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Abbotsford British Columbia Real Estate Blog

Mako Britz

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Displaying blog entries 81-87 of 87

Red Day

by Mako Britz

On May 12th Keller Williams's offices all across North America will be participating in Red Day.  Red Day is a Keller Williams Realty initiative to improving our local communities.  Keller Williams's agents donate their time to renewing and energizing aspects of our local communities.  Because of her constant commitment to the culture of our company, this day has been dedicated in honour of our Vice Chairman, Mo Anderson.

This is the 3rd annual Red Day. As the focus is to give where we live, we decided to ask our clients for your input as to a worthy cause that we may put our time and energy behind.  In the past we have cleaned Jubilee Park then held a BBQ for the homeless, cleaned the track at Rotary Stadium and sang with residents at Menno Home.

We will make our decisions based on all suggestions that we receive.  We thank you for helping us make your community/our community a better place to live.  We also invite you to join us on May 12th should you wish to do so. 

I will be in touch to let you know where we will be serving.

what would you do with an extra $70,000 this year?

by Mako Britz
I sometimes struggle with how to start an email. Sooo, here it is.....

 This email can change your life and set you up for financial independence like you have never known. In 5 years time, are you going to look back at 2011 (and this email) and say,"I wish I had"? Or are you going to say," I'm so glad I did"! This is the point in time where you can really accumulate some financial wealth through real-estate and set yourself up for the future you deserve.

The last time I sent an email like this out, the people that heeded its advice earned upwards of $70,000 in 8 months. Here is how and why.

 Let me take a moment to explain Buyer vs Seller markets. A balanced market is where we have 7 months worth of inventory on the market. Meaning it would take 7 months to sell all the homes that are currently for sale. This balanced market is good for both Sellers and Buyers. For most of 2010 we have been at 9-10 months worth of inventory (very good for Buyers). A Sellers market is 6 months worth of inventory or less. Currently in Abbotsford BC, we have 7.15 months of inventory on the market. This is it! The shift is here. If you're on the fence about whether to buy a home or not...... NOW IS THE TIME!

The economist will paint doom and gloom and I don't care what their predictions are. Here are the facts. With the new HST that came in new housing isn't selling. This puts a much bigger demand on used housing. At our current rate of growth we need to build 186,000 new homes every year. We didn't build that many homes in the last 2 years combined.

We currently have 110 new immigrants entering in Vancouver International Airport daily. Where do these people live, and move to? They rent as they are not eligible to buy homes. They have to find employment, hold a steady job, become citizens before purchasing. They also have to see that our real-estate market is improving before making a buying decision. 

I think its all pretty clear. We have people pouring in and we are not building enough homes to support it.

I've had the pleasure to talk to some very intelligent people about what the economic status for 2011 is going to be like. These people are not your average economist who are always looking in the rear view mirror, tolling past numbers and trying to figure out what will happen in the future. These guys are the millionaires / billionaires of Canada. These guys are the ones that know what will happen. These guys set the markets. These guys say that Abbotsford is the #3 city in BC to invest in!! (call me and I will show you the proof)

We will see a rate of inflation in BC at about 2.8 - 3.2%. This is good steady growth. In Alberta we will see a 6.7 - 7.2% rate of inflation. Kind of high but this is the norm for Alberta, sweeping lows and soaring highs.

Canada overall will be somewhere around 3% rate of inflation, which is very good for us. What this spells is this......

The buyers real-estate market that we have been in for almost 3 years is going to shift to a sellers real-estate market this year. I have seen proof of this so far. The amount of homes for sale in the Fraser Valley is steadily shrinking. Less inventory means bigger demand. Our home sales for Oct/Nov/Dec show that houses are being bought but not near as many listings going up on the market. I firmly believe we will be in a sellers market at the latest by Aug/2011 and maybe as early as this spring.

The outlook for the year 2012 is even better for real-estate. The facts are that for 2 years we have had immigrants entering the Fraser Valley and most are not buying homes. In 2012 all these people will be eligible to buy homes. With 144,000 people looking for new homes this is going to create a lot of activity. House prices will increase and we will be back in a full sellers market. In a Sellers market the buyer doesn't get choices, the buyer doesn't get a great deal, the buyer cant negotiate his/her terms.

  If you are thinking of purchasing a home for yourself, investment, or maybe you know somebody that is renting. Give me a call, this will be the last year that we see house prices this low, and the ability to negotiate a good deal on your (the buyer) terms.

 I would love to sit down with you and help device a plan for 2011 and set you up for financial freedom! Simply reply to this email, give me a call, take action and dont let this opportunity slip past.  

 

 

 

 

 Want to know your home's value? Free over the net analysis. Simply log onto www.RealEstateQuestionsOnline.com

 

 

Post Title

by Mako Britz

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Our Homes

by Mako Britz

Our homes are an appendage of who we are. Check out this great website site for unique ways to make your home YOURS! http://houseofantiquehardware.com/ From door hardware to lighting this site has it all

Great movie Vancouver City

by Mako Britz

We all should be honored the Olympics have arrived http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fu3MkvC3w0

Top 10 secerts to selling your home

by HGTV

Selling Secret #10: Pricing it right
Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Selling Secret #9: Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Selling Secret #8: Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable.

Selling Secret #7: Play the agent field
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Selling Secret #6: Conceal the critters
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

Selling Secret #5: Don’t over-upgrade
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Selling Secret #4: Take the home out of your house
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

Selling Secret #3: The kitchen comes first
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Selling Secret #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be “show-ready” at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Selling Secret #1: The first impression is the only impression
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.

Should I Buy a Home Now?

by Mako Britz

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.

Displaying blog entries 81-87 of 87