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Find your haven. Find your home.
It’s about more than finding a property, it’s about making it home. And sometimes, finding the right house is more than love at first site. My signature system ensures you are set up for success.
From Thorough due diligence, access to the latest market date, and a highly respected network of industry professionals, you’ll be at ease knowing all your basis are covered.
My Why
“When a client tells you they never plan on moving from the home you helped them find, so they’ll no longer require your services. That’s when I know I’ve done my job. That’s WHY I do what I do.”
– Deanna
Ready to get started, but feeling overwhelmed? This guide is designed to walk you through the ABC’s of buying your new home so you’ll know exactly what to expect during the entire process.
Above & Beyond
Whether you are actively searching for a property, or want to keep on top of the current market. Set yourself up to automatically receive listings or conduct your own searches in REAL TIME. Gain access to our exclusive search database with access to listings as quickly as they come out.
Want to learn more about buying real estate in Ontario? Check out these articles and videos.
Check out our FAQs for buying real estate in Ontario. I've collected a few of my most common questions below.
Nowadays, we have access to almost every listing online giving buyers an advantage when it comes to finding a home.
But, there’s a lot more that goes into it than just finding a property. Here are some key things you might not have thought about.
Two types of Realtor-Buyer relationships exist: Client vs. Customer. You may think of these terms being used synonymously, however in real estate, that is NOT the case and can have very different implications.
A Realtor has a fiduciary duty to their client(s).
Meaning, if you are a “client”, Realtors and the Brokerage have an obligation to promote and protect your best interests at all times, particularly in a real estate transaction. They are ethically obligated to negotiate on your behalf and work FOR you.
Alternatively, your relationship can also be that of a “Customer” if you decide not to “officially” hire a realtor. An example would be if you were approach a listing agent and ask them to submit an offer for a property on your behalf for that property.
If you chose not to “hire” a realtor, you would likely remain as a “customer” if you decide to buy a house listed on MLS or Realtor.ca.
As a “Customer”, a Realtor and Brokerage will provide you with some level service, but might not necessarily be looking out for your best interests. They are also not obligated to keep your real estate search information confidential. This could translate into them drafting the offer, but not going above and beyond to make sure you are protected. Or advocating on your behalf during negotiations.
How can this hurt you as a buyer? For any home listed by a Realtor, the Seller would naturally be a “client” of the listing Agent. As such, they have a legal obligation to the SELLER to promote and protect their best interests in a real estate transaction. This includes getting them the best price possible, and also complete transparency.
So, by contacting listing agent directly, there’s a good chance their obligations are to the seller, and not to you. Translating into you potentially paying a higher price. Also, anything information, personal or other you may share with the listing agent could potentially be passed on to the Seller’s, putting you at a disadvantage during negotiations.
You might not be aware of, or have access to all of the clauses that should be included in your offer during negotiations. Realtors have been trained to know exactly what things should be included to avoid problems, or potentially legal issues down the line. Without knowing what you should be including in an offer, you open yourself up to future liability or even litigation.
When it comes to purchase price, Realtors are experts in pricing strategies and knowing the comparables. Without access to all of the information, stats and tools a Realtor has, and without knowing how to analyze the comps, you risk overpaying for a home by tens of thousands of dollars or more.
In Ontario, the Real estate industry is highly regulated. The provincial government writes the rules that both Realtors & Brokerages must follow. RECO (Real Estate Council of Ontario) enforces the rules on the government’s behalf, and has laid out legislation and regulations that govern the entire profession. You can be assured that in most cases, you’ll be working with a dedicated, licensed professional bound to a strict code of ethics. And, you’ll have recourse for any wrongdoings or complaints through RECO.
These are just a few of the many reasons why having a Realtor by your side is imperative when searching for a home. Don’t put yourself at a disadvantage when it comes to purchasing the biggest asset you’ll ever own.
A down payment is the amount you put towards the purchase of a home, and it gets deducted from the purchase price. Your mortgage will then cover the rest of the amount.
The minimum down payment will depend on the purchase price of the home, and typically ranges between 5%-20%.
If your down payment is less than 20% of the price, then you must purchase mortgage loan insurance.
Typically, homes that cost $500,000 or less will require a minimum amount of 5% down.
Homes $500,000-$999,999 usually require around 5%-10% down. This is calculated as follows: You will require 5% down on the first $500,000. Then, 10% down will be required on the balance of the purchase price above $500,000. Add these together to give the total amount required.
