Here's How To Know If A Neighbourhood Is Improving

How to tell if a neighbourhood is improving

When you’re looking for a new home, you want to find one in a great
neighbourhood – or, at least, in a neighbourhood that is on the upswing.
How can you tell if a particular area is improving? Here are some common
indicators:
• Pride of ownership. Take a walk around the neighbourhood. Do you get a
sense that people take good care of their homes? Are the lawns mowed?
Is the landscaping trimmed? Are flowers planted? Homeowners are more
likely to look after their properties when they like where they are living.
• Home improvements. Are people investing in their homes? Are they
getting their driveways re-done? Their windows replaced? Are there signs
of home improvement projects? If so, this is a clear indication that
homeowners like the area enough to invest in their properties.
• Real estate sales activity. Do homes tend to sell quickly in the area? Do
they sell for a good price? If so, the neighbourhood is probably in demand.
If people want to live there, it's a desirable area.
• Business investment. Are businesses investing in the surrounding area?
Is there an increase in the number of upscale shops, health clubs,
restaurants, and other commercial enterprises that often locate near
desirable neighbourhoods?
• Community involvement. Are there signs that the community plays an
active role in the look and lifestyle of the neighbourhood? Are there
neighbourhood picnics, yard sales and other get-togethers? Check
Facebook.com to see if the neighbourhood has a community page.
• City plans. Find out what plans the city has for the area. Will there be road
improvements done in the near future? Are there any major construction
projects on the schedule, such as a new school or community centre.
Although such projects can be disruptive in the short term, they may
improve the neighbourhood – and, as a result, boost the value of any home
you buy – in the long-term.
Of course, the best way to find out the desirability of a neighbourhood is to
talk to a good REALTOR® who knows the area. Call Rashna today at 416-554-7253

How Much Home Can You Afford?

How Much Can You Afford?

Why is it so important to know how much you can afford to spend on a 
home? 
Two reasons. 
First, you don't want to buy a property and then find out, only after you’ve 
moved in, that you can't financially maintain it. That would mean having to 
resell it under stressful conditions. 
Second, you don't want to settle for a property that's less than ideal, when 
you really could have afforded the "dream home" you've always wanted.
So how do you figure out how much you can afford to pay for your next 
home?
The first step is to talk to a good REALTOR®. He or she will help you gain a 
clearer understanding of how much your current home will likely sell for in
today's market. That amount, together with other financial resources you 
might have (such as savings), will determine your down payment.
The next thing you’ll need to figure out is your mortgage. Your REALTOR® 
can help you find a lender who will take a variety of factors into account –
income, credit rating, debts, expected down payment, etc. – to calculate the 
maximum amount of mortgage for which you qualify. 
Say, through the proceeds of the sale of your home combined with your 
savings, your expected down payment is $90,000. If the lender authorizes a 
mortgage of $270,000, then you can afford a $360,000 home.
Of course, that doesn't mean you'll need to spend that much. In fact, a 
home that meets your needs in terms of property type, features, and 
neighbourhood, may in fact cost you less.
One thing is for sure. A good REALTOR® can work with whatever amount 
you can afford and show you homes on the market that most closely meet 
your needs.
Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call today.

Preparing your home for winter showings

There is no doubt about it! Even if the weather is relatively pleasant, your
home won’t show as well in the winter as it would in the summer, especially
from the outside. Fortunately, there are many ways to make your home look
more attractive and appealing to buyers during the winter season.
First, before showing your home to a potential buyer, clear your front
walkway. Make sure fence doors and gates open freely. Also, clear off the
backyard deck or patio area. You want buyers to be able to explore around
your property without any obstructions.

In short, do everything you can to make the experience of walking up to
your front door and around your property as pleasant as possible.
Second, clear away any boots, shoes and other outerwear from the front
foyer. You want buyers to focus on your beautiful home, not a cluttered
entranceway. Also, have mats on both the outside and inside of your main
entranceway. This will give buyers – as well as you and your family – a
chance to wipe their boots and shoes.
Next, adjust your thermostat. You want your home to feel warm, cozy and
comfortable for potential buyers.
Finally, remember that in the winter, homes show much better during the
day. In the evening, it may be too dark to fully appreciate your property. So
work with your REALTOR® to schedule viewings during the day whenever
possible. If you can, also have pictures of your property available that
showcase what it looks like in the summer. That takes planning. So if you're
even just casually thinking of the possibility of selling your home, take some
good "summer" pictures.
Want more advice on how to sell your home in the winter? Contact me
at 416-554-7253.

Some outdoor lighting tips that improve home security

Home safety is more than locked doors and alarms

When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks
and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a
lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in.
One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't
need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting
should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars.
Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and
open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your
home.
Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for
areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery like a cedar
hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit.
Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back
door.
Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed
with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the
early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night.
Lights installed with motion detectors can also be effective in certain areas.
The sensors will cause the light to turn on or brighten when someone comes
onto that part of your property. Generally, thieves will flee as soon as they
see a light turn on.
Do you hide a spare key under the front door mat or in a flower pot? No
matter how clever you think you are, experienced thieves know all the
common hiding places. So, if you need to have a spare key available, put it
in a small combination lock box and hide the box. That way, if a burglar
finds the box, he still won't be able to open it and access the key.

When dealing with multiple offers, price isn't the only consideration

Dealing with multiple offers

You may think that having to deal with multiple offers on your home is a
wonderful problem. After all, there are so many buyers clamouring to 
purchase your property!
The challenge, however, is picking the best offer – and that isn't always the 
one with the highest price. 
Most offers come with conditions, such as "conditional on securing 
appropriate financing" or "conditional on the sale of our current property." 
You have to consider both the price and the conditions when choosing 
which offer to accept.
There are other considerations, too. What if someone makes a great offer 
on your home, but they don't have a pre-approved mortgage and they 
haven’t put their current home on the market? That kind of offer is risky 
because it is more likely than an unconditional offer to fall through.
So there's a lot to think about when you're in the seemingly enviable 
position of dealing with multiple offers. How do you select the right one? The 
answer is to have a good REALTOR® by your side to help you make the 
right decision!
Want more tips on finding and buying your next dream home? Call today.