Purchasing real estate, whether as an investment or a property to move into, is always a big financial decision. As such, do your best to avoid some of these common mistakes some people make when purchasing real estate:

A lot of people jump the gun without checking their credit reports and getting pre-approved for loans. While it may seem like a minor detail, checking your credit report and scores beforehand gives you time to correct any mistakes you may find, and more time to improve your credit rating. Getting pre-approved for a loan also helps speed up the closing process.

Hiring an inspector to check for any problems a house may have that the agent did not mention may seem like an obvious necessity, but you'd be surprised at the amount of people that skip the inspection process or do not complete it. Spare yourself the headache of future repairs and risking your safety and have a home inspector check a house before you invest in it.

Lastly, there will come a time when you may eventually have to move out and sell the property you are about to buy, so do take into account its resale value. Most people don't look that far ahead and purchase real estate without considering its resale value. This ends up making the house harder to sell in the future, with some people selling their homes at huge discounts just to close a sale, thereby losing money.

Getting into commercial real estate is known to be more beneficial than being part of a residential real estate business. Due to additional cash flow and bigger payoff, there's no question that commercial real estate investment can be an attractive venture. So if you plan to invest in a commercial real estate property or close a good commercial real estate deal, you have to identify and evaluate the best opportunities.

The first step is to think like a professional. Know that commercial properties are valued differently than residential properties. Once you learn what the insiders know, create an action plan. Ask yourself how much you can afford to shell out. Get the number of tenants on board or ask how much rental space you need to fill. You also have to remember that a good deal is not all about meeting your financial goals, it also involves handling every aspect that will be crucial in the long run such as the property's location, potential for growth, and many others.

Don't forget to also familiarize yourself with commercial real estate concepts, and learn to spot great deals. Find sellers who are eager to sell below market value. Note that only sellers who are motivated are willing to negotiate and hopefully accept your terms.

Lastly, be flexible and resourceful. You have plenty of sources around you to find the best properties. Building a good relationship with property owners is also important. Remember, good communication is key to doing business.

If you're trying to find a house for sale in Calgary or any city in Canada, it may be difficult to do it alone. You might spend way too much time searching without finding more than a handful of suitable properties. The same is true when you want to put your house in the market, as it certainly isn’t always easy to find serious buyer; some are merely curious, after all.

Luckily, real estate buyers and sellers have a way out of this predicament via a Multiple Listing Service or MLS® System, a primary data system that is used by real estate agents to market and sell any property. In fact, most of all the properties sold in the U.S. and Canada are listed on an MLS® System.

With the Calgary housing market on the upswing, buyers will benefit from the help of real estate agents who can guide you accordingly. Through an agent, a buyer can obtain the necessary information on a prospective property even before actually having a look at it in person, thereby saving a lot of time and effort. Indeed, finding a home or putting your property up for sale is much easier with the help of professional real estate agents.

With Calgary being declared as the fifth best city to live in for 2013 (according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, that is), it’s tempting to move to this city and enjoy such perks as continued economic growth and employment stability. However, one thing you must do before you pack your bags and call in the movers is to secure your new place of residence. In addition, you need to find a trustworthy real estate agent to steer you in the right direction.

A good source would be real estate publications and websites. You can check out property listings and other real estate-related news that can lead you to the most noteworthy professionals in the industry. If you wish to get a good idea of how these realtors work, you can go to the open houses advertised on these publications.

Asking for referrals from people in the community is also a good idea. For instance, you can go to a local supermarket or retail store and start a casual conversation with a few residents. If they worked with a remarkable realtor in the past, they certainly won't hesitate to recommend them to you.

However, if there are people who are not comfortable with providing this information, simply back off and avoid being pushy. You certainly don't want to be in hot water with these guys. Instead, focus on finding a realtor you can work with and aim to get settled in as soon as possible.