As a first time buyer, you are likely to have many questions about selecting, financing and buying your first home. How do we start looking for a home? How much money will we require to purchase the home? How much will the mortgage payments be each month and can we afford it? How does the home buying process work and what can we expect along the way? These are just a few of the questions you re bound to have at the beginning of your exciting journey to buying your very first home!

I can provide you with the answers to your questions and walk you through the entire process, from viewing potential homes to making an offer to setting up mortgage financing. Although buying your first home can be overwhelming, you can be confident that I will be available to help you every step of the way. Drawing on my experience you can make buying your first home simple and straightforward, eliminating any confusion and doubt and allowing you the opportunity to enjoy your first home, worry-free.

A few tips about the Legal Aspect:

Purchasing a home involves a lot of paperwork, most of which are contractual documents that will legally bind you to the numerous terms and conditions. For this reason it is important to have a good lawyer acting for you. Someone to protect your rights and interests.

Finding a Lawyer
If you don t have a lawyer, you can look for a referral from friends, family or business acquaintances. Look for someone with real estate experience and discuss their fee scales. Your RE/MAX® Sales Associate can help you locate a reliable professional, whom you fee comfortable working with.

Lawyer's Function
You will need a lawyer to process your purchase and ensure the terms are met:

   1. the correct property is purchased
   2. transfer title to your name(s)
   3. ensure title is free and clear of prior owners encumbrances
   4. your mortgage is registered properly on title

The legal process varies from province to province within Canada. Specifically, you will need to consult with your chosen legal professional and he/she will explain the process and the steps that need to be completed before you get the keys to your new home.

Your lawyer will prepare a "Statement of Adjustments" outlining all the financial aspects of your sale.

Legal Fees and Disbursements
The difference between legal fees and disbursements in analogous to the parts and labour you pay when fixing your car. I can help you locate a reliable professional, whom you feel comfortable working with.

How to make an Offer

When you have found a home you are interested in buying, your RE/MAX Sales Associate will walk you through the process of drafting an offer to purchase. Your sales associate will communicate the offer to the seller or the seller s real estate agent for you. Some properties are in demand and you will not be the only interested party making an offer and your RE/MAX Sales Associate will assist you in generating an offer that is reasonable and protects your interests using specified terms and conditions.

An offer can be drafted with or without conditions; an offer without conditions is known as a firm offer and one with conditions is known as a conditional offer. A conditional offer represents the party with the placement of certain conditions on the purchase. Some of these conditions could be "subject to financing approval", "subject to the strata council allowing pets", "subject to the buyer s house selling", "subject to an approved home inspection", among many others.

The seller may accept your initial offer, reject your offer or present a counter-offer. The counter-offer may differ from your original offer in respect to price, conditions, the closing date or any other items. Offers can be countered back and forth between the parties until one of you accepts or rejects, ending the negotiations.

There are many components of an offer that you should be aware of and understand. I will answer your questions and explain the entire process to you so that you are comfortable with the steps involved.

1. Terms: An offer includes certain "terms", which specify the total price offered and how the financing will be arranged, such as if you will arrange your own with a financial institution or mortgage broker or if you wish to take over the seller's mortgage (assumability).

2. Inclusions and Exclusions: These are specifications within the offer that detail the items to be included or excluded from the purchase of the property. Typical inclusions are appliances, window coverings, fixtures and decorative pieces.

3. Deposit: A deposit is usually given from the buyer to the seller as a token of the buyer s assurance and intention to buy the property involved. The deposit is applied against the purchase price of the home once the sale has closed. I can assist you in proposing a certain and appropriate amount for the deposit.

4. Conditions: Items that are usually put in place to protect a party s interests upon selling or buying the property and refer to things that must occur or be in place before the sale closes.

5. Possession or Closing Date: This is usually the date that the legal ownership of the property transfers from the seller to the buyer and, unless otherwise noted, when the funds for the purchase are concluded.

6. Purchase Price: This is the amount that the buyer is offering to pay for the property. The price is usually dependent on market conditions and may differ from the seller s current asking price.