Sonia's Real Estate Blog

1. Have a discussion with your kids about the move. Make it a point to answer all their questions and clear their doubts. This will help them understand what is happening and what they can expect. The idea is to allay their fears and make them feel more positive about the move.
2. It’s also important that you stay calm during this period. This is because children (even very young ones) are able to quickly pick up the nuances in their parent emotions. This is especially true if they feel their parents are anxious and stressed. When you remain collected and calm during the entire packing and moving process, it also helps calm your kids down.
3. Turn packing into a fun activity. If your children are old enough, allow them to do some simple packing like packing their toys away in boxes etc.
4. Be proactive in discussing details about the new neighbourhood with your children. Do some research with them, to make them more familiar with their future surroundings.
5. Many parents find that reading interesting children’s stories related to moving day, to their kids is a great way to make them look forward to the change.

1. Pyjamas and clothing
2. Wipes and diapers
3. First aid kit and medications
4. Toys
5. Juice, formula etc.
6. Bottles, sippy cups, and their favourite snacks
7. Blanket
8. Carrier and stroller
9. Extra pacifiers
10. Car seat
11. Bath items

1. Give your children a tour of the house and let them also explore the space freely. Point out to them which spaces can be used for playing and frolicking around.
2. If you find that your kids are very eager to unpack things, allow them to do so. In fact, if they’re old enough, encourage them to take out all their books and toys from the moving boxes and place them on shelves or in cabinets.
3. If you are planning on repainting the house, older kids can help you pick out the colours for their bedrooms. In fact, you can also hand them a roller and ask them to help with the paint job.
4. Always ensure that you maintain your child’s routines such as activities, nap times play and fun times and meals etc. This consistency will tell them that all’s well and they will feel more secure.

The curb appeal of your home is one of the most important aspects to focus on in order to attract potential customers to your Sherwood Park or Edmonton property. One of the first things that people notice when they look at your houseis the outdoor spaces of your home, which makes landscaping a vital aspect of your home’s curb appeal. This makes it necessary to spruce up the look of your landscape before listing your house for sale and can up the value of your property by as much as 10 percent.

Some Pointers

Typically, homeowners start preparing their house for showing about a month in advance. In this time, you can make sure that everything in your landscape looks perfect and doesn’t give the impression that you did things at the last minute. Here are a few tips that can make a significant difference while selling:

1. Add Outdoor Containers You can add large tropical or similar container plants to the entryway of your home or the patio space. These features uplift the appearance of these outdoor spaces. This attracts potential buyers to your house.

2. Add a Touch of Mulch One of the best ways of adding colour to your landscape is by installing mulch in your garden beds. This adds a pop of colour and enhances the appearance of the surroundings. The best part about mulch is that it is cheap and extremely easy to use.

3. Add Color To make your landscape appear even more appealing, add colour by including annuals with seasonal colours. Pick a colour scheme that fits well with the overall aesthetic of your home.

4. Stone-LinedYour Landscaping Beds Stone-lining your garden adds to the aesthetic. The stone features add structure to the space and make it look more appealing.

5. Add a Waterfall Installing a waterfall on the patio enlivens the places and adds a very refreshing touch to the atmosphere. You can choose from custom designed ones to complement the styling of your home.

6. Shape the Overgrown Shrubs and Trees Not maintaining your garden shows neglect on your part. You can avoid this by doing quick chores like levelling of shrubs and trees in your landscape. This shows that you maintain your garden as well as you do your home.

7. Tidy up Your Perennials One of the simplest ways to improve the appearance of your landscape is to tidy up all the flowerbeds. If you have overgrown plantings or decorative pots that seem out of place, re-organize them. Trim and prune all your plants and remove dead or dying plants.

8. Fix Any Irrigation Issues Getting irrigation fixed can be expensive, and you do not want the buyers to bear the expense. Keeping your irrigation system well maintained is important; provide all the necessary information of the irrigation system to the buyer. If you have an automatic system, include instructions that specify the use and also recommend the scheduling that had previously worked for you.

Keeping these simple landscaping tips in mind will help you improve the appearance of your home, increasing the chances of a quick sale. When you list your home with Sonia Tarabay, you are guaranteed to receive her 5 Star Service. Sonia’s clients are #1. Through Sonia’s aggressive negotiation and marketing skills, your Sherwood Park or Edmonton home will sell faster, and for top dollar! 

Many people think about just the cost and the interest rate at which they can get a loan while buying a new home. However, the lending process in extremely important and there are other costs that you should consider as you prepare to buy any property. As both a licensed REALTOR® and Mortgage Broker, I’ve come up with a few tips to keep in mind while buying a house:

1. Have a Trusted Realtor® It is no secret that Realtors® get a cut of the sale price of the house. This makes some buyers hesitant to hire one, believing it drives the overall rate up. The seller and not the buyer pays the commission rate. Listing agents (the agent who represents the seller) in most cases does not have your interests in mind and can simply keep both sides of the commission. It means that you are saving no money. Having a Realtor® in your corner can help you a great deal. The Realtor® will help negotiate the price and also inspect the home thoroughly for any defects.

2. Remember That Purchasing a House Involves Contracts There are many papers and documents to sign while going through the process of buying a home. Many of these papers look like standard contracts with no room for negotiation. However, this isn’t true; contracts are meant to be negotiated. There is no need for you to sign a standard agreement. Realtors® come in handy when you require more time for reviewing the house inspection, or wish to have a radon test or need a mortgage approval.

3. Focus on Your Future Plans Buying a house is one of the biggest financial commitments that you might make. However, before buying your dream house you should consider these points:

• Do you plan to continue working at your current job?
• Are you getting married in the near future?
• Are you considering having kids?

