27-Tips-Sellers-Report :
27 Valuable Tips To Get Your Home Sold Fast & For Top Dollar
Because your home may well be your largest asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life.

6-Buyer-Mistakes :
6 Things You Must Know Before You Buy
Get The Right Information
Whether you are about to buy your first home, or planning to make a move to your next home, it is critical that you inform yourself about the factors involved. Before you commit your hard earned dollars to monthly mortgage payments, consider these 6 issues. Effective consideration of these important areas can make your payments work much harder for you.

9-Step-System-Seller-Report :
The 9 Sstep System To Get Your Home Sold Fast And
For Top Dollar
The Real Estate Market has Changed  . . .
Remember the 80′s – when you could make your fortune in real estate. It was nothing then to buy a home, wait a short while, and then sell it at a tidy profit.

Buy-with-Zero-Down :
Buy A Home With Zero Cash
You may have owned a home before are presently renting or are a first time homebuyer and need a way to break into the housing market but held back because you thought you required a substantial down payment.

Danger-Buyer-Traps :
The Buying Game
How to Avoid the 9 Most Costly (but Common) Home Buying Mistakes
Let’s face it, buying a home is a major expense. But why make it more expensive than necessary? Play the buying game right and you can cut costs AND buy the house that is best for you. I can help you watch out for these common but costly pitfalls.

Divorce-Selling-Report :
DIVORCE: What You Need to Know About Your House, Your Mortgage and Taxes
How to Avoid Costly Housing Mistakes in the Midst of a Divorce
Divorce is a tough situation which opens up many emotional and financial issues to be solved.. One of the most important decisions is what to do about the house.

Home-Inspection-Seller-report :
11 Things You Need to Know to PASS Your Home Inspection
Home Buyers Want to Know Your Home Inside and Out
While homebuyers are as individual as the homes they plan on purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be

New-Homes-Vs-Resale :
 10 Tips to Save You Time and Money
Read this BEFORE you visit your first show home!
When shopping for your home, you’ll discover that most homes on the market are resales. Yet, one out of four homebuyers purchases a new home. Both new homes and resales offer advantages. Before you make a decision let’s compare these points:

Save-Thousands-Buyer-Report :
How To Save Thousands Of Dollars When You Buy A Home
If you are like most homebuyers, you have two primary considerations in mind when you start looking for a home. First, you want to find a home that perfectly meets your needs and desires, and secondly, you want to purchase this home for the lowest possible price.

Stop-Paying-Rent :
Don’t Pay Another Cent in Rent To Your Landlord…
It’s a dream we all have – to won our own home and stop paying rent. But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours. How could it when you are not even permitted to bank in a nail or two without a hassle. You feel like you are stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home.

Trade-Up-Mistakes-Report :
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Trading Up to a Larger Home
Unlike the experience of buying a first home, when you’re looking to move-up, and already own a home, there are certain factors that can complicate the situation. It is very important for you to consider these issues before you list your home for sale.

Not only is there the issue of financing to consider, but you also have to sell your present home at exactly the right time in order to avoid either the financial burden of owning two homes or, just as bad, the dilemma of having no place to live during the gap between closings.

FIVE STRATEGIES

In this report we outline the six most common mistakes homeowners make when moving to a larger home. Knowledge of these six mistakes, and the strategies to overcome them, will help you make informed choices before putting your existing home on the market.

Rose-Coloured Glasses
Most of us dream of improving our lifestyle and moving into a larger home. The problem is that there is sometimes a discrepancy between our hearts and our bank accounts. You drive by a home that you fall in love with only to discover that it is already sold or more than what you are willing to pay. Most homeowners get caught in this hit or miss strategy of househunting when there is a much easier way of going about the process. For example, find out if your agent offers a home buyers’ service. This type of program will cross match your criteria with ALL available homes on the market and supply you with printed or emailed information on an ongoing basis. A program like this helps homeowners take off those rose-coloured glasses and, affordably, move into the home of their dreams.

Failing To Make Necessary Improvements
If you want to get the best price for your home you are selling, there will certainly be things you can do to enhance it in a prospective buyer’s eyes. These fix-ups don’t necessarily have to be expensive. But even if you do have to make a minor investment, it will often come back to you ten-fold in the price you are able to get when you sell. It is very important that these improvements be made before you put your home on the market. If cash is tight, investigate an equity loan that you can repay upon closing.

Not Selling First
You should plan to sell before you buy. This way you will not find yourself at a disadvantage at the negotiating table, feeling pressured to accept an offer that is below market value because you have to meet a purchase deadline. If you’ve already sold your home, you can buy your next one with no strings attached. If you do get a tempting offer on your home, but haven’t made significant headway on finding your next one, you might want to put in a contingency clause in the sale contract which gives you a reasonable time to find a home to buy. If the market is slow and you find your home is not selling as quickly as you anticipated, another option could be renting your home and putting it up on the market later – particularly if you are selling a smaller, starter home. You’ll have to investigate the tax rules if you choose this latter option.

Failing to Get a Preapproved Mortgage
Preapproval is a very simple process that many homeowners fail to take advantage of. While it doesn’t cost or obligate you to anything, preapproval gives you a significant advantage when you put an offer on the home you want to purchase, because you know exactly how much house you can afford, and you already have the green light from your lending institution. With a preapproved mortgage, your offer will be viewed far more favorably by a seller – sometimes even if it is a little lower than another offer that is contingent on financing. Don’t fail to take this important step.

Failing to Coordinate Closings
With two major transactions to coordinate together and with all the people involved such as mortgage experts, appraisers, lawyers, loan officers, title company representatives and home or pest inspectors, the chances of mix-ups and miscommunication go up dramatically. To avoid a logistical nightmare ensure you work closely with you agent, who has most likely seen it all before.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141 or glenn@goodrealtor.net. I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Call

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

and start packing
Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

It’s a dream we all have – to won our own home and stop paying rent. But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours. How could it when you are not even permitted to bank in a nail or two without a hassle. You feel like you are stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home.

Don’t Feel Trapped Anymore

It doesn’t matter how long you have been renting or how insurmountable your financial situation may seem. The truth is there are some little known facts that can help you get over the hump and transfer your status from renter to homeowner. With this information, you will begin to see how you really can:

• save for a down payment
• stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
• stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.

6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You Buy Your First Home

The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows that you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.

But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Consider the following 6 important points:

1. You can buy a home with much less down than you think. There are some local or federal government programs (such as first time buyer programs) to help people get into the housing market. You can qualify as a first time buyer even if your spouse has owned a home before as long as your name was not registered. Ensure your real estate agent is informed and knowledgeable in this important area and can offer programs to help you with your options.
2. You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs.  Even if you do not have enough cash for a down payment, if you are debt-free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car for example), your lending institute may be able to lend you the down payment for your home by securing it against this asset.
3. You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home. Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a “seller take-back”. In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution. Instead of paying this seller a lump-sum full amount of his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.
4. You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt. By borrowing money for certain investments to a specified level, you maybe able to generate a significant tax refund for yourself that you can use as a down payment. While the money borrowed for these investments is technically a loan, the monthly amount paid can be small and the money invested in both home and investment will be yours in the end.
5. You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating. If y you can come up with more than the minimum down payment, or can secure the load with other equity, may lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage. Alternatively, a seller take back mortgage could also help you in this situation.
6. You can and should get preapproved for a home loan before you go looking for a home. Preapproval is easy and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Mortgage experts can obtain written preapproval for you at no cost and no obligation and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone. More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written preapproval is as good as money in the bank. It entails a completed credit application and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for.

Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

There are many important issues you should be aware of that affect you as a renter. Why on earth would you continue to lose thousands by throwing it away on rent when with your agent you could take a few minutes to discuss your specific needs so that you can stop renting and start owning.

