How To Buy a House

This is the number one thing to do – first in order of steps and highest in priority. The right professional will guide you through all the next steps and ensure that you don’t make mistakes which could haunt you for years. Take your time with this step - consider sales history data, revews of past clients and ask a lot of questions. The right choice here makes all the difference!

If you need to finance some or all of your purchase a mortgage broker will help with this part. Think about how much you qualify to borrow and how much you realistically want to spend on housing costs. For some, home ownership is important enough to sacrifice vacations and meals out, for others it’s important to have money left over to live well. These are lifestyle questions – only you have the answers.

Needs are the important thing here, despite how much we might want our wants. Needs are usually few – minimum number of bedrooms & bathrooms, parking, and access to transit, childcare, specific schools might top the list. Knowing the difference between must-haves and nice-to-haves will be helpful in selecting a home that you will keep you happy long term.

After a long search it might be hard to keep emotions from taking over at this point but do your best here. This is an important step. Always remember that an accepted offer is a legally binding contract. In most areas there is no cooling off period so be sure you’re sure! Listen to your Realtor’s advice about contingencies, conditions and other clauses designed to protect you.

Now’s the time for dreaming and planning things out in your new place. You have a little bit of work to do but the professionals who have helped you will let you know what’s needed and when in terms of signing papers and lining up financing. Your Realtor may be able to recommend moving companies, painters, landscapers, etc. Pack your things, plan where they’ll live in your new home and put your feet up.