New year’s resolutions are easy to make, but hard to keep. But buying a home is a serious commitment that calls for an extra dose of prudence. If you’re in the market for a home, keeping the resolutions below will go a long way to support you in having a positive experience. Resolve to find the right salesperson. Before you hire anyone, make sure you evaluate candidates on four areas: their experience, their approach to finding properties that are right for you, the... [read more]

Pricing homes involve comparing similar properties, making adjustments for the differences among them, tracking market movements and taking stock of present inventory, all in an attempt to come up with a range of value that your home could sell for. The value a Realtor, or an Appraiser, can place on your home is an educated opinion, where the true value comes from the buyer who puts in an offer to purchase.  When the average seller sits down to interview real estate agents it's... [read more]

It’s easy to look up how much money you have in your savings account or the real-time value of your stock investments. But determining the dollar value of a home is trickier. As a seller, knowing your home’s worth helps you price it correctly when you put it up for sale. If you price it too high, it may sit on the market. But price it too low and you may be losing out on a good chunk of money (nobody wants that!). For buyers, it’s important to know a home’s worth... [read more]

If you've been thinking of selling your home, this would appear to be the right time to do it. But how do you know if you are truly ready to sell? What financial and emotional steps do you need to take to get yourself and your home ready for buyers? Fortunately, determining if you're ready to sell isn't overly complicated. In fact, there are clear signs that you are ready to pound those "For Sale" signs into your front lawn.  1. You have equity The most... [read more]

When you put your home on the market, you want to be offered top dollar and enjoy a smooth seamless sale from start to finish. For the best experience, use this guide full of expert tips from the Ontario Real Estate Association. Start with an expert. Realtors are experts in your local housing market; they know the current market conditions, local data and details about other houses in your neighborhood. A Realtor will help you price your home competitively and, if you plan to renovate,... [read more]