Real Estate Blog - July, 2016

How To Find Perfect Cabin

A cabin in Alberta can be a wonderful place. It can be a family getaway where you can enjoy days out on the lake, or it can be a place of quiet solitude away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Whatever you’re looking for, searching for the perfect cabin is different from regular house hunting. Here are some things to look for when buying a cabin.

1. Research the Area

A recreational lake is very different from a fishing lake. One allow motorboats and jet-skis while the other is only open to paddle canoes. The lake may be near to needed amenities, or completely inaccessible in heavy rains or winter. All of these details need to be figured out before you buy. If possible, rent a cabin in the area before settling on a purchase. This will help you…

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How To Prep For An Open House

n open house is a wonderful opportunity to get a lot of potential buyers into your home all at once. They can be successful, but only if you prepare for them. Here are some things to consider when prepping for your open house to make sure it’s a successful endeavor.

1. Up Your Curb Appeal

We talked about some simple ways to improve your home’s curb appeal earlier. Even small changes, like a fresh coat of paint on the front door or some decorative planters, can do a world of good in upping your curb appeal. It’s important to remember that the curb appeal is your home’s first impression to people. Potential buyers could come in or simply leave based on the exterior of your home alone, so take some time and make sure it’s looking its absolute best.

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Simple Ways To Up Your Curb Appeal

urb appeal, or the look of your home from the edge of the property (or curb), is one of the most important parts of selling a home. It’s the first thing any potential buyers will see in real life, which is why you should make sure your home looks great for its big first impression. Here are a few simple tricks that you can use to up your home’s curb appeal, make it look a little better, and maybe even sell your home a little bit faster.

1. Knocker

If your home has some character, a knocker is a great way to introduce that character to someone before they even get in the door. Antique shops all over Edmonton, including the Antique Mall, are bound to have some cool knockers. With a little shine and care, you can add a distinctive look to your front…

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How to Make the Most of Your Attic

n older homes especially, attics are becoming part of the home. What were once musty storage areas possibly filled with mice and quickly becoming great places to gain some extra square footage in your home. If you’re thinking about renovating your attic, here are some things to consider and watch out for. With these tips, your renovation could go much more smoothly, and the space itself could be more usable.

1. Check the Weight

Most attics have bare bones floors that can’t support a child, much less a complete bathroom. Before you even begin to think about renovating, it’s important to get a professional in for an assessment. Professionals can determine what kind of work needs to go into the structure and flooring to ensure the space can be usable.…

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Chinatown Is About To Get A Makeover

When people think of Edmonton’s Chinatown, they often don’t immediately think of all the great things that happen there. They think of the problems that part of the city has compared to nearby areas, and they most often avoid it. This is a tragedy, not just for the citizens in Chinatown that contribute to its great food and events, but for the people who don’t get to see all of what Chinatown has to offer.

Shannon Berry, co-organizer of YEG Chinatown Events, has a similar view and is working hard with the community to up its image. With Ice District just down the block, Chinatown could stand to benefit from all the hype of a revitalized downtown. “I have a lot of friends that won’t go into Chinatown because it’s very dimly lit and it hasn’t been…

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Online House Hunting : Pros and Cons

The web has changed how we do almost everything, including buying homes. What used to be a look in the local listings (in a paper magazine, no less!) and driving out to a home has now turned into a buying process that starts with virtual tours, full photos and videos, and more. If you’re looking for a new home, you’ll probably be starting the buying process online. Here’s why online house hunting is an excellent idea, and some things to watch out for when looking.

Pro: You Can See Lots of Homes in a Few Moments

Thanks to the wide range of sites that host real estate listings in Edmonton, you can quickly find any number of homes that could be what you’re looking for. And each of those listings will probably come with photos of the home, inside and…

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Simple Tips To Overcome Home Buying Obstacles

1. The Down Payment

Probably the most significant amount of money you will ever have, the down payment on a home is a key factor in how your mortgage will look in terms of amount and interest rates. In Canada, 5% of the total price is the bare minimum on homes under $500,000. For homes over that amount, you’ll need an additional 10% for any amount over that half million mark. That means you’ll need at least that amount for a mortgage, but that isn’t always the best idea. Conventional wisdom asks for 20%, which will give you a much better deal on your mortgage overall.

The best way to get a down payment is to save over years and years. Having the money unencumbered is a simple and effective solution outside of “wedding gift from the parents.” If that…

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4 Good Reasons To Hold Off Buying A Home

Buying a home is a big and very important decision, but it isn’t one to be entered into lightly. While many of us would love to take advantage of the current Edmonton real estate situation, it doesn’t necessarily mean now is the best time for you to buy a home. Here are just a few different situations and reasons to hold off on buying a home.

1. You’ve Been Moving A Lot

When you rent, you tend to move around. It’s simply the nature of the situation. But when you own your own home, you tend to stay in that place for quite a long time. If you’ve been moving frequently, really consider why. Is it because your financial situation has been particularly volatile or is it because you haven’t found a place you like? If it’s financial, it’s a good idea to…

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How to Tell If Your Potential New Home Was A Rental

Former rental properties can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the home could sell for cheaper than others in the area, which is excellent for first-time buyers. On the other hand, having renters instead of owners means the home could be hiding some deferred maintenance costs that could end up costing you a lot of money in the coming years. It’s up to you to decide if you want to buy a home, but here’s what to look for to figure out if the deal of a lifetime is, indeed, a rental.

1. Look at the Curb Appeal

Renters don’t usually take too much pride in the look of their home unless they’ve lived there for years. Most of the time, renters do only the bare minimum yard work required as per their lease, which means things could look unhealthy,…

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The 4 Big Don’ts of Buying Your First Home

Buying your first home is a monumental occasion, one that you will remember for the rest of your life. But just because it’s a big moment doesn’t mean you should think solely with your heart. Real estate is a pragmatic choice as well, and it’s important to find a piece of property that will work for you now and in the future. Here are some very common mistakes first-time home buyers make that turn their first home into a nightmare in the coming years, and how to avoid those mistakes yourself.

1. Avoid Big Purchases Before Getting a Mortgage

While many of us want the house, the car, the cabin, the boat, and more, these things can rarely happen all at the same time. At the very least, it’s a good idea to stagger starting them. Avoid making any large…

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