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Real Estate

 

Sadie Moranis Realty, Brokerage
 
Kobie Samuels, B.A.
Sales Representative
1440 Don Mills Road, Suite 101
Toronto, ON, M3B 3M1
Bus: 416-449-2020
Cell: 416-219-0897    Fax: 416-449-1564 

http://www.myrealtyagent.ca/ksamuels

 

Why You Shouldn't Buy That House

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a home. Making a list of must-haves should be the first step in the home buying process, but what about those items beyond the “must-haves?” Once you’ve found a home you think you want to buy, there are still some things you should think twice about before closing. Buyer’s remorse is real, and many new homebuyers find themselves facing its effects, and you don’t want to be one of them.
 
Consider these 4 things before signing on the dotted line:
  1. Is the home too expensive for you? The amount you can qualify for and what you can actually afford can really be two different amounts. You constantly hear about people being “house poor,” meaning that they spend so much money on their mortgage every month that they have little money for anything else. If this is your first home, it’s important to think about the expenses you haven’t had to pay while renting that you may incur when purchasing a home. There may be sacrifices that you have to make as far as your budget goes. Are you prepared to make them? Don’t establish your home buying budget on what your lender says you can afford. Center it on what you honestly know you can afford and stick to it.

  2. Is the location right? A good location should be toward the top of your list of “must-haves.” However, a good location doesn’t necessary mean it’s the right location for you and your family. Do you want or need space to play? Does the location make sense for your work commute? Are the schools in the location good schools you want to send your children to? Do you want to be near stores and other conveniences or would you prefer to be closer to the suburbs? Are you part of an HOA, and are you okay with that? If you compromise on your location, give it serious thought.

  3. Are you purchasing the home with intent to sell or refinance it within a short period of time? This was how so many people got in trouble and upside down in their homes in the first place – buying homes they couldn’t necessarily afford after the short-term financing terms changed, and assuming they would be able to sell or refinance the house. If you are purchasing a home, and you’re not an investor or contractor, plan on purchasing a home you and your family could live comfortably in for at least 5 years.

  4. Are you unsure about your job security? While this economy can be unpredictable, and job security is becoming more and more a thing of the past, if you are trying to get into a home because you are concerned that an upcoming layoff might disqualify you for a home loan, maybe you should put off purchasing a new home until you are no longer concerned about an interruption of income. If you’re confident in your current career, can get work with another company easily, or have a large cushion of savings that could handle a temporary interruption of income, then proceed with the purchase. However, if you are seriously concerned about the short-term stability of your job, seriously consider whether purchasing a home is right for you. 

 

5 Mistakes Sellers Make

When deciding to sell your home, it’s important to avoid the big mistakes that will keep your home from selling. Here are 5 mistakes that many sellers make that will either cause a home to stay on the market too long or, at the other end of the spectrum, cause a seller to leave money on the table.

  1. Hiring the wrong agent. Don’t hire a real estate agent just because he or she is a friend or family member. This is a business transaction. Hire a real estate agent with a good track record. Get referrals from friends and neighbors, and do your research.  
  2. Overpricing. This can be the biggest mistake a seller makes. If your home is overpriced, you will receive less interest in your home as well as fewer offers. If you want your listing to perform well in a competitive market, you need to price it competitively. Work with your real estate agent to determine the right price for your home that both you and your potential buyers will be happy with.
  3. Ignoring the importance of home staging. Presentation is everything. Hire a home stager or stage your home yourself. Either way, make sure the home has a fresh coat of paint, the carpet is clean, the furniture is arranged in a way that makes it easy to walk through the home. Take down family photos and knick-knacks so potential buyers can picture themselves living in the home. Always make sure the home is as clean as it can be when there is a showing scheduled. Don’t forget the home’s curb appeal. Staging your home can make a big difference in the number of offers you’ll receive.
  4. Prematurely accepting an offer. Being up against a deadline should never be an excuse of accepting an offer that is too low. You might be excited when you get your first offer, but you need to allow yourself enough time to see what other offers you may receive. Buyers need to compete on price. Respond to the offers quickly when they come in, but make sure the offer is at or above the price you’ve already agreed on. Let your home be properly exposed to the market and remain on the MLS long enough to receive multiple offers. However, if you’ve only had your home on the market for a few days and you get an offer you think you want to take, ask your agent to call other agents who have expressed interest in showing your home. Have your agent let them know that you have an offer in hand and ask them if any of them are interested in submitting an offer. Give them a firm deadline for receiving offers, but don’t prematurely accept one
  5. Getting emotionally involved in the transaction. This is a big challenge. You��ve lived in your home, created memories there, invested time and money in your property, etc. But once you move forward with the decision to sell your home, it becomes a commodity. You may think your home is “worth” a specific amount, but ultimately, it doesn��t matter what you want. Not everyone will appreciate your home like you did, but now it’s time to move on. Put your emotions aside and move forward with the sale as a business transaction.

 

 

 

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