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Are You Looking for Real Estate in Calgary? Here’s What to Keep in Mind!

There are a few questions you should be asking yourself when you begin your Calgary real estate search. What neighbourhoods do you like? Do you need to be close to the highway? Is there a particular route you prefer taking to work? These are things that you’ll want to consider.

On top of that, you will want to communicate your needs to your REALTOR®. Your real estate professional will access a broader search, meaning you can safely narrow down your house preferences for them! Maybe you need 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, or perhaps you require a finished basement. We’re breaking down some things you should remember when searching for real estate in Calgary. 

Prioritize your non-negotiables.

Purchasing a home is no small feat; you should feel proud of yourself for being able to do what so many people desire! And because it is such a big deal, you shouldn’t compromise on things that are very important to you. Take that with a grain of salt because most people don’t get everything they want under one roof, but you can have the necessary things. How many bathrooms do you need? People think they can make do with one shower and quickly realize that it’s hard to live with multiple people with only one shower. Do you require office space? You’ll want to ensure you have an extra room for this, or maybe you’d prefer a den. Do you need to live in a particular neighbourhood for your kids to be on a bus route for their school district? Well, then you need to be looking in X neighbourhood. Keep these non-negotiables in mind when you’re looking for a home.

Prepare for future maintenance costs with a home inspection.

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When you find a home you think might be the one, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. We cannot stress enough the importance of a home inspection, though. A home inspector’s job is to evaluate possible safety concerns, threats, defects, or property violations. When mindful of red flags that might exist, you can decide if you would like to move forward with the property or not. A home inspection allows you to budget for future repairs. Most inspection reports will determine costs of postponed maintenance, meaning repairs that are not necessary now but will need updating in the future. You can get an idea of replacements that will need to happen within the next 5-10 years. Most inspectors are also happy to answer questions that you may have about ongoing maintenance and specific maintenance that your home requires.

Know when to be flexible.

As we mentioned, you will unlikely get everything you want in one home. While you presumably have a few non-negotiables when looking for a house, there has to be some room for flexibility. It’s good to know where you are comfortable being flexible when push comes to shove. For example, maybe you found a home that checks off your non-negotiables, but you really wanted hardwood in your kitchen, not tile. You can always change the floor in the future, so if you’ve found a home with all the things you need, it’s okay to be flexible about the kitchen tile. What we’re saying is to try to separate your wants versus your needs. Be adaptable with your wants, and remember to prioritize your needs.

Don’t forget that it’s a seller’s market right now.

Real Estate in Calgary

There are fewer homes on the market than buyers, so you need to get out there and start looking at properties! If you have started your home search, you have probably landed on REALTOR.ca, a great place to narrow down your search. Navigating the market demands knowledge, though, so you will need to trust your REALTOR®, as they have extensive experience in transactions, contracts, etc. Once you and your real estate professional have started your search, you can put an offer on a home if you love it! The market is hot right now, and it’s working in the seller’s interest, so if you find a home you want to buy, you need to be prepared to act fast.

We’re here to help!

If you are ready to begin your search for real estate in Calgary, we’d love to help you. Realty Unleashed has a team of REALTORS® who are prepared to assist you in finding your new home! You can reach out to us here, let’s begin your search!

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