Monday, November 9, 2020 / by Evelyn Lopes
The New Normal: A Strong Housing Market Expected to Continue into 2021
Circumstances like a once-in-a-hundred-years pandemic and historic inventory shortages might have made you assume that the housing market would lose steam, but there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. As Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) senior economist, Shaun Cathcart noted, “records [are continually] being broken” in the residential property market.1
Indeed, rather than a slowdown, we are continuing to experience a surprisingly robust real estate market across the country. And experts estimate that these conditions are likely to last into the new year. TD Bank Group Economist Rishi Sondhi predicts that high home prices will persist for the rest of 2020.2
Market conditions like fewer available listings, changing criteria for desired homes, and record-low mortgage rates are changing the way people buy and sell homes, most likely in a lasting way. But this sustaine ...
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Wednesday, October 21, 2020 / by Evelyn Lopes
5 Secrets Buyers and Sellers Must Know About Virtual Home Tours
For years now, virtual home tours have helped real estate buyers far and wide find the perfect home. From long-distance military personnel being relocated, to investors expanding their portfolio, to homeowners looking for a vacation getaway, this technology makes finding a house that’s a bit out of driving distance much easier. And for real estate agents, virtual tours have been a useful way to help buyers with their home search and to assist sellers in creatively marketing their listings.
Because of the pandemic, virtual home showing options recently experienced a huge spike in popularity. One survey found that nearly 33% of recent home tour requests were for virtual tours, as compared to just 2% pre-pandemic.1 And it’s easy to see why.
Buyers want to quickly find their next safe haven, one that may need to serve as their office, gym, and even classroom for months to come. And seller ...
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evelyn lopes, evelyn lopes realty team, real estate, guaranteed sale, home and lifestyle, home selling system, your home sold guaranteed, your referrals help the kids, homes for sale, homesweethome, 5 buyer secrets, 5 seller secrets, virtual, virtual home tours, virtual open house
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 / by Evelyn Lopes
Move-Up vs. Second Home: Which One Is Right For You?
The pandemic has changed the way many of us live, work, and attend school—and those changes have impacted our priorities when it comes to choosing a home.
According to a recent survey by The Harris Poll, 75% of respondents who have begun working remotely would like to continue doing so—and 66% would consider moving if they no longer had to commute as often. Some of the top reasons were to gain a dedicated office space (31%), a larger home (30%), and more rooms overall (29%).1
And now that virtual school has become a reality for many families, that need for additional space has only intensified. A growing number of buyers are choosing homes further from town as they seek out more room and less congestion. In fact, a recent survey found that nearly 40% of urban dwellers had considered leaving the city because of the COVID-19 outbreak.2
But not everyone is permanently sold on subu ...
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020 / by Evelyn Lopes
These days, it seems like everyone’s looking for ways to cut costs and stretch their income further. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your household expenses without making radical changes to your standard of living. When combined, these small adjustments can add up to significant savings each month.
Here are 20 things you can start doing today to lower your bills, secure better deals, and begin working toward your financial goals.
Refinance Your Mortgage - For prime borrowers, mortgage rates are at or near historic lows. Depending on your current mortgage rate and the terms you choose, refinancing could save you a sizable amount on your monthly payments. There are fees and closing costs associated with refinancing, so you’ll need to talk to your lender to find out if refinancing is a good option for you.
Evaluate Your Insurance Policies - If it’s been a while since you priced home or auto insurance ...
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Saturday, March 28, 2020 / by Evelyn Lopes
We're all being encouraged to #StayHome as much as possible these days. To help you make the best of it, my latest blog post offers tips for creating functional spaces within your home for work, school and play.
CLICK HERE FOR BLOG POST
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evelyn lopes, #stayhome, coronavirus, #wellness, home spaces
