Success in real estate, whether it is buying or selling a house, comes down to negotiations and getting the best deal possible. Negotiating is an art, one that requires both experience and knowledge, and one mastered by agents at Search Realty. The catch is that when it comes to the sale of a home, both the buyer and seller, want to feel as though the outcome favors them, or at the least, represents a fair balance of interests. In most cases, neither party gets ‘everything’ they want, but a good balance is key to a successful negotiation. Search Realty ...

Home staging is simply the preparation of a home for sale in the real estate market. The goal of this home staging is to make the house more appealing, thereby helping in selling the house more quickly and also at a fair price. The key to staging is to improve the home’s appeal by turning the home into a welcoming and attractive environment for potential home buyers. Search Realty provides three staging tips that if implemented, will help sell a home for sale faster and at a fair price.   DE-CLUTTER Home buyers want two main things out of a ...

Some previously owned homes that are on the real estate market have at least one major defect. It’s obvious that the longer a home has been occupied, the higher the chance of disrepair. Almost all homes that have been lived in for over ten years require at least some repair, improvement or upgrades.   Search Realty advises that for those looking to purchase a home, it is vital that they understand exactly what they are getting into. Buying a home for sale is a major investment, and measures should be taken to ensure that that investment is sound and secure ...

An important question in the mind of home owners is how long they should stay in their current home, in order to build up equity, before dipping into the real estate market and investing in a new home. A good approximation would be five years, as this gives the home owner enough time to build up sufficient equity to cover the future costs of closing on a home while still having enough equity available to make the purchase an affordable option.   Search Realty offers three important tips to those home owners thinking about investing in a new home.   ...

A key concern of many home owners looking to sell a home is the exposure that their home will receive. The main thing is to ensure that the maximum number of people see the property so as to get the best possible deal for the home for sale. More importantly however is to ensure that the maximum number of people who see the property are actually qualified and motivated home buyers. The best way to do this is to list a home for sale on MLS, which is the Multiple Listing Service. MLS is a co-operative marketing system ...

Purchasing a home is perhaps the biggest investment an individual ever makes make. The process real estate is both rewarding, but more often than not, it is also extremely stressful. Dealing with contract negotiations, mortgage loans, and seemingly endless paperwork can become quite overwhelming. The last thing a home buyer should need to worry about is an unforeseen problem with the actual home being purchased.     Search Realty recommends that a home buyer take the time and invest in a professional home inspection company, as they can determine if there are any major defects in regards to the house ...

Selling a home takes more than just contacting a realtor.  It takes a well-designed marketing plan that strategically assesses the real estate market to evaluate the best way to sell a home for sale.    Search Realty is in the business of real estate and knows exactly what it takes to sell a home.  They believe in three key tips, that when utilized, can ensure the not only is a home for sale sold quickly, but also at a price that fulfills the initial desire of the home seller.   TIP 1:  SET THE RIGHT PRICE The time eventually comes ...

There’s a growing trend within real estate, whereby small families are now deciding to purchase a condo rather than a single family home. The reasons are many, but the main reason is that a condominium presents a less expensive entry into the housing market. Condo ownership is without a doubt just as strong a real estate investment as a home, and at times, can be an easier resell when dipping back into the market. But condo ownership does have some common misconceptions tied to it. Search Realty addresses two of the most common misconceptions related to condo ownership. MISCONCEPTION ...

It is actually quite surprising the number of people who attempt the do-it-yourself approach, when selling a home. For a lot, however, this approach would not even be an option, as they would not likely take the chance to gamble with what is and can be the single most important investment that they will ever make.   Selling a home without the help of realtor is not as easy as it may appear, and usually turns out to be a stressful and time-consuming process. Usually, the do-it-yourself home seller, doesn’t address important questions that come naturally to the the ...

Condominum sales are at an all-time high.  More and more condominums are popping up as interest in buying and even renting a condo continues to grow.  Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver are jarred with people who are interested in purchasing condos, because of the excitement of living downtown, as well as the low maintenance and easy lifestyle that goes with living in a condo.  With housing real estate prices at the high levels that they are at, a condo seems like a reasonable and affordable way into the home owner’s market.  It is especially of interest to young people ...