If you’re a newbie when it comes to buying a home, the first thing you’re likely to do is find a realtor, for expertise and help in navigating a purchase.
Here are some of the questions you can expect the realtor to ask when you meet for the first time, so that the realtor can put together a list of homes for you to see, and determine if the government’s First Time Home Buyer Incentive is a good idea for you:
• How much do you have for a down payment?
• Have you been pre-approved for a mortgage?
• What monthly payment do you think would be comfortable?
• What size of home do you want?
• In what neighbourhood?
• Do you have children?
• How important is it to be close to schools, shopping centres, public transportation?
• Where do you work and how long a commute is ideal?
• How important is a yard?
All of these questions — pretty basic stuff — are aimed at affordability. A good realtor wants to find something good for you in “your price range” and then find how you can get the best bang for your buck. A good realtor wants you to be happy, and wants you to be a winner, because if you do well you’ll likely come back when it’s time to upsize or downsize, or just buy again, or invest. A good realtor wants to have a completely transparent relationship.
Before sitting down with that realtor, do your financial homework. That’s where it starts.
Affordability.
Direct that and all your questions to Jennifer (604-726-8768) or Dale (604-922-3353) — any time.