It's the time of year where sellers start to question their home being on the market over the Holidays, or potential sellers question whether or not they should list now or wait till the New Year. There are pros and cons with each depending on how you look at it.
Listing around the Holidays can seem like a bad idea at face value, but think a little harder here... Buyers looking at this time of year are focused and motivated, why would anyone want to be spending precious December days house shopping if it wasn't entirely necessary?!
Your home is likely going show very well, having some kind of festive decor, think how cozy it is to walk into a decorated home with the soft lighting, smells of delicious treats cooking, and twinkly sparkle that this season brings a home both inside and out. Just make sure that when you add the Holiday decor, you remove other things to make space, you don't want your home to look like it's bursting at the seams!
November is a drab month outside, the leaves are gone, the grass is muddy and dull, the weather is grey and damp. Then in December all of a sudden the first snowfall arrives and everything looks and feels so fresh and crisp! Add a wreath and some boughs for greenery and some tasteful lights/candles in the windows and your home is transformed into the next hot spot for Holiday gatherings or cozy evenings relaxing. December is an excellent time to appeal to buyers desire to see themselves in their next home. I remember distinctly when we viewed the home we bought (in June) exclaiming where the Christmas tree was going to go as soon as we saw the living room (we hadn't even offered at that point and had been in the home for all of two minutes). Emotions play into purchase decisions, there is absolutely no doubt.
Yes, I know it is hard to imagine someone coming through to view your home in the midst of December, but usually with all the drop ins and guests, we keep our homes in tip-top tidy shape this time of year, so what better time to show prospective buyers your home than when it looks it's very best!?
Over the last few years I have had excellent success with selling properties in/around the Holidays. And I'll let you know, that I have very keen buyers looking for properties right now that can't find exactly what they are looking for. If you are thinking about selling in 2018, contact me right now to see if your property might fit one of my qualified buyers, maybe I'll save you all the hassle and sell it without even having to list!
Call me! 902-680-2736
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Friday, December 01, 2017
Tax Assessment vs Market Value
I'll do my best to keep this post informative, but interesting to read. I try to stay away from too many posts about the boring blah, blah, blah part of my job, but I have been getting many buyers feeling like the tax assessment of a property is going to give a likely reflection of the market value. NOT TRUE!
Let's start by defining the two - Tax Assessment is the value assigned to a property by the government in order to determine the yearly taxes due. The taxes may be levied on a Capped Assessment which means, although the actual assessment of the property may increase over time, the taxes will be based on a set amount for that owner. Tax assessments creep up over time but normally do not jump significantly unless building permits are drawn on the property or the property sells.
Market Value is the cash value of the property based on current market conditions, historical sales and improvements and upgrades to the property which are immediately reflected in an increase in Market Value. Market Value fluctuates significantly and depends on things that surround the property but may not be directly part of the property.
Now let's compare the two - say a property has been in the same family for 20 years, they have done numerous small improvements to keep it updated and maintained the property very well. The tax assessment will likely be very low compared to the market value because it has not sold recently or had major renovations done to justify an assessment increase. This home compared to similar homes in the area that have sold recently it is on par with what's fetching a good price and therefore worth about the same amount as the very similar properties nearby.
An excellent example here in the Annapolis Valley is farm land. Cleared agricultural land with high soil quality, access and improvements such as irrigation and drainage is worth in the tens of thousands per acre! Lets say we had 50 acres of prime cleared land on the Valley floor in Kings County, it's market value could be nearing $500,000 while the tax assessment is going to be probably less that $20,000.
The moral of the story is that Tax Assessments do not necessarily reflect what a property is worth. If you want a professional opinion on what your property is actually worth in todays market, I would be happy to assist you in determining that!
Call me! 902-680-2736
Let's start by defining the two - Tax Assessment is the value assigned to a property by the government in order to determine the yearly taxes due. The taxes may be levied on a Capped Assessment which means, although the actual assessment of the property may increase over time, the taxes will be based on a set amount for that owner. Tax assessments creep up over time but normally do not jump significantly unless building permits are drawn on the property or the property sells.
Market Value is the cash value of the property based on current market conditions, historical sales and improvements and upgrades to the property which are immediately reflected in an increase in Market Value. Market Value fluctuates significantly and depends on things that surround the property but may not be directly part of the property.
