How Much Do You Know About Real Estate Agents?

As an Ontario home buyer, how much do you understand about the roles of real estate agents? Take this True-or-False quiz to find out!

1. Any agent who shows you a home is automatically your agent.

False! Agents are legally bound to protect the interests of the seller, unless otherwise specified in a written agency agreement between a buyer and an agent. Working with a Buyer’s Agent is the only way to assure you are fully represented.

2. There’s no harm in giving your personal and financial information to any agent.

False! Agents who represent sellers are required to reveal all they know about the buyer. This puts you at a huge disadvantage during negotiations.

3. When you make an offer through the listing agent, he or she still negotiates for you.

False! The listing agent is required to negotiate the highest possible price that you will pay, without losing the sale. The listing agent is negotiating for the seller, but communicating with both sides – to your disadvantage.

4. You have the right to use a Buyer’s Agent.

True! You should contact a Buyer’s Agent and obtain a personal consultation before you begin looking at homes. Your Buyer’s Agent will arrange showing appointments, provide advice, and represent you throughout the home buying process.

5. You can save money with a Buyer’s Agent.

True! Your Buyer’s Agent will make market comparisons to ensure you do not overpay for a home. He or she can potentially save you thousands of dollars!

6. A Buyer’s Agent doesn’t cost any extra money to use.

True! Your Buyer’s Agent is paid from the transaction proceeds, just like any other agent. As the home buyer, you pay nothing extra for having your own representation.

Ready to learn more about working with a Buyer’s Agent? Contact me today for your free home buying consultation! There’s no charge and no obligation.

Wally Dufrat
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Inc.
Phone: 519-752-5400
515 Park Road North

Brantford, Ontario N3R 7K8

Reasons Why Home Buyers Should Never Contact the Listing Agent

When looking at Ontario homes for sale, it may seem harmless to call the listing agent named on a “For Sale” sign. Or to email the agent who is named on an online listing. But as a home buyer, this is one of the worst things you can do!

This is because the listing agent represents the home seller. Their loyalty and duty is to the seller. As the buyer, this puts you at an immediate disadvantage.

Any information the listing agent collects about you can be shared with the home seller. Such as your motives, your readiness to buy, and the amount you are willing to pay.

The listing agent wants to sell the home quickly, for as much money as possible. He or she will do everything they can to sell you that house. That’s their job! It also gives them the best commission, by having both the buying and selling sides of the transaction.

If you do not buy that particular house, the listing agent will show you something else. But they will likely start with other listings of theirs, or other listings held by their company. This is because they are still working with their seller clients in mind!

When you work with a Buyer’s Agent, you get professional representation dedicated to your needs and interests. A Buyer’s Agent will ask about your goals, provide specific advice, and even help you obtain mortgage financing. Your Buyer’s Agent will show you homes on the market that meet your criteria, without bias as to who holds the listing.

Your Buyer’s Agent will help you make a wise offer, and negotiate the best price and terms on your behalf. You can potentially save thousands of dollars! This is because a Buyer’s Agent is free to counsel you about market value, instead of protecting the seller’s position.

What’s more, it doesn’t cost you any extra money to use a Buyer’s Agent! Your Buyer’s Agent is paid from the transaction proceeds, like any other agent. You truly have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by using a Buyer’s Agent!

Before you begin shopping for a home, contact me first! As your Buyer’s Agent, I can show you any home on the market, and provide you with expert advice throughout the home buying process!

Wally Dufrat
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Inc.
Phone: 519-752-5400
515 Park Road North

Brantford, Ontario N3R 7K8

Use a Buyer’s Agent When Buying a Home!

There’s a difference in real estate representation that all Ontario home buyers need to know!

While the law allows both the buyer and seller to be represented by the same real estate agent, this is not in the buyer’s best interest. This is because the seller has different goals in mind than the buyer does!

Sellers want the highest possible sales price, and terms that serve their advantage. As the buyer, you want exactly the opposite!

Home buyers deserve individual representation when it comes to negotiating the price and terms of the home sale. You deserve to have loyalty, accountability, trustworthy advice, and full disclosure from your agent. Your motives and finances should be kept confidential from the seller. But without a Buyer’s Agent, you are not assured of any of those things!

By law, you are allowed to have a Buyer’s Agent represent you! There are several ways this works to your advantage:

• Access to all homes for sale, without bias
• Dedicated representation
• Protection of your best interests
• Disclosure of material facts than could influence your decisions
• Assistance with all phases of the home buying process
• Counseling about home prices, market conditions and strategic offers 

If you are looking to buy a home in Brantford or the surrounding area, you can trust me to provide you with reliable Buyer Agent services. I can help you find the right home for your needs, and save you money by negotiating diligently on your behalf.

Contact me today for expert home buying guidance!

Wally Dufrat
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Inc.
Phone: 519-752-5400
515 Park Road North

Brantford, Ontario N3R 7K8

Reap the Benefits of Being a First-Time Home Buyer in Brantford!

As a Brantford, ON real estate agent, I work with buyers and sellers with a variety of different experiences in the local real estate market. When a first-time home buyer approaches me and asks for help with their Brantford real estate transaction, I immediately get excited.  Not only do I get the privilege of helping somebody find the home of their dreams for the first time, but I also get to explain the many benefits that come with being a first-time home buyer in Brantford, ON.

