Barracuda Consulting, LLC

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais Montreal has started to attract a great deal of attention in the real estate sector since it typically has lower prices than cities such as Vancouver or Toronto. Real estate investors both from Canada and abroad are eyeing the Montreal market closely given the constant appeal that the market possesses. Investing in Montreal can provide a great deal of value to prospective real estate investors; however, it is essential to understand the potential benefits as well as the pitfalls to investing in the Montreal real estate market. In order to learn more about the benefits and pitfalls of investing in the Montreal market, please review the information below: Benefits of Investing in Real Estate in Montreal, Canada Lower Costs Than Toronto or Vancouver Currently, the cities in Canada that have the highest real estate prices are Vancouver and Toronto. Montreal, while having great professional opportunities and a high quality of life, has lower price

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais Purchasing a new home for personal use or an investment property is a major decision. There are many factors to consider on making such a large purchase and one of those issues is the actual condition of the home. This is particularly true for homes that have been lived in by previous owners along with homes that are older than ten years. It is wise for prospective home purchasers to have a clear understanding of what kinds of inspections they need to plan for before their purchase closes. In addition, it is wise for prospective buyers to consider the pros and cons of home inspections in order to make the best decision possible. In order to learn more about the pros and cons of home inspections for prospective real estate buyers, review the information below: Benefits of Home Inspections for Prospective Real Estate Purchasers Obtaining Important Information About Costly Repairs When it is a seller’s market, it can be tempting for buyers to wa

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais When considering whether to purchase a property, there are several factors that must be studied to determine whether the property will be a good or bad investment. One of the most important parts of the sales process is the inspection. During the inspection, there will be a chance to look at the house closely. In order to learn more about what positive indicators or detrimental red flags to look for in order to determine if a property is a good or bad investment, please review the information below: Indicators a Property Could Be a Good Investment The Property Has a New Roof Having a newer roof, is a positive indicator when determining if a home is a wise investment. The average roof lasts for close to 20 years . If a roof needs to be replaced the median price in the United States is $7,747. Finding out that a new roof has recently been installed or that the home was constructed only a couple of years ago will decrease the cost of repairs.

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais It can be challenging to consider how to increase the value of a home that an existing homeowner wants to sell. The reason for this is that there may have been many changes made during the period of ownership that should be updated or perhaps some of the aspects of the home are outdated and unappealing to the current real estate buyers. It is wise for homeowners that are looking to increase the value of their home to consider researching extensively or consulting an expert in order to figure out which modifications are worthwhile to increase the value of their existing property. In order to learn more about strategic ways to increase the resale value of a home, please review the information below: Strategic Ways to Increase the Resale Value of Your Home Consider Improving Your Home’s Curb Appeal Curb appeal is a very important investment to make because it is the first impression that a prospective buyer has of a home. Curb appeal can includ

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais There has been an increased interest in renting out one’s home or an investment property to tenants in recent years. Many speculate that there is a great deal of potential for profit and sufficient opportunity for a homeowner or real estate investor to increase their real estate portfolio in the medium or long term. When deciding whether renting out your home or an investment property is a smart decision, it is essential to weigh the overall costs in order to ensure renting the property is a good decision. Below is a list of important pros and cons to consider when deciding whether renting out your home or investment property is the best strategy. Important Pros of Renting Out Your Home Higher Income There is no doubt that a landlord who rents out an investment property or a homeowner that rents out their own home will have an increase in income . This is particularly true if your property is located in a valuable neighborhood with a great sc

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais When trying to acquire a new home or investment property, it can be difficult to ascertain when you are getting a good price on a residential property. Many purchasers view purchasing a residential property as an emotional decision as well, which does not help them get the best value for their money. For prospective buyers that are looking to purchase a new home or a new residential investment property, it is recommended to review the information below: Key Indicators to Look For to Ensure You Get the Best Real Estate Deal Analyze Sold Comparables on the Market When purchasing a residential property, it is best to do your own research, or work with an agent with local experience in the area. This way, the agent will be able to discuss with you comparables that have sold recently. It is recommended to analyze several recently sold comparables that have similar square footages, number of rooms/ bathrooms, and landscaping features as the proper

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais Homeowners Associations can cause a great deal of confusion with homebuyers and real estate investors alike due to the lack of clarity regarding how they bring value to real estate communities. Many purchasers wrestle with whether having a Homeowners Association is worthwhile or whether they should seek out a community that does not have high Homeowners Association dues. This is a decision that should not be taken lightly as it has the potential to greatly impact the overall cost of a particular residential property. In order to learn more about the pros and cons of investing in or purchasing a property that has a Homeowners Association, review the information below: Pros and Cons to Consider When Purchasing a Property that Has a Homeowners Associations Pros Maintenance of Amenities Communities that have Homeowners Associations can benefit from offering residents many amenities. This can be appealing to a resident or prospective tenants that

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais For many investors, it is very difficult to get into the real estate market and obtain the goal of having an investment property. One of the main barriers to entry can be obtaining enough capital to either purchase a home outright or to have a sufficient credit score to be approved for a loan. For this reason, many investors consider purchasing a home that is a fixer-upper in order to save capital on the upfront cost. Even though fixer-upper properties can be substantially lower in price, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of completing a fixer-upper renovation project. In order to learn more about important factors to consider when contemplating investment in a fixer-upper property, please review the information below: The Pros of Investing in a Fixer-Upper Low Cost for Proof of Funds Proof of funds is one of the most challenging barriers to purchasing real estate that prospective investors face. By investing in a fixer-upper, it is

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais In 2020, commercial real estate in the United States underwent a transformation that will likely last for many years to come. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was already a trend to reduce the cost of overhead for commercial real estate, particularly for startup companies and retailers. However, once Covid-19 hit, the commercial real estate market was put into a unique position with major brands attempting to break leases, substantial closures to offices and brick and mortar stores, and CEOs considering whether their employees could work entirely remotely going forward. As a result, the commercial real estate market within the United States has faced a unique position that it has not seen previously. In order to learn more about important commercial real estate trends in the United States, review the information below: Important Commercial Real Estate Trends in the United States Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Major Cities The Covid-19 pa

Written By: Jacquelyn Annete García Vadnais The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great disruption not only in the American economy, but also in the global economy. One of the areas of the economy that has faced great challenges is both in commercial and residential real estate. The reason for this is due to the many citizens that have lost their jobs or experienced entire industry disruptions, it has become quite difficult to be able to afford basic day-to-day costs including rent. As a result of this sudden shift in 2020, many states created emergency legislation to ensure certain protections were available to those whose finances had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many states also have been having a severe budget shortfall due to the lack of aid that they received from Congress in comparison to the severe costs they incurred due to enforcing COVID-19 health protocols. Due to the unique combination of shortage of state budgets and citizens not being able to afford ba