Are you in the market for a real estate agent? Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or simply looking to make a move, the key to a successful real estate journey lies in choosing the right real estate agent. This decision is not one to be taken lightly, as it can greatly influence your buying or selling experience. At Liv Real Estate®, we understand the importance of this decision, and we're here to guide you through the process of finding your ideal real estate partner.

Define Your Needs and Goals

Before you even start searching for an agent, take some time to define your needs and goals. Are you looking for a home in a specific neighborhood? Do you have a particular budget in mind? Are you a seller aiming for a quick sale or…

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While some may exclaim, "Now's a great time to buy!” we advise you to be cautious of those people. This isn’t to say it’s not or can’t be a good time to buy, just that a good time to buy looks different for everyone, and it's essential to evaluate your personal circumstances. The prevailing high interest rates, unyielding prices, and limited housing inventory can make the idea of homeownership daunting, but the right real estate professional can help you navigate the market and reach your real estate goals. In this blog post, we will explore the three key considerations to help determine whether or not it's a good time for you to buy a home.

1. Start with Monthly Payment:

When considering homeownership, begin by looking at what you can afford for a…

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Buying a home is an exciting time and a significant milestone for many people, but it can also be an intimidating and costly process, particularly for first-time homebuyers. Fortunately, the Canadian government has introduced a new savings account to help prospective homebuyers save for their downpayment. Below, we will share what you need to know about the new First Home Savings Account and other downpayment options for first-time buyers.

What is the First Home Savings Account?

The First Home Savings Account is designed specifically for prospective first-time homebuyers. It's a savings account that offers tax incentives to help prospective home buyers save up for a down payment.

Eligibility Requirements

You need to be a Canadian resident, at…

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Land title transfers are seriously delayed at the moment; according to the Alberta Registries Site, they are currently registering Land Title Documents received on February 16th and Survey Plans/Documents received on March 9th, which places the current processing times well above the industry standard. Below we dive into what land titles are, why they are important, the cause of these delays, the issues the delay may cause and what home buyers and sellers can do to protect themselves. 

What is a Land Title?

A land title is a document that proves ownership of a piece of land and the specific interests (such as mortgages, caveats and easements) registered on them. When a home is bought or sold, the land title is transferred to the new owner, which…

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Whether you’re remodelling to enhance your family’s treasured home for your own enjoyment or to increase resale value, it is bound to be a vast undertaking. To adequately prepare yourself for the project that lies ahead, consider the following common renovation problems and the best solutions to fix them.

Being Caught Off-Guard by Hidden Issues

Sometimes, once the renovation project is underway, problems surface that require further attention, time and money. Be aware of the following issues that could pose extra work during your remodel process:
  • Carpentry – When a floorboard is removed, other surprises often lurk, such as rotten framing or unleveled areas.
  • Glazing on windows is often thin in older homes and can break easily.
  • Asbestos…

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What is radon gas?

Radon is an invisible, odourless, cancer-causing, radioactive gas that comes from the ground. When inhaled, radon breaks down into radioactive particles, releasing bursts of radioactivity that can cause injury to lung tissue. Exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoking. Radon enters homes where the house comes into contact with the ground and can accumulate into high levels, posing health risks to the occupants. The health implications of radon exposure depend on both the level and length of exposure, and the risk of developing lung cancer is especially high for smokers. The only way to find out if your home has high radon levels is to have your home tested. A reading of 200…

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Moving is a huge adjustment that impacts the whole family, including children. Whether you are moving down the street, to a new neighbourhood, or to a new city, province or country altogether, your children will need support during this transition. We are sharing our top 5 tips for making the transition as smooth and positive as possible.

1. Communicate with your children

  • Talk to your child about the move in age-appropriate terms as soon as possible.
  • Be prepared for and allow all the different feelings they may have.
  • Share your feelings in age-appropriate ways to show your child that all feelings are normal and that they are not alone.
  • Talk about what will change and what will stay the same.
  • Remember, it is totally normal for kids…

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Last week Sheldon and Sara were joined by two amazing Liv agents for a Facebook Live to discuss multiple offer situations. Deidre Harrison and Tonya Brown have helped many clients successfully navigate through multiple offer situations and they shared their strategies with us. Check out the replay here and read on for more details in the blog post below.

Why are multiple offers are such a hot topic right now?

Multiple offers arise when inventory is low and demand is high, which is what we are experiencing right now, particularly for single-family homes in the $350,00-$500,000 range.

Top strategies for standing out from other offers

Prepare

Have all financing pre-approved and a letter from the lender stating this. Be careful what you…

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Sheldon and Sara were recently joined for a Facebook Live by some of Liv’s resident experts on purchasing and living in a rural home. Tameka Ross, Lindsay Parsons and Allison Meston all had amazing information to share, and we’ve compiled it all into the blog post below. Watch the replay here:   Covid has seriously impacted the real estate market from a huge drop last march to a completely unexpected surge this spring.  The biggest trend over the last 10 months has been the desire for more space and along with that, there has been a huge growth in sales of rural properties. 

Reasons people have been making the move:

[caption id="attachment_8379" align="alignright" width="241"] Allison's family enjoying the outdoors on their…

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It's not broken, we just moved your cheese. It's been just over five years since we've done any major updates to our very popular home search website EdmontonRealEstate.pro. Last time, on December 15, 2015, we had about 5,500 user sessions a day. Lately, we've been averaging about 17,000 user sessions a day. The most traffic we ever saw in one day was 19,803 user sessions on June 30, 2020. So why change things? Especially when we know people love the site, and people hate change. 66% of our traffic is on a mobile device, and the mobile experience on our new site is far superior to the old one. Our new site has been designed "mobile-first" so it works as well on a phone as it does on a desktop. It's designed for speed, and it has a beautiful map-based…

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