New Construction vs Condo Conversion vs Resale – Buying a Condo in Kitchener Waterloo
If you are thinking of buying a condo there are 3 types to choose from. Here I talk about the differences between new construction condo’s vs condo conversions and the resale condo market.
June 4, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, Loft Style, New Construction, Sellers, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market update, new construction, realtor, remax, sales reps, twin city realty, waterloo | Leave a comment
Selling Your Condo Privately or Exclusive vs the Multiple Lisiting Service (MLS) – Kevin Baker
I shot this video over a year ago and i think its does a good job of explaining the differences between listing “exclusively” or “Privately” vs the MLS system. Have a look to hear my thoughts on my experience with both.
May 2, 2012 | Categories: Kitchener Waterloo, Loft Style, New Construction, Sellers, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, exclusive, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft selling, market update, mls, mulitiple listing service, new construction, private, sale, selling your home, twin city realty, waterloo | Leave a comment
Assessed Value, Appraised Value and Market Value… What do they all mean? Kitchener Condos and lofts for sale
The value of your home greatly depends on who is looking at it. Ultimately the value you want to know is what a buyer is willing to pay for it but there are several different values put on it depending on the reason. Have a look at the video I shot and see what it all means.
April 27, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, Loft Style, New Construction, Sellers, Video | Tags: CMHC, condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market, market update, new construction, real estate, realtor, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Downsizing? Maybe its time to think about Uncluttering Your life! – Kitchener Waterloo Condos for sale
Uncluttering your Life!
Are you thinking of downsizing to a condo but stuck on what to do with all that extra stuff? Well you’re not alone. The downsizing population has enjoyed living in their large spacious homes that offer plenty of storage options. Over the years we can certainly collect a lot of things that don’t serve any purpose today. The biggest step for most of us is to be able to emotionally detach ourselves from our collection!
When moving to a condo you know that you will be able to live a lifestyle of freedom from all that hard outdoor work. So with that in mind you can easily step into your garage to target those snow shovels, snow blower, lawnmower, and collection of tools and trinkets that are adorning the shelves. Imagine the relief of purging all that extra stuff by donating or selling all the unneeded items.
Next is your basement, I am sure it has seen its collection of boxes and totes filled with different items that more than likely only serve as a reminder that you need to dust again.
Do we really need that second set of living room furniture? The extra end tables or set of 6 chairs from the old kitchen set? Let it go… it will be happy that it’s in a new home where it will be loved and used. The great feeling of donating to the less fortunate is another gratifying feeling of downsizing.
Have a garage sale, stop by the donation centres or pass it down to your children.
The magazine Style at Home offers 10 great tips for downsizing. Here are the Top 5
1. Write a list of all the items you love and can’t live without
2. Start thinning out your belongings at least three months before the move.
3. Get a feel for the size of your new rooms by comparing them to rooms of similar dimensions in your present home.
4. Heavily edit areas with items that don’t have as much sentimental value.
5. Don’t throw anything in the garbage. Recycle, reuse,
So whether you are just thinking of downsizing or have already purchased that condo and getting ready for the upcoming move, hopefully these tips will save you time and stress!
Visit the link to view the complete list.
http://www.styleathome.com/homes/real-estate/top-10-tips-for-downsizing/a/308
March 21, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Loft Style, New Construction, Sellers, Uncategorized | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, kevin baker, kitchener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, real estate, realtor, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Know Your Closing Costs and Plan Accordingly – Kitchener Waterloo Condos and Lofts for sale
Closing Day is fast approaching and one of the most important things is to make sure you have planned for all the closing costs that come up when you are buying or selling a Condo. Have a look at the video I did to learn why this is a very important step in the process.
March 6, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, Sellers, Video | Tags: closing costs, condo, condo costs, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market, market update, new construction, real estate, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Be Sure You Understand the Closing Paperwork Before Signing – Kitchener Waterloo Condos for Sale
When buying that new Condo and you are meeting with the lawyer to get all the final paperwork signed please be sure you understand what you are signing and if you don’t, take the time to get your lawyer to explain it too you. Click on the video link to hear more.
February 23, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, New Construction, Sellers, Video | Tags: closing paperwork, condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, lawyers, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market update, mortgage, new construction, paperwork, real estate, realtor, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Doing a Final Inspection and Why it’s so Important – Kitchener Waterloo Condos for sale
So Closing day is only days away, the packing is still going on, you have boxes filling every room in the house. Your agent calls and asks if you would like to do a final walk through of the home. Even though you are crazy busy it is still a necessary and important part of the process. Have a look at the video to why…
February 15, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Video | Tags: condo, condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, home inspectors, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market update, new construction, real estate, realtor, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Market Predictions for Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate – Homes and Condos for sale
Hey Everyone, I attended a CMCH housing forecast last week and then on Tuesday of this week I listened to Craig Alexander, Sr. V.P. and Chief Economist for TD Bank give his predictions on where the housing market is going for 2012. Have a listen and hear my brief synopsis on the info I gathered.
