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For most of us, when it comes to our budget for housing, the sky really isn't the limit. And in a hot housing market, that means we are likely to be facing multiple offers when we try to buy or rent a property. That's certainly been the case for many of my clients over the course of this summer, especially if they are looking for more space outside of the downtown Toronto core.
If you live in a condominium, some people may believe you have a “no maintenance” lifestyle. It’s far from that, though. Although property management may take care of some tasks, typically, if it’s inside your unit, it’s your responsibility. Here’s a handy checklist of things you should check into, take care of, or organize, for the fall.
When you start imagining your new home, your new life, do you imagine your grown children and your friends there with you? Is it far away? Because if it is, I got a valuable piece of advice from another real estate agent I know. They’re not coming.
Oh, I mean, they may visit from time to time, but you’ve decided you want to downsize. So don’t try and pick up the old house and recreate it in a newer, smaller space. Instead:
Most renters start their search for a new apartment in the wrong place. I'm not talking about location, although you know we real estate agents say that is the most important criteria. I'm talking about doing your homework and getting yourself ready to be seen as a good tenant.
It's exciting! You've bought your first home. You're excited to decorate and make your space just the way you've imagined. Stop right there. There are some very good reasons not to do that, that I can share. I've moved many times, and I've learned to be cautious when it comes to stocking up on new stuff before a move.
When you buy your first home, you've probably been renting up to that point. So you sign the paperwork, make your deposit, give your notice, and start packing. But if you've outgrown that home, or you're ready to downsize, it's a whole new ballgame. Now you need to decide when to list, and when to buy. What if you sell your home, and then can't find one you like? Or conversely, what if you buy a home, and then can't sell yours?
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So, you've decided to move to a new home - a smaller one! You may have already spent a lifetime buying increasingly larger houses, so you know a lot about getting bigger. But what if now, you need to go small? Whether it's by choice or by circumstance, disengaging from the idea that every real estate purchase must be grander than the last takes some doing. We're hard-wired to want to achieve, to gain, or to build.
When we're house hunting, most of us consider how far the location of the home is from work. That's important, for sure. After all, we spend at least 30% of our time working. But what about the rest of the time? It's also important to think about where else we want to be able to go, when we leave our condominium or house.
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House hunters often find the process stressful, especially if they are working to a deadline, because they have already sold or given notice on their current home. It's doubly so if they have been transferred from another city and have a pre-determined time for their real estate search. As REALTORS©, we have many tools in our toolkit to help you search, view, and select your next home.
