The Real Estate Podcast

What happens if you buy a home, close the deal, and then discover the seller was a non-resident—and the CRA says money is still owed?In this episode of The Real Estate Podcast, Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott break down clearance certificates, why they matter when a non-resident sells Canadian real estate, and how the issue can affect both sellers and buyers.They discuss the potential 25% holdback, how clearance certificate delays can interfere with closing, real-world situations involving mortgages and negative equity, and the due diligence buyers, sellers, and real estate agents should be doing before a deal becomes a problem.They also explain how closing dates and Agreement of Purchase and Sale clauses can potentially be structured to give everyone enough flexibility while still protecting the buyer.If you're buying or selling Canadian real estate—especially when a non-resident owner is involved—this is something you should understand before closing day.This podcast is for general informational purposes and should not replace advice from a lawyer, accountant, or other qualified professional.The discussion specifically covers the potential 25% holdback, the risk to buyers, certificate-processing timelines, closing complications, and protective deal structures.VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Intro2:26 – What is a clearance certificate?6:31 – Why a 30-day closing may not be enough7:20 – How clearance issues can kill a deal9:11 – Liens, mortgages and negative equity11:18 – Homeowners leaving Canada while owing more than their home is worth19:49 – How one failed closing can create a domino effect22:15 – Realtors making too many assumptions22:38 – The closing-date mistake agents should avoid25:06 – Clearance certificate advice for buyers25:34 – How to identify a non-resident seller25:52 – How long a clearance certificate can take27:09 – Protecting buyers with the right clauses28:52 – Outro/recapWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

AI can make life easier—but what happens when companies start using it to replace actual people?In Episode 405 of The Real Estate Podcast, Jennifer Goncalves and Tiffany Kadak talk about the growing frustration with customer service, from AI chatbots and automated phone systems to impossible-to-reach support departments, self-checkouts, subscription traps, and poorly trained live agents.They discuss where AI genuinely makes sense, where the human element still matters, how technology is affecting older generations, privacy concerns around AI, and whether our dependence on automation is actually making customer service—and everyday life—more complicated.If you've ever found yourself yelling “I just want to talk to a real person!” at a chatbot or automated phone system, this episode is for you.VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro3:00 Are companies using AI just to cut costs?5:24 AI calls, scams and older consumers7:19 The problem with chatbots and repeating yourself11:08 Robots vs. poorly trained customer service reps15:37 Paying more for worse customer service17:47 Is AI making people lazy?19:59 Where AI helps—and where humans are still needed24:22 Why good human interaction still matters28:31 Subscriptions, hidden charges and feeling ripped off32:29 Social media and impossible-to-reach customer support34:10 Missing the old-school way of doing things36:20 Has our reliance on technology gone too far?38:13 Outro/recapWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.

Home staging is about much more than making a property look attractive. It is a marketing strategy designed to improve listing photos, showcase functionality and help buyers emotionally connect with a home.In Episode 403 of The Real Estate Podcast, Steve Cecchetto sits down with Rachel Mitchell, owner of Straightened Spaces and one of KT’s go-to home stagers. They discuss the most common mistakes sellers make, the impact of paint, lighting and decluttering, why buyers form opinions within seconds and how staging can influence the perceived value of a property.Rachel also shares how she transitioned from corporate marketing into home staging, the story of her first 4,000-square-foot project and some of the unexpected challenges that happen behind the scenes.Visit Rachel's socials here!Instagram: @straightened_spacesWebsite: https://www.straightenedspaces.com/VIDEO SECTIONS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro1:52 - Meet Rachel Mitchell from Straightened Spaces5:03 - Staging is marketing—not just decorating7:00 - Why presentation matters in today’s market11:47 - The most common staging mistake #1: Painting13:32 - The most common staging mistake #2: Lighting17:16 - Decluttering and budget-friendly improvements18:27 - Staging for photos is critical20:39 - Closets, storage and the small details buyers notice22:52 - How to prepare for the staging process (sellers and their agents)27:55 - When do you NOT stage?31:34 - Should you keep up with the trend when staging?33:50 - Rachel’s wildest staging story36:12 - The behind-the-scenes reality of growing a staging business37:08 - Snowstorms, stuck trucks and refusing to cancel38:18 - Outro/recapWatch on YouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottListen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1pwncyet9NydbgTmx5D21kLinktree:https://linktr.ee/kormendytrottInstagram:https://instagram.com/kormendytrottYouTube:https://youtube.com/kormendytrottFacebook:https://facebook.com/kormendytrottX:https://x.com/kormendytrottLinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/company/ktrealtyTikTok:https://tiktok.com/@kormendytrottThe Kormendy Trott Team was formed in 2011 by Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott. Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, KT has grown into a full-service real estate group serving Halton Region, Peel Region, and the Greater Toronto Area.