The Real Estate Blog - buyer advice

Buying a House? Here’s where to start.

Buying a House?
Here's Where To Start.

When you're thinking about getting into the real estate market, there are some things you need to know before buying a house. From the mortgage to the closing costs, there are many things you should be aware of before thinking about purchasing a home - whether it is your first or tenth.

Before Your Start

Make a complete checklist of what you want and what you need to do. This will help you in the buying process and ensure you don't forget anything important. It's also good idea to have realistic expectations about the things you need in a home.

How's Your Credit?

Strengthen your credit score. Your monthly payments will be lower when you have a high credit score. Experts also recommend that you stop…

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Worried About Buying and Selling in Today's Market?

Are You Worried About Buying and Selling in Today's Market?

Perhaps the most common concern that I've been hearing from homeowners lately, is that of uncertainty in regards to finding a new home after committing to the sale of their current one. "Where will we go, and what if we can't find a new home in this market?" The fact is true that the market has been interesting to navigate over the last two years, but that should never prevent you from your real estate goals.

Thinking about selling your current home, but worried about buying your next one?

- The Purchase -

The market has been a bit crazy over the past two years, but things have started to settle down. As more homes hit the market this Spring and average selling prices begin to…

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Buyer's Remorse - Avoiding Costly Surprises

Buyer's Remorse - Avoid Costly Surprises

Buying a home is a process that most people will only go through once, and it should be a fun and positive experience. After all, this is the biggest purchase you are likely to make in your lifetime, and big moments are to be enjoyed. So you grab your list of new home "must-haves", start searching online for local listings, and you begin making calls to book some house showings. Eventually, you find 'the home', you put in an offer, and congratulations you are now a homeowner! But what happens when the dust settles, and you realize that your new home is full of surprises - and some are unpleasant ones?

There are so many details to consider when house hunting, that it can be very easy to overlook even big…

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Mortgages - Should we choose a Mortgage Broker or the Bank?

Mortgages: Broker or Bank?

Applying for a new mortgage is a major financial move, and it can impact your budget for years to come. One of the most important first steps to take when applying for a home loan is to decide which mortgage broker or lender to use. There are several key differences between brokers and lenders to consider, and a closer examination of their fees and services can help you to better decide who to work with. 

What to Expect from a Broker

A mortgage broker is not affiliated with a specific bank or lender, and he or she is free to work with any lender that offers a beneficial loan program for you. This is an independent consultant who represents your best interests and who can help you to more easily and quickly locate a…

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House Hunting Checklist

House Hunting Checklist

You've decided it's time to look for a new home and now you're visiting open houses to see what's on the market and available to you. When you're shopping for a new home, it's easy to be drawn in and get swept away by a home's most charming features. This is why I recommend using a house hunting checklist when looking through open houses.

One recommendation I often suggest is to print an actual list out to bring with you to an open house. This list will be a checklist of sorts to help you take note of certain features so that you don’t forget or overlook anything. For instance, after visiting a few open houses, you might have forgotten if House A had a backyard or a side yard. There are many different types of house hunting…

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Spotlight on Cambridge Neighbourhoods: Hespeler

Spotlight on Cambridge Neighbourhoods: HESPELER

Cambridge, Ontario is an amazing and diverse city made up of a selection of unique neighbourhoods to call home. However, before you buy a home in any neighbourhood, you'll want to do some research and make sure it's the right place for you and your needs - if you have a family to keep in mind, if you need to be close to the office, or if you need to be near the best jogging trails, and everything in-between.

In this article, I'll be going into depth about Hespeler, one of my personal favourite neighbourhoods in Cambridge. One of the great things about Hespeler is that the houses range from brand new to historic homes that are over 100 years old. The Speed River runs through the middle of Hespeler and…

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What You Need to Know Before Buying Your First Home

What You Need to Know Before Buying Your First Home

If you're thinking about entering the real estate market, congratulations! Purchasing property is one of the smartest ways you can invest your money. If you're a new home buyer, the process might be foreign to you, but I'm here to help you along the way.

Determine if you are financially ready.

The most important step for any new homeowner is to make sure they can afford a home, and if so, how much home you can afford to buy. You will need to make sure your finances are in place and that you can budget for your other expenses while carrying a mortgage.

Get preapproved for a mortgage.

If you're serious about buying a home, you need to get preapproved for a mortgage. This is a very simple…

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Advantages of Buying A Home in the Winter

Advantages of Buying a Home in the Winter

Don't wait until Spring!

We've shared how to find a hot deal on a home purchase in the summer, but many clients often ask me when the best time of year is to purchase a home. Many people say that it's crucial to buy a home in the spring or summer because you have the most options to choose from but the reality is that people buy and sell homes all year. What a lot of people don't realize is that buying a home in winter can actually have a lot of advantages that you might not even have considered.

One of the biggest advantages to buying a home in the winter is avoiding competition. With most people focused on the holiday season, there is less competition for homes. In today's bidding war-centered real…

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Are You Financially Ready to Buy a House?

Are You Financially Ready to Buy a House?

Are you a first time home buyer? If you’re starting to think about buying a home and have peeked inside an open house or two, you'll want to keep reading.

If your employment is secure and you plan on living in the same place for a while, it might be time to consider if you are financially ready to purchase a home. Here are some important financial questions everyone should ask themselves before they buy a home:

Do you have a Down Payment?

The minimum down payment to purchase a home today is 5% of the purchase price. Obviously the more you are able to put down the better, and anything over 20% of the purchase price will also help you avoid paying fees for mortgage insurance.

More money for Other…

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