What Will 2012 Hold For Brantford Real Estate?

As we begin the New Year in Brantford, home buyers and home sellers have the same question: Is now a good time to buy, sell, or invest in real estate? To answer that, let’s take a look at the most recent market summary from the Brantford Regional Real Estate Association:

Home values in the Brantford region are up by 7% from a year ago. The average price for a home as of November 2011 was $238,114.

The inventory of homes for sale is lower than a year ago. At the end of November 2011, we had 631 active residential listings on the market; that’s down 6% from the prior year.

The inventory of homes for sale stands at a 3.5 month supply. This means that at the present pace of sales, we’d clear the shelves in just about 90 days if nothing else came on the market.

This is the tightest real estate market we’ve seen in two years. If you’re a Brantford home seller, it would be like comparing it to a perfect cup of coffee; steaming, but not too hot. (If you’re a Brantford home buyer, you may be a little frustrated that you’re still in line and haven’t gotten your coffee yet.)

Total sales activity – a separate measurement from pricing – is up 3% from a year ago.

How does it look for the future? Different economists hold different opinions, but some are saying we’re in a sweet spot; the market is healthy and active, values are appreciating, but we’re not throwing all caution to the wind and seeing rampant speculation. It was the latter situation that contributed to the housing bust in the U.S.

Naturally, if there are any widespread economic shake-ups, it could affect the real estate market. Home values are best when employment is stable and people feel financially secure. Canada is not immune to the impacts of global financial concerns, but thus far we’ve weathered things pretty well.

Is now a good time to buy, sell, or invest in real estate? As your Brantford real estate agent, I would say yes, so long as your personal finances are in order and you’re not going out on a limb. Sometimes changes happen in a market that cannot be predicted, so above all, consider what is right for you and your needs in the long run.

Based on our recent market activity, 2012 appears to hold a balance of opportunity for buyers, sellers, and investors alike. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Brantford, or you have questions about Brant County real estate, give me a call!  I will be happy to help you.

Wishing you all the best in the New Year,

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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Use Creative Finance Strategies for Your First Brantford Investment!

Given the high number of distressed and affordable properties on the Brantford real estate market, many buyers are looking to break into the investment aspect of the industry. There’s no doubt that money can be made off of investing in real estate. Using the right Brantford real estate agent to help you find the right investment properties is a great start to breaking in to the industry, but there’s one obstacle that leaves some Brantford property investors a little bit puzzled: financing.

While the current state of the market is healthy and interest rates are low, lending restrictions have gotten tighter across the board. This leaves many who are interested in investing in Brantford real estate at a stalemate: how are they supposed to make money off of investing in properties if they can’t get the financing to buy these homes in the first place? As a Brantford real estate agent, I have two words in response to this question: get creative. In order to make it as an investor in this real estate market, you need to think outside of the box when it comes to obtaining financing. Here are a couple ideas that should help you get the loans you need for your first investment.

•    Get yourself a new home. This might sound a bit backward. If you’re looking to break in to the market, then why would you invest in a brand-new Brantford property? The answer is that interest rates are currently at an all-time low, and many lenders are only requiring 5% down payment on a property. If you can put that money down and rent out your own place, then you’ve successfully broken in to the investment business and are starting to get a cash flow on your old property that you’ve rented out.

•    Get a HELOC. “HELOC” stands for “Home Equity Line of Credit.” A HELOC is similar to any other line of credit. You use the equity of your home as collateral, and as you start to pay off your mortgage, your credit limit increases. You can withdraw credit and make payments whenever you want. This is a great way to come up with the funds for your first investment property and still be able to keep your old home.

Using some of these creative tactics to obtain financing for your first investment will help you break into the Brantford real estate market. Once you get your foot in the door, you can build up your investment portfolio and start seeing a profit from your purchases. The key is to educate yourself. Do your research on any and every option possible and proceed with the one that best fits your situation. Doing this will help you learn the ins and outs of Brantford real estate much faster. The sooner you dive in to your first investment, the sooner you will see the profits start to come in.

As always, the most important thing about starting a new real estate venture is to make sure that you have the right industry professional by your side. As a Brantford real estate agent, I can help you navigate your way through the properties on the Brantford real estate market and find the ones that are right for investment. I’m always looking to help new investors get started in the business, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to give you some advice and give you the names of some of my contacts in the business. 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