Szabolcs Pall - Blog - Szabolcs Pall

Recent Blog Posts by Szabolcs Pall
Did you hire the right agent? Why hiring the right agent will directly affect the amount of money you pocket? It simply comes down to motivation. Is the person you are thinking of hiring driven by their desire to help you reach your goals, or are they trying to reach theirs? Choosing the right REALTOR®, matters! It matters in their philosophy, their work ethic, their support system and network of peers, and especially ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on May 2, 2012		More
Location, location, location... no longer enough! Location, location, location is simply no longer enough. You need to start thinking about Timing when trying to get the most out of your investment. Of course location and size of the home will always be at the top of anyone’s list when assigning value to a property, that’s likely never going to change. But another important factor these days is price. ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on February 6, 2012		More
Thinking of selling privately? Thinking of selling privately? Did you know a private sale is not as straight forward as it sounds? Buyers that see a home for sale ‘by the owner’ often see a bargain. The problem for the seller is that the buyer thinks they, and not you are entitled to the savings in real estate fees. With this mindset, a lowball offer is usually the result and any perceived “savings” ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on July 6, 2011		More
Why buying from the listing agent is not a good idea Why buying from the Listing Agent is not a good idea If you are a Buyer, is it better to buy from the Listing Agent (L/A), rather than using your own realtor? Sure the thought has crossed our minds, the agent will be happy to double-end at a reduced fee, the seller will net the same amount, sounds great, doesn't it? Except when you break down the transaction, you quickly realize that ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on July 6, 2011		More
If freehold, why the monthly fee? Did you know… some freehold townhomes carry a monthly fee? This ‘association’ fee usually covers a snow removal contract and can vary depending on the size of the complex. It can sometimes add up to a substantial amount, without reaping the added benefits of owning a condo townhome. So be sure to ask if what you’re buying is condo or freehold! See CMHC's ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on June 21, 2011		More
30 Year Amortization Did you know … as of March 18th 2011, you will no longer be able to take out a mortgage with an amortization period of more than 30 years. The change was implemented as a preventive measure to ensure people aren't over extending themselves. Some banks are taking advantage of this to offer incentives for would be home purchasers before the deadline, so take advantage now! ready2move.ca ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 17, 2011		More
How do YOU see your clients? What's the best part about my job? The freedom, the people, the homes, they all add to the enjoyment of being a REALTOR in Ottawa. But even more than that is the feeling that I'm making a difference. Cue the orchestra. :-) Sure they might have got great service from someone else, I believe there are a lot of really good agents out there, and I’m certainly not saying I'm the only one. But being ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 17, 2011		More
Why now is the best time to buy a house Did you know … there are great incentives to help you get started in Real Estate? You may use up to $25,000 of your RRSP towards your down payment, and may qualify for an immediate rebate up to $2,000 on your Land Transfer Tax. The Government will kick in a $750 tax credit, not to mention the specials offered by key partners as part of our VIP program. Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 17, 2011		More
Home Ownership - Learn before you leap! My brother recently asked about what I thought was the best smart phone on the market. Sure there are tons of web-sites dedicated to this stuff, and he has probably read them all, but like most anything you purchase, it’s often best to ask someone who’s had some firsthand experience with the bloody things. And it’s with that in mind that we decided to host a live session ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 17, 2011		More
Buying or Selling? Need help? Are you thinking of buying or selling a home this year? What’s the process, and when should you get started? It starts with contacting a REALTOR® to learn about your local market, but the timing can vary depending on when you want to move. If you have a house to sell, I advise clients to consider approximately 90 days to properly market the property, and then add 60 days to ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on January 8, 2011		More
How's the market? How’s the housing market? It couldn’t be any better if you ask me, and let me explain why: While the Residential Unit sales on the Ottawa Real Estate Board are down, our Condominium Unit numbers are up from last year at this time. And let me remind you, that we had a record breaking year in 2009 which makes the numbers even more impressive. Residential prices have increased approximately ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on December 29, 2010		More
Did you get a good deal? Did you know that a home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it? This notion of a "good deal" is only in the minds of the buyer and or seller. A home properly exposed to the market by a motivated seller for a sufficient amount of time will eventually sell for the price the market is willing to bare. This is called Market Value, and will not always be the Listed Price. ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on December 13, 2010		More
5 Deal Breakers 5 Deal Breakers Did you know that there are 5 key items that Buyers are checking for when evaluating a house? They typically concern themselves with: The age of the Windows Age/Condition of the Roof Age of Furnace Age of HWT Any Visible Leaks and Cracks So as a Seller, ensuring that you're able to produce receipts/documents for any work performed on these items will go ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on September 16, 2010		More
