Coldwell Banker - R.M.R. Real Estate, Brokerage *'s blog

It seems when it comes to home buying, there are some definite differences between how men vs. women approach the process.  Coldwell Banker® has just released the findings of their latest consumer survey tracking the gender preferences of more than a thousand home buyers.  Here are some highlights of the survey findings:

If you’re thinking of selling your home, you'll probably be interested in knowing about one of the most common mistakes homeowners make when they decide to sell their property. When the time comes to sell, everyone wants to get the best possible price for their home, but you need to carefully consider what sale price will ultimately net you the best result. Getting it wrong could result in a loss of what could amount to several thousand dollars in most major Canadian markets.

After you’ve estimated your mortgage payment and other ongoing costs for carrying your first home, you’ll also need to consider the one-time expenses associated with the purchase of a property.  This includes your closing costs, as well as your moving expenses.

Finding the right property at an affordable price can sometimes be a challenge.  When it comes to deciding just how much home you can afford, there are two kinds of expenses you’ll need to consider – the ongoing or ‘carrying’ costs of the home, and your closing costs.

Whether you're a home buyer or seller, one of the most exciting, yet stressful parts of the entire real estate process is negotiating an offer. Many of us have spent a fretful few hours, or even a sleepless night, while an endless series of questions filled our minds: Will the price be appealing? Will the offer be accepted? Can we come to terms about conditions? Will the deal go through?

A key reason many people choose to rent instead of buying their own home is their reluctance to sign their name to a long-term mortgage agreement. But when you come right down to it, very few of us can expect to go through life without paying the cost of a place of residence in one form or another. As a renter, you’ve probably already made a commitment to a fixed schedule of payments for housing – but instead of a mortgage, it’s a lease or rental agreement.

In some major Canadian markets, the hot real estate market has given rise to a practice that's intended to stimulate interest in a listing and achieve the highest possible sale price in a short period of time. What is it? It's under-pricing the listing. Intentionally listing properties at well below their market value and then holding off on showings or offers until a specified date can create a ‘bidding war' scenario where multiple buyers eagerly scramble to get in on a ‘great deal'.

On behalf of Coldwell Banker R.M.R. Real Estate, we are very pleased to announce that our parent company, Realogy Holdings Corp., has once again been recognized a 2015 World's Most Ethical Company®, by the Ethisphere Institute, the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

To paraphrase an old real estate saying – the three most important factors for a stress-free move are: planning, planning, and more planning.  Plan your move at least one month in advance.  Set up an expense log, and start lining up your suppliers – movers, storage companies, delivery of new appliances or furniture.  Don’t forget painters, carpet installers and other services working on your new house prior to your move-in date.  

   When most of us do our household budgeting, we often set aside what may be a considerable amount of funds for the family vacation. But did you ever stop to think that there might be a better way to plan for quality family time without laying out a lot of cash that you'll never see again? Why not put the money you'd spend on airfares, hotels and rental cars into building equity instead?