Are you looking to upgrade?  See how we can solve your challenges below with a common scenario.

The Client: The Upgrader 

Ted is in his early 30’s and holds a middle management position at a manufacturing company. He’s recently married and wants to start a family. The time is right to upgrade from his downtown condo to a single family home. Ted knows there have been recent sales in the building but is unsure what his place is actually worth. He and his wife have a good idea of the neighbourhood they want to raise their family in, having done all the research on schools and amenities.

The Challenge

Many home owners are apprehensive about having to navigate the real estate process the second time around. Ted hasn’t heard from his realtor since he bought his current condo and every time he goes into the brand that holds his mortgage, there always seems to be a new person who is in charge of his file. Determining his current equity position, potential household expenses and out of pocket costs as a second time home buyer will be crucial for his family’s financial position with the new purchase.

The Solution

Ted used the one-stop services of BrokerSmart. With dual-licensed agents to handle both the mortgage and real estate side of the purchase and sale, BrokerSmart helped to determine a comfortable mortgage payment, sold his condo at market value and secured the home of their dreams in the neighbourhood they coveted. Ted and his wife were also able to sign all the necessary documents at a convenient location of their choice and at a time that fit their busy work schedules.

If you have any questions regarding the above, give us a call at 604-588-4466 or email us at info@brokersmart.ca

Are you a first time home buyer? Click here. More of a busy professional looking for a place? Click here.

Are you a busy professional with your hands full?  See how we can solve your challenges below with a common scenario.

The Client: The Busy Professional

Cindy is in her mid-40’s and holds a senior management position at a consumer products company. She’s a working mother who juggles a busy work/life schedule. Cindy’s current family home, once thought to be their ‘forever home’, is no longer meeting her family’s demands – they need more space. Cindy has seen sold signs in her area but is unclear how her place compares to those homes and hasn’t had the time to find out. Both Cindy and her husband would like to stay in the same area for their children’s sake and have a good idea of which neighbourhood they want to move to.

The Challenge

When Cindy isn’t in the office or travelling for work, she’s at a family function, whether it is a dance recital, hockey game or a much needed vacation. Cindy is unsure about her current mortgage options but finding the time and energy to sort out her real estate situation becomes the larger issue at hand, especially when it comes to the little details like sourcing out movers or cleaners to help with the transition. Life as a busy professional doesn’t leave much room for finding, purchasing and moving into a new home.

The Solution

Cindy used the one-stop services of BrokerSmart. With dual-licensed agents, BrokerSmart was able to not only handle the mortgage and real estate side of the purchase and sale, they were also able to co-ordinate the lawyer, movers and house cleaners. Cindy didn’t need to sacrifice time with the family or work and was able to sign all the necessary documents at a convenient location of her choice and at a time that worked around her schedule.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please give us a call 604-588-4466 or email us at info@brokersmart.ca

Are you a first time home buyer? Click here. Or maybe you’re looking to upgrade? Stay tuned for next week!

Are you a first time home buyer? See how we can solve your challenges below with a common scenario.

The Client: The First Timer

Sarah is in her 20’s and holds an accounting position at a construction firm. She’s rented an apartment for the last couple of years but knows the value of home ownership and wants to buy a place to call her own. Sarah has been online and played around with a couple of mortgage calculators, getting an idea of how much she can afford with the hope that the money she’s saved is enough for a down payment. She also has her eye on living downtown but with so many units on the market to choose from, she doesn’t know where to start.

The Challenge

Many first time home buyers feel overwhelmed by the tasks of purchasing a home. Not knowing who to call or trust for advice can delay some from even starting the process. Sarah asks her parents for a contact at their bank and calls a realtor after a quick online search but she doesn’t get any form of reassurance that these people are willing to walk her through the entire process from start to finish. Plus, finding a banker or realtor that can work with her schedule or answer her questions in a timely manner becomes a challenge.

The Solution

Sarah uses the one-stop services of BrokerSmart. With dual-licensed agents to handle both the mortgage and real estate side of the purchase, BrokerSmart was able to answer all of Sarah’s questions, found the prefect place for her budget and negotiated on her behalf for a great mortgage rate. She was also able to sign all the necessary documents at a convenient location of her choice and at a time that fit her busy work schedule.

If you have any questions regarding the above, give us a call at 604-588-4466 or email us at info@brokersmart.ca

Are you busy professional? Are you interested in upgrading? Stay tuned for next week!

The Fraser Valley housing market is characterized as quiet with balanced conditions throughout 2013. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) have released their December Statistics Report along with a summary of the activity throughout the entire year.

Key Stats of 2013: 

• Total Sales Volume: 13,663 a decrease of 1.5% from 2012
• Listed Properties: 29,338, a 5.4% decrease compared to 2012
• Active Listings: 7,541 a 5% increase from 2012

Ron Todson, President of the FVREB states,”It wasn’t the best of years, nor was it the worst. Generally speaking, 2013 overall was quiet. earlier in the year, we didn’t see significant price declines because our inventory also remained lower. When both buyers and sellers take a breather it has a balancing effect on the market where neither has the upper hand.”

Key Stats of December: 

• Detached Home Benchmark Price: $549,000 , a 1.9% increase compared to December 2012
• Townhouse Benchmark Price: $293,000, 1% decrease from December 2012
• Apartment Benchmark Price: $192,600, a decrease of 3.7% from December 2012

*All statistics are from the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)

To view the full FVREB December Statistics report, click here. 

If you have any questions regarding the above, please give us a call at 604-588-4466 or email us at info@brokersmart.ca