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Stop Paying Rent!

How to Stop Paying Rent and Own Your Own Home

 

Don’t pay another cent in rent to your landlord! 

 

It’s a dream we all have – to own our own home and stop paying rent.  But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours.  How could it when you’re not even permitted to bang in a nail or two without a hassle?  You feel like you’re stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home

Well, don’t feel trapped anymore!  It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been renting, or how insurmountable your financial situation may seem.  The truth is, there are some little known facts that can help you get over the hump, and transfer your status from renter to homeowner.  With this information, you will begin to see how you really can:

– save for a down payment

– stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
– stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.

 

6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You Buy Your First Home

 

The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.

But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think.  Consider the following 6 important points:

You can buy a home with much less down than you think.

There are some local or federal government programs (such as 1st time buyer programs) to help people get into the housing market.  You can qualify as a first time buyer even if your spouse has  owned a home before as long as your name was not registered.  Ensure your real estate agent is informed and knowledgeable in this important area and can offer programs to help you with your options.

You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs.

Even if you do not have enough cash for a down-payment, if you are debt-free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car, for example), your lending institution may be able to lend you the down-payment for your home by securing it against this asset.

 

You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home.

Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a “seller take-back.”  In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution.  Instead of paying this seller a lump-sum full amount for his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.

 

You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt.

By borrowing money for certain investments to a specified level, you may be able to generate a significant tax refund for yourself that you can use as a down-payment.  While the money borrowed for these investments is technically a loan, the monthly amount paid can be small, and the money invested in both home and investment will be yours in the end.

You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating.

If you can come up with more than the minimum down-payment, or can secure the loan with other equity, many lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage.  Alternatively, a seller take-back mortgage could also help you in this situation.

 

You can, and should, get preapproved for a home loan before you go looking for a home.

Preapproval is easy, and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Mortgage experts can obtain written preapproval for you at no cost and no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone.  More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written preapproval is as good as money in the bank.  It entails a completed credit application, and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for.

 

 

Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages.  Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage, and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

To sum up, there are many important issues you should be aware of that affect you as a renter.  Why on earth would you continue to lose thousands by throwing it away on rent when with your agent you could take a few minutes to discuss your specific needs so that you can stop renting and start owning?

This conversation costs you nothing. And, of course, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to buy a home at the time you review this.  But by taking the time to explore your options, and learn about the ways you can afford to buy a home, think how prepared and relaxed you’ll be when you are ready to make this important step.

How to Stop Paying Rent and Own Your Own Home

 

Don’t pay another cent in rent to your landlord! 

 

It’s a dream we all have – to own our own home and stop paying rent.  But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours.  How could it when you’re not even permitted to bang in a nail or two without a hassle?  You feel like you’re stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home

Well, don’t feel trapped anymore!  It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been renting, or how insurmountable your financial situation may seem.  The truth is, there are some little known facts that can help you get over the hump, and transfer your status from renter to homeowner.  With this information, you will begin to see how you really can:

– save for a down payment

– stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
– stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.

 

6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You Buy Your First Home

 

The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.

But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think.  Consider the following 6 important points:

You can buy a home with much less down than you think.

There are some local or federal government programs (such as 1st time buyer programs) to help people get into the housing market.  You can qualify as a first time buyer even if your spouse has  owned a home before as long as your name was not registered.  Ensure your real estate agent is informed and knowledgeable in this important area and can offer programs to help you with your options.

You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs.

Even if you do not have enough cash for a down-payment, if you are debt-free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car, for example), your lending institution may be able to lend you the down-payment for your home by securing it against this asset.

 

You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home.

Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a “seller take-back.”  In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution.  Instead of paying this seller a lump-sum full amount for his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.

 

You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt.

By borrowing money for certain investments to a specified level, you may be able to generate a significant tax refund for yourself that you can use as a down-payment.  While the money borrowed for these investments is technically a loan, the monthly amount paid can be small, and the money invested in both home and investment will be yours in the end.

You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating.

If you can come up with more than the minimum down-payment, or can secure the loan with other equity, many lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage.  Alternatively, a seller take-back mortgage could also help you in this situation.

 

You can, and should, get preapproved for a home loan before you go looking for a home.

Preapproval is easy, and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Mortgage experts can obtain written preapproval for you at no cost and no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone.  More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written preapproval is as good as money in the bank.  It entails a completed credit application, and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for.

 

 

Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages.  Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage, and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

To sum up, there are many important issues you should be aware of that affect you as a renter.  Why on earth would you continue to lose thousands by throwing it away on rent when with your agent you could take a few minutes to discuss your specific needs so that you can stop renting and start owning?

