So, you’re thinking about investing in real estate? Congratulations – property investment is a great way to diversify your portfolio and improve your financial footing during periods of economic uncertainty.
There’s just one problem – you don’t know where to start. Continue reading
From townhouses to triplexes, there are numerous types of properties available to Canadian consumers. Not sure what layout works best for your family? Then check out our explanation of typical housing types below. Your mortgage payments and regular monthly bills may change depending on the kind of house you acquire, therefore it is vital that you carefully weigh the pros and cons related to each design before you make your final decision.
Condominiums, or condominiums as they’re commonly referred to, are a popular form of housing in larger cities. Inside a condominium contract, you own the unit, but do not own the land the unit is situated on, or any of the common space (lobby, gardens, and so on) outside of your unit. In order to ensure the suitable maintenance of these areas, condo proprietors are generally charged a monthly “condo fee.” Fee’s additionally help take care of things like elevator maintenance tasks, snow removal, and the use of any onsite recreational establishments (swimming pools, work-out devices, etc.). Don’t forget, these types of monthly fees are in addition to your residence mortgage payments. Continue reading
Before putting your property on the real estate market, many home buyers ask whether or not their home would probably gain value from the home renovation. It could, but there will be things you need to take into consideration prior to finishing home renovations.
Expertise vs. Passion
It’s simple to get up to date watching home renovation episodes on tv and believing it is simple to complete a similar job to enhance your property value. The reality is however, that home owners spend lots of money every day on do-it-yourself home makeovers, and also specialized home makeovers, with no anticipation of turning a profit immediately after selling.
This particular gap frequently occurs because homeowners don’t have the experience to not only know what they are able to actually achieve without specialist help, but also in selecting proper equipment, materials, meeting legal requirements, overcoming building limitations, and in the actual workmanship and completion of the home remodeling.
Research your renovation
Before you begin smashing out walls and ripping up flooring, do a marketplace survey, compare your property to some others in the vicinity and area, and find out how the value and amenities of your home can compare to each other. If your house is the very best and most costly on the street, it’ll be difficult to anticipate exactly what the value of property renovations will be. If your residence lacks alot and is located near other, more modern homes, then maybe an easy facelift would certainly help, however major home renovations, especially before your market your property, in many cases are best left to the specialists.
Use professional guidance
If your heart is set on remodeling your property for sale, a professional will help you achieve that level of finish, even if you have got a small spending budget. Simple renovations for instance choosing a professional painter to decorate your property with fairly neutral tones and soft contrasts can really revitalize your home prior to it going on the market. Likewise, employing a home stager who brings in fresh and new furnishings while your property is available on the market, can modernize your house and offer it additional appeal.
There you have it. When contemplating home renovations to improve the value of your home prior to sale, your best option would be to discuss your decisions with your real estate agent or other brokers, because there will certainly be a limit as to what is achievable and realistic in terms of getting your money back from pre-sale refurbishments. You never know, maybe the thing that will sell your property that fastest is having that “fixer upper” attraction. If you are looking to finance a larger home renovation, FamilyLending.ca can help.
For years, people across Canada have been turning run down, old properties into money, by transforming homes into income properties. Although most people who watch home renovation or real estate television shows can picture themselves quickly fixing or transforming a property for a financial return, it isn’t always that easy. If done correctly however, renovating your first home to become an income property can help you pay your mortgage, and in the long run, make you money. Here are some things to consider before you turn your home into an income property:
Do your research first
Why would you attempt to renovate a home if you aren’t increasing or at least breaking even in the value of the home? If you plan to rent out the home, (the most common form of an income property), make sure you can meet the industry standard, which is to pay back the cost of your renovations within two years rent. If you can meet these two points, you might be ready to renovate.
Two heads are better than one
If you can, never go it alone. Entering this type of venture with a partner gives you more financial security, allows you to delegate work and tasks, and ultimately, it’s good just to have someone next to you through the highs and lows of the renovation process.
Budget, re-budget, and prepare to budget again
Once you’ve got a design and a quote from a professional contractor, make sure you plan to have a slush fund available for the unexpected. As a simple rule, the more you do in a home, the more damage or issues you might uncover. Things like faulty electrical, mould, structural issues, or any combination of troubles are not uncommon once you start opening walls. To be safe, make your budget, and then add 25% on top of the quote to help ease the surprise and stress connected to these types of issues.
