Why Some of These Homes Are Bargains.
Gone are the good old days of buying a home for X amount of dollars and seeing it appreciate 100% plus over the course of say 20 years. The latest statistics show the average home in Canada cost a whopping $200,000 plus. Click for Article That's a whole lot of loonies.
Worse yet the average take home wage is only $24,764. That's not a whole lot of loonies. People are working harder and longer for a lot less. Gone are the days of job security and tidy pension plans. The days when dad went to work and mom stayed home. Yes sir, those days are gone. Everything cost more. There are so many fixed costs today that you have no control over. Like the price of gas, hydro, your basic monthly phone bill, your weekly groceries. The list goes on and on. Not to mention your taxes.
I for one really wonder what some of these people do for a living that are buying these average homes. If that is the average price and the above is the average wage, how long is the average mortgage? Better yet, what is the average mortgage payment. I really sometimes wonder if they will ever pay them off, let alone make the payments and the upkeep.
Therefore I have concluded that housing can be one of the greatest expenses in life. But it is also one of the things we do have some control over.
I know, some folks may think that living in a small prairie town, or some old lumber town is not trendy, but then being broke all the time isn't really trendy either.
Some of these places can offer you the world. A place to start your own business, with low taxes and low overhead, makes it that much easier to get things off the ground and up and running. And with technology today the sky is the limit. So if your viewing the listings here, want a change in life, ask yourself, "What could I do to make $24,764 a year?" Do a little research. Check out what some of these places have to offer. Talk to the town council. Just get out there. You just never know what you might find.
For anyone who is really interested in the buying and selling of these homes there is some great material to be had right here.
One can make an exceptional living in the business of buying, fixing, and reselling these homes. If you are looking at a different pace of life, here is and opportunity not be dismissed.
Go here more information on this life changing adventure.


Tips For The Seller.
If you're selling your house, make sure it's cleaned up. Inside and out. You want to make sure you have good curb side appeal. If the place looks dumpy, folks are just going to drive by.
Trim trees and hedges. Put on a bit of paint if needed. Plant some flowers about to give your yard some color. And put up a For Sale Sign in the yard. I don't know why some folks stick a for sale sign in the window. Your selling your house. Not your car.
Let people know, "Your House is for Sale".
Inside the same. Keep it clean, air it out. When you make a time for viewing at least have the place ready. I've been to some places that were just disgusting. Dirty dishes and laundry laying about. These are folks that knew 24 hours in advance that the place was going to be shown. Have a hand out ready for your prospective buyers. This way they have all the information when they leave. It's just a little something extra for them to mull over. Make sure you tell them of the latest improvements, eg: roof was done last year, siding is only 3 years old, etc. This is money that they won't have to spend.
Is there a function(trade show or fair) going on in your town on a particular weekend? What a great opportunity to have an open house for out of towners. Post your address and a time about the town so the out of towners can stop by. I've often wondered why these towns that have a website, never seem to have an update for local events. Find out who the webmaster is and even get a posting on a realty page on your towns site. You never know who may take an interest in your town and your home. Remember, it only takes one buyer to have your house sold.
Now, a lot of these houses are cheap in price, and that is one thing that will draw certain folks to them. But as a seller you may want to do a bit of exploring and research and find out what opportunities exist for that potential buyer. Yes there are some who will just want to retire, but there are young families out there also. What sort of work is there? What sort of businesses are needed? Are there any small business for sale? They may like your house, but if they are going to starve living there, it's just that much more difficult to sell. If your town has cheap commercial lots and tax breaks, let them know. Check and see if there are any municipal/provincial grants for small business. Give them a hand in getting the information they need. Better yet, have it ready for them. You want to let them know why your home in your town is The Best.
Here is a great site full of tips for selling your house. Click Here.
They got heaps of information on there. They got a lot of stuff you would have never even thought of. It's a good read. Make sure you check it out.


Tips For The Buyer.
If your a buyer, there are a few things to keep in mind. In most cases you already know what it is you are looking for. You should have a general idea of size and location. With most there is a reason to buy, or move. I would recomend a building inspector to do an inspection of the home. Most are quite knowlegeable and look at things that you may not look at or even have thought of looking at. They will give you a report of what they find. Most will want you there while they are doing the inspection and will point out things to be aware of. The final decision is of course yours. Whether to buy or not. They usually vary in price but you can expect to pay between 300-500 dollars. If there are things wrong they will point it out and give you a ball park figure on what it may cost to make the repair. This is good as you don't want to many surprises. To me, a home inspection is money well spent. Their fee can literally save you thousands, not to mention the grief and frustration.
Pre approve your mortgage. That way you know where you stand. Nothing worse than finding that little home you always wanted and have the banker say no. If money is a problem, ask the homeowner if they will carry the paper for a set term. You never know unless you ask.
Because we don't buy homes often, there are a lot more things to think about. Whether it's your first go at it or more, it's good to keep up on things.
If you're thinking about buying a house, here is a link to a site that has lots of good stuff for you to think about and read over. Click Here.
They got more answers than you probably got questions. Be sure to check it out.