Deciding the Best Approach: Sell or Buy Your Calgary Home First?

When embarking on a new home search as a current homeowner, a significant question arises: should you sell your existing home before seeking a new one, or vice versa? Let's delve into both strategies to determine which might be best for your unique circumstances.

The Case for Selling First

Advantages: Selling your current home before diving into the housing market can offer clarity and negotiation power. With the proceeds from your sale, you'll have a clear budget, enabling you to focus on homes within your price range. This certainty empowers you to make compelling, unconditional offers, which sellers often prioritize. As a result, you may secure a better deal or snag your dream home before others.

Considerations: The main concern with selling first is the potential gap between the sale of your old home and the purchase of a new one. This could mean seeking temporary housing, which may not be ideal for everyone. Before choosing this route, assess the feasibility of temporary living situations and weigh the potential inconveniences against the benefits.

Reasons to Buy First

Advantages: Choosing to buy before selling might stem from stumbling upon a rare property or an incredible deal that's too good to pass up. By securing your next home, you avoid missing out on exceptional real estate opportunities.

Considerations: This approach is not without risk. If you face delays selling your old home, you might be burdened with two mortgages. While a home evaluation provides an estimate, the final selling price can be unpredictable. Shouldering the costs of two properties may strain your finances, and in worst-case scenarios, force a hasty sale at a discounted price. Evaluate your financial resilience and risk appetite before opting to buy first.

Navigating Conditional Offers

Overview: Another strategy is placing a conditional offer contingent upon selling your current home within a defined timeframe. This middle-ground approach can offer some flexibility and security. However, it's worth noting that conditional offers may not pack the same punch as firm offers in sellers' eyes, potentially reducing your negotiation leverage.

Drawbacks: Sellers may perceive conditional offers as less serious, meaning you may have to augment your offer to secure the property. Additionally, even if your offer is accepted, there's always a risk another buyer could outbid you before you complete your sale. Moreover, you're bound by the timeframe set in the conditional offer, potentially sidelining you from better deals.

In conclusion, whether you decide to sell or buy first, ensure you're well-informed, consider all scenarios, and consult with professionals to make a decision that aligns with your needs and financial well-being.

Discovering Calgary's Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods

Calgary is a vibrant city with pockets of growth, innovation, and transformation. When searching for a home, it's beneficial to identify neighbourhoods on the brink of blossoming. Here's how you can spot a Calgary neighbourhood that's trending upwards:

1. **Pride of Ownership Shines Through**

Stroll through the streets and observe the homes. An area where residents take pride in maintaining their properties — manicured lawns, well-kept gardens, and tidy exteriors — speaks volumes about the community's spirit. Such neighbourhoods often indicate resident satisfaction and a sense of belonging.

2. **Real Estate Dynamics**

Are homes selling like hotcakes? And at impressive prices? A surge in real estate activity can signal that a neighbourhood is in demand. Quick sales, coupled with good pricing, can be indicative of a community's rising popularity.

3. **Thriving Local Businesses**

Business investments can be a bellwether for neighbourhood growth. The emergence of upscale boutiques, gourmet eateries, fitness centers, and other local businesses often coincides with the upward trajectory of an area. Such businesses choose to establish in regions they believe have a promising future and a growing clientele.

4. **City's Development Blueprints**

Tap into the City of Calgary's vision for the area. Are there infrastructural enhancements or major developments in the pipeline, such as new schools, parks, or community hubs? While these projects might bring short-term disruption, they usually translate into long-term community benefits and can significantly uplift the neighbourhood's appeal.

In essence, recognizing a neighbourhood's potential is an art that combines observation, research, and a bit of foresight. If you're navigating Calgary's dynamic housing market and need insights on emerging areas, don't hesitate to reach out for expert guidance.

Breaking Free: How the Fear of Change Could Be Limiting Your Potential

Have you ever wondered why, even when we recognize the potential benefits, embracing significant change can feel so daunting?

From a psychological perspective, there's an innate human tendency to favour the "status quo" or the known. This powerful inclination towards familiarity can often override our aspirations, especially when things seem "just fine." Consider, for instance, the thought of transitioning from your current home to your dream residence. While the allure of a better, more suitable space is appealing, the comfort of the familiar can anchor you to your existing circumstances, making the jump seem challenging.