You just submited an offer, now what? Are you left wondering? TD is running a great commercial on TV depicting an anxious couple asking; ‘What if they don’t accept our offer?’. The answer is in the form of another question; ‘What if they do?’ And this highlights a very real depiction of what some people without proper representation are experiencing today. So where do they get answers? ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on September 16, 2010		More
Expect MORE ... Service Expect MORE ... Service Did you know the consultation provided throughout the purchase or sale of your home, is just one benefit of using my services? Beyond real estate advice, what elevates me above the rest is ensuring that you're provided with whatever you require. A lawyer, home inspector, mortgage agent, life insurance, investment, home / auto insurance, etc. You will never hear ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on August 5, 2010		More
When is the house right, for you? When is the house right, for you? Just how do you know when the house is right, for you? You will just ‘feel it’. A house is not a house, is not a house. Sure, it's got bedrooms, four walls, bathrooms and a kitchen. But each and every home is still unique in so many ways. On paper, they match up perfectly. The price is identical, even the ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on August 5, 2010		More
Considering Selling? Some things to ask yourself first! We're faced decisions throughout our normal day, and usually get them right without much difficulty. But while each of us is well equipped to make every day decisions, it’s not always so simple. When we consider selling our home, that decision is one that obviously requires much greater scrutiny. Consider the following: How much equity do I currently have? - The amount of money you ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on June 1, 2010		More
Hottest April on record for resale housing market Hottest April on record for resale housing market Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,841 residential properties in April through the Board's Multiple Listing Service® system compared with 1,591 in April 2009, an increase of 15.7 per cent. Of those sales, 425 were in the condominium property class, while 1,416 were in the residential property class. The condominium property class ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on May 5, 2010		More
Home Ownership Incentives Did you know that there are a variety of government programs to help you save or borrow the funds for your home purchase? The RRSP Home Buyer's Plan, the Home Buyer Tax Credit and the Land Transfer Tax Rebate can help overcome the difficult challenge of saving money for a down payment faced by many First Time Home Buyers today. As a REALTOR® I can help you understand how these programs ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 29, 2010		More
How to buy a home with 0% down Did you know that you can still get financing for up to 100% of your home? There is no getting around the 5% down payment required by CMHC, but some lenders will give you the 5% down payment if you are willing to take on a higher interest rate. Don't forget though, that for non-owner occupied or investment properties, you now need a 20% down payment as part of the new mortgage rule ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 2, 2010		More
Why change the mortgage rules? Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net How do you characterize our current real estate market? Lots of buyers, not enough homes. Homes are selling at over and above the asking price as demand pushes excited home buyers, nervous at the thought of losing out on a home, to bid full asking price sometimes without conditions. While active listings are down from last year, we are already ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on March 2, 2010		More
HST and your Real Estate transaction With the introduction of HST in Ontario starting July 1st 2010, your real estate transaction will be effected in a number of ways. While you don't have to pay HST on resale homes, the services that you use may be HST taxable. Lawyer, home inspector, appraisal, survey and real estate fees are subject to the new HST. New home purchases are also subject to HST, but you may qualify for ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on February 5, 2010		More
Confused about your last offer/listing agreement? Did you fully understand the document you just signed? If you are a little unsure about your level of comprehension of the last listing/offer you signed, don't worry, you are not alone. I've got a great example of a home owner who misunderstood one of the many important clauses in his Listing Agreement, namely in reference to the Holdover Period. This states that the seller agrees to ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on February 5, 2010		More
Considering condos? Did you know that while condos remain an affordable option for many first time home buyers or empty nesters looking to downsize, the lower price doesn't always tell the whole story. The condo fees that vary according to age, size and location of the condo, can sometimes be up to 50% of the cost of your monthly mortgage. Always check with your REALTOR® and lawyer to find out what amenities, ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on December 2, 2009		More
When should you buy a home? There is no better time to get in the market then now! This is something you may hear repeated often but it definetly rings true today! Consider the following: The dollar is at about .95US again, the stock market has survived the bad news coming out of Dubai and is once more pushing towards 12,000 points. Overnight lending rate by major banks is still hovering at all time lows and the ... Posted by Szabolcs Pall on December 2, 2009		More

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