Buying Your First Home in Ontario~Step One, Choosing a Real Estate Sales Representative.

It was winter and the back yard appeared to be many small rolling hills of picturesque, sparkling white beauty.
Little did we know, when we decided to purchase our first home so many years ago, that those small hills were actually piles of trash that the current owner had not been bothered to take to the local dump during the course of her ownership of the property. As they say, hindsight is golden.

There are many things to consider when you've begun to seriously consider the purchase of your first home, and preparing through research and asking questions ahead of time, will not only save you an abundance of time and money down the road, it can also make the difference between calling your first home 'home sweet home' or your first initiation into a property ownership nightmare.

Preparing now will make the whole process smooth and enjoyable and you'll have something to celebrate in the years to come as you settle into your own private sanctuary.

You've been browsing the internet for homes for sale in your area and reading the local real estate newspapers and have found some properties that you can picture yourself living in.
Can you afford to own one of these properties?

Your first step towards Ontario home ownership should be to meet with a real estate sales representative who will be able to give you a list of recommendations for mortgage pre-approvals and advise you as to the current mortgage rates you can expect to pay should you purchase at this time.

Real Estate Sales Representatives are in regular contact with mortgage brokers and bankers and know who is offering the best rates and the best buying incentives. Often a REALTOR will be able to locate a better rate for you than your own bank is willing to give you.

When considering which real estate sales representative to call, go with someone who you feel comfortable with.
You may have met them at an open house or gotten to know something about them through reading their online articles or viewing their website or perhaps a family member or friend has recommended someone to you.

It's very important to feel that you can trust your real estate sales representative to take care of your needs and to be fully present for you during the entire transaction. Asking to see letters of testimonial from previous clients is an excellent way to guage the level of service you can expect to receive.

The right Sales Representative will guide you through every step of the transaction and be there to answer all of the questions you might have or concerns that may arise.

They'll provide you with pamphlets on mortgages and home-buying, maps of the areas you're interested in, recommendations on trustworthy and dependable professionals who you'll need along the way (such as lawyers, home inspectors, mortgage professionals, etc), listings of suitable homes and will be there with you as you preview every home that meets your requirements.

They'll point out potential problems with particular properties, advise you as to the desirability of the areas you wish to search in, and prepare and guide you through all of the legalities of your agreement of purchase and sale when you've found the house that's right for you.

They'll make sure you're protected on the contract and will advise you as to which clauses should be included in the purchase contract and will be there every step along the way to make sure each condition is satisfied as required.

Choosing a REALTOR® is the most important decision you'll make in the homebuying process next to the actual choosing of the home itself, and choosing carefully will make all the difference between a smooth and enjoyable home search or one littered with pitfalls along the way.

If you're considering buying your first home in the Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga regions of Ontario, I'd be more than pleased to meet with you and discuss your desires and questions as you begin on the exciting road to home ownership.

Other Articles in This Series:
Land Transfer Tax Rebate-Rebates For the First Time Homebuyer in Ontario, Canada

©2009JoSmith