This conversation costs you nothing. And, of course, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to buy a home at the time your review this. But by taking the time to explore your options and learn about the ways you can afford to buy a home, think how prepared and relaxed you’ll be when you are ready to make this important step.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141, glenn@goodrealtor.net . I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Call

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

and start packing
Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

When you analyze those successful homebuyers who have been able to purchase the home for thousands of dollars below a seller’s asking price, some common denominators emerge. Although your agents negotiating skills are important, there are three additional key factors that must come into play long before you ever submit an offer.

These Steps Will Help You Save Thousands When You Buy a Home

Make sure you know what you want….

As simple as this sounds, many homebuyers don’t have a firm idea in their heads before they go out searching for a home. In fact, hen you go shopping for a place to live, there actually two homes competing for your attention; the one that meets your needs, and the one that fulfills your desires. Obviously your goal is to find one home that does both. But in the real world, this situation does not always occur.

When you are looking at homes, you’ll find that you fall in love with one or another home for entirely different reasons. Is it better to buy the 4-bedroom home with room for your family to grow, or the one with the huge eat-in kitchen that romances you with thoughts of big weekend family brunches? What is more important: a big backyard, or within proximity to your child’s school? Far too often people buy a home for the wrong reasons, and then regret their decision when the home doesn’t meet their needs.

Don’t shop with starts in your eyes: Satisfy your needs first. If you are lucky, you’ll find a home that does this and also fulfills your desires. The important thing is to understand the difference before you get caught up in the excitement of looking.

Find out if your agent offers a “Buyer Profile System” or “Househunting Services”, which takes the guesswork out of finding just the right home that matches your needs. This type of program will cross-match your criteria with ALL available homes on the market and supply you with information on an on-going basis. A program like this helps home-owners take off their rose coloured glasses and, affordably, move into the home of their dreams.

To help you develop your homebuying strategy, use this form:

What do I absolutely NEED in my next home:

1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________
4. _____________________________________
5. _____________________________________

What I would absolutely LOVE in my next home:

1. ______________________________________
2. ______________________________________
3. ______________________________________
4. ______________________________________
5. ______________________________________

How Sellers Set Their Asking Price

For you to understand how much to offer for a home you’re interested in, it is important for you to know how sellers price their homes. Here are 4 common strategies you’ll start to recognize when you begin to view homes:

Clearly Overpriced
Every seller wants to realize the most amount of money that they can for their home, and real estate agents know this. If more than one agent is competing for your listing, an easy way to win the battle is to over inflate the value of your home. This is done far too often, with many homes that are priced 10 to 20 % over their true market value.

This is not in your best interest, because in most cases the market won’t be fooled. As a result, your home could languish on the market for months, leaving you with a couple of important drawbacks:
Your home is likely to be labeled as a “troubled” house by other agents, leading to a lower than fair market price when an offer is finally made

You have been greatly inconvenienced with having to constantly have your home in “showing” condition…for nothing. These homes often expire off the market, forcing you to go through the listing process all over again.

Somewhat Overpriced
About ¾ of homes on the market are 5-10% overpriced. These homes will also sit on the market longer than they should. There is usually one of two factors at play here:
Either you believe in your heart that your home is really worth this much despite what the market has indicated (after all, there is a lot of emotion caught up in this issue)
OR

You’ve left some room for negotiating.

Either way, this strategy will cost you both in terms of time on the market and ultimate price received.

Priced Correctly on the Market
Some sellers understand that real estate is part of the capitalistic system of supply and demand and will carefully and realistically price their homes based on a thorough analysis of other homes on the market.  These competitively prices homes usually sell within a reasonable time frame and very close to the asking price.

Priced Below the Fair Market Value
Some sellers are motivated by a quick sale. These homes attract multiple offers and sell fast – usually in a few days – at, or above the asking price. Be cautious that the agent suggesting this method is doing so with YOUR best interests in mind.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141 or glenn@goodrealtor.net. I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Call

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

and start packing

When shopping for your home, you’ll discover that most homes on the market are resales. Yet, one out of four homebuyers purchases a new home. Both new homes and resales offer advantages. Before you make a decision let’s compare these points:

New Homes:

• Offer innovative use of space and style
• Greater energy efficiency
• A choice of options and upgrades
• Everything is new and modern

Resale Homes:

• On the average they are less expensive
• Often they are in already established neighborhoods with mature landscaping
• Homes have already settled, eliminating possible problems that arise from this happening after the purchase of your home

As you can see, there are advantages to both. Most people consider both new and existing homes before they decide to purchase. Should you be thinking about buying a new house, here are ten points to consider before you visit your first show home.

Get In Touch With Your Agent
Before you visit your first show home, sit down with your agent and do your homework. You’ll want to be prepared so that you can determine a comfortable price range for your new home. If you own a home, you’ll first need to know the net proceeds from its sale in order to determine how much cash you will have to work with. Don’t simply estimate this but carefully calculate every possible selling cost. If you are a first time home buyer, you will need to first qualify your income. Determine the size of your downpayment, and then work out a monthly debt load so you can determine a comfortable price range.

Sellers’ Agents Versus Buyers’ Agents
Here’s a good point to remember. The sales agent in the model home represents the builder, not you. They are known as sellers’ agents. As a buyer you can work with a buyers’ agent at no additional cost. It is his/her business to best represent your needs by being knowledgeable about home construction, warranties, financing, differences in pricing, quality, even lot selection, so that you get the best value for your money.

A Builder For All Reasons
Like all tradesmen, builders vary in their fields of expertise. For example, there are builders who specialize in their craftsmanship, others who are known for their innovative use of space, and those who offer below-market financing or customer attention during construction and after move-in. Determine your own specific needs or preferences, and then shop around for a builder that will best address your requirements.

Get The Facts About Your Builder
Before making a final decision, it is wise to check out the reputation and financial strength of the builder. Get the “spec sheets” on home features covering everything from floor plans to energy efficiency, including lot availability and delivery of your home * See “Buyer Advantages Your Builder May Not Reveal” at bottom of report.

Check Out The Neighborhood

• Learn as much as you can about the community
• Discover what amenities it has to offer
• Investigate if financial reserves have been set aside to build or replace major amenities like schools or community roads
• Find out from local land-use officials what else is planned or could be constructed in the area, especially where vacant land is applicable
• Review the rules for the homeowner’s association or find out if one will be set up
• Think of how you will be affected by commuting routes and times

Choosing Options and Upgrades
The least expensive the base price of the house is, the more options and upgrades you can add without fear of overpricing it for the neighborhood. Options are items the builder installs during construction, such as adding usable space like a sunroom or a powder room. These features can add the most to the resale of your home in the future. Upgrading means selecting quality above “builder standards” such as hardwood floors, ceramics, detailing, kitchen fixtures and appliances. Be sure to take advantage of builder incentives that offer free upgrades or credit off sale. Remember, you can always add a deck, finish a basement or do landscaping later, and sometimes for less money.

Negotiations
Often buyers don’t realize that there may be room for negotiating price, upgrades or options. For example, you have some scope for negotiating with the builder if she/he has completed a home but hasn’t sold it. Also, some “premium lots” are priced higher and are sometimes saved to be sold last. Keep in mind that typically all lots cost the builder the same, so be sure to enquire about lot pricing. Builders may offer discounts or special financing to help close a sale.

Be Sure the Contract Works In Your Favor
When spelling out the particulars of an agreement with your builder, ensure that you protect yourself by having safeguards written into the agreement such as:

• Placing your deposit in escrow
• Detailing your upgrades
• Allowing you access to the construction site to check on progress
• A 30 day advance notice of the closing date

An explanation of what the fine print means in the warranties of the builder and manufacturer

Financing – What Is Best For You?
Some builders, especially in high-volume communities that place a large numbers of loans, can offer special financing packages. However, because “home loan” lending is highly competitive, you have many financing choices other than those being offered by the builder. Shop around for everything, from rates to lender fees. Appraisals, inspections, surveys, attorneys and closing fees can vary as well.

