Langley BC Real Estate | Condominums And Town Homes

Down payment on a home is an investment for the future. It is probably the biggest investment you will ever make. Saving money for a down payment is a slow and steady process. Start early, even if you are only putting away a small amount at a time. We have listed a few tips to help you realize a future dream of being a home owner.

Determine how much you need
The size of your down payment affects the amount of your monthly mortgage payments. Although a smaller down payment would mean high monthly mortgage payments, it would allow you to buy sooner. Ideally, you should be able to put down 20% of the purchase price or more. If you plan to make a down payment of less than 20%, you would also have pay private mortgage insurance.

Put Your Savings to Work
Most saving accounts offer very low interest rates. Grow your money safely in a high-interest savings account. Avoid investing in stock market, where you may end up losing all your money.

Create a separate account
Stash the down payment is a separate account to avoid tapping it for other expenses. It would be a good idea to automatically transfer a certain amount each month. You can’t spend it if you can’t see it.

Slash large expenses
Skip vacation for a year or two. It typically costs family thousands of dollars. Skip or cut down on vacations and you would end up saving a sizable amount of the down payment. Reduce monthly expenses like credit cards and auto loans. Not only would it free up more cash, but would also reduce debt-to-income ratio, an important factor in calculating mortgage rates.

First Time Buyer Programs
There are several programs that help first time buyers get into the housing market. Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers a 5% down payment program for first-time buyers. You can also take advantage of the Home Buyers’ Plan that allows you to withdraw up to $20,000 from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs). The BC provincial government’s First Time Home Buyer’s Program offers Property Transfer Tax Exemption for First-Time Buyers.

There is nothing more stressful than selling a home in winter. Not everyone has the luxury of waiting for spring to sell the house. Follow our tips to ensure that your home is in top condition for selling this winter.

Clean the gutters
Remove all fall debris from the gutters to ensure water flows smoothly. Clogged gutters increase the chance of ice dams that may damage the roof, and even the ceilings and walls.

Foundation
Rake away fall debris and seal up entry points for small animals to crawl under the house. Check the foundation for proper drainage.

Prevent plumbing freeze
Burst pipes are the biggest expense in winters. Insulate the outdoor pipes, turn off the sprinklers, and drain the hoses.

Check the furnace
Inspect the furnace, replace the filters and clean the ducts to save on huge electricity bills later. It is a good idea to have it serviced to ensure its not emitting carbon monoxide

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test those alarms and change the batteries to prepare for a safe winter. It would pay to invest in a carbon monoxide detector near the furnace.

Block the leaks
Caulk joints and minor cracks on exterior walls and siding. Apply it around your windows and doors to prevent drafts.

Insulation
Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. Now is a great time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows for an added layer of insulation.

Chimneys
Chimneys are often neglected all summer. Cap or screen the chimneys to keep the birds and rodents out.

Buyers insist on a professional home inspection in winters. Surprise problems uncovered by the buyer’s inspector can cause delays in closing, last minute repairs or a lower price. Although you would have fewer buyers, you would also have lesser competition from other sellers. Put in a little effort to ensure that the winter selling is smooth.

When is the right time to buy a home in Langley, BC? This is a question that so many people ask time and time again. The fact of the matter is that there is no right or wrong answer to this question. The right time to buy a home is when you are ready to do so. This is different for each person, so you will have to make your own mind up. But luckily, there are a few things that you can look at if you are thinking about buying a home. They may not point you in the right direction, but they should at least be able to get you thinking about the decision that you are about to make.

One thing to remember is that it is not the right time to buy a home if you do not have the money. So many people get excited about buying a home that they forget about the costs that are associated with it. Not only do you have to buy the home itself, but then you have to pay the bills associated with it. While this is something that you may be able to handle eventually, if you do not have the money now you should not even think about buying a home.

Additionally, you should only buy the home in Langley, BC that you are sure you want. Are you wondering what this means? Generally speaking, since there are so many homes in Langley, BC to choose from you may have a tough time making a decision as to which one is right for you. If you want to buy a home you have to take your time when searching for the right one. Getting so excited that you buy something that does not suit your needs is never a good idea. Instead, you should only buy a home that you are 100 percent sure about. Remember, this may very well be the largest purchase that you ever make. If you do not take your time you could end up with a large mistake on your hands.