Now let's compare the two - say a property has been in the same family for 20 years, they have done numerous small improvements to keep it updated and maintained the property very well. The tax assessment will likely be very low compared to the market value because it has not sold recently or had major renovations done to justify an assessment increase. This home compared to similar homes in the area that have sold recently it is on par with what's fetching a good price and therefore worth about the same amount as the very similar properties nearby.
An excellent example here in the Annapolis Valley is farm land. Cleared agricultural land with high soil quality, access and improvements such as irrigation and drainage is worth in the tens of thousands per acre! Lets say we had 50 acres of prime cleared land on the Valley floor in Kings County, it's market value could be nearing $500,000 while the tax assessment is going to be probably less that $20,000.
The moral of the story is that Tax Assessments do not necessarily reflect what a property is worth. If you want a professional opinion on what your property is actually worth in todays market, I would be happy to assist you in determining that!
Call me! 902-680-2736
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
"Balloons All Filled with Rain"
"Late breaking story on the CBC, a nation whispered 'we always knew that he'd go free"
Canada is mourning the loss of one of our greatest citizens today, Gord Downie, frontman of the legendary rock band The Tragically Hip. I have blogged before about the impact that the music of this band has had on my life and education about Canadian politics, geography and social injustice. Whether you enjoyed the music or not, I don't believe anyone can say he wasn't iconic and didn't do his part to educate and make an impact.
"With illusions of someday,
casting a golden light.
No dress rehearsal, this is our life"
The death of a celebrity can hit some people harder than others. There are often questions of how one can be so deeply affected by a person you may not have ever met. I would answer that Gord Downie represented much more to his fans. For me personally music speaks volumes, and the Hip was the soundtrack to my teenage years. Everyone knows 'that' album that you couldn't get enough of the summer between high school and adulthood (Phantom Power), 'that' album the first band you ever saw live was promoting at your first concert (Trouble at the Henhouse), 'that' album that you stole from your older sibling because you thought they were so cool (Up to Here), that time you brought your non-Canadian friend to the see best band on earth (In Violet Light)... The first time you camped out for tickets... I could go on and on with this...
"We live to survive our paradoxes."
There is something special about an artist that can remain relevant for over 3 decades and will inevitably continue to grow in popularity, although they never really broke into the worlds stage they way that they sold out stadiums across Canada consistently. I think this only made their appeal greater to Canadians. Gord sang about Canadian topics, but not the pretty, proud and fluffy ones. He sang about the raw & shadowy darkess that lurks in our not so distant past and continues to be an issue even today. I learned more about Canadian history from his music and poetry than any class or textbook, and I thank him for revealing more about what it truly means to be Canadian.
"There's no simple explanation
For anything important, any of us do.
And yeah, the human tragedy
Consists of the necessity
Of livin' with the consequences
Under pressure, under pressure"
Thank you Gord, your music will live on inside me.
Canada is mourning the loss of one of our greatest citizens today, Gord Downie, frontman of the legendary rock band The Tragically Hip. I have blogged before about the impact that the music of this band has had on my life and education about Canadian politics, geography and social injustice. Whether you enjoyed the music or not, I don't believe anyone can say he wasn't iconic and didn't do his part to educate and make an impact.
"With illusions of someday,
casting a golden light.
No dress rehearsal, this is our life"
The death of a celebrity can hit some people harder than others. There are often questions of how one can be so deeply affected by a person you may not have ever met. I would answer that Gord Downie represented much more to his fans. For me personally music speaks volumes, and the Hip was the soundtrack to my teenage years. Everyone knows 'that' album that you couldn't get enough of the summer between high school and adulthood (Phantom Power), 'that' album the first band you ever saw live was promoting at your first concert (Trouble at the Henhouse), 'that' album that you stole from your older sibling because you thought they were so cool (Up to Here), that time you brought your non-Canadian friend to the see best band on earth (In Violet Light)... The first time you camped out for tickets... I could go on and on with this...
"We live to survive our paradoxes."
There is something special about an artist that can remain relevant for over 3 decades and will inevitably continue to grow in popularity, although they never really broke into the worlds stage they way that they sold out stadiums across Canada consistently. I think this only made their appeal greater to Canadians. Gord sang about Canadian topics, but not the pretty, proud and fluffy ones. He sang about the raw & shadowy darkess that lurks in our not so distant past and continues to be an issue even today. I learned more about Canadian history from his music and poetry than any class or textbook, and I thank him for revealing more about what it truly means to be Canadian.
