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For an Interactive look at the market in the Halifax Region CLICK HERE.

If you're like most first-time home buyers, you've probably listened to friends', family's and coworkers' advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you.

There are many things that influence a home buyer to purchase a property from changes in lifestyle, relocating for work, as an investment, or simply a to have a place to call home. 

Canadians are satisfied with their homes and neighbourhoods but will probably not stay put according to a new survey. The Canadian Housing Survey is a new national poll from Statistics Canada, sponsored by the CMHC. It was carried out in 2018 and shows that about half of Canadian households have either moved in the past 5 years or intend to within the next 5 years.

Among the 35% who had moved in the past five years, those in Nunavut were most likely to have done (46%) while those in Newfoundland and Labrador were least likely to have moved (23%). Upgrading to a better quality home was the top reason (9.7%) for moving, followed by moving to a more desirable neighbourhood (7%), to become a homeowner (6.4%), a change in household size (6.3%), and to lower housing costs (5%).

As a seller of a home, it is important for you & your agent to know who you are marketing your home too & how to attract them to your home. NSAR examined research on key demographics in Atlantic Canada. And, we discovered a lot of useful information about 3 groups of buyers: First-time buyers, Moving-up and Downsizers.

First-time buyers are generally not handy, and have no time to be. They are more likely to buy "previously owned" homes, that do not require a lot of time or effort. Move-in ready homes may appeal more to this buyer.

Moving up buyers see their homes as central to their lives and value quality more than price. These buyers also plan to own their home for about 15 years. Higher priced homes, with quality features may appeal more to these buyers.

To Downsizers, price is more important. Downsizers are retired,or preparing to retire and so they also generally have fixed incomes. This group appreciates homes that are affordable and allow them to focus on family. They are generally looking for structurally sound homes with amenities nearby & small scale yards that are easy to maintain.