All in all, the right time to buy a home in Langley, BC is when you are ready. This is different for each buyer, so make sure that you take your time and listen to what you know best.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Langley, BC real estate. For complete information about the Langley, BC real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Langley BC Real Estate or please feel free to contact me on my cell phone 778.862.5542

Staging a home is a detailed and intricate process. You’re going through the process of making your home as nice as possible to get the highest price possible. When it comes to staging, there are many things most real estate agents to right. However, based on my years of experience in the Langley, BC market, I’ve found that most agents tend to leave out these three important factors.

Factor #1  Scent

Scent plays a big part in staging a home. Remember that a home purchase is an emotional decision. The sense of smell plays a big part in influencing one’s emotions.

Having any odors, stale air, muskiness or strange smells will kill your chances of making the sale. It’s absolutely critical that your house smell at least neutral, if not good.

There are many ways to change the scent of your house. You could burn incense an hour before showing the house. You could install some air fresheners. You could even use essential oils that are used in aromatherapy to truly create a luxurious feel.

Factor #2 Lighting

Lighting is another very important factor that many agents overlook. The lighting in the house literally colors everything else. A house that appears bright will feel vibrant, happy and alive to the buyer. A house that’s dim will feel gloomy, dark and dead.

Natural lighting is the optimal source of lighting. If you can’t get natural lighting to work or to be well lit enough, the get some artistic indoor lighting. Avoid hard lights and avoid fluorescent lights.

Factor #3 Furnishing

It’s very common for agents to show an empty house. While this does create a clean and open look, the reality is that most people don’t have a very strong ability to imagine what a house will look like with furnishing.

It’s important to have good furnishing in the house when you’re staging it so that the buyer can really get a feel for what the house will feel like when it’s furnished. Pick just a few key pieces to help the buyer do that.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Langley, BC real estate. For complete information about the Langley, BC real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to Langley BC Real Estate. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions at 778.862.5542.

If you are ready to buy a home in Langley BC, then congratulations! Owning real estate can be a very satisfying feeling, and lucrative investment. Making the right decisions when you start can save you a lot of money and time before it’s over.

According to real estate professional Andrew Szalontai, before you begin the process the best thing to do is talk to a Langley BC mortgage professional. They are skilled in the latest guidelines and can tell you how much house to look for based on your current situation. You don’t want to start looking until you know exactly how much home your budget will allow. This is not an area that you want to take lightly so make sure that you research who you go with carefully.

The best scenario is to talk to your friends or family and see if they can refer someone in Langley BC. If not, you need to do some homework to decide who to go with. The more established the company, the better. Local is always better, if possible, since guidelines change from state to state.

When you talk to a Langley BC mortgage specialist, make sure how much money will be required to close the loan. You don’t want to get into a contract if you will not be able to close, since there may be legal consequences involved that could cost you money. Also, get a clear indication of what your payments will be. Just because someone says you qualify for a certain amount doesn’t mean you have to spend that much in payments. If you are not comfortable with your quoted payment then ask to lower your price. Being cautious now may eliminate a financial strain later.

Now that you have your price range, you should look into hiring a Langley BC real estate professional. Like the mortgage officer, they are trained to look out for your best interests. As your buyer’s agent, they are paid from the seller’s proceeds so, in essence, they are working for you for free. Take advantage of this and use their expertise. They will negotiate for you and work to get you the best deal possible.

For more information on buying a home in Langley BC, check out Langley BC Real Estate to get the latest info and market data. You can also call Andrew Szalontai at 778.862.5542 anytime.

As a real estate agent who has experience in Langley BC, I have assisted many individuals in buying and selling homes. In this article, I will show some top practical tips that I have discovered to help anyone sell any house in the Langley BC market. When you finish reading this article, you will know exactly how to manage a quick, stress free sale of your house.

Staging your home will lead to more success than not staging it.

Even if you have not staged a home before, you will find that it does not require any previous experience; you will be able to do it with a minimum amount of effort.

