Home Buying

How to choose a real estate agent?

You may have heard it said that home buyers are not responsible for paying agents because they are paid on commission from the sale of the property. Regardless how they are paid, they receive thousands of dollars for helping buyers with the purchase...
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Questions to ask a real estate agent

No matter where or how you find a real estate agent, asking a few questions right at the beginning can save you from a considerable amount of trouble further down the line. Below are a few questions to ask a real estate agent before you decide to do...
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Finding a new home

As you do a home search online, you will discover that you have access to a wide selection of powerful tools. Searching For Your New Home The website www.realtor.ca displays full MLS listings. This is different from other real estate websites that...
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What is the role of a buyer agent?

There are several different roles that real estate agents play during the process of buying homes. Following are some of the most common of these and some important advice to consider as a means of avoiding what is called dual agency. Buyer’s Agent...
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Viewing homes

Looking for a home is fun and hectic at the same time. There is no set way to start out on and carry through with this task. We have three steps we like to recommend when people go out to view homes. They can be done in any order and repeated as ofte...
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Choosing a Neighbourhood

Are you planning to move sometime soon? The idea of uprooting yourself and moving on is traumatic enough, but even more so would be the idea of moving into the wrong neighbourhood. That being the case, let’s have talk about some of the factors you sh...
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Making an offer to buy a home

It is both lovely and exciting to be searching for your first home or your dream home. Deciding to make an offer on a home can seem like a mysterious and intimidating process. And, while there can indeed be many ups and downs along the way, most agen...
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What if your offer is rejected?

As a home buyer, you will need to be prepared for rejection. The truth of the matter is that there are areas where homes are limited and a number of buyers are trying to buy the same property. There are some common reasons why a seller will reject a...
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What happens when your offer is accepted?

From the moment you decide to buy a home you think of what needs to be done. Making an offer on the home you want to buy and having the offer accepted is most of the battle in purchasing a home. Now the deal has to be closed to the satisfaction of th...
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Finding a Real Estate Lawyer

If you’ve made the decision to use a real estate lawyer, then your first priority will be to actually find one who is experienced in this particular field, and preferably one with a solid reputation. Below are a places where you could consider lookin...
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Closing the deal

Another name for settlement is closing, the final act before a home is officially sold. It is a very busy time. Money from the sale is given to the seller. The property is transferred to the buyer. Closing costs are paid and any remaining contracts a...
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All about home inspections

Just because you’re buying brand-new, doesn’t mean you should skip the home inspection. Although new construction homes won’t have the same wear and tear of resale properties, it’s still important to have a certified home inspector check your propert...
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Basics of the real estate contract

Purchasing a home is most likely the single largest financial transaction of your lifetime. Real estate contracts can go by many names; for example, it’s known as the Agreement of Purchase and Sale in Ontario. Contracts are quite often over 20 pages...
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Buyer's remorse

Have you ever purchased a new sweater from the department store you thought looked great, only to change and your mind and return it the very next day? That’s buyer’s remorse. When you buy something from the mall, as long as you have your receipt it...
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Buying a New Construction Condo

Condos are an attractive option for homeowners looking to avoid the upkeep and expenses that come with owning a house. Once you’ve decided to buy a condo, your next big decision is new versus resale. When it comes to new and resale condos, there are...
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Calculating closing costs on new homes

Similar to resale homes, new homes have closing costs, too. Whether you’re purchasing a new condo, house, or townhouse, it’s important to budget for closing costs. Closing costs are not just a drop a drop in the bucket, they represent a major cash ex...
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Home buying mistakes

While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a new home, there are many mistakes homebuyers can make along the way if they aren’t careful. From forgetting about closing costs (which can amount to thousands of dollars) to becoming hous...
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Home buying negotiation tips

Although the negotiations are a bit different when buying new construction over resale, there’s still some room for negotiation. When you’re buying new, all you have to rely on is the show room and the floor plans – unfortunately, what you see isn’t...
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How much can you afford for a home?