Just Because it’s New….Doesn’t Mean it’s Perfect
Yes it’s new and typically built with modern materials that are durable, low maintenance, stronger, quieter and safer. But because nothing is perfect, even if it is new, consider hiring a reputable, licensed home inspector. Then create a builder “punchlist”, from what you have learned to address any problems before closing. Consider budgeting for items to be modified or added later on.

Many new home buyers use a real estate agent to help them negotiate the best price and terms with the dealer.

BUYER ADVANTAGES YOUR BUILDER MAY NOT REVEAL

Here’s a fact that you mat not be aware of. Some builders have newly-constructed homes available for immediate delivery. Usually these homes are ready to move into within 30 days. Even if some builders are eager to sell, they’ll probably keep that knowledge to themselves.

Immediate delivery homes are often available for various reasons:

• The community, where new homes are being constructed is nearly complete, so the builder proceeds to have the on-site contractors build “spec” homes (homes built on speculation for sale) on the last lots
• The model home is for sale
• The contract on a home has fallen through
• Builder included constructing homes for immediate delivery for buyers who are relocating or who have sold their previous home and need one to move into quickly

Immediate delivery homes may be more desirable because sometimes builders offer financing incentives or free options. This may in place of chopping prices to appeal to buyers later in the building phase. An immediate delivery home is an advantageous way to purchase a home if you need to move in quickly, or need a physical space to walk through am see before you sign a contract. Be sure to enquire.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141 or glenn@goodrealtor.net. I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Call

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

and start packing
Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

While homebuyers are as individual as the homes they plan on purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be.

Will the roof end up leaking? Is the Wiring safe? What about the plumbing?

These and others are the questions that the buyers looking at your home will seek professional help to answer.

According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection. We’ve identified the 11 most common of these and if not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair.

In most cases you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you’re looking for. And knowing what you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

“ According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. Here are 11 you should know about if you’re planning to put your home up for sale.”

1. Defective Plumbing
   Defective plumbing can manifest itself in two different ways: leaking and clogging. A visual inspection can detect leaking and an inspector will gauge water pressure by turning on all faucets in the highest bathroom and then flushing the toilet.If you hear the sound of running water, it indicates that the pipes are undersized. If the water appears dirty when first turned on at the faucet, this is a good indication that the pipes are rusting which can result in severe water quality problems.
2. Damp or Wet Basement
   An inspector will check your walls for a powdery white mineral deposit a few inches off the floor and will look to see if you feel secure enough to store things right on your basement floor. A mildew odor is almost impossible to eliminate and an inspector will certainly be conscious of it.It could cost you $200-$1000 to seal a crack in or around your basement foundation depending on severity and location. Adding a sump pump and complete waterproofing (of an average 3 bedroom home) could amount to $5,000 – $15,000. You will have to weigh these figures into the calculation of what price you want to net on your home.
3. Inadequate Wiring and Electrical
   Your home should have a minimum of 100 amps service and this should be clearly marked. Wire should be copper or aluminum. Home Inspectors will look at octopus plugs as indicative of inadequate circuits and a potential fire hazard.
4. Poor Heating and Cooling Systems
   Insufficient insulation and an inadequate or poorly functioning heating system are the most common causes of poor heating. While an adequately clean furnace, without rust on the heat exchanger, usually has life left in it, an inspector will be asking and checking to see if your furnace is over its typical life span of 15-25 years. For a forced air gas system, a heat exchanger will come under particular scrutiny since one that is cracked can emit deadly carbon monoxide into the home. These heat exchangers must be replaced if damaged – they cannot be repaired.
5. Roofing Problems
   Water leakage through the roof can occur for a variety of reasons such as physical deterioration of the asphalt shingles (e.g. curling or splitting) or mechanical damage from a wind storm. When gutters leak and down spouts allow water to run down and through the exterior walls, this external problem becomes a major internal one.
6. Damp Attic Spaces
   Aside from basement dampness, problems with ventilation, insulation and vapor barriers can cause water, moisture, mold and mildew to form in the attic. This can lead to premature wear of the roof, structure and building materials. The cost to fix this damage could easily run over $2,500.
7. Rotting Wood
   This can occur in many places (door or window frames, trim, siding, decks and fences). The building inspector will sometimes probe the wood to see if this is present – especially when wood has been freshly painted.
8. Masonry Work
   Re-bricking can be costly, but, left unattended, these repairs can cause problems with water and moisture penetration into the home which in turn could lead to a chimney being clogged by fallen bricks or even a chimney which falls onto the roof. It can be costly to rebuild a chimney or to have it repainted.
9. Unsafe or Over fused Electrical Circuit
   A fire hazard is created when more amperage is drawn on the circuit than was intended. 15 amp circuits are the most common in a typical home; with larger service for large appliances such as stoves and dryers. It can cost several hundred dollars to replace your fuse panel with a circuit panel.
10. Adequate Security Features
    More than a purchased security system, an inspector will look for the basic safety features that will protect your home such as proper locks on windows and patio doors, dead bolts on the doors, smoke and even carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom and on every level. Even though pricing will vary, these components will add to your costs. Before purchasing or installing, you should check with your local experts.
11. Structural/Foundation Problems
    An inspector will certainly investigate the underlying footing and foundation of your home as structural integrity is fundamental to your home.

Whey you put your home on the market, you don’t want any unpleasant surprises that could cost you the sale of your home.

By having an understanding of these 11 problem areas as you walk through your home, you will be arming yourself against future disappointment.

For more information about how to sell your home fast
and
for the most amount of money

Call
Glenn Good at (877) – 259-4141
Re/Max Realty Professionals
Calgary, Alberta

and start packing

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

Divorce is a tough situation which opens up many emotional and financial issues to be solved.. One of the most important decisions is what to do about the house.

In the midst of the heavy emotional and financial turmoil, what you need most is some non-emotional, straight forward specific answers. Once you know how a divorce affects your home, your mortgage and taxes, critical decisions are easier. Neutral, third party information can help you make logical, rather than emotional decisions.

Probably the first decision is whether you want to continue to live in the house. Will the familiar surrounding bring you comfort and emotional security or unpleasant memories? Do you want to minimize change by staying where you are or sell your home and move to a new place that offers a new start?

Only you can answer these questions, but there will almost certainly be some financial repercussions to your decision process. What can you afford? Can you manage the old house on your new budget? Is refinancing possible? Or is it better to sell and buy? How much house can you buy on your new budget? The purpose of this report is to help you ask the right questions so you can make informed decisions that will be right for your situation.

4 Options

You have 4 basic housing options when in the midst of a divorce:

1. Sell the house now and divide up the proceeds.
2. Buy out your spouse.
3. Have your spouse buy you out
4. Retain your ownership

It’s important for you to understand the financial implications of each of these scenarios.

1. Sell the House Now and Divide Up the Proceeds
   Your primary consideration under these circumstances is to maximize your home’s selling price. We can help you avoid the common mistakes most homeowners make which compromise this outcome. As you work to get your financial affairs in order, make sure you understand what your net proceeds will be – i.e. after selling expenses and after determining what your split of the proceeds will be. Note that the split may not be 50/50, but rather may depend on the divorce settlement, the source of the original down payment and the legislative property laws in your area.
2. Buy Out Your Spouse
   If you intend to keep the house yourself, you will have to determine how you will continue to meet your monthly financial obligations, if you now only have one salary. If you used two incomes to qualify for the old loan, refinancing on your own might be a challenge.
3. Have Your Spouse Buy You Out
   If you are the one who is leaving, you have the opportunity to start again in new surroundings with cash in your pocket. However, be aware that if the old home loan is not refinanced, most lenders will consider both you and your spouse as original co-signers to e liable for the mortgage. This liability may make qualifying for a new mortgage difficult for you if you decide to purchase a home even though you won’t have legal ownership.
4. Retain Joint Ownership
   Some divorcing couples postpone a financial decision with respect to the home and retain joint ownership for a period of time even though only one spouse lives there. While this temporary situation means you have no immediate worries in this regard, keep your eye on tax considerations which may change from the time of your divorce to the time of the ultimate sale.

