You may be thinking “wow” how could I ever find a place and move in for the begining of September, well it is possible and that’s what I’m here to help you with. Below I have provided some basic numbers and a few examples of properties that are available right now.

Grosvenor Street: 2 bed 2 bath

What makes this property special?

Completely redone kitchen, new floors, granite counter tops and on major bus routes.

The Bottom Line:

Wouldn’t be hard to convince a fellow student to rent the extra bedroom and help pay your mortgage.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $1,190.77 ($600 each a month)

Down payment: $13,700

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Cedar Hill X Road: 2 bed 2 bath

What makes this property special?

Walking distance to Uvic, solid building.

The Bottom Line:

Wouldn’t be hard to convince a fellow student to rent the extra bedroom and help pay your mortgage.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $1,086.03

Down payment: $12,495

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Poplar: 2 bed 1 bath

What makes this property special?

Walking distance to Uvic, solid building.

The Bottom Line:

Who doesn’t want a pool and a sauna to relax in after exams, and these are such reasonable monthly payments.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $1,107.76

Down payment: $12,745

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If you feel like you would like to have an asset that you can sell after school to pay your student loan or you just don’t want to waste money on rent contact me ASAP and we will get you into a fantastic condo. Let me know what you are looking for, when you are available to view property and any other important details.

 

The following links to the Fraser Institute’s Elementary School Rankings for Greater Victoria BC and around British Columbia.  Simply select the region or geographical area in the province and get the most recent rankings.  If getting your child or children into a great school is a top priority when looking for a new home in Victoria, this guide will be very helpful.

If you have questions about schools, high-schools, colleges and universities and access to any of these from your desired neighbourhood please let Nicholas and I know and we’ll be happy to find the perfect bus, walk or driving route.

http://britishcolumbia.compareschoolrankings.org/SchoolsByArea.aspx?schooltype=elementary

 

I was having a conversation the other day where I was outlining the process of using a Realtor.  I started spelling off the reasons why a person should always use an agent to buy a home.  I feel that a lot of the time people are hesitant to use a Realtor at first or that they feel the need to hold back before jumping in.  It’s true that once you start up the dialogue with a Realtor, they’re going to really start helping you to find a home.  But that being said, if you’re interested in buying a home, don’t you want some help with that?   A Realtor’s livelihood is based on making sales,  but they have professional codes of conduct, ethics and business practices which direct them to perform to the best of their ability on your behalf.  It seems common sense to me that using a Realtor to help you find homes is the best way to go, but of course I am one.

Before I got into Real Estate sales, I bought my first home using a Realtor, and found that they took the tension out of the process.  Before that transaction, I had little or no experience with the process of buying or selling a home except what I’d seen in ads on tv or read in a book.  It seemed simple up front but I think that without my Realtor’s help the whole thing may have been a nightmare and I actually quite likely wouldn’t have made the sale work as it almost collapsed on us once.  She made it work and the keys showed up on the right day and all the paperwork was completed and both parties were happy.  What would this have looked like if I hadn’t used her;  I’d rather not think about it.

Agency between Realtor and Client exists so that you don’t have to make every call, booking, and  negotiation; not to mention the directing of the pound of paperwork associated with your purchase.  And when it comes time to negotiate with the other Realtor and seller, your Realtor is there to do that job… and they’re trained to do it and do it well (and best of all, in your best interest).

If you’re like my business partner and I, then you’re probably very busy with your business, job, family, hobbies.  Unlike us though, we spend our days living and breathing real estate.  Finding the time to sift through all of the MLS listings on a regular basis is hard to do and many times a home that’s perfectly suited to you slips through your fingers before you even know it’s available.  As Nicholas has pointed out in a previous post, he and I are up every morning, grabbing a coffee and checking what’s new and what’s changed in the market.  We have searches set up for all our clients that let us know when something new shows up that fits your search criteria and we take a look through those numbers, pictures and locations everyday.  Often times a photo can be misleading and won’t give you the right impression;  your Realtor may have already been through  home or know what the neighbourhood is like.  That great deal that could be yours might be skipped over because the listing writeup didn’t look so hot.  Your Realtor can sift and select homes best suited for you as they do it on a regular bases.  It’s not that you can’t look things up on the MLS yourself, but the question is do you really want to?  Wouldn’t it be better and easier to have a professional doing it for you?

And you would probably like to know,  ”what’s it going to cost?”  Nothing!  Yes, I said it,  99% of the time, your Realtor is going to help you buy a home at zero cost to you.  They will spend their own money, driving around with you,  printing paperwork and talking endlessly on the phone for you – at no cost to you as a Buyer.  ”Then what’s in it for them?”  They make their commission much like a mortgage broker does,  by getting paid by the seller (or the lender, in most cases with a broker).  ”What do they want from me?”  Well ehey would love to have your loyalty as a client;  someone they can trust will continue to work with them (or sign a buyer’s agency agreement – but that’s another story!),  a handshake is usually enough.

