Home Buying Advice For Non-Married Couples

For most, this is an awkward topic to cover. More and more couples are electing to buy a home together before marriage, as well as couples that choose to remain common-law. This change in societal norm can result in uncomfortable talks between your sweetheart, your lawyer, your Realtor and your parents. However, the most productive talks ARE the awkward ones! And, in terms of real estate, there's always uncomfortable scenarios you need to be prepared for anyway. In a traditional fashion, married couples had to plan and arrange their finances in a streamlined way for their real estate investment. Does this change for non-traditional you and yours? Nope! In fact, it's pretty much the same - sans the same last name. Let's dive right in and talk about it…

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House Hunting During A Pandemic

Covid-19 has changed the way we live, work and play. It's changed the way we shop at businesses, and changed the way we conduct business ourselves. This change has negatively impacted the world's housing market. Buyers have become more unsure than ever about starting the process, and sellers are hesitant to even put their homes up for sale. With precautions and orders in place to slow the spread of the virus, being physically present for any part of the home buying or selling process is difficult, sometimes impossible, to do. Experts in Canada, as well as worldwide, are making ominous predictions about the housing market's future based on the results they are seeing right now.

But is that truly the case? Should we really be worried and…

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Home Inspection Tips

Recent summers have taught our population that home inspections are of the utmost importance (thanks, Canada Day floods). Nobody wants to be caught unaware of their home’s weaknesses during a prairie flash flood or other storm. Your home inspection gives you the “nitty-gritty” safety and structural details so you know all about the investment you’ll be making. Not sure of the process, or what to expect? We’ve been there. That’s why we’ve compiled our best tips in a checklist for you.

Make Sure the Contingency is in the Contract

Ensure that there’s a home inspection contingency, a.k.a. a “Due Diligence” contingency in the sales contract. This outlines that a professional home inspection will take place at a specified time on the house in…

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Home Buying Considerations

Buying a home this year? Unsure of where to start or even what to be thinking about? No worries! Prevent unneeded stress during your purchase with knowledge on your side. Here are the 4 main considerations for you to ponder over when buying a home:

1) Determine your budget.

Your primary cost is a mortgage. This means that you are going to have to determine the maximum price you can afford. Also, when calculating this number, don't forget that there are smaller costs! For example, property insurance, taxes, electricity, water bills, and other fees that can come up. The sum of all these costs will be your budget. A budget will be invaluable to you when you look for a home - it keeps you grounded. Knowing what you can afford and wanting…

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