Archive for November, 2010

Don’t be afraid to sign a listing agreement over the holiday season.  There are benefits to doing so – read on!

• By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer in the spring when more houses are on the market for less money!  This may allow you to sell high and buy low!
• You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!
• Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the 6 or 7 days around the holidays!
• January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs.  Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the holidays to capture that market!
• Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!
• Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than during the regular work week!
• Buyers are more emotional during the holidays so they are more likely to pay your price!
• Houses show better when decorated for the holidays!
• Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, beat the crowd and the competition and list early!
• Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays and less competition means more money for you!
• People who look for homes during the holidays are generally serious buyers!

Call me if you’d like to chat about listing your property over the holiday season!

Kris

Buyers often ask me what should I pay for a particular home.

It’s called the listing price or more accurately, the asking price for a reason.  Just because a home is listed for a certain amount doesn’t mean it’s worth that much. Your agent should be able to help you to determine if the price is over listed, or listed at an appropriate amount.

When homeowners list their homes for sale, they don’t always do the kind of market research that’s necessary. Nowhere is this truer than with pricing.  Many people simply price their homes based on what they think it is worth or even what the highest price home in the area has sold for without understanding the differences between their home and the one down the street.  Also, they will look at the mortgage that they are carrying and determine what they would like to get from the sale, but these two things — property value and mortgage balances — have nothing to do with each other.

As a homebuyer, the last thing you want to do is overpay for a house. It erodes your equity from day one. To avoid this situation, base your offer on recent sales in the area. Your Real Estate Agent will be able to help you with this analysis.  Buyer Beware!  Call me!

Kris

I know, I know – you never thought you’d get here!  But now retirement is looming or has already arrived and it’s time to think about what changes you might like to make to your living arrangements.

What changes will occur to your housing budget?

Do you want to be completely free to travel at the drop of a hat?

Do you want to live in a neighbourhood of folks who are also retired?

Do you want to ensure there are still guest bedrooms for the kids and grandkids?

How do you feel, now, about stairs?…….yards to maintain?……..gardens to cultivate?……..

You may very well decide to stay right where you are……or you may decide that an adult lifestyle bungalow or community is the place to be…….or even a condominium apartment where you can lock the door and head off to warmer climates in winter without a worry in the world.

There are lots of options to explore but don’t leave it too late – planning is one of the keys to a successful transition into a happy retirement.  I’d be delighted to travel along this journey with you, to help you determine the right housing scenario for you -  at the right price and at the right time.

Kris