Real Estate Blog - investment

St. John's Real Estate: Condos vs. Houses - Which is Right for You?

When it comes to investing in real estate in St. John's, Newfoundland, potential buyers are often faced with the decision of choosing between a condo or a house. Both options have their advantages and drawbacks, and understanding the differences can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and preferences. In this article, we will explore the factors to consider when choosing between condos and houses in St. John's and help you determine which option is right for you.

Understanding Condos

Condominiums, or condos, are housing units within a larger building or complex that are individually owned. Condo owners have exclusive ownership of their unit and shared ownership of common areas such as lobbies, gyms, and swimming pools.…

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Reasons Why Condo Living Is a Smart Investment

CONDO

Short for condominium, is a type of real estate property where individuals own a specific unit within a larger building or complex.

If you're considering an investment that combines convenience, lifestyle, and financial gain, look no further than buying a condo. In this blog post, we'll explore the top reasons why purchasing a condo can be a smart and rewarding investment.

Low-Maintenance Lifestyle

One of the greatest advantages of condo living is the freedom from maintenance hassles. Say goodbye to mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and exterior repairs—condo associations typically handle these tasks, allowing you to enjoy your downtime stress-free. Spend your weekends exploring local attractions or pursuing your hobbies, knowing that…

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How Do You Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster?

Buying a home is a big investment and a huge commitment, but most homeowners will attest that the pay-off is worth the pains and strains of making those regular mortgage payments. Most people focus on their mortgage interest rate as a way of saving money (or at least, ensuring more of it goes toward your principal), but there are other ways to decrease the amount paid in interest. One way is to pay your mortgage off faster. More on that below, but let’s start with a basic mortgage 101.

What is a mortgage?

In order to buy a home in Canada, you’ll need a down payment of at least five per cent of the home’s purchase price (but it can be more). These funds are typically saved over time and can be boosted with the help of…

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What Are the Steps to Buying a Home?

What are the steps to buying a home? You’re starting to think about becoming a homeowner, or maybe you’ve even started to look at listings. Either way, you likely have lots of questions, from the general “how tos” to specific queries around financing, different home types and locations, to how to make an offer. To help simplify what can be a complicated process, we’ve outlined the steps to buying a house in Canada.

What Are the Steps to Buying a Home?

There’s a lot to do, but we’ve narrowed it down. Here’s our 10-step home buying process checklist to get you started!

1. Choose a real estate agent that’s right for you.

A home is a huge investment, so work with a realtor that’s knowledgeable, professional and…

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Down Payment Planning: Examining RRSPs, TFSAs, and FHSAs

Putting together the funds for a down payment often takes time and a solid strategy that goes beyond tucking a few dollars away each month. Luckily, Canadians have access to a number of investment savings accounts that can optimize their savings towards homeownership. 

Unlike a standard savings account, an investment account offers specific tax and interest benefits a regular account won’t have, making an investment savings account more advantageous when building for a down payment. For instance, Jessica Moorhouse, a millennial money expert and accredited financial counsellor, explains the longer you plan to save for a down payment, the more appropriate it is to invest your money, rather than keep it in an account that’ll gain very little interest…

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How Much Can a Renovation Add to Home Value?

Spring is right around the corner, and you may be thinking about making some home improvements. You love your home, but perhaps you want something a little bigger, or a little nicer. A renovation can get you there. At the same time, remodelling certain areas of your current home may lead to a higher value when you’re ready to sell.

While certain renovations can add to the value of your home, this is not always the case. That’s why it is essential to consider how much time and money the remodel will cost, and if the return on investment (ROI) will be worthwhile.

How much can a renovation add to home value? That depends on a number of factors, but here are a few of the best home renovations to consider.

Interior…

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8 Best Ways to Finance Major Home Renovations

Upon deciding to upgrade your home, whether you’re planning to stay there or sell, the topic of money arises quickly. It’s well known that home renovations can be costly. Sure, some small upgrades such as new light fixtures, faucets and paint don’t typically cost a whole lot of money, but remodels are known to snowball and the costs can add up quickly. Thankfully, you have options! Here are 8 of the best ways to finance major home renovations to help you forge ahead, with confidence that you’ll have the financial means to make your vision a reality!

1. Home Equity Line of Credit

When buying a home, most people apply for a mortgage. Your home equity is the portion of your home that you have already paid off.

Home…

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Current Kitchen Cabinet Trends Stealing the Show

When you pause to admire a beautiful kitchen, where do your eyes go first? The sparkling countertops? The shiny appliances? The geometric tile floor? You can be honest—your attention probably isn’t captured by the cabinets. 

They take up the most space, yet kitchen cabinets seem to go largely unnoticed when you’re appreciating a well-designed kitchen. If you’re looking to breathe some fresh life into your space while on a budget, or are planning your next big renovation project, don’t overlook them! Especially not when these current kitchen cabinet trends are sure to impress your guests and turn the kitchen into your favourite room in the house (if it’s not already).

Neutral no more

Trade in your bright whites…

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What to Look For When Choosing a Mortgage Lender

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a seasoned property owner, shopping around for a mortgage lender can feel daunting.

With multiple companies, interest rates, and options to look over, finding the best lender for your specific needs can appear overwhelming. However, mortgage brokers and specialists have the tools and knowledge at their fingertips to help borrowers make informed decisions about their home financing.

To tell us more about what to look for when choosing a mortgage lender, we recruited the advice of Carrie Cardinal from Realtyone Real Estate Services Inc. and Ryan Mollberg with M Realty, both of whom are Saskatchewan-based mortgage brokers and REALTORS®. 

Types of mortgage lenders and how a broker can help

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Canadian Home Building Intentions Are In A Correction After Peaking Earlier This Year

Canadian home sales are falling, and that’s turning into a drag for home building intentions. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows September permit values made a monthly increase. Despite the bump, values are still generally trending lower. Soft housing demand has residential permit values currently in a correction.

Canadian Building Construction Investment Is Trending Lower

Construction intentions bumped higher from a month before but didn’t break the trend. Building permit values reached a seasonally adjusted $10.1 billion in September. This is 4.3% higher than a month before and 4.9% higher than last year. Leaving it there, things would sound pretty good. However, there is a lot to unpack with this number.

Canadian Building Permit…

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