Real estate is a very dicey thing. It is one thing you can absolutely rely on to be not stagnant. Not every real estate transaction will follow through smoothly. It is good to keep in mind the problem spots and take action to protect yourself in advance.

Indecision

Indecision by anyone involved the process can cause major hindrance. Some might have put up their property in the market but might be having second thoughts. They might not be sure if they want to sell at all. On the other hand, this is true with the buyers as well. They make their agents show numerous houses without committing any one of them at all. This could prove to be expensive to the real estate agent who is spending time, energy, and money on this.

At times, there might be issues with a house that nobody had informed earlier on. If you the seller, make sure to let the agent know you are not interested in properties that have not had pre-inspection checks. The seller also can avoid getting rejected by getting a check done. If there are problems, contractors would make sure that it is all fixed up and ready.

Sellers Stubbornness

Seller’s rigidity regarding sales can impede the transaction. Sellers often tend to have expectations that are not really realistic. They should look at the market rates in the area before quoting a price. Many agents recommend them against such unrealistic values. However, many owners want to put it up in the market and want to try their luck. Once they find, it is not going to, they change their minds. This results in much effort and financial loss.

Proper Paperwork

Proper documents and paperwork are an important part of the home selling or buying process. A small problem can tank the whole deal. Agents need to check all the paperwork regarding the deal and make sure it is perfect from both ends. The buyer and seller should not depend on and blindly trust the agent and instead, should do their own checks as well. Sometimes, you might come across situations where you have no control over the transaction – no matter what your role was in the deal. An example of this could be the change in government laws or acquisition by the government. While the deal itself may have been accepted by both the parties, this external force can ruin the deal.

Financing Problems

Financing is a major concern in real estate. If you are selling your house and you find a buyer who is interested in your property, find out how they intend to finance the process. If they are planning to get a loan from a bank or depend on the profits from another sale, you should be careful. It is always better to deal with buyers who have direct access to funds.

While all the above discussion talks about the negative aspects of real estate, being careful and wary will help you avoid loss and disappointments. If you are careful, you will have a better chance at a successful real estate venture.

If you need help selling your home or navigating the real estate market to buy your dream home, contact Anima Sai today!

The trend of single women looking to purchase homes as compared to single men has increased recently as seen from many surveys taken. It is more common that a single female chooses a smaller home. One should also always keep in mind that mortgage payments do not exceed 25% of the person’s income. While making a big decision like this, one must think about their future needs and accordingly decide. A single woman who intends to buy a house of her own needs to look into the following aspects.

Single women can take the help of a realtor and find a neighbourhood which is easy to trust and is known for its safety and acceptance. Women are now working hard and coming up in every field and hence, now have enough buying power.

A single woman may find it a tough challenge to go house hunting for the first time due to psychological pressure on them. Unlike men, women choose quite early – in their mid-twenties – whether or not they would like to have a child. This decision will have an impact on their scope of an ideal house. As more and more millennia’s are shifting to cities, there is more interest in a house near their work.

It is essential that the prospective buyer should take into consideration the cost and the time spent in commuting. If you are not considering living in your house for some time, then it is better to let it out on rent. Keep in mind the taxes, realtors’ commission, and other expenses which might boost the cost of purchase.

Finding a Realtor

The first thing to do is to find a realtor in the neighbourhood who has your trust. Your proximity to the realtor will help you better when compared to the other buyers. Presently, there are agents who are experienced in helping single women buyers. A single female might want a home that’s more finished and turn key.

The agent will have more luck in searching for a better house for you as per your choice if you discuss with them honestly about your requirements. Single women, before buying a house, should do their research beforehand. This includes the crime rate in the neighbourhood. Ideally, everyone should know about this. This information can be seen on websites like Trulia.com. One can also approach the police and seek their help for safe buying.

It’s extremely important that when you are ready to buy a house, you are making a long term investment. Buying a house should not just be something that you do in the moment. You need to have at least a 10-year plan in place. Keeping the cost to the minimum in the beginning will help you out in the future. Make sure you do your due diligence on your financial situation as well as pick a realtor that you trust.

This is the right time if you are planning to buy a second house. The market is at a low and could benefit the owner greatly. This post will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of owning a second house.

Advantages of a Second Home

Profit – While most asset values fluctuate with time, vacation properties hardly do. The trend with them is thatthey usually appreciate because they are situated in popular neighbourhoods. It also depends on the fact that there is limitation geographically – only so many houses can be made on the shores of the beach.

