Buyers ... Stay Informed on the Local Market

For some buyers, buying a home is a stressful process. For others, it's a fun and exciting process of choosing their dream home. As part of our services, we'll help you determine the must haves for your new home. I'll give you 5 simple and easy tips to buying real estate in to help you make the process smoother and more enjoyable.

Tip#1 ñ Create a ìDreamî List

Create a list of everything you want in a house. What do you want the garden to look like? What kind of kitchen counter tops do you want? What kind of neighborhood? What kind of feel do you want?

Have your ideal home in mind when you go out home searching. Know which criteria youíre absolutely set on, and which youíre willing to compromise. Also be willing to be surprised by houses that you like, which you werenít expecting.

Tip #2 ñ Understand the Whole Process

Understand the whole process, from beginning to end. This will help take pressure off your shoulders, so you can enjoy the process more.

Tip #3 ñ Know Your Mortgage Options

There are tons of different mortgage options available. Do your research beforehand so you know exactly which options are available to you.

Tip #4 ñ Get to Know Your Neighborhood

One of the important yet often overlooked areas of buying a home is the neighborhood. Itís important to know what kind of neighbors you have, whether or not thereís schools, playgrounds, shopping malls, groceries and the like in the area.

Itís also important to know the crime rate in the area as well as whether or not thereís a neighborhood watch.

Tip #5 ñ Personalize Your Relationship with the Seller

Often times having a personalized relationship with the seller will help you close the deal. That isnít to say become friends with the seller, but if the seller feels like youíll really take care of their future home, theyíre more likely to be willing to sell for a lower price.

These 5 tips should make your home buying experience both smoother and more enjoyable.

There is a lot of property for sale in Lethbridge and having a real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate or Lethbridge land for sale and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate at http://www.courtneyatkinson.ca or contact us using the form below.

It’s a smart move to hire a home inspector to examine your potential home. But, wait. Before you sign that contract and pay the home inspector to inspect your dream house, perhaps you should consider a few things first?

One thing you should know about home inspectors is that their professional standards of practice tell them that their job is only to make an objective and independent VISUAL assessment of a home. That means they are not even allowed to move any personal belongings of the home owner or rearrange furniture in order to gain access to hard-to-reach places, like the attic or the garage. And, of course, if they cannot enter those places, then they wouldn’t be able to inspect them and just satisfy themselves by writing on the home inspector’s report that they “were not able to assess the attic because of personal belongings blocking the way.”

The major components of your house are all important. If something’s wrong with any of them, it is you who’d end up spending a lot of money for repairs. Getting a home inspector to point out the problems and their symptoms before they get out of hand is one way of saving you from unwarranted expenses on a house you only recently purchased.

Therefore, your home inspector has his role to play. And you have your own part to accomplish.

Keep an Eye Out for Yourself

Even before the contract is signed, it pays to keep a keen eye out for potential problems yourself. It isn’t enough that you depend on your home inspector for everything. In fact, that’s even the reason why it’s much more preferable if you join your home inspector during the walk-through.

So below are some tips that you can use as you make the initial walk-through of your potential home:

From A Distance

A good place to start your own inspection is from the side of the road. home inspectors have their own methods of assessing the visual components of a house, but usually, they start with the whole picture before moving in to look at the details. As for yourself, take a look first at how the house is situated. If the land slopes toward the house, find out if there is adequate drainage, in case of flooding. Then, check for straight roof lines. A roof in good shape is one without odd-looking dips, bumps, or bubbles, unless this is all part of the overall design.

Up Close

Now, step closer and examine the house’s exterior. This is the second part of a home inspector’s examination. Pay attention to the siding and trim and see if it is painted. If it is, is there any bubbling or major peeling? Also, find if the earth around the house come in contact with siding or trim details. Look at the windows and doors and see if they are in good condition. Especially, notice if the storm windows are intact or if its screens and glass panels are in place.

Inside the House

Check the ceilings and walls for signs of water damage, such as stains or evidence of mold. Is there loose plaster or peeling paint?

These are only some of the things you need to pay attention to as you do a pre-inspection before a home inspector arrives.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your queries. Call me on my cell at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca.

Many people currently looking at Lethbridge Real Estate online are those thinking of relocating here. When it comes to relocating it can be hard to find the perfect home for you and your family, especially if you don't know the area or how far your budget can stretch.  That's where using a Lethbridge Realtor like Courtney Atkinson can help.

