Buyer’s Guide

Choosing to buy a home is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. It’s a complex ordeal that requires a lot of planning, and securing the help of a knowledgeable Real Estate Agent like Chris Oliver to make the process run smoothly. To ready you for this, here is a general overview of what to expect and prepare.

Get Your Finances In Order

The first thing you’ll need to do is put money aside for a down payment. This amount is (at minimum) 5% of the purchase price of the home you’re planning to buy. Second, you’ll need to meet with a mortgage broker to determine what you can afford. Shopping around for the best rate is highly recommended.

Visualize Your Dream Home

Once you have established a price range, it’s time to decide what type of home will best suit your lifestyle. Think about things like access to schools, recreational facilities, what the neighbourhood is like, and so on. Why you’re choosing to buy should help answer these questions for you — so think about it carefully. You may want to put this down in writing and create a needs v/s wants list.

Meet With Chris Oliver and Begin Your Search

It’s important to partner with a Real Estate Agent you feel completely comfortable with.  Chris can help you find your dream home, that meets both your needs and your budget. This process involves setting-up viewing appointments that focus on your needs such as location, budget, lot size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Chris will set-up a search that will enable you to receive real-time notification of any new listings in your desired area.  If you like a property that you would like to see, just let Chris know and he will schedule a showing at a mutually agreed upon time.

It may take several showings to discover the perfect fit, but this process will never be rushed.  You can be assured that your bests interests are represented at all times.

Closing

Chris will help you place an offer that the seller will either accept, counter, or reject. After you have negotiated an offer, you will need to conduct a home inspection and deal with any repairs (the cost of which you can also negotiate with the seller). It’s important to finalize your mortgage with a visit to your lender, and then you’re ready to sign off on ownership. This typically takes place in a lawyer’s office.

At this point, congratulations are in order! Becoming a new homeowner is one of the most liberating things you’ll ever experience. There are many benefits to home ownership — pride of ownership, the ability to make home improvements, building equity, appreciation — the list goes on.

Home ownership is a very exciting process that I look forward to experiencing with you!