The Brantford Home Info Blog!: Brantford Real Estate Market

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Never Neglect Your Brantford/Brant County Home’s Curb Appeal!

Whether you’re an investor who is planning on flipping a Brantford/Brant County property or a homeowner preparing to list their home on the local real estate market, there is one thing that you should never forget, and that’s curb appeal. First impressions are everything, and the immediate vibe that someone gets when they lay eyes on your Brantford/Brant County home or investment will determine whether or not they’re interested in considering it or not. That’s why, no matter how low your property value is, you have to dedicate time and care to curb appeal. It could prove to be a major return on your investment.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate agent, I think that it’s important to remind my clients about the importance of curb appeal. The better maintained your property appears to be, the more a buyer will be willing to offer for it. Here are a few quick curb appeal tips to make your Brantford/Brant County home or investment property look its best:

Clean up your yard. Do you have fall leaves all over your front lawn? Is the grass overgrown? Are there toys and bicycles along your front walkway? Make sure you rake, mow and clean up your yard before you start showing your property. The entryway to your Brantford/Brant County home should be clear and easily accessible.

Repaint. Nothing makes a house look more neglected than peeling paint. It’s imperative to give a little extra TLC to the places on your home’s exterior where the paint is unsightly or lacking. Go above and beyond to give those spots a fresh coat of paint. The front door is another great place to present a freshly painted surface. The newer it looks, the more valuable your home will be to a buyer.

Put out a fresh Welcome mat. It sounds silly, but it does add a nice touch to your entryway. Remember: the more inviting your home looks, the more enticing it will be to potential buyers.

Clean out your gutters. Now that it’s fall, you will likely have a buildup of fallen leaves, twigs and other debris in your gutters. It’s important to do your best to clean these out BEFORE showing time. This might not seem like something that would be incredibly noticeable, but you’d be surprised how many buyers pick up on it. Remember: buyers are visiting your home with an incredibly critical eye. They’ll notice EVERY detail, so make those little finishing touches count.

If you have any questions about what you need to do to sell your home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to guide you throughout the entire selling process, from contract to close. I hope to hear from you soon!

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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Use a Small Space to Your Advantage in Brantford/Brant County Real Estate

Ten years ago, having a small home was considered a disadvantage in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market. Mega-mansions were more of an appeal for home buyers in the area. Rather than efficiency, the focus was more on having a spacious, impressive property with luxurious amenities and an abundance of room for material goods. It was more about having an aesthetic appeal than a home that would age well. This has started to change.

One of my primary responsibilities as a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent is to monitor trends in the local market, and that includes what today’s buyers want. Over the past couple of years, more buyers have been interested in finding smaller, more compact and energy efficient homes than they are in remaining in a mega-mansion. In fact, many are actually looking to downsize! If you own a small condo or home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, then you’re actually at an advantage.

There are a number of reasons why today’s home buyer prefers to live in a smaller space. These are just a few of them:

They’re less expensive. There is a slow economic recovery happening internationally, but many are still struggling to afford a luxury property. A lot of smaller sized homes are priced in a lower range, making them more affordable to a variety of people.

You can save money on your energy bills. The smaller your living space, the less money you’ll have to spend on water, heat, and electric. Many home buyers who are interested in going green actually look for a smaller space in order to reduce their carbon footprint. With environmental awareness being an important issue, this is a major reason that many choose to downsize.

You cut back on maintenance costs. The financial responsibilities surrounding home ownership go far beyond monthly mortgage payments. You also have to consider homeowners insurance, property taxes and maintenance costs. In order to eventually sell the home you buy in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, you’re going to have to do a great job of maintaining it. In order to make sure that your home stays in the right condition, you’re going to have to spend money, and the smaller your property, the less maintenance will be involved.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Agent, it’s important that I know how to appropriately market and sell the homes I list. In the past, selling a smaller space proved to be a more difficult task than it is today. Now, I can market smaller properties as a way to save money and reduce impact on the environment, and for many buyers this is a huge benefit.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help in any way I can. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: (519) 752-3400

Over 529 Real Estate Closings!