Homes for $1 million or more normally require 20% down.
Consult your mortgage broker or lender to get exact figures as your situation could vary.
There is no clear cut answer to this question. It will first depend on your circumstances, and how quickly you need to purchase. And, it can also depend on whether you have a home to sell too.
Generally, the busiest seasons for real estate fall between February to June, and then September to November.
You might automatically think you’ll get the best deal in Fall or Springtime. But, keep in mind that’s exactly what everyone else is thinking! And exactly why you may not get the best pricing during those periods. Since demand for homes ramp up in Late February, March, April & again in September with the onset of the Spring and Fall Market, you’ll likely pay the highest prices during these periods.
Instead, consider starting your search just before Christmas, in early January, or summer when all the other potential buyers are thinking about the Holidays, or on summer vacation. Less shoppers means less demands, which can translate into better negotiating power.
Mortgage brokers and agents are licensed professionals. They can identify a large number of lenders and options, having the ability to work with multiple lending institutions. In many cases, their lender relationships include some of the “Big Banks”.
In general, mortgage brokers/agents will look at your finances to determine the right type of product for you.
They will then compare proposed mortgages and find the one most suitable.
They then gather all the documents needed and complete the paperwork for the lender to approve the loan.
They have the ability to negotiate the rate and term with the lender, and act as your liason.
It is always strongly recommended to obtain a pre-approval before starting your house hunt.
Since your approval amount will depend on a number of factors, you’ll need to know what type of mortgage is suitable for you, as well as the maximum amount of mortgage you could qualify for.
Your pre-approval will also help you to estimate your mortgage payments, and lock in an interest rate for 60-120 days, depending on the lender.
Before ever stepping out for your first showing, it’s important to get pre-approved, helping to avoid any disappointment. There is nothing worse then finding a home you love and then losing it because you don’t have your financing in place.
Feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to refer you to one of my trusted mortgage agents.
And not to worry, your confidential information is never shared between mortgage brokers/agents and realtors. And, realtors don’t get ever get any kickbacks or referral fees for recommending a mortgage broker or agent.
No! And Yes! Ok, actually, this is a 2 part question, and the answer is both!
It is my personal belief that the relationship with your Realtor must be a good fit, just like any friendship or professional relationship. And, if at any point in the process that sentiment changes, or, if your circumstances change, I believe you should have the opportunity to pause or end the process. As such, I will never force you to stay in a contract you can’t get out of.
Now for the “Yes” part!
When you are ready to buy your home, it is law in Ontario that Realtors reduce the agreement to writing and provide it to you for your signature. The agreement should be in writing in order to protect the interest of all parties.
This means, that I wouldn’t actually be able to write up an offer and submit it to a Seller on your behalf without a signed Buyers Representation Agreement (BRA).
But, before we even get to that point, we’d go over everything you need to know about BRA’s. And, you’d never be contractually forced to work with me if you ever needed out of the relationship.
I don’t need to hide behind a contract, so you’re free to cancel anytime. But, I’ll do everything I can to ensure you’re happy while we’re working together 🙂
Home inspections are designed to help you understand exactly what you are purchasing, so that you can offer confidently. I feel so strongly about doing whatever I can to protect you and your investment that I’ll even pay for your first inspection!
Home inspections examine the property at a much deeper level than you’re able to during a few short showings. They are effective in uncovering issues that might not have been disclosed, or even known by the sellers.
If the report checks out, you’ll know you are buying a solid home and you’ll feel more confident during the process.
They are also designed to protect you. A professional inspector is trained to look past the cosmetic and determine the condition of a home’s major components such as roof, structure, foundation, plumbing, insulation, electrical and mechanical systems.
If not in good condition, these things could create serious, costly issues down the road.
Doing whatever you can at the outset to know exactly what you are buying will help you make a good purchasing decision. Are you excited to move forward with a good house, or have you found too many red flags and want to walk away?
Additionally, the home inspection may actually give you some negotiating power. If something major comes up but you still want to close on the deal, the Seller may be open to covering the cost of repairs, or even re-negotiate the selling price.
A home inspection can also act as a future “to do” list, letting you know the overall condition of the home and it’s components, as well as what will need replacing and when. This will help you with budgeting for future expenses.
In general, you will want to budget for:
In Their Own Words...
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