Tagged : buying a first home

Found 46 blog entries tagged as "buying a first home".

Rental IncomeThere are quite a number of variables to consider when purchasing a residential income property.


You’ll likely want to eventually engage with a real estate agent, but prior to doing so it is important to conduct as much research as possible. Remember to approach the purchase with an unbiased attitude and evaluate your options based on factual information.
 
Here’s a look at some of the top variables to consider when evaluating potential properties.
 
1. Economic outlook. Locations that are seeing employment growth will typically have more people moving to the area – this should also increase the potential renter pool. Conversely, locations that don’t offer as much employment opportunity or have/will see large employers leaving town, will often

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Fixed rate Vs Variable rate mortgageThe gap between variable rate mortgage and fixed rate mortgage products has narrowed in recent years. And while fixed rate mortgages are starting to rise they offer certainty in a monthly payment. On the flip-side, variable rate mortgages remain low, but are the riskier of the two choices – so how do you choose?   Your income, lifestyle and risk tolerance will weigh heavily on your decision and will inevitably determine which product suits your circumstance.   Risk versus reward   The appeal of variable rate mortgages (also called adjustable rate mortgages) is that the interest rate is typically lower than that of fixed rate mortgage products. However, the main drawback is the risk involved. Without warning, interest rates could increase…
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What is a mortgage..Sometimes concepts in the finance world can be tricky. We get so caught up in trying to understand what all the offerings are that we forget to understand the simple things. When is the last time that someone said what a mortgage really is? Or explained why I can only buy a home for $350,000.00. We all have questions in the back of our minds that we don't articulate because we are just too embarrassed. Here are the top five things you are afraid to ask.

 

1. What is a mortgage?

A simple enough question but not one that people seem ready to admit to . A mortgage is a loan secured by real property, commonly referred to as real estate. In essence it is a contract that includes rights and obligations of both parties. The term actually comes from a

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Canada CMHCOTTAWA, November 12, 2015 — Buying your first home is an exciting time but it also comes with many questions, concerns and in some cases, nerves. With that in mind, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released today its 2015 First-Time Homebuyers Survey (#FirstTimeBuyers) coinciding with the fifth anniversary of Financial Literacy Month (#FLM2015).

“For many Canadians, buying their first home is the single, largest purchase they have ever made.” says Nathalie Fredette, Vice-President, Client Relationship Management. “Our aim is to provide mortgage brokers, lenders and other industry professionals with valuable information and useful tools so they can better guide their clients through this major life event.”

“CMHC’s survey results

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To appeal to buyers’ emotions, you have to put your own on hold and find clever ways to sell people a lifestyle.

 If you want to sell your house quickly, you need to look at it as a commodity rather than your home – a product and a lifestyle to be sold in the open market. You have to essentially become a retailer with a product to sell.

A general rule I follow when preparing a home to impress potential buyers is to satisfy as many senses as I can in each room. Use these tips as a guide to create a special experience during viewings, and keep them in mind when walking through your house.

#1 Smell

Make your home smell niceThere was a time when it was rare to hear of someone having allergic reactions to typical scents such as perfume, candles, incense and air fresheners,

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One of the two things to remember when you are buying a house; first, it’s a long term deal, and second, it is a big financial decision. You have to decide wisely because what you may think as the home of your dreams may turn into a nightmare if you are not careful.

Here are 4 home buyer’s nightmares to avoid

  1. Can you afford it?Not knowing how much you can afford. It is easy to overestimate what you can afford. Before you even decide to look at houses, take a good look at your income and expenses. It is best to have a precise idea of how much you can afford for a home so you wouldn’t waste your time looking at houses not within your reach.

 

  1. Buyers RemorseBuyer’s remorse. Many home buyers who didn’t think through and decided to buy a home without thinking of other
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For sale by ownerIf you are thinking of selling you home without the help of an agent, think twice. Though FSBO ( For Sale By Owners) may lure you thinking you could save money on agent commission you have to take into consideration the challenges you’re going to face when you sell your home on your own.

Here are things to consider should you decide to sell your home on your own.

  1. Buyer’s agents may ignore you.

Buyer’s agents may discourage their clients seeing your home. Many buyer’s agents think that dealing with a seller without professional representation involves hassle and risk. Many agents have experienced dealing with FSBO transactions where sellers did not pay full commission to the agent who brought the buyer, sellers who are unreasonable or

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Vancouver, BC – November 12, 2015. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 8,725 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in October, up 14.1 per cent from the same month last year. Total sales dollar volume was $5.8 billion, up 32.3 per cent compared to the previous year. The average MLS® residential price in the province rose to $667,480, up 16 per cent from October 2014. - See more at: http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/news-and-publications/news-room/news-releases/2015-10-statistical-release#sthash.t0dDvUa5.dpuf Vancouver, BC – November 12, 2015. The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 8,725 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing…
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Buyers often make up their minds within moments of seeing your home. Tina Parker has all the essential tips to make a great impression

What your home worth?When people buy a home, the fact is that 78 per cent of the decision making process has already been made prior to arrival, based on the price and location of the house. But within seconds of seeing your home, potential buyers have formed an opinion of its overall condition and will likely spend the remaining time looking for consistency with the assumptions they made when they first viewed the home on the Internet. First impressions of the property’s exterior should be “welcome home.”

Exterior Facelift and Landscaping Overhaul

Beautify the front door: When dealing with curb appeal, the focal point is the front

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It might not seem like it just yet, especially since we’ve been experiencing such sunny, warm fall weather, but Old Man Winter is slowly breathing down our necks. Before long, you’ll be scraping the frost off your car windows and bundling up around the fireplace. Before you do that, though, don’t put away your garden tools just yet.

This month’s essential home maintenance task provides a checklist of to-do tasks to make sure your garden and lawn are properly winterized. So whether it’s your vegetable garden or your flowering one, grab your gloves and gardening tools one last time before the cold sets in.

Thanks to Conor Preston, gardener at Vancouver’s Figaro’s Garden, for his best advice on how to prepare your gardens and lawns for winter.

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