January 27, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, New Construction, Sellers, Video | Tags: CMHC, condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market, market update, mortgage, mortgage brokers, new construction, real estate, realtor, remax, TD Bank, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Buying a Condo To Fit Your Needs Now and in the Future – Kitchener Waterloo Real estate condos
January 20, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, New Construction, Sellers, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market, market update, real estate, realtor, remax, tanglewood condo, twin city realty, waterloo | Leave a comment
Offer Price and Fair Market Value – Kitchener Waterloo Condos for Sale
So you have found the right condo…. now its offer time, but what price to offer. Here is where a Realtor can help. Knowing what fair market value of a home is extremely important in determining what to offer on the condo of your dreams. You don’t want to overpay for something based on emotion. Watch the video to hear my thoughts on why this is an important consideration in your next home purchase
January 10, 2012 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, Loft Style, Sellers, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft selling, market update, real estate, realtor, remax, twin city realty, waterloo | Leave a comment
Mortgage Pre Approvals.. why they are a good idea! – Kitchener Waterloo Condos for sale
Before you start your home buying search a great first step is to get a mortgage preapproval from your bank or mortgage broker. There are a few key reasons as to why. Have a look at this video to hear some helpful advice.
December 12, 2011 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, New Construction, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, ktichener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, market update, mortgage, mortgage brokers, mortgage news, mortgage rates, new construction, real estate, realtor, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Less than 25% of Condos For Sale are in the paper or open house- Waterloo Condos and lofts for sale
November 25, 2011 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, kwhometeam, loft, loft apartments, loft buying, loft selling, market update, newspaper ads, open house, real estate, remax, twin city realty, update | Leave a comment
Read the Condo Documents before Buying – Waterloo Condo and lofts for sale
Yesterday I spoke with a friend of mine at 375 King street N, Waterloo and he was telling me about the board of his building trying to change the policies and making it student free. They still have to get 80% of the unit owners to agree but have a look at the video and hear some thoughts on why its important to read the condo documents before you buy.
October 14, 2011 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, Loft Style, Sellers, Video | Tags: condo buying, condo selling, condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, kevin baker, kitchener, kwhometeam, loft, loft buying, loft selling, market, market update, real estate, remax, twin city realty, update, waterloo | Leave a comment
Kitchener Condo developer gets $200,000 boost for Grants into home ownership
$200,000 Grants for Options For Homes Ownership Assistance in Kitchener
First-of-its-kind Home Ownership
Kitchener – For many, the purchase of a new home is the single largest financial decision made in one’s lifetime. This is especialy true for first-time buyers.
At such a time, it is easy to let excitement cloud the magnitude of costs that go into purchasing a home. Taking the next step into home ownership can seem overwhelming when considering a mortgage and/or condo fees, not to mention saving for the initial down payment.
Options for Homes is proud to announce that it has secured access to $200,000 loan financing to assist individuals looking to purchase their first home. The loans are provided by Home Ownership Alternatives Non-Profit Corporation, a mortgage brokerage licensed with the province. This is the first time in Kitchener that such a program has been offered.
Up to $10,000 per applicant is available in a loan to use towards the required down payment of a new property. The loan requires no payments until the unit is re-sold sometime in the future.
The program does not provide 100% of the required down payment. Successful applicants must have some personal funds to contribute to the initial purchase. For example, a prospective home buyer can approach Options for Homes with a as little as a $1000 down payment and apply to make arrangements for the balance of the 5% down payment.
“With 80% of Tanglewood purchasers being first-time buyers, there is a need to support individuals to make home ownership possible,” says Jan Ciuciura of Options for Homes. “We have found that mortgage payments are not the largest deterrent in the decision to buy, but rather saving for the initial down payments. Thanks to Home Ownership Alternatives, we now have a tool that works to help first-time buyers to make their dreams come true.”
The loans are available to be used at Options for Homes’ 120 units Tanglewood Condominium project, located in the community of Laurentian Hills in the southwest corner of Kitchener. These multi-generation units, ranging from Bachelor to Three Bedroom apartments, cost between $120,000 and $260,000. From Kwnow.
February 10, 2011 | Categories: Buyers, Kitchener Waterloo, New Construction, Sellers | Tags: condo units, downsizing, first time buyer, housing grants, kitchener, loft, loft apartments, lofts, new construction, options for homes, tanglewood condo, waterloo | Leave a comment
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