Know your choices and make it liveable
Are you going to create a simple basement apartment, split your home into a duplex, or invite multiple tenants by dividing further? Larger spaces will allow you to demand a higher rent, potentially getting you nearer to mortgage free living. At the same time however, you need to make each space liveable. No one wants a bedroom that will only fit a single bed and no furniture, a kitchen with zero counter space, or a bathroom where you’re stepping over the toilet to get to the sink. Your space needs to be easy to rent, and one that will meet the needs to a variety of tenants.
Make it sound and fireproof
As soon as you welcome tenants into your income property, you’re inviting the risk of annoying sound pollution, and even added fire hazards. This is why when you’re renovating your income property, it’s important to put in quality drywall and other barriers to protect the rest of your home against sound invasion, and to serve as a fire barrier.
From the outside in
Before you worry about what tile to put down, or what colour to paint the walls, consider the entrance to your income property. Not only is this important in terms of curb appeal, but tenants typically prefer their own, secured, private entrance to a home. Shared entrances are sometimes acceptable as long as no one’s living space overlaps, but a separate, private entrance is ideal. As well, consider the surface of the entrance and safety to avoid complaints, lawsuits, or costly repairs. No one ever wants a tenant to fall down a slippery and dark stairwell on the way to their basement apartment.
There is a lot to consider before you renovate an income property. If done correctly, however, you could be on your way to mortgage free living and a future source of additional income. For more information on mortgage budgeting and real estate investing, contact the mortgage brokers at FamilyLending.ca
Chanteille Kennedy Writer for FamilyLending.ca
Did you know that in addition to the downpayment and mortgage, you’re also responsible for any miscellaneous closing costs associated with your home purchase? These fees can vary in price, but all must be paid prior to taking possession of your home. If you’re currently in the market for a new home, now’s the time to consider these hidden costs so that you can incorporate any additional expenses into your budget.
Eight Closing Costs to Keep an Eye On
1) Appraisal Fee
Your mortgage lender or mortgage default insurer may require you to provide a property appraisal prior to lending you mortgage monies. This appraisal will determine whether the selling price of your new home is reasonable based on current market conditions. Home appraisals can cost anywhere from $300 to $500, depending on where in Canada you’re purchasing the property.
2) Sales Tax
If you’re planning to purchase a newly constructed home, or a home that has been substantially renovated, make sure you remember to factor in the HST or GST on top of the list price. Resale homes are not taxable. Luckily, most provinces have HST/GST rebates in place to help first-time home buyers recover some of these costs.
3) Home Inspection Fee
If you’re making an offer on a home, make sure that it’s conditional on the findings of a professional home inspector. Hiring an inspector is voluntary, but highly recommended. An inspection will help uncover any unexpected (and costly!) issues with your potential new home. Home inspections costs between $300 and $500.
4) Property Insurance
Property and content insurance protects your home and possessions against fire, theft, and weather-related damage. Insurance payments, like your mortgage payments, are ongoing so it’s crucial that you keep this cost in mind when building your budget.
5) Land Transfer Tax
The land transfer tax is based on the amount of money you paid for the land. What’s more, municipalities impose a yearly tax on land within their municipal boundaries.
6) Legal Costs
There are a number of legalities that you’ll need to cover when closing on your home. This could include notary services for conducting a title search, registration fees, and the preparation of your mortgage. These fees are normally well over $500, depending on the lawyer you hire.
7) Mortgage Life Insurance
This special type of insurance is separate from your property insurance and your mortgage payments. It is put in place to cover the cost of your mortgage in the event of death or severe illness.
8) Mortgage Default Insurance
If you’ve qualified for a high-ratio mortgage, (this is normally the case for home buyers with less than a 20% downpayment), chances are good that you’ll require mortgage default insurance from your lender. The cost is usually added onto your monthly mortgage payment and rates range from 1% to 3.25%.
Start building your home buying budget today. Consult with a FamilyLending.ca mortgage broker to learn more about these and other unexpected closing costs.
Chantielle Kennedy writer for Familylending.ca