"There's no simple explanation
For anything important, any of us do.
And yeah, the human tragedy
Consists of the necessity
Of livin' with the consequences
Under pressure, under pressure"
Thank you Gord, your music will live on inside me.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Crazy Good
Have you ever noticed people that are 'crazy good' at something? Those people that really change the game that they are in. It doesn't matter what that thing is they excel at, it could be athletics, it could be writing, it could be advertising, surgery, wine making or anything! Those people that are really making strides in their industry are a little crazy most of the time.
They are crazy about their work, they are crazy good at what they do, they are a little crazy in that, most times they think about their product or service a little bit differently. The really successful people are the ones on the leading edge of their field. I am willing to bet they are faced with more than a couple raised eyebrows and surprised faces when they pitch their ideas sometimes. Perhaps asked "are you crazy?" once or twice.
But those payoffs... right?
You see, in order to stand out, you must break out of the norm, the boring same-same mentality. In my line of work, standing out is very important. My listings have to stand out, my marketing has to stand out, and I have to stand out in a sea of other professionals in my field. What makes you different, makes you good. Maybe I am a little manic about my job at times, maybe my ideas have been called crazy now & then, maybe I am just what you need in order to stand out in a saturated market.
You would be crazy not to hire me ;)
They are crazy about their work, they are crazy good at what they do, they are a little crazy in that, most times they think about their product or service a little bit differently. The really successful people are the ones on the leading edge of their field. I am willing to bet they are faced with more than a couple raised eyebrows and surprised faces when they pitch their ideas sometimes. Perhaps asked "are you crazy?" once or twice.
But those payoffs... right?
You see, in order to stand out, you must break out of the norm, the boring same-same mentality. In my line of work, standing out is very important. My listings have to stand out, my marketing has to stand out, and I have to stand out in a sea of other professionals in my field. What makes you different, makes you good. Maybe I am a little manic about my job at times, maybe my ideas have been called crazy now & then, maybe I am just what you need in order to stand out in a saturated market.
You would be crazy not to hire me ;)
Friday, September 15, 2017
The Fall Market Update
Everyone seems to be talking about the seasons changing lately, while the days are still warm & muggy here in the Annapolis Valley, they nights are getting cooler and the leaves are starting to turn. Personally I am a summer person, it never gets too hot for me. Fall signals the 'impending sense of doom' of winter lurking behind those pretty maple leaves on the trees.
In real estate the fall season is always a very busy time, second only to the famous and much anticipated spring market. I often get sellers asking if it is a good idea to list this time of year, and my answer is always a resounding YES! While the spring market brings more traffic and a flurry of activity, the fall market brings more serious buyers and quality over quantity in terms of showings.
Once families get back into the school year routine and summer vacations are wrapped up, the buyers that intended on purchasing this year are reminded that winter is coming, and that purchase is going to take some time to process. Now is the ideal time to get that ball rolling with the plan of being settled in the new property before the snow flies.
The fall is an excellent time to put your property on the market as photos are inevitably going to be great, buyers are keen, and properties are still selling better than they have in a long time. Many people have commented this year that they have noticed many more SOLD signs around that years past. The market is hot right now, if you are thinking of buying or selling get in touch with me for a meeting to discuss your future plans!
902-680-2736
meganwhite.ca
In real estate the fall season is always a very busy time, second only to the famous and much anticipated spring market. I often get sellers asking if it is a good idea to list this time of year, and my answer is always a resounding YES! While the spring market brings more traffic and a flurry of activity, the fall market brings more serious buyers and quality over quantity in terms of showings.
Once families get back into the school year routine and summer vacations are wrapped up, the buyers that intended on purchasing this year are reminded that winter is coming, and that purchase is going to take some time to process. Now is the ideal time to get that ball rolling with the plan of being settled in the new property before the snow flies.
The fall is an excellent time to put your property on the market as photos are inevitably going to be great, buyers are keen, and properties are still selling better than they have in a long time. Many people have commented this year that they have noticed many more SOLD signs around that years past. The market is hot right now, if you are thinking of buying or selling get in touch with me for a meeting to discuss your future plans!
