Let THE VELVE TEAM help you every step of the way.
Download Buyers Guide (ADOBE PDF)
When purchasing a home, you are faced with a multitude of decisions! The primary one is whether you are actually prepared to purchase a home. Locating the perfect home is not always an easy task, and obtaining a mortgage loan can be a complex and tiring process. Although, once you have determined that you are ready to move forward with the required effort towards your home-purchasing goal, the rewards are unquestionable.
While at your side each step of the way, we will make the process of purchasing a home easier, more enjoyable, less time-consuming, and less expensive than if you undertook this challenge on your own. My TEAM will help you prepare so that sellers perceive you as a preferred buyer, help you locate and assess properties for sale that match your specifications, and help you through the myriad of details attending the actual purchase. My partner, Joe Vallee, is a Buyers specialist. Joe was born and raised in Vancouver and has been involved in Real Estate in one way or another for 15 years and can guide you through all the aspects of buying a home. To learn more about Joe you can check out his own website at www.joevallee.com and you can search for properties using Joe's custom MLS property search page - click here
We are always familiar with the current homes on the market, and know neighborhood values well, we can help you determine which properties are fairly-priced and in good condition before you start your search.
Looking for more listings ? Want to beat the other Homebuyers to the hottest new MLS Listings even Days BEFORE they hit the MLS.ca ? Well then, this is the place for YOU !!!
Hands on Approach The first order of business is to speak with my clients personally to go over their needs and wants when purchasing or selling their home. Depending on your current level of knowledge in the industry, I will either give you an overview of my services or go into greater detail explaining everything and anything you will need to know or are unsure of. I take great pride in being well educated in my field with respect to residential real estate purchase and sale, and I will strive to follow each and every step of the way with you. I will refer you to other professionals throughout the process, but only when necessary in completing your transaction. However, I will always be available to answer any questions or handle any concerns that you may have.
Your First Step Your first step to buying a home is to first ask yourself why you want to buy a home: to stop paying rent? To start building equity? To have a place of your own? To raise a family? To entertain business associates? To move up to a bigger house? Next, list what kind of home you'd like and where you would like to be. Be specific. Separate the must haves from the want to haves. Think of yourself as zeroing in on a target, going from the general to the specific. Consider area (city, suburban neighborhood, country); community (north, south, east, or west side); neighborhood (older and settled or sparkling new; a particular school zone; recreational facilities; and other community services such as transportation, day care, library, stores, entertainment). Ask yourself how many minutes you are willing to commute to work. Think about home styles. How much space do you need? Does your situation require a one-level home, or are stairs acceptable? Consider size and kind of property. Do you want a newer home, or maybe an older one to fix up? Someday you or your heirs will want to sell. Consider how long you expect to live in this particular home.
Your Next Step: Loan Pre-Qualification Once you have addressed the above needs, your next step in the purchasing process is to get pre-qualified with a mortgage company. This can be done over the phone or even online in a matter of minutes. Call us and we will refer you to a mortgage professional that has an excellent reputation and track record for successfully acquiring loan approval for their clients.
We Will Find The Right Homes For You Once you've been pre-qualified and know what price range you want to stay in, we can help you determine which properties fit your needs by using the (MLS) Multiple Listing Service system to locate them. We have the best possible resources and communication systems available today to help you locate the homes on the market that match your specifications. You can even search my listings here at my website. We are also 100% Mobile with Wireless Technology for on the spot resources, search tools, contract printing, you name it !
We Will Help You Every Step Of The Way The Velve Team will help you complete your financing and inspections, and close on the transaction. My top priority is to make sure that your home buying experience is pleasant, cost-efficient, and successful.
First Time Home Buyers Ever heard of renters trap? It's an industry buzz phrase used to identify those of you who are currently renting a house or apartment and feel that you could never afford a home of your own simply due to the fact that you do not have the adequate savings for a down payment on a mortgage or perhaps you may be experiencing credit problems.My advice to you? Stop paying your landlords' mortgage and speak with me! Now before you run right out and put stop-payments on your rent cheques, let me explain... This year, British Columbia consumers can count themselves lucky in one important aspect; they are living in a time that offers unequalled opportunities to realize the dream of home ownership.Interest rates are among the lowest in decades and the availability of housing of all varieties is at the highest level in years. In fact, in many situations renting a family dwelling can actually be more expensive than buying. If you consider, for example, a $150,000 mortgage at 8% for a five-year term, the monthly payments would be less than $1,200 per month. Compare this to renting a suitable three-bedroom apartment or townhouse in many urban centres and it's easy to see that buying a home has become an attractive alternative. If you take a $100,000 mortgage at the same interest rate and term, the payments shrink to less than $800 per month. Even better, if you're willing to accept a one-year term the interest rate can drop by at least two percentage points. This would peg a $100,000 mortgage at only $650 per month and a $150,000 mortgage at around $975. There is another important benefit to home ownership that often gets overlooked. Over the course of 25 years (the usual amortization period for mortgages), the total amount of money paid by many renters can actually exceed the amount paid by a homeowner. This is due not only to the fact that mortgage payments can be cheaper than rent, but because rental fees generally increase over the long term. Of course, interest rates may also rise, but so probably will the value of the property. Therefore, additional equity in the home will be gained. Add to this the reality that after a mortgage is paid off, homeowners will no longer make monthly payments while renters will continue to bear the burden for the rest of their lives. This savings can greatly impact your quality of life upon retirement. These figures are only intended as broad examples, the fact remains that money spent on rent is still money down the drain.Regardless of the number crunching, the bottom line is that owning a house is the best way to ensure the happiness and well being of your family. A home gives a family room to grow, and room to prosper. Constructing a 'buying blueprint' is a critical step for first time buyers. In it, you will list such items as: how many bedrooms do you really need; is a finished basement a necessity or can you afford to wait; how big a yard do you need; and most importantly, where do you want to live? All these considerations will affect your ability to buy. Opting for a townhouse or resale home are other alternatives that can help first time buyers escape the rent trap and channel their funds into a solid investment.So, if you're one of the thousands of families caught in the cycle of paying rent and seeing nothing in return, now is the time to make a move. Buying a home can pay off in so many ways that you simply can't afford to pass us the opportunity.Even after your real estate transaction is completed, I will remain available to you should you need me. With additional services such as my WebReports and newsletters, you can stay in touch long after your closing date... and when you're ready to sell and upgrade or perhaps you want to move into a different community as your lifestyle changes, I am only a phone call or e-mail away.
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