Buying A Home

If you have decided to take the big leap and buy a house there are many factors that come into play.  Consider some of these points before you start shopping the market:

-         Are you ready / prepared to buy?
-         What costs will be involved when moving?
-         What is the best time to buy a property?
-         Why are you moving?
-         Are you in a hurry to move?
-         When hiring a professional ask family or friends for referrals of real estate agents.
-         Seek legal representation.
-         Determine your financial position. Consult with a Mortgage Broker.

After you have made your decision and are ready to hire a professional and start the long and sometimes stressful hunt of open houses, remember to think of these points.  It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of moving where you tend to forget certain things to look for:

-         Hire a full-time professional.
-         Ask family or friends for referrals of real estate agents.
-         Do your research when choosing an agent.
-         Talk to your REALTOR®.  Let them know what you like and don’t like.
-         Consult a mortgage broker to determine your purchase price range.
-         What should you buy? Think of size requirements
-         Lifestyles and changes.  Do you plan to have children?  Do you have children that are moving away? 
          Are you close to retirement?
-         Needs vs. Wants.  What features do you want from a home? What features do you need?
-         Consider a neighbourhood you might like to move to.
-         View as many houses as possible that fit your needs.
-         Look at maintenance costs for a house vs. a townhouse/condo and compare.
-         Search the neighbourhood for certain amenities, eg. schools, hospitals, malls, community centres, etc.
-         Shop for mortgage rates and terms
-         Look beyond clutter in some homes and view the potential for upgrades and resale value.

The path of purchasing a new home can be very difficult and confusing, but there are people who you can go to for help.  Whether they help you figure a price limit that you can afford, or take you on tours of neighbourhoods and houses that interest you, all of these professions are important to the Buying/Selling process.  Certain professionals that you might seek for help:

-         Real Estate Agent
-         Lender or Mortgage Broker
-         Lawyer/Notary
-         Home Inspector
-         Home Insurance Broker
-         Builder/Contractor

COLDWELL BANKER WESTBURN REALTY
5489 Kingsway Burnaby, BC V5H 2G1
Office Phone: 604.437.1123, Office Fax: 604.437.9077
Websites: www.bcrealestatecareer.com and www.westburn.com
Email: admin@westburn.com