Next Step in the Buying Process |
John and Julie have rented an apartment in Toronto for more than twenty years.
Mark, a residential real estate agent and Julie's friend, asked her
why she still rents, when in the past twenty years she could have bought a
house or condo and probably paid off the mortgage. Instead, twenty years
later, all John and Julie have to show for their $240,000 in rent (twenty
years x $1,000 average per month x 12 months per year) are rent receipts.
But Julie said she and John never could agree on where to live.
He wanted to be downtown near his work and she thought they'd eventually move
to the suburbs. They liked their apartment building and thought if it
went condo, they'd buy then. There was always some excuse not to buy.
Are you psychologically ready for the responsibilities that come with buying and owning a home?
Buying a home means more than simply making a monthly mortgage payment. It also means paying taxes, maintenance costs, and insurance premiums. If you buy a highrise condominium or condominium town-house, you're also taking on the added responsibility of monthly assessments for maintenance of the commonly held property. If you're a home owner, you shoulder the burden of home maintenance yourself. If the roof leaks, you have to fix it. If the furnace breaks, you must replace it. There is no landlord to call. You may read more about the typical cost of home ownership.
As a home owner, you also shoulder the burden of real estate taxes. You become one of those home owners who support the local school system, fire and police departments, and city government. Buying a home means you're also buying into your local community. And if someone wants to put a trash dump next door to your house, you'd better be out there fighting against it to protect your property's value.
And you may be there for a long time. Although today, the first-time-buyer market is considered the "hottest'' market - meaning there is the greatest amount of demand for homes generally priced $200,000 and up. That could change over time. If it does, that two-bedroom condo you bought in a bidding war three years ago could sit for 60 to 120 days before you receive a single offer. Becoming a home owner means you are somewhat subject to the whims and tides of the market. Renters can leave at the end of their lease, or they can sublet their unit. Home owners must either rent out their homes or sell. Neither is an attractive option when you may be under pressure.
But there are lots of benefits to home ownership that compensate nicely
for any hardships.
If you work out of your home, there are a number of tax benefits, including a deduction for the costs associated with owning and maintaining the portion of the home you use exclusively for business. When you sell the home, you can roll over any profit you may have into your next purchase, provided it costs as much or more than the home you just sold.
The pride of home ownership, and the equity homeowners will build up over a period of time give the home owner a strong emotional outlook. Owning a home is considered part of the Canadian dream. Canadians are brought up to believe in the value of home ownership and its advantages. I too believe this dream and own my own home.
Once, homeowners have taken possession of their home they realize they have an investment in their family as well as in their home. Homebuyers can invite family, relatives, and friends to show how proud they are of their home. You should consider it a great achievement to buy a home. Homebuyers love the feeling that owning a home gives them. They feel a pride of ownership and a sense of security. Homeowners can do things around the home that they would not be able to do in a rental home. They have the freedom to paint walls any color they choose, or not to paint at all. They may make changes that suit their lifestyle and interests.
An additional emotional advantage to home ownership is that it gives homeowners the chance to get to know the neighbourhood. When they purchase a home, they are buying into a neighbourhood. Part of being a nice neighbour is taking care of their home so that the neighbourhood keeps it distinct flavor. This not only enhances their life, but helps keep the pride of a well looked after neighbourhood.
Owning a home also gives homebuyer's privacy. This is very
important for people today, in our busy world. Depending on the lot size,
home placement, this can be a major buying point for buyers. More and
more people are looking for privacy, nice setting, and great curb appeal.
Then of course the pride that goes with the home selection they have made
that encompasses all their needs.
Recession and Expansion
There are times when the economy is brisk and everyone feels confident about his or her prospects for the future. As a result, they spend money. People eat out more, they buy new appliances, TV's and new electronic equipment, they buy new cars, and....
Then, for one reason or another, eventually the economy slows down. Companies lay off employees and consumers are more careful about where they spend money, perhaps saving more than usual. As a result, the economy decelerates even further. If it slows enough, we have a recession.
During such a time, fewer people are buying homes. Even so, some homeowners find themselves in a situation where they must sell. Families grow beyond the capacity of the home, employees get relocated, and some may even find themselves unable to make their mortgage payment - perhaps because of a layoff in the family. If you can you want to try and buy at or near the bottom or on the upswing of times like these - not always obvious when the time is right. See how prices fluctuate
See the market emotions cycle, this is a very interesting graph!
Supply and Demand
When the supply of available houses is greater than the supply of buyers, real estate appreciation may slow and prices may even fall, as happened in the early eighties and the early to mid-nineties. See average price graph
If you are lucky enough to purchase a home during a slow period, you
can be reasonably certain the economy will begin to show strength again.
At times, real estate values may even surge drastically and you have to buy
at a high time. In many regions of the country, this is precisely what
occurred in the late eighties and the late nineties. Don't worry, house
prices have always surpassed previous highs, it's just a matter of time.
You can review seasonal price
fluctuations. Or you may see annual
trends.
Home ownership (read the whole story here) is not for everyone, but the majority of people want to purchase a home as soon as they can. Some wait, but often it's just a matter of saving for the down payment. After you do all the analyzing and number crunching, you will probably arrive at the same conclusion as most people before you ... "the best time to buy a home was yesterday"
Other issues to thing about when you are considering buying a home
Only you can make the right decision for you and this is another reason why my goal is... to provide you with all the information so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family. Shall we begin?
Let me show you how I can help you to Grow Rich slowly through Real Estate with Tax Planning and Time - odds of getting rich this way are about 98 out of 100 OR Get RICH FAST with check your odds of winning the lottery --- the odds are 1 out of 13,983,816
Questions? Or need more information? Send Mark an E-mail or phone him at 905-828-3434
Excellent, I am ready to begin my home search
Next Step in the Buying Process |
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