If yes, based on the market conditions and terms of the mortgage, you will end up paying for your mortgage over the duration of the loan. It’s important that you keep your future plans in view while considering buying a home.

4. Keep Commitment in Mind When you are planning to get married the laws generally determine how your assets will be treated & how will they be distributed if you get a divorce. These rules do not necessarily apply when you’re single. You have to think about the future. If you purchase a house with someone who isn’t your spouse, having an exit plan if things don’t go too well is a good idea. Make sure to have an agreement made with respect to mortgage payments, repairs, titling and liability. It is better to take the assistance of a lawyer and get all of this in writing.

Buying a home is a major financial commitment and getting it right is about taking a 360-degree view of your current and future situation and needs. This will help ensure you are able to make the proper provisions while purchasing your home, without straining your finances excessively.

Whether it’s your first time buying a home or you’ve bought and sold property a dozen times before, teaming up with the right Sherwood Park & Edmonton Area REALTOR® is the critical first step in making a great experience.

Sonia Tarabay puts her inner tiger to work for each and every one of her home­-buying clients, delivering outstanding 5 Star Service every time. When you’ve got Sonia on your side, buying a home is easier, faster, and way more fun!

When it comes to buying a home and getting a mortgage, there are a ton of elements that go into this. It is more than just finding the home and getting approved for the loan. There are also various other fees to consider. One of these is the mortgage insurance. As an experienced REALTOR® and licensed mortgage broker, I find that this can be a surprise to many people, as they were unaware that such a thing existed.

What is Mortgage Insurance?

Why is this Needed?

When is Mortgage Insurance Paid?

1. This mortgage insurance must be paid the entire first year of the mortgage
2. For those with an FHA guaranteed loan, the mortgage insurance has to be paid for the first 5 years of the loan
3. When the loan balance drops down to 80% of the original purchase price, most people can request that this mortgage insurance no longer be paid. However, the lender will be the final one to determine if this is possible or not.
4. Many loan companies have to remove this mortgage insurance premium when you drop down to 78% of the total purchase price.

Sonia is your One Stop Shop for all Real Estate & Mortgage Needs! Call today: 780-707-6015

The baby boomer generation in Sherwood Park and Edmonton is getting to the point in their lives that the larger home they have may too much. It may be too much space, or they may find that the upkeep is just too much. Many of those in this generation prefer to downsize in order to save money and time so that they can do those other things that they have always wanted to do. However, what should a person look for when downsizing? Having been around the real estate business in both Sherwood Park and Edmonton, I’ve gathered quite a bit of expertise on the subject and will take you through some of the things to look for when downsizing. Read on!

Look at the House Design

You want to find a new home that is going to work for you for years to come. In fact, many baby boomers say that the downsizing move is their last move. With this being said, here are a few elements to consider in the house design:

1. Wider doorways
2. Flat thresholds
3. The indoor air quality, which refers to having all the vents in the home going outdoors
4. A bathroom that can have support bars installed if needed later
5. A one level home is often the best choice for people, as they don’t want to be ageing and still having to go downstairs to do their laundry.

The Neighbourhood

Be Sure to Consider your Cash Flow

The Location

Take your time to make this decision, as this is a major financial move and give me a call at 780-707-6015. I’ll help you not only find the perfect home for this wonderful stage in life, but I’ll also help get your current home sold, cause with Sonia it’s SOLD!

When you buy a home, part of the buying process is the closing costs. These closing costs can be a significant chunk of your total amount owed. And it is important that people who are buying a home are taking their closing costs into consideration when it comes time to save for their home.

What are Closing Costs?
Closing costs are the costs that are paid at the end of the transaction when a buyer and seller have come to a decision on what is to be paid and everyone agrees. During this time, the home is transferred from the buyer to the seller. These costs are incurred by either the buyer or seller and sometimes even a combination of both.

What Fees make up the Closing Costs?
There are several fees that can make up the closing costs. These fees are not going to be seen in every transaction, it really depends upon your location, the type of property you are purchasing, and the type of loan that you may be using. Here are a few of the fees that could be included:
– An application fee
– Appraisal
– Fees for the attorney
– Closing fee or the escrow fee
– Courier fee
– Credit report
– A deposit into your escrow account
– Mortgage insurance premium
– Home inspection
– Lender’s policy title insurance
– Origination fee for the loan
– Transfer taxes
– Underwriting fee
– Recording fees
– Property taxes
– And so on…

How Much Should you be Saving?
If you are saving for a home, then knowing what closing costs could be, this can help you to save for these costs. The key is to know just how much your closing costs may be. The rule that most people follow is that the closing costs are often two to five percent of the total home cost. When you do get a loan, more than likely the payback will include your closing costs in the total amount. This loan estimate is only an estimate, and this may change as other fees may be added, increased or decreased. Therefore, don’t think that this is a concrete figure.

Once you have closed on a home, you will receive a Closing Disclosure statement that is going to state what fees are being included in the closing costs. You can then sit down and look at these for a concrete amount. This way, you are not going to be surprised by how much your closing costs are going to be.

So, how much should you be saving? If you have a certain amount that you are wanting to pay for a home, be sure to save up to five percent of this loan for the closing costs. There are times in which you can get the sellers to pay this closing cost but do not count on this. Instead, take the time to make a budget that includes an extra 5% of what you wanted to pay for a home. Not only can I help you find your next home, but I am a licensed Mortgage Broker with Invis in the province of Alberta. Let me help make your home buying experience easier, faster, and way more fun!! Sonia is your one-stop shop for all your Mortgage and Real Estate needs!