 WHEN YOU DECIDE TO SELL

If you and your spouse decide to sell your home, it will be important to work together through a professional to maximize your return. Differences aside, you both should be present when a listing contract is put together. Both of you should understand and sign this contract and both should be active in the ultimate negotiations.

WHEN YOU BUY YOUR NEXT HOME

Use the proceeds from your previous home or buy-out to determine an affordable price range for your next home. Maintain a clear focus on getting the right home to suit your new situation. You may wish to review with an agent who offers a house-hunting service to help find a home that matches your new home-buying criteria.

For more information about how to sell your home fast
and
for the most amount of money

Call Glenn Good at (877) – 259-4141
Re/Max Realty Professionals
Calgary, Alberta

and start packing

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

Let’s face it, buying a home is a major expense. But why make it more expensive than necessary? Play the buying game right and you can cut costs AND buy the house that is best for you. I can help you watch out for these common but costly pitfalls.

1. The Wrong House
   One costly mistake is choosing the wrong house: maybe one too big or too small for future needs or a fixer-upper if you are not handy, a house too far from work or too close to traffic, one likely to need extensive fixing up, or a home in the wrong price range. Avoid this #1 trap by working with me to define your present and future needs, what location is most suitable, what level of fixing-up is comfortable and how much you can afford for maintenance, utilities and everyday life after moving in.
2. Bidding Blind
   Some buyers offer a contract above the true market value of the property or fail to bid on a great value because they don’t know the market. Don’t try to go it alone. Ask me for a comparative market analysis to avoid overpaying or underbidding on the house you choose.
3. Title Trouble Traps
   A title search may reveal encumbrances on the property title like tax liens, easements, leases or an undisclosed co-owner. Avoid this trap by having the title search done early, if possible, and by buying owner’s title insurance to protect your investment in case a problem surfaces later.
4. Survey Surprises
   The property survey may show the lot boundaries are different from the property plot, a neighbor’s fence is over the line, or zoning regulations have been violated. Avoid the trap by asking to see the seller’s survey made back when the seller bought the house, and go over any additions or variations with your real estate agent. Also, have your new survey done early.
5. Last-Minute Defects
   During the pre-settlement final walk-through, some serious defects may become apparent that were not noticed before. Avoid surprises by first doing a careful inspection of the house, then consider an independent home inspector to check the house inside and out. Have the inspector report to you any items needing attention, the cost to fix them or the repercussions if they are left as is. Contract settlement should be contingent upon the inspector’s report.
6. Pre-paid Shockers
   Some items – such as real estate taxes and homeowner association dues – get pro-rated at settlement, while others – including hazard insurance and taxes – have to be paid ahead a few months. Avoid inaccuracies by asking for these figures a day or two in advance and check the charges. Remember, if the settlement date changes, so do some of these pre-paid costs.
7. Seller Slip-ups
   Repairs not made, items that fail to convey or other contractual hang-ups can delay settlement. To avoid these traps, take the list of agreed-upon items to walk-through and check them off. But be prepared to set a dollar amount for an escrow fund for items that fall through the cracks.
8. Hidden Junk Fees
   Some lenders add questionable charges at closing that were not shown on the Truth-In-Lending form, such as an underwriting fee, loan disbursement charges, tax service fees, courier fees, or mark-ups on court documentation fees. Avoid these fees by asking the lender at application time exactly what fees are included on the federal settlement forms and what additional fees may be charged at closing. Some of these fees can be negotiated down or waived for the customer who complains.
9. Closing Rush
   Insist on seeing the settlement sheets the day before closing. That way, you will avoid last-minute problems – such as an interest rate or point other than you agreed to showing up on the paperwork.

   Sometimes missing the settlement date because of an eleventh-hour snag endangers the locked-in interest rate or the entire sale. Don’t get trapped by a too-close closing. Get a 60-day lock-in for your loan interest rate, if possible, and give yourself that much time to close the sale.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141, glenn@goodrealtor.net . I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

This special insider, industry report has been prepared to outline what you need to know in order to take advantage of this innovative program which allows you to get into the housing market immediately, with zero down payment.

Now you can realize the dream of owning your own home with zero down payment.

The Zero Cash Down payment Program offers you a way to buy a home with no down payment. That’s right zero down payment.

Program Qualification.

• An excellent credit history
• no recent history of bad debts
• consistent and timely payment of current liabilities

Limited Liabilities

• You will be required to disclose all current liabilities you have in order to determine how much more debt you can carry (i.e. present car load, credit cards, etc.)
• At Least 3 Years of Employment Stability
• You will be required to show proof of employment for the past 3 years, i.e. a letter of employment from your employer or financial statements for the past 3 years if self-employed.
• The Financial Ability to Carry Larger Monthly Payments
• Without a down payment you will be required to meet the obligation of larger mortgage payments. Your monthly payments could vary from a few to several hundred dollars more per month.

Under the Terms of the Program You Can Purchase Many Types of Properties.

They include:

• detached or semi-detached homes
• free-hold townhouses
• condominium townhouses
• apartment condominiums

It is important to note that not all properties qualify for the Zero Cash Down payment Program.

To ensure that you get an accurate picture of what properties may or may not be included in this program in your particular area, it is advisable to review the terms of the program with our Realtor®

Benefits of the Zero Case Down payment Program

1. No Down payment
   If you are renting, why pay your landlord’s mortgage? Why not reap the benefit of building your own equity? Are you renting because you are held back from owning your own home because you think you need a substantial down payment?The general perception of may would-be-homebuyers and even that of some Realtors® is that a substantial down payment is required in order to purchase a home. This is simply not true.   Because of this perception many would-be-home-buyers feel they have to save for years before they have enough money for a down payment so that they can finally enter the housing market. In the meantime they are lining someone else’s pockets, while waiting a long time before they can start building their own equity. Well, with the Zero Cash Down payment Program you don’t need a down payment to buy a home.
2. Buy a Home Now!
   If needing a down payment is keeping you from owning your own home, this new program offers you an immediate way to get into the housing market. With the Zero Cash Down payment Program you don’t have to wait to purchase a home.
3. Approved Bank Programs
   It is important to know that they Zero Case Down payment Program is an approved bank program. Review this program with your lender or Realtor® who has specialized knowledge in financing and can assist you with the Zero Cash Down payment Program.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at
Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141, glenn@goodrealtor.net . I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

Remember the 80′s – when you could make your fortune in real estate. It was nothing then to buy a home, wait a short while, and then sell it at a tidy profit.

Well, as you probably know, times have changed. The market is currently experiencing some long overdue growth and prices in Calgary have just now risen above the 1990 average highs. But even with all the activity, there are still homes that aren’t selling and buyers are more educated and more discriminating than ever. It’s more critical than ever to learn what you need to know to avoid costly seller mistakes in order to sell your home and for the most amount of money.

The 7 Deadly Mistakes Most Homesellers Make

1. Failing to analyse why they are selling.
2. Not preparing their home for the buyer’s eye.
3. Pricing their home incorrectly.
4. Selling too hard during showings.
5. Signing a long-term listing agreement without a written performance guarantee.
6. Making it difficult for buyers to get information on their home.
7. Failing to obtain a pre-approved mortgage for their next home.