I enjoy helping people to discover Lethbridge real estate and we make it easy for people to move here.  We like to take the time to get to know our buyers, to make sure that we only show them property for sale in Lethbridge that will meet their needs.

Because we know the area we can find Lethbridge properties to suit every lifestyle.  Do you need to be near a school?  We can show you properties that match.  Do you need to commute and want to be near the station or road links?  Do you need to have a granny flat?  Do you want a large garden?  Would you like to be in the town centre or near the parks and lakes?  If we know your lifestyle and your hopes we can provide you with a viewing list of the most suitable homes for sale in Lethbridge for you.

We're not mind readers and we can't promise you that we'll find your perfect Lethbridge home on our first attempt, although sometimes we do!  But thankfully, we always have a good selection of houses for sale in Lethbridge and after each viewing we will talk with you to find out what you did and didn't like about each Lethbridge property.  We know buying houses isn't easy but we can help you to find your dream home.

There is a lot of property for sale in Lethbridge and having a Lethbridge real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate or simply contact us using the form below.

Looking at a large number of homes for sale in Lethbridge can be a confusing and time consuming process.  There are many great homes for sale and many times the features of the homes begin to run together.  Often real estate agents schedule viewing appointments one after another for their clients without consideration for how difficult it is to tell the difference between them. Oftentimes, Realtors will only show their Buyers their own listings, avoiding other homes that might better suit their Buyer's needs!  This series of appointments should be groups of homes that fit the buyer's criteria. Having a good Lethbridge Realtor who has the skills to help you develop a good short list will ensure that your time is well spent and that you're only looking at homes that meet your needs.

Looking at one home after another is an efficient use of time as well as beneficial to the decision making process, so long as they are the RIGHT homes.  It is easier for buyers to compare similar properties to one another when they are viewed on the same day.  However, viewing too many Lethbridge homes on the same day can become a confusing and even overwhelming process.  Century 21 Foothills - Atkinson & Associates suggests creating a list such as the one in the example below to help you keep organized while touring potential homes for sale in the Lethbridge area.  If you bring along a digital camera, take a snapshot of the listing sheet given to you by your real estate agent prior to each home tour.  If your camera has voice recording or video capabilities consider recording a few notes for yourself after each home tour.  This tip will help you remember the differences between each house choice.

Make a Wish List

Make a realistic list of what your ideal Lethbridge homes will look like. Think mainly of features and needs that are realistic and don't get caught up in all the things you'd "like" to have, but know you won't be able to afford.  If a 6000 square foot coulee view home is not within your budget, don't include this on the list.  Here are a couple good examples of a realistic wish list for most homebuyers:

• Attached two car garage
• Three bedrooms above grade
• 2 bathrooms plus an ensuite that has a standup shower AND a tub
• Near shopping
• No hardwood floors
• Fenced yard for dog
• Dishwasher
• Pie shaped lot

Although many items on your list may be fairly easy and/or inexpensive to change (such as wall color or carpeting), if a home already fits your criteria, that is one less item you would need to change.  In the end, if you are torn between two properties, the little details may be what make your decision.  Courtney Atkinson, real estate expert, has seen many home buyers torn between two properties.  The homes for sale in Lethbridge that come closest to the buyer's wish list will be the ones that will eventually form the Buyer's shortlist, one of which that will eventually be called "home".

There is a lot of property for sale in Lethbridge and having a real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate or Lethbridge land for sale and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate at http://www.courtneyatkinson.ca.

Buying a home in Lethbridge can be a wonderful experience for anyone. There are all kinds of things you have to look forward to:

• There's the first time you meet that great real estate agent who will work with you.
• There's the first very first home you ever set eyes one.
• There's the home you finally choose and fall in love with.

That's the perfect home, right?  But how does one find their perfect home in Lethbridge? Is anything really ever perfect? Does the concept even really exist?

Let's take a look.

Many potential first time buyers envision their next home as a home with all of the amenities. That home may even have hardwood floors, super high ceilings, a fireplace, and many other things like that that you feel you can't live without. However, oftentimes, people will see home after home without finding every single amenity they desire.

Here's another thing that happens. Oftentimes, people find a home that has everything they need, but not everything they want. Sometimes a home has a lot of the things they want, but not what they need. The fact is that most professionals that are in the business of selling or showing homes will tell you that you will not find the perfect home. It just does not exist. You won't be able to discover a house that has every thing you have ever dreamed of and none of the things you don't want.

