Home buyers are often faced with the question of “Should we buy a new home or an older home?” There are, of course, pros and cons to either option. Consider some of the following when deciding on which option suits you the best: New Home Advantages
Modern designs accommodate current lifestyles. For example, some new homes will have larger rooms, an open concept, or more closet ...
Posted by Linda Giovanniello
on January 9, 2012
This is another question that I get fairly frequently, especially from first-time buyers. There is no answer that is correct for everyone, but it's something you should definitely talk to your REALTOR® about as you start your search.
When you sit down with your real estate professional before you look at your first homes, you probably have a basic idea of what you want; things like how many bedrooms ...
Posted by Laura Keller
on November 28, 2011
Did you know that for most people, the process of moving to a new home ranks as one of the most stressful events to deal with?
It seems everyone knows of a moving horror story – from couches that had to be thrown over the balcony to beds that didn’t actually fit in the room to a lot of other unexpected situations. I remember thinking, “where did this never ending pile of ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on August 12, 2011
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jessi Johnson, a Mortgage Broker in Vancouver about mortgages and presales.
Most people buying pre sales get mortgages on these properties when they complete several months or years later. Getting a mortgage is a fairly straightforward process and for most buyers occurs with very few issues.
That said, very few buyers of presales realise that there ...
Posted by Mike Stewart
on August 4, 2011
You finally found the home of your dreams and you’re ready to make the purchase. Here are the steps you can expect to take during the process of making an offer on a property.
Real Estate Purchase Contract
Determine with your real estate agent what price you will offer and fill out a Real Estate Purchase Contract form. An offer can be made with or without conditions. Some typical conditions ...
Posted by Angela Slager
on June 28, 2011
When buying a home it is easy to fall in love with a home's appearance, but it is very important to look beyond the window dressing. By playing detective yourself, you can carefully inspect each house you view and eliminate those with too many defects. Here are some things to consider when looking at a home: First Impression First appearances do count. Is the home dirty and cluttered? ...
Posted by John Siarkas
on May 2, 2011
Question: "How can I compare my monthly rental payments to mortgage payments?"
Answer Of course, the amount of your mortgage payments will depend on the price of the home you buy, the size of your down payment, prevailing mortgage rates, and the term and amortization you choose. But it's actually quite easy to estimate typical payments using the mortgage calculators available online. ...
Posted by Angela Slager
on April 11, 2011
CENTURY 21 Canada and Best Buy Canada have created a new partnership to bring Geek Squad services to CENTURY 21 homebuyers. Consumers who buy their home through a CENTURY 21 sales representative can receive one of three Geek Squad services absolutely FREE!
Homebuyers will be able to choose from:
Home Theatre Consultation: Geek Squad will come to your home and provide installation recommendations ...
Posted by Don Lawby
on March 8, 2011
The more you know about the best way to reach a goal, the more likely you are to get the results you want. So, whether you’re hunting for a new job, assembling a backyard BBQ, or training for a 3 mile run, you’ll want to use a proven process to help you get there.
That certainly holds true when shopping for a new home. There is a proven process to getting the home you want, in the neighbourhood ...
Posted by Elizabeth Warberg
on February 24, 2011
Far too often Sellers agree to do things that they don’t end up doing. In a Real Estate transaction this could result in a Buyer being responsible for thousands of dollars in repairs or future payments if a Seller does not do what they agree to do.
A holdback is a very good way to ensure that what a Seller agrees to in an Accepted Offer actually gets done.
What is a Hold Back?
A holdback ...
Posted by Mike Stewart
on January 31, 2011