902-680-2736
meganwhite.ca
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Private Sales & Saving Money
I have come across a notable trend recently that begs to be discussed. We all know that buyers & seller like the idea of saving money when dealing in real estate by not enlisting the services of a REALTOR®. While this can be the case, often times it is not and I am seeing a sad trend emerge as of late.
I have been asked to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for several sellers recently where the home owners had purchased the property through a private sale and are now asking for my services to sell the property some years after the fact. Several times now sadly, those CMAs have come back lower than the price the owners bought the property for. In thinking that they were saving money by not paying a commission, they were unknowingly spending too much on the property only to find out a few years later that it's not worth what they had thought. This can be devastating.
This year has shown a significant rise in the number of properties sold and the trend is now pushing away from a flooded buyers market edging towards more balance. A trend towards more balance should edge the property values higher than a few years ago when the strong buyers market pushed prices down due to saturation of inventory.
The news that a property isn't worth what a seller thought it was is not fun to deliver. I don't enjoy it one bit. That's my two cents worth this morning. Want to discuss this or any other real estate issues more? Get in touch, I am always available!
I have been asked to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for several sellers recently where the home owners had purchased the property through a private sale and are now asking for my services to sell the property some years after the fact. Several times now sadly, those CMAs have come back lower than the price the owners bought the property for. In thinking that they were saving money by not paying a commission, they were unknowingly spending too much on the property only to find out a few years later that it's not worth what they had thought. This can be devastating.
This year has shown a significant rise in the number of properties sold and the trend is now pushing away from a flooded buyers market edging towards more balance. A trend towards more balance should edge the property values higher than a few years ago when the strong buyers market pushed prices down due to saturation of inventory.
The news that a property isn't worth what a seller thought it was is not fun to deliver. I don't enjoy it one bit. That's my two cents worth this morning. Want to discuss this or any other real estate issues more? Get in touch, I am always available!
Monday, August 14, 2017
Time to Toooot the Horn!
It's been a while since my last blog, a very long while! I apologize to my followers (if I have any left!) 2017 has been a banner year and between taking care of my clients, keeping up with continuing education and courses, and trying to take a little time for myself here & there, I've been swamped!
This year has been nothing short of stellar for my business having achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation once again for selling over 25 properties in a year. I also have been recognized as the #1 Agent in my office for 2017 and the #2 Exit agent in the Annapolis Valley! Lastly I have hit a sales volume achievement level for the 2017 calendar year only 6 months in that I hadn't ever reached in years past!
(toooot tooooot tooooooooooottt - insert sounds of me tooting my own horn here) I don't mean to brag, but I believe in celebrating achievements when they happen! I love celebrations!!
I could not have gotten to this place without my clients and customers trusting me with likely the biggest financial transactions of their lives, I have never taken this job lightly and I know that there are many many other agents in the industry to choose from. I thank all my clients from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work together to achieve their goals and create a reality of their dreams!
I feel very fortunate to wake up every morning to go to work at a job that I truly love, I am extremely thankful for the support I get from my broker and team at Exit, and my wonderful husband Jesse who understands my passion for this work and encourages me tirelessly.
All in all I am feeling pretty pleased with life right now. I apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, I was too busy living it up and enjoying the good vibes!
This year has been nothing short of stellar for my business having achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation once again for selling over 25 properties in a year. I also have been recognized as the #1 Agent in my office for 2017 and the #2 Exit agent in the Annapolis Valley! Lastly I have hit a sales volume achievement level for the 2017 calendar year only 6 months in that I hadn't ever reached in years past!
(toooot tooooot tooooooooooottt - insert sounds of me tooting my own horn here) I don't mean to brag, but I believe in celebrating achievements when they happen! I love celebrations!!
I could not have gotten to this place without my clients and customers trusting me with likely the biggest financial transactions of their lives, I have never taken this job lightly and I know that there are many many other agents in the industry to choose from. I thank all my clients from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work together to achieve their goals and create a reality of their dreams!
I feel very fortunate to wake up every morning to go to work at a job that I truly love, I am extremely thankful for the support I get from my broker and team at Exit, and my wonderful husband Jesse who understands my passion for this work and encourages me tirelessly.
All in all I am feeling pretty pleased with life right now. I apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, I was too busy living it up and enjoying the good vibes!
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