1. Prepare to buy

One of the first things you should do is decide where you want to live. Is your heart set on living in town or would a rural area be preferable? I can help to research current market prices and get a sense of how much homes cost in your ideal location.

Consider what type of house you picture yourself in; are you leaning toward a house or condo? Both can be amazing places to live. Where condos are typically lower-maintenance but carry maintenance fees, houses, semi-detached homes and free-hold townhouses must be maintained by the owner.

2. Plan your finances

You’ll need to plan for a down payment that’s at least 5% of the total purchase price of the home. Keep in mind that mortgages with less than a 20% down payment will also require default insurance but that is included in the monthly payments.

Think about the impact of your mortgage payments on your budget. A good way to determine readiness is to use a mortgage affordability calculator to estimate how much you can manage based on your income and current debts. You’ll also want to think beyond your mortgage payments to account for added monthly expenses for maintenance, repairs, upgrades and unexpected surprises. A mortgage broker may have more flexible terms than the calculator shows.

3. Get pre-qualified

Now that you have a general idea of how much you can afford, it’s time to get pre-qualified for a mortgage by a qualified lender. Any financial institution like a bank or credit union, or a mortgage broker will manage this process.

Getting pre-approved doesn’t guarantee you will be approved but it can be a good indicator of the price range to aim for. That being said, keep in mind pre-qualification amounts may overestimate affordability, so plan your budget accordingly. You will also need to account for additional costs when arranging a mortgage as well as a list of things to bring when you meet with a lender.

4. Call me, Kodi-Lee Logan, REALTOR®

REALTORS®  are your home buying MVPs. We are the most familiar with the housing market and will work with you to find the best home based on your budget and needs.

Let me know in detail what you’re looking for in a home, your preferred location and the price range you’d like to stick within so I can help you find and explore different options. From there, I can walk you through the entire home buying process and will be a great resource when it comes to getting to know a new neighbourhood.

5. View properties

You’ve done your due diligence and now comes the exciting part—browsing properties! Search listings in your price range, by location and preferred features and share any that catch your eye with your REALTOR® so they can set up a viewing.

While touring a property, consider:

  • Testing the plumbing fixtures
  • Checking the light switches in each room
  • Opening and closing the doors and windows and checking for moisture
  • Looking at other homes on the block to see how well they are maintained
  • Checking the traffic density in the area
  • Confirming parking
  • Is the driveway (if there is one) well maintained?
  • Checking proximity to nearby amenities (like schools, shopping, dining, parks or public transportation)

You can also use this House Hunting Checklist to track details about a prospective home.

6. Select your mortgage loan

Now is the time to decide on the type of mortgage that’s best for you. It may be helpful to get a good understanding of mortgage terminology and this payment calculator takes the guesswork out of determining different scenarios for interest, amortization period and payment frequency.

Your lender or broker can help you decide what’s best for your unique situation, depending on factors like floating or fixed interest rates, your desired payment frequency and affordability or ensuring that your monthly payments never increase.

7. Make an offer

Now, for the moment of truth: it’s time to make an offer. Your REALTOR® can help you come up with a strategy and prepare a fair offer based on their knowledge and experience,  your initial impressions of the home, observations made when viewing it and the asking price. Essentially, what you are willing to pay?

Your REALTOR® can also help you determine any conditions – like financing or inspections – you’d like to include as part of your offer and set a deadline. Generally, 24 to 48 hours is customary to accept or reject the offer.

8. Get a home inspection

Purchase offers generally hinge on a successful home inspection and your REALTOR® can arrange the inspection within a few days of the acceptance of your offer by the seller. It is always recommended that you have the home inspected by a professional before you buy. It will likely cost a few hundred dollars, but this small up-front investment can save you unpleasant surprises and financial woes down the road.

9. Hire a lawyer

Buying a home involves a great deal of legal paperwork. There are likely many qualified real estate lawyers your friends and family can recommend. Your REALTOR® can also share the names of lawyers in your area.

A lawyer handles all the paperwork for transferring the land title and can help you deal with possible pitfalls like zoning issues, unpaid taxes or liens, legislation or—in very rare cases—fraud. A transfer of title generally takes two weeks to complete.

Get a fee estimate from prospective lawyers with an outline of their fee structure and be sure to ask questions if you are unsure of anything. Translating legal verbiage into layman’s terms is an important part of their job.

10. Close the purchase

You’re on the home stretch! All that needs to happen now is to close the deal. Your lawyer and I will do most of the legwork here, but you should consider the following:

  • Start satisfying your end of any conditions of the agreement—I will confirm and document these;
  • Purchase homeowners’ insurance to activate on the closing date;
  • Contact your lender or broker to finalize the mortgage documents;
  • Arrange to have any utilities and services to be connected or switched to your name upon close;
  • Meet your lawyer a day or two before closing to sign the closing documents.

Buying a home will likely be one of the biggest single purchases that you’ll make and there’s a lot to know, understand and do. Let me help you with your next real estate transaction.

Summary

  • Let’s talk about your goals and plans
  • It’s normal to be nervous about your first home purchase
  • My role is to research, inform, and offer guidance
  • I am working as your fiduciary, putting your best interests above all
  • Download a First Time Buyer’s Guide (PDF)