Visualize to Realize

To challenge this inertia, take your dreams from abstract to tangible. Begin by articulating your ideal living scenario. Desire a 3-bedroom detached home in a bustling family-centric community? Crave specific amenities like a spacious backyard, gourmet kitchen, or minimalistic interiors? Get detailed. By documenting your desires, you're translating your aspirations into something more concrete, making them feel achievable.

Shatter Assumptions with Facts

Before succumbing to hesitations, equip yourself with knowledge. Rather than speculating, dive into the specifics. Understand the potential market value of your current property. Research what your dream home might cost. By grounding your aspirations in real numbers, you can assess the feasibility of your dreams with clarity.

The First Step to Your Dream Home

Discovering that your dream home is within reach can dissolve those psychological barriers. Remember, every significant journey begins with a single step, and that step often requires challenging the comfort of the familiar.

If you're ready to explore the possibilities and get a clear picture of your home transition, I'm here to guide and provide the insights you need. Reach out, and let's embark on this transformative journey together.

Welcome to "The MLS® Portal"

Reverse The Home Hunting Process - Make Properties Find You - End Online Search Frustration!

Welcome to The MLS® Portal, your single access point for MLS® listing information, brought to you by Jerry Charlton

When you arrive at The MLS® Portal, you may find it convenient to save its website address as a favourite or bookmark in your web browser. This will enable you to easily visit The MLS® Portal at any time.

Listing Information is Provided By Jerry Charlton. 

Jerry Charlton may email listing information to you in two ways: manually or automatically. Both types of emails contain a hyperlink which you can click to visit The MLS® Portal and view the listing information Jerry has prepared for you.

• Manual ("Direct") Emails: Jerry Charlton may personally compile and send MLS® listing information for you. These emails contain a link to The MLS® Portal where these listings are available for you to view. This collection of listings will remain available for you to view on The MLS® Portal for 60 days.

• Auto Emails: Jerry Charlton may also arrange for you to receive auto emails. These are also personally set up and controlled by Jerry Charlton but dispatched by the MLS® system itself, based on your criteria. Auto emails also contain a link to The MLS® Portal where matching listings are available for you to view. Auto emails will continue to be sent to you until you ask Jerry to stop them or you unsubscribe from the service yourself.

On the Start tab, you'll see links to any Direct Emails and/or Auto Emails Jerry has prepared for you. Click on one of those links to view the associated listings.

For additional MLS® Portal Tutorials and Guides visit the link below:

Customer Portal Video Overview

Have you ever found a home you love online only to find out it's conditionally sold?

Searching online for homes to buy can be fun. Also frustrating when you find the perfect home and it is already conditionally sold to somebody else.

So What Does Conditionally Sold Mean?

Conditionally Sold means the home seller has accepted a "Conditional Offer To Purchase" subject to "The Buyers' Conditions".

What Are "The Buyers' Conditions"?

One common Buyer Condition is "Subject To the Buyer getting Approved for a Mortgage".  Another common Buyer Condition is "Subject To The Buyers Approval of the results of a Home Inspection".

Buyers' Conditions are often referred to as "Walk Away Clauses". If a buyer does not waive the buyer conditions in writing by the specified time the offer to purchase contract is voided, the deposit is returned in full to the buyer.

The seller has options after accepting a "Conditional Offer To Purchase".

1. Change the MLS Listing Status to "Pending" and the listing disappears from the internet.

2. Leave the MLS Listing as "Active" to try to get offers in case the first one falls through.

From the seller's perspective if they are feeling confident or not about the first offer going through or not leads them to choose the option of leaving the property on the market or taking it off pending the outcome of the conditions.

Before we book property viewings for our clients we ask if the property is still active or conditionally sold. It's not ideal for our buyers to get excited about a property only to find out it's most likely sold already. But we do see the seller's point of view as well.

The best way to avoid the disappointment of missing out would be to get directly connected to the Real Estate Boards MLS® System. Then you would be amongst the first to see new listings that match your list of wants and needs.

Contact Us Today and we will get the MLS® System Working For You instead of against you! We reverse the process of you searching online for houses to the home finding you. We know our system works best because 100% of our buyer clients switch from wandering the internet and are glad they did.

Contact Us for more information on the entire home buying process in Calgary and how to avoid the disappointment of finding conditionally sold properties.