“Buyers are far more discriminating, and fully 30% of the homes listed for sale never sell. It’s more critical than ever to learn what you need to know to avoid costly seller mistakes in order to sell your home fast and for the most amount of money.”

THE 9 STEP SYSTEM TO GET YOUR HOME SOLD FAST AND FOR TOP DOLLAR.

Selling your home is one of the most important steps in your life. This 9 step system will give you the tools you need to maximize your profits, maintain control, and reduce the stress that comes with the home-selling process:

1. Know why you’re selling and keep it to yourself:
   The reasons behind your decision to sell affect everything from setting a price to deciding how much time and money to invest in getting your home ready for sale. What’s more important to you: the money you walk away with, or the length of time your property is on the market? Different goals will dictate different strategies.

   However, don’t reveal your motivations to anyone else or they will certainly be used against you at the negotiating table. When asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed.

2. Do your homework before setting a price:
   Settling on an offering price shouldn’t be done lightly. Once you’ve set your price, you’ve told buyers the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home, but pricing too high is as dangerous as pricing too low. Remember that the average buyer is looking at 15-20 homes at the same time they are considering yours. This means that they have a basis of comparison, and if your home doesn’t compare favourably with others in the price range you’ve set, you won’t be taken seriously by prospects or agents. As a result, your home will sit on the market for a long time and, knowing, this, new buyers ion the market will think there must be something wrong with your home.

   Do your homework. (In fact, your agent should do this for you). Find out what homes in your own and similar neighbourhoods have sold for in the past 6-12 months, and research what current homes are listed for. That’s certainly how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home.

3. Find a good real estate agent to represent your needs:
   Nearly three-quarters of homeowners claim that they wouldn’t reuse the REALTOR who sold their last home. Dissatisfaction boils down to poor communication which results in not enough feedback, lower pricing and strained relations. We have another free report entitled “10 Questions to ask before you hire an agent” which gives you the straight, to-the-point questions you should be asking when you interview agents who want to list your home.
4. Maximize your home’s sales potential:
   Each year, corporate North America spends billions on product and packaging design. Appearance is critical, and it would be foolish to ignore this when selling your home.

   You may not be able to change your home’s location or floor plan, but you can do a lot to improve its appearance. The look and feel of your home generates a greater emotional response than any other factor. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Pick up, straighten, unclutter, scrub, scour and dust. Fix everything, no matter how insignificant it may appear. Present your home to get a “wow” response from prospective buyers.

5. Allow the buyers to imaging themselves living in your home:
   The decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic. Prospective buyers want to try on your home just like they would a new suit of clothes. If you follow them around pointing out this improvement and that, or if your decor is so different that it’s difficult for a buyer to strip it away in his or her mind, you make it difficult for them to feel comfortable enough to imagine themselves an owner.
6. Make it easy for prospects to get information on your home
   You may be surprised to know that the two marketing tools that most agents use to sell homes (open houses and classified ads) are actually not very effective at all. In fact, less than 3% of people purchase their home as a result of calling on a classified ad and less than 1% of homes are sold at an open house.

   Furthermore, the prospects calling for information on your home probably value their time as much as you do. The last thing they want to be subjected to is either a game of telephone tag with an agent or an unwanted sales pitch. Make sure your agent places your home and features/pictures on their website. This gives buyers access to detailed information about your property day or night 7 days a week. We have found that 3 times as many buyers search for information on your home under this system. And remember, the more buyers you have competing for your home the better, because it sets us an auction-like atmosphere that puts you in the driver’s seat.

7. Know your buyer
   In the negotiation process, your objective is to control the pace and set the duration. What is your buyer’s motivation? Does s/he need to move quickly? Does s/he have enough money to pay you your asking price? Knowing this information gives you the upper hand in the negotiation because you know how far you can push to get what you want.
8. Make sure the contract is complete
   For your part as a seller, make sure you disclose everything. Smart sellers pro-actively go above and beyond the laws to disclose all known defects to their buyers – in writing. If the buyer knows about a problem he can’t come back with a lawsuit later on.

   Make sure all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale and resist the temptation to diverge from the contract. For example, if the buyer requests a move-in proper to closing, just say no. Now is not the time to take any chances of the deal falling through.

9. Don’t move out before you sell
   Studies have shown that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant – it looks forlorn, forgotten, simply not appealing. It could even cost you thousands. If you move, you’re also telling buyers that you have a new home and are probably highly motivated to sell fast. This, of course, will give them the advantage at the negotiating table.

For more information about how to sell your home fastand
for the most amount of money

Call Glenn Good at (877) – 259-4141
Re/Max Realty Professionals
Calgary, Alberta

and start packing

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

Whether you are about to buy your first home, or planning to make a move to your next home, it is critical that you inform yourself about the factors involved. Before you commit your hard earned dollars to monthly mortgage payments, consider these 6 issues. Effective consideration of these important areas can make your payments work much harder for you.

Industry research has revealed that there are 6 common mistakes that most homebuyers make in mortgage shopping that can have a significant impact on the outcome of this critical negotiation. If handles correctly, these issues could result in a mortgage that will cost you less over a shorter period of time.

6 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE OBTAINING A MORTGAGE

1. You can, and should, get preapproved for a mortgage before you go looking for a home.
   Preapproval is easy and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Your local lending institution can provide you with written preapproval for you at no cost and at no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone. More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written preapproval is as good as money in the bank. It entails a completed credit application, and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for.
2. Know what monthly dollar amount you feel comfortable committing to.
   When you discuss mortgage preapproval with your lending institution, find out what level you qualify for, but also pre-assess for yourself what monthly dollar amount you feel comfortable committing to. Your situation may give you a preapproval rate that is higher (or lower) than the amount of money you would want to pay out each month. By working back and forth with your lending institution to determine what this monthly amount is, and what value of home this translates into at today’s rates, you won’t waste time looking at homes that are not in your price range.
3. You should be thinking about your long term goals, and expected situation, to determine the type of mortgage that will best suite your needs.
   There are a number of questions you should be asking yourself before you commit to a certain type of mortgage. How long do you think you will own this home? What direction are interest rates going in, and how quickly? Is your income expected to change (up or down) in the near term, impacting how much money you can afford to pay to your mortgage? The answers to these and other questions will help you determine the most appropriate mortgage you should be seeking.
4. Make sure you understand what prepayment privileges and payment frequency options are available to you.
   More frequent payments (for example weekly or bi-weekly) can literally shave years off your mortgage. Simply by structuring your payments so that they come out more frequently, will significantly lessen the amount of interest that you will be charged over the term.For the same reason, authorized prepayment of a certain percentage of our mortgage, or an increase n the amount that you pay monthly, will have a major impact on the number of years you will have to pay and could shorten you’re your payment term considerably.

   These two payment options can cut years off your mortgage, and save you thousands of dollars in interest. However, not every mortgage has these prepayment privileges built in, so make sure you ask the proper questions.

5. Ask if your mortgage is both portable and/or assumable.
   A portable mortgage, where available, is one that you can carry with you when you buy your next home and avoid paying any discharge penalties. This means that you will not have to go through the entire mortgage process again unless you are making a move up to a much more expensive home.An assumable mortgage is one that the buyer for your home can take over when you move to your next. This can be a very powerful tool at the negotiating table making it easier and more desirable for a buyer to buy your home, and again saves you any discharge penalties.
6. You should seriously consider dealing with a Mortgage Expert.
   Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make a significant difference in the cost and effectiveness of the mortgage you obtain. For example they can make the process faster thereby avoiding costly delays. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141 or glenn@goodrealtor.net. I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Call

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

and start packing
Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

To better understand the homeselling process, a guide has been prepared from current industry insider reports. Through these 27 tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation and make the most profit possible.