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, October 4, 2012

A Quick Brantford/Brant County Real Estate Update!

As a Brantford/Brant County real estate agent, one of my missions is to keep the entire community in the know about the state of the housing market. I feel that the more a buyer or seller knows about the current real estate trends, the easier it will be for them to make a decision about whether or not now is the best time to enter in to a transaction. My constant attention to what’s happening in Brantford/Brant County Real Estate is one of my biggest assets as an agent. People feel comfortable coming to me for advice about their housing situation because I’m knowledgeable about the existing real estate climate in Canada.

The third quarter saw an interesting mixture of activity in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market. To begin with, home buyer activity slowed down. This is largely due to the recent restrictions placed on lenders when giving mortgage financing. It has become more difficult for home buyers to be able to get the loans that they need to go through the transaction. As a result, the number of home sales dropped drastically in the third quarter, falling 9% year over year in August. First time home buyers have been especially hit by the recent restrictions, and since those transactions represent one third to one half of market activity, that strongly contributed to the slowdown in home sales.

Despite the lag in sales activity, home prices in the Brantford/Brant County area continued to rise, up anywhere between 1.8%-4.8% nationwide. The recent increase in price is another factor that is stopping the first time home buyer market from entering in to a transaction. Over the next few months, however, many industry experts expect that home sellers in the area will start to adjust their asking prices based upon buyer demand.

Despite the notion that home buyers will continue to suffer from the new mortgage lending restrictions, it is more likely that they will eventually adjust to the new rules and find a way to finance their homes around it. Overall, the Brantford/Brant County real estate market will remain strong over the coming year. The new lending restrictions are presenting an issue that has more to do with how people are transitioning to the new rules.

Overall, the strong sellers market that has been present throughout the Canadian real estate market is slowly transitioning into a buyer’s market. Once buyers become acclimated to the new lending restrictions, the activity will increase again and sellers will be able to continue to price their homes higher.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Brantford/Brant County real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help in any way that I can. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Website at:
www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Reduce the Carbon Footprint in Your Brantford Home’s Kitchen!

There’s more that comes to mind than just “food” when you think of the kitchen as a room. For many Brantford/Brant County homes, the kitchen is the heart and soul of their property. It’s the place where families come together to enjoy a meal and discuss their day. It symbolizes togetherness with your loved ones. It’s also, unfortunately, the room that tends to use up the most energy in your home.

As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate agent, I’ve noticed that many buyers on the market are looking for more energy-efficient properties. It’s an important step in raising the value of your home, however there’s no question that it’s a bit costly. The kitchen is the most expensive room to renovate and remodel, however if you take a few small steps to make your cooking space more “green”, then you can raise the value of your home AND save some money on your energy bills at the same time.

Instead of using an oven, which uses way more energy than it needs to cook food, try using a toaster oven or your cook-top instead. You should also practice more passive cooking techniques. Figure out how long it takes your oven to preheat to certain temperatures and factor that into your cooking time. Turn the oven off a few minutes before your meal finishes cooking. The built-up heat will complete the cooking process without continuing to use unnecessary energy. It’s little fixes like these that will save you money on your energy bill and allow you to use it for more practical, value-raising renovations.

As much as most green food lovers hate microwaves, it really does use much less energy than a stove, and it doesn’t heat up your kitchen, which would cause many to turn up their air conditioning. For defrosting, thaw in the fridge overnight. The less energy you use, the more money you’ll have for important home upgrades.

Another tip? Get rid of the excess waste you incur at the supermarket. Unless you have a huge family to feed, avoid buying in bulk, reuse plastic bags and buy fresh, unwrapped produce. If you can, compost your organic waste. These are environmentally-friendly tips and tricks that will help rid your home of unwanted clutter while reducing your carbon footprint on Mother Earth.

