If you’re like many homeowners out there, you may be thinking about taking advantage of the low mortgage rates out there and refinance your home loan. If so, make sure you avoid these four common mistakes refinancers make: Not Knowing Your Real Rates When you’re looking at rates, make...
There comes a time when having the freedom to up sticks and move around starts to lose its shine. You begrudge lining someone else’s pockets with rent. You begin to long for something other than beige walls; you dream of having the licence to get hammer-happy put up as...
Who needs title insurance? Anyone who owns a house! Title insurance is a policy of insurance that provides coverage for the title-related risks associated with real estate transactions. It is designed to cover the unpredictable or undetectable issues such as forgery, fraud, missing heirs, etc. that can affect rights...
A broker is an individual or party (brokerage firm) that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller for a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal. Distinguish agent—one who acts...
In attempting to identify bubbles before they burst, economists have developed a number of financial ratios and economic indicators that can be used to evaluate whether homes in a given area are fairly valued. By comparing current levels to previous levels that have proven unsustainable in the past (i.e....
As a first-time buyer, there is much to consider. Here we have a look at some of the factors that may influence your decision, including: good school systems, tax breaks, reasonable housing, reasonable living costs and low crime rates. Good Schools Buying a house in an area that has...
It’s important to be realistic about what you can afford. The final sale price isn’t the only cost to take into account when owning a home. Houses come with plenty of bills like heating and property taxes, future renovations and occasional unforeseen costs like burst pipes or city trees...
Sometimes one of the selling points a seller gives me about their home is “the neighbours are great.” It’s something that many of us take for granted and don’t pay attention to when we buy a home. It most definitely can blight the enjoyment of your home when you...
Don’t be afraid of multiple offers. You still have some control. There are a few things that can happen if you get into competition. The seller can accept your offer and you will have bought a house. Or the seller can accept someone else’s offer and you need to...
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