1. Understand Why You Are Selling Your Home
   Your motivation to sell is the determining factor as to how you will approach the process. It affects everything from what you set your asking price at to how much time, money and effort you are willing to invest in order to prepare your home for sale. For example, if your goal is for a quick sale, this would determine one approach. If you want to maximize your profit, the sales process might take longer thus determining a different approach.
2. Keep the Reason(s) You are Selling to Yourself
   The reason(s) you are selling your home will affect the way you negotiate its sale. By keeping this to yourself you don’t provide ammunition to prospective buyers. For example, should they learn that you must move quickly, you could be placed at a disadvantage in the negotiation process. When asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed. Remember, the reason(s) you are selling is only for you to know.
3. Before Setting a Price – Do Your Homework
   When you set your price, you make buyers aware of the absolute maximum they will have to pay for your home. As a seller, you will want to get a selling price as close to the list price as possible. If you start out by pricing too high you run the risk of not being taken seriously by buyers and their agents and pricing too low can result in selling for much less than you were hoping for.Setting Your Home’s Sale Price
   If you live in a Subdivision– If your home is comprised of similar or identical floor plans, built in the same period, simply look at recent sales in your neighborhood subdivision to give you a good idea of what your home is worth.If You Live in An Older Neighborhood– As neighborhoods change over time each home may be different in minor or substantial ways. Because of this you will probably find that there aren’t many homes truly comparable to your own. In this case you may want to consider seeking a Realtor ® to help you with the pricing process.If You Decide to Sell On Your Own – A good way to establish a value is to look at homes that have sold in your neighborhood within the part 6 months, including those now on the market. This is how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home. Also, a trip to City Hall can provide you with home sale information in its public records, for most communities.
4. Do Some “Home Shopping” Yourself 
   The best way to learn about your competition and discover what turns buyers off is to check out other open houses. Note floor plans, condition, appearance, size of lot, location and other features. Particularly note, not only the asking prices, but what they are actually selling for. Remember, if you’re serious about getting your home sold fast, don’t price it higher than your neighbor’s.
5. When Getting an Appraisal is a Benefit
   Sometimes a good appraisal can be a benefit in marketing your home. Getting an appraisal is a good way to let prospective buyers know that your home can be financed. However, an appraisal does cost money, has a limited life, and there is no guarantee you’ll like the figure you hear.
6. Tax Assessments – What They Really Mean
   Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluation a home. The difficulty here is that assessments are based on a number of criteria that may not be related to property values, so they may not necessarily reflect your home’s true value.
7. Ensure You Have Room to Negotiate
   Before settling on your asking price make sure you leave yourself enough room in which to bargain. For example, set your lowest and highest selling price. The check your priorities to know if you’ll price high to maximize your profit or price closer to market value if you want to sell quickly.
8. Appearances Do Matter – Make Them Count
   Appearance is so critical that it would be unwise to ignore this when selling your home. The look and “feel” of your home will generate a greater emotional response than any other factor. Prospective buyers react to what they see, feel and smell, even though you may have priced your home to sell.
9. Invite the Honest Opinions of Others
   The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own judgment. Don’t be shy about seeking the honest opinions of others. You need to be objective about your home’s good points as well as bad.  Fortunately, your Realtor® will be unabashed about discussing what should be done to make your home more marketable.
10. Clean Like You Have Never Cleaned Before
    Scrub, scour, tidy up, straighten, get rid of clutter, and declare war on dust. Repair squeaks, the light switch that never worked, the tiny crack in the bathroom mirror, because these can be deal-killers and you will never know what actually turns each buyer off. Remember you are not just competing with other resale homes, but brand new homes as well.
11. Allow Prospective Buyers to Visualize Themselves in Your Home
    The last thing you want prospective buyers to feel when viewing your home is that they mat be intruding into someone’s life. Avoid clutter such too many knick-knacks, etc. Decorate in neutral colours, like white or beige and place a few carefully chosen items to add warmth and character. You can enhance the attractiveness of your home with a well placed vase of flowers or potpourri in the bathroom. Home-Décor magazines are great for tips.
12. Deal with Killer Odors – Must Go!
    You may not realize, but odd smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odors can kill deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke, they’ll start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist. Don’t leave any clues.
13. Be a Smart Seller – Disclose Everything
    Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects to their buyers in writing. This can reduce liability and prevent law suits later on.
14. The More Prospects the Better
    When you maximize your home’s marketability, you will most likely attract more than one prospective buyer. It is much better to have several buyers because they will compete with each other; a single buyer will end up competing with you.
15. Keep Emotions in Check During Negotiations
    Let go of the emotion you’ve invested in your home. Be detached, using a business-like manner in your negotiation. You will definitely have an advantage over those who get caught up emotionally in the situation.
16. Learn Why Your Buyer is Motivated
    The better you know your buyers the better you can use the negotiation process to your advantage. This allows you to control the pace and duration of the process.As a rule, buyers are looking to purchase the best affordable property for the least amount of money. Knowing what motivates them enables you to negotiate more effectively. For example, does your buyer need to move quickly? Armed with this information, you are in a better position to bargain.
17. What the Buyer Can Really Pay
    As soon as possible, try to learn the amount of mortgage the buyer is qualified to carry and how much his/her down payment is. If their offer is low, ask their Realtor® about the buyer’s ability to pay what your home is worth.
18. When the Buyer Would Like to Close
    Quite often, when buyers would “like” to close is when they need to close. Knowledge of their deadlines for completing negotiations again creates a negotiating advantage for you.
19. Never Sign a Deal on Your Next Home Until You Sell Your Current Home
    Beware of closing on your new home while you are still making mortgage payments on the old one or you might end up becoming a seller who is eager (even desperate) for the first deal that comes along.
20. Moving Out Before You Sell Can Put You at a Disadvantage
    It has been proven that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it becomes forlorn looking, forgotten, no longer an appealing sight. Buyers start getting the message that you have another home and are probably motivated to sell. This could cost you thousands of dollars.
21. Deadlines Create a Serious Disadvantage
    Don’t try to sell by a certain date. This adds unnecessary pressure and is a serious disadvantage in negotiations
22. Low – Ball Offers- Don’t Take It Personally
    Invariably the initial offer is below what both you and the buyer know he’ll pay for your property. Don’t be upset, evaluate the offer objectively. Ensure it spells out the offering price, sufficient deposit, amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date and any special requests. This can simply provide a starting point from which you can negotiate.
23. Turn That Low Offer Around
    You can counter a low offer or even an offer that is just under your asking price. This lets the buyer know that the first offer isn’t seen as being a serious one. Now you’ll be negotiating only with buyers with serious offers.
24. Maybe the Buyer’s Not Qualified
    If you feel that an offer is inadequate, now is the time to make sure the buyer is qualified to carry the size of mortgage the deal requires. Inquire how they arrived at their figure, and suggest they compare your price to the prices of homes for sale in your neighborhood.
25. Ensure the Contract is Complete
    To avoid problems, ensure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale. It should include such items as the date it was made, names of parties involved, address of property being sold, purchase price, where deposit monies will be held, date for loan approval, date and place of closing, type of deed, including any contingencies that remain to be settled and what personal property is included (or not) in the sale.
26. Resist Deviating From the Contract
    For example, if the buyer requests a move in prior to closing, just say no. That you have been advised against it. Now is not the time to take any chances of the deal falling through.
27. Deciding Upon a Realtor®
    According to the National Association of Realtors ®, nearly two-thirds of the people surveyed who sell their own home say they would never do it again themselves. Primary reasons included setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and time constraints.

All Realtors® are not the same. A professional Realtor® knows the market and has information on past sales, current listings, access to many different marketing aspects (what works and doesn’t-tried and true), and will provide their background and references. Pick your Realtor® carefully, on the basis of their experience, qualifications, enthusiasm and personality. Be sure you choose someone that you trust and feel confident that they will do a good job on your behalf.

