Edith Da Costa 's blog

Spring is in the air, the blooms are blooming, and buyers are house hunting! One of my favourite parts about spring (aside from the weather finally starting to improve, of course!) is that it marks the kickoff for open house season!

The spring market is here and I’m sure you are so excited to get your home on the market and fast! With many spring markets under my belt I am here to give you my top to-dos for getting your home market-ready as soon as possible. 

Purge purge purge! Take a look at your overcrowded areas of the home first, then sort, store and toss whatever you can. Get rid of those silly things you’ve been putting off getting out of your space.

Now that the market has leveled out a bit it seems like a lot of people are looking at an income property or getting ready to purchase their next home. One of the things that can be a huge oversight when you are so focused on finding the perfect home is the area it’s in!

So here are my top four things to look at in your next investment’s location!

Reportedly, the average North American will spend over $200 per year on decorating for the holidays, and it’s hard to say if that seems high or low but all I know is that if you’re spending that every year it’s going to add up fast! Christmas decorating on a budget can be tricky but I’m going to share my best ways to save money on your seasonal decorating while staying in the holiday spirit! 

Halloween Safety, something we probably haven’t had to think about too much the last couple of years so here are a few things to keep in mind heading into the hallo-weekend!

I hope I’m not the only one who gets excited for the excuse to redecorate for a new season! Fall is one of my favourites with the changing leaves, cozy fabrics, yummy warm drinks, plus Thanksgiving and Halloween fun - what’s not to love? The fall season is also the start of spending more time in our homes as we cozy up before snowy winter weather begins, which makes it the perfect time to switch up the decor!

Billionaire Andrew Carnegie once said that 90% of millionaires got their wealth by investing in Real Estate. So I’m sure you’re wondering, how does one become wealthy in Real Estate? The simplest answer would be, Investment Properties! Investment Properties are defined as being a property that you own that’s sole purpose is to be used to make a profit. 

The number one question almost everyone has in this changing market is should I lease or should I purchase? This can be one of the hardest things to decide on: if it’s smarter to hold out to buy, and lease in the meantime, or to buy and start building equity in a home right now. As the market shifts to longer closes and less frequent/ aggressive bidding wars, the decision really comes down to, what is best for you? Here are a few points to help you decide whether or not you should lease or purchase!

Lease: 

What does it mean for a house to have good bones? It’s a phrase tossed around quite a bit in real estate but what does it actually mean? In simplest terms it means that the integrity of the house is good for the next X amount of years, which is especially important if you intend to make renovations or additions to your home without running into costly repairs. 

So what exactly are you looking for in a home to find these “good bones”! 

Something I think many of us have found that with this hot market over the past 2 years, the sales process can definitely feel rushed. I would say especially if those in question are a first time buyer! So in saying that, here are a few questions to ask yourself BEFORE putting any money on the table: