Getting Started (For Buyers)
Step 1
How Much Can You Afford? - Use this Mortgage Calculator for a general idea of what you can afford. Always check with your Mortgage Consultant for a detailed breakdown of what you can afford.
Step 2
Finding Your Dream Home - Check out the Property Listings in your area; or Enter Your Dream Home Criteria and let me find your dream home for you.
Step 3
Choose a great Realtor - Contact Me Now!
Are You Ready?
If you're ready then contact me today! As a Full Time Realtor, I'm constantly up-to-date with what's going on in the market and my system allows me to see what properties are going on the market before the general public.
Once you've figured out you can afford, you can start your search. Things to remember:
- It could happen that the first home shown to you is the one you want; or you might look at home after home with none of them catching your interest.
- Rest assured, the home you're looking for is out there, and when you find it, you'll want to make sure you're ready to make an offer!
- Placing an offer doesn't need to be a scarey process. A great Realtor will guide you through everything that needs to be done.
- If your offer is accepted, the next steps are closing and moving into your new home.
Purchasing a home is easy once you pick the right realtor, who can put a plan into action.
Buying a Home
The first question you're bound to ask is, "How much home can I afford?"
That depends on a number of factors:
- Your selected location - Are you set on a specific area? Downtown? Uptown? The suburbs? A rural setting?
- Your preferred type of home - Detached? Semi? Duplex? High-rise? Link? Townhouse? New or Resale? There are a variety of home styles you will want to explore.
- Your income - After all, it's not just the mortgage you have to take into account. There are property taxes, utilities, and in some cases condo or strata fees. As a general rule of thumb, your monthly home-carrying cost should not exceed 30-35% of your income.
- Market conditions - Is it a buyer's, sellers' or balanced market? There are also additional costs to keep in mind. It's a good idea to work out exactly what you want and what you can afford before you begin the search.
- Be specific - After all, you don't want to suddenly come to the realization that your dream house has come with a nightmare of bills and expenses. Stick to looking at houses in your price range. The more you've thought it out, the better your sales representative can meet your needs.
- Financing - A part of deciding just what you can afford can be accomplished by meeting with your bank or a mortgage broker and negotiating a pre-approved mortgage. There are many types of mortgages and many different terms. Research all of your options. This ensures that there are no surprises once you're ready to make an offer.
How Much Can I Afford?
The most common question people ask themselves is "how much can I afford?". Use the mortgage calculator page to help you get started. People who rent often see buying a home as unaffordable because they look at the whole price of a home as opposed to their monthly mortgage payments.
If you need more help determining how much you can afford or working out a payment plan that's right for you, please contact me and my team of financial service consultants can help you determine what you can afford. The consultation is free, so why delay if you could start building your home equity today!
More Information
For more information on buying your first home, please review the online Fit to Buy brochure.