If you choose to sell on your own, you can still talk to a Realtor®. Many are more than willing to help do-it-yourselfers with paperwork, contracts, etc. and should problems arise, you now have someone you can readily call upon.

Relax. You CAN win at the home selling game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141 or glenn@goodrealtor.net. I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when selling your home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Call

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

and start packing
Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

Some of these costs are one time fixed payments, while others represent an ongoing monthly or yearly commitment. Not all of these costs will apply in every situation, however it is better to know about them ahead of time so you can budget properly.

Remember, buying a home is a major milestone. Whether it’s your first, second or tenth home, there are many important details to address. The last thing you need are unbudgeted financial obligations cropping up hours before you take possession of your new home.

Read through the following checklist to make sure you are budgeting for your next move.

1. Appraisal Fee

Your lending institution may request an appraisal of the property which would be your responsibility to pay for. Appraisals can vary in price from approximately $175 to $300.

2. Property Taxes

Depending upon your downpayment, your lending institution may decide to include your property taxes in your monthly mortgage payments. If your property taxes are not added to your monthly payments, your lending institution may require annual proof that your taxes have been paid.

3 .Survey Fee

When the home you purchase is a resale (vs. a new home), your lending institution may ask for an updated property survey. The cost for this survey can vary between $700 and $1,000.

4. Property Insurance

Home insurance covers the replacement value of your home (structure and contents). Your lending institution will request proof that you are insured as it protects their investment on the loan.

5 .Service Charges

Any new utility that services your hook up, such as telephone, natural gas, internet or cable, may require an installation fee.

6. Legal Fees

Even the simplest of home purchases should have a lawyer involved to review all paperwork. Shop around, as rates vary greatly depending upon the complexity of the issues and the experience of the lawyer.

7. Mortgage Loan Insurance Fee

Depending upon the equity in your home, some mortgages require mortgage loan insurance. This type of insurance will cost you between 0.5% – 3.5% of the total amount of the mortgage. Usually payments are made monthly in addition to your mortgage and tax payment.

8. Mortgage Brokers Fee

A mortgage broker is entitled to charge you a fee in order to source a lender and organize the financing. However, it does pay to shop around as many mortgage brokers will provide their services free to you by having the lending institution absorb the cost.

9. Moving Costs

The cost for a professional mover can cost you in the range of
· $50 – $100 an hour for a van and 3 movers
and are
· 10 – 20% higher during peak demand seasons

10. Maintenance Fees

Condominiums change monthly fees for common area maintenance such as groundskeeping and carpet cleaning in hallways. Costs will vary depending on the building.

11. Water Quality and Quantity Certification

If the home you purchased is serviced by a well, you should consider having your water checked by your local experts. Depending upon where you live determines whether or not a fee is charged, to certify the quantity and quality of the water.

12. Local Improvements

If the town you live in has made local improvements (such as the addition of sewers or sidewalks), this could impact a property’s taxes by thousands of dollars.

13. Land Transfer Tax

This tax is applied whenever property changes hands and the amount that is applied can vary.

How I Can Help

Relax. You CAN win at the home buying game. Your best first move is to call or email me, Glenn Good at Re/Max Realty Professionals (877)-259-4141 or glenn@goodrealtor.net. I am here to make sure you succeed and avoid the deadly sins when buying a home. After all, my business depends on referrals from happy homeowners who received service beyond their expectations.

Glenn Good
Agent
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
#10, 6020 – 1 A Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2H 0G3
(877) 259-4141
glenn@goodrealtor.net
www.goodrealtor.net

Not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale

INFORMATION TO HELP YOU WITH THE BUYING PROCESS

THE BUYING PROCESS

Buying a home should be an exciting process and it is my intention to keep it fun while educating you to our market place.

The process of buying a home starts with a meeting between you and myself. I would like to get information from you regarding your specific needs and confirm all your requirements. At this time we will choose a number of homes for you to view that meet your criteria. We will confirm districts, prices, home specifications, etc. If you have provided me with all this information beforehand, I will have previewed and selected 5-10 homes for you to see. And when we finally get started, you will be well informed about Calgary’s market.

Remember to dress comfortably and to wear slip-on shoes if possible.

Of the 5 – 10 homes that I will have ready for you to see, sometimes you will find the right home immediately. But you may have to adjust your requirements once you’ve started to look, so you may need to see more choices. No matter what kind of buyer you are, I will be there to guide you through.

This may be a good time to mention Threshold Rights. In Alberta the Real Estate Associations have confirmed the person who is entitled to the commission on a sale. The commissions earned by a Real Estate Agent are established by the realtor® who brings the client across the threshold. This means that if you see a sign, call the listing realtor, and go to view this house with him or her, I am not able to negotiate for you on the offer and I cannot claim any payment even if you tell the other realtor® that you are working with me.! Please, call me even if it is in the evening or the weekend. I want your call! My job is to help find you a home and negotiate any contract for you. That’s what I get paid for.

We will try to keep the number of houses viewed from becoming a mish-mash in your mind. With a few games and tricks, we will be able to remember the best of them.

You might want to go back to your favorites. Through a process of plus and minus, we generally will narrow it down to one or two. You may find your dream home or you might have to make a compromise or two. Either way, we will then be ready to write than offer.

It is important at this point to find out everything we can about your choices. We have access through the M.L.S. history to pull an area statistics report, any previous history on the specific home, street or district. With this information we will be able to decide what kind of offer you will submit. Everybody has their specific ways of writing an offer, so we can discuss it at this time.

Remember, a deposit cheque needs to accompany your offer, and it generally is approximately 5% of the selling price and will be deposited within 48 hours after acceptance of your offer. And the higher your deposit cheque is, the stronger your offer will be to the seller.

Some questions you may have while writing the offer have to do with conditions of the offer, possession, inclusions and motivation.

The conditions most often seen in our offers are:

1. Home Inspection: usually within 72 hours of acceptance, the home inspection will be done. The results of this inspection must be acceptable to you. This inspection is used to make sure that there are no major problems with the home and to give you a list of the minor repairs that you may want to do. Think of it as protection against any major problems.

2. Financial Condition: Within 5 to 10 working days you will be able to have confirmation that your bank is prepared to lend you the mortgage for your new home purchase. It would be advisable for you to be pre-approved at the lending institution of your choice. That way, only the house has to be approved, and they can do this with an appraisal within 5 days.

If you will be going high ratio – that is anything more than 75% of the purchase price – the time frame for approval may be longer.

INCLUSIONS

Generally in Calgary the sellers will stipulate what they will leave behind in the home and what they will take. In negotiating it is important to decide what we would like to stay and what doesn’t matter.

Some choices may be:

• window coverings

• garage door opener and controls

• vacu-flo and attachments

• alarm system

• fridge, stove, built in dishwasher

• trash compactor

• soft water system

• microwave

• washer and/or dryer

EXCLUSIONS

Sometimes people have sentimental attachments to certain items that are attached to the home, such as a chandelier, and they will exclude it in the offer, and remove it when they leave.

POSSESSION

What is your ideal possession date? It is not wise to close on a weekend, especially a long one, so check your dates before writing an offer.

PRESENTING THE OFFER

Once we have written the offer, it is customary for me to accompany the listing Realtor® to meet with the sellers. At this time, I will introduce your offer to them, and explain the reasons for our offer and tell them a little about you. They will usually ask me to wait outside while they discuss your offer with their Realtor®. When they have decided either to accept, reject or counter our offer, they will call me back so we can make the changes, if any. I will then call you with the news, so please let me know where you’ll be. If the offer is countered by the seller, this means that they have made changes to our offer and it is now up to you to either accept those changes, reject them or make further changes. Once all the changes have
been accepted by both parties, the offer becomes “accepted”.

