Moving to Hamilton?

[Zaz]

This may be slightly unrelated, but I am looking at an unexpected opportunity to work in another great Canadian city for a number of years (3 to 5). Would it be worthwhile to rent out our house or sell in at this point?

The house is in a nice and quiet Gage park neighbourhood, close to the Delta. I feel that we got a good deal on it a year ago, and that it will appreciate as transit plans become more solid. How hard is it to get trouble-free tenants, given that we would be very far away and would prefer not to travel to Hamilton every month or so...

[holymoly]

Originally Posted by Zaz

How hard is it to get trouble-free tenants, given that we would be very far away and would prefer not to travel to Hamilton every month or so...

Is there a friend or family member locally who could take care of situations that need immediate attention, and do things like drive by now and then to make sure the sidewalk's getting shovelled and so on?

There are no guarantees when it comes to choosing the best tenants, of course, but I would definitely do credit checks, call landlords and employers, and so on. That's all well worth the effort and cost.

(BTW, some credit check organizations -- at least one of the two major ones, I forget which -- won't let you order a check until they come to your place of "business" and verify that you have a locked filing cabinet in a locked room and a password-protected computer... All of which can be a PITA to set up, but you only have to do it once.)

If you want to research becoming a small landlord, PM me and I'll give you a list of forums/sites/books that you might want to look at. (It might take me a little while to get it together, as I've got a thesis due in two weeks.)

[Zaz]

Thanks holymoly, I think you answered my question. It doesn't look like we would be good candidates to become small landlords...

[omro]

Originally Posted by Zaz

Thanks holymoly, I think you answered my question. It doesn't look like we would be good candidates to become small landlords...

Alternatively you can do what I have done with my property back in London.

Find a reasonably priced letting agent to take care of the property for you while you are away.

[Zaz]

Originally Posted by omro

Alternatively you can do what I have done with my property back in London.

Find a reasonably priced letting agent to take care of the property for you while you are away.

This may be the route we will take if the house does not sell quickly enough. Thanks Omro!

[sil]

hey everyone i was looking at everyone's posting and I am originally from Hamilton grew up all m life and now, my partner and I are planning on moving to Hamilton. We lived in Toronto for 10 years and now in Vancouver for 2 can anyone tell me how Hamilton is now i hear things are changing in the downtown we are planning on buying in the north end where my family lives can anyone tell me if thats a good decision.

[emge]

North end, north of Barton and the train tracks, west of Wellington, generally yes. Close to a redeveloped Harbour and housing values going up, lots of places selling for reasonable prices still. Everyone I know who lives in this area loves it. There's a few rougher spots but nowhere that would be a deal breaker for me.

North end, the area north of Barton street east of Wellington Street North, generally is not a good buy - because of the proximity to industry and concentration of poorly kept houses. A few bright spots though. Lots of houses fixed/flipped near the hospital at Victoria/Barton in the Keith neighbourhood for very modest profits, but still not a neighbourhood that's going to be a great investment.

Depending on how "north end" you mean, there's also the area that's between King Street and Barton, east of Wellington - that depends on the area and how far north/east you are. Some parts are quite nice, some are not - depends on the street. Lots of homes being bought and fixed up, also many that haven't changed or been improved in decades... it really depends.

[sil]

i believe its right across from the liuna station

[emge]

Appreciation-wise that's only going to get better when a GO station gets put in there... I'd personally buy near there.

[sil]

thanks emge i will for sure when looking at buying in hamilton

[realcity]

don't bother. stay away from this city. it's cheap for a reason.

[emge]

Originally Posted by realcity

don't bother. stay away from this city. it's cheap for a reason.

Dude, seriously? I know you've been increasingly pissed off at pretty much everything over the past year, but to devolve into straight up "stay away from buying property in the city this entire board is dedicated to discussing buildings in" is over the edge.

And as far as places to buy that will go up in value, proximity to a new GO station is one of the few guaranteed things for property values increasing in this town.

I get that you're irritated and discouraged and don't think anyone else "gets it" like you do.. but all-out city bashing really shouldn't be acceptable on a board like this.

[padthai]

Can anyone recommend a realtor for a first-time home buyer in Hamilton (focus on the west end)?

Any recent first-time buyers have a particularly good experience?

Any replies (or PM's if you wish) would be appreciated.

[mattgrande]

Originally Posted by padthai

Can anyone recommend a realtor for a first-time home buyer in Hamilton (focus on the west end)?

Any recent first-time buyers have a particularly good experience?

Any replies (or PM's if you wish) would be appreciated.

If you're looking into a co-op or condo, Larry Bomford at Judy Marsales was excellent. I'm sure he could sell you a house, but he said his expertise was condos. http://www.judymarsales.com/agent.ph...=Larry+Bomford

[omro]

Originally Posted by padthai

Can anyone recommend a realtor for a first-time home buyer in Hamilton (focus on the west end)?

Any recent first-time buyers have a particularly good experience?

Any replies (or PM's if you wish) would be appreciated.

I bought my house via Elizabeth Parker at Judy Marsales. She was brilliant and certainly helped me buying my first Canadian home.

http://www.judymarsales.com/agent.ph...izabeth+Parker

[sil]

i will be moving to hamilton next summer im buying near the north end bayfront area (next to the new GO startion, can i see this area turning into a
trendy area?????

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by sil

i will be moving to hamilton next summer im buying near the north end bayfront area (next to the new GO startion, can i see this area turning into a
trendy area?????

It is already on it's way to becoming trendy. Lot's of gallery's and new things to do in the area and getting better all the time. Still needs some work but it is getting there.

[realcity]

for about 20 years people have been talking about Hamilton's 'potential'. It's about time that that 'potential' started to be realized. There is something to be said about getting in on a good thing on the bottom floor. Well lots of people are waiting for that elevator door to go 'ding' and rise the next levels.

If you have a few more lifetimes, maybe I would invest in Hamilton. If you want ROI and QOL I hate to tell you what everyone, who cares about money and investment and quality of life, Hamilton is a penny stock, and for a reason.

[realcity]

Just wait for Aerotroplis. That whole area, (mostly owned by the major suburban land developers) proposed to be "employment" lands. Because we were told there was a huge list of companies just waiting, almost killing themselves to locate here once the Redhill was built. Now we have the Aerotroplis and this same mystery list rises again.

5 years in the future. Meadows of Mount Hope... 40' and 50' lots starting from the $270s

The only TWO people on council who voted against "aerotroplis/AEGD/Mt.Hope urban expansion" were BRATINA and McHattie.

So Fred voted for the Mt.Hope sprawl as his last thing in office.