Hiring a First Time Home Buyer Specialist in Vancouver

In Episode 2 of the Vancouver First Time Home Buyers Guide we talked about how to figure out where to buy. Once you have decided on neighbourhood, it’s time to select a Realtor.

How Much Will it Cost Me to Hire a Buyers Agent?

Nothing!? Yes, 9 times out of 10, a Buyers Agent is paid a finders fee by the Sellers Agent if the Buyer that is working with the Buyers Agent purchases the Sellers Agents listed property!

Furthermore, the Buyers Agent you hire is REQUIRED to disclose to you the Buyer in writing the amount they are getting paid by the Sellers Agent. To learn more, check out this great video on Buyers Agent Remuneration Disclosure

Looking for a Vancouver Buyers Agent? We Can Help!

My team of First Time Home Buyer specialists are focused on all neighbourhoods in the City of Vancouver and are available to help you with  your search for your First Home in Vancouver. Call 604-763-3136 or Email me to set a time to discuss your needs.

Interview Time!

Meeting a Realtor in action is very good way to interview. Visit an Open House held by Realtors you’re interested in is a great low pressure way to meet them and see if you click. Ask lots of questions!

This is what you should be looking for in a Realtor:

• Demonstrable Local Knowledge, experience, and results (i.e. Sales of Listings in the area)
• Professional – Complete Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability.
• Good Attitude – Answers calls and emails promptly & politely, has a good relationship with other Realtors and other colleagues
• Good Reputation – If you Google them or ask people in the know and bad things are said about the person you’re thinking of hiring, think again.
• Motivated – They should be keen for your business and work hard for it.
• Up to date web based research tools for Real Estate
• Works full time as a Realtor in the area of interest

Looking for a Realtor outside the City of Vancouver?

If you don’t find a Realtor with the above process or you don’t have time to find one, feel free to give me a call at 604-763-3136 or EMAIL ME.

I have a great network of good Realtors across Greater Vancouver that can help you with your search.

Check out the next Video!

Vancouver First Time Home Buyers Advice Episode 4 – How to Search for Properties

I welcome your questions and thoughts in the form of a comment down below!

This is the first post in a series of videos with tips for First Time Home Buyers in Vancouver’s property market.

So you’re thinking of taking the plunge and buying your first home in beautiful Vancouver!

How much can I spend? Get Pre-Approved!

If you have several hundred thousand dollars in your bank account, great!

If not, you should speak to your bank or a mortgage broker to find out how large of a mortgage you can get. The bank or broker will give you a mortgage pre-approval which is a rough estimation of what you can borrow. This mortgage pre-approval is based on the information you provide the bank or mortgage broker. Remember, the more accurate and detailed the information you provide, the more accurate the pre-approval amount!

Here’s a list of mortgage brokers who can help you with a mortgage pre-approval:

Chad Watts 7787736631 cwatts@mortgagegrp.com

Rino Revel 604) 816-1976 rinorev@telus.net

Karli Shih karlishih@gmail.com 604-992-9891

Jessi Johnson (604) 716-6474 jessi@jessijohnson.com

Want to learn more about mortgages and real estate financing? Check out the videos on Vancouver Real Estate and Mortgages!

Now that you know what you can spend, its time to figure what that money can buy. Be sure to Check out Episode 2 of the Vancouver First Time Home Buyers Guide – Where to Buy!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at any time!

Its been said that a picture says a Thousand Words…

What do terrible Listing Photographs say about the value of your home?

Poor listing photography undervalues your property and will never convey how beautifully maintained and decorated your home is. Here in Vancouver, terrible (or non-existent) photography for listings is RAMPANT! Have a quick look on Realtor.ca and you can see how many listings have either bad or non-existent photos.

For the worst of the worst check out the blog Its a Lovely Listing for a good laugh.

Getting a professional photography is one of the best ways to get top dollar for your home. I have all my listings shot by John Bentley at the Real Estate Channel and as you can see they do a great job.

So remember – If you want to get top dollar when you sell a property, get professional photography!

Looking for your First Home in Vancouver? Check out these Videos with First Time Home Buyer Tips!

Questions on Selling a Condo? Have a look at these Videos on How to Sell a Condo in Vancouver!

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the form of a comment below!

Working with a Realtor The Agency Relationship in British Columbia by Mike Stewart Vancouver Realtor from Mike Stewart on Vimeo.

Hi All,

The “Working with a Realtor” brochure is one of the most misunderstood documents I work with.

Some people think that by signing this document they are committing to work FOREVER with the Realtor who got them to sign it. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!

The “Working with a Realtor” brochure is simply a signed confirmation the Realtor has explained the Agency Relationship to the client.

By signing this brochure, the client is NOT BOUND TO THE REALTOR. It is simply a signed disclosure that the client has had their rights in the Agency Relationship explained as well as the Realtors obligations and responsibilities to the client in this relationship. Nothing more.

The Agency Relationship is as follows:

1) Undivided loyalty. The Brokerage must protect the principal’s
negotiating position at all times, and disclose all known facts
which may affect or influence the principal’s decision.
2) To obey all lawful instructions of the principal.
3) An obligation to keep the confidences of the principal.
4) To exercise reasonable care and skill in performing all assigned
duties.
5) To account for all money and property placed in an Brokerage’s
hands while acting for the principal.