Most real estate agents will tell you that what you should focus on is making a list of what's really important to you. There are many different factors to consider. Think about price, style, location, condition, size, the neighbours, surrounding schools, crime rate, or the number of bedrooms you'll need. The list of what is important to you could really go on and on.

Writing things down is key. Planning to get a perfect home in the Lethbridge may leave you worn out because each home you look at just won't meet up to everything you have ever dreamed of. You may end passing up on a really good home in Lethbridge because you are so concerned with finding that perfect house. Worn out, tired, and aware that home prices are on their way up, you may end up just buying the last home you look at simply because you are fed up.

You certainly want to have a much more pleasant experience than that when looking for a home in Lethbridge don't you? You can have one if you change your definition of "perfect" just a little. Perfect doesn't have to be an absolute. Allow for a few adjustments to your dream. Then, you will find a home that will come very close to being that perfect home you have always imagined.

There is a lot of property for sale in Lethbridge and having a real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate or Lethbridge land for sale and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate at http://www.courtneyatkinson.ca.

Finding the best builder in the Lethbridge real estate market is perhaps the most important part of building a new home.  There are several factors to consider before choosing a builder.  After all, the best builder is the one who fits your project criteria and best meets the requirements of your project.  Communication is also a very important to consider.  The person/company you hire is going to be a large part of your life for the next several months and beyond.  You will be living in the results of their work for years to come.  Communication is vital to the success of the project.  Real Estate experts at Century 21 Foothills - Atkinson & Associates suggest buyers interested in new construction make a list of criteria for their project.  Another list should be made that includes what they expect from a builder.

Gather a list of builder names that fit your requirements.  Discuss your project expectations with each potential builder on your list.  After interviewing all of the builders on your list, you will be able to make a short list of builders capable of fulfilling your project needs.  Then you will be able to make an informed decision on which is the best builder to build your home in Lethbridge.

Below is a sample list of questions to ask potential builders for your project.  For a complete list of homeowner and builder questions email Courtney Atkinson at info@courtneyatkinson.ca or by phone at 403.795.7777.

Builder Interview Questions:

Are you a licensed builder/contractor?

Are you a member of any professional associations?

How much experience do you have with building homes in the Lethbridge area?

What manufacturers do you work with?

Do you build the style/size/type of home in our project?  (Hire a builder who has experience with the quality of home you are contracting.)

Do you have a guarantee?  (price, move-in date, etc.)

Are you flexible with customization and/or changes?

The professional real estate agents at Century 21 Foothills - Atkinson & Associates can help you find the best builder for your new construction home in Lethbridge.  Contact us today for more information.

There is a lot of property for sale in Lethbridge and having a real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate or Lethbridge land for sale and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate at http://www.courtneyatkinson.ca.

Paying off your mortgage early is the goal of many Lethbridge home owners.  Even if you are not disciplined, you too can pay off your mortgage years before it comes due.  Homeowners who have this discipline, but lack the knowledge needed to pay off their mortgage early, can benefit from similar financial planning know how. It's really not that difficult. It just takes a little effort to set up, it will cost far less than you think, and the mortgage on your home in Lethbridge will be paid off before you know it!

Some Lethbridge mortgage lenders will set up a special repayment plan for free.  These plans can be a biweekly repayment structure, or an extra payment.  Although it is best to work out a repayment option that does not require you to pay an additional fee, if that is the only way you can make the payment – do it!  Consider what the fee will cost against the amount of money you will save over the life of the loan. Generally, you'll save THOUSANDS over the life of your mortgage!

It is possible to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 20-years or less by making extra payments and/or more frequent payments.  The mortgage on your Lethbridge home is a structured repayment plan.  Any principal paid over the calculated amount will reduce your interest debt.  Over time this translates into satisfying the mortgage debt years before it is due to be paid off. That's right, you could pay off the mortgage on your Lethbridge property as much as 10 years ahead of schedule! Just imagine what you could do with the extra money you will have each month once your mortgage is paid off!  Perhaps you could retire early.

When you pay extra principal on your mortgage you build equity in your home faster.  Many people in the Lethbridge area use this extra equity to upgrade to a larger home by selling and taking that money and putting it down on their next home.  Yet other financially savvy people use the extra equity to purchase a second Lethbridge area home.  This becomes an income property for them.  They are well on their way to building wealth through real estate.

There is a lot of Lethbridge property for sale and having a real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@courtneyatkinson.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate or Lethbridge land for sale and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate at http://www.courtneyatkinson.ca.

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