WHEN WE HAVE AN ACCEPTED OFFER

Remember, your deposit cheque will be cashed within 48 hours of acceptance. You will then meet any conditions, if any. That is when the home inspection will be done, you will apply for financing, and satisfy any other conditions that were made. When we are satisfied with the results, we will complete a Waiver of Conditions and we will have a FIRM SALE.

Once you have a firm contract, I will provide all parties to the contract with a copy. I will also provide your lawyer with a copy of the contract as well as any related documents pertaining to the purchase agreement. If you do not have a lawyer in the city, I can recommend one to you.

Your lawyer will need a Real Property Report which is supplied by the seller. This just verifies that all the buildings on the property comply with the city’s bylaws.

Your lawyer will take the legal steps to complete the sale and transfer of the property to you. Among these steps are transferring the title to your name; preparing any necessary mortgage adjustments to taxes and other applicable charges according to your purchase agreement.

As we get close to the time of possession, about 10-14 days before your possession date, your lawyer will have you come in and complete the paperwork. You will also be required to provide a certified cheque or bank draft for the cash difference between the deposit you gave with the initial offer, and the mortgage proceeds. This money will be deposited in your lawyer’s trust account and will be transferred over to the seller’s lawyer . When this takes place you will receive permission to take possession of your new home.

Contact the utility companies well in advance of your actual possession date so that all services you need will be operating on that day. If you have sold an existing home in conjunction with the buying of your new home, remember to coordinate the cancellation of services for this property with your purchaser to avoid future billing complications. I will supply a list of some companies you need to inform regarding your move prior to possession date.

Try to allow yourself several days to make your move if at all possible. You will find your move will go more smoothly if you don’t have to move out of your present home and into your new one all on the same day.

ON POSSESSION

We will arrange with you to do a “walk through” where we will confirm that all of the chattels we bought are there and in good working order. We will also confirm that any special arrangements, such as painting, cleaning of rugs, etc., that were agreed to by the seller, are done to your satisfaction. This walk through generally takes place on the morning of possession, but it could be sooner if agreed to between yourself and the seller.

CLOSING COSTS

Closing costs are dollars in addition to your down payment which must be paid to complete your purchase. True closing costs are those which appear on the Statement of Adjustments which your lawyer will prepare for you. Shown on this statement will be:

A TAX ADJUSTMENT which is your share of the current year’s taxes.

DISBURSEMENTS which are specific charges incurred, including a fee paid to the Land Titles Office to register the property in your name and to register the mortgage. These charges are normally as follow: TRANSFER FEE is $35.00 plus $1.00 per $1000. of the purchase price; MORTGAGE REGISTRATION is $15.00 plus $1.00 per $1000. of mortgage value.

LEGAL FEES are commonly referred to as closing costs. Your lawyer will charge a fee to search the title and convey the title of the property to your name. You will also have legal fees for the preparation and placement of a mortgage. If you use the same lawyer for both placing the mortgage and conveyance , you will usually save some legal costs.

There is a charge for mortgage insurance. Most loans which are insured go through CMHC and the fee charged is based on how high the mortgage ratio is. A loan representing 90% financing (10% down) would be charged 2.5% of the loan amount. This fee is usually added to the mortgage amount, so is not an “up front” cost.

But there are some other costs that you should allow for. Fire and Liability Insurance is always required for mortgage purposes and important to protect your own investment in the property. If you are buying a condominium you will find that your condo fees will include fire and liability insurance. Remember to insure your belongings and contents which, in the case of condominium blanket insurance, will not be covered.

Banks and trust companies require an appraisal to determine the lending value of the property you are purchasing. The approximate cost is $125 to $150. If your loan has CMHC insurance, the usual fee including appraisal is $200 to $235. In addition, if an up to date survey certificate and Real Property Report is not available, the costs could range from $200 to $400. These are Mortgage Arranging Fees.

Calgary Moving Information

HOW DO I PICK A DISTRICT IN CALGARY?

Price, demographics, proximity to work, age of the homes, schools and special interest are all factors which will play a part in helping you to decide on a district.

The average selling price in Calgary in Oct. 31/2001  $182,012. and may vary slightly up or down with demand and season. Each district will vary in its average price point and even within the district there may be large differences between locations. The M.L.S. Board publishes a guide to average selling prices for the district for this year. In choosing the districts, you may want to make a list of the different interest and needs that you and your family have which will help determine the area for you.

Some examples: Special Clubs Swimming Pools Hockey Community Centre Gymnastics Theatres Soccer Schools Dance Classes Access to Your Jobs Baseball Walking Paths Church & Denominations Bus Routes or LRT (Light Rapid Transit) stations Average Age of Residents.

Take time to fill in the list so that we will better help you choose the district that will best serve you and your family.

YOUR GENERAL CHECKLIST FOR WORRY FREE MOVING

Calgary Moving Information

WHAT CAN GLENN GOOD AND RE/MAX® DO FOR YOU?

Calgary Moving Information

MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MOVING

Calgary Moving Information

TIPS ON ARRIVAL AT YOUR NEW HOME

Calgary Moving Information

HELPFUL HINTS FOR YOUR MOVE

SILVER kicks off tonight with a free opening reception from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and runs until May 16 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (800 Macleod Trail S.E.).

“The Unicycler” – Maya Ghai, age 10

Included in the collection are paintings, sculpture, ceramics, cartoons and so much more! The exhibition celebrates the uniqueness and sheer joy of the artworks created by young Calgary artists ages 3 to 17 at the North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Art Centres.

Michael Jordan

An indoor regulation-sized basketball court, high-end amenities, and security gates emblazoned with the famous No. 23 — this sprawling Chicago estate can only belong to one person: Michael Jordan.

Real Estate News for Realtors and Brokers | Inman News

There anywhere between 100-125 flashes of lightning somewhere on earth every second.

Lighting travels to the earth at an average speed of 321,868 kilometers per hour.

An average lightning bolt contains 125 million volts of electricity.

Chances of being struck by lighting in your lifetime are 1 in 600,000.

The temperature of a lighting bolt can reach 27760 celcius, hotter than the surface of the sun.

About 25 % of all strikes happen in fields, 30% in July, 22% in August.

It is so fantastic to see this finally coming to fruition, I really hope that Calgary Builders will see a increase in demand for homes like these.

BY ANDREA COX, CALGARY HERALD MARCH 9, 2012

Cranston by Landmark Homes

An artist’s rendering of the first net-zero home in a project in Cranston by Landmark Homes. With its eco-friendly features, it still looks like a regular house (click on the photo to see our seven-picture tour of the project).Photograph by: Courtesy , Landmark Homes

Tucked away in a new phase of Cranston is a sweet surprise that is sure to appeal to those looking to tread a little bit more lightly upon the earth.

“We are adding another variable for the homebuyer in addition to location, design and price point — it’s personal values,” says Stuart Wen, communications co-ordinator for Landmark Homes.

The company is developing an enclave of 27 sustainable homes in Cranston, nine of which will be fully net zero — the first project of its kind in Alberta.

Read the entire article here, well worth the time:

 Eco-friendly enclave adds up to zero.

In Wilbur, Washington it is illegal to to ride an ugly horse in the street.

In Arkansas it is illegal to mispronounce Arkansas

In Lexington, Kentucky it is illegal to carry an ice crem cone in your pocket.

In Sault Stainte Marie, Michigan, it is illegal to spit against the wind.

In Star, Mississippi it is illegal to ridicule public architecture.

In Oregon it is illegal to wipe your dishes dry. You must let them drip dry.

In Austen, Texas it is illegal to go barefoot…unless you have a $5 permit.

In Massachusetts it is illegal for goats to wear trousers!

In Binghamton, New York it is illegal ninth grade boys to grow a mustache.