Did you know that most kitchen cleaners have toxic, harmful chemicals in them? Making your own household cleaning products out of baking soda, lemon juice and other kitchen staples rids your home of chemicals that are detrimental to your health. This will make your Brantford/Brant County home’s overall atmosphere far cleaner and healthier.

A green home is a money-saving, healthier, cleaner option, and it will help you reel buyers in as you start your Brantford/Brant County home sale. The more money you save on your energy bills, the more you’ll have for necessary upgrades that will raise the value of your home. As a Brantford/Brant County Real Estate expert, I wanted to share these quick tips with you to help you get on the green bandwagon.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask! I hope to hear from you soon.

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Where Is The Market Headed After New Mortgage Laws Announced

While many believe that these new mortgage laws have come a little too late, their creators are hoping that this will soften the blow and not make the market crash as hard as some are predicting it will. The Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, like the rest of Canada, is hoping to benefit from these changes.

One of the biggest parts of the new law has to do with the amount of money a buyer can take in a loan when paying for a house. Now at 80% from 85%, this rate will give the buyer less debt in the long run, however many analysts are reporting that this decrease will make it more difficult for people to purchase homes, possibly leading them to rent rather than buy. Along with the lower rate for borrowing money, the payback period has dropped to 25 years from 30 years. This would give home owners a chance to pay back anything owed in 25 years, and after that would be debt free. Some reports are showing though that most Canadians only have 15 years left on their mortgage, saying this part of the law is not beneficial in the long run.

While the government is hoping that these changes will help home owners with their debt, many are saying they waited too long in order to do any real help. With less time to repay loans, many officials are predicting higher payments will be required. With higher payments, homeowners may not be able to reach the unrealistic goals and won't be able to back their borrowed money in a reasonable amount of time.

With stricter mortgage rules, many first time homebuyers will feel that renting is a better idea than buying. Although rental prices are reported to increase due to the laws, it is leaving first time buyers in a financial bind. While more renters mean more money in the Brantford/Brant County Real Estate market, it is also predicted to reduce prices once the rush of buyers has dropped off.

If you have any questions regarding the new mortgage laws, or are interested in buying or selling Brantford/Brant County Real Estate, feel free to contact me! I look forward to hearing from you!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, June 28, 2012

What to Watch For As a Home Buyer!

While buying a Brantford/Brant County Home there are many aspects of a property that attract you to it. But one of the most important parts of buying a home is noticing the negative as well as the positive. Finding a home that has great curb appeal is nice, but when you look down the street, are other yards littered with for sale signs? When multiple homes in one neighborhood are for sale, chances are there is something wrong with the neighborhood. Asking questions is always the best choice. Find out why so many people are moving away from that area.

Freshly painted walls are a big selling point in a home; however when only one wall in a room has fresh paint on it, that usually means something happened. Whether it is something small like covering holes from hanging art, or spackling a large area where a hole once was, it is important to notice the discrepancies between each wall.

When you're walking through a home and your nose is filled with a strong scent of perfume or potpourri, chances are it means that there is another smell that they are trying to cover up. It could be the smell of cigarettes, or a pet that isn’t well trained. Some smells are practically impossible to get out of the home so this is definitely something that would need to be fixed before closing.

Looking at the outside of the home, seeing plants growing from the gutters, you may casually think that the gutters need to be cleaned out. If the past owners didn’t clean them, what else didn’t they clean? Something that seems small and miniscule can end up costing you hundreds of dollars in clean up all around the home.

Occasionally, while showing the home, you'll notice that certain rooms will be off limits or locked. Ask why. There may be a dog that they don’t want to get out. There could also be a major construction error that the sellers don’t want you to see right away.

Any and all questions that come to your mind should be asked, and you should always be provided with a confident and factual answer.

If you are interested in more information, or in selling or buying a home on the Brantford/Brant Real Estate Market, feel free to contact me!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantfordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Don’t Fall Victim to Common Deal-Breakers During Your Brantford or Brant County Real Estate Transaction!

