Sonia's Real Estate Blog

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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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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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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If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Sherwood Park or the wider Edmonton area in the next 6 months, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the monthly market stats to see where the trends are.

Sherwood Park Real Estate Market Stats

In April, single family home total sales were up 33.8% from March, and up 12.6% from last April. That’s a great sign that more people are looking at buying Sherwood Park real estate and bringing their families to our great city this summer, which is good news if you’re planning on selling.

Looking at average price, the average selling price of a single family home in Sherwood Park has fallen slightly from last month, down around $6,000, or 1.4% from last month. When we dig deeper into the numbers, what we find is that more people are looking to buy homes at a more modest budget: Starter homes and first time home buyers are extremely active right now. We see this in particular when we look at the condo market where sales are up and the average price has increased by 3.5% over last month.

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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…)

Selling Your Home During The Wintertime?

While the weather may be getting colder, this in fact still is a great time to consider selling your Edmonton or Sherwood Park home. In order to better entice home buyers to view your listing, be sure to hire a top notch REALTOR who understands how to market your home well for this time of year. There truly is a benefit in getting a “Tiger” on your side. Together we can use Winter to your advantage by following my tips below:

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