Thursday, September 26, 2019

Tips to Avoid Overspending

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Do you have significant debts as a result of overspending? If you do, you are not alone. Modern society makes it particularly easy to spend more than we really should. However, if you want to clear your debts and have greater peace of mind, it is important to tackle the root cause, which is overspending.
Overspending can be an indicator of a deeper issue as well and therefore, it should be addressed properly. This article suggests some useful tips to help you know how to avoid overspending.
1. Accept that a problem exists
In order to seek a solution to something, you must accept that the problem exists. Try to decipher the reasons behind your overspending. Identify situations that make you overspend. Understanding the root cause of your behaviour will assist you in finding a workable solution to your extravagant ways. People tend to hide and ignore such issues as if they don’t exist at all. Your refusal to admit that you overspend will never let you conquer your shopping impulses.
2. Be aware of how much money you spend
Many chronic spenders live in denial about how much they spend. If you realize how much you spend on various items, this alone may be sufficient to reduce your spending. Keep a log of your daily spending, or go through your bank accounts, credit card statements and add up how much you spend on different items and decide whether you really want to spend that much money.
3. Set a financial limit
If you really have trouble controlling your spending it will be very effective to give yourself strict amounts of spending per week. This will work most effectively with cash because it is easier to monitor. If you learn to live on a limited amount per week, you will value money more and learn more frugal habits.
4. Plan your purchases ahead of time
Planning ahead can really help with grocery shopping and buying gifts. You can actually take advantage of sales and only buying things that you really need.
5. Avoid impulsive purchases
Make an effort to have a moment of reflection before buying anything. If you see something you would like to buy, try waiting a day before actually committing yourself to making the purchase. If you really want it, you will come back. This also gives you the chance to find other things that may be better.
6. Do comparison shopping
As prudent spenders, comparison shopping is a prerequisite to smart spending. With great tools online, it is getting easier and faster to comparison shop. Make a habit of searching newspaper flyers for your weekly grocery items.
7. Use cash – avoid credit cards
Avoiding credit cards helps in overcoming the impulse of overspending. You should carry only the amount you intend to spend. This, in turn, prevents you from indulging in unnecessary purchases and expenses.
8. Avoid spending by habit
Quite often a lot of our spending is a daily habit. However, this spending could easily be unnecessary. For example, if you buy takeout coffee every day, why not invest in a coffee machine. Just because you spend $10 a day on lunch doesn’t mean this habit has to continue forever. Try taking your own lunch. Re-evaluate all your habitual spending patterns and decide whether it is necessary.
9. Reward yourself on every success
Make sure that you reward yourself with a lucrative incentive every time you control an urge to shop. Encourage yourself to exercise restraint. Every success over compulsive spending calls for a pat on your back and is worth an enticing reward so that you can bring yourself to avoid overspending the next time. Make sure you don’t head off to the market to reward yourself, or the entire purpose will be defeated.
10. Get help
If you are unable to control your spending impulse, then you must admit this drawback and accept help from your spouse or relatives. Ask them to help keep control over you so that you do not spend more than required.
In addition, you need to start valuing money and the hard work that goes in earning it. This thought and understanding will help you spend money in a responsible way.

Before Buying, Be Sure to Check Out Some Open Houses!


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Open houses are the gold standard in real estate. They’ve been around for decades and will be ingrained in the buying and selling of homes for years to come. But as a buyer, are you making the most of your open house visits?
To get the most out of an open house visit, follow these guidelines:

Use the open house to learn about the market without committing
Even if you’re not serious about moving, viewing a few properties in a neighbourhood you like is a great way to get a sense of the market. Who knows? You might stumble upon your next dream home!

New buyers should leverage the open house opportunity to get a feel for the market. Most open houses will have a handout available containing the list price and other property information. Be sure to keep a copy.

Ask the agent questions
Explore the entire property, including the backyard. Don’t be shy about asking the listing agent questions about the property and the neighbourhood.

• Ask about the area. Are there schools nearby? Where is the nearest park or playground located?

• Ask about potential required repairs and renovations. For example, if the furnace is more than 15 years old, it may need to be replaced soon.

• If it’s a competitive market, ask questions such as: “Why is the seller selling?” “Is there a certain day to review offers or have you had a lot of showings?” In a slow market, ask how long the property has been on the market and what the seller’s motivations are. A good agent will engage you because it’s good for his seller.

Many agents are eager to quiz open house attendees about their home-buying plans. "How long have you been looking for a home? Are you working with an agent? Are you pre-qualified for a mortgage?" they ask. Why not turn the tables? An open house can be an opportunity for you to pump a local agent for some information about for-sale homes and the housing market.
Watch the other buyers
You can tell a lot about the activity and marketability of a home by watching the other buyers. If you observe a lot of people walking in and out quickly, the home probably has some issues. Are the buyers hanging around, asking questions of the listing agent and huddling in the corner talking to their spouses or partners? If so, it could be a sign this is a well-priced and “hot” listing. If you’re interested too, observing other buyers at the open house could help you learn about the competition.

