One of the best things you can do to ensure you get the home you want is to arrange for financing before you go shopping. This is often referred to as getting “pre-approved”. Getting pre-approved simply means that your lender has calculated how much of a mortgage they’re willing to ...
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You’re about to make an offer on a home. Then, to your despair, you find out that three other offers have also come in for the same property. Be careful. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the excitement and, like a hand raised one too many times ...
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When shopping for a new house or condo, most buyers consider such factors as neighbourhood, proximity to schools, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of the kitchen, and more. These are, of course, all important considerations. But there’s one question that few buyers ask – until it’s too late. “Will ...
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If you have kids, the local school will be a big part of your new home buying decision. That’s why it’s important to get a school’s “vital statistics”, such as: Safety record Curriculum Accommodation for special needs Awards Average class sizes Extracurricular activities. (sports, arts, crafts, technology, etc.) Scores on ...
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“I don’t have a problem with credit,” a potential new home buyer says. “I pay my bills on time. I never have trouble getting a loan.” That may be true. However, according to several surveys, most people are surprised by at least one piece of information in their credit report. ...
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When you’re looking for a home, chances are, you have a checklist of things you want. Two bathrooms… a finished basement… a great looking kitchen… an expansive deck… But what happens when a home you see has a feature that doesn’t quite measure up? Perhaps the basement is poorly renovated. ...
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Here’s a surprising statistic. In several surveys, upwards of 60% of people surveyed listed “bedrooms” as one of the reasons they decided to purchase a particular property. So don’t overlook these rooms when preparing your house for sale. You need to make sure they appear roomy and attractive to potential ...
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Shopping for a new home can be a dizzying experience. There are so many things to think about, it’s all too easy to lose focus on the most important consideration of all: getting the home you really want. Here are five questions to keep front-of-mind: Is it located ...
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Do you have a clear image of your perfect dream home? Have you made a list of all the features it must have? Will you walk away from a property that doesn’t have huge mature trees in the back yard, or a wrap-around deck, or a large country-style kitchen, or ...
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Ideally, you want a firm offer for your home. That means the buyer offers you a certain price, and you can either accept or reject it. Sometimes, however, a buyer will make a conditional offer. For example, you may be offered your full asking price — but only on the condition that the buyer ...
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