The first question is bound to be, “How much home can I afford?” That depends on a number of factors:
There are also additional costs to keep in mind. It’s a good idea to work out exactly what you want and what you can afford before you begin the search. Be specific! After all, you don’t want to suddenly come to the realization that your dream house has come with a nightmare of bills and expenses. Stick to looking at houses in your price range. The more you’ve thought it out, the better your sales representative can meet your needs.
A part of deciding just what you can afford can be accomplished by meeting with your bank or a mortgage broker and negotiating a pre-approved mortgage. There are many types of mortgages and many different terms. Research all of your options. This ensures that there are no surprises once you’re ready to make an offer.
Once you’ve figured out your monthly expenses and what you can afford, you can start your search. It could happen that the first home you see is the one you want; or you might look at home after home with none of them catching your interest. Rest assured, the home you’re looking for is out there, and when you find it, you will be ready to make an offer. If your offer is accepted, the next steps are closing and moving into your new home.
Purchasing a home is easy once you put your plans into action.
Reasons to work with us
We deliver unparalleled service customized to your unique needs. Our passion for real estate and a deep understanding of the markets we serve, offer an important competitive advantage for buyers.
With access to the best market reports, statistics and local intelligence, we have our fingers on the pulse of your most desired neighbourhoods and feel movements and shifts immediately.
We are constantly brokering deals in our community, and know the local trends and opportunities. We use this knowledge to develop a strong bargaining position - achieving the best possible results.
Local expertise & global reach
A Realtor® is a professional who can save you time and trouble. And possibly even a lot of money. You see, Realtors® have the home buying experience most people lack. They know all of the steps and they are good negotiators who will work on your behalf.
A Realtor® will:
The true test for a buyer is “What else can we buy for the same or less money?”
In short, a lender is anyone who will give you money. There are private lenders and institutional lenders, like banks and credit unions. Even your brother-in-law can be your lender. Of course, when you’re looking for a lender, you’ re looking for a long-term relationship and terms and rates which are beneficial to you.
A mortgage broker is a highly recommended option that we will go into more detail below.
You can also do your own search. With a good credit history, it’s really not that complicated. Pick up your newspaper and you’ll see what the different lending institutions are offering. Find the institution you feel you would be most comfortable with, and one that offers the terms and conditions you’re looking for. Then, go in person and negotiate your best deal.
We’ll go into more detail about this process in the arranging a mortgage section.
This is a person who will do the leg work in finding the institution which offers the mortgage terms and conditions that are right for you. Mortgage brokers search the mortgage market for the best rates and conditions based on your circumstances. Usually the broker is paid by the lender without cost to you. However, the cloudier your credit history, the more likely there will be a fee! A good mortgage broker will be connected to all major lenders through the mortgage market.
A lawyer is there to represent your interest, and to process the documentation required. The legal aspects differ from province to province. Your Realtor® can recommend lawyers to advise you on the steps to be taken before the keys to your new home are presented to you. A lawyer helps ensure you are protected.
Have the home inspected! Whether you make it a condition of purchase or not, having the property pre-inspected by a qualified home inspector will give you the added confidence that you’ve made the right decision. Be very careful to verify the qualifications of your home inspector because there are no government standards or licenses for home inspectors. Some home inspectors in Canada do not have any form of accreditation. For your protection make sure your home inspector is a member of (PACHI) or (OAHI). This is your assurance that they have met their education requirements, have the experience and carry E & O Insurance.
Hiring an appraiser to appraise the value of property you are considering to buy may seem sensible but it is highly unnecessary. Your lender will want their own personal appraiser anyway, so you could be wasting valuable money. As well, most Realtors® are competent and can do a “Comparative Market Analysis” for you, to establish a value range. The only situation where hiring an appraiser could become necessary is where the property is unusual with no comparable sales.
You’ll want to make sure your property and valuables will be covered. A broker offers independent advice and can save you time, trouble and money. Plus, the bank will insist that you carry full insurance since your property is used as collateral against your mortgage.
To qualify for a conventional mortgage, you simply have to have a 25% down payment of the purchase price, with the mortgage not exceeding 75% of the appraised value.
If your down payment is less than 25%, then you qualify for a high-ratio mortgage. This type of mortgage requires loan insurance, which can cost an additional 0.5% to 3.75% of the mortgage amount. With this type of mortgage you could also be limited to a maximum house price.
