Go Canadian Newsletter March 2023

Plus, my FREE REPORT & resource of the month...

The 27 Home Seller Mistakes

As everyone knows, buying a home is expensive, but what about having a house built? Is that any less expensive? Well, it depends.

We used data from the 2022 Canadian Cost Guide to determine some of the average costs involved in having a house built. Of course, what it would cost YOU may be very different. Here are some of the factors that impact cost:

• Size - The average cost to build a 1,000 square foot single-family house with an unfinished basement, NOT including the land, is $125,000-$200,000 in Calgary. Bump the size up to 3,000sq.ft. and the price is $475,000-$600,000.

• Where - Building costs vary dramatically by city. The average cost to build a 2,000sq.ft. home without a lot in Halifax is $200,000-$240,000. But in Toronto, that same house would cost $330,000-$520,000.

• Lot price - This varies depending on the city, size of the lot and whether it’s vacant. A small lot in Regina might cost less than $15,000, whereas it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in Toronto. If you have to tear down an existing house, that could add $15,000-$40,000.

• Type of home - Aside from size, the type of home also impacts price. A 2-story home costs more than a single-story home.

• Builder overhead and profit - Of course, this depends on the builder you choose. You might save some money by contracting all the trades yourself, but there are expenses, risks and a huge investment in time involved in that.

Obviously, there are a lot of things to consider. Before you jump in, get professional help. First, talk to your local Mortgage Specialist to see what you can afford and the best way to finance it. Then consult a Realtor who specializes in new builds to help guide you through the process. We’d be happy to provide financing advice, and we can introduce you to one of our trusted local Realtor partners. Call us today!

Historically, Spring is when homes sell the fastest, but you can make your home sell even faster with these proven tips:

Not only will the right Realtor help you sell faster at a better price, you’ll also get the advice and reassurance you need, as well as the confidence of knowing all the details are being professionally managed.

This can be as easy as power washing the house and driveway, or as impactful as a fresh coat of paint. Make sure your yard looks like the beginning of Spring rather than the end of Winter. Patch brown or bare spots in the lawn, trim shrubs, pull weeds and plant some annuals already in bloom.

Even modest homes become more attractive with a thorough cleaning. Everything has to look, feel and smell clean and fresh.

Make your home look roomier by removing extra furniture and knickknacks. You should also put away kids' drawings and family photos, since most buyers find them distracting and unappealing. If cleaning isn’t enough for the walls, paint them a light, neutral color. Make cabinets look more contemporary with new hardware; this works for the doors in your home, too.

If you’d like free expert advice how to get the best mortgage with the best rates and terms available (with a winning strategy for getting your offer accepted), call us today!

Home affordability is about more than just price. There are two other major factors that help determine whether you can afford to buy the home of your dreams. Here’s what goes into affordability. 

1. Price - This is definitely what gets most of the attention. After a couple of years of pandemic-fueled price jumps, the good news is that prices have now stabilized or even declined a bit. This contributes to home affordability in 2023.

2. Mortgage rates - Central banks moved to curb post-pandemic inflation by rapidly increasing interest rates. This caused mortgage rates to double in some cases, which dramatically raised the cost of financing a home. However, there’s good news here too. As inflation subsides, mortgage rates are starting to come down—again contributing to home affordability in 2023.

3. Wages - As inflation remained stubbornly high, employers started giving wage increases to employees. If your income is now higher, you may find mortgage qualification easier than in the past. So even if house prices and interest rates have risen, your rising income may still make home ownership affordable.

HOLISTIC HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH

10 TIPS TO REDUCE SPRING ALLERGIES

If you’re an allergy suffer, you might be tempted to spend Spring indoors to avoid those nasty allergens. Here are some simple dietary tips that could help reduce your symptoms so you can get out and enjoy Spring.

1. Drink green tea. Instead of your morning coffee, switch to green tea. It contains natural antihistamines proven to reduce allergic reactions.

2. Stay away from spicy food. Many spices create reactions that are similar to allergies (runny eyes, nose and mouth), so they end up making your symptoms worse.

3. Eat a Mediterranean diet. Beans, whole grains, fish, olive oil, fruits and vegetables are thought to relieve respiratory allergies.

4. Keep your weight down. Studies show that obesity can increase the likelihood of asthmatic attacks.

5. Cut back on salt. It’s thought that reducing salt intake can improve lung function.

6. Eat more tropical fruits. They’re high in bromelain which can help relieve asthma.

7. Eat fatty fish. The omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish have been proven to reduce allergy symptoms.

8. Add onions to meals. They contain quercetin which reduces the body’s reaction to histamine.

9. Sweeten with local honey. Since local honey contains local pollen, it can help increase your immunity to seasonal allergies.

10. Eat yogurt. The probiotics in yogurt can help reduce the effect of allergens.

As always, before making major changes to your diet, consult with a health professional.

March is when tulips often start emerging. This beautiful spring bulb originated as a wildflower in:

a) Central Asia

b) Netherlands

c) New Zealand

d) Central America

Chocolate is a key ingredient of every Valentine’s Day. Where did cocoa beans originate?

a) Ghana

b) Belgium

c) Latin America

d) Côte d’Ivoire

ANSWER: c) Latin America

Congratulations to Gracie Schreiber of Stoney Creek, Ontario for winning last month’s quiz contest! You have won a FREE KEG DINNER for four. Enjoy!

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Since your home is one of your largest assets, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Once you've made that decision, you'll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible, without compromising your sanity. To accomplish this, it’s important that you do your research so you don’t fall victim to costly mistakes.

With that in mind, I've prepared an informative resource titled, The Ultimate Home Seller's Guide: How to Avoid 27 Costly Mistakes and Sell Your Home Fast at Top Dollar. It reveals the "insider secrets" every home seller needs to know in order to make their home highly desirable, even in a buyer's market.(Actually, I don't know if these are secrets, but I rarely see any home sellers follow this proven formula.) In this guide, you'll learn how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, attract more qualified buyers and make the most profit in the shortest time possible. Don't even think about selling your home until you've read this important guide. 

Don’t waste another day in financial prison. Get your no-obligation copy of this exclusive report and start enjoying financial freedom today. Request “27 Costly Home Seller Mistakes” by clicking here:  

As you can see, we have a growing selection of FREE REPORTS that are jam-packed with valuable tips and proven strategies to help you, your friends and family avoid costly financial pitfalls. If you’d like us to rush you one or more of these free reports, please click the link below.

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Do you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about buying, selling or refinancing your home? Here are 3 FREE REPORTS that are GUARANTEED to help you make an informed decision on buying, selling or investing in Real Estate.

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