1. Newly Finished Basement – This is a common way to hide past problems. Were Permits pulled?
2. Odd Smell – Could be mould, mildew, caused by moisture or a past drug operation.
3. Exterior Cracking – Any unsealed opening on the exterior can cause water entry.
4. Slope Toward the House – Grade should move water away and not toward the house.
5. No Downspouts - Indicator of potential water issues at foundation.
6. Hot Water Tank Damage – Any sign of wear and tear on a hot water tank should be addressed quickly.
7. Cold Spots / Drafts – This can be poor insulation or improper construction.
8. Swellings Around Windows and Wall Seams – Possible water entry.
9. Water Staining / Soft Drywall – Bad news. 
10. Restrictive Covenants on Title – This could restrict the ways you can use the property, or what you can build in the future.
11. No RPR or Survey – This is the only protection you have to ensure that the house is built in the proper location on the lot and that you are getting the amount of useable land you paid for.
12. House Feels Small – The square footage listed may not be accurate.
13. Curled or Cracked Roof Shingles - Clear indicator of shingles past their lifespan.

Why Do People Actually Buy a Home?

The odd thing about all these questions is that survey after survey keeps telling us that price is not the reason families actually buy a home. When money is considered at all, it is in light of not paying rent to a landlord. Let’s look at two recent surveys as examples:

National Housing Survey

The top five reasons given in the survey for buying a home, in order, are:

• It means having a good place to raise children and provide them with a good education
• You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe
• It allows you to have more space for your family
• It gives you control of what you do with your living space (renovations and updates)
• Paying rent is not a good investment

The Myers Research and Strategic Services Survey

 The top five reasons given in the survey for buying a home, in order, are:

• Home ownership provides a stable and safe environment for children and other family members
• Home ownership means the money you spend on housing goes towards building equity, rather than to a landlord
• Home ownership creates the opportunity to pay off a mortgage and own your home by the time you retire
• Home ownership creates the opportunity to live in a neighborhood that you enjoy
• Home ownership allows you the right to decorate, modify and renovate your home as you see fit

Bottom Line

5 REASONS TO BUY NOW!

On the fence about purchasing Real Estate in Calgary?

You should strongly consider buying NOW rather than waiting. Here are FIVE reasons why:

The financial industry worldwide is still feeling the effects of the 2008 financial collapse and global recession. We are still experiencing historical lows with lending rates. It cannot continue indefinitely and they have nowhere to move but up. Don’t get caught wishing you could have the best rates when they are available right now!

·        Unemployment is Down: (http://bit.ly/k7QmK6)

·        Western Canada has the Hottest Economies in the Country (http://bit.ly/lGlppd)

·        Alberta is Headed for a Shortage of Workers (http://bit.ly/md9dbz)

All this equates to fundamental reasons why buying NOW is the right time.

There are GREAT opportunities in the marketplace right now. This will change as the economic market keeps improving. Soon the great deals will have passed you by because....

We at MyHomeAgent have our ears to the ground and are contacted daily by people moving here from out of province. This will impact housing inventory because some landlords will not look to sell their homes (since rents will increase). Fewer homes for sale will mean higher demand for housing and prices will increase.

Don’t wait to BUY. This ‘sweet spot’ of buying opportunity will pass – it’s just a matter of How soon? Call MyHomeAgent TODAY to get the Best Deals in Calgary.