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Real Estate on PEI
Island LifeThe smallest of Canada's provinces sees its population distributed equally between its two largest cities (Charlottetown, the capital and Summerside, one of the newest cities in Canada(1995) and the Rural landscape. The location of these two cities conveniently divides the Island into roughly 3 equal sections. Western PEI Western PEI has become synonymous with red sea cliffs. One of the best kept Island secret about western PEI is quickly becoming common knowledge amongst people from "Away". This is prime cottage country! While names like Cascumpec, Tignish & Miminegash are guaranteed to give your tongue a workout, the region provides some of the best unspoiled beaches and scenery for your enjoyment. Rich in water sports, golfing opportunities, and with nature walks, and cycling tours at your beck & call your body won't lay idle either. Unless, you want it to of course. Western PEI is also the land of the Acadian & Mi'Kmaq cultures. The year 2004 marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the French in Canada. Lennox Island is the perfect location to discover Mi'kmaq culture. Visit the Mi'kmaq Centre or the Lennox Island Aboriginal Ecotourism Complex who offer kayak nature tours, jet boat excursions and deep-sea fishing, as well as a café featuring traditional food and a youth hostel. Mi'kmaq legends have been interpreted in fine earthenware figurines, and other native arts and crafts and are available for sale. Summerside Summerside anchors Western PEI to Central PEI. There's always something fun to do for everyone in the family in Summerside. Whether you're strolling through charming historic neighbourhoods, catching a show at the beautiful Wyatt Center, or enjoying any number of year-round sports and recreation events. Central PEI Central PEI is the land which tourist have become familiar and have fallen in love with, returning every year to re-new the romance. This is the land of Anne of Green Gables, of Lobster Suppers, the Confederation Bridge and of course Cavendish Beach. Beautiful rolling hills give way to breath taking seascapes. In this part of the world it is not an uncommon sight to behold golden wheat fields accentuated by red earth nestled gently beside lots of green grass surrounded in pure blue waters. Is it any wonder they've fallen in love! Charlottetown The Island's Queen City. Anchoring the eastern part of Prince Edward Island, she has given birth to our nation, inspired our dreams, nurtured our lives. She is the center of Island culture, knowledge and leadership. Jewels in her crown include: Founders Hall - Take a step back in time & the Confederation Centre - Catch a Performance. Eastern PEI This mostly rural area of Prince Edward Island is not without its charms and attraction. Here you will find sandy beaches, lighthouses open for touring, and ecotourism. The eastern tip abounds with rare habitats, undiscovered places, and trails. Of special note is Greenwich National Park located down the peninsula from St Peters. The unique Parabolic dunes systems of Greenwich National park and the numerous other ecological attributes on the Greenwich peninsula draw one hundred thousand tourists to the Park each year. Facts about PEIIt's all about a way of life. From the music and dancing we call ours, to food we savour, life on the island is different. There's time for work, there's time for play, there's time for family, and there is time to enjoy life!Prince Edward Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Canada's east coast. PEI is separated from mainland Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, by the Northumberland Strait. The Island is 140 mi (224 km) long and from 4-40 mi (6-64 km) wide. Total area is 2,184 sq. mi (5,660 square kilometres.) No place in the province is more than 10 mi (16 km) from the sea. The highest point of land is located at Springton in Queens County (152 meters or 466 feet above sea level). There are three counties, Prince, Queens and Kings. The Island is formed from sedimentary bed rock of soft, red sandstone which produces the rich, red soil. The redness of the soil is due to the high iron-oxide (rust) content. PEI is in the Atlantic Time (AST) zone. Population:
Weather: Spring is comfortable with late May and early June temperatures ranging from 8 to 22 degree C (46 to 71 degrees F). Summer is hot, but rarely humid with daytime temperatures in the 20sC (70sF) and can go as high as 32C (90F). Autumn is clear and bright with September afternoons quite warm ranging from 8 to 22C (46 to 71F) and evenings cool. Winter is crisp with temperatures ranging from -3 to -11C (11 to 26F). Island Heritage: The primary language spoken is English. Many early settlers to PEI were of Scottish and Irish lineage. The Ship to Shore and Sunsets and Seascapes regions have a strong representation of Acadian French culture. This blends in very well with the Celtic traditions that are thriving on the Island. Bagpipes, fiddles and step dancing are popular with all age groups. Size:
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![]() Grand Tracadie, PEI ![]() Hebrides, PEI ![]() Pleasant Grove, PEI ![]() Rustico Harbour, PEI ![]() Stanley Bridge, PEI ![]() Thunder Cove, PEI | |||||
Do you know what needs to be done after the deal is closed? Once your offer has been accepted the work has just begun. Future steps include arranging for monthly mortgage payments and property taxes, finding the right insurance coverage, transferring your utilities and arranging for your move.
