The bathroom is one of the most-used areas in any home and should be comfortable to spend time in, for all residents of the home. The features that are included in the space will determine its functionality and appeal. When remodeling a bathroom or making improvements, there are a few features to consider to create a setting that you enjoy. As a Lower Mainland real estate agent, I have the opportunity to view many bathrooms
You are residing in your dream home and you intend on protecting your most valuable asset. Owning a home does require constant upkeep. Consequently, it is important to conduct regular visual inspections of your house. This will ensure your home will be both a healthy place and a safe place to reside. The easiest way to do that is to conduct seasonal maintenance checks. By establishing a set routine, the work will be completed more
Pricing your home for sale can determine how much interest it will generate when it first hits the multiple listing service(MLS) and how quickly it sells. A comparative market analysis (CMA) is the tool most often used by our team of Mississauga real estate agents to show home sellers how much their property will likely sell for, given the inventory and conditions of similar properties. Dissecting a CMA The comparative market analysis is not an
.Advantages Of A New Home With a brand new home, you can start from the very beginning and decorate your new home exactly as you want. If you prefer a new home, be prepared for the on-going construction you will find all around you. Chances are that your lawn will not be in, your driveway will be gravel and your street will turn into a sea of mud whenever it rains or snows. If things
Your credit score is one of the most important factors in determining how much house you can buy, so if you are in the market for a new home, you need to understand how it affects you. In order to make it easy for mortgage companies to determine the risk of lending to you, they use a system called credit scoring (also called “FICO” scores). When lenders look at your credit report, they can instantly
Mistake #1 – Not knowing what you can afford before making an offer. The best way to avoid this is to get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know exactly how much you can afford. Pre-approvals are free with a bank or mortgage broker. Getting pre-approved also enables you to “lock in” the mortgage rate you want–usually for 90 days. Mistake #2 – Not knowing who the agent represents. Unless an agent is working as your exclusive
When you want to purchase a home in an area where housing is high in demand but short in supply, you may face a multiple-offer situation. A multiple-offer situation occurs when a home is selected by two buyers who then place their respective offers in the hope that they will out-bid each other. The outcome is extremely fortuitous for the seller, who receives more than the listing price for their home. But it is less
Many of the advantages of home ownership are not immediately obvious. However, when you are weighing the pros and cons of buying over renting, understanding these advantages can definitely allow you to make a more educated decision. For example, consider the down payment that most lenders require. Unless you qualify for a special mortgage program or have an absolutely perfect credit history, most lenders will require that you make a down payment equal to 20%
During the home sale process, both the buyer and seller need to protect their interests. In most cases, offers are fair and equitable. Sometimes, however, the offers are less than fair and careful negotiation can bring both parties to a point of satisfaction with the buyer’s offer. The counter-offer is extremely important in this negotiation process. But how can the buyer and seller manage to strike a harmonious agreement that protects both sets of opposing
As a homeowner, you cannot afford to lose money on the sale of your home simply because you did not take the time to price your home according to its true value. Under-pricing will leave you full of regret – and overpricing will leave you with a home that has not sold. Home pricing is a balancing act, because you need to take into consideration not only the true value of the home, but also