Don’t get me wrong; there are many benefits to being a homeowner in general. The tax write-off itself is an enticing reason to buy a home. If you’re buying property for the first time, however, you can enjoy a few funding and tax benefits that people who have owned a home before don’t get to have. One of my biggest priorities as a Brantford, ON real estate expert is to make sure that I educate my clients about all of the aspects of buying a home. Sometimes, this means delivering bad news, however I actually enjoy telling my clients about these financial benefits. Oftentimes, it makes a large difference to my clients and makes them more confident in their decision to invest in a Brantford, ON home.

I thought I’d take some time to explain these two first-time home buyer benefits in more depth. Hopefully, this provides some clarity on the issue and demonstrates some of the many reasons that you should buy a home in Brantford, ON.

The first benefit that you can receive as a first-time home buyer is the First-time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit. If you qualify for this tax credit, you can claim $750.00 against your personal income tax in the year that you acquire the home. In order to qualify for the credit, neither you nor your spouse or common-law partner can have owned a home four years prior to acquiring the property. You must also be purchasing the home for your own personal occupancy, not as a gift for somebody else. Only one party can claim this tax for the total $750 maximum credit. You can split the claim between two parties, but you would then split the credit between the two of you.  The majority of Brantford, ON first-time home buyers qualify for this tax credit, and it’s only one of the many benefits you can get from buying a home in Brantford, ON.

The second benefit that you can receive as a first-time home buyer is the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan. This is essentially a plan that allows you, as a buyer, to withdraw a maximum of $25,000 from your RRSP in order to buy a qualifying home in which you will live. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they, too can withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSP to go towards the purchase of the same property. To qualify for this funding, you or your spouse or common-law partner can not have owned a home four years prior to acquiring the property, and you must also occupy the home within one year of withdrawing the money. This is a fantastic financing option for Brantford, ON first-time home buyers who might need some extra money in order to afford their first home. You can pay off this money over a fifteen-year period, as well.

These two incentives provide many first-time home buyers in the Brantford, ON area with the resources and convincing that they need to take the plunge and invest in a house. As a Brantford, ON real estate agent, I feel that it is important to make my clients aware of these benefits. It’s a major factor that any potential buyer should consider when deciding whether or not to begin their home search.

If you have any questions about these two home buyer benefits, or if you want to begin your Brantford, ON home search, then don’t hesitate to contact me! Your real estate needs are my first priority, and I’d be happy to help you in any way that 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

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

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Avoid These Red Flags When Shopping For Your Brantford Home!

Shopping for a new home is an exciting time: you get to move in to a brand-new place with a fresh environment and atmosphere. You also get to welcome a new neighborhood, such as Brantford, ON, into your life and call it home. Sometimes, in the excitement of making a big life change, many Brantford homebuyers would forget to look at some key indicators of a home. This can be a costly error.

In this real estate market, many home sellers are motivated and eager to get their home off the market. As a result, they may not disclose all aspects of the home to you. That’s why, as a Brantford real estate agent, I make it a priority to look out for my buyers’ best interests. Part of that is telling buyers exactly what to look for during their home search.

As a Brantford home buyer, you need to be on the lookout for red flags and things about the property that may need maintenance or repairs. If you don’t spend time inspecting the property thoroughly, then you could wind up with some costly repairs or major damages. Here are a few red flags you should look out for during your home search:

•    Are people leaving the street? If you’re seeing a lot of “For Sale” signs on the street or homes that look boarded up or neglected, then you may want to consider passing over the home. There’s a reason people are leaving the street. Get the scoop from the neighbors. It may help you avoid a bad investment.

•    Are plants growing in the gutters? Mediocre maintenance is a sign of a neglected home. Once you move in, you’re going to have a lot of work ahead of you if you have to patch up shoddy maintenance jobs done by the previous owners. Be on the lookout for this and ask the sellers to take care of it before moving in.

•    How solid is the foundation? Take a look at the yard. Is it sloping towards the house? That could cause water to run into the basement and create costly damages. Scour the foundation of each house you’re interested in looking at further. If you notice a lot of cracks or signs of wear, you will be stuck with some expensive renovations or maintenance fees.

•    Use your nose. Are you noticing strange odors in the interior or exterior of the home? Do you smell excessive bowls of potpourri? Both are major red flags, as it means the home may have mold or other issues, and the smell may never fully leave once the owners leave.

•    Does only one wall have fresh paint? Fresh paint jobs are a plus, but if you’re only noticing it on one wall, then chances are the owner is trying to cover up an issue, whether it be water damage or mildew. If you notice only one wall has fresh paint, be sure to ask the seller why and have your home inspector take a closer look at it.

The bottom line is this: If you’re truly interested in moving in to a Brantford home, then you need to get a home inspection. Getting an inspection will help you avoid being stuck with a home that involves costly maintenance and major renovations right away. Moving is stressful enough…you don’t need to add home damages to the mix.

As a Brantford real estate agent, I make it a priority to educate homebuyers on what they should be looking for during their search for the perfect property. Red flags such as these are important to look out for. If you have any questions, or are considering buying a home on the Brantford real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I have several years of experience in real estate, and I’ve seen and heard it all. 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

"Like" Me on Facebook

"Follow" Me on Twitter

Find Me on LinkedIn

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Read My Active Rain Blog