The Riz Team Blog

Archive for March, 2023

Nicole’s 5 Buyer Tips for Buying a Home in Today’s Market!!!

Wednesday, March 29th, 2023

Looking to buy a home can be an exciting but overwhelming experience, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. With so many options available and factors to consider, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why I’ve put together a list of 5 essential tips for anyone looking to buy real estate in the current market. Whether you’re a seasoned buyer or just starting out, these tips will help you make informed decisions and find the perfect home for you. And to make things even easier, I’ve created a video to accompany this post, so you can follow along. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the top 5 buyer tips for real estate!

 

#1. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. 

This seems obvious, but you would be surprised how many people I meet for the first time who ask me to show them 5 homes that day, and when we get to the first home, I ask, so how much were you pre-approved for? and they say oh we haven’t gone to the bank yet 😲. In today’s competitive market, it’s essential to have a pre-approval in place before you start your property search. This will give you a clear idea of your budget and help you avoid wasting time (yours and mine) looking at properties outside your price range. It also gives you that competitive advantage of being ready to pull the trigger as soon as you find the property you love.

#2. Put your budget into a mortgage calculator. 

Just because you are pre-approved for a certain number, doesn’t mean you want to pay that much. There are tons of apps that you can find that will calculate your costs. You basically put in the purchase price, and your down payment amount, and it will calculate at today’s interest rate, how much your mortgage payments would be. You should also factor in property taxes, insurance and some utilities to get a good idea of how much your costs will be every month. You might find that you don’t want to spend as much as the bank is giving you. 

#3. Work with an experienced real estate agent.

A good real estate agent can be an invaluable asset in a competitive market. They can help you find properties that meet your criteria, so that you are not running around looking at homes that don’t have that walk-in closet or ensuite bathroom you want. They will negotiate on your behalf. And provide valuable insights on local market trends, like how to win an offer in today’s competitive market. 

#4. Be prepared to act quickly.

With low inventory and high demand, homes can sell quickly in today’s market. Be ready to make an offer as soon as you find a property that meets your needs. This may mean being flexible on closing dates, offering a higher deposit, or being willing to waive contingencies.

#5. Stay focused on your goals.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a hot real estate market, but it’s important to stay focused on your goals and priorities. Don’t let the fear of missing out (FOMO) drive your decision making. Stick to your budget, timeline, and must haves to ensure you make a sound investment that meets your needs in the long term. 

For more information feel free to connect with me at 519-591-7413 or nicole@therizteam.com

Nicole Shantz – Sales Representative | The Riz Team – Real Estate Professionals | Royal LePage Wolle Realty, Brokerage

Remember….Don’t put it on HOLD…call The Riz Team to get it SOLD!!!™

Kitchener Waterloo Market Snapshot February 2023

Friday, March 3rd, 2023

Home Sales Down, Prices Stabilizing in February

If you are considering to Sell your home or Buy a home in the next short while it would be highly beneficial for you to connect with one of our Team Agents at

The Riz Team

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WATERLOO REGION, ON (March 3, 2023) —Sales volume through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS® (WRAR) set a low for the month of February, with 439 homes sold, representing a decrease of 45.0 per cent compared to February 2022 and 31.5 per cent below the previous 5-year average for the month.

“Once again, we experienced record low listing sales in February,” says Megan Bell, president of WRAR. “Increased borrowing costs, coupled with a shortage of housing supply and strong demand, have put a strain on prospective buyers as affordability continues to be a top concern; however, home prices have remained stable for the past several months.”

Total residential sales in February included 256 detached (down 45.3 per cent from February 2022), and 100 townhouses (down 33.3 per cent). Sales also included 55 condominium units (down 52.6 per cent) and 28 semi-detached homes (down 56.3 per cent).

In February, the average sale price for all residential properties in Waterloo Region was $758,698. This represents a 25.1 per cent decrease compared to February 2022 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to January 2023.

  • The average price of a detached home was $877,884. This represents a 26.0 per cent decrease from February 2022 and a decrease 0.9 per cent compared to January 2023.
  • The average sale price for a townhouse was $642,777. This represents a 25.6 per cent decrease from February 2022 and an increase of 2.7 per cent compared to January 2023.
  • The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $461,322. This represents a decrease of 19.2 per cent from February 2022 and a decrease of 6.9 per cent compared to January 2023.
  • The average sale price for a semi was $667,250. This represents a decrease of 25.8 per cent compared to February 2022 and an increase of 2.6 per cent compared to January 2023.

WRAR cautions that average sale price information can be useful in establishing long-term trends but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) provides the best way to gauge price trends because averages are strongly distorted by changes in the mix of sales activity from one month to the next.

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MLS® Home Price Index Benchmark Price

  Kitchener-Waterloo Cambridge
Benchmark Type: February 2023 Monthly % Change Yr./Yr. % Change February 2023 Monthly % Change Yr./Yr. % Change
Composite $726,500 3.0 -24.2 $742,300 1.6 -25.3
Detached $822,800 4.2 -24.8 $770,800 1.8 -27.0
Townhouse $588,500 0.9 -22.3 $637,400 -0.2 -13.8
Apartment $473,800 -1.6 -14.3 $492,100 0.9 -7.6

 

 

“Limited supply and the small number of listings coming to the market continues to be a trend within the region,” says Bell. “There may be some hesitation for those considering selling their property due to decreased reported sale prices; however, with demand continuing to outpace supply and prices stabilizing, sellers are in a healthy position to make their move.”

Bell points out that although prices have fallen more than 20 per cent from their peak in February 2022, they remain significantly higher than three years ago.

There were 671 new listings added to the MLS® System in Waterloo Region last month, a decrease of 37.1 per cent compared to February of last year and a 24.8 per cent decrease compared to the previous ten-year average for February.

The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of February was 692, an increase of 75.2 per cent compared to February of last year and 38.0 per cent below the previous ten-year average of 1117 listings for February.

The number of months of inventory is up 140.0 per cent compared to February of last year, but still historically low at 1.2 months. The number of months of inventory represents how long it would take to sell off current inventories at the current sales rate.

The average number of days to sell in February was 20, compared to 8 days in February 2022. The previous 5-year average is 16 days.

View our HPI tool here to learn more: https://wrar.ca/hpi/

Click on any of the graphs below for an interactive view.

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