Florida Bound – Canadians buying Real Estate in the US

With the real estate market being what it is in the US some Canadian home buyers would snub the thought of buying property south of the border. However, the truth is that this is the best time for Canadian home buyers to invest into the housing market especially in Florida.

In the past, buying property in Florida was thought to be for only retirees but that doesn’t hold true anymore. Due to the strong Canadian dollar, an excellent opportunity has presented itself and many Canadians who are not yet of retirement age are answering the call by investing in the US real estate market.

Florida is proving to be a real hot spot as more residential properties are being sold at nearly half off the price that the property would have been valued at this time last year. Builders in Florida are continually competing with each other by plunging prices of properties and don’t think that it’s just foreclosure properties that are available, new homes and condos are also being listed at considerably lower prices.

So are you convinced yet? Well, here are some other reasons to invest in a Florida property:
1. Florida has the lowest real estate prices in over 30 years.
2. Great investment opportunity as you can buy low and sell high.
3. The eventual US market rebound will mean a profit for you.

If this isn’t enough to put it into perspective, think of the fact that for the price of a cottage in Ontario, you can own a luxury property in Florida that you can enjoy at anytime of the year. May it be for your own personal use or for a vacation rental property the situation can only be win-win.

Want to find out more about properties in Florida? Contact me with your questions or leave comments on the blog.

Realtor or For Sale by Owner?

Some homeowners, once thy are ready to put their home on the market ponders the thought of selling their home privately also known as For Sale by Owner (FSBO). In order to determine whether or not to list your home privately, there are some key questions that you will need to ask yourself.

Are you ready to separate yourself emotionally from your home?

Most homeowners consider their home their own private sanctuary suited and styled to their own personal taste. When potential buyers come to view your home, you need to bear in mind that they are viewing the home as they would see themselves in it. Therefore, you need to take into consideration that your personal taste may not be the same as the potential buyers viewing your home. You will have to be able to maintain objectivity when buyers are criticizing your home.

Can you set a realistic listing price for your home?

Some sellers tend to have unrealistic views on what the listing price of their home should be. Realtors help you come up with a listing price that is suitable by completing a comparative market analysis and other research that will help them suggest a reasonable price for your home.

Can you effectively market your home?

It is important to remember that your realtor has access to tools that can market your home to a very large audience. Your realtor knows the key elements of your home that will be big “attention grabbers” and can expand upon these features with engaging ads for local newspapers, magazines, and MLS.

Will you be able to respond to potential problems that may arise?

Realtors are professionally trained to deal with potential problems. No doubt that your realtor has probably dealt with their fair share of make or break it deals. It is this knowledge that could potentially save the deal on your home from falling through.

Are you able to make yourself available for showings?

Buyers tend to feel more intimidated by the presence of the seller while they are viewing the home. They may feel hesitant to comment or truly look at the house the way a buyer should when viewing homes.

Depending on your circumstances you may benefit from the services of a Realtor. You should make sure that you do your research and interview multiple agents before committing to any particular one.