4 Key Factors When Looking at Real Estate Listings in Edmonton
Here are 4 Key Factors When Looking at Real Estate Listings in Edmonton
When looking for your dream home amongst the thousands of Edmonton real estate listings, you can easily spend hours "virtual touring" every house on the market without finding the right one. Luckily I have four factors to consider when looking at real estate listings in Edmonton.
1. Get your mortgage pre-approval
Before you even start searching for a home, it's highly recommended you get the pre-approval for your mortgage in place first. It might not seem like the most exciting first step, but getting pre-qualified helps you - and your REALTOR® - search for homes within your budget. During this step, you will find out how much you'll be approved to borrow from the bank, what the payments to expect should be, and what you'll need for your down payment and closing costs.
Having this information will help you narrow your search. Shopping within your pre-qualified budget can save you from being heartbroken later if you fall in love with a home outside of your budget. Having that pre-approval in place also makes the whole purchase process easier as your lender will have all of the documents they need to finalize your financing condition for the sale.
2. Research the Location
Edmonton real estate listings are available on REALTOR.CA, which allows you to view properties on a map or search by neighbourhood, making it easy to research the community and the surrounding area. You may also want to consider the amenities these areas offer, such as parks, playgrounds, schools, and shopping. It's also a great way to figure out how long your commute to work will be if you don't work from home, or what the walkability score is.
The neighbourhood you buy your home in is crucial because you can update the house, but it's a lot more challenging to move it to a different community.
3. Features of the home
Before you even start looking at listings, it is important to determine which features you want for your home. Knowing this early on can save you and your REALTOR® a lot of time and prevents you from touring homes that aren't suitable for your needs. If you are having trouble figuring this out, ask yourself:
What features are essential to my lifestyle?
How many bedrooms?
How many bathrooms?
What home layout do you prefer?
How about the kitchen layout?
Do you need a big backyard, or would you prefer a low-maintenance home?
Do you want a finished or unfinished basement? Are you looking for one with a legal basement suite?
Work from home? What kind of office space do you require?
How big of a garage do you need? Would a single or a double work?
4. The Age of the Property
Buying a newly built home versus buying an older home can have its pros and cons. Although you may have fallen in love with the charm of an older home, including the design features you love that you can't find in newer homes, it's important to remember that older homes may require more TLC than newer ones. Of course, that doesn't mean you should avoid older homes, but it's a good idea to know how much maintenance and repairs are required before purchasing the house, so you have a little extra money saved. This is why I always recommend a home inspected by a licensed home inspector. A small investment of time and money can save you a lot of money and headaches later.
A new home may be intriguing for it’s modern features and the ability to customize it from day one, but you also have to know what the cons will be. Construction delays, overpaying for upgrades, and future community development are items that may arise. This is why you need a good REALTOR® to accompany you while showhome shopping from the very start.
Need some help going through listings to find your next home? As one of Edmonton's top REALTORS®, I have the experience and the knowledge to help you find the perfect place for you and your family! Contact Jeneen by phone: (780) 904-4240 or by email: jeneens@remax.net. Find me on Instagram
Hi, I'm Jeneen Marchant!
I’m here to help you find you during your next Real Estate transaction. Home ownership is a beautiful thing and I love seeing my buyers happily opening the door to their new home on possession day. I also get great satisfaction from helping my sellers get the best price possible for their home when it is time to move on to another property.