Is it a good time to buy real estate? Yes!
Over the last few years so many buyers have not been able to buy a home because they have been in competition with 30 or more people every time they found a home that they liked. In some of the biggest cities, a buyer could have been in competition with many more! It’s been a discouraging and defeating experience for anyone thinking of buying a new home. It was a shock to all of us that having this many multiple offers became “the new normal” as time passed.
Many people who have bought a home in the last two years have had to submit the offer with no conditions and have offered way over the asking price just to have a chance at purchasing their dream home. I know that it’s been like this for years in the bigger cities, but here in our area, that’s never been the case. We’ve only experienced this wild and crazy market since the pandemic hit. Some of the reasons why things changed in our area was that during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who worked in the big city every day didn’t necessarily have to go in to the office to work. They could live in a smaller community, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and work remotely. We saw an increase in people wanting to move to this area to enjoy a slower-paced life, more affordable housing, and more bang for their buck. Also during the pandemic when people were sticking very close to home, those of us in smaller communities were able to bike down by the water, social distance in a park, and walk around the neighbourhood. There was a feeling of safety in our small town. A friend in Toronto rarely went outside with his family for a year and a half. It must have been brutal for them. I’m glad that we’re seeing a return to normal now.
The local real estate market has shifted and has changed. Houses are staying on the market for longer periods of time, we are seeing a return of conditions in offers and we are seeing less multiple offers. Why is this? In my opinion, many people are worries about an increase in interest rates. That seems to be on the news a lot these days. This is going to happen whether we like it or not. We’ve enjoyed a lower interest rate for years now so it’s to be expected that it will increase. The unfortunate thing about the interest rates going up is that many people have over spent in the past few years and could be in trouble financially if the interest rates go up too much. I predict that the banks will offer ways to help people such as amortizing mortgages over 30-40 years. This is happening in other countries already and I believe that it will happen here within time. This will help lower monthly payment so people will be able to afford the higher mortgage that is needed to buy a home in today’s real estate market. I was talking to one of Storm Realty’s Realtors a few months ago about this and we foresee a longer amortization period helping people out. What are your thoughts on this?
Is it a great time to buy real estate? Absolutely! People ask me every day about the real estate market and in my opinion, it’s a great time to buy. Many people have stopped looking; the past few years of rejected offers and repeated disappointment has been very difficult for buyers. I really don’t think that it’s a good time to stop looking though. If there are less people looking to buy in the local real estate market, isn’t that the best time for you to buy a home? Many of us have wanted to buy a home over the last two years and have not been able to buy. Now it’s looking much more promising. I’m hoping that after you read this article, you will get back into the game because it’s a great time to buy. The property values here have been so depressed compared to so many other places throughout Canada. Now the property values are finally getting to where they should be in a normal market. We live in such a beautiful place of Canada and because we live in such a great location, it was only a matter of time before the values would increase. We may have to adjust our new way of living to support these real estate changes and it may be very uncomfortable for some of us, but things will get easier and will become our new normal again. It’s just a matter of time. We have been able to increase the value of our properties to where they should be and because of that, our market will not drop like other markets throughout the country because our property values are more realistic than ever before.
For anyone looking to sell their properties, it’s also a great time. Sure the quick home selling lottery is over, but it’s still a great time to sell and make some money on your home. In today’s market, you will receive the most money possible for your property that a willing and able buyer is willing to pay for it. That’s they way it should be and that’s the way it is. A property is only worth what someone will pay for it. That’s it. During these last few years so many sellers have received a premium…a huge bonus… on their home and that has rarely happened in our area. We rarely had the $50,000 to $100,000 bonus like many have received in these last few years. That part has been incredible but those times have passed. Now in our new normal market, the market is like it was 4-5 years ago but with higher property values. It’s a great time to sell because there aren’t a lot of properties on the market compared to other years. The more properties listed, the more competition you have. The more competition you have, possibly the less money that you get for your property. Today is a great time to list your property because the serious buyers are always there and if you wait to list your home, the buyer who may have bought it, could possibly buy another property instead of yours.
We have to have a realistic expectation of what to expect and what is happening in the market. This is why it’s so important to reach out to Rylan or I at the Iwachniuk Real Estate Team with Storm Realty. We will always be honest and that’s exactly what you need to be successful in today’s real estate market. You need someone who will explain everything to you so that you understand what’s happening. We will guide you though the process and be fully transparent.
If you have any questions about the local real estate market or if you would like to buy or sell a property, please send us a private message. We like making the process as easy as possible for you and your family and we love helping educate everyone about what’s happening in the real estate market. Truthfully, we just want to help protect you and your family! Give us a call at 613-361-2523 and let’s make things happen. Don’t wait; now is the perfect time!
Steven Iwachniuk
Broker of Record/Owner
Storm Realty
Cell: 613-361-2623
Email: Steven@StormRealty.ca
The Iwachniuk Real Estate Team