Recent Blog Posts by Allan Lent

ONE OF THE 'MOST ASKED' BUYER QUESTION IS .....

        One of the Most Asked Buyer Questions…  “How long has the home been on the market?” Here are some of the many reasons for asking, especially on homes with extended market times.  Generally, the longer a home has been on the market, the less confident the buyer is about the home’s value and the less attention ...

The TOP 5 THINGS That May Scare Potential Buyers Off ....

Here are the top 5 things that may scare potential buyers off: It is vital for sellers to make their home attractive to potential buyers. If you decided to list your property, consult with your Realtor to determine a fair and accurate price.  If competition has a home with a considerably lower list price, your property will most likely remain on the market. Curb appeal is crucial.  The ...

SAVE MONEY - EVEN WHEN DINING OUT!!

WANT TO SAVE MONEY EVEN WHEN DINING OUT?  TRY THESE HELPFUL TIPS: Go for lunch instead of dinner, your entrees are less expensive. Eat earlier and take advantage of 'Happy Hour' menus & drinks. Skip more expensive drinks and opt for 'water'. Have your dessert at home. Look for coupons or discounts on weeknights.  

GREEN Real Estate - Use March to shed some light

Green Real EstateFeb 27, 2012 By Elden Freeman There’s a reason they call it March Break. It’s around the time when children and adults yearn for milder climates and a reprieve from the cold, dull grey of winter. If travelling to warm, sunny spots is impossible at this time of year, consider brightening the interior of your home or office with lighting. But not just any old lighting. ...

LOCATION'S IMPACT ON LIFESTYLE & HOME VALUES

Location’s Impact on Lifestyle and Value   You’ve heard the question, “What are the 3 most important elements of buying a home?” The response: “Location, Location, Location.” There is no denying: location is critical to home buying. That’s because where you live can be important to how you live, how it affects your happiness ...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND SELLING YOUR HOME

  First Impressions and Selling a Home? Here are some questions you  may have along with the answers....   Are first impressions important to selling a home? I remember reading the following from somewhere: “In a television commercial, we’re told the sale is made or lost in the first 3 or 4 seconds. In a print ad, tests have shown, 75% of ...

PRICING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

Pricing Your Home--a Minefield of Styles Many sellers interview two or three REALTORS® before they decide with whom to list their home. Sellers want to feel comfortable and confident in the REALTOR® they choose. They also consider reputation and trustworthiness as two critical factors in evaluating whether the salesperson is the right fit. That’s why 64% of sellers use a salesperson ...

Most Canadian Upbeat About Owning a Home - RBC

Most Canadians Upbeat About Owning a Home—RBC  Is Home Ownership A Good Investment? The Royal Bank of Canada’s 18th Annual Home Ownership Study indicates that: 90% of Canadians "are confident about real estate in Canada as an investment" "85% feel they are doing a good job or excellent job of paying down their mortgage" 73% "believe that they or their family are well-positioned ...

6 MAIN REASONS PEOPLE BUY A HOME

6 Main Reasons Why People Buy a Home: 1.       Most mentioned for people buying was the simple desire to own a home of their own.  . Other Major Reasons identified by all home buyers: 2.       The desire for a larger home; 3.       A change in ...

CENTURY 21 NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2011 EDITION

Century 21 News      Volume 7, Issue 2 Visit: www.century21today.ca for current listings  2011                                                                                             ...

MORTGAGE RULES TO CHANGE AGAIN ...

 Mortgage Rules to Change Again—will it again add to the confusion?  This is the second round of changes to mortgage rules since the spring of 2010. Though probably prudent, will it again cause some confusion among consumers as before? This time the Government has announced 3 additional changes to mortgage rules for government insured mortgages. They are: 1. A reduction in the ...

WHAT PURCHASES ARE ENTITLED TO HST?

Over half of Ontarians confused about HST and resale homes A full 56 percent of Ontarians mistakenly believe that the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) applies to the full purchase price of a resale home, according to an Ipsos Reid survey commissioned by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA). “We see it on the front lines every day. Clearly, Ontarians still don’t know what the HST covers ...

What Would a Seller Net—over 1 to 5 years

Today people move every 7 years on average. And a great many, for one reason or another, sell much sooner.  To more likely achieve a good financial return, and a larger downpayment on the next purchase, a good selling strategy is to keep a home for at least 5 years, if possible. In spite of the market’s recent struggles, the average sale price in our region has appreciated by about ...

Buyers: 5% Down Still Available

New Rules still allow 5% Down to Buy a Home Mortgage Changes and Clarification To clarify any confusion, YES you can still buy a home with a 5% downpayment; this has not changed. As well, lenders continue to offer the 5% cash-back option. The 3 New Rules to Insured Mortgages follow: 90% Maximum Refinancing Prior to the modifications, you could refinance and withdraw up to a maximum of ...

Niagara Realestate Sales Remain Strong

While the current news about the housing market is full of doom and gloom the Niagara Region remains strong. The most important thing to remember is that your Agent has a responsibility to guide your investment forward in a changing market by providing key information relative to your strategies,needs and wants.