Here’s a sound real estate advice: never buy a house unless you are financially stable. Otherwise, you’ll eventually miss payments and then lose the house. But, how would you know if you can afford to buy your own home? What can you do to improve your finances and prepare for this investment?
Here are a couple of prudent financial moves you can make so that you can buy your dream home without stretching your budget too much. Continue reading →
Many homeowners often doubt their decision when buying a house. They worry whether they chose the right property, the best location, or if they have paid a reasonable price. They beat themselves up with questions as they think – what if there’s a better deal out there?
A dream home can suddenly turn into a nightmare when the buyer realizes that he can’t afford it or that it doesn’t match his lifestyle. However, because buying a house isn’t like shopping for clothes, and buyers will have to live through the regrets.
If you know how to go through the buying process, you can avoid such problems and will be satisfied with the home you eventually purchase. Continue reading →
Condo living is a popular alternative to buying your own house and lot. Available in forms of low-rise buildings, duplexes, triplexes, and townhouses, this type of property is a more affordable haven for people who are not yet financially ready to commit to a house ownership. While not everyone is sold on condo living due to differences in opinion and lifestyle, there are reasons why you may want to consider this real estate option. Continue reading →
With the number of real estate properties being sold on the market, the competition is tough. Buyers have a wide range of choices, making it a challenge for your listings to stand out. One way to keep up with the competition is to realize that buyers don’t just buy based on what’s on the listings alone, they visualize how it is to live in the house they’re eyeing. This means that lifestyle is a huge factor in their buying decision.
Understanding that concept will help you create a more appealing story about how it is to live in the house you’re selling. Don’t be engrossed in specifications and data, but put yourself in the buyer’s shoes to find a way to make people want to live in the property you are offering.
There are several strategies to do this, and all of them require you to be creative. Continue reading →
When buying a new home, there are certain characteristics in a house that simply cannot be compromised. In the end, a new house should be able to make you your family feel comfortable. At the same time, it should be easy to maintain so that you don’t end up stressing about your new home’s upkeep and cost.
When it comes to homes for sale, ask yourself some vital questions before deciding to put your money down. Continue reading →
Whenever you start looking at houses for sale, there are factors you must keep in mind before you make the conscious decision of purchasing a particular property. After all, there are certain homeowner demands that affect the cost of living in a particular home. You may not know it, but how a home is built can dictate your utility costs over the long run should you decide to move into it.
To help determine long-range costs, create a simple checklist of things to consider in a home that readily affect your house bills and other home expenses. Continue reading →
Buying your very own condo can be quite exciting. The idea of looking at various condo units for sale as you search for one that’s just right for you can be a fun experience, as long as you manage to find a few options that match your price range. When looking at these units, however, it is also important to check how it is built and designed to make sure that moving into it will not end up costing you extra in renovations and upkeep.
Consider the following factors when gravitating to a particular condo for sale. Continue reading →
If you are thinking about selling or buying a home, but are not quite sure how to go about it, consider using the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)—a system among real estate brokers that uses various private databases in order to share listing details. Through MLS®, brokers are assisted in finding a buyer for their client’s home.
In Canada, the use of the MLS® system has particularly grown in popularity. Indeed, the number of homes listed over the MLS® system grew by 2.2 percent month-over-month as of December 2016. At the same time, the MLS® Home Price Index or HPI was also up impressively in December, posting a year-over-year growth of 14.2 percent. It is clear that more people are seeing the advantages of utilizing MLS®.
If you are curious to know about the MLS® system, following are some interesting facts to note. Continue reading →
From assessing your home’s selling value to finding potential buyers, a real estate agent can be a great help, especially if it’s your first time to navigate the complex roads of the real estate industry. Leading real estate agents such as Carlo Giusto of KelownaBCHomes.com have several strategies and best practices that they implement to ensure that their clients—both buyers and sellers—get the best deals possible. Among the important tools of their trade is the multiple listing service (MLS), a database of all homes and other properties listed by local real estate firms and agents who are a member of the service.
Needless to say, not everyone has access to the MLS for Kelowna properties, so it definitely benefits sellers to work with licensed real estate agents who are well versed with the MLS system. The following are some benefits that sellers can enjoy when experienced agents list their homes in the MLS: Continue reading →
According to compiled real estate statistics for 2016 posted by Blog.Contactually.com, 80% of homebuyers are using the Internet to look for their future homes. Considering that a big percentage of real estate shoppers are searching online, real estate agents like Carlo Giusto of KelownaBCHomes.com know the importance of upgrading their listings with high-quality photos that are sure to catch the eye of potential buyers. Continue reading →