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        <title>Edmonton Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.edmontonhomes.ca/blog/2017-06/</link>
        <description>Welcome to the Edmonton Real Estate Blog - We will keep you up to date on the Edmonton Real Estate market with the most current news and market trends.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.edmontonhomes.ca/blog/buying-a-first-home-three-rookie-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.edmontonhomes.ca/blog/buying-a-first-home-three-rookie-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them.html</link>
        <author>info@edmontonhomes.ca (Edmonton Homes.ca)</author>
        <title>Buying a First Home? Three Rookie Mistakes and How to Avoid Them</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Buying a new home for the first time is an exciting event in life, but knowing how to buy your first home is not always perfectly clear. Sometimes, in the rush to find the perfect home to purchase, mistakes are made that have the potential to take all the pleasure out of being a homeowner. First-time homebuyers who want to make sure that they know how to buy a home for the first time should always avoid making the following rookie buying mistakes.


Not Considering All Aspects of Home Ownership


The best home will be one that is not only comfortable to live in but also comfortable to own, so consider all aspects of owning a home. While being comfortable to occupy may simply require that the home have enough space and be in good condition, finding one that will be comfortable to own means avoiding homes that are:




Too expensive in terms of recurring costs, such as utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance, or other costs commonly associated with owning a home


Poorly located, requiring the people who live in it to travel too far for work, school, or basic needs, such as food or medical care


Not suitable for the needs of the occupants who will live there, such as a home that worsens mobility issues because it has too many stairs or one that fails to fulfill a need for its occupants, such as a home with too few bathrooms or no storage space




Making sure that any home considered for purchase will be truly comfortable requires considering all aspects of owning the home. This includes all costs involved in both the purchase and any recurring costs afterward, all expected costs of maintaining the home, and the expected costs to actually live in the home. Only when all these costs are considered before the purchase can the buyer expect to be completely happy with their choice throughout their ownership.


Not Understanding or Utilizing Addendums and Contingencies


Another common mistake made by those buying a house for the first time is failing to learn, understand, and utilize all the steps in the buying process. Contingencies, especially those on financing and home inspection, provide important protections to buyers by allowing them to exit or renegotiate a purchase agreement if the mortgage is not approved or in situations where the home inspection reveals significant repair or safety issues in the home. 


In addition to understanding contingencies, buyers must also note and fully understand other areas of the purchase agreement, such as:




Items to be included or excluded from the sale of the home


Dates and timeframes by which specific actions must be completed, such as the inspection period


Fees that the buyer will be responsible for, including closing fees, condo maintenance fees, provincial land transfer taxes, and temporary occupancy fees on new construction




Purchase contracts and addendums are filled with important details and information that, if ignored or not fully understood, can turn the dream of homeownership into a nightmare, instead.


Purchasing Without a Real Estate Professional


One of the biggest mistakes any first-time homebuyer can make is the decision that professional guidance is not necessary or that they can save money by going it alone when purchasing a home. Even worse is when buyers opt to work with an agent who has just entered the business or one who has no experience in the area or housing segment in which the purchase will be made.


Do you need a REALTOR® to buy a home? An experienced real estate professional can help buyers learn about the purchase process, avoid purchasing the wrong home, negotiate successfully with sellers, and make sure that home inspections and other contingencies are fully utilized to their client's benefit, all while helping the buyers manage all their contractual duties during the purchase process.


The smart advice for first time home owners who want to have the very best purchase and ownership experience is to start the process by teaming with the right real estate professional.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:08:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.edmontonhomes.ca/blog/buying-a-home-near-a-school-tips-and-considerations.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.edmontonhomes.ca/blog/buying-a-home-near-a-school-tips-and-considerations.html</link>
        <author>info@edmontonhomes.ca (Edmonton Homes.ca)</author>
        <title>Buying a Home Near a School: Tips and Considerations</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





A neighbourhood with a school can be convenient for home buyers with school-aged children. However, for home buyers who don't have young children, having a school nearby can be more cons than pros. Knowing what to expect from the neighbourhood before buying a new home can help you decide whether or not purchasing homes for sale by school district is right for you.


Advantages of Living Near a School


For buyers with children who go to school, the advantages of living in a neighbourhood with a school can be numerous.




Convenient pick-up and drop-off. Picking up and dropping off kids at school is far more convenient when the building is nearby. For children who are old enough, this also makes it easy to walk to school safely.


School playgrounds give children a place to play. Kids seeking a place to play after school and on weekends can easily find what they're looking for on the nearby school playground.


Neighbourhoods with schools tend to be neighbourhoods with children. For households with kids seeking friends, having other children in the neighbourhood can be important.


Parents who want to be involved at the school have ease of access. Parents who like to volunteer at the school will find that being close-by makes it easier to run over after dinner, before work and at other times.




Disadvantages of Living Near a School


Schools can have disadvantages for some neighbourhood residents. Some of the most common complaints from people who live near schools include:




Disruptive noise levels. Groups of children playing in the mornings, at recess and over the lunch hour can make noise that can be disturbing for the nearest neighbourhood homes and condominiums. At schools with older children, sporting events, band competitions and other outdoor activities can be loud in the evenings.


Inconvenient traffic. Schools attract people, and people bring cars. Congested, slow traffic can be a problem in the mornings before school begins, in the late afternoons after school is over and on evenings when sporting events take place.


Scarce parking. If the school does not have adequate parking for some of the events that take place on the school grounds, street parking may be difficult to find at certain times of the day.




Research the Neighbourhood


For those considering the purchase of a home near a school, there are ways to research and find out what life would be like in that area.




Talk to neighbours. Ask neighbours about noise levels, traffic and parking to help paint the picture about what the neighbourhood is truly like.


Stop by during the day and in the evening. When school is in session, it's easy to see how the school impacts the neighbourhood. Stop in before school begins, during recess or when school is over to find out what the neighbourhood is like at these high-traffic times.


Call the school to ask about the impact to the neighbourhood. People who work at the school itself may be able to provide information about the impact to the neighbourhood. Call to find out during school hours.




Work With a Knowledgeable Real Estate Agent


Working with a knowledgeable Edmonton real estate agent can help buyers decide whether or not a home near a school is the right choice. For more information about different neighbourhoods or to search homes by school district, talk to a real estate agent today


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:37:00 -0600</pubDate>
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