First Time Home Buyers

Are you ready to buy a home? Buying a home is one of the biggest financial and lifestyle decisions you will make, so it pays to make an informed decision by first looking at the main advantages and disadvantages of homeownership. Buy vs Rent Calculator

• Are Your Financials in Order? In this Step you will find a number of simple calculations that will help you evaluate your current financial situation and determine how much house you can afford and the maximum price that you should be considering. Online Mortgage Calculators 

• How Much is This Going to Cost? After you have calculated the maximum home price you can afford, you will need to calculate the up-front costs and expenses associated with buying a home to make sure you are financially prepared. Extra buying costs 

• What Type Should You Buy? Before you start searching for a home you need to think about your current and future housing needs and what characteristics are important to you in a home.  Buy - House vs Condo

• What Professionals Should You Call? This Step describes the roles played by the professionals you will call on in the homebuying process: real estate agent, mortgage broker, lawyer/notary, inspector, insurance broker.

• How To Find the Right Home. If you have decided that you are ready to start your search, this Site offers numerous targeted searches to find the perfect home. Start my search

• How to Buy a Home.  Once you find the home you would like to buy, you will need to present the seller with an Offer to Purchase supplied by your Realtor. See Example Purchase Contract

• The Final Steps. Describes the final steps in the home buying process: things you will need to do on closing day. Closing Day Report

• Home Repair and Maintenance Tips. This website offers useful tips for new homeowners on home repair, maintenance and renovations. Also sign up to receive maintenance alerts. Home Wizardwizard 

Why Hire a Realtor to Buy or Sell a House

Maybe you're buying a home for the first time. Or maybe you're selling your home to move up to something new. Whatever the reason, listings the buying and selling of a home is a big event. It's an intricate process involving many specialists. One of these specialists is a REALTOR, whose job it is to make the transfer of property as easy as possible.  But not all licensed listings or registered Brokers or salespeople are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR is a trademark identifying real estate licensees in Canada who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). REALTOR adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice. The code of ethics is a firm set of rules, describing what kind of performance you have a right to expect from a REALTOR. It's your guarantee of professional conduct and the best in service.

• That's why many buyers and sellers turn to a REALTOR. As a member of their local real estate Board, REALTOR have their finger on the pulse of the housing market and are in daily contact with buyers potentially interested in your home.

• You can trust a REALTOR to protect your interests and to look after details. And all the while, you're an active partner in the process, working with a REALTOR® every step of the way. So the more you know about buying and selling homes, the better your working relationship with a REALTOR.

• A REALTOR’s commitment to high standards of professional conduct works to the advantage of buyers and sellers alike.

• A REALTOR is knowledgeable about developments and trends in real estate. A REALTOR will get you the facts: comparable prices, neighborhood trends, housing market conditions and more.

• A REALTOR is committed to ongoing education to increase competence and effectiveness in real estate trading.

• Every REALTOR has been trained and tested. And REALTORS® are bound by a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice that ensure fairness to all parties in a transaction.

• A REALTOR's pledge is to be honest in disclosing property information and forthright in providing the facts needed to help you make one of the most important decisions of your life.

•  And remember, only a REALTOR, a member of The Canadian Real Estate Association, has access to the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS), Canada's most powerful real estate marketing listings system.