Inspections are one of the most important parts of the home-buying process, but you wouldn’t know it by the way many people talk about them! 

Often the inspection process is overlooked with all the excitement that comes with getting an offer accepted. Worse is when buyers choose to do a cheap home inspection that could miss big issues they’ll have to fix down the line. 

One reason why inspections are so worth spending money on is that they can save you a ton of cash on the purchase price of your home. 

At first glance, a $1,200 (or more) home inspection can feel expensive. This is especially true when you’re in the process of paying all of the other closing costs. But it can be well worth the cost for two reasons: 

1) If an issue is found through the inspection, like a leaky roof or faulty plumbing, you can address those issues with the sellers. 

Your agent will help you negotiate how the problems with the home will be remediated or paid for. This could look like the sellers are offering incentives, giving you funds to do your own repairs, or knocking the purchase price down by $15,000! 

2) If no issues are found, then you can be confident going into the purchase knowing that the property is a good one and won’t have any issues. This peace of mind can be priceless, especially for your first home. 

Between these two compelling reasons, you can see why getting a good home inspection is so important. It’s so worth taking the time to do your due diligence and find a good inspector who will check out every aspect of the home. 

Ask for referrals, check reviews, and talk with the inspector to see their previous work and make sure that you feel comfortable using their services. It can make a big difference in your satisfaction with your purchase and your home! 

If you need referrals to great home inspectors in Lloydminster & Area, Feel free to call me and I will give you the List!

Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com

The stakes are high as the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter is moving forward on building a new shelter for its clients and Saturday’s Coldest Night Of The Year event comprises part of the seed money.

The soon-to-be-released city survey on housing needs has revealed about 193 people are experiencing some form of housing insecurity, says Michael Davison, with the Men’s Shelter.

“In our current facility we are only equipped to handle less than 30 at any given time and there’s obviously a big gap between what the requirements and the needs of the city are in terms of support and what we can provide.”

Davison adds there are other organizations in the community doing similar work, but notes the extra demand for the services that the Men’s Shelter provides.

Coldest Night Of The Year fundraiser is being held on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Bud Miller Park. Currently, the Men’s Shelter has raised $18,640 towards its $20,000 goal. There are 50 registered walkers and nine teams. People can come as individuals to provide support or register to walk, fundraise, or volunteer.

“The initial amount of money is about making sure that every step we take is the right step and will lead to a larger success for our organization and all of Lloydminster,” says Davison.

Participants will walk and can reflect on the challenges facing the unhoused, especially in sub-zero temperatures.

Check-in for the event begins at 4:00 p.m. at the PSM Park Centre building in Bud Miller Park. The walk goes from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and ends with a hot meal.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register, but organizers will register up to the start.

“It’s a walk around Bud Miller. We will all be there to answer questions. There will be some food and drink and just people out to support the charity.”

The weather forecast for Saturday indicates sunny conditions with a daytime high of minus one.

The real estate market has been changing here in Lloydminster, and it’s common for potential buyers to feel concerned and challenged by these changes. 

But rather than shying away from buying a home in this kind of market, it’s even more important to think about the long-term benefits of homeownership! 

Consider some of the people in your life who purchased their homes 5, 10, or even 15 years ago. Chances are high that they don’t regret buying their homes. In fact, they’re probably proud to be homeowners and are happy with their investment in real estate. 

This is because real estate nearly always appreciates in value over time. This means that buying a home will allow your investment to grow in value and increase your personal wealth as a result. 

In addition to appreciating over time, you’ll be building equity over time as you pay into your mortgage as a homeowner. This is a long-term benefit of homeownership that directly translates into more profit and cash in your pocket when you sell your home down the line. 

While owning a home provides some incredible short-term benefits like a safe, stable place to live, the best of real estate is all in the long-term benefits. 

When you rent housing, you don’t get the investment potential or equity growth that makes owning real estate such a smart financial decision. Instead, your monthly rent payment goes straight to your landlord–you never see that money again. 

But when you own a home, you’re building equity with your monthly mortgage payments, and you get that money back when you sell your home. 

The market may feel challenging today, but becoming a homeowner brings those long-term benefits that are unparalleled. 

If you’re questioning if it makes sense to buy a home today, remember the incredible long-term benefits that come with owning a home. Let’s start the conversation today–Feel free to reach out!

Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com

What better way to make fun summer memories than by moving into a beautiful new home with your family?

If you’re wanting to spend the summer enjoying a home you love with your family, just follow this schedule!

February: Connect with your agent. Now is the time to get your agent lined up and get a home search plan put together. If you don’t have an agent in mind, start getting referrals and talk with at least 3 agents. This will help you get a feel for the different styles out there and find the agent that works best for you!

March: Focus on finances. Once you connect your agent, you’ll start prepping your finances and shop around for mortgages. In this month, make your budget and get all your financial documents pulled together so you can easily submit pre-approval paperwork to lenders. Once you’re pre-approved, you’ll be able to start the next step.

April: Start the search! With your agent secured and pre-approval in hand, you’ll be starting house hunting in April. Your agent will help you identify the best neighborhoods, review listings, and attend showings and open houses. The best thing to do in this month is to keep an open mind–you might see homes that you never would have expected to love but they might just be perfect for you!

May: Negotiate offer terms. By the end of May, you’ll be in the negotiation process with the sellers. Your agent will help you make an irresistible offer that sellers can’t ignore. Then you’ll negotiate on the offer terms with the sellers to make sure that you get the best deal possible.

June: Close and get your keys! The closing process typically takes a few weeks. You can spend this time packing up your current home and getting ready for a fantastic summer in your brand new home!

In just 5 short months, you can be in a new home, ready to make a summer’s worth of happy memories with your family and loved ones.

Ready to get started? Let’s Chat!

Harpreet Christie
RE/MAX of Lloydminster
780-205-7654
harpreet@bordercityrealestate.com