, toiletries, cleaning supplies and reusable bags.

In addition to food and household items, financial donations are especially important as they offer the flexibility for food banks to purchase fresh produce or to stock up on items that are in short supply.

Financial donations also give our food banks the purchasing power to buy items in bulk at much lower prices, allowing them to make the most of every dollar.

Thanks so much to all of the amazing people who volunteer their time at our local food banks. The work you do is truly inspiring! During the holidays, most people are in a very giving mood, but when the celebrations are over and the new year rolls around, food bank donations usually slow to a crawl.

With rising food prices, so many people in our area struggle to afford nutritious meals, which is why organizations such as Hamilton Food Share are in desperate need of non-perishable food donations.

There’s also a huge demand for other essential household items such as diapers, pet food, school supplies, toiletries, cleaning supplies and reusable bags.

In addition to food and household items, financial donations are especially important as they offer the flexibility for food banks to purchase fresh produce or to stock up on items that are in short supply.

Financial donations also give our food banks the purchasing power to buy items in bulk at much lower prices, allowing them to make the most of every dollar.

Thanks so much to all of the amazing people who volunteer their time at our local food banks. The work you do is truly inspiring!

Happy New Year!!

Change can be good, but sometimes appreciating what we have or who we are is more important. Here’s wishing you all the best for 2025!!   

P.S. Please let us know if you'd ever like a hand finding your dream home or even if you're just curious about what the house down the street sold for. We are always happy to help