Buyer Tips

Make sure you-re ready

Decide if the timing is right

Be prepared to make sacrifices

Remember your home will require constant care

Have your finances in order

Manage your debt

Consider your family-s future needs

Decide what you want

Carefully consider the options available

Prioritize your lifestyle needs to find the best property fit

Urban – big city living

Suburban – modern neighbourhoods

Small Town – close community living

Rural – country living

Learn and understand real estate terms

Single-family Detached – free standing house; styles range from a single-story suburban bungalow to a three-story Victorian

Semi-detached/Linked - two houses that share a common wall; usually less money than a fully detached home

Duplex: a building zoned for two families

Town House - comprised of several homes with a common style and joined in a row

Condo – you own 100% of the unit and have access to common facilities such as gym rooms, party rooms, and pools. Have to pay condo fees for the

building's overall maintenance.

Resale – an older home that may or may not have been renovated and upgraded

New – a home being developed and built where you will be the first owner

Sell your current home

Usually people cannot afford to manage two homes and the associated mortgage payments at the same time

When should you sell?

Seller's market – when there are many people looking for homes, but there are not many available on the market

Buyer's market – when there are many homes for sale, but not many people are buying them

The time of year can also affect how quickly you can sell and buy a property

Winter sales tend to be slower, spring sales are tend to be quicker

If you need to sell fast

Ask a REALTOR® for help establishing a price and for making your home look attractive without making you look desperate.

Sometimes you can time your current home's sale with the future home's purchase

Can make the sale of your home "conditional"

Can try to extend the "closing period" to have more time to find your next home

Smart to enlist a REALTOR® for professional services, just like you would hire a mechanic or dentist