Canada Real Estate: How to Buy Real Estate in Canada?

Posted by admin | Business | Posted on November 12th, 2007




Canada being a developed North American country has a well defined and mature process when it comes to buying real estate. Like the United States, much attention and focus is given to protecting the rights of both the buyer and the seller. While at times this can result in excessive documentation, buyers must remember that following the process is in their interest.

It is strongly recommended that those looking to buy real estate in Canada get themselves pre approved if they are seeking a loan to buy real estate. A pre approval not only provides the buyer an estimate of the loan they can qualify for, it also gives the seller the necessary confidence in the financial ability of the buyer. In addition, a buyer with a pre approved loan can now focus on the properties that are in line with their budget rather than spending time and money on finding properties which later turn out to be beyond their financial capacity.

A good place to start for a buyer of real estate in Canada is to find a licensed real estate agent. A licensed real estate agent who understands the budget and the kind of house the buyer is looking for can more often than not find properties which are hard to find otherwise. A licensed real estate agent can also help a buyer of real estate property prepare and submit purchase offer, negotiate with the seller or the seller’s agent and help ensure that the entire process is smooth and transparent to the buyer. In addition to a real estate agent, a buyer of real estate in Canada will also need the services of a lawyer or a notary if the buyer is purchasing the real estate in Quebec. The lawyer (or the notary) will ensure that all the processes are followed and help ensure the legal interest of the buyer of the real estate.

After identifying the property, the next step in the process is to furnish a legal document to the seller known as an ‘Offer to Purchase’ or ‘Agreement of Purchase and Sale’. If the buyer has a real estate agent or a seller, they will prepare the document for the buyer and ensure that the terms and conditions stated in the document along with the price are what the buyer and the seller had agreed to. Typically, the document undergoes several revisions as the seller and the buyer review it to ensure their interests are honored in the document. Once the terms and conditions have been agreed, the agreement becomes final.

The buyer of real estate in Canada should be cognizant of the costs involved in buying a property. Listed below are some of the costs that the buyer has to incur:

o Mortgage insurance and loan application fees

o Appraisal fees

o 5% deposit that is typically paid when an offer to purchase is accepted

o Down payment of around 25% less the 5% deposit

o Home inspection fee

o Land and deed registration fees

o Prepaid property tax refund

o Home insurance

o Survey costs

o Legal fees

o Title insurance

The last and final step in the process is closing of the escrow. On this day, the transaction is completed and ownership transferred to the buyer. The buyer can now have the title deed registered in their name.

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Ben Hirsh is a Realtor in Woodstock GA and an expert on that market. He also enjoys the study of other markets. His unique website features a Woodstock GA MLS search and an informative report on Woodstock GA real estate .



The Benefits of Buying Real Estate in a Bad Neighborhood

Posted by admin | Real Estate | Posted on November 1st, 2007




When people call me, typically one of the first requests they make is for a house in a “nice” neighborhood. And this makes sense to want a neighborhood that is safe and enjoyable. But there are some benefits to buying real estate in the rough part of town or on the wrong side of the tracks. This article highlights some of them.

- There is less worry of your neighborhood going downhill because it is already downhill. Good neighborhoods can get bad and bad neighborhoods can get better. Since the price usually reflects the current condition, buying in a neighborhood that has room for improvement might be a good idea.

- If you are buying a rental, you usually get better cash flow in rough neighborhoods. If you are renting your property, there are more renters and they are more long term. It’s difficult to rent in good neighborhoods because fewer people are looking to rent and those who do are generally there short term while they look for a house to buy.

- You can look better in comparison to other landlords. Landlords in rough areas frequently don’t maintain their properties as well as people in nice areas. Therefore, if you maintain your properties, you can blow away your competition, and charge more for it.

- If you are in a rough neighborhood, you can propose that your property change will improve the neighborhood and you have a better chance of getting a different zoning. Conversely, if you are in a good neighborhood, it’s hard to make the same argument.

- You can buy more property. If you want to spend 500k, you can either buy one house in an upscale neighborhood or six or seven houses in a rougher neighborhood.

- They’re more recession proof. When the economy goes south, real estate in rough neighborhoods is less affected.

In summary, I am not saying you have to buy in a bad neighborhood. But simply that if you are looking for long term investments sometimes its a good idea to wander over the tracks and look around a bit.



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