Understanding Market Conditions

The real estate market is always changing. Varying economic indicators dictate which stage your local market is experiencing. It helps to understand how market conditions can affect your position as a seller. What are these market conditions? Well, we're sure you've heard some common phrases tossed around. Has anyone taken the time to explain them? Not everyone is familiar with real estate jargon, and that's okay. We're here to help you understand E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! That's our job.

What is a Balanced Market?

The number of homes is equal to the demand or number of the buyers. Typically, this type of market shows that demand is equal to supply, homes sell within an acceptable time period and prices are generally stable. What does…

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Moving Checklist

Moving is stressful! Remembering to pack, unpack and organize everything you have is difficult. We've created a checklist that breaks down what you can do each month before you move to make the whole process easier to manage. If you don't have a large amount of time before you move, you can adjust this checklist according to your needs.

11 or More Weeks Before You Move

• Ask your REALTOR® how you will receive the keys to your new home and the time when it is appropriate for you to enter.
• If you are planning a renovation, getting it done before you move in is ideal. You may need to order renovation materials in advance of your move so the work can begin as soon as you have possession.

9 to 10 Weeks Before Moving

• If needed,…

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Real Estate Terms Made Easy

Everything has its own jargon; its own terminologies. Real estate is no exception. Are you searching for the meaning of some words listed in your contract, or looking to understand a word you heard your Realtor say, but were too afraid to ask? Never fear, C21 Able is here. We've made a small dictionary of real estate terms for you! Bookmark or favourite this page to have as a handy reference while you're going through the home buying or home selling process.

A

Active contingent

When a seller accepts an offer from a buyer, that offer hinges on the buyer’s ability to meet certain conditions before sale finalization. Contingencies might include the buyer selling their home, receiving mortgage approval, or reaching an agreement with the seller…

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Buyer Appraisal Tips: How to Get the Deal You Want

You’re in the thick of things now. You’ve gotten pre-approval from the bank, you’ve hunted down the house you want, you’ve signed the purchase agreement and now you’re dealing with a home appraisal before the bank officially approves your loan.

The Basics

Before we get to the negotiating tips, we need to understand how the appraisal process works. You wouldn’t start playing a game of football without knowing the rules, right? Understand first, play to your advantage after.

Your loan lender chooses an appraiser from your area to assess an opinion of value, or rather, how much the house is worth. This appraiser is a licensed and certified professional who is unbiased – they do not represent you or the seller. This is done so that the home…

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Home Inspection Tips

Recent summers have taught our population that home inspections are of the utmost importance (thanks, Canada Day floods). Nobody wants to be caught unaware of their home’s weaknesses during a prairie flash flood or other storm. Your home inspection gives you the “nitty-gritty” safety and structural details so you know all about the investment you’ll be making. Not sure of the process, or what to expect? We’ve been there. That’s why we’ve compiled our best tips in a checklist for you.

Make Sure the Contingency is in the Contract

Ensure that there’s a home inspection contingency, a.k.a. a “Due Diligence” contingency in the sales contract. This outlines that a professional home inspection will take place at a specified time on the house in…

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7 Feelings Home Buyers Have During the Process

There are many emotions home buyers have when buying a home. Here are some we've compiled that we know you can relate to!

1) Every emotion, hitting you all at once

Gotta get approved, gotta have an inspection, gotta know what you want, gotta look at homes, gotta do this, gotta do that...Thinking about the whole process during the beginning stages of home buying fills you with stress you didn't know was possible, and emotions you didn't know you were capable of feeling. And sometimes, those emotions hit you like falling boxes. First you're excited to look for what you want, then you're sad because the weight of what you can actually afford hits you. Anxiety hits you next, because your brain is pushing doubts about the long term to the forefront. And…

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All About the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) System

You've seen those six digit numbers associated with house listings. You know they're used for identification. You know there's a whole system dedicated to identifying almost every house for sale. But do you know why the system exists, or who it's for? Do you wonder why these numbers even matter, especially if a home is listed online? Well, you've come to the right place. We're going to tell you everything you need and want to know about the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) in Canada.

WHAT IS MLS®?

First off, MLS is an acronym. It stands for Multiple Listing Service. This service is actually an extensive database owned and operated by Realtors across the country. Imagine if the software you use for work everyday was available to the public…

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Turning Your House Into A Home

A house is simply a physical structure. A home is a place where you create meaningful memories with loved ones. It's a place for watching the first steps of life, celebrating birthdays and enjoying those sit-down family dinners. If you've just moved into a house, you want to turn that place into home as soon as you can! We've got 5 ideas that involve the whole family:

Create a Family Gallery

Create a gallery wall featuring photos of your family, art created by members of your family, or photos of friends! Hang up holiday, first day of school and other milestone moment photos. Mix in some of your children's artwork, or artwork of your own. For added visual interest, you can hang up letters, plaques, alphabetical letters or textiles. Organize the…

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The Initial Costs of Home Ownership

Listed below is a basic overview of some of the costs that may or may not come up in your particular situation when you purchase a home here in Saskatchewan. These costs are approximations only and are subject to change. They serve to help you plan as a homeowner or potential homeowner. When you do decide to buy a home, you'll discuss your personal situation with your Century 21 Realtor and go over the exact costs.

A down payment is the lump sum of money that your lender expects you to put into your purchase at the start. Typically, between 5% and 20% of the purchase price. Traditionally, the rule was always 20%. This amount has changed over the years, since homes and the cost of living have drastically gone up in price. A majority of folks…

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Home Buying Considerations

Buying a home this year? Unsure of where to start or even what to be thinking about? No worries! Prevent unneeded stress during your purchase with knowledge on your side. Here are the 4 main considerations for you to ponder over when buying a home:

1) Determine your budget.

Your primary cost is a mortgage. This means that you are going to have to determine the maximum price you can afford. Also, when calculating this number, don't forget that there are smaller costs! For example, property insurance, taxes, electricity, water bills, and other fees that can come up. The sum of all these costs will be your budget. A budget will be invaluable to you when you look for a home - it keeps you grounded. Knowing what you can afford and wanting…

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