Tax benefits – Many people use their vacation home as a relaxation spot. They do not rent it out. However, if you charge rent for no more than a couple of weeks a year, the property taxes and the mortgage interest will be deductible.

An additional source of income – You can put up your vacation home up for rent whenever you are not using it. It will be a steady source of income. Rental charges differ with the season, climate, and the popularity of the neighbourhood.

Early retirement plans – Every place has its benefits and drawbacks. However, if you choose well and purchase your retirement home early on, you will have the peace of knowing that. It could be in a place which helps you relax and gives you respite from your primary property.

Get Access to other vacation homes – Since most vacation homes are in popular areas like resorts, by the sea, or in the mountains, people are always attracted by nature and come for a visit. Owners of vacation properties in the area can arrange with other owners for a temporary house trade which would be mutually beneficial.

Disadvantages of a Second Home

While there are plenty of people who are looking to buy a second home, it is not a good idea for everyone. Despite the numerous benefits of owning a second (vacation) home, there are also drawbacks to it.

High purchase cost – Vacation homes are bound to be expensive because of their location. Most also expect the place to be really good so that they can have a good time when they come over for vacation. This pushes the cost further up. Not only this, but the house will also need to be furnished and owners usually prefer to buy everything new.

High mortgage costs – The down payment percentage is very high on a vacation property as are the mortgage interest rates.

Forced visits – Since you might be paying quite a lot of money every month towards your second home, you might feel that you need to make many visits in order to justify the purchase. The idea behind purchasing should be that you should enjoy it even a decade later.

Maintenance and other costs – As the owner, you will be responsible for maintenance and other costs. You will have to fix the water pipes, the roof, and any electrical problems that may crop up.

Take a look at the above-mentioned advantages and disadvantages before you rush into buying a second home. If you would like more information, get in touch with Amina Sai today to find your dream property!

To find a suitable home is not that easy and it requires great effort and time on your part. You can still succeed in getting your dream house provided you are careful. There are some basic things you have to acquaint yourself with before you can make your home buying dreams come true.

The Financial Side

Before purchasing a house, think about your finances in detail for future years and how you are going to repay the loan. The finance aspect of purchasing a home is important. Calculate your total expenses to understand how much you can afford. Weigh in your income and expenditures for more clarity. Find out your total monthly income after the income tax has been taken care of. Add to this your spouse’s income and the income you might get post-purchase of the house. Then take a look at your total expenditures. This does not need to include your current rent if you are planning to go and live in the new house.

Then, subtract the expenses from the income to arrive at the your income. Also, make provisions for an increase in salary. Also deliberate on whether you are planning on having children as this would require time and money. Understand what your borrowing capacity is. With all of this information on hand, you can now know your repayment ability and hence, can borrow to that extent. The borrowing limits differ from institution to institution, therefore, the use of calculators will help you to determine the exact amount of mortgage money.

Know Your Mortgage Amount and Interest Rates

To arrive at the cost of the house and to get a conservative estimate of purchasing a house, you can use a home loan calculator to know your mortgage repayment timeline depending on the loan period and the interest rate. Always keep some a sum of money which you might have to pay before the loan is approved. Next, find out about the most competitive rate which will benefit you financially – both in terms of interest and the loan limit. The type of loan the buyers need will depend upon the individual. If you want the exact amount, then go for a fixed loan but if you feel the interest rates may vary in the future, then it is better to consider a variable rate of interest.

Once this is sorted, then you may have to get your income checked out, latest tax returns, and your savings history and any other documents that may be required by the lender to process your loans.

To get the best deals, survey the market for the most economical lender. Since it is a competitive market, don’t hesitate to bargain. Being able to submit all your documents immediately to your lender will facilitate the easy process of sanctioning the mortgage loan and thereby, get the amount approved and released.

It is also advisable to get the home inspected before you purchase the house to avoid complications or added costs down the road. Inspections may relate to the buildings, pest, electrical, and land survey. The matter comes to a close where you make a deal by exchanging your cheque with the vendor’s title of property ownership. Your lawyer will help you out in this process.

Let Amina Sai help you find your dream home! Get in touch today and find the home that’s right for you and your family.

