Are you trying to decide if you should use a real estate agent in Scarborough to sell or buy a property? First consider the fact that you’re getting a dedicated professional who has experience and training. In fact it generally takes 9 to 12 months to become a fully licensed agent in Ontario.
There are other benefits to using professional real estate agents. Like the fact they avoid emotional sales. They don’t make mistakes like giving in too easily when there’s a deadline for selling involved, or even by overpricing a home. Likewise for refusing to counter a low offer with an appropriate response.
Ontario Realtors also have the kind of specialized experience you need when negotiating a sale. Real estate professionals can also help you steer clear from legal risks. A seller can be held liable for breach of contract, negligence or even fraud if they don’t disclose certain facts about the property. Experienced agents can walk you through that process and others to minimize risk.
The first step in connecting with a real estate agent in Scarborough is understanding what they can do for you
What Services do Real Estate Agents in Scarborough Offer?
Real estate agents are there to help buyers find properties and help sellers market their homes for sale. These professionals advocate for your interest whether you’re a buyer or seller. They do a variety of things including determining a fair market value for a property. An agent will scrutinize comparable market data to come up with what’s called the fair market value.
Agents can also use what’s called a real estate appraisal to value a property. The overall condition of the home as well as the square footage and the number of bathrooms in bedrooms come into play.
Real estate agents also help with other important features like listing and marketing, showing the property to prospective buyers and even negotiating price. Understanding what they do is important. However, finding a good real estate agent is also about sorting through some other criteria.
What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing a Real Estate Agent in Scarborough?
Top rated agents need to have experience. Don’t hesitate to ask about their track record. They should be able to supply neighborhood information on the places you’re interested in. Pricing and inventory plus recent trends and local market conditions are also data points they should be able to supply.
Credibility and reputation need to be at the top of the list. Look for agents that are registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). Humber College offers a Real Estate Salesperson Program that’s an excellent starting point. Ask a potential agent if they’ve attended courses there.
Getting an agent is one big step forward. Feeling confident about the process means getting some more information.
How Long Does it Take to Buy or Sell a House in Scarborough?
If you’re thinking of putting a For Sale sign on your lawn there’s some good news recently. Home sales in the GTA as of June 2023 are above last year’s level. TRREB’s MLS® System reported 7,481 sales for June.
The sales are there. However, that does not answer a common question about how long it will take to buy or sell a house in Scarborough. Many homeowners in Ontario expect either buying and selling will take anywhere from 30 to 45 days. There are a few factors that can affect those numbers.
For example, location is a big factor. Conditions that can affect the speed of a sale include access to quality schools, restaurants, shops and transportation. Differing repair and maintenance issues can also slow down a sale. Most buyers aren’t looking to buy a fixer-upper.
A good real estate agent can help first time buyers navigate what can otherwise be an overwhelming process. Here’s how
Can a Real Estate Agent in Scarborough Help with the Process of Buying a House for the First Time?
An agent can help a first-time buyer by answering their questions. They can also help someone who’s unfamiliar with how the process works by educating them about preapprovals, appraisals, closing costs and offers.
An agent can also help first-time buyers avoid potential issues. For example, a five-star real estate experience has the agent offering comparables. First-time homebuyers can be impulsive but they need a list of homes that have sold recently in the neighborhood they are interested in.
Good agents give the proper advice about the stages involved like pre approval. In the end, timing is everything. Top rated agents understand the market cycles.
Is This a Good Time to Buy a Home in Scarborough?
Real estate professionals can give you an honest analysis of the best times to buy. According to a recent report in the Toronto Star (June 26), it’s a good time to buy in Scarborough with some neighbourhoods doing better than others.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular neighbourhoods for May 2023.
- Scarborough Lakeshore East. The prices on average were just over $1 million. That’s down 12.6% annually. That makes this neighborhood a good deal if you’re looking to buy now.
- Birchcliffe-Cliffside and Oakridge Had home prices that averaged 1.18 million as of May 2023. That number represents a drop of 6.8% annually.
There are some other things to keep in mind. For example, housing prices are generally lower in the winter than the summer. Overall, people interested in buying a house should monitor the economic climate, interest rates and house prices.
A good real estate agent can help you put all these elements together to find the house that meets your budget and needs. Here’s how to find one.
How do I Find a Reliable Real Estate Agent in Scarborough?
A good real estate agent is an asset. Checking a few boxes to find a good one will make the home buying process efficient. Here’s three easy steps that you can use.
- Putting together a list of candidates to work with is the first step. Attending open houses can give you some first-hand interactions with possible agents. Ask coworkers, friends and family members who they have used to get a baseline.
- Once you have a number of candidates in mind you can check the RECO database. You can confirm an applicant’s registration status so you know you’re dealing with a reputable candidate.
- Finally, it’s a good idea to pick an agent that knows their way around tech. Strong agents know their way around technology and use it to be more productive.
For comprehensive, full-service solutions combining real estate and mortgage expertise in Ontario, Jonathan Alphonso comes highly recommended. He is a professional real estate agent and mortgage agent, who is associated with MortgageBrokerStore.com and Royal LePage Terrequity Realty. Connect with Jonathan today at 647-710-1351 or jonathan@mortgagebrokerstore.com.