February 2022 | Northumberland Real Estate

Finding a Realtor

If you know your situation, have an idea of what you want for a home, and know what you need, you don’t want to be the only one that knows. Finding the right realtor will help you to improve your chances of getting exactly what you want and finding the best deals that are in the market. If you aren’t sure what to look for, then you can follow a few general guidelines to find the perfect match for your needs.

One of the easiest ways to make sure that you are getting involved with the right person is to do your research. Most likely, realtors will all have a reputation about how well their services are and what they were able to do for others. By looking into Internet sources or by asking other people, you can start out to find the right person and to eliminate some potential problems with realtors who aren’t looking out for your best interests.

You don’t just have to look at realtors from what others are saying. You can also look at how they have their services set up. The most important part of this is determining the commission that they will receive. This will make a difference in how much you end up paying for your home. You will also want to look at credentials and how long they have worked in the area. The more that they know, the more they will be able to help you.

If you have never had a realtor before, you will want to know standard procedures for how they are supposed to approach you with the business. For instance, you shouldn’t have to sign a contract at the beginning of the deal. You also shouldn’t have to put any money down until you have found a home and signed a contract with the lender. More importantly, make sure that the realtor is going to listen to what you want and need and doesn’t try to take advantage of what you don’t know. You will usually be able to tell where a realtor stands with your business by how they respond to your questions and needs with the first phone call. Every realtor has their own personal touch to showing homes. If you aren’t comfortable with how they are proceeding, it is best to not use them.

Whether the home is your first or fiftieth, finding the right realtor to help is a huge key to walking into what you want. It is through the realtor that you will have the easiest time with making negotiations, communicating with the others involved and finding exactly what you want. Always make sure that your realtor knows that your home is where the heart is.

Kirk Rickman and Victoria Carter
TwoMoveYou Real Estate Century 21 Brighton
6 Ironwood Cres, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0
647-697-7413

13974 County Rd Cramahe For Sale

Buy A Bigger Home With TwoMoveYou Team

Brighton Realtors Gets Another 5 Star Review For Excellent Service From Eleanor

Bad Neighbours? Need to move? We GUARANTEE to sell your house in Northumberland

Educate Yourself to Make Smart Home-Buying Decisions

Don’t wait until it’s time to sign the contract to educate yourself about the intricacies of buying a home. Failing to plan properly for one of the most expensive and largest purchases you’ll ever make can lead to many regrets and problems later on.

First-time buyers are especially vulnerable to making mistakes if they don’t educate themselves beforehand. Even if you’ve purchased one or more homes in the past, it’s a good idea to educate yourself all over again to discover changes that have taken place in the real estate market.

Choose the type of mortgage that’s best for you – a VA, FHA or USDA. There’s also the question of whether or not you should apply for an ARM (Adjustable-Rate Mortgage) or a fixed rate. Your real estate agent and/or lender should be a great resource for those answers.

Execute a study of real estate in the neighborhood you like and want to purchase in. Check out whether homes are selling fast or lagging behind on the market. If the latter is true, find out why. There may be electrical towers in the neighborhood or plumbing problems.

Take time to figure out the maximum mortgage payment you’ll be able to easily make with your current salary and bills. Be sure to check your credit reports, scores and assess your credit situation. Improve it before you apply for a home if needed.

Online tools to help you assess your current financial situation are abundant. Your computer and internet connection can help you educate yourself so you’re not blindsided by the buying process.

Active real estate agents are great resources to educate you on the home buying process and there are also classes that can educate you on the right moves to make in your area. Take advantage of everything you can to give yourself an advantage in the real estate market.

Look closely at the obligations on the contract you may sign with a real estate agent. Be aware of what you’re signing at all times when it comes to buying a home. You could be liable for commissions paid to the real estate agent even if they don’t help you with the transaction if you don’t go over the contract with a fine-tooth comb.

Interview your possible real estate agent as you would anyone who goes to work for you. Ask, “How unique are you in the real estate marketplace?” Remember, you’re learning and their job is to make the path easier by helping to educate you about the process.

Be sure to read everything carefully and get another opinion from someone you trust who knows the ins and outs of the real estate business. Some real estate agents charge fees for locating properties for you and some don’t. Get to know your real estate agent and expect the process to be seamless from the search to the day you sign the contract.

Finally, remember that planning to purchase a home is a bit like planning for the birth of a baby. Although you’ll get plenty of “advice” from others, you should be comfortable with the decisions you make at all times.

Choose your real estate agent well. The right real estate agent will lead you to your dream home. But, it’s also important to make your concerns known to your real estate agent and to educate yourself so you can make a smart decision.

Kirk Rickman and Victoria Carter
TwoMoveYou Real Estate Century 21 Brighton
6 Ironwood Cres, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0
647-697-7413

Inspirational Quote 104 by Twomoveyou Team

It’s Easy to SELL your Home with TwoMoveYou Guaranteed Real Estate

Inspirational Quote 103 by Twomoveyou Team

Buying a Home? – Why a Fixer Upper is a Great Option

Buying a home is an exciting time. It’s a time that promises change, opportunity and the ability to make something as important as a home, your very own. When you’re looking for a new home, consider buying a fixer upper. Here’s why:

A fixer upper can save you a ton of money. Most home buyers want to walk right into a home that is ready and waiting for them. They don’t want to have to do any extra work to make the home a nice and comfortable place to live. Many aren’t even willing to change the paint colors. They want it “move in ready.”

This makes fixer uppers a good value because in order to compete with the move in ready homes, they have to significantly lower their asking price. Often you can buy a fixer upper in a good neighborhood and save 10, 20 even 30% on the home relative to the other homes in the neighborhood. As a buyer this means more cash stays in your pocket and in your bank account.

A fixer upper also gives you the unique opportunity to make money on a home. You’ve probably heard the term “Flipping.” This is a term for people who buy fixer-upper homes, fix them up, and then sell them for a profit. If you buy a home, that’s in a good neighborhood, and fix it up, you can often make thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands, of dollars in profit.

Now, even if you’re not a professional home flipper, you can make money on your home. Buy it at a low cost, fix it up, and you instantly increase the home’s value. When you’re ready to sell, you will likely recoup all your investment with a bit of extra profit on top.

Buying a fixer upper also means you can make the home uniquely yours. Moving into a move-in ready home means you’re likely going to have beige walls, beige carpet and beige tile. Sure, it goes with everything but it doesn’t have much personality. Being able to update the house to your personality will make it a more enjoyable place to live.

Fixing up a home is rewarding. We’ve talked about money and comfort but we’ve yet to mention that fixing up a home can be emotionally satisfying. There’s just something very rewarding about improving a home. Turning it from drab or downright ugly to a place you can be proud of.

Now, when choosing a fixer upper, experts advise steering clear of homes that need structural work. Generally, you want to find a home that needs cosmetic improvements, not a complete overhaul from the foundation up. Structural improvements and major renovations can get expensive and you may find you’re in over your head.

Search for your new home carefully. Evaluate the pros and cons. And don’t neglect the homes that need a bit of repair, they can offer great bang for the buck and tremendous satisfaction.

Kirk Rickman and Victoria Carter
TwoMoveYou Real Estate Century 21 Brighton
6 Ironwood Cres, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0
647-697-7413