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Home Buying Blogs – Calgary

Home buying advice for Calgary, Alberta residents.

Found 77 blog entries about Home Buying Blogs – Calgary.

Repairing Pet HomeSome pets can do serious damage to homes where they live. If you're a home buyer trying to purchase a property that has sustained damage from live-in pets, knowing what kind of home maintenance projects to expect can help you prepare to make repairs.

Give the Flooring Some Care

Pets can damage floors in a variety of ways. Pets with claws may scratch floor boards, while young pets may have accidents or chew up carpeting. Sometimes this damage is visible, other times it is hidden from view. For example, removing the carpeting may reveal hardwood floors that have been stained.

In a home with carpeting, the carpet may need to be replaced to get rid of pet smells and pet dander. Home buyers hoping to avoid the expense of replacing the carpet

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Credit Scores and Getting a MortgageA person's credit history is a complicated record of their experience with debt. When people try to buy a home, they often use their credit report and score to qualify for a mortgage to pay for the sale. With these tips, potential borrowers will understand how credit reports and scores affect the home buying process.

Credit Report vs Credit Score

Although lenders usually look at a person's detailed credit history as well as their credit scores, there is a practical reason to understand the difference. A credit report is a listing of a person's current and recent debts and payments to various creditors. Credit reports may also contain information about unpaid accounts that went to collections, or other uncommon forms of debt. The credit score

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5 Real Estate Agents You Should HireHiring a real estate agent is one of the best things someone can do when it comes to selling a home or buying a new one, but with how many agents are available to hire, it can seem overwhelming when trying to find a place to start. Here are five different types of real estate agents all buyers and sellers should keep an eye out for when searching for someone to work with to buy a home in North Calgary or elsewhere.

1. The Realistic Visionary

When it comes to selling a home, it's vital to have a good idea of what it's worth, and when talking to potential real estate agents to hire, asking for their opinion on the home's value is essential. One agent may say the home can fetch $200,000, and another may say $205,000. But if a third says they can

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What to Know When Renewing Your MortgageHomeowners in Canada who still owe a balance on their mortgage will be faced with making some decisions as renewal time nears. Mortgage holders have the choice of staying with their current lender or in seeking other, potentially money-saving opportunities elsewhere.

Current lenders will send out renewal slips to mortgage holders encouraging customers to take the simple route to renewal. While there are reasons this may end up being the best option, mortgage holders may be better served by exploring alternatives.

Here is your guide to the Canadian mortgage renewal process.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Be Prepared

Make a note

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Getting a Home Survey: Why It Is So ImportantThere are so many things that need to be done when it comes to buying a home. One of them is getting the financing, another is having an inspection. But there's also the need for a survey. Homeowners want to make sure they really own all the property they believe they're buying. If there are discrepancies or problems, they should know about that before they complete their purchase. Then they can decide whether they want to go ahead with that purchase or whether they would prefer to look for a different home. Here's why a home survey matters so much.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

What is a Home Survey?

A home survey isn't really

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How to Decide Whether to Buy or RentIf buying a home seems like a faraway dream, it might be closer than you think. When you invest the time to consider the type of neighbourhood you need and what you can afford to pay, you may discover options to lower your housing costs overall. With this guide, you will understand the types of expenses you will pay to rent or buy, and receive tips to help you get into the real estate market.

What to Know About the Responsibilities of Homeownership

Buying a home in your early 20s is an investment for the future. By doing the work now, you may be able to create a tidy passive income source that makes it easier to secure your financial future. If it is not right for you right away, being able to consider the financial obligation will help put you

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How to Use conditions When Buying a HomeA condition of purchase is a stipulation a buyer makes to a seller that must be met before finalizing the home sale. Some buyers submit their Offer to Purchase with no conditions, meaning they buy the property as-is, but this is generally only done when purchasing obvious fixer-uppers or if there's a particularly hot market where a buyer has to do so just to remain competitive. Most people have at least a few conditions that they present to a seller during the negotiation period, so buyers should understand how they work before they begin to structure an offer for their City Centre home.

Financing

An offer to buy normally comes with a financial backing of either cash-in-hand or a letter of pre-approval from a bank. While a bank's pre-approval

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5 Things to Know About Lenders Mortgage InsuranceHome buyers who make a down payment of less than 20 percent are usually obligated to pay insurance for the mortgage itself. With this information, borrowers can understand how lenders mortgage insurance works, and what they can expect to pay for a home in East Calgary or elsewhere.

How Does Mortgage Insurance Differ from Home Insurance?

Mortgage insurance is typically called "Lenders Mortgage Insurance" simply because it is designed to protect the lender in the event that the borrower defaults on the mortgage. Home insurance exists to protect the homeowner and the items inside the home. Mortgage insurance is typically obtained by the lender, and the lender has the option to pass on that cost to the borrower. Many lenders expect home buyers to

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What to Know When Buying a New HomeLike most major purchases, home buying is a major step in the buyer's life. Between the financial responsibilities, the negotiations, and the seemingly endless numbers of homes to tour, it's common for new home buyers to be unsure about how to get started. However, once buyers know the basics, they'll be far more likely to choose a home that works for them at a price they can afford.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Managing Your Finances Before a Home Purchase

Home buyers need to know their price range before they can do anything else. How much a buyer can afford is not necessarily as intuitive as it may seem, so buyers are encouraged

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Buying a Home in Rural Canada For every similarity that rural and urban homes have in the home buying process, there are a handful of important differences to be aware of. Rural areas offer a lot of benefits, but you have to be prepared for the lifestyle and challenges that come with rural living.

These four questions can help you to quickly establish the nature of the rural homes you may want to buy.

What are the Limits on Construction?

In many cases, buying rural property means that you have fewer limits on what you can do with the space. Without a homeowners association or even neighbours nearby, you may be able to get more creative in building up your home.

However, you should still look at the zoning and ordinances of the area. If you plan to keep horses or

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