Some Tips When Purchasing Property On PEI by:Vishal Dwivedi
PEI is a little island paradise situated off the Canadian east coast in an area known as the Maritimes
. PEI has a year round population of approximately 140,000 people but as it is a vacation destination in the summer, this number greatly increases. PEI is characterized by green, rolling hills and pastures and has a very rural feel to it. Many people come to PEI in the summer and decide that they would like to purchase a summer home here, so that they can spend all their free-time on the island or they are looking for a permanent home so they can move here, as homes and property on PEI represent a much better value than other places. Seniors can sell a home in Toronto or other large metro area and free up valuable investment capital by purchasing on PEI. When purchasing your PEI real estate you should consider some of the following tips.
You should retain the services of a PEI real estate agent. Ensure that your agent is well versed in both the laws (as there are some special laws that apply to non-islanders buying land) and the actual area. Most real estate agents specialize in certain areas. You may find agents who specialize in a city, such as Summer side and are knowledgeable on the areas and properties there, while others may specialize in the Borden/Charlotte Shore area, or West Prince etc. Do not be afraid to ask your prospective real estate agent questions to ensure that he/she is knowledgeable in your area.
Before looking at properties it is a good idea to fix your budget. There are many online calculators that will take your household income and debts and work out your maximum monthly payment, the amount of principal that payment will service and with the addition of your down payment, give you a final budget. Of course you can and should go to your lending institution and they will be able to help you determine your budget. Remember that with tight credit and many lenders being very careful about their lending practices, you will have to have a down-payment, zero down is really not in most cases an option. If you are relocating and purchasing a primary home you will need a minimum of 5% down - if you are buying a second home it is likely that you will need 25% of the home value as your down-payment in order to qualify for your mortgage.
As I referred to earlier there are special regulations that apply to those who are from off-island and wish to purchase property on the island. The Island Regulatory & Appeals Commission (IRAC) governs the purchase of land by non-islanders. The Commission was setup to prevent large tracts of land being bought up by outsiders creating a monopoly on the land. There are regulations pertaining to how much land a non-resident can own and the amount of water-frontage. This is simply an extra process that non-residents must go through and usually is not a problem. However non-resident offers should add the proviso, subject to IRAC approval. There is a fee of $500 or 1% of the agreed value of the property.
When purchasing a home on PEI, as anywhere, one should have a PEI real estate inspector do a thorough assessment of the home to ensure that you are not buying a home with expensive problems lurking below the surface. Many island homes are quite old, some 100 years or more. Some older homes still have a clay basement. While there is nothing wrong with a clay basement, people unfamiliar with them can find it quite scary and opt to raise the home and pour a concrete foundation. The cost of this should be considered when comparing a home with clay foundations to one that has already been placed on concrete. Naturally you should consider the age and condition of the roof, furnace, electric service, etc
If you are purchasing vacant land, be sure that a Perk Test is done before closing. A percolation test determines the absorption rate of soil for a septic drain field. The results of a perk test are needed to design a septic system. Without an acceptable Perk Test you could not build on your property. In addition to a Perk test make sure that the property is not contaminated. You can check on the web as the government has recently posted properties considered contaminated.
With the exception of IRAC the process of purchasing land and home on PEI is not much different than anywhere else in Canada. So go ahead, its a great investment in quiet living and enjoyable family holidays
About the author
Vishal Dwivedi is a consultant for PEI real estate. You can get more information about PEI real estate at here
http://www.homesforsalepei.com/http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_10037.shtml
What Private Lender Personal Loan Entails IVA Debt Consolidation Advice: Best way to wipe off multiple debts by:Aaren Dervin Network Marketing Internet Business - Is It Really Working? by:Adi Sut The Principles You Need To Know Before Joining Forex Trading by:Ahmad Kamal Abdul Rahman The Kiéning Strategy by:Alexander Kien Know the Character of Your Potential JV Partner by:Christian Fea Choosing Checking Accounts With the Lowest Bank Fees by:Debra Dragon Buy A Property With Panoramic Views Of The Beautiful Countryside At Kusadasi, Turkey by:Derek Watkins Finding Small Savings Add Up to Big Differences by:Elizabeth Williams Tips For Staying on Budget by:Elizabeth Williams How to Automate Your Finances by:Elizabeth Williams You Get What You Pay For: Things Worth Paying For by:Elizabeth Williams Budget Maintenance Tips by:Elizabeth Williams