Buying your first home is a big deal.  Whether it's a condo, townhouse, semi-detached or detached home, there are infinite variables that put an interesting spin on every real estate transactions.

Many first-time homebuyers begin by researching real estate topics on the internet.  This is a great start, but on the the biggest downfalls of the internet is that everyone has an opinion.  Reader beware: there are many armchair experts out there!  If you haven't already done so, I suggest you read my article on the Top 3 First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes.

In my experience, I've always found it best to meet face-to-face and actually get to know you.  Emails and automated listings are the easy way out for many agents, but it's certainly not the best way.  I invite you to meet with me at my office for about an hour; it's the best way to get the right information and advice in your home search.

Call me to talk about how I can help: 905-875-2100 or 905-462-0292.

Finding a knowledgeable and experienced agent you can trust is one of the first things to do when beginning your house hunt.  A real estate professional can keep you on track in the process and keep you from getting overwhelmed with everyone else's opinions and suggestions.  Uncle Joe and Aunt Lucy no doubt have your best interests in mind when pushing their opinions on you, but in my experience, their opinions are often left as just opinions.

This is a very common first-time buyer question.  The Canadian real estate market is set up so that the Sellers compensate both the listing and selling agent 99.9% of the time.  Short answer: as buyers, you do not need to worry about paying real estate fees.

Before looking at potential homes, it's important to figure out how much you can afford.  Getting pre-approved for financing is another important first step, as this gives you a workable price range.  It's not worth the risk of falling in love with a home only to find out that you can't afford it.  Getting pre-approved right away puts you on solid footing to act with confidence once you find your first home.  I'm always happy to suggest financing professionals in my network with whom I work and trust.