Of course, if you cannot add on to your mortgage, you may consider a second mortgage. Each mortgage uses your home as security and gives the mortgagee the right to take your home if you default on your loan. The first mortgagee gets paid first in cases of default and has the best chance of recovering all of its money. So it only goes to figure that subsequent mortgages usually come with a higher interest rate.
Every lending institution is different, and each will have their own customizable mortgage options. When you’re hunting for a lender and a home, see how the following features could be beneficial to you.
This is a wonderful option if you receive regular bonuses or if your income fluctuates throughout the year. With a pre-payment privilege, you have the right to make payments toward the principal portion of your mortgage over and above the monthly payments. A mortgage with a pre-payment option is closed. An open mortgage means you can pay the entire principal sum without notice of bonus.
If you still have time remaining on that fantastic loan you negotiated, portability is one option you’ll want to discuss with your lender. Quite simply, it means transferring the balance of your current mortgage at the existing rates and with the existing terms and conditions, to your new home.
Let’s say that the vendor has negotiated a dynamite mortgage. With an assumable mortgage you, the purchaser, simply assume the obligations of the mortgage. This is a wonderful feature especially if the terms are more favourable than the existing market conditions would allow. Remember, when it is time for you to sell, you may still be liable for any mortgage you allow the buyer to assume. This means if the buyer stops making payments, you could be accountable for the payments. Be sure to have the subsequent buyer approved for the assumption of the payments, thereby avoiding this potential land mine.
If you need additional funds down the road, will your mortgage terms allow you to increase the principal amount? Usually, your new rate will be a blended amount of the initial mortgage rate and the prevailing rates. It’s a great option to discuss with your lender if you foresee large expenses in your future like renovation or education costs.
Over the course of your amortization period, you may have many different mortgages. The term is simply the length of time that interest rates, payment schedules and obligations to the lender exist. When the term comes to a close, you will have the option to renew your mortgage at your current or new lending institution. You can also put a lump sum toward the principal without restriction, or pay off your entire mortgage without penalty. If you wish to change the structure of your agreement during the term you may have to pay a substantial fee to the lender.
Mortgages are available with closed, open and convertible options, with fixed or variable rates. The options you choose will reflect your beliefs about the market — is it going up or down? — and your short-term goals and desire for long-term security.
This is the amount of time over which the entire debt will be repaid. Most mortgages are amortized over 15-, 20-, 25-year periods or longer. The longer the amortization, the lower your scheduled mortgage payments, but the more interest you pay in the long run.
This type of mortgage offers a great deal of flexibility, as it can be repaid in part or full at any time without penalty. This is a great mortgage if you believe interest rates are moving down or if you plan to move in the near future. The term may be limited to six months or one year.
Here the interest rate is fixed for the full term of the mortgage, and you will have to pay a penalty to change the agreement conditions. This type of mortgage is ideal for buyers who suspect that interest rates will rise and who are not planning to move in the near future. This type of mortgage is usually available in a wide variety of terms.
With this mortgage, you’ll enjoy the same peace of mind as a closed mortgage, plus the flexibility to convert to a longer closed mortgage at any time without penalty. If you think rates will drop, this will allow you to wait until you feel they have hit bottom, or if rates rise, you can lock in.
Before you calculate the amount of your down payment and determine what you can afford, it’s a good idea to set aside a few thousand dollars to cover the extra costs that seem to spring out of nowhere. Here is an overview of costs you could encounter. The good news is that not all of them will apply.
If the Vendor has paid a portion of the taxes in advance, you will be responsible for reimbursing the Vendor on closing. Plus, if you have a high-ratio mortgage, your lender may require that you have your property taxes added to your mortgage payments.
Utility fees are calculated through a meter so you will be responsible for paying what you have used up on the meter.
This applies in most provinces and ranges from 1% to 4%. For instance, in Ontario, you’ll pay 1% of the first $55,000 – $250,000 and up to 2% of any amount over $400,000. See the tab for Land Transfer Tax for more information.
Your lender might require an up-to-date survey. You can make it a condition of the Offer to Purchase that the Vendor provide a survey, or you may have to have one done. If there is no survey available, you may purchase “Title Insurance” in lieu of a survey which saves you about $500 – 700.
A basic appraisal usually costs under $250.
