Real Estate Blog - real estate Edmonton

When You finally Decide to Find a Realtor

Getting a great Realtor should be the first step on your house-buying journey, but for many that’s too serious a step. Most people begin by searching online for what’s available in the area they wish to live, and what the going rate for real estate in said area is. It’s okay, everyone does it, but when you are ready to find a realtor, here are some tips to get you off to a good start:
1. Ask around: Real estate is a customer service driven business when it comes to realtors, and anyone you know who has been through the home-buying process before will be more than willing to either rant or rave about the realtor they used. This is a great opportunity for you to gather a list of names from people you know, of the most recommended realtors in your area.…

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Ways To Sell Your Home

We live in an ever changing world of technology, convenience and innovation. The way you would have sold your home as little as a decade or two ago has changed drastically from the real estate practices we see going on today. In world of realtors, free advertising websites and realtor-free methods, it can be difficult to find the right way to sell your home. Should you be conventional or should you hop on the band-wagon?

Conventional

Finding a trusted realtor to evaluate your home, research the comparative market and list it accordingly is the traditional way to sell your home. Is this conventional method a ‘bad’ way to sell your home? No, of course not. One thing that this conventional method has in spades is accountability and trust. Realtors are…

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Cost Of Buying A Home

You don’t only have to worry about having a down payment put together when it comes to buying a house, there can be many costs associated with the process that you may be unaware of. Here are a few things to consider before diving in, and a few reasons to have a little extra padding in your savings account:

Moving

Moving is loosely considered to be part of your closing costs, although it does not get a fixed number because you can move fairly cheaply if you do all the back-breaking work yourself. If, however, you are planning on hiring a moving company, you’ll want to plan financially for that as part of the cost of buying a home.

The Lawyer

Purchasing a home requires the professional services of a lawyer and this is by far the largest…

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Being a First Time Buyer in Edmonton

Being a first time home buyer can be a scary and exciting moment in your life. Being a first time buyer in Edmonton? Even more so. Edmonton is a competitive market but above all, it’s one worth getting into. Whether you are looking at it from an investment standpoint or you simply want to buy your first house, you couldn’t pick a better market than Edmonton.

What makes Edmonton so great?

From a real estate perspective the market is great for sellers. It’s pretty difficult to lose money on your real estate in Edmonton (although as with anything, markets fluctuate) and what’s more is that housing is in high demand. This means that a good property won’t be sitting on listing sites very long, so as a first time buyer in Edmonton, you want to make sure…

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Getting into Edmonton Real Estate

Edmonton real estate is extremely diverse and can offer potential buyers whatever they may desire. Whether you want to buy a fixer-upper, get into a condo, purchase a luxury estate or get in on the ground floor of a new development, Edmonton has it all.

Why all the selection?

Edmonton is a city in flux. Edmonton is rapidly expanding its borders and with that comes residential expansion of all kinds (as well as commercial growth). This means there is no shortage of new developers coming in to snatch up land and develop niche communities focused on sustainable housing, active living and urban lifestyles. Edmonton real estate literally comes in all shapes and sizes, so for the many buyers out there on the hunt, there is surely something to meet your…

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The Situation with Affordable housing in Edmonton

One thing the City of Edmonton has repeatedly acknowledged in recent years is its lack of affordable housing. The real estate market in the city is a very competitive and healthy, which can make it difficult for low-income families to find suitable and affordable housing in Edmonton.

Buying versus Renting
Rental rates in Edmonton are sky-high. When you break down the numbers, some areas charge double what the home actually costs by way of a mortgage. An example would be, if a condo or apartment costs a total of $650 per month in a mortgage, it’s likely being renting out for as much as $1100 a month or more (depending on size, location and features). It’s borderline outrageous, but its also what makes the city such a great investment market, and why it…

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When to buy a home

First things First

The home financing and mortgage regulations have changed in recent years so it’s important that you investigate the rules of your province. In most cases you can no longer purchase a home without a down payment of some sort. For first time buyers this can be as little as 5% of the home price, and for subsequent buyers it must be at least 20%. Although it may seem obvious, the first rule for deciding when to buy a home is ensuring you have all your finances in place, this includes your closing costs which are generally estimated at about 2% of the budget you are shopping within.

Is now the time?

Assuming you have all your finances in order, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy – or if there is ever a right time…

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When Looking for Condos for Sale

Are you looking for a condo? Condos can be a great stepping stone for first-time buyers or the only choice for business professionals looking for a low-maintenance home. Finding condos for sale can be as easy as searching for any home and should begin with you deciding on what you need first.

Before you hit the listing sites
Before you hop online and become overwhelmed by what is available in your town or city for purchase, make a list. List what is important to you in a home. Consider the number of bedrooms, special features you may want (fireplace, balcony, in-suit laundry), and what amenities are nearby. By doing this you can set search parameters for the listing site of your choice, and for your realtor. This means you will only see properties that…

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Marketing Your Home

Start by cleaning up and simplifying the home as much as possible. Your goal when marketing your home is to showcase the home, the part buyers are looking to purchase – if your things in the home don’t compliment it, remove them! It’s easy to get sentimental but you have to think like a buyer when prepping your home for showings or marketing photos. Keep things minimalized.
Now what?
Find a real estate agent with a great sales record. With their assistance marketing your home across a variety of mediums will be easy, from newsprint to popular websites. You want your home to be highly visible to the widest possible audience and in order for this to be effective you want to take flattering photos and be descriptive. Highlight your home’s best features,…

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Some of the Reasons to Say YES to a Real Estate Agent

Why should you get a real estate agent?

For one it’s less of a headache when you can work with someone who knows all the answers. As a buyer you will have a ton of questions, from what conditions are important include, to what you can use as leverage in a negotiation. Real estate agents will also have access to listings (their current client’s) before they hit the general market. This means you could have the upper hand on a new property which can make the difference between swooping in or getting caught in a bidding war. Depending on what you are buying (house, apartment, condo) there may be more to it then you foresaw. An agent will help you navigate dealing with a condo board, by-laws and can direct you toward an excellent lawyer if you don’t have…

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