This conversation costs you nothing. And, of course, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to buy a home at the time you review this.  But by taking the time to explore your options, and learn about the ways you can afford to buy a home, think how prepared and relaxed you’ll be when you are ready to make this important step.

9 Buyer Traps & How to Avoid Them

No matter which way you look at it, buying a home is a major investment.  But for many home buyers, it can be an even more expensive process than it needs to be because many fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either:

* paying too much for the home they want, or
* losing their dream home to another buyer or,
* (worse) buying the wrong home for their needs.

A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home that’s best for you.

This important article discusses the 9 most common and costly of these homebuyer traps, how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them.

 

The 9 Buyer Traps

Bidding Blind

What price should you offer when you bid on a home?  Is the seller’s asking price too high, or does it represent a great deal?  If you fail to research the market in order to understand what comparable homes are selling for, making your offer would be like bdding blind.  Without this knowledge of market value, you could easily bid too much, or fail to make a competitive offer at all on an excellent value.

 

Buying the Wrong Home.

 

What are you looking for in a home?  A simple enough question, but the answer can be quite complex.  More than one buyer has been swept up in the emotion and excitement of the buying process only to find themselves the owner of a home that is either too big or too small.  Maybe they’re stuck with a longer than desired commute to work, or a dozen more fix-ups than they really want to deal with now that the excitement has died down.  Take the time upfront to clearly define your wants and needs.  Put it in writing and then use it as a yard stick with which to measure every home you look at.

Unclear Title.

 

Make sure very early on in the negotiation that you will own your new home free and clear by having a title search completed.  The last thing you want to discover when you’re in the back stretch of a transaction is that there are encumbrances on the property such as tax liens, undisclosed owners, easements, leases or the like.

Inaccurate Survey.

As part of your offer to purchase, make sure you request an updated property survey which clearly marks your boundaries.  If the survey is not current, you may find that there are structural changes that are not shown (e.g. additions to the house, a new swimming pool, a neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.).  Be very clear on these issues.

Undisclosed Fix-ups.

 

Don’t expect every seller to own up to every physical detail that will need to be attended to.  Both you and the seller are out to maximize your investment.  Ensure that you conduct a thorough inspection of the home early in the process.  Consider hiring an independent inspector to objectively view the home inside and out, and make the final contract contingent upon this inspector’s report.  This inspector should be able to give you a report of any item that needs to be fixed with associated, approximate cost.


Not Getting Mortgage Preapproval.

Preapproval is fast, easy and free.  When you have a preapproved mortgage, you can shop for your home with a greater sense of freedom and security, knowing that the money will be there when you find the home of your dreams.

 

Contract Misses.

If a seller fails to comply to the letter of the contract by neglecting to attend to some repair issues, or changing the spirit of the agreement in some way, this could delay the final closing and settlement.  Agree ahead of time on a dollar amount for an escrow fund to cover items that the seller fails to follow through on. Prepare a list of agreed issues, walk through them, and check them off one by one.

 Hidden Costs.

 

Make sure you identify and uncover all costs – large and small – far enough ahead of time.  When a transaction closes, you will sometimes find fees for this or that sneaking through after the “sub”-total – fees such as loan disbursement charges, underwriting fees etc.  Understand these in advance by having your lender project total charges for you in writing.

 

 

 

Rushing the Closing.

Take your time during this critical part of the process, and insist on seeing all paperwork the day before you sign.  Make sure this documentation perfectly reflects your understanding of the transaction, and that nothing has been added or subtracted.  Is the interest rate right?  Is everything covered?  If you rush this process on the day of closing, you may run into a last minute snag that you can’t fix without compromising the terms of the deal, the financing, or even the sale itself.

One More Tip…

Find out if your agent offers a Buyer Profile System or “House-hunting Service,” which takes the guesswork out of finding just the right home that matches your needs.  This type of program will crossmatch your criteria with ALL available homes on the market and supply you with printed information on an on-going basis. A program like this can help you to affordably move into
the home of your dreams.