One-Fixing things. Before showing the house, any repairs needed to the house, floor, appliances and fixtures should be taken care of.

Two-Organize your things. Store anything that seems out of place.

Third-Get your house as clean as it can be. Beautify the front of your home, steam clean the carpets, shine the windows daily.

Price is key. If your asking price is too low, you won’t realize enough profit from the sale. One of the biggest pitfalls that a seller may encounter is pricing their home to high. Many believe that they can take a lower offer if they start out first with a high price. Overpricing can greatly limit marketability. The most important factor in selling your house is that you have the correct price.

If you want a smoother and easier experience with selling your home then make certain that you are working with an experienced real estate agent. Moreover, the commission you pay will be more than covered by the 16% saving that you will achieve on an average as compared to selling to FSBO.

It is very difficult to select the right real estate agent. It is in your best interest to locate an agent who is well-versed in the Langley BC area. You will want to find an agent that is trustworthy. You’ll want to seek out an agent with the ability to market as well as sell.

On the chance you have yet to find an agent in Langley BC, give me a call first for a free consultation, what can it hurt, and who knows I may just be what you need. Call me anytime at 778.862.5542 or you can visit my website at Langley BC Real Estate.

Over the last several years the idea of investing in the Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC real estate market has garnered a lot of interest from buyers all over the country. Although recently we’ve had some hiccups in the real estate market and economy, now more than ever buyers are seeing the huge opportunity available to them to create wealth through real estate investing.

The unfortunate occurrence of foreclosures all over the country has led to an enormous opportunity for individuals who are prepared to purchase property for investment. Buyers who had the funds and credit score necessary to purchase property have seen that they can get astounding deals. Not only can you purchase foreclosures, but you should also be looking at pre-foreclosures as another fantastic way of getting a good deal. In addition, short sales are a popular choice among Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC real estate investors these days.

In some areas of the country, banks are letting houses go for $.30-$.50 on the dollar in some cases. These are not always homes that are in poor repair. In fact, people are finding that they can get fantastic prices on homes that are move-in condition. Of course, there are things that you must consider before purchasing a Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC foreclosure home or a short sale.

The main important factor to think about is whether or not the title is clear. Although title searches are typically done before closing, and you do want to make sure that you invest in owner’s title insurance. This will protect you if the title is ever challenged later because there was a problem in the chain of title such as forgery or something not being recorded.

Another tip to remember is that you should always get a full home inspection on any house you buy, but especially a foreclosure. This is because the bank does not know the background of the home and therefore is unable to give you history on any repairs or problems that ever happened there.

For more information about real estate in Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC, please visit me at Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC Real Estate or call me directly at 778.862.5542.

Most people these days have at least heard the term “home staging”. This is where you set up your home in such a way that maximizes the space and gives people a good feeling about the layout. It’s important when selling your Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC home to put your best foot forward, and home staging is the way to accomplish this. However, if you don’t have the money to hire a professional BC home stager to assess your home, and then take some of these tips into consideration.

• Clutter: The very first thing you should do is go around your home and get rid of any clutter. This includes taking all the things off of your refrigerator and countertops. By having a lot of things stuck to refrigerator or on your counter, it takes away from the space and makes everything seem smaller. Remember that you’re going for a streamlined look and cleanliness makes everything look larger.

• Stand in the road: Take a look at your house from the perspective of potential buyers. Look your curb appeal and decide what needs to be trimmed, painted or even removed from your front yard to make the home look more inviting.

• Clean: This might seem like the simplest of all tasks, but you need to work on cleaning your Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC house like it’s brand-new. When people walk in, they need to feel like they’re getting a new house and not moving into someone else’s mess. No one wants to move in to a house and live with someone else’s dirt and dust.

• Turn on the lights: Open your window shades and turn on all your lights when showing your home because more light means more space. People get the feeling of a bigger space when there’s more light.

For more information on getting your Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC home ready to sell, visit my website at Langley, White Rock and Surrey BC Real Estate or call me directly at 778.862.5542 for free tips on staging your home the right way to get it sold quickly.

