Home Inspections: Strategic for Buyers and Sellers

We all know that getting a home inspection is an important part of the home buying process. It gives you the opportunity to have a professional go through the property top to bottom to make sure that you have an accurate idea as to the state of the house or condo. While we always tend to associate home inspections with home buying, it’s becoming more and more popular for sellers to include a completed home inspection as well. This could prove to be a strategic move, as it reassures potential buyers that there is nothing to hide. It also points out any current issues that you may be able to use as a tool for negotiating.

No Deep Freeze for This January's Real Estate Market

Remember life before the global economic crash? It was 2007 and everything was going well until the crash hit and everything went crazy. The housing market took a bit of a beating, and while it wasn't as dire as the US market, Canada’s housing market, including London, Ontario, saw a few rough years.

When's the Best Time to Leave the Nest?

Remember when kids left home soon after turning 18 to venture out into the world on their own? That level of personal and financial independence has been disappearing from our social landscape for a number of years now. You hear more and more stories of kids staying at home until well into their 20s, and some moving back in their 30s!

Fear Not Your Credit Score!

When it’s time to buy a home, checking your credit score is often the one thing that causes the most anxiety for my clients. I completely understand that it can be very overwhelming--especially if you don’t even know what your credit score is--to take this important step towards home ownership. The good news is that, no matter what your credit score may be, there’s a lot of simple things that you can do to improve it.

Thinking of Buying a Former Grow-Op?

The typical home buyers I help purchase real estate in London, ON are not exactly eager to take on the home ownership of a former grow-op house. However, it’s a well-known fact that if the home is a former grow-op, it's likely to be listed well below market value. There are a number of former marijuana grow-ops in London, Ontario that get put up for sale on the real estate market, so you need to be sure to research the history of the home you want to buy.

Get Pre-Approved Before You House Hunt

So you've found the home of your dreams and now you strut happily to your mortgage professional to get financing so you can move ahead with putting in an offer. Except, once you sit down with your mortgage broker and crunch the numbers, you are hit with the news that you don’t qualify for approval on that particular home. This level of disappointment is completely avoidable. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be one of the first steps in the home buying process, and will help you and your Realtor have a more focused strategy when it comes to finding the home of your dreams. 

To learn about other considerations, check out this list of 8 important factors to keep in mind during the home buying process.

If the idea of getting pre-approved is enough to deter you from even starting the home buying process, then you may want to check out this video. You’ll see that getting pre-approved for a mortgage is not as scary as you think when you work with the right professionals.

Buying a home is a lot of fun, but seeing homes you can’t afford is not-so-fun. This is why it’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you head out to look at homes. Getting a pre-approval helps you determine a price range, and avoid the possibility of seeing all the homes that you can’t afford. Besides, the price you think you can afford is often different that the number you can actually afford.

There are a number of benefits to getting pre-approved before you check out homes, but here are the top three:

Saves Time

You’ll only look at the houses that are in your price range, which will let you focus your efforts and find a homes that is best for you.

Gives You Confidence

Negotiations can be tough, but knowing what you can afford will give you the confidence you need when you get down to the details of the deal. You won’t be second-guessing if you can actually be approved for that amount.

Stress-Free Closing Process

If you’re already pre-approved for the amount, the closing process will be quicker and easier. There’s also less of a chance that the deal won’t go through if you've already been pre-approved.

If you are looking to buy a home in London, Ontario or the surrounding areas, I can help steer you in the right direction of getting pre-approved for a mortgage. From there, we’ll narrow down the scope and compile a list of homes that fit within your range. The last thing you want to feel during the exciting home-hunting experience is the disappointment of falling in love with a home that you cannot realistically afford. There are plenty of affordable homes for sale in London, Ontario to fit within any budget. It’s one of the most affordable cities in Ontario (and possibly Canada, too!), and boasts everything from arts and entertainment to education and market-leading sectors. Click here to learn more about London, Ontario and all it has to offer or get in touch with me today. I know the top mortgage professionals in London, Ontario and have been helping individuals and families buy and sell real estate for over 10 years.

The Power of Staging Your Home for a Sale

In order to sell your home fast and for the price you want, it has to look its best. Like they always say: you only get one chance to make a first impression. Staging your home for a sale will dramatically impact the buyer’s experience positively and increase the potential of great offers.

Using Your RRSPs for a Downpayment

The home buying process is both fun and exciting, but can sometimes be a little pressure-filled as well. Your main focus is on buying a home that suits you and your family’s needs, but there’s a lot of financial elements that affect the process. There’s a lot to keep in mind throughout the entire home buying process and the best way to take advantage of a good opportunity is to prepare ahead of time. Organization is essential, and this includes knowing all of your options.

My Year of Building

A few years ago, my business started on a journey of change and improvement. It was less a conscious decision on my part and more a combination of good luck, chance and the willingness to say: 

"Sure, I'll try that." 

Let's see how it turned out...

Neighbourhood Spotlight: Fairmont (East London, Ontario)

The Fairmont neighbourhood is one of those little, hidden gems in London.  Those who live there absolutely love it.  Those who don't know it would hardly know it's there as they pass by.