If you feel your Realtor is not following these rules bring it to their attention. If this doesn’t work, speak to their manager.

Here’s a copy of the Working With a Realtor Brochure:
Working With a Realtor by Mike Stewart Vancouver Real Estate Agent

Please leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions!

I saw this great animation about the Credit Crisis and I thought I’d share it. Its by Jonathan Jarvis as part of his thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

What do you think?

Hi All,

Pretty much everyday someone asks me when prices in the Vancouver real estate market will hit bottom and everyday I say I don’t know.

I say I don’t know, because I don’t have a crystal ball and can’t see the future and as I licensed Realtor I can be liable if people take a hit relying on my predictions.

There are people out there who are saying they KNOW when the prices will hit bottom and they can tell when prices are bottoming as they are hitting bottom. Don’t trust these people!

What happens if prices stabilise and a bottom is called and then prices fall again? Nobody can accurately predict a market bottom and don’t trust those who say they can.

The market bottom can only accurately ascertained with 100% certainty AFTER it has been hit.

In making your decisions about buying or selling real estate and timing your transactions, do your own research. Read widely and speak to a variety of people with different viewpoints. Don’t rely on those who have simple answers that are too easy.

If something is too good to be true, more than likely it isn’t true.

Please leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Hi All,

American buyers are back in the Vancouver Condo Market! A good exchange rate for US buyers and the fact that some individuals and companies Stateside are weather the storm well means our American freinds and neighbours are back.

Is this a sign that Stimulus is bringing confidence back?

On another note this Video is the first I have shot with my new Flip Mino HD Camera. I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the camera and this video from a technical perspective.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment below!

Hi All,

I recently posted on the stimulus pacakges being enacted around the world and it generated alot of conversation, which is great and I thank all those who participated.

I shot a video justifying my position and I’d like to share with you. I’d also like to hear what people who oppose the stimulus packages think should be done to deal with the financial cirsis we find out ourselves in.

I look forward to your comments!

If you’re selling a property in Vancouver right now there is a very good chance you have received or will receive a lowball offer. This video explains how to avoid a low ball offer and what to do if you receive one.

What is a lowball offer?

Have a look at my previously posted video on lowball offers

Why are lowball offers so common right now?

Real Estate prices in Vancouver are falling at present. Buyers are worried they will buy a property that will be worth less tomorrow than what they paid for it today. Lowball offers are common right now because it allows Buyers to get the best possible value and potentially get ahead of predicted declines in price.

How a can a Seller avoid getting a lowball offer?

DON’T overprice your property! If you want a good offer, you have to have a good fair price price based on market reality! A property that is priced according to market value will have a far less chance of getting lowballed. A Seller who prices their property were the market is at (not where it was 3-6 months ago!) will have more than one interested buyer and will have the market power to get a lowballer to come up or to wait for other interested buyers.

What should a Seller do if they get a lowball offer?

Don’t angry, get even with a good counter offer! A Seller should always give a counter offer to a lowball offer. Why do I say this? Because you as the Seller never know if the buyer is bluffing. If they are bluffing they are not serious and they will go away. If the Buyer isn’t bluffing there is a very good chance after some negotiation that they Buyer will accept a price that works for the Seller.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Lowballing Vancouver Real Estate

It’s a buyer’s market for Vancouver real estate these days and Lowballing is a great way for buyers to get the best deal possible. For sellers a Lowball is an opportunity to get an accepted offer in a time when these are scarce.

Many buyers are afraid to Lowball for fear of insulting the sellers. With a Lowball offer it’s like anything else in life, if you don’t try, you’ll never know!

I put a deal together at 2502-1483 Homer Street. The asking price was $1.1 Million and we got it for $975K in October of 2009. The last sale of a comparable was for $1.096 Million in August. Lowballs work.

What is a Lowball?

A Lowball offer is one that is significantly less than the asking price of a property.

What to Avoid when Lowballing.

Offering what you will pay. Your Lowball offer should intitally be below the amount you actually want to pay. The Lowballing Buyer wants to create the impression in the Sellers mind that the Seller has a good deal because they have got the Buyer to raise their offer price.

Walking away from a sellers counter offer. A Lowball offer allows a Buyer to assess the Sellers motivation. Some Sellers may be desperate, but try to create the impression they are not by responding to a Lowball with a high counter offer. If the Buyer doesn’t respond to the Sellers counter thats teh end of it. You can’t get anywhere in a negotiation if you’re not negotiating. Persistence pays when Lowballing.

How to make a Lowball Offer work in Vancouver.

Give the Seller something. If you are going to come in low on price, make sure to add a sweetener like a quick completion date or a short subject removal date. The seller may look more seriously at your offer if you add these sweeteners.

Make a good case for the low price. If you’ve done your homework and you have some documentation to support your offer you may find the seller comes around. A seller may not have known about a recent transaction that has impacted the market, if you let them know, they may go for your offer.

How to deal with a Lowball Offer if you are a Seller.

Don’t over price your listing! Have a look at this video on overpriced a listings. Check out my post on How to Avoid a Lowball Offers for Sellers of Vancouver Real Estate

Looking for advice on buying a property in Vancouver? Check out my First Time Home Buyer Videos!

If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line!