Go it alone, or use a REALTOR®?

The fact is, most people who try to sell their own home end up using a REALTOR® in the end anyway. Before anybody decides to fly solo through this complex, time consuming and financially perilous process, they should consider these questions.

Will you really “save” the real estate commission?

When buyers see a home for sale ‘by the owner,’ they see a bargain. They imagine the REALTORS® fee going into their pocket, not yours.

Are you familiar with real estate law?

Complicated and ever changing, real estate law governs nearly every phase of selling your home. One misstep and an entire deal can fall through, or worse, a lawsuit can come your way.

How many potential buyers will you reach?

Selling a home takes more than just hanging a “For Sale” sign. How will you promote your home? Will you write your own ads? How will you use the Internet, knowing that you’ll have no access to REALTOR.ca or the Multiple Listing Service®?

Do you have the time?

Promoting a home is a full time job and you may already have one. Will you be able to take calls at any time? How about screening the callers to figure out if they’re qualified to buy your home? Not everybody who calls is even suitable to walk through your home, but how do you tell?

Do you know the market well enough to get the most for your home?

Lacking experience, the average do-it-yourselfer is merely guessing at their listing price. Often they set the price too low and miss out on thousands of dollars, or they price their home too high and drive away willing buyers.

What about your selling skills?

If the personalities of prospective buyers rub you the wrong way, can you still deal with them effectively? What about your own defensiveness when you hear negative comments about your home? Best to keep it at arms length through a REALTOR®.

Do you have the negotiation skills to keep a deal on track?

When an offer comes in, emotions can run high with so much money on the line. This is why direct seller-to-buyer deals often end in disaster. REALTORS® keep it professional and are indispensable when it comes to bargaining with buyers.

• Contact me for a free consultation 780-906-0693 or email amber.prue@gmx.com

WHAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE

• Letter of employment confirmation - Ask your employer for a letter that confirms your position, your pay and how many years you’ve been with the company.
• List your assets - Your car, stocks, bonds, GICs, bank account total. Show which assets will be used for your down payment.
• List your liabilities - Car payments, student loans, credit card debt. List all the money you owe and note how you’re paying it off.
• Social Insurance Number 

Mortgage Brokers/Specialists don't get paid unless you obtain a mortgage, so they always look for the best interest rate. Usually the lending institution pays them, not you. Also, nowadays, most everything can be done via online and emails which saves you time. 

Call or message me for information on how to contact a Mortgage Broker/Specialist.  

Ph. 780-906-0693                                                     Email: amber.prue@gmx.com

IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUY?

Markets go up, markets go down and even the smartest experts can’t accurately predict when a market will peak or bottom out. The good news is if you’re buying a home as a long-term investment (and for long-term enjoyment), you’re protected from short-term changes in the market. Over time, real estate has almost always increased in value.

All you have to do is pick a home that meets the needs of you and your family. Then you’ll enjoy living in your investment as it grows in value. A home is one of the best financial decisions you can make and it’s tough to live in a stock portfolio!

Call 780.906.0693 for details on buying.

BUY FIRST OR SELL FIRST? ... The eternal question

Many people are able to time their sale and their purchase so they happen on the same “closing date.” BUYERS can make their offer “conditional’ on the sale of their existing home, to make sure they’re not left paying for the upkeep of two homes. This means if your house does not sell, you do not have to purchase. When selling, you can also try to extend the “closing period” to give yourself more time to find your next home. REALTORS® are very skilled at this sort of negotiation and can make your transitional life a lot easier.

Call for more details 780.906.0693