Jeff O’leary is the Village Guru. Keeping Real Estate Real! Is a series of real estate video blogs that get to teh root of the issue. Topics vary but can include anything from loaction, to what’s in the news, to anything worht talking about real estate related.

The #1 Secret to Finding the Best Real Estate Agent

The hardest part in starting the process of buying or selling a home is trying to figure out who is the best agent for you. Who can you trust? How can you tell their motives? There is one simple and easy way to do this, and it's not through interviewing 10 agents until your head is spinning with information. This 1 step will save you a lot of trouble and make the process of hiring a realtor that much easier.

Why You Should Live in Meadowvale

Meadowvale has been experiencing a rebirth and a new energy. Many of the original owners are cashing out and moving away, while hundred of young families are moving in. Over the last 5 years I have watched countless neglected homes receive new love with exterior facelifts and dumpsters placed in driveways while kitchens and baths are being gutted and updated. Prices have risen dramatically but they are still more affordable than the rest of the city, given that it's further north and Meadowvale has only just begun to rise in desirability.

Where NOT to Live in Mississauga

Since the "Great Panic of 2017", every neighbourhood has risen past the once prestigious $1 million mark. But area all villages worthy of equal stature? Let's take a closer look at some villages to learn what's worth the hype and what's not.
Why you should Live in Lisgar

Why You Should Live in Lisgar

Take a tour with me to learn about everything Lisgar has to offer. Very few people start their home search here because it is on the furthest edge of the city, far away from Toronto. But because of this, you get the most house for your money, and if you can get over the suburban feel, there's a lot to see and do, especially for families.
Whya you should live in clarkson mississauga

Why You Should Live in Clarkson

Let's take you on a tour of Clarkson so you can see all the wonderful things about this Village. Though not perfect, it offers a lot of opportunity, especially for those new to Mississauga, who still need quick commuting access to Downtown Toronto.

Moving to Mississauga from Toronto

Moving out to the west GTA might not be your dream move; you may not like the idea of the 'burbs and are worried that you'll loose all the great amenities and charm that you have enjoyed in Toronto. The Village Guru takes a lifestyle approach to get you into a new neighbourhood that will make your transition as successful as possible. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Top 10 Upgrades to Increase the Value of Your Home

Here is THE #1 COMPREHENSIVE list of most effective upgrades to increase the value of your home! It is best if you give yourself the time to get the work done properly. Better yet, you don't have to make these material upgrade decisions alone. Hire us first, and receive weeks and months of advice, planning, sourcing and problem solving at no extra cost to you. This level of service is standard to all clients, no premium fees here.
Article giving advice on what to do to buy a house under $500,000

What to Do if Your Home Buying Budget is Under $500k?

If your home buying budget is less than $500k, i am sure you are feeling frustrated. Many recent articles are advocating for you to start anew out in Hamilton or beyond. But what if you have a job you love right here? Or family support is just 10 minutes away? What if you WANT to stay in the GTA but you don't think you can buy anything here? This article is for you.
tips on preparing your kitchen for sale

Let the Kitchen Sell Your Home

Let the kitchen sell your home! Read more to learn a few simple, economical and universally appealing principles that will get you top dollar.

Expert Series: Advice for Home Buyers

I was recently interviewed by Point2Homes about the current real estate Market and what advice for Home Buyers I had to offer.

5 Upgrades to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Especially in a sellers market, we often see home owners do the WRONG work on their home, in the hopes of maxing the sale price. Find out here the 5 Upgrades to avoid, as well as what work will get better results

Choosing The Right Paint Colour For Selling Your Home

Choosing the right paint colour for selling your home isn't about personal preferences or current trends. Used strategically, colour can highlight your best features and downplay any negatives of your home. Find out which tried and true colours we recommend for an elegant and contemporary look.

How to Ensure Buyers Love your Bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. Beautiful bathrooms help sell homes for Top Dollar. Although they are a more expensive room to tackle, we'll show you the most economical tricks to get a huge bang for your buck and make those buyers FALL.IN.LOVE

How To Update a Large Home on a Budget

In this case study, we were working on a large, executive home in Erin Mills. It was full of potential......and a lot of dated 1990's finishes. When you have a lot of surfaces to update, you have to make every dollar work hard, to keep to a proper budget. This is story about how to focus on the most impactful changes to get the best results.

Top Staging Tricks: Refresh your Kitchen & Baths

In this case study, we will review some of the most cost effective ways to refresh your kitchen and bath on a very tight budget.

How to Prepare Your Kitchen When Selling Your Home

If you want to sell for TOP DOLLAR, start in your kitchen. This is by far the most important room to buyers, and the price you end up with will largely depend on how happy the buyers are with the kitchen. Selling Your Home For Top Dollar - Part 5

Essential Tips for Increasing Your Home's Curb Appeal When Selling

Curb Appeal matters when selling your house. Tips to preparing your curb appeal and landscaping for selling.

