If you are browsing Calgary houses for sale, you might have a wish list in mind. Putting your wish list together with some helpful tips could increase your chances of finding the perfect Calgary home.
- Don’t Let Pricing Fears Worry You
- Get Pre-approved
- Be Open Minded
- Have a Realistic Wish List Together
- Work with a Professional
Let’s look at these tips a bit closer:
Don’t Be Afraid About Pricing
Don’t be afraid of the fact that it’s a time when Calgary real estate is at an all time high. Some let that keep them in the renter’s market. The sooner you can get on the property ladder, the better! Whether you buy a starter home or check out Calgary townhouses for sale or start looking at luxury real estate is up to you. Crunch your numbers, know how much house you can afford, and put more than your down payment away. It’s also wise to get a solid idea of what you’ll qualify for. Go beyond the online mortgage calculators!
Getting Pre-Approved for Your Calgary Home
Getting pre-approved is good advice. Not only will you ensure that you are shopping for homes for sale in Calgary that you can actually qualify for but it could put you in an advantageous position when you are in competition for a property that’s in demand. There have even been cases where lower offers are accepted over higher ones because the lower offer didn’t come with a ‘financing’ clause. Knowing you’re approved for a specific mortgage amount makes sense regardless of whether you want to look at Calgary new homes, condos, or townhomes.
Have a Realistic Wish List
If you’ve only got $250K to spend, you can’t expect 5000 square feet of luxury in Calgary with three garages and an in-ground pool. Do some homework to put a wish list together of things that are within your budget list. There are some things you may not be willing to budge on but there are some ‘nice to haves’ that you should consider being flexible about. Be sure to communicate with your realtor so that he or she can work on your behalf through the Calgary real estate listings knowing what’s most important to you. You may be sure you want to buy one home to live in for the rest of your life or you may need to be more flexible with an entry level home that has potential for improvements. As you put your wish list together take a look through Calgary real estate MLS listings to see if your wish list is realistic. Be prepared to tweak it after seeing your first few homes.
Be Open Minded
You might have a certain Calgary neighbourhood on your wish list. You might want to look only at Calgary show homes with all the upgraded features. But is it really realistic and will you severely limit your choices by not budging? Do you have your heart set on a detached home? Again, you might be limiting your choices. There are great condos and Calgary townhouses for sale. It doesn’t hurt to look — particularly if you have trouble finding what you want in your desired neighbourhood within your price range. Look at MLS listings in Calgary beyond a targeted neighbourhood. You could find an alternative that works even better for you. Search Calgary homes online and with a professional so that you can cover as much ground as possible. You don’t necessarily have to ‘settle’ but being open minded in your search could help you increase the chances of finding what you want.
Work with a Professional Calgary Real Estate Agent
RE/MAX Calgary has a great reputation for helping buyers and sellers alike. Len T. Wong and his team knows the Calgary real estate market and can help you whether you’re interested in show homes in Calgary or something entry level. Working with a professional saves you time, frustration, and efforts and increases the chance of finding the home you’ve always wanted.
