Mike & Bernadine Nielsen

Mike: 604-315-3151 |

Bernadine: 604-619-2063 |

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Do you sometimes review the real estate ads in your local paper? Do you drive by an open house sign and feel the urge to stop and check it out? Those are common indications that, at least on some level, you’re thinking about the possibility of making a move.

But how do you decide if you should actually move?

The first step is to consider whether there are any practical reasons to consider buying a new home. What’s pushing you in that direction?

  • Is your current home too small for your needs?
  • Is the commute to work, for you or your spouse, too long? (Perhaps longer than you expected when you purchased the home?)
  • Are there property features you would now like to have, such as a larger backyard or a more spacious kitchen?
  • Has the neighbourhood changed in an undesirable way?
  • Do you have personal reasons for wanting to move, such as a desire to be closer to relatives in another area?

Carefully consider those things that can’t change unless you move. For example, if a major highway was recently built near you, the ongoing sound of traffic isn’t going to go away. It’s now part of the neighbourhood.

If there are no practical reasons for moving, there may still be other reasons for wanting a new home. You may want to move your family to a better neighbourhood, with better schools or you may simply want a bigger home, with a larger backyard, more rooms, and a wider driveway.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with simply wanting a better place than the one you have now. In fact, that is a common reason why many people make a move.

The point is, if you’ve been thinking about a new home for a while, perhaps now is the time to take the next step. A good REALTOR® can help you understand your options.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call today.

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I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, 216 5294 204TH Street, Langley, British Columbia

This is a great location close to bus stops, IGA, Valley Centre, Willowbrook Shopping Centre, coffee shops, restaurants, Cascades Casino, HD Stafford Secondary, Simmonds Elementary, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, community centre, parks, recreation and much more! Direct access to major transportation routes including Fraser Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway, allows an easy commute to surrounding destinations. This home feature spacious living areas, bay windows to brighten your home, open concept with very efficient use of space. This is a well maintained building offering underground parking, wheelchair access, visitor parking, storage lockers and a common rooftop deck for everyone to enjoy. Very clean,new paint, bright bathroom and very large Master bedroom. Building updated with vinyl siding. Quiet West facing Balcony. Rentals and pets allowed.

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consider these tips:
• Bathrooms are an obvious source of moisture build-up. Contractor
and TV personality Mike Holmes recommends keeping the fan going
for at least a half hour after a shower.
• Check regularly for water infiltration around window and door sills, as
well as other intakes into the home, such as dryer vents and cable
wiring.
• Determine the humidity level in your home. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency, it should be 30-60%. (Keep in
mind that humidity may vary greatly from room to room.)
• Regularly inspect caulking around sinks, tubs and showers. Even a
tiny break can cause water to leak gradually into the wall or floor,
causing damage you may not notice for months.
• Clean up wet spills as soon as possible. On hardwood floors
especially, water can seep through and become trapped.
• Repair leaking faucets, toilets and pipes immediately. A drip can
quickly become a shower.
Being mindful of moisture today can help you avoid potentially high repair
bills later on.
Avoiding moisture problems in the home: 
There are many hidden sources of moisture in your home that can lead to
serious problems, such as mould. To keep moisture levels in check,
consider these tips:
• Bathrooms are an obvious source of moisture build-up. Contractor and TV personality Mike Holmes recommends keeping the fan going for at least a half hour after a shower.• Check regularly for water infiltration around window and door sills, as well as other intakes into the home, such as dryer vents and cable wiring.• Determine the humidity level in your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it should be 30-60%. (Keep in mind that humidity may vary greatly from room to room.)• Regularly inspect caulking around sinks, tubs and showers. Even a tiny break can cause water to leak gradually into the wall or floor,causing damage you may not notice for months.• Clean up wet spills as soon as possible. On hardwood floors especially, water can seep through and become trapped.• Repair leaking faucets, toilets and pipes immediately. A drip canquickly become a shower. Being mindful of moisture today can help you avoid potentially high repair bills later on.
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How Much of a New Home Can You Afford? If you’re thinking of shopping for a new home, one of the first considerations is price range. You want to know what you can reasonably afford. How do you figure that out? First of all, you need to determine the initial out-of-pocket costs you will need to cover. There are often more costs associated with purchasing a home than its actual price. You need to take into account such additional expenses as moving costs, legal fees, and a home inspection, not to mention the costs of prepping your current property for sale. Experts say you should budget 5-10% above the purchase price for these items. So if you can afford to spend $470K on a new home, you should be shopping in the $425-445K range. Another factor to consider are the potential proceeds from the sale of your current home. Your REALTOR® can help you determine how much your property will likely sell for in today’s market. Any existing mortgage will need to be subtracted from that amount to determine how much cash will be left. Of course, you should speak to a mortgage broker or lender who can compute how much of a mortgage you qualify for. Remember, qualifying for a big mortgage doesn’t necessarily mean you should have one. You also need to consider your personal finances and desired lifestyle – and whether or not having a large mortgage is a good idea for you. Once you have gathered all of your information, you can add any potential sale proceeds to the amount of mortgage you qualify for, add other sources of cash available for this purpose and subtract 5-10% for initial expenses, and you’ll have an idea of the price range you should be considering. Finally, it’s important to take the time to decide what kind of home you want. Do you want a large backyard with trees? A quiet, family-oriented neighbourhood? Four bedrooms and a finished basement? Once you decide what you want most in a new home, it becomes much easier to find one that’s in your price range.
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