WORK WITH ME
Let me tell you a secret…
Buying a home doesn’t have to be a stressful process. However, it is the biggest purchase you may make in a lifetime. I am here to help guide you through the process, and find the perfect place that fits your goals, commitments, and lifestyle. And, as an added bonus, I will help make the process fun and exciting! I am committed to professional service throughout the home buying process. I hope that this page assists you in your home search.
“Very professional and helpful every step of the way.”
– Aaron (buyer)
Whether you are considering the purchase of your first home or your tenth, you should always have a professional REALTOR with you every step of the way. Here is a step-by-step guide for what to expect from initial consultation all the way through to closing your home.
The purpose of our initial discovery meeting is get to know each other, define your needs and wants, and review the home buying process.
Viewing homes without a pre-approval usually leads to disappointment. A pre-approval creates an opportunity for you to understand what you qualify for, and more importantly what you can afford.
The process of viewing homes provides you with information in order to make the best decision possible.
We will present our terms and conditions to the seller and they will either accept, reject or counter the offer. When we there is an accepted offer, you will deposit your earnest money which will be kept safe in a trust account until closing.
If a home inspection formed part of the contract, it can be performed after there is an accepted offer. The inspection will allow you and the inspector you hire to take a more thorough look at the property.
When all conditions in the contract are met - home inspection, financing, water testing, WETT inspection, etc. - you will engage with a lawyer who will order a title search and begin the legal paperwork for the transaction.
You do a final walk-through of the property to ensure it is in acceptable condition. Afterwards, the closing and final documents will be executed. You will deliver your mortgage documents to your lawyer and sign any final paperwork.
Upon the conclusion of the paperwork and transfer of ownership, you will receive the keys. You will then become the rightful owner - it's time to move in!
Shop smarter. This worksheet will help you narrow down where you want to live, what type of home you are looking for and what are your “must have” or “would likes” and your “deal killers” in a home. Having a clear vision will help you find a home that makes you happy.
What is it like to buy with me…
What type of property are you looking for? Get a custom MLS feed right to your inbox.
Did you know that homes posted after business hours, on weekends and holidays don’t hit Realtor.ca until the next business day. Don’t miss out on your dream home and get access to the listing as soon as it hits the market!
Check out my FAQs for buying real estate in the greater St. John's area.
Buying a home is one of the biggest transactions that you will make in your lifetime. And most people only buy or sell a house a couple of times, so it’s wise to work with someone with the experience to help you make wise purchasing decisions. As well, real estate can be stressful, so having someone there to help will help take some of that stress away. To help find the right realtor for you, here is a blog post with some questions that you can ask.
If you are a buyer, there is no cost to you to use a real estate agent, we are paid commission on the sale by the vendor when you buy a house.
Buying a home is one of the biggest transactions that you will make in your lifetime. And most people only buy or sell a house a couple of times, so it’s wise to work with someone with the experience to help you make wise purchasing decisions. As well, real estate can be stressful, so having someone there to help will help take some of that stress away. To help find the right realtor for you, here is a blog post with some questions that you can ask.
Typically, if you are a first time home buyer you are required to have a 5% downpayment. However, there are often financial benefits of a larger downpayment. I recommend you meet with your bank or local mortgage broker to discuss all of your financial options. Please let me know if you would like some recommendations for a local brokers. As well, if you are currently saving for a downpayment, you may find the information in my blog helpful: 3 Ideas to Save for your Home Downpayment.
Once we have an accepted offer, it typically takes between 4-6 weeks to close. It will take a couple of weeks to ensure all conditions are met, such as financing and home inspection. And then it will take a few weeks for your lawyer to order and receive the title search.
The term “closing costs” is a bit vague. A lot of people know that it’s part of buying a house, but you might not understand what all the different fees and costs are for. In general, closing costs are paid through your lawyer and will include your legal fees, title insurance, property tax adjustments, pre-paid utilities, plus other miscellaneous costs. Industry suggests to budget approximately 3% of the purchase price for closing costs.
Property tax is calculated based on the assessed value of your home and the tax rates of the municipality that your property is located. Property tax can also vary based on if you avail of municipal water and sewer. As well, the number of units that are on your property may create additional expenses. To learn more about how to calculate your property tax in the City of St. John’s check out the information at the bottom of my St. John’s community page: click here.
Want to learn more about buying real estate in the greater St. John's area. Check out these articles and videos.
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