October 9, 2019 If you have decided that buying a home is the right decision for you, then you are ready to take the next step; that is, determining what you can actually afford. Let me start with a word of caution. Before you contemplate a mortgage for the full amount the lending institution indicates […]
Category: Buyers
Worried You Won’t Find The Home You Want?
April 11, 2019 If you’re thinking of selling your home, you may be concerned that you won’t be able to find the kind of property you’re looking to buy. After all, getting into a more desirable home is the main reason many people move in the first place. Should you be concerned? There are a […]
New Mortgage Rules Effective January 1, 2018
December 19, 2017 Team Weir would like to draw the attention of 2018 buyers and sellers to new mortgage rules taking effect on January 1, 2018. “New mortgage rules coming into effect on Jan. 1 won’t trigger home price decreases, according to Royal LePage’s 2018 outlook for the Canadian housing market. The real estate powerhouse […]
Is It Time to Downsize? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions First
If you’ve reached the time of life where you are contemplating downsizing your home, the first question to ask, according to this Realto.com post, is what kind of lifestyle do you want after downsizing? By defining how you want to live, you can narrow your search and focus on housing that will meet those requirements. […]
What’s the best property type for your first home?
Inexperience can cause first time home buyers to be confused by the multitude of available options. This post by Caroline James is an excellent introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of five popular property choices: a large detached house on a suburban block, a small home on a sub-divided lot, a townhouse, an apartment in […]
Canadian Home Prices Are Growing At One Of The Fastest Paces In The World
The Canadian real estate market continues to boom, according to this Financial Post offering. With a year-over-year increase of 8.2%, Canada ranked 4th of the 23 countries studied in Scotiabank’s report Global Real Estate Trends, behind Ireland (13.3%), Sweden (10.5%) and Australia (8.3%). However, the report warns the trend could change if economic uncertainty and […]
Unchecked Emotions Can Cause Costly Property Mistakes
We are sometimes enthralled by the presentation of a property, but ignoring the things we cannot see or overlooking obvious problems and risks can lead to disastrous consequences. To the extent possible, put your emotions aside and make buying property a business decision based facts and data. Getting Too Attached To A Property […]
The Number of Real Estate Appraisers Is Falling. Here’s Why You Should Care
According to this realtor.com post, the number of real estate appraisers is dropping to the point where parties on both sides of real estate transactions could suffer. Since most residential mortgages need an appraisal before a sale closes, a shortage of appraisers will affect buyers, who rely on accurate valuations to structure their offer, and sellers, […]
5 Must-Do’s For First-Time Home Buyers
This homeownership.ca article by real estate lawyer Mark Weisleder gives the essentials for the novice buyer. Start by calculating what you can afford (general rule is 30% of gross income). Then, figure out what is important to you and search for properties with those features. Ask the seller about flooding, leaks, mould, insurance claims and […]