Edmonton Real Estate Blog

Tips for Selling During a Buyer's MarketSellers who are getting ready to let go of their property first have to determine what type of market they're in. In primary markets, it's clear that sellers have an advantage. In others, the upper hand goes straight to the buyer. There are a number of ways to spot a buyer's market even if sellers aren't real estate experts—For Sale signs sit out for months, abandoned homes are common, and valuations continue to drop every year. But sellers can still exercise control, even when their prospects seem dire.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Getting Ready to Sell Your Home

One of the smartest things a seller can do is manage their own

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What Is the Average ROI for Solar Panels?Deciding which home improvement projects to pursue can be a difficult decision, especially when homeowners are concerned about the long-term returns of each one. Solar panels have been touted as a great way to not only raise the cost of the property but also to save money on utility bills and increase the energy-efficiency of a home. But as nice as that sounds, the cost of installing panels may make many hesitate to take the plunge. Learn more about the true costs and savings so it's easier to make a decision.

Installing Solar Panels

There are a few basic things to note about solar panels before making a decision on whether or not they're a good fit for a home:

  • Installation cost: Depending on the homeowner's province, solar panels can
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Outdoor Living Room InformationOutdoor living spaces are very popular! Homeowners love to spend time outside, and Windermere home buyers love to see an outdoor space where they can kick back and relax. Here's what homeowners need to know about creating a fun outdoor area for watching television, relaxing with friends and spending time with family.

Privacy Is Important

First and foremost, outdoor living rooms need privacy. This can be achieved in many ways. A living wall of plants is an excellent form of privacy, especially in warm-weather climates where plants can live all year round. In cold-weather climates, solid walls or canvas provides shade and shelter from wind. Devil's Ivy is a great all season, all weather type plant that will grow in almost any climate. 

New

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5 Tips for Buying a Home in the Seller's MarketBuying a home can be tricky at the best of times. It is often even harder in a seller's market. A seller's market means that there are more buyers than available homes. Seller's markets usually lead to higher sale prices and can even prompt bidding wars among competitive buyers. Still, buyers have a chance to make it through with a fair deal. Here's a few tips to help people rise above the competition as they prepare to buy a home.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Get Finances in Order

When sellers start to consider purchase offers, they are often looking for the most qualified buyers. People who have gone through the process of

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How to Take Care of Unpermitted workRemediating unpermitted work is the process of getting a home up to code. If the previous homeowners made repairs or renovations that violated neighborhood or province laws, current homeowners need to take steps to qualify the work with the proper authorities. As much as 70% of the work done in Canada may be unpermitted, so the vast majority of homeowners should take note of the following facts.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Research the Laws

Not only do different provinces have different rules about which jobs require permits, but those rules can change from year to year. If the previous homeowner tore down a wall in their

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Foundation Damage Information for HomeownersFoundation damage can cause a variety of problems for homeowners. Home renovations are hard or impossible to complete when the foundation is not straight and stable. In addition, foundation damage can devalue the home and make it harder to sell. It's important to be able to identify the signs of foundation trouble in a West Edmonton home and take care of the problem before it's out of control. These tips can help.

How Can You Identify Foundation Damage?

Some signs of foundation damage are very obvious, other signs are less so. Some of the most obvious signs of foundation damage include:

  • Stair stepping cracks in the foundation mortar
  • Horizontal cracks in the foundation
  • Bowing walls
  • Large cracks in the walls in the basement,
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Top Things to Throw Away Before You MoveWhen a couple is getting ready to buy and move to a smaller home, it can be hard to decide what stuff to keep and what to give away. This guide can help people identify a few types of clutter that they can part with without feeling regret:

Unused Kitchen Gadgets

Many people tend to pick up more kitchen equipment than they will ever use. When preparing for a move, aspiring downsizers should take careful note of which implements they reach for most. Any that do not get used regularly should be donated.

Rarely Worn Clothes and Shoes

Large collections of rarely used items plague many people's bedroom closets, as well. Crafting capsule wardrobes with small, high quality collections of related objects can help cut down on possessions that do

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Your Guide to Selling PapersThe paperwork of a home sale can be difficult to wade through for those who aren't familiar with real estate. Not only is it time-consuming, but it's also confusing to interpret the many terms and contingencies that lace through practically every form. Those who want a relatively quick and easy escrow process should have an idea of their obligations so they can speed their closing date along.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Clean Title

Home buyers are justifiable to demand a clean title before purchasing a home. The last thing they need is for a bank to show up with a lien on the property or an ex-spouse to claim the property is

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Don't Underestimate the Value of Hiring a Real Estate Agent When Buying a HomeHome buying is an involved and often complex task, and hiring a real estate agent to lead the effort can provide buyers with peace of mind and the home of their dreams. Indeed, most agents charge a six percent or higher fee on the sale price, but their invaluable services make that expense seem rather small in the long haul for a number of reasons.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Agents Have Access to Unknown Homes on the Market

Hiring a real estate agent may give buyers the chance to see homes they would miss otherwise. Some home sellers opt to sell quietly and don't publicly list their homes on MLS sites or by traditional means.

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Do You Need to Pay LMI?Some potential home buyers may only be concerned about how much their mortgage payments will be, without realizing some of the additional fees and payments that may be serve to inflate their monthly payments. Those who are looking to be approved for a home mortgage loan should be aware of LMI, and how a fraction of the monthly payment made include this recurring expense.

Understand more about LMI and where your monthly payments will go today.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

What is LMI?

Lenders mortgage insurance, or LMI, is a type of insurance required from Canadian lenders when taking out a home mortgage loan. Any payments made go

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