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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

16 Canavan Drive, Lakelands, NS B0N 1Z0

4Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
50Picture(s)
2,653Sqft
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C$599900

Residential For Sale

16 Canavan Drive, Lakelands, NS B0N 1Z0
4Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
2,653Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic - Valley(Windsor)
Spacious 4-Bedroom Bungalow with Lake Views, In-Law Suite Potential & Serene Privacy Discover the perfect blend of comfort, space, and natural beauty in this charming 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom bungalow, nestled on a beautifully landscaped 1.5-acre lot with stunning views of Pigott Lake just across the road.
C$599900

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4Bedroom(s)
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4Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
No GarageParking(s)
40Picture(s)
1,945Sqft
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C$679000

Residential For Sale

16 Donview Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2W 4C8
4Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
No GarageParking(s)
1,945Sqft
RE/MAX Nova
This well-maintained side split home is filled with warmth and unique character, ready for its next family to create lasting memories. Tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac, you’ll love the added bonus of public access to Bell Lake, an outdoor playground for all seasons and home to Abenaki Aquatic Club.
C$679000

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16 Donview Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2W 4C8
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4Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
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2Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
PavedParking(s)
21Picture(s)
836Sqft
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Residential For Sale

13 Gisborne Street, North Sydney, NS B2A 2E1
2Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
PavedParking(s)
836Sqft
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Located in one of North Sydney’s most desirable subdivision neighbourhoods, 13 Gisborne Street is a charming two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow that combines comfort, privacy, and recent updates. The home sits on a 5,475 square foot lot with a paved driveway and a private back deck that offers a peaceful space to relax or entertain.
C$175000

Residential For Sale

13 Gisborne Street, North Sydney, NS B2A 2E1
Dockside Realty
2Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
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2706 St. Margaret's Bay Road, Timberlea, NS B3T 0G7

6Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
40Picture(s)
3,750Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic
C$749900

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6Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
3,750Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic
Welcome to 2706 St. Margarets Bay Rd. This wonderful custom built, 3750 sq ft home sits on a large 12,800 sq ft lot. The home has ample space for all of your family's needs. Upper level has a huge open concept kitchen/living room area with lots of natural light. Also on this level are the primary bedroom with ensuite, and 2 other large bdrm's. New hardwood floors and steps installed in 2022.
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Residential For Sale

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Royal LePage Atlantic
6Bedroom(s)
4Bathroom(s)
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89 Welsford Street, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0

2Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
48Picture(s)
1,949Sqft
RE/MAX Fairlane Realty
C$620000

Residential For Sale

89 Welsford Street, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
2Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
1,949Sqft
RE/MAX Fairlane Realty
Welcome to this beautifully preserved 125-year-old home in the historic town of Pictou, Nova Scotia where timeless character meets modern comfort in all the right ways. Featuring 2 spacious bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, this thoughtfully updated home offers the charm of a classic with the ease of move-in-ready living.
C$620000

Residential For Sale

89 Welsford Street, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
RE/MAX Fairlane Realty
2Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
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4Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
26Picture(s)
2,088Sqft
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C$519000

Residential For Sale

23 Hardisty Court, Colby Village, NS B2V 1K8
4Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
2,088Sqft
Century 21 Optimum Realty
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C$519000

Residential For Sale

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1Bathroom(s)
NoneParking(s)
16Picture(s)
342Sqft
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C$315000

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1Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
NoneParking(s)
342Sqft
Red Door Realty
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5-1036 Bland Street, Halifax, NS B3H 2S8
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1Bathroom(s)
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3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
21Picture(s)
1,302Sqft
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3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
AttachedParking(s)
1,302Sqft
The Real Estate Store
Welcome to 59 Clements Ave in Yarmouth . This 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home is sitting on a 6600 square foot lot close to the downtown and schools. There is a full undeveloped basement and an attached garage with some space currently being used. It has a 4 piece bathroom and finished room that takes one side of the garage. The left side can be used as a garage or increase your finished space.
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3Bedroom(s)
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1Bathroom(s)
DoubleParking(s)
32Picture(s)
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3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
DoubleParking(s)
1,456Sqft
EXIT Realty Inter Lake
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EXIT Realty Inter Lake
3Bedroom(s)
1Bathroom(s)
C$385000

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2Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
50Picture(s)
1,543Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty
C$499900

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946 West Petpeswick Road, West Petpeswick, NS B0J 2L0
3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
GravelParking(s)
1,543Sqft
Keller Williams Select Realty
Welcome to your dream home in the heart of beautiful West Petpeswick! This brand new construction bungalow offers the perfect blend of coastal charm & modern convenience — all on one easy-living level. Thoughtfully designed with comfort and style in mind, this 3-bedroom, 2 full bath home sits on a solid slab foundation, ensuring durability and low maintenance for years to come.
C$499900

Residential For Sale

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Keller Williams Select Realty
3Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
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153 Haines Road, North Range, NS B0W 1H0

3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
DoubleParking(s)
41Picture(s)
1,982Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic (Greenwood)
C$489000

Residential For Sale

153 Haines Road, North Range, NS B0W 1H0
3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
DoubleParking(s)
1,982Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic (Greenwood)
Welcome to your year-round escape on the highly sought-after Haines Lake! This beautifully designed three-bedroom, three-bathroom home is positioned to capture breathtaking, panoramic views that make you feel as though you're floating on the lake.
C$489000

Residential For Sale

153 Haines Road, North Range, NS B0W 1H0
Royal LePage Atlantic (Greenwood)
3Bedroom(s)
3Bathroom(s)
C$489000

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3315 Highway 1, Belliveaus Cove, NS B0W 1J0

4Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
DetachedParking(s)
50Picture(s)
1,790Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic (Greenwood)
C$659000

Residential For Sale

3315 Highway 1, Belliveaus Cove, NS B0W 1J0
4Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
DetachedParking(s)
1,790Sqft
Royal LePage Atlantic (Greenwood)
Step into timeless elegance reimagined for modern living. This extraordinary century home offers all the comforts of a luxury resort, with thoughtful design and a layout tailored to today’s lifestyle. Nestled on beautifully landscaped grounds with direct, level waterfront access, this property is truly a private oasis.
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Royal LePage Atlantic (Greenwood)
4Bedroom(s)
2Bathroom(s)
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