Avoid any surprises by having Ron Barrett, a CENTURY 21 real estate professional guide you through the necessary steps. Rely on his expert advice to keep you informed and prepared.
It's just one more way that a CENTURY 21 real estate professional takes the anxiety out of buying a home.
Start by creating a prioritized list of features you want in your next home and the reasons why. Use it as your search guide, but remember that depending on your funding, you will probably need to make some compromises. In addition, talk to your real estate professional about where you want to live. Location is a huge part of any move. Ron will help you narrow down your choices by initiating you to market trends and local information like neighbourhood statistics and community links.
Step 2: Figuring Out What You Can Afford
Now that you know what you want, it's time to see what you can afford. You can start by crunching the numbers yourself using our selection of calculators available on the "Finance" tab.
When you're ready to move to the next step, you can get pre-approved for a mortgage. This process can often be performed in under an hour and it accomplishes two important goals. First, it will tell you how much house you can afford and what your monthly payments would be. Second, it tells the seller that you can afford to buy their home.
By definition, a pre-approved buyer has an approved mortgage subject to an appraisal of the property. Many times a buyer can use this pre-approved status as leverage during the negotiation process.
Step 3: Shopping For Homes
Once you know what community you'd like to live in and have an idea of how much house you can afford, its time to start checking out actual properties. Beginning this search online can help save you time since it can help you target homes that meet your search criteria. Why not join myC21 and download our "real estate messenger" as well as having a page designed especially for you showing homes and properties that meet your needs
Next, begin visiting homes in person. Ask your local real estate professional to arrange visits and attend open houses that are in your target area and price range. When comparing homes, make sure to look at all aspects of the property. Is the property tax approximately the same? Are both the houses renovated? Do they both have the same amount of bedrooms and bathrooms? Are both houses located on the same or similar streets? Does either house have any encumbrances?
Step 4: Making An Offer
Once you find the home you want, you need to make an offer for the house. Typically this is a very difficult and trying time since both parties have totally different goals. In most cases it is better to have a third party, such as a real estate professional, negotiate the offer. If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, don't give out any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property - positive or negative. This could hurt you in future negotiations.
Step 5: Inspection & Insurance
After your offer is accepted you will need to set up, coordinate and interpret various inspections, including insect, radon, building quality, oil tank, title, etc. You will also need to arrange for homeowners insurance and finalize the mortgage.
This is a major step in the buying process and there are many potential problems that can be discovered during this period. These include a leaky roof, radon gas, termite damage, a foundation problem, and wall cracks, to name a few. These problems happen all the time. The difference between closing on your dream home and starting the process all over again is what occurs during the negotiations between you and the seller. Ron Barrett, your CENTURY 21 Real Estate Professional, can help make these discussions go more smoothly. You will also have the option of a "walk through" before the closing. This is your last chance to make sure that all of the items that you have agreed upon were completed to your satisfaction.
Step 6: The Final Closing
Before you arrive at the closing, make sure all the necessary paper work and deposits have been completed. If the mortgage, title work, homeowners insurance and other items necessary under local and state laws are not completed and brought to the closing table, the closing may not happen on time - depending on what the contract says, this could result in further action including financial penalties and even the loss of your rights to the home.
