The Riz Team Blog

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!!!™

“Although home sales slowed down to some degree in July compared to June, overall demand remains very strong,” says Nicole Pohl, President of KWAR. “The current inventory of homes available for sale in the Kitchener-Waterloo and area is extremely low, making Waterloo Region one of the most competitive markets in Ontario.”

Total residential sales in July included 339 detached (down 27.1 per cent from July 2020), and 91 condominium units (up 30 per cent). Sales also included 46 semi-detached homes (down 4.2) and 135 townhouses (down 11.8 per cent).

In July, the average sale price for all residential properties in the Kitchener-Waterloo area was $755,681. This represents a 18.2 per cent increase over July 2020 and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to June 2021.

• • • The average price of a detached home was $907,192. This represents a 21.9 per cent increase from July 2020 and a decrease of 1.4 per cent compared to June 2021.
  • • The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $429,630. This represents an increase of 6.7 per cent from July 2020 and a decrease of 3.6 per cent compared to June 2021.
  • • The average sale price for a townhouse was $623,732. This represents a 33.8 per cent increase from July 2020 and an increase of 5.4 per cent compared to June 2021.
  • • The average sale price for a semi was $667,570. This represents an increase of 28.6 per cent compared to July 2020 and an increase of 2.9 per cent compared to June 2021.

KWAR 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.

The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Kitchener-Waterloo was $748,700 in July. This represents a 30.5 per cent increase over July 2020 and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to June 2021.

• The benchmark price for a detached home was $822,300. This represents a 31.1 per cent increase from July 2020 and 0.2 per cent increase compared to June 2021.
• The benchmark price for an apartment-style condominium was $385,900. This represents a 19.5 per cent increase from July 2020 and a 3.3 per cent increase compared to June 2021.
• The benchmark price for a townhouse is $564,500. This represents a 40 per cent increase from July 2020 and a 0.4 per cent decrease compared to June 2021.

“The housing market took a bit of a breather last month,” notes Pohl. “July is typically a quieter month with families taking vacation, and with the region coming out of lockdown there were certainly more staycations happening.  But we do anticipate the market will pick up steam again and it will be another busy fall.”

There were 675 new listings added to the MLS® System in KW and area last month, a decrease of 24 per cent compared to July of last year, and a 14.4 per cent decrease compared to the previous ten-year average for July.

The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of July was 281, a decrease of 52.7 per cent compared to July of last year, and 79.1 per cent below the previous ten-year average of 1,346 listings for July.

The number of months of inventory was 0.4 in July, a decline from 0.5 months in June. Inventory has numbered less than 1 month since October. The number of months of inventory represents how long it would take to sell off current inventories at the current rate of sales.

The average number of days to sell in July was 11 days, compared to 17 days in July 2020 and a previous 5-year average of 22 days.

Those requiring specific information on property values should contact a local REALTOR®.  Working with a Realtor is the best way to get a complete picture of the property and community you are considering.

View our HPI tool here to learn more: https://kwar.ca/hpi-dashboard

Historical Sales By Property Type

Months Supply of Homes for Sale

Historical Median Sales Price – By Property Type

Historical Average Sales Price – By Property Type

Average Days on Market

KWAR 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 average sale price is calculated based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold. Months Supply is the inventory of homes for sale at the end of a given month, divided by the average monthly closed sales from the last 12 months Those requiring specific information on property values should contact a local REALTOR®. REALTORS® have their fingers on the pulse of the market. They know the questions to ask, the areas to probe and what to look for so that you get a complete picture of the property and community you’re considering.

The Riz Team January Stats

There were 270 residential sales in January through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR), a decrease of 18 per cent compared to January 2017.

“On the surface, activity appears to be somewhat sluggish in January, says Tony Schmidt, KWAR President. “However if we set aside the past two years, it was a very typical January in terms of the number of sales. What is less typical is that listing inventory is still at historic low levels, and we continue to see multiple offers on properties putting upward pressure on prices.”

Total residential sales in January included 149 detached (down 23.6 per cent), and 70 condominium units (down 11.4 per cent) which includes any property regardless of style (i.e. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc.). Sales also included 27 semi-detached homes (down 18.2 per cent) and 22 freehold townhouses (up 10 per cent).

View Full Media Release

The Ontario Real Estate Association had asked the government to expand the land-transfer tax rebate program for first-time buyers as one way to help more of them get into the housing market.
Finance minister Charles Sousa is giving first-time home buyers a $4,000 land transfer tax rebate
The change, which takes effect on Jan. 1, means first-time buyers will not pay land transfer tax on the first $386,000 of the cost of their homes.

Under the land transfer tax break, more than half of first-time home buyers won’t have to pay land transfer tax at all.

Source:  https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/11/14/first-time-home-buyers-to-get-4000-land-transfer-rebate.html

By Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) admin • November 5th, 2012

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, ON (October 5, 2012) –– Area home sales rebounded in October, with 500 homes trading through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR). Residential sales in October are up 11.6 percent compared to last month’s results, and increased 4.6 percent from October 2011.

October’s residential sales included 322 detached homes (up 1.6 percent), 48 semi-detached (up 54.8), 33 townhouses (up 32 percent), and 92 condominium units (down 7.1 percent).

The average sales price of all residential sales in October was $302,656 a 1.5 percent decrease from the average sale price recorded in October 2011. Single detached properties sold for an average price of $339,592, a 3.8 percent decrease relative to one year ago.

Average prices for townhouses and condominium property types both increased last month, with townhouses gaining 10.7 percent to $287,133, and condominium units increasing 7 percent to $215,831 compared to the same month last year.

“The overall average residential price decreased slightly last month, which is not a surprise,” says Sara Hill, President of the KWAR, “In the past two months the average sale price was showing fairly strong gains even as sales were slowing, so I see this as a slight correction.”

On a year-to-date basis, residential home sales are practically on par with 2011 – with a total of 5,443 sales recorded. The average price of all residential properties sold year-to date is $310,739, an increase of 3.2 percent over 2011.

“The Kitchener-Waterloo housing market continues to show both long-term strength and stability” says Hill. “Shifts in average prices are normal, and home buyers and sellers should work with their REALTOR® to understand the market and set their expectations accordingly.”

Hill reminds consumers to use caution when looking at averages. The average sale price is based on the total dollar volume of all residential properties sold. 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.

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