Buyers Guide

Home ownership has long been regarded as one of the basic elements of starting for one to build their equity. Buying a home, however, is anything but basic. It is important to understand the process as well as how your specific needs fit into your search for a new home.

Get ready to find the home of your dreams, as our team of combined talents will do everything in their power to walk you through this step by step process and then leave you with a feeling of confidence that you made the right decision.

Step 1: The Wish/Want List
Preparing to purchase a home starts with you in mind. Take a moment to think about what you're looking for in your home - your wish list. The more you understand what type of home you're looking for the easier it will be to find that home on the market. Bear in mind that your budget is only one determinant of your new home. Lifestyle, actual "needs" and desirable "wants" all factor into the home you buy. We know buying a home can be intimidating and exhausting and that's why we work so tirelessly on your behalf.

Step 2: First Financial Step
Whether you're buying your first home, a larger home for your growing family or downsizing to a more comfortable home you may require a mortgage. Unfortunately, most home buyers leave mortgage arrangements until after they place an offer on a home, or "Subject to Financing". For the average home seller, offers Subject to Sale are not looked upon favorably - especially if the subject is for a lengthy period of time. Why? Because they must tie up their home with an offer that may or may not be able to secure adequate financing.

In fact, an offer "Subject to Sale" may be "bumped" for an offer that is subject-free!

Don't lose out on your dream home. Get pre-qualified for a mortgage today and rest assured that you'll be guaranteed today's rates when you buy your home. For most lenders, mortgage pre-qualification is cost and commitment free. An added bonus is that Mortgage Specialists can even pre-qualify you over the phone/fax.

Once you're pre-qualified you'll know exactly what your price range is and be confident when negotiating the price of a home. Consider this: when dealing with competing offers from different home buyers a home seller will most likely choose an offer from a home buyer who is already pre-approved for a mortgage.

For some first time home buyers this step may seem somewhat tedious; however with our team our mortgage specialist will make this second step as comfortable and painless as possible.

Step 3: Searching For The Dream
As full-time Real Estate professionals, we know that buying a home can be an emotional roller coaster. Let us be your objective partner in your home search - we will appraise all available properties for suitability to your wants and needs.

Buying a home involves some compromise but keep your requirements in mind. Firstly, the home you purchase should fulfill as many of your needs as possible.

These needs are the essential criteria for your new home. Next, your new home should satisfy as many of your wants as possible. Searching for a home can be an emotional experience and it's easy to become more concerned with our wants than our needs. After all, you can always change the colour of the room (want), but you can't easily add another bedroom (need).

Step 4: Making The Offer
Once you've decided to purchase a property it's time to sit down and make an offer. Keep in mind that price is the single largest negotiating point of the offer. While you want to purchase the home for as little as possible, the Seller wants as much as possible. So how can you compromise so that you both win? Sometimes, it's the little things that make all the difference:

What are some sure-fire ways to have your offer taken seriously, even in a competing offer situation? Go forward and offer your best purchase price, with the least amount of subjects/conditions. This way, even if the Seller does not accept your offer you'll know you did your best and can move onto other homes without any lingering doubts.

When negotiating an offer to purchase real estate, a "win-win" offer will always be more acceptable to both you and the Seller. Countless experts have proven that "win-win" negotiation is the best way to get what you want. With over 30 years of negotiating expertise, our team will help you get the home that suits you. This step is 100% business and should not be taken to heart. Our professional negotiating team has one thing in mind, "to get the best bang for your buck."

Step 5: Final Steps to the door
This last step is important but is one of the easiest, after the offer has been accepted by both parties our team will setup, coordinate and execute a home inspection,assist you in arranging for home owners insurance provide you with a legal referral and our mortgage specialist will finalize the mortgage details . All these services and more are available on your request!

Our team is here to serve you and only you! Our job is not only real estate but to make your home purchase a breeze.