If you found this article useful please write a quick note below.  We only contact people who contact us via email or telephone directly – the comments section is for conversation purposes only.  To reach either Nicholas or myself directly please call 1-800-388-5882 or email info@RealtyVictoria.org for information on listings or general real estate related questions.  Thanks!

 

This week we have one new property and we have revisited two properties from last week. I would like to stress that especially for purchasers who are getting into the market for the first time this is the the time to buy. Interest rates are low and there are lots listings on the market to choose from. On that note we have two condos and one home have a look at the details and be sure to contact me if you would like more information or to book a showing for one of the properties.

Green St: 3 bed 1 bath

What makes this property special?

Great First time home,  nicely appointed and located close to parks and shopping in a good area . Great separate studio that could possibly be rentable.

The Bottom Line:

Renting a three bedroom home of this caliber is guaranteed to cost you at least 15000 a month and this is money that you will never see again .

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $1,527.43

Down payment: $19,950

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Begbie St: 2 bed 1 bath

What makes this property special?

Good Location, close to shopping and bus routes. One bus to UVIC or Camosun.

The Bottom Line:

Buy this condo rent the second room for $600 per month to a friend and only pay $300 a month. Then when you graduate sell the condo and make some money on appreciation and get back all that money that you would have wasted on Rent.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $876.65

Less rental of the second bedroom: 276.65

Down payment: $11,450

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Cloverdale St. : 2 bed 1 bath

What makes this property special?

Good Location, close to shopping and bus routes. Short bus ride to UVIC or Camosun.

The Bottom Line:

Buy this condo rent the second room for $600 per month to a friend and only pay $400 a month. Then when you graduate sell the condo and make some money on appreciation and get back all that money that you would have wasted on Rent.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $902.27

Less rental of the second bedroom: 376.65

Down payment: $11,450

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I am always available to answer questions, show properties etc…. Don’t get caught up in the electronic world too much be sure to get out and view some properties in person, it makes a difference.

 

I am going to bore you with a quick insight into my daily life as a Realtor. Every morning I get up make myself a coffee using only the Scott Brothers finest ( I’m a bit of a coffee snob), check these guys out they custom roast and it is the best I have ever had.  Anyway after my coffee is prepared I sit down with my list of buyers and proceed to go through all the new listings and price changes to see what new properties have come on the market that suit the buyers I am working with. At least once a week I come across a great deal and once a month or so I come across an incredible deal. Following this introductory paragraph I am going to post one incredible deal and a few great weekly deals.  I can’t guarantee they’ll be around for long but like I said, deals show up on a regular basis so check back often!

Enjoy!

Cloverdale: $169,000 Bachelor appartment

What makes this property special?

This whole building has been remediated. They refinished all the balconies and the exterior and the owners have renovated the interior, it doesn’t get much better than this in Victoria. Walk to Thrifty Foods or Mayfair Mall and it is only a short bus ride to UVic or Camosun

The Bottom Line:

Buying this condo will save you money on rent and when you finish school or are ready to ugrade you will have a nice little remediated condo to sell.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $734.45

Downpayment: $8,450

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Fort: $169,000 Great live/work Bachelor appartment

What makes this property special?

How much to you pay for your office? Could you work from home? What if you combined the two? If you used this great little brand new unit as your office and your home you could enjoy substantial savings and possible write off a large part of your home as office space.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $734.45

Downpayment: $8,450

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Amphion Street: $495,000 – This qualifies as an incredible deal

What makes this property special?

It is in a fantastic location, close to the Oak Bay village, it backs onto a park, well maintained and has a full height basement.

This house was built in the fifties and as such has the paper coated copper wiring which is generally quite acceptable and not in need of immediate upgrading. The house is already finished but would need some cosmetic updating and a little rearranging but nothing too major nor costly.

The Bottom Line:

Great House to Flip, complete a small amount of renovations and put it back on the market again for $650,000 and make 50k after expenses and 6 months of your time.

OR

Buy, renovate and live in this fabulous home with a great mortgage helper in a highly rent able area.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $2151.20

Downpayment: $24,750

Possible Rent based on a finished 2 bedroom suite: $1200

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Unfortunately this house has sold, but in order to find deals like this get me working for you. I look at all the new listings every morning. Properties like this one sell in under a week and most people don’t have the time or inclination to be on MLS that often. It’s my job and I don’t charge for it so check out my site and let me know what you are looking for and I will find it.

Darwin: $387,000 2 bed 1 bath Redone Bungalow

What makes this property special?

Good Location and great price for a single family home.

The Bottom Line:

Why buy a condo or townhome when you could own this gorgeous little property.

The Numbers:

Monthly Payments: $1,681.85

Downpayment: $19,350

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For more properties like these, to book a showing or have the weekly specials sent to your email contact us. Please don’t forget to include what information you are specifically looking for.

 

Here Goes:

Lets say that you Are going to Uvic, camosun or maybe you work at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Here are a couple of condo that work out to be cheaper than renting and are easy to rent out or re-sell in a short period of time.

