Sonia's Real Estate Blog

When choosing a REALTOR® to sell your Sherwood Park home, there are many factors to consider. How will the agent market my house? How long will it take to sell? Will this agent sell my house for top dollar? Does this agent have a proven track record in the business? Does this agent specialize in Sherwood Park? Do I have to use the same agent my family recommended?

These are all valid questions to ask and I am confident to answer all of them when meeting new clients. Another question is this one: Does this REALTOR® really get awesome results? Ultimately, that’s what you’re after. Awesome results. Fortunately, getting awesome results is something I know quite a bit about. I have just been named the #1 agent of RE/MAX Elite for April and I consistently achieve this award throughout the year ranking in the top 1% in our office. In an agency of more than 200 REALTORS®, these are accomplishments I am very proud of.

I’m incredibly passionate about what I do and I believe that’s the #1 reason I have had such great success with my clients. Of course, awesome results are about more than just numbers. If I didn’t have amazing relationships with my valued clients and their complete trust, I would have never achieved what I have.

The best part of my job is meeting all of the great people I have over the years. I love Sherwood Park and I love my clients! They have become my friends and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing them happy in their new homes. My clients make this job what it is and they make these types of awards so much more rewarding!

So if you’re looking for awesome results when selling or buying your next Sherwood Park home, then feel free to give me call. I would love to help YOU achieve awesome results!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

Are you ready to save time, stress and money? I sure hope so! Because when you work with me, you get a top Sherwood Park REALTOR® and an expert Mortgage Broker all in one!

Since the beginning of my career, I have always been motivated to provide an even more complete and improved real estate buying experience for my clients. This is why I chose to be both a licensed REALTOR® with Remax Elite and a licensed Mortgage Broker with Verico iMortgage Solutions. This expertise combo is definitely a rarity within the industry and it’s also a very powerful one. I believe in assisting my clients through the entire process of buying and selling a home, and my deep understanding of the mortgage industry over the past 7 years has allowed me to become a stronger, more knowledgeable REALTOR® who can offer expert advice in all areas of real estate.

Not only am I finding my buyers and investors great deals on Sherwood Park homes, but I am also helping them find great deals on mortgage rates, terms and options available in the market place today.

So whether you are buying your first home or your tenth home, put my expertise to work for you! I am available to serve my clients 7 days a week and welcome your phone calls. Along with my awesome mortgage team, we can help you get pre-approved for financing almost immediately. Then it’s time for us to have a lot of fun house-hunting together! So let’s get started today! Ultimately, my goal is lifelong happy clients.

Warmest regards,

Sonia

As a longtime resident of Sherwood Park, I consider it a privilege to work, live and play in this awesome community!

Sherwood Park has been our home for over a decade now and I can still remember the excitement I felt the very first time I visited this place. I fell totally in love with it! It was as though something wonderful was about to happen. Well, it did! I met some of my most valued friends and clients right here at home, and for that I am eternally grateful.

My husband Eddy and I have three children; Alexa, Lennox and Eva. We feel blessed that they are growing up in a safe and happy community, attending good schools and have made some wonderful friends. Naturally, every parent wants to provide the best for their children and we certainly have found the best of family life living in Sherwood Park.

In following my passion for real estate, I decided to launch my business in 2009 and focused primarily on helping Sherwood Park residents. There was no question in my mind that it was the best decision I ever made. Having grown up in an entrepreneurial family, I had a strong business background and a proven track record in sales. My education was also in business and marketing. In addition, my branding with the use of animal prints was very unique to the real estate industry and my marketing plan for selling homes was very aggressive, which ultimately benefited my clients. Undoubtedly, clients knew when hiring me they would receive my “5 star service”. They knew that I cared about them and that I would work hard on their behalf to help them achieve the best results, whether they were buying or selling a home. Soon I became known as “Sherwood Park’s Real Estate Tiger”.

Today, I am fortunate to have worked with hundreds of clients selling hundreds of homes and helping peoples’ dreams of home ownership come true. Knowing that I have helped make that kind of contribution in someone’s life is incredibly rewarding for me on a very personal level. Having cultivated these client relationships is what keeps me focused and driven  every day to continue to help more and more people in the world of real estate.

I am extremely grateful and appreciative for the ongoing trust and support I receive from the Sherwood Park community. I must admit that it’s a lot of fun to drive around town in my animal wrapped “Sonia-mobile” and see people on the road wave and smile back at me. Sometimes I even get a thumbs up! It’s also pretty cool to be recognized by the kids when I’m shopping around town! I often laugh about it as I am just like every other mom out there.