The common thought that most prospective home buyers have is that they would be “easily” manage their home purchase themselves. The internet and easy access to information have made it possible for people to handle much of the legwork themselves. But there really is no substitute for a knowledgeable and skilled professional buyer’s agent. An experienced negotiator who knows the vibe of the market can save you considerable hassles, money and time by helping you make an appropriate offer, getting tough when necessary and getting the best possible deal.

But it’s important that you don’t just call the agent that shows up on the listing and sign up. Keep in mind that the agent works for the seller and will obviously keep the seller’s best interests in view. You need to work with a buyer’s agent who will exclusively represent you. Most agents require you to sign a contract that says you won’t work with any other brokers for a specific time frame.

But the fact is that the benefits of hiring a skilled and experienced real estate agent far outweigh the commision they charge for their services. They can make the process of buying a home less stressful, less expensive and less time-consuming as well. Take a look at how a real estate agent can save you money when buying a home:

1. They have the right business contacts

When you are considering buying a new home, you need to have the right people in your corner, or else the process can get very expensive and you may not even find the right home for your needs. It can be very time-consuming and tedious to scour various real estate listing sites, go through the details of different properties and visit many of them to identify whether they suit your needs.

Once a buyer’s agent knows that you are serious about buying a home, they will make every effort to show you properties that fit your requirements and budget. Many great agents also have access to off-listing properties and you will save time (which translates into money) on looking for a suitable new home.

2. They have the experience to help improve your odds in negotiations

Quoting a buying price isn’t something you can do off the bat. If your offer price is far lower than the listing price, the seller might not consider your offer at all. On the flip-side, if you quote an excessively high selling price, you may end up paying far more than the house is worth and may rue the fact later.

When you attempt to buy a home without help from a buying agent, identifying what the right offer price should be can seem just like a guessing game. However, when you hire the services of a great real estate agent, their knowledge of the local market is a plus. They will be able to guide you on what the right offer price and this improves your chances of sealing the deal.

A qualified and experienced agent will have deep knowledge of the current real estate trends in your local area, the price at which homes similar to the one you are planning to buy etc. This helps speed-up the home sale process for you and saves you, time, money and the trouble of looking at a large number of homes before zeroing-in on one.

3. They help you save time

It’s not uncommon for buyers that are managing their property search on their own, to believe that the process won’t take too much of their time. They feel that all they need to do is look on the right real estate sites, search for related ads in local newspapers, attend a couple of open houses and negotiate the price. But the fact is there is much more than that involved in a home purchase.

Buying a home isn’t just exhausting, but can be extremely time-consuming as well. That’s exactly why there are so many real estate agents in the industry today. Property owners that choose to manage this process themselves in an attempt to save some dollars, often find they have very little time on their hands to focus on their professional and personal lives.

If you end up spending all of your time just attempting to look for the perfect property, it takes away from your work, family and leisure time; and all of these are worth a lot more than you think. Working with a credible real estate agent is the best way to take this burden off of your shoulders. They have the knowledge and time required to get this job done efficiently and quickly. The amount of trouble and time they can save you can prove to be invaluable.

4. Effective sale negotiations

Knowing your financial & personal circumstances and keeping these confidential is crucial to the home negotiation process. If listing agents know exactly how much you have liked a particular house, and how keen you are in closing the deal etc., that can work to your disadvantage, and the seller may up increasing their asking price or reject your offer altogether.

But a buyer’s agent will keep all this information confidential and will negotiate the best terms and price on your behalf. The simple fact is that a seller’s agent typically works for the seller and prioritizes their benefit. But a buyer’s agent works for the buyer and not the seller and he will prioritize your goals, finances, and interest over selling a home.

Working with a credible and well-established real estate agent will help ensure you get the home of your dreams with the least amount of trouble at a price that fits into your budget. ASK AMINA! Nobody does Real Estate better.

Every seller wants their home to get sold quickly and attract a good price. While that may be the case, ensuring this happens has very little to do with chance and luck and more to do with careful planning. A potential homebuyer will always be more impressed with a home that’s in a state of good repair, looks presentable, neat and clean. Here are some ways in which you can prepare when selling your home.

1. It’s important to set your personal attachment aside

If you have lived in a particular home for a long time, it isn’t easy to let go. There will be memories attached to that place and you will have decorated and maintained the place with care. But it’s important that you make the break and here are some tips on how to do it:

• Tell yourself that it isn’t your home and that it’s a house; something that can be bought or sold, much like products you would buy at a supermarket.
• Be firm with that “let go” decision and focus on the fact that the house won’t be yours any longer.
• Visualize yourself handing over the keys and the warranties for all the appliances to the new owners.
• It’s important that you look into the future rather than a glance into the past.

