Finding a house in Canada that suits your budget can be a challenge. With the national average home price sitting at $669,630 many homebuyers face difficulties finding affordable options. This is especially true for real estate in major cities like Vancouver and Toronto. By contrast, Edmonton still remains relatively affordable with the benchmark price sitting at $399,400. For those looking to downsize or enter the market for the first time, these conditions present great opportunities. In this article, we’ll highlight how you can find Edmonton houses for sale under $300,000. Follow along below to discover how you can achieve your year-end real estate goals!

How Can a REALTOR® Help You Find an Affordable Home?

If you are looking to find an affordable home, hiring an Edmonton REALTOR® can be a smart move. Real estate agents are skilled negotiators who can increase your chances of securing a home in your price range.  Knowing when to make counteroffers and how to use leverage are crucial negotiation skills that not every homebuyer has. To be an effective real estate negotiator you must know the market inside and out. This is especially true if you’re negotiating against the seller’s real estate agent. For these reasons, having a REALTOR® on your side to negotiate deals is critical in finding a property within your budget. 

In addition to their negotiating skills, REALTORS® also have contacts with several people in the industry. These connections can range from developers and potential sellers to other brokers in the city. Having a strong rolodex of contacts is helpful when you’re searching for a home with a strict budget. A well-connected REALTOR® could have access to off-market listings or pre-sale homes that may be priced lower since they haven’t hit the public yet. Access to these opportunities can make a difference in your ability to score a home in your price range.  

Beyond these factors, real estate agents have access to the MLS® (Multiple Listing Service).  The MLS® is a comprehensive database of properties, which includes listings that may not be as widely available to the public. This access can give you the upper hand in finding potential homes that meet your budget before other buyers are aware they exist. Another advantage of using the MLS® is that your REALTOR® will get real-time updates on new listings, price updates, and properties that have returned to the market. This ensures that no opportunity passes you by. 

Tips for Finding Edmonton Houses for Sale Under $300 000

Besides working with a REALTOR®, you can make the task of finding Edmonton houses for sale under $300,000 easier by focusing on a few key details. The first is to consider alternative housing options like townhomes and condos. These housing types tend to sell for less than single-family properties due to their smaller size. However, as a trade-off for their size, townhomes and condos are often situated in central, amenity-rich areas. Moreover, they are generally stratified which means you don’t need to worry about certain maintenance tasks as you would with a single-family home. 

Another way to increase your odds of finding an affordable home is to look for pre-construction deals. Pre-construction homes are properties that are available for purchase but have not yet been built. Developers will often list these units at a lower price since there is some risk in purchasing a home before it has been constructed. However, choosing this option means you need to be prepared for a timeline that may not allow for immediate move-in. Despite this, it can be a smart strategy to secure a turnkey home at a fraction of the cost.

Scoring a good deal sometimes means compromising on your wishes. For example, buyers who expand their search radius to include more rural properties are more likely to find a home within their budget. This is because houses on the outskirts of metropolitan areas are further away from key amenities. As a result, homeowners are forced to commute a bit longer than they otherwise would. If you’re okay with a little extra driving time, it might be worthwhile looking for properties outside of your ideal neighbourhood. 

Contact us Today for Help Finding a Home!

For more information about finding Edmonton houses for sale under $300 000, contact us today! We’d be happy to help you find a well-suited property in this quickly growing city. Arrange a meeting with one of our experienced REALTORS® and discover how to achieve your end-of-year real estate goals. Be sure to reach out to us with any questions about Edmonton real estate for sale and stay tuned to our blog for more home-related content. We look forward to working with you in the near future!