Should you be looking to buy or sell a home in Sherwood Park, please feel free to drop me a line. I would love to hear from you! Many thanks and I wish you and your family a wonderful year ahead!

Warmest regards,

If there was ever a perfect time to buy real estate, it is now! We are currently in a buyer’s market and that means anyone who is looking to buy or invest in real estate should capitalize on the opportunity of virtually rock bottom prices. In addition, mortgage interest rates are at a historic low, which is a huge benefit and attraction for buyers and investors. Please view this video link below from the 2016 REALTORS® Housing Forecast Seminar. For more information on buying or investing in real estate, please feel free to contact me at soniatarabay@remax.net or drop me a line anytime at 780.707.6015. I would love to hear from you!

https://member.ereb.com/WEB/RAE/RAE_News/News/2016/1/Full_Video_Now_Available_for_2016_REALTORS_Housing_Forecast_Seminar.aspx

Warmest regards,

One of my favourite parts of working in the real estate market is keeping my negotiation skills sharp. I love the negotiation process, and this is where I really go to work for my clients, letting my skills shine. This is when you know for sure you have a tiger on your side. 

It’s an exciting time! You feel THIS close to your goals, so close you can taste success. Adrenaline kicks in, and there’s that mix of excitement and anxiety when you enter this phase of a real estate transaction. It’s kind of like asking someone on a date via text message: You spend a lot of time staring at the phone, waiting for a reply, gaming out all the possible scenarios in your head.

That high energy is great, and it’s a huge part of why I love my work. Although as a professional REALTOR® I try and make this process a Win/Win for my clients, there are times when a compromise needs to be made and all parties need to cooperate. There comes a point in the transaction when both parties realize that, if everyone gives a little, then everyone wins.

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If I was standing in a crowd of home buyers, I’d be able to pick out the first-time buyers every time: They’re the ones with huge smiles on their faces, and almost vibrating with excitement!

Buying your first home is one of life’s great “firsts”, and I’m always thrilled and honoured when I get to be a part of that experience. When you buy into the real estate market for the first time, you’re taking a big step forward: At the same time, you’re making a financial investment in your future, but you’re also starting the process of laying down roots and saying “this is where I belong”. It’s a brand new, exciting chapter of your life, and some of the largest smiles I’ve ever seen have been when I hand over that first set of keys on possession day!

If it’s your first time buying a home, teaming up with the right REALTOR® can make or break the experience. Not only do you need someone experienced who understand the market, but it’s important to work with a REALTOR® you like and can make a connection with. Someone who you feel comfortable spending hours, evenings, or even entire days with, driving around and looking at homes. Someone you trust to be honest with you when it’s most important, to stand up for your best interests at the negotiation table, and who shares your excitement about buying your first home.

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Anyone who has met me knows how passionate I am about the work I do as a Sherwood Park REALTOR®. I chose a career in real estate years ago because I love working with people and am passionate about helping them through one of the biggest financial transactions they’ll make in their life. It’s a big responsibility, and I take it very seriously: After all, it’s not “just a home”, it’s your family’s life, their comfort, and your investment we’re talking about.

Together, we are a team, and it’s critical we work together at every step. When we do, we create a Win-­Win environment where you meet your most important real estate goals and we share success.

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Top New Years Resolutions For Sherwood Park Homeowners

Can you believe we’re already in the year 2014?

This year has flown by so quickly! And I am very excited to start another year of helping residents buy or sell their Sherwood Park homes. Speaking of which, the start of a New Year means new beginnings and for many Sherwood Park homeowners— a list of New Years Resolutions. I’ve made a list of what I think are the Top 10 most popular resolutions among Sherwood Park residents:

• – Get out of debt
• – Manage stress
• – Get fit
• – Lose weight
• – Quit smoking
• – Take a trip/vacation
• – Volunteer
• – Quit drinking or drink less
• – Change jobs or Get a promotion
• – Buy or sell their Sherwood Park homes

That’s right! Many Edmonton or Sherwood Park residents say to themselves, “2014 will be the year my family and I will finally own a Sherwood Park home!” Whether it’s to become a first time homeowner, or to sell their current property and downsize— this golden dream is very common!  (more…)

Stay Safe This Holiday Season With Sonia’s Safety Tips

December is almost here and with it comes one of the biggest holidays of the year…Christmas! I think it’s fair to say that most homeowners agree: a display of sparkling lights on a property looks absolutely beautiful! As you know, I care deeply about my clients —even after they’ve purchased a home for sale.

Photo by: michiwurm

So, before you Deck The Halls and pour the Egg Nog, keep these basic Holiday safety tips in mind: (more…)