Many buyers and sellers in the Brantford or Brant County Real Estate market believe that once the contract is signed and an agreement is reached that everything is finished. All they have to do is go to the closing table, sign a few papers and get the keys. This is a nice thought, and in a perfect world, it would be the case. My many years of experience as a Brantford or Brant County Real Estate Agent, however, have taught me otherwise.

There are a number of things that can go wrong before a transaction is completed. About 29% of all contracts signed in the Brantford or Brant County Real Estate market never make it to the closing table. Nearly three out of ten transactions in which the buyer and seller have come to terms with the entire agreement fall apart. In a healthy real estate market, about 90% of agreed upon deals make it to close. This begs the question: why do some deals fall apart? If you can identify the common factors and work with the right Brantford or Brant County Real Estate Agent, you can spot these deal-breakers early-on and work to rectify the issue before the deal is done.

The short sale: it isn’t always so short. In theory, short sales should move quickly: buyers can lowball an offer and a seller doesn’t care because they get no money out of the deal anyway. The problem in these transactions is the lender. They won’t accept just any offer on the property. If they’re going to accept the sale for less than what is owed on the home, they need to make sure it’s worth their while. This results in appraisals, negotiations and rejected offers. It can take months to process these transactions, and it could result in impatient buyers backing out of the deal.

Appraisal issues are abound in today’s market. There are more appraisals coming in short than any other time in history. With the number of foreclosures, short sales and distressed situations on the market today, the comparables on different properties in the area are dragging home values down, resulting in lower offers from buyers and dissatisfied sellers.

Title challenges are delaying deals. The analysis of Permits and Certificates of Occupancy are at an all-time high, and potential complications are creating delays that will tempt impatient buyers or sellers to back out of the transaction.

Some pre-qualifications are done poorly. Some lenders don’t take the time to accurately review a buyer’s tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements and other important financial information before pre-approving a loan. Then, once the application is submitted and an issue is found, the buyer doesn’t end up getting the loan and the deal falls apart.

Unforeseen circumstances are always a factor. Buyers remorse, property damage and job loss are all unforeseen incidences that can occur at any point during the transaction. Sometimes, it can seem like every day a new, debilitating factor pops up.

Now that you can identify what some of the most common deal-breakers are, you can keep your eye out for potential issues early-on in the transaction. If you work with the right Brantford or Brant County Real Estate professional, then you will find that you have an advocate on your side that spots and fixes these issues on your behalf quickly. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, and knowing about these potential problems ahead of time will only allow you to easier prevent them should they arise during your Brantford or Brant County Real Estate transaction.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home on the Brantford or Brant County Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will help you through every phase of the transaction, from list to close. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 525 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8  Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Five Ways to See Investment Success in Brantford!

Many investors in the Brantford area have seen success, but that’s come with years of hard work and experience. If you’re expecting to see the cash start flowing in overnight, then you may be in for some disappointment. There are ways in which your business style and practices can influence how much success you see, so if you’re interested in becoming an investor in the Brantford Real Estate market, you need to make sure that you have the right work ethic and drive.

As a Brantford Real Estate Agent who has worked with investors, I think that it’s important to advise and guide my clients on the best way to navigate the local market. Part of that is developing strong business relationships, so if there’s any way that I can advise my clients on how to best accomplish that, I do so. Here are five things that you, as an investor in Brantford Real Estate, can do to develop the contacts that will help your career in the industry be successful.

Be honest about how much buying power you have. It’s unethical to lie about how much cash you have to put into investments. It’s okay to take some risks sometimes, but people aren’t going to want to work with an investor who spends more than they have. It could cause financial issues down the line, so in order to stay successful, make sure that you stay honest.

Don’t back out of deals on a regular basis. No property is perfect, so if you back out of a deal because of minor issues, you could be seen as unreliable or difficult to work with. It’s important to carefully consider a decision before making a commitment, so if you need some time to think on an investment, take it. That is better than having everything prepared for closing and then backing out at the last minute.

