Buying Tips

If you’re thinking of buying a home, this 12-step plan will help to guide you in the right direction. But before we jump right in, you have to make sure three things are ready: you, your bank account, and the real estate market.

When buying a home, you and your family have a lot of decisions to make. Do we want one story or two? How far from work are we willing to live? The list goes on. Download the checklist and print it for yourself to bring along with you when you’re house hunting, rating each aspect as you go

A home is usually the single largest investment that most people make in their lives. Achieving your dream can be made easier by taking advantage of various Government Programs for home buyers and property owners. Your REALTOR can provide information on these programs and help you to determine your eligibility.

Purchasers in most large Canadian cities can add Land Transfer Taxes to their list of closing costs. Unless you live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or rural Nova Scotia, land transfer taxes are part of the deal. These taxes, levied on properties that are changing hands, are the responsibility of the purchaser. Depending on where you live, taxes can range from half of a percent to two percent of the total purchase price.

Title insurance is protection against loss arising from problems connected to the title of your property. Before you purchased your home, it may have gone through several ownership changes, and the land on which it stands went through many more. There may be a weak link at any point in that chain that could emerge to cause trouble. Title insurance covers the insured party for any claims and legal fees that arise out of such problems.

Having a detailed checklist is critical when you’re a homebuyer. Not only can it ensure you snag your dream home, but it can also speed up the overall process, making your home search easier, more efficient, and more effective on the whole. This house hunting checklist will guide you through the process of preparing to make that big leap, and most importantly, finding your dream home.