Budgeting for a new home can be tricky. Not only are there mortgage installments and the down payment to consider, there are a host of other—sometimes unexpected— expenses to add to the equation. The last thing you want is to be caught financially unprepared, blindsided by taxes and other hidden costs on closing day.
These expenses vary: some of them are one-time costs, while others will take the form of monthly or yearly installments. Some may not even apply to your particular case. But...
Setting a realistic price for your home that reflects current market values will help sell your home quickly and for top dollar. When you price your home properly, you increase the chances that the offer you receive will nearly match your asking price, and that there will be competing offers—which may net you even more in the long run.
Your property has the best chance of selling within its first seven weeks on the market. And, studies indicate that the longer a property stays on the market,...
It’s official: you’ve signed the papers, dotted all the i’s and crossed the t’s—you own a new home! You’ve almost reached the end of your journey. However, now, faced with the daunting task of moving, it may seem as though the journey has just begun. Moving can be a time-consuming and stressful experience if you let yourself be overwhelmed by the job. Remember, though, having a successful move means taking care of the details, one by one. If you break the process...
“You never get a second chance at a first impression.” We’ve all heard this expression before. And now, while you are preparing your house to sell, it should not be far from your mind.
While logical factors such as price and location narrow the pool of houses a potential buyer will look at, the ultimate decision to buy a particular house is fuelled by a mixture of logic and emotion. And emotion often wins out. The same might be said for the process of selling a home. For this reason,...
Selling your home is a complex process that can be stressful and time-consuming. An experienced REALTOR® has the knowledge, skills, and connections to help you through the process every step of the way. Consider the following benefits of working with a REALTOR®:
With knowledge and training in marketing strategy, negotiation tactics, and the workings of the current real estate market, a REALTOR® will be able to guide you through the steps of the home-selling...
You’ve been saving for awhile, weighing your options, looking around casually. Now you’ve finally decided to do it—you’re ready to buy a house. The process of buying a new home can be incredibly exciting, yet stressful, all at once. Where do you start?
It is essential you do your homework before you begin. Learn from the experiences of others, do some research. Of course, with so many details involved, slip-ups are inevitable. But be careful: learning from your mistakes may...
Sales in the city of Lethbridge continued to trend up this month as slower sales in the initial shutdown period are shifting into summer months. July recorded 206 sales in the city of Lethbridge, AB...the strongest July since 2006! While it was not enough to offset earlier losses and sales remain below last year's levels, unlike other areas, year-to-date sales activity is only slightly lower than the longer-term averages.
In July, we also saw that some of the sellers were returning to...
20 Ways to Save Money and Stretch Your Household Budget
These days, it seems like everyone’s looking for ways to cut costs and stretch their income further. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your household expenses without making radical changes to your standard of living. When combined, these small adjustments can add up to significant savings each month.
Here are 20 things you can start doing today to lower your bills, secure better deals, and begin working toward...
...a Tom Ferry article...
No. 1: Are You a Lion or a Lamb?
Think of a lion or a lioness for a second. What do they do when something happens? Do they freak out? No. They remain calm. They survey the situation. They protect their own. They exhibit strength and act like a LEADER!
Now contrast that with a lamb… Lambs follow the herd. They flee at the mere sound of a twig breaking. They panic and run in fear.
In this crisis, are you going to be a lion/lioness or a lamb? You need to decide....
February 18, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada
For many Canadians, their home is the most important investment they will make in their lifetime. That is why the Government of Canada has introduced measures to help more Canadians achieve their housing needs while also taking measured actions to contain risks in the housing market. A stable and healthy housing market is part of a strong economy, which is vital to building and supporting a strong middle class.
Today,...
Attached goods are items you can not remove from the property without causing damage or that are physically attached to the property via pipes, screws, bolts, or nails. Attached goods stay with the property unless there is a specific exclusion in the listing agreement or in a buyer's offer to purchase. These include:
* garburator
* water softener
* kitchen cabinets
* built-in appliances
* central vacuum system
* garage door opener
Unattached goods are movable items. Sellers usually...
Further improvements in sales this month pushed overall year-to-date sales nearly 2 percent higher than last year. At the same time, new listings also rose, keeping inventories elevated compared to last year. However, given the sales activity for the second month in a row, the months of supply has eased compared to the previous year and sits below long-term trends for this time of year.
While earlier in this year our Lethbridge market was demonstrating some signs of buyers' conditions,...
