Real Estate Blog

Should I buy a home in a seller's market?

For many, buying a home can be an incredibly intimidating prospect.  Perhaps it’s the fear of not knowing what to do or where to start.  Perhaps it’s the commitment that comes with owning your own home versus the care free nature of renting.  Maybe it’s the down payment or the other upfront costs associated with a purchase.  If you focus on these things without giving equal attention to the upsides, you’ll be paralyzed by fear and likely never make a decision.  Renting is easy and because it’s easy, you don’t get anything in return except a roof over your head.  You cover all the costs associated with someone else’s asset.  You get a roof, while the seller gets the benefit of a long term investment, funded by you. 

Buying in a seller’s market

In…

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First Quarter Peninsula Update | Single Family Homes

The first few months of 2019 have been busy. Single family residential sales increased year-over-year by a substantial 25% while months of inventory sits at a lowly 2.64. ­ This means if nothing else were listed, it would take 2.64 months for everything to sell. Anything below three months is considered a seller’s market where prices trend upwards. ­The average sale price increased by 2.8% to $562,600 while the amount of time it takes to sell a home dropped from 51 days to 44.

Multiple O­ffers

This is a scenario becoming far more common as competition heats up on the Peninsula. You need to be fully utilizing your REALTOR®; ask to receive automatic notifications when homes that fit your criteria are listed. ­ The best properties are selling in hours…

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25 questions to ask your Realtor when selling your home. Question 3

How quickly will my house be on the market?

This seems like a simple question but it is an important one. I’ve seen countless occasions where seller’s were given false promises as to the start date of a listing. Whether through delays with photographers due to poor organization or a lack of urgency from the agent, it’s not a good way to start a working relationship. Customer service not only about meeting expectations, but aiming to exceed them. Starting a listing on time as per the promise made to you is the bare minimum requirement.

At HaliPad, we can launch a listing within a 24 hour period if we have enough notice beforehand to arrange the photographer. We guarantee our listings go to market on time, as per the promises we make to you.

It’s…

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25 questions to ask your Realtor when selling your home | Question 2

Question 2: How will you help me prepare my home for sale?

First impressions can make or break an opportunity. Taking the time to do simple paint touch ups, de-cluttering and cleaning show that you take pride in your property. A home that is clean and tidy makes a buyer feel as though they are investing in something that has been well maintained. It gives them confidence in their decision and will likely improve your chances of attracting an offer at a higher price. We take the time during our initial consultation to point out areas that could be improved as we aim to turn your home, into a show home.

It’s Your Move: Select a Realtor who is going to help you properly prepare your home to result in a faster sale at the highest price possible.

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25 questions to ask your Realtor when selling your home | Question 1

Are you a full time Agent?

I place this one first because I feel it is one of the most important questions. I understand that many real estate agents have other jobs and need those jobs in order to make ends meet, especially during the start of their careers. However, without sounding cruel, that is not your problem. Your home represents a huge personal investment. It’s important you have an agent who is immersed in the market and able to accommodate you, when you need them. It is important that your agent is fully invested in their career and as a result, able to provide the guidance and customer service you deserve.

It's Your Move: The agent you hire should ensure your positive experience is their number one priority.

Would you rather work…

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A warning to anyone who wants to rent their home

I think real estate is a great investment, especially in a market which is as consistent as in Nova Scotia. There does not tend to be massive swings in value, making the investment a long-term growth plan.  Also, the cost to get into a house in comparison to other markets in Canada is relatively low.  Rents on the other hand tend to be on par with many other cities across the country.  This might be the reason we see far more apartments being built than condominiums – developers see a higher return on their investment by renting, than building to sell. However, renting your home comes with risk.  I’m going to tell you a recent story and some ideas of how to avoid the same situation my clients unfortunately found themselves in.

The investment…

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Radon Gas – You won’t notice it, but you should

What's the problem?

Without going into a great amount of detail, radon gas is not good for you and has been linked with lung cancer.  A recent survey published by Health Canada said that 7% of Canadians are living in homes with high radon levels.  Its an issue which has gained more attention in recent years, but its not yet getting the attention it deserves.  Radon levels are measurable and they can be mitigated fairly easily for a reasonable cost.  So why aren’t more people taking steps to do so?

Awareness

It’s difficult for people to grasp the potential magnitude of a problem when it is invisible.  If a roof leaks or an appliance stops working, you are very aware of it and will take steps to fix the issue.  However, when the problem is not…

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Kitec Plumbing - The Scary Orange Beast

What is Kitec Plumbing?

Scary stuff.  Well, not really.  A highly publicized lawsuit settled in 2012 put a big black mark on that bright orange plumbing.  On a regular basis, I hear people talking about the product and the stigma surrounding it.  So I decided to call a reputable plumber to ask his opinion of the pipe and what the drawbacks are.  I am not a plumber and do not claim to be a professional in the field!  All information below is a regurgitation of the notes I took from our conversation.

There are drawbacks

This blog is not to claim the product does not have its failures.   My plumbing contact stated that failures occurred in systems operating at high temperatures between 180 and 200 degrees.  This is limited to hot water baseboard…

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The Biggest Real Estate Mistake I Ever Made

In a career that’s spanned more than ten years, it was likely for a mistake or two to happen along the way.  Thankfully, my mistakes did not have a negative impact on my clients but they certainly served strong lessons to me.  Did I have to buy a washer and dryer once or twice because they were missed on the inclusions list?  Yes, but it was a small price to pay for having happy clients at the end of the day.  In the grand scheme of things, an appliance is a minor issue when compared with some of the other things to watch in real estate. The correct terms and conditions are extremely important, as are the deadlines associated with them.

The Situation

In this particular instance, I had struggled with a difficult listing.  The homeowner took it…

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The truth about condo fees

There's generally a negative stigma that surrounds condo fees.  The majority of people I speak to think they are a waste of money and prefer the cheap ones to the more expensive.  Yes, some condo complexes are poorly run and the money collected from fees can be wasted or spent incorrectly. However, a well-managed condominium will use the fees to maintain the value of a property and in some cases, increase it as well.

You'll rightfully be wondering where the money goes.  Before you purchase any condo, you’ll be given the opportunity to review the condominium documents which will also outline the budget for the complex.  Keep in mind the reason for buying a condo is they can offer a low maintenance, worry free lifestyle.  After reviewing a budget…

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