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Step 1: Decide to Buy 

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Before you start looking for a home, you need to understand your needs.

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  • Think about the type of place you’re looking for: Are you looking for a specific number of bedrooms or washrooms? Do you want a pool in the backyard? Do you want to live close to a school or a mall?

  • Familiarize yourself with different types of ownership: Freehold is when it’s all yours, a condo is when you take care of the inside and pay your fees to an association, and co-op is like a condo, but you rent a unit in the building and pay maintenance and repair fees.

Buyer's Guide

Step 2: Hire an Agent 

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Out of the thousands of real estate agents available, how do you choose the one right for you? A good agent acts as your representative, looking after your best interests and offering quality services to help you accomplish your goal. We’ve included a few ways to help you find your perfect Realtor:

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  • Jot down some names and numbers you find on “For Sale” signs

  • Ask friends and family for recommendations

  • Visit one of the local offices in your area

  • Ask agents you meet questions to gauge their level of professionalism and knowledge of your area

Step 3: Find your Home

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There are many important factors to consider before and while finding your dream home! Be sure you are financially ready and know the factors that can influence your finances such as:

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  • Down payments: This is a percentage of the total cost of a home that you’ll need to pay. The more money you put down, the more you’ll save on monthly payments and cost of borrowing.

  • Pre-approval for a mortgage: When the lender approves you for a mortgage, it gives you an idea of how much you can afford to buy your new house which then shapes what houses you can purchase.

  • Budget: When you go shopping make sure to create a budget for yourself. You can use our affordability calculator by clicking here.

 

Keeping these things in mind, you are free to go window shopping! You can go searching for houses according to different neighbourhoods, newspaper listings, and websites, or even drop by any open houses that are being held in your area.

Step 4: Receive an Offer

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Not all offers are equal which is where your real estate agent comes in. They will help you understand the terms and conditions regarding the price, financing conditions, or inclusions and exclusions that the buyer wants to make. They will also help you look at the other details included in the sale such as shorter/longer closing dates, appliances and/or renovations. If the offer doesn’t satisfy you, counteroffers or negotiations can be made to help get you what you want.

Step 5: Close the Sale

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There are closing costs associated with finalizing the sale that needs to be paid either by or on the closing date before getting your new house. These can include mortgage application fees, inspections, legal fees, etc. Once they are taken care of, congrats, and welcome to your new
home! You’re all ready to move in!

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