2. De-personalize all the rooms

Remove all your family heirlooms and personal photographs and memorabilia as these can distract the buyers. The idea is to allow buyers to imagine all their belongings in that space as that takes them one step closer to buying a home. The buyers need to see themselves living there versus wondering what kind of people live in the house.

3. Clear all the clutter

This is a very crucial aspect of preparing to sell your home. It’s natural for us to collect things and not be able to discard them even after they are no longer required. The simple rule to follow is that if you haven’t used a certain item in over a year, its best to get rid of it. You have the option to either throw it away or donate it to someone. Some of the other things you can do are:

• Pack up the knickknacks
• Remove all the books from bookcases
• Clean everything off the kitchen counters.
• Put all the essential items in small boxes and put them away in the closet.

4. Rearrange storage cabinets & bedroom closets

Buyers often open closet and cabinet doors randomly while walking through the house. When all these spaces are well-organized, the message it sends to a potential buyer is that you are equally particular about taking care of the rest of the house too. Some of the things you can do include:

• Stack all the dishes neatly.
• Alphabetize all the spice jars in the pantry and kitchen.
• Hang shirts together- facing the same direction.
• Turn all coffee cup handles facing the same direction.
• Line up all your shoes properly in the closet.

5. Consider keeping extra items in a storage unit

Most homes show better when they have fewer pieces of furniture. It’s a good idea to move the extra pieces of furniture into a temporary storage unit and only keep the basic ones. This will open up and improve the movement flow in the spaces and make the rooms look more spacious. The furniture you keep should only showcase the purpose of that room, yet leave sufficient space to move around comfortably.

6. Replace or remove favourite pieces

If there are certain built-in appliances, features, fittings or window treatments that you want to take, it’s best to remove them when you are prepping your home for sale. If there are antique pieces or items that you are emotionally attached to, replace them with something else. That way you won’t have to tell a buyer it isn’t for sale. Sometimes, denying a buyer an item they have taken fancy to can blow the deal. This is why it’s best to either replace or remove those items if necessary.

7. Conduct minor repairs

In a seller’s market, it’s possible to sell a property in the condition it is in without too much of a hassle. But in a buyer’s market, the state of the features and installations in your home can make or break the sale. Based on the condition of the house, some of the repairs you may want to conduct include:

• Patch holes in drywall.
• Replace cracked floor tiles.
• Replace kitchen and bathroom wall tiles.
• Fix leaking faucets.
• Fix doors that jam or don’t close properly
• Fix kitchen drawers that jam.
• Consider giving your walls a fresh coat of paint- opt for neutral colours especially if you have eccentric taste in colours and décor.
• Replace dysfunctional light bulbs.
• Replace worn bedspreads.

8. Get your house cleaned thoroughly

When you are listing your house for sale, you need to ensure that every nook and cranny of it is clean. Since this can be a pretty laborious task, consider hiring house cleaning professionals for the job. Some of the things that need to be focused on include:

• Clean the windows inside & out.
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Pressure-clean the driveway, sidewalks and the exterior walls of your home.
• Polish mirrors and chrome faucets.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers, and sinks.
• Vacuum daily.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Replace worn rugs.
• Wax wooden floors.
• Dust the furniture, ceiling fans & light fixtures.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Hang up clean, fresh towels.
• Get rid of bad odours in all the rooms.

9. Enhance curb appeal

You need to ensure that buyers are encouraged to get out of their cars and walk into your home. This means you need to focus on enhancing its curb appeal. You can do this by:

• Making the front door and entrance area look welcoming; clean the space, paint/polish the front door, hang or place potted plants around the front door.
• Make sure all window treatments in the house hang level.
• Keep the sidewalks clear of clutter.
• Mow the lawns & trim the hedges.
• Paint faded/deteriorated window trim.
• Ensure visitors can read your house number clearly from the street.

The one way to get all aspects of preparing a home right is to hire staging professionals for the job. They have the expertise to prep and stage your home so that buyers see it in the best light. ASK AMINA! Nobody does Real Estate better. Get started with a FREE HOME EVALUATION today!