If you’ve been a renter your entire life, it can be a tough road to homeownership, especially if you’re not adequately prepared. Home affordability has been a popular topic in the media – as home prices continue to skyrocket, buyers are forced to pur...
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How to afford a down payment

With home prices skyrocketing in many markets across the country, saving for a down payment is more difficult than ever. With some cities like Toronto seeing double-digit price increases, you can quickly find yourself priced out of the market if your...
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How to choose the best mortgage lender or broker

Finding your dream home is only half the battle – unless you’re wealthy and can afford to pay for your home in cash, you’ll also need a mortgage. The days of buyers only visiting their local bank for a mortgage rate are numbered – today more buyers t...
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How to choose the best real estate lawyer

Buying a home is most likely the single biggest financial transaction of your lifetime, so it’s crucial that you find an experienced real estate lawyer who will help you along the way. When you’re purchasing new construction, you’ll have to sign a co...
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How to hire an expert home inspector

Just because you’re buying a newly-constructed home, doesn’t mean you can skip the home inspection. It’s still a good idea to get a home inspection on a new property. Although there are standards your builder must follow, it’s always possible things...
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How to hire the right real estate agent for you

You real estate agent plays a pivotal role in your search for a home. Choosing the right real estate agent is an important decision – an agent can either make or break your experience. Just because your friend had a good experience with an agent, doe...
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How to maintain a healthy credit score

Your credit score matters a great deal to lenders when you’re in the market to buy a home. An excellent credit score can mean the difference between paying a low mortgage rate and being forced to seek out a mortgage at a higher rate with secondary le...
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Offer to Purchase

You’ve found your dream home and you’d like to make an offer – the only thing that separates you from homeownership is the offer to purchase. Simply put, an offer to purchase is a legal document that spells out the buyer’s intent to purchase a proper...
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Pre-Construction Condo financing

If you work long hours and you’re looking for a low maintenance property, a condo may be your property of choice. New condos offer a major advantage over resale – you can customize the look and feel of your condo right down the backsplash. When you’r...
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Should you buy or rent a home?

The decision to buy or rent isn’t as simple as it may seem. Contrary to popular belief, buying doesn’t always make sense; there are times when renting can make the most financial sense. Owning a home comes with a lot of financial responsibilities and...
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Smart moves for home buyers

For many buyers, purchasing a home will be the most complicated purchase you’ll ever make. There is a laundry list of tasks you’ll need to complete before you finally receive the keys to your new property. Buying a home be stressful you’re ill-prepar...
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So you're ready to hire an agent

Buying a home is most likely your biggest financial decision of your lifetime, so it’s important to hire an experienced real estate agent to join your team. There are many ways you can find real estate agents, including referrals from friends and fam...
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Tax tips for home owners

Buying a home is expensive enough as it is these days. Besides your mortgage payments, there are monthly expenses, including utilities, property taxes, repairs and maintenance. The good news is you’re not alone – the government will actually lend hom...
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The real costs of home ownership

Homeownership is a lot more expensive than simply the purchase price. While a lot of buyers forget to budget for closing costs, just as many are guilty about not budgeting for the ongoing expenses of homeownership. If you’re a first-time homebuyer wh...
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Things not to do before closing escrow

There are certain rules in life you should follow. They say you should never wear white after Labour Day – just like a fashion faux pas, there are certain things you shouldn’t do before closing. Just because your lender has pre-approved your mortgage...
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Things to look for when buying New Construction

For most people, buying a home is the largest financial transaction of their lifetime. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you’ve bought resale properties before, buying new construction is a whole new ballgame. There are a host of things to loo...
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Tips to find the perfect home

Congratulations, you’ve finally saved your down payment and are ready to buy your first time. Before you start shopping for your new home, it’s important to plan ahead. If you’ve never owned a home before, it’s especially important to look at the typ...
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What to do before making an offer

After months of house hunting, you think you’ve finally found your dream home. Before you can call it your own, you’ll need to make an offer to the seller. Buying a home is most likely the biggest single financial transaction in your lifetime, so you...
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What to expect at closing

Buying a home is similar to a marathon. Your race begins when you make an offer and the seller accepts. Closing day is when all your hard work pays off and you cross the finish line. Closing day is when you can finally move into your new home and cal...
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What's a mortgage pre-approval and why you need it?

Unless you’re wealthy and can afford to purchase your next home in cash, you’ll need a mortgage. Before you start looking at new homes, it’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage. When a lender pre-approves you for a mortgage, it gives you a...
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Why home buyers need contingencies

When purchasing a home, there are two types of offers – clean offers and conditional offers. A clean offer is an offer free from conditions, while a conditional offer has at least one condition that must be met before the deal closes. In a seller’s m...
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Mortgage Prepayment

Are you looking to be mortgage-free ASAP? If you have a closed mortgage like the majority of homeowners, mortgage prepayments are a great way to reduce your amortization period by years and save thousands in interest. Why are prepayments so powerful?...
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