Buying a home or condo, especially for the first time can be a daunting task. Here are some of the steps involved in purchasing. Any time I meet with clients, I walk them through the in-depth steps involved.

Professional Realtor 

First off, consider hiring your own realtor (ahem, ME!) to walk you through the entire process. A realtor who is working for you and looking out for your needs as the buyer, not the sellers. Click here to see why you should hire a buyer agent.

Pre-Qualification

Meeting with a mortgage broker to find out how much you can afford to pay for a home and knowing your options before you start shopping, will set your expectations and allow you to focus on your buying needs.

Pre-Approval

After discussing your financial situation with a mortgage broker, you will get a pre-approval letter from a bank or financial institution. Having a pre-approval in hand will make you a much more attractive buyer to sellers. It shows that you have taken the time to prepare, are a serious buyer and are qualified. The pre-approval also helps you avoid disappointment when shopping for a home which may be out of your price range.

Needs and Wants

You should always make these two lists.  If you have just started your search, you will definitely want to make your lists right away. If you have already started looking, you’ll know how important it is. First -make your needs list, this should include the style of the home, the amount of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking spots desired, etc. What are your deal breakers? Next - make your wish list. These are things that would be nice to have and not necessary. In Toronto, this could include parking, a den, outdoor space, a finished basement, etc. As you go shopping for properties you will start to see what is realistic. You may find yourself changing some of your items from your needs list to your wants.

Start Shopping

Once you start your home buying search, keep a log of each property you go see and and take note on whether it fulfills your wants and needs checklist. If you need to, try and take video and pictures of each property so that you are able to reference it once you want to make your final decision.

As you view properties you like, keep the following in mind:

Location:  Look at a potential property as if you are the seller.  Would a prospective buyer find it attractive based on school district, crime rate, proximity to positive (shopping, parks, freeway access) and negative (abandoned properties, garbage dump, source of noise) features of the area?

Visualize the house empty & with your own decor:  Are the rooms laid out to fit your needs? Is there enough light?

Be Objective:  Think with your head when buying a home.  Does this home really meet your needs?  There are many houses on the market, so don’t make a rushed decision that you may regret later.

Be Thorough:  A few extra dollars well spent now, can help you avoid big expenses down the road. 

Offer Time

You have found a property which meets your needs. Now it’s time to put in your offer.  Here’s where it can get tricky and you need a professional to help you through it. Depending on the situation, you want to present an offer which is well thought out and enticing to the seller. Make sure you include inspection & financing contingencies in your written offer.

Have the property inspected by a professional inspector. Request anywhere from 1-3 property re-visits prior to close and for one walk-through to take place within 24 hours of closing. Make sure that right before closing the house looks the way you purchased it without any damage or missing items such as lights or appliances.

Contact me or call me directly to discuss any of these matters in further detail.