Buying or Selling…The Benefits of Using a Realtor

Buying or selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you can make. Before you do, doesn’t it make sense to contact a professional?  A Realtor’s experience can guide you through the process that can be more complicated than you think.

Their knowledge of the housing market can assist you in making the best possible choice. A real estate professional’s role is to understand their client’s needs, provide them with advice that will help guide them in the right direction and protect them from any home buying pitfalls.

With intimate knowledge of the real estate and legal terminology, a Realtor offers you the best opportunity to buy or sell your home quickly and for the best price. During a home evaluation they provide history on current homes for sale, and actual recent sale prices. This can be invaluable when pricing your home and negotiating. During a sale, the Realtor acts as a mediator between you and the other parties negotiations.  They are there to protect your best interests and can help reduce stress during this difficult process.

Another valuable aspect of the Realtor relationship is the network of lenders, lawyers, mortgage brokers, home stagers, painters, and contractors that can assist you in completing your real estate transaction.

I am a licensed Professional Realtor, and part of the Realtors Association of Hamilton & Burlington also known as RAHB, as well as the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), and the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).  While working with me, the national code of ethics and strict provincial laws ensure that you will be provided with a high level of service, confidentiality, integrity and honesty during your interaction. 

I primarily work in Burlington, Hamilton Oakville and Mississauga helping people buy and sell homes.  It is great working with so many good people, whether its a Burlington Detached home, an Oakville Condo, a Hamilton Investment property, or a Mississauga Townhouse.  Every home sale or purchase is different. I have a great team of professionals that I work with in financing, law, and home staging, to help answer any questions you may have, and provide you with quick and friendly service you need for your home.

If you have any questions or would like more information on recent trends in your area, if you would like a home evaluation to know your home value, or just need some real estate advice, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I’m available to discuss!

 

 Randy Hart  |  Sales Representative
Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services

3060 Mainway, Suite #200, Burlington

Direct 905-808-3863    randyhart@royallepage.ca

www.randyharthomes.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing to Buy a Home

Are you thinking that a home purchase may be in the future plans for you? Here is some information to get you on your way to a successful home purchase.

CREDIT - Review and Build Your Credit
 Your credit standing will be one of the indicators that the bank uses to determine how much money they can approve you for in a mortgage.

Order your credit report. I recommend using Equifax, where you can get a credit report for free. If you visit their website, www.equifax.ca , print and complete their form, and mail/fax it in with required documents. Review your report and check for any mistakes, accounts or debts that are not yours. If there is a problem, dispute any errors and report it to Equifax/Creditor.

Paying your bills on-time is VERY important. Pay before the due date, never late. When you pay late, your credit score is affected. If there is a problem with your credit, you need to work on it.

MORTGAGE – Be a Preapproved Buyer
After the credit report review, visit your local bank and meet with a mortgage specialist or contact a mortgage broker. They will go over your credit, review your salary, and determine what amount of mortgage they can offer you and at what interest rate. This process will tell you what is the maximum house price you can afford.

A down payment for the home purchase is also important. Most banks will require 5% down on your home purchase. Along with the down payment, you can expect another 1-2% of the purchase price in closing costs. Save your money!

HOMES - Start Looking and Educate Yourself
Make a list of the things you NEED in a house, and also a list of the WANTS. Needs are things like minimum number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Wants are things that are nice to have such as hardwood floors and granite counter tops.

Go online to www.mls.ca and search for homes that meet your needs, and see what homes are like in that area and price range.

Next meet with a Real Estate professional. They will go over the above mortgage approval, your needs and wants in a home, and be able to discuss homes and areas that you are thinking about purchasing. I am happy to answer any of your questions over the phone, or meetup with you to discuss your needs and help make the home buying or selling process easier.

There are some other things to think about such as mortgage insurance, buying homes with the best resale value, and more that I can discuss with you further. I’m available anytime to review any of the above information, or answer any real estate questions.

Contact me anytime.

Randy Hart  |  Sales Representative
Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services

3060 Mainway, Suite #200, Burlington

Direct 905-808-3863    randyhart@royallepage.ca

www.randyharthomes.com