Once you close, it's official - you own the house! But there might be a few things you want to do before you lay out the welcome mat. These include arranging for an alarm system, turning on the electricity, subscribing to the local paper, cleaning or replacing the carpet, arranging for lawn services, etc. This could also be a good time to make some needed renovations.
Be sure to ask Ron for guidance and information about many money-saving offers available to CENTURY 21 customers.
CENTURY 21 real estate professionals are dedicated to making the process of buying your home as easy as possible. Below you will find the 21 pledge points offered in support of helping you.
What can you do to prepare your house for showing? What small steps can be taken to increase your chances for a quick sale? Efforts to improve the appearance of your house can contribute greatly to its marketing success. Small efforts such as replacing defective light bulbs; repainting damaged trim areas around doors and windows; cleaning the carpets; and adding finishing touches such as fresh flowers can make all the difference.
Create a marketing plan for your home that will help distinguish it in your local marketplace and attract buyers to your property. This may include advertising in the newspaper, posting your listing on the Internet, holding an open house and more. Ron will use the CENTURY 21 Customized Marketing System to create a personalized selling program for clients. Its purpose is to sell a home at the best price possible in the shortest amount of time.
Step 2: Setting the Price
A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list price. If a home is priced to low, it may cost you money. If a home is priced too high, potential buyers may be scared away. To determine the best asking price Ron will review with you the cost of recently sold homes, evaluate the competition and study marketplace trends. Ron will use this information to help you reach the right asking price. It is also helpful to discuss other terms and conditions, such as timing and items that can be included with the sale of the home. Both of these can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
Step 3: Showtime
Now it's time to get your home ready for the spotlight. Start with a good cleaning, then eliminate any clutter, add a fresh coat of paint and tidy up the yard. Ron will be happy to help you determine those jobs that will be most beneficial to the early sale of your home.
Step 4: Protecting Yourself
In some cases, a home sale can also be an invitation for danger. Here are some things you can do to make the process safer.
A buyer has made an offer - now it is time to negotiate. Rely on Ron to guide you through this process. He will help you arrive at an acceptable price, terms and conditions. Once you have accepted an offer, help keep the deal together by meeting deadlines and criteria, including home inspections, appropriate buyer visits, scheduled deposits and other steps. In fact, during this period there may be a re-negotiation of the accepted offer price depending on the outcomes of these visits. As the closing nears, you may also need to perform repairs or do additional work to the house as agreed upon in your contract. In addition, you will need to have the house "broom clean" prior to the closing so that the buyer can complete a final walk through. When you finally arrive at the closing table, come prepared with the appropriate certificates and approvals. Once the money has exchanged hands and all the papers signed it's time to hand over the keys and concentrate on your next big project - getting YOUR new home in order.
CENTURY 21 real estate professionals are dedicated to making the process of selling your home as easy as possible. Below you will find the 21 pledge points offered in support of helping you.
Ron Barrett and Century21 Northumberland Realty are pleased to be able to help you secure financing for your next PEI home purchase. Be sure to talk to Ron about financing through Centum Financial Services. With an office in-house, our mortgage advisor Tricia Keene will be on the spot to give you help and advice regarding securing a mortgage as well as great rates and service. Try the Centum Financial calulators below to determine your current financial strength.
| Mortgage Analyzer | Calculate your mortgage payment. Create an amortization schedule. Discover what you will owe in 5 years. [try] |
| Mortgage Isolator | Calculate the rate, payment, principal or amortization by inputting any three known variables. [try] |
| Prepayment Analyzer | Calculate the interest savings of making extra payments to your mortgage. [try] |
| Maximum Mortgage Analyzer | Calculate the maximum mortgage amount you qualify for based on your income. A great tool for buyers! [try] |
| Payment Analyzer | Calculate the monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly and weekly payment option on your mortgage. [try] |