When it comes to the daunting task of finding your next home, choosing between renting or buying is one of the most significant decisions you’ll have to make. While both can offer some upsides and downsides, it’s essential to consider several factors before choosing one over the other.   The most important consideration is cost and how much money you have to put into your new home, but there are different pros and cons to examine before jumping into either decision with both feet.   Advantages of Renting   Renting offers more flexibility and freedom than owning a home. Yo ..read more

A lot goes into buying and selling homes. When it comes to home value, factors such as current market trends, buyer and seller demand, and the current state of the economy all play a vital role in determining a property's listing price.   That said, a property’s true value is based on different factors in the appraisal process. But what exactly is a home appraisal, and why is it essential in real estate transactions?     What is a Home Appraisal?   You can list a home at any price you like, but that doesn’t mean that the chosen price reflects the property's actual val ..read more

Selling a home can be an emotionally taxing experience, even in the best circumstances. You’re packing up your entire life and taking it somewhere new, after all. When preparing your home for a sale, your real estate agent will be with you every step of the way to ensure that the process is as seamless as possible. That said, there are some general things you can do to prepare your home in a way that screams to potential buyers, ‘I’m the one! I’m your dream home!’. Don’t Get Personal When people are looking to purchase a property, they want to feel as though they can call it home. If your hou ..read more

The key to buying or selling a property in the way that best suits your interests starts with understanding everything you need to know about the market and what it takes to purchase a property. When it comes to getting things right, real estate agents help you along the way. But getting to know the ins and outs of the real estate market and how they apply to you is a great way to walk into the process prepared and ready for anything.   The Cyclical Nature of the Real Estate Market Real estate is highly cyclical because market changes are constant. The cycle has four phases: recover ..read more

Buying and selling a home can be tricky, even in the best circumstances. From staging to offers and everything in between, the amount of work that goes into searching for a new property or selling off one you currently own is a full-time job. That’s why there are real estate agents, after all. While you don’t legally need to use a real estate agent when buying or selling, it’s a great idea to enlist the help of one to get you through the ups and downs of the market. There are many reasons why going with an agent is better than going it alone. Opening Up Search Avenues Many homes on the market ..read more

Where you choose to live is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make when buying a new property. Why? Because location plays a huge role in both the satisfaction you’ll feel in your new home and the value of your house and land. Location, location, location is an old adage for a reason, after all.   When looking at location from purely a valuation standpoint, there are some crucial things to remember about how where you choose to buy will impact the bottom line of your investment.   Local Amenities   Areas with a lot of amenities will be in higher demand because, gener ..read more

Now that the new year has arrived, it’s time to consider your 2024 goals. The reflection period of the past year, and its successes and shortcomings, is finally over, and it’s time to put that mental work toward the future and everything you want to accomplish this year. When setting goals, it’s essential to do so in a realistic and motivational way that puts you in the position to smash another year out of the park.   Envisioning Your Future   The first step in planning for any goal is figuring out what you want your future to look like and planning accordingly. You can do this in ..read more

When you plan on updating your space, some changes may be made to improve the livability and satisfaction of your property. That said, several renovations you can do to your space are geared more toward increasing the value of your home. If you’re looking for more bang for your buck when you sell to the highest bidder, try adding one (or all) of these home renovation projects that will undoubtedly increase your property value. Upgrade Your Kitchen Kitchens are often seen as the central part of the home and the space that gets the most traffic. Because of that, you’ll want to do your part in c ..read more

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the real estate market saw changes that no one could have predicted. Investors aimed to sell off properties, rental prices cooled, and many people in big cities shifted their sights onto larger properties in more suburban areas. The pandemic also saw an increase in home prices as the interest rates sat at a reasonable level. As things raged on, interest rates skyrocketed to near-unaffordable levels as the Bank of Canada tried to cool inflation rates. While the pandemic is considered “over” even with COVID-19 still around, the real estate market continue ..read more

The holidays are a time for festive cheer, family get-togethers, and, sometimes, selling your home. While selling during the holidays may seem less than ideal, some advantages exist, such as more motivated sellers and less competition. Because of that, it can be a great time to put your property on the market, but you have to do it right. There are things you can do during the holiday sale that will make it easier to get a reasonable price and move with ease. Keep the Décor Simple Decorating for the holidays may seem like a no-brainer, but you don’t want to go so over the top that it looks li ..read more