Industry Article: Know Your Village

This is a quick link to the Interview I did with Point 2 Homes about the Mississauga Real Estate Market and what buyers need to know to get the home they want and need.

How Do I Find The Right Area to Live In?

[VIDEO] Finding the right area to live in can sometimes be a challenge for home buyers. Balancing factors such as budget, proximity to work, family and others can make the situation very complicated.

My Top 5 Villages in Mississauga

Clients always ask me where I would live, Would you buy this house? Would you live in this neighbourhood? what do I look for?...etc. When I'm working for someone I try to see the world through their eyes, it's about finding them what is best for them. So today I decided to write this post to answer the question, partly for fun, and also so that you can get a little better sense of who I am, and how I look at the world as a home buyer.

Younger Home Buyers Should Think Like Home Flippers

[VIDEO] Knowing what I know, if I was a first time home buyer I would be looking for something that needs a little work. By a little I don't mean a gut or the need for permits, but something that might be outdated cosmetically because here's what I do know- The majority of today's home buyers are

Osprey Marsh

This morning I decided to take a stroll around Osprey Marsh in Lisgar and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how serene and peaceful the area is.

Greater Toronto Real Estate Market Update March 2020

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Here is your March 2020, Greater Toronto Real Estate Market Update which covers not only Toronto, but Mississauga, Oakville and the other suburbs in the GTA. As a quick recap, the market is moving quickly with prices climbing. This means…

Tips on How to Win a Bidding War in Real Estate

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In this episode, I give some of my best tips on how to win a multiple offer situation or bidding war in real estate.

Understanding the Term Sold to Ask Ratio in Real Estate

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What is Sold to Ask Ratio in Real Estate? Whether you’re buying or selling a home, understanding basic real estate statistics such as sold to ask ratio can help you understand how to market is doing, and ultimately negotiate the best deal…

7213 Frontier Ridge

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For Sale: 7213 Frontier Ridge, Meadowvale Village, Mississauga.

Understanding Absorption Rate in Real Estate

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Among the many buzz words in the real estate industry, Absorption Rate, also referred to as ‘Month’s Inventory” is a term rarely mentioned in real estate but can be very helpful in understanding the current market, which can help any…
Mississauga Real Estate Market Statistics for September 2019

Fall 2019 Mississauga Real Estate Market Update

In this article we'll go over a quick update on the fall 2019 Greater Toronto Area Real Estate market update. Unlike this time last year, the real estate market in Mississauga and GTA is coming back to life, with a substantial increase…

August 2019 Mississauga Real Estate Market Update

In this article I will go over the Mississauga real estate market and how it's been performing in the summer of 2019. First off, unlike at this time last year, the real estate market market in Mississauga has been slowly coming back to…

Home Staging Behind the Scenes

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In this video, Jeff O'Leary shows a behind the scenes look of staging a property for sale. Click here for more information on home staging, and also be sure to read this article on What is Home Staging, How Much Does it Cost and Who Pay…

Mississauga Home Inspection

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In this episode of "Keeping Real Estate Real" Jeffrey O'Leary, Mississauga Real Estate Broker brings you behind the scenes of a home inspection. Check out all of our latest videos. Search for Homes in Mississauga

Finding a Home to Rent in Mississauga

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Finding the right condo or house to rent in Mississauga can be an interesting experience to say the least! With vacancy rates at all-time lows, tenants can find themselves frustrated in their search to find a place to live. Below I will…

2251 Fifth Line, Mississauga

Mississauga Housing Market Update - June 2018

I normally avoid writing and blogging about the housing market because most of the ‘information’ out there is sensational, designed to attract attention rather than give a balanced picture of the housing market in the GTA.
Expert toronto real estate market update

My Totally 'Unqualified' Toronto Real Estate Market Update

Earlier this week the Toronto Real Estate Board released their February Real Estate Market Update numbers and to no ones surprise, the numbers didn't look good. Never mind the fact that home Prices in Mississauga and Toronto have remained…

How to Decide Which Real Estate Agent to Hire

When deciding who to hire to sell your home, it can be the most dreaded part of the process. The problem is that everyone seems and sounds the same, making the same claims, the same promises. They all claim only they have the secret weapon to sell your home the best, be it years of experience, a huge database of buyers, territorial fame, having sold the most homes in the area, or by any other endless amount of flexible statistics. So how does all of this translate into the best sale for you? Or does it even have anything to do with it? Now that we are in the age of the Internet, here are the only 2 factors that will get you the best sale and highest price for your home.

Lacking Integrity

(VIDEO) The other day while showing a condo to one of my home buyers, I came across a number of cut lock boxes while getting the key for the unit I was to show my client.

The Positive Impact of Rising House Prices

[VIDEO] While foreign investment in Vancouver and Toronto does play a part in rising home prices, it should be noted that there are some positive impacts from this, including the growth of more affordable outlying areas.