Posted on
June 21, 2015
by
Mike Nielsen
Will the neighbourhood go up in value?
When you purchase a home, you’re hoping it will continually go up in value
— just like a good investment.
However, there’s something else that you want to see go up in value as
well: the neighbourhood. In fact, the neighbourhood plays a key role in what
the home will be worth in years to come. If the neighbourhood goes down in
terms of desirability, so will the market value of the home.
That’s why, when shopping for a new home, it’s important to get a feel for
the value of the neighbourhood, and whether or not it’s on the upswing.
How do you do that? One way is to simply take a walk. Look at the
properties. Are they well maintained? Is the landscaping groomed and
attractive? Those are signs of “pride of ownership” — a clear indication that
owners value their homes and the neighbourhood.
Another way is to do some research. Has crime gone up in the
neighbourhood? Are there improvements planned, such as new parks? Is
the neighbourhood attracting the kind of people you want as neighbours?
How does the neighbourhood school rank?
Some of this information may be difficult to get on your own. A good
REALTOR® can help you. Call today.
Posted on
June 21, 2015
by
Mike Nielsen
Should You Sell First and Buy Later? Or Vice-Versa?
When you’re thinking of selling your home and buying another, you face the
inevitable question: Should I list my property first or buy my new home first?
Let’s take a look at both options.
If you attempt to buy a property before listing your home, you run into a
couple of challenges.
First, sellers may not take you seriously as a potential buyer. After all, you
haven’t put your own home up for sale. As far as they’re concerned, you
might merely be testing the market.
Second, your property might not sell as quickly as you thought it would. If
there is an early closing date on the home you purchased, you might end up
owning, and paying a mortgage on both properties, at least until your home
sells.
If, on the other hand, you list your property before buying a new home,
sellers will know you’re serious. That puts you in a competitive position in
the event of multiple offers.
Also, if your home sells quickly, you’ll have the peace-of-mind of knowing
exactly how much of a new home you can afford. You’ll be able to shop with
confidence.
Of course, like the first option, there is a chance that the closing dates won’t
match and you’ll end up owning two properties for a period of time.
However, solutions such as bridge financing are available to help.
So, there is no perfect answer. A lot depends on the state of the local
market.
Looking for a good REALTOR® who can help you decide which is the best
move for you? Call today.

The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the REBGV, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the REBGV, the FVREB or the CADREB.