1655 Beggbie St. – Down payment $8950, monthly payments $777.91*

1 bed 1 bath condo
Repainted with new appliances
Just off Shelboune Street so easy to get to public transport or walk to the hospital.
692 sqft

2747 Quadra – Down payment $7700, monthly payments $669.26*

1 bed 1 bath condo
Neat and tidy
Just off Hillside Street so easy to get to public transport.
592 sqft

For more info or to see if you might be able to get a mortgage for one of these properties you are welcome to contact me.

 

With the Spring Market in full swing, it is important to know that not all agents and not all real estate companies are created equal. When hiring a professional to sell your home, take the time to ask them what their sales model is to ensure that it meshes with your goals

Below, I outline what the Macdonald Realty Model is:

The Macdonald Realty Model

For most people, their home represents the single largest investment that they will ever make. In addition, the government encourages home-ownership by making principle residences one of the few investment vehicles on which CRA does not tax capital gains. Because of this, it is important for owners to make an informed decision about how they sell their home.

Macdonald Realty has prided itself as being a full-service real estate company since 1944, but what does that mean? Macdonald Realty’s full service model means taking a client by-the-hand and guiding them through the process of (1) Evaluation, (2) Marketing, (3) Negotiation, (4) Completion, and (5) Post-Completion to ensure that they receive the best price and conditions for their home, with as little inconvenience as possible, while limiting financial and legal risk.

(1) Evaluation
A Macdonald Realtor will provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) that outlines the strengths and weaknesses of your home, along with the current market conditions, including both recent sales and current listings, so that you may make an educated choice when it comes to pricing. Pricing is an art, and along with this information, your Macdonald Realty agent, as a full-service professional, will be able to explain who the target market is and how to maximize value. Do you price low to attract a competitive offer situation or at market value to ensure you only work with motivated buyers? Perhaps you price high to leave yourself room to negotiate?

Remember, homes are NOT commodities, every house is different, and a Macdonald Realty agent will be able to explain to you why they came to their pricing recommendation.

(2) Marketing
Effective marketing is crucial to ensure you get the best price for your home. Marketing doesn’t stop at placing a sign on the lawn and posting your house on MLS. A Macdonald Realtor, in consultation with the client, can provide a market analysis and property review to give you suggestions on how you can effectively improve the appearance of your home. In addition, they will respond to buyer/realtor inquiries, conduct open houses, qualify buyers for private showings, utilize the Macdonald Realty creative marketing department to create high-quality marketing materials, provide an online presence on Macrealty.com and other channels, utilize print advertising and social media tools, and leverage company programs and affiliations like Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the world’s largest residential real estate network with over 140,000 affiliate agents worldwide.

Your Macdonald Realty agent will also perform legal tasks like checking title, securing strata documents, and assisting with the property disclosure statement so that your legal and financial interests are fully protected.

(3) Negotiation
A Macdonald Realtor has been trained to provide advice and guidance throughout this process to ensure that you protect your own interests while maximizing the value for your home. It is important to have a great negotiator on your side and Macdonald Realty has over 350 years of collective managerial experience for our agents to draw upon should a unique situation arise.

Once the deal is accepted, a Macdonald Realty agent will work hard to resolve any issues which may come up before the deal goes firm. If, for any reason, a problem should arise, our agents have the backing of a full-service real estate company to support them. Many times, financing and tenancy issues can be resolved in-house. In instances where they cannot, your agent will be able to assist you in the renegotiation process to maximize your chances of the deal staying on track.

(4) Completion Services
Once the deal is near completion, a Macdonald Realtor will work to ensure that all required legal documentation is transmitted to their respective legal and governmental bodies. Your agent will assist with solving last minute problems, and possession will be arranged. This is a stressful time and it’s important that all closing issues are dealt with efficiently to ensure a smooth transfer.

(5) Post-Completion
Your Macdonald Realtor’s job is not over even though the deal has completed. They are still responsible for smoothing over any post-completion issues and being the primary communications conduit between the buyer and seller. In addition, they can be called upon to provide any advice with respect to settlement services, trades, and/or troubleshooting that may be required. Being a full-service professional, your Macdonald Realtor will have the answer for you, or know where to get it.

Macdonald Realty believes its model is the best way of protecting the interests of buyers and sellers. With our system, agents only get paid if a buyer and seller agree on the sale of a property. In other words, with Macdonald’s business philosophy, our agents are rewarded on performance.

Macdonald Realty and its agents invest hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in training, education, market research, program development and agent support to ensure we have the necessary skills to provide our clients with the best service in the industry. Our agents are effective negotiators, knowledgeable professionals, effective marketers, and educated advisors.

To find out more, contact me at the address above.

*This communication is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreement.

*Although this information has been received from sources deemed reliable, we assume no responsibility for its accuracy, and without offering advice, make this submission to prior sale or lease, change in price or terms, and withdrawal without notice.

**Should you not wish to receive this communication, please reply to this email with “Please Unsubscribe” in the subject line.