In the 1980s baby boomers didn’t save money. Instead, they bought expensive items, such as luxury cars, and took extravagant long-distance vacations. But for the last decade, because of consumer satiation and the responsibilities of raising a family, these couples are starting to play it more carefully. They’re investing–rather than just spending–their income. And one logical step, is to invest in a second home in Langley BC.

Households that are headed by someone who’s between the ages of 45 and 54 own the largest share of vacation homes (households that are headed by someone between the ages of 55 and 64 years of age own the second-largest share). This suggests that the baby-boom generation is just entering the prime years for ownership.

Nationwide, 22.8 million households that don’t own recreational property say that there’s some likelihood they’ll purchase such property in the next 10 years, and 13.5 million of those households indicate that there’s “a 50-50 chance or better” that they’ll buy recreational property in the 1990s.

The recession in 1973 and 1974 was a harbinger of the upsurge in the primary house market during the late 1970s. That was the result of baby boomers going from one life stage to another, buying their first home. The recession of 1982 and 1983 preceded the surge in demand for upscale housing in the late 1980s, as baby boomers traded up.

When the boom hits, market within 100 miles or so of a major urban area such as Langley BC are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries. Middle-aged baby boomers with children aren’t interested in long trips anymore, even when the trips are taken in Volvo station wagons and BMWs.

Many of the baby boomers are buying second homes in anticipation of retirement. Some of them are financing their second homes by borrowing against or cashing in securities and taking out five-year balloon mortgages. Such buyers plan to sell their principal homes someday and use the proceeds to pay off the mortgages on their country homes–thus retiring without debt. This type of money management is likely to have a large appeal in these uncertain economic times.

Now is definitely the time to buy. So, you can still beat the crowds into the second-home market–before the baby boomers’ boom hits.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Langley BC real estate. For complete information about the Langley BC real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Langley BC real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer you queries. Call me on my cell at 778.862.5542 or visit me at Langley BC Real Estate.

Your real estate agent is someone who’ll be working side by side with you on one of the biggest financial moves of your life. Your agent will be negotiating with you, educating you and helping you buy or sell your property. It’s absolutely crucial to make sure you choose a good real estate agent. In this article, we’ll go over 6 powerful tips for choosing a good real estate agent in the Langley BC area.

Tip #1 - Look at Their Website
You can tell a lot about a real estate agent based on their website. This is where they’ll “showcase” the highlights of their service.
What sets them apart from the competition? How long have they been in business? Browse your potential agent’s website and see if who they are resonates with you.

Tip #2 - Trust your first impression
A working relationship with a real estate agent is based on trust. Trust that your agent will have your best interest in mind, not just a quick commission.
Often times your first impressions will be dead on. Can you trust this person? Do you feel comfortable doing business with this person? Usually you’ll be able to answer these questions in just a 15-30 minute conversation.

Tip #3 - What will be your marketing plan (Seller) or negotiation strategy (Buyer) for me?
A good real estate agent will have a plan for getting you the best price possible, whether you’re buying or selling.
When you’re considering working with an agent, ask them: What will be your marketing plan or strategy for negotiating for me?

Tip #4 – Work with a Residential Expert
If you’re looking for an agent in the Langley BC area, generally you want to work with someone who knows the area very well.
Make sure your agent has been local for some time and has completed several transactions in the local area. Your agent should have a good idea of the approximate home values in all the different areas of the city.

Tip #5 – How reachable are you? What will working with you be like?
What hours does your agent work? Will you be dealing directly with your agent, or will you have to go through an assistant every time?
How long will you have to wait each time you make an appointment? Can you call up a couple days before, or do you have to make an appointment a week in advance?
Know what it’s like to work with your agent before you decide whether or not to move forward.

Tip #6 – Can Your Agent Provide References?
Satisfied clients will oftentimes provide references, letters of recognition or a phone number where other potential clients can call to see what it was like working with this agent.
If your agent has been in business for some time, they should have some references you can look at. Look into these references and see if your agent is someone you want to work with.

If you’re considering an agent in the Langley BC area, it’s important to work with someone who’s experienced and knows the local area. If you don’t already have an agent, feel free to give me a call for a free consultation on buying or selling your home. I can be reached at 778.862.5542 or by visit Langley BC Real Estate.