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Residential For Sale

231 Hawthorn Road, Mahone Bay Ns B0j 2e0

3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
36Picture(s)
1,545Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty (Lunenburg)
C$689000

Residential For Sale

231 Hawthorn Road, Mahone Bay Ns B0j 2e0
3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
1,545Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty (Lunenburg)
This almost brand new house (Aug. 2023) is located in the desirable Hawthorn Hill neighborhood in Mahone Bay, which was founded to promote a green neighborhood without dangerous chemicals to support a healthy living environment. The house was built by 'Ziegler Construction' and finished to a high standard. Peace of mind with a 10-Year Atlantic New Home Warranty.
C$689000

Residential For Sale

231 Hawthorn Road, Mahone Bay Ns B0j 2e0
Keller Williams Select Realty (Lunenburg)
3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
C$689000

Residential For Sale

940 Old Antigonish Rd, Antigonish County Ns B0h 1w0

3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
16Picture(s)
1,435Sqft
SCELES REALTY LIMITED - ANTIGONISH - D0090
C$125000

Residential For Sale

940 Old Antigonish Rd, Antigonish County Ns B0h 1w0
3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
1,435Sqft
SCELES REALTY LIMITED - ANTIGONISH - D0090
Older home on over 2 acres in quiet location midway between Antigonish, Guysborough and Port Hawkesbury is being sold AS IS WHERE IS. Seller is the Executor of the estate and does not provide a disclosure. Siding and front side of roof are newer; septic is concrete and 1000 gallon tank. Well somewhere on the property put in by hwy in 1995. Electrical breakers.
C$125000

Residential For Sale

940 Old Antigonish Rd, Antigonish County Ns B0h 1w0
SCELES REALTY LIMITED - ANTIGONISH - D0090
3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
C$125000

Residential For Sale

6 Westwind Drive, Chester Ns B0j 1j0

3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
32Picture(s)
2,000Sqft
Engel & Volkers (Chester)
C$549900

Residential For Sale

6 Westwind Drive, Chester Ns B0j 1j0
3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
2,000Sqft
Engel & Volkers (Chester)
SEAWINDS, CHESTER. Quiet upscale, residential neighbourhood on Chester's edge, ideal for little ones to safely ride their bikes or play road hockey. Walking distance to the Chester Connection Trail for hiking and convenient to all Chester has to offer- golf, sailing, schools, curling, tennis, shops, and restaurants.
C$549900

Residential For Sale

6 Westwind Drive, Chester Ns B0j 1j0
Engel & Volkers (Chester)
3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
C$549900

Residential For Sale

143 Board Landing Road, Central Onslow Ns B6l 5a4

3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
12Picture(s)
1,104Sqft
PG Direct Realty Ltd.
C$319999

Residential For Sale

143 Board Landing Road, Central Onslow Ns B6l 5a4
3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
1,104Sqft
PG Direct Realty Ltd.
Visit REALTOR® website for additional information. Bright and inviting 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom mini home on its own land in Central Onslow. Move-in ready, this home features a spacious open-concept living area with large windows that fill the space with natural light. The kitchen offers a center island, ample counter space and all appliances included.
C$319999

Residential For Sale

143 Board Landing Road, Central Onslow Ns B6l 5a4
PG Direct Realty Ltd.
3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
C$319999

Residential For Sale

838 Mccabe Lake Drive, Middle Sackville Ns B4e 0p4

5Bedroom(s)
5Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
49Picture(s)
5,889Sqft
Sotheby's International Realty Canada
C$2525000

Residential For Sale

838 Mccabe Lake Drive, Middle Sackville Ns B4e 0p4
5Bedroom(s)
5Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
5,889Sqft
Sotheby's International Realty Canada
Nestled on the serene shores of the coveted McCabe Lake, this striking lakefront property seamlessly blends timeless elegance with modern comfort. This 2-storey custom built masterpiece showcases meticulous attention to detail with high end finishes throughout. It truly is a sanctuary of refined living. The home welcomes you with a luxuriant front porch that leads you into the main foyer.
C$2525000

Residential For Sale

838 Mccabe Lake Drive, Middle Sackville Ns B4e 0p4
Sotheby's International Realty Canada
5Bedroom(s)
5Bathroom(s)
C$2525000

Residential For Sale

1012 Hamilton Road, Harbourville Ns B0p 1e0

6Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
37Picture(s)
3,150Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty (Kentville)
C$649900

Residential For Sale

1012 Hamilton Road, Harbourville Ns B0p 1e0
6Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
3,150Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty (Kentville)
High Quality, Low Maintenance! Gutted to the studs and being redone completely (75% done). All new wiring, plumbing, flooring, walls, new kitchen, new bathrooms, new siding, new roof, new windows, new heating system, new septic, PVC Laminate / Hardwood flooring / Concrete, R-30 in walls, R-60 in attic, generator panel, etc. 6 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms.
C$649900

Residential For Sale

1012 Hamilton Road, Harbourville Ns B0p 1e0
Keller Williams Select Realty (Kentville)
6Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
C$649900

Residential For Sale

102 B Rufus Avenue, Fairview Ns B3n 2l9

3Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
SingleParking(s)
30Picture(s)
1,790Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty
C$569900