Your lender will insist that you have insurance on your property because your home is used as security for the mortgage.
You’ll be charged for telephone, cable and a variety of other services that you hook up at your new home.
Each real estate transaction requires the assistance of a legal professional to review the Offer to Purchase, search the title, draw up the mortgage documents and take care of the details on the day of closing. Lawyers fees range widely depending on the complexity of the transaction. Ask your sales representative to recommend a lawyer. And remember, fees can be negotiated.
Mortgage loan insurance will be necessary if you have a high-ratio mortgage (less that 25% down payment). The application usually costs $75 with a valid appraisal, otherwise it’s $235. The actual insurance premium will range from .5% to 3.75% of the purchase price and is added onto the mortgage.
Some brokers may charge as much as 2% of the total mortgage to find you a lender. In most cases though, the broker is paid by the lender. Buyers with good credit should not have to pay a fee.
Whether you’ve decided to do it yourself or hire a moving company, now is the time to budget for the costs involved.
If you’re moving into a condominium (complex not necessarily a high-rise) this certificate outlines the condominium corporation’s financial and legal state. It will cost you around $100, usually paid for by the seller or the seller’s Realtor® if agreed to in the Offer to Purchase.
These monthly fees vary from complex to complex. The fees are applied to everything from grounds keeping and carpet cleaning to security personnel and health club maintenance. Depending on the type of structure, these fees will usually be upwards of a few hundred dollars.
For around $400, depending on the size of your home, you’ll receive a complete written report about the condition of the structure. Do your research and hire a reputable firm.
Your home inspection may indicate the need for some general repairs or a major project. Have some money set aside, particularly if you are purchasing an older home.
Your taste will be different from the previous owner. Set aside money to paint and wallpaper. Prepare a list of things you can live with, for now, and decorating faux pas that need immediate alteration.
If you are purchasing a home with a well, you’ll want to ensure the quality of the water. This will cost approximately $100.
Click here for our Land Transfer Tax Calculator
Buyers in most areas will have to add Land Transfer Taxes to their closing costs
Land transfer taxes are a part of the process unless you live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or rural Nova Scotia. These taxes, levied on properties that are changing hands, are the responsibility of the buyer. Depending on where you live, taxes can range from a half a per cent to two per cent of the total value of the property.
Many provinces have multi-tiered taxation systems that can sometimes be difficult to understand. If you buy a property for $260,000 in Ontario, for example, .5 per cent is charged on the first $55,000, 1 per cent is charged on $55,000 – $250,000, while the $250,000 – $400,000 range is taxed at 1.5 per cent. Your total tax bill? $2,375.00.
The following chart illustrates Land Transfer Taxes by province:
Up to $55,000 X .5 % of total property value
From $55,000 to $250,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $250,000 to $400,000 X 1.5 % of total property value
From $400,000 up X 2 % of total property value
Up to $200,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $200,000 up X 2 % of total property value
Up to $30,000 N/A
From $30,000 to $90,000 X .5 % of total property value
From $90,000 to $150,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $150,000 up X 1.5 % of total property value
Up to $50,000 X .5 % of total property value
From $50,000 to $250,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $250,000 up X 1.5 % of total property value
Halifax Metro 1.5 per cent on total property value
Outside Halifax County, check with local municipality.
When it comes time to make an offer, your Realtor® can provide current market information which will aid you in presenting your offer.
Your Realtor® will communicate the offer, sometimes known as an Offer to Purchase, to the seller, or the seller’s representative, on your behalf. Sometimes there may be more than one offer on a property. Your Realtor® will guide you through this process as smoothly and effortlessly as possible.
Usually preferred by the seller as it means that you are prepared to purchase the home without any conditions. If the offer is accepted – the home is yours.
Usually means that you have placed one or more conditions on the purchase, such as “subject to home inspection”, “subject to financing” or “subject to sale of buyer’s existing home”. The home is not sold until all the conditions have been met.
Your Offer to Purchase will be presented at the earliest possible opportunity. The seller may accept the offer, reject it, or submit a counter-offer. The counter-offer could be in reference to any number of factors, including the closing date and/or the purchase price. The offers may sometimes go back and forth until both parties have agreed upon an offer or until one or the other ends the negotiations.
Trouble finding your dream home? Let us know where you want to live and we’ll find it for you!
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