Finally, walk around the neighbourhood. Try to get a sense of what it’s like to live there. If possible, chat with a neighbour.

If you become interested in the home, be sure to advise the listing agent that your own REALTOR® will be following up. Otherwise, the listing agent might assume that he or she will be representing you.

When to refinance your mortgage?


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Since interest rates are at a 40-year low, switching to a lower rate may save you a lot of money – possibly thousands of dollars per year. There are penalties for paying your mortgage loan out prior to renewal, however, these could be offset by the extra money you save through a refinance.

What's your goal? Before deciding whether or not to refinance, you need to determine what you want to accomplish. Remember, a refinance doesn't pay off the debt; it just restructures it, often at a lower interest rate and a different loan term than the current mortgage.
1- Reducing the interest expense is the most common goal of a refinance. But some homeowners also appreciate the ability to extend the loan back out to 30 years, reducing the monthly payment.
2- Debt consolidation is another goal of refinancing. If you have both a first mortgage and a home equity mortgage, combining the two mortgages into one fixed-rate mortgage levels out the payment over the loan term.
3- Getting cash from your home. The equity you have in your home can act like a savings account that you could access through a home equity loan or a cash-out refinance. This is usually done when you want to finance an important home improvement, pay for college or pay off high-interest credit card debt. Whatever your reason, this may be the right option for you.
When to refinance?
After determining your reasons for refinancing, you need to consider whether the timing and circumstances make this the right time to get a new mortgage.
You may be better off to stay with your current mortgage. For example, if your current mortgage has a high prepayment penalty or if you plan to move from your home in the next few years or when the monthly savings gained from lower monthly payments may not exceed the costs of refinancing.
As a rule of thumb, it pays to refinance if you can get an interest rate at least two percentage points lower than what you are currently paying. Asking yourself a few questions may help you determine if you can save money:
  • How much can I lower my current monthly payment? 
  • How long do I plan to stay in the house after I refinance?
  • How much will I pay in refinancing costs? 
How to refinance?
Refinancing is similar to the process you encountered when you closed on your first mortgage. It requires an application, credit check, new survey, and title search, as well as an appraisal and inspection fees. As you know, this process can be quite lengthy and expensive.
Keep in mind, however, that by refinancing you may extend the time it will take to pay off your mortgage. That said, there are many ways to pay down your mortgage sooner to save you thousands of dollars. Most mortgage products, for instance, include prepayment privileges that enable you to pay up to 20% of the principal per  calendar year. This will also help reduce your amortization period (the length of your mortgage), which in turn saves you money.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

AUGUST HOME SALES EASE AS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE ALONG WITH DEMAND


459 residential properties sold through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) in August, a decrease of 9.1 per cent compared to the same month last year.    


Home sales in August included 267 detached (down 11.9 per cent), and 56 condominium apartments (down 13.8 per cent). Sales also included 97 townhouses (down 4.9 per cent) and 39 semi-detached homes (up 11.4 per cent).

“The number of homes sold last month was below the average for August; however, we continue to see strong price gains across all property types,” says Brian Santos, KWAR President.

The average sale price of all residential properties sold in August increased by 6.4 per cent to $524,482 compared to August 2018. Detached homes sold for an average price of $615,568 (an increase of 5.4 per cent compared to August of last year. During this same period, the average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $324,778 for a decrease of 3.1 per cent. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $420,239 (up 18.3 per cent) and $441,802 (up 10.2 per cent) respectively.

The median price of all residential properties sold last month increased 8.1 per cent to $495,000 and the median price of a detached home during the same period increased by 2.8 per cent to $560,000.

REALTORS® listed 574 residential properties in K-W and area last month, a decrease of 14.5 per cent compared to August of 2018, and a decrease of 13 per cent in comparison to the previous ten-year average for the month of August. The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of August totalled 734, a decrease of 17.3 per cent compared to August of last year, and well below the previous ten-year average of 1,426 listings for August. Months Supply of Homes for sale stood at 1.5 months in August, which is 16.7 percent lower than the same period last year.

The average days it took to sell a home in August was 26 days, which is two days fewer than it took in August 2018.

“We’re noting differences in market balance depending on the price range,” says Santos. “For homes priced under $600 thousand, it is still a strong seller’s market, whereas above $600 thousand, it is a more balanced situation.”

As an indicator, Santos points to the month’s supply of homes, also known as the absorption rate. For homes priced at more than $600,000, the months of supply stood at 3.4 in August, compared to 0.9 months for homes prices under that amount. Months supply is the inventory of homes for sale at the end of a given month, divided by the average monthly closed sales from the last 12 months. The previous ten-year average months supply across all price ranges has been just over 3 months.

“It all comes down to what the buyers can find in their price range,” says Santos. “Homes in Kitchener-Waterloo are definitely in high demand, and there is strong competition among buyers trying to find one that will suit them.”

Santos advises buyers to work with a local REALTOR® who has a complete understanding of our region to give them an advantage in this crowded KW housing market.