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If you’re thinking of making a move within the next few months, there are two important things ou need to know.

The first is the market value of your current property. That’s the amount your home will likely sell for on today’s market. When you know its market value, you’ll have a better idea of how much money will be available to invest in a new home.

You could get upgraded insulation installed in all the walls of your home, or buy a new high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner. These improvements would certainly reduce your energy costs – but they each require a significant investment. 

What if you don’t have the budget?

There are a lot of little things you can do to make a big difference in your heating or cooling bill, Here are just a few examples:

Dreyer Group Mortgages Inc.

Our 5-year fixed is now sitting at 2.89 %!!

To give you a historical account of rates and payments:

In March of 1993 the 5-year fixed mortgage rate was 8.97%

Your monthly payment for a $400,000 mortgage with a 25-year amortization would have been

approximately $3304.03

Fast-forward today, 20 years later, that same $400,000 mortgage with a 25-year amortization has a

monthly mortgage payment of $1870.48

What a difference of $1433.55 per month!!

Contact Lynn McLellan, BA

Phone: 604-536-8400

You will want to make the process of shopping for a home as productive and enjoyable as possible. After all, you’ll be on a quest to find your next dream home. That’s why it’s important to take the right things with you:

• A digital camera, so you can take pictures of the features you like in the properties you see.
• A notepad, so you can take notes.
• Measurements of your largest pieces of furniture, so you can confirm they’ll fit in the rooms of properties you like.
• A measuring tape.
• Some healthy snacks and beverages, (especially important if you’re taking the kids along).
• A map of the area, so you can check out local parks and other neighbourhood features.
• Clear driving directions to each of the properties you want to see.

 One of the best ways to shop for a home, and actually enjoy the experience, is to work with a great Realtor.

If you’ve been thinking about selling your home, you might be waiting until the “market is right”. After all, if the local market suddenly booms, your property will likely sell for a higher price.

That may be true. However, there are other factors to consider in your decision to list. 

For example, will you be buying a new home as well? If so, then the higher selling price will probably be offset by the higher cost of the new property. 

In addition, there may be characteristics of your home that will help sell it quickly and for a good price – today – regardless of the market conditions. 

A good REALTOR will help you make the right decision. Call today

Why is it so important to know how much you can afford to spend on a home?

Two reasons.

First, you don’t want to buy a property and then find out, only after you’ve moved in, that you can’t financially maintain it. That would mean having to resell it under stressful conditions. 

Second, you don’t want to settle for a property that’s less than ideal, when you really could have afforded the “dream home” you’ve always wanted. 

So how do you figure out how much you can afford to pay for your next home?

You might have hired a painter, plumber, or renovator several times during your history of home ownership. But how many times have you hired a decorator?

For many homeowners, hiring a decorator is a first time experience. That’s what makes knowing how to choose the right one so challenging. 

Here’s a tip: Clip photos from magazines of rooms that match the “look and style” you want. Pay particular attention to desired colours, decor, accents, furnishings, and themes. 

Like heat, water and air conditioning, insurance is a home expense you have some degree of control over. In fact, there are ways to reduce your insurance costs by as much as 20%.

The thing to keep in mind is that insurance companies will often reward you- in the form of lower rates-when you do something to reduce the risk of damage to your property. That’s why you can often get a discount when you install smoke detectors on all floors. Other discounts may be available if you get better door locks, an alarm system, upgraded wiring and so forth. 

Contact your insurance company and ask how you can lower your insurance costs. Sometimes just a few minor changes can save you a bundle. 

When you’re shopping for a new home, you want to find a property that has all the features and characteristics you want. A large deck surrounded by pictureesque landscatping…a beautiful kitchen with gleaming marble countertops.. a cozy finished basement with fireplace….

You should look for the ideal home. You deserve it! But some home buyers make the mistake of becoming fixated on finding the “perfect” property, and passing too quickly on those homes that don’t quite measure up.