Is it smarter to build a house or to buy?
Deciding that it’s time to purchase a home is the first of many decisions a prospective buyer needs to make. The next is whether to buy an existing home, or to build a new one. There are, of course, pros and cons to each. Buying a home The biggest advantages to purchasing an existing home are convenience and cost. Buyers can even choose to forego an agent and purchase a home via for sale by owner internet services. When buying an existing home, if your offer is accepted, you can occupy the home in some cases within a month. Purchasing an existing home can mean savings in areas like...
Read MoreFirst Home Owner Grant
The Victorian government has announced plans to increase the First Home Owner Grant from $7,000 to $10,000. What does this mean for you? It translates into thousands of dollars in savings for the homebuyer. There is just one catch; it only applies to new construction homes. The problem here is many first time home buyers tend to lean toward established homes. They generally want to be near the workplace. This is going to make things a little difficult for the person trying to sell an established home in Victoria. The Victorian government is hoping to create jobs and homes for the growing...
Read MoreReal Estate Negotiation
Many people that aren’t familiar with real estate are intimidated and are strung along the buying and selling process without taking the time to really hammer out the details to leverage a win win situation among all parties involved. If you understand everyone’s goals you can tailor your negotiating to create opportunities and benefits. Not only does this demonstrate business knowledge but it also makes it a point that you mean business, and that you aren’t another customer being strung through the basic purchasing process. Planning is Paramout! Your knowledge alone give you more...
Read MoreNegotiating Tips
Some of you may be intimidated and not sure how to go about negotiating with a home builder. They are human and expect you to try to negotiate with them. So don’t be afraid just jump right in you will reap the rewards! We all know the real estate transactions are complicated, but you still need to negotiate with the builder to get the best deal for you. Many builders will tell you that the prices are based on a fixed cost; however, you can get the right deal if you know how to do it. Research before you make an offer. Even before you meet the builder, research and compare similar homes and...
Read MoreHome Improvements for Winter – Insulation and Heat Management
What are some home improvement ideas you can use for winter? There are several different things you can do to save energy during the winter months. Most of these ideas are relatively inexpensive, but not all. Evaluate The first thing you need to do it have your heating specialist come out and evaluate your heating system before the cold weather comes. He may recommend that you have your heating unit tuned up; this is always a good place to start. Your heating specialist will diagnose your unit and check for problems that may lead to inefficiency or even carbon monoxide poisoning. If worse...
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