Know what you want. Sure, picking a location and place for your next investment is a huge decision, which is why you should figure out exactly what it is that you want in a Brantford investment property BEFORE you start your search. These transactions will take much longer if you go in blind than if you do your research and have a list of requirements going in to things.

Have goals! The only way that you’re going to continue to expand and grow as a Brantford Real Estate investor is by setting goals for yourself. Appearing to have a lack of motivation and drive will hold you back, and people will sense that you don’t have anything to bring to the table. By setting goals for yourself, you’ll hold yourself accountable for your success and allow yourself to grow.

Communicate openly with your Brantford Real Estate agent. My job as a real estate agent in the Brantford area is to help my clients, and I can only do that if we communicate openly with one another. If you give me a clear-cut, honest idea about what you’re looking to accomplish, I can help you achieve that. Part of seeing success in this industry is communicating well, so in order utilize my experience and skills in Brantford Real Estate to their fullest potential, we need to be able to be open with one another.

If you can implement these five qualities into your day to day operations as a Brantford Real Estate investor, then you will find yourself seeing success in an industry that is difficult to break in to. If you have any questions about how to get started, or would like to see some of the properties available on the Brantford Real Estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! My many years of experience in the industry could help you throughout the entire transaction. I hope to hear from you soon.

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Over 521 Closings!
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8 Direct: (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!

Connect with Me

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Use Technology During Your Brantford Home Search!

Technology is everywhere today. People are reading books on their tech tablets, using apps for just about everything and beginning their Brantford home search online. As a Brantford Real Estate Agent, I not only do everything that I can to stay on top of the tech trends myself, but I also advise my clients to use the technology available to them to ensure that their transaction goes smoothly. There are a number of ways that you can accomplish this, including apps, social media sites and online directories.

I consider it one of my responsibilities as a Brantford Real Estate resource to let my seller and buyer clients know about all of the tech tools that they can use to make their transaction easier. Here are a few of my favorite tech-friendly ways of starting your home search:

•    Facebook Marketplace. Think about it: almost everyone is on Facebook. Why not tell your Brantford Real Estate Agent to market your listing on there, or use it to start looking for some potential properties? You’d likely know the person who is selling or buying the property because they would be part of, or connected to, someone in your immediate network. Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with others, and you can use those connections in day-to-day business transactions, too. Besides, you’d feel better about closing a transaction if you knew and trusted the other party, and using a social media site can help you guarantee that.

•    The New Home Buyers Network iPad app. This app is perfect because it is specific to people who live in Ontario, making it ideal for those looking to buy a home in Brantford. This iPad app, which was launched on Tuesday, is aimed to help local buyers find new condos and houses in the area. You can view floor plans, share listings and “favorite” properties that you want to see again for a closer look. Today’s home buyer is on-the-go, so these tech tablet applications are perfect for that.

•    Kijiji. Before you shy away due to the eBay connection, keep in mind that easy-to-use online classified sites aren’t the worst place to start looking. This site is free to use, and you can peruse ads for everything from real estate to jobs to automobiles. Sub-categories help you narrow down your search even further. You will have to be more careful in using these sites to answer ads that are legitimate, but if you learn to read between the lines, then you can find the perfect property for you. You should also get your Brantford Real Estate Agent to use Kijiji in order to expose your listing to even more potential buyers.

I consider it one of my main responsibilities, as a Brantford Real Estate resource, to let people know about some of the ways in which they can use technology to help guide them through their transaction. Whether you prefer to utilize your tech tablet on-the-go, log on to social media sites or peruse a classified ad online, all of the methods listed above will both ensure that your Brantford home gets more exposure and make it easier for you to find a new one.

If you have any questions on how you can use technology to your benefit during a Brantford Real Estate transaction, don’t hesitate to contact me! I would be happy to meet with you to discuss your options. I hope to hear from you soon!

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage

Connect with Me