Archives for Buyers

The Role of a Realtor – Buyers

Buying a home is one of the largest, and most expensive, decisions you will ever make. You want to make sure that you have covered all your bases in order to avoid any costly mistakes. One of the best ways to avoid any potential pitfalls on the road to home ownership is to talk to someone who knows that road well, and no one knows it better than a realtor. Hiring a realtor means that you have an expert at the entire house buying process there to help you through each step, and means less stress and trouble for
Read More

Why You Should Check Out That Open House!

Holding an open house is an option taken by many people who are trying to sell their home. Unfortunately, these open houses are sometimes not well attended. This is a shame, because an open house is a great opportunity, even if you are not currently looking to buy a house. Whether you are actively looking for a new place to live, or buying a home is a far-off dream, here are some good reasons to attend an open house: Get an Idea of Price – An open house is a great way to get an idea of how far your
Read More

Real Estate Snapshot February 2016

What a difference a day makes! An extra day in February saw 46 sales on that day (February 29th) as per the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s president. See the full Ottawa Real Estate market snapshot and press release from the Ottawa Real Estate Board below. With spring around the corner, we’re starting to see more homes come on the market, if you’re thinking of selling now is a great time to get your home listed with a real estate professional. While statistics are useful in establishing trends they should not be used as an indicator of an increase or
Read More

Saving Strategies for Every Age

We all want to save more money, but doing it requires a plan. And, the best approach to saving depends on the stage of life you’re in because each phase has unique financial commitments. Although individual circumstances vary, these generation-specific suggestions will point you in the right direction. Millennials (19-35) Millennials, born between 1980 and 1996, are actually better than Gen Xers at money management, according to financial journalist Vera Gibbons. But, they tend to live in the moment and prefer instant gratification to long-term financial planning. And, because personal finance is not a core subject in
Read More

Don’t tax my dream campaign succeeds

The efforts of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) and the Progressive Conservatives were recently rewarded when the provincial government decided they would NOT be expanding the municipal land transfer tax program. Liberals keep election promise In an unexpected announcement during the legislature’s question period, Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin ended concerns that the Liberals would break their election campaign promise and allow other cities and towns to introduce the tax. “There has been no call, at all, for a municipal land transfer tax,” he said, “nor is there any legislation before the House that would allow
Read More

8 steps to getting started in property investment

This propertyinvestment.com post from Nila Sweeney is an excellent primer for those who want to start a property portfolio. First, check your finances to see how much you can invest and get mortgage pre-approval. Then, define what success means for you, as well as the level of risk you are comfortable with, and set your goals. Next, start budgeting and create a purchase plan. Finally, research the market for opportunities that meet your criteria and approach them as business transactions, applying logic rather than being swayed by your emotional attachment. To read more click here. Source: Blog
Read More

An Economist’s Letter to Millennials Who Can’t (Yet) Buy a Home

This post from Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com, explains what Millenials can do to help themselves along the path to home ownership. For example, a high debt burden will restrict their ability to qualify for a mortgage, and the amount they can get, so they need to limit their total debt payments (student loans, credit cards, car loans, etc.) to less than 15% of their income. Smoke also covers the importance of improving their credit score, saving as much as they can for a down payment and creating an emergency fund for unexpected bills. To read more click here.
Read More

The 3 Most Common Reasons a Home Inspection Kills a Deal

In this Redfin.com post, home inspector Dylan Chalk underscores the importance of a home inspection by identifying how they can prevent a potential sale. The most common reason is the home is not what it appears to be, especially in the case of a “flipped home”, one purchased and updated with the intention of making as much profit as possible. The inspection reveals there are more repairs and updates than the buyer expected. Problems with the core systems of a “fixer” house (foundation, frame, roofline, floor plan, drainage and access) add cost and complexity to the new homeowner’s projected
Read More

Is It Time to Downsize? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions First

If you’ve reached the time of life where you are contemplating downsizing your home, the first question to ask, according to this Realto.com post, is what kind of lifestyle do you want after downsizing? By defining how you want to live, you can narrow your search and focus on housing that will meet those requirements. For example, if you want to escape the bluster of winter and relax on a beach, local climate conditions and geography will drive your hunt. Or, if you like social activities, you would seek active adult communities where you can interact with like-minded
Read More

What’s the best property type for your first home?

Inexperience can cause first time home buyers to be confused by the multitude of available options. This post by Caroline James is an excellent introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of five popular property choices: a large detached house on a suburban block, a small home on a sub-divided lot, a townhouse, an apartment in a small block and an apartment in a high rise block. To read more click here. The post What’s the best property type for your first home? appeared first on Team Realty. Source: Blog
Read More