{"id":1248,"date":"2017-11-07T23:44:04","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T23:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrisbrownrealestate.ca\/blog\/?p=1248"},"modified":"2018-02-08T00:55:29","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T00:55:29","slug":"10-steps-to-buying-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisbrownrealestate.ca\/blog\/10-steps-to-buying-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"10 steps to buying your home"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

B<\/span>uying a home is one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll ever make. So it\u2019s always best to get all the help you can. Here are some steps to consider.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Are you ready to buy?<\/strong><\/big>
    \nYou should already have saved some of your\u00a0down payment<\/dfn>and you should be good at managing debt like credit cards or student loans. A\u00a0mortgage<\/dfn>\u00a0is a financial responsibility that also requires constant upkeep.<\/li>\n
  2. Decide how much you can afford<\/strong><\/big>
    \nUse this simple equation to consider what you can expect after you\u2019ve saved for your down payment. The cost of buying a home = one time costs (down payment, legal fees, inspection fees and taxes) + monthly costs (mortgage, utilities, maintenance, insurance and property taxes).<\/li>\n
  3. Arrange a mortgage<\/strong><\/big>
    \nThere are hundreds of banks, credit unions and other lenders. How do you select which one is best for you? Now is not the time to be money-shy! Talk to your financial institution and call around to others. Ask friends, family and colleagues. REALTORS\u00ae are very knowledgeable about mortgages and have lots of good advice and they may be able to refer you to a mortgage broker.\u00a0    Financing your home<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n
  4. Decide what you want to buy<\/strong><\/big>
    \nFirst, decide where you want to live (urban, suburban, rural) and then decide which neighbourhood suits you best and what type of home (detached, attached or apartment) you want. Whether or not the property is new or resale may also affect your costs. See the\u00a0    Dream Home Checklist<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/li>\n
  5. Find the right REALTOR\u00ae<\/strong><\/big>
    \nThere are many ways to find a REALTOR\u00ae: drive through neighbourhoods that interest you and jot down names, go to open houses, look at advertising, ask friends and family if they have worked with a REALTOR\u00ae they like. Interview two or three and pick the one you like best.<\/li>\n
  6. See what\u2019s out there<\/strong><\/big>
    \nREALTORS\u00ae run an incredible search tool called the Multiple Listings Service\u00ae (MLS\u00ae for short) which contains information on property listings. Your REALTOR\u00ae can send you listings that fit your criteria and together, you can draw up a short list and visit a handful of homes to make an informed and wise decision. You can also view\u00a0    listings here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n
  7. Sell your current home<\/strong><\/big>
    \nIt\u2019s the age-old question, do I sell my home before I buy, or do I buy my new home before I sell? It\u2019s natural to want to buy your new home first so you have the security of knowing where you\u2019ll be living. But there are advantages to selling first, buying later:<\/p>\n