Residential For Sale

102 B Rufus Avenue, Fairview Ns B3n 2l9
3Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
SingleParking(s)
1,790Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty
Location, Location, Location!Discover this stunning 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom semi-detached home, perfectly situated to offer you the best ofconvenience and comfort. This spacious two-storey residence features a main floor with soaring 9-foot ceilings, anopen kitchen equipped with a heat pump for year-round comfort, and a bright, inviting living space.
C$569900

Residential For Sale

102 B Rufus Avenue, Fairview Ns B3n 2l9
Keller Williams Select Realty
3Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
C$569900

Residential For Sale

11890 Hwy#2 Highway, Leamington Ns B0m 1x0

SingleParking(s)
5Picture(s)
720Sqft
Royal LePage Cumberland Realty Ltd.
C$69900

Residential For Sale

11890 Hwy#2 Highway, Leamington Ns B0m 1x0
SingleParking(s)
720Sqft
Royal LePage Cumberland Realty Ltd.
This property has 36 acres of mostly mature mixed hardwood. The house on the property needs to be torn down due to major fire and smoke damage. The property does have well and septic. There will be no access to the home for viewings due to safety concerns and the property is being sold " as is ".
C$69900

Residential For Sale

11890 Hwy#2 Highway, Leamington Ns B0m 1x0
Royal LePage Cumberland Realty Ltd.
C$69900

Residential For Sale

703-90 Washington Lane, Fall River Ns B2t 1x0

4Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
4Picture(s)
2,963Sqft
Viewpoint Realty Services Inc.
C$949000

Residential For Sale

703-90 Washington Lane, Fall River Ns B2t 1x0
4Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
2,963Sqft
Viewpoint Realty Services Inc.
Another quality built Gerald Mitchell Home. Welcome to the Kinsac two storey, one of our most loved home plans. The lovely covered front porch is a showstopper, adding to the curb appeal and leading to one of the two main floor entrances. You can also use the convenient garage entrance, with spacious mudroom area. Great for organizing the kids.
C$949000

Residential For Sale

703-90 Washington Lane, Fall River Ns B2t 1x0
Viewpoint Realty Services Inc.
4Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
C$949000

Residential For Sale

69 Thumb Cap Point Road, Labelle Ns B0t 1e0

3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
43Picture(s)
1,840Sqft
EXP Realty of Canada Inc.
C$775000

Residential For Sale

69 Thumb Cap Point Road, Labelle Ns B0t 1e0
3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
1,840Sqft
EXP Realty of Canada Inc.
Welcome Home! Only 90 minutes from Halifax, you can easily retreat to the woods for your weekend getaways, or, maybe even better, you could live here, work from home and visit the city for weekend entertainment. And at just under 5 acres (4.
C$775000

Residential For Sale

69 Thumb Cap Point Road, Labelle Ns B0t 1e0
EXP Realty of Canada Inc.
3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
C$775000

Residential For Sale

19 Marie Street, Stellarton Ns B0k 1s0

3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
DoubleParking(s)
4Picture(s)
788Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic(Stellarton)
C$109000

Residential For Sale

19 Marie Street, Stellarton Ns B0k 1s0
3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
DoubleParking(s)
788Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic(Stellarton)
Welcome to this charming 3-bedroom home, nestled on a quiet residential street in the heart of Stellarton. With easy access to the Trans-Canada Highway and just minutes from all major amenities, this home offers both convenience and comfort. The main floor features a welcoming porch area, a spacious living room, an eat-in kitchen, as well as laundry and a full bath for added ease.
C$109000

Residential For Sale

19 Marie Street, Stellarton Ns B0k 1s0
Royal LePage Atlantic(Stellarton)
3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
C$109000

Residential For Sale

2125 Hillside Boularderie Road, Hillside Boularderie Ns B1y 2t5

5Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
No GarageParking(s)
50Picture(s)
4,436Sqft
Sotheby's International Realty Canada
C$999900

Residential For Sale

2125 Hillside Boularderie Road, Hillside Boularderie Ns B1y 2t5
5Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
No GarageParking(s)
4,436Sqft
Sotheby's International Realty Canada
Your escape from reality awaits. 2125 Hillside Boularderie Road is a property like no other; with stunning water views, unique architectural details, and details that make this home stand out from everything else on the island. Thoughtfully crafted to create a European feel in Cape Breton, this 4,400 sq. ft.
C$999900

Residential For Sale

2125 Hillside Boularderie Road, Hillside Boularderie Ns B1y 2t5
Sotheby's International Realty Canada
5Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
C$999900
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