Sonia's Real Estate Blog

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,

Starting school is an important step in your child’s life—and yours. It’s a big change. It’s exciting. It’s even a little scary. Here are 10 tips that will help you get your child ready for that first day of school.

1. Get familiar with the school. Before the first day of school, visit the school with your child so that the route, the building, and school surroundings become familiar.
2. Start the routine early. About a week or so before the start of school, begin putting your child to bed at a normal time for a school night. For a week before school starts, be sure your child then gets up, dressed, and fed like a regular school morning.
3. Practise sharing. Give your child all kinds of opportunities to be with other kids, to learn to share, wait, and take turns. That’s what school is all about.
4. Children should dress themselves. You won’t be at school to help your child get ready for the outdoors. Encourage children to practise at home putting on and taking off their own jacket, snowpants, boots, etc.
5. Dress your child accordingly. Your child is going to be active at school. Choose clothes and shoes that are comfortable and durable. Give your child outdoor clothing for all types of weather.
6. Teach the importance of listening. School means being able to listen. Kids need to understand and practise listening, things like: look at who is talking, don’t interrupt, and think about what is being said.
7. Learn at home. Include learning in your child’s everyday life. For example, a child can practise by reading package labels or weighing produce while shopping. Read to your child. Play word or counting games.
8. Develop young muscles. Give your child every opportunity to exercise and develop larger muscles by running, climbing, playing with a ball, etc. Smaller hand muscles can be strengthened with Play-Dough®, pencils, and crayons.
9. Set “at home” ground rules. Figure out priorities for after-school activities, homework, chores, TV time, and video games before the first day of school. This will allow you to agree on a schedule and avoid confrontation later on.
10. Encourage questions. Give your child the confidence to ask questions in all situations. Let your child know that it’s OK to tell the teacher if something is hard to understand.

Let’s not forget the importance of getting enough sleep and eating a healthy breakfast! Should you be looking for a new home for your family, please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you!

Reference: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/ready.html

When I got started in the real estate industry, I knew I wanted to provide a complete, “one-stop-shop” service for my clients to ensure they had the best possible real estate experience. I’ve seen how stressful buying and selling real estate can be if you don’t have an expert by your side you can trust, and it was important to me to be that person for my clients, as much as possible.

I became a licensed Mortgage Broker in addition to a licensed REALTOR® so I could provide an even higher quality of service to every one of my clients: It’s my “killer combo” — a real rarity in the industry — and a huge asset to my clients. It means I can help you understand every step of the process of buying and selling a home, including all the financial details and mortgage terms, and save you time, stress, and money.

In addition to helping you find that perfect home for your family, I can also help you make the best possible financial decisions for your future. Many people are intimidated by the process of getting their first mortgage, but you don’t have to be! I help make the process transparent and will walk you through all the options that are best for you. Together, we’ll find you the best lender, the best rate, and the best terms for your financial goals.

And by better understanding the financial underpinnings of your real estate dreams, as your REALTOR® I’m in an even better position to help you find that perfect home, the one that matches your needs and your budget.

Ways a Mortgage Broker Saves You Time, Stress, and Money

More Choice, Less Time

As a licensed mortgage broker, I have access to a large network of lenders including banks, credit unions, and non-traditional lenders, and I understand the current state of the mortgage industry. I know how to find the best rates with terms that fit your budget and profile, and can present you with the best possible options.

And because I know who to talk to and where to look, you don’t spend hours and hours researching, interviewing, and reading. Let me narrow down the field to your best options and save you the time and headache!

Independent and Objective

I don’t work for a specific lender or bank: I work for you! That means I can offer impartial, objective advice about your financial options and present rates from different institutions without favouring one over the other.

Get Better Rates

The Canadian Mortgage Trends website looked at a study to figure out how people got the best deal on their mortgage, and using a broker was high up on the list. They estimated the average impact of a mortgage broker reduced rates by 17.5 points, which translates to over $1,600 of interest savings on a typical $200K mortgage over five years. My negotiation skills are at your disposal through the mortgage application and choosing process, and I know when there’s room to push for that little bit extra, and what trade-offs result in the biggest “bang for your buck”.

Personal Attention

I work one-on-one with you to understand your financial needs so we can find the best possible combination of lender, rate, and terms that will suit you, personally. There’s no “one size fits all” in the mortgage industry, and it’s important to create a mortgage plan that is customized for you and your unique requirements.

Ready to save time, stress, and money with Sonia? Ready to get the pre-approval process started? Give me a call or send me a message to get the ball rolling!

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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It’s fantastic to have a career you’re as passionate about as I am about my work as a REALTOR®, but we all need a solid work/life balance. After all, there’s more to life than just work, work, work all the time: There’s family and friends to spend time with, and favourite hobbies to enjoy. This is especially true if you own your own business or don’t work standards “9 to 5” hours (and, trust me, a REALTOR® doesn’t know the meaning of “9 to 5”). It can be hard to justify stepping away from work to take some time for yourself and your family when it seems like “The To Do List” just keeps getting longer, but it’s so important to take time away so we can come back feeling more focused, more energized, and more productive.

One of my favourite ways of de-­stressing is my hot yoga class, which I take a few times a week. If you’ve never tried yoga or hot yoga, I absolutely recommend giving it a try. It’s a great way to build strength, flexibility, and concentration, and I love how it feeds both my body and my spirit.

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First impressions are everything, and that’s as true in real estate as it is in the rest of life. If you’re selling your home, it’s crucial to think about what the first impression of your home will be because the right one will inevitably generate a ton of showings and may result in multiple offers, while the wrong one… well, a bad impression could leave your home on the market for a lot longer than you’d like.

The first step to a quick, successful home sale is choosing to work with Sonia, and that’s because my first step is to make sure your listing makes that WOW first impression. When I list your home, I want it to shine. I want everyone who looks at it to fall in love with it, book a showing that minute, and drive over the very same day.

Professional Photography: Your Home’s First Impression

A selfie of me and my favourite real estate photographer, Trevor Boller

I’m a top Sherwood Park REALTOR® and know the market inside and out. And while I’m pretty good with a point-­and­-click camera at family events (I take a fantastic selfie), I’m not a professional real estate photographer.

Sure I could take photos of your home and post them, and they’d look ok. They’d be sufficient. But we don’t want merely “sufficient”, we want WOW! If you want to sell your home you hire top tier Sherwood Park REALTOR® Sonia Tarabay. The same logic stands: If I want to take fantastic photography that gets buyers in the door, I hire a top tier real estate photographer! My choice? Trevor Boller, real estate photographer extraordinaire!

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August has arrived, and while we’re all still basking in the warm, wonderful summer, if you’re like my family the coming of August is also one month closer to September and the start of school. As a mom with 3 kids, August is “Back-­to-­School” season: Not only are schools starting to send out supply lists, but all those fun activities and camps your kids have been registered in over the summer are coming to an end as well. That means it’s time to start planning fall and winter activities for the family!

It’s a good idea to start thinking about the lessons, clubs, and after-­school activities your children want to join in August, since registration always seems to kick of earlier every year. And there’s so much for kids to choose from here in Sherwood Park! It’s just one of many reasons Sherwood Park and Strathcona County is a great place for families to call home, and why your family will love it here. There are so many great activities to choose from, including sports, music, art, horseback-­riding, and leadership clubs: The hardest part for your kids will be picking just 2 or 3!

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If you’re looking for a real estate expert in Sherwood Park, you’ve come to the right place! As a long-­time resident and REALTOR®, I’ve driven and walked along pretty much every street in this amazing community. One of the best things about Sherwood Park is it’s big enough to provide every amenity and world-­class facility you need, but small enough that you get to know the entire area, rather than just a pocket or quadrant of it.

Of course, I do have my favourite areas of Sherwood Park, and today I’m shining a special “Sonia Spotlight” on my three top communities: Summerwood, Foxhaven, and Foxboro. I’ve had the pleasure of helping many families purchase and sell homes in these wonderful communities, and if you drive down the streets of any of these three lovely neighbourhoods, you’re likely to notice even more “Sonia Sells” signs on front lawns, and a few more leopard­-printed benches dotting the streets. And, of course, keep an eye out for the new Sonia­-Mobile driving by on the way to a showing or client meeting!

I have in-­depth expertise in every area of Sherwood Park, but when it comes to Summerwood, Foxhaven, and Foxboro my knowledge runs that much deeper. I work in these areas all the time, and I know them like the back of my hand. All three have a reputation for being great family-­centric communities, with attractive, modern housing, convenient locations with access to top amenities, and beautiful parks.

So don’t be surprised if the next time you’re walking through one of these neighbourhoods you “Spot Sonia” there too!

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Spotting Sonia just got even easier! On June 26, 2014, I unleashed my new animal, the Sonia-­mobile! She’s fun, fierce, and focused on one of my greatest passions: Sherwood Park real estate!

Isn’t she purrrrfect? I still get giddy every time I take her for a drive. I just love how the artwork turned out, and how she looks zipping along the roads of Sherwood Park.

When I began my career in real estate, right from the start I knew I wanted to separate myself from my competition with a brand that would get noticed. Since I also love animal prints, I knew I wanted to incorporate them into my marketing. Now, 5 years later, everyone can spot me no matter where I’m at, whether it’s at an